Thursday, March 31, 2016

Richard Dawkins speaks on the Republican candidates

The best evidence that the great Richard Dawkins could think of for evolution was similarity in DNA/anatomy among living creatures. The classic argument is that this is evidence for common ancestry--they would never consider the fact that this would be evidence for a common designer.
In the video he admits that "instant" evolution would be stupid, but since he believes that it has happened gradually over 4.6 billions years he thinks that it is not stupid. (Ps. 14:1, 53:1)

One atheist told Dr. Kent Hovind that "anything can evolve into anything given enough time" and they really believe it.

Dawkins is a foreign liberal that had no business commenting on an American republican primary.   

Also, he said that creationists are arrogant, he should listen to himself talk sometime!
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm-dKc9O0Nc

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Read this...(Jer. 30)

Read this and then explain why the Church the Body of Christ would be anywhere on earth during the time of Jacob's trouble, Daniel's 70th Week.

Jeremiah 30
[1] The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
[2] Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
[3] For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. [There is your Matthew 24 gathering]
[4] And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
[5] For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
[6] Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
[7] Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. [The falsely so called "tribulation period"]
[8] For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
[9] But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. [Millennium]
[10] Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. [regathering of Israel, Matt 24, and Millennial rest/peace]
[11] For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
[12] For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.
[13] There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.
[14] All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased. [Daniel's 70th Week is GOD'S WRATH on Israel]
[15] Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
[16] Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
[17] For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
[18] Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
[19] And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
[20] Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
[21] And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.
[22] And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
[23] Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. [The wicked is the Man of Sin--2 Thes. 2:8, Ps. 68:21, 74:13-14, Jer. 23:19, etc]
[24] The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it
. [The last days determined upon Israel, the 70th week, are GOD's ANGER. What would this have to do with the Body of Christ (1 Thes 1:10, 5:9, Rom. 5:9). ]

The Coming Time of Trouble--Rick Jordan

Great lesson showing how Daniel's 70th Week is about Israel, not the Body of Christ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IMDqjp53Mg


Monday, March 28, 2016

Why come to an altar....

Why come to a fake Baptist/Catholic "altar" when instead you could

come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16)???

Altar Call Exposed (Part 2)

I disagree with Pastor Anderson on probably several dozen issues, but this sermon exposing the "Altar Call" is pretty good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROgd8KilShw

The Baptist "altar" has steps contrary to the Bible (Exod 20:26)

Baptist "altars" usually have plants on them, contrary to the Bible (Deut. 16:21)

Some Baptists weep and cry on their "altar" contrary to the Bible (Malachi 2:13)

The blessed truth is, all believers have access to God in prayer by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6, Eph. 2:18) and an altar has no purpose whatsoever. Altars were designed for sacrificing animals and for Roman Catholics to commit idolatry on, not for anyone to pray the so called "sinner's prayer" at.

Yet most Baptists bow their knees with their butts in the air every week at an altar with steps and plants.



--Eli Caldwell

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Bible Study Notes: Easter

Written by Pastor David O'Steen at http://kjbstudy.blogspot.com/2016/03/easter.html

Easter 

This post is for all those who sincerely love truth over tradition. 

Matthew 15:7-9, 12
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

Psalm 119:165 
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

The word "Easter" is found one time in the Bible and it was a pagan king who observed it (Acts 12:1-4). The Bible critics claim this is a mistake in the King James Bible. They claim the text should say "Passover" and not "Easter." But a simple reading of the context shows that Herod observed Easter AFTER the Passover. The days of unleavened bread followed Passover (v.3; Lev. 23:4-8). 

The TRUTH is holidays like Easter and Christmas are Roman Catholic traditions that are actually rooted in Babylonian religion and not the word of God (Babylon is the mother of harlots, fountainhead of idolatry, Rev. 17:5). Easter comes from the ancient pagan festival of Astarte (Ashtaroth in OT). Also known as Ishtar (pronounced "Easter"), this festival was always held late in the month of April. It was the Catholic Council of Nicaea (325 AD) that set the date of Easter as the Sunday following the full moon that falls on or after the spring equinox. Easter was, in its original pagan form, a celebration of the earth "regenerating" itself after the winter season. The festival involved a celebration of reproduction. For this reason the common symbols of Easter festivities were the rabbit and the egg. At the center of attention was Astarte, the female deity. She is known in the Bible as the "queen of heaven" (Jer. 7:18; 44:17-25). That’s what the Catholics call Mary! She is the mother of the sun god Tammuz (Ezek. 8:14) who was also her husband (Nimrod, Gen. 10). These perverted rituals would take place at sunrise on Easter morning (Ezek. 8:13-16). Christ died on the Passover which was always the 14th day of Nisan (April). He arose Saturday evening (which was the first day of the week Jewish time). Mary came to the tomb “when it was yet dark” and He was not there (Jn. 20:1). So much for the "sunrise service." Bible believing Christians rejoice every day that our Savior died for our sins and rose again the third day. We don’t observe “holy days" (Col. 2:8-17). 

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Close doesn't count, except in horseshoes

Lately I have heard several people say that they believe "the Baptists are the closest thing to the truth" or "the Baptists are the closest thing to the New Testament church". Of course, we all know that

"close" doesn't count, except in horseshoes.

You would not enjoy being 
"close" to winning the lottery
"close" to getting a good job
"close" to getting saved
"close" to winning a presidential election
"close" to not having a heart attack
etc.

When you admit that Baptists are "close" to the truth, you are admitting they are WRONG. 

Being "close" to Biblical is still UNBIBLICAL. 

The statement "I believe the Baptists are the closest thing to the New Testament church" is a very vague, unlearned, ignorant, and silly statement. Because anyone with any discernment knows that "Baptist" is not a doctrine, faith, or set of beliefs....it is just a name. A name which has no meaning other than one who baptizes by immersion. That is all that the word means. 

Question to the arrogant Baptist cult: WHICH Baptists are "closest" to the so called original New Testament church? 

In America there are the 

Seventh Day Baptists: began in the 1650's, keep the Jew's Sabbath on Saturday

Freewill Baptists: began in the early 1600's, believe you can lose your salvation

Reformed Baptists: began in the 1630's and hold to the 5 points of TULIP Calvinism with the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith

Primitive Baptists: began in the 1800's, don't support missionaries, 5 point Calvinists

Landmark Baptists: began in the 1800's, does not believe in the universal spiritual church, accepts Landmarkism. 

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship: Denies the inspiration of scripture, allows women to preach, very popular, similar to Southern Baptists. 

Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship: Believes in speaking in tongues, prophesying, raising dead, etc (charismatic)

And there are literally hundreds of other Baptist denominations. 

So to say that the Baptists are "closest" to the original New Testament church is a laugh. Baptist is a NAME not a DOCTRINE. The name means "one who baptizes by immersion", look it up in a dictionary! The title has no doctrinal implications other than water baptism by immersion. 

Most Baptists do not believe in salvation by grace through faith without works, they believe in giving your life to Christ, turning from sin, bowing your head and repeating a sinner's prayer, confessing Christ before men, coming to an altar, "praying through", and other works.

Besides, who in their right mind would want to be anything like the "original New Testament church"? The original New Testament church was "carnal" (1 Cor. 3:3), it had people that did not believe in the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12), they lived in fornication (1 Cor. 5:1-5), they mishandled the Lord's supper (1 Cor. 11:30-31), they were full of division (1 Cor. 1:10, 11:18), they had heresies among them (1 Cor. 11:19), they sued each other (1 Cor. 6:1-2), they lived in the bondage of the Mosaic law (Gal. 3:1-3, 4:9-11), and they had many problems. Yet people think if they could "return to the principles of the early churches founded by the apostles" then everything would be great--but it wouldn't! Churches have always had problems. Christ's following had a devil among them (John 6:70), we should not be surprised to find them in our churches as well. 

Baptists are the ones that think they are right and everyone else is wrong, yet they are not united themselves. (except on water buptism, which is not even part of the dispensation of grace according to 1 Cor. 1:17, 12:12-18, Col. 2:8-23, Eph. 4:5). 

--Eli Caldwell


What about Romans 10:1-10 by Shawn Brasseaux

WHAT ABOUT ROMANS 10:9-10? MUST I AUDIBLY CONFESS “JESUS IS LORD” TO BE SAVED?

by Shawn Brasseaux

The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10: “[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” For salvation, must one audibly confess that Jesus is Lord? Are Fundamentalists and Evangelicals correct in using this passage as a “profession of faith” proof text? Should we as Bible believers use Romans 10:9-10 in our Gospel tracts and our Gospel messages today? Let us search the Scriptures for the answers!

Undoubtedly, this study will make religious people very angry, but so what! As Romans 3:4 says, “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” We are not interested in advancing church doctrine. The Bible is right, no matter whom it contradicts! Let us not grow angry with God’s Word. Let us grow angry with the religious system that deceived us about Romans 10:9-10! (I was once deceived myself about it.)

CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT!
Beloved, the most basic principle of Bible hermeneutics (interpretation) is context. From time immemorial, people have been grabbing appealing Bible verses without paying attention to the context. Cults and denominations are notorious for this. They even partially quote verses: all that is quoted is verses or phrases that fit theological systems. Verses and Bible phrases that challenge the theological system are disregarded and (hopefully) no one will study the Bible for himself or herself, to find those ignored words, and thus learn how religious tradition shafted him or her! Nothing is more tragic than misquoted Bible verses that complicate and thus hide a pure Gospel message from an unsaved audience. Many souls in hell today were “church-going people.” They heard a few verses here or there, some more than others. However, many of them heard a watered-down Gospel message. They heard salvation verses that belonged to other people in the Bible, but those verses did not belong to them in the Dispensation of Grace. One case in point is Romans 10:9-10.

Before we grab Romans 10:9-10 and apply it to ourselves, we had better first grab verse 1. Verse 1 is the context. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” What is the purpose of Romans chapter 10? Is it Gentile salvation? Certainly not (if words mean anything, of course). Romans 10:9-10, while often used as a “Gospel invitation” today, is actually not speaking to or about us at all. According to Paul, he is discussing Israel’s salvation! (Will we believe the Apostle Paul writing by the power of the Holy Ghost, or will we believe some fallible preacher?) Romans chapter 10 is actually the heart of a three-chapter passage, Romans chapters 9-11. These three chapters are the Apostle Paul’s discussion of the nation Israel—past, present, and future. (If you want Gentile salvation, Paul already talked about it in the first five chapters of Romans. Romans chapter 10 is Israeli salvation! Friend, understand that Gentile salvation was already settled in the previous chapters.)

Romans 10:1-4
In order to understand Romans 10:9-10, it is better if we begin reading in verse 1: “[1] Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. [4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 

When the Holy Ghost moved the Apostle Paul to write the book of Romans during the Acts period, unbelieving Israel was still operating her Temple according to the Law of Moses (cf. Hebrews 8:4). Jerusalem’s Temple would not be destroyed until A.D. 70. Israel was still offering the animal sacrifices and still ignoring Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of Himself at Calvary. Israel was still attempting to keep the Mosaic Law in her own strength. They were ignoring the 1,500-year testimony that their ancestors were unable to do it. Lost Jews were not interested in God’s righteousness (demonstrated at Calvary’s cross). Like religionists today, they were interested in proving themselves to be righteous (via the Mosaic Law, complete with the rites, rituals, and ceremonies of Judaism). They were zealous, quite passionate, but totally ignorant of what really mattered. They could not understand the Law and all of its obligations predicted and typified Jesus Christ!

Prior to Romans 10:1, Paul closed chapter 9 with these verses: “[30] What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. [31] But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. [32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; [33] As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

Israel stumbled over Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. They could not see Him through the eyes of faith. They did not believe He was God’s Son, the long-promised Messiah of the Old Testament. They were too busy focused on their own works in religion, too overwhelmed with working to establish their own righteousness. Their unbelief reached its pinnacle at Calvary, when they denied Jesus as their Messiah-King and demanded His crucifixion (John 19:15). However, Gentiles recognized who Jesus was, and through Paul’s ministry, Gentiles came to believe on Jesus as their personal Saviour and thus gain righteousness before God. Lost Jews still refused Jesus Christ, their only way to be justified (declared right) before God. Paul, in chapter 10, is trying to convert those lost Jews. (“… that I might save some of them;” Romans 11:14).

Jesus Christ “is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (verse 4). Now that Jesus Christ demonstrated He alone could (and did) keep God’s laws perfectly, and that He pleased Father God at Calvary, there was no more reason for Israel to deceive herself into thinking she could merit God’s favor with her Law-keeping. The believing Gentiles understood it in Paul’s ministry. The believing Gentiles believed it in Paul’s ministry. Now, if only Paul could have the unbelieving Jews understand and believe it! (“… that I might save some of them;” Romans 11:14).

Romans 10:5-8
Continuing in Romans chapter 10:
“[5] For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. [6] But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) [7] Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”

In verse 5, Paul writes, “That the man which doeth those things shall live by them” (quoting Leviticus 18:5; cf. Nehemiah 9:29; Ezekiel 20:11,13,21). This is the righteousness which is of the Law. A man who keeps the Law is righteous, justified before God. But, here is the important question—Does any man keep 100 percent of the law 100 percent of the time? Not at all. Friend, that is what sin is! Romans 3:19-20: “[19] 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. [20] 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.”

Unbelieving Israel, like so many church members today, ignored the above truth—the Law is the knowledge of sin, it shows you and I to be sinners! They still did their best in works-religion to make themselves right before and accepted of God. Paul was telling them in Romans chapter 10 that they had not submitted themselves to God’s righteousness in the Person of Jesus Christ. When one realizes that righteousness comes by Jesus Christ alone, and that righteousness is imputed (applied) to one’s account by faith in Christ alone, then that individual will no longer seek to establish his or her own righteousness by keeping the Law of Moses. This is what Paul is exhorting unbelieving Israel to understand during the Acts period! “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Now, in verse 6 and following, we move on to “the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise [in this manner]….” In verses 6-8 of Romans chapter 10, Paul quotes Deuteronomy chapter 30. Moses’ original writing read as follow: “[10] If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. [11] For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. [12] It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? [13] Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? [14] But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”

Notice how Paul interpreted that Mosaic passage for us in verses 6-8 (Paul’s commentary is in parentheses): “But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)”

When JEHOVAH God delivered the Mosaic Law to Israel through Moses back in Exodus, Israel was without excuse. Moses said in Deuteronomy 30:14, “But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.” The nation Israel knew exactly what God demanded of her. God did not leave her to wonder what He wanted her to do. As Paul commented, furthermore, centuries after Moses, a Man did come down from heaven and did come up from the grave to tell Israel everything that God expected of them at that time. That Man was Jesus Christ, His earthly ministry and resurrection (“that is, to bring Christ down from above… that is, to bring Christ again from the dead”).

Moses had been sent to instruct Israel, but they refused to listen to him. Father God had sent Jesus Christ, but Israel rejected His words as well (Matthew through John). Jesus Christ had sent Paul to Israel during the Acts period, but they did not want to hear Paul either. This is the context of Romans chapter 10 (see verses 14-21, which is Paul describing how lost Israel refuses his preaching the Gospel of the Grace of God during the Acts period). Israel during the Acts period was just as guilty of unbelief as she was when Moses ministered to her and when Jesus Christ ministered to her. Israel during the Acts transitional period could not say God had not sent anybody to them. Paul was God’s spokesman to lost Israel during Acts, and the only way lost Jews could be saved from God’s wrath was to listen to and believe Paul’s Gospel and join the Body of Christ.

The “word” (message) was “nigh” (near to) Israel; the Old Testament’s prophecies were known in the head but not believed in the heart. The Jews could recite their Old Testament verses from memory, just like lost people today can quote all sorts of verses and yet they do not believe them. Every Sabbath day, the scrolls Law of Moses and/or the Psalms and/or the Prophets would be read in the Jewish synagogues (Luke 4:16-17; Acts 13:27; Acts 15:21; 2 Corinthians 3:14). These Old Testament passages were talking about Jesus Christ. They testified of Him. Let us look at a few passages now to establish that fact.

Luke 24:44: “And he [Jesus] said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” And Acts 3:18: “But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.” And Acts 13:27: “For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.” One more example, Jesus’ words in John chapter 5: “[39] Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. [46] For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.”

Again, the Old Testament passages were a prophetic view of Jesus Christ. However, the Jews were so preoccupied with their religious activities and their self-righteousness that they could not see that their Scriptures validated Jesus as Messiah/Christ. Israel did not have heart faith in those Scriptures.
The believing Jew would not say in his heart, “I do not know what God wants me to believe.” A believing Jew would understand exactly and believe what God expected him, whether in Moses’ day, or Christ’s earthly ministry, or Paul’s Acts ministry. The heart of faith would not object and say he or she did not know what to believe concerning God’s Word or God’s will. The heart of faith would know that Jesus Christ did come down (Matthew through John), but that Israel refused to hear. Also, the heart of faith would see that Jesus Christ did reveal to the Apostle Paul (Acts chapter 9 onward) what information all unsaved Jewish and Gentile people had to believe so as to escape Satan’s captivity. This is all Paul writing to lost Jews during Acts to make them realize just how lost they really are!

Romans 10:9-10
Now, with all of the above as background, we reach the controversial verses: “[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Before we even comment, just re-reading the “hot topic” passage with background in mind makes it a little clearer, yes? Again, Israel could recite her Old Testament Scriptures, they could verbalize them, but there was no belief in the heart. There was nothing but unbelief and disobedience. The heart can talk—“say not in thine heart…” (verse 6). When Romans 10:9 says to confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus, this is not the physical mouth. It is something done inside, said in the heart. This “heart” is not the literal physical heart that pumps blood, but rather the soul, the part of us that can believe. A muscle does not have the capacity to believe God’s Word. The “heart” of Romans 10:9 is what we use to trust God’s Word. It is the soul (cf. Romans 1:21).

Likewise, the “mouth” of Romans 10:9 is not the literal, physical, visible opening near the bottom of our literal, physical, fleshly faces. The “mouth” there is the mouth of the soul. Luke 16:19-31 says how Abraham and the rich man, both physically dead, were still talking with one another (this is the mouth of their souls). Their physical bodies are in the ground, but their souls are in the heart of the earth, and yet they have conversations (verses 24-31). The Bible also says that the human soul, even when separated from the physical body, has ears, eyes (verse 23), fingers and a tongue (verse 24), and memory (verses 25,28). A verbal confession is that which is believed and said in the heart first. Anyone can mindlessly parrot some words audibly without meaning what they say. God is more interested in the heart (soul) talking than the physical lips! After all, He can see down into the soul, beyond mere spoken words, to see what the person really believes instead of simply what he or she says/professes.

When the Bible says that the lost Jew during Acts is to confess the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9), this goes back to the Old Testament, that Israel confess the name of JEHOVAH. As King Solomon was dedicating Israel’s Temple over 900 years B.C., he prayed this prayer, quoted in part (1 Kings 8:33-35): “[33] When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: [34] Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. [35] When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:” (cf. 2 Chronicles 6:24-26).

Unbelieving Jews, those who found themselves facing God’s judgment, scattered amongst the nations, were to confess JEHOVAH’S name. Lost Jews had indeed experienced God’s wrath during the Acts period, the fall of their nation (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). The seven-year Tribulation and wrath at Jesus’ Second Coming were impending as well (Acts 2:15-21,33-40; Acts 3:19-23; et cetera). In relationship to Paul’s Acts transitional ministry, confessing JEHOVAH’S name meant admitting that Jesus was not a fraud or imposter (as Israel accused Jesus of being when they demanded His crucifixion). They were to admit Jesus was Messiah, or in other words, Jesus was and is JEHOVAH.
So, let us review thus far. Paul is teaching in Romans chapter 10 that if a Jew wanted to be saved during the Acts period (which was when Romans was written), then he or she had to first recognize Jesus as Messiah/Christ, the Lord, the Son of God, instead of rejecting Him as an imposter. Then, that Jew had to believe in Jesus Christ’s resurrection, which was another hang-up for the unbelieving Jews. Remember, there was a rumor that Jesus Christ had not resurrected, but rather His disciples had stolen His corpse and hidden it elsewhere (Matthew 28:11-15). Whether in Peter’s ministry or Paul’s ministry, a Jew had to believe in Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Hence, there is no burial of Christ referenced in Romans 10:9. Jesus’ burial was not controversial with Israel—it was His literal, physical, bodily resurrection!! (Now you know why the burial is mysteriously absent in this verse!)
Re-read Romans 10:9: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Notice Jesus’ “Messiahship” and His resurrection. This is what Paul preached to Jews in the synagogues during the Acts period (cf. Acts 13:33,37; Acts 17:3; Acts 18:5; et cetera). These two acknowledgments were key in leading a Jew to Christ during Acts.

Now to the “salvation” of Romans 10:9-10: “[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

The “salvation” here is not being saved from sins and hell. We know this because “believeth unto righteousness” (justification) is a reference to being saved from sins and hell. To “confess” and “believe” unto “salvation” is actually deliverance from Israel’s apostasy and unbelief. A Jew who recognized Jesus as Lord/Messiah/JEHOVAH, who recognized that He rose from the dead, this Jew can then believe Paul’s Gospel (“Christ died for my sins, He was buried, and He was raised again” [1 Corinthians 15:3-4]) and that Jew will be justified, thus being saved from Israel’s apostasy and spiritual blindness. Israel in unbelief rejected and killed Messiah Jesus years earlier. However, through Paul’s ministry and message, Israel can escape that spiritual blindness and satanic captivity. Paul is urging lost Jews to listen to Jesus Christ speaking through him now during Acts. Years earlier, they ignored Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry. They are now not to disregard Jesus speaking through Paul.

Romans 10:11-14
Friends, we have a few more loose ends to tie together, and then we are finished:
“[11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [12] 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. [13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Verse 11 is a free quotation of Isaiah 28:16 (cf. 1 Peter 2:6), all of which are a reference to Jesus Christ. For brevity’s sake, we will forgo further commentary here.

As verse 12 says, in the Dispensation of Grace, there is no difference between Jew and Greek (Gentile). It is not saying that Gentiles are to behave like Jews (a common misconception). No, in our dispensation, a Jew is saved the same way a Gentile is. Lost Jews are to behave like Gentiles. “Even the righteousness of God which by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference(Romans 3:22). The unbelieving Jews have to enter into God’s program via the Church the Body of Christ, just as Gentiles. Paul’s ministry during Acts was to provoke lost Jews to emulation. He wanted them to behave the same way as the Gentiles—believe Paul’s Gospel, thereby joining the Church the Body of Christ.

Romans 11:11-14 is Paul’s commentary on his ministry during the Acts period: “[11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.”
Paul did various strange things in Acts to provoke lost Jews to salvation into the Body of Christ. For example, he water baptized converts, he raised the dead, he cast out devils, he healed the sick, he went to the Temple to offer sacrifices, he circumcised Timothy, et cetera. You can read more about this in our study, “Could you explain Paul’s ‘Acts’ ministry?,” linked at the end of this study. Unfortunately, time and space do not permit us to comment any further here.

When Romans chapter 10 says, “[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?,” this is really simple. Calling on the name of the Lord to be saved, Romans 10:13, is a quote from Joel 2:32, which is what a Jew is to do in Israel’s program in order to be saved from apostate Israel. Any unbelieving Jews during Paul’s ministry are to call upon the Lord; that is, seek rescue from the nation that is so wrapped up in false religion that God’s wrath is coming upon it (the Second Coming of Christ). Once a Jew believed Paul’s Gospel during Paul’s Gospel, he was to call upon the name of the Lord (notice the order in verse 14).

CONCLUSION
Friends, Romans 10:9-10 was a formula for lost Jews to be saved from Israel’s apostasy during the Acts period. Paul wrote it with Jewish salvation in mind during the transitional period. He did it to provoke lost Israelis to understand and address their spiritual dilemma. Romans 10:9-10 has nothing to do with us Gentiles or members of the Body of Christ. There are religious people who do not like that previous sentence, but that is fine. I would rather believe my Bible than them or their denomination any day! You, friend?

Why does it matter that we have a firm, dispensational understanding of Romans 10:9-10? It is because people (although sincere) have used it and are using it to mislead the lost when it comes to salvation from their sins. Faith needs an adequate basis to rest on, and Romans 10:9-10 does not make reference to Christ dying for anyone’s sins. This is why 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 should be used instead of Romans 10:9-10. “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day.” That is a clear Gospel message, a message without theological gibberish, shallowness, and gospel clichés.

Unfortunately, Romans 10:9-10 is also used to pressure new Christians to get up before a congregation to make a “profession of faith,” lest they not “complete their salvation.” This too is a gross mistreatment of the passage. Unfortunately, Matthew 10:31-32 is abused likewise. “Come walk the aisle, shake the preacher’s hand, and make your profession of faith in Jesus! You do not want God to deny you in heaven one day, do you?” This is certainly not what Romans 10:9-10 is saying. That is shallow religious tradition parading as Bible doctrine. That is coercion, bullying, intimidation, not the Spirit of God but the flesh of men!

SUPPLEMENTAL: MODERN ENGLISH VERSIONS AND THEIR RESULTANT OBFUSCATION
Unfortunately, modern English “bibles” add to the confusion by re-translating Romans 10:9 so that it reads:
  • AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION – “because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord….”
  • AMPLIFIED BIBLE – “Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord….”
  • CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION – “So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord,”…”
  • ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION – “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord…”
  • GOOD NEWS BIBLE – “If you confess that Jesus is Lord…”
  • HOLMAN CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE – “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”…”
  • LIVING BIBLE – “For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord….”
  • THE MESSAGE – “Say the welcoming word to God—”Jesus is my Master”….”
  • NEW AMERICAN (CATHOLIC) BIBLE – “for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord…”
  • NEW AMERICAN STANDARD – “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, ….”
  • NEW LIVING TRANSLATION – “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord….”
  • NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION – “because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord….”
  • REVISED STANDARD VERSION – “because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord….”
Notice how Protestant and Roman Catholic translators alike insert the verb “is”: “Jesus is Lord.” The 1901 American Standard Version explains with a footnote: “Some ancient authorities read ‘confess the word with thy mouth, that Jesus {is} Lord.’” The corrupt modern versions and their underlying manuscripts are at it again, friends!

Also observe how the Living Bible says, “If you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus is your Lord” (beside the Message, this is an extreme version of dynamic, or interpretative, translation). The translator has assumed the role of the teacher—this is spiritually dangerous! Notice how the Amplified Bible says, “Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips….” “Lips” being inserted only confuses the verses. Evidently, the translators of all of the versions quoted above are also under the impression that this verse is talking about confessing with our physical lips and our physical mouths. (They may not be correct in that interpretation, but all we have is their interpretation, and not the pure Word of God with which to compare!)

In actuality, they have polluted God’s Word to teach Lordship Salvation, the damnable heresy of Calvinism, that people have to submit to Jesus’ Lordship over every detail of their lives before they can be saved unto eternal life. This is works-religion. This is not Christianity. Whenever someone says, “The modern versions still contain ‘the Gospel!,’” they evidently do not know what the Gospel is and/or they do not know what Romans 10:9-10 is talking about! No lost person can give his or her life to Christ—lost people are dead spiritually. Only a Christian gave his or her life to Christ!

Every Christian should own a weapon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD9oiT5qaEM

Friday, March 25, 2016

The only BAPTIST in the Bible

John the Baptist was not a preacher of the dispensation of grace, he was suppose to be the prophet ELIJAH of Daniel's 70th Week if the Jews would accept the gospel of the kingdom (Isa. 40:3, Malachi 4:5, Matt. 11:14, 17:10-12, Luke 1:17). 

The only BAPTIST in the Bible did not preach Christ crucified because that gospel was not revealed yet. (Matt. 16:21-23, Mark 9:9-10, 9:31-32, Luke 9:44-45, Luke 18:31-34, John 20:6-10, Gal. 1:11-12, Rom. 16:25).  

The only BAPTIST in the Bible was a man who did not wear a suit and tie every Sunday (Matt. 3:4). 

The only BAPTIST taught the gospel of the kingdom that required "fruits meet for repentance" or else you would be hewn down and cast into the fire (Matt. 3:7-10, Luke 3:7-14). 

The only BAPTIST taught the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4-5, Luke 3:3). His baptism was a Jewish purifying (John 3:25-26).

The only BAPTIST in the Bible was not water baptized. (oh my!)

The only BAPTIST in the Bible was not a pastor of a local church, he was more like a street preacher (Matt. 3:1). 

The only BAPTIST in the Bible was rude, crude, crass, and called people vipers to their face (Matt. 3:7, Luke 3:7). 

CONCLUSION: John the Baptist was not a true Baptist by IFB standards!  

Of course, we do not live under the dispensation of the gospel of the kingdom, we live under the revelation of the mystery revealed to Paul (Eph. 3:1-9, 5:32, Col. 1:24-28, Gal. 1:11-12, Rom. 16:25, 1 Tim. 3:9).

Being a Baptist is contrary to being a grace believer and the Bible makes it very clear that if you are trying to follow John the Baptist then you are ignorant of the full revelation of the "way of God".

Acts 18:
[24] And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
[25] This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
[26] And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
[27] And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
[28] For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ
.


If you are following the baptism of John then you are not helping those that believe through grace! Being a Baptist is not something to be proud of... 

Peter vs the Pope

Peter's humility!

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

God heareth not sinners

John 2:24-25 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Romans 3:19 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.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Proverbs 1:28-30 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous

Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Isaiah 1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.


Isaiah 59:
[1] Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
[2] But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
[3] For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
[4] None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity
.


Psalms 34:
[15] The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
[16] The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
[17] The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles
.


Matthew 7:
[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] 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?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity


Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.



Which is why saying the "sinner's prayer" won't save you, only faith in the gospel of the grace of God (Rom. 3:20-27, 5:1, Eph. 1:13, 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Prayer is a work that man offers God (Col. 4:12, Heb. 5:7) that CANNOT save (Titus 3:4-7, 2 Tim. 1:9, Eph. 2:9). 

Only receiving Christ by believing on Him is the only way to be saved (John 1:12, Acts 13:38-39, 16:30-31). I trusted in my "sinner's prayer" for the first 13 years of my life before I understood that salvation was by grace through faith in Christ's shed blood rather than by prayer. Sadly most Baptists are still trusting the prayer! See what Baptist evangelist George Gray told me
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/baptist-evangelist-says-faith-is-not.html

--Eli Caldwell


Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Baptist evangelist says faith is not enough for salvation

I have said many times that Baptists do not really believe that salvation is by the grace of God alone through faith alone, and one of them has just admitted it. They are trusting in the so called "sinner's prayer".

Baptist evangelist George Gray did not like what I said about salvation by faith without the "sinner's prayer", then he alluded to James 2 to prove that salvation is not by faith alone. Sad! He does not understand that James is written to the 12 tribes of Israel prophetically to the last days and that the apostle Paul is the one who wrote by inspiration to the Body of Christ under Grace! (James 1:1, 5:2, Gal. 2:9, Eph. 3:2, Rom. 5:1, 6:14, 11:13, 15:15-16, 16:25)


Here is what the Baptist said...

"Believing my friend is NOT enough because the Bible says the devil believes and even trembles. One must get Christ into their heart.  That is done by prayer."


"Matthew 7:
6-Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Cornelius was an eager seeker...not a dog, so God spread His pearl before him...the Gospel.

Notice in verse 8 the word everyone is used.  Cornelius asked and received salvation through prayer."
 
Which is why I always assume that if someone is a Baptist, then they aren't saved. (which thankfully is not always the case)
 
--Eli Caldwell
 

What does "replenish" mean in Genesis 1:28?

Genesis 1:
[27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
[28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth
.


Gap Theorists staunchly believe that the word "replenish" in Genesis 1:28 means to "refill". 

But the word replenish in the transitive case means TO FILL. Webster's 1828 dictionary...

"REPLEN'ISH, verb transitive [Latin re and plenus, full.]

1. To fill; to stock with numbers or abundance. The magazines are replenished with corn. The springs are replenished with water.
Multiply and replenish the earth. Genesis 1:28."

That is what the original meaning of the word was in English from the 13th-17th centuries. In 1611 the word replenish only meant to "fill", not refill as it does today (just like the word "gay" has changed meaning). Robert Cawdrey's Alphabetical Table of 1604 (and others) lists "to fill" as the only definition of "replenish". 

Also, the King James Bible is its own dictionary and we can see the meaning of the word "replenish" by looking at its usage in the Bible itself.

Isaiah 2:
[6] Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.
[7] Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:
[8] Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made

[replenished is defined as "full"]

Jeremiah 31:25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul

[satiate means to fill]

Adam was the FIRST man, he and Eve were not refilling the Earth when they had children, because there were no men on the Earth before their time...

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

The Gap Theorists cannot use Genesis 1:28 to back their theory, it won't work.

--Eli Caldwell

Friday, March 11, 2016

More Baptist Baloney

The more I read Baptist books, tracts, statements of faith, and listen to their sermons, the more I am disgusted. The more I see and hear, the more I realize that 99% of them are preaching a false gospel. Their false gospel can be summarized in the following two areas:

1.) Baptists add the so called "sinner's prayer" to the gospel which is found nowhere in the Bible. These prayers differ in both who they are addressed to (Father or Son) in what they actually say. Prayer is a work that saved people LABOR in, help in, persevere in, and strive in (Col. 4:12, Rom. 15:30, Eph. 6:18, 2 Cor. 1:11), which is why God does not hear it from lost people (Isa. 59:1-2, Ps. 34:15-16, Matt. 7:21, John 9:31, 1 Pet. 3:12, Prov. 15:29, 28:9). God does not accept anything a sinner offers Him, and prayer is something that we offer God (Heb. 5:7). God wants lost people to stop their mouths and believe on Christ (Rom. 3:19). God knows our hearts, He does not need that any should testify of man (John 2:24-25). The Bible makes it clear that salvation under Grace is by believing on Christ trusting His shed blood to pay for our sins (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Rom. 1:16-17, 3:19-27, 1 Cor. 1:17-21, 2:2, Eph. 1:13). It is provided by God's grace alone and is received by faith alone (Rom. 11:6, 5:1, Titus 3:4-7). Baptists further pervert the gospel by telling lost people to come pray at an altar (which is not really an altar) and repeat a prayer after them. Repeating a prayer after a man will not get you saved, Christ is the only Mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5). Some Baptists twist Luke 18:9-14 to teach that prayer saves, but that passage is a "parable" and not the plan of salvation for any dispensation! Baptists also twist Romans 10:9-13 to justify their false gospel, but if you look at the context of Romans 10:9 it is referring to Israel (verse 1 and 6-8) and the Old Testament verse that Paul quotes (Joel 2:32 with Rom. 10:13) is NOT about the salvation of the soul. Further, Romans 10 does not mention anyone asking God for anything, only acknowledging that Christ is the Lord and that He was raised from the dead. It is not about a prayer. Also, the passage makes it clear that a sinner is made righteous by faith without works (verses 4, 9-10).

2.) Baptists believe that sinner's must "give their life to Christ" and "turn from their sins" in order to be saved, which are both WORKS. Turning from sin is a work (Jonah 3:10) and nobody on Earth has ever turned from all their sin, we all have sin in our lives and we always will until the rapture (Phil. 3:20-21). A lost person cannot give his/her life to Christ to be saved, God does not want your life! He wants to give you NEW LIFE through Christ (John 20:31). Christ IS the life and without Him you will never even have a life to offer Him (John 3:36, 14:6). Even after we got saved we did not "give our life to Christ", He became our life (Col. 4:3). Baptists seek to justify their false gospel of works salvation by saying that "repent" means to "turn from sin", but that is not true. Those who misdefine "repent" as "turning from sin" are guilty of making God a sinner that needs to turn from sin, since God repents many times in the Bible. In fact, the word "repent" is first used in reference to God (Gen. 6:6-7, Exod. 32:14, etc.). The word repent means “to change your mind; reconsider; or, to think differently.” I suppose someone could turn from particular sins...like stop drinking alcohol or something like that, but to just "turn" from all sin is impossible. None of us (saved or lost) have turned from all "Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like" (Gal. 5:19-20). Then there are those who say that repentance is turning from sin, but that it is extreme sorrow and guilt for sin. They then quote 2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." However, if "godly sorrow worketh repentance", then doesn't that mean that sorrow and repentance are different things? Besides, Paul is referring to already saved people in 2 Cor. 7:10, check the context. Repentance is a change of mind, when someone hears the gospel and submits to the righteousness of God rather than trusting their own righteousness, that is repentance (Acts 20:21, Rom. 10:1-4, Eph. 1:13). To change the Biblical definition of repentance to "turning from sin" creates so many doctrinal problems and a FALSE gospel. A lost person cannot surrender their life to Christ, neither can they turn from all their sins. [By the way, you cannot confess all of your individual sins either, they are more than the hairs of your head. "For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me." Ps. 40:12] 

Here is the "Baptist baloney" I recently read...

[My comments in brackets]


Salvation.We believe that Scripture teaches that we can know that we are saved. Salvation is the gift of God, apart from any works or merit on the part of man. Salvation is brought to man by grace and received by repentance toward God and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. Salvation is freely offered to all who will receive it and results in a changed life. We believe that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (the sin of unbelief in Christ as Saviour), are forgivable. (Matt. 12:31-32; John 1:12; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:9; 5:13)

[This statement about salvation sounds very good until they say "we believe that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (the sin of unbelief in Christ as Saviour), are forgivable". That is an utter heresy. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost was something Israel committed when they attributed the power of the Holy Ghost to the devil (if you look at the context) and it has nothing to do with anyone under Grace, where grace does much more abound than sin (Rom. 5:20, 6:14). This Baptist is teaching that anyone who hears the gospel of Christ but does not believe it the first time they hear it will be lost! I didn't believe the gospel of Christ the first time I heard it, so according to this Baptist I must not have ever been able to get saved after that, since I had committed the unpardonable sin. Thankfully the God of the Bible has mercy on us and gives many chances to put our faith in Him. Also, this Baptist has put 1 John 1:9 in their list of references, which is written prophetically about the gospel of the kingdom in Daniel's 70th Week in the last time (1 John 2:13-14, 2:18, 5:18). John wrote to the circumcision (Gal. 2:9)] 

Are you 100% sure that if you died today you would go to Heaven?


1. THE BIBLE DECLARES ALL HAVE SINNED

  • “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23
  • “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
  • “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

2. THE BIBLE DECLARES SIN’S PENALTY

  • “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
  • “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:14

3. THE BIBLE DECLARES SIN’S PENALTY WAS PAID

  • “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
  • “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” 1 Peter 3:18

4. THE BIBLE DECLARES WE MUST REPENT

  • “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
  • “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7
  • If we are truly sorry for our sins and willing to turn from them, we can be saved.
[This is obviously works salvation and private interpretation of Scripture. First of all, if "godly sorrow worketh repentance", then doesn't that mean that sorrow and repentance are different things? Besides, Paul is referring to already saved people in 2 Cor. 7:10, check the context. Repentance is a change of mind. Then the use of Isaiah 55:7 is very bad, it is not about salvation under Grace. It is about Israel who turned from God and they needed to "RETURN" to Him, a lost sinner cannot "return" to God because they were never with Him. None of us have ever forsaken our wicked way and our thoughts, we all have sin in our lives and we always will until the rapture (Phil. 3:20-21). It is up to saved people to seek to forsake sin, but that is not what lost people are told to do, they are told to WORK NOT (Rom. 4:5, Eph. 2:8-9) and believe on Christ and His shed blood for sin. Turning from sin is a work (Jonah 3:10). How is a lost person going to be "willing to turn from sin" since God does not work in us to will and do of His good pleasure (Phil 2:12-13)?]   

5. THE BIBLE DECLARES WE MUST RECEIVE CHRIST

  • “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12
  • We need to exercise our faith by receiving Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Faith and repentance are both necessary for salvation.
[What do you mean "exercise" our faith? Wouldn't exercising faith be a WORK? The Bible makes it clear that we just need to stop trying to establish our own righteousness and submit to His righteousness instead by believing on Christ having faith in His blood (Rom. 1:16-17, 3:19-27, 10:1-4)]

6. THE BIBLE DECLARES YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY, IF YOU WANT TO BE

  • “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9
  • “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
  • God loves you and wants you to experience peace and eternity in heaven with Him.
I hope you noticed the caption “God’s gift to You.” Scripture is God’s Word - His message to us - and not our “theory.” We pray that after reading these six thoughts from God’s Word that you will place your faith in the gift God has given us. He gives free pardon of sin, and a “know-so” salvation. You don’t have to hope that God will save you, or hope that someday you will go to Heaven. The Bible says in 1 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.” Do you know where you’re going when you die?

WHAT YOU MUST DO:

  1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).
  2. Be willing to turn from your sin (repent).
  3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross.
  4. Invite Jesus to come in and control your heart and life (receive Him as Saviour and Lord).
[First you gave us six steps to salvation, now it is four? Confusing.]

SUGGESTED PRAYER:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I know I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now ask Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour. I am willing, by God’s grace, to follow and obey Christ as the Lord of my heart and life."

[I have already addressed the "sinner's prayer" above.]

--Eli Caldwell  

Monday, March 7, 2016

Baptist code words

A Baptist "Camp Meeting" is code words for "Let's act like Charismatics this week"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7V5nF0lrXE 

1 Corinthian 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.