Friends, do you understand how dangerous it is for people to believe that no matter what they do, they cannot lose their salvation and go to Hell, even though God says they can? Many churches teach a doctrine called “Perseverance of the Saints,” which is part of a false doctrine called Calvinism (named after John Calvin). They allege that a saved child of God may “fall” into sin, but somehow God will ultimately keep him from losing his salvation.… Read more
Category: Falling from Grace
The Book of Life and Falling from Grace
The first time the Book of Life is mentioned in the Bible, God said He would blot names out of it: “…him will I blot out of my book” (Exodus 32:32-33). Also, the last time the Book of Life is mentioned in the Bible, it says God will take people out of it: “…God shall take away his part out of the book of life…” (Revelation 22:19; see also 3:5; Psalm 69:28). A Baptist preacher I studied with this week said that God would never take someone’s name from the Book of Life, and another one I studied with in recent years claimed that God never said He would do that.… Read more
Did Christ Do ALL the Work on the Cross?
Christ finished His main mission on earth by giving His life on the cross, saying, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30), but today some are twisting His statement into a false doctrine. They claim that since Christ said, “It is finished” on the cross, there are no “works” (no actions) men can do today that will have any effect on their salvation. This has led some to the conclusion that baptism cannot be essential, and that once a person is saved, there is no work he is required to do.… Read more
Surprised When Searching the Scriptures
With today’s technology, Bible study has become easier and quicker than ever before. One innovation that expedites Bible study is the ability to search for anything in the Bible very quickly with Bible software. One can learn rapidly from some simple searches, and many people are very surprised at what they find (or fail to find). For example:
- Search for the phrase “faith only” and you only get one verse: “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24).
Lawbreakers Will “Receive Damnation”
Here is an unpopular truth: God commands, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors…For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:13-15).
Did you see the word “every”? This would include laws that some people consider trivial, such as wearing a seatbelt, obeying the speed limit, or obeying copyright laws.… Read more
Question Your Answers!
If someone were to ask you why you believe what you believe, or why you do what you do religiously, would you be able to answer? More importantly, would your answers come from the Bible? God commands us to “…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15). Are we able to do that? In the next chapter of Peter’s same epistle, we are commanded: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). … Read more