Sinner’s Prayer? Are Altar Calls Biblical? [podcast]
Is the Gospel not a divine ultimatum? Yes it is.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16
The Point of Leading Someone to Christ
Just another perspective to consider…. Personally, I won’t fault anyone who sees this differently…. for me, when the convicting law, the Word, the Gospel is preached, I often ask the now convicted hearer if he would like to repent and receive Christ (Acts 17:30; 20:21; John 1:12). Jesus saved me in this very fashion after I heard God’s Word preached and was then invited to pray with an elder.
“I was asked to say the sinners prayer after hearing the message of the cross back in 1980. I was not a false conversion. Still walking with Jesus today. 9-19-23.” Kathleen
“Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch (capture) men.” Luke 5:10
It seems to this disciple that if Jesus sent us forth to be “fishers of men,” that at times, we are going to actually land those fish in His boat, right? Those fellows are going to get into His ship – fellowship.
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
Those who truly follow Jesus are fishing for men – seeking to see Him save lost souls. It would seem from this that our LORD expects to land some of the fish He is seeking to save through our efforts. The goal of those who fish is to land fish into the boat, right? Do you concur?
The sinner’s prayer is NOT essential to salvation. Jesus says that repentance and faith in Christ and His finished work are essential, but not coming to Him via a “sinner’s prayer.” Yet please remember that the thief on the cross used his sinful mouth to call upon the LORD and was saved.
“I prayed the sinners prayer 51 years ago and I was transformed by the Holy Spirit, born again and still serving Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.” Judy
“Sinner’s Prayer” – Call it what you wish – Personally I can’t find a biblical reason why praying with someone who is repenting and putting their faith in Christ is a sin. Also, no shade cast upon those who don’t agree with such.
“I prayed by myself on my knees beside my bed! I had told a friend I can’t find God. She quoted me John 14:6. Even though she was not saved, but had heard those words from a Pastor. My life was a mess and I knew I needed something more outside of myself. I prayed a very simple prayer and said God I am told I need Jesus so I am asking to receive Him tonight. My life is a total mess! I can’t remember all the words I prayed but in the morning I was a completely different person! Everyone who saw me noticed immediately. And kept saying what happened to her? Jesus happened that’s what happened!! I went to bed and woke up a brand new creature in Christ!! Hallelujah!” Karen Cochran
Should we not throw altar calls perpetually … calling, inviting men to come to Jesus in repentance and faith?!
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
Do you personally desire to pray with more people, sinners, seeing them come before our LORD in repentance and faith and be saved? How’s that going to happen if there’s no preaching and invitation, calling them to “Come”?
Can we observe that the so-called “altar call” and “sinner’s prayer” are simply catch phrases that define certain methods used in ministry? Yet, it seems observable that these occasions can be used differently, depending on the one conducting the ministry. Though never using these phrases until this type of discussion arises, in this disciple’s perception, that which is called an “altar call” or “sinners prayer” is merely an occasion to pray with someone in order to facilitate them drawing nigh to the LORD for the first time or otherwise.
I recently heard a very popular evangelist complain that only 1 of the 28 people he prayed with to be saved continued with Christ. Here was my response:
“Instigating a false conversion by not properly giving the sinner the Law and saving Gospel is one thing and leading a ready sinner in prayer to God is another. It happens both ways – a sinner praying to be saved with someone else or individually. Why do we think it has to be one way or the other? So, are you saying that praying with those 28 of your friends and only seeing only one truly get saved and follow Christ was a waste? Was that one eternal soul not worth it all?”
Perhaps the problem is not preaching the Law and Gospel to the sinner thoroughly enough before praying with them.
I’ve personally prayed with hundreds of people who were repenting and putting their faith in the LORD Jesus. Have seen a mixture of carry through or fruit after such – in perfect accordance with Jesus’ teaching of the seed of the Word and the heart soil. That’s what’s going to happen no matter who the ministering disciple is. See Luke 8:11-15. Have seen many who prayed to God in repentance and faith and are walking strong today in Jesus! Remember, sinful people chose to reject the ministering of Jesus, Peter, John, Paul, etc. That’s just how it goes with the Gospel – because God gave all men free will (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Isaiah 1:18-20; Joshua 24:15, etc.).
Personally I take issue with giving people the convicting Law and saving Gospel and then not asking them if they’d like to repent and receive Jesus right that moment (John 1:12; Acts 16:30; 20:21; Galatians 3:24, etc.). If it’s clear that someone is ready to repent and receive Christ, I ask them if they like to stop their life, admit to God they’ve sinned against Him, and let Him save and forgive them. The choice is there’s. Some people don’t like what is called “the sinner’s prayer” because they or someone they know prayed and didn’t get saved. First off, that’s one of the 4 heart soils Jesus taught about (Luke 8:11-15). Also, praying with someone to repent after they’ve heard the Law and Gospel is one thing, and the individual’s free will is another. There’s a timing for individual’s to be saved. Most of the time we, as Christ’s laborers, are planting the seed of salvation that may ultimately lead to the recipients repenting and putting their faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).
There are ministers I like who disagree with this. That’s fine. My use of praying with sinner’s to be saved is not the classic “sinner’s prayer” magic formula by any stretch of the imagination. No, it’s a thorough citing, reading of God’s Word and their own personal desire to repent and put Christ first in their lives.
“I encountered the Messiah while reciting the sinners prayer. Tech Sargent Mayfield lead the entire group in this simple, life changing prayer… I experienced God’s presence and my life was changed forever. 47 years ago. Thank You Lord.” Pedro
This message is primarily associating the use of praying with sinners in the context of personal evangelism, one on one…. and not leading a large group in saying some magical “sinner’s prayer.”
“I said the sinners prayer many years ago and while saying it I felt my pride leave and a tingling sensation on my head. Like the Holy Spirit was there. My life has never been the same. Weeks before a similar thing happened to my wife.” Dino
Reciting a prayer mechanically is one thing. Being led in a prayer of repentance and faith in Christ after hearing the convicting law and desiring to be saved, is yet another thing!
“Whether the sinners prayer is biblical or not, I was instantly born again when I said it…I went from blind to seeing. It’s about your eyes being opened by the Holy Spirit. Nothing at all wrong with the sinners prayer.” Jimmy
Just because some in ministry recklessly ran people through a sinner’s prayer in a meeting with masses of people and it didn’t “stick,” doesn’t change my view on praying with and leading a sinner in a prayer, a repentance and faith confession before God.
“15 years ago I was a truck driver working in the oilfields of Texas. One night I stopped at an old truck stop to get something to eat and on my way out I picked up a gospel tract that was sitting on a shelf by the door. Little did I know at that moment that my life would be forever changed. Later that night all alone in the middle of the Texas oilfield on an oil lease, I found myself on my knees crying out to God and reading the sinners prayer. Today, I am an ordained and licensed minister with a full time street ministry spreading the message of hope and salvation to the homeless on the streets of down town Houston, Texas. 15 years later I wished I could tell the person who placed the Bible tract in that truck stop that the seed he had sown did not fall by the wayside. I use Bible tracts with the sinners prayer today. It is a seed that I am planting. Some of the seed will fall by the wayside, some onto stony ground and some will fall among the thorns. BUT some will fall onto good ground. Not everyone who reads the sinners prayer will pick up their cross and follow Jesus but some will… It wasn’t easy and I made some mistakes along the way but with the help of the Lord I am an overcomer!” Carlos
Some have made an idol of the “sinner’s prayer” instead of preaching the Word, letting the Holy Spirit convict, and praying. There’s no such thing as a magical prayer. When the law to convict and saving Gospel of Jesus is preached, the prayer will merely facilitate their repentance and faith.
“I was saved using the sinner’s prayer. It helped me articulate words better. I know I’m saved because of my conviction of my sins and faith and trust in Jesus.” Dom
This writer is not condemning you if you don’t like praying with a sinner to God to be saved. You are welcome to your opinion. Personally, I prayed with a pastor and Jesus saved me. Since when do we factor out prayer, praying which is simply communicating with God, just because some misused it? Since many pervert the doctrine of salvation, why don’t we just abandon it also? Should we now glorify the devil by throwing away God’s truth because some mixed it with lies or misused it? Does God no longer answer prayer? Will the Almighty not listen to and answer a prayer, a simple request from a sinner, to save someone into His kingdom? …. as if He cancelled prayer due to a few diabolicals who perverted it?
“The Harvest”
If our LORD didn’t have in mind the harvest of precious souls for whom He died, why then did He come and die for them? Why would He have said:
“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38
A “harvest” is a reaping from seed previously planted and notice that Jesus says that He is “the Lord of the harvest.” Soul winners have long clung to the precious exhortation given us in Psalms 126 where a harvest is promised to those who labor in winning sinners to Christ.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed (God’s Word), shall doubtless (surely, definitely) come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves (harvest) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6
I believe this truth. It seems apparent that all true soul winners are going to see Jesus capture souls via their prayerful, biblical efforts!
Posturing the sinner’s heart by administering Holy Scripture is vital, so that if you do pray with them, their heart is made ready by the LORD.
There are some who do ministry by preaching the law and Gospel and then send those people they ministered to on their way without seizing the moment by inviting the convicted sinner to pray right there, settling things right with God.
“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured (helped) thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:2
It is this disciple’s conviction to help sinners be secured into Christ’s kingdom while the conviction is teeming in them.
There is no shade thrown here on those who do not minister this way and yet but rather a giving of thanks for the Word, the seed those ministers are sowing in the hearts of people. As we know, God’s Word never returns back to Him void but rather accomplishes what He pleases in those hearts in which it is sown (Isaiah 55:11). Though the methods of Christians differ, if they are preaching the original Gospel, may God be praised (Philippians 1:15-18). Yet, I will respectfully disagree and will definitely give my perspective on this matter of praying with sinners to facilitate them coming to Christ, as I believe that it’s important to capture the fish in a timely fashion when he is ready to be caught (Matthew 4:19).
While I am not going to judge another man’s servant on a non-essential matter such as this one, for myself, I will continue to pray with sinners who are ready to come to Jesus and agree to repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins (Matthew 26:28; Romans 14). Without apology, this servant is going to continue to preach the law to convict the sinner of sin, the Gospel of Jesus to save, and lead in a prayer of repentance and faith every precious, eternal soul possible! And, by God’s grace, I will continue to use a verbal confession to the LORD from them, as they pray aloud to the LORD, to secure their place in God’s kingdom, leading them to confess Christ aloud before men, turning to Jesus from their life of sin!
Is it okay to preach to them and just leave them? Well, in my limited opinion, I believe that if someone is ready to convicted and agrees to repent right there … not if they are ready to repent and to commit their life to Christ! That’s my perspective and I believe it’s according to and certainly not in violation of the biblical perspective.
A prayer saves no one. In fact hell is full of people who said a prayer to be saved. If one doesn’t repent, their prayer is in vain. Jesus says that repenting is an imperative. God does hear the cry of repentance from a sinner whom He then saves into His kingdom.
The reason I personally believe it’s important to “catch men” or capture them when they are presently convicted, is so that Satan has no place or time to steal that seed. See Jesus’ parable of the sower and the Word. See Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8. Another general truth that governs my concern for souls is that we are in a battle for the souls of men. Satan is the enemy. We as Christ’s are His “ambassadors” as you know and involved in winning souls to Him and catching them as a fisherman catches or captures fish and brings them in the boat (Luke 5:10; Proverbs 11:30; 2 Corinthians 5:20).
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” 2 Corinthians 5:11
There was a clear urgency about Paul’s ministering to others.
So, I may be wrong, but these biblical truths have formed my thinking in this matter of giving sinners the option, invitation to repent and receive Christ at the time they have heard the Law and Gospel.
“Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3, 5
Sinner’s Prayer?
—–SINNER’S PRAYER? This is a stirring examination of the use of the Sinner’s Prayer as it’s called.
What has become known as “the sinner’s prayer” is simply to get the sinner to confess Christ publicly – before men – in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
Does the Bible tell us that the sinner must “confess with thy mouth the LORD Jesus and believe with thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead” to be “saved”? Yes or no please?
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
My desire is not to be forceful. Just trying to qualify things here, squaring them with Holy Scripture.
Now, that being said … Don’t like the sinner’s prayer?
The fact is, that if someone repents and trusts Jesus, anywhere anytime on His green earth, like it or not, God is still going to save that soul.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
Here’s a believer who called upon the LORD and God kept His promise and saved him:
“The sinners prayer was my call out to Jesus and ever since then I’ve been saved by his grace and his sacrifice he’s changed my life.” Tino
The problem only arises when men misuse this method. Yet, for this disciple, I see the virtue of using this public confession to bring souls to Christ, one by one usually.
“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8-9
According to the full counsel of God’s Word, entrance into His kingdom includes true repentance, faith in Christ, and a verbal confession before God and others that one believes Jesus died, was buried, and rose again from the dead (Matthew 3:2, 6; 4:17; 10:32-33; Acts 16:31; 20:21; Romans 10:9-10).
In this disciple’s heart, at my current level of understanding, it is my opinion that God put this truth about the need for heart belief and verbally confessing Christ in His Word, particularly Romans 10:9-10, in order to give His body a sort of prescription for leading sinners to Him.
The sinner’s prayer is simply confessing Christ upon repenting and believing upon Him. It must never be used to simply run someone through a prayer, acting as if that sinner saying a prayer saves them. It doesn’t – repenting does. And, that repentance can be facilitated through a prayer. In order for this to be done correctly, several Gospel elements of truth should be utilized. When a sinner is led to believe that somehow, after praying a magic little prayer, that he is saved for life and eternity, that sinner has been completely misled. No, when a sinner is going to repent and believe upon Christ unto eternal life, they should be told that they are giving their whole life and trust to Jesus Christ, nothing held back. I like to preface the repentance prayer with “John, you should realize that you are not praying to me or any man but rather to God, and He’s listening. With everything that’s within you, pray this to the Father in Heaven who awaits your repentance and confession of Jesus Christ.”
To a man who preached the law and sin to sinners regularly, I once suggested that he also seek to win the souls of those who will choose to repent and be saved. I shared this with this particular man because the ministry he was conducting seemed to only communicate the condemnation of God upon sinners without offering them the Gospel of Christ’s saving grace. Praise the LORD that this man is actually sowing that biblical truth into the hearts of many – that they are condemned by sin. This will surely result in some of them, under the weight of guilt, eventually repenting. I applaud that brother’s efforts because the lost soul must be convicted that he is a sinner in order to see his need to repent and receive Christ.
Let me stop here to say that this most undeserving disciple, the one penning this article, was saved from an altar call and through repenting via a sinner’s prayer per se. How glad and grateful to Jesus do you think this unworthy man is for the beloved brother who firmly led me to the feet of Jesus that blessed night in 1984? Eternally! He made sure I had the opportunity to hear the original Gospel and to see that I acted on it. He didn’t send me off in the dark of the night for Satan to devour the seed that was sown in my heart (Luke 8:12).
“I love the story of Nicodemus’ chat with Jesus about being born again. If people just repeat the sinner’s prayer and backslide, then maybe they did not understand the power of God’s word. The “sinner’s prayer” is not an incantation where one speaks the magic words and voila! I remember specifically the day I bowed my head and prayed when a pastor gave the invitation during his summer crusades in ’67. At 13, I really did not understand, but know the Spirit of God kept me from many issues plagued by young people. Fast forward: After a year in Iraq, I was ready to head home when I suffered a stroke at Ft. Benning. As I laid in the ambulance, I realized how close to death I may be, or worse, becoming paralyzed. With that thought, I physically with my lips spoke praise to Jesus and proclaimed Him Lord of All. If I was to become paralyzed, then those would be my last words spoken. With that I asked what I could learn from this emergency to help others. Then I heard the Lord’s voice that nothing more will move against me. When I heard those words, the driver asked the attendant “Fast? Or slow and steady?” My attendant said “Slow. I think we’re good.” My word of confirmation. I suffered with NO debilitating conditions. Praise the Lord Almighty of Heaven and Earth!” Randy
Winning souls is God’s will. That is, winning them over into God’s kingdom from the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:12-14).
“He that winneth (seizes) souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
The Hebrew word here for the English word “winneth” is laqach and it means to carry away, receive, seize, take away, to win.
Think about and begin to meditate upon the word “winneth” here.
We are here to win – to seize the moment in bringing others home to Christ! That is, while they are under conviction, getting them to submit their lives to Christ on the spot. That’s how this sinner was saved into Christ’s kingdom and for that I am eternally grateful to Him and those who cared enough to win my soul to the nail-scarred, risen Savior!
We are Christ’s and so we will win it all in the end and even now! And, we shall be used of Him to win others in this late hour before His soon return!
Do you believe God can use you?
Jesus literally captured the hearts of men and He still does today – everyday! To His disciples, our LORD said “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch (capture) men.” (Luke 5:10)
In the Gospels we read how the Son of God called me to Himself. In fact, that’s why He came – to “save sinners” like us and all men (Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:15). When Jesus called the individual disciples of His twelve to “follow me,” they did. Is Christ still calling men to follow Him? Yes! And, Jesus is now using you and I to beckon others to follow Him. To follow Him, the individual must be willing to lay himself aside for the great reign and glory and supremacy of the King of kings to rule in their life!
“A true witness delivereth souls.” Proverbs 14:25
It seems noteworthy here to mention that Jesus never commanded any person to “join a church” or to “go to church.” Fellowship sure is important, yet like the earliest disciples in the first century, we should be experiencing fellowship “daily” and “from house to house” and not just in the context and confines of a certain building on Sunday morning (Acts 2:42-47; 20:20; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24-25). Christ told us that following Him is “daily,” not weekly (Luke 9:23-24). Jesus is the “first love” of all who are ready to meet Him (Revelation 2:4-5). That means that they are consumed with Him – “daily” – as opposed to the casual churchgoer who holds Jesus as a second class citizen, one only worthy of an hour or so per week. “Lukewarm” is hell bound (Revelation 3:15-16).
We must be careful what we “win” people into. Think about it: Most people today who are won to Christ in America are immediately whisked away and taught to become a churchgoer type or church member instead of a true “daily” disciple of Christ who is learning to deny himself, take up his cross and truly follow Christ (Luke 9:23-24; 2:42; Acts 17:11; 20:20). This is an abomination. They are not being won into a real, daily walk with Jesus where they study His Word diligently and seek His face in prayer, witness, and walk in His love. No, they are taught that the extent of “Christianity” is to be a good church going church member, pay their tithes, and go to sleep spiritually (Revelation 3:15-16). This has and will continue to send millions into eternal damnation who “fall away” due to this falsity and misrepresentation of Christ (Matthew 10:22; 24:1-13; Luke 8:13; Acts 14:22; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; Revelation 2-3, etc.).
“Ye are the Light of the World”! Matthew 5:13
Now for those who have laid down their lives and are presently following the Master, first, we should acknowledge that people in darkness need the help of Christ the light and those whom Christ has already brought into His kingdom of light. Jesus says “Ye are the light of the world” and that’s because He who is “the light of the world,” dwells in us and uses us to help others see and come to His blessed light! (Matthew 5:13; John 8:12)
Though some have used the altar call to get a “decision for Christ,” I personally don’t discount the power of preaching the Word that brings men to a decision. Obviously Peter’s preaching brought people to a decision and they responded by asking “what shall we do?” Peter answered:
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:38-42
Certainly, the apostle Peter didn’t leave them hanging. He told them to “Repent, and be baptized.”
It is my personal opinion that a prayer of repentance with that convicted sinner is permissible and for myself preferable. In my personal estimation, there’s no problem with praying with someone to repent and receive Jesus, the problem is when that person is not truly ready to repent and confess Christ – to lay down their life – due to the person ministering not bringing them to the place of deep conviction using the holy law (Psalms 19:7; Romans 7:7, 12; Galatians 3:24). This problem can be due to ineptness or lack of seasoning in those ministering to that person. By the leading and power of the Holy Spirit, we must give sinners the soul-converting, convicting law of the LORD and let it do its work to bring them to Christ (Psalms 19:7; Galatians 3:24). Then, some of those we give the law to are going to have their eyes opened and begin to see who Jesus is and why the Son of God came to die on a cross and be raised again. They will then see why they need Him and call upon Him to be saved! Those are the souls we want to “catch” or capture (Luke 5:10).
In praying with sinners to be saved by Christ, it’s important to realize that they should confess their sinfulness, rebellion, and that they believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again for them. This must be done with their own mouths. We have ample evidence that confessing Christ before another human being is very important to the LORD – in showing that one is not ashamed of Him and in coming into the kingdom of God as they call upon the name of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:13).
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized (public confession), he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” Acts 16:30-34
Getting the Sinner to Respond in Repentance Means Winning that Soul!
There comes that moment in time – that moment in the life of each individual – when Christ convictingly beckons to their heart to “Follow me.” That person must then choose to follow or to reject Christ. This is how it was with His twelve as He called each of them on a certain day in their lives. Jesus was there, present with them in person, when He called them to follow Him. Christ told the rich young ruler to “Come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22) That meant that this rich man (in this temporary world) had to deny himself and lay aside all and begin following Jesus at that moment. He chose not to and Jesus made no attempt to accommodate his rebellion.
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Mark 8:34
Well, we know Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever,” right? (Hebrews 13:8) Is it possible that the LORD now many times uses the members of His body to bring the souls He is seeking to “follow” Him? Does that begin at a certain moment in time? Yes. Is it possible that Christ wants to use you and I in divinely-ordained encounters to call sinners to repent and begin at a certain moment to follow Him? I happen to be of the distinct mindset that the answer is a resounding Yes!
The problem is not with calling men to repent and leading them in a prayer of repentance and faith, but rather in praying with people who are not ready and willing to truly turn their whole being to the LORD in repentance, placing all their faith in Christ alone for salvation. This is the laying down of their lives to follow the Son of God. When we minister correctly and thoroughly, we will know most of the time when a person is ready to repent and receive Christ. I like to ask them “Is there any good reason why you couldn’t stop your life this moment, repent, and receive Jesus today?” I dare you to try this!
As the LORD uses each of us in our daily lives of following Him, things will happen at least a bit differently in every scenario. Of course, our LORD is in control, not us. Not long ago, while on a trip out of state, I was blessed to meet a 59 year old man who was not yet saved. He grew up Catholic and so never heard the true saving Gospel of the grace of God through Jesus Christ alone. He was searching and yet didn’t know how to get things right with God. We spoke for about an hour and a half the first time we met and let me tell you, it was an engaging conversation I shall never forget. Well, before I departed that day, after I had thoroughly preached the convicting law and the saving Gospel of Jesus to this precious man, I gave him a copy of the Born Again book which is a small and super potent soul-wining tool. The next day, I went to the same coffee shop and immediately upon arriving was approached by this same man who was now wearing a bright and beaming smile. He said “Hey Todd, I read that Born Again book last night. Then, at 2:30 A.M. I woke up and prayed the prayer in the last chapter!” He had marked the page where the prayer is to repent and be saved. So, then, with his copy of the Born Again book in one hand and grasping my hand in a firm handshake with his other hand, he said, “Sir, I wonder if you would allow me right now to pray this prayer in your presence?” I immediately said “yes, I’d be honored” and told him “that’s exactly what the LORD wants you to do. He wants you to confess Him before men. Jesus says ‘Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.’” (Luke 12:8-9)
Well, I was privileged to spend the rest of that week with this dear man, nearly daily. We were able to cover a lot of ground in those precious times of fellowship where the LORD was discipling him deeper each day in his new walk (Colossians 2:6-7). As the LORD allowed, we covered many Bible passages and questions he had about a variety of things in this life and the life to come. He was now full of peace, joy and love. It was obvious by his new found words, manner of speech, and demeanor, that this man’s life was changed – that he was now a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). This man and I talk by phone on a regular basis now as we have since we met. He is now following Christ. The fruit is evident.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. … 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-10, 13
Note again that “with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
The word “confess” appears 28 times in God’s Word and is usually used when people are instructed to confess sin and to confess the name of the LORD.
“Every tongue” will one day “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” and yet, for most, that will be as they are terminated into the lake of fire. Does this not make it more the reason we should seek to secure that confession now, before it’s too late?
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:11
“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15
“Phillip Ran” – Go Get Em!
Securing the confession of a truly convicted, repentant soul is key, that is, when the timing is right. This is what Philip did with the Ethiopian eunuch whom the LORD saved.
“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:30-31
Notice that “Philip ran” to help this man get saved. That’s certainly very different than preaching to someone and then letting them just go away into the darkness of this world. Right? Philip was diligent to help this seeking man get saved. And note that the unsaved man realized that he needed someone to help him – “How can I (understand), except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said (confessed), I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 8:35-37
Believing upon Christ by confessing Him as LORD is the prerequisite to being water baptized, otherwise water baptism is futile/useless. Water baptism is the public confession of one who has already repented and believed upon Christ unto salvation! So, before this Ethiopian was water baptized, what did Phillip tell him he must do? – believe with all his heart, right? Then the sinner confessed aloud with his mouth that “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” He was saved by the LORD at that moment.
Confession Seems Universally Important to Saints and Sinners Alike
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21
Whether we understand it or not, verbal confession is very important in the divine economy. Perhaps it’s more important or useful for the human confessing than it is important to God for His sake. What it does in the human when he confesses seems to be powerful. – “with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) In this disciple’s opinion, I believe that a type of legal right is given to the entity associated with the words of our mouths. Following the simple instruction of James 4:7, I have seen many precious saints delivered from bondage and sin due to freshly submitting to God, then resisting the devil, and watching the enemy flee by the power of Jesus’ name! This all transpires by verbal confession with words proceeding from the heart. This is in line with Hosea 14:1-2:
“O Israel (God’s people), return unto the LORD thy God (repentance); for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” Hosea 14:1-2
Also, how about factoring in the truth we have in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Jesus goes so far as to tell us that He will “deny” those who do not “confess” Him “before men.” Here’s His promise to “deny” those who refuse to “confess” Him in the presence of men:
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33
Knowing when the Iron is Hot
There’s a saying that speaks to the notion of seizing the moment (timing). The saying is “Strike while the iron’s hot.”
Before leading someone in repentance and their confession that Jesus Christ is LORD and that He rose from the dead, we must make sure the time is right. That is, that they are ready to repent and receive Jesus (John 1:12; Acts 20:21).
Discerning where a person is is important. Timing is everything as has been said.
“A wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.” Ecclesiastes 8:5
God is the only One who can save a soul and give the “increase” of salvation! And, He delights to do so. Watch here what the apostle Paul says of this:
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Most of the time we are sowing the Word in the hearts of men. Sometimes, it’s time for the harvest. May our LORD grant to our heart His discernment as to whether we are sowing into that person or that God is bringing the “increase” of His salvation – or both.
As we see here in this passage above, our LORD Jesus privileges us to be used in sowing the seed of His Word into the hearts of men. Those whom the LORD has saved “are ambassadors for Christ,” they are “a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Into our now regenerated lives, “all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
Walking in this new life and “ministry of reconciliation,” it’s important to realize that most of the time we are sowing the seed of divine truth while at other times and instances, we must be ready to pull the drowning sinner into the boat of Christ’s salvation.
I personally pray with people after communicating the law and Gospel to them to give their life to Christ when I perceive that they are:
- Convicted by the law
- Willing to repent and believe upon Christ
To the person who seems to realize that they are undone in sin before a holy God, I always ask them something like, “Are you willing to acknowledge to the LORD that you have violated God’s holy law, repent, and receive Jesus Christ today?”
Or,
“Is there any reason why you couldn’t admit to God what He already knows – that you are a sinner – and to repent and receive Christ?”
Question Received:
The “sinners’ prayer.” There are variations of it, but in a nutshell it involves confessing you are a sinner and asking for forgiveness from God. In your opinion, is this the point of salvation?
Reply:
Romans 10:9-10 … The mouth is important to God as it externalizes what’s in the heart (Matthew 12:34) and in their initial act of obedient repentance, one should with their own mouth confess Jesus Christ as their new LORD and outwardly/verbally acknowledge that He rose again from the dead. – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) In coming to Christ to be saved, that soul is repenting – turning their life over to the LORD, placing their full faith in Christ, the One who died and rose again to justify them (Acts 16:31; 20:21). Yes, if a sinner prays sincerely from the heart in repentance (turning their life to God), confessing Christ as the new LORD of their lives, believing He died for them and rose again, God is going to save them right then and there. That is according to His own Word of promise – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) So, praying with a sinner who is ready to repent and put his faith in Christ, is simply facilitating them calling “upon the name of the Lord” at which point the Word of God tells us that they “shall be saved.” I have personally seen hundreds of people genuinely saved this way. That is, people who went on to bear fruit in the LORD’s kingdom, something only possible by God’s saving grace.
This message was sent out to each person who is on our Moments For My Master email devotional list. We would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:6). Click here to Join.
—– MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“Hi brother, your posts about, not just telling people about Lord Jesus, but–*Regaining That Fervour*–to actually spend the time to try and bring people to the point of–*Surrendering Unto Christ*–has really inspired me, I actually prayed with a lady that comes to my apartment to do 1 hour of home duties, but instead, I saw–*pain & distress in her* and spent the whole hour testifying that–*Only Surrendering Unto Christ*–Can He help with the–*extreme distress in her life and actually got her to pray with me, for her to accept Christ–and she did–Hallelujah–Amen brother, amen. As you know, repentance is the must of the Gospel along with the “must” of being born again (John 3:3, 7 and Luke 13:3, 5). Unless I am missing something, repentance means coming to complete surrender of our will and lives to Christ. Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21, etc. God bless you brother. Thanks bro, keep up the–*Good Works For Christ*–Amen.” Paul, Australia
Easy Believism and the Sinner’s Prayer
Most who misuse or over emphasize a “sinner’s prayer” also teach the eternal security heresy. So it’s an easy in and guaranteed forever no matter how you live “salvation” which is completely foreign to Scripture.
Easy believism is a curse of the modern apostate church world to be avoided by all true disciples of Jesus. “Once saved always saved” or unconditional “eternal security” as it’s called, is another horrible and deceitful falsehood peddled by many false teachers. Most evangelicals are taught the lie that they are “once saved always saved” which is a notion that never appears verbatim or in concept in God’s Word as a doctrine taught by Christ or His holy apostles. To the contrary, Jesus and His apostles taught that the one whom Christ saves, must “endure to the end” to be saved into eternal glory or that person will lose out in the end and have a more excruciating eternal torment than the sinner who was never saved (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 25:1-13; Luke 8:13; Acts 14:22; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21, etc.). See the books Lie of the Ages and Soul Damning Sins.
William MacDonald apply captures this easy believism apostate phenomenon:
“We have oversimplified the gospel. The first fatal flaw is the missing emphasis on repentance. There can be no true conversion without conviction of sin…We sugar-coat the gospel when we de-emphasize man’s lost condition…It is useless to tell un-convicted sinners to believe on Jesus – that message is only for those who know they are lost. We have forgotten that the message is repentance toward God as well as faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. A second serious omission is a missing emphasis on the Lordship of Christ … A third defect in our message is our tendency to keep the terms of discipleship hidden until a decision has been made for Jesus. Our Lord never did this. The message He preached included the cross as well as the crown … We popularize the message and promise fun. The result of all this is that we have people believing without knowing what they believe (with) no doctrinal basis for their decision. They do not know the implications of commitment to Christ. They have never experienced the mysterious, miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration.” (Author’s emphasis) William MacDonald, Evangelical Dilemma, p. 4
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Apostasy
The Audacity of Defending the New Versions
The Promise of Divine Condemnation
for all who Dare Add to Or
Take Away from His Word
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (including the lake of fire).” Revelation 22:18-19
If you defend the new versions by attempting to detract from the King James Bible, please answer these simple questions:
4 SILENCING VERSES AND QUESTIONS – Here are the 5 verses I compare with people. There is rarely an argument when a King James and a new version are laid open and compared side by side. Watch this:
Matthew 17:21
(KJB) “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.“
(NIV) (whole verse omitted)
Removed in new versions because Satan didn’t want God’s people to know how to cast him out. And you agree with this?
Acts 8:37
(KJB) “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
(NIV) Removed in new versions because Satan didn’t want God’s people to know that water baptism doesn’t save anyone. One must first repent and believe on the LORD Jesus to be saved. Satan tries to confuse the salvation issue but “God …. is not the author of confusion.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
Romans 8:1
(KJB) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
(NIV) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
What’s missing? Half the verse is missing which is in the original Greek. Verses chopped in half because Satan wants believers to believe his ‘once saved always saved’ lie. And this is okay with you?
Colossians 1:14
(KJB) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
(NIV) “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.“
“Through his BLOOD” removed because the LORD Jesus is Satan’s enemy. And you side with Satan who’s removing Christ’s very blood from redemption and forgiveness of sins? Are you saying the LORD is a liar by agreeing that there is redemption outside of Christ’s blood? (Hebrews 9:22)
1 John 5:7-8
(KJB) “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. {8} And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.“
(NIV) “For there are three that testify: {8} the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.“
This is the clearest verse in the Bible on the triune nature of God. It’s all but removed from the new versions or neutered to mean nothing because Satan didn’t want God’s people to understand the nature of the Godhead. And you agree with Christ’s enemy on this?
Saints, never argue this topic, just show them. Write these verses above on a sticky and put them in your Bible. Memorize and cross-reference these references so you can be ready always to give an answer (1 Peter. 3:15). If someone can’t see the hand of the enemy here it’s due to their walking in darkness. This is why some don’t fear God and can’t see Christ’s truth and value it. Darkness due to sin is the root reason a person could crassly dismiss this diabolical travesty. You can’t argue someone into the truth. They must choose to repent – otherwise you will be talking to a brick wall of antichrist unbelief.
So Let’s Review:
Let’s see… How can you possibly justify “the blood” being removed from Colossians 1:14? How about the fact that the new versions chopped Romans 8:1 in half? That okay? Not with God (Revelation 22:18-19). How about the butchering of 1 John 5:7? You okay with the fact that Matthew 17:21 has been removed?
ANY person who has the ignorance and audacity to go so far as to defend the new per-versions of the “Bible,” is utterly in need of repentance.
Do the new versions not come from the same manuscripts as did the Jehovah’s Witness corrupted “bible”?
If you are reading a new version, you have a Vatican Bible. So sorry if this offends you friend …. it’s the undeniable historical fact. God bless us to know the LORD and to have His discernment lest we unknowingly walk in darkness.
“The Alexandrian minds believe the Bible is not perfect and can be improved by their great scholarship, but this is actually a spiritual illness of Egypt (Ex. 15:26). This terrible spiritual illness is called A.I.D.S. (Alexandrian Idiots Degrading Scripture). The Antiochan mentality believes the Bible is perfect and cannot be improved. God promised to preserve His inspired word (Ps. 12:6-7; Jer. 32:36) and the humble mind of the common man simply believes God (1 Thess. 2:13). Faith is simply believing what God says (Isa. 66:2; Acts 27:25; Rom. 10:17; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 11:1-6). THE ALEXANDRIAN CULT is ALL people who REJECT the FACT of the KJB being “THE” FINAL AUTHORITY; which means there is only “ONE” OBJECTIVE STANDARD OF TRUTH, NOT many! Because these people are afraid of there being an absolute TRUTH that will judge them. That means no loopholes, only conviction. This cult is people who use and support the new modern PERversions of the (b)ible (NIV, NASV, NKJV, TNIV,… ESV, and all others etc…)! THE ALEXANDRIAN CULT is anyone that doesn’t believe that the KJB is Inherent, Inerrant, Infallible, PERFECT, INSPIRED WORD OF GOD WITHOUT “ERRORS”! Brian Sirois
THE CREED OF THE ALEXANDRIAN CULT: (by Brian Sirois)
1. There is NO FINAL AUTHORITY but God.
2. Since God is a SPIRIT, there is NO FINAL AUTHORITY that can be seen, heard, read, felt or handled. …
3. Since all books are MATERIAL, there is NO BOOK ON THIS EARTH THAT IS THE FINAL AND ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY on what is right and what is wrong; what constitutes TRUTH and what constitutes ERROR.
4. There WAS a series of writings one time which, IF they had all been put into a BOOK as soon as they were written the first time, WOULD HAVE constituted an infallible and final authority by which to judge truth and error.
5. However, this series of writings was LOST, and the God Who inspired them was UNABLE TO PRESERVE THEIR CONTENT through Bible-believing Christians at Antioch (Syria), where the first Bible teachers were (Acts 13:1), and where the first missionary trip originated (Acts 13:1-6), and where the word “CHRISTIAN” originated (Acts 11:26).
6. So, God chose to ALMOST preserve them through Gnostics and philosophers from Alexandria, Egypt, even though God called HIS SON OUT of Egypt (Mat. 2), JACOB OUT of Egypt (Gen. 49), ISRAEL OUT of Egypt (Exod. 15), and JOSEPH’S BONES OUT of Egypt (Exod. 13).
7. So, there are two streams of Bibles: the most accurate – though, of course, there is NO FINAL, ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY FOR DETERMINING TRUTH AND ERROR: it is a matter of “preference” – are the Egyptian translations from Alexandria, Egypt, which are “almost the originals,” although NOT QUITE.
8. The most INACCURATE TRANSLATIONS were those that brought about the GERMAN REFORMATION (Luther, Zwingli, Boehler, Zinzendorf, Spener, etc.) and the worldwide MISSIONARY MOVEMENT of the English speaking people: the Bible that Sunday, Torrey, Moody, Finney, Spurgeon, Whitfield, Wesley, and Chapman used.
9. But we can “tolerate” these if those who believe in them will tolerate US. After all, since THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE AND FINAL AUTHORITY THAT ANYONE CAN READ, TEACH, PREACH, OR HANDLE, the whole thing is a matter of “PREFERENCE.” You may prefer what you prefer, and we will prefer what WE prefer: let us live in peace, and if we cannot agree on anything or everything, let us all agree on one thing: THERE IS NO FINAL, ABSOLUTE, WRITTEN AUTHORITY OF GOD ANYWHERE ON THIS EARTH.
That is the creed of the Alexandrian Cult.^^^ Brian S.
“KJB Only-ist” OR Honest Bible Student?
Most who read the KJB only do so out of conviction based on personal comparison and not out of preference or to belong to a certain group. Antagonists attempt to ridicule those Bible believers who have discernment and conviction and therefore read the KJB. Mock on.
People have become so delusional that they mock those who see the obvious, major doctrinal differences in the versions and read the KJB only. This alone demonstrates the impact of the new versions. In other words, just because you see the corruptions in the new versions and so read the real English Bible, you are mocked. Rejoice.
Since they have no other leg to stand on, some unrepentant defenders of the new versions want to try to demonize those who can see clearly enough to see that the new versions are corrupt.
To see the purity of the KJB and the corruptions of the new versions is simply being an astute, honest student of the LORD…. whereby the enemy and his works are discerned. That makes you Christ’s disciple not a “KJB onlyist.” Let’s just talk the truth instead of trying to classify people who see these things.
The unfathomable audacity of those who defend the corrupt new versions is mind boggling until you realize that it’s a spiritual matter. They are walking in darkness, blinded by “the god of this world” who is Satan himself, the author of those new versions they defend (2 Corinthians 4:4). I’m speaking of those who still defend the new versions after being clearly shown that 1) It’s okay to remove the very “blood” of Jesus from salvation (Col. 1:14), to 2) remove the clearest verse in God’s Word testifying to His triune nature (1 John 5:7), 3) to say that it’s just important to be in Christ once and no need to continue in the spirit and not the flesh (Rom. 8:1), and 4) that fasting and prayer are not important even though Jesus says they are (Matt. 17:21).
COMMON EXCUSE FROM SKEPTICS:
QUESTION RECEIVED:
“Most KJB Only Christians appear to be legalistic. Explain?”
REPLY:
Hi David. Some of those who use the new versions are rabid fanatics about them and appear legalistic also. In the opinion of many, some of the new version readers simply are what Jude calls lascivious – they like fables – stories, fairytales (Jude 3-4). Many KJB-only folk are simply God-fearing, have looked into this matter, and therefore have His discernment to see the hand of the enemy in the new versions …. which is more than obvious. Those who insist upon the King James Bible and have no respect for the perversion counterfeits only appear to be legalistic due to the lack of understanding of those who would surmise such and due to Satan’s impressions upon their own darkened minds. A simple comparison of verses between the KJB and the new versions leaves no question of the diabolical origins of the new versions … nothing else needed except a truly repentant heart for God …..
The fact that there are significant doctrinal differences in the King James Bible and the new versions is what’s at question. The scapegoat of some is to try to stereotype those who have a bit of discernment and therefore see these differences. Of course, many have not looked into the matter enough to see the blaring differences. This is something one should do before weighing in on this important matter. | Compare This!
EXCUSE:
“Oh but the Bible was originally written in Greek and Hebrew.”
REPLY:
Yes and God has kept His Word to translate it into our language (Ps. 12:6-7). The idea that God somehow dropped the ball after the original manuscripts borders on a blasphemous indictment against the Almighty and seems to make excuse for us to live any way we wish since the insinuation is that we really don’t have His pure Word. Nonsense. If such were the case that makes Jesus’ words null and void when He said “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”(Matthew 4:4) And “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luke 4:4) After all, how are we supposed to live according to “every word of God” if we really don’t have God’s pure Word? Did the LORD lie to us when He promised to “preserve” His Word to us? (Psalms 12:6-7) Will you call the LORD a liar? The devil himself has done a number on many. There was only the need for one English Bible and that was complete in the KJB. The new versions are a greed-driven, money-making scam and those peddling their poisonous wares have duped many and made a fortune doing so. Was this not foretold? – “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (secretly) shall bring (slip) in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And MANY shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (2 Peter 2:1-3)
SOME SPOUT:
“Well the KJB wasn’t the first English Bible:
REPLY:
True. There were 6 English versions leading up to the 7th (which means completion), the KJB. This fulfills Psalms 12:6-7 which states “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” …… “tried” and “purified” (perfected) how many times? – “seven times.”
ANOTHER ERRONEOUS IDEA:
“But you have to learn Hebrew and Greek and have a Greek and Hebrew Bible.”
REPLY:
I have a Greek Interlinear Bible. Yet we have God’s Word in our own language and Jesus says that the divine Person of the Holy Spirit is our teacher, not the original language. See John 14:26; 16:13; 1 John 2:20, 27.
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“But my child can’t learn the KJB.”
REPLY:
Hi. I taught my son the KJB from birth and he had no problem at all understanding it because of the Holy Spirit and the self-interpretive nature of the King James Bible. Memorize and believe Psalms 119:105 and Isaiah 55:11. Gail Riplinger’s book titled “In Awe of Thy Word” is a masterpiece on this topic and much more.
SMOKESCREENS:
To cover for your favorite little fairy tale “bible,” you cast doubt on the preserved word of God by pretending to correct it? Where is the fear of God in your heart?
Wescott and Hort
If you are reading a fake “bible” ….
2 Wicked Ungodly men – Wescott and Hort – participated in the corrupting of those manuscripts from which those new “bibles” come.
Without the slightest apology to anyone, I, with hundreds of thousands of Christ’s disciples today, have no respect for the NIV, NASB, ESV, or any other Wescott and Hort perversion of Satan that charlatans have sought to pawn off on the gullible. If you read a new version of the Bible, consider this:
***WOULD YOU read a “bible” by men who said this concerning the Scriptures?:
“I reject the word infallibility of Holy Scriptures overwhelmingly.” (Westcott, The Life and Letters of Brook Foss Westcott, Vol. I, p.207).
“Our Bible as well as our Faith is a mere compromise.” (Westcott, On the Canon of the New Testament, p. vii).
“Evangelicals seem to me perverted. . .There are, I fear, still more serious differences between us on the subject of authority, especially the authority of the Bible.” (Hort, The Life and Letters of Fenton John Anthony Hort, Vol. I, p.400)
“Dr. Wilbur Pickering writes that, Hort did not hold to a high view of inspiration.” (The Identity of the New Testament Text, p.212)
Perhaps this is why both the RV (which Westcott and Hort helped to translate) and the American edition of it, the ASV, translated 2nd Timothy 3:16 as, “Every scripture inspired of God” instead of “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (KJB).
If you are reading a new version “bible” it came directly from the work of these wicked, unsaved men.
ALL new “bible” versions come from the corrupted manuscripts which were perverted by these two evil men, Wescott and Hort.
To realize through simple, personal comparison that the new versions are perverted and the KJB is God’s pure Word is not arrogance. It’s actually arrogance to READ the very significant differences, to see the removal and twisting of cardinal divine truth and then try to defend it.
Don’t Like Talking About This? Why Not?
—-IS THERE NOT A CAUSE? My big QUESTION is how in the world can a true follower of Christ not stand and condemn these perversions???? Forget how pure the King James Bible is or is not …. these new per-versions are nothing less than diabolically inspired. I am amazed at how some subtly attempt to cast doubt on the real Bible and simultaneously defend the new versions of the Bible. It’s certainly not the divine Person of the Holy Spirit inspiring someone to cast doubt on His Word (KJB) and defend satanic corruptions. Shannon Cook notes: “They have bought into this lie: “Yea, hath God said?” (Gen 3:1) And this one: “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be [like] the most High.” (Isaiah 14:14) Wanting to be gods themselves, therefore ignorant of the salvation unto Christ alone.”
Satan is still doing the same thing and using “Christians” to help his cause. Find out here why so many remnant believers are trashing their new versions for the real Bible.
Shannon Cook aptly exposes the work of Satan:
“John 1:14 tells us “And the Word (capital letter W) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Now, remove words, (modern translations) and the serpent attempts to remove the very deity of Jesus Christ. HELLO!
“How does a man live not on bread alone, but by [every word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4), when devils, through modern translations and versions are working overtime to blind and bind the bride of Christ, through these modern (per)versions?
Perhaps the main reason many members of the body of Christ have not a love for the truth is because so much has been removed?
And they know not the truth because they don’t study to show themselves approved unto God.
How is it that the bride shall live by [every word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of God when they’ve embraced doctrines of devils? (1 Timothy 4:1)” Shannon Cook
Note:
God’s Word is “quick (alive, living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword” … “For the word of God is quick (alive, living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Satan’s little plastic butter knives (NIV, NASB, ESV, etc.) are fairytale, mythical stories basically …. neutered of divine potency …. why do you think that the witches, warlocks and all satanists hate the KJB? Is that a clue as to who the father/author of the new versions is?
This is a fascinating topic. Are There Significant Differences in the Bible Versions?
Personally, I don’t want to waste time on folks that are going to argue to defend the very work of Satan and then try to turn it around on those who believe God kept His Word to preserve His Word (Psalms 12-6-7). If after being shown the clear and large, significant differences in the version and still arguing to defend them, I am done … with folk like that. Those who defend the work of Satan obviously belong to him. Of these religiously cloaked devils, Jesus says “Ye are of your father the devil.” (John 8:44)
Speaking to the religious leaders of His day and our day, Jesus says:
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44
Shannon Cook notes:
“The KJB is the inerrant Word of God. God preserves His Word. Psalms 12:6,7; Deuteronomy 4:1,2; Proverbs 30:5,6; Mark 13:31; Revelation 22:18,19. Man however, and modern “translations” are fallible. We believe that the writers of the KJB (not version) were in fact carried along by the Holy Ghost.
We’re also inspired to believe this way. No righteousness of ours, but of the Christ.
Look at the Bible boom just within the last few decades. Amazing! Just in time for the end of the age. The deception age that we’ve been warned about!” Shannon Cook
This is a fascinating topic. Are There Significant Differences in the Bible Versions? << This is SafeGuardYourSoul’s main page on Bible Versions.
Lineage of the Modern Corrupt Versions
The Message “Bible” Exposed | Bible Versions Category
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Abiding
“They that are Christ’s” [podcast]
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
We “fight” by dying and not by rising up:
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12).
When we die downward, Christ, who is “the resurrection and the life” raises our lives upward, in His infinite divine power to glorify Him (John 11:25). This is exactly how our LORD Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave!
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Hebrews 2:14
You may be wondering why you haven’t overcome sin. Here’s how to overcome sin – and beware of those not preaching this cross! (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 2:20; 5:34, etc.).
“He that is dead (crucified with Christ) is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
Read that again!
No one is “freed from sin” until they are “dead” – crucified with Christ.
The truly God-fearing man realizes his utter need for the grace of Christ. He realizes that he must continue, to abide in Christ, to “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12). He views salvation as a present reality and responsibility—to remain in an intimate, abiding relationship with Christ (John 15:1-16); Colossians 2:6-7).
Those who don’t walk in the cross lifestyle, will revert to type— sinful type.
The authentic disciple builds his whole life around the Bible, the cross and the throne of God (Jeremiah 17:12; Hebrews 4:14-16).
WHEN our love for God is supreme, we will daily seek Him.
When we are hungering and thirsting after His righteousness, He is filling us with His overcoming, victorious grace (Matthew 5:6).
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27
WHATEVER you do, never get away from the cross message – the crucified life Jesus calls every one who will be His to.
Many fancy their devotion to very intelligent men in ministry and yet, only God knows what’s in their hearts. Having mega intellectual knowledge, understanding and the ability to articulate, in no way means a man is crucified with Christ. And if he’s not “crucified with Christ” he’s not overcoming sin – which means he’s living in sin.
“He that is dead (crucified with Christ) is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
The Only Solution to Man’s Sin [podcast]
Prayer: I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ that liveth in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at the STORE page and amazon. English and Spanish.
The Only Solution to Man’s Sin [podcast]
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Abiding
The LORD Desires to Completely CLEAR You!
The LORD Desires to Completely CLEAR You!
The reason God gave His only begotten Son was to clear you of all your sin in His regeneration, to bring you into His eternal family for fellowship with Him.
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3
When God clears a man at the moment of salvation or thereafter, so should we! When any man truly repents there will be definite fruit to prove it. When one obeys sound biblical doctrine the result will always be that he will bring forth fruit to demonstrate he truly repented, and is cleared by the LORD and must be cleared by us. After the fornicator in the church of Corinth repented, he was cleared and the LORD, through Paul, instructed the believers in that assembly to forgive, clear, and love him.
“So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.” 2 Corinthians 2:7-8
Remember this from the prodigal son parable our LORD taught us?
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance … 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:7, 10
When someone returns to the LORD from sin, regardless of their past, with or without Christ, there is great celebration in Heaven and should be also among the saints of Christ on the earth.
A fresh reading of Luke 15 is highly recommended where Jesus gives us 3 parables to teach the restorative love of God!
WATCH THIS: When we repent we openly renounce and are clear…. God is good.
Godly Sorrow brings the blessings of God and a clearing of past sin.
“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what CLEARING OF YOURSELVES, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be CLEAR in this matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:11
Example: Remember how the fornicator in 1 Corinthians 5 was turned over to Satan and then repented and God cleared Him? Read 2 Corinthians 2 for the “CLEARING.” In this verse above, Paul is addressing this very issue and the sorrow, diligent obedience, and consequent “CLEARING” the Corinthian saints experienced. First they allowed the fornicator to function in their midst whereas Paul had to come in and instruct them to turn the transgressor over to Satan (1 Corinthians 5). Then, as a result, the backslider repented.
“He says, what clearing of yourselves. This does not mean that they tried to justify or excuse themselves, but rather that by taking resolute action, they tried to clear themselves of any further guilt or blame in the matter. Their change in attitude led to this change in action. What indignation may refer to their attitude toward the sinner because of the reproach he brought on the name of Christ. But more probably it refers to their attitude toward themselves for ever having allowed such a thing to go on for so long without taking action on it. Paul then adds: In all things you ‘ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.’ Of course, we are not to understand by this that they were never to blame, but simply that they had done everything they could to take the proper action and to act as they should have acted in the first place.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
“Clearing of yourselves – From either sharing in, or approving of, his sin. Indignation – That ye had not immediately corrected the offender. Fear – Of God’s displeasure, or lest I should come with a rod. Vehement desire – To see me again. Zeal – For the glory of God, and the soul of that sinner. Yea, revenge – Ye took a kind of holy revenge upon yourselves, being scarce able to forgive yourselves. In all things ye – As a church. Have approved yourselves to be pure – That is, free from blame, since ye received my letter.” John Wesley
“In all things, etc. – In the whole of your conduct in this affair since ye have received my letter, ye have approved yourselves to be clear, ἁγνους; not only to be clear of contumacy and obstinate persistence in your former conduct, but to have done all in the compass of your power to rectify the abuses which had crept in among you. The Corinthians were not clear, i.e. innocent or void of blame in the fact, but they were clear of all blame in their endeavors to remove the evil.” Adam Clarke
The Corinthian saints repented, obeyed God by turning the unrepentant sinner in their midst over to Satan, and were then forgiven and cleared of their sin of allowing the un-repentant fornicator to remain in their company (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2 and 7).
Today, is the LORD showing you something in your life that you must turn back over to Satan where it came from – to rid your heart, your life of a sin?
Interestingly, this 2 Corinthians 7 chapter begins with this:
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
When we simply agree with the LORD, His Word, and turn to Him afresh and away from what He calls sin, confessing it to Him for what it is, He will immediately forgive us and promises to grant us a clearing, a clear conscience.
“Now the end (chief purpose) of the commandment (written Word) is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” 1 Timothy 1:5
The LORD made it clear that He intends for His children to be possessed with a clear conscience which is a gift He alone provided through the perfect sacrifice of His only begotten Son.
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14
“A disciplined conscience is a man’s best friend. It may not be his most amiable, but it is his most faithful monitor.” Austin Phelps
Have you ever had a past sin nag you for many years after you committed and even confessed and were forgiven for it?
WHEN we DO what is right, then and only then do we have the bless-ed confirmation of a clear conscience. AND, doing what’s right begins with re-turning, turning afresh to our LORD and confessing all sin.
“God is greater than our heart”
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” 1 John 3:18-21
In fellowshipping with other men who serve our LORD, I’ve often heard them say how that sins they committed in the past still bother them in a hindering way. Yet, we know that God knows all these things and “is greater than our heart” and provided a complete salvation through the blood of His only begotten Son!
“WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3
Even though 90% of today’s pastors prove themselves to be false by never mentioning this, we must never ever lose sight of the truth that God is “Holy, holy, holy” and He commands us to “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8).
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Are we presently allowing sin in our own lives, including keeping company with someone who claims to be Christ’s and yet is living in sin? Are you in need of doing an inventory check on your current friends – namely those who name Jesus as their Savior? Read this unchanging divine truth and note the many specific sins listed here:
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
When we truly repent and obey the counsel, the Word of God, only then will we be cleared in conscience and before God and His people. True repentance always, without exception, brings forth a changed life – a life set apart to the LORD (Matthew 3:7-10; Luke 19:1-10).
The fact that our LORD is correcting us today clearly proves how much He loves us. When the LORD points out our sin, it’s because He loves us, He wants us to repent, to return to Him, agree with Him, and depart from that sin. This is all so He can clear us!
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19
Refreshing Always Follows Fresh Repentance
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Read 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Corinthians 2 and 7.
Yes, we’ve all been hurt by others and we have also hurt others, right? Let’s take accountability for our own evil and watch what God does. Blaming others without taking the blame due to us is a deep, endless ditch.
This morning I prayed “LORD, if I have angered or hurt someone, anyone, please let it be revealed so that amends can be made, in Jesus’ name, amen Father.”
In this passage below, our LORD is addressing being easily angered as well as making amends when we intentionally or unintentionally have harmed another.
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly…” Matthew 5:22-25
PRAYER: My Father in Heaven, I come to You now on the sole basis of the holy name and blood of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Here and now I ask You LORD to convict, grant repentance, and complete clearing of any and all sin in my life. Please sanctify my life dear LORD. LORD Jesus thank You for dying on that cross, shedding Your precious blood for all my sins. Please bless me with a oneness with You and the Father and a clear conscience. Be glorified in my life dear LORD. I love You LORD Jesus. Amen.
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