Monday, February 28, 2022

The One Thing That Determines Salvation

by Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995)

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” —John 3:36

What is the determining factor in salvation? Exactly what does a person have to do to be saved? The Bible doesn’t leave us in the dark. The answer is found in the Word of God.

In Acts 16:30-31 the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

The jailer was asking, “What one thing is absolutely necessary for my salvation?” and the Bible answer was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In John 3:36 Jesus divides the world into two groups: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Here you have those who are believing on the Son and those who believe not on the Son. Those who are believing have everlasting life, according to the promise of God; and those who believe not shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on them.

In John 3:18, again Jesus divides the world into two groups: “He that believeth on him is not condemned [is not under sentence]: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Here again Jesus says there are two groups: those who believe and those who believe not. Those who believe have the sentence lifted. They are not condemned. And those who believe not are under the sentence of sin, which is the second death, because they are not believing on “the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Galatians 3:26 says, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” This passage plainly says that everybody who is a child of God is a child of God by faith. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Neither time nor space permits me to share with you all the verses that say believing, or faith, is the determining factor in salvation. There are at least 153 verses in the Bible that make believing the determining factor in salvation. Mark 16:16 says, “He that believeth not shall be damned.” So if the Bible is true, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the determining factor in salvation.

I’ve heard or read a number of sermons on “saving faith”; but the Bible never puts the word “saving” before faith. Faith is not the Saviour. Jesus is the Saviour. Faith is an attitude of the soul through which Jesus saves.

The Bible never tells us to believe and be saved. It is always careful to say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” or, “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” or, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” It’s the Object of faith that makes faith important. Faith in the wrong thing could result in a person’s damnation.

Now since faith is the determining factor in salvation, it is important to know what faith is.

So far as I know, there’s only one definition of faith in the Bible. It’s found in Hebrews 11:1. But while there’s only one definition, there are many illustrations of faith in the Bible. I think the best illustration of faith is found in Hebrews 12:2, where we find the expression, “Looking unto Jesus.”

I. Faith Is Not Looking At Jesus But Looking Unto Jesus

Almost everyone will admit that Jesus Christ existed, that He was a real person. Every time we date a check, we admit the existence of Christ. Faith is not looking at Jesus as a historical personage.

James 2:19 says, “The devils also believe, and tremble.” Even the demons admit the existence of Christ. In Acts 19:15 the evil spirit in the man said, “…Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” No, faith is not looking at Jesus; it’s looking unto Jesus, which is another way of saying depending on Jesus.

Suppose someone cosigned for you to borrow money, and if you didn’t pay, the authorities would put you in jail. And suppose the money came due and you had nothing with which to pay. You called your cosigner and said, “Bob, I’ve got problems. You know that note you signed for me—well, the money is due, and I can’t pay it.”

Your friend replied, “Don’t worry about it. Just look to me!” He means by that, “Just depend on me. I’ll pay it.”

Jesus Christ says that we owe a sin debt. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” To pay what we owe, we would have to die and go into Hell and stay there forever. But He says, “Don’t worry about it. You just look to Me.”

Isaiah 53:6 says, “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Two thousand years ago God took every sin you have ever committed and every one you will ever commit, and God Almighty laid those sins on Jesus Christ. While Jesus Christ was bearing your sins in His own body, God punished Him in your place to pay the debt that you owe as a sinner.

Jesus uttered seven things while He hung on the cross. Just before dying He said, “It is finished.” Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it. It’s complete!

His death on the cross made full payment for your sins. And now He says to you, “Look to Me! Believe that I did die on the cross for you. Believe that I did pay your sin debt and look to Me. Look to Me, and all is well.” Faith is not looking at Jesus; it’s looking unto Jesus, depending on Jesus, relying on Jesus, putting the matter of your salvation in His hands and trusting Him to get you to Heaven.

II. Faith Is Looking Away From Everything Else and Looking Only to Jesus

Martin Luther translated Hebrews 12:2, “Aufsehen zu Jesus,” which means “looking up to Jesus”; in other words, looking away from everything else and looking only to Jesus. It means that you look away from your works.

How long do you think you’d have to work to earn Heaven? Read the description of Heaven in Revelation 21 and 22. Why, the Bible says the street in Heaven is made of pure gold. The gold is so pure it’s like transparent glass. You can see through it. Earth has no way of refining gold that pure. If you worked ten million lifetimes, you couldn’t begin to earn Heaven. And the Bible says in 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.”

And consider this: If a man worked to stay out of Hell, the very motive would render the work ineffective. He would be working from a motive of fear. According to I Corinthians 13, all work must be motivated by love. Paul said in verse 3, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [or love], it profiteth me nothing.” So if a person worked to stay out of Hell, the motive would render the work ineffective.

A boy once asked an old preacher, “Sir, what can I do to be saved?”

The preacher replied, “Son, you’re too late.”

“What!” exclaimed the boy, “too late to be saved?”

“No,” said the preacher, “too late to do anything. You see, son, Jesus did it all two thousand years ago.”

Now wait a minute! I believe in good works, but not as an instrument of salvation. You don’t work to be saved; you work because you are saved.
I would not work my soul to save,
For that my Lord hath done,
But I would work like any slave
For love of God’s dear Son!
“Looking up to Jesus” means I look away from my righteousness and only to Jesus. I’m for living right. You ought to live as clean, as moral and as pure as you possibly can. But Titus 3:5 says, “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.” Isaiah 64:6 says, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”

Now just a minute, friend. The Bible doesn’t say the worst you do is like filthy rags, but the best you do. There is no way that anyone could ever be righteous enough to go to Heaven. You would have to be perfect, and there are no perfect people.

Sam Jones, the Methodist evangelist, once asked a congregation, “Does anyone here know a perfect person?” A lady raised her hand. “Yes.”

“Do you know a perfect person?”

“Well,” answered the lady, “I’ve never met her, but my husband talks about her all the time. She was his first wife.”

The truth is, no one is perfect. Jesus said, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Faith is looking away from our righteousness and looking only to Jesus. You don’t get better to get saved. You get saved to get better, and you can’t get better until you do get saved.
A stanza from my favorite hymn says:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
“Looking up to Jesus” means looking away from our church membership and looking only to Jesus. Everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour should join a church. But you don’t join the church to become a Christian. Being in the church won’t make a Christian out of you any more than getting into the garage will make an automobile out of you. I’m a church member, and everybody who’s saved ought to join a Bible-believing church. Acts 2:41 says, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

On the other hand, if you’re depending on the fact that you belong to the church to get you to Heaven, you’ll go to Hell through the church. In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus said, “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.”

According to the Bible, many will miss Heaven even though they were church members and worked hard, even preaching or prophesying in Jesus’ name. But they will miss Heaven because they did not totally, fully, completely trust Jesus Christ. They trusted their works.

“Looking up to Jesus” means you look away from your baptism and look only to Jesus. I’m for baptism. Every person who accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour ought to be baptized, but baptism is not an instrument of salvation. It’s an outward expression of an inward experience. It’s like putting the wedding band on the finger after you are married. It doesn’t marry you, but it shows everybody that you are married. Being baptized doesn’t save you. It’s an outward symbol telling others that you believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

The man who’s depending on his baptism to get him to Heaven will go to Hell through the baptistry. Now why do I say that? Because John 3:36 says, “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Wait a minute, friend, Jesus Christ says if you’re not depending on, believing, trusting, relying on the Son, you “shall not see life; but the wrath of God” abides on you. The man who’s trusting his church membership or his baptism or his reformation or anything else other than Jesus Christ, will not go to Heaven. John 3:18 says, “He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” There is no promise to those who partly believe on Christ and partly on something else.

Someone asked me, “But doesn’t the Bible say in Mark 16:16, ‘He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…’?”

“Yes,” I replied, “but the next expression says, ‘…he that believeth not shall be damned.’” You see, believing is the determining factor, not being baptized. That’s like saying, “He that getteth on the jet plane and sitteth down, shall fly to Jacksonville, Florida; but he that getteth not on the plane, shall not fly to Jacksonville.”

It’s the getting on that gets you there, not the sitting down. But any fool knows if you get on, you ought to sit down. If you don’t sit down, you’ll wish you had sat down before you reach your final destination.

If you’ve trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour, you ought to be baptized. But you should not be baptized thinking that baptism saves you. If you do, you’re not trusting Jesus Christ; you’re trusting baptism. Faith is looking away from everything else and looking only to Jesus Christ.

III. Faith Is Not Experiencing a Feeling But Relying on a Fact

I’ve dealt with people who doubted their salvation because they did not think they had the proper feelings at the time of conversion. There is not a verse in the Bible that tells a man exactly how he has to feel in order to be saved. As a matter of fact, the Bible never says you have to feel any way to be saved. Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

I remember when I was first married. We drove back to my wife’s home, and there were some friends in the yard. When we got out of the automobile, someone asked me, “How does it feel to be married?”

I said, “I feel exactly like I did a few minutes ago.” But you know something? I was just as married as the fellow who had some great feeling.

Not everyone reacts the same to the same experience. I remember one night I was driving home from a revival meeting when a car overturned in front of us. Several people were badly injured. Some who saw it cried, others ran to help, while some buried their faces in their hands. One lady fainted. Now they all saw the same thing and had the same experience but reacted differently. I’ve seen people cry when they trusted Christ as Saviour. I’ve been with others who smiled, while others laughed and some even shouted; but they all had the same experience. They all trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour. No, faith is not having some particular feeling. Faith is depending on a fact.

Now here’s the fact: Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ died for you. He bore your sins in His own body. God punished Him in your place to pay the debt that you owe. That’s a fact. Whether you ever do anything about it or not, it’s still a fact.

What you must do is believe that fact and not only believe in your head that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay your sin debt, but depend on, rely on, trust Him and what He did for your salvation.

If I were not a Christian and wanted to be, I would simply pray this prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I do believe that You died for me. And here and now I do trust You as my Saviour. From this minute on, I’m depending on You to get me to Heaven. Help me to live for You and to be a good Christian.

After praying the prayer, I would accept what God says in the Bible—that I do have everlasting life because I’m trusting Jesus Christ for my salvation: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36). I mean I’d accept what God says, whether or not I ever had any feelings.

Once you make that decision and trust Christ, perhaps there’ll be some feeling. But whether or not the feeling comes, the Word of God is still true. God cannot lie!

When you trust Him, you will have everlasting life. The determining factor in salvation is believing, trusting, depending on, relying on the Lord Jesus Christ.

F.G. Pentecost said, “Two and two is four—that’s mathematics. Hydrogen and oxygen form water—that’s chemistry. ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved’—that’s revelation.”

You ask, “How do I know?”

“Well,” he said, “the burden of proof lies with you. Put two and two together and see if you don’t have four. Put hydrogen and oxygen together and see if you don’t have water. And believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and see if you won’t be saved.”

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Hell Is A Literal Place Of Everlasting Torment And Suffering

Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Revelation 14:11, “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Revelation 20:12-15, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

I am amazed and saddened how many people reject the truth of Hell. Even professed Christians, like Miss Renee Roland on YouTubeboldly deny the reality of everlasting punishment. Kindly said, Renee doesn't believe the Holy Bible. Our text passages above very clearly teach that there is a place of everlasting punishment. Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

The Seventh-Day Adventist and Jehovah's Witness religious cults deny the reality of eternal punishment. SDA's and JW's teach the false doctrine of annihilation instead. That is, they believe that when an unrighteous person dies, they cease to be conscious or exist. This is unscriptural. Psalms 9:17, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” The Bible plainly warns that the wicked shall be turned into Hell.

I used to work as a truck mechanic in the late 1980's and early 1990's, working my way through Bible college. I had a shop foreman who was a Mormon, named Chuck. One day Chuck came up to me, as soon as I clocked into work, handing me a piece of paper with some Bible verses written on it. Chuck knew that I was going to Bible college to become a Baptist preacher. He kindly said that if I studied those Bible passages, I would see that “hell” in the Old Testament simply refers to the “grave” (Hebrew: Sheol), not a place of eternal damnation and torment. Mormons also don't believe in eternal torture in a literal place called “Hell.”

But dear reader, consider this truth—if the righteous and the wicked go to the same place, then Psalms 9:17 makes absolutely no sense! Psalms 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” What would be the point if this Bible verse if the saved (righteous)  and the unsaved (unrighteous) go to the same place? Obviously then, the implication is 100% clear that the unrighteous DO NOT go to the same place that the righteous do. The word “Sheol” refers to THE REALM OF THE DEAD, which means more than merely the grave. Sheol refers to the place where the dead go, but this does not limit the meaning to exclude Heaven or Hell. If I say that someone went to the store, it doesn't mean that everyone went to the same store!

So in the context of Psalms 9:17, we see clearly that the righteous and the wicked go to DIFFERENT places after they die. Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Again, we see that the wicked and the righteous do to SEPERATE places in eternity (i.e., Heaven or Hell). There is no such place as Purgatory, which is a fabrication of the Roman Catholic church. The doctrine of Purgatory was first established by Gregory the Great in the year 593 AD.

Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but no one has a right to their own facts! The Bible is very factual that Hell is a literal place that burns with fire and brimstone (sulfur), where the damned (all Christ rejecters) will suffer in torment in fire and smoke for all eternity without rest day nor night. The way of escape if through faith in the precious Savior Jesus Christ. John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

The Bible has more to say about Hell than it does about Heaven. It saddens me that so many people shirk off the inspired Holy Bible, as did the rich man who went to Hell:
Luke 16:28-31, “For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” 
As we just read, if a person won't heed the written Holy Bible, then they are doomed. God won't send an angel to convince you further. God won't perform a miracle to satisfy your doubts. God won't provide any further proof of His existence than nature (Psalms 19:1-3; Romans 1:20). The inspired King James Bible is all you need and all you're going to get from God to prepare you for eternity. If you reject God's free offer of forgiveness of sins and eternal life, then you cannot blame God. 2nd Timothy 2:13, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
Why is Hell so awful? ...
  • Hell is the Opposite of who God is; it is life Without God.
  • Hell is Darkness because God is Light.
  • Hell is Torment because God is Comfort
  • Hell is Distress because God is Peace.
  • Hell is Misery/Depression because God is Joy
  • Hell is No Air because God is the Breath of Life
  • Hell is No Love because God is Love
  • Hell is No rest because God is Rest.
  • Hell is Burning Fire and extreme thirst because God is Living Water
  • Hell is Loneliness because God is Companionship
  • Hell is Eternal Death because God is Eternal Life.
Please don't go to Hell forever! If you want to be saved, simply LOOK TO JESUS. Please read, “
The One Thing That Determines Salvation (by Pastor Curtis Hutson).

“More people will die and burn in Hell, because they're trusting too much!”
—Pastor Jack Hyles, a precious quote from the MP3 sermon, “Yea, Yea, And Nay, Nay!

“Everything that's hard and complicated about salvation is God's side of it!”
—Pastor Jack Hyles, a precious quote from the MP3 sermon, “Yea, Yea, And Nay, Nay!

Preach the Word, Love the People, and Trust the Lord.

Friday, February 25, 2022

If Salvation Could Be Lost, God Would Have To Undo Numerous Things

John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” 1st John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

The inspired Holy Bible is very clear that when a person gets saved, they have PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE. Getting saved is a bridge that cannot be crossed over twice, nor can we return to the former place of being unregenerated as before we received Christ. The new birth can be likened unto the physical birth in numerous ways:
  1. Once born, always born (John 3:4).
  2. Neither the physical or spiritual birth can be undone (John 6:47).
  3. Just as the first birth was beyond our control, so also is the new birth completely of God (John 1:12-13).
  4. No one has ever been born physically or spiritually twice. You can be born twice, but only once physically and once spiritually.
  5. Just as we had to be born of the flesh to be alive physically, so also must we be born of the Holy Spirit to be alive spiritually.
  6. A person can die physically, but cannot undo being born. Likewise, all humans are both spiritually dead, which is why we need to be born-again of God; but once born-again no one can ever be unborn spiritually. It is absolutely impossible!
If salvation could be lost or undone once spiritual rebirth has already occurred in a believer, God would then have to do numerous things the Bible never speaks of nor teaches! Surely the Holy Scripture would clearly illustrate these things, if God's gift of salvation could be forfeited.

Here are some of the things which God would have to undo, and would happen, if you and I could lose God's free gift of salvation (which is by faith alone in the Gospel):
  1. God would have to pass us back from life unto death. John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
  2. God would have to take back His free gift of eternal life, making Him a liar. 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.”
  3. God would have to remove us spiritually from being seated with Christ in heavenly places. Ephesians 2:6, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
  4. God would have to "un-join" us from Christ. Ephesians 4:16, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
  5. God would have to "un-wash" us from the blood of Jesus that already washed me (1st Corinthians 6:9-11; Revelation 1:5). 1st John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
  6. God would have to "un-seal" us from the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14, “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, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
  7. God would have to impute our sins back to us, which He has already imputed to Jesus Christ by faith. Romans 4:5-6, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,”
  8. God would have to restore our sins, no longer removed as far as the east is from the west. Psalms 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
  9. God would have to remember our sins again, which He had previously forgotten. Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
  10. God would have to break His own covenant He made with His Son and therefore would make Him a liar. Ezekiel 16:8, “Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness:​​ yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.”
  11. God would have to "un-adopt" us as His child. Romans 8:15, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
  12. God would have to leave and forsake us, even though He promised to never do so. Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
  13. God would have to "pluck us" out from His own hand, which He has already promised that nothing could ever do! John 10:28: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”
  14. God would have to take back the free gift of eternal life that He has already given to us by faith. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
  15. God would have to “undo” the righteousness that He has already imputed to you and me by faith. Romans 4:6, “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,”
  16. God would have to fail to raise us up on the last day, going back on His solemn promise to do so. 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.”
  17. God would have to fail in completing the “good work” in us, that He has already promised to perform. Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
  18. God would have to ignore the prayers of His Son on our behalf, Who intercedes for us as believers. John 17:9, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.”
  19. The Holy Spirit would have to stop making intercession for us when we pray. Romans 8:26. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
  20. Jesus would have to stop being our heavenly High Priest. Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
  21. It would mean that salvation is really a reward and not a free gift, since we must do something to keep it. Romans 3:19-20, “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. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
  22. It would mean that we are no longer married to Christ. 2nd Corinthians 11:2, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
  23. It would mean that no believer can rejoice with 100% confidence that our name is written in Heaven, because we might lose it. Luke 10:20, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
  24. It would cause every believer to live in fear, worry and uncertainty, never knowing if we are truly saved. 1st John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
  25. The entire Bible would have to be written to retain God's integrity. The Gospel of John teaches us simply to BELIEVE to be saved. If salvation could be lost because of sin, unfaithfulness or any other reason, for the man that BELIEVES, then God lied. John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Titus 3:5, “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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Mission Impossible: Lordship Salvation

Galatians 1:6-9, “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. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

One of my favorite soulwinners is a man named Jack Weaver (1929-2015). In fact, I love the dear man! Here is his proper obituary from 2015:
WEAVER, JOHN "JACK", WHITESIDE, Jr., 85, went home to be with the Lord on January 20th. We have absolute assurance that Jack is in Heaven with his Savior, because he had trusted in Jesus Christ's death on the cross to pay the debt for his sins and had accepted God's free gift of eternal life in Heaven with Him forever. Jack was a graduate of the University of Alabama. Jack had many accomplishments including artist, inventor, NASA employee, candidate for the Florida State Legislature, pest control company owner, appointed member of FL Pest Control Regulatory Commission, ordained pastor, computer systems administrator and expreacherman.com blog creator, but his true passion was sharing the simplicity of the Gospel of God's amazing Grace that changed the course of his life. Jack is survived by his wife, Shirley Weaver, son Mike (Cindy) Weaver of Palmetto Bay, FL; son Kym (Jan) Weaver of Lookout Mountain, GA; and daughter Robin Russell of Chattanooga, TN. Jack was the beloved "Pop-Pop" to grandchildren Courtney, Megan, Anna, Tara, Lindsay, Chris, Taylor and Tanner as well as his six great-grandchildren. Jack was preceded in death by Fern Weaver, his wife of 48 years. A memorial service will be held at Southwest Community Church on January 31 at 11:00am. Contributions may be sent to Northland Bible Baptist Church, 3686 County Road 8 Southeast, St. Cloud, MN 56304. SOURCE
Kindly said, Evangelist Jack Weaver had a sharp tongue, suffering no fools. I gotta love a guy like that, who is set for the defence of the Gospel, as unpleasant as he was to deal with sometimes! I'd rather see a guy with wildfire than no fire! Jack was like a saintly Pitbull, biting his teeth into anybody who even seemed to stray away in the slightest deviation from the clear Gospel as proclaimed in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4:
1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
Jack Weaver at times lifted people's words out of context, biting their head off for making statements that he alleged were perverting the Gospel. For example: I once said that something is very wrong with a gay pastor who defends his sin of homosexuality, and I questioned his salvation. Mr. Weaver wrongly accused me of preaching Lordship Salvation. But anybody who read the complete article I published on my website, could clearly see that I absolutely don't preach the Devil's lie of Lordship Salvation. No way! I hate Lordship Salvation! I hate misunderstood repentance, which errantly teaches that you must repent and turn away from a lifestyle of sin to be saved.

Concerning the gay pastor, the only point I was trying to make was 1st John 1:10, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. No one is saved who denies being a guilty sinner in God's sight! You've got to know what you're being saved from. But you don't need to stop your sinning to be saved, which is IMPOSSIBLE, hence the titled of this blog article. Having said all that, I truly do admire Brother Weaver and I respect him for being a Devil fighter. Jack Weaver is of kindred spirit, since we are both like Pitbulls ready to pounce on anyone who dares to corrupt the simplicity that is in Christ (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4).

Mission Impossible

In 1966, the iconic James Bond 007 “Mission Impossible movie series began. In recent years, each sequel in the series has grossed $565,000,000. Wow! Of course, we all know that agent 007 successfully accomplishes those “IMPOSSIBLE” missions! But there is a mission that truly is utterly IMPOSSIBLE, and that mission is called “Lordship Salvation.” No human being has ever perfectly kept God's Old Testament law, except the virgin-born sinless Son of God, Jesus (Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus is the sinless Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus did an impossible mission!

The only begotten Son of God took the sins of all humanity upon Himself to bear alone on the cross. Jesus did the impossible, something that ONLY God could do for mankind. Where there was no way of escape, God made a way of escape through faith alone in His blessed Son. Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Thank you Lord!!!
 
The following was written by soulwinner Jack Weaver. By God's grace, I want to try to keep Jack's ministry alive, by sharing and promoting his excellent writings to help educate others concerning God's simple plan of salvation. We need more faithful men like pastors' Jack Weaver, Ralph Yankee Arnold, Hank Lindstrom and Max Younce, you are set for the defence of the Gospel, to protect and proclaim it clearly. Brother Jack Weaver says:
Occasionally we are asked why we concentrate on exposing the awful and un-Biblical theory called, Lordship Salvation [LS] or, as I prefer to call it, Lordship Probation. This false message is advancing at lightning speed through too many modern churches today.

Simply put, Lordship Probation (“salvation??”) demands the impossible from an individual who may sincerely be searching for God’s Amazing Free Gift of salvation. Our number one goal is to make the clarity and simplicity of God’s plan of salvation easy to understand and believe.

Our secondary goal is to expose the lies of false Bible teaching — whoever they are and wherever they be, especially the devious tragedy of Calvinism and Lordship “salvation.”

Before we go into detail, I would say that our number one reason for contending against LS is that it contradicts all of God’s Biblical teaching about His salvation by Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone by His Word. LS adds and demands good works for one to procure their version of salvation and then they add even more works for keeping one’s salvation. Tragedy!!

We have quoted many LS proponents in previous articles. I will mention some newer ones here to illustrate my point that LS is a growing menace. If you have some LS proponents to expose here, please do so in your comments.

We are thrilled to get to know some of our readers who have wonderfully come out from under the horrible yoke of LS into the Freedom that IS IN Jesus Christ through God’s Grace. You are welcome to comment upon your experience with LS or Calvinism.

Some LS/Calvinist names of disrepute are: Francis Chan, Paul Washer, John MacArthur, John Piper, RC Sproul, Rick Warren, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, Arthur W. Pink, George Whitefield, John Knox, Martin Luther, AW Tozer (from Charlie Bing), etc. (and we could name more and more).

Pearl, one of our long-time contributors and commenters found that Dave Ramsey (Practical Financial guru) and one of his “Team” members, Jon Acuff (who recommends Francis Chan) fit into the same camp as those mentioned above. That is a shame because Ramsey and his folks have a great common sense method of helping rescue a family from financial burden. But, in the back reaches of the Ramsey domain, they preach a false doctrine to babes in Christ and the unsaved. So, as we do with others who preach a false message, we cannot recommend them. Please use extreme discernment if you use their services.

Some time back I questioned Dave Hunt at Berean Call Ministries about his recommendation of quotes from Calvinist Gresham Machen. Tom McMahon (Hunt’s assistant) answered me by justifying Machen and many other questionable LS and Calvinists. He declared that their quotes could apply to us today. (I prefer God’s Word that applies to us today!!)

It is nonsense to recommend a teacher, who preaches lies, in order to “enlighten” believers in any area. I recently received a newsletter from Berean Call. At one time they were a great resource against Calvinism. This newsletter article warned against believers getting involved with the politics of today. The article, “Influencing The Culture” was a wholehearted endorsement of an excerpt from one of John (Calvinist guru of Lordship Probation) MacArthur’s articles. No doubt Berean Call would justify such an endorsement in the exact same manner as they defended their endorsement of Machen and other Calvinists. One of Ed’s statements in his note to me reads, “Further, some of the resources we offer or have offered are authored by Calvinists such as C.H. Spurgeon, John MacArthur, Jay Adams (addressing psychology), Mike Gendron (former Catholic), and William Webster.”

This philosophy seems contradictory to Biblical Doctrine and a far cry from Dave Hunt’s excellent book exposing Calvinism, “What Love Is This?”

We believe none of these mentioned have any redeeming qualities worth recommending for study, even though they may occasionally speak or write “a truth.” The lies they propagate otherwise spoil the entire true issue of God’s Grace. As God’s Word says, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9

The rules and dictates of Lordship Salvation and Calvinism or any other false teaching will never cure carnal Christianity — Their teaching only offers confusion.

SOURCE: Mission Impossible “salvation”: Lordship “salvation” — Demanding the Impossible! (see also for further reading: '
What is God’s Real Salvation?')
I have had the unpleasant experience of dealing with shallow and compromised pastors and leaders from the Pensacola Christian College (PCC) camp, which is very unsettling. When I moved from Guam to Pensacola in the summer of 2021, I chose to attend Campus Church on the property of Pensacola Christian College (PCC). I had always heard about this famous (perhaps infamous) place, and now wanted to see it for myself and give my honest review. I was sickened during the first couple weeks, as I heard their incompetent church pastors (Timothy Zacharias and Jeff Redlin) teaching, verbatim: “Repentance is a change resulting in a change of behavior.” Oh no, not PCC too! Here is a screenshot from their Foundation's Class, to confirm what I say...


Satanic False Doctrine at Pensacola Christian College (2021)

When I kindly confronted Pastor Jeff Redlin on July 15, 2021 (about the heresy I had heard and seen taught the night before at Wednesday evening Bible study at Campus Church), he downplayed the entire matter, insisting that they are doctrinally sound and correct. Unfortunately they are not doctrinally sound!!! The big problem is that PCC's pastors absolutely refuse to admit that they are WRONG!!! Repentance does NOT mean that a change of behavior will follow getting saved. To teach such heresy adds to the Gospel, misleading people to think that they didn't really get saved unless your behavior has changed and improved, turning away from sinful bad habits.

I really love something that one of my favorite preachers, Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, said:

“'You can't tell me you can trust Christ as Savior, and then go out here and live like the Devil, and still go to Heaven!' Yes, I can tell you that! That's what the Bible says. If you don't come to the conclusion, that—Yes, you can trust Christ as your Savior and live like the Devil, and still go to Heaven when you die—you don't get grace, because that is the exact truth! That is the truth! I do not have to change my life! I don't have to stop one sin! You say, 'I've never heard a preacher say that.' You just heard one! And you listen to me—I want to live as holy and as godly as I possibly can. I am now 70 years old. I've been saved for 52 years. ... the only reason I'm going to Heaven is because, 52 years ago in a little living room, I accepted Christ as my Savior.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, a great quote from the awesome sermon, “Calvinism And Grace Are NOT Compatible | MP3
Bravo! You CAN get saved and then go out and live like the Devil, and still go to Heaven. It is called “GRACE (God's Riches At Christ's Expense).

I was worried a couple months who, when Pastor Yankee Arnold became infected with COVID-19. He was in a hospital ICU (Intensive Care Unit) on a breathing machine! But I prayed for my good friend, and we all know how great a Christian I am, so God answered my prayer! Okay, I am just being silly, I am not a very good Christian; but God made us a promise in James 5:14, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. I tremendously love my soulwinning friend in Christ. God has used Pastor Yankee Arnold to inspire me to work even harder to win the lost to Christ. God is so good! I love to hear Pastor Yankee play his harmonica.

We all have our own battles to fight! I didn't choose the battles with the Bob Jones University camp, they forced me to fight. I didn't choose the battle with the Pensacola Christian College camp, they boxed me into a corner and I was drafted. Singer Kenny Rogers got it right in his popular 1979 song titled: “The Coward Of The County”...
"I promised you, Dad,
Not to do the things you've done.
I walk away from trouble when I can.
Now please don't think I'm weak.
I didn't turn the other cheek.
And, Papa, I sure hope you understand:
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man." [emphasis added]
And so it is, I have been compelled to fight many theological battles that I didn't want to fight! All I ever wanted on the island of Guam was to attend the Harvest Baptist Church in my loneliness, for lack of a better church to attend. I had attended their church for all of 2013 to 2014. I made many friends at the church. I felt loved and was part of a family, but I made the fatal mistake of exposing the Devil's lie of Lordship Salvation, for which I was canned, banned and ostracized permanently. Harvest's incompetent and cruel pastors threw me under the bus and I suffered inexplicable pain and loneliness of soul from 2014 to 2021 (7 years of hell). 

While Pastor Marty Herron collected his spiritual welfare check from Harvest Baptist Church on Guam, living large while parasiting off the people, he left me for dead at home where I rotted emotionally for the next 7 years. I had nowhere to go and he knew it, because I told him so! I needed a friend to help me, but unlike Marty Herron I was a true friend to give him the truth; but he is a snake who only cares about his career. Jesus warned about the Marty Herrons of this evil world (Romans 16:17-18; Luke 16:13; Galatians 3:1-3, 6:7). Is it any surprise why church attendance was at an all-time low in 2020?

Honoring Evangelist Jack Weaver

Pastor Weaver was a faithful man, bold to contend for the Christian faith (Jude 1:3). I found these special words from Kym Weaver to honor her Dad, with which I agree:
Trying to think of a few short words to remember and honor Dad is a difficult task...

He was simple yet complex.

He was brilliant yet humble.

He was demanding yet understanding.

He was a strict disciplinarian yet fair... well, most of the time!

He had high expectations yet was compassionate when we failed.

He was a teacher of many yet was always willing to be a discerning student.

He was a leader yet never let the power go to his head.

He was dedicated to his job yet found the time to attend our sporting events and family trips.

He was always anxious to get back to his home yet kept everyone waiting if given the opportunity to share the gospel with a stranger.

He had a great sense of humor – especially cynical humor, yet knew when and how to be serious.

He loved saying he was “jack of all trades, master of none”, yet we knew better, as he was master of just about anything he set his mind to.

He was a man of honor and deserved credit and respect yet always said he was just a sinner saved by grace.

Most of all, he became one of my best friends and I will greatly miss our conversations. It will be impossible to fill this void, however, I am grateful to God for the time that I had with him and know that I will see him again.

Kym Weaver
February 2, 2015


Monday, February 21, 2022

If It's Not In Writing It Means Nothing

Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Our text Bible passage teaches for all men to LET GOD BE TRUE, BUT EVERY MAN A LIAR. That naturally raises the $64,000 question: “How do we know what God says, versus what man says?” The answer is the Holy Bible. Jesus Himself exhorted everyone in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

I was listening to false prophetess' Joyce Meyer earlier today. She is very WRONG on God's simple plan of salvation, instead preaching another gospel:

“When you're born-again, you admit that you're a sinner. You ask God to forgive your sins. And you invite Him to come and live in your heart. You must be willing to turn away from sin. You don't just receive and kind of tack Him on to your mess like a magic charm. You'd have to be willing to turn away from sin. You can't do it on your own. But if you're willing to do it, God will help you and He will teach you how to live the way that He wants you to live.” [emphasis added] —Joyce Meyer, “How Do I Get To Heaven” (13:36 time in video)

Joyce Meyer further heretically teaches:

“If you've never received Christ as your Savior. You've never invited Him to come into your life. You've never come to that point of saying, 'I am a miserable sinner, and God I do need you, I cannot help myself.' Then you need to surrender tonight—and that's really what it's all about—it's about surrender! It's about letting God get into the driver's seat of your life. It's about you discontinuing trying to run the show, and telling God what all your plans are. It's you giving Him the reigns, and saying: 'You lead and I'll follow.'” [emphasis added] —Joyce Meyer, “How Do I Get To Heaven” (22:00 time in video)

Now dear friend, I triple-dog dare you to show me any of the garbage theology which Joyce Meyer preaches from the inspired King James Bible. Remember, if it's not in writing it means absolutely nothing! Where did Miss Meyer get all that junk? She sure didn't find it in the Holy Bible!!! I cannot warn everyone enough to mark and avoid Joyce Meyer and her circus of a pathetic ministry (Romans 16:17-18; Matthew 7:15). She just pulls manmade commandments out of her hate, fully rejecting the Word of God. Mark 7:7 and 8, “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ...And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Joyce Meyer is making stuff up!

Show me where the inspired Holy Bible teaches to be saved, we must:

  1. Follow Christ
  2. Invite Jesus to come and life in your heart
  3. Be willing to turn away from your sin
  4. Discontinue trying to run the show
  5. Give God the reigns of control of your life
  6. Surrender
  7. Let God get into the driver's seat of your life
  8. You lead, I'll follow
Ladies and gentlemen, you may do all of those things and never be born-again at all. What saith the Scripture? We don't need to wonder, debate or guess what “the gospel” is, because the Bible plainly defines the GOOD NEWS for us:
1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
There we have it, “the Gospel is comprised of three things:
  1. Christ DIED on the cross to pay for our sins.
  2. He was BURIED.
  3. Three days later Jesus bodily RESURRECTED from the dead.
That is the Gospel (i.e., Good News) by which we are saved, if we BELIEVE. Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. I didn't see any mention about surrendering all to God, turning away from your sins, following Christ, getting out of the driver's seat, inviting Jesus to come into our life, nor anything else!!! Joyce Meyer is a bold-faced theological liar!!! ...
Galatians 1:6-9, “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. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Please do not take my word for it dear reader. You the reader must decide for yourself who is telling THE TRUTH, and who is lying. I already showed you 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 which clearly defines “the gospel” as Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. One of my favorite Bible verses is 1st Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.Here again we plainly see THE GOSPEL, how that Christ died and raised up the third day.

Let us also consider a Roman soldier who humbly asked Paul and Silas what to do to be 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.” Paul and Silas simply told the soldier to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Paul didn't tell the man to turn away from his sinning. Silas didn't tell the soldier to follow Christ, surrender all, get out of the driver's seat, invite Jesus to come into his heart and life, et cetera. No, Paul and Silas just told him to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Again, please consider a group of hungry people who had followed Jesus in boats from Tiberias to Capernaum, seeking a handout of provisions from Jesus: 
John 6:26-29, “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 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.
I love it! They plainly asked Christ what works to do to get into the Kingdom of God. Jesus replied that the only “work” God wanting from them to be saved is to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!! Hey, that is the exact same answer that Paul and Silas gave to the Roman soldier in Acts 16:30-31. Dear friend, the Bible couldn't be more plainer that salvation comes to the one who BELIEVES the Good News of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen the third day. You get saved by believing the GOOD NEWS, not by forsaking a lifestyle of sin or surrendering control of your life over to God. The Devil is a beautiful liar! Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again. Joyce Meyer has perverted the Gospel into a lifestyle that you must live to get to Heaven.

Remember, if it's not in writing it means nothing! Any attorney worth his stuff knows this. Any competent businessman will tell you that everything must be in writing to be valid. That is why God put His simple plan of salvation into writing. That is why Jesus told us in John 5:39 to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!! John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. Carefully notice that the Apostle John emphasized that he wrote THESE THINGS to convince the reader that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God, so that by BELIEVING you will be saved.

Again, carefully notice that the Apostle Paul emphasizes the written Word of God:

Romans 10:11-13, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Paul is citing an Old Testament passage from Isaiah 28:16 in Romans 10:11. This verse is not saying that if you are saved you won't be ashamed of Jesus' name. Peter was ashamed, even denying and cursing the Lord's precious name. In Acts 10:42-43 the Bible says many chief rulers believed on Jesus, but they did not confess Him for fear of the wicked Pharisees. The Bible says that those saved chief rulers loved the praise of men more than God. But they were still redeemed adopted sons of God by faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26).

I have humbly shown you numerous Scripture passages, which plainly teach that we are saved by faith alone in the Good News of Christ crucified, buried and risen. None of these Scripture passages require that someone surrender control of their life over to God, nor that someone turn away from their sins, nor that we invite Jesus to come into our life. Judas became a Christ follower and went to burn in the fires of Hell forever! Matthew 27:3 says that Judas “repented himself of his sins, but that didn't convert him into a Christian. You don't get saved by doing ANY of the things which Joyce Meyer sinfully preaches. The Devil loves Miss Meyer, because the unsaved religious masses are being blinded with a counterfeit plan of salvation, which does not match the Bible's plan of salvation.

Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Dear reader, only YOU personally can determine what you believe to be THE TRUTH. I am not asking you to believe me. I am asking you to compare what I have plainly shown you from the inspired Word of God, to what Joyce Meyer is teaching. What is the basis of her fraudulent theological claims? She sure didn't get those ideas from the Bible. Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. If what I am preaching agrees with the written Word of God, then my preaching against Joyce Meyer as a false prophet will be vindicated and justified someday in eternity. Any doctrinal opinion that disagrees with God's opinion is heresy!

Here is a great quote from Dr. Curtis Hutson:
“Faith and repentance are the same; they are not two separate decisions. One cannot trust Christ as Savior without repenting or changing his mind. The very fact that he trusts Christ for salvation shows that he has changed his mind regarding sin, salvation, and God.” —Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995); 'Salvation Crystal Clear'
Dear reader, YOU HAVE GOD'S PROMISE IN WRITING in the Bible!!! John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That is a solemn promise from God. Anyone who puts their faith (trust, confidence, reliance) in the only begotten Son of God, is saved. The garbage which Miss Joyce Meyer is preaching has no authority behind it. She is talking trash!

If you don't know what you are talking about Joyce, keep your mouth shut! And if you do open your mouth, you'd better be able to back up what you are saying. Joyce has no Scriptural basis for her corrupt teachings. I have quoted you Bible verses to support everything I have taught you. I am as narrow-minded as the Holy Bible!!!

Saturday, February 19, 2022

Salvation Crystal Clear

By Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995)

The other day someone told me about a friend who very seldom, if ever, attended Wednesday night prayer meeting. He said we were after him all the time about it. One day he told us about this man who died and went to Heaven. According to the story, God was in an office, and people were standing outside, waiting to go in. One at a time God took each of them into the office, kept him awhile and then dismissed him and called for the next one. He said this one man came out smiling. When his friends asked what he was smiling about, he laughed and said, "He's not counting Wednesday nights!"

After I had finished laughing, I said, "You know something? He's right. God does not count Wednesday nights. As a matter of fact, He doesn't even count Sunday mornings or Sunday nights. He doesn't count tithing. He doesn't even count baptism. When it comes to going to Heaven, God only counts one thing, and that is Jesus and what He did on the cross two thousand years ago.

God Does Not Count Good Works

God does not count good works in any form or fashion. The Bible says in Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...." And the Scripture declares in 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."
There is not one verse in all the Bible that says anything about working to go to Heaven. The truth of the matter is, a man could go to church Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night every week of his life and still die and go to Hell. One does not become a Christian by getting into the church any more than one becomes an automobile by getting into the garage. Joining the church has nothing to do with going to Heaven. Once a man is saved, he ought to join a good church, a place where he can at tend, enjoy the fellowship of other believers and learn from the Bible what God expects of him, a place where he can be involved in helping to get out the Gospel. But church membership comes after salvation, and no one should ever join a church until he is first sure that he is saved.

If salvation were by works of any kind, then somewhere the Scripture would have to tell us exactly how much one must work in order to be saved. Would Sunday morning and Sunday night church services be enough, or must one go to every service, including Wednesday nights? And must one also tithe his income and give to the poor? Exactly how much work is required before a man can go to Heaven?

There is no passage anywhere in the Bible that answers the question. If a man worked in order to be saved, then the motive for the work would render it ineffective. According to I Corinthians 13, any work not motivated by love for Christ is not acceptable. Paul said in I Corinthians 13:3, "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing." If a man worked in order to be saved, the motive for his service would not be love but fear. He would be working because he was afraid he was going to Hell, not because he loved God. Thus the motive would render the work unacceptable.

Matthew 7:22-23 makes it very clear that no one goes to Heaven on his good works. Here the Scripture says,
"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."
Here is a judgment scene where people tell the Lord all about their good works, thinking He will let them into Heaven. But in verse 23 the Lord says, "I never knew you: depart from me." And then He calls their good works 'works of iniquity.'

Once we receive Christ as Saviour, we should set out to serve Him and do all the good works we can. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works...." But we work because we love Him, not in order to be saved. When it comes to salvation, good works, no matter how good or how many, are absolutely futile.

Romans 11:6 says, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." No, God doesn't count our good works. The truth in the man's story was absolutely right: God does not count Wednesday nights. Neither does He count Sunday mornings, Sunday nights or any other nights. Salvation is not a result of what we do for Christ but rather a result of what He does for us.

A man who died in a cheap hotel room in one of our great western states left a poem behind, part of which said,
I've tried in vain a thousand ways,
My fears to quell, my hopes to raise;
And all I need, the Bible says,
Is Jesus!
He went on to say,
Though some will mock, and some will blame;
In spite of fear, in spite of shame,
I'll go to Him because His name
Is Jesus!
The man who wrote the above lines had squandered a fortune in search of peace and happiness, but he never found either until he realized that Jesus Christ was all he needed and accepted Him as Saviour.

God Does Not Count Our Righteousness

If a man went to Heaven on his own righteousness, he would have to be as holy and as righteous as God Himself. And no man except Jesus Christ has ever been that righteous. God is so righteous that no man can look upon God and live. In Exodus 33:18 Moses said to God, "I beseech thee, shew me thy glory." And God replied in verses 20-23,
"Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.... Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."
The average Christian lives and dies and never has the foggiest idea of how holy and righteous God really is. In Isaiah 6:1-3 the prophet said,
"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."
According to these verses, the seraphims in Heaven are flying around the throne of God singing, "Holy, holy, holy!" They could be singing, "Justice, justice, justice!" for God is just. They could be singing, "Love, love, love!" for God is love. They could be singing, "Mercy, mercy, mercy!" for God is merciful. They could be singing, "Longsuffering, longsuffering, longsuffering!" for God is longsuffering. But, no, they are singing, "Holy, holy, holy!" And the seraphims that sang, "Holy, holy, holy!" have their faces covered with two of their wings. They are not even looking upon the God they are singing about.

John 3:3 says, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Verse 5 says that he cannot enter the kingdom of God, but this verse says that he cannot see the kingdom of God. If I go to Heaven, then I must be as holy and righteous as God Himself. And I cannot be that righteous.

Isaiah 64:6 reminds us, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. . . ." In Romans 10:1-4 Paul says:
"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteous ness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
Here Paul speaks of religious folks, zealous folks, but folks who do not know the way of salvation. They were trying to establish their own righteousness, not knowing that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight. How sad that multiplied millions of people throughout the world are trying to qualify for Heaven by living right, not knowing that their righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight! They, like the people Paul wrote about, are going about to establish their own righteousness, not realizing that "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:4).

Heaven is not a reward for those who behave; it is a gift for those who believe.

My son Tony and his friend Melvin, who recently trusted Christ as Saviour, have been trying to win an older man to Christ. The man keeps insisting that he has to get better first. Melvin, a brand new Christian, demonstrated great wisdom when he said, "Dr. Hutson, the man wants to get well before he goes to the hospital."

I said, "You're right, Melvin. A man doesn't get better to get saved; he gets saved to get better."

No, God doesn't count our righteousness.

God Does Not Count Baptism

Contrary to the teaching of many when it comes to salvation, God does not count baptism. Baptismal regeneration was first taught by the Catholic church and later picked up by several other denominations. Those who think that God requires water baptism as an entrance into Heaven teach that the water washes away sins. The only thing that remits sins is the blood of Christ. Hebrews 9:22 says, ". . . without shedding of blood is no remission."

If one had to be baptized to have his sins remitted, then what would he do with the sins he committed after he was saved? Suppose a man was baptized twenty years ago. Since then he has committed many sins. Remember, no one lives absolutely perfect and above sin. First John 1:10 says, "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." Now if baptism were necessary to remit sins, then this man would need to be baptized again in order to have remitted the sins he had committed since he had been saved. But if he is baptized the second time, then what will he do with the sins he commits after the second baptism?

Of course, if water were necessary to wash away sins, then he must be baptized again and again and again. Every time he commits a sin, he would have to be baptized again to have his sins washed away. If baptism is really necessary to remit sin, then a person not only should be baptized; he should get into the baptistry and refuse to ever get out lest he commit some sin after he gets out of the baptistry and die before he can get back into the water.

If baptism does remit sins, then Jesus Himself never remitted or forgave any man of his sins because the Bible plainly says in John 4:2, "Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples." Those who teach that one must be baptized in order to be saved further teach that one can lose his salvation. Suppose a man believes in Christ, confesses Him, repents, is baptized and joins the church of the preacher who teaches baptismal regeneration. Then, according to this preacher, he is saved. After a few years he goes back into sin and loses his salvation. Being disturbed about his condition, he goes back to the church and wants to be saved again. Does that same church insist that he be baptized again? No, they do not. If water baptism were necessary for salvation the first time, then how could he possibly be saved the second time without being baptized?

That is just one of the contradictions and inconsistencies of those who teach that water baptism is necessary for salvation.

If water baptism were necessary for salvation, then none of the Old Testament saints were saved because baptism was not mentioned one single time in the Old Testament, and there is no record of a single individual ever being baptized before John the Baptist began baptizing converts in the New Testament. Those who argue that baptism is essential to salvation teach one plan of salvation for those in the Old Testament and a different plan of salvation for those in the New Testament. But the Scripture teaches that all men are saved the same way in every dispensation or age.

Acts 10:43 says, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." Now notice very carefully: this was the message of all the prophets. The Old Testament prophets preached remission of sins by faith in Christ. The New Testament prophets preached remission of sins by faith in Christ. And those who preach the truth today are still preaching remission of sins by faith in Christ. When it comes to salvation, God did not count baptism in the Old Testament. He did not count baptism in the New Testament, and He does not count baptism today. The message today is the same message all the prophets witnessed: ". . . that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

What Does God Really Count?

It would be almost impossible to discuss in this article the multitude of things which people believe are necessary for salvation. The Roman Catholics believe you must receive all seven sacraments. The Seventh-day Adventists believe you must keep the old Jewish Sabbath, along with the other nine commandments. The Moslems think that, if one dies defending his religion, he goes straight to Heaven.

The Scripture warns in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." And the Bible says in Isaiah 55:8, "... neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." God's way of salvation is made clear in the Bible. Ephesians 2:8,9 settles the matter once and for all:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of your selves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Here the Bible says it is 'not of ourselves,' "Not of works, lest any man should boast." It is by grace through faith. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. Someone gave this acrostic for GRACE: "God's Riches At Christ's Expense." Grace and works cannot be mixed. To add any works to grace destroys grace completely. It is all of grace, or it is not grace at all. Jesus Christ came to the earth and lived a perfect, sinless life. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Second Corinthians 5:21 says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. . . . " While Jesus Christ was being crucified between two thieves, one thief said to the other in Luke 23:40-41, "Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss." The word amiss means "wrong." Even the thief on the cross recognized that Jesus was the sinless, spotless Son of God.

Before Pilate turned Christ over to the angry mob, he said in John 19:6, "I find no fault in him." Jesus Christ was the only person who ever lived as righteous as God Himself. And when we trust Christ, we are given His righteousness. That is the clear promise of the Bible in Romans 10:4 where the Scripture says, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." God does not count my righteousness, but He does count the righteousness of His Son.

The Bible says in Romans 4:3, "...Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." And then the Scripture further promises in Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

The only way anyone can ever be righteous enough to go to Heaven is by receiving God's own righteousness by faith. Not only did Jesus Christ live a perfectly righteous life; He died a substitutionary death. Two thousand years ago God took every sin we ever have committed and all we ever will commit, and He placed those sins on Christ. Isaiah 53:6 says, ". . . the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." And Titus 2:14 says, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity. . ."

What blessed truth! God took the iniquities of all men and laid those iniquities on Christ. But He not only took the iniquities of all men and laid them on Christ; He took all the iniquities of men and laid them on Christ. And the Bible says in I Peter 2:24, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree. . . . " While Christ was bearing our sins in His own body, God punished Him in our place to pay the debt we owe so that, when we die, we won't have to pay it. That's what the Bible means when it says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

The other day I received a letter from a dear Jewish friend here in Murfreesboro, who reminded me that it wasn't the Jews who killed Christ. Rather, he said, "It was the Roman soldiers." Of course, this dear Jewish man was both right and wrong. He was right when he said it wasn't the Jews, but he was wrong when he said it was the Roman soldiers. It was neither the Jews nor the Roman soldiers. It was God Himself.

The Scripture says in Isaiah 53:10, "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. . .." It was God Himself who made His (Jesus') soul an offering for sin. Romans 8:32 says, "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?" The Scriptures further explain in Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was an expression of God's love for us. He loved us so much that He didn't want us to go to Hell, so He punished His Son in our place to pay the debt we owe so that we can go to Heaven on a free pass.

My beloved predecessor Dr. Rice used to say, "Every man who goes to Heaven goes on a free pass, but he who goes to Hell pays his own way." And then he would quote Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Before Adam and Eve ever sinned, God demanded the death penalty. He said in Genesis 2:17, ". . . in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." God's payment for sin is death, the second death in the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14 says, "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."

If we are to satisfy the just demands of a holy God, we must go into Hell and stay there forever and ever. But Jesus Himself satisfied God's demand. The prophet said in Isaiah 53:11, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied. . . ." Here the Scripture plainly states that God was satisfied with the payment Jesus made on the cross for our sins. He further showed that satisfaction by raising Jesus Christ from the dead and taking Him back to Heaven. If Christ had not accomplished what He came to do; that is, die for our sins, He would have never gone back to Heaven. But praise the Lord, He did the job!

While He was hanging on the cross He uttered seven things. The sixth utterance was: "It is finished" (John 19:30). And, dear friend, you can count on it: it was finished. There is nothing else to do but to accept Jesus Christ by faith, to trust Him, to depend on Him.

The man was right: God does not count Wednesday nights. He doesn't count Sunday mornings or Sunday nights or any other nights. God does not count our own righteousness. He does not count our good works. He does not count baptism or any other ceremony or ritual. He only counts one thing: the death of His Son Jesus Christ. And the Scripture plainly says in Isaiah 53:11 that He was satisfied with the sacrifice His Son made for our sins. If Jesus Christ said it was finished and God Himself said He was satisfied, then why can't we be satisfied with Christ's death and not add anything to it?

The only way to show that you are satisfied with Christ's death for your sins is to trust Him and Him alone for salvation. If you trust anything else, then it is evident that you are not satisfied with Christ and what He did at Calvary. If you trust Jesus Christ, plus your baptism, then you are not satisfied with Christ: you must add to Him baptism. If you trust Jesus Christ plus your good works, then you are not satisfied with Christ: you must add to Him good works. If you trust Jesus Christ plus your church membership, then you are not satisfied with Christ: you must add church membership. If you trust Jesus Christ plus your reformation, then you are not satisfied with Christ: you must add your reformation.

Now, I am a church member. I have been baptized. I was baptized when I was eleven years old. I try to live right. I have been preaching since I was twenty years old. I travel every week of my life going from church to church throughout this country to preach the Gospel. As I dictate this sermon, I am driving to Lowell, Indiana. Next week I will be in Wadsworth, Ohio.

But I do none of these things to be saved. My only hope of Heaven is the fact that Jesus Christ died for me. He paid my sin debt. And I am trusting Him alone for salvation. I am not trusting my good works, my church membership, my baptism or anything else. When we stand before God, the only thing that He will count is what His Son did at Calvary.

When the children of Israel were in Egyptian bondage, God sent plagues upon Pharaoh. Finally God said, 'The firstborn in every house is going to die.' But He gave the Israelites instructions to kill an innocent lamb and sprinkle the blood on the doorposts of the house. And God promised in Exodus 12:13, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." He did not say, 'When I see your church membership, I will pass over you.' He did not say, 'When I see your good life, I will pass over you.' He did not say, 'When I see your good works, I will pass over you.' He did not say, 'When I see your baptism, I will pass over you.' No, no, no! He said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." The only thing that counted with God was the death of the lamb.

And when it comes to salvation the only thing that counts with God today is the death of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. If you are counting on anything other than Jesus Christ to take you to Heaven, then you are counting on something that God doesn't count. Won't you trust Christ today? If you are not absolutely sure that there was a time in your life when you knew you were a sinner and made a definite decision to trust Jesus Christ completely for salvation, then we urge you to trust Him now.

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