In brief, Got Questions is a very influential and answer-giving once saved always saved group, which has undoubtedly misinformed thousands of precious souls seeking God's truth. Got Questions misleading answers regarding salvation issues are spiritual poison sprinkled throughout its ministry.
Besides proclaiming/defending once saved always saved, Got Questions also denies repentance to be turning from sins (“What is repentance and is it necessary for salvation?”), the exact opposite of what Jesus taught it to be! NOTE: Jesus said the Ninevites repented at the preaching of Jonah (Mt. 12:41) and Jonah 3:10 shows the Ninvites turned from their sins.
Got Questions is filled with doctrinal confusion and contradictions when dealing with the believer's security and his salvation, but not other issues such as opposing infant baptism or defending the deity of Christ! For him, salvation must be different and therefore a smoke and mirrors technique must be employed through his various double messages!
For example, one indirect contradiction is his view that a carnal Christian cannot act the same as unbelievers in continuous sin, but then he recommends Charles Ryrie's (and Charles Stanley's) books, which teach carnal Christians do act the same as unbelievers! Here's the proof. While writing on easy believism, S. Michael Houdmann wrote:
Those who continue to walk according to the flesh are not believers. This is why Paul exhorts us to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). The “carnal” Christian who ereapxamines himself will soon see that he/she is not in the faith.... Is it possible that the new person Christ creates is one who continues to walk in the carnality of the flesh? It is not.
Paul can only mean that these carnal Christians lived like unsaved men. That clarifies why the word carnal can label both unbelievers and believers, simply because the lifestyles of both are the same. (1989, ed, p. 62).Hence, we have both confusion and a clear contradiction! So now I got a question for Got Questions: Which is wrong—S. Michael Houdmann as he teaches on easy believism or S. Michael Houdmann as he recommends Ryrie's teachings? NOTE: Got Questions also repeatedly misuses 2 Cor. 13:5. When Paul told that church group to examine themselves it was over doctrine, not their behavior:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Cor 13:5)S. Michael Houdmann also contradicts himself when he writes on Romans 7:14-25, a typical favorite of the grace-changing, security in sin teachers. Regarding that passage, S. Michael Houdmann says:
... Paul uses to describe himself. How can the greatest of the Apostles characterize himself, and by extension, all Christians, as “unspiritual,” a “slave to sin” and a “prisoner of the law of sin”?As with other once saved always saved proponents who teach salvation can co-exist with adultery, murder, theft, lying, witchcraft, etc., Got Questions also teaches that the Romans 7 passage is referring to Christians! If it is as he says, and it really refers to normal Christian living (and Paul as a Christian), then all Christians continuously keep on doing evil acts as slaves to sin. Let me focus your attention especially on verse 19, which reads:
For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. (Rom 7:19)The Greek tense is clear. It is a CONTINUOUS tense do evil! Again, if Romans 7:14-25 is the Christian life, then Paul and other Christians continuously do evil! That is a demonic distortion of the real image of a Christian. It is impossible to have salvation and act like that, according to Scripture:
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)
And, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him (Heb 5:9)See also Romans 6. The eternal security teachers have dangerously mangled the saintly Christian image into a hollow and powerless form of godliness. The truth is, Romans 7:14-25 is not the Christian life at all. Verse 18 is clear in stating it is the sinful nature which is referred to, and therefore not a Christian:
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Rom 7:18)S. Michael Houdmann also wrote:
Yes, Christians should turn from sin. Yes, Christians should commit their lives to obeying God (quoted from, What are the steps to salvation?)But how is that possible? Remember, he just taught Rom. 7:14-25 refers to Paul as a Christian, who couldn't even do that, according to that passage! So, how could any Christian? See The Believer's Conditional Security pages 206-212 for much clear proof that Rom. 7:14-25 is not Paul or the normal Christian life. Don't be deceived by the grace changers.
The “sin unto death” is deliberate, willful, continuous, unrepentant sin. God, in His grace, allows His children to sin without immediately punishing them. However, there comes a point when God will no longer allow a believer to continue in unrepentant sin. When this point is reached, God sometimes decides to punish a Christian, even to the point of taking his or her life.Got Questions again presents a dangerous false image of a Christian as a deliberate, willful, continuous, unrepentant EVIL doer! Contrast that to God's truth:
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil.... (1 John 3:7,8)We can obey God. We do not have to sin continuously. The truth is, S. Michael Houdmann (because of embracing once saved always saved) is presenting a person who is of the devil, as being a Christian! How dangerous is that? How heretical is that?
Folks, a real Christian is following Jesus now and putting God's word into practice (John 10:27; Lk. 8:21; etc.). The security in sin teachers want us to think the exact opposite of God's truth as they teach about the sin unto death, Rom. 7:14-25, David, etc.! That has to be the voice of the devil speaking through them as they repeat the essence of the devil's first lie to mankind, you will not surely die and thereby deny spiritual death as a possibility for the righteous. It isn't just S. Michael Houdmann, but all eternal security teachers!
As cited earlier, S. Michael Houdmann has a double message about salvation. Such is all through S. Michael Houdmann's poisoned answers on this subject. His inconsistencies are a sure sign of falsehood. Remember what Houdmann said about the sin unto death and how certain Christians continue in unrepentant sin:
The “sin unto death” is deliberate, willful, continuous, unrepentant sin.His readers must be thoroughly confused, especially if they ever read his answer to: Will God continue to forgive you if you commit the same sin over and over again? Note, what S. Michael Houdmann wrote there!
...it must be noted that it is not biblical for a person to sin habitually and continually as a lifestyle and still be a believer.So, which is right? Can a Christian (a believer) sin habitually and continually? Yes or no? Yes, if you go by his sin unto death answer, but no if you go by some of his other writings!
Dear reader, if you were in math class and the teacher taught 2+2=4, then at another time taught 2+2 =7, it would lead to mass confusion and an inability for the students to learn truth. It would also indicate the teacher's inability to teach math and hold such an office. As serious as that may be, this is much more serious than simple math. This will stretch into E-T-E-R-N-I-T-Y. Numerous examples could be cited to show how contradictory Got Questions is, but the following one makes the point well. It comes from his answer on How bad can a Christian sin:
Is a person who lives a life of continual sin a believer? No. When we become Christians, our lives will change. Anyone who is living a sinful lifestyle and claims to be a Christian is either lying, is self-deceived, or really is a believer who is going to experience God's judgment and discipline.Confused by that? You should be! He is consistently inconsistent when dealing with salvation. Of course, S. Michael Houdmann would have to believe it is possible for a Christian to sin continually, because of his doctrine. It is basic that all license for immorality teachers like him think David remained saved while in adultery and murder! That implies there are Christian adulterers and Christian murderers, in contrast to Rev. 21:8 and 1 Cor. 6:9,10.
In order to smokescreen conceal their license to sin, the eternal security teachers sometimes teach a double message and say if a professing Christian turns to the type of sins as specified above, then "He was never saved to begin with". Such a message, however, is inconsistent with their belief about King David, who turned to both adultery and murder. They all teach that David retained his salvation, while in those heinous sins in defiance to God's word (Ezek. 33:18; 1 Cor. 6:9,10; Eph. 5:5-7; Rev. 21:8; etc.). OSAS proponents believe the same about Solomon remaining saved, who turned to the vilest kinds of idolatries (1 Kings 11:1-8). Eternal security teachers want it both ways-- teaching an outrageous backslider is still saved, then "he was never saved" if he does backslide. These glaring inconsistencies are already enough to reveal their error and license to sin, but there is even more with the teaching of the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11-32).
The prodigal deliberately departed from the Father into wild living and to be with the prostitutes. He finally turned away from those sins (repented) to return to the Father to serve him again. The Father said to the sorrowful and repentant prodigal, "For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate" (Luke 15:24). Luke 15 clearly shows backsliders do indeed become spiritually dead and lost just like the prodigal did when he turned to wild living.
This stark reality of a change in spiritual identity is in contrast to Once Saved Always Saved dogma. Remember that is Jesus' teaching about backsliders, that is, that they are spiritually dead and lost.
Luke 15:24 also shows the prodigal became "alive again," which proves (1) backsliders can return to salvation via repentance and (2) the prodigal had salvation before he died spiritually when he departed into wild living. Those truths are essential and prove eternal security is an incontrovertible false teaching and a license to sin. All such OSAS teachers must argue (if consistent to their doctrine) that the prodigal retained his salvation when with the prostitutes, thereby inferring there are Christian whoremongers! If that extreme is not a license to sin, then what is? This, however, is the image of a Christian they have created and want us to accept. It is critical for backsliders to know they must repent for salvation's sake, but that truth is also sadly denied by Once Saved Always Saved.
Moreover, the unnamed incestuous and adulterous man of 1 Cor. 5:1-5, who was committing sin which even pagans wouldn't do, is said to have been a Christian by many OSAS teachers. Eternal security teacher, David J. Stewart of jesusissavior.org, has also openly admitted, "I am going to Heaven, regardless of how I live. But you say, that's crazy! No! That's Bible! So do Christians have a license to sin? Yes, if you want to view it that way." Furthermore, multiple divorced Hal Lindsey stated, "I'm sad to say that some of the worst sins I ever committed have been after salvation." By stating that, Lindsey is saying a Christian can be more vile and wicked than before his salvation, yet retain his salvation through it all.
Just believing the OSAS doctrine itself sets one up for arrogance (Rom. 11:19-22) and a spiritual fall (1 Cor. 10:12). Such occurs because the proponents think they are standing firm even to the point that their salvation is now irrevocable, irreversible and unalterable, and they see no need to fear being cut off. They don't believe their salvation can be imperiled by anything they do or don't do or anything they believe or don't believe, regardless of what it is.
The unspoken goal of the eternal security teacher is to convince others that a Christian can stray and become wildly immoral, grossly sinful and flagrantly disobedient and still retain his salvation while unrepentant and only jeopardize his rewards, fellowship, etc., but never his salvation and relationship with God. Those who object to that observation with their "never saved to begin with" sophistry and inconsistencies are immediately silenced by King David and the OSAS errant version of the sin unto death.
The eternal security teachers calculatingly declare their OSAS doctrine is under and linked to the gospel, grace, the blood of Christ, infinite work of Christ, imputed righteousness, etc. when it has nothing to do with any of these basic truths of Christianity. The OSAS teachers also further distort the Christian opposition as teaching a works salvation, legalism and being cultic.
One of the primary proof texts for Once Saved Always Saved is John 10:28, which states the subjects will never perish and no man can snatch them out of God's hand. The OSAS teachers say those promises apply even to the backsliders, but the context shows those wonderful promises only belong to the continuous tense followers of Christ (John 10:27), which excludes backsliders.
S. Michael Houdmann of gotquestions.org also wrote, "The Bible tells us that if a person denies Christ, he never truly knew Christ to begin with." Is it possible that Houdmann, and others like him, are unaware of Peter's thrice denial of Christ (Mt. 26:33,34)? When Peter's denial (Mt. 26:70,72) is examined with Mt. 10:33, the same Greek term (arneomai) is found which pulverizes OSAS beyond repair. Why? Because Jesus did disown Peter as he warned his apostles, "But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven" (Mt. 10:33). Therefore we know, since Peter disowned Jesus, Jesus likewise disowned Peter. Afterwards, Peter repented and turned back to God (Lk. 22:32), but the point is one is no longer saved if Jesus disowns him, as happened to Peter at that time. That fact alone is another certain deathblow to OSAS.
Eternal security is also effectively demolished by the stern warning to saints not to take the mark of the beast or else they (the saints) will be tormented with burning sulfur, the smoke of their torment will rise forever and they will have no rest day or night (Rev. 14:9-12). That bone-chilling warning would be impossible if eternal security were true. There are many other hell warnings directed to Christians (Mt. 10:22; 10:33; 18:1-3; 18:8,9; Jn. 15:5,6; 1 Cor. 6:9,10; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:8,9; Eph. 5:5-7; 1 John 2:24,25; Rev.2:10,11; 22:18,19; etc.) which also prove the same.
The eternal security teaching opposes and denies that the righteous can die spiritually, which is taught from Gen. 2:17 through Rev. 22:19, including five times in Ezekiel (3:20; 18:24; 18:26; 33:13; 33:18) and throughout the entire New Testament (Lk. 15:24,32; Rom. 6:16; 8:13; James 1:14-16; 5:19,20; 1 Tim. 5:6; Rev. 2:10,11; etc.). Eternal security opposes the conditional security of the believer explicitly stated in the gospel itself (1 Cor. 15:2; Col. 1:23) and nullifies the conditional scriptures related to salvation (Ezek. 33:18; Jn. 15:6; Rom. 8:13; 11:21-23; Gal. 6:8,9; Heb. 3:6; 3:14; James 1:26; 5:19,20; 2 Pet. 2:20-22; 1 John 2:24,25; Rev. 22:18,19; etc.). OSAS changes the meaning of an apostate -- trying to get us to believe those who "have fallen away from grace" (Gal. 5:1-4) were never in grace and it is the false convert who "falls away" (Lk. 8:13; etc.)! Jesus taught it is the sheep who "fall away" (Mt. 26:31).
Be assured there absolutely are no Christian adulterers, no Christian drunks, no Christian liars, no Christian thieves, no Christian homosexuals, no Christian Muslims, etc. It is vital for Christians to know that there is no Once Saved Always Saved. Why? Because for salvation's sake, the Christian must: continue to sow to please the Spirit and not give up to reap eternal life (Gal 6:8,9); not be arrogant, but afraid, for he can yet be cut off and stands by faith (Rom. 11:20-22); bear good fruit or be cut down and thrown into the fire (Jn. 15:5,6; Lk. 13:6-9); forgive others who sin against him to be forgiven (Mt. 6:14,15; 18:34,35); not become lukewarm or get discharged from the body of Christ (Rev.3:16); not forsake God as his first love or have his spiritual lampstand removed (Rev. 2:4,5); keep his spiritual lamp burning unlike the foolish virgins who did not and whom Jesus doesn't know when he returns (Mt. 25:1-13); see to it that what he has heard from the beginning remains in him to remain in the Son and in the Father (1 John 2:24,25); hold on to what he has so that no man can take his crown (Rev. 3:11); etc. It is the Christian's personal responsibility to do all these things under grace. God is not going to hold on to our crown for us.
Be sure that it is a definite and sure advantage to know the vital truths that a follower of the PRECIOUS Lord Jesus must endure hatred till the end for salvation (Mt. 10:22), hold firmly till the end the confidence he had at first to share in Christ (Heb. 3:14) and be faithful to the point of death to not be hurt at all by the second death (Rev. 2:10,11). Such is true Christian teaching, but opposed by OSAS. These are key truths about salvation taught by the Lord Jesus and his apostles.
Finally, to be consistent with the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine, the OSAS proponents assert once you get saved you can't get out of salvation, even if you tried. The George Sodini multiple homicides and suicide in 2009 are proof of how insidious eternal security can be. OSAS has resulted in untold suicides, broken homes through adultery, as well as criminal acts, all while the OSAS teachers become rich and popular.
(2) Do you realize the salvation doctrine you embrace and teach to others is an attempt to mock God by indirectly saying one can sow to please his flesh and still reap eternal life?
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal 6:7-9).(3) Are you willing to turn away from teaching such doctrinal poison for your own soul's sake and for the good of your readers?
Yes, I am fairly familiar with the EO [Evangelical Outreach] site. I find your material on Catholicism, Mormons, JWs, Sabbatarians, baptismal regeneration, etc., to be quite good and helpful.
I have to respectfully decline your invitation to debate. Again, if Dan Corner approaches this issue from the perspective that eternal security is a lie from the pit of hell, straight from the lips of the devil, and that anyone who teaches eternal security is an unsaved false teacher - I do not see how we could possibly have a productive and respectful dialogue.
Dan Corner has engaged in countless debates on this issue, similar to what you are proposing here. Have any of them resulted in anyone's mind being changed? This issue has been hotly debated for 400 years. Dan Corner and I debating will not solve the disagreement or end the debate.
Sincerely in Christ,
S. Michael Houdmann
While it is certainly true that I do view the doctrine of once saved always saved (which is the same as eternal security or the perseverance of the saints) as a lie from the pit of hell and the eternal security teachers as unsaved teachers (since I am in full agreement with Jude and 2 Peter 2, among other reasons), that is not a solid reason not to debate. Doesn't S. Michael Houdmann likewise believe the same about me and my doctrine on salvation?
NOTE: S. Michael Houdmann views all NO Eternal Security Christians who reject once saved always saved as maintaining our own salvation by our own good works and efforts. Below is what he wrote in, Is eternal security a “license" to sin?”
Any denial of eternal security is, in its essence, a belief that we must maintain our own salvation by our own good works and efforts. This is completely antithetical to salvation by grace.Doesn't that imply that all NO Eternal Security Christians are unsaved and teaching antithetical to grace, from his dark perspective? Yes, it does! So why is he so concerned about what we have stated concerning people like him? He believes the same way about us, since one can't have salvation apart from God's grace.
S. Michael Houdmann is also guilty of misrepresenting people like us. We don't teach antithetical to Biblical grace at all. The following is what we believe at Evangelical Outreach and it is entirely Biblical:
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).Once saved always saved is a dangerous snare to precious souls. The sooner Christians recognize it and fight against it the better it will be for all concerned. Compromise with such dangerous teachers is spiritual treason.
It is impossible to teach true Biblical holiness and obedience as an expression of saving faith in the Lord Jesus, if one believes in the damnable heresy and doctrine of demons called eternal security. Why? Because the latter denies and contradicts the former especially when backsliding occurs. Eternal security allows for unrepentant wickedness and salvation simultaneously. As hard as S. Michael Houdmann tried to deny and hide that fact, his doctrine is a license for immorality!
I have nothing personal against S. Michael Houdmann, but he deserves our Skull And Crossbones Award. It is his false grace and demonic doctrine which repulses me and needs to be combated. S. Michael Houdmann of gotquestions.org, I remain willing to debate you on eternal security.
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