•  "God is love, not all that wrath."

God is half mercy and half wrath. If you make part of the truth all of the truth that is an untruth (Rogers).”  The Bible reveals that God is:  living, personal, relational, good and loving (Enyart:  Battle Royale 10).  Christ is the truest revelation of the Father (Jn 14:9).  God will not judge sin?  God is too good not to judge sin.  "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne" (Ps. 97:2). 

Get to know God by sticking with Him to chapter two of His book.  "In Genesis 2:17 God declared life to those who obey Him, and death to those who disobey.  And God has generally revealed to man that He will have the victory over His enemies (Enyart)."  We are enemies to God if we do not obey Him (Ps 6:8, Ps 119:115).  Paul worked to "know Him" (Phil 3:10).  Jesus said that He does not even know us, if we do not obey Him (Mt 7:23).

Satan has blinded men to think that they have no need to know God (2 Cor 4:4).  He's been challenging, undermining and questioning God's word since the garden:  "Did God really say that?".  It still works today.  God tells us that we are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Mt. 6:33). 

God will judge us if we fail to respond to Him.  He wrestles with the sinner's heart (Gen 32:22-32).  We are without excuse (Rom 1:20).  "It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment (Heb 9:27)."  Jesus is loving and merciful, yet the "gentle Jesus" spoke of hell more than any other person in the Bible to warn the unrepentant in rebellion against God (Jn 8:44).  "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God (Jn 3:19-21, NKJV).”  Imagine Judgment Day to hear:  "But as for these enemies of mine who didn't want me to be their king-bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!'"  Those are the words of Jesus.

A religious system will not get you into heaven (Col 2:8).  Going to church will not get you into heaven (Am 5:21; Isa 1:14).  Good works will not get you to heaven (Isa. 64:6).  Only a right relationship with Jesus Christ (reconciliation) will save you from hell and damnation (1 Tim 2:5).  We have a loving God who desires an intimate relationship with us.  We were created in His image to worship Him (Eph 5:25).  A right relationship includes turning from sin and turning toward Jesus, Paul told a Philipian jailor (Acts 16:31).  Turning to Christ is the important thing.  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9)."

God gives each of us a will (free by definition).  We already know God's will.  He is "not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Pt 3:9)."  Yet, God gives us the ability to decide otherwise.  Still, we can only choose what He has eternally decreed.  We cannot say "I will be in heaven because that is where I want to be.  God loves me.  And if He does not love me the way I am, who wants Him anyway?" 

The fornicator cannot say "I will shake up...and I plan to be in heaven.  The sodomite cannot say "I will live as a homosexual... and I plan to be in heaven."  The idolater cannot say "I will continue to pray to saints...and I plan to be in heaven." We cannot break our way into heaven. 

God said:  "'I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.' So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy (Ro 9:15-16, NKJV)."  We cannot impose our will on God.  Everyone wants a place in heaven, yet they are not willing to do what He says nor believe what it takes to get there--that we are sinners in need of a Savior. 

It is a big pill to take, but God actually does hate evil (Amos 5:15, Ps 97:10, Pv 8:13).  For know love, one must know hate.  God hated Esau because of this pride (Mal 1:3).  Pride is believing that you can life a life without God.  Imagine Jesus looking out at the crowd seeing and those spitting on Him and mocking Him on the cross.  Would we imagine that He looked at them saying that they were all lovely creatures?  Rather, He demonstrated His love by dying for them.  "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8, NASB). 

         As we cannot close our eyes and stop the sun from shining, we cannot stop the coming day of judgment, nor the wicked from being punished.  It is God's universe.  He makes the rules.  If you don't like it, get your own universe (McGee).           

Many people call themselves "Christians".  If we are to name the name of Christ, we'd do well to know the man from Galilee.  "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name (Mt 7:22, NASB)."  The imagined "Jesus" of today never existed at all.  There is no historical record for that Jesus (McGee).  At death it would be tragic to hear:  "'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.' (Mt. 7:23, NASB)." 

God would not have to be "all that wrath" if we would judge ourselves (1 Cor 11:31)."  When we are saved (saved from the bondage of sin) we can say like the Psalmist, "Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you Ps 119:11, AKJV).  Right sets free.  Wrong enslaves men. 

         The saved walk in liberty (Ps 119:45); obey God (Ps 119:5); and hate a false way because it ruins life (Ps 119:6).  "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path (Ps 119:105)."

An excerpt Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis:  “…[T]his Law or Rule about Right and Wrong used to be called the Law of Nature.  Nowadays, when we talk of the ‘laws of nature’ we usually mean things like gravitation, or heredity, or the laws of chemistry.  But when the older thinkers called the Law of Right and Wrong ‘the Law of Nature’, they really meant the Law of Human Nature.  The idea was that, just as all bodies are governed by the law of gravitation, and organisms by biological laws, so the creature called man also had this law—with this great difference, that a body could not choose whether it obeyed the law of gravitation or not, but a man could choose either to obey the Law of Human Nature or to disobey it.

We may put this another way.  Each man is at every moment subjected to several different sets of law but there is only one of these which he is free to disobey.  As a body, he is subjected to gravitation and cannot disobey it; if you leave him unsupported in mid-air, he has not more choice about falling than a stone has.  As an organism, he is subjected to various biological laws which he cannot disobey and more than an animal can.  That is, he cannot disobey those laws which he shares with other things; but that law which is peculiar to his human nature, that law he does not share with animals or vegetables or inorganic things, is the one he can disobey if he chooses.” Ro 7:12.

Jesus is Lord--checkmate.  Unfortunately our society has become so biblically illiterate that it no longer recognizes historical, biblical Christianity.  Biblical illiteracy is pervasive and profound.  Men are guilty before God for their ignorance because their time has been spent in something else rather than in the word of God (Andrews). 

         Many trust more in their membership in a particular denomination than in the word of God.  If you stay in a barrel with bad apples  it will corrupt you (Andrews).  If historical, biblical Christianity sounds like a cult to the hearer of the word of God, one might ask:  What has been informing your worldview?  "I will destroy my people because they are ignorant (Hos 4:6, GWT)."

         "If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve (Jos 24:15)."  It takes courage to stand up for God.  Serving God is not cultural Christianity.  It is a serious, individual standing before Him.  We get caught up in serving the gods of this world (e.g. god of plenty, or power, or prestige, or pleasure).  What we galvanize our lives around, we serve.  Do we aim to please ourselves?  Or God?  No one can have two gods (Mt 6:24). 

There is no "version" of Christianity.  Our faith is in Jesus or it is not (Mt 12:30).  God's revealed word is truth or it is not.  As biblical Christians, we either have the grace of God or we do not.  Without God's grace, our "version" of Christianity would be a sham, no better than any other cult.  Are we growing in the fruits of the spirit?  The fruits of the spirit are:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Ga 5:22-23, NASB).

Satan's attacks occurs in the mind.  Our minds are the battleground:  "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12, NASB)."  God asks us to come and reason with Him (Isa 1:18) in His word.  If we are not in His word (Jn 8:31), we will believe what ever lie Satan tells us (Pv 30:8).  We become easy pray.  Our enemy, "the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8)."  We cannot defeat him but by the word of God (Eph 6:7).  The devil and his angels work against God and His plan but they will not succeed.  Those found in Christ will make it all the way home to heaven.

         Are we allured by the pageantry found in stained glass churches or in the word of God?  Will we put our trust in men or in Jesus?  "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5)."  Do we practice Churchianity or Christianity? 

If you do not serve the creator God, you serve the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4).  Jesus said: "He who is not with Me is against Me (Mt 12:30)."  Some don't stand for God.  They don't stand against God.  They just decide not to decide.  Each must chose for him or herself to put God first (David Jeremiah).  God said:  "They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols (Dt 32:21)."  Putting anything or anyone before God is idolatry (1 Cor 10:14, Col 3:5, 1 Cor 10:14). 

Christian love does not look the other way and say "I will not judge".  God has judged.  We should judge rightly (Pr 31:9).  We cannot love what God does not love.  We must discern what God loves and hates.  Christian love seeks the well-being of another.  Society defines hate as intolerance and they oppose others who reject their values.  But biblical love is not conforming to the public morass.  Neither is Christian love do-gooding necessarily.  Paul said "Let love be without hypocrisy" (Rom 12:9).  When we love what God loves we line up with the angels of heaven to praise Him (Ps 148:2, Andrews).  If we disagree with God, we are wrong and sinful in our thoughts, not God.  God's judgment is right (Gen 18:25).  We are commanded to judge rightly (Pv 31:9).  Tolerance does not imply that we condone sinful behavior. 

Liberals tell us "do not judge" but judge us in the statement itself.  When you condemn the wicked, then liberals will judge.  The saints of God will judge the world:  "Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? (1 Cor 6:3)."

When Christians judge sexual immorality, for example (e.g. fornication or homosexuality), they simply echo or mirror what God condemns.  Shaking up is wrong.  Homosexuality is wrong.  Some say "That's just your opinion." No.  That is God's opinion. 

Christians are called hateful because they condemn, for example, co-habitation (fornicators) and homosexuality (sodomites).  In the 1189 chapters of the Bible, the words "tolerant" and "compromise" do not appear.  The Bible is a very black and white book.  The Bible says that you can love like a hypocrite (Mt 7: 1-5, Mt 6:1-6, Mt 15: 1-9).  Imagine meeting Jesus face to face, and He tells you that you loved like a hypocrite. 

Today, love is an emotion.  Biblical love is doing what is best for a person.  The Bible says hate evil , "abhor evil".  Don't let your love be hypocritical (Rom 12:9).

Say, we start a group of support for child abusers and advocate child molester's rights. Would Jesus appreciate our efforts?  God says we are to love these people not love like hypocrites (Jn 13:34, Enyart).  If you do not love another you keep silent.  The Bible calls this apathy. 

Christians care enough to warn others who will not go to heaven because of their sin.  Forgiveness, justification and continuing sanctification (e.g. being cleaned up because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in you) is a great thing.  Christians want others to know that joy. 

[Clearing the Temple by Darrell Ferguson. Edited notes.] To be intolerant toward evil is a virtue.  We need more intolerance (Re 2:22, Isa 5:20, Pr 17:15, Pr 24:24, Jer 48:10).  Anger and love are not mutually exclusive. The more love there is the more anger there will be.  Anger comes from love.  Where you have no love there is no anger.  If you are indifferent, you don’t get angry. The greater the love the more fierce the anger when love is violated. Life of Jesus Volume 1: Jesus Tests and Builds Faith Pt 3a (right click, 'save target as' to download) by Darrell Ferguson

Christians warn fornicators, sodomites, child molester's, etc. that they are going to hell if they do not repent (Pv 31:9).  This is the most loving thing that we can do.  We tell them the truth in love.  If you speak the truth to others they get made at you.  That's why they killed Jesus.  He made People angry.  Jesus said they hated me therefore they will hate you (Jn 13;6). 

Who hates you because of Jesus Christ?  If the answer is no one, then you are not a Christian.  If you were a Christian, Jesus promised that they would hate you.   

Christians are taught by scripture to open their mouths (Pv 31:9).  Flattery does not help a man think of himself accurately.  "A flattering mouth works ruin (Pv 26:28, NASB)."  The Bible teaches that we are to make an honest appraisal of ourselves.  "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?" (2 Cor 13:5, NASB). 

The Bible does not teach the "self-esteem" philosophy that the culture teaches.   A man is "not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly (Ro 12:3, NKJV)."  Christians are taught by scripture to open their mouths not shut them.
 

God wants us to know Him through His word.  He does not leave us empty handed, though our hands must be emptied (not filled with works) to be saved.  When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He gives us a "down payment", so to speak, in the Holy Spirit. 

We can know the mind of God through His word, if we are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to be our teacher.  "No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God (1 Co 2:11-12).  The Holy Spirit teaches us what we otherwise would have no way of knowing (1 Co 2:13).  "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 Jn 5:13)."  We do not have on again, off again salvation, dependant on works.  If we put our trust in others to interpret for us, we can never know if we are being deceived.  Trust in religious leaders is not trust in Jesus (1 Tim 2:5). 

In our natural state, before receiving Jesus, we cannot know the Lord.  "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Co 2:14, NKJV)."  Jesus said:  "If anyone wills to do His [the Father's] will, he shall know concerning the doctrine (Jn 7:17, NKJV)." 

If one is a Christian, abiding in the word, then he or she will understand God's word.  "But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true...you will abide in Him (1 Jn 2:27)."  First, become a Christian, then abide in His word (Mt 6:33).

The enemy retains strongholds on our worldview using tactics of mind control such as:  compulsiveness, obsessive behaviors, fixations, fears, bitterness, lust, criticism, distrust, etc.  Our weapons are not carnal (e.g. positive thinking).  "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Co 10:4-5, NKJV)."  We are in a war every day whether we know it or not.  Paul said:  "Of course, we are living in the world, but we do not wage war in a world-like way." 
Our first weapon is the word of God and confidence in the scriptures.  Satan must be de-throned.  Christ must be enthroned.  Only a relationship with Jesus Christ will fill our hearts with a peace that passes all understanding (Phil 4:7). 

When a man becomes saved, he will gain the Spirit of Truth:  "Yet when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own accord, but will speak whatever he hears and will declare to you the things that are to come (Jn 16:13, ISV)."  God will speak to your heart when you put your trust in Him.

Is the word of God our authority or must we filter our Christianity through men?  If man is the filter, we will never come to the truth.  The Holy Spirit must be our teacher.       

It is always a great time to quote the apostle Paul, who wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Two thirds of the New Testament was written by Paul.  He proved his apostleship when others attacked him (Gal 1-17).  Paul was accepted in Jerusalem by the other apostles (Gal 1:18-24).  The gospel was given to him by Jesus Christ himself (Gal 1:12).  Paul corrected early heresy in the church-- there is one gospel--his gospel of grace (Ro 2:16). Paul went to heaven (2 Cor 12:4).  How many of us can say that we have been to heaven?   

Paul said:  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph 2:8-9, NASB)." Grace is God's unmerited favor toward fallen man.  God's gift is just that--a gift.  Once you takes credit for it, it is no longer a gift.  "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (Tit 3:5, NASB)."

The Pharisees were offended and angered by Paul's teachings because he taught 1-  that we are saved by grace; 2- that Christ is Lord and 3- that the Gentiles would be accepted.  It continues to anger the super-pious that  "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom 10:13).  God is not a respecter of persons.  "Whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation (Acts 10:34)."

Fallen man suffers a sense of rejection since the garden (e.g. Adam and Eve were rejected).  If we look for a worldly fill to the solution, we become puffed up in pride.  But if we look to Christ and are found in Him, we can have a sense of worthiness grounded on God's word.  Jesus was accepted by the Father--"This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased (Mt 17:5, NASB)."  If we are in Him (e.g. indwelled with the Holy Spirit), then we are accepted in the beloved.  "So that we would praise his glorious grace that he gave us in the Beloved One."  God accepts us for Christ's sake.  Holiness is not a way to Christ.  Christ is a way to holiness (Rogers).  Then we attain a positive self-image that only God can give.

         Paul greeted believers in the body of Christ:  "Grace to you and peace ...our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ...He made us accepted in the Beloved (Eph 1:2-6, NKJV)."  Self-esteem is esteeming self.  We are meant to esteem God (Rogers).  We are spiritually found dead in Adam, but we can have life in Christ. 

         Believers are under grace not law.  The unregenerate man remains under law.  If one insists on remaining under law, he will be judged by the law (Ro 2:12, Jms 2:10).  Law is not faith (Gal 3:12).  Salvation cannot come from keeping the law.  The law only condemns us and slays us (Ga 2:19).  If you want to come that route, you'll only get death (McGee).    Salvation comes by faith (Gal 3:18).  

The freedom that believers have today did not come cheap.  "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (Ga 5:1, NASB)."  Jesus intended to set us free, to give us liberty from the bondage of sin.  The greatest freedom of all is to live a righteous life in the power of the Holy Spirit, to live in the grace of God.  You are never free until you are indwelled by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Righteousness is by works or by the grace of God not both. 

Galatians is The Declaration of Independence for the believer.  Paul makes the true gospel clear in his epistle to the Galatians in case there remains any confusion.  Believers are no longer slaves to the law even if churches today try to return them into bondage as the Judaizers tried to do Paul's time.  When they did not know God, Paul explained, they lived under the law.  Why would they return to bondage, Paul asked.  He confronted the lie that the Galatians were starting to believe:  " I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel (Ga 1:6, NASB)." 

The Galatians whom Paul preached to were saved--they had believed the true gospel of grace but had stared to return to bondage.  Many sitting in churches today are not saved, never having heard the true gospel but rather one of works.    They are being taught the same lie today.  Works for the believer certainly matter, but after salvation.  People believe a false gospel which does not save.  Those who preach a different gospel of works are accursed (Gal 1:9).  To change the gospel has the effect of making it of no effect at all. 

These churches give people a false assurance that they are going to heaven.  Paul rebuked the Galatians then:  "You foolish Galatians! Who put you under a spell? Was not Jesus the Messiah clearly portrayed before your very eyes as having been crucified?" (Gal 3:1, ISV).  We could say the same to members of work-based churches today.  We are justified by faith not works (Ga 2:16).  When church members want to do something this is an appeal to the flesh.   

Ask friends and family members if they are saved.  If they say "I think so." or "I hope so." or I'm doing my best;"  They do not understand the grace of God.  They have not nailed down faith in Jesus Christ alone and may still be "working" their way to heaven.  When we are justified we are declared positionally "not guilty" before God once and for all. 

         Of course our trust in Christ must be genuine and only God knows our heart (1 Sam 16:7).  Everyone wants to be declared "not guilty" before God.  Saul sought forgiveness but did not repent.  David sought God's forgiveness and did repent. 

You cannot say "I'm saved.  I'm working on it."  It doesn't work that way.  You can't have it both ways.  Grace and works are mutually exclusive.  "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace (Ro 11:6, NASB)."  When the believer got saved, he did not reach up to heaven grabbing hold of God.  God grabbed hold of him.  We were saved because we responded.  It all came from Him:  the will, the faith, the desire--all by His grace not our own effort.  Without Christ we can do nothing (Jn 15:5).  It is all in Him and nothing is in us.  It is His grace not our works.  His gift is our freedom. 

All religions of the world are work-based in nature.  Christianity is not so much a religion as it is a relationship with the Creator God who is passionate about a relationship with us.  Ask a Christian who is passionate for the Lord, what Jesus has done for them in their life.  Christians never tire of speaking of God's grace.  God has chosen a people for His inheritance; and those who truly seek Him will be saved by His grace (Mt 11:28, Ps. 33:12).  There should be a passionate spirit for the Lord in us if we are Christians (Gal 3;1, ISV)."          

         In the book of Revelation, Jesus recognizes the other churches works, but He has no words of praise for them.  Even their "works" are not good works; they are evil works (Rev. 3:15-16, McGee Commentary).  If we rely on works, we will be cast out.  The Lord Jesus said:  "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth (Rev 3:15)."

         People replace the gospel of grace with a gospel of:  sacramentism (dispensing sacraments to feel good), or rationalism, or psychology or political strategy.  When they get baptized they are only buying fire insurance.  They are not interested in Jesus' lordship of their lives.  True baptism is being indwelled with the Holy Spirit not infant baptism.  "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you (Jn 15:3, NASB)."  When you are indwelled with the Holy Spirit you are sealed into the kingdom of God forever (Eph 4:30).  It stems from a decision to enthrone Jesus as our Lord-- sanctifying (setting Him) in His rightful place as Lord in our hearts (Rogers). 

A healthy Bible-believing church will resemble Christ, welcoming sinners.  They will not make people subscribe to a program that only they can offer to worship the living God.  Believers know that they too are sinners saved by the grace of God.  The body of Christ joins in fellowship to worship Jesus in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:24).  They recognize our Lord's sacrifice praise Him for it.  They give God the glory.  They point to Jesus, not pious religious leaders.  They are not glory-stealers.  The thief on the cross was promised paradise without following a program or carrying a church membership card (Lk 23:43).  "We need a mediator, we need a priest, and we have one, the Great High Priest, Jesus (McGee, Job 9:33)."  We approach God as the sinners that we are.  There are none righteous (Rom 3:10).

We do not choose God.  He chooses us (Jn 15:16).  "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Gal 6:7, NASB)."  Like the Roman general Maximus in the movie Gladiator, who said to Commodus:  "The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end," the days of great apostasy will end (Rev. 19:2; 22:20). 

Religion is easy but relationship requires a commitment.  When we are saved, we are able to pray as His children "Abba (Father)" (Gal 4:6).  Is church-going a burden or a joy?  Do we know God personally?  It is one thing to say that Jesus is the Savior of the world.  It is another to say "He is my Savior."

         God gave a set of commandments, demonstrating that there is an ultimate right and an ultimate wrong.  The idea that we are saved by keeping the law is called legalism.  Legalists try to put a yolk of bondage on us that others before us could not bear, returning us to the law (Ac 15:10).  Paul called this teaching perverse.   "Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?  (Ga 3:3, NKJV)."  It is transgression to return to the law:  "For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor (Ga 2:18, NKJV)."  Justification is by faith, not in flesh but in spirit (Ro 8:9).  If you are not in the Spirit, you are not one of His.

Peter was rebuked by Paul and in the end agreed with Paul.  Yet, some churches retain Peter's error and teach it-- perverting the gospel of grace likely due to their own greed.  If Peter were alive today he would rebuke them "to their face" as Paul once had to do to Peter (Ga 2:11).  Churches have become profitable, enslaving members,  at the expense of souls.  Peter said:  "We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they (Ac 15:11, NJKV).”

 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Ga 2:21, KJV)."  Legalists are enemies of the cross of Christ.  You will not hear them preach Galatians in their "churches". 

• "Our gospel is the gospel.  Read James.  You fundamentalists like to forget all about James who said that without works your faith is dead."

There is one gospel and it is one of grace not works (Gal 1:6-10).  Paul and James do not contradict one another.  You are putting the cart before the horse.  Actually, you are putting the horse in the cart by saying that works must come before salvation (McGee).  This is false.  We are not saved because of works but works are an evidence of our faith.  John Calvin put it like this:  "Faith alone saves but the faith that saves is not alone."

The cults and 'isms have a gospel but it is not one of salvation.  Our gospel of salvation is clear:  "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 (Eph 1:13, KJV)."  After we are saved and sealed into the kingdom, works will be evident.  Our experience of suffering will corroborate salvation (Ga 3:4) unless we never were really were saved and our faith was not real. 

We are saved by grace, through faith (Eph 2:8-9), unto good works (Eph 2:10).   Works will not save us.  James gave us three illustrations (Jm 2:14-26). He said that what happened in Genesis 15 became evident in Genesis 22 (Jm 2:17-24). Then, he moved from saint to streetwalker in Rahab (Jm 2:25). Rahab, the harlot laid her life on the line and took a risk. Finally, he gave the illustration of a body without a spirit. As the body without a spirit is dead, faith without works dead (Adrian Rogers).

See:  Works vs Faith

• "I got saved when I was young.  I loved God with all my heart.  I remember being very close to Him.  I had that experience [so by your own logic, I cannot not be 'sealed into the kingdom';]  I should have nothing to worry about."

Just because you say "bless you " when people sneeze, it doesn't make you a Christian.  The sign of genuine faith is obedience not an experience.  If a person claims to have had a spiritual moment but does not "continue in all things," he is cursed (Ga 3:10). 

So, you were saved when you were young (or your church sprinkled some water on your head) and you really have not thought about it since then.  Then you have suffered for Jesus (Ga 3:4)?  You have been hated because of Jesus (Mk 13:13)?  You have turned from sin, an about face.  (2 Cor 5:17)?  Your works are evident to other Christians (Eph 1:13)?  You died to your self-will and identified with Christ in obedience (Ac 2:38)?  You know Him and continue in His word (Jn 8:31)?   

If those things are not true then you had better rethink that moment with Jesus.  "For it is written: Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things...(Ga 3:10, KJV)."  You may have started out strong for the Lord but if that zeal diminished in any way, your conversion was not genuine.  Our walk with the Lord should show an ongoing sanctification. 

If you drove the speed limit all your life, not one mile per hour over the limit, you may expect a reward after 20 years.  But if in your 21st year you slipped up and drove just over the limit once, you would be a lawbreaker.  You would deserve punishment no matter how good you had been before (McGee). 

         God's law is the same.  Slip up in one area and you are guilty of it all (Jm 2:10).  Breaking mans' law is one thing, but but offending a holy God is quite another.  Man needs a mediator between himself and God.  Jesus became our mediator.  If there were another way, He would have done it (Mt 26:39).  All men lie (Ps 116:11).  All men break are lawbreakers. 

If we know God, we obey God.  Anyone who says I know God but does not obey Him deceives himself.  Read 1 John 1-5.    

The prodigal son was saved.  He lived in the pigpen for time but washed up and came home to the father.  A child of God will not stay in the pigpen.  He is a child in the likeness of the father.  If anyone can stay in the pigpen (e.g. a life marked by sin and rebellion toward God and disobedience to His word) He only lies to himself.  He is not a child of the living God.  

 

• "I don't need to get baptized.  I was baptized as a baby."

We are commanded to repent.  We should be baptized as an identification of our new life in Christ (Ac 2:38).  Babies no not have spiritual maturity to make a decision for Christ.    

• "Sounds like you have a 'program' too in baptism."

According to scripture we should repent and be baptized.    The thief on the cross never had the opportunity to be baptized though He was saved (Lk 23:43).  True baptism is the indwelling of the Holy (Ac 2:38) not infant baptism.  Just as God gave circumcision for the Jew, a symbol of faith, God gave baptism for the Christian.

A Christ follower follows Christ.  Not a church, not a program, but Christ alone.    Can you not be baptized and be a Christian? Yes. Can you not be baptized and be an obedient Christian? No. Baptism is the Christian’s first act of obedience.

Baptism is an outward declaration of an inward transformation (Dave Love, Calvary Chapel).  Read Romans 10.
 

• "The Jew had to do something and we have to do something."

"Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Ga 3:6, KJV)."  God has always saved men by faith not works, though some churches try to pervert this teaching.  Those "of faith" like Abraham are saved (Ga 3:7).   Paul and James agreed on salvation by faith not works of law (James 2:20-26).     

People do not like to address sin and our need for repentance.

[An excerpt Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis] "The real job of every moral teacher is to keep on brining us back, time after time, to the old simple principles which we are all so anxious not to see; like bringing a horse back and back to the fence it has refused to jump or brining a child back and back to the bit in its lesson that it wants to shirk (pg 82, Lewis)."

God is interested in changing people (Mt 9:17).  Being a Christian is not following a set of rules (as work-based faiths teach).  It is following Christ.  Plans and programs are easy:

"...If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you, you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all.  But, fortunately, it works the other way round.  Anyone who is honestly trying to be a Christian will soon find his intelligence being sharpened:  one of the reasons why it needs no special education to be a Christian is that Christianity is an education itself...(pg. 78, Lewis)."

"...There is one...point about...virtues that ought to be noticed.  There is a difference between doing some particular just or temperate action and being a just or temperate man...This distinction is important for the following reason.  If we thought only of the particular actions we might encourage three wrong ideas.

(1)We might think, that provided you did the right thing, it did not matter how or why you did it...

(2) We might think that God wanted simply obedience to a set of rules:  whereas He really wants people of a particular sort.

(3) We might think that 'virtues' were necessary only for this present life--that in the other world we could stop being just because there is nothing to quarrel about and stop being brave because there is not danger.  Now it is quite true that there will probably be no occasion for just or courageous acts in the next world, but there will be every occasion for being the sort of people that we can become only as a result of doing such acts here.  The point is not that God will refuse you admission to His eternal world if you have not got certain qualities of character:   the point is that if people have not got least the beginnings of those qualities inside them, then no possible external conditions could make a 'Heaven' for them--that is, could make them happy with the deep, strong, unshakable kind of happiness God intends for us (pg. 79-80, Lewis." 

• "I see, your system of faith is convenient.  You keep no law and act the way you want.  Remember the Crusades?  I care more how people act than what they believe."

Christianity is not a "system", it is freedom in the person of Christ.  The Spirit gives the believer liberty to do the will of God.  Christians want to do the will of Jesus.  It is a bond of love, not found in the cults and the 'isms (e.g. legalist churches) which are dead (McGee).  Many claim Christ and do not know Him.  We were told there would be many false christs (Mk 3:22, Mt 24;24).  Christians are called to a higher standard-- to love one another as Christ loved us  (Jn 13:34).  Christ's love is a sacrificial love, willing to die for another. 

         God cares what we believe (Ac 16:31), then He empowers us to act right (Mt 6:33).  When we are in Christ (Ga 2:16) we have all that we need to live the Christian life.  The Holy Spirit will take things of Christ and make them real to us.  He'll give us everything we need (McGee). 

         Jesus is the head of the Church not a pious figurehead.  He leads His bride, the church or the body of believers throughout the world.   

In obedience a Christian has the privilege to do the will of God.  When we have been born again, we no longer wish to wear our grave clothing (Jn 11:44, Eph 4:24).   As a bride would not want to stain her wedding dress, the Christian no longer wants to sin. 

The law was written for the lawless. If you love God, you will act accordingly (Mk 12:32).

• "I've spent my whole life doing good for others.  You mean to tell me that I'm going to hell?  I don't believe you."

Only God knows who He will send to heaven or hell at any given moment, based on what we have done with His Son, Jesus.  Only God knows our heart.  But the Bible teaches that repentance must occur on this side of the grave.  After death it is too late (Heb. 9:27).   

Job believed that he was a good man too, righteous in his own eyes (Job 31).  But we learn that wisdom casts itself down before God (Lk 14:9).  The Lord saves those who have a contrite spirit (Ps 34:18).  David recognized that God will not despise a broken and contrite spirit (Ps 51:17).  We do not turn in our goodness report to God (McGee).  God describes the inhabitants of His home:  "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit (Is 57:15)." 

         Jesus said:  "whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Lk 14:11; Mt 23:12)." 

         Don't listen to anyone who says that you will go to hell.  Listen to Jesus (Lk 9:35).  He said it is difficult for men to get saved (Mt 7:14, Jn 3:7).  Pride keeps even the best of men from God (Isa 14:12).

• "There are a whole lot of other people, way worse than me.  I'm not that bad.  I don't deserve hell."

If we got what we deserved, we would all go to hell.  Every moment that we spend on God's earth is by His mercy.  It is a chance to be redeemed when all along we have lived our lives rejecting God. 

God, in His mercy, holds back what we deserve.  Despite the fact that we are sinners, God loves us (Jn 12: 37-50).  Yet God says:  "My spirit shall not always strive with man (Gen 6:3)."

         It is God's desire that we understand Him and turn to Him to be healed (Jn 12:40).  We must appreciate what John MacArthur calls the "exceeding sinfulness of sin".  It is what sent Jesus to the cross.  To remain true to Himself, God became sin for us.  God is holy.  He cannot wink at sin or pretend that it does not exist.  He cannot lower the bar of standards of heaven (McGee).  Sin must be paid for.  It was paid for in full at the cross or it remains on us. 

         We can have an emotional hiccup with Jesus, but if we are not willing to be cleaned up by Him, we will have no part of Him.  Peter said to Jesus, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." (Jn 13:8).

Most are not too bad to be saved.  They are to "good".  They do not see themselves as bad enough to need a Savior.  One man said the gospel is good for those bums on skid row, but not for him (McGee).  Some might say that the gospel is good for the genocidal maniac or the serial killer but not for them.  We are good boys and girls after all.  God says otherwise.  Everyone of us has a wicked heart (Jer 17:9).  Everyone is in need of a Savior (Ro 3:23). 

If we accept God's judgment of us there is hope for repentance.  It is not until we see ourselves in need of a Savior that we will call out to Him. 

The genocidal maniac can be saved?  Yes.  The serial killer?  Yes.  The pedophile?  The homosexual?  The fornicator?  The idolater? Yes.  "Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven (Mt 12:31, ISV)."  A continued lifelong rejection of Jesus Christ will send a man to hell.

• "I just don't believe that Jeffrey Dahmer could go to heaven and Mother Theresa could go to hell."

People who place others on a hierarchy of goodness are under the false illusion that they are somehow good because they are not as bad as the next guy.  You are as bad as the next guy (Ro 3:23).  So was Mother Theresa.  Seeing people by man's standard is called human secularism.  God has a higher standard.  Interestingly enough, God's standard resembles Himself.  He is absolutely perfect, righteous, and holy in every way.  You ain't and neither am I. 

All of your of your supposed goodness falls far short of God's high standard.  If you think you are good you make God out to be a liar.  "No One Is righteous to God ... and if it be not so now, who will make me a liar (Job 24:25, GWT)."  Are you prepared to tell God that He is a liar?  What did you plan to proclaim in heaven:  "Worthy am I.  Look at my works."  The saved saints of the Lord proclaim from their heart "Worthy is the Lamb (Rv 5:12)". 

In God's mind each of us fills the wickedness quota that we believe Jeffrey Dahmer taps out.  If we fail to acknowledge the ugliness of our sin before a holy God, we fail to understand Him and the immeasurable height of His holiness.  Even the most minor sin is an eternal offence to an eternal being. 

Yes, it just might be that a wicked murderer will go to heaven and the so-called super pious among us will not because they think they are so lovely before God.  Someone once said when we get to heaven we will be surprised who is there and who isn't there.  

Christians cannot claim to know who is going to heaven and who is not.  Neither can non-Christians.  Only God knows who has truly put their trust in Christ alone.  At the end of Jeffrey Dahmer's life, he sensed a need for a Savior.  He claims to have become a Christian and he became baptized.  Friends and victim's family members said that they saw a change in Dahmer.  His minister said that he developed a hunger and thirst for righteousness.  (http://www.tornadohills.com/dahmer/life.htm).  

Mother Teresa said at the end of her life:  “Where is my faith? Even deep down … there is nothing but emptiness and darkness … If there be God—please forgive me. When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul … How painful is this unknown pain—I have no Faith. Repulsed, empty, no faith, no love, no zeal, … What do I labor for? If there be no God, there can be no soul. If there be no soul then, Jesus, You also are not true." (Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 0385520379). 

"If there be God."?  Mother Teresa came from a work-based faith that did not point her to the Savior.  Her faith teaches:  a different Jesus, a different gospel and a different way of salvation than historical , biblical Christianity.  "When I try to raise my thoughts to heaven..." is an expression of work.  Work nullifies faith (Gal 3:18).  "I have no faith...What do I labor for?" 

We cannot say what may have happened at the last moments of each of these people's lives, but what was their plan?  We know that only faith in Christ (not prayer to saints, not trust in church works) will save.  "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die (Jn 11:25-26, NKJV)."  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me (Jn 14:1, ISV)." 

No matter what we think we see on the outside, God knows the heart.  "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Sam 16;7, ISV)."

At the end of Dahmer's life he said "I have accepted Him [Jesus] as my Lord and Savior...The Lord Jesus Christ is truly God."  Dahmer Professes Trust in Jesus

At the end of Mother Theresa's life she wrote, "Jesus, You...are not true."  Scripture teaches: "If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Ro 10:9)."

Of course men do not believe that one who appears evil could go to heaven and a so-called pious man could go to hell.  That is because man's way has been one of works since Cain and he still makes the same error.  Bad theology will lead a person to hell.  "Woe to them!  For they have gone the way of Cain (Jud 1:11, NASB)."  Guess what "woe" looks like in eternity.

Cain believed what the work-based faiths continue to teach.  But it takes trust in Christ's sacrifice to be saved (as pictured by Abel's bloody sacrifice which was acceptable to God).  Cain offered fruit of the ground, works of his hands but Able offered a bloody sacrifice "and the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell (Ge 4:3-5, NKJV)."  "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain (Heb 11:4, NKJV)."  "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death..." (Heb 11:5, NKJV)."By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen...prepared an ark for the saving of his household (Heb 11:7, NKJV)."  Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).

Do not believe churches that teach that by our works we get to heaven.  They won't.  "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death (Pro 16:25)." 

"A little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal 5:9, AKJV)."  Their teaching, mixing a little truth with error (pictured in leaven) will destroy.

Christians walk in the Spirit not in the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16).  No matter what a man was before, he can be made new in Christ (Eph 4:24).  What work God begins, He finishes. "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6, NASB)."

         Dahmer knew that he was a wicked man in desperate need for a Savior.  If he put trust in Christ and allowed the Lord to do His work in him, he could be saved. 

         None of us are as lovely as we think we are.  Men who believe that they are doing just fine, fat and happy, in need of nothing are headed toward hell.  God says that those who say ""I am rich. I have become wealthy. I don't need anything." are going to hell (Rv. 3:17).  But men who know, as the Bible teaches, that they are "miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked" have a chance to be saved by the blood of Jesus (Rv 3:17). 

Our Lord said:  "Healthy people don't need a physician, but sick ones do. I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners (Mk 2:17, ISV)."  Jesus came to save sinners not saints, the lost, not the pious folks warming church pews (Ezk 34:16, Lk 19:10).  Some pew-warmers won't miss a week's service after the Great Tribulation. 

Whose heart is more wicked?  The man who sees himself as "good", because he is supposedly better than a mass murderer?  The man who refuses to believe the gospel of grace and accept God's forgiveness for their sin?  Or a man, clearly wicked man beyond belief, but who finally came to the end of himself, recognized his utter failure helplessness and dependence on God, and saw himself for who he was?  "God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7, NASB)."  Read God's opinion about man's heart of unbelief:  The Evil Heart of Unbelief.

When Dahmer approached the throne of God maybe he was asked by God "Why should I let you into heaven, Jeffrey?" 

His answer:  "I've been so awful Father.  I can only claim the The blood of Jesus."  Right answer. 

Another may approach the throne of God and He may ask the same "Why should I let you into heaven?" 

"My church membership.  I did this and that in your name.  I made a few mistakes but I tried to be good.  I'm not as bad as that one over there.  I sang your songs.  I sat in your pew and I really felt something a few times."  Wrong answer.  Careful, no make-up exams.

Just because you keep your sin quiet, God still knows.  Although some may not look like good candidate for citizenship in heaven, there is no sin that cannot be unforgiven except the unforgivable sin of a continued and ongoing rejection of God's grace and forgiveness. 

We should love God deeply and hate sin fierily.  A saved man longs to be freed from sin and wants deliverance from it.  True repentance and true confession looks at sin, looks at God , and looks at self rightly.  We first must admit that we deserve judgment.   David understood this and pleaded for love from God.  To identify with a heart of true repentance read Psalm 51. 

Only a total cleansing will suffice.  The repentant man experiences guilt and seeks relief from it.  He realizes that he bears full responsibility for his sin.  He knows that he cannot change himself and asks God for the power to do what he himself cannot do.  Some do not believe that God has the power to cleanse.  But God, in His sovereignty, is powerful enough to cleanse and change us.  David trusted God's goodness not his own.  (MacArthur). 

God is glorified when he brings a man from the lowest of low to the highest of high.  David trusted God and His goodness to do just this.  Then he could rightly praise Him. Heaven will be filled with those who praise God not themselves. 

If you go to work, building high-rise buildings your supervisor will warn you not to step too close to the edge.  If you do, you're dead.  If another person, say from the mafia pushes you because you are their enemy, you will die.  If you jump yourself, someone might shout out to you as you pass by the 10th floor, "How are you doing?"  You might answer, "I'm doing ok."  But you are dead. 

         Man is the same.  As the builder breaks the law of gravity , the sinner breaks the law of God.  Man is falling and there is nothing to save him but Jesus.  The fact is that we are law breakers.  The degree of law breaking is not the issue.  We all in need of a savior.  "I'm doing ok" is not good enough for God. 

"You will not surely die (Ge 3:4, NKJV)," the serpent told Eve in the garden.  We are born with the desire to disobey, avoid and rebel against God in our lives.  The Bible says that "the soul who sins shall die (Eze 18:20), NKJV)." 

All of humanity is vile and corrupt before God. Our culture says feel no guilt.  Guilt is medieval.  Work on your self-esteem.  In fact, do what you do in excess until you feel no guilt.  Sear your conscience (1 Ti 4:1).  Scripture says men are undiscerning, sinning and approving of others who sin (Ro 1:28-32, NKJV)."

Should Jeffrey Dahmer have been put to death?  Of course.  The point is is not did Jeffrey Dahmer get saved.  The point is:  will I go to heaven because I am supposedly better than Jeffrey Dahmer?  The Bible says no one is good (Mk 10:18).  We should not compare ourselves to the lowest of low but to the highest of high, Jesus.  He is heaven's standard.  We will never be good enough in this life while we are in the flesh.  The only measuring rod for heaven is seen in the life of Jesus, not somewhere between a wicked individual and Jesus.  Read:  God's Criminal Justice System by Bob Enyart.

Each of us is seen as wicked by God.  We are condemned already before God until we come to faith in Christ alone (Jn 3:18).  The reason unredeemed men cannot understand the forgiveness of a wicked person is because they have not come to appreciate the exceeding sinfulness of their own sin.  Some of Dahmer's victim's family members were able to forgive him when the greater society could not.   Why?  If a man can appreciate his own sin before a holy God--that even one sin is deserving of an eternity in Hell, then he realizes that he's been forgiven much. 

Cultural Christians may believe in the doctrine of original sin--so long as it is someone else's sin.  They are "pretty good" after all and they and don't deserve even if God says they do.  This believe, called the "way of Cain" (Ju 1:11) is work-based and leads to destruction.  A woman of ill repute brought an alabaster flask to Jesus to anoint His feet with oils before His coming death (Lk 7:37).  When a Pharisee saw this, he wondered:  why would a profit speak with the neighborhood whore?  Religious leaders don't do that!  The followers of religious leaders don't forgive wicked criminals. 

The woman had brought a bottle of fragrance to to anoint Jesus' feet.  Had Peter anointed Jesus head which was customary upon entering a home?  No.  It was the only anointing Jesus would ever receive.  The woman wept for Jesus who would die and kissed Him.  Did Peter weep?  Did Peter kiss Him on the cheek as was customary?  No.  The woman wiped Jesus' feet with her hair.  Did Peter express such love?  No.  Why?  Jesus said:  "her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little (L 7:47, NKJV)."  The woman knew forgiveness.  What did Jesus have to say to Peter?:  “Simon, I have something to say to you (Lk 7:40, NKJV)," and Jesus proceeded to tell the parable of the two debtors. 

Organized churches of today have taken God's gospel of grace and have added to it, which nullifies it.  You are "saved" as long as you do--something else.  The reason many "good" people have trouble forgiving others who appear especially wicked is:  (1) they are taught to think that way by their religious leaders who preach works not faith (2) they will not believe the word of God (3) they do not appreciate the magnitude of their own sin and (4) they have not known God's forgiveness.  Read:  Mt 18:21-35.  Understand who the king is and who the wicked servant is.  If you despise God's word you despise Jesus (Jn 1).  If you are ashamed of His gospel He will be ashamed of you before His Father.      

• "I am a good person.  I am not going to hell."

Ok, based on what?  Do you base your claim on emotions and feelings or on scripture?  God tell us to base our conclusions on the truth found in scripture (1 Jn 1:1).  Jesus is truth incarnate (Jn 10:30).  Is His conclusion in agreement with yours?  Ask Him?  (Ro 3:23; Ro 5:8; Ro 6:23; Ro 10:9; Ro 10:13; Ro 5:8). 

The apostle Paul came to a different conclusion:  "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not [emphasis added] (Romans 7:18-19)." 

Jesus said: "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven [emphasis added] (Mt 5:20, NKJV)."

See:

How Good to I Have to be to go to Heaven? John MacArthur

• "All you do is cut down other religions.   You are a [fill-in-the-blank]-basher."

Christians do not cut down other religions.  They cut down false religions.  God gave one religion to the world--Judaism.  Jesus Christ fulfilled the law of Judaism.  Christians are opposed to any religion that claims that there is salvation by any other name than Jesus Christ (1 Tm 2:5).  The faith was delivered one for all and we are commanded to vigorously defend it (Jud 1:5).

The Galatians believers had been led away from the true gospel by the Judaizers.  Like churches of today, the Judaizers were teaching that one must believe in Jesus' death and resurrection plus something--plus keeping the law, plus church, plus...something but faith alone, Christ alone.  Paul clarified their perversion of the gospel of grace.  There is only one gospel (Gal 1:6-10).  Paul asked the Galatian believers:  "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Gal 4:16, AKJV).  When we come to the truth, we can be sure to have enemies who wish to return us to bondage (Gal 2: 11-21).

Paul encouraged his fellow believers in the faith:  "hold firmly to the message I proclaimed to you-unless, of course, your faith was worthless. (1 Cor 1:2, ISV)."  We are to "hold firm" no matter what [fill-in-the-blank]-basher they may call us. 

To the Galatians, Paul said, "I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you (Gal 4:20, KJB)."  Why would anyone want to return to bondage?

Christians are to contend earnestly for the faith (Jud 1:3) and see if we can't snatch a few of these deceived people from the fire (Jud 1:23) who have "crept in unawares" (Jud 1:4, KJB)."  

If Christians are accused of being religion-bashers, just wait and see what Jesus will do with false religions.  Read about the church of Laodicea in the book of Revelation.  If men insist on being judged by their works they will be. 

See:

Evangelicals and Catholics Who's Bashing Who?

•   "You mean to tell me that this little baby is a sinner?"

“When that little baby was born did he cry? He knew something was wrong. Has he ever cried when nothing was wrong? If he has, then he’s a liar. You can bet one of his first words will be “no”—he is in rebellion.” (David Jeremiah).  

• "You can't trust those Evangelicals.  I've seen them on TV.  All they want is your money."

The term "evangelical" has been watered down.  But Christians are warned to be aware of false prophets who have crept into the church.  Jude, a first century Christian, addressed this:  "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (Jude 1:4)."

         Any denomination can have ungodly leaders.  Jesus told us how to know who belongs to Him:  "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they (Mt 7:16)?"  They wanted His message to go away too. 

         Do church leaders teach the word of God (Jn 8:31)?  Does the church produce moral and trustworthy leaders?  We do not look for leadership from corrupt men.  There is one mediator between God and man, Jesus (1 Tim 2:5).  We go to our Great High Priest (Heb 10:21).  Peter said "obey God not man" (Acts 5:29).  

 Jesus condemned religious hypocrites in His day.  We have "Pharisees" in our churches still today.  Jesus said:  "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren (Mt 23:2-8, NKJV)."

Paul did not water down the gospel.  He was not motivated by greed, an offering or guile.    He did not appeal to the old nature as some churches do.  Those who “received” the word of God were saved (1 Thes 2:13).  But people who have an adversarial spirit toward the true gospel do not have the spirit of Christ.  

• "I'm a red-letter Christian (e.g. word of Jesus).  I don't believe in the Old Testament, just the New Testament and what Jesus said."

Jesus affirmed the Old Testament  when He said:  "The Scripture cannot be broken (Jn 10:35)."  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Jn 1:1)."  Jesus said:  "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle [One letter or one stroke of a letter] shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (Mt 5:18)."      

         The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament.     

• "I would never have the audacity to say that my religion is the only way."

         Then you would not be a Christian.  Christianity says exactly that--that all other religions are false and Christianity alone is true.  Christianity claims to have truth incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ.  Accept it or reject it, but do not change the truth claim of biblical Christianity.  C.S. Lewis famously boiled it down for us to our choices:  liar, lunatic or Lord. 

Pontius Pilate said the same.  No one can have the "audacity" to claim that they know truth.  "What is truth?" (Jn 18:38).  Truth is truth even if no one agrees that it is truth.  Men ask the same today.  Could there really be only one way to heaven?  Jesus said yes. 

If all religions are equal than Christianity is less than equal because Christianity says that there is one way, one truth and one way to eternal life.  Jesus said:  "'I am the way, and the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6)."  Either he pulled off the greatest con in history (yet, the wisest and most respected men of His day believed in Him and died for Him.  You do not die for a lie); Or, He was delusional (men did not perceive Him to be insane); Or, Jesus was who He said He was.  Jesus left us no other options.  He either was who He said He was-- or He was not.  Believe Him (not just a mere intellectual ascension to the facts but a heart conversion); and turn from your sin (repentance) and you will live.  Or, hear it, do nothing about it and you will die.

If someone asks you to describe your dad, some never having met him, will describe him wrong.  Others, knowing him will describe him accurately.  Your dad is who he is, and being his son or daughter, you would want him described correctly. 

Some say that religion doesn't matter, you just have to be sincere.  If we go to a doctor, he could sincerely give us arsenic.  And he could sincerely be wrong.  He meant to do well, but you will die if you take his medicine. 

         Some believe in a mountaintop type theology as discussed in The God Conversation.  All paths can get you to God.  Buddhists believe there is no God.  Hindus believe there are thousands of gods.  Muslims believe there is one god and belief in any other is blasphemous.  Who is at the top of the mountain?  All religions contradict one another.  Christians would say that Jesus alone is at the top of the mountain.  Who are we to believe? 

         Christians believe in more of a maze theology as discussed in the book The God Conversation  (J. P. Moreland, Tim Muehlhoff, and Lee Strobel).  In England, the Hampden Court Maze is filled with endless shrubbery.  People entering the maze must make decisions to find a way through.  Some routes go deep into the maze, others lead to the interior.  When they opened the maze, people got lost and became very frustrated when they tried to make their way through.  They found that by putting a guide above the patrons who would shout out commands "go left, go right", patrons could find their way through the maze.  Christians would say that Jesus alone is qualified to be that guide.  Why not Buddha?  Why not Gandhi?  Why not Mohammed?  How can Christians have the audacity to say that Jesus alone can be that guide?  Paul said that without the resurrection, our faith is in vain (I Cor 5:14).  Buddha, Gandhi and Mohammed are all dead.  Their bodies rotted and decayed.  Their bones are now dust.  Jesus' tomb was empty.  There are no bones because He is alive!  If we have a death problem, He's the man to know.  We are not dealing with an ordinary man.  We go to the one man in all of human history that was raised from the dead, Jesus (Rainey). 

The most honored and respected men of Jesus' time testified to Him; the Father in heaven testified audibly to Him:  " "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" (Mk 9:7, NASB); and He continues to change lives today. 

See:

Christian Exclusivism

Faith--Object Determines Value

• "I don't believe in moral absolutes."

Absolutely?    Is it ok to throw puppies off of bridges?  Torture babies?  Punch homosexuals in the face?  Lynch blacks?  Or, give your list of what is absolutely wrong.  Dumping chemicals into our drinking water?  Most people would put something on their list of right and wrong.  How could anything be on the list if they do not believe in right and wrong? 

The fact is, everyone believes in absolutes.  But they may say:  "Well, for you that's ok, but not for me."    As Christians, we say what God says is holy and right .  It is God who determines right and wrong.  It is wrong to be racist because everyone is made in God's image. 

Nazis defended themselves at the Nuremburg trials.  Their lawyers said that they were not murderers because the government said that it was not a crime to kill Jews.  Someone said that there must be a law above the law.  The answer is God's law. 

• "But you don't know what I've done.  If I came to your church the walls would fall down."

David Jeremiah says some churches need remodeling.  Whosoever means whosoever:  "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom 10:13, KJV)."  God is merciful.  Mercy is the withholding of deserved punishment (Enyart). 

• "I like Jesus ok, but I don't care for His followers.  I would not be good at being a Christian."

Someone once said that when God paints your picture He paints it warts and all.  Abraham was a man of faith.  Yet, he went to Egypt not trusting God where he fell pray to a woman named Hagar.  History records the continuing effects of his sin still today.  David was noble, a man after God's own heart, yet he committed murder and adultery.  Elijah called down fire down upon the soldiers of Ahaziah and courageously slayed the prophets of Baal, then ran from Jezebel because of fear.  Moses, meek and humble, lost his temper and struck the rock contrary to God's command.  He paid dearly for it.  Peter said he would be faithful at all times, yet denied the Lord three times.  Gideon achieved a gallant victory over the Midianites, then took an ephod back home which disgraced his people and His God (Jeremiah).

Those who follow Christ should point to Him.  Men are flawed and imperfect.  Look for perfection in Christ, not necessarily in His followers (Mt 5:17).  It was Christ who came to fulfill the law--to live the perfect life that you and I could not.  The Christian is not sinless; He just sins less.  The apostle Paul struggled in the flesh, coming to the conclusion that in him was "no good thing" (Ro 7:18).  The tent maker, Paul knew that we would not escape the effects of sin in the world while living in this "tabernacle" or tent of the flesh (2 Cor 5:4).

Being freed from sin does not mean living a life free of sin.  Jesus frees a person from sin's domination in his life.  "For sin will not have mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace (Ro 6:14, ISV)."

"We are still a people under construction, an urban renewal project (Andrews)." 

The gospel is offensive. 

• It offends man's morality because his works cannot justify him.

• It offends his philosophy because its appeal is to faith not to reason.

• It is an offence to the culture because its truth is reveled to babes.

• It is offensive to his sense of caste because God chooses the poor and humble.

• It is offensive to his will because it calls for an unconditional surrender.

• It is an offensive to his pride because it shows the exceeding sinfulness of the human heart.

• It is offensive to himself because it tells him he must be born again.

               (McGee).

Christians care enough to warn others about the coming judgment.  God will not just overlook man's sin.  The most loving thing that we can do is warn people-- the fornicator (e.g. sex outside of marriage), the homosexual, the idolater (includes false religion, prayer to other than God, religious hypocrite, etc.)-- that they will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.  That is the bad news (v.9).  But the good news (v. 11) is that they can be washed.  "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.  Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God (1 Co 6:9-11, NASB).

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9, KJV)."

The most desperate and immediate need for a man is to be saved.  Our most desperate need is not:  to stop being a fornicator, to stop being a homosexual, to stop being a child molester, to stop being a drunkard, etc.  Our most desperate need is to put our trust in Jesus Christ and to believe in Him (Acts 16:31).  (Taylor). 

"At some point a "Christian" has to believe in Christianity.  The Bible has answers if we are willing to listen.  Where did we come from?  Why are we here?  Where are we going?  Who was Jesus?...If Jesus really was the only person in history to die and rise again,...are we willing to hear his opinion?  What did Jesus believe about Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy?" (Geraci). 

Satan is called the prince of this world because men believe his lies and deceit.  Today people worship many gods (e.g. money, entertainment).  Paul said "you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience (Ep 2:2)."  Worldly wisdom is earthly, natural, and demonic according to James (Jm 3:15).  If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation (2 Cor 5:17).  We are either in the world or in Christ; servants of one or the other (Rom 6:16).  If we lie we say "Satan, I love you."  If we disobey we say "You are my father, Satan."  We cannot serve two gods (Lk 16:13).  We are informed by something--the world the flesh and the devil or the word of God.  The Father opposes the world (I Jn 2:15-17); The Holy Spirit opposes the flesh (Gal 5:16-17); The Son opposes the Devil (Luke 4, I Jn 3:8).

Why do people reject the lordship of Jesus in their lives?...unbelief, apathy, deception.  It is not a problem with light (e.g. promptings of the Holy Spirit or availability to access scripture).  Why won't the come?  Jesus explained:  "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (Jn 3:19, NKJV)."  Read Rom 1:18-2:16, what happens when God gives up on you and lets you go.

       You call Me master and obey Me not.
You call Me light and see Me not.
You call Me the Way and walk Me not.
You call Me life and live Me not.
You call Me wise and follow Me not.
You call Me fair and love Me not.
You call Me rich and ask Me not.
You call Me eternal and seek Me not.
If I condemn thee, blame Me not.
-Source Unknown

"But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life (Jn 5:40).  If we are not asking to be saved; neither seeking the Lord; nor knocking on the door of our heavenly Father, will it be a great surprise not to be called His child in eternity? 

Jesus said:  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"  (Mt 7:7-11).

Paul said "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:6, NASB)."  Only 9% of Christians hold a biblical worldview (WorldNetDaily, December 03, 2003).  The statistic would seem accurate for the few that Jesus spoke of who would make it to heaven (Mt 7:14).  As Christians, it is our responsibility to warn others in our circle of influence that they are condemned already in the presence of God (Jn 3:18).  But, there is "good news" found in Jesus if they will humble themselves before Him (Jn 3:16).  Jesus said:  "'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me (Rv 3:20, NASB)." "Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near (Isa 55:6)." 

Church is not about religious activity.  We exist to win the lost and should not give up.  God has chosen us for this mission.  "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mk 16:15, NASB)."  It is important that we are rooted and grounded in God's word.  We have been given the privilege to go into the highways and byways of life to preach the gospel (Lk 14:23).  Are we willing to be who God wants us to be if no one else is like that?  (Taylor).

         The hallmark of a born again Christian is they share the gospel.  What right does anyone have to say he's a follower of Jesus Christ if he is not a soul winner?  If you hear, you speak (Mt 10:27, Jn 16:13):  living, sharing, speaking constantly.  The faith that fizzles at the finish had a flaw at the first.  Cardboard Christians will perish:  "I never knew you: depart from me (Mt 7:23, AKJV)." (Rogers).

         We deliver the message. It is up to the individual to accept or reject the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  Read Ezek. 2:5.  God can do anything but make a person repent.