Evangelical Outreach
(Question) I would like to know what is your definition as a real "brother". If some member of the congregation decides to fall into adultery, drugs, etc... not stopping to commit this sin, then I think he is in apostasy and without Christ in his heart, and according to the letter in 1John he is now a son of the devil (not a son of God). So, is he my brother now? I don't think so (only when he repents of this sin he will be my brother again) but I would like to know your opinion.
(Bible Answer) I believe we agree about who is in God’s spiritual family, which aligns with what Jesus said about this same subject:
He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice." (Luke 8:21)
Hence, if any person isn’t described there, he is not the Christian’s spiritual brother, even though he could have been one in the past. One must be spiritually alive by having Jesus as one’s Lord and King to be in the family:
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:10)
One’s present tense BEHAVIOR reflects his present tense faith and spiritual condition at that time. That is also the biblical difference between wheat and tares! For example when the prodigal son was in wild living with the prostitutes, he was spiritually dead and lost. He was a child of the devil and a tare then. When he repented (turned from his wickedness) to serve the Father, he became alive again (Lk. 15:24). God bless you.
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(Bible Question) I have a friend who has been divorced, and then remarried, seven times! She is on her seventh husband now. According to scripture, she is in adultery and has lost her salvation. I'm confused, because this woman is a strong Christian who loves the Lord-she speaks in tongues, and has a strong Deliverance and healing ministry -when she lays hands on people, God heals them and casts out demons. How can this be happening if she has lost her salvation due to adultery? Is it true that unsaved people can cast out and heal, in Jesus name?
(Bible Answer) Your question is an excellent one! Why do you consider that woman with the so-called deliverance ministry a Christian? Are you aware of this passage:
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Mat 7:20-23)
Does that shock you? Some unsaved people have no interest for religious things, but others (such as the ones referred to there) have great religious zeal and can even cast out demons and heal the sick! That however is not their “fruit” (v.20). Their fruit was evildoing, even though they cast out demons, heal the sick, etc. Remember this passage:
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil .... (1 John 3:7,8)
If a person really loves the Lord Jesus, he is obeying the Lord Jesus (Jn. 14:15). If one is in adultery, he/she is not obeying Jesus and really doesn’t love Jesus at all. Don’t be deceived. GOD BLESS YOU.
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(Comment) We have a saying here in South Africa that the Americans are the only people in the world who play against themselves and call it a “World-series. These [KJV only] guys live in a world of their own. They think the whole world reads and write English. I would like to see them come to Africa and preach to the Africans – who do not understand English from their 1611 KJV bible. Do not tell them, but I think they do not know that there is a difference between American and British English. Have a great day!
(Bible Answer) It is shocking for a KJV onlyite to logically embrace his doctrine. Why? Because if what he believes is true, then there was no word of God before 1611. That fact should end this, but it doesn’t. Too many want to draw away disciples after themselves and need something to use. The KJB has been chosen by some, Yeshua has been exalted by others and the list goes on to the detriment of precious SOULS. (Thanks for your comment.) God bless you.
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(Bible Question) Dear Sir, I am a little confused as to what the implications of Luke 9:62 are. For example if someone knows Christianity is true, ask the Lord to forgive them, then turns back to the world, puts off repenting, but years later repents. Is Jesus saying he won't won't forgive them and they will go to hell when they die? Jesus seems to be saying that by going back to the world they are unfit for heaven and since they can't get that fitness back they can never be forgiven. Is he talking he about the unforgivable sin. Remember didn't he say that salt that loses it's saltiness can never be salty again.
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus’ name. The verse in question says:
But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (NASB)
Until a person gets saved, he has never put his hand to the plow. After getting saved, if that same person looks back upon his old life he repented of as something to return to, it reflects an unsaved spiritual condition. Hence, that person is no longer fit, as a backslider, for the kingdom of God. Demas in the bible did that type of thing (2 Tim. 4:10), as did Lot’s wife (Gen. 19:26; Lk. 17:32,33) . That is not the unforgivable sin. Modern day prodigals can repent and return to salvation again (Lk. 15:24). God bless you.
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(Comment) Some of your teachings are good but some are way off. For instance you said that David lost his salvation when he committed adultery and murder, well for one thing he wasn’t even born again so how could he loose something he never had? One must be born of the Spirit before he can obtain eternal life. The same with Peter. You preach losing your salvation to the extent that it makes me want to ask God to kill me before I sin and die before I can confess and repent....
(Bible Answer) People had salvation in the Old Testament—before the cross of Christ. Especially Psalms is clear on that point. [Peter also stated that Noah and the others in the ark had salvation, 1 Peter 3:20.] You are looking for an excuse to justify wickedness and your type of teaching is both disgusting and dangerous. David changed from a righteous man to a spiritually dead man when he turned to evil (Ezek 33:18; etc.). Paul, James and others taught the same in the NT (Rom. 8:13; James 5:19,20; etc.). So don’t get confused or confuse others. A teacher’s judgment will be more strict!
One act of adultery makes one a bible-defined adulterer (Lev. 20:10), if you like it or not. It also has nothing to do with how popular that truth is, it is still Bible fact. When that is compared with adulterers going to the lake of fire (1 Cor. 6:9,10; Rev. 21:8), then David was back on the road to hell at that point. (Afterwards, he got his salvation back upon repentance.) All sin is NOT of the same degree! Consider reading the book, The Believer’s Conditional Security. It has much in it that can help you better understand this salvation-related subject. You can order on line here at evangelical books.
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(Comment) I just bought your book "The Believer's Conditional Security" and am so thankful that there is someone out there who shares my beliefs! I got saved in 2007 and have struggled with the OSAS [once saved always saved] doctrine for 4 years now. It was so clear from the Bible that we CAN lose our salvation... being cut off the vine, blotted out of the Book of Life, fall from grace, etc. etc. God opened my mind to this as a baby Christian. I am halfway through your book and love it!... Keep up the GREAT work on exposing false doctrines and being a true follower of Jesus Christ! God bless!
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus’ name. Thank you for the kind words. We are so glad you found us (or vice versa). There is much in that book to help you better understand the spiritual dangers you are in between initial and final salvation. It can also help you defend the true gospel of grace and refute Calvinism in our sin-filled, truth-rejecting society. Remember, We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. (Heb 3:14) God bless you.
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(Comment) I was reading your article on " The Apostle Judas Iscariot ". I was wondering if teaching Judas was saved contradicts one sin salvation lost. It would seem according to John 12:6, that you would have to say Judas was an apostle and a thief or a saved thief. Any clarification you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank You
(Bible Answer) No other person has ever contacted us because he read that teaching and came up with the same conclusion as you! That is not what it says! [That is not what we believe. Thieves will be damned (1 Cor. 6:9,10) unless they get forgiven. There are no Christian thieves.] In essence the article says, Judas was saved man at one point. We know that because he was a disciple (Mt. 10:1-4) and disciples are saved (Mt. 12:49,50). After that point he turned to sin and ended up in hell. That is the bible answer to who was Judas Iscariot.
No thief is saved (1 Cor. 6:9,10). Judas was no longer saved and didn’t have eternal security! Don’t be deceived by the grace changers (eternal security teachers)!
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(Comment) Your refutation of Gary Amirault's brand of Universalism is much appreciated, however, I take issue with the additions/conditions that you then placed on receiving God's gift of salvation...
The conditions for initial salvation are repentance from sin and a submissive faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation (Acts 20:21; 2 Pet. 3:9; etc.).
If you mean repentance as a turning from unbelief to faith in Jesus as the first born, resurrected and only begotten Son of God, then forgive me. If you're saying that 'we' have to turn from our personal sins in order to be saved, then my problem with your conditions and add-on remains. God's plan of salvation for the unbelieving Gentile is simply stated in 1 Cor. 15: 1-4. It's a gift -- as we can't arrive at that belief nor can we maintain by our own efforts that which was freely given. The suggestion that we need to 'endure to the end' leaves 'something' up to me. Salvation than no longer is a gift. If someone gives me a present and then shortly thereafter tells me I have to pay a little bit back for what they purchased. Is it a gift? And if I endure to the end, then I'll want some of that glory that supposedly all belongs to the Lord. "Hey, didn't I do this or that in your Name." Trust me, you don't want to be saying that.
(Bible Answer) Unfortunately, you have been grossly misled, probably by someone like Charles Stanley, gotquestion.org or Joseph Prince. According to the Lord Jesus, who taught repent or perish (Lk. 13:3,5) and elsewhere taught what repentance is, you are teaching dangerously wrong.
NOTE: Jesus taught the Ninevites repented at the preaching of Jonah (Mt. 12:41) and Jonah 3:10 shows that refers to them turning from their evil ways. Repentance is NOT merely turning from unbelief to mental assent to the historical facts about Jesus. Grace comes to the humble, not the proud (James 4:6). It is not unmerited favor, as commonly taught, and one can fall from grace to the place where Jesus is of no value at all (Gal. 5:2-4). Also, godly sorrow precedes salvation:
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.... (2 Cor 7:10)
These same truths are shown in Gal. 5:24:
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
That’s not your version of grace and plan of salvation you teach. Furthermore, when one becomes truly saved he is set free from his sin addictions (Rom. 6:22). Contact with the blood of Jesus does that (Rev. 1:5). If that never happened, one was not really born again by grace and didn’t get the gift of salvation! After salvation, the Christian life is filled with trials, troubles, persecutions, etc. Some people fall away and go back to their old life of sin to their own harm and loss of salvation. NOTE: when the prodigal backslid, he lost his gift of salvation (Lk. 15:24). The same possibility is shown in James 5:19,20 and Rom. 11:19-23. There are NO sound arguments for once saved always saved even though Scripture has been misused to teach that heresy. Our 801 page book, The Believer’s Conditional Security, is the most complete refutation to that false doctrine ever written but evil forces, such as wikipedia, refuse to acknowledge it to their own harm and loss of SOULS. NOTE: Evangelical Outreach (https://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/ ) has more information refuting once saved always saved than any website on the internet and probably any three websites combined! Check our audios, videos, radio debates, radio interviews, books, booklets, tracts and online text teachings for yourself. TRUTH can stand any investigation.
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(Question) I just recently visited your site and enjoyed it very much.
1) ...Do you think that if a person is ignorant concerning the mark of the beast and they accept it, but after learning what it represents they ask God for forgiveness... will He grant it? 2) I read a question on your site concerning Mormonism, and automatically thought of Glenn Beck. He is in Israel right now, and he has planned for a huge event later this year and is asking people of all faiths to join him there. Knowing what his religion dictates he believe, do you think he is being honest or devious in trying to bring together different religions? Please know that I am fairly new to the Christian family, so if my questions seem a little confusing or out of bounds, it's because I am trying to learn everything I can.
(Bible Answer) Thank you for your questions and congratulations in making the wisest move of your life to repent and humbly come to the Lord Jesus for mercy and salvation and to serve him. Here are more details about the plan of salvation. Also, it is great to meet you via an email.
Regarding the mark of the beast, there is no Scripture which says one can take the mark of the beast and afterwards get forgiven. No one can get that impression from Rev. 14:9-12. The ones who are part of the first resurrection (the overcomers from that generation) were victorious over the mark of the beast (Rev. 20:4,5). It is dangerous to teach one can take the mark of the beast and afterwards get forgiven! NO Scripture dealing with that subject says that, although some false teachers try to dangerously make allowances for it. Be on your guard.
There can be no doubt that mormon Glenn Beck wants people to be Mormon, since he wrongly thinks Mormonism is the truth. The same could be said of a Catholic in his position planning the same event. Beck has given an image of Mormonism which is NOT accurate, since his theology believes some very STRANGE things such as, God was once a man and man can become God! Shocking, but true. Be guarded!
Have you read our vitals for new Christians? We also have an internet church which should help you get grounded in Christianity. God bless you. Thanks for writing. Remember Heb. 3:14.
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(Bible Question) We have allowed ourselves to never see the truth about what it takes to follow Jesus. We recently came out of (separated from) the false teaching of the institution and organization of UPC Jesus name only church. [UPC stands for United Pentecostal Church.] We actually were asked to leave because we questioned our Pastor.
Since that time, we have been in prayer/fasting seeking the Lord like we always wanted. We felt free not guilty by leaving. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God has exposed many deceptive teachings. Now we are on our spiritual guard, alert to his devices. We are putting the word of God into practice, taking up our cross and denying ourselves in this present world - pointing people to read the bible for themselves - put their faith in Jesus and follow him. We share our testimony of false teachers/ false prophets. We were amongst them and have repented. Our relationship with God is number one in our life. Our object of worship.
We are drawing nearer to him then ever before! We have Jesus. We shun sin and evil. We avoid the appearances of evil. We too are taking a stand for His Truth! We are feeling the tug to go out and do street preaching. We are needing encouragement to fulfill the great commission. To Go... into the highways and byways... we know we are not alone , when we saw this website and listened to your sincerity of being a follower and believer in Jesus. Could you pray for us to continue on the narrow road, giving our All for Him to do His will? We are asking God to show us clearly how he wants us to do this to bless Him and Glorify Him. If you have any guidance based on faithful service to Him that will encourage us. The do's and the don’ts. That would be helpful from an elder brother. Thank you.
(Bible Answer) Greetings in Jesus’ name. It is great to read your testimony. Many of the UPC people we have talked with from the United Pentecostal Church are so closed it is like talking to a brick wall. It is great to know you are free. Your godly desire to take the gospel truth to the streets is normal for Christians. After I got saved out of the Roman Catholic church, I started to go door-to-door and then street witnessing. We have MUCH experience in evangelism. We are glad you asked us. Sadly, Ray Comfort, a once saved always saved proponent, is usually held up as the reaching the lost expert in our dark day as his flawed theology is spread through his advice and materials.
Please read our How To Reach The Lost page. If you send your address, we’ll send you a free packet of tracts. Our gospel tracts are very powerful and reasonably priced. They are also free from all forms of Reformed theology, especially once saved always saved, which is rare in our day.
The top two hindrances to soul winners are fear and discouragement. Fruit comes to those who persevere (Lk. 8:15). Also, you will plant seeds of truth which may take years to bring forth salvation. Keep sowing the Word. Know that obedience is VICTORY for you and God’s word falls on various types of soil [hearts]. When you acknowledge the Lord Jesus before others, he will acknowledge you before the Father (Mt. 10:32). That is reason enough to go soul winning.
Have you read our vitals for new Christians? We also have an internet church which should bless you to some degree. God bless you. Thanks for writing. Remember Heb. 3:14. Please stay in touch.
Read Other Bible Answers To Bible Questions
The Facts About Nostradamus And His Prophecies, II
Evangelical Outreach Alphabetical Map
How You Can Live Forever And Never Die
What The Devil Won't Tell You When He Tempts You! (Christian Singles READ CAREFULLY!)
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