(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. Your question about John 3:16 reminds me of an encounter I had when I handed a young man gospel literature. He said he was a Christian and the son of a Baptist pastor, which led to the subject of once saved always saved. He based his HERETICAL doctrine on John 3:16, but had no clue as to what it really teaches. I believe MANY, like him, have stumbled over a misunderstanding of John 3:16. Several things are noteworthy about John 3:16: (1) The Greek word for believe is a continuous tense. Hence, it does NOT refer to a mere moment of faith in Jesus. Instead, it is a present tense NOW faith in Jesus. (2) The word believe, as to referring to what we need to extend towards Jesus for salvation, means OBEY. Hence, saving faith is manifested by obedience or good works as James 2 mentions, while unbelief is manifested in disobedience to God. We also have a short video on that verse. Click John 3:16.
Without question, ALL who live according to the sin nature will be damned, even if previously saved. Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5-7; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Rev. 21:8; etc. are clear in proving that. To miss the point in those Scriptures is to TRY to miss the clarity to one's own harm and destruction. Spiritual death does come to the righteous man who turns to do evil (Gen. 2:17; Ezek. 33:18; Rom. 8:13; etc.). To deny a saved person will die spiritually if he turns to wickedness is at the core of the popular sin gospel in our apostate day.
Regarding you, if you are still living as you described your beliefs, click crucify the flesh. It is a good one to read as is this one on the new creation. Have you been set free of your sin addictions? A Christian needs to keep himself pure. Remember this, IF you have JESUS you have the best this life can offer, regardless how bad it may seem. If you don't have JESUS, you really have NOTHING, even if you have great health, wealth, popularity; etc. Live in light of E-T-E-R-N-I-T-Y. It is holiness or hell. Church people need true holiness preaching. GOD BLESS YOU.
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' holy name. Our article on Jesus or Yeshua is clear and factual. It shows the strange ideas some embrace about the holy name of Jesus, the savior of mankind. Your example of calling your son by the wrong name has nothing to do with this controversy. Jesus is not a wrong name, neither is the God of the Bible so small and limited that he wouldn't know you are calling out to him. The Bible says God knows how many hair we each have (Mt. 10:30), that he knows what we want in prayer before we even ask him (Mt. 6:8), that nothing is hidden from his sight (Heb. 4:13), that he knows the future before it occurs (Isa. 44:7,8; etc. ), etc. The God you present is not the true and living God, but a counterfeit like a half-witted human. Your illustration is not relevant.
....Since you and I are in an English speaking world, the transliteration of the savior's name into our language is JESUS, like it or not. That is fact. In Chinese it might be different, but God knows what is in a person's heart regardless the language he speaks.
The New Testament was NOT written in Hebrew or Aramaic, but instead in Greek. That also is fact. There are thousands of Greek manuscripts which are copies of the originals. These are the basis of reputable Bible translations today. Some Yeshua people are also into serious false doctrine. Click Messianic Jews.
Lastly, the name of Jesus has been successfully used to cast out demons. I personally cast out a demon and saw another person cast one out too. Jesus' name is also successful to heal the sick, raise the dead and especially bring salvation to one's soul. I have seen most of them too. There are MANY people who have experienced initial salvation by calling on the holy name of Jesus. It works. It is real. Stop this foolishness. The emphasis needs to be on HOLY LIVING, doing God's will and being an honor to Jesus. Read the New Testament and change accordingly.
_______________ (Bible Comment) I just read your misguided comments about Ray Comfort and you are "greatly" deceived in your understanding of the Word of God! I would go into detail but Comfort, Stanley, MacAuthur, and others who preach and teach the WHOLE COUNSEL of GOD are not in error of this message. It is you who do not understand God's Word and it is you who are sending countless souls to a eternal damnation.... God's message is simple and you make a mockery of it. Why do you think Jesus died on the cross. It is in Scripture. How can you be so blind? Wait, I know. God tells us in 1 Cor. 2:14. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he "know" them, because they are spiritually discerned." You truly greave God and His saints with your gospel from hell. It is you who teach the doctrine of devils. Truly, truly sad. No response from you is necessary because you have nothing but lies. But if you see fit to respond... God will direct any response back by His Word which you have not a clue.
(Bible Answer) What we have cited is factual. There is nothing which is misquoted or deceitfully stated if it be on Ray Comfort, Charles Stanley, John MacArthur, to Pope John Paul II, etc. We name, quote and refute with Scripture false teachers, as Christians are commanded to do for the sake of truth and SOULS. Just because someone is popular or speaks well doesn't mean he/she is sound. Remember that fact. Also, just because Charles Stanley, Ray Comfort, etc. may be sound in certain areas does NOT mean they are right about salvation. ALL eternal security teachers are grossly wrong about the Christian life between initial salvation and final salvation. You are there too.
Your email states in so many words that I'm unsaved, even though I'm free from sin addictions and living holy as I trust in Jesus 100% for my salvation and follow him in this sinful world. If I was teaching King David sinned by adultery and murder but remained saved, you would probably think I was sound and teaching grace! Because I cite Scripture to prove each point you think I'm in dangerous error. The facts are there. There are NO Christian adulterers. There are NO Christian murderers, thieves, swindlers, etc., unlike what you were taught. These are the simple facts of salvation. To teach the opposite to that is NOT saving grace but a counterfeit and snare to SOULS. Such yields only a form of godliness and deceived people thinking they are on the road to heaven, when they are unsaved. Until such recognize their lost condition they won't repent of their vile behavior. We know from our experience with such people.
You need B-I-G help. Our 801 page book can help you, if you are open to truth. Read The Believer's Conditional Security. Remember Gal. 6:8,9 and memorize Rev. 21:8. The main problem in Bible believing circles is the HERESY of once saved always saved.
__________________ (Comment) Hi thanks for the teaching refuting eternal security. I know of several churches in ________ teaching this doctrine. I don't go to one that does and wouldn't. Thanks for explaining this to me. God Bless You for your work. Amen.
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. You are at a MAJOR advantage to avoid any and all churches which teach the HERESY of eternal security. That is great. What about avoiding ALL grace changers, even if they come on TV or radio? How are you with that? That would almost exclude all of them! In one form or another the demonic distortions regarding sin, salvation, grace, security, etc. have penetrated almost every ministry! People are hearing some truth, but it is often mixed with DEADLY poison and they can't tell the difference. We are in a widespread global APOSTASY. It is very hard to find even one person who is sound. There are people who reject once saved always saved, but are KJB Onlyites or Yeshua people or Saturday Sabbatarians or Prosperity people or Charles Finneyites or water baptism for salvation people, etc. HOLINESS is the issue, but few are guarded the way they must be to overcome. This is a VERY SERIOUS time in our eternal existence. We must take every precaution. Have you signed up for our internet church? God bless you.
__________________ (Comment) I have been listening to your debates with many of the Christian religious leaders. As a Buddhist, I would agree with your position that a righteous God, if there is one would not tolerate a so-called believer who is unrepentant of his bad deeds in this life. You argue very well with your verses in your bible.
On the other hand, I also notice that your opponents are also arguing from the same bible, and these verses are also applicable too. So you actually have opposing verses, contradicting each other on the subject - in the same bible. You all can go on arguing and there will be no conclusion in the end. That goes to show that your bible is unreliable after all. Don't you think so? Yours sincerely
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. You may be quite surprised to know that many of the things people professing to be Christians claim is in the Bible is not actually found there! Also, many quote an actual part of the Bible, but remove it from its context and apply it to something in error. Such has led to false doctrines and people wrongly thinking the Bible is not accurate.
As a Buddhist, I'm not surprised you would question the Bible, since it is so different from Buddhism. Please rest assured, the message of the Holy Bible is reliable and accurate. One of the ways we know is, it works. If one acts on the message of the Bible, he will be INSTANTLY set free from his sin addictions. How could that be possible unless the message was true. It will change a vile, evil person into a truth-loving, tender-hearted and God-fearing person. He will be changed from within. That is the new creation in Christ.
Please ponder your life. Your pursuits are all very small in importance compared to the B-I-G issue of life, which centers around God. What are you going to do about your sins? How are you going to prepare spiritually for your own certain physical death, which might happen at any time? The Bible accurately says we are all in the same horrible condition in need of a savior. It goes on to declare that Jesus of Nazareth was the messiah, who shed his blood on the cross so we can be forgiven and set free from addictions. You must turn away from your sins and cry out to the Lord Jesus for mercy and salvation. Commit your life to God. Your invisible SOUL is your most valuable possession....
Finally, to be safe and to plan ahead, go by the New Testament. Your eternity in a fiery hell or a paradise environment beyond the grave hangs in the balance. May God help you.
Are You Involved In Protecting The Gospel
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(Bible Comment) Why do people worship Jesus. God said put no one before him. Don't give me that he is god. He is the son of god, I worship God and when is God's special day hummm ....
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. The reason Christians worship Jesus is because, in part, they are doing the same as the original disciples. They worshiped Jesus and Jesus received their worship.
The truth is, Jesus is both God and man. Scripture can be provided for both. When Christians say Jesus is God, they are saying he is God by nature. Jesus is NOT the Father. The Father is not the Son or vice versa. They are two separate persons, but both possess the unique attributes which make them God. Click The Trinity Doctrine. It will help you better understand this.
You also brought up God's special day. Did you know that Rom. 14 tells us it doesn't have to be Saturday for the Christian? Do you really understand Biblical salvation? God bless you.
_______________________ (Comment) ...John Wesley and George Whitfield two fine examples of Friendship and difference. Naming and shaming will be to our detriment unless they of course have never been saved. Born again of the spirit. We discussed this matter very extensively in bible college during the years I was there and found there were always differences of opinions. I have been preaching at ____________Church for 20 odd years and their doctrine is the ability to fall away, However one would think that it would keep people on their toes, but I still discern good church people with learned Graces who may not be saved. May God Have mercy on us all. There go I but for the grace of God ...1 John 5:12 says, these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God that you might KNOW that you have eternal life....
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. Though it may be true that Wesley and Whitefield were somewhat friendly, at times, even though they had different views on salvation, that doesn't mean they are our example of how to handle such differences. Our examples are to come from Scripture. The Bible is final spiritual authority and is to be used for all correction, doctrine, etc. (2 Tim. 3:16,17). Wesley is NOT our example. He was NOT correct on all his doctrines which should be apparent since he believed in infant baptism.
It is God's way to expose and refute a false teacher with Scripture. In fact, to be in spiritual leadership one MUST be able to refute those who oppose sound doctrine:
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:9)Scripture shows we are to name false teachers:
Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. (2 Tim 2:17,18)It is to the MAJOR ADVANTAGE of Christians to know clearly who is teaching dangerously. Perhaps you never thought about it, but the phrase there go I but for the grace of God came from a Calvinist. God's grace is available to all. It is never his will for people to perish, even though most will. Man's free will to reject truth because of his deception(s) is the problem. It is not that the grace of God is not available to him.
Christians will have little to no chance of survival if they accept the once saved always saved doctrine teaching. The road to life is hard (Mt. 7:14) with many casualties along the way. A Christian must remain on guard or he will die spiritually. It is his responsibility under grace. Though eternal life is a present tense possession for the follower of Jesus, it is also a hope, yet to be reaped, in the age to come, for those who don't give up and continue to sow to please the Spirit. For the details, please consult our book, The Believer's Conditional Security. GOD BLESS YOU. 1 Tim. 4:16; Heb. 3:14.
_______________________ (Comment) If you are truly holy spirit filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit you can not be lost! Christ lives in you and the hope is the resurrection which is a guaranteed hope! Apply your skull and cross bones award to yourself as you truly do not understand the power of god and divine election and predestination.... You obviously are not truely saved or you would understand why we are called god's chosen people!
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus' name. Since you think one can't be lost if ever saved, then you are ignoring and/or avoiding large amounts of Scripture, which clearly show otherwise. The seal of the Holy Spirit can be broken and the same writer who mentioned it (Paul) often refuted Calvinism's fifth point. Here is just one time he taught to be sealed with the Holy Spirit would not prevent loss of salvation:
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person -- such a man is an idolater -- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (Eph 5:5-7)For you to say I'm not truly saved is to indirectly deny your own doctrine, since I could have been saved at just one point in my life even though now I view Calvinism as being demonic, with the fifth point (once saved always saved) being the most dangerous. For your own sake, please answer these Bible questions. Remember Heb. 3:14.
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