Posts Tagged ‘calvinism’

 

For those of you familiar with the doctrines of Islam and Hinduism listen closely to the description of the god of Calvinism according the the Westminster Confession of Faith and see if you smell a demonic rat. This is an awesome illustration of the truth of the god of Calvinism and what Calvinism teaches teaches about god. This, without question is, the end days falling away from the faith the Bible warns us of. This is another Jesus they preach, another gospel, and contrary to all good sound doctrine. In short it is a doctrine of devils that is unmasked in this excellent illustration by Pastor Skelly.

“When we stop to consider that among Non-Christian religions Mohammedanism (Islam) has so many millions who believe in some kind of Predestination, that the doctrine of Fatalism has been held in some form or other in several heathen (pagan?) countries, and that the mechanistic and deterministic philosophies have exerted such great influences…….this doctrine is at least worthy of careful study” – Loraine Boettner, Predestination, p. 2

And Boettner is a Calvinist! He actually uses the similarities between Calvinism and Islam as a reason to consider the “truths” of predestination! Amazing! Kerrigan Skelly

 

 

by Edward Watson

Taken From VM’s site on Facebook  9/30/2010

Refuted by Pastor Ed Watson

 

Refutation is in bold

 

I DARE THOSE OF YOU THAT BELIEVE A PERSON CAN LOSE HIS SALVATION TO READ THIS AND POINT OUT EXACTLY WHERE I AM WRONG. I FIND PEOPLE TRY TO DISPUTE THIS FROM ONLY READING THE TITLE.

 

I don’t undertake this refutation because of your “dare” but to protect those who would go astray if they believed this false doctrine, which is assumed by the misunderstanding of some words and doctrines. I do hope that you are sincere when you say to point out exactly where you are wrong. And I do this in the spirit of humility with Paul’s exhortation and James’ words echoing in my mind.

 

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 

Jas 5:19  Brethren, (A brother in the Lord) if any of you do err from the truth (who err from the truth? The brethren. Only a brethren CAN err from the truth since only they possess it.), and one convert him (The brother now needs conversion again?);

Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner (now the brother is called a sinner?) from the error of his way shall save a soul from death (saving a soul from death, not eternal rewards, A SOUL!), and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Hiding a multitude of sins is the desire of God but this can only be done by coming to the truth, we cannot be clean and in error, for it is the word of God that makes us clean (Joh_15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.) to twist it is to turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.

 

Before you get into this Bible study I would like to preface this study with two things: First, these promises are for those who are truly born again, saved, Christians, and has evidence of being such. If you call yourself a Christian and you live for yourself then you are really living for the devil, because if you are not living for Christ you are living for the devil. There is no grey area, and these promises do not apply to you.  Second, for those who think a person can lose his salvation I just want to make it simple before we start. You will never find any verses that say a person can become unborn of God, or unsaved, or returned back to death, or become blind again, or returned to walking in the darkness again, or lost everlasting life. This alone should prove a person that has salvation cannot lose it. If a person could lose their salvation then I am sure these expressions would of been used to make it perfectly clear, but instead of being clear, verses are used that have to be interpreted to appear that a person has lost his salvation. All the verses used by some to try to prove a person can lose his salvation are about people God gives a taste of salvation, trying to get them to believe with their whole hearts, by surrendering their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ. So by misunderstanding those verses they are taken out of context. The verses used here for eternal security are very clear a true believer cannot lose his salvation.

 

Because you believe in only two types of people, which I do agree with to a certain extent, you miss the warnings Christ gives over and over to those who were “truly” born again. This misunderstanding seems to be based on some assumptions about receiving eternal life, which I will address later. You said, ”You will never find any verses that say a person can become unborn of God, or unsaved, or returned back to death, or become blind again, or returned to walking in the darkness again, or lost everlasting life.”  This is what is called a compound statement mixing many different definitions together, the logical with the illogical, so as to sound logical in its conclusion. For instance there is no such thing as being “unborn of God” but there is such a thing as “becoming blind,” “returning back to death” (in a spiritual sense of course), and losing their spiritual life. The author goes on to declare victory and calls this illogical mess “proof.” I believe this declaration of “victory” to be premature and without merit as there is not sufficient evidence to prove one cannot lose one’s salvation. He then goes on to say if one could lose their salvation, God would have used the same logic as he used by using the same terms. Apparently the terms, Shipwreck concerning the faith, thou shall also be cut off, those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God, God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he (future tense) also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall (future tense) of the Spirit reap life everlasting, Because thou art lukewarm I will spue thee out of my mouth, and also ignoring subjunctives (conditions) such as “if,” “unless,” and “otherwise” By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, UNLESS ye have BELIEVED IN VAIN Mat_15:9, 2Cor6:1 does not constitute “proof” to the author. Warnings throughout scripture fall on his deaf ears as he tries to convince his readers that there is no such thing as sound doctrinal proof that one CAN and many DO in fact lose their salvation. His false doctrine would keep those in their lost state convinced they are still saved, regardless of the doctrine believed or the sins committed after initial salvation. It lulls them into an unscriptural and false sense of security. This has been Satan’s goal since the beginning to get people to believe that God is loving that he will bend justice to their favor, that they do not need their own righteousness and purity because they vicariously have Jesus’. Satan from the very beginning preached a OSAS gospel to get Eve to fall. He told her, “Ye shall not surely die” AFTER God plainly told Adam it would.

When Paul ceased not to warn believers for three years night and day with tears, Act_20:31 he knew the devastation their good words and fair speeches Rom_16:18 would have on the sheep. Paul spent three years warning day and night, what would be so urgent? How could the sheep not “turn to goats” as the writers false premise presents but, “not spare the flock?” Why did he warn about our adversary the Devil who uses these people? He warned that, “He went about seeking whom he may devour” like a hungry lion, if the sheep could not BE devoured? A warning is of no use if it is empty words which are irrelevant and cannot apply. Keep this in mind as we remember the words of the Lord to be not high-minded but fear, and to Fear him who can throw both body and soul into Hell. These sayings of the Lord they render meaningless making the word of God of no effect and diverting attention from the beginning of wisdom (the application of God’s word) that is the fear of God!

 

Jesus says; “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

 

 Matthew 7:22,23  Notice, Jesus does “NOT” tell these people on Judgment Day; “I used to know you but you went astray, you walked away from me, and I don’t know you anymore.”  or “I knew you three times, but you lost your salvation three times, so I don’t know you know you anymore”  Lets get this clear, pay close attention, don’t miss this, this is not an intreprtation, this is what Jesus clearly says, “I NEVER KNEW YOU”.  If Jesus never knew them that means they did not ever have salvation. If there was any place in the Bible where it would show a person could of lost his salvation it would of been shown here, because these types of people are the examples used by those who believe a person can lose his salvation.

 

This is an incomplete assessment of this verse and seeks to insert here that though he is speaking to those whom “he never knew” it does NOT preclude the Lord from speaking to others who once did know him, which we find in Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, ALL YE WORKERS OF INIQUITY. Here he makes no distinction about “never knowing them.” This is to everyone who has unforgiven sin in their lives whether they were once forgiven or not. Matt. 18:35 The author then goes on to say this is not an “interpretation,” (which it is from the Greek, but I will assume he meant in its meaning) as though that ends the matter. The verse I quoted is not an interpretation of its meaning either but he is assuming that Jesus will speak no other words of condemnation to no other group of people. While Jesus is clearly talking to the Jews here we cannot therefore say it does not apply to the Christian who does not endure to the end (Matt. 10:22), has believed in vain (1 Cor. 15:2), has fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4), become shipwrecked in their faith (1 Tim. 1:19), returned to the mire and vomit (2 Pet. 2:20-22), Erred from the truth (James 5:19,20), become lukewarm (Rev. 3:16), walk according to the flesh (Rom. 8:13, Gal. 5:19-21, Gal. 6:8) deny the Lord in works (Matt. 10:33, Tit. 1:16), Deny Him by denying the Truth and suffering with Him (John 14:6, 2 Tim. 2:12) et. al.

 

Continuing in this line of reasoning the author says,   “ If there was any place in the Bible where it would show a person could of lost his salvation it would of been shown here, because these types of people are the examples used by those who believe a person can lose his salvation.”  I notice he speaks in the future past tense in “could have lost” which is another reason for misunderstanding scripture. It is when we view from a position of eternity, going forward into eternity and looking back as though the judgment is already set. Judgment does not come to us until we die, after this the judgment. God is not outside of time he exists and works with us in time but is also in eternity. He deal with us in time and answers our prayers in time not according to what we will do in the future but he deals with us in the time we are in. This is shown over and over again in scripture. So we need to look from the time that we live in to understand this issue and not jump forward past the judgment where he pools from the “truly saved”. These types of people he is referring to, according to him, can ONLY be those who were once saved if this is a true doctrine. When these have shown to be what Jesus calls tares in the church who never knew the Lord personally but were false converts from front to end. This is a different matter altogether and does not refute the possibility of one losing their salvation. Be very careful of this reasoning, this was the very verse the false or backslidden believers used to deceive me when I was a babe in Christ to lead me to the place where the devil could isolate me and cut me off from the Good Shepherd by sinning. As they teach that we cannot lose our salvation as the Lord showed me could happen when I was first born again they always seem to argue for sin and against the requirement for purity and holiness in the lives of those he saves. (Matt. 5:8, 20, 1Thes. 4:7, Heb. 12:14, Rev. 19:8).

One verse that haunted me when I was in sin, fallen away from the Lord, by act of my own free will was:

Matt. 8:12 But the CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Of course they would try to comfort me by saying that that was the Jews he was speaking about, which no doubt he was, but how does that excuse us in light of : Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. BE NOT HIGHMINDED, BUT FEAR: (The OSAS “gospel” tells us the opposite, be high-minded and know you are safe, God will not judge your sins by casting you away as a reprobate, he judges with unbalanced scales [abomination to Him] you will only lose rewards, don’t worry there is nothing to fear, don’t listen to those fear mongers out there.)

Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, TAKE HEED LEST HE ALSO SPARE NOT THEE. (This is what Paul also reiterated in 2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? what was Paul saying we Christians would only lose reward? NO! It is “Thee” a personal singular pronoun that would not be spared and when the branches are not spared they are burned.)

 

Rom 11:22  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. (Why would we need to behold God’s severity if it does not apply to us? He then tells us why, because it DOES apply to us IF we do not continue in the goodness of his grace which teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should LIVE [that is now in a practical sense not an imaginary imputed sense where one sins and imagines he is still right with God] soberly, righteously and godly IN THIS PRESENT WORLD! He is telling what true grace is, that it teaches us to live this way NOW, in THIS life not putting our hope in the enemy death to set us free, it is Christ who came to set us free not death, as the Gnostics of old and today teach. This OSAS “gospel” is nothing more than an ancient Gnostic belief in the favor and love of “God” over the divine justice and mercy of God. How do they do it? They simply redefine grace by saying it covers present and future sins not just past repented of sins.)

If we are to fully understand who the children of the Kingdom are we need to let the Bible define itself by allowing it to tell us who these children are. Now, if you are reading from a newer version of the Bible this will pass you right by. I believe that the KJV is tried and tested for centuries and has proved itself to be the word of God for English speaking people. It is things like what I am about to show you that you miss with the new versions. If this does not put the fear of God in you and cause you to examine yourself daily I don’t know what will. If you are one content to stay in secret sins and resist the truth of God’s word it will not be because you weren’t shown the truth but because you loved the pleasure of sin more than God.

There are only two places that the “Children of the kingdom are mentioned in the Bible. One place tells of them being thrown into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth and the other is the definition that Jesus Christ Himself gives.

Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Notice the children are the good seed? The good seed that worked iniquity, which returned back to the mire and the vomit, those who have fallen from grace, are those who once believed.

Luk 8:13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, RECEIVER THE WORD WITH JOY; and these have no root, which FOR A WHILE BELIEVE, and in time of temptation fall away.

It is those who because of temptation to sin indulge in that sin and become lost again, like the prodigal son who was once alive and was dead and is ALIVE AGAIN, they never make it to the “alive again.” And this damnable doctrine is in a huge way to blame as it comes from the Father of lies, it tickles the itching ear and is NOT sound doctrine.

They, on the rock were, according to Jesus, good seed. Jesus is the sower of good seed but some of this good seed does not remain abiding in the vine and when it is withered (a picture of physical death) it is gather up, just as men gather up dried branches and throw them into the fire. (A picture of eternal spiritual death) We also see that Jesus seeks lost sheep and silver coins and waits for the prodigal to return. Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.  (Notice He is our source for all we need. He implies here that they were not continuing in faith relying on Jesus but were of the mindset that they needed not to study as all the hard things of God were either too much trouble or had already been figured out. Why fast and pray and study His word if we can just go buy a commentary? Surely John MacArthur has it all figured out. WARNING: JOHN MACARTHUR IS A OSAS SCRIPTURE TWISTER WHO HAS NO TESTIMONY OF SALVATION. It is true look it up. If your matches his, then you have NEVER been saved either and you need to examine yourself in the truth of God’s word and allow the Lord to speak to you. If he is leading you away from Sin you can be sure it is from the Lord, if you desire is to please your heavenly Father. If your desire is to be declared righteous while in sin, you have bought a lie! True Jesus died for the ungodly, but to change them and make them new creatures who no longer live ungodly. But will allow God to work through them in cooperation with His Holy Spirit.

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Don’t let the deceivers tell you about “practical vs. positional” purity. There is not positional without practical. Now, the practical will be realized more and more in the Christians life as he grows in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. If the Christian does sin he has an advocate with the Father and he needs to confess those sins and forsake them [which is implied in the confession, otherwise you are bragging and not contrite] and he will be cleansed from ALL unrighteousness. Notice that God cleans us after we meet His conditions? Notice also that John wrote these things that WE SIN NOT? Anyone who tells you it is impossible NOT to sin cut them off immediately as a false teacher. Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM.

It does not say pray for them, and love them, it says to AVOID THEM. Why do we think we are more holy than Paul who told us what to do in this universal circumstance? To obey is better than sacrifice.

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Notice Jesus telling us here the remedy to NOT be spued out of the Lord’s mouth? IT is to come to Him on His terms, buying from him by dying to self; it is to BE zealous and REPENT. If you could not do these things he would not have commanded you to. He is telling you to trust Him all over again to go to Him so you can see, to suffer for him as the saints do. There is not money in telling the truth that I can testify of, but who will you serve? IS everything you do for money like the world, [at least in the U.S. it is]? While Joel Osteen rakes in $43,000,000.00 in one year by preaching a false itching ear gospel, all the true ministers of God I know are hardly receiving anything at all. There is a lot of acceptance in this OSAS false gospel as well as worldly respect.

MOST OF THESE NEXT VERSES ARE PROMISES MADE BY JESUS HIMSELF. I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE HIS PROMISES.

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,….” 2 Peter 2:4

First he gave the wrong address to the above verse, That verse is 2 Peter 1:4 . Second one thing to look out for in the OSAS proponents false teachings is their claiming of promises without meeting the conditions to claim those promises. Whenever you see a “therefore” or a “wherefore” or a “whereby” back up and see what the conditions were that need to be met for that promise to apply to our lives, so that we can indeed make claim to them. You will see when we examine these verses that it is not universally given to anyone who claims Christianity but to those who meet the preceding description of who the promise is made to.

2Pe 1:1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

This is clearly not talking to those who have obtained a false conversion or who continue to live in sin as Peter makes so abundantly clear in Chapter 2 Vss. 20-22. We do not have the “righteousness of God” if we are not walking in righteousness, which is the implication of all OSAS proponents.

1Jn 2:3  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. [We cannot be sinning AND keeping his commandments at the same time!]

1Jn 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. [Those who say they know Him and preach an OSAS “gospel” are liars no matter how holy they may appear on the outside. This is the same way many Pharisees deceived people by their quoting of scripture, their outward appearance, and their acceptance by all but a small minority, including Jesus, The very God they claimed to serve!

1Jn 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. The love of God loves the truth! He hates the wicked, hates them so much that he separates himself from all who do wickedness…NO EXCEPTIONS! (Isa. 59:2)

 

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and *VIRTUE: Notice that the “all things” is qualified here by “that which pertains to life and godliness.” The OSAS “gospel” pertains to death in that it gives hope of being finally free from the bondage of sin only after death. When the Apostle Paul wrote of his “BEFORE SAVED” experience (in the historical present tense) by saying, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” He does not then say, DEATH! He exclaims his testimony in Jesus and then tells of the danger of walking in the flesh if he were to decide to walk that way.

*Virtue – Webster’s 1828 Dictionary 3. Moral goodness; the practice of moral duties and the abstaining from vice, or a conformity of life and conversation to the moral law. In this sense, virtue may be, and in many instances must be, distinguished from religion. The practice of moral duties merely from motives of convenience, or from compulsion, or from regard to reputation, is virtue, as distinct from religion. The practice of moral duties from sincere love to God and his laws, is virtue and religion. In this sense it is true,

 

Rom 7:25  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.  This part is not emphasized by the false OSAS teachers of our day, but instead they like to emphasize that which Paul is trying to minimize. Paul here is warning those who revert to walking after the flesh that they will be condemned but to those who walk after the Spirit there is no condemnation nor is there sin in that believer’s life! They are in Christ and in Him is no sin. You cannot be sinning and in Christ! It is “either or” not “both and” which violates reason, the gospel and law of non-contradiction.

 

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36. Notice the person that believes has everlasting life. It does not say he will get it after he is dead, no, he has everlasting life when he truly believes, and there are no verses that say God took it back because "he did not believe anymore."  A true believer will not turn from the faith. That is why there are no verses of God taking it back.

 

Here again we see a complete lack of understanding of God’s word. Again we are talking about the possibility of losing one’s salvation. The KJV conveys the Greek present tense by adding “eth” to many words that are in continual present tense such as “abideth” “remaineth” “believeth” etc… In most cases a word that ends with the suffix “eth” means that what is being referred to is the continual present tense. Keeping this in mind when reading your bible, it will open up scriptures to you in a way that you have not experienced them before. The word “believeth” here is used in that way, in the continuous present tense so in essence it is saying “He that continues to believe now and in the future on the Son hath while believing everlasting life:”

Sometimes the confusion comes when we read everlasting or eternal life. Those who believe OSAS will protest saying it is a free gift, He would not take away from us. It is not God who would take away our free gift, it is s gift given on condition, and if the condition is not met the gift is forfeited. Think of it this way; let’s say that you were given a priceless free eternal timepiece with no strings attached. This timepiece is like no other, it never needs batteries or winding, only one of a kind was made. What happens if you through carelessness or neglect lose that eternal timepiece? Is the timepiece any less eternal? Will it keep time even though you lost it? Will it be of any less value because you lost it? Was it the person who gave it to you taking it back, or was it your fault for not attending to it as you should have? Was the timepiece taken from by anyone else? No. In the same way the everlasting is attached to the life as an adjective NOT to the possessor of it as an adverb. The only thing that changed from that timepiece was your possession of it. The same way eternal life is yours to keep or to lose. The keeping power of God is not in jeopardy it is those who do not rely on that keeping power but through apathy, neglect. Ye have not because ye ask not. God promises to keep us from falling into temptation but that promise does you no good if you do not believe it or neglect appropriating it through prayer.

 

I wonder why the OSAS gospel promoters fail to emphasize the promises that keep us from sin and the commands to live holy.  

 

 

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18  "IS NOT CONDEMNED" is pretty clear, but some would say "that is only while he believed" thinking a person can unbelieve after he has believed, but look at the next part. "he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed" do you see that, a person IS condemned because he has not believed yet. Once you truly believe you are not ever condemned. Do you have a problem believing God's promise?

 

Again this is answered by the above. To say believing once in a moment of time saved you is to not know the gospel of Jesus Christ. I actually had a Dr. of theology argue with me on this point. He actually said, “You don’t have to keep believing to be saved!” What that means is that we can believe at one moment or for a portion of our lives, turn and be the most vile and wicked rapist, murderer, liar, or homosexual and still have the hope of heaven despite the many warning in scripture that warn against those things. (1 Cor. 6:9,10, Gal. 5:19:21, Eph. 5:3-7, Rev. 21:8 1 John 3:15)

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24 In this verse there are three promises to him that truly believes: 1. HAS, RIGHT NOW, EVERLASTING LIFE. 2. SHALL NOT COME INTO CONDEMNATION. 3. IS PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE. There are no verses that say God takes back everlasting life, or a person returns to condemnation, or a person goes back to death after receiving life.

 

Again “heareth,” a continual abiding in Christ, not having once heard! My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. Having once followed does not mean one always will follow; in fact most won’t according to scripture. Most of those who at one time followed Jesus turned away, many who followed also turned away from Paul. This is the truth path that most WILL turn from. Where do we get the term “fall away” to begin with? From Jesus Christ himself! (Luke 8:13)

2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 

What is the error of the wicked? To a Christian, whom Peter is addressing, the error of the wicked is to believe that they are saved while sinning. The word wicked here means lawless.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset (surround) us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

*Wicked – Webster’s 1828 Dictionary 1. Evil in principle or practice; deviating from the divine law; addicted to vice; sinful; immoral. This is a word of comprehensive signification, extending to everything that is contrary to the moral law, and both to persons and actions.

The warning of Peter would fall on deaf ears of OSAS believers in that it is quickly dismissed as not applying to them. This is THE VERY DANGER Peter warned of. The wicked are the lawless ones. They teach that obedience is self-righteousness and that “sinless perfection” is a myth. First the bible nowhere speaks of “sinless perfection” It does however command us to be perfect. Since this is a command from our sole head and authority Jesus Christ the word of God it stands to reason that he did not command us to do something we could not do. In fact Paul counts not himself to have apprehended as in having already arrived, but pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling. He reinforced the command of Jesus, the true gospel, Paul’s gospel which is the same as Christ’s gospel, to be perfect to be of one mind, live in peace… This is part of the gospel we are to obey. The divisive false doctrine of the OSAS goes contrary to the truth of God’s word in declaring that no one can be perfect.  He also spoke of the error the Galatians fell into that caused them to disobey God and observe Jewish ceremonial law. We see that they were hindered from being “perfect” by their error. Note: Many OSAS teachers teach that because they obeyed the law they fell into error. They were bewitched into NOT obeying the truth, not because they did obey. This is clearly a false interpretation of the OSAS proponents, as Jesus will cast the lawless into outer darkness. Did Paul deride the Galatians for obeying the moral law? Let’s see if that could be true:

Does the OSAS gospel please men, even sinful men? Yes!

Is it a gospel that teaches us to obey God? No!

Is it the same gospel Paul preached? No!

Is it the same Gospel that Jesus Preached? No!

If the OSAS gospel is true and we are forgiven of present and future sins, how can anyone tell us to repent?

If righteousness is imputed to unrepentant sinners is that not universalism?

 Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Does Paul mean to imply here that we can be lawless and enter heaven? Is he telling us that we don’t need moral law after Christ?

No he tells us this is not what he is talking about in the very next verse, saying in essence I am not speaking about “disobeying the moral law,” which is sin, but about the ceremonial laws of the Jews in circumcision and observance of times and days.

Gal 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

How would we be found sinners? By being sinners! That is disobeying the moral commands of God. Paul did not rebuke them for:

Having no other gods before the one true God.

For NOT bowing down to idols.

For NOT taking the Lord’s name in vain.

For NOT honoring fathers and mothers.

For NOT killing.

For NOT committing adultery.

For NOT stealing.

For NOT lying and bearing false witness.

For NOT coveting.

To say that He said they were trying to be justified for obeying the moral law as a work of the flesh is a biblical absurdity. It was them reverting to Judaism, which we see a lot of in these last days. It is what he openly rebuked Peter for, compelling gentiles to observe the customs and ceremonial laws of the Jews. In other words cutting off the flesh in circumcision cannot justify anyone as it was a type of the circumcision of the heart that Christ would do by His Spirit at a believer’s conversion. In fact the entire book of Hebrews is a warning against falling from the grace they were saved by with an exhortation to come back to the simple faith that is in Christ.

 

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 1 John 3:14 This verse is the only other verse that talks about being passed from death unto life. Also, notice that the person that does not love his brother "abides" or lives in death. It does not say he went back to death.

 

Again this verse hardly proves OSAS. “Have passed” Is conditioned on the continual present tense of “we love the brethren.”  This is clearly illustrated and re-enforced in the next part of the verse which says he that “loveth” (a continuous present tense) not his brother abideth n death. Far from “proving OSAS it actually disproves it by showing that a “brother” that is a Christian CAN abide in death if he does not love his brother.

 

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Colossians 1:13  This verse here says it another way, and again there are no verses that say a person returns to darkness after being translated into the kingdom. Also, there are no verses where we get untranslated.

 

This verse does not somehow magically wipe away the conditions God has set forth in His word to, abide, be pure, stand fast in the faith, be perfect, be holy, repent, and endure to the end. Paul wrote this to the saints, therefore those who have had a moment of faith but are no longer saints due to separation from the Lord by sins can find no solace here. For these promises are to the saints not to sinners who were at one time saints. There are those who would like to keep the title “brother” and benefits of salvation because they had a moment of true conversion but have gone back into sin. Paul the writer of this book also wrote to one such “believer” who had fallen:

Col 1:22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Col 1:23  IF (condition) ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the *hope of the gospel, (hope is that which is yet to be reaped, if we already fully possessed it so as to never have any chance or possibility of losing it, it would not be a hope, it would be a guarantee.) which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

*HOPE, n. [L. cupio.]

 

1. A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it.

 

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother (these are those who would still like to be called Christian and refer to themselves as Christians even though they are in sins that will take them to Hell. How do we know if we are a Christian or wicked? If you were once a born again believer and are doing these sins, you are now wicked) be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

1Co 5:12  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

1Co 5:13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:27,28  Notice in this verse Jesus’ sheep (the true believers) follow Jesus. That means they never turn away from him. I guess because they never turn away from him they can never lose their salvation. Also, look, Jesus promises his sheep something, what is it?  It’s Eternal Life! And he promises them that they shall “NEVER” perish. WOW! but what if they later “will” not to follow Jesus?  Don’t try to add to the Bible, you “will” be in trouble.  Jesus says his sheep “FOLLOW HIM”,  and I hope some of you don’t think a person can “unsheep” himself. Some people will try to think of anything they can to try to make the Bible fit what they believe.

 

First this verse nowhere says “That means they will never turn from him” It means what it says and no more. It means that if you are found not to be in His hand you can’t blame Jesus or anyone else, it is you who walked away! Does Jesus contradict himself?

Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

 

 (Is there such a thing as unbelieving Disciples of Christ? Yes and no. Yes in that they were at one time his believers, and no in that they turned back of their own free will. Did God or anyone pluck them out of His hand? No, They turned back and walked with Him no more.)

He also says in this verse my sheep hear my voice NOT having heard at one time my voice, and they follow (continuous present tense) me. As we have already demonstrated it is a continual abiding in Christ and enduring to the end looking for that blessed hope of his appearing.

 

 

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 1 John 3:8-10 First, notice there is a division here, those of the devil, and those born of God. Notice those born of God “doth not commit sin”. Well, in order for a person to lose his salvation he would have to commit sin. Right? Well, here it says they do not commit sin.

 

Again the “th” is a variation of the “eth” in denoting a continuous present tense. It does say they will never or have never sinned as a Christian. The same John who wrote this also wrote 1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

 

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 1 John 5:18  Here it is again, the person born of God does not sin and makes sure he does not. There is no such thing as a backslidden Christian.

 

REFER TO ABOVE

 

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13  How can a person “know” he has eternal life if he can lose it? If he has it for a while but then could lose it it would not be eternal but only partial eternal life, and that is not what he promises.

 

 “How can a person “know” he has eternal life if he can lose it?”  Because one can lose it doesn’t mean one cannot KNOW he has it. If I had a cell phone in my hand I would KNOW I have it. Does that mean I can never at some time in the future lose it? Your lack logic and reasoning will be your downfall of you promote your secure in sin false gospel and do not repent. The LAST thing this world needs is another propagator of the false OSAS gospel.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfy2dB7v92A

 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:8,9 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13 In these two verses here it says they “SHALL BE SAVED”. Are these verses lying?

 

R. Lee Ermy said, “I pray to Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius, and Jesus Christ and any other religious honcho I can think of. Does that mean R. Lee Ermy is a Christian when he calls on Jesus?” Or are we to understand that this means we do not have to repent since repentance is not mentioned here? Again not a “proof text” for OSAS.

 

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:4,5  Here it says that because we have the faith, we have reservations in Heaven, and because of our faith we are kept by the power of God. There are no verses that say a person can lose his saving faith once he has it.

 

 Because the inheritance fadeth not away does not guarantee you will make it. If I had a reservation for a restaurant and then chose not to go that would not make the restaurant disappear or dishonor them because I forfeited MY reservation. IT does not say “because we have the faith” It says those who are “kept are kept by the power of God through faith,” That is those who have faith unto salvation NOT anyone who at one time made a profession of faith.

 

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God… 1 John 5:1 How does a person become born of God? Through belief or faith in Christ, God in the flesh.

 

Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Does that mean the devil is saved? Could it be James is refuting your version of easy believism?

 

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4,5 If you are born of God you are an overcomer.

 

If he believes he obeys, if he obeyed but stopped obeying he did not overcome did he? Jesus said we would know them by their fruit, you say they can bear fruit for twenty years then turn to homosexuality and either still be saved as some teach or was never saved to begin with as others teach. The third option is where you miss it which leads you to your error, that He could have been saved and turned back to sin forfeiting his salvation, being cut off for not continuing in His goodness, not enduring to the end and doing that which God said would not enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus spoke of this:

  # 1 UNBELIEVER WHO HEARD AND DID NOT UNDERSTAND (REJECTED THE WORD)Mat 13:19  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

 #2 BELIEVER who HEARD THE WORD RECEIVED IT WITH JOY BECAUSE HE DID UNDERSTAND BUT DID NOT ENDURE TO THE END. and “DURETH FOR A WHILE” in the faith then becomes offended and turns away. Mat 13:20  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

#3 BELIEVER WHO HEARD THE WORD UNDERSTOOD THEN THE CARES OF THIS WORLD CHOKE THE WORD THAT WAS IN HIM AND DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT (John 15:5-6) Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

BECOMETH unfruitful means he at one time WAS fruitful and showed he was at one time a true believer.

#4 BELIEVER WHO HEARD THE WORD and UNDERSTOOD IT (meaning he knew the goodness and severity of God and knew he must endure to the end and bear fruit AND ABODE IN THE VINE AND ENDURED TO THE END WHEN THE FRUIT WAS REAPED AT HIS END. Mat 13:23  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

 

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Revelation 3:5 If you are born of God by believing in Jesus, you are an overcomer and Jesus says he “WILL NOT” blot your name out of the book of life. Which means you cannot lose your salvation.

 

Merely “believing in the sense the OSAS folks mean it will not get you to Heaven. Believing it to obedience by faith bearing fruit to perfection and enduring to the end will. To believe otherwise is to not believe at all but it is to believe a lie which cannot save you. If your belief allows for personal sin in your life you have a belief that is not in the word but in the faulty and dangerous theology of mere men. If you believe that stealing will make you rich and that is your desire that is what you will do. If you believe it CAN make you rich but you would lose your soul by doing it and instead work and give cheerfully, you demonstrate what you believe by what you do. It is not your words or how many correct answers you get on a test that will get you to heaven it is the doing of the word of God. Mat 7:21  Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:7 A true believer in Jesus Christ is a son of God and that can never change. If you think a person can become un-son-ed give me chapter and verse………….Hmm, I thought so.

 

This is another fine example of the way NOT to reason. If you cannot be “un-son-ed” then you are still a son of Satan aren’t you? It must work both ways if you were made a Son of God once from being a son of the devil then it stands to reason it can work the other way if you go back into that which you were once washed from. That is like saying I got a shower once and now I am clean forever. I can never get dirty because in Sept. 1980 I took a shower and I was SOOO clean! Now I never have to take another shower again!

 

Act 8:13  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Act 8:20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Act 8:21  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Act 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Act 8:23  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Simon once and fell away, Peter told him he needed to repent. History shows he went to Rome and gathered a big following there working magic. He was saved and fell away; he was pierced through with the desire for wealth, because of the riches of this world he is in Hell.

 

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 Those who have the Spirit of God (which is put into a person when he truly believes in Jesus Christ) is sealed by the Spirit until he is redeemed (bought back) by God in the end of time. So I guess a true believer is stuck being saved even though they might grieve God’s Spirit. Grieving God’s Spirit does not mean living in sin, or backsliding. It just means not being kind one to another.

 

Sealed is not some guarantee against your failure or ability for forfeit. It is an earnest that authenticates a true conversion. I have a seal on my diplomas which authenticates them as being genuine. Seals can be broken by those who do not want to meet the conditions of holiness and endurance and dying to self. This does not mean one cannot fall away as Peter said:

 2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty (OSAS IN A NUTSHELL), they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (escaped means they were genuinely saved at some point), they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (What is worse than never being saved? Having been saved and falling away, dying in your sins with the knowledge of the right and true way to Heaven, ask Judas)

2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

 

 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30  When a person is saved he loves God, and now lets see the progression which does not get interfered with: predestinated; called; justified; glorified. Well, glory, I guess we make it all the way whether we want to or not, but we will want to.

 

Foreknowledge is not causative. Predestination is the predetermined path that Jesus Christ has trodden for us that we should follow him. This is confirmed by the next part of the verse which says what predestination is; it is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son. If we are sinning we are not in Him, for in Him is no sin. If we are in Christ we are not in sin, which means we are not committing sins of the flesh and are hearing his voice and following Him in obedience, continuing in his goodness, forgetting those things which are behind, thinking on good things, meditating on His word day and night, abiding in Christ, bearing good fruit unto perfection, praying and enjoying correction as we know it works together for our eternal wellbeing. Misquoting a bunch of verses out of context does not prove anything but that one is unskilled in the word. To deny the possibility of losing one’s salvation is to ignore God’s severity, to teach it is to argue FOR sin and against what Jesus Christ himself has said. To do so is to do the work of Elymas the sorcerer, in seeking to turn the deputy from the faith. Why in this circumstance didn’t Paul just say, Mr. Deputy, it is impossible for you to turn from the faith? Instead he said, “And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness (OSAS), wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? What is perverting the ways of the Lord more than telling people they can be secure in their sin? This Spirit which works through all subtilty is still at work in those who promote this wretched wicked doctrine. I would like to end with a testimony of the fruit of this wickedness.

 

A tragic story of an OSAS believer.

Bless you brother. Your osas articles that I have read really do shine the light on a doctrine that has done a lot to lure the body of Christ back into sin and self destruction. But the Messiah taught us thru the word that “a good tree does not bring forth bad fruit and that you shall know a tree by it’s fruit.”

Man’s reasoning of osas says that I can have my cake and eat it too. Keep on sinning boy, you done got yo ticket to the pearly gates. Nobody’s perfect, everybody sins, so just keep on doing the sins that you really like to do. God has forgiven you past, present, and future. When Paul was talking about avoiding doctrines of demons I’m sure that he was talking about such as this. The word states Be ye holy cause I am holy, and perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord, because without this no one shall see him.

My good friend killed himself 8 years ago and in the letters that he wrote while the drugs were destroying his internal organs He said he knew God would forgive him. osas again. And when the bullet splattered his brains all over the wall he was convinced that God would be there ready to embrace Him. He had told me months before exactly how He would kill himself if his wife ever left, because he would never pay child support and they had three children. I told him that I didn’t think that it worked that way because I had read the verse Your body is the temple of God. He who destroys the temple of God, God will destroy.

I really thought that Buddy was just talking noise but to my horror He calmly premeditated and carried his own execution. Early on the morning of my eldest son’s birthday I got a call from his wife…Buddy’s dead…by his own hand. If he had not had the osas mindset but rather the increasing life mindset, well maybe he would have spent his anniversary with his wife, instead of leaving her waiting, while He was out with one of his old girlfriends.

Now Buddy was a very intelligent man, articulate who could build a sailing ship in a wine bottle, rebuild an engine out of an MG Midget, navigate around the world by the stars and the sun. But He was unable to see the plan of destruction that had been planted into his mind just as deadly as a mine in a minefield. For about 5 years every time I would go to work when my son’s birthday was close tears would fall down my face for… Buddy. God bless you brother and keep shining the light..

 

 

GRACE: The impression of many seems to be, that grace will pardon what it

cannot prevent; in other words, that if the grace of the Gospel fails to save

people from the commission of sin in this life; it will nevertheless pardon them

and save them in sin, if it cannot save them from sin. Now, really, I understand

the Gospel as teaching that men are saved from sin first, and as a consequence,

from hell; and not that they are saved from hell while they are not saved from

sin. Christ sanctifies when he saves. And this is the very first element or idea of

salvation, saving from sin. “Thou shall call his name Jesus,” said the angel, “for

he shall save his people from their sins.” “Having raised up his Son Jesus,” says

the apostle, “he hath sent him to bless you in turning every one of you from his

iniquities.” Let no one expect to saved from hell, unless the grace of the Gospel

saves him first from sin.–Charles Finney

 

 

KEITH GREEN

Influenced by Charles G. Finney

An excerpt from No Compromise by Melanie Green

“When my time comes–that’s the way I wanna go,” Keith said as he snapped his fingers. “Earth to heaven in an instant!”

Keith’s words went right by me at the time. There would be a day, though, when they would come back. For the moment, I busily tucked the blanket around Josiah as we headed out the front door for Richard’s memorial service.

One day, a short time later, Keith walked into our bedroom looking more serious than usual–and that was saying a lot. He was holding the book, Rees Howells: Intercessor, in his hand as he flopped on the bed.

“Did you know Rees Howells and his wife gave their infant son away so they could go to Africa as missionaries?”

“They gave him away…” I repeated, flatly. Already I didn’t like the sound of this.

“They gave him to relatives,” Keith continued, “and God told them they ‘could never claim him again’. Years later, after he graduated from college, he joined his father in the ministry in Africa. But he was already all grown up.”

“That’s really heavy.” Wasn’t there something else we could be talking about?

“Yeah. God told him to do it.”

“I sure hope it was God,” I said, and now I bit my lip, wondering what Keith was leading up to.

“Mel, what if God told us to give Josiah away?”

“I can’t see how that could ever be the Lord’s will,” I shot back at once. “I mean, do you really think he would ask us to do that?”

“I don’t know. He might. God can do anything he wants.”

“Well, I always want to obey the Lord, no matter what it costs. But that would be a hard one. Are you saying you would be willing?” I pressed him.

“It would be the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he said, seriously. “But if I was one hundred percent positive it was God, I’d do it.”

By now, my heart was so heavy it could have burst. I was afraid Keith was going to do something crazy. What if he tells me he thinks God wants us to give Josiah to somebody else? I was thinking, What would I do? You don’t just give kids away, do you? My emotions were rocking.

Things had been so much easier when it was “just us and our stereo”. We’d always said we would give the Lord everything. But it seemed a lot easier to give God things like money, comfort, and time. How do you give your child? Rees Howells found out. So did Abraham, with his son Isaac. The enormity of their commitment was staggering to me.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a question we needed an immediate answer to. We weren’t going to put Josiah up for adoption or anything. Still, our parent-hearts were being painfully tested. And for the next few months Keith, in particular, was going through a deeper testing than I knew about until much later.

 

JANUARY 15. 1979

Lord, Help Again!

My Jesus, please pour your strong life out on me…I’m almost dead I need and desire to be close to you ….Please, God, you know I’m serious about this. Send your angel to answer.

One evening, in February 1979, Keith was poking through his bookshelf–pulling books out, scanning a few pages, then putting them back. I noticed that he kept at it, until one book seemed to capture his interest. Keith carried it over to his favorite chair–a $5 Naugahyde recliner we “scored” at the resale store–and kicked back to read for a while. I smiled and shook my head. Keith was always tackling books that frightened me off just by their size.

It seemed like he was only half a chapter into it when he called me over.

“Mel, do you remember this book?”

It didn’t look familiar. “No. What’s it about?” “It’s all about revivals! Real ones!”

I did remember what he was talking about now. The book was called Revival Lectures and it was written by a nineteenth-century revivalist named Charles Finney. One night about a year ago, Keith had phoned me from the road, sobbing into the phone. He had read me a whole chapter of that book over the phone! Keith had been reading more Finney lately and, tonight, he had rediscovered this particular book.

He went back to his reading now–no long passages to read out loud, I guessed–and I got ready for bed.

When I walked out into the living room to say goodnight, Keith was still engrossed in reading. But by this time, his expression had changed from excitement to total sobriety. Keith was so absorbed that he barely looked up as he mumbled a goodnight to me. I went in our room and turned out the light.

The next thing I knew Keith was shaking me awake. I was so groggy I could hardly understand what he was saying.

“Mel, wake up. you need to get up.”

“Uh … why?”

“It’s happened! Get up. We’re gonna have a special meeting right away.”

Our voices woke Josiah up and he started to cry for my attention. It was barely daylight and through the haze of grogginess I wondered what on earth Keith was going on about.

I’ve got to go to the other houses,” he was saying. “I’ll be back.”

As I turned my attention to Josiah, the front door slammed and Keith took off in the gray morning light. One of the first places he went was one of the men’s dorms. Wayne Dillard and a few other guys were awakened the same way I’d been. Later on Wayne told me what happened when Keith shook him awake.

“As soon as I got my eyes half-way opened, I could see his face–it was like he was smiling from the inside out. He was radiant.”

“Wayne, wake up!” Keith said. “We’ve got to have a meeting.” “Okay,” Wayne mumbled, “but what time is it?”

“It’s about six. Listen, I was out in ‘The Ark’ praying all night. And I just got saved.” “You what?”

“I just got saved!”

BY THE TIME ALL SEVEN HOUSES HEARD ABOUT THE SPECIAL meeting, our community was buzzing with curiosity. Having an early morning meeting was in itself a shock. Usually, no one even saw Keith before 10 a.m. because of his late-night schedule. I watched everyone quietly drift into The School House–throwing questioning glances at each other. It looked like all seventy of us were there–crammed into the living room, and spilling over into the hall and kitchen, anxiously waiting to find out what was going on.

As soon as I saw Keith’s face I knew something big was going on. His eyes were clear and bright and his whole face was lit with a broad grin. Something had happened to him!

“You know I’ve been struggling with a lot of questions about my ministry and the Lord’s will for my life,” he began, “I’ve been really wanting God to be more real. Well, I was up all night in ‘The Ark’ and God showed me so much sin in my life that I spent the whole night weeping and crying out to Him. I told the Lord I wasn’t going to leave ‘The Ark’ until I had a breakthrough–no matter how long it took. Finally, it happened. I had a touch from the Lord like I’ve never had in my whole life. And I know I just got saved–I just got saved last night.” Keith’s words stunned everyone as much as they stunned me. I could see it in their faces. Just got saved? I thought, What have you been if you haven’t been saved? But Keith just kept talking, either ignoring or not noticing the wide-eyed surprise on everyone’s face. “Last night I was reading Finney, and I just couldn’t get past a chapter called ‘Breaking Up The Fallow Ground’. God convicted me of so much fallow ground in my life–ground that’s hard and crusty and needs to be broken up for Him.”

Now the happiness in Keith’s eyes clouded over as they started to fill with tears. Blinking them back, Keith pulled some sheets of paper out of his Bible and unfolded them as he kept talking.

“I’ve already gotten these things right with God, now I want to confess them to you and ask for your forgiveness because my sins have affected you. First of all, I know I haven’t been a very good leader. I’ve wounded some of you with my words and my crummy attitudes …. “

Now Keith broke and really started to cry, but he controlled himself enough to go on.

“The Lord has also shown me areas of pride and unbelief in my life. I don’t read my Bible enough and I don’t pray enough, either. And I’m so undisciplined. I’ve been a bad example to all of you. I have no excuse except for being lazy and loving myself more than I really love God …. “

He went on for several minutes, pouring his heart out and crying.

“Another area God has convicted me in is not trusting him for finances. When we offered the cassette of my ‘Jesus Northwest’ concert in the newsletter, we said we’d send it for free, or for a donation. The Lord showed me we shouldn’t have even mentioned donations after promising not to solicit funds–so we’re going to send everybody’s money back to them right away.

“I know my sin has broken God’s heart. I know it’s hurt you, too–and I’m really, really sorry. I’m not worthy to bear the holy name of Christian. Please forgive me.”

Then Keith picked up his Bible and read a scripture to us from Hosea: “Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you …. “Keith continued, “Fallow ground is ground that was once tilled, but has since gotten hard and unusable. Before it can receive seed it needs to be broken up and made soft again. Finney says to break up the fallow ground of our heart we need to examine our motives, actions, and state of mind very carefully.”

Then picking up the Finney book, Keith read to us. “Many people never seem to think about doing this. They pay no attention to their own hearts, and never know whether they are doing well in their walk with the Lord or not–whether they are bearing fruit or are totally barren.”

Keith explained the two kinds of sin Finney talks about. Sins of commission are the things we do that we shouldn’t. Included on Finney’s list were–lying, cheating, gossip, wasting time, slandering others, love of possessions, vanity, envy, bitterness, hypocrisy, having a bad temper, and hindering the usefulness of others. Keith added in a few areas that Finney didn’t list because they weren’t as prevalent in his day–things like sexual sin, drugs, and involvement with false religions.

And if that wasn’t enough, there were the sins of omission~ the things we don’t do that we should. Included in these were lack of love for God, for the Bible, for prayer, for the poor and needy, and for the lost all around us and in foreign lands. Also listed were the sins of ingratitude, neglecting to be careful about our words and actions, and a neglect of self-denial.

Then–Finney again. “There are many professing Christians who are willing to do almost anything in religion that does not require self-denial. They are so far from realizing that self-denial is a condition of discipleship, that they do not even know what it is!”

As Keith was talking an awesome sense had been coming over me. Instead of thinking that the things he’d done were so terrible, I found myself starting to examine my own heart, thinking, if God put the searchlight on Keith, what does all this mean for me? By now I was starting to make a mental list. A long one.

Keith went on to read the whole chapter out loud to us. It was a real “outline” for a point-by-point examination of our own hearts. Finney said that “general” confessions of sin are not good enough. Since our sins were committed one by one, as much as possible they need to be repented of one by one–confessing to God those sins committed against him, and confessing to other men the sins committed against them. No shortcuts allowed! Then Keith paused and seemed to take a deep breath before he continued.

“I believe God wants to do something powerful in all of our lives. What God did for me, he wants to do for you. He wants all of us to have pure hearts that are soft and open to him. We all need to humble ourselves and break up the ‘fallow ground’ of our hearts so God can be glorified. I believe we all need to have a breakthrough with God. I really think we all need to pray

Everybody bowed their heads and closed their eyes. Then Keith started praying a very powerful prayer and a hush fell over the room. In just a moment something began to happen.

Suddenly one of the women burst into tears. She’d been sitting on the floor and now she was on her face, her whole body heaving with deep uncontrollable sobs. A few others started to weep, and the next thing we knew we were all on our faces, crying, and calling out to God. Actually, some of us could do little more than moan. The feelings were so deep it was hard to even put them into words. It was a gut-wrenching time of conviction and soul-searching. The sound of wailing started to rise and fill the room–and it went on and on.

After a long time, Keith asked everyone to go and take some time alone with God. “Go home and make out a list. List every area of sin that the Lord is showing you and will continue to show you. List it in detail. Let the Lord shine his spotlight into your hearts.”

We met again later that evening and over the next few days– day and night. We had hours of prayer, weeping, and humble open confession. Everyone was being broken. They’d read their list of sins and ask forgiveness of God and those who’d been affected. There was such an awesome sense of God’s presence in the room, sometimes overwhelming. And more often than not after someone shared, tears of sorrow ignited into tears of joy– and even laughter as many broke through to God at deeper levels than ever before. They said they felt cleansed and refreshed in a brand new way–like their souls had just come alive and the weight of the world was lifted off their shoulders. It seemed like,

one by one, this was happening to everybody. Everybody, that is, except me.

After a few days, so many people had experienced their “breakthrough” I started to worry about when I’d get mine. Keith was beginning to worry about me, too. He’d walk over to me while I was lying on the floor praying and say, “Do you think you might be getting close?” He was so excited and had waited so long for this to happen, he wanted to be sure it happened for me, too.

One of the first people Keith phoned was Winkie. “It’s happened!” he told him. “We’re having a powerful move of God!”

Meanwhile, word was getting out locally, and some people from the Vineyard showed up at our ongoing meetings. Even some neighbors came. All with the same results–deep conviction of sin and a fresh touch from the Lord.

One night a brother from another ministry came and taught us about God’s sacrificial love. At the end of his teaching he shared a story with us.

It seemed there was a man with the job of raising and lowering a drawbridge so passenger trains could cross a deep canyon. This man had one child, a son, that he loved very much. One day the little boy wandered toward the bridge without his father noticing.

Soon the father heard a train whistle. As he started to pull the lever to lower the bridge, he looked out the window, and saw that his son had crawled down into the big heavy gears. If he pulled the lever his son would be crushed!

There were only seconds to decide. Hundreds of people would die if he didn’t lower the bridge–all sons and daughters loved by someone. He took a deep breath and his heart screaming with pain, he pulled the lever.

The bereaved father stood helplessly at the window, beating on it with both fists and screaming out in anguish, as the train zipped quickly over the bridge. The passengers saw him and thought he was waving–so they waved happily back without realizing the price that father had just paid for them.

When the story was over, every face looked stricken. As the meeting was dismissed I started crying. Running out into the dark night, I fell on my knees in the backyard with my face pressed into the grass. I still hadn’t had a “breakthrough” like all the others, but with this story, I’d felt the heart-crushing pain of the father. In my mind’s eye, I could only see my curly-haired Josiah in those gears.

“Oh Lord,” I cried, “please give me a clear picture of what it cost you to send your only Son to earth. I’m so sorry for taking your sacrifice for granted–and for not loving you the way you deserve to be loved. Please forgive me!”

The next day, I left the meeting and went to sit in a car parked near The School House. I decided I wouldn’t leave until I got my breakthrough. That worked for Keith, so maybe it would work for me. I didn’t know what else to do.

I’d already made a long list of my sins and shared them with the ministry, repenting to God and man. I confessed to everyone that sometimes I got really tired of living in community. Also, that I was still striving for recognition in my songwriting and how much pride I had when Keith would say in concert, “Melody and I wrote this song together.” My prayer life and my time in the Word left so much to be desired, too. I also confessed that I took the best baby clothes for Josiah before sending some donated clothing off to Mexico. I knew I’d hurt people by not speaking the truth in love and by being judgmental. To be honest, I was even judging this revival. Actually, I was mad at Finney, and jealous of those who were starting to look happy while I was feeling totally miserable. I felt like such a mess.

Maybe I’m not repenting in the right way, I thought. As I sat in that car, I was devastated by the blackness of my heart. I thought I loved God. Maybe I didn’t love him at all–maybe I never did. But the thing that scared me the most was the fear that I might be incapable of loving God. So why should he love me–or forgive me, for that matter? I started to question every motive of my heart and felt like I was tumbling down a dark shaft of despair.

After a while Keith came out to talk to me. As much as he wanted to see me have a breakthrough, he didn’t think camping out in a parked car was the answer. “Mel, why don’t you come back into the house now.”

“I can’t. I don’t even know if I love God. How can I go to a prayer meeting?”

“Mel, you love God. I know you do. Maybe it’s not gonna happen the same way for you. Come on back in.”

I went back into the house, but I wasn’t comforted. I saw the wickedness of my heart and I felt torn from the inside out. I didn’t understand why I seemed to get “passed over” by the Lord.

There finally came a point, later, where I just had to let it go and go on–without the happy feelings and with the thought that maybe I wasn’t a Christian. Perhaps God doesn’t deal with everybody in the same way, I reasoned. But then, maybe I only felt like I’d been left behind in the darkness. I decided I would serve God in that darkness as fully as everyone else was serving him in the light–whether or not, I was really saved.

After several days, when the intensity of it all subsided, it seemed that the Lord had drawn near to our community in an incredible way. Later on, we would refer to this time as “The Revival”. Charles Finney defined revival as “a new beginning of obedience to God”. and that was definitely what happened. It was a life-changing time for all of us, myself included–even though my memories were a bit painful.

Keith also knew that his statements about “just getting saved” came from his black and white way of looking at things. It was just that he’d glimpsed a walk with God that required such a deeper commitment, it was almost as if he’d never given his heart to the Lord before. He said, “It’s like getting born again . . . again!”

Keith believed the Lord wanted the spirit of revival we’d just experienced to sweep the nation. It just happened that the very next concert Keith had scheduled was at the end of March in Tulsa at Oral Roberts University–in the 11,500 seat Mabee Center. Tulsa seemed like the perfect place to start, with its clusters of well-known ministries. And ORU was the best-known Christian university in America. When revival broke out there it would resound across the nation! Keith marveled at God’s perfect planning.

It seemed that with “The Revival”, Keith had also found his answer to our long-standing questions about finances.

One afternoon he bounced into the kitchen and said lightly, “Mel, we’re just gonna go wherever God sends us and not worry about money.”

“Well, usually you just go for offerings anyway.” I wasn’t sure why Keith was making this sound like it was so different from what we were already doing.

“Yeah, but we’re not going to worry about how much of an offering or honorarium we get,” he replied, “or even if we get one at all. In fact, I really feel like God is telling me we need to pay our own way into these cities–and not ask for anything from the churches!”

Now that did sound different.

Keith’s new financial decision and his desire to see our revival spread had an immediate effect on his scheduled time at ORU. Since they didn’t usually take offerings at the Mabee Center, they were going to bless Keith with $2,000 for one concert. But now the plans needed to change a bit. Keith didn’t want the $2,000- -and he wanted to go and minister for at least a week.

In Keith’s thinking, when Finney went into a city it wasn’t for a “one-night stand.” He stayed until the Lord finished doing what he wanted to do. If revival broke out, Finney could be in the same town for months. With what had just happened to Keith and our community, it sure seemed like God was up to something big.

The first person Keith phoned in Tulsa was the ORU student body president who’d invited him in. Keith got the guy on the phone and explained to him what he felt God’s new direction was–that we were to come for a week for free. The guy’s jaw must have dropped.

A short time later, we received a return phone call from this brother, saying we had a green light. Instead of going to the Mabee Center, Keith could preach for a week–in the chapel! We were all so excited we could hardly see straight. So we made plans to go to Tulsa and had no idea when we’d be back.

Keith said, “If revival breaks out, we might even end up moving to Tulsa!” He wrote a prayer bulletin and sent it out to the 22,000 people who were now receiving our Last Days Newsletter. Keith asked them to pray because we were going to Tulsa and he believed God wanted to pour out his Spirit and bring repentance–and put a spirit of prayer and conviction upon the city.

Keith was also really excited about God picking ORU in particular as the place to begin. Like all ministries do, they’d been experiencing some financial difficulties. Keith really hoped that if the Lord birthed this spiritual re-awakening in this, the “cradle” of so many other ministries, it would open the door for fresh blessings to pour in. Keith said, “God is really going to bless ORU once this revival breaks out there!”

Keith sent Wayne Dillard and a few other guys to Tulsa two weeks ahead of the chapel meetings to meet with the local pastors so they could get ready and start praying. Keith had also planned a pastors’ luncheon when he got to town so he could meet them and share his heart about the city-wide revival.

After Wayne had been in Tulsa for about a week though, Keith received an upsetting call from him. “Keith, they don’t want you to come.”

Wayne explained that the student group that invited Keith had neglected one critical detail–they forgot to go through the proper channels with the change of plans. And the administration was surprised when they first found out about the upcoming revival on campus by reading about it in the school newspaper.

“I got a call frown the ORU administration today and they said they didn’t invite you in so you shouldn’t come,” Wayne told him.

Keith figured their concerns were understandable. After all, they didn’t really know him or his ministry very well. From their point of view “uninviting” him probably seemed like the responsible thing to do.

Maybe the administration had heard about Keith’s steamy message a year before at Oklahoma Baptist University. There was a tremendous response from the students–but it did cause some real shock waves when Keith told them:

“Going to church, or going to a Christian college, or going to cemetery–I mean seminary–doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a hamburger! If there were that many on-fire people in all of Oklahoma, there’d be headlines all over the nation: ‘Oklahoma Has Revival’!”

For whatever reasons, Keith’s time in Tulsa was cancelled. Keith wasn’t convinced however that the decision reflected the Lord’s heart. He was going to pursue getting it reversed

Keith set up twenty-four-hour prayer chains at Last Days and everyone started fasting. Then the next day he was on the phone from 8:45 a.m. until dinner time, back and forth to Tulsa trying to work things out. But he was told, “We’re sorry brother. We don’t really know who you are. We’re responsible to protect the students here. We can’t let you come.”

Keith finally told them he understood their position–but that he felt the Lord wanted him to come anyway. That day, he wrote:

 

MARCH 10, 1979

ORU is cancelled. We’re going anyway. In my spirit I know it’s right, but the rest of me is scared!

Had the best prayer/cry in a month. Oh! did I cry!

Keith did have some misgivings. He wondered if he’d really heard from God about going. He didn’t want to be propelled by any false desire of his own to “bring a fiery message” to Tulsa. In the end, Keith received what he believed to be confirmation from the Lord. The Vineyard was going to send us out with their blessings, and there was a scripture passage that came to us, Jeremiah 23, that convinced Keith he should go “with the right motives”. Keith struggled up to the very last minute ….

 

MARCH 11. 1979

In an hour and fifteen minutes, the Vineyard will lay hands on us to go to Tulsa and I’m not sure totally we’re supposed to go! Oh, my pride, reputation and false faith all say “go”. My mind and heart are divided. I can’t find my spirit! … I must go for the right motives. God said, “GO!”

 

We loaded up “The Ark” with about twenty-five of our Last Days family and drove all the way to Tulsa. When we arrived we had no place to stay, but the student body president told us about a house for rent. It only had a few pieces of furniture and most of us slept on the floor, but it met our needs. We immediately started two things: A twenty-four-hour prayer chain and a series of meetings with the ORU administration, who were shocked that Keith actually came after being told not to.

At Keith’s first meeting with the administration he told them about the mighty move of God we’d just experienced and how he believed God wanted it to spread across the nation–right from their chapel!

Keith was emphatic about what he felt God had told him. He even asked if he could rent the Mabee Center–though at $2,000 a night, that would mean taking out a loan. Though ORU had rented the arena in the past to secular artists like Billy Joel and Liza Minnelli. they’d continue to pray about it over the weekend before they gave Keith a final decision.

That night when Keith got back to our little rented house, he announced, “It’s not over yet! But we need a miracle.”

Twenty-four-hour prayer chains went on all through the weekend, and by now we were getting pretty good at it! Keith also called a fast. We wanted to do everything in our power to see God move.

In the meantime, some of the local pastors were very open to Keith. In fact when Keith sang and shared his vision for the city at a pastors’ luncheon it turned into a prayer meeting, with many tears and heart-rending prayers. Keith had also scheduled meetings in some other churches and schools. He was determined to reach the city one way or another.

On Sunday morning, Keith preached at a local Baptist church in West Tulsa. The service usually ended like clockwork at noon, but because of the powerful move of God it didn’t dismiss until 2:30 p.m.–and Keith was invited back for another service.

That night, Keith was given the evening service at Tulsa Christian Fellowship–the oldest charismatic fellowship in the city. His message and his songs centered on God’s broken heart over the hypocrisy of lukewarm Christianity. Keith often said, “Christians don’t like to talk about hypocrisy any more than turkeys like to talk about Thanksgiving!” This night he was driving the point home, and his preaching was even a bit abrasive. He’d come with a burden to shake the congregation into a confrontation with themselves and with God, and I knew he was about to pull out all the stops.

“You don’t like it, do you?” he said. “You came to hear a concert, and you’re getting cornered. The Christian walk is a bunch of squirming flesh getting nailed down to a cross. ‘Hey man, I want a padded cross. You know, a Posture-Pedic Cross with nice springs in it. Something comfortable.’ The gospel is a no compromise, absolute sell-out for Jesus, one hundred percent walk!”

Keith had been pacing the floor as he spoke, his piano long forgotten. “I hate to say this to you folks–I really love you but …. ” I could feel it coming. Turning to the congregation, Keith pointed and said in a booming voice, “You brood of vipers and snakes! . . . Who call yourselves Christians and half-heartedly serve Him!”

Instant shock ran through the place. Some people in the congregation had obviously been going to church before Keith was born–let alone born-again. Even I couldn’t believe my ears.

But suddenly, it didn’t seem to matter. An overwhelming sense swept through the room. Keith had gone back to the piano and, as he began a song, he prayed, “Lord, these people can’t know how much I love them. They’ve heard me yelling and screaming at them, but Lord, you know the heart you’ve put in me that hates sin and hypocrisy and compromising so much. You know how much I love these people and want to see them turn into blazing, glowing Christians. Oh God!–please bring a revival!”

Without hesitation, people started rushing forward to the altar rail, weeping and sobbing as they came and fell on their faces. The pastor joined Keith and they both led the congregation in a very powerful time of personal and corporate repentance. Keith recalled something the pastor had said in an earlier prayer and spoke it out like a battle cry–”Lord, let there be a revival and let it begin in me!”

It seemed like revival was, indeed, going to break out in Tulsa!

Pastor Ed talks about spiritual delusions, strongholds, and battles that Christians experience in everyday life and reveals some of the strongholds in his own life and how he overcame them through Christ.  He gives examples of winning spiritual battles including for the soul of his grown son, who is now serving the Lord and growing in the grace and knowledge of him.

Pastor Ed afterward reveals heresy in the teachings of Pastor Sam Adams and Dr. Greg Dixon. Dr. Greg Dixon believes (secretly) as well as Sam Adams in what is called “Kingdom Exclusion” theology which is nothing more than a form of Baptist purgatory.  He reveals that Sam Adams showed a new believer a “contradiction” in the bible (KJV) which (the young believer consequently has since denied the faith and has turned from Christianity back into the world) while publically proclaiming he (Sam Adams) believes that the Bible (KJV) is the infallible, inspired, word of God, but privately told me that he believes there are mistakes in the bible because “God wanted them there”. Both Dr. Greg Dixon and “Pastor” Sam Adams tried to get me to swallow the heretical doctrine of  “Kingdom Exclusion” which claims once a Christian dies and has sin in his life he will have his spirit saved but his soul will go to a place of torment for 1000 years during the millenial kingdom of Christ’s reign on earth, and after the 1000 years of purging punishment to the soul it is reunited to the spirit which was in heaven. By subtilty they pretended to not be convinced of it’s merit and asked me to look at it when he (Dr. Greg Dixon) in fact wrote an endorsement for the book by Joey Faust, “The Rod: Will God Spare It?”, which he also said, on a radio interview, was “THE greatest book after the bible he has EVER read.” He goes on to say, “Every Christian NEEDS the book…” making it an essential and thus adding to the word of God no different than the Mormons who do not believe the Bible either, and includes The Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, and The Doctrines and Covenants as equal to the Bible. The Bible says we only need the Bible 2Ti_3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2Pe 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2Pe_1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

In a conversation I had with him he told me that we must believe in Once Saved Always Saved as it is an “essential to salvation.” This I challenged him on and asked how is it I got saved before I ever heard such a thing? I read the bible for months without a Calvinist to tell me what it “really means” and God never showed me such a thing. In fact he showed me my need for his forgiveness and cleansing by his blood for my past sins Rom. 3:25, 2 Pet. 1:9, Matt. 1:21  (not present and future) and showed me to not to return to those sins. I asked him where in the gospel does it say one must believe OSAS before one must be saved? He of course had no answer. Jesus said if we believe on him, not on a Calvinist construct of a false doctrine, but on him, we will be saved. OSAS is not THE doctrine according to godliness… 1Ti_6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; NOR are they the words of our Lord Jesus Christ…Matt. 18:22-35, Luke 15, John 15:5,6, Luke 8:13 et al…

He called me a liar because I mistakenly said, “he wrote the forward to the book.” On the online cover his endorsement (which he says he never made, listen to audios) appears where a “forward” is many times posted, which can be seen on the PDF link. So according to Dixon I am a liar because I said it was a forward when it was only an endorsement which he deceitfully tried to distance himself from. The fact is Dr. Dixon looked at a transcript of the book 6 YEARS before he introduced it to me all the while pretending not to know anything about the book AND BEFORE it ever went to be published with authority to make changes to it, then comes to me to get my opinion “because I am well read, intelligent and he would respect my opinion.” Apparently he has added to the things I have “lied” about saying he had no part in Sam Adam’s takeover of Mike Slattery’s Church. I have included an email Sam Adams admitting to this very fact which Dr. Greg Dixon now accuses me of lying about. Will he now say Sam is lying also? No doubt the “out of context” card will now be used. Repent Dr. Dixon I implore you, it is not 1,000 years you will be excluded from but an eternity from Christ if you continue in your lies and deception. When you repent, then will I remove this post but not until then.

Click Below to listen to Dr. Dixon endorsing the book he “did not endorse.”

http://kingdomexclusion.com/?cat=12 

 Click Below for Sermon

  right click here to download mp3

Click Below to listen to the phone call between Pastor Ed and Dr. Greg Dixon Clicking on the PDF and following the links will help to give understanding of this issue. This phone call proves Dr, Dixon to be a deceitful liar while trying to misdirect from the entire point of the letter in question which is his and Sam Adam’s Kingdom Exclusion heresy. EndNote my defense of Mike Slattery proved also to be an error on my part as he proved to me in private conversation that he is a OSAS false preacher demonstrated by his perversion which he spoke to me on the phone. He spoke in graphic pornographic terms that only an unregenrate person would use in describing lewd acts of sodomy he engaged in. Unrepentant after being confronted Pastor Ed immediately broke ties with him and withstood vicious attacks from all in their wicked Camp including Sam Adams, Dr. Greg Dixon, Mike Slattery and Dr. Scott A. Johnson. The reason they all turned was because all of them stood for the lie of OSAS and turned on me right after I did a series of sermons exposing this damnable doctrine which lead to my being kicked off of the Calvinist website sermonaudio.com.

Dr. Greg Dixon accused Pastor Ed of lying about conspiring with Sam Adams to take over the church of Mike Slatttery. As though I have any reason whatsoever to lie about what they are doing behind the scenes. I have proof that Dr, Greg Dixon is either a liar or senile as he vehemently denied having any part in Sam’s permanent take over which was originally supposed to be a thirty day fill in for Mike Slattery. In an Email received from Sam Adams he admits to this in the following comment; “When I consulted Dr. Dixon for advice before allowing you and Mike in it was not about you, it was about Mike, because Dr. Dixon previously counseled me not to allow Mike to return to the church under any circumstance, which was a hard thing for me to do by the way, but which was the wisest position to take as Mike also knows.” (the quote above is documented on page 13 of 28 in the PDF document)

Click Below For phone Call between Pastor Ed and Dr. Greg Dixon (the original unedited version is availble upon request, as I have been accused of “doctoring the tape” to make Dr. Dixon “appear” to be a liar, the unedited version only lacks the inserts of his endorsment and the loops used for emphasis)

  right click here to download mp3
Click on the PDF below is documentation of an email conversation between Pastor Ed and Sam Adams.

  right click here for PDF documentation (follow links)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/46977880/Virginia-Lies

My comments in blue (not part of the original)

His problem statements and/or contradictions highlighted in red (all original except the colored highlight)

 

 

 

 

These are some thoughts, though not exhaustive, after around seven years of intensive research on this subject which has involved restudying the New Testament and reading approximately 15 books on the subject. Now if I am to be considered a heretic because of what I believe God (God does not lead you to a lie it took you seventy years to find by a fellow heretic) has led me to understand from His word, then so be it. As our Lord has admonished, I will not fear what man can do to me. As Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said when he quoted the poem, The Bridge Builder, at the Indianapolis Baptist Temple in 1956, “Young men are following me and I want to make sure that I am a faithful bridge builder for them.”

 

 

The cruelty of Calvin and those who follow him. Calvinism has a spirit all it’s own, and it is NOT the Holy Spirit. There are several ways we can see this truth. #1 Their doctrine contradicts the plain and clear teaching of the most basic fundamentals of the Bible. It contradicts hermeneutic principles immediately after it teaches them to it’s students. The easiest to see, for anyone who has eyes to see, is the false doctrine of the present and future forgiveness of sins. There is not ONE explicit verse that teaches present or future sins are automatically or arbitrarily forgiven because one is a Christian. Yet there are two EXPLICIT verses that teach that only past or old sins are forgiven. (Rom. 3:25, 2 Pet. 1:9) It is at this point several principles of hermeneutics are compromised, one being that the less explicit verses overrule the explicit not once but twice in at least two different ways. The first being that they excuse past by saying that it does not exclude “present or future” sins forgiven. This is not so, because it is through the entire Bible that one’s past righteous standing before God can be lost if one strays from that righteousness. This is later made VERY plain by Peter in 2 Pet. 2:20-22. Too many examples are listed in the Bible to go over them here. Second is the truth that sin separates us from God who is holy. Jesus himself refutes the false teaching that “All God sees in a believer is what Jesus did for him, he cannot see our sin anymore,” This we can clearly see when we look at Revelation chapter three where Jesus speaks to the angel of the church of  Sardis saying some have not defiled their garments (with sin) and that those who walk with the Lord in white (purity and holiness) and who overcome will not have their names blotted out of the book of life. Now if that means that everyone on earth starts out with their names in the book of life then the “Sinful Nature” doctrine dies a horrible death, but if it means all who were born again have their names placed in the book then it means they can also have them blotted out by defiling the garments (sin).  Third, it takes a reading into the text to make you say what you want it to say to prop up bad doctrine. These verses must be rent out of their context and twisted to contradict the entirety of the Bible. This is done on a regular basis by these scripture twisting false teachers.  You can do this with any verses that you see the explicit teaching of the possibility of a believer falling away and then go to some like John MacArthur’s website and see him masterfully and circuitously twist the word of God to mean what it plainly does not say. A good example is his twisting of John 15:5,6. But I caution you to be prayed up and ask God to show you the truth and protect you from false doctrine, remember we are in a real spiritual battle and Satan will attempt to deceive you.  Do not go there in pride thinking you can’t be deceived, it is by this method Satan deceives the whole world and we as Christians know better by the word.

I hear many “Christians” who admit they never read their bible, have no word in them yet believe themselves “secure in Christ”. For security IN Christ you must first have Christ in you! One cannot have Christ in him and have no word of God in him but repeat man made mantras you think are “in line with the word of God” and live your life in total rebellion to his word. How can one be obedient to his word and at the same time be starved of it? Jesus said we are clean by the words he has spoken over us, but if we only give a token listen to his word, it has not transforming power as God will not transform us against our own will. Do we think we fool God by “studying” by listening to popular preachers or renegade rabble rousers screaming about the New World Order or “exposing” everything under the sun? Do we form our own clicks and blogs and churches with those who are unclean, unholy, and have no appetite for the transforming power of God in their lives? Do they obey the word of God? Do they spread unsubstantiated gossip, with a cloak of “protecting the sheep”? What are their sources? Are they holy people who fear God and walk upright obeying the word of God? Or do they believe in Once Saved Always saved? Do they excuse disobedience to God’s word ofr themselves while teaching others that if they continue lying, smoking, drunkenness, masturbation, fornication, rock and roll satanic “Christian” music and even witchcraft and use testimony of practicing witches to accuse men of God, they are assured Heaven? Of course NOT they would scream, [not in word only in practice is the truth of it] (Scott Johnson, Sam Adams, Greg Dixon et al)?  Have they gotten the other side of the story by going to the source? (No) Do they hypocritically quote Pro 18:13  He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.  and then violate it by answering a matter as though it is true with only one side of a story? (Yes) Do they throw out any mitigating testimony of those who opposed what the false accusers have said? (Yes) This speaks of an agenda not a desire to know or promote the truth. It also speaks of a person who disregards the word of God when it suits him. Can a person like that be trusted with the word of God?

It is an interesting observation that I have made that EVERY one of my false accusers is Calvinistic in thought and spirit. That in all my years of ministry I have NEVER been accused of anything immoral until I befriended Calvinists and tried to be a blessing to them by sharing the truth and desiring to see them set free of their devils and false doctrine.

A dentist knows he hit pay dirt when the patient jumps at the probing of his rotted teeth. I apparently hit the nerve of the Calvinist. They could not refute the doctrine so they lie, conspire, and even take the testimony of practicing witches against a servant of God. After all they do not believe they will be thrown into the lake of fire for lying like the bible says, or for abominably sowing discord among the brethren by posting their lies and innuendos, they are after all Once Saved Always Saved.  The bible calls the MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS a “mother” for a reason. She gives birth not only to Calvinism but to the spirit behind it which is contrary to the word of God in doctrine and practice. Where they Bible says Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
They excuse themselves from these verses. They do not KNOW anything they repeat to be true, I don’t know if they themselves believe it to be true, but they want it to be true. It is like Hitler said, “If you repeat a lie often enough and loud enough, the people will believe it.”  This unfortunately also includes believers, they can fall away, any of us can, and we should fear God in this life, it is very short. As for me, I know I need the prayers of my friends and brother and sisters in Christ out there. I am not foolish enough to think I could never fall, I pray I never do, and I pray my enemies start obeying the word of God and do what is right.

Note: Please keep your hate mail to yourself, don’t tell me about your false dreams about me while you are neck deep in error believing things written about me, for I know what the word of God says about you: Pro 17:4  A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Jud_1:8  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Tit_3:2  To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

1Pe_3:16  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
2Pe_2:10  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Jud_1:10  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
You have no fear of God that you could be wrong, you are prideful and arrogant and God shows nothing to people like you but the Devil certainly does as an angel of light.

Answer to another precious victim of the wicked Doctrine of Calvinism:

Yes I all this happened to me seemingly the same way you describe. I somehow found myself surrounded by all these Calvinists from Sermon audio who wanted to associate with me. At the time to be honest I knew little of Calvinism from a doctrinal standpoint but had come to realized it was that poison that I was being taught over the years since immediately after I got saved. I thank the Lord that I was saved in the manner I was, that is by reading the Bible for months and realizing all i though I knew about the Jesus I believed in was wrong. I saw my need for repentance and when I knelt down to ask the Lord to save me repentance came over me like a flood. Up until that time I did not realize how sinful I was, and how God viewed it. I did not even realize until the moment His Spirit renewed me that I was on my way to Hell. But the Lord showed me in no uncertain terms that had I died I would have gone to Hell. I cried like a baby for I don’t know how long, and when I got up I knew the Lord Jesus and I knew he knew me and forgave me and washed me clean…then came the Calvinists out of the woodwork to tell me how I can sin and never lose my salvation. Of course I ran into them by witnessing, through all my years I never had a Calvinist witness to me. They are like leaches that seek new blood to suck the spiritual life out of anyone who has joy or is walking with the Lord. They seem to be sent supernaturally from Satan himself.

That is why much of my website now refute Calvinism from every angle I can think of. It cannot stand the light of the truth and it has the Calvinists in a John Calvin like uproar. Since they cannot burn me at the stake they can attempt to neutralize the message by false accusations, half truths and distortions. A tactic Satan has not deviated from for centuries.

I have relatively recently seen that all the denominations of today were born out of Rome, the MOTHER OF HARLOTS rev. 17:5 And they to one degree or another hold to Romish doctrines, practices, or rituals to one degree or another. Calvinism has a direct line of birth from Rome. The spirit behind Calvinism is identical, it hates the truth and Christians who walk in child like faith, and seeks to destroy them and a wolf in sheep’s clothing by pretending to be one of the flock, pretending to be protecting the flock while secretly devouring them.

I have no doubt that the evil spirits that possess these men would move them to burn us at the stake if it were politically correct. They hunt down and persecute those who can see through their false doctrine casting their name out as evil, falsely accusing them, all while thinking they are doing the work of God. Kind of reminds me of the mindset of a Muslim suicide bomber rather than a Spirit filled Christian, who is marked by his love for the brethren and his enemies. While they do their best to curse us, Jesus told us when they do these things we are actually blessed and have reason to leap for joy! Luke 6:22,23 I can tell you I am blessed! I know a few others who are likewise blessed but not many

When the Lord shows us something, a truth in his word, that others should see it is our responsibility as teachers to teach it to the body. Unfortunately because of false teaching we have had little discernment to know who is a true believer and who is not. Who is not comes to light as they reject the light of the word, as they cling to the darkness they love and try to protect. It is at this point their devils manifest their hatred. I have seen it happen over and over since I have been in ministry. Our enemy is very very clever and subtil, but not unconquerable! We submit ourselves to the God and by believing and obeying his word in faith and resist the devil with the word of God and he will flee. I have also seen that over and over in my own life and ministry.

One of Satan’s subtil tricks is to get us to react in the flesh rather than walk in the spirit. To get us to justify hate because of hurt, which is a way of getting us to stop trusting God and trust in ourselves. In the flesh loving our enemies is not something we would do or even want to do, we want retaliation in the flesh, we want justice or every wrong, real or perceived. In the Spirit we love our enemies and sincerely pray for them, we do not wish to see any harm come to them and would rejoice with the angels at their repentance. Now who is rambling? OK I will quit here and hope to hear from you soon. God Bless you sister and I pray the Lord lead you to a home fellowship where there are true humble believers who love correction and hate sin.

GRACE: The impression of many seems to be, that grace will pardon what it cannot prevent; in other words, that if the grace of the Gospel fails to save people from the commission of sin in this life; it will nevertheless pardon them and save them in sin, if it cannot save them from sin. Now, really, I understand the Gospel as teaching that men are saved from sin first, and as a consequence, from hell; and not that they are saved from hell while they are not saved from sin. Christ sanctifies when he saves. And this is the very first element or idea of salvation, saving from sin. “Thou shall call his name Jesus,” said the angel, “for he shall save his people from their sins.” “Having raised up his Son Jesus,” says the apostle, “he hath sent him to bless you in turning every one of you from his iniquities.” Let no one expect to saved from hell, unless the grace of the Gospel saves him first from sin.–Charles Finney

 

A STUDY THROUGH THE WORD

Part 1

 

      by Milton Green

        INTRODUCTION

 

We have felt a need to develop a Bible study that will enable people to see clearly the Jesus of the Word and then describe what a fallen away Church looks like. Therefore, this Bible study represents the first of several studies designed to take you through the Word of God to examine your Bible for yourself. In fact, you will find very few of our comments and explanations in this study. We have tried to simply give you a guideline to study the Word for yourself and to ask specific questions on each verse to cause you to examine your own Bible.

 

It is very important that you use your Bible to answer the questions for yourself since many hearts have been captured by the traditions of men. This causes people to have tunnel vision and not to examine what the Word truly says but only part of the Word. This study in the Word, and the ones to Follow, are written for use as an individual Bible study aid, home group study, or church group studies. The following questions are some areas of study we cover in this Bible study or plan to cover in future studies. They are intended to urge you to consider the Word for yourself, and to examine yourself as to whether or not certain doctrines may have captured your heart and blinded you from seeing the Word. If you will follow in your Bible through these studies, I believe the Word will change your life. Be careful not to build a doctrine around a particular scripture and be blocked from hearing the total Word for yourself.

 

We plan to cover in these studies such issues as l Corinthians 3 concerning the carnal Christian and Romans 7 regarding Paul’s struggle with the flesh. God has given us some clear answers to many questions about these last days. We are now able to show you who the sleeping virgins are and who is in the great falling away. We are dealing directly in these studies with what the Bible says. Let’s prove ourselves teachable and not be like the church of Laodicea who is rich, increased in goods, and in need of nothing. Remember, you too have been called to be a teacher of the Word of God. The anointing abides within you (l John 2:27). When you complete this study in the Word, share and teach it to a friend or a group. Spread the Word of God to others.

 

A STUDY THROUGH THE WORD

 

Could you possibly be a partaker of the mark of the beast and the great apostasy in the last days and not realize it? Are you a part of the bride of Christ today or are you a part of the great falling aqay of the last days? You can know if you are willing to let the Word of God test your heart.

 

This test could involve whether you love your religious traditions more than you do the whole counsel of the Word of God. Could you have found a false security in a doctrine that actually counsels rebellion to God and that does not conform you to godliness? Could it be possible for the mark of the beast to be on those who have found a false security in the doctrines of men rather than conformity to godliness and the Word of God? Do you really clearly understand what the doctrines of demons mentioned in l Timothy 4:1 means for today? Do you really understand what the great falling away and mark of the Beast is, and if not, could you possibly be deceived into being a part of it?

 

It is the desire of all of us [here] to help you get the Word of God abiding in your heart. Jesus said “If you abide in Me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you … he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit.” (John 15:7,5). This is the first of a series of Bible studies designed to help you abide in the Word of God and in Christ Jesus. In these studies the questions asked above will be explained to you as you go through your Bible using this study aid. This first study is designed to give you a firm foundation upon which to build God’s Word inside you. Get your Bible and let’s go through God’s Word together. Let God bless you as you plant His Word in your heart and let it “richly dwell within you” (Colossians 3:16).

 

GOD TESTS THE HEART OF EVERYTHING HE CREATES

 

Genesis 1:26 — In the beginning Adam was created in the image of God. He had a total innocence and a pure heart with no impure motives (holy and blameless).

 

Genesis 2:8-9,15-17 — Was Adam given a choice to choose between the tree of life or the tree of death? Did God say “You shall surely die” if you eat of the tree of death? Now the hearts of Adam and Eve are tested.

 

Genesis 3:1 — Did Satan pervert and twist the Word of God? Compare what Satan said with what God said in Genesis 2:16-17 (Indeed, has God said).

 

Genesis 3:2-3 — Eve did not resist Satan’s perversion of God’s Word.

 

Did Eve change God’s words by saying “nor touch it, lest you die?” Did God say “You shall surely die”? Now we come to a direct contradiction of the Word of God. Satan entices and tempts Adam and Eve with false words — another doctrine.

 

Genesis 3:4 — Did God say in Genesis 2:17 “You shall surely die”? Did Satan say “You surely shall not die”? (Hath God really said?) Could this be the first doctrine of Satan in the Bible? Is this like the doctrines of demons? Do demons carry out the plans, thoughts and schemes of Satan? Could a doctrine of Satan (or a doctrine of demons) be to speak contrary to what God says? (Hath God really said?).

 

Did Satan repudiate and contradict the words of God? [Please make note of this. Compare this with Acts 13:45-46.]

 

WHAT WAS THE TREE OF DEATH FROM WHICH EVE ATE?

 

Genesis 3:6 — Notice, this tree was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise. Could this be the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the boastful pride of life? Did Eve choose with her heart life or death? Did God say “You shall surely die”?

 

Genesis 3:7 — Is sin and death now working in them? Was Eve led astray by a different spirit? Did the serpent deceive Eve with another doctrine? Another gospel? Could this be like receiving another Jesus? Read Genesis 3:13.

 

The serpent had deceived Eve with another doctrine. [Note: You lose the likeness and image of God by having a rebellious and impure heart.] Turn to Romans 5:12 — Did sin and death spread to all men through Adam? – sin and death is the rebellious, cursed nature of Satan. Every person is born with this same cursed nature of Satan. Therefore, every man walks in the image and likeness of Satan. His heart loves and lives for this cursed nature. He is in total darkness, and he does not know that Satan is his master and that death and judgement is upon him.

 

Colossians 3:5-9 — Do the lusts of the flesh mentioned in verse 5 and verse 8 represent the character of God or the rebellious sin nature of Satan? Does your Bible say that wrath and judgement are upon these things? God has not changed today, has He? Isn’t wrath and judgement still on those who practice these things? [Please note: This sin and death nature is the lusts and deeds of the flesh. Adam and Eve obeyed Satan rather than God. You become conformed to the image of the master whom you obey; see Romans 6:16.]

 

Galatians 5:19 — “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident….” The deeds of the flesh represent the cursed nature of Satan.

 

Some of the deeds of the flesh are:

 

PRIDE…….so is Satan

EGO………..so is Satan

REBELLION……so is Satan

SELFISHNESS….so is Satan

HATE….so is Satan

ANGER….so is Satan

MURDER….so is Satan

TEMPER…..so is Satan

UNFORGIVENESS….so is Satan

GOSSIP….so is Satan

JEALOUSY….so is Satan

ENVY….so is Satan

STRIFE….so is Satan

SLANDER….so is Satan

CRITICISM….so is Satan

IMMORALITY….so is Satan

LYING…so is Satan

 

 

The sin and death nature is:

 

Selfishness and Self-Centeredness, not love.

a sin, rebellious, lust-nature (cursed nature), not a Divine Nature. (This is the opposite of the Divine Nature.)

the image and likeness of Satan, not God.

 

The fruit of this rebellious lust-nature is to live for yourself (not considering God in your motives or decisions). This is the fruit of a selfish, self-centered sin and death nature.

 

Adam’s heart was tested, and he failed. The last Adam, Jesus, was also tested. He was victorious. Now let’s read Luke 4:1-14

 

Luke 4:1 — Jesus was full of the Spirit of God; and led by the Spirit to have His heart tested. Now begin the temptations of the lust of the flesh.

 

Luke 4:2 — Who tempted Jesus?

 

Luke 4:3 — Temptation #1 – the lust of the flesh.

 

Luke 4:4 — The shield of faith is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:16).

 

Luke 4:5-7 — Temptabtion #2 – the lust of the eyes.

 

Luke 4:8 — The shield of faith is the Word of God.

 

Luke 4:9-11 — Temptation #3 – the boastful pride of life. (This temptation represented the boastful pride of life in that Satan encouraged Jesus to make a show of Himself, perform a miracle, so the people would follow Him. The boastful pride of life always chooses the way of self-glorification. Satan wanted Jesus to do the work of God His own way, not God’s way. Like all these other temptations, Satan perverts the Word; he uses it, but twists it to make it say something God didn’t say.) (Hath God really said?)

 

Luke 4:12 — The shield of faith is the Word of God.

 

Luke 4:14 — Jesus receives the power of the Spirit. [Note: Jesus had performed no miracle of healing or deliverance up to this time.]

 

Luke 4:13 — Jesus finished and was victorious in resisting the devil in every temptation of the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.

 

Luke 4:18 — Jesus having established His heart holy, blameless and pure, begins the 3-fold ministry of preaching, healing, and deliverance to the captives of the world.

 

We are tempted and our hearts tested, just like Adam; just like Jesus.

 

Either we choose the way of Adam, resulting in sin and death (you will know them by their fruit) or, we choose the way of Jesus, resisting the lust, flesh-rebellion to God, resulting in sanctification and salvation.

 

Hebrews 4:15 — Does your Bible say we are tempted like Jesus was tempted?

 

Hebrews 4:16 — Does your Bible say God has provided a Throne of Grace where you can find help in these times of testing?

 

Hebrews 2:18 — Does your Bible say that Jesus suffered in the flesh by resisting the devil while tempted? And does it say He, Jesus, is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted (those who also suffer by resisting the lust-rebellion of the flesh)?

 

All who name the name of Christ are called to walk just as Jesus also walked.

 

1 Peter 2:21 — Does your Bible say you are to suffer as Jesus suffered? (Note: You suffer by resisting the lusts of the flesh. Read verses 18-20. Does this require some suffering in the flesh?)

 

1 Peter 2:24 — Does your Bible say that Jesus bore our sins in His Body, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness?

 

1 Peter 4:12-13 — The Bible says you are not to be surprised or shocked if you undergo a fiery trial. Don’t consider it some strange thing happening to you.

 

Did God say that these trials test your faith? Does it say that you share in the sufferings of Christ as you go through these trials? Then the suffering Jesus endured must have been these fiery trials of the enemy (Satan) against His flesh. Have we seen in the Word that Satan tempted Jesus just as he tempted Adam and Eve? Does your Bible say don’t be surprised if you also get tested?

 

We saw that Jesus resisted Satan with the shield of faith and the Word of God. Let’s see how Jesus used this shield of faith against these temptations of Satan.

 

l Peter 4:1 — Does your Bible say Jesus suffered in the flesh? Remember, we just saw in verses 12-13 that this is called sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Does that mean you too are called to suffer in the flesh by resisting these temptations to fleshly lust-rebellion from Satan? Well, does your Bible say arm yourselves also with the same purpose?

 

Why?

 

Because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin! Is that walking as Jesus walked? (See l John 2:4-6).

 

1 Peter 4:2 — Notice your Bible says you then live no longer for your own lusts but for the will of God (these lusts of the flesh are opposite of the Word of God).

 

These fiery tests are the temptations of Satan, not the Holy Spirit.

 

James 1:13 — Does this verse say these trials are not from God? Who tempted Adam? Who tempted Jesus? Who tempts you?

 

James 1:16 — Is this addressed to brethren? Does your Bible say to expect the test?

 

1 Peter 5:8 — Does the Word of God warn you to be alert against the devil? Satan devours you when he is able to tempt you through a fiery trial and get you to act on these rebellious lusts of the flesh. The lusts of the flesh produce the life, character, and cursed lust-nature of Satan in you.

 

What does this say about traditions and doctrines that tell you to ignore the devil?

 

1 Peter 5:9 — Does your Bible say resist the devil by the shield of faith and by suffering in the flesh? Did Jesus do this?

 

Now notice carefully, are these words addressed to brethren?

 

Does your Bible clearly say that brethren everywhere experience these same trials and suffering in the flesh?

 

1 Peter 5:10 — After you have suffered for a little while (by resisting the rebellious lust-temptations of Satan against the flesh) God Himself will establish your heart in righteousness. This is how the Divine Nature is produced in you by the Spirit of God.

 

II Peter 1:4 — The precious and magnificent promises are the Word of God.

 

Does your Bible say that through the Word of God you become a partaker of the Divine Nature of God? (Is this being born again by the Word of God?) When the Divine Nature of God is produced in you as you hold fast the Word of God and resist the fiery temptations of Satan (resist by suffering in the flesh to do the will of God) you escape the corruption in the world by lust.

 

II Peter 1:5-10 — Does your Bible say that as long as you practice these things you will never stumble?

 

II Peter 1:11 — Does your Bible clearly say that in this way you enter the kingdom of God?

 

Let’s review something:

 

Have we read in your Bible that you are to live to no longer in the flesh by indulging the lusts of the flesh?

 

Does your Bible say that you are to resist the lusts of the flesh so as to live for the will of God?

 

Read Matthew 7:21. — Does your Bible clearly warn you that not everyone who is saying “Lord, Lord” will enter heaven?

 

Does it say only those who do the will of God enter heaven?

 

Did 1 Peter 4:2 say you no longer live for the lusts of men but for the will of God?

 

God has not changed His mind, has He? No. God has not changed His mind about rebellion; nor has Satan stopped trying to pervert the Word of God by telling people “You surely shall not die.”

 

Colossians 2:4 — Does your Bible say you could be deluded with a persuasive argument?

 

Colossians 2:6 — Are you to walk in Christ Jesus? Compare this verse with Ephesians 4:17-20 and 1 John 2:4-6.

 

Colossians 2:8 — Does your Bible warn you about being taken captive? Do people get taken captive through the traditions of men?

 

Colossians 2:11 — Does your Bible say that those in Christ have a circumcision not by mans hands but by the putting off of the body of the flesh? (Note: The King James Version says, “Putting off the body of the sins of the flesh.”)

 

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 — Does your Bible say the will of God is your sanctification (walk in holiness)?

 

Does it say that the will of God is that you possess your own vessel (body of flesh) in sanctification (holiness), not in lustful passion (yielding to the lust rebellion of the flesh)?

 

PART 2

 

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 — Are you called for impurity in your life or to sanctification? Does your Bible clearly say to you that if you reject this you reject God? Hath God really said!

 

Now, let me ask you, if you resist the will and the Word of God, is this not the same rebellion to God as the first Adam? Has God changed?

 

Hebrews 12:14 — Does your Bible clearly teach that without sanctification you will not see the Lord?

 

Romans 13:12 — You are told in your Bible to lay aside the deeds of darkness (lust-rebellion of the flesh) and put on the armor of light. Did Jesus put on the armor of light in resisting the temptations of the devil? (Read Ephesians 6:11-17.)

 

Romans 13:13 — Are you told in your Bible that we are NOT to walk in the lusts of the flesh (things like sensuality, immorality, strife, and jealousy, and indulging fleshy desires)?

 

Romans 13:14 — Are you to make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts? Has God made a way for you to resist? God says you are to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” How do you do that? Turn to II Corinthians 10.

 

II Corinthians 10:3-5,6 — Does your Bible say you are in a war, and that you are to take captive your thoughts? Does the Word say you are to destroy all speculations and every lofty thing (every fiery trial) raised up against the knowledge of God?

 

You are to take every thought captive! In this way you put on the Lord Jesus Christ. You enthrone Jesus as Lord in your heart and you resist every lie of the devil raised up against the Word of God. Do these weapons destroy the strongholds of the devil? (Compare verse 4 with Hebrews 4:15-16, 2:18.)

 

Does your Bible say that when you take every thought captive you then punish all disobedience? In other words, you put to death the rebellious lust-thoughts raised up against the knowledge of God. (Read Romans 8:14,13).

 

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 — Did Adam become a tree of death? Did Jesus become a tree of life? Does everyone like Adam spread death?

 

Does everyone like Jesus spread life?

 

1 Corinthians 15:44 — Does your Bible say your body of flesh was sown a natural body but becomes a spiritual body?

 

1 Corinthians 15:49 — Do the Sons of God bear the image of Jesus? Does this mean we are to walk, talk, act, and be righteous like Jesus?

 

1 Corinthians 15:50 — Are those people who don’t bear the image of Jesus going to go to heaven?

 

II Timothy 2:19 — Does your Bible say that everyone who names the Name of Christ (professes to be a Christian) is to abstain from sin (cease yielding to lust flesh-rebellion against the Lordship of Jesus)?

 

THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE MADE INTO THE IMAGE OF JESUS

WILL HAVE THEIR HEARTS TESTED SO AS TO BE CONFORMED INTO HIS IMAGE

 

James 1:13 — Who tempts you and me? Who tempted Eve? Who tempted Jesus?

 

James 1:14 — Does your Bible say you are tempted by the lust of the flesh? How was Eve tempted? How was Jesus tempted? Did Eve resist the flesh? Did Adam?

 

Did Jesus do the will of God by resisting the lust-flesh temptations of the devil? How are you called to walk if you are in Christ Jesus? (See l John 2:6) (Read Mark 8:34-35. You die to your own selfish living in order to find your life in Jesus.)

 

James 1:15 — Verse 14 says we are enticed and tempted by our own lust-flesh desires. Does your Bible say that when you yield to those lusts you give birth to sin and death?

 

Is this what happened to Adam?

 

Would someone who does not put on the Lord Jesus but rather makes provision for his lust flesh-desires, be a tree of life or a tree of death?

 

Does verse 15 tell you that when you yield to the lusts of the flesh that sin and death now works in you? When Adam and Eve were tempted, did they resist the devil? Did Adam become a tree of death?

 

When Jesus was tempted, like we are, did He resist the devil? Did Jesus become a tree of life?

 

James 1:16 — Is this addressed to “brethren?” Does this verse warn you that you also could be deceived? Were Adam and Eve deceived? Were they not deceived when they were led away and enticed by their own lusts? Did they believe a lie of the devil?

 

1 Peter 1:14 — Does God call you to walk in obedience by not being conformed to your former lusts?

 

1 Peter 1:15-16 — Does your Bible say you are to be holy in all your behavior? [Note: All of 1 Peter is to show us how to overcome all the rebellion of the flesh and to resist the devil (powers of darkness).]

 

II Peter 1:4 — God gave us His Word (precious and magnificent promises) that we might become partakers of the Divine Nature. Those who have the divine nature no longer walk in the corruption of fleshy lust-rebellion. They escape this cursed nature to partake in the Divine Nature by obeying God’s Word.

 

This is how we are born again by the Word of God! We are reconciled back to the image and likeness of God from which we fell through Adam’s lust-rebellion. This divine nature conforms us to the image of Jesus (See Romans 8:29).

 

In this way, we are restored to the image of God. (Compare this with how Adam lost the image of God through lust sin-rebellion.)

 

II Corinthians 5:17 — Through the divine nature we become a new creation, old things have passed away.

 

II Corinthians 5:14,15 — Does your Bible say that those who have the love of Christ (the divine nature) no longer live for themselves, but for God? This is the mark of the Divine Nature.

 

II Corinthians 5:18-19 — We have been committed to the word of reconciliation being reconciled back to the image and likeness of God. Read Colossians 3:1-10

 

Colossians 3:10 — Does your Bible say the new self (the new creation) is according to the image of God?

 

John 3:16,36 — While verse 16 has become a popular memory verse, verse 36 has been ignored by the traditions of man.

 

Does your Bible clearly say who does not obey the Son shall not see life? [Note: The King James Version uses the word "believe" rather than "obey". However, compare verse 36 with Hebrews 5:9; Jesus has become the source of salvation only to those who obey Him.]

 

John 3:19 — Does the Word of God say that judgement is on those who love darkness (lust, sin-rebellion) rather than light (Jesus, the truth)?

 

John 3:20 — Does your Bible say the reason people don’t come to the light of the Word of God (Jesus) is because they love darkness? [Note: Colossians 1:12-13 says those who are saints are delivered out of the "kingdom of darkness" and into the "kingdom of Jesus." Therefore, the kingdom of darkness is the rebellious, selfish, cursed lust-nature of Satan. Those who love darkness in John 3:20 are those who love the rebellious, selfish lust-nature of Satan more than they love God.]

 

John 3:21 — Does your Bible teach that chose who practice the truth (rather than the lusts of the flesh) are the ones who come to Jesus?

 

THE FRUIT OF A DIVINE NATURE IS A TREE OF LIFE

 

II Peter 1:5-8 — The divine nature is like the fruit of a good tree and is described here in these verses.

 

II Peter 1:9 — The ‘blind’ are those who have “forgotten their purification from former sins.” Jesus described the church in Laodicea as “miserable and poor and blind and naked” because they had need of nothing (Revelation 3:17).

 

Galatians 5:24 — A lot of people say they are in “Christ Jesus” today. Does your Bible say those who truly are “in Christ Jesus” have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires? In other words, those in Christ Jesus do not indulge their fleshy lusts desires but suffer in the flesh so as to do the will of God.

 

Romans 8:9 — Compare this verse with verse 13. If the Spirit of God is in you, will you be putting to death the deeds of the flesh?

 

Galatians 5:16 — Does your Bible say that if you walk by the Spirit you will not carry out the desire of the flesh?

 

Galatians 5:17 — Does this verse teach you are in a war? (Read II Corinthians 10:3-6 again.) Did you read in Romans 8:7 that the flesh is hostile to spiritual things of God?

 

James 4:4 — Does your Bible clearly call those who love the world (Read l John 2:16; lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life) adulteresses? Do they become an enemy of God?

 

The reason they are an enemy of God is because their love of the world causes them to be hostile to the things of God. Why? Because God demands they die to their fleshy carnal lifestyles and they choose the way of rebellion. Does this sound like the way of Adam?

 

Ephesians 2:1 — Does the Bible refer to those living in fleshy sin rebellion as DEAD? Would this person be a tree of life or a tree of death?

 

Ephesians 2:2 — Does your Bible say “formerly walked”? Does “a spirit” (powers of darkness) work “IN” sons of disobedience? Is your Bible saying that death is at work in them?

 

Ephesians 2:3 — Does your Bible say “formerly lived” in the lusts of the flesh (indulging selfish, fleshy desires)? What is their nature: wrath (death), or life? The sons of disobedience do not put to death the flesh. They obey the lusts of the flesh rather than God. Is it possible to feel security in another doctrine (like Adam and Eve) not according to the Word of God and still remain a son of disobedience?

 

Does your Bible say those who walk with death working in them indulge fleshy desires of the mind? Would this be the opposite of a tree of life, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?

 

Ephesians 4:22 — Is corruption (death) working in the old selfish, lust nature? (See II Peter 2:4).

 

Romans 8:14 — Those who are truly sons of God are those who are being led by the Spirit of God (rather than slaves to a corrupt selfish sin nature).

 

Romans 8:13 — Does your Bible say if you are living by the flesh you must die? Did God say you shall surely die? Did Satan say you surely shall not die? If you are being led by the Spirit of God (truly a son) will you be putting to death fleshy lust rebellion? (Read again II Corinthians 10: 6, obedience complete.)

 

Romans 8:17 — Do children suffer in order to be glorified with Jesus? (Compare this suffering once again with 1 Peter 4:12-14, 1-2.)

 

Romans 8:2,4 — Does your Bible say those who are free from sin and death are those who walk according to the Spirit, and not according to the lust desires of the flesh?

 

Romans 8:5 — If you are living according to the flesh, what does your Bible say your mind is set on? (Read Colossians 3:1-3.)

 

Do those who live by the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit? How does this compare to II Corinthians 10:3-6? Are we to take captive thoughts of fleshy sin rebellion and die to them? (Remember we are not to analyze the Word like Adam and Eve – but do it!)

 

Romans 8:6 — Is the mind set on the flesh a tree of life or a tree of death! What about the mind set on the Spirit?

 

Romans 8:7 — The mind set on fleshy sin rebellion strikes back at God’s right to the Lordship of your life. The mind set on the flesh lives for itself and lives in selfish lust rebellion to God.

 

Does this sound like a description of where a fallen church might be living? People like this do not obey the Word of God but obey their own lust rebellious thoughts and desires. This was the problem of Adam and Eve.

 

Ephesians 4:23 — The renewed mind walks according to the Spirit by putting to death the deeds of the flesh. (See Romans 8:14,13,4-6 and II Corinthians 10:5-6.)

 

Ephesians 4:24 — Does your Bible say the new self (divine nature) is in the image of God? In this way the image of God is restored.

 

Does your Bible say this new self is righteousness and holiness? (Read 1 Peter 1:14-15,16.)

 

Ephesians 5:1 — Are beloved children to be imitators of God?

 

Ephesians 5:3-5 — This describes the real body of Christ created in His image of righteousness and holiness. Do those who walk opposite of this have an inheritance in the kingdom of God?

 

Ephesians 5:6 — Does your Bible warn you not to let empty words deceive you about these things? If God warns you not to be deceived, does that mean you could get deceived?

 

Did Adam and Eve get deceived? Did they become a tree of life or a tree of death? Did they receive any empty words like you surely shall not die? Did God say you shall surely die? Let me ask you, did they believe a lie? A doctrine of Satan? A doctrine of demons that said the opposite of what God says? When Satan tempted Jesus with false, empty words, how did He resist? (See Luke 4:2-18; II Corinthians 10:3-5; and 1 Peter 4:1-2).

 

Let’s see if God’s Word warns you not to be deceived like Adam and Eve by listening to doctrines of demons.

 

II Corinthians 11:2 — A pure virgin is someone with a pure heart for Jesus. They are without impure and selfish motives. Having been restored to the likeness of God they are like a lamb, not like a wolf.

 

II Corinthians 11:3 — Who deceived Eve? Does your Bible say Eve’s mind was led astray? Does Paul fear that could happen to you too?

 

Does your Bible say Eve was led astray? Does it say we also can be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus? In other words, she received a divided heart that indulged the desires of the flesh, world, and the devil. This is how your heart gels an idol and becomes divided.

 

II Corinthians 11:4 — Does your Bible say this is the way you receive another Jesus, a different spirit (powers of darkness), and a different gospel? (See earlier in this study.)

 

II Corinthians 11:14-15 — Can Satan disguise himself as a servant of righteousness? Could that be by bringing empty words, doctrines of demons and traditions of men that spoke “about” Jesus but did not renew you to the image of Jesus? Would that be a tree of death?

 

II Peter 2:1,2,1O,14 — Would Satan’s servants of righteousness be called false prophets? Have we clearly seen that Satan tempts you to draw you after the lusts of the flesh? Does your Bible say that false prophets (servants of Satan) entice people to follow their sensuality (fleshy lust rebellion) drawing them into fleshy indulgence?

 

Is this what Satan did to Adam and Eve? Is this how false prophets will entice many ? Did Satan malign (pervert) the truth with Eve? Do false prophets malign (pervert) the way of the truth? Does your Bible warn you repeatedly not to be deceived?

 

1 Corinthians 15:21,22 — Did Adam become a tree of death? Did Jesus become a tree of life?

 

1 Corinthians 15:49 — Are we to bear the image of Jesus? Now you can understand clearly what Jesus meant when He talked about good trees and bad trees, good fruit and bad fruit.

 

Matthew 7:13 — Is the way to life a broad road or a narrow road? What does the broad road lead to?

 

Matthew 7:14 — Are many going to find the way to life? Does that verse make it important enough to make sure you are on the right road?

 

Matthew 7:15 — Do false prophets act like lambs or like wolves?

 

Matthew 7:16,2O — How are you going to know them?

 

Matthew 7:17-19 — What happens to every tree that does not bear good fruit? Is it a tree of life or a tree of death?

 

Matthew 7:21 — Will everyone who says Jesus is their Lord go to heaven? Does your Bible clearly say only those who do the will of God go to heaven? Would they be a tree of life?

 

l John 2:15 — Does your Bible clearly tell you that you are not to love this world? Is the love of God in anyone who loves the world? II Corinthians 5:15 says those who have the love of God controlling them no longer live for themselves but live for God. (Read James 4:4 again.)

 

John 12:25 — If you live for yourself, you lose your life and experience the nature of the tree of death Satan. If you lose your life and live for God you experience the nature of the tree of life – Jesus. (Read Proverbs 11:30. The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life.)

 

1 John 2:16 — Does your Bible say that the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life is not of God but worldly?

 

1 John 2:17 — Who abides forever? (Note: 1 Peter 4:1-2, those who do the will of God suffer in the flesh and cease from sin and do nor live for the lusts of men.) Once again, the opposite of the lust of the flesh is the will of God.

 

James 4:4 — By loving the world (this is an idol of the heart) you prove your hostility (in your heart) against the Lordship of Jesus. A friend of the world makes himself and enemy of God. Enemies of God do not go to heaven. This is an adulteress.

 

John 8:38,43-44 — Jesus said that when you cannot hear the Word of God it is because you want to do the deeds of your father. (See John 8:19-21.)

 

II Timothy 4:3-4 — Does the Word of God warn you that a time will come when people will choose doctrines in accord with their own desires rather than the will of God (remember Matthew 7:21)?

 

BE CAREFUL YOU DON’T TURN YOUR EARS ASIDE FROM THE WORD OF GOD!

 

Websites refuting Calvinism (More may be added later):

• http://www.whatisacult.com/calvinism.html
• http://www.biblelife.org/calvinism.htm
• http://www.biblelife.org/election.htm
• http://www.bcbsr.com/topics/servetus.html
• http://www.bcbsr.com/topics/calvarg.html
• http://one-evil.org/people/people_16c_Calvin.htm
• http://knowgodsword.wordpress.com/sermons/the-evil-theologian-john-calvin/
• http://www.xcalvinist.com/
• http://counteringcalvinism.wordpress.com/
• http://blog.savetheperishing.com/?p=530
• http://www.1timothy4-13.com/files/bible/calvin.html
• http://www.oaim.org/romans9.html
• http://www.insearchoftruth.org/articles/romans_9.html
• http://www.wayoflife.org/files/category-calvinism.html
• http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Basics/predestination.htm
• http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Doctrines/heresies_of_calvinism.htm
• http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Doctrines/Calvinism/john_calvin_exposed.htm
• http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Books,%20Tracts%20&%20Preaching/Printed%20Books/Dr%20John%20Rice/hypercalvinism.htm
• http://www.dividedbytruth.org/BTP/widwafpoc/widwafpoc_main.htm
• http://www.bible-truth.org/FAQ-Calvinism.html
• http://www.landmark-lakewood.org/fivepoints.php

• http://www.revelationsmessage.co.uk/Extreme_Calvinism_Teachings.htm
• http://www.gospeltruth.net/John_said.htm
• http://www.theologyreview.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-4479.html
• http://www.mission.org/jesuspeople/calvinism.htm
• http://www.biblelife.org/calvinism.htm
• http://www.relevantbibleteaching.com/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=140010258&sec_id=140001239

Is your church’s website Google/government approved? Is your Pastor or deacons (a) freemason(s)? Are they a part of the Southern Baptist Convention? If so chances are they are freemasons as the SBC is lousy with Freemasons and Jesuit infiltrators. Is your church an incorporation created by the State or a biblical church built by Jesus Christ as the sole head and authority over it? Is your Pastor a Calvinist? (We are not Arminian) If so he is preaching a false gospel to you. Why do you suppose a multibillion dollar corporation would go through the trouble of paying ANY attention to our small ministry? Why would Satan?

Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.  In other words will God give truth to those who oppose Him by their doctrine? The implicit answer is no.

REPROVE, v.t. [L. reprobo; re and probo, to prove.]

1. To blame; to censure.

Click here to see that Calvinism  as well as the assumption of OSAS reproves God for sin and therefore contends with the Almighty in preaching another gospel.

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:6-8

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;Tit 2:11-12

This is the true grace of God written by the same person who wrote that we are saved by grace through faith. He wrote that the recipient of true grace is taught by that grace to live holy, and righteous and sober in this present world. In this present world denies the lie that we are set free from sin at death, which would make death our saviour rather than our enemy. It militates against the lies being propagated by people like the Jesuit infiltrator Hank Hannegraaff where he says ” We’re positionally righteous, but practically we still sin.” John wrote, refuting this lie, that God saw would be made out to be the “gospel” 2,000 years ago by writing, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”

Notice that The Holy Spirit knew that there would be those who teach a “positional” righteousness APART from a practical righteousness, deceiving people with their fair words and ear tickling message. He says that he that DOETH, yet how many times have you heard, out of context, “not by works of righteousness that we have done…” What he is saying here is that you will know them by their fruit, by what they do and do not do and by what their teaching produces in others. We see the irrefutable proof of the rotten fruit of Calvinism, the Word Faith Movement, Most Baptist “Churches”, in fact any denominational churches, corporate churches, and 501(c)(3) government sanctioned churches that bow before mammon giving up their birthright tomorrow for their mess of pottage today.  

Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according (ACCORD’, n.1. Agreement; harmony of minds; consent or concurrence of opinions or wills.) to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing…

GOD’LINESS, n. [from godly.] Piety; belief in God, and reverence for his character and laws.

1. A religious life; a careful observance of the laws of God and performance of religious duties, proceeding from love and reverence for the divine character and commands; christian obedience.
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: