DO YOU PREACH THE
TRUE GOSPEL?
Do you
know any preachers who teach that the Gospel (saving faith) is
1) the
fact that Christ obeyed the Law for His people, and
2) the fact that
their sins were imputed to Him and
3) the promise that all who believe 1
and 2 are one of his people, and will be saved because Christ was risen from the
dead (the Father was perfectly satisfied with his work).
Are you
familiar with any pastors who would say "Yes. That is the Gospel that ALL
believers have believed since they were converted" ?
Have you heard the
idea that imputed righteousness and particular redemption are PART OF THE
GOSPEL?
Because when I was a Presbyterian I NEVER heard this idea!
NOBODY told me that in order to believe in Christ, you must understand Christ
obeyed the Law and PROPITIATED for His people.
This is SHOCKING!! Most
Calvinists do not even know what the Gospel is. They say that the gospel is a
message that "Christ died for sinners", and they are UNAWARE and ignorant that
this is NOT the gospel.
The Gospel -- the message God uses to convert
people -- is NOT simply the idea that Christ "died for sinners". Calvinists who
preach this are IGNORANT of The True Gospel.
And as I write this I feel
SAD and FRUSTRATED for them because I myself was a deceived Calvinist for a time
myself too. I had NO IDEA that Christ's Propitiation for His people was part of
the Gospel. At Reformed seminary, we were taught that God converts people to the
message that "Christ died for sinners".
But I no longer believe this. Do
you?
I now believe that the Gospel is the fact that Christ obeyed the
Law and PROPITIATED for His people. And I can tell you now, that I was very
SHOCKED and SURPRISED when I realised that this is the message that all
believers have believed since they were converted.
Does this idea shock
you? If I told you that the Gospel is the message that Christ has
ACCOMPLISHED and ACHIEVED salvation FOR HIS PEOPLE, would you tell
me I am crazy?
Am I going too far? Is this idea too
extreme, harsh and intolerant? Tell me the truth! I won't be offended or upset.
I want to know what you really think on this issue.
Also, could you
please also tell me your view of Hebrews 2:9-18?
Is it saying that ALL
believers see and know that Christ "brought many sons to glory"? And do these
verses mean that ALL believers see and know that Christ made "PROPITIATION
FOR THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE"?
=== WE DO SEE Jesus crowned
with glory and honor ... for it was fitting for him... having BROUGHT
MANY SONS TO GLORY, to perfect Him as the Author of their salvation through
sufferings ... that He might become a merciful and FAITHFUL HIGH
PRIEST in the things respecting God, in order to MAKE PROPITIATION FOR THE
SINS OF HIS PEOPLE. For in what He has suffered, BEING TRIED, HE IS
ABLE TO HELP THOSE BEING TRIED. === Heb 2:9,10,17,18
Wow. Am I
reading too much into these verses? Aren't they saying that all believers know
that Christ is a FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST ?
That
means ALL believers must know that Christ made propitiation ONLY for His people.
Because
if Christ died for those who end up in hell, he is NOT a faithful high priest.
He FAILED to mediate for some of whom he died (if
the Arminian is right). And if Christ died for those in hell, He did
NOT make propitiation! According to the Arminian, Christ FAILED to
propitiate because even though he died for them, many will end up
in hell
Arminians
do NOT believe Christ made "propitiation for the sins of His people". They do
NOT believe The True Gospel. Their christ shed his blood for those in hell but
could not save them. Indeed, their christ is NOT a Savior, and did NOT
propitiate at all. So I cannot see how we can say Arminians are saved, but
maintain that the Gospel includes the truth that Christ MADE PROPITIATION for
His people. Because Arminians don't believe this Gospel, right?
On the
other hand, ALL believers "see ... [Christ] brought MANY SONS TO GLORY."
Do you agree that the Gospel includes the truth that Christ made
propitiation for His people?
If someone had asked me that question when
I was at Reformed seminary, I would have said, "Oh no! That's going too far!
That's not The Gospel! Yes, Christ died only for the elect - but that fact is
not part of the gospel!"
Can you see how I DENIED the Gospel? The Gospel
IS THE FACTS that Christ PROPITIATED and OBEYED FOR HIS PEOPLE. Yet, at
seminary, I was DENYING that was the gospel by saying that someone could be
saved and be ignorant of those facts.
I had no idea what the gospel
was. Do you? Can you see that to deny these facts is to deny the
Gospel?
Paul told the Corinthians
===I BEGOT YOU in Christ Jesus
THROUGH THE GOSPEL === 1 Cor 4:15
The Gospel
of Propitiation is the power of God unto salvation. Anyone who denies
Christ's propitiation for his people does NOT believe the gospel. And if a
Calvinist says that the Gospel is NOT Christ's propitiation for His people,
then he does NOT believe the Gospel! So, yes, I was a LOST Calvinist when I
used to say that Arminians are saved. I was preaching ANOTHER GOSPEL. If I
had been preaching the Gospel of Christ's Propitiation, I would have told
Arminians, "I'm sorry but you are NOT Christians because you say that Christ
died for those in hell. You do NOT believe in propitiation. The christ you
believe in cannot save by his blood. Your christ's blood is useless and does not
propitiate".
Arminians do NOT believe in propitiation. Yes, I know
this is VERY OFFENSIVE and controversial. Most Calvinists hate me
for saying this!
But the Bible says that ALL believers see and know that
"THROUGH HIS DEATH HE SET THESE [PEOPLE] FREE".
=== We do see ... that
He Himself also shared the same things, that THROUGH DEATH He ... might SET
THESE FREE, as many as by fear of death were subject to slavery through all the
lifetime to live. === Heb 2:9,14,15
Am I reading to much into
these verses? Don't all believers see and know that Christ's death SET FREE ALL
FOR WHOM IT WAS MADE?
And doesn't Paul say that someone is kept safe ONLY
if they "hold fast the world which [he] preached"?
=== But,
brothers, I reveal to you the gospel which I preached to you, which YOU ALSO
RECEIVED, in which you also stand,
by which you also are being kept safe,
IF YOU HOLD FAST THE WORD WHICH I PREACHED to you === 1 Cor 15:2
The Corinthians RECEIVED Paul's Gospel. They REMAINED in the Gospel of
Grace, and held fast to it. And because of this, they were KEPT SAFE. On the
other hand, anyone NOT holding to the Gospel of Propitiation is ACCURSED.
Now, do we know what the Gospel actually is?
When I
was a deceived Calvinist, one day whilst reading the Scripture God revealed to
me that,
=== The gospel ... [is that] Christ died for our sins,
ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, and that He was buried, and that He was raised
the third day, according to the Scriptures, === 1 Cor 15:3,4
I can still
remember today how shocked I was when I realised the meaning of these verses.
Paul is saying that if you believe the Gospel, you MUST believe he died
ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES.
Believers
KNOW that Christ fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies -- they know that Jesus
is the Messiah prophesied beforehand, and that His propitiation on the cross was
in perfect accordance with the prophecies.
Arminians, on the other hand,
say that Christ died for those in hell. This is NOT "according to the
Scriptures". The idea that Christ's blood was shed for those in hell, is NOT
according to the Scriptures. Indeed, the teaching that Christ failed to redeem
all for whom he died, is "not according to the Scriptures." So Arminians do NOT
believe Christ died "according to the Scriptures". Instead, they believe his
blood is useless and cannot propitiate. They certainly do not believe the Gospel
(that states that Christ made "propitiation for the sins of His people")
Now, many Calvinists say the Gospel is that "Christ died for sinners"
but they will NOT say that the Gospel is Christ's propitiation for HIS PEOPLE.
This is NOT "according to the Scriptures" either!
Most Calvinists do
hate me for saying this. But if I ask a Calvinist, "What is the Gospel? What
message does God use to convert people? What facts do all believers believe from
their conversion to their death?"
If the Calvinist says, "Christ died
for sinners".
And then I ask, "So the Gospel includes the truth that
Christ made propitiation for His people?"
And the Calvinist says, "No. I
believe Christ died for the elect, but that is not part of the gospel."
This Calvinist is NOT a believer.
The
Gospel includes the truth that Christ purified "A SPECIAL PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF".
However, this Calvinist does not believe this is the Gospel. So, sadly, he does
not know what the Gospel is. And can someone be saved and not believe the
gospel? Of course not!
But even
if we, or an angel out of Heaven, should preach a gospel to you beside the
gospel we preached to you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:8 He that believes not
[the gospel] is condemned. Mk 16:16. Everyone transgressing and not abiding in
the doctrine of Christ does not have God. 2 Jn 9.
Do you
know what the Gospel actually is? Can you say "Christ propitiated and obeyed the
Law for His people. THIS IS THE GOSPEL" ? Certainly, when I was at seminary,
that idea never occur ed to me.
On the other hand, Paul
says...
=== looking for the BLESSED HOPE and appearance of the
glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself on our
behalf, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness and PURIFY A SPECIAL PEOPLE
FOR HIMSELF === Titus 2:14
Do you believe the Gospel of Paul?
Because Paul said that all believers have the "blessed hope" that Christ
purified "A SPECIAL PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF".
Look, I don't enjoy condemning
most the Calvinists I know. I would love to fellowship with them, IF they
believed The Gospel. The problem is, they don't. In fact, the reason they often
doubt their salvation, is because they have NO IDEA what the Gospel is! Just
like me when I was at seminary, they say that the Gospel
is that "Christ died for sinners". These Calvinists do NOT believe
that PROPITIATION is part of the Gospel. Just ask them if Particular Redemption
is part of saving faith. Ask them, "When God converts people, does he always
convert them to Particular Redemption? Does he reveal to them that "Christ made
PROPITIATION FOR HIS PEOPLE?"
And ask them "Do you agree that in the
Gospel, Christ's obedience for His people, is revealed? If someone
is ignorant of Christ's obedience to the Law for the elect, are they
lost?"
I do agree that these Calvinists might have an outward zeal
for the doctrines of grace. So did I when I was at seminary! But I was still not
a saved man. Why?
Because Paul said that Christ's obedience for His
people IS PART OF THE GOSPEL.
Romans 1
17 for
in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed
Romans 10
1 ¶ Brothers, truly my heart's pleasure and supplication to God on behalf of
Israel is for it to be saved.
2 For I testify to them that they have zeal to
God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For being ignorant of the
righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did
not submit to the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end
(fulfilment) of Law for righteousness to everyone that believes.
Now, when I was a lost Calvinist, I used to say that Christ obeyed the
Law for the elect. But I had NO IDEA that this was ACTUALLY PART OF THE GOSPEL !
I thought that Christ's obedience to the Law was a teaching of Scripture, but I
didn't know that it was PART OF THE GOSPEL ITSELF.
The moment I realised
that God converts men through the Gospel of Imputed Righteousness and
Propitiation, I had full assurance of salvation.
I finally knew WHAT THE
GOSPEL IS.
Do we believe the same Gospel?
Or do you say that the
gospel is "Christ dying for sinners". Do you
deny that Christ's Propitiation
for His people is part of the Gospel?
Can someone be converted
and not immediately understand that...
=== [Christ is a]
FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST in the things respecting God, in order to MAKE
PROPITIATION FOR THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE. === Heb 2
Can someone have the
blessed hope without knowing that...
=== Jesus
Christ [did] PURIFY A SPECIAL PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF === Titus 2:14
Is it possible to believe the Gospel, and yet not know
that...
=== through the obedience of the One the many shall be
constituted righteous. === Rom 5:19
Look, I
had doubts about my salvation, until I realised what the True Gospel is.
Be honest with yourself. Up until this point, have you known what facts
were actually part of the Gospel? Did you know which facts God uses to convert
people? Could you say that ALL believers believe in Christ's Propitiation and
obedience for His people?
When I was a lost Calvinist I couldn't say
that "the Gospel is the facts that Christ propitiated for His people and obeyed
the Law for them". Otherwise, I would have also said, "Arminians are NOT saved
since they think Christ died for those in hell -- they deny He propitiated on
the cross -- so they deny the Gospel".
And because I didn't know exactly
what the Gospel was, I doubted my salvation. However, now that God has revealed
to me which facts are actually the Gospel, I never doubt my salvation.
And surely, all believers know exactly what the Gospel is. Because the
Bible says that ONLY those who have assurance, boldness and rejoicing in hope
from the time they are converted to their death, are saved.
"For we
have become partakers of Christ, if truly we hold the BEGINNING OF THE ASSURANCE
FIRM TO THE END" Heb 3:14 "but Christ as Son over His house, whose house we are,
IF TRULY WE HOLD FAST THE BOLDNESS and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end."
Heb 3:4
Discovering what the Gospel ACTUALLY IS, is a very pleasant
surprise indeed! Only the Holy Spirit can cause someone to be convinced that
those 3 facts (I mentioned earlier) are God's Gospel. Without the Spirit of God,
no man will ever be convicted and realise that God uses those 3 facts to convert
men. It is a gift of God to realise that these 3 facts are believed by all
believers.
If you believe that these three facts are the Gospel, please
tell me!!
1) the fact that Christ obeyed the Law for his people, and
2) the fact that their sins were imputed to Him and
3) the
promise that all who believe 1 and 2 are one of his people, and will be saved
because Christ was risen from the dead (the Father was perfectly satisfied with
his work).
Am I going too far when I say that these 3 facts are the
Gospel, and that anyone who denies these 3 facts is lost?
Paul
says,
== But now a righteousness of God has been revealed ... even the
righteousness of God through faith of Jesus Christ toward all and UPON ALL THOSE
BELIEVING ... Then where is the boasting? It was excluded. == Romans
3
Believers do NOT boast in their own works because they KNOW that the
righteousness is UPON ALL those THAT BELIEVE. Boasting is EXCLUDED, right? That
means that if someone boasts, they are NOT saved. For example, if you ask
someone, "Why are you saved?". And they say, "Because I made a commitment.",
then this person is boasting in their own works, and is NOT a believer.
In the True Gospel boasting is EXCLUDED. So anyone who believes the true
gospel will NOT boast in their works, right? They will NOT say that they are
saved because of their decision, commitment or prayer, will they? That would be
boasting! (Something a believer never does). A believer boasts ONLY in the cross
of Christ, and that means, that all believers understand that NOTHING is
required EXCEPT the imputed righteousness and sacrifice of Christ.
So
someone who says, "I am saved because I made a decision" or "I am saved because
I repented", then they are NOT believers. In the True Gospel boasting is
EXCLUDED. So anyone who believes the true gospel will NOT boast in their works,
right?
== Now to one working, the reward is not counted according
to grace, but according to debt. But to the one not working, but
believing on Him justifying the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
== Romans 4
The man
that is working for his salvation is not saved, is he? Because if a man thinks
that God favors him, because of something he has done, then he is not believing
in the "gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24), that the Apostles preached.
Now, supposing you ask someone, "Right now, why are you righteous and
perfect in God's sight?". To which they responded, "Because I trust in Christ."
Then this person does NOT have THE RIGHTEOUSNESS as the OBJECT of his faith. He
has made an IDOL of His faith, making it the GROUNDS OF HIS JUSTIFICATION. He
DOES NOT UNDERSTAND the ONE REQUIREMENT OF SALVATION -- the work of Christ.
Instead, he has substituted his trust for Christ's work! He doesn't think
Christ's work is sufficient for salvation.
On the other hand, the man
who believes and knows that nothing is required except the righteousness and
sacrifice of Christ, his faith -- that is, Christ's righteousness, the object of
his faith -- is counted for righteousness.
== I also count all things to
be loss because of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ ... not having my
own righteousness of Law, but through the faith of Christ, having the
righteousness of God on faith, to know Him and the power of His resurrection"
Philippians 3
Paul says that TO "KNOW CHRIST" is to KNOW THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. And he states that the "KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST" is to know
the righteousness of God. So, Christ's person and work are inseparable!
After all, can a man know that Christ is a Savior, and not know who he
saves (by obeying the Law for His people)?
Can the True God be revealed
in a man's mind, without the man realising what THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD is?
Don't all believers know the power of His resurrection? If yes, then all
believers must know that Christ ACCOMPLISHED AND ACHIEVED salvation for His
people. Peter says that that is the reason Christ was risen from the dead --
because he FINISHED the work perfectly!
On the other hand, if somebody
thinks Christ died for everyone, they do NOT believe in the power of the
Resurrection. Their "christ" did NOT accomplish salvation.
Their christ
failed, and would NOT have been risen from the dead. He is an IDOL, an
ANTICHRIST and NOT GOD.
Arminians deny the deity of Christ because they
make him a complete failure, and God is not a complete failure, so they do not
believe Christ is God.
== God set forth [Christ] as a propitiation
through faith in His blood, as a demonstration of His righteousness through the
passing over of the sins that had taken place before, in the forbearance of God,
==
How does God demonstrate His righteousness? And how does He reveal
Himself? By "PASSING OVER THE SINS".
Now, Arminians don't believe the
sins have been passed over. They say that Christ died for Judas, but that Judas
still went to hell. In other words, Arminians -- who teach Christ died for all
without exception -- are IGNORANT of the gospel. In the gospel, God is a
"PASSING OVER THE SINS". So anyone who denies that ALL for whom Christ died will
be saved, denies the gospel! Arminians say that some for whom Christ died are in
hell -- so Arminians deny their sins were passed over. In other words, they do
NOT believe Christ's death PROPITIATES sin. Christ can die for a man's sins,
according to the Arminian, but the man can still go to hell!
This is a
false gospel.
And Gal 1:8 and Mk 16:16 say that those who believe not The
Gospel are unbelievers.
== And all things are from God, the
One having reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and having
given to us the ministry of reconciliation, as, that God was in Christ
reconciling the world to Himself, not charging their deviations to them,
and having put the Word of reconciliation in us. Then on behalf of Christ, we
are ambassadors, as God is exhorting through us, we beseech on behalf of
Christ, Be reconciled to God. For He made the One who knew no sin to
be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
2 Cor 5:18-21
What gospel did Paul preach? And what was the message of
reconciliation?
The Word of reconciliation -- THE GOSPEL -- is that "God
was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not charging their deviations to
them ... For He made the One who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him"
Wow. Doesn't God get ALL THE
GLORY in this Gospel! He reconciled the world of believers to himself! Their
deviations are not charged against them.
Is this the gospel? Because NO
Arminians believes in THIS Gospel -- that the deviations are NOT CHARGED FOR
THOSE CHRIST DIED FOR. Arminians say that Christ failed to redeem some of those
He died for.
They don't believe the gospel where "God was in Christ
reconciling the world to Himself, NOT CHARGING THEIR DEVIATIONS TO
THEM".
They cannot believe this gospel and at the same time maintain that
Christ died for everyone without exception.
Do you believe The Gospel
is…
1) The
fact that Christ perfectly obeyed the Law for His people
2) The fact that
their sins were imputed to Him
3) The promise that all who believe 1 and 2
are one of God's people for whom he was sacrificed, and obeyed the Law
Or, where do you think I am wrong?
Well....Please don't be
mistaken about my beliefs! I don't think God instantly makes someone understand
the whole Bible at their conversion. That's ridiculous.
I simply say
that when God converts someone, he causes them to believe that
1) Christ
obeyed the Law for His people. I say this because Romans 1:16 says "in the
gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed." And this righteousness is "toward
all, and upon all those that believe ... for Christ is the fulfilment of the Law
for righteousness ... He was made of a woman MADE UNDER THE LAW TO REDEEM THOSE
UNDER THE LAW." (Rom 3, Rom 10, Gal 1)
The Jews were ignorant of this
righteousness -- they didn't believe that Christ was the Messiah who fulfilled
Isaiah's prophecy and "MAGNIFY THE LAW AND MAKE IT HONORABLE".
And in
Romans 10:1-3, Paul says that the Jews were LOST because they were IGNORANT of
Christ's obedience to the Law.
Will you stand with the Apostle
Paul? If somebody at your school doesn't know about Christ's obedience to the
Law, will you say "THEY ARE IGNORANT OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND SEEKING TO
ESTABLISH A RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THEIR OWN" (Rom 10:3) ??
Can't you see that
when God converts someone he convicts about this truth?
John 16:8 says
about the Holy Spirit, that"when he comes he will convict the world of sin, and
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS..."
Perhaps was I am saying is too extreme for
you. Perhaps you think you were saved as an Arminian. I know that when
I was a lost Calvinist I thought I had been converted as an Arminian. And I was
definitely NOT convicted about Christ's obedience to the Law, when I was an
Arminian. No Arminian believes that Christ PERFECTLY obeyed the Law for His
people!
I'm sorry. I hate telling people this. But if you were not
convicted of this truth at your conversion, then you are actually have not been
converted.
It's shocking isn't it? Well, at least I was completely
shocked when I realised that I had been lost as an Arminian and as a Calvinist.
And people will laugh in your face when you tell them, "I was converted
until I believed that Christ's obedience to the Law IS PART OF THE
GOSPEL."
Many Calvinists will pour scorn upon you, and accuse of things
you don't even believe. They'll say, "Oh so ... unless someone understands the
whole Bible, they're not saved?"
This is completely false. I don't
believe that!!! When a man is converted he simply understands those three facts
I posted above.
Here are some questions to consider...
Romans
1:16-17 says that in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed. Doesn't
that mean that all who deny imputed righteousness are lost?? Furthermore, don't
all Arminians deny imputed righteousness by making faith a condition of
salvation??
Romans 10:1-3 says the Jews were lost because they did not
believe in imputed righteousness. Are Arminians any better? Both the Jews and
the Arminians deny that Christ has obeyed the Law for the elect, in order to
constitute them righteous. Both the Arminians and the Jews say that something
MORE than the righteousness and blood of Christ is required for salvation.
(Arminians say that a prayer / commitment is required for salvation - they
believe in salvation by works!)
Galatians 1:8-9 and Mark 16:16 say that
those who believe a false gospel are lost. And isn't Arminianism a false
gospel?? Therefore, aren't all Arminians lost?
Isaiah 45:20-21 says that
those who pray to a god that cannot save know nothing. Since Arminians say that
man has free will, their god cannot save (man needs to save himself). Hence,
don't all Arminians know nothing of the Just God and Savior?
Arminians
deny that Christ is Sovereign. They say that man has free will, and Christ does
not decide who will be saved. In other words, their "christ" is an idol. Because
any god that is not sovereign is an idol! So by denying the sovereignty of
Christ, they deny the deity of Christ!
Regarding
assurance of salvation -- Here is a quote from David Engelsma . Do you agree
with it?
“the
sin of doubting our salvation is more heinous than adultery, ... or murder...
What are these sins in comparison with making God a liar in His promises to us,
or in comparison with accounting the suffering and death of the Son of God
inadequate to redeem and forgive us?"
Now,
if you agree with it, please read 1 John 5:10:
"The one
not believing God has made Him a liar"
In
other words, if a believer could doubt their salvation they would be calling God
a liar in His promises. And anyone who calls God a liar in His promises is "not
believing God".
Some
other Questions:
Where
does the Scripture teach that the Psalms are David's experiences?
Can you
find any examples of believers doubting their salvation in the
Scriptures?
Paul asks the Corinthians, "Know not Jesus Christ is in you,
unless you are reprobates?" (2 Cor 13:5) Doesn't that mean that if you
don't know that Christ is in you, you are lost?
DON'T ALL BELIEVERS HAVE
FULL ASSURANCE?
"For we have become partakers of Christ, if truly we
hold the BEGINNING OF THE ASSURANCE FIRM TO THE END" Heb 3:14
Q:
So only those who have the assurance of faith from the beginning til the end,
are believers?
"but Christ as Son over His house, whose house we are, IF
TRULY WE HOLD FAST THE BOLDNESS and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end." Heb
3:6
Q: If someone has doubted their salvation, have they had BOLDNESS
and FIRM HOPE at all times? Heb 3:6 says that only those who have this hope to
the end are saved.