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By Smith, Jeff, on February 14th, 2012
Every believer should be familiar with the words of Christ as they touch on the sentencing phase of Judgment Day. Where the wicked will hear, “Depart me from me all you workers of iniquity,” the faithful hope to be told, “Well done, good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joys of your lord.”
Perhaps, we are sometimes led to believe it doesn’t matter what we do at all, even in regard to our soul’s salvation, but the sentence of Christ surely emphasizes it is more blessed to do well than to work iniquity. There are many spiritual blessings to be found in Jesus, but those that are eternal are the ones that only the worthy obtain–not by worth of personal merit, but by the interaction of faith and grace. Heaven is a prize, a gift, a reward, an inheritance and a a treasure. Thus it is an objective worth striving after and one which only the faithful and few will attain. Continue reading » Worthy to Obtain
By Vanderwood, Scott, on March 4th, 2010
One of the most popular doctrines rooted in this country today is the doctrine of Calvinism. This doctrine more or less consists of five main points. The first, that man is born in sin, or Totally Depraved. Next, that God has predestined certain men to receive salvation, or Unconditional election. Then, Christ’s blood only covers those whom God chose or predestined, or Limited Atonement. After that the belief that God sends the Holy Spirit upon you and you cannot reject it, or Irresistible Grace. Finally, that once you are saved, you are always saved and cannot lose your salvation, or Perseverance of the Saints. All five of these points revolve around one main theme: That man has no choice whether or not he is saved. The free-will of man is taken away by the belief in these points. Now the basis of the erroneous teaching came from a man named Augustine, who lived in the fourth century. Augustine taught that a man inherited the sin of Adam, and therefore we are born in sin, and not born pure. This doctrine is widely known as Original Sin. John Calvin took that basis and established the rest of the points we just pointed out.
Continue reading » The Will of Christ
By Cox, Stan, on February 1st, 2010
The concept is so simple… man is a free moral agent. He can and does make choices, every day of his life. Some men choose to do good. They support their families, pay their taxes and are productive citizens. Others choose to do evil. They are unfaithful to their spouse, they cheat their neighbor, they commit crimes. Those who choose to do good could choose to do otherwise. Conversely, the evildoer is one by choice as well. They are responsible for the evil they do.
This can be demonstrated anecdotally. We see it every day, even recognize it in our own lives. If our consciences are tender, we strive always to do good. However, from time to time we choose wrongly, and our conscience is pierced with guilt. Those who choose to do evil again and again have their consciences hardened (seared), and feel guilt no longer. Regardless, we always maintain the ability to choose.
Continue reading » Editorial: Free Will – Confusing the Simple
By Hafley, Larry Ray, on February 1st, 2004
Dear Larry, I have a question. Is salvation based on being faithful? If so, how faithful?
— William
Dear William,
"How faithful" does your wife expect you to be to her? That is what the Lord expects, too — "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:2). Your wife would not like it, if, after telling you that she has been faithful to you, you were to ask her, "How faithful?"
Continue reading » Contending for the Faith: How Faithful?
By Hafley, Larry Ray, on December 1st, 2003
I have a question, Is there any condition, when somebody has been saved, and they are a Christian, can that person get unsaved? Thank you, William
Reply:
Thanks for your question, William. I shall seek to answer it with Scripture. I will also send you some articles which apply to your question.
First, there are those who believe there is not "any condition" which will cause a saved person to become lost or unsaved.
Continue reading » Can a Saved Person be Lost?
By Osborne, Harry, on October 1st, 2003
Examining Romans 7:7-25
To say that this passage has been the occasion for much debate is an understatement. The fact that it is a difficult passage, regardless of the interpretation defended, is a truth to which all serious students would readily agree. In this brief study, we cannot raise all of the questions posed about this text, much less take the space required to reason towards answering all of those questions. We will, however, try to lay a foundation needed to properly understand the main points. For a detailed study, Whiteside’s commentary gives an excellent examination of this text.
The apostle Paul began the epistle to the Romans by affirming that the Gospel is God’s power to save those who respond in faith to that message. He then shows that all are in need of that salvation because all have sinned beginning with the Gentiles and then concentrating on the Jews (Romans 1:18 – 2:20). The next two chapters emphasize the themes of faith and grace as they relate to the justification of the sinner through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. This point is also made with special emphasis to the Jews. Up to that point in the book, the writer stresses the need for, and nature of God’s action in salvation.
Continue reading » "What is Written … How Readest Thou?": The Inward Conflict – Who Is Described?
By Hafley, Larry Ray, on August 1st, 2002
COMMON SENSE QUESTIONS A "CHURCH OF CHRIST" PREACHER CANNOT CLEARLY ANSWER
By Pastor David Martin
Solid Rock Baptist Church
David Martin is pastor of the Solid Rock Baptist Church, 5893 Old Brownsville Rd. E, Bartlett, TN 38135 USA; phone: 901-634-1622. He is a 1984 graduate of Pensacola Bible Institute of Florida, and was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1986. He has been in his current pastorate for eight years. His article on the Church of Christ cult is the result of in-depth personal conversation with a Church of Christ elder that led to a 3-day public debate with a Church of Christ evangelist in 1997. The debate was attended by 250 people nightly from within a 300-mile radius of Memphis, Tennessee.This is one of the most controversial articles on the church of Christ you will find anywhere. No church of Christ preacher can satisfactorily answer any of the questions posed by Pastor Martin.
Continue reading » Contending for the Faith: Answering a Baptist Preacher’s ‘Unanswerable Questions’
By Holmes, Bobby, on August 1st, 2002
Authors: Bobby Holmes and Mark Roberts
I. Tips and Tactics
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1. Neo-Calvinists are notorious for saying one thing when they mean something else entirely
2. Make certain that terms such as “law,” “grace,” “imputed righteousness,” are clearly defined and that they stick with the definition
1. Neo-Calvinists don’t want to admit we must believe to be saved, or that we must accept God’s grace, or that man must do anything to be saved.
2. Make them say it!
1. Legalism – “You’re a modern-day Pharisee, legalist, etc.”
2. Ignorance – “Do you know everything?”
3. Unrighteousness – “All our works are as filthy rags.”
1. A great deal of Neo-Calvinism comes from perverting Romans.
2. You must know what is taught before you can know error when you hear it!
A. Define all terms. Watch for “term jumping”B. Make them say “Must.”
C. Get ready to be charged:
D. Know the book of Romans
By Holmes, Bobby, on August 1st, 2002
Authors: Bobby Holmes and Mark Roberts
I. Error
Continue reading » No Law
By Holmes, Bobby, on August 1st, 2002
Authors: Bobby Holmes and Mark Roberts
I. Error
Continue reading » Assurance – Security
By Holmes, Bobby, on August 1st, 2002
Authors: Bobby Holmes and Mark Roberts
I. Error
Continue reading » Doctrine-Gospel Distinction
By Holmes, Bobby, on August 1st, 2002
Authors: Bobby Holmes and Mark Roberts
I. Error
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1. Galatians 2:17
2. Romans 4:5-10; 5:1
3. Hebrews 7:22
4. Isaiah 64:6
A. Neo-Calvinists say: “Men are saved by His good works. Jesus is our substitute. We are accounted righteous because Jesus is righteous. The righteousness of Christ clothes the believer with the righteousness the law demands. Man is too corrupt — he can never be righteous on his own.”
B. Passages misused:
Continue reading » Righteousness Imputed
By Holmes, Bobby, on August 1st, 2002
Authors: Bobby Holmes and Mark Roberts
I. Error
Continue reading » Only Grace
By Holmes, Bobby, on August 1st, 2002
By Holmes, Bobby, on August 1st, 2002
Authors: Bobby Holmes and Mark Roberts
The Seed of Calvinism
God’s Sovereignty Must Rule and Control Everything!
John Calvin’s Five Tenants
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- Total Depravity
- Unconditional Election
- Limited Atonement
- Irresistable Grace
- Perseverance of the Saints
Continue reading » Study Charts
By Holmes, Bobby, on August 1st, 2002
(An Issue That Will Not Die)
Authors: Bobby Holmes and Mark Roberts
Naturally, the roots of Neo-Calvinism are found in plain vanilla Calvinism. This booklet attempts to briefly cover that ground before turning its attention to this “offshoot” of John Calvin’s original errors.
John Calvin made one wrong assumption, and it totally corrupted and destroyed everything he ever thought or wrote from then on. His decision that God controlled everything crept into his beliefs about salvation, redemption, etc. Look carefully at the TULIP and you will see his erroneous ideas about sovereignty behind every point.
The Neo-Calvinists among us make some similarly wrong conclusions, and then build a house of theology upon the shifting sands of error. May this booklet help you to destroy this pernicious teaching.
Continue reading » Introduction: A Study in Neo-Calvinism
By Cox, Stan, on June 1st, 2002
In the previous article mention was made of Martin Luther, one of the most prominent theologians of the Reformation movement. Because of his influence, most Protestant groups today believe that salvation is obtained by faith alone. His influence on Protestant denominations is rivaled only by John Calvin.
Calvin was born in 1509, and came to adulthood under the influences of the Reformation begun by Martin Luther. In 1536 he published the first edition of his Institutes of the Christian Religion, which contain a systematic theology based on the premises of the total depravity of man, and the individual predestination of the saved. Though few Christian denominations can be said to be fully Calvinistic in their theology, Calvin’s writings have had a profound influence upon Protestant doctrine.
Continue reading » Calvinism
By Roberts, Tom, on February 2nd, 2002
One aspect of Calvinistic doctrine is the three-fold error whereby it is taught that (1) Adam’s sin was transferred to mankind; (2) man’s sin was transferred to Christ; and (30) Christ’s personal righteousness was transferred to believers. None of these statements are true nor do they reflect accurately the Bible doctrine of “imputation.” In this article we will note the second of these errors and study the claim that the sins of mankind have been transferred to Christ.
A verse often used in this context is 2 Corinthians 5:21: “Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” The phrase “he made to be sin” is the controversial part of the text and one that is grossly misused. We need to understand in what sense God made Christ “to be sin.” Did God place our sins on Christ? Would that make Christ a sinner? Did Christ die a spiritual death as well as a physical death on the cross? Just what is meant? As in all studies, we need to consider all that the Bible says and not take one verse to mean something that would contradict other Bible passages.
Continue reading » Associate Editorial: How Was Christ ‘Made to be Sin’?
By Hafley, Larry Ray, on January 1st, 2002
Dear Larry,
Due to the fact that you believe that you are saved in part or wholly by baptism, I must mark you as one still in darkness and as one who has not seen that we are complete in Jesus Christ and his finished work. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that we are saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves. What is it about that that you don’t understand? Paul said if it be works it is something that God owes us but grace is the gift of God which is faith. Larry, due to the fact that the Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith, and you say that it is by some work that we do like baptism, or any other thing, I would bid you to repent and trust in the finished work of Christ and nothing else but Christ and God will save you. I hope you will take this as a letter of love and may God have mercy on you.
By his grace, Frank L. McClanahan
Dear Frank,
Thank you for your letter and for your clarity of expression. I appreciate your willingness to state boldly what you believe. I trust that you will grant me the same right to respond with equal directness to your arguments.
(1) Baptism And The Finished Work Of Christ: Frank, suppose I were to say, "Due to the fact that you believe that you are saved in part or wholly by faith, I must mark you as one still in darkness and as one who has not seen that we are complete in Jesus Christ and his finished work," how would you answer me? Primitive (Hardshell) Baptists make the same argument against you as you have made against me. They do not believe that faith is essential to salvation. Thus, when you say that one must believe in Jesus, they will accuse you of not trusting "in the finished work of Jesus Christ." Tell me, Frank, how you would answer their charge?
Continue reading » Contending for the Faith: Salvation, Baptism and the Finished Work of Christ
By Hafley, Larry Ray, on November 2nd, 2001
Under the headline, "Pro-homosexual Church Withdraws from CBF," the following article appeared www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=11536, August 17, 2001.
"University Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, has notified the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) that they are pulling out of the national group because of its policy against homosexuals, according to a report in The American-Statesman.
"The CBF’s policy prohibits the hiring of non-celibate gays and lesbians, bars them from missionary work and does not allow the organization to give money to homosexual groups or causes.
"’We most deeply regret the condemning message you have sent in the name of Christ to all gay and lesbian persons by your action,’ wrote the Rev. Larry Bethune in a letter from the church Aug. 16. ‘Because it is God’s call for our congregation to minister with gay and lesbian Baptist Christians and their families, we cannot in good conscience support an organization which discriminates against our brothers and sisters in Christ … any more than we could do so if the CBF discriminated on the basis of race or gender,’ Bethune wrote.
"This isn’t the first scrape University Baptist has had over its policy of welcoming homosexuals. The Austin Baptist Association voted to oust the church in 1995 after University Baptist ordained a gay deacon. The Baptist General Convention of Texas’ executive committee voted to end its affiliation with University Baptist in 1998. University Baptist is a member of the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A., a Baptist denomination that continues to debate whether to take a stand on churches that allow non-celibate homosexual members."
Candid Comments
First, how does the average Baptist regard the spiritual status of "the Rev. Larry Bethune" and the "University Baptist Church in Austin"? Are those who endorse and sanction homosexual behavior, such as they do, still in a saved state before God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)?
Continue reading » Contending for the Faith: Baptist Homosexual Dilemma
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