Response
to Mr. Rowley's
Once
Saved Always Saved
Mr.
Rowley claims about those who do not believe in the false doctrine
of "once saved always saved" that, "There
is no
real settled peace or else there is a pharisaical hypocrisy,
pretending to be righteous for the sake of others, but knowing deep
inside that it is a lie."
The
Bible is clear that salvation is conditional. I love all the
promises of God where it concerns salvation, but there are those,
like Mr. Rowley, who would have us believe that one can live like the
devil and still enter heaven simply because at one point in time the
person made a profession of faith. It does not matter to our modern
teachers if one fails to continue in the faith, but to God it is
important to endure. The Bible says one can fall from
grace. Paul talks to believers who would go back under the law
thinking they can be justified by the law. "For I testify
again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the
whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you,
whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are
fallen from grace." (Galatians 5:4)
"Grace"
does not just mean "unmerited favor." In Scriptures we
find a deeper meaning of the true grace of God.
"For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared
to all men, Teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world; -Titus 2:11-12
The
Bible also says,
"If
ye know that he [Jesus] is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth
righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2:29)
"Little
children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth
righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." (1
John 3:7)
The
Bible says to "Let
no man deceive you." What it boils down to according to Mr.
Rowley is that if you put your faith in Jesus Christ for your
salvation and decide to follow him and keep his commandments (John
10:27; 14:15; 1 John 3:24), follow after righteousness (1 Tim. 6:11),
and practice righteousness (1 John 3:7), you are a liar, a
pharisaical hypocrite pretending to be righteous for the sake
of others with no real settled peace!
As
we are warned, "Beware lest any man spoil you through
philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Col. 2:8)
What
Mr. Rowley doesn't understand is, it IS possible to be
"cut off." The following is said to believers.
"Behold
therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell,
severity; but toward thee, goodness, IF thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." -Rom. 11:22
He
goes on to quote 2 Tim. 2:15 and tries to tell us what "rightly
dividing the word means. He explains, "....all
scripture is profitable to you, but not all scripture is aimed
directly to you," and then
quotes 2 Tim. 3:16. He claims, "The
key in scripture that will clear up all confusion, if one will
simply believe what one read...,"
There is nothing in Scripture
that says some of the Scriptures are not directly to you. And there
is nothing in Scripture that certain books of the Bible are not aimed
directly to you. This is just a play on words and human reasoning
without any foundation in the Scriptures. What did that verse say? It
says, ALL. It says ALL scripture is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
Why? "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works."
That
verse tells us what All Scripture is profitable, but man
likes to add his own words by saying, "but
not all scripture is aimed directly to you." This sets you
up to disregard certain passages of Scripture and most of what Jesus taught!
Mr.
Rowley bases his entire theory of division on a single verse (2 Tim.
2:15). This verse is not telling us to divide scriptures among
people. The rest of his article is based on this faulty interpretation.
What
does rightly dividing mean? It means to cut straight. And
what are we cutting straight? Is it people? Rightly dividing doesn't
mean dividing scriptures among people or books of the Bible. Rightly
dividing the word of truth will give a well balanced teaching
(doctrine). With the OSAS advocates you will only get the partial truth
as though it were the whole truth. Satan handled the
Scriptures in the same way....he only gave partial truth. Jesus knew
how to rightly divide the word of truth. He quoted Scripture in
return to give the correct balance of God's word, "....the
word of truth."
He
continues about the 4 main applications of 2 Tim. 3:16 and focuses
on the word doctrine
and gives an illustration of Adam and Eve eating from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, how it was for them and not for us
doctrinally. He says we can make application, but it has no bearing
in our life, that we can gorge ourselves on all the fruit we can
afford and we will not die spiritually. He then tells us about the
Old Testament sacrifices, about the rules of both dietary and social
that were mandatory to the Hebrew nation. He points out that it was
not written to us doctrinally,
but that it is filled with many lessons and looks to the coming of
Jesus, but is not required by us to be obeyed for salvation.
First,
doctrine simply means teaching,
that which is taught. I've read though the
Old Testament plenty of times. I never had the desire to make animal
sacrifices, nor did I ever think the Lord was requiring me to make
one. Any Hebrew who faithfully followed the Old Testament
system who had converted to Christ also knows that the Old Testament
sacrifices, rules for dietary and social, were no longer mandatory or
needed. More importantly, the book of Hebrews may be addressed to the
Hebrews, but were these Hebrews not saved? Did they not put their
faith in Christ? Were they not in the church, a part of Christ's
body? The book of Hebrews speaks to believers. And even though the
Gentiles were never under the 600 plus laws of the Hebrew nation, the
Gentiles who converted to Christ needed to heed the warnings just as
well lest someone try to convert him to the practices of the Old
Testament system. The book applies to any believer whether they be
Jew or Gentile who follow Christ. It applies to anyone who has put
their faith in Christ and it gives us warnings as to what will happen
if we deliberately reject Christ and no longer believe.
In
his next appeal to defend the OSAS doctrine, he quotes Matt. 15:24
to point out how the ministry of Jesus was almost exclusively to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel. He gives the example of the "rich
young ruler" and what was
required of him for eternal life. So what we have is that anything
before "calvary" was exclusively for the lost sheep of the
house of Israel. If this is true, then why do OSAS advocates
go back to the gospels to support their doctrine? According to this
person's doctrine, anything written before Calvary does not
apply to us. To follow his logic from above, whatever Jesus said is
not aimed at us and therefore does not apply to us
because it is not written to us.
Continuing
with the "rich young ruler and what was he says was required of
him, he brings our attention to the dialogue in Mark 10:17-21.
And
when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and
kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I
may inherit
eternal life? And
Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good
but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit
adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness,
Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said
unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus
beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest:
go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and
follow me. -Mark 10:17-21
He
then notes that Jesus didn't tell him to have faith or to
believe on Jesus. He says three things stand out in this dialogue:
1.
The ruler asked about INHERITING eternal life. Your eternal life is
a FREE GIFT (see Romans chapter 5).
2.
Jesus did NOT correct his question, but ANSWERED him.
3.
The answer to the question about an inheritance of eternal life was
to DO SOMETHING.
Now,
you know that if you are saved you got saved by trusting Jesus
Christ and his blood shed at Calvary for your sins. The
BIG QUESTION, then is, am I saved forever??? The answer to that is a
resounding YES! You will understand that when you realize that
DOCTRINE for the church is found in the epistles of Paul the Apostle
to the GENTILES. You Cannot lose your salvation!!
If
this person had kept reading the Bible, he would have seen Jesus was
talking to the young ruler about the kingdom of God, which is the
same kingdom Paul preached to the church! All one has to do is
finish reading where he left off.
"And
he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great
possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his
disciples, How
hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!"
(v.
22-23) (See
"Unrighteous
Christian"
for more details).
Remember,
Jesus said all this before Calvary. The kingdom
of God is
not aimed or applied to us as well? Jesus talks about the kingdom of
God in the Book of Matthew (Mt. 6:33, 12:28, Mt 19:24, 21:31 Mt
21:43), as well as in the other gospels.
It
is true that:
-
Salvation
is a gift.
- That
Jesus did not correct his question.
- And
required the young man to do one more thing.....sell all that he had
and give to the poor and take up his cross and follow Jesus.
However,
NOTE:
-
Jesus
answered the young man's question about inheriting eternal life by
equating it to entering the kingdom of God.
-
Entering
the kingdom of God will be "in the world to come." (see
Luke 18:18-30 where the same account is stated).
Note that the world to come is not this present time
which we are now living!
-
By
the disciples response, it is clear they understood entering
the kingdom of God was equated with salvation. ("Who
then can be saved?" -Luke 18:26)
Jesus
did not rebuke the young ruler whom he loved for following
the commandments, but Jesus did ask him to go one step further by
selling all he had. The man may have felt justified by observing the
commandments, but his riches was his downfall. It was obvious from
the response that the young man thought more about his riches than
following Christ.
In
Ephesians 2:8,9 it says we are saved by grace through faith.
A saving, ongoing faith produces good works.
For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
-Eph. 2:8-10
Faith
alone means nothing, just as James tells us. Good works will be
the result of your faith and love for God. It is true that there is
no way "works" can save a person. To be saved the object
of that person's faith must be Jesus, not works, not the Catholic
sacraments, the Old Testament laws, etc. etc.. Saving faith will
produce good works with Jesus as the object of your faith.
Once
a person is saved, there are conditions to his salvation. This is
very obvious by some passages that are never expounded upon when
discussing the issue of unconditional security. Note some samples.
Col.
1:21-23
"And
you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through
death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his
sight: If ye
continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away
from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was
preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am
made a minister."
1
Cor. 15:1-2
"Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you,
which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also
ye are saved, if ye
keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Romans
11:18-21
Boast
not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the
root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken
off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were
broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but
fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest
he also spare not thee.
Php
2:12
Wherefore,
my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.
If
one is unconditionally saved no matter what, then what about the few
verses cited above, and why do we need to work out our own salvation with
fear and trembling?
Verses
like these, and many others, will not be brought up when speaking of
unconditional security. Only partial truth is presented.
In
Mr. Rowley's article he
proceeds to quote Romans 11:13 to show how Paul had a distinct
message to the church, and he places emphasis that the message came after
the resurrection of Christ. This has nothing to do with proving
unconditional security. But keep in mind, Jesus taught about the kingdom
of God BEFORE and AFTER his resurrection. After his resurrection
he spent 40 days "speaking
of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." (Acts
1:3). Also, the Lord said to Cornelius about
Paul, "....Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to
bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the
children of Israel." Paul
was not just sent for the Gentiles. His main focus became the
Gentiles when the Jewish people kept rejecting the gospel (Acts 18:6).
He
quotes Galatians 1:11 and then asks, "So,
can you lose your salvation? If we take Paul's word for it, and he
wrote most of the New Testament, No."
This verse, like the others he quoted, said nothing about
unconditional security.
Since
the Bible is clear that there on conditions concerning salvation, he
will now turn the page to the matter of dispensations only before Calvary
and after the rapture to show how these poor souls can lose
theirs. He quotes Heb. 3:6, and then tries to convince the reader
that "hold fast unto the end" and "endure
to the end" has to do with a period of time, that is,
when Christ was on this earth and in the "Great
tribulation." This was done by going back to Matthew 23:13-14.
He then claims that what Paul and Jesus preached are as "different
as night and day."
First,
remember that doctrine
simply means teaching. We are to abide in the doctrine of Christ
(2 John 1:9) This mean we need to pay attention to what Jesus said
as well. Paul preached the Jesus of the Bible! Does Paul ever
say Jesus' teachings were only meant for certain people? Does one
"pick and choose" what teachings of Jesus would apply to
their life and disregard the rest?
Secondly,
it is clear that the Book of Hebrews is written to people who
are Christians AFTER the
resurrection of Jesus. This is clear by the fact that they are called:
-
holy
brothers (3:1)
- sons
of God (12:5,6).
It
is also known that they:
The
fact is, these Hebrews believers:
Since
all this is true, how do they differ from us who have trusted in
Christ for our salvation? How do they differ from us since we also
have been enlightened, have tasted the heavenly gift, have been made
partakes of the Holy Spirit, have tasted the good word of God, and in
the church? Doesn't the Bible say that there is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor
female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus? Even though these were
Hebrews, nonetheless, they were in Christ. The warning was just as
valid for them as it is for us or any Jew today.
In
Matthew 10 Jesus sent the disciples out and he gave them power
against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of
sickness and all manner of disease. "Endure to the end"
is clear that it means unto the end of the experience of one's life
in the flesh. They would have to endure persecution for preaching the
gospel. In
facing execution we know Paul endured to the end. Paul kept the
faith all the way to the end of his life.
(2 Tim. 4:7). People would have to be taught otherwise. On-
going salvation is conditional upon on-going belief.
This
same apostle talked about the kingdom of God, just as Jesus taught
about the the same kingdom. Paul said,
And when they had preached the
gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to
Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the
disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith,
and that we must through much tribulation enter into the
kingdom of God. -Acts 14:21-22
Now
we are going to take a trip to the book of Romans. He will establish
the fact that our salvation was a free gift and not an inheritance
like the young rich ruler. He quotes the following Scriptures:
Romans
5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free
gift.
For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace
of God, and the
gift
by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Romans
5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the
gift:
for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the
free gift
is of many offences unto justification.
Romans
5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more
they which receive abundance of grace and of the
gift
of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Romans
5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men
to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the
free gift came
upon all men unto justification of life.
Romans
6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In the
New Testament Paul does talk about inheriting
the kingdom of God. He
talks about those who will not inherit it. Those who
subscribe to the theory that Paul was referring only to heavenly bonuses
point out that he didn’t warn about not entering God’s
kingdom, but rather, warned about not inheriting it, claiming
there is a difference between the two. Unholy Christians will enter
God’s kingdom, but not inherit it! (See "Unrighteous
Christian)
We
saw in Acts 14:21-22
how Paul exhorted believers to continue in the faith and through
much tribulation enter the kingdom of God.
It
is true that salvation is a gift, and a person is saved instantly
once he puts his faith in Christ, but the verses he cites does not
prove that salvation is unconditional. There is nothing he can
support from Scripture that says one will make it to heaven no matter
how serious his sins.
The
OSAS advocates often quote the "Romans Road to Salvation,"
but if one is acquainted with the book of Romans they will see that
there are omissions of relevant passages when it comes to the plan of
salvation such as below.
For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God
unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek. -Rom. 1:16
To
them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and
honour and immortality, eternal life: -Rom. 2:7
Even
the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto
all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
-Rom. 3:22
But
now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye
have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
-Rom. 6:22
For
if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the
Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. -Rom. 8:13
Thou
wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed
in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest
by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the
natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold
therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell,
severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if
they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is
able to graff them in again. -Rom. 11:19-23
And
that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of
sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
-Rom. 13:11
The
above passages causes trouble for the OSAS advocates. Always be
careful. The devil quoted Jesus Scripture, but Jesus always came back
with Scripture. When dealing with any subject, we must look at the
whole counsel of God to get right understanding. This is what you
call rightly dividing the word of truth (not people and times).
When
one gives the "Romans Road to Salvation," the imputed
righteousness that comes by faith in Christ is
omitted, which is ironic since the book of Romans stresses this
important fact about salvation. Paul wrote,
What
shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after
righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness
which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of
righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the
works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is
written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence:
and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Brethren, my
heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be
saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not
according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness,
have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth. -Rom. 9:30-10:4
If
one would take that important passage and connect it with Rom. 2:;
8:13 and 11:19-23, the Romans Road
would give a clear, more accurate presentation of the Gospel in
conveying imputed righteousness and a conditional security for the
believer. Moreover, there is another passage that adds to our
understanding of imputed righteousness. Read carefully the following,
But
now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of
God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe:
for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus: -Rom. 3:21-24
There
is a condition when it comes to salvation and the imputed
righteousness of Jesus Christ. The rendering of a verb believe is
an active and ongoing form. It's a continuous tense. Some verses
have already been stated, which bears this out (Col.
1:21-23; 1 Cor. 15:1-2; Romans 11:18-21).
The
OSAS advocates will quote Romans 3:23 as though verse 22 never
existed. Why? Because it teaches a continuous belief for
imputed righteousness.
I
have Charles Stanley book on Eternal Security and he states on page 94:
What
did Jesus say? Did Paul also believe the same?
But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven. -Matt. 10:33
If
we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also
will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he
cannot deny himself. -2 Tim. 2:13-13
Now
many would like to say that he would deny us a "millennial
reign." Nowhere does the verse tell us that. Jesus abides
faithful to his words. He's not going to tell you something and then
not remain faithful to what he says. God is not going to save those
who give up the faith and deny his Son. Jesus says,
But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven. -Matt. 10:33
But
he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels
-Luke 12:9
And
Paul dogmatically asserts:
...if
we deny him, he also will deny us:
Many
false teachers will say the exact opposite. They dangerously distort
the truth and violate the immediate context, which also goes against
the whole tenure of Scriptures!
The
condition for the righteousness of God is a continuous belief in Christ,
and a continuous belief in Christ is not just a mental assent, but
putting total trust in him, obeying him, abiding in him, etc., that
results in living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present
world. THIS is the true GRACE OF GOD as stated in Titus 2:11,12.
For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
Jude
WARNED us that men would turn the grace of God into a license for immorality.
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto
the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were
before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning
the GRACE OF OUR GOD into lasciviousness, and denying the only
Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:3-4
Paul
was a follower of Christ and preached Christ and his
kingdom, but this man doesn't want you to think that anything Jesus
said applies to you doctrinally ("denying the only Lord God, and
our Lord Jesus Christ."). Such men as John Calvin, Charles
Stanley, Dave Hunt, John Ankerberg, Hank Hanegraaff, John MacArthur,
Hal Lindsey, David Breese, Artur W. Pink, Robert Morey, John R. Rice,
John Murray, Cal Beisner, Chuck Swindoll, Billy Graham, Zane Hodges,
James D. Kennedy, Jim Bakker, Charles, H. Spurgeon, H.A. Ironside,
Adrian Rogers, Lurence M. Vance, R.T. Kendall, J. Vernon McGee, James
Dobson, Jack Hayford, Erwin W. Lutzer, Donald Cole, Peter S. Ruckman,
David Rowley, and many, many unnamed individuals turn the grace of
God into lasciviousness. This deceptive gospel is also promoted via
TV, radio, Internet, seminaries, conference speakers, Sunday School
teachers, pastors, elders, deacons, missionaries and by Christian
book authors. The list is endless, and we wonder why there is no
revival? There is none because this false gospel promotes and
tolerates sin, so much, that no longer can one differentiate between
a Christian and the lost soul.
A
person, after he is saved, does not lose his free will. The
individual has responsibilities after salvation. If it were not so,
then no saint would ever fall into sin or stray off into false
doctrine. Faithfulness is the responsibility of the saints.
We don't have to worry about God being faithful to us, for he will
forever be faithful to his promises and blessings, and as much as
people may dislike it or deny it, he will remain faithful to his
solemn warnings and threats!
Don't
let someone call Jesus a liar by saying he won't disown us if we
become unfaithful to the point of ceasing to believe and disowning him.
It
is true that salvation is a free gift, but
this gift only remains a gift if one is faithful. Even in human life
experiences people do lose gifts. You must guard what is precious to
you. This means keeping your faith in Christ for your salvation, to
continue to believe on him and not give up. The Bible says we must
work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.
(Phil. 2:12) If it's such an easy ride to heaven, why the admonishment?
The
true grace of God that brings salvation teaches us to
deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world.
For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
-Titus 2:11:12
Final
salvation is a hope and yet to be reaped. Reaping eternal life
is dependent upon what you sow to the Spirit rather than to the
flesh. If you live after the flesh, there is no salvation. Below is a
salvation passage.
This
false grace gives people a license to sin and denies Jesus. These
teachers deny Jesus in that they do not want you to think anything
Jesus ever said was directly aimed to you because it was all before
the cross. You can make "spiritual application" in your
life, but not doctrinally, which absolutely means nothing. If you are
going to follow Jesus, it makes sense to listen to him and obey him!
Obey his commandments! Paul did not preach another Christ.
These
false teachers wrest the Scriptures with enticing words. They do not
endure sound doctrine, but try to explain it away, and they have
followers who have itching ears (2 Tim. 4:3). Titus' warning doesn't
mean anything to them. They don't teach you to deny ungodliness and
wordily lusts. They don't teach you to live soberly, righteously and
godly in this present world. Instead, they teach you that it's impossible
to live such a life. You will be told over and over and over that you
are nothing but a sinner, that there's no difference between a lost
sinner and a saved sinner, that you will sin every day
until the day you die, when we are warned to SIN NOT by Jesus
and by Paul. Look up sin not, and sin no more.
Apparently, according to these modern teachers, Jesus is not able to
make you free from sin! Instead, no matter what sin you have
committed or will ever commit in this life time, you are forgiven for
those sins because at some point in your life you made a
profession of faith or said the Sinners Prayer, which is now the
basis for your security, rather than your faith in Christ.
The person can go on living in sin and doubt his salvation, but then
someone will remind him, or he reminds himself, to look back at the
time he made a profession of faith and say, "Yes, I accepted
Jesus on such and such a day, then quote 1 John 5:13 and conclude,
I'm saved!" It doesn't matter that you are struggling with sin,
for they convince you that you will never get victory over sin. They
keep quoting Romans 7 out of context to prove their point. Who will
you believe?
This
article goes on to talk about adoption and then quotes Eph. 1:4-6. If
the reader has the mind-set of a Calvinists, we know the
implications here (but that is a whole other topic I will cover
eventually, but do not have the time here). Bottom line
is that he has yet to prove unconditional security. As easily as he
can quote Eph. 1:4-6, I can also point out Eph. 5:1-7.
In
one of the Scripture he quotes, it talks about adoption. Go
back to Romans 8:15 where it talks about where we have not received
the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit
of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father.
The
Bible speaks of the "Spirit of adoption." The word adoption
is used five times in the Scriptures. Four of the references clearly
refer to glorified bodies (Rom. 8:5, 23; Rom. 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph.
1:5). Adoption occurs at the point when Christ actually
glorifies the human bodies and inducts His children into His visible
kingdom. That Spirit that prepares the believer for the adoption is
now dwelling within the believer. He is the Spirit
of adoption.
Here
in the Western culture the word adoption is reserved for that
act where one who is not a member of the family is legally taken as a
family member. However, in the Jewish culture when one who was
already a family member came into inheritance and was instated in the
position of authority, receiving all the rights and privileges of the
firstborn heir, it was also called adoption. As believers we
are already the sons of God, but our actual adoption into the
visible blessing of the heir is yet future.
"..whereby
we cry, Abba,
Father." The
Spirit of adoption has already established an intimate relationship
with the children of God. In anticipation of that final act of salvation,
the redemption of the body, the believer now cries out to the Father
in such an intimate way, "Abba, Father." Some people call
him papa or daddy. The Bible says in 1 John 3:2, "Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for
we shall see him as he is. "
Now
he appeals to the "seal" (Eph. 1:13). The
"seal of the Holy Spirit" is supposed to prove OSAS. A
seal is a mark of protection and ownership. The Greek word sphragizo
is used of a stone being fastened with a seal to "prevent its
being moved from a position." In fact, this was apparently the
earliest method of distinguishing one's property. The seal was
engraved with a design or mark distinctive to the owner. the seal of
ownership or protection was often made in soft wax with a signet
ring. An impression was left on the wax signifying the owner of the
thing sealed. When the Holy Spirit seals us, He presses the signet
ring of our heavenly Father on our hearts of wax and leaves the mark
of ownership. (1)
The
same Greek word, sphragizo, used by Paul in 2 Cor. 1:22, Eph.
1:13; 4:30 for seal is also found at Matt. 27:66. There we
read, "So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the
stone, and setting a watch."
Since
the chief priests and Pharisees who sealed the tomb didn't own the
tomb (Mt. 27:59,60) we immediately should note a flaw in the OSAS interpretation!
Also,
that seal didn't protect the tomb from being opened by God's
angel when Jesus rose from the dead. The seal was placed on Jesus'
tomb to show that it wasn't tampered with by Jesus' disciple, as they
thought might occur (v. 64).
Finally,
Paul, who wrote of the seal of the Holy Ghost, didn't believe
such was an absolute guarantee that all who were once saved would
enter the kingdom. This is apparent from Paul's warnings (Rom. 8:13;
Gal. 6:8,; etc.) and from verses like 1 Tim. 3:6 which also implies
that a believe's seal won't prevail over the soul-damning sin of
pride. moreover, sins like envy, strife, anger and the like are all
very serious and will exclude a believer from the kingdom if this is
what he practices in his life. (Gal. 5:15; 5:1-21 cf. Mt. 18:1-3). (2)
In
Eph. 4:30 it states, "And grieve not the holy Spirit
of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." The
OSAS advocates ignore the part about not grieving the holy
Spirit. The danger is you and I offending him with a sinful
lifestyle. To think that one cannot be unsealed is Calvinistic
theology with no Scriptural support. A seal can be applied and
removed. The Bible talks about being filled with the Spirit, and
commands us to be filled with the Spirit, about walking after the
Spirit, not the flesh. The baptism of the holy Spirit places us in
the body of Christ, but Christ also warned the church that
those who don't repent he will spue them out of his mouth!
(Rev. 3:16) The holy Spirit will not tolerate sin. He reproves the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. God's judgment
on sin is the same as it was in the Old Testament. "Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall
inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor. 6:9-10) This ought to
be your past and not your present condition!
According
to Mr. Rowley he now asks if we see the difference between the way
Paul writes to the church compared to how James writes to the
"Twelve tribes scattered abroad" (James 1:1) and how the
book of Hebrews "demands endurance and 'holding' out until the end." Again,
the book of Hebrews and James is written AFTER the resurrection of
Jesus, and are not these people believers in Christ? How
do those Christians differ from us who have trusted in Christ for
our salvation? If
the book of Hebrews and the book of James was addressed to
Christians back then (who happened to be Hebrews), are you saying
that they should have had works + faith for salvation at the time it
was written? If it wasn't for the Jews back then, then how does one
conclude it's for Jews in the future? How is that line drawn? Does
the cross of Christ end when the tribulation begins? What kind of
works are expected of those in the tribulation? If you say keeping
the commandments, what commandments? Are they going back under the
Levitical law? There are plenty of times where we are told how
we know Jesus, "if we keep his commandments."
(1 Cor. 7:19; 1 John 2:3) This is clear from the book of 1 John and
the 2 book of John. We are to abide in the teachings of Jesus.
(2 John 1:9) Whatever Jesus taught applies to us as well. Paul
preached Jesus.
Can
you now understand how the Scriptures are twisted to fit one's pet doctrine?
Mr.
Rowley then states:
"Now
the question arises, If someone who was once saved just walks away,
are they still saved? Answer Yes. You cannot quit sinning until Jesus
takes you home. Paul, lamented in Romans chapter 7.
Romans
7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would
not, that I do.
20
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin
that dwelleth in me.
21
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my
mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I
myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."
Folks,
please, PLEASE do not believe this man's lies! If
you have Christ, you are no longer a servant to sin. The true
GRACE OF GOD is stated in Titus 2:11,12 and this grace is
attacked (Jude 1:3,4).
For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto
the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were
before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning
the GRACE OF OUR GOD into lasciviousness, and denying the only
Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:3-4
The
true grace of God is under attack and Jude WARNED us that man would
turn the grace of God into a license for immorality. Note Jude's
warning. The warning was not about contending for the deity of
Christ, or about Christ's death and resurrection. The warning was
about the COMMON SALVATION. The GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGETH SALVATION.
The grace of God that teaches us to live soberly, righteously and godly
in this present world!
It is
so clear from Jude's warning that ungodly men turn the grace of our
God to a license for immorality. This is so clearly seen by this
man's article. He keeps setting your mind to half truth by distorting
the Scriptures. It's okay for you to sin, because the apostle Paul
had the same problem and is considered the biggest sinner alive by
quoting Romans chapter 7 out of context. This same Paul whom they
accuse of being the chief of sinners in his saved state is the same
person who also said, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not.”(-I
Cor. 15:34.) And again Paul asks the question, “What
shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may
abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live
any longer therein?“ (Rom. 6:1-2.) The Paul of the Bible
no longer resembles the same man, just as Mary of the Bible no longer
resembles the same person. It's interesting that Paul exhorts others
to quit sinning, but it's okay for him to continue in sin?
Please
read Wrested
Scriptures Made Plain
Also
see Paul
Struggling With Sin?
It is
evident that Paul was not talking about his present condition in
Romans 7, but was describing his bondage to sin while under the
law, and not his life as a believer who was delivered from the law
(Romans 7:6). This is abundantly clear by the fact that right
after he describes his bondage to sin and the law before he was
saved, he says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after
the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death."
Mr.
Rowley now repeats the same lie taught by just about every Bible
teacher in this time of apostasy. He
states, "Last
of all, Paul makes it clear that even if you deny Christ, like
Peter did, you do not forfeit the free gift.
2
Timothy 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we
shall also live with him:
12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also
will deny us:
13
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."
Is
Jesus a liar? Will you believe this man or Jesus? "But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven. " (Matt.
10:33)
Do
you believe that when Peter denied Jesus, and did not repent, that
Jesus would still have accepted him? I don't think so. Jesus told
Peter, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy
faith fail not: and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:32)
As
long as Peter denied Jesus, he would have been damned to hell. Jesus
would have denied him. The condition in which Peter could strengthen
his brethren was that he first had to be once again converted.
Peter did not stay in an unconverted state. He was very remorseful,
he had a godly sorrow, and converted back to Jesus and stuck it out
to the end of his life.
Again,
if we believe not, Jesus will still abide faithful for he cannot
deny himself. Jesus is true to his words! He's not going to say one
thing and do another. He is faithful even though there will be those
who will not remain faithful.
A
person is considered to have denied the faith who does not provide
for his own. "But if any provide not for his own, and
specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and
is worse than an infidel." (1 Tim. 5:8)
The
Bible is clear that we are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8,), but we can also
fall from grace (Gal. 5:2-4). The Bible is also clear that we are
justified by faith (Rom. 5:1), but that it's also possible for a
believer's faith to be shipwrecked (1 Tim.1:19,20), cease to
exist (Luke 8:13; Rom. 11:19-23). And though we are not under the law
(Rom. 6:14,15), the one who lives after the flesh will die
(Rom. 8:13). We have freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1), but this freedom
doesn't mean you can indulge the flesh (Gal. 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16). We
should speak against legalism, just as Paul (Gal. 5:3,4), but we are
also told that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous
man, who is an idolater, will inherit the kingdom of Christ and of
God (Eph. 5:5-7; see also Gal. 5:19-21 and 1 Cor. 6:9-10). No one
is saved by works (Eph. 2:8,9) but to reap eternal life one must
sow to please the Spirit and not the flesh (Gal. 6:8,9). God will
always be faithful to us (1 John 1:9; 1 Cor. 10:13), but we must
remain faithful to him,unto death, to escape the second death (Rev.
2:10,11). There's no question that God loves us (Jn. 3:16; Mk. 10:21;
Rom. 8:35-39), but do we love him? Only those
who love God will inherit the kingdom of God (James
2:5; 1 Cor. 2:9). Loving God is not just a mental assent, to love
God means we obey his commandments (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).
Concerning
2 Tim. 2:12 Mr. Rowley states: "Verse
12 is saying if you keep your mouth shut or deny him to avoid
suffering persecution, you will be denied the privilege of reigning
with him in the millennial kingdom. Verse 13 goes on to assure
everyone that your salvation is a settled matter. "
Absolutely
nowhere in that verse or any surrounding texts does it say that you
would be denied a reign in the millennial kingdom.
He
continues, "If
the passage is saying he would deny you salvation, verse 13 makes it
clear that he would have to deny himself to do that... And he
cannot deny himself. Now for a deep south baptist shout!"
This
was already covered above. Mr. Rowley pulls verses out of thin air
instead of looking at the whole tenure of Scripture to get a balanced
picture of salvation. This is not rightly dividing the word of truth.
Anyone can prove anything by pulling verses out of context.
To
promote this "Sin Gospel," we will now have our direction
turned on the sins of the Old Testament saints. We are to look at the
Old Testament characters who where for our "ensamples."
This is supposed to be looking at it from a "different
angle." If we call up great men in the Old Testament and
dwell on their sins and how they still made it, it's just as good
for us! He states the following:
Moses
- A
murderer who lost his temper and destroyed a type of Christ in the
New Testament by smiting the rock again when he was told to speak to it.
Abraham
- A
coward who lied more than once about his wife to save his own
"skin". Wouldn't you ladies appreciate a man like that!
Sampson
- A fornicator par excellance`- dies a suicide. Listed in
Hebrew 11 as one of the great hero's of the faith.
David
-
Adulterer, murderer. Called a man after God's own heart. Rules second
in command in the millennial kingdom.
Peter
- Wait!
He's not Old Testament.... On the contrary, he denied
Christ before the atonement and was still under the law of Moses.
Christ did not abandon him but gently and tenderly forgave and
commissioned him. Hallelujah, what a saviour!
I
will now address this dastardly approach he has made to defend this
false doctrine of OSAS.
-
Concerning
Moses. First, the Bible does not call Moses a murderer nor
anywhere does it condemn his action in killing the Egyptian. Moses
did not murder the Egyptian. In the eyes of God, and all human
societies, the killing of one engaged in attacking another is
excusable homicide, not murder. Secondly, Moses destroyed
nothing when he struck the rock.
-
Concerning
Abraham. What
excuses to think that lying is permissible, as though Abraham made
it a habit of lying! Folks, do you see the underlying message here?
Has Mr. Rowley always displayed his faith in God over certain
situations in his life? No. It is true that Abraham relied on
conventional wisdom rather than on the wisdom and power of God, but
Abraham also rapidly moved away from those areas of worldliness and
back into a trusting relationship with God. This is clearly evident
in the Bible.
-
Concerning
Samson. Contrary to popular belief, Samson did NOT commit
suicide. Do you see how we are to gloss over sins rather than the
ways of righteousness? God's judgement on sin is the same in the Old
Testament as it is in the New Testament. The underlying message from
this article is that if you ever get into a desperate situation and
reach a lowest point in your life, just remember that Samson
committed suicide (LIE!) and how he is listed in Hebrews 11 as one of
the great hero's of the faith. Samson DID NOT commit suicide. He
asked God to let him die with the Philistines, but left the matter
entirely in God's hands (Judges 16:28-30). God honored Samson's
prayer, but didn't honor Jonah's prayer (Jonah 4:3), nor did the Lord
honor Elijah's prayer for the same (1 Kings 1:4)! Realize that unlike
Samson, a person who commits suicide (self-murder, which is
premeditated) terminates his own life from his own hands and will end
up in hell for that is one sin where you will not have a chance to
repent should you succeed. (Rev. 21:8...Also note it's not only the
sin of unbelief that will send a person to hell.)
-
Concerning
David. We
also know that Nathan the prophet (2 Sam. 7:1-17; 12:1-23) was
sent by God to bring home to the conscience of David his sin of
adultery and murder, He became a true penitent. He bitterly bewailed
his sins before God. The thirty-second and fifty-first Psalms reveal
the deep struggles of his soul, and his spiritual recovery.
-
Concerning
Peter. Like David, Peter wept bitterly for what he did. He
converted back to Christ and this time endured to the end. See
Response #18
According
to Mr. Rowley, the reason why God put these people as examples is
because "Christ has forgiven us ALL trespasses."
This implies all future sins as well, which is not Scriptural.
(See A
Christian’s Future Sins Are NOT Automatically Forgiven)
Why
did Mr. Rowley fail to include Saul and Solomon? Saul was
okay in the beginning. God rejected David's oldest brother (Eliab) to
be king because of his wrong heart condition (1 Sam. 16:6,7 cf.
1:28). He chose Saul instead. Apparently Saul had a proper heart
condition. Would God have a prophet anoint an unsaved man to be king
over his people? In the beginning of Saul's reign he had the Spirit
of God come upon him in power (1 Sam. 10:10). However, later God
regretted choosing Saul for he had turned his back from following God
and obeying his commandments. (1 Sam. 15:11). Saul ordered the unjust
murder of 85 men who wore the linen ephod and put to the sword, Nob,
the town of the priests with its men, women, children, and infants.
The Bible says no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (1
John 3:15). Saul never repented! Saul had become an enemy of God (1
Sam. 28:16).
What
about Solomon? Here was a man who walked with God for decades and in
his latter years he turned from God and never came back! (1 Kings
11:10) This man who walked with God for decades, and faithfully
served him, his wives turned his heart after other gods. His heart
was no longer perfect with the Lord his God (1 Kings 11:4). Solomon
actually turned away from God to idolatry! If people want to say that
Solomon turned back to God, the burden of proof is on them to show
it. God warned Solomon that if he forsook him, he would forsake
Solomon forever, "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God
of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing
mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the
imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of
thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Mr.
Rowley ends by quoting Colossians 2:13 and then asks if there are
still questions. No
thank you, Mr. Rowley.
Summary:
Mr.
Rowley claims that once you are saved that nothing you do can ever
take salvation away from you, and he emphasized the sins of others.
This means that no matter how severe your sin, whether it be murder,
adultery, fornication, lying, or suicide, etc., it will still get you
into heaven and be with Christ.
Dear
reader, do you honestly believe this? This is a "Sin
Gospel" and it's fatal.
It
is clear from Scripture that no murderer, adulterer, fornicator,
etc. (Gal. 5:19-21) will enter the kingdom of God. Those who love God
will not practice sin. This is not the true grace of God as
explained in the Bible (Titus 2:11,12).
Folks,
the gospel preached today indirectly encourages suicide, divorce,
and for all kinds of ungodliness, and even promises you eternal life
should you give up on your faith and deny Christ. I encourage you to
read the Bible. Keep reading and reading and come to your own
judgment. It will be a matter of life and death.
What's
Wrong With Today's Gospel