This Skull and Crossbones Award (UPDATED) goes to eternal security teacher, (Alan) Rick Knapp. He is the so-called “pastor” of the Tetelestai church, who convinced George Sodini, the murderer of three women, and then himself on Aug. 4, 2009 in Pittsburgh, PA that one can commit mass murder then still go to heaven. Here are the exact words of George Sodini himself:
But this guy [Rick Knapp] teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder then still go to heaven. (George Sodini’s own web site under Dec. 31, 2008 and Tetelestai Church).
Again, those are George Sodini’s choice of words, as he refers to Rick Knapp and what he has been convinced of. As we at Evangelical Outreach have been teaching for years, Calvinism leads to broken homes through adultery, criminal acts and suicides. Sadly, we have again been proven right.
George Sodini, who once went to Rick Knapp’s eternal security church for 13 years, wrote the following just one day before his multiple murders:
Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. (ibid., Capital emphasis his)
NOTE: The deceived Sodini apparently thought, because of eternal security, that the “works” mentioned in Eph. 2:8,9 includes mass murder! Once saved always saved people have often wrongly equated “works” with both obedience and disobedience. It is clear from Sodini’s quote that he thought it included DISobedience!
The truth is: It takes a trusting-faith in the Lord Jesus which will submit and obey him to have salvation. Faith without [good] works is “dead,” (James 2:14-17). We are NOT saved by faith in Jesus + our good deeds, but instead it is a faith in Jesus which OBEYS. We are TRUSTING IN JESUS 100% FOR OUR SALVATION, as we submit to and follow him now in this sinful society.
The teaching that Rick Knapp (and all once saved always saved teachers) disseminates is a dangerous snare especially to SOULS. The devil has been using this teaching for many years to reclaim souls. It is a license to sin under grace and the security-in-sin devil’s gospel. If you don’t believe this, read on.
Knapp’s Beer
Guzzling Deceived Deacon
Soon after the Sodini murders, (Alan) Rick Knapp left town! The report is: he went to Florida to care for his ill father. Hence, he conveniently was not available for comments about his teachings and Sodini’s criminal act, but one of Knapp’s deacons was. That deacon was 80 year old Jack Rickard. Rickard knew George Sodini and said this:
“George is going to heaven, but he’s not going to get his rewards.” (Valley News Dispatch, 8-8-09, written by Michael Aubele)
Rickard believes Sodini won’t be offered all of heaven’s benefits because of his sin, but will still be there! A local article also stated:
Rickard said he socialized with Sodini on several occasions. The two had beers together and Sodini ate dinner at Rickard’s home at least once, said Rickard. (ibid.)
The open and unashamed drinking of an alcoholic beverage also reflects what Knapp’s theology of once saved always saved produces, even among church leaders. If one can murder multiple people and himself and still go to heaven, he can certainly do anything less than that too without fear of loss of salvation. It is time for such a doctrine which leads to wickedness and taught under grace to be aggressively renounced and rejected by Bible believers as heretical.
Rick Knapp also stumbled and misled a fellow co-laborer I once personally evangelized with in Pittsburgh many years ago through his same vile “grace” teachings. When that person started to believe in the perseverance of the saints, he immediately backslid. He became very worldly and lost his evangelistic zeal! The root problem is the false teaching itself. Not only has that doctrine shortened people’s physical lives here and been the cause of many going to hell, it has also been part of the reason why the world is disgusted with the present-day version of “Christianity”—not knowing it is not real Christianity at all! The devil has been and continues to use the teaching of once a son always a son to the detriment of all who are so deceived. May God help us reach many before more tragedies occur and Christianity is smeared further by such once saved always saved teachers, as Rick Knapp.
[If David Servant was consistent he would have to say George Sodini could be in heaven, if ever saved since he also wrongly teaches that King David retained his salvation after he committed adultery and carefully plotted and planned, for an undisclosed period of time, the MURDER of Uriah. In light of David Servant's beliefs, how could Sodini be condemned for his planned and plotted one-time act of multiple slayings and suicide, if he is going to teach consistently?]
The infamous George Sodini was one of many
victims of a dangerous false theology rampant in
our day. There have been many others also
spiritually hurt by that doctrine. To help combat
such spiritual poison and protect yourself and
family spiritually, we have much related materials,
including two important books: The Believer’s
Conditional Security and The Myth of Eternal
Security. You can order them NOW with QUICK
SHIPMENT plus FREE materials here
https://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/scbooks.htm
The infamous George Sodini was one of many victims of a dangerous false theology rampant in our day.
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