Most Churchgoers Are Cheating On Christ

John 10:1, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

Galatians 1:6-7, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”

I found this excellent meme this week. I had to change it though. The original meme had the word “Believer,” but I changed it to “Churchgoer.” I changed the word because no one is a believer (born again, saved) who is trusting more than Jesus Christ to get to Heaven. Those who trust in repenting of their sins, or following Jesus as “Lord” of their life, are not saved.

Tragically, a counterfeit gospel is being preached from nearly every pulpit today, and is read in nearly every piece of religious literature today. You will find all of the following embellishments to God's simple plan of salvation, none of which are required to get to Heaven:

1. “Repent of your sins”
2. “Turn from your sinful ways”
3. “Forsake a lifestyle of sinning”
4. “Be willing to turn from your sins”
5. “Put Christ on the throne of your life”
6. “Surrender all to Christ”
7. “Give your life to Christ”
8. “Change your behavior to prove you've repented to be saved”
9. “Become a Christ follower”
10. “Commit to follow Christ”
11. “Invite Christ into your life”
12. “Invite Jesus into your heart”
13. “Give the steering wheel of your life to God”
14. “Live a lifestyle of repentance”
15. “Pray a sinner's prayer”
16. “Walk down a church aisle”
17. “Ask God to join His family”
18. “Run the race faithfully to the end”
19. “Be sorry for your sins”
20. “Commit to do better in the future”
21. “Surrender all to Christ”
22. “Make Jesus the 'Lord' of your life”

You may do all of these things dear reader, and yet never have been born again. Certainly these things have their proper place in the Christian life, but getting saved is strictly a matter of resting in Jesus Christ and His finished work of redemption through Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago (Hebrews 4:10-11).

Are you cheating on Christ? You are if you claim that salvation is by grace, yet you still insist that a person must live a changed life to prove they've been saved. If salvation is truly by grace, then you don't need to start or stop anything to be saved. Eternal life is a free gift from God (Romans 6:23). Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty.

Sadly, nearly all churchgoers today are living the Christian life without ever having been born again. This is Satan's most effective weapon, conning people into living the Christian life without ever experiencing the new birth. John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The required new birth is not optional.

A demon's favorite activity is to make religious people feel comfortable in their lost condition. If you are a religious person, but you have never been born again through faith alone in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, you do not realize just how dire your situation is friend. You are just a breath and a heartbeat away from spending the rest of eternity burning in Hell.

Thank you for reading my ministry blog. To God alone be all the glory.

Most People Who Hear The Gospel Won't Believe It

Hebrews 4:1-2, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

Like many Christian believers, I used to errantly think that if we can just get the Gospel out to as many people as possible, they get saved. Although we certainly should get the Gospel out to everybody we can in obedience to The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), the reality of the situation is that most people will not believe the Good News when they hear it.

In our text passage of Scripture from Hebrews 4:1-2, the inspired King James Bible says that the Jews who wandered in the Wilderness of Zin for 40 years heard Moses preach the Gospel unto them, but they simply didn't believe it. Tragically, that means they are burning in the fires of Hell today and forever. That is heartbreaking. What was that Gospel which Moses preached? We read in Acts 10:38a and 43, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power... To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” The Gospel has always essentially been the same (although they lacked the full details we have today) that remission of sins comes through faith in Christ.

Can you imagine the Jews hearing the Gospel preached unto them for 40 years, and still not believing one word of it? When the Apostle Paul taught the Word of God to a group of Jewish leaders, the Bible says in Acts 28:24, “And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” You will find this situation to be true in every corner of the earth. Humans are so predictable. No doubt a few of the Jews believed Moses' Gospel message, but most of them tragically did not believe.

I wrote this blog, not to discourage Christians from sharing the Gospel with everyone; but rather, so that you will understand we simply cannot lead everyone to Christ. I have often heard Bible preachers say that we cannot save anyone, only God can save a sinner. But that is not entirely accurate. What saith the Scripture?

Jude 1:21-23, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

Did you read that? We are to “save” some people with fear. That is, warning them of the judgment to come upon them if they refuse to get saved (Hebrews 10:31; Revelation 21:8). 1st Corinthians 3:9b says, “we are labourers together with God.” Without us to preach the Gospel, NO ONE will ever get saved. So, we DO help save lost sinners, by preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen from the dead unto them.

We need to understand that it is quite normal for only a few people to receive the truth (the light) of the Gospel to be saved. What did Jesus say? Luke 13:23-24, “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” The Bible foretold that only a few people would ever be saved. It's not because God doesn't want them to be saved (2nd Peter 3:9); but rather, it is because “ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40b).

The Logical Inconsistency Of Lordship Salvation

Galatians 3:1-3, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

All across the United States, and the world by extension through our missionaries, a false gospel of partial faith in Christ plus works is being preached. The following meme is excellent...

Yes, that is a great analogy. That is the disturbing counterfeit plan of salvation which we hear being preached from nearly every pulpit today. A pastor will tell you that eternal life is a free gift, which cannot be earned by works; and then he'll say that if you are really saved your life should have changed, to produce works.

In his heretical sermon titled, “False Faith,” Pastor Phelps errantly defines Bible faith as meaning more than believing on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. Acts 16:30-31, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” According to Chuck Phelps, faith without works is not sufficient to save. Phelps plainly states in his sermon that if your life hasn't changed, you are not saved! Kindly said, that means Chuck Phelps is NOT saved, because he is preaching another gospel which cannot produce the new birth.

Pastor Phelps at 11:10 time in his heretical sermon says:

“If you're professed faith has not produced CHANGE, it's false faith. He's saying if your confession has not CHANGED YOUR LIFE, it will not result in eternal life. What you say with your lips must be backed-up with your life, or it's false faith!” [emphasis added] —Pastor Charles Phelps, “False Faith” (time - 11:10; November 1, 2009 - Sunday morning)

Dear reader, what you just read is totally unscriptural. If you have to look at your life to prove that you are saved, it proves that you are not! Salvation is a new birth, not a reward or exchange. Salvation is received, not achieved. Salvation is a TAKE proposition, not a GIVE proposition. God wants you to by faith freely TAKE His free gift of eternal life. God is already offering eternal life to you, so you don't need to ask for it. God is already offering it freely to you. If you will simply by faith take God at His Word, believing what He has recorded in His Written Word, you will be instantly and forever saved. Acts 16:30b-31, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” All we are taught to do to be saved is to BELIEVE!!!

Pastor Charles Phelps wickedly corrupts the gospel. Phelps even quotes John Calvin (1509-1564) in his sermon as a secondary authority to back-up his damnable counterfeit gospel. I am fully convinced that John Calvin died in his sins and went to Hell forever! That is a sad thing. And unless he repents of his false gospel, Chuck Phelps will also spend eternity in the Lake of Fire!

Pastor Phelps also makes this heretical statement:

“You can't work to have salvation, but if you have salvation it will work!” [emphasis added] —Pastor Charles Phelps, “False Faith” (time - 30:13; November 1, 2009 - Sunday morning)

That is typical false prophet doublespeak! He is backloading the gospel with works. That's like me saying that you cannot earn your birthday gift, but if you accept it you will earn it! What in the world is Chuck Phelps talking about? Folks, this is junk theology at it's worst!

Nowhere in the inspired King James Bible are we taught that if we receive God's free gift of eternal life IT WILL WORK! That doesn't even make sense! What did Jesus say about works to get to Heaven? John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Jesus laid this question to rest forever about doing works to merit Heaven. The Lord said the ONLY work which God accepts is to BELIEVE on the name of Jesus!!!

Nowhere in the inspired King James Bible are we taught that we must work to prove that we are really saved. Pastor Chuck Phelps is a theological liar!!! Mr. Phelps is not a born-again Christian, because he is preaching a corrupt gospel based in partial faith in Christ plus works. Phelps misinterprets Titus 1:16, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” 

Pastor Phelps attempts to use this verse to support his heresy that works are necessary to verify that you are saved. But Phelps lifts this text out of its context to create a new pretext. He ignores Titus 1:10 which identifies these false teachers as being “of the circumcision.” They were guilty of adding works to faith, the very evil which Pastor Chuck Phelps is guilty of doing!

Evangelist John Bunyan (1628-1688) said it best:

“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” —Evangelist John Bunyan

That is exactly what Pastor Phelps and the Bob Jones University camp are guilty of doing! They corrupt the Word of God and cast stumblingblocks before the people, by failing to put a difference between JUSTIFICATION wrought by the man Christ without and SANCTIFICATION wrought by the Spirit of Christ within. One's behavior is entirely a matter of DISCIPLESHIP, not SONSHIP.

Pastor Martin R. DeHaan (1891-1965) said it very well:

“There is a vast difference between coming to Jesus for salvation and coming after Jesus for service. Coming to Christ makes one a believer, while coming after Christ makes one a disciple. All believers are not disciples. To become a believer one accepts the invitation of the Gospel, to be a disciple one obeys the challenge to a life of dedicated service and separation. Salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ; discipleship comes only by sacrifice of self and surrender to His call for devoted service. Salvation is free, but discipleship involves paying the price of a separated walk. Salvation can't be lost because it depends upon God's faithfulness, but discipleship can be lost because it depends upon our faithfulness.” —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, “Hebrews”; Zondervan Publishing House, 1959 (p. 117)

It astonishes me how deceived today's clergy have become. Satan is so clever and subtle that he has been able to trick Bible preachers to sincerely think God's free gift requires works to prove that you have it. Huh? That is exactly what they are preaching! I just proved it to you with Pastor Phelps' sermon, “False Faith.” Anybody who tells you that eternal life is God's free gift, but you must have works to verify that you have it, is a liar inspired by demons. They are preaching a corrupt plan of salvation, which is really a plan of damnation.

Your performance (i.e., the life you choose to live after you get saved) has absolutely nothin to do with going to Heaven. The only reason I am going to Heaven when I die is because as a 13-year-old young man I trusted Jesus as my personal Savior, accepting His death on the cross as full payment for my sins, believing that He was buried, but then resurrected from the dead three days later. That is my only hope for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

How I choose to live my life on earth as God's redeemed child is a separate matter of rewards, discipleship and glory in Heaven. One thing has nothing to do with the other. We must always keep service completely separate from salvation, lest we pervert God's grace.

Obfuscating God's Simple Plan Of Salvation

Acts 15:1, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”

I learned some new big words this past week...

“Obfuscation” is the obscuring of the intended meaning of communication by making the message difficult to understand, usually with confusing and ambiguous language. The obfuscation might be either unintentional or intentional, and is accomplished with circumlocution, the use of jargon, and the use of an argot of limited communicative value to outsiders.

“Circumlocution” is the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea. It is sometimes necessary in communication, but it can also be undesirable.

When I first discovered these two words, I couldn't help but immediately apply them to God's simple plan of salvation, which plan has been butchered, embellished, obscured, muddied, perverted and watered-down from nearly every pulpit today. Galatians 1:7b, “but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”

From nearly every Bible college, seminary and church pulpit today the gospel is being OBFUSCATED with ambiguous and difficult to understand jargon. Tragically, if you visit 95% of Baptist churches today, you will hear some garbage from the pulpit about repenting of your sins to get to Heaven, which jargon is utterly confusing for hearers. What does it even mean to “repent of your sins.” Sadly, most preachers don't even know, but they still repeat the heresy. 

Those pastors today who foolishly preach that to get to Heaven you must first be willing to repent of your sinning, they are as wrong and incompetent as were the false prophets in Acts 15:1, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Those wicked false prophets were adding to God's simple plan of salvation.

To them, faith in Christ wasn't enough, you also had to be circumcized to keep the Mosaic law (works). They failed to understand that the law was not given as a means of salvation; but rather, as a measuring stick by which when compared themselves they fell short of God's glory and saw their need for Christ (Romans 3:19-20; Galatians 3:24-26). They were guilty of obfuscating God's simple plan of salvation, as are all the incompetent pastors today who require people to “repent of your sins” to be saved. Not one verse in the inspired King James Bible teaches to repent of your sinning to get to Heaven. The Bible just says to “repent,” and that verb (Greek: metanoeo) just means: “to think differently.”

Since unbelief is the only sin that can keep you out of Heaven, unbelief is the only sin you need to repent (change your mind) from to be saved. The moment that you come to God by faith (taking the Lord at His written Word) to accept Christ's sacrificial death on the cross as full payment for your sins, believing that He was buried, but then miraculously physically ressurected from the dead three days later, you are saved. This is “the gospel” (1st Corinthians 15:1-4), by which all who believe it are saved (Romans 1:16).

And that big word “circumlocution” is certainly applicable to the plan of salvation that I find on many religious websites, which are a book's length long. God intended for the Gospel (the Good News) to be simple to hear, easy to understand, and free to receive. When you hear a preacher talking about what you must surrender, sacrifice and give up to receive God's free gift of eternal life, you know that he has been inspired by demons! If salvation is truly by grace, then you don't need to start or stop anything to be saved. Eternal life is a free gift from God (Romans 6:23). When presenting the gospel to a lost sinner, keep it short and simple.