2 John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
By Don Fortner
Is your pastor lying to you? Most preachers are liars. They are making merchandise of the souls of men. They have no regard for you, no regard for the honor of God, the glory of Christ, the Word of God, or for the souls of men. They preach for gain, to gain money, to gain power, or to gain prestige. They are in the best business in the world, big-business religion. They know what people like to hear, and they give it to them. Whatever it takes to keep the people coming and the money rolling in, they do. Most preachers are liars. Is your pastor lying to you?
It has come to pass in our day, as the apostle Paul predicted, the time has come when men “will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they turn away their ears from the truth, and are turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Here are five fables which are commonly proclaimed in pulpits all over America today. They are lies and perversions; but these are smooth things such as people like to hear. They keep the money coming in; so preachers keep on repeating these fables.
1. We are told that “God loves everyone”. The fact is, God does not love everyone. He said that he hated Esau. He loves all who believe on Christ. But until a man believes on Christ, he has no reason to presume that God loves him. God hates every evil thing. He is angry with the wicked every day.
2. We are told that “Jesus died on the cross to save everyone in the world”. That just is not so. If Christ had suffered the penalty of God’s holy law for everyone, everyone would be saved. Our Lord said that he laid down his life for his sheep, and then turned to the Pharisees and said, “Ye are not of my sheep” (John 10:26). Christ did not die to save all the people of the world. He died to redeem, and actually did redeem, all of God’s elect, those who trust him.
3. Sinners are told that “Salvation is accomplished by a decision”. Again, this cannot be true. How many do you know who have walked a church aisle, gone to an altar, and made a decision, who were again entangled in worldly lusts within a short time? Our Lord declares, concerning all who are born again, that they “were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13). Paul said, “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy” (Rom. 9:16).
4. Preachers everywhere tell us that “God is trying to save everyone”. My friends, almighty God never tries to do anything. If God puts his arm to work, no one and nothing can resist him. It is not now, nor has it ever been, God’s intention to save all of Adam’s race. God’s purpose is to save his own elect, the people chosen and redeemed by him in love and grace. And he will save them. Not one of those chosen in eternal election redeemed by the blood of Christ, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and brought to faith in Christ shall ever perish.
5. And these modern prophets of deceit tell us that “Man by his own free-will has the power either to let Christ save hims or to resist the Lord’s saving grace”. What absurdity! Can the clay resist the potter’s will? Can man resist the power of God? Man’s will is not free. It is bound by his own evil heart and nature. Left to himself, he will not and cannot come to Christ. Man’s will, like all other things, is under the power and dominion of the Son of God.
Is your pastor lying to you? Search the scriptures and see. Find someone who is boldly preaching the pure gospel of the grace of God, and hear what he says. Refuse to hear those who refuse to speak the truth of God.
HL : http://www.donfortner.com/radio_notes/0031%20Is%20your%20pastor%20lying%20to%20you.htm
For the Love of His Truth 
I am not disagreeing with you. But I have to think by this article, that your a Calvinist,,,right??? 🙂 I stand between Calvinism and Arminius-ism, what does that make me??? Sorry if that is spelled wrong!!! LOL
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Sue
It is virtually impossible to stand between Calvinism and Arminianism, but that is the subject for a very long discussion. The reason why it is virtually impossible is that the two “belief systems” are diametrically opposed to one another. You either believe in the Sovereignty of God, or you believe that man has a part to play in his own salvation. You cannot believe in both. You either worship a Sovereign and Almighty God, or you worship a weak god whose decisions are influenced by man.
In the past I have written articles, comments and other random pieces which have illustrated why the doctrines held by Arminianism, Free-willism and Legalism are regarded as heretical by those hold to the absolute Sovereignty of God in all matters. As could have been expected, what I wrote has been met with much loud opposition by defenders of those heresies. For the most part, this opposition has tried to “accuse” me and others who uphold the Sovereignty of God in all matters, of being everything from a Hyper-Calvinist to a Satanist.
Of course, there have also been those who share my conviction that the Bible is the Word of a Sovereign God and that salvation is by Grace alone. There are also some who know me well enough to be a simple man, a sinner saved by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, who realize that to label me as a Hyper-Calvinist or similar, is to accredit me with something far too exotic, fanciful and fallacious!
Mostly, I have simply been called a ‘Calvinist’, and according to the inferences used, those who oppose salvation by Grace alone, imply that they do not regard Calvinists as Christians. Those of synergistic persuasion are very quick to voice their strongest disapproval of the biblical doctrine of election as in (Psa 65:4; Mat 24:24; John 6:37; John 15:16; Act 13:48; Rom 8:28-30; Rom 9:10-24; Rom 11:5-7; Eph 1:3-6; Eph 1:11-12; 1The 1:4; 1The 5:9; 2The 2:13-14) which is upheld by monergists.
Free will advocates protest that the doctrines of grace are unfair and exclusive because not all men are thereby elect of God. However, the very same free will worshippers do exactly the same by claiming the right to pronounce eternal damnation over monergists and Calvinists, by their regarding those who uphold the Sovereignty of God in matters of election as non-Christians.
If I were a Calvinist, rather than a Christian saved by Grace, their implications could at least have held some worth. But alas, their misconceptions illustrate their willful ignorance of doctrinal matters in general, and of the fatal nature of sin in particular. The majority of these opinionated individuals have made their lack of basic understanding of doctrinal matters abundantly clear, particularly regarding matters which relate to the inappropriate “Calvinistic” category into which they attempt to place me and other like-minded believers.
Calvinism and Arminianism are both systems of doctrine. Calvinism is no better than Arminianism or Catholicism, if that Calvinism is without Christ. Calvinism has no more to do with salvation than Arminianism does. Christians are not those who have been converted to Calvinism. Christians are not concerned with converting unbelievers to Calvinism. Christians want to see sinners saved by the grace of God, converted by the power of God to Jesus Christ the Lord. All who have saving faith know that salvation is by Grace alone. All who know the Person who saves them, know that Salvation is of the Lord (Gal 5:1-4; 1 Cor. 15:10)
That having been said, I do not wish to be misunderstood in this regard. It should be clear from other articles such as I have written on this blog, that I have no tolerance for the free-will, works religion of the Arminian or the Roman Catholic, which directly opposes the work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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“Of course, there have also been those who share my conviction that the Bible is the Word of a Sovereign God and that salvation is by Grace alone. There are also some who know me well enough to be a simple man, a sinner saved by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, who realize that to label me as a Hyper-Calvinist or similar, is to accredit me with something far too exotic, fanciful and fallacious!” Brother Grant. I agree with the above statement That the Bible is the Word of a Sovereign God, and that salvation is:Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: I have been saved by the Grace of God for 38 years. And it wasn’t until a couple years ago, that I even heard of Calvinism verses Arminianism!!! 🙂 I just believed that you came to Christ by the drawing of the Holy Spirit, believed in Jesus, got Born Again, and Totally by his help, tried to the best of my futile ability, to live and serve in this old world until Jesus comes back and takes us home. Nothing complicated. Not for works sake, but because we love Christ, and want to do our best to be pleasing unto him!! Why is it that man makes it so hard? So many different opinions and doctrines??? Isn’t God’s word suppose to be simple? Why are so many of God’s children fighting over doctrines?? I was talking to my friend yesterday, as I was so frustrated and sad about all of mens different opinions about everything, concerning God’s word. I told her, I thought I would write a book and in title it….”Why do Christians, make it so hard for Christians, to be Christians”! LOL That is what I feel like. Everywhere I turn, Preachers and teachers are saying something different. Why? Why all the dis-unity? Of coarse I am not talking about the obvious false teachers and preachers all over TV. and the web, with their ear tickling sermons, and false signs and wonders, and their games to get money!!! I am talking about what I believe to be true men and woman of God, that are Born again by the Blood of the Lamb, and truly love God. We all seem to believe in the absolutes, (salvation, justification, sanctification, and glorification, but after that, is where the different ideas about what scripture is meaning starts taking on different viewpoints…Rapture, and Prophecy differences. Now I am seeing that even salvation is getting augured about. All in all, it is God who judges the heart of man. I believe if a person comes to Christ by the drawing of the Holy Spirit of God, he repents, ask Jesus to come into his heart and life, be Lord of his life, he is then Born Again. Why is that so very complicated? I am not meaning to come down on you at all, this whole thing isn’t to you, I am just pouring out my heart, looking for someone to explain all this to me. I just need a man of God to explain all this to me, because it is so very upsetting to me. Jesus, the lamb of God is given as a gift for salvation, why does man make it so very complicated? Please help!!! 🙂
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Dear Suez,
1. Pride. Man’s over-stated and over-played pride is at the root of most of these disputes. Natural man will not accept that he has absolutely no role to play in his own salvation, and he has an inherited need to feel that he has achieved some form of success. Man is so easily caught up in a web of legalism, like the Pharisees were. Man always wants to revert to some form of law and adherence to some rules and regulations in order to gauge his own righteousness. Man needs to make comparisons between what he, as an individual or as part of a specific group, perceives to be acceptable behaviour and what society deems unacceptable. Man needs to feel that he is somehow in control of his eternal future.
2. Sin. Natural man will simply not accept the severity and filthiness of his sin. If you were to ask most people, including professing Christians, the question as to whether they regard themselves as “good” people, nearly all will tell you that they think they are relatively good people. They think they lead lives good enough to gain entry to heaven based on the “good” lives they lead, or the good deeds they have done. Scripture tells us a different story. God does not regard fallen man as slightly less righteous, God regards all men as dead in sin. Few people are willing to accept the fact that they are completely and utterly lost and spiritually dead, until the Holy Spirit regenerates them, without their assistance.
3. Free will. You are right. God’s Word is simple. The Gospel can be understood by the most illiterate person and by the greatest rebellious sinner. Many very young children have a perfect understanding of the simplicity of the Gospel. They experience salvation in the simplicity of all of its perfection. Many of these illiterate, rebellious and young people do not have the ability to “make a decision decide for” Jesus. Many of them do not even realize that some expected of them to apply their free will in making such decisions. And they don’t apply their free will, yet they are saved by the Grace of God.
4. Money. Much of what poses as the church simply cannot afford to preach salvation by Grace alone, as Scriptures tell us and as is experienced by true Christians. They need to maintain the lie that man’s free will has a great role to play in salvation, because if the church preached the true Gospel, it would simply kill their goose which lays their golden eggs. Many churches are filled to capacity with unbelievers, because there they are told that they can save themselves by applying their own free will in saving themselves. The secular humanism which, as you say tickles their ears, keeps the pews full and the congregation feeling good about themselves. These will worshipping men will fight to the death to defend that which keeps the money filing in through the door in the pockets of the deceived congregations.
Pride, sin, free-willism, money. Among the tools which Satan effectively uses within the church to keep peace from men and to portray Christianity as just another religion of choice, equal to any other and with adherents who are not good for the world.
That would certainly make for an excellent title. Why not start putting notes together and see whether it becomes the book it deserves to be?!
I believe the answer is really quite simply stated: Not all who claim to be Christians, are saved. Not all who claim to be followers of Christ are truly part of his sheep. Many who claim to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, are hearing the voices of the wolves and the world. There are far more professing Christians than there are real children of God, or at least one tends to hear much more noise from professing Christians than from those who are at peace, because they are in Christ and no longer need to place such a high value on their own abilities, efforts and opinion.
The absolutes, as you have aptly named them (salvation, justification, sanctification, etc), have been the reasons for the greatest disagreements ever since the time of the Apostles. Paul often refers to the false doctrines which crept into the churches even from the beginning. If you read through the writings of the early church fathers and early Christian writers, the main subjects of discussion were regarding disputes over correct doctrinal issues. The more central the doctrine is to the faith, the more essential the doctrine is regarding salvation, the greater the dispute which surrounds it. It stands to reason that it is where Satan needs to be most active in deceiving people to keep them from the truth.
What you believe is correct. It is not complicated, but the world needs to make it seem complicated. The world has come up with enormously intellectual arguments which supposedly represent biblical doctrines. I explained the Calvinism / Arminianism argument in an earlier comment to you. That is but one of many such examples. My advice is to close your ears and eyes to all of the nonsense which surrounds those man-made disagreements, completely. Ignore them, for they can bring you nothing of value, nothing which can add to the Truth held within Scripture. The Bible is all doctrine and it is all doctrine we need.
I cannot explain it all to you, but I can tell you that God will do what I cannot. There is much that we simply cannot grasp, and should not. If we understood how all things work, there would be no place left for Faith. I agree that it is upsetting, it upsets me all the time, but I know that as believers, the things of the world will upset us. The world knows this, and will continue to use these things against us.
But, we have already won the victory in Him who has called us to Himself, and because of Whose Perfect Sacrifice, God sees no more iniquity in us. Rest in Him, rest assured that He knows exactly how you feel and that He has willed it to be so. Nothing happens in the world unless God has allowed it happen. If all these arguments are taking place, it is because God has allowed them to take place. We should simply try to turn our back on it all and know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Take solace from and give heed to the instruction in the following simple words:
(2Ti 2:16-17) But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
and their talk will spread like gangrene.
(Tit 3:2) …speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
(Tit 3:9-11) But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Be blessed by His Grace.
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sue cordes/suez
Are you suez or sue cordes ? just noticed that you both have the same IP address and email. Please post as one person not both, thanks 🙂
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I am both, sorry, I didn’t realize I was registered twice. Now what do I do??? 🙂
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Suez
I suggest you try and carry on, on this profile 🙂 If possible.
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Thank you Grant. I was just telling the Lord today while taking a bath, how evil all of are!! And thanking him for the Blood Of Jesus, and for his salvation, without who, we would all be dammed!!! Thank you for your words. The only thing I disagree with is your not quoting from the King James Bible. 🙂 That is a whole different topic!!! God Bless you!!! s
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In His service, Suez. Next time remind me and I’ll quote from The KJV, I have no problem with that, as long as what it says is true to the original scripts. Blessings!
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The salvation of a soul is a miracle from GOD. Man can not perform miracles. GOD can perform miracles . Isn’t logic a wonderful gift from GOD. The answer is simple!
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Isn’t it interesting that Calvinists are never called Spurgeonists? Charles spurgeon also believed in the doctrines of grace (aka Calvinism) yet those who believe as Spurgeon did are never called Spurgeonists. Many of the so-called free will belief will applaud Spurgeon as a great preacher from the past. But he doesn’t have as many things to find fault with as Calvin, I suppose, so they won’t use him to bring criticism.
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What about that God desires everybody to be saved as it says in 1 Timothy 2:4? Surely not everyone is going to be saved, but it clearly states that God desires everyone to. Doesn’t seem to fit for me with your Statement that it was never God’s Intention. Sure is he almighty etc. and so would be able to, but I do not really get it. I do not mean to bring up something to argue about, I’m just wondering ’cause I’m not sure if I agree with everything you said. Not that I’d know all that stuff, that’s why I ask. 😉
I also have another question, it’s about your first statement and Romans 5:8. I mean that’s alright I guess, Paul is talking to the believers, but in John 3:16 the bible states that God so loved the world. So you’re right that it doesn’t say God loves everyone but the world pretty much contains all of us.
As I said I’m just asking, never thought about that stuff too much. English is my second language also so if somethings unclear, sorry for that.
I’m looking forward to your answer.
God bless you,
Micha
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Micha
Thank you for commenting.
Regarding 1 Timothy 2:4, we must be think clearly and openly about what it says, before we jump to a simple conclusion. Like with all other verses, we must by no means simply accept the interpretations of men with big opinions, without first considering all of Scripture. If you read 1 Timothy 2:4 in conjunction with the full teaching of the rest of Biblical doctrine, it takes on its correct meaning.
1) As you have stated, not everyone is going to be saved. We know this.
2) If it was God’s desire that everyone be saved, then everyone would be saved, but they are not. We know this.
3) Therefore, either God cannot or will not accomplish what He desires, or you are understanding the words of this verse wrongly. So which is it?
4) We must investigate what the words “all people” mean. Because not all people are saved, therefore, it can only mean that people of all kinds, nations and types will be saved. Jews and Gentiles, black and white, blind and sighted, fat and thin, Irish and Russian, mechanics and doctors, honest and dishonest – God desires that all kinds of people be saved.
5) Our Lord has a people in every nation, tongue and kindred, and all those people whom He loves will be saved.
6) Also consider that it could never have been God’s intention to save Esau (whom He hated), Judas (whom God created with the explicit intention of betraying Jesus), the Pharisees (to whom Jesus said: “You are not part of my flock”). Were these people not also once part of “all” people?
7) We know that Scripture does not contradict itself, and if we take 1 Tim 2:4 to say that God desires absolutely every individual ever born to be saved, then it contradicts what many other verses teach. We know that.
8) Ask yourself this: “If God wants everyone to be saved, but does not do what He desires, even though He could, what would be the point of Him having inspired Paul to write about it?”
Regarding Romans 5:8, as you have stated, Paul is speaking to and of saved believers.
1) As in the case with 1 Tim 2:4, we know that not every individual is saved, therefore the “us” Paul uses indicates those who are saved. Jesus died for all those whom He chose, even though every one of them whom He chose, is a sinner.
2) Jesus cannot make righteous someone who is already righteous, which is why He died for sinners.
3) All men are sinners, but some are made righteous in the sight of God by His Grace through Jesus Christ.
Regarding John 3:16, again we must understand what the word “world” means. We have determined that in 1 Tim 2:4, the words “all people” cannot be referring to every single individual, because not all are saved. The same principle applies to John 3:16.
1) ‘God so loved the world.’ His love is not limited to the Jews only, but to all nations, people of all kinds in the world. Those for whom Christ died are those who are in the world, but only those who believe in Him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
2) At the time of Christ’s crucifixion, there were already many, many unsaved people who were in hell.
3) Ask yourself this: “If Christ died for those who were already dead and in hell, when could they have had the time to believe in Him to be saved? Did Christ die for those who were already condemned? Did they come out of hell after serving a part of their sentence?”
4) Only two verses further down after John 3:16, we read in John 3:18: “…but he that believeth not is condemned already…”, he enters the world with the curse of sin upon him already. Those people cannot be cursed as unbelievers and at the same time be blessed by God’s love and Christ’s suffering on the Cross. That would once again be Scripture contradicting Scripture.
5) Think of John 3:16 in terms of it saying the following: “For God loved His beautiful creation, the animals, mountains, seas and humans in it, so much, that He sacrificed His only beloved Son, in order to save those who believe in Him, and allowing them to live for ever”.
God’s grace to you, too
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