(Bible Question) Just thought I'd let you know the pastor of the Nazarene Church I've been going to went way off the reservation this past Sunday so I sent him a quite lengthy e-mail pointing out his error. He started out by saying wish-washy Christians don't get respect in the world, but strong Christians the world respects! As you know he's got it backwards, it's the wishy-washy folks that bend under pressure and go along with the world and get the respect, and the opposite if you stand strong. His two examples of “strong Christians” were Mother Teresa, and Billy Graham! Then he closed out the section by reading something from Chuck Swindoll! I was just flabbergasted. Now it might be that he doesn't know Billy Graham is a universalist, or that Chuck Swindoll is an extreme once saved always saved gospel in sin preacher, but to hold up a well known catholic as a strong Christian, well, it just boggles the mind. And of course all her extreme universalist beliefs, and letting thousands die without preaching Christ, it's simply sickening.( I found your new Mother Teresa article after I started writing this letter.) I pointed out that these three people were Loved and respected by the world not because they were strong Christians, but because they preach(ed) a false misleading gospel. I started out the letter saying how disheartened I was, and I am. Where are the real men of God!? I'm just really finding my way with the Lord after seven years of attempting to follow him. It's just discouraging to realize how worldly and lost most of the pastors I've come into contact this past year are. I'm starting to realize with some alarm how few Christians are walking around today.
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. The Nazarene denomination has been in serious trouble over problems such as what you cited for a long time. It is very sad. They officially are to stand against eternal security but have these other lethal problems too. If I were you I would leave that congregation which is under the adverse influence of that savage wolf in sheep's clothing IMMEDIATELY. For you to support him financially is to share in his WICKED WORK.
It is also sad to cite any person, rather than a Biblical character, for a teaching, especially of a “strong Christian.” Many don't recognize an endorsement of mother Teresa is also an endorsement of Catholicism. That is HORRIBLE since over 1 billion people are going to hell through this idolatrous false religious system.
There are VERY FEW real Christians and MUCH FEWER sound congregations. Many can't find anything.... GOD BLESS YOU. Heb. 3:14.
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(Bible Question) After much prayer and your ministry continuing to open my eyes to the one and only true Gospel I have decided to leave my church. I was being prepared for the ministry even to be placed in a church as a pastor, but I continued to visit your site and the WORD began to pierce my heart and tear down the prosperity doctrine that was being filtered into my spirit. My questions of holiness and true brotherly love never seemed to be answered. To preach JESUS was not often heard except when I was given the opportunity to bring a message. My question is. Should I set up to meet with my former Pastor and tell him exactly why I am pulling my family from his congregation? Do you think it is possible for him to receive it?...THANKS AND GOD BLESS
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. Sorry for the problems, but rejoicing that you and your family are leaving that congregation. It is to your GREAT SPIRITUAL ADVANTAGE. The prosperity teaching or gospel of greed focuses on the material and temporal with very little emphasis on the eternal such as holy living, soul winning, sacrificing for the cause of God, etc.
Your former pastor would lose much if he changed. In fact, he'd probably lose his church and friends! Hence, there is little chance that he would change, but it is still possible. Rather than trying to help him (which is probably impossible) try to help people in the congregation sitting under his teachings to learn the truth. They would be much more open.
For you to make such a stand for truth is very commendable. May God help you and lead you in the right direction in this DARK and APOSTATE day. The average congregation is filled with sin (especially adultery over illegitimate “marriages” and lust) and various false teaching, with eternal security being one of the worst. Remember to draw near to God and he'll draw near to you. GOD BLESS YOU. 1 Tim. 4:16.
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(Bible Question) Ray [Comfort] has been using the phrase “Soundly Saved” to replace the words Eternal Security or OSAS … it makes it sound friendly and more acceptable to those.
The term Soundly Saved…sounds wonderful…right…but I believe it is the devils way to bring more lies and deception to cover up for this false teaching…please teach on this and let everyone know this…Thank you and keep up the great work. God Bless you
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. Ray Comfort is a slick teacher. After teaching “Hell's Best Kept Secret” and it being circulated for many years, and after we exposed Comfort from that teaching as being an eternal security teacher, he contacted us to tell us he'd remove that section from that tape! The problem is: Comfort himself would still believe in once saved always saved even though the tape was edited. That's the problem. Because he believes in THE HERESY, he can never teach as the Bible does about a righteous person dying spiritually through sin, even though this is all over the Scriptures.
Comfort also has much money and many people to help him spread his message of: “Are you a good person?” or “false convert ” or as you stated “soundly saved.” Regardless how he words it, he is teaching dangerously and will not change. He tries to teach holy living, but his belief in eternal security blocks him every time. We have had correspondence with him to no avail.
It is shocking to us how many people who reject eternal security defend Comfort, spread his message and support his ministry! His tracts that look like money might be unique, but they are weak and not what people need. Unsaved people don't need another gimmick. They need the plain facts. Thanks for bringing this to light. GOD BLESS YOU. 1 Tim. 4:16.
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(Bible Question) I need help! I was saved in _____ and soon married, he was previously married and they had a child together. I met someone on a forum and left my husband for him, which I now know was a huge sin. I made the excuse that he was still married to his previous wife when I left him, but before I married my present husband, my previous husband told me that she was married before she married him, but even knowing this I got married again anyway. I've sort the Lord with tears over what to do about this, but I still don't know. If I could go back in time I would have never done it. I'm so ashamed of myself. The worst thing is that the assembly I go to to don't know the situation that I'm in and I feel like a liar and really guilty every time I have fellowship with them. My husband says they wouldn't understand and it might even get out a ruin our testimony. I've repented as far as praying for the Lord's forgiveness on this matter, but still feel huge guilt. I really do regret my actions, SO much, but I don't know what to do. Am I in perpetual adultery? Others say no and that if I leave my husband that I would be sinning all over again. Does divorce separate or am I still married to my previous husband. I really do love the Lord, you may think that I don't but I do and I don't want to carry on sinning. I know that the Lord Jesus Christ died and shed his precious blood for me and that he rose again the third day and is seated on the right hand of the Father in heaven, just incase you thought I didn't have the real thing to start with. I do not know why I did this terrible thing and truly regret my actions. I don't know what to do, if you can help please reply to this email.
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. You are one of a LARGE MULTITUDE of church people who have been divorced and/or married a person who was divorced. It is probably because you are reading your Bible that you wonder if you are an “adulterer” in God's eyes and consequently on the road to hell or not. Some cases of divorce and so-called “remarriage” are easy to detect as ADULTERY, some are not as easy. There are people who think all 100% of the people who “remarry” if your spouse is still alive is “adultery.” The best way for you to know what to do is to carefully read the New Testament for yourself and change accordingly. Do NOT go by what the church people tell you. Go by the Bible.
BTW, the reason many so-called “pastors” (or ministry leaders) would never tell you what you just read is because, chances are he/they too are divorced and/or married a person who is divorced! Another reason is: there is also typically a large percentage of people in the congregation (or audience) who are divorced and remarried. Such a message would cause some to leave. Such teachers are not serving God by teaching the Bible truth [for souls to be helped], but instead their own little personal short-lived kingdom. May God reveal the truth to you in a plain and clear manner. GOD BLESS YOU.
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(Bible Question) Hi and God Bless you for your work on trying to clarify this issue [of eternal security]. I have never really decided to make a stand one way or another but have leaned toward your Biblical decision. Your arguments are strong and I am no where near studied enough to give you a debate. After reading some of your rebuttals on Once Saved Always Saved I still have a question then, giving full authority to the Scriptures such as ...
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal 5:19-21).
but then were would even the Apostle Paul fit in as he stated....
7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual – but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. 21 7:15 For I don't understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want – instead, I do what I hate. 22 7:16 But if I do what I don't want, I agree that the law is good. 23 7:17 But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me. 7:18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. 24 7:19 For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! ...
So if even Paul could not always control his body and fall into sin how can we(or I) not fall into sinful actions? ...I guess our eternal security as with Paul's stand with his pen guided by the Holy Spirit.
7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ...8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.(NET version)
Seems that with all said,I answered my own question, (if there even was a question) that as long as one is “in” Christ Jesus, even if we are not perfect examples, we can count on Him to be in front of the Father defending us. But isn't that awfully close to OSAS?...
Not really sure I am ready for your answer, nor am I 100% positively stating that I will accept your answer as 100% correct. However, I suppose, anything that leads me closer to the Lord will be beneficial. So...if you have time, feel free to respond. All Thanks and Praise to our Lord Jesus
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. Please please do NOT be deceived into believing the once saved always saved teaching that Rom. 7:14-25 is Paul as a Christian. It is the sinful nature personified as v. 18 says. If it was the Apostle Paul, then he CONTINUOUSLY did “EVIL” and not the good he wanted to do (Rom. 7:19)! Does that line up with the rest of the New Testament? NEVER. Paul was holy, righteous and blameless (1 Thess. 2:10), made his body his slave and brought it into subjection (1 Cor. 9:27), pure (1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Cor. 6:4-6), etc. He CONSTANTLY did good! He OBEYED, as Christians do. He followed Jesus.
The eternal security teachers, though popular, are speaking for the devil. They are leading MULTITUDES to hell with their counterfeit grace and false gospel. Do NOT be deceived.
Your comment about Rom. 7:14-25 as taught by the wolves is cited below:
“So if even Paul could not always control his body and fall into sin how can we (or I) not fall into sinful actions?”
Your conclusion is logical and valid. That is why, in part, the eternal security teachers are so dangerous. IF Rom. 7:14-25 was the “normal Christian life,” then we will all be sinning all the time and NO PERSON would ever “OBEY” and have SALVATION (Heb. 5:9). Ponder this passage too:
We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:3,4)
Hence, are you going to believe the Bible or the DEADLY interpretation of Rom. 7:14-25 given by the Calvinists that Paul was the chief of sinners? From your own self-description you need to repent. Also, we have a weekly internet church. Please read our special article entitled, Form Of Godliness. Please also consider getting our 801 page NO eternal security book entitled, The Believer's Conditional Security. There is MUCH in it that can help you better understand this salvation related subject. That Christian book is the most exhaustive and comprehensive refutation to eternal security ever written. Remember Gal. 6:8,9 is a SALVATION passage not a rewards passage. GOD BLESS YOU.
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