Bible Truth or Fiction? Part II

Dear readers:

Our previous post, “Bible Truth or Fiction” and the wonderful comments grew to the point of being almost unmanageable. Therefore this post is a continuation of and will include the last three points, #5, #6 and #7 from the previous post.

As in the previous post, I will inject my thoughts (in red) in between the statements.

I invite you to comment on these statements and my analysis — and, if you are so inclined, please visit the previous post for some very lively comments.

Are these statements Bible Truth or Fiction?

(5) You must give your heart or life or both to Jesus to be saved.

FICTION: We give NOTHING to God or Jesus to have eternal life (be saved)..

We simply believe that the gift God has offered (eternal life) is true. We take His gift, trusting Christ to be who He says He is (our Savior) and that He will do what He has promised. His promise is that when we trust HIm, He gives us eternal life without charge and with no strings attached.

(6) You must make Jesus your Lord and Savior to be saved.

FICTION: We don’t “make” Jesus the Lord of anything . Jesus IS the Lord God Almighty. He IS the Savior.

We don’t “make” Him our Savior but we trust Him as our Savior…

After we have made that one-time decision to believe in or trust Jesus as Savior, we should then decide to be obedient or submissive to Him and His Word — as a servant is to his Master.

However, whether or not we become obedient or submissive to His word does not affect our eternal relationship with Christ. Yet it definitely does affect a believer’s day-to-day fellowship with Him.

Salvation (relationship) is FREE. Once in Christ we cannot change that relationship.

Fellowship is a work — a decision believers make to be obedient and submissive to their Savior. Fellowship can change day-to-day,

(7) The Bible uses the words, “God is Sovereign” and “Sovereignty of God.”

FICTION: These two phrases do not appear in the King James Version of God’s Word. The word “sovereign” or “sovereignty” is nowhere in the KJV.

However it does appear in some of the more recent interpretations of the Bible. It seems that many of those interpretations emanate from or are promoted by those “theologians” of the Reformed or Calvinist persuasion.

This is an excerpt from a Calvinist web site — which, for obvious reasons will not be cited.

Here is the Calvinist lie:

“The system of Calvinism …… focuses on God’s sovereignty, stating that God is able and willing…… to do whatever He desires with His creation. It also maintains that within the Bible are the following teachings: That God, by His sovereign grace predestines people into salvation; that Jesus died only for those predestined; that God regenerates the individual where he is, then [he is] (sic) able and wants to choose God;…”

Obviously God is all powerful, the Creator of Heaven and earth.

However, in His sovereignty, He does not over-rule man’s responsibility to make a personal choice or decision to trust or reject Jesus Christ to be his Savior.

Christ died for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD not just those “predestined”:

1 John 2:2 “And He is the propitiation [substitute] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD.”

Our responsibility? Believe in Jesus to have eternal life:

1 John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God [Jesus]; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, ……”

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Thanks for participating.

Bible Truth or Fiction?

ADDENDUM: As you see, I am daily adding my thoughts in between each statement below.

In Order to generate some discussion, which of these are true statements to be found in the KJV Bible? Are any of these Biblical truths or are some of them doctrines of men generated by religions?

I will appreciate your comments..

(1) You must turn from or be willing to turn from your sin and then trust Jesus to be saved.

FICTION: God never makes it a requirement that you either turn or be willing to turn from sin in order to trust Christ as your Savior. God’s Gift of Salvation is His Gift to everyone but only appropriated by those who believe or trust in Christ. To ask a person to turn from sin to be saved is asking them to do works of righteousness in order to qualify. This is Satan’s lie. God’s salvation is “Not of works..” [Ephesians 2:8-9]. However, true repentance IS a requirement for salvation — but repentance is NOT turning from sin. Repent means a change of one’s mind — specifically, in context, about who Jesus is — He alone is the only Savior!

Nowhere does the Bible say that we must “Repent of sin” to be saved.

Sure, as ones who have trusted Christ as Savior, believers should, by the power of God, turn from our sin… but not to gain or keep our salvation — but because we are now in God’s family by faith. “Because He first loved us…” [I John 4:19]

(2) You must make Jesus the Lord of your life to be saved.

FICTION: Many preachers and religions teach that you “must make Jesus Lord of your life to be saved.” Others will say that if He is not “Lord of all He is not Lord at all.” Likewise they say if Jesus or God is not “Lord and/or Master of your life,” you must not be saved or you may have lost your salvation. This is the lie of Satan.

It is very important to remember, Jesus Christ IS the Lord God Almighty in the flesh. That fact cannot be changed by one’s behavior, belief or unbelief. The word “Lord” in the New Testament is the Greek word “Kurios,” meaning “Master.” His Salvation is eternal — without an end!

To be saved, guaranteed Heaven or eternal life, one must simply trust or believe that Jesus is who He claims to be, the Savior and that He is the only Way of salvation. To make an unbeliever think he must submit to the “mastery” or Lordship of Jesus in order to have or keep salvation is confusing God’s clear, simple salvation message.

Submitting to the Lordship of Christ is a decision believers should make AFTER they have received Christ as their Savior. It is a work that believers decide to do, not in order to be saved but, because they are already saved by their faith in Jesus. Why? “For the love of Christ constraineth [compells] us; ….”2 Corinthians 5:14

Every believer in Jesus Christ, secure in Christ, is wise in following the Lordship of Christ (which is simply obedience to Scripture) for the sake of seeing others come to Christ and for the sake of harmony in and building up the Body of Christ.

Let every believer in Christ plead for and work toward a crystal clear Gospel message to help the lost understand the question, “Who is this that forgiveth sins….?” Luke 7:49 Likewise, a clear message will help and encourage those who have already trusted Christ as Savior.

(3) Jesus is standing and knocking on the door of your heart. You must open your heart and let Jesus come in to be saved.

FICTION: It is a pity that many Pastors and some Christians misuse that phrase in an effort to get people to trust Christ as Savior.

Such an unclear statement is a misunderstanding or a misstatement of the Bible verse in Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” In context, the Apostle John, writes the words of Jesus, spoken to John by special revelation. If you will read the Book of Revelation from the beginning to the verse above, you will easily see the context. John quotes Jesus after He has just addressed the Seven Churches. Jesus is pleading for a close and proper fellowship between Him and the people, leaders and messengers of each of the seven churches (“and will sup with him” fellowship, not salvation). Let us speak the Truth clearly!

To be saved, one does NOT open his heart and let Jesus come in — but he must simply understand Who Christ is and what He has done for the world and then trust Him alone as Savior. Christ was crucified, was dead, buried and rose again, thus paying for everyone the death penalty we all owe. This eternal life is available only to those who will trust Jesus Christ alone as their Savior.

Jesus died — That’s History.

Jesus died for ME and I trust Him — that’s salvation!

(4) In order to be saved, you must ask Jesus to save you.

FICTION: Salvation (to be saved) is God’s GIFT through our mental faith decision to trust Jesus Christ. He has offered that Gift to whosoever will trust or receive Christ.

There is no requirement or need to ask God or Christ for His Salvation when He has already offered or given it as His Gift to you. He asks you to simply receive Jesus Christ as your Savior to have eternal life. John 1:12 “But as many as received Him (Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on His name (Jesus);”

Think about it… When God offers to you His Gift of eternal life (and He has), must you ask, beg or plead for it? “Please, please, please Lord, give me the Gift of Eternal life!”

NO, simply take His Gift, receive His Gift and you can be thankful for it. Romans 6:23 “….. the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Wages are what we earn or deserve (“The wages of sin is death“). Any true gift is never earned but simply offered to be received with no strings attached. GIFT = FREE , but it must be accepted.

If you have never done so, receive or accept God’s free Gift of Eternal Life right now.. Simply trust or believe in Jesus Christ alone to be your Savior.

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Please note:  because this post has become so large, I have made a new post which includes the last three (#5, #6 and #7) points of discussion.

Please go to the new post, read  and comment.

Thank you…

GRACE vs. WORKS

Thanks to all of you who have contributed to our exciting discussion on easy believism in my previous post. This post will expound upon it.

Obviously, the very essence of the Gospel is Salvation in Jesus Christ. This so great Salvation is the context of these two posts.

As Phil says speaking of Jesus Christ, “He paid it all. He offers freely.” Absolutely true and consequently those who know not Christ have the personal responsibility of making a decision to put their faith in Christ. Otherwise that salvation is never appropriated. Until such a time, a person is lost without Christ.

Some folks to whom I witness “believe” that Jesus died for them but, sorta like a security blanket, they still feel they must do good works for God in order to be sure of Heaven. Not true, faith in Christ alone is all sufficient! They are simply not trusting Christ to be the Savior He is.

Therefore when witnessing to folks, in order to avoid giving a false impression and avoid presenting a false gospel, I make sure that they understand that God’s Gift of Salvation is wholly based on their personal decision to trust in Christ as Savior, nothing more and nothing less. They need to know that in order to secure Salvation in Christ there is NO component of good works.

That’s easy.. Just truly trust in Jesus to be your Savior and you have eternal life, Heaven eternally — nothing to stop it — He promises, He guarantees. But from early childhood, we are all taught the false message that “Nothing is free.” Not true.. God’s very gift of Salvation IS free, no charge, no strings, no works on our part.

So often, the big hurdle is making sure the unbeliever understands that, for Salvation, God’s Grace and our works (or service) are two entirely different things and can not be commingled. We must carefully explain such separation between Grace and works. Then the meaning of Grace must be completely understood by the one to whom we speak.

Salvation is what Christ does for us by His Grace and our decision (faith).

Service or work is what we do for the Lord, powered by His grace, after we have believed (simply our obedience to Him). We can never do any works to either gain or reinforce our salvation in Christ, therefore, when I share Christ, I always try to be sure it is clearly understood — Salvation and service are two entirely separate things. Salvation by Grace is free, what God does, His Gift. And to the contrary, service or work is what we should do for our Savior after we believe.

Romans 11:6 is a verse which speaks about the basic principle of Grace, clearly defining the distinction between Grace and works in salvation

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace otherwise work is no more work.”

That is the essence of a clear Gospel message. For salvation, Grace and works cannot be mixed. They are totally incompatible.

That is God’s easily believable message of Salvation… by His Grace (freely) through our faith — without our works.

There is no hard part in Salvation. Just believe in Christ to be your Savior. He took your place in death for your sins, was buried and rose again. He is alive today.

Then, after we have believed in Christ, He teaches and disciples (disciplines) us so we will see and experience the wonders of serving Him. That discipline or testing can seem hard at times, but He gives us a way of escape that we may be able to bear it. [See 1 Corinthians 1013] We as believers have been created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works. [Ephesians 210]

What a wonderful Savior! What a privilege to serve Him Who first loved us.

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Easy Believism?

On some occasions I have been accused of sharing the doctrine of “Easy Believism.” Have you ever been accused of that?

I believe that Jesus Christ is the true and only Savior of the world. He died personally for your sins and mine — those sins that would separate us from God for all eternity. He was buried and arose from the grave, proving He is God. He is alive today. [1 Corinthians 15:1-4]

Now the simple part.. God simply asks you to trust (believe in) Jesus Christ for your eternal life. He paid the death penalty price and all He asks of you is that you will believe Him. [John 3:16]

That is the very essence of God’s salvation and it is forever.

In John 10:28 Jesus Himself said about those who trust Him as Savior:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Salvation is NOT by doing good works but by trusting in Christ alone as your Savior. [Ephesians 2:8-9]

Sure, we should do good works after we have believed in Christ just as the Bible says — this is not for our salvation but because he saved us and now we do His works to show our love for our Savior. [Ephesians 2:10]

Now, if that is called “easy believism,” I plead guilty.

I refuse to believe that the God of the Universe would promote and offer a “Hard Believism” requiring anything other than our one time decision to simply trust Jesus Christ for what He is — The Savior, His Gift to mankind.

Do you have an opinion on this? Please post a comment.

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