Who is the Biggest Sinner?

Who is the Biggest Sinner?

By David J. Stewar

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” —James 2:10

You are! I am! We all are! It is human nature to look upon the sins and faults of others, while often overlooking our own sins. This is hypocrisy. One of the worst deceptions is overlooking our own faults. The Word of God proclaims in James 2:10 that committing even ONE SIN makes a person GUILTY in God’s eyes of breaking every command in the Bible. This is a startling doctrine that is hardly touched upon in churches today.

This is why the divorce rate amongst professed Christians is equal to that of the heathen unsaved world. In filing for divorce, a person is saying: “My spouse is a bigger sinner than I am; therefore, I have a right to abandon, quit and break my marriage vows.” No you don’t! Divorce is a horrible sin rooted in one’s own hypocritical self-righteousness. Nearly everyone who files for divorce blames their spouse. This is evil. The Bible teaches that we are all as guilty as the vilest sinner in God’s eyes. This doctrine is virtually unheard of nowadays, because few preachers stress the Law of God anymore, which condemns all of us as guilty sinners before God.

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).

In the eyes of men, murdering someone is obviously worse than stealing their lunch; but as far as God is concerned we are all equally lacking any righteousness of our own. We are each as dirty and rotten as the other guy. Oftentimes what people perceive as acceptable, such as homosexuality and abortion, is an abomination unto God. If we SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES as Jesus commanded in John 5:39, then we can only come to the conclusion that we are as sinful as the worst sinner in God’s eyes and it matters not who is more guilty. We are all guilty (Romans 3:10,23). The fact of the matter is that we are all sinners deserving of punishment in Hell (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15). Although we may never commit murder or rob a bank, that does not make us any less guilty of being a horrible sinner in the eyes of God.

People tend to selfishly judge themselves based upon what sins they personally DON’T commit. The Bible perfectly illustrates this in Jesus’ account of the Pharisee and the publican who went up to the temple to pray.

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).

The Pharisee in Luke 18:10-14 made the grave mistake of comparing himself with other people, instead of measuring himself up against the holy Law of God. If we foolishly look at other people who commit worse sins than we do, then we naturally become self-righteousness and think we are “better” than that person. I tell you, you are as filthy and rotten as Adolf Hitler in God’s eyes, and so am I.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).

Would to God that Christians in churches today would stop saying, “he has sinned” or “she has sinned” and that we’d all start saying, “we have sinned“. It is sinful pride that causes a wife to publicly criticize or divorce her husband. It is sinful pride that causes the manure spreading newsmedia to mercilessly destroy people’s lives. It is sinful pride that causes children to broadcast their parent’s dirty laundry to others. It is sinful pride that causes self-righteous hypocrites to meddle in other people’s marriages. I came to the realization one day as a believer that I am as rotten and sinful as the worst sinner. I am just as sinful as any adulterer, mass-murderer, homosexual, thief, liar or Satan worshiper…etc out there in the world. My sins are just as woeful and wrong. I have no room to condemn.

The Apostle Paul realized this great truth.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1st Timothy 1:15).

The Apostle Paul was a faithful missionary, who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and helped people everywhere he went. Paul suffered horribly from shipwreck, hunger, turmoil and malicious beatings from his enemies; yet he kept going for God. Paul was a mighty preacher and a strong Christian. Although Paul was arguably the greatest missionary who ever lived, he still addressed himself as the “chief of sinners”. I don’t know too many believers today who are anywhere near as dedicated and committed to Jesus Christ as was Paul. If a good Christian like Paul esteemed himself as the “chief of sinners”, then we ought to feel the same way.

Judging versus Condemning

We must distinguish between condemning someone for their sins versus publicly exposing them because they are a threat to society. I publicly expose abortionists (murderers), homosexuals (sex perverts) and religious deceivers (liars) through my online ministry; but I do not condemn any of them personally. I am not condemning them; God’s Word condemns all of us (Romans 3:19-23). I am as rotten and sinful as the worst sinner. I am not self-righteous; I am trusting upon HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:21). I deserve to burn in Hell and there’s absolutely nothing good about me except the Lord Jesus Christ Who lives in my heart, thankfully.

If a local school has a teacher who is teaching teens how to have homosexual “fist sex”, which is happening nowadays in Massachusetts, then that evil person needs to be exposed. Godless heathens are quick to cry out, “Jesus said, ‘judge not lest ye be not judged.’ ” They conveniently fail to quote John 7:24 where Jesus stated, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” So we are supposed to judge, but rightfully so.

Ephesians 5:10-11 reads, “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” The word “proving” in Ephesians 5:10 is the Greek word “dokimazo” and means “to test”. Thus, God wants us to test everything, to judge righteously, to discern whether or not something is acceptable to Him, i.e., in agreement with His holy Word. Certainly, it is NOT acceptable to teach children that it’s acceptable for Timmy to stick his fist in Johnny’s backside as an expression of love. We are living in a sicko society in America. Ephesians 5:11 commands God-fearing believers to reprove [Greek: elencho, i.e., “to expose”] all works of darkness. This is not condemning; but rather, judging righteously as we are supposed to do.

Conclusion

Would to God that more believers today would realize the extent of their wickedness in the eyes of God. We are a sorry bunch. Our only hope is the precious Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation that He freely offers to us, paid for by His own shed blood.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1st Peter 1:18,19).

If it weren’t for the literal precious blood of Jesus Christ, we’d all be doomed to the Lake of Fire. God is a good God… “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Amen!

One day I had preached a rip-snortin’, shingle-pullin’, window-rattlin’, hell-fire and damnation sermon to a group of about 80 people in Chicago. After the sermon I stepped outside for some fresh air. I glanced over and noticed a gentleman smoking. He felt embarrassed and said, “I’m sorry reverend for smoking in front of you.” I replied, “I preach against sin from the pulpit; but away from the pulpit I’m just as much a sinner as anyone else. You’re in good company friend. You need not apologize.” He had wrongly esteemed that he was a bigger sinner than me; but I am the biggest sinner I know. If you want to see the biggest sinner, then just look in the mirror. You and I are as guilty of sin as anyone else.

The Irony of Lordship Salvation

The Irony of Lordship Salvation

By David J. Stewart

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” —Matthew 7:21

It is so ironic that the very false prophets running around nowadays propagating the Lordship Salvation heresy are the same false prophets spoken of in Matthew 7:21-23

“Not every one that saith unto me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.“

Ray Comfort even attempts to use Matthew 7:21-23 to prove his Lordship Salvation heresy; thus corrupting the Scriptures.

On page 1197 of THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, Ray Comfort comments on Matthew 7:22,23:

“These are perhaps the most frightening verses in the Bible. Vast multitudes of professing Christians fit into the category spoken of here. They call Jesus ‘Lord,’ but they practice lawlessness. They profess faith in Jesus, but have no regard for the divine law. hey tell ‘fibs’ or ‘white’ lies, take things that belong to others, have a roaming eye for the opposite sex, etc. They are liars, thieves, and adulterers at heart, who will be cast from the gates of heaven into the jaws of hell.”

SOURCE: THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, by Ray Comfort, pg. 1197; 2003, Bridge-Logos Publishers, Orlando, Florida

Ladies and gentleman, Ray Comfort is teaching works salvation! According to what we just read by Ray Comfort, every believer who is still living in deliberate sin won’t be allowed into Heaven.

The correct interpretation of Matthew 7:22,23 must include verse 21

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

What is “the will of the Father“? The answer is found in John 6:40

“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

The group in Matthew 7:21-23 were unsaved because they refused to do God’s will concerning salvation. It wasn’t because they still had personal sins in their life. Every believer still has sin in their life! We all sin every day. That’s not to say that we have God’s approval to sin, God forbid (Romans 3:31). It just means that even the best of Christians are still sinners. Ray Comfort wrestles the Scriptures to his own destruction, and sadly for those who follow his false teachings.

It is not one’s unwillingness to forsake personal sins that prevents a person from being saved; but rather, one’s love for such sins. In John 5:40 Jesus said, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” Jesus didn’t say, “Ye cannot come.” He said, “Ye WILL NOT come.” But if such a sinner does come to Jesus, acknowledging his guilt of sin and sincerely desiring to be forgiven, the Lord will save him eternally.

John 3:20 states, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:20). Again we see that it is one’s love for sin that keeps him from coming to Jesus Christ for salvation; but the Bible does NOT say that he cannot be saved because he is unwilling to forsake his sins. Salvation is the free gift of God (Romans 5:15; 6:23), paid for by Jesus’ precious literal blood (1st Peter 1:18,19). We can do nothing to merit salvation. We do NOT have to give up our sins to be saved. To teach otherwise is works salvation. A believer gives up their sins because they are saved; NOT to get saved.

Every proponent of Lordship Salvation claims that eternal is a free gift, provided by God’s free grace, and that works are not essential to salvation; yet, they 100% contradict themselves when they require a changed life as part of saving faith. Forsaking one’s sins is the FRUIT of genuine repentance; not a prerequisite to being saved.

Jesus clearly taught that the reason why the group in Matthew 7:21-23 wasn’t saved is because they had failed to do GOD’S WILL. John 6:40 tells us that God’s will is for us to BELIEVE ON JESUS CHRIST. Ray Comfort would have us to believe that forsaking one’s sins is God’s will for salvation; but that is NOT what the Bible says at all.

Jesus said MANY will say to Him in that day (Judgment Day)… “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Notice the term “wonderful works” and “never knew you“, is this not the Lordship Salvation crowd? Yes, it most certainly is! John MacArthur, Paul Washer, Kirk Cameron, Ray Comfort and other false prophets are running around teaching people to say, “Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord,” but they are still hellbound because they HAVE NOT DONE THE WILL OF THE FATHER, i.e., to solely believe on Jesus Christ for forgiveness of one’s sins (John 6:40; Acts 10:43).

Lordship Salvation is of the Devil. You don’t make Jesus Lord, He is Lord! Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 6:23), paid for by Jesus’ precious liquid blood… “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1st Peter 1:18,19). To be saved, one simply needs to acknowledge his or her GUILT of sin (Romans 3:19) and then trust upon Jesus Christ, because of the blood that He sacrificed for our sins to wash them away, “…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1st John 1:7). We are guilty sinners, and Jesus is the precious Savior by which we can be saved simply by TRUSTING upon Him… “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).

I find it so ironic that proponents of Lordship Salvation, i.e., heretics like Ray Comfort, would actually attempt to use Matthew 7:21-23 to justify their false gospel, when that very Scripture they are wrestling plainly condemn them as false prophets. You can make Jesus Lord/Master of your life and do many wonderful works all you want; but you will not go to Heaven (i.e. being saved) unless you DO GOD’S WILL, which is to BELIEVE SOLELY ON JESUS CHRIST “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.“

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” —Ephesians 2:13

Moody Bible Institute’s Perverted Gospel

Moody Bible Institute’s Perverted Gospel
By David J. Stewart

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” —2nd Corinthians 11:3

Harry A. Ironside, who pastored Moody Memorial Church between 1930 and 1948, died of a heart attack in New Zealand in 1951. I cannot help but wonder if Dr. Ironside somehow caught a glimpse of what the Moody Bible Church is today which may cause him another heart attack. I almost had a heart attack myself when I read their plan of salvation. It’s sadly straight from the pits of Hell. The Moody church and school are today saturated with apostasy, false doctrines and a false gospels. What had happened?

I’ll tell you what happened: it’s that good-for-nothing, lousy, corrupt, piece-of-garbage, rotten, malicious, scum-filled, worthless filth called the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. Moody church and college wouldn’t be in the mess they’re in today if they’d just remained faithful to the trustworthy King James Bible. Dwight L. Moody chose to use the King James Bible, even though he lived 300 years after the King James Bible was first published. Harry A. Ironside chose to use the King James Bible as well, hundreds of years later. Why, in just the past 30 years, have Moody Bible Church and Moody Bible Institute decided that the King James Bible isn’t good enough anymore? They’ve bought into the lie of Satan and are using a counterfeit bible.

Here is the prayer that Moody Ministries suggests for a lost sinner to pray to be saved:

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

God, I know that I have done things that are wrong. But I believe that Jesus died on the Cross to pay the punishment for what I’ve done. I believe that He is Your Son, the Word of God, and I want Him to be my Savior. I want Him to cleanse me of what I’ve done wrong and defeat sin for me. In His name I ask You to welcome me back to You. I know that I have followed my own rules and served my own desires. But God, I don’t want to serve myself anymore. I want to follow You. I want to spend eternity with You! Thank You for Your wonderful gift of Jesus. [emphasis added]

And then they follow with this comment:

…If you have just made a commitment to Christ, please let us know. We’d like to send you Bible study materials to help you grow in your faith. Simply complete the form below to receive these materials.” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: http://www.moodyministries.net/crp_FormGeneral.aspx?ekfrm=1246

Ladies and gentlemen, that is a false gospel. One DOESN’T have to make a commitment to Christ to be saved. Where does this false idea come from? Look no further than Romans 10:9 from the NIV which I just quoted to you from their website “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That is totally NOT what the Word of God says. The King James Bible correctly renders the Greek in English as:

“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.”

There is a world of difference between “confessing the Lord Jesus” versus “confessing Jesus as Lord”. The NIV (or better yet, the HIV) teaches the malicious heresy of Lordship Salvation. The gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23) is nullified if one has to make a commitment to God to be saved, or be willing to stop living selfishly. This is exactly what Moody Ministries is teaching today. Please read, Harry A. Ironside DIDN’T Teach Lordship Salvation. Sadly, Moody Institute today does.

Moody Institute’s board of directors and ministry leaders would have us to believe that they’re still upholding the same doctrinal positions that were held back in 1928 (http://www.moodyministries.net/crp_MainPage.aspx?id=334); but nothing could be further from the truth. To realize just how messed up Moody Bible Institute is today, consider the following quote from its former pastor, Harry Ironside (1876-1951):

“When anyone comes promising salvation to those ‘who make full surrender’ of all that they have to God, and who ‘pay the price of full salvation’ he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary’s cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender when He yielded His life on Calvary that saves us, not our surrender in any way to Him.”

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the Gospel tract, Another Gospel.

If Dr. Ironside was alive today, he’d likely have another heart attack!!! Woe unto Moody Bible Church, pastor Erwin Lutzer, and the Moody Bible Institute. This is such a shame. Satan has used the wagon of ecumenicalism to corrupt America’s churches and seminaries with the demonic doctrine of Lordship Salvation. Beware of Moody Bible Church and Moody Ministries, because they have turned aside after another gospel not ever taught in the Word of God at all.

H.A. Ironside DID NOT Teach Lordship Salvation

H.A. Ironside DID NOT Teach Lordship Salvation

By David J. Stewart

I recently heard John F. MacArthur, Jr. speaking on the radio (his sermon tape, The Call To Repentance). MacArthur quoted Harry A. Ironside’s words out of context in an attempt to support his damnable heresy of Lordship Salvation. MacArthur states:

Let me quote from the book he wrote entitled Except Ye Repent. He was a champion for repentance and rightly so. He wrote this, “The doctrine of repentance is the missing note in many otherwise orthodox and fundamentally sound circles today.” This is not a new battle. This is an old battle. People today are preaching a gospel that says, “Well, look, just believe, don’t worry about your sin, don’t worry about your past, just believe and that will all come later.” Ironside fought that battle in 1937.

Further he said this, he spoke of, quote: “Professed preachers of grace who like the antinomians of old decry the necessity of repentance lest it seem to invalidate the freedom of grace and that was the core issue.” There were some who said if you call for repentance you’re invalidating the freedom of grace and grace is so gracious and so free you don’t have to do anything but just believe. Ironside recognized in his day the dangers of an insipient easy believism.

SOURCE: Quote by Spurgeon provided by John MacArthur, The Call to Repentance  –  John MacArthur

John MacArthur deceitfully picks and chooses quotes by many great Bible preachers, twisting their words, in a malicious attempt to support his false teachings. H.A. Ironside DIDN’T teach Lordship Salvation, he simply taught that Biblical repentance was necessary for salvation, which is evidenced in the following quote by Pastor Ironside:

“Repentance is the very opposite of meritorious experience. It is the confession that one is utterly without merit, and if he is ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, ‘who gave himself a ransom for all.’ Here is firm footing for the soul who realizes that all self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation.”

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside; Except Ye Repent, pg. 36

Clearly, Ironside taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel. Consider further the following quote by Dr. Ironside:

“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past…

Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel?

I highly suggest that John MacArthur actually read Dr. Ironside’s books before making any more quotes, because he’s really making a fool out of himself. I’m not trying to be unkind; but MacArthur is trying to make a case where there is NONE.

Read what Dr. Ironside said in his Gospel tract, ANOTHER GOSPEL?

“When anyone comes promising salvation to those ‘who make full surrender’ of all that they have to God, and who ‘pay the price of full salvation’ he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary’s cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender when He yielded His life on Calvary that saves us, not our surrender in any way to Him.”

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the Gospel tract, Another Gospel.

In your face MacArthur! Harry Ironside just contradicted everything MacArthur teaches concerning salvation. In sharp contrast to Harry Ironside, here are some of MacArthur’s foolish teachings from his book, The Gospel According to Jesus (Zondervan 1988)

Saving faith is “unconditional surrender, a complete resignation of self and absolute submission” (page 153).

“Salvation is for those who are willing to forsake everything” (page 78).

“Saving faith is a commitment to leave sin and follow Jesus Christ at all costs. Jesus takes no one unwilling to come on those terms” (page 87).

“Eternal life brings immediate death to self” (page 140).

Is this biblically true? Absolutely not. John MacArthur is of the Devil and his doctrines are demonic!!! There is no way possible to reconcile the beliefs of Harry Ironside with those of John MacArthur and only a wicked person would try. MacArthur clearly teaches that no one can be saved unless they are willing to UNCONDITIONALLY SURRENDER and FORSAKE EVERYTHING. This is certainly not what the Word of God teaches at all.

Now let me quote to you again from the great man of God, Dr. Ironside:

“Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.“

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel?

Salvation is a free gift, paid for by Jesus’ literal, physical, precious blood (1st Peter 1:18,19; 1st John 1:7; Hebrews 9:12; Revelation 1:5). We are saved by HIS (JESUS’) RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 6:33; Romans 10:3,4; 1st Corinthians 5:21); and not our own willingness to do better (Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5,6,22). We don’t give up our sins to get saved; we give up our sins because we are saved, and that requires time to grow in God’s grace (1st Peter 2:2).

John MacArthur is a False Prophet

The false repentance which MacArthur promotes is entwined in self-effort. John MacArthur teaches a false gospel which corrupts “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3,4). In MacArthur’s audio sermon, The Call To Repentance, he exploits Charles Spurgeon, H.A. Ironside, and others in an unscholarly attempt to support his erroneous position on Lordship Salvation. As with other cases of false prophets, MacArthur fails to properly exegete the Scriptures, and rests heavily upon manipulating the quotes of great men.

MacArthur wrongly accuses opponents of Lordship Salvation (such as myself) of teaching that repentance is not necessary for salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Biblical repentance is absolutely necessary for salvation “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). However, repentance unto life is not what John MacArthur says it is:

“That’s exactly what James said. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. You are either the friend of the world or the friend of God, not both…that’s repentance.”

SOURCE: Quote by Spurgeon provided by John MacArthur, The Call to Repentance  –  John MacArthur

MacArthur teaches that in order to be saved, a person must forsake the sinful world and stop living in sin. He falsely defines this as repentance. In sharp contrast, the KOINE Greek in which the New Testament is written defines the word “repent” simply as “a change of mind” (Greek: metanoia). Forsaking the sinful world is a fruit (i.e. result) of genuine repentance; but all that God requires for salvation is that a person acknowledge his or her guilty condition as a sinner, thus renouncing the world in their heart, and trust upon the Saviour to be eternally forgiven “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” -Acts 10:43.

However, this DOESN’T mean that a person who is unwilling to stop drinking booze, stop gambling, or stop shacking-up with a girlfriend, cannot be saved. To say otherwise is to pervert the simplicity that is in Christ and to corrupt the free gift of God, which is eternal life (Romans 6:23). Salvation is receiving; not giving. God only requires that a lost sinner acknowledge their guilt of sin (Romans 3:19), and turn by faith to Jesus Christ to be forgiven of their sins (John 3:16).

If one’s repentance is genuine, then there has been an initial change of heart (2nd Corinthians 5:17), and hopefully it will ultimately lead to a life of soulwinning, holiness and commitment to God; BUT, many believers are carnal (1st Corinthians 3:1), have been choked by the cares and pleasures of this world (Luke 8:14), have been overtaken by faults (Galatians 6:1), have not committed their lives to God (Romans 12:1), are more concerned about worldly things than the things of God (1st Corinthians 7:32,33), and some even live for Satan (1st Corinthians 5:5).

Conclusion

May I quote the words of H.A. Ironside once again:

“Repentance is the very opposite of meritorious experience. It is the confession that one is utterly without merit, and if he is ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, ‘who gave himself a ransom for all.’ Here is firm footing for the soul who realizes that all self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation.” (Harry A. Ironside; Except Ye Repent, pg. 36)

Clearly, Ironside taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel. H.A. Ironside correctly recognized repentance as the confession that “one is utterly without merit” and that if one is “ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Salvation is without works of self-righteousness. Romans 4:5 plainly teaches that a man’s faith is COUNTED for righteousness, i.e. the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to one’s heavenly record by faith.

“Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership — the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word.”

SOURCE: Except Ye Repent, by Dr. Harry Ironside, chapter 3

Repentance and faith are inseparable. The Gospel of John mentions the word “believe” 85-times; but the word “repent” is never mentioned even once. In genuine salvation, one who believes on Jesus Christ has repented; and one who repents has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Charles Spurgeon DID NOT Teach Lordship Salvation

Charles Spurgeon DID NOT Teach Lordship Salvation

By David J. Stewart

I recently heard John MacArthur speaking on the radio (his sermon tape, The Call To Repentance). He quoted Charles Spurgeon, London’s mightiest Baptist preacher of centuries past:

Of all the statements that I have read on the subject, the strongest one comes from Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Listen to what Spurgeon said. “There must be a true and actual abandonment of sin and a turning unto righteousness in real act and deed in every day life. Repentance, to be sure, must be entire. How many will say, Sir, I will renounce this sin and the other…but there are certain darling lusts which I must keep and hold? Oh, sirs, in God’s name let me tell you, it is not the giving up of one sin, nor 50 sins which is true repentance. It is the solemn renunciation of every sin. If thou dost harbor one of those accursed vipers in thy heart and dost give up every other, that one lust like one leak in a ship will sink thy soul. Think it not sufficient to give up thy outward vices, fancy it not enough to cut off the more corrupt sins of thy life, it is all or none which God demands. Repent, says He, and when He bids you repent, He means repent of all thy sins otherwise He can never accept thy repentance as real and genuine. All sin must be given up or else you will never have Christ. All transgression must be renounced or else the gates of heaven must be barred against you. Let us remember then that for repentance to be sincere, it must be entire repentance. True repentance is a turning of the heart as well as of the life. It is the giving up of the whole soul to God to be His forever and ever. It is the renunciation of the sins of the heart as well as the crimes of the life.” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Quote by Spurgeon provided by John MacArthur, The Call to Repentance  –  John MacArthur

Unfortunately, John MacArthur horribly takes Charles Spurgeon’s words out of context, and claims that Spurgeon taught Lordship Salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth, as this quote by Spurgeon himself plainly reveals:

“You must not expect that you will be perfect in “repentance” before you are saved. No Christian can be perfect. “Repentance” is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense! There are no conditions of salvation. God gives the salvation himself…”

— Charles Spurgeon

SOURCE: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0044.htm (from a sermon preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on September 23, 1855)

Why doesn’t MacArthur quote that? Admittedly, the former quote provided above, by itself, seems to support Lordship Salvation; BUT, if you look carefully you’ll notice that Spurgeon continually mentions the word “renunciation” (i.e. rejecting one’s sins). To “renounce” does not mean to literally forsake, otherwise Spurgeon would have used a different word. It is clear from Spurgeon’s latter statement that he didn’t believe in Lordship Salvation at all, and MacArthur is barking up an empty tree. Spurgeon simply meant that a person who attempts to justify any sins in his/her life cannot be saved, until they RENOUNCE all sins as being a violation of God’s Holy Law “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19). Jesus said in John 3:20 “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

The world doesn’t want to renounce their sins, nor to be reproved for them. This is why there are many false gospel’s today, which don’t include the Law of God. For there to be salvation, one MUST realize his or her guilt of sin (and thus the need for a Saviour), being condemned under God’s Holy Law, and then believe upon Jesus Christ to be forgiven of those sins and saved.

May I quote Pastor Charles Surgeon once again:

“You must not expect that you will be perfect in “repentance” before you are saved. No Christian can be perfect. “Repentance” is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense! There are no conditions of salvation. God gives the salvation himself…”

— Charles Spurgeon

SOURCE: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0044.htm (from a sermon preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on September 23, 1855)

Clearly, Charles Haddon Spurgeon DIDN’T believe that forsaking one’s sins, or grieving, or feeling sorrow, or being willing to turn from them, was necessary to be saved. Rather, Spurgeon believed that they were evidences of genuine repentance. Spurgeon did in fact teach, as have other great men of God, that a sinner ought to turn from his or her sins as evidence of genuine repentance; but this is after-the-fact, and not a requirement for salvation itself. Spurgeon plainly taught “there are no conditions of salvation“, which is exactly what the Bible teaches. We are sinners and Jesus is the Saviour!

John MacArthur is a False Prophet

John MacArthur teaches a bunch of garbage—quoting the heresies of Martin Luther and John Calvin, and has publicly referred to the Westminster Confession as a “theological masterpiece” over the radio. All of those heresies are straight from Hell. We ought to follow the Scriptures (John 5:39); and not flawed and imperfect men (Romans 3:4; Psalm 118:8). The Word of God always stands true! It bothers me that MacArthur twists Spurgeon’s words out of context, attempting to portray Spurgeon as believing in Lordship Salvation, i.e. the heresy that a person cannot be saved unless they turn away, hate, grieve and intend to stop living a sinful lifestyle. Such a change is the FRUIT (result) of genuine repentance (whose result usually requires time for a new believer to grow in truth and grace); and is not a part of saving faith (the ROOT of salvation). We are saved by God’s grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ as our Saviour (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is receiving; not giving. We pay nothing because we have nothing to pay! There are no conditions of salvation. The only requirement is that we come as sinners and trust upon Jesus’ holy name, Who washes our sins away with His precious literal blood (1st Peter 1:18,19; 1st John 1:7; Hebrews 9:12; Revelation 1:5).

A professed Christian who still loves sin may, or may not, be saved; but we cannot know with any certainty (1st Samuel 16:7). Only God truly knows who is saved. The Bible is filled with accounts of Christians who horribly sinned. Noah got drunk (Genesis 9:21). Samson has sex with a prostitute (Judges 16:1). David killed Uriah to hide an adulterous affair with the man’s wife, Bathsheba, which impregnated her (2nd Samuel 11; 12:9). Jeremiah quit preaching God’s Word (Jeremiah 20:9). Isaiah had unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5). Jonah fled from God’s will (Jonah 1:10). Peter cursed the name of Jesus and denied knowing Him (Mark 14:71). These are just a handful of examples of believer’s who struggled with sin in their lives. If Lordship Salvation is true, then all these wayward saints went to Hell already. The truth is that Lordship Salvation is no salvation at all; but rather, the devil’s trap and a sure road to Hellfire.

Charles Spurgeon on Repentance

Here is a lengthy quote by Charles Spurgeon concerning Biblical repentance:

You know there are degrees of faith, and yet the least faith saves; so there are degrees of repentance, and the least repentance will save the soul if it is sincere. The Bible says, “He that believeth shall be saved,” and when it says that, it includes the very smallest degree of faith. So when it says, “Repent and be saved,” it includes the man who has the lowest degree of real repentance. Repentance, moreover, is never perfect in any man in this mortal state. We never get perfect faith so as to be entirely free from doubting; and we never get repentance which is free from some hardness of heart. The most sincere penitent that you know will feel himself to be partially impenitent.

Repentance is also a continual life-long act. It will grow continually. I believe a Christian on his death-bed will more bitterly repent than ever he did before. It is a thing to be done all your life long. Sinning and repenting—sinning and repenting, make up a Christian’s life. Repenting and believing in Jesus—repenting and believing in Jesus, make up the consummation of his happiness. You must not expect that you will be perfect in “repentance” before you are saved. No Christian can be perfect. “Repentance” is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense! There are no conditions of salvation. [emphasis added]

SOURCE: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0044.htm (from a sermon preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on September 23, 1855)

Spurgeon plainly taught that he believed repentance “includes the man who has the lowest degree of real repentance.” You’ll never hear this quote from false prophets like Ray Comfort, Paul Washer, John MacArthur, Jack Chick, or others today who are sinfully teaching Lordship Salvation. Biblically, repentance is a “change of mind”. The changes that follow are the result of true repentance at work; and not repentance itself.

Also, notice that Spurgeon stated: “Repentance is also a continual life-long act.” Spurgeon was not teaching that salvation is a process, because it’s not. Spurgeon simply meant that once a person initially repents, thus acknowledging their guilty sinful condition and trusting the Lord by faith to be forgiven, those same elements of repentance and faith will work in the believer’s mind and heart for the rest of their life. Salvation is the starting point of Discipleship. When God saves us, the lifelong process of growing in the Lord begins.

Clearly, Spurgeon taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel; and not a false gospel that requires lost sinners to forsake personal life to be saved. Who can do that? Even the best of Christians still sin every day! Even our ignorance is part of our sin. Like it or not, Charles Spurgeon plainly taught the truth that “there are no conditions of salvation.” Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15; 6:23), freely received (Revelation 22:17), and without works (Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:3,4; 2nd Corinthians 5:21). Salvation is without works of self-righteousness. Romans 4:5 plainly teaches that a man’s faith is COUNTED for righteousness, i.e. the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to one’s heavenly record by faith.

We Are Nothing!

We Are Nothing!
By David J. Stewart

“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” —Galatians 6:3

You are nothing! I am nothing! Mankind is nothing! We are all corrupt sinners, with faults and shortcomings. Did you know that I don’t have a single fault? That’s right: I HAVE MANY FAULTS! The Bible defines a “just man” as one who stumbles repeatedly, but gets back up again to live for God (Proverb 24:16). A just man doesn’t quit. There’s no such thing as a just man who doesn’t falter at times. The same is true of you ladies. Even the best wife will falter at times and mess up, but she doesn’t file for divorce like the wicked, who quit. Even the best of Christians are still sinful human beings. Those religious people who claim to live above sin are liars. There’s not a single day that passes in which we don’t all sin. We sin multiple times every day, whether in thought, attitude, emotions, deed,…etc.

Even our very ignorance of sin is a part of our sin. Ignorance is no excuse for failing to obey God’s Law, for we are responsible to prayerfully search our hearts (Psalm 19:12; 2nd Corinthians 13:5). Cold-hearted people refuse to search their hearts; but a genuine Christian who loves the Lord will search his heart continually, seeking to be just and fair with others, and to please the Lord.

Certainly, we are the object of God’s love, so much so that He sent His only begotten Son into the world to pay for our sins at Calvary (John 3:16). So why does God call us “nothing”? What Galatians 6:3 means is that we are all made of the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7), and we all deserve to be punished in hell for our sins (Romans 6:23; 2nd Thessalonians 1:8,9), and there are no “big shots” in God’s eyes. Romans 2:11 states, “For there is no respect of persons with God.” We are all “little shots”. No one is any better than anyone else. God is not impressed with anything we can do for Him. Hebrews 11:6 teaches that only our faith pleases God, and faith is a TOTAL TRUST in the saving grace of God. Most people today, who claim to have faith in God, couldn’t care less about following the Scriptures. They are fakes. They pick and choose what they feel like obeying, and make excuses for the rest. The smallest book of the Bible is still the one that we live.

The only good thing about me is Jesus Christ, Who saved me when I was a 13-year old boy, because I believed on Him to forgive my sins. The Holy Spirit has been with me ever since, guiding, convicting, comforting, teaching, and chastening me when I do wrong. I am nothing without God. Jesus means everything to me, for without Him I’d spend eternity in the flames of Hell. I am nothing. I am nothing special. I am a sinner, and so are you. I care not for titles, for they mean nothing to me. I am nothing. I’ve known some men to use both titles of “Reverend” and “Doctor” before their name. I have never been impressed with that. Some of the most ignorant people in this world have doctorates degrees. There is only one Person in this universe Who ought to be called “Reverend”, and that’s God (Psalm 111:9). Call me nothing.

Americans are arrogant and self-willed, in need of repentance. American society has been brainwashed for so long, being told how wonderful we are, that we can’t deal with criticism anymore. Americans are extremely “thin-skinned” nowadays, easily offended, and intolerant of the truth. Everywhere we go we see the phrase “God Bless America”. It implies that we expect God to bless our nation because we deserve it. But you have to ask yourself the honest question: Why should God bless America? Because we say so? Does America nowadays deserve to be blessed by God? No way! Have you ever stopped to realize that pornography, casino gambling, drunkenness, fornication, abortion, feminism, divorce, witchcraft, strip clubs, and homosexuality are LEGAL in America? Now we’re even seeing legalized public nudity, prostitution and same-sex marriages! Can you honestly and reasonably ask a Holy God to bless this mess? I think not. I pray for God’s judgment upon America!!! I say this humbly and with sadness. We deserve a big spanking from God as a nation.

Stand in any checkout-line today and you’ll see dozens of magazine covers advertising how to be more beautiful, slimmer, sexier, smarter, richer, retire earlier,…etc. Could you imagine standing in a checkout line, and seeing a magazine cover that read: “How to develop personal discipline and character”. Who would buy that? Could you imagine seeing a magazine cover that read: “How to be a true friend” or “How to be a better employee” or “How to give more away to others” or “How to be happy without being beautiful”. We are living in a greedy, materialistic, covetous society, where people are not content anymore with having their basic needs met. You ought to try a can of Spam once in a while, or a bowl of plain white rice with soy sauce. American’s spend BILLIONS of dollars on dining out every year, while children in Haiti literally eat mud-patties for dinner, made of vegetable oil, salt and dirt. We are spoiled rotten living in the United States. Most of us take all our blessings for granted, especially the younger generation.

Everywhere nowadays, we are bombarded with advertisements telling us how wonderful we are; but God calls us dirty, rotten, hell-deserving sinners (Romans 3:10-23). We don’t deserve a break today; we deserve to burn in Hell forever (2nd Thessalonians 1:8, 9; Revelation 20:11-15). Could you imagine driving down the highway and hearing a song over the radio: “You deserve Hell today, at McDonalds” or “Have it God’s way, have it God’s way, at Burger King”? We have no right to have it our way; when it’s in conflict with God’s way (Proverb 3:5, 6; 14:12; 16:25). We are commanded to obey God (Acts 5:29).  We don’t deserve anything.

The reason why so many people file for divorce nowadays is because they selfishly “think” they deserve better. Divorce is synonymous with self-righteousness. A woman told me that she divorced her husband because he looked at pornography and lusted after other women. My first question is: what sins is the wife guilty of? What gives her the right to abandon her husband, quit her marriage, and break her marriage vows just because her husband sinned? She’s just as bad a sinner as her husband. Only an ignorant fool would teach that Jesus permitted divorce, because the Lord plainly taught in Matthew 19:8 that divorce is never permissible. It’s only because of hardheartedness that divorce ever occurs.

I’ve spent much time lately contending for the simplicity of the Gospel (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4), fighting against the damnable heresy of Lordship Salvation. I don’t enjoy making enemies; but we as Christians need to proclaim the Truth of God’s Word, the simplicity of Salvation, and to expose those modernists who complicate the Gospel. Anyone who acknowledges they’re guilty sinners and believes upon Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins will be saved eternally. Once saved, always saved. Proponents of Lordship Salvation think they’re something special. They think that other professed Christians, who live the lives of sin, are not saved and are going to Hell. I have news for all you advocates of Lordship Salvation: you sin multiple times every day of your life! This is the big hypocrisy of those who teach that salvation can be lost. If salvation can be lost, then we’re all going to Hellfire, because we all sin every day of our lives.

James 2:10 plainly condemns the entire human race. I don’t care how “holy” you think you are, you are a dirt-bag, and so am I. We are all scum, deserving of nothing good. The man who faithfully attends church, tithes, prays, goes soulwinning, and tries to live for God is just as much a dirty, rotten, hell-deserving sinner as the Christian man who gets drunk, beats his wife, steals at work, and rarely attends church. I’m tired of these self-righteous religious hypocrites who label struggling believers as unsaved. The Church at Corinth was a messed up bunch. 1st Corinthians 5:5 is incontrovertible PROOF that LORDSHIP SALVATION is a false doctrine of the Devil. The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Church of Corinth, reprimands them for allowing the sin of fornication in the church. Paul states that fornication is “commonly” reported among them. A literal translation of the TEXTUS RECEPTUS Greek in 1st Corinthians 5:1 reads, “Everywhere it is heard that fornication is among you…” (SOURCE: THE INTERLINEAR BIBLE, Jay P. Green, Sr.; Sovereign Grace Publishers). This carnal church was KNOWN as a house of sin. Yet in 1st Corinthians 3:1 the Apostle Paul called them “BABES IN CHRIST“! This is Scriptural proof that Lordship Salvation is a crock of lies.

I recently handed a woman from France a Gospel tract titled “You Need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS”. She was greatly offended. People often get offended when you tell them that they are “sinners” in need of Christ’s righteousness. It’s the very fact that we are nothing that requires Christ’s righteousness to save us. We have NO righteousness of our own (Isaiah 64:6). Romans 3:10 proclaims “There is none righteousness, no, not one.” Like it or not, you cannot save yourself. Your religion cannot save you. Your good works cannot save you. Without Christ, you are going straight to Hell. We are nothing; but Jesus is everything, because He is Almighty God (John 1:1-3, 14; 10:33; Colossians 2:9; 1st Timothy 3:16; Philippians 2:6; John 14:1; Revelation 1:8 – all Scriptures quoted from the King James Bible). We need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS to get to Heaven (Matthew 6:33; Romans 10:3, 4; 2nd Corinthians 5:21).

We are all nothing. America’s churches will once again become great when we stop saying “he has sinned” or “she has sinned” and start saying: WE HAVE SINNED!

“Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” — Isaiah 6:5

As Newborn Babes

As Newborn Babes

By David J. Stewart

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” —1st Peter 2:2

The Bible likens new believers in Christ to “newborn babes”. Carefully notice that the Bible doesn’t say “babies”; but rather, “newborn babies”. Whereas an older baby might be able to perform certain advanced intellectual functions, such as saying “mama” or “papa”; a newborn baby is completely ignorant of its new life.

Likewise, when a lost sinner repents by turning to Jesus Christ to be forgiven of their sins, they are born-again in Christ Jesus. At that point they are as helpless in their new spiritual lives as is a baby physically born from its mother’s womb. Everything becomes new to them:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” -2nd Corinthians 5:17.

This is why the Apostle Peter, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in 1st Peter 2:2, said that a baby believer needs the “MILK OF THE WORD” to grow.

The Lie of Lordship Salvation

In view of this Biblical truth, the false doctrine of “Lordship Salvation” becomes even more absurd. Lordship Salvation is the teaching that a sinner cannot merely place their trust in Jesus Christ to be saved; but in addition, that sinner must surrender to Christ’s Lordship, and thus be willing to forsake one’s sins as part of saving faith. This is works salvation and a guaranteed road to Hellfire and damnation. The gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23) and it is without any works of self-righteousness (Titus 3:5).

The Word of God plainly states that Christ’s righteousness is IMPUTED (i.e. placed upon our heavenly record) to the sinner who rests his or her faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him [Jesus] that justifieth the ungodly [you and me], his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:5-8).

This is biblical salvation; not the false gospel of heretics like John MacArthur, Paul Washer, Aiden Tozer, Jack Chick, Ray Comfort, and a host of others. The Bible plainly warns us in 2nd Corinthians 11:3,4 that Satan would attempt to corrupt the “simplicity that is in Christ” through ignorant and unlearned men who pervert the Scriptures.

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

All of the men I just mentioned to you are guilty of preaching “another gospel” not taught in the Scriptures. 2nd Peter 3:16 also warns against those who ignorantly pervert the Scriptures.

“As also in all his [Paul’s] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

It is no trifle matter that Jack Chick is sincerely ignorant in his false gospel. People are going to Hell. Unquestionably, untold thousands of lost sinners have refused to accept Christ after reading a Chick Tract, because they were unwilling to “be willing to turn from sin” to be saved as Mr. Chick requires in his tracts. No Sir, you don’t have to be willing to turn from sin to be saved! You simply need to believe upon Jesus as the Christ with a childlike faith to be forgiven of your sins. It’s that simple.

Just as a little newborn baby who’s just come forth from its mother’s womb, so is the new believer in Christ. Just as nothing can reasonably be expected of a newborn baby; likewise, nothing should be expected of a new believer in Christ. Salvation does not instantly cause a new believer to walk a “narrow path” (as Paul Washer proudly teaches), anymore than a newborn child can use a calculator, run a marathon, or construct something with building blocks. There is a necessary growth process that cannot be bypassed. The same is true of every new believer in Christ Jesus.

In salvation, a lost sinner, who realizes their guilt under God’s Law, comes to Jesus Christ by faith to be forgiven and saved. This is the second birth. Absolutely nothing can be reasonably expected of a new believer who hasn’t been trained, mentored and given the opportunity to grow in the Lord. It is wickedness, and a false gospel, when men like John MacArthur and Ray Comfort pervert the gospel into works salvation, by teaching that faith alone in Christ is not enough to save a person from Hell. Yes faith alone in Christ is biblically enough for Salvation.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13)

The heresy of Lordship Salvation bypasses growth in grace, and unreasonably demands a changed life, or a willingness to change one’s life, as part of saving faith. There is no such foolish teaching in the Scriptures.

Good Works Verses Grace

Good Works Verses Grace

By David J. Stewart

Salvation Cannot Be by Works and God’s Grace

NOT BY WORKS of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). This Bible makes it plain and simple that good works will not save anyone. Listen to the message of Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” How many Scriptures does God need to put in front of our face before we get the idea—salvation is not by merit. “Knowing that a man is NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and NOT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW: for BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW SHALL NO FLESH BE JUSITIFIED” (Galatians 2:16). The road to hell is paved with good intentions!!! The plain teaching of the Inspired Word of God is that salvation is NOT BY WORKS. You just read it for yourself.

Salvation is of God, NOT Dependent Upon Man’s Works

Over and over the Bible proclaims that good deeds CANNOT merit us salvation. Someone needs to tell this to the Pope! He preaches a message of kindness and love but never mentions the name of Jesus Christ. You’ll never hear the Pope speak of the torments of hell. I’ve never heard him speak of being born-again. All the love and kindness in the world will NOT get you into Heaven. Catholicism teaches that a person must practice the “seven sacraments” to obtain Heaven. This of course is a lie of the devil! You do NOT need to be baptized to go to Heaven! You do NOT need to confess your sins to a priest in order to be forgiven. No priest can forgive anyone’s sins!!! You do NOT need to go to confirmation to be saved, no sir! These are lies of the devil. I once witnessed to a Catholic man concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. He said that he believed in “faith AND works.” Though I believe he was sincere, he does NOT understand the Bible very well. Romans 11:6 clarifies this matter, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But IF IT BE OF WORKS, THEN IT IS NO MORE GRACE: otherwise work is no more work.” If salvation comes by works, then it is NOT by God’s grace anymore. The whole reason that Jesus died on the cross, folks, is because we could not perform enough good works to get saved. There is NO amount of good deeds that can reconcile us to God. Only through Jesus Christ can anyone be saved. If it were possible for us to get to Heaven by living a good and upright life, then Jesus died for nothing. “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN” (Galatians 2:21).

Jesus Christ Paid a Sin Debt that We Could Not Pay

Jesus paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. That’s God’s grace! Like it or not, you are just too sinful and wicked to save yourself—you CANNOT earn your way into Heaven. This is the very reason why God had to provide a way of escape for humanity. This way of escape has been provided through the sacrifice and blood atonement of Jesus Christ. God did this because He loves us very much, more than we can possibly comprehend. Don’t make the mistake of creating God in your own image, you were created in God’s own image. You are the object of the Heavenly Father’s love—so much so that He created you in His very own likeness.

Most Rich People Spit On God’s Grace by Rejecting Christ

God wanted you to be like Him. Someday, if you’ll let Him, He wants to give you everything. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?” (Romans 8:32). If God was willing to give His own earthly life in sacrifice for us, don’t you think that He will also give us everything else? Yes, that is exactly true. God wants us to have the kingdom of Heaven, the earth, everything. God says, what’s mine is yours! Of course, this does not include sinful things because sin belongs to Satan and man—not God. Everything that is righteous and Holy will be ours when we get to Heaven to be with Jesus. Perhaps you ask, “then why doesn’t God make me rich now?” Because that would likely be the worst thing that ever happened to you my friend. Great and many are the sins of the rich and famous. You are rich if you have Christ in your heart. There are two ways to be rich: Have all you want OR want all you have! The greatest things in life can NOT be bought by money. I’m satisfied with what God has blessed me with—things that money can’t buy. Money CANNOT buy anyone into Heaven.

Ted Turner is filthy rich! He owns more land than anyone else in this nation, second to the US government. It was Mr. Turner who said that “Christians are losers.” I heard him say that he is “looking forward to going to hell.” As an unbeliever, he will get his wish soon enough. I can tell you my friend, Christians are anything but losers. Bill Gates is undecided whether or not there is a God. Warren Buffet doesn’t believe in God at all. These are some of the richest men in the world, yet they are poorer than poor without Jesus Christ as Saviour. I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes for all the money in the world. They give away billions of dollars to charity each year but that doesn’t merit them one iota with God. Their good deeds CANNOT save them. The ONLY way to be saved is to crawl to the feet of Jesus Christ as a hell-deserving sinner. There aren’t many rich people who are willing to crawl on their spiritual knees to the mighty throne of God—it’s beyond their “dignity” to admit they deserve to burn in hell. Let me tell you whoever you may be, you are a hell-deserving sinner! Yes you are! Your good works mean nothing to God concerning your salvation, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE AS FILTHY RAGS; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:60). Your money, kindness, sincerity, positive efforts, generosity and commitment mean nothing to God if you are trying to impress Him by your own self-righteousness. If you are trusting in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (realizing that you have no righteousness of your own), then all the good things you do as a Child of God are well pleasing unto the Lord.

The Apostle Paul Relied Upon God’s Grace, Nothing Else

But by THE GRACE OF GOD I am what I am” (1st Corinthians 15:10). The Apostle Paul knew where his bread and butter came from. He knew Who had given him the wisdom and ability to write to the churches. Paul didn’t take anything for granted but gave God the benefit of the doubt for everything good in his life. God’s grace is God’s goodness, He did for us what we certainly don’t deserve. We deserve to go straight to hell, but God has given us the gift of life and the opportunity to be saved—this is God’s grace. God’s grace is everything that God has ever done, is doing, or ever will do for us. We deserve nothing! When someone arrogantly claims that they are trying to impress God with their good works, they are unknowingly admitting that they know nothing concerning the grace of God. Salvation cannot be of grace and works as we have already learned from Romans 11:6. The grace of God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, if we could save ourselves we wouldn’t need the grace of God.

God’s Throne of Grace

The grace of God is available to help us through every trial and problem in life because we can’t make it on our own. It is our duty to claim the grace of God in times of trouble, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find GRACE TO HELP in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Ezekiel 18:24 Explained

Ezekiel 18:24 Explained

By David J. Stewart

“But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.”

The best way to interpret the Bible is with the Bible! I’ve read so much heresy surrounding Ezekiel 18:24. As an example, the Congregational Holiness Church, the Wesleyan Holiness Movement, and the Charismatic Movement all misinterpret Ezekiel 18:24 to teach that a Christian can lose their salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth! Oral Roberts and his family came from the Holiness Movement out of Oklahoma. He was a product that came from the Latter Rain Pentecostal Movement of the late 1940’s, and was a well known demonic faith healer. Taken by itself, out of context, Ezekiel 18:24 does appear to support the doctrine that a man can fall away from salvation. However, as you will see from other Scriptures in Ezekiel, this is NOT the case at all.

Ezekiel 33:12-13 states:

“Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.”

Did you read that? “…If he trust in his OWN righteousness.” This is the heart of the matter here. God is simply condemning self-righteousness. The New Testament states in Romans 10:3-4

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

To claim that a person who commits sin can lose their salvation is to totally ignore such powerful Scriptures as Genesis 15:6 concerning Abraham, “And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” The Apostle Paul plainly stated in Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” These Scriptures clearly eliminate “works” as a necessity to one’s eternal salvation. The damnable heresy that a believer can lose salvation is nothing less than a form of Lordship Salvation. Whereas the Lordship Salvation crowd teaches that a person must forsake their sins to be saved; the eternal insecurity crowd teaches that committing sin will cause a person to lose salvation. Both heresies are based upon self-righteousness. Ephesians 2:8-9 is clear on the matter of salvation “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Again, carefully read Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

This does not give the believer a license to sin, which is clearly evident in Romans 3:28,31, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law … Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Just because we are saved by faith without works does not give us a license to sin.

Tom Brown is a Charismatic false prophet who pastors in El Paso, Texas. Here is a quote from one of his writings, which will allow you to see firsthand how such sinister ministers misinterpret Ezekiel 18:24

God was the first to ask whether or not people could lose their salvation. We find God asking this question in Ezekiel 18:24: “‘But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sins and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live?’” God is asking, “Will he live, if he departs from his righteous ways?” And what was the answer? “‘None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will DIE.’” -SOURCE (Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?)

In Lieu of Ezekiel 33:12-13, it is clear that Ezekiel’s warnings were to the unsaved self-righteous; not believers, “When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered…“ Anyone who trusts “in his own righteousness” was never saved to begin with!!! Carefully notice that the Bible says a man’s righteousness won’t be remembered only if he trusts in his OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. This is why Romans 10:3 warns people about trying to establish their OWN righteousness. In contrast, a man who trusts in the Lord for his salvation, even if he become backslidden–his good works will NOT be forgotten. Proof of this doctrine is in Hebrews 11:32 which lists king David as a great man of faith. Yet, it was David who impregnated Bathsheba in an adulterous affair and then murdered her husband, Uriah, in an attempt to hide his sin. David was a righteous man, not because of his own works; but because he trusted upon the Lord’s righteousness. Abraham BELIEVED GOD in Genesis 15:6, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. What a wonderful God, who has made salvation free and simple! Are you trusting in your own self-righteousness? If you believe that you can lose your salvation, then you are indeed self-righteous my friend. Salvation is of God; not man. Please read, The Simplicity of Salvation by Dr. Jack Hyles.

Mr. Brown is misguided and wrong to teach that believers can lose their salvation. In sharp contrast, the Word of God teaches that once a lost sinner is saved, they’re always saved “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise … And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30). The moment a person trust Christ as Savior, that person is SEALED with the Holy Spirit (i.e. the Holy Spirit, God Almighty, comes to live inside that believer forever). The new birth in Christ is as irreversible as is our physical birth. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” To claim that a believer can lose salvation is to say that one who is a new creature (i.e. born again) in Christ can become an old creature again. There is NO such teaching in the Scriptures. “Once saved, always saved” is Biblically correct. The whole matter is put to rest by Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”