CALVINIST OR BAPTIST?  by steve finnell

Is it possible to be a Baptist and reject all five points of John Calvin's T.U.L.I.P? Of course not.

Total Depravity: All men are born totally depraved because the the original sin of Adam and not capable of responding to the gospel.

Unconditional Election: God predestined all who will be be saved and all who will be lost and nothing can change that fact.

Limited Atonement: Christ only died for those on God's predestined list of the saved.

Irresistible Grace: God sends the Holy Spirit to those He wants to save so they will believe and be saved. All the saved have been forced to believe. 

Perseverance of the Saints: Once saved you can never be lost.

To reject one of John Calvin's five points of salvation is to reject them all.

I know of not one Baptists who rejects all of the T.U.L.I.P points. To believe in perseverance of the saints you must embrace all five points of Calvinism.

NOTE: All five points are contrary to Scripture.

APOSTASY DENIAL?--BY STEVE FINNELL

Apostasy denial is one of Satan many deceptions.
Satan told Eve that she would not die if she ate from the forbidden tree. Eve ate and died, and Satan is still lying today.

Hebrews 6:4-6 When you find men who have been enlightened, who have experienced salvation and received the Holy Spirit, who have known the wholesome nourishment of the Word of God and touched the spiritual resources of the eternal world and who then fall away, it proves impossible to make them repent as they did at first. For they are re-crucifying the Son of God in their own souls, and by their conduct exposing him to shame and contempt.(The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips)

Hebrews 6:4-6 But what about people who turn away after they have already seen the light and have received the gift from heaven and have shared in the Holy Spirit? What about those who turn away after they have received the good message of God and the powers of the future world? There is no way to bring them back. What they are doing is the same as nailing the Son of God to a cross and insulting him in public!(Contemporary English Version)

Hebrews 6:4-6 After people have left the way of Christ, can you make them change their lives again? I am talking about people who once learned the truth, received God’s gift, and shared in the Holy Spirit. They were blessed to hear God’s good message and see the great power of his new world. But then they left it all behind, and it is not possible to make them change again. That’s because those who leave Christ are nailing him to the cross again, shaming him before everyone.(ERV-Easy to Read Version)

Hebrews 6:4-6 It is impossible to restore the changed heart of the one who has fallen from faith—who has already been enlightened, has tasted the gift of new life from God, has shared in the power of the Holy Spirit, and has known the goodness of God’s revelation and the powers of the coming age. If such a person falls away, it’s as though that one were crucifying the Son of God all over again and holding Him up to ridicule.(THE VOICE)

It takes a skilled professional, and willing subjects, to convince men that apostasy does not apply to Christians.   

  

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS OR SPEAKING LIES?---BY STEVE FINNELL

Are those who teach the doctrine of perseverance of the saints (also know as once saved always saved) proclaiming Biblical truth or are they speaking lies in hypocrisy?

1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that is latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrine of demons, 2. speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (New King James Version)

 The Holy Spirit states men will fall from the faith. Some Calvinists say it is impossible to fall from grace. Is the Holy Spirit correct or are the followers of John Calvin the accurate  teachers of truth?

1 Timothy 4:1 But the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas.(The Living Bible-Paraphrased)

The Holy Spirit tells us that church members will turn from Christ. The Holy Spirit does not believe in once saved always saved.

Unsaved people cannot apostatize from the faith. Only Christians can fall from grace.

1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall apostatise from faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teaching of demons.(Darby Translation)

The nemesis of Calvinists who advocate perseverance of the saints is the Bible. Without believing the written words of John Calvin and other men, there is no support for the doctrine of once saved always saved.

1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit says clearly that in later times believers will desert the Christian faith. They will follow spirits that deceive, and they will believe the teaching of demons. (God's Word Translation)

Are those who believe the doctrine of perseverance of the saints believing the truth taught in the Bible or are they being deceived by the teaching of demons?

1 Timothy 4:1-2 God's Spirit specifically tell us that in later days there will be men who abandon the true faith and allow themselves to be spiritually seduced by teachings of the devil, teaching given by men who are lying hypocrites, whose consciences are dead as seared flesh.(The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips)

Is the Holy Spirit a hypocritical liar when He says men will abandon the true faith? False Christians cannot abandon a faith they never have experienced. Only true Christians can abandon their faith. Can an atheist abandon being a atheist if he never was an atheist? Of course not.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Holy Spirit clearly says that in the later times people will stop believing the faith. They will follow spirits that lie and teaching of demons.(New Century Version)

If the Holy Spirit says Christians will fall from the faith, then who is telling you that Christians are once saved always saved? Who is telling Christians they can never be lost?    

 

INSIGHT INTO BIBLE TRUTH #243
"WERE WE ALL CREATED THE SAME?" 
by David Vaughn Elliott 

I want to tell you about my condition. My hearing is so bad I can't even hear a fire alarm with my right eye. Then there's my left ear: it's as blind as a bat. I can't even scratch my back with my knee. 

Enough of that. Let's hurry over to 1 Cor. 12: "If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him... Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (12:17-18, 27).

The U.S. Declaration of Independence declares that "all men are created equal." Whatever "equal" means, it does not mean "same." This could be discussed via biology, anthropology, and psychology, but let's discuss it biblically. 

First of all, Scripture, too, declares that all people are equal: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28). There is equality in Christ, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, social standing, or sex. Nobody is better, or preferred, or more important to God on the basis of such differences.

This does not mean we are all the same. In 1 Cor. 12, Paul states "by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free" (12:13). But oneness does not mean sameness: "For the body is not one member, but many... If the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?" (12:14-16). Do not expect all members of your church to be alike. Indeed, expect them to be different from one another.

The letter to the Christians in Rome discusses the same issue. "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office (function): so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us..." (Rom. 12:4-6). What follows is a list of gifts and what to do with them. The essence is to do a good job of using the gift you have.

Do we accept differences in the body? Do we think that everyone should be like we are? Should everyone memorize Scripture like I do? Why isn't everybody as friendly to visitors as I am? Does everyone give as sacrificially I do? Why doesn't he sing as loud as I do? Why am I the only one who cleans up the messes around here? Why aren't others visiting hospitals like I do? You get the idea. Do not expect every member to be the same as you. 

Or, maybe it's the other way around. Maybe you are grieved (jealous) because you cannot preach as powerfully as he can. I wish I were as outgoing as she is. I wish I could memorize Scripture like she can. I am not suggesting that we cannot develop in some areas where we are weak; but maybe you are trying to be what you are not. "If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?" The implication I see is that the ear should do a good job of hearing, without trying to be an eye. We should realize the need and the beauty of different functions in the body of Christ and thank God that we are not all alike.

The rubber meets the road when you ask yourself: "What member of the body am I? What do I contribute to the cause of Christ? Or am I just a pew warmer?" And don't limit your evaluation to what goes on in the church building, or even to what we might think of as "church activities." What are you doing as a member of Christ? How are you making a difference for Christ in your family, in your church, in your neighborhood?

Be careful of saying that you don't have any abilities to offer: "I am not talented; I have nothing to offer." For years it was thought that the only purpose of the appendix was to send you to the ER. More recently, scientists are learning otherwise. And maybe you think you have no purpose: but we all do. "Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away" (John 15:2). What are you doing for Jesus?
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QUOTES FROM GOD VERSUS QUOTES FROM MEN      by Steve Finnell

All teaching from Jesus and the apostles came from the Father. (John 14:10, John 15:26)

Quote: Dr. Charles Stanley "....But it's important to remember that Ephesians 2:8-9 says faith in Jesus Christ is the only requirement for salvation, not baptism. But, to fulfill His command, we're to be baptized following our decision  to accept Him into our lives."[ NOTE: The word, only, is not mentioned in Ephesians 2:8-9]

Quote: God "Mark 16:16....and is baptized will be saved..."(NKJV)

Quote: Mother Teresa "There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I've always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic. ......"

Quote: God "John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."(NKJV)

Quote: Max Lucado "....Is it possible for an unbaptized believer to be saved? Yes, definitely. Should every believer be baptized? Yes, definitely."

Quote: God "John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly , I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (NKJV)

Quote: Billy Graham "Whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts they need something that they don't have and they turn to the only light they have and I think they're saved and they're going to be with us in heaven."

Quote: God "Acts 4:10-12...the name of Jesus...12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."(NKJV)

Quote: Pope Francis ""The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ:all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone!....Even the atheists........'But I don't believe, Father, I am an atheist!  But do good: we will meet one another there."

Quote: God "John 8:24 :Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."(NKJV)

Quote: Prophet Joseph Smith "In the beginning the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it"

Quote: God "Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."(NKJV) John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God , and the Word was God. 2. He was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."(NKJV)

If you are looking for spiritual guidance should you study God's book or books written by Joseph Smith, Pope Francis, Billy Graham, Max Lucado, Mother Teresa, or Dr. Charles Stanley.

Why would it ever be a good idea to study works written by those who contradict God's basic teachings? Would you study science from books written by men who believe in evolution, or that the earth was flat? Why study books written by men and women deny the essential doctrines of God.  

      

THE HARD SAYING?---by steve finnell


John 6:60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this , said, "This is a hard saying who can understand it?"(NKJV)

What was the hard saying that many disciples did not understand?

John 6:52-59 The Jews therefore  quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?".......(NKJV)

John 6:61 When Jesus knew in Himself that many His disciples murmured about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?(NKJV)

Was the problem with many of the disciples that they did not understand the Lord's Supper? No, it was not. When Jesus was talking about giving them His flesh to eat it was in reference to His sacrifice on the cross.

John 6:64 "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.(NKJV)

The problem was not that they did understand nor believe in the Lord's Supper. The problem was they did not believe that Jesus was the Christ.

John 6:67-68 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" 68 Then Simon Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words to eternal life. (NKJV)

Simon Peter said Jesus had the words to eternal life. Were the words to eternal life that you must participate in the Lord's Supper every first day of the week? No. What did Peter say? (John 6:69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.")

The words of eternal life spoken by Jesus. Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved...(NKJV)

If men are sent to hell it will be because they do not believe that Jesus is the Christ. If men are sent to hell it will be because they refuse to be immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins.

Does anyone seriously believe that men will be sent to hell because they only participated in the Lord's Supper monthly, quarterly, yearly or on Saturday night?  



   

CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE MEN WHO CAUSED IT!  --BY STEVE FINNELL

Do men have the ability to effect climate change on the planet earth? Are heat waves, cooling temperatures, earth quakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts, gale-force winds, and snow storms the result of man's mismanagement of the planet?

Is it not naive and arrogant to assume that puny man can effect climate change? Man-made climate change is a grand hoax, at best.

HAVE MEN BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGES IN WEATHER PATTERNS? YES, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE HAD NO POWER TO EFFECT THE CHANGES THAT OCCURRED.

Genesis 6:13 The God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

Were men responsible for the change in the weather pattern? Yes. Did men effect the change of the weather? No, God caused it to rain for 40 days and 40 nights, not men.

Genesis 18:20 And the Lord said, :The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

Genesis 19:24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven,

Were men responsible for the weather change in Sodom and Gomorrah? Yes. Did men cause the weather to change? No, God effected the change in the climate.

1 Kings 8:35 "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain; because they have sinned against You....

Men are sometimes responsible for droughts, however, God effects the weather changes.

Matthew 27: 51,54 And behold , the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

Notice, the centurion did not attribute the earth quake to man-made climate change.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Men are responsible for the global warming that is coming.

No amount of green initiatives will stop the final global warming. Puny men will have no effect on the final climate change.

THE MAN-MADE CLIMATE CHANGE HOAX WAS INVENT BY 1.DISHONEST MEN 2.NAIVE MEN 3.ARROGANT MEN 4.OR ALL OF THE ABOVE.

GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THE WEATHER.   

     

IS JOHN 6:53,54 A REFERENCE TO THE LORD'S SUPPER----BY STEVE FINNELL

John 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. (NKJV)

Was Jesus saying unless you participate in the Lord's Supper you are spiritually dead.

John 6:54 "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (NKJV)

Was Jesus telling the world that unless they participated in the Lord's Supper that they do not have eternal life?

Reference: (John 6:22-69) There is no mention of the Lord's Supper. I would suggest prayerfully reading all 47 verses. 

Eternal life is predicated on believing that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God. 

1. John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."(NKJV) The message is to believe that Jesus is the Christ. It is not that you will perish if you do not participate in the Lord's Supper.

2. John 6:35-36 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 ....you have seen Me and yet do not believe.(NKJV) The message is to believe in Jesus. The message is not about the Lord's Supper.

3. John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."(NKJV)

It is about believing in Jesus for everlasting life. It is not about participating in the Lord's Supper for everlasting life.

4. John 6:47-48 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 "I am the bread of life.(NKJV) Everlasting life comes from believing in Jesus. The Lord's Supper is not the bread of life. Jesus is the bread of life.

5. John 6:51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven . If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.'(NKJV) The bread Jesus gave was His life. He  died on the cross so all who believe might have eternal life. Jesus did not die on the cross so men could participate in the Lord's Supper for eternal life. 

6. John 6:69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."(NKJV)

They did not come to believe in the Lord's Supper as a requirement for eternal life. They believed Jesus was the Christ. 

Mark 16:16 "He who believes believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.(NKJV)

Jesus did not say he who believes, and participates in the Lord's Supper shall be saved.

Jesus did not say who does not participate in the Lord's Supper will be condemned.

In the conversions in the book of Acts, belief in Jesus and water baptism always took place. Not one person was told to take the Lord's Supper so they could have their sins forgiven. No one was told to arise be baptized wash away your sins, calling on the Lord and to participate in the Lord's Supper or you have no life in you. 

If men adhere to the terms of pardon; but died before they participated in the Lord's Supper were they spiritually dead? Will God refuse to raise them up on the Last day?

Jesus is the bread of life. The Lord's Supper is not the bread of life.

THE LORD'S SUPPER

Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. (NKJV)

The Lord's Supper is a memorial service.
The Lord's Supper was not instituted as a requirement for salvation.      

  

                  

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE LORD'S SUPPER  BY STEVE FINNELL

When Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper was it literal or figurative?

Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

Was Jesus saying that He and His disciples were eating His literal body? Of course He was not! Jesus was using figurative language. The bread was symbolic of  His body. It represented His body.

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches.....

Was Jesus saying He was a literal vine and that His disciples were literal branches? Of course He was not. Jesus was using figurative language. The vine and branches were metaphorical terms.

Matthew 26:27-28 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

Was Jesus drinking His own blood and telling His disciples to do the same? Of course He was not. Jesus was saying that the fruit of the vine was symbolic of the blood that He was going to shed.

The fruit of the vine was not the literal blood of Jesus. Jesus was still alive. It was emblematic of the blood of the covenant. It was figurative. The New Covenant was not even in force at that time. The New Covenant was only available after Jesus shed His literal blood. YES, JESUS DID SHED HIS LITERAL BLOOD!

Matthew 26:29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

Jesus clearly states that He and the disciples were drinking the fruit of the vine. THEY WERE NOT DRINKING THE LITERAL BLOOD OF JESUS.

John 10:7-9 So Jesus said to them again. "Truly, truly, I say you, I am the door of the sheep.......

Was Jesus saying that He was a literal door. Was He saying that His followers were literal four footed sheep? Of course He was not. Jesus was using figurative language. Door and sheep are metaphors.

EXAMPLES OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE, SYMBOLIC, EMBLEMATIC, METAPHORIC,  REPRESENTATIVE.

1. This is My body.
2. This is My blood.
3. I am the door.
5. I am the vine.

When men participate in the Lord's Supper they are not literally drinking the blood of Jesus or literally eating His body.

JESUS DOES NOT SHED HIS BLOOD ON A WEEKLY BASIS. HE DIED ONCE FOR ALL!

Hebrews 7:22-27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He died once for all when He offered up Himself.

No amount of praying by an elder, preacher, pastor nor priest can turn the fruit of the vine nor the bread of communion into the literal blood and the literal body of Christ.

The body and the blood of Christ are not literally eaten and drank. THEY ARE FIGURATIVE, THEY ARE SYMBOLIC, THEY ARE REPRESENTED, THEY ARE EMBLEMATIC!   

      

SAVED BY FAITH ALONE? by steve finnell

Are Christians saved by faith alone? Christians are saved by believing, but by believing what is the question?

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (NASB)

Because of God's grace we are saved by faith. Good works cannot save. Keeping the law of Moses cannot save. Living a perfect life cannot save.

Jesus said in, Mark 16:16 He who has believed and been baptized shall be saved....(NASB)

He who has believed "what," shall be saved? First, he who has believed Jesus when He said you have to believe and be baptized in order to be saved.

HAS BELIEVED WHAT?

What did the three thousand converts believe after they heard the first gospel sermon preached? They believed everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved. (Acts 2:21)

1. They believed that Jesus performed miracles, wonders and signs. (Acts 2:22)

2. They believed Jesus died on the cross. (Acts 2:23)

3. They believed that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. (Acts 2:24-32)

4. They believed Jesus is at the right hand of God. (Acts 2:33-35)

5. The believed God made Jesus Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)

6. They believed they needed to repent and be baptized in water in order to have their sin forgiven and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, (Acts 2:38)

7. They believed they needed to be saved, so they believed the words of Peter and were baptized. (Acts 2:40-41)