My Response to "The Shack"

The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity, was published in 2007, and it has nothing to do with the basketball player, “The Shaq” Shaquille O’Neal.  Author, William P. (Paul) Young, originally wrote it for the members of his family, and once written it grew quickly into a New York Times bestseller.  At the time of the writing Young was a former office manager and hotel night clerk, with no theological training.  

Classified as a “Christian Novel” it has received wide support from various Christian personalities and institutions including singer Michael W. Smith; Eugene Peterson, author of the Bible version, The Message; Today Show host Kathie Lee Gifford; Man vs Wild star, Bear Grylls; nationally syndicated radio host, Delilah Rene; comedian, Jeff Foxworthy as well as many church leaders.

Plugged In, a ministry of Focus on the Family reviews The Shack  by saying: “The Shack delivers significant messages about God in a world desperately looking and longing for answers. Does this story provoke valid, even significant theological concerns? Clearly, it does. But just as Mack was led in the film to discover more about God in his Gideon Bible, hopefully movie goers will respond the same way to the big-screen adaptation of The Shack.”

In sharp contrast Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY says, “The theology of The Shack is not incidental to the story. Indeed, at most points the narrative seems mainly to serve as a structure for the dialogues. And the dialogues reveal a theology that is unconventional at best, and undoubtedly heretical in certain respects.”

Conservative theological apologists Norman Geisler and Bill Roach conclude, “The Shack may do well for many in engaging the current culture, but not without compromising Christian truth. The book may be psychologically helpful to many who read it, but it is doctrinally harmful to all who are exposed to it. It has a false understanding of God, the Trinity, the person and work of Christ, the nature of man, the institution of the family and marriage, and the nature of the Gospel. For those not trained in orthodox Christian doctrine, this book is very dangerous.” 

The novel begins, when Mackenzie Phillips, or “Mack”, supernaturally receives a note in his mailbox saying "Papa", wants to meet with him at “The Shack” on the weekend.  Mack suspects it may be from God because his wife Nan refers to God as "Papa".  Meeting at The Shack is significant because it is the place where his daughter was abused and murdered.

Mack, a married father of three children took his family on a camping trip. Two of his children are playing in a canoe on a lake when it flips and almost drowns his son. Mack rushes into the water and saves his son, but leaves his youngest daughter Missy alone at the campsite. 

When Mack returns, Missy is gone. The police later reveal Missy was abducted and murdered by a serial killer and her bloodied clothing was found in an abandoned shack (“The Shack”) in the woods, but her body was not located. Mack's life sinks into what he calls "The Great Sadness".

Mack arrives and initially finds nothing, but as he is leaving, the shack and its surroundings are supernaturally transformed. He enters and encounters manifestations of the Trinity. God the Father takes the form of an African American woman who calls herself Elousia and Papa; Jesus Christ is a Middle-Eastern carpenter; and the Holy Spirit is an Asian woman named Sarayu.

The bulk of the book records Mack's conversations with Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu as he comes to terms with Missy's death and his relationship with the three of them. Mack also has various experiences with these persons which causes him to rethink his understanding of God and life.

After spending the weekend at The Shack, Mack leaves and is nearly killed in an automobile accident. After his recovery, he realizes he did not, in fact, spend the weekend at a shack. From the information gained in his experience, Mack leads the police to the cave Papa revealed, and they find Missy's body. The forensic evidence, causes her killer to be arrested and put on trial.

So what does the Bible have to say on the subject?  The basis of our understanding must come from the warning found in 2Timothy 4:2-4, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 

Today, thousands of people are turning away from the truth of God’s Word and turning toward fables, made-up stories, like The Shack.  Fables are replacing Scripture in our seminaries, Bible colleges and even in our churches.  Many pastors are replacing expository sermons with heart-felt stories in defiance of preaching the word.  These fictitious, experience based stories lead people to a targeted emotional response while planting seeds of confusion and twisting the truth.

Didn’t Jesus use parables and stories?  Yes He did, and if we use the same stories the same way, we can too.  Jesus told those stories knowing what the people were thinking and knowing how they would respond to them.  He was both, fully God and fully man, not as The Shack claims, that Jesus was on earth only in His human power and human limitations.

Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Peter wrote, “Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 2 Peter 1:15-16  

There are several areas where The Shack qualifies as a cunningly devised fable, but here are three related core issues:  First: The Shack, says Jesus is, “the best way any human can relate to Papa or Sarayu.” Did you catch the error?  What does “the best way” imply?  Right, “the best way” is not the same as the only way.  The “best way” means there are many ways people may choose to relate to God, but among all the various ways to relate to God, Jesus is the best.  

Is this what the real Jesus said?  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Does this sound like there is any other way?  How about Acts 4:12 which says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  So is Jesus the best way, or the only way?

Second: Almost any path leads to salvation.  In The Shack, the character playing Jesus says, “Those who love me come from every system that exists. They are Buddhists or Mormons, Baptist, or Muslims, ...and many who are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institution...  I have no desire to make them Christians, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa...” “Does that mean...that all roads will lead to you?” ... “Not at all.... Most roads don’t lead anywhere. What it does mean is that I will travel any road to find you.” 

This statement implies the first teaching, “most roads lead to God” and brings in a second, “Either a path leads to God or it doesn’t lead anywhere.”  This error is exposed when examined in the light of Matthew 7:13-14, where the real Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”   John 3:36 teaches, “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.” Telling people who are traveling a path leading to hell, “Most roads don’t lead anywhere” is lying in the worst possible way.

Now we arrive at a third false teaching: “Sin is not punished.”  The character playing God the Father, called “Papa” says, “I am not who you think I am, Mackenzie. I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It is not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it.”  Clearly, God loves to cure sin, but The Shack was confused about the paths leading to God and what happens at the end of the wrong path (nothing), now The Shack teaches sin is only like a disease which devours from the inside.  It refuses to acknowledge Hell is an external reality.

In contrast Romans 6:23 warns, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  In Revelation 20:11-15 we are taught about the final judgment to come: “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Should you see the movie or read the book, The Shack? Or Young’s next book, Eve? Ephesians 5:6-7 says, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” Don’t read their cunningly devised fables which allows their lies to take you from the truth of the Bible.

What the Bible says about Joan Rivers

This message was preached on Sunday night, September 7, 2014. The message audio is found posted on Podomatic here: http://brucetegg.podomatic.com/entry/2014-09-08T10_35_35-07_00

The Sermon notes are not an exact transcript of the sermon but will help to give the reader a sense of the message content.

As you know, Joan Rivers, went in for a simple “medical procedure” before everything was over, she died, unexpectedly.

There are so many stories and articles and news reports praising Joan Rivers for her courage and her sense of humor.  It is time you see the other side of Joan Rivers.

Joan Rivers was born Joan Alexandra Molinsky on June 8, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York to Russian immigrants Meyer and Beatrice Molinsky.  Her father was a doctor.

It doesn’t take long to hear or read a joke by Joan which was crude and vulgar.  I cannot and will not repeat the many “jokes” she had to say on the subject of body parts and about sex.

She was always trying to make the dirty into something funny.

When it came to God, she was not so funny:

"Everyone reaches God in any way they want to reach God.”

We know by this Joan was not a Christian in any sense of the word.  In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Sadly, Joan is finding out too late you do not reach God in any way you want to reach God.  You can only reach God through the blood of Jesus Christ.  No amount of joking will get Joan out of hell today.

Many people have forgotten Joan’s early years.  Joan Rivers was always openly pro-homosexual.  She did not believe homosexuality was wrong.  In fact she even played the part of a lesbian in a play at Greenwich Village in the 1960’s.  Even more interesting she the woman who played her lesbian lover was Barbara Streisand and they shared a romantic kiss as a part of the play.

“The first play I did was in Greenwich Village in the early ’60s. Barbra Streisand and I played lovers and we kissed,” Rivers recalls. “This was before she was singing, before anything. I knew she was talented, but you never know what someone will be. She was a fabulous kisser, that’s what I knew.”

Rivers previously revealed the play was titled Driftwood and it was performed in New York in 1959. Rivers, then known as Joan Sandra Molinsky, says that the play originally called for a male character, but producers couldn’t cast it and she offered to do the play if the characters were made lesbians. Rivers says Streisand was “really thrilled” with the idea. (Barbara Streisand was 17 years old at the time and Joan Rivers was 26 – what would we call that today?)

God calls homosexuality a sin.  It is the greatest insult a person can give to God’s invention called the family.  Scripture is clear what God thinks of homosexuality – look at Romans 1

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Rom 1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Rom 1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Anyone in their right mind cannot be confused about God’s view of homosexuals after reading this passage.

Many people do not realize but although Joan Rivers was born of Jewish parents and was Jewish in her lineage, she was not Jewish in her faith.

Joan Rivers was an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church and as a minister, she performed the weddings of two different homosexual couples.

This from the Universal Life Church Monastery site, which lists not only Joan Rivers but over 31,000 other “ordained ministers” such as: Sammy Davis Jr.; Glenn Beck; Conan O’Brien; Ian McKellen (Gandolf on Lord of the Rings); Wendy Williams; Lady Gaga; Tony Danza; Kathy Griffin (another vulgar comedian); Hugh Hefner and John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Paul McCartney of the Beatles.

“The Universal Life Church Monastery strongly believes in the rights of all people from all faiths to practice their religious beliefs, regardless of what those beliefs are, be they Christian, Jew, Gentile, Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Shinto, Pagan, Wiccan, Druid or even Dignity Catholics; so long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others and are within the law of the land and one’s conscience.

We ordain ministers, priests, rabbis and clergy worldwide who are totally non-religious or even anti-religious. This may seem contradictory, but we are looking to change the negative perceptions of religion, faith and spirituality, by encouraging people to take control, stand up and speak truth to power by fearlessly stating their personal religious beliefs.”

Joan Rivers was an agent of Satan who degraded the holy as well as honoring the profane with her humor. 

The Bible warns us

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

In 2 Corinthians 2:11 we are told we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices and don’t be fooled by the world’s humor.  God enjoys humor and pleasure – it was His invention, but Satan has taken Godly humor and corrupted it so we may embrace sin with a smile on our face.

Why a sermon about Joan Rivers?  Because you will not hear the truth from the TV, radio or news sources.  We need to tell “the rest of the story” and let people know, Joan Rivers is not in a better place today.  The worse place on earth, even if you are experiencing excruciating pain for years, is still better than one day in hell.  Sadly, Joan knows this now better than anyone.

It is too late for Joan – but it is not too late for you.  Are you saved?  Does your humor serve the Lord Jesus Christ, or Satan?  Who will you tell the truth to this week?

In Answer to an Article by Mr. Danny Zacharias

A friend of mine currently serving in the U.S. Army asked me to read and review an article.  This was written in hopes of helping to clear up the confusion. This is only a brief explanation of this complex conglomeration of issues.

Danny Zacharias, in his article, “Why Zionism is so Attractive—and Should be Rejected by Christians” argues against “Zionism” and yet does not fully define “Zionism.”  He also speaks against a collection of other issues and beliefs while attacking his version of “Zionism” leading the reader to believe all of these issues are interconnected, but they are not.  His article can be read here: http://www.dannyzacharias.net/blog/why-zionism-is-so-attractive-and-should-be-rejected-by-christians#.VAdkspV0zDd

Mr. Zacharias begins by asking several questions: “Do I believe that the Jewish people were promised and given that land by God? Do I believe that the people of God are only those who are in Christ? Do I think all this is part of the unfolding of prophecy in the Bible? Or is it just political circumstances?”  Here is a short evaluation of a few of his errors.

The Bible is God’s Word.  God alone is the Author and men were only the writers.  This means the entire Bible is from One Mind, and is both without error and without contradiction.  Every verse, when taken in proper context, compliments every other verse, not contradicts.  Two verses cannot say two conflicting ideas, or else God would be contradicting Himself.

Mr. Zacharias makes the statement, “Yet, in matters such as these, there comes a clear dividing line – Christians believe the NT is scripture and Jewish people do not.”  I know many Jewish people who believe the New Testament is Scripture.  I also know many Jewish people who have received Jesus as their Saviour and Lord – they are called “Christian Jews.”  I believe Mr. Zacharias was meaning to say Orthodox Jews do not believe the New Testament is Scripture.

Apparently, Mr. Zacharias does not agree with the statement: “...God has promised the land of Israel to the descendants of Israel and the promise will be fulfilled at some point.”  Also he seems to believe, “...Christ is the end/fulfillment (telos) of the law (Rom 10:4; 2 Cor 1:20; Heb 8:13), thus the OT cannot be used as any sort of support for the modern secular state of Israel.”  Finally, in this same paragraph Mr. Zacharias states, “it is hard to ignore the OT teaching that fulfillment of God's covenant promises was conditional on the people's covenant obedience (read Deuteronomy).”

I will address these three issues at this time: 1) Did God promise any land to the descendants of Abraham?  2) Is the Old Testament law no longer in effect?  3) Were all of God’s covenant promises conditional on the people’s covenant obedience?

First, the Bible says God promised a special land to the descendants of Israel and since the promise has yet to be fulfilled, and God is not a liar, the promise will be fulfilled at some point.  To understand the “promised land” you must go back to Genesis.  The Promised Land is actually the same land originally created for Adam and Woman (she wasn’t named Eve until after sin), prior to the fall.  Notice the East and West borders of the Garden of Eden:

Gen 2:13  And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14  And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

This means the Garden of Eden was bordered on the West by the Gihon (Nile) river in Ethiopia and on the East by the Euphrates, between Iraq and Iran.  Compare this to what was promised to Abram in Genesis 15 when God, Himself, established the covenant.  (As you know, a contract says, “If you keep your part, I will keep my part.”  A covenant says, “I will keep my part even if you do not keep your part.”)

Gen 15:17  And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Notice the words, “have I given” used here in a past tense, an action already completed.  Look again at, “Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:”  What is the condition of this promise?  None.  There was no, “If you, then I,” statement.  Look also at Genesis 13:15, 17:8, 35:12 and notice the lack of condition.

Notice how these are the borders of the original Garden of Eden.  Many people don’t get it but the true Promise Land was actually the old Garden of Eden being given to the descendents of Abraham.

Now someone may ask: “When will this land be given to Abraham’s Descendants to possess?”  As we can see, at no time in all of history has the descendents owned all the land from the Nile to the Euphrates.  There is no time where we can see the fulfillment of this covenant.  So, either God is a liar, and we know God never lies, or it is yet to be fulfilled.

We know in Revelation, Satan will be bound for 1,000 years.  We also know we will reign with Christ as kings and priests on this earth for that 1,000 years. (Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6)

We find more clues in the book of Isaiah.

Isa 19:23  In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. 24  In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: 25  Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

“That day” is a theological term referring to when Jesus Christ will come to earth to judge the inhabitants and establish the Millennial Kingdom.  Notice what will happen here.  Verse 23 says there will be a “highway” made from Egypt (on the West) and from Assyria (on the East) through Israel.  Egypt has the Nile river, Assyria has the Euphrates river, and Israel will be between them.  This is when Israel will possess the land created for Adam and promised to Abraham.

Mr. Zacharias later says, “They do it because they believe that the OT prophets' words about returning to the land is for our future (though it is plain in the OT that the fulfillment happened already, Neh 9:23). They also misunderstand God's promise to the land and the fact that it was conditional (Lev 26:33, 42; Ezek 33:25-29).” 

God’s promise was not to the land, it was to a man.  In fact, it wasn’t a promise, it was a covenant.  Covenants are to be upheld in spite of what the other party does, not because of it.  As shown above, Abraham’s descendants were required to do nothing to receive the land, except for being a descendant of Abraham.

The Abrahamic Covenant was NOT fulfilled in Nehemiah’s time.  The prophecies of Isaiah were clearly not fulfilled in Nehemiah’s time or at any time since sin has entered into the world.

Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Israel will be in their land when “that day” comes and, when “that day” arrives the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the kid and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  When has this ever happened?  Only in the Garden of Eden prior to sin entering into the world.

Again, Mr. Zacharias says, “But above all, they do it because they think they are helping to fulfill prophecy to bring Jesus back quicker. It is this religious motivation that ends up blinding them- they forget about the other human beings, specifically Palestinians.”

The Bible states in the New Testament the Temple will be rebuilt.  Look at 2Thessolonians 2:

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

This clearly says the Beast will be sitting in “the temple of God”.  Since this has not happened yet, it obviously has fulfillment in the future.  Some people try to wrongly claim this passage refers to Antiochus Epiphanes.  Only problem with their claim is Antiochus Epiphanes was already dead when this was written.  In fact Antiochus died before Jesus was born.

Can we “help” Jesus come earlier? In no way.  Jesus will come at the appointed time, no earlier and no later.  We cannot speed it up or slow it down.

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

This leaves us with the final issue I will address here: “Is the Old Testament law no longer in effect?”  Look at what Jesus said about the Old Testament: 

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

If the Old Testament is no longer in effect, why does every Christian carry one attached to their New Testament?  Why do we still hear sermons preached from it?  Why do we still give authority to the “Ten Commandments”?  Why read the Psalms or Proverbs?

Actually, when Jesus was still alive so was the Old Testament.  The New Testament could not begin until the death of Jesus Christ.  Once Jesus died the New Testament could begin.  Even after the New Testament began, what did Paul, Peter, John and the other writers quote as if it still had authority? The Old Testament.

Just two more pieces of evidence to prove my point, although there are several, look at Acts 2. 

Act 2:16  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If, as Mr. Zacharias says, all the Old Testament was fulfilled in Jesus Christ making the Old Testament a thing of the past, what is Peter doing quoting it as being fulfilled in the New Testament, after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ? 

Finally, look at what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-17,

2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Notice how Paul speaks of the “holy scriptures” Timothy was taught as a child.  This was obviously the Old Testament.  Observe how ALL Scripture (Old Testament and New Testament) is given by the breath (inspiration) of God and both are profitable for DOCTRINE, REPROOF, CORRECTION AND INSTRUCTION.  If you throw out the Old Testament, you violate God’s testimony of its value.

I do agree we need to be reaching the lost, both Jews and non-Jews and I believe much money is wasted trying to build a temple which is going to be built anyway.  We need to be investing in the winning of souls and not the building of a building, but the bad behavior of a few people should not change our understanding of true biblical theology.

Thank you for reading.

Can You Lose Your Salvation?

Can you lose your salvation?  Is it possible to be born again and then to do something to make you “unborn”?  What does the Bible say about the concept of “Once Saved, Always Saved”?  What about “Perseverance of the Saints”?  Are they both the same doctrine?

In John 3:16 Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  The life we receive at salvation is “everlasting life”, but there are people who believe this “everlasting life” can be taken away.  They say since you decided to accept it, you can also reject it.  What they don’t realize is the contradiction this makes.   If this everlasting life is removed from the recipient, then it cannot be truly everlasting life.  Only life which lasts forever and can never be removed can be called everlasting life, otherwise it would be temporary life.

Another passage speaking about the durability of salvation is found in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Clearly nothing present, nor nothing to come can separate us from the love of God.

Believe it or not, I have heard some people say, “Well, although nothing can separate us from the love of God, it does not mean nothing can separate us from His salvation.”  OK, let’s look at this possibility for a moment.  For the sake of argument, imagine you could lose your salvation. 

How many sins would it take to lose your salvation?  One? Five? Ten? One Hundred?  What scripture would you use to validate a certain number?  How would you know your salvation was gone?  Is there a warning?  Again, what Bible passages would you use to substantiate your theory?  If you could lose your salvation, wouldn’t the Bible be clear as to when and how it happens?

God addressed the idea in Hebrews 6:4-6 when He said, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

Here the passage says it is impossible, if you could lose your salvation to get saved again seeing it would require a re-crucifixion of Jesus Christ.   So if you could lose your salvation, don’t bother getting saved again because it is “impossible” to get another Christ to die for you.  Clearly since it says, “if they shall fall away,” it is referring to a “what if” situation.

 Some may say, “But what about people who get saved and then they go away from the faith?  Are they still saved?”  They are afraid if people start believing you cannot lose your salvation they will just get saved and then go rob a bank or commit adultery since there is no fear of losing their salvation.  They believe the doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved” will cause great freedom to sin.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17,the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  If a person becomes truly saved, they are a new creature.  If they claim salvation and they live like the old creature, according to the Bible, they never really got saved.

The problem here is not if they lost their salvation, the problem is they were never truly saved.  If they attended church, were moved by the sermon, raised their hand, walked the aisle, prayed a prayer, and even became a deacon, it does not guarantee they were ever authentically saved. 

John warns us about these people in 1 John 2:18-19, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

Jesus said it this way in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one 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. 22  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? 23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Jesus did not say they were saved and lost it, He says He NEVER knew them.  The people here were never saved.   Jesus promises to never cast out those who come to Him when He said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  John 6:37 

Later in John 10:27-30 Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30  I and my Father are one.”

When we are saved, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as it says in Ephesians 1:13-14, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

According to this passage, how long are we saved?  “Until the redemption of the purchased possession.”  Since the Christian is the “purchased possession”, this means we are saved and sealed until we are redeemed.  The Holy Spirit is there sealing our salvation until God redeems us.  Ephesians 4:30 confirms, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Our sin can grieve the Holy Spirit but never drive Him away.  Why?  Every Christian faces discipline when they sin, and this discipline can be quite severe.  Hebrews 12:5-8 teaches, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

According to this passage, a Christian cannot enjoy sin for long because they will face being rebuked and chastised by God who “scourges every son.”  If there is no correction for sin, then, God calls them, “bastards” and not sons.  Notice too, there is no loss of salvation mentioned.  Either they are saved and they receive correction when they sin, or they are not saved and are only claiming to be saved.

What did Paul say about his salvation?  In 2 Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”  Paul did not fear losing his salvation, he was confident, not in his own ability but in the ability of God to keep him.  This was in spite of Paul’s claim in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”  If you could lose your salvation, wouldn’t the “chief” of sinners have lost his salvation?

Jude expressed the same confidence in verses 24-25, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

This doctrine, often called, “Once Saved, Always Saved” is not to be confused with the Calvinist philosophy of “Perseverance of the Saints”.  The “Perseverance of the Saints” is based upon the other points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, and Irresistible Grace.  These five points of the “TULIP” are only able to be taken as a whole and cannot be divided.  It is one inseparable chain of logic which proceeds from the Westminster Confession of Faith.  The primary difference between “Once Saved, Always Saved” and “Perseverance of the Saints” is found in their foundation.

“Once Saved, Always Saved” is based upon the salvation covenant entered into by the sinner and made available by the Grace of God, through the faith of the individual, visible in repentance.  “Perseverance of the Saints” is based on the erroneous concept of Christian fatalism.  Calvinists claim God has, in eternity past, chosen who would be saved, and, because of His choice from before creation, the saved will persevere in salvation.  One is based upon the concept of covenant, the other is based upon decision.

These two views are similar, but they are clearly not the same.  In salvation, God makes a covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ concerning the forgiveness of the sinner.  Jesus Christ is not only the Perfect Sacrifice, but He is the Great High Priest who sprinkles His own blood on the Mercy Seat and Atones for sin. 

Salvation is not based upon God’s choice applied only to some people.  God wants everyone to be saved.  2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  God does not want any to perish.

This thought is confirmed in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

No you cannot lose your salvation, neither is this doctrine “permission to sin”.  When we are saved, we are kept, not by our decision, but by God’s Covenant.  We are kept in salvation not by our righteous living but because Jesus Christ applies discipline until we repent and, once we repent, we are forgiven and restored.  Hebrews 7:25 says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

May the Lord bless you as you keep studying the Bible.