John 3:6-7, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
The Salvation Army's statement of faith is corrupt. Members of the Salvation
Army adhere to the written beliefs of General William Booth, their founder.
But William Booth was just a man, who misunderstood salvation and taught
heresy. I am going to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES as Jesus commanded
me, and not follow the writings of some heretical man.
They teach...
“We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.”
The
implication is clearly that salvation will be lost by not continuing in
faith. Thus, the Salvation Army is teaching that salvation can be lost,
which is a lie of the Devil. They call it “a state of salvation.” May I say,
salvation is not a “state.” Salvation is not a mode, or a condition, or a
phase that one enters in and out of. Salvation is a birth. Salvation is when
a person is born-again, for the second time, spiritually into God's kingdom.
William Booth was ignorant of this truth.
Every member of the Salvation Army is required to adhere to these religious beliefs to be a member. For this reason, I don't believe that any Christian should be a supporter, nor member, of the Salvation Army. If they are wrong on salvation, they are wrong on everything else too. If the first brick is crooked, then the entire building will be crooked.
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the foundation of the Church (1st Corinthians 3:11); and not men. The Catholic Church is built upon a crooked foundation of manmade traditions. The Word of God is the only Authority of the New Testament Church. When men are in authority, such as in the Church of Christ false religion, then you have a cult controlled by men.
Likewise, the Salvation Army is also built upon a crooked foundation, which is their 1878 creed. Why couldn't they just follow the Bible? If salvation is dependant, as the Salvation Army teaches, upon a person continuing in obedient faith; then salvation is a temporary state that can be lost. This is a total misrepresentation of the true Gospel message.
Eternal life is a free gift, paid for by Jesus' precious blood (1st Peter 1:18-19). Note that all Scriptures are quoted only from the inspired and preserved King James Bible. Salvation is a spiritual birth. Jesus taught that there are two births; one of the flesh, and one of the Spirit of God. Nicodemus understood that a man cannot enter back into his mother's womb and be born twice of the flesh. Likewise, no one can go back and undo the second birth, which is of the Spirit of God. You cannot lose salvation once you have it. If saved, always saved!
As Christians we must contend for the Biblical faith. There is nothing more important than the doctrine of salvation. Jesus said that He is the Door to Heaven (John 10:9). The way to God the Father is through God the Son (John 14:6). There is no other name by which men can be saved than the precious name of Jesus (Acts 4:10-12). Once a man is born anew of the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9), by the Seed of God's holy Word (1st Peter 1:23); He can NEVER be unborn! It is wrong to think of salvation as a “state” that can be jeopardized by sin or doubt. Such rationalization is an insult to God.
Biblical salvation is an irreversible birth, being born anew into God's heavenly kingdom, becoming a member of the family of God. Salvation is NOT a state that needs to be maintained, nor can it be lost by any amount of sin or doubt. Salvation is a second birth, a spiritual birth into God's family forever.
Now an unsaved person may be in a state of sin and unbelief; but being born-again is a miracle of God in response to one's faith in the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Once a person is born-again, they are forever saved and eternally secure in the everlasting arms of God. There is no risk to the genuine believer of losing what wasn't theirs to give in the first place. Salvation is of the Lord.
William Booth was no doubt sincere; but he was sincerely wrong nonetheless. Salvation ought not to be thought of as a “state” or a condition; but rather, as an irreversible birth into God's family. Jesus paid our sin debt, every bit of it. We deserve to go to Hell forever to be punished; but Jesus in His unconditional love paid a debt that He did not owe for us. Praise God!
Our mindset concerning salvation ought to be one of the promises of God (Titus 1:2); and not whether or not we have merited or pleased God enough to be saved. No one can please God in our own self-righteousness (Isaiah 64:6). We all deserve to go to Hell (Romans 3:19-23; 6:23; 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8). I am saved because God promised to save me if I believed on His Son Jesus, Who is the Christ, to forgive my sins (John 20:31). I was saved when I was 13-years old in a Baptist Church. Amen!
God is a promise-making and promise-keeping God! Every promise which God has made in the Bible has so far come true. The Bible contains thousands of promises! I KNOW I am saved because God promises to save WHOSOEVER calls (appeals) upon the name of the Lord to be saved (Romans 10:13). I went to the Lord to be saved, and He saved me! Hallelujah!
I don't worry from day-to-day if I am still saved, fretting whether I am continuing in obedient faith enough to please God. That is talk of the Devil. I KNOW I am saved because God made a PROMISE to save those who believe on Christ. I KNOW I am saved because salvation is a free gift, paid for by Jesus' literal, precious, blood. I just received it.
Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!
