EO Responds To
Emails 07-26-09
(EMAIL) The bottom line in eternal security is does Jesus save, or do we save ourselves? If we believe that Jesus completed the work on the cross, then our acceptance of that work saves us. If it does not, then we have to work hard to save ourselves. Why did he bother to suffer excruciating pain and humility if we still need to work for our salvation? (And that is exactly what we do when we try to follow God so we don't 'fall away'). No, instead our works follow salvation because now we have the mind and heart of Christ. Our desires change and we choose to serve him because we are now new creatures in Christ.
(RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ name. The bottom line in eternal security (es) is: that doctrine flatly denies that a righteous person can die spiritually. In other words, es sides with the devil and his destructive lie in Gen. 3:4 and rejects God’s word in Gen. 2:17. That heresy has NOTHING to do with Jesus’ death on the cross. As Christians who hate the damnable heresy of es and will fight it till our last breath, we believe that we are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8,9) but we can fall from grace (Gal. 5:2-4). We are justified by faith (Rom. 5:1) but our faith can become shipwrecked (1 Tim. 1:19,20) and cease to exist (Lk. 8:13; Rom. 11:19-23). We are not under the law (Rom. 6:14,15) but if you live according to the sinful nature you will die (Rom. 8:13). Paul taught against legalism (Gal. 5:3,4) but he also taught that no immoral, impure or greedy person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God (Eph. 5:5-7). We are not saved by works (Eph. 2:8,9) but to reap eternal life and not destruction you must sow to please the Spirit and not the sinful nature (Gal. 6:8,9). God is faithful to us (1 Jn. 1:9; 1 Cor. 10:13) but we must be faithful to him to the very end of our lives to escape the lake of fire or second death (Rev. 2:10,11). God surely loves us (Jn. 3:16; Mk. 10:21; Rom. 8:35-39) but those who inherit the kingdom of God love God (Jam 2:5; 1 Cor. 2:9) and to love God means to obey his commands (Jn. 14:15; 1 Jn. 5:3). We have freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1) but this freedom is not to indulge the sinful nature (Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet 2:16).
You would probably view Peter and Paul as being somewhat misinformed:
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” (Acts 2:40)
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Rom 6:22)
Did Peter and Paul reject Jesus saves from their above teachings, according to your logic?
Please consider getting our 801 page book refuting eternal security entitled, “The Believer’s Conditional Security.” There is MUCH in it that can help you better understand this salvation related subject. http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/whatsnew.htm This book is the most exhaustive and comprehensive refutation to eternal security ever written. It has never been refuted and never will, even though thousands of Baptists ministers have it!
Please consider signing up for our weekly email teachings, updates, etc. If interested, you can do that here http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/contact.htm
Remember Gal. 6:8,9 is a SALVATION passage not a rewards passage. GOD BLESS YOU.
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(EMAIL) I want to discuss Genesis 38. Let me start at the beginning. In verses 1-3 it talks about taking Tamar as a wife. The problem with this is it doesn’t consider her feelings or her will; it talks about her as a slave without any free will. We often say Jesus doesn’t change yesterday, today or tomorrow, but in reality could you ever imagine Jesus condoning this? But it gets much worse…
Judah commanded his second son, Onan, to sleep with Tamar. He disobeyed and God slew him. What happened to Thou shalt not kill? Could you ever imagine in a million years Jesus doing this? Remember John the Baptist was killed, ultimately for saying Herod was sleeping with his brother’s wife?
A Levirate marriage was inaugurated in Deuteronomy 25, but how is this even remotely moral? The fact that Judah visited a prostitute, Tamar in disguise, was commonplace in Israel. No one was surprised. No one was reprimanded. God didn’t even mention the fact of going to a prostitute. Why?
Judah was deceitful with Tamar. (What happened to Thou shalt not lie?) In response Tamar was deceitful to Judah. She slept with her father-in-law. THAT IS JUST EVIL! When they told Judah that Tamar was pregnant he wanted to kill her until he found out it was his offspring. How hypocritical can one be?
People who preach from Genesis 38 totally ignore these obvious facts. If they focused on that it would give a totally new interpretation of the character of God. Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying God is not righteous. What I am saying is how is it possible to read these things and not even think about they really mean? I believe that most people go through life in a daze. They say they believe Christ but they don’t have the foggiest idea of what they really believe. Please help me understand this.
(RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ name. You wrote twice, “please help me understand.” After carefully reading your email, you are not asking questions, but seemingly making FALSE conclusions based on your misunderstandings. Your email resembles that of an atheist or agnostic. (We’ve gotten them in the past too.) Hopefully, you will ponder the below message.
Gen. 38 shows that Judah married a Canaanite woman and had three sons: Er, Onan and Shelah. Judah got a wife for Er named Tamar. Because Er was wicked God killed him so his brother (Onan) was responsible under laws then (v. 8 cf. Dt. 25) to have children with Tamar. Onan disobeyed and he died too. Over time, Judah’s last son (Shelah) was never told, as Onan was, to have children with Tamar, which was Judah’s fault (v. 26). Tamar then disguised herself as a shrine prostitute and had sex with Judah without him knowing who she really was. She got pregnant by Judah. Three months later, when it was apparent she was pregnant, she said the father was Judah. Just before that Judah wanted to have Tamar burned to death for prostitution. Tamar had twins.
Jesus doesn’t change, but his ways of dealing with people does. Women were given in marriage by their father’s back then. That is the way it was. God killed Er and Onan. God has killed MANY people for wickedness in the Bible. God didn’t violate the command, “Thou shalt not MURDER.” The KJV has “kill,” which is a poor translation. God had the Israelites kill many people, but it wasn’t a violation of Ex. 20:13 not to “murder.”
(Onan had sex with Tamar, but not to obey the Dt. 25 command he was under. It was sin for him and he died. That is somewhat similar (but different) from the sin Herod was committing with his brother’s wife, who didn’t die. He was still alive, but divorced. Herod was in adultery.)
We aren’t given MANY details in the Bible sometimes. Why the details aren’t cited about Judah visiting a prostitute is just one. Tamar’s sin was EVIL too and the details are not all cited there either.
The character of God remains the same. He is righteous, holy and a TESTING God. Now is our time of TESTING. Hopefully this helps. God has given us enough to know his will. He has also given us free will to obey or disobey. Hopefully, in the end, you’ll have passed the TEST.
Please consider signing up for our email teachings, updates, etc. If interested, you can do that here http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/contact.htm
God bless you. Heb. 3:14.
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(EMAIL) Instead of you nit picking about the NWT on every little thing, is it or is it not good translation? Gods sheep could care less about what school you went to or your philosophy just answer the question
(RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ name. The New World Translation (NWT) used by the Jehovah’s Witnesses is one of the WORST translations anyone could ever read! If you have one, please destroy it so no one will examine it and get deceived. For more info, read this http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/nwt.htm
Do you have true Biblical salvation? http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/salvationps.htm
Please consider signing up for our email teachings, updates, etc. If interested, you can do that here http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/contact.htm
GOD BLESS YOU. John 4:10.
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(EMAIL) Greetings, I wonder if Catholics, who call Jesus' mother "the virgin Mary" ever stop to consider that after the birth of Jesus, she went on to have other children the "normal" way thus no longer being a virgin? And after Jesus' crucifiction, where Jesus said to John "behold thy mother" she was no longer in effect even Jesus' mother! Keep up the fight for truth,
(RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ name.... Catholics deny that Mary ever had any other children and even refuse she had sexual relations with her husband. The Scripture which refers to Jesus’ brothers and sisters in Mt. 13:55-57 is clear, but their church tradition has blinded them to the obvious. One of the best Scriptures to refute their fabricated Mary being “ever Virgin” is Mt. 1:25:
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Mat 1:24,25)
But for most Catholics the clarity of that and many other verses doesn’t matter. Their desire is to please Catholic mom and dad and not “go over board.” Such fail the test, according to Mt. 10:34-39. One must love truth to have salvation and God.
The reason Jesus said to John, “behold your mother” is because he wanted John to take care of Mary as though she was his mother in the natural. Later, however, in Acts we read where he was no longer doing this.
The Catholic church has fabricated a Mary over the centuries which is now the sinless and sovereign Queen of heaven (imagine that!), refuge of sinners, our life, sweetness and hope, the mediatrix and dispenser of all graces, etc. It is a shocking and disturbing dangerous myth which has nearly 1 BILLION people looking to her, instead of the Lord Jesus. To compound the problem, the so-called protestant pastors of our day speak of the Catholic System as though it was Christian. The poor Catholic who wants God’s truth is basically forced to find it on his own by reading the Bible for himself or never hear the truth to get saved. There are also very few ministries revealing these facts about Catholicism. Precious SOULS are on the line. GOD BLESS YOU. 1 Cor. 15:58.
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(EMAIL) ROWS and ***Flows*** of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way
Oh but now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they tell me that I've changed
Well something's lost but something's gained
In living every day
I've looked at life from both sides now
From WIN and LOSE and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all
I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all
(RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ holy name. If this is the same ________________ we remember, you are a Christian, who now has a purpose to live and who does KNOW this life is really nothing but a time of “TESTING,” which will determine who goes to heaven and who goes to hell.
Please STOP listening to secular music as the lyrics you sent were from. We know a woman who backslid and it started over that!!! Listen to ONLY Godly music and GUARD YOUR SOUL. You are battling for ETERNITY. Do not be discouraged. If you are saved you have the BEST anyone could have—eternal life. Keep it! Get back in the FIGHT.
Please consider signing up for our email teachings, updates, etc. If interested, you can do that here http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/contact.htm GOD BLESS YOU.
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(2nd EMAIL) a good church is hard to find...i stop going to church...i signed up for your email teaching...i know its the right thing to do...thanks for your word of reprove i really needed to hear please pray for me...i'm going through a hard time spiritually
(2nd RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ name. If it is any consolation you are not alone. Many have contacted us in the past and are in the same situation. Over the centuries serious Christians have, at times, been all alone or only with a couple others. Keeping praying and seeking God fearing, Biblically sound Christians in your area. Elijah thought he was all alone and there were 7,000 others who never bowed their knee to Baal. We will continue to pray for you. Please fill your mind with gospel music and keep pondering the precious word of God. GOD BLESS YOU.
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(EMAIL From a Christian single young adult)
(RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ name. It is our opinion after many years of reading/studying the Bible that the divorce-remarriage issue is not crystal clear as other issues are, BUT at the same time it is clearly a VERY DANGEROUS issue—VERY DANGEROUS. There are many people who think they are Christians but are really “adulterers” in God’s sight. They are hell-bound, but deceived into thinking their marriage is fine in God’s eyes. Hence, the ONLY safe way to proceed is for you to marry only another Christian who was never married or one who lost his only spouse/s through death. Ponder these two passage carefully:
For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man. (Rom 7:2,3)
A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. (1 Cor 7:39)
Just because a Christian person is married to a non-believer doesn’t allow for divorce and remarriage if he/she wants out! When Paul went into virgin areas with the gospel, sometimes only one spouse would get saved while the other remained unsaved. That is part of the reason why 1 Cor. 7 was written. Also, just because divorce might occur that doesn’t mean one can remarry.
NO PERSON or sin is worth going to hell over. It is much better to be lonely, poor, etc. than marry the wrong person. GOD BLESS YOU.
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(EMAIL) Honestly, I think you are too harsh. I don't see things as black and white you seem to when it comes to eternal security, though I do still think I agree with the general concept. For example, do you really believe that a so called "little white lie" will send a person to hell? I certainly do not. Do I believe someone who steals will go to hell? Depends. For example, do you really believe that a person who is starving under a terrible regime will go to hell if he steals to keep himself and his family alive. I do not.
Does this allow for an uncertain grey area where I lack clear judgment? Yes, and that is why I will let God do the judging. I think he's certainly up to the task of separating the saved from the unsaved.
I'm sorry if this response is disappointing to you, but somewhat ironically I'm trying to avoid being dishonest about how I feel. Regards,
(RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ name.
Thanks for sharing your heart. Please go by the Scriptures, not by what you think. The message of God is harsh and few will find life in the end (Mt 7:13,14). If you deny this, remember only 8 people survived the Great Flood and probably hundreds of millions perished considering how long they lived back then.
What Scripture refers to “a little white lie.” None. We just read where “all liars” will go to the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8). Do you deny this? Regarding stealing, the example you cited is NOT what _______ allows for. Do you agree that his book and message are stumbling stones to people? ________ we are commanded to “judge”:
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? (1 Cor 5:12)
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment. (John 7:24)
Remember: It is holiness or hell. Do NOT be deceived. GOD BLESS YOU.
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(EMAIL) Real Christians stop sinning
People who are hypocrites keep sinning and proclaim
they are Christians
Sinning Christians are liars and of the devil
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil
Born again Christians do not commit sin
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Come watch my video
Born again Christians cannot sin
(RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ name. If you believe born again people “cannot sin” (as you wrote), then you also don’t believe a Christian can backslide into sin, which is disproven by numerous examples of such and many warnings and safeguards to prevent this very thing. It would also be in vain for the devil to tempt us, if we can’t sin. Think!
To focus exclusively on 1 or 2 verses while ignoring the rest of the New Testament can easily lead one into doctrinal error, which has apparently happened with you. Your zeal is commendable, but you need to learn the message of God better, before you confuse and deceive others. Teaching sound doctrine is very important and a teacher’s judgment will be more severe (James 3:1).
Please consider signing up for our email teachings, updates, etc. If interested, you can do that here http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/contact.htm
GOD BLESS YOU,
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(EMAIL) yes. the disciples did fall away. but this is not the same as what you are saying. you are saying that Christians can fall away and become unsaved (if im understanding correctly). how could the disciple have become unsaved when they werent saved yet. to be born again they would have to believe the gospel (that Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again according to the scriptures).
(RESPONSE) Greetings in Jesus’ name. The prevalent (and false) message in our dark “church” hour is: one can be Christ’s disciple and not have salvation. There is a definite reason why this is taught even though it is blatantly wrong and that is to protect THE HERESY of eternal security. THE HERESY is protected by teaching that way because Judas was one of the Lord’s “disciples” (Mt. 10:1-4) and other “disciples” turned away from Jesus and followed him no more (Jn. 6:66). Hence, if they were saved, then eternal security is refuted, especially since Judas went to hell after he died (Mk. 14:21; Jn, 17:12).
Clearly, Jesus’ disciples are Christians:
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mat 12:48-50)
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26, 27)
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)
Other Scriptures could be cited, but that should convince anyone not so blind they are willing to look at the Scriptures. Remember also John 3:16 was given before Jesus died for all of mankind and brought salvation then even as it does today.
Please consider getting our 801 page book refuting eternal security entitled, The Believer’s Conditional Security. There is MUCH in it that can help you better understand this salvation related subject. http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/whatsnew.htm This book is the most exhaustive and comprehensive refutation to eternal security ever written. It has never been refuted and never will, even though thousands of Baptists ministers have it!
Please consider signing up for our weekly email teachings, updates, etc. If interested, you can do that here http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/contact.htm
Remember Gal. 6:8,9 is a SALVATION passage not a rewards passage. GOD BLESS YOU.