American
Family Association
By David J. Stewart
"Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name
among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." —Luke 24:47
I only link to the website of The American Family Association (AFA)
to provide my web visitors with the latest recent news concerning attacks
against the family in America, and also because the AFA has Action Alerts
that allow concerned citizens to do something about it. It's just hard to
find helpful news and places to get involved, and so I link to AFA because
they are doing something to make a difference.
However, I wrote this article to
explain to my web visitors that I do NOT agree with Ray
Comfort and Kirk Cameron, who are false prophets promoted on AFA's website.
There is a rift as wide as the Grand Canyon in America's churches between
those who believe the Biblical view of a Free Grace Gospel; and then
heretics like Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, and John MacArthur who hold to a
perverted Lordship Salvation view of the Gospel. Kirk Cameron promotes John
MacArthur's study Bible on his website. These false prophets are all bad
news.
There's a common
misunderstanding of what Biblical repentance means. I agree with
Dr. Harry
Ironside, former pastor of Moody Memorial Church, who stated . .
.
“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our
ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better
in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do
not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be
obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then
of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to
reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in
a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …
Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give
up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate
good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the
Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”
SOURCE: Pastor Harry A. Ironside, from the
sermon:
What Is The
Gospel?
In sharp contrast, Ray Comfort
states that a sinner cannot continue in sin and be saved . . .
“The forgiveness that is in
Jesus Christ is conditional upon ‘repentance towards God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Acts 20:21). It is a gift that God offers
to everyone, but individuals must receive it by repenting and trusting
in Christ, or they will remain dead in their sins. No one has Biblical
grounds to continue in sin, assuming that they are safe just because
Jesus died on the cross. See 1 John 3:4-6.” [Emphasis added]
SOURCE: THE EVIDENCE
BIBLE, by Ray Comfort, pg. 1513; 2003, Bridge-Logos Publishers,
Orlando, Florida
Ray Comfort says professed
believers who still lust and tell lies are not saved . . .
"These are perhaps the most
frightening verses in the Bible. Vast multitudes of professing
Christians fit into the category spoken of here. They call Jesus 'Lord,'
but they practice lawlessness. They profess faith in Jesus, but have no
regard for the divine law. They tell 'fibs' or 'white' lies, take things
that belong to others, have a roaming eye for the opposite sex, etc.
They are liars, thieves, and adulterers at heart, who will be cast from
the gates of heaven into the jaws of hell."
SOURCE: THE EVIDENCE
BIBLE, by Ray Comfort, pg. 1197; 2003, Bridge-Logos Publishers,
Orlando, Florida
The Bible does not agree with Ray
Comfort. You cannot show me anywhere in the Bible where it says to "repent
from sin" to be saved. The truth is that a changed life is the FRUIT
(result) of genuine Biblical repentance. A changed life is not repentance.
This is where Ray Comfort and
Kirk Cameron are confused theologically. They
confuse the ROOT of faith with the FRUIT of faith, and consequently pervert
the Gospel message of free grace.
The change is the
FRUIT, the result, of repentance; not repentance itself. Someone wrote Dr.
John R. Rice (1895-1980), founder of the Sword of the Lord, and asked
him if worldly teenagers in the church need to be saved...
Please read Dr. Rice's Response.
So what, then, is repentance?
Pastor Ironside explains repentance well and he is 100% Biblically correct .
. .
"Repentance is the very
opposite of meritorious experience. It is the confession that one is
utterly without merit, and if he is ever saved at all it can only be
through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, 'who gave himself a ransom
for all.' Here is firm footing for the soul who realizes that all
self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our
salvation." (Harry A. Ironside;
Except Ye Repent, pg. 36)
Clearly, Ironside taught a Free Grace view
of the Gospel. Harry A. Ironside correctly recognized repentance as
the confession that "one is utterly without merit" and that if one is
"ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus
Christ." Salvation is without works of self-righteousness. Romans 4:5 plainly teaches that a man's faith is COUNTED for
righteousness, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to
one's heavenly record by faith.
"Repentance is the recognition of my
sinnership — the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be
in His holy Word."
SOURCE:
Except Ye Repent, by Dr. Harry Ironside,
chapter 3
Biblical repentance is turning
toward God to be forgiven of one's sins. I did not write this article to criticize
The American Family Association; but rather, to make sure that all my web visitors know the
truth about Biblical repentance. I have nothing personally against Ray
Comfort nor Kirk Cameron, but they are teaching a false view of the
Gospel when they say that a sinner must reform, change, give up the
world, and mend his ways
as part of saving-faith.
In closing, I'd like to once again
quote the mighty man of God, Dr. John R. Rice,
who correctly stated . . .
“The change in your heart, sinner, is God's part and you may be sure He
will attend to that. Your part is to simply believe in Him. Whatever
else is necessary in your eternal salvation, the Lord attends to when
you trust in Him, or believe in Him.”
SOURCE:
What Must I DO To Be Saved, by Dr. John R.
Rice
Salvation is of the Lord. Man's
part is simply to acknowledge his guilt of sin and believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ for forgiveness. Acts 10:43, "To him give all the prophets
witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive
remission of sins."
Beware of John MacArthur
and Kirk Cameron
Dr. John MacArthur is a
spiritually perverse and very dangerous man, who ought not be allowed behind
any pulpit in America. I am shocked how many naive and careless pastors
welcome MacArthur, who clearly teaches the demonic doctrine of Lordship
Salvation. The following video is 100% conclusive proof that John MacArthur,
Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort are all false teachers. They are all so subtle,
corrupting the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
At 4:51 in the video,
MacArthur dangerously states:
“The
Gospel says, 'give your life to Christ and He rules' and if you're not
willing to do that it's because you want to keep the rule of your own
life. The rich young man wanted his own life for himself. He wanted to
control his own life. He had his choice: sins, he had his choice,
religion, and he wanted to hang onto control. It's that simple. Coming
to Christ means you give up the control of your life, and you yield it
to Christ. That's what kept him from salvation, he was unwilling to do
that.”
Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort are devout
disciples of John MacArthur. The Apostle Paul warned of such perverted
wolves...
Acts 20:29-31, “For I know this, that
after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not
sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch,
and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn
every one night and day with tears.”
John MacArthur is a dynamic, charming and suave
teacher, which has deceived millions of people to foolishly follow him.
MacArthur is one of the wolves that the Bible warns us about, who teaches
perverse things. The preceding video horribly perverts the meaning of two
key passages of Scripture: Matthew 19:16-22 and Matthew 16:23-25.
Matthew 19:16-22
Matthew 19:16-22, “And, behold, one came
and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may
have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there
is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life,
keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt
do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou
shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him,
All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus
said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and
follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away
sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”
In this passage, we read about a rich young man
who asked Jesus how to have eternal life? When the young man bragged about
keeping all of God's Law (which shows that he was self-righteousness), Jesus
pointed out that he was covetous (which is a violation of the 10th
Commandment in Exodus 20:17). Jesus used the Law the way it was intended to
be used, i.e., to show us our sinfulness and need for a Savior. Romans
3:19, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them
who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world
may become guilty before God.” Jesus simply pointed out to that young
man that he was not righteous in God's eyes.
John MacArthur, Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort
all pervert this passage to mean that Jesus was giving a plan of salvation.
Jesus WASN'T giving that young man a plan of salvation; but rather, was
simply showing him that his self-righteousness was flawed and unacceptable
to God. The Apostle Paul
taught the same
truth in Romans 2:13, because the Jews thought they could be saved by
keeping the Law. No one can be saved by keeping the Law (Romans 3:20). We need Christ's
righteousness, which MacArthur doesn't teach (Matthew 6:33; Romans 4:5-6;
Romans 10:3-4; 2nd Corinthians
5:21).
The rich young man in the Bible was covetous.
According to MacArthur, that young man would have been saved if he'd denied
himself, let go of his pride, pushed aside his selfish ambitions, given up
his covetousness and given his life to Christ. John MacArthur is teaching
lies of the Devil.
At 4:31 in the preceding video, Dr. MacArthur states
concerning the young rich man:
“He is a classic
illustration of someone who will not deny himself. He wanted to hold
onto his own will. He wanted to hold onto his own pride. He wanted to
hold onto his own money. He wanted to hold onto his own ambition, his
own sovereignty if you will, in his own life. The competing issues are these,
very simple...
The Gospel says,
'give your life to Christ and He rules' and if you're not willing to do
that it's because you want to keep the rule of your own life. The rich
young man wanted his own life for himself. He wanted to control his own
life. He had his choice: sins, he had his choice, religion, and he
wanted to hang onto control. It's that simple. Coming to Christ means
you give up the control of your life, and you yield it to Christ. That's
what kept him from salvation, he was unwilling to do that.”
Ladies and gentlemen,
that is
Catholic theology and damnable
heresy!!! MacArthur said: “Coming to Christ means you give up the control
of your life, and you yield it to Christ. That's what kept him from
salvation, he was unwilling to do that.” The reason why the rich young
man didn't get saved was NOT because he refused to yield to Christ, nor
because he was unwilling to give up control of his life; the reason why he
didn't get saved is because he was self-righteousness.
Notice what the self-righteous young man asked
Jesus in Matthew 19:16...
“...Good Master, what good thing SHALL
I DO, that I may have eternal life?”
The young
man didn't ask how he could get to Heaven. No, rather, he asked what THING
I NEED TO DO. Jesus
knew the young man's heart. The young
man was self-righteousness. Jesus used the Law to show the young man his
wickedness. There was nothing he could do in his own self-righteousness to
have eternal life. He needed Jesus as his Savior. Romans 3:19 and Galatians
3:24 plainly teach that the Law's purpose is only to show us our guilt of
sin and need for a Savior.
John MacArthur requires people to fulfil the Law as
a prerequisite to faith in Christ, which is the heresy of works salvation.
That is exactly what Kirk Cameron, Ray Comfort and John MacArthur are
teaching...
They all teach that the
rich young man should have forsaken his covetousness to be saved.
In sharp contrast, Romans 4:5-6
proclaims, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as
David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth
righteousness without works.”
Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort are going to be
damned because they are following the false Gospel of John MacArthur. The
Bible plainly teaches that false prophets would go through pains to avoid
being detected.
Satan is subtle. 2nd Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets
also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who
PRIVILY shall bring in damnable heresies...”The word
“privily” here means “taking pains to avoid being observed; to lead aside.”
This is the nature of false prophets. They are used by Satan to mislead
people, going through pains to avoid being detected.
Carefully notice that the false prophets in
Matthew 7:21-23 were SINCERE; but they were sincerely WRONG. Proverb
16:25, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof
are the ways of death.”
Lordship Salvationists all pervert the Gospel message, requiring sinners to stop living in
their sins to be saved. Moody Bible Institute and many other
theological schools have been caught up into MacArthur's doctrines of
devils...
1st Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit
speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;1Tm:4:1:
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and DOCTRINES
OF DEVILS.”
Lordship Salvation is
a backdoor approach to Works Salvation. Instead of requiring people to do
good works to be saved as the Catholic Church does, Lordship Salvationists
require people to stop living in sin to be saved. The result is the
same—self righteousness. The perverted doctrine of Lordship Salvation is the
primary ecumenical bridge now being used to merge Catholics with apostate
Evangelicals.
Contrary to MacArthur's claim,
Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon DIDN'T believe nor teach
Lordship Salvation.
Matthew 16:23-25
Matthew 16:23-25, “But he turned, and
said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me:
for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of
men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his
life for my sake shall find it.”
Likewise,
Kirk Cameron and John MacArthur
pervert Matthew 16:23-25. This is one of the most misunderstood and
misinterpreted Scripture passages in the Bible. Does a person have to deny
them self to be saved?
Jesus was speaking to His
disciples, not unsaved men. Jesus rebuked Peter in verse 23 for being carnally-minded. It is
unscholarly and dangerous to interpret any Scripture without taking into
consideration all other Scriptures. The correct way to interpret the Bible
is by comparing Scripture-with-Scripture, which is not difficult to do if
you study the Bible as 2nd Timothy 2:15 commands. In John 5:39 Jesus said,
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!
Genesis 15:6; Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:8-9;
Titus 3:5; Romans 10:3-4; Romans 4:5-6; John 3:16 (and hundreds of other
Scriptures) all teach that salvation is without works of
self-righteousness. We are saved solely by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
(Matthew 6:33). We are saved by the
imputed
righteousness of Jesus Christ, because of the precious, literal, blood
that He gave to pay our sin debt. Jesus died, was buried and rose again.
Jesus appeared in the presence of the Father in Heaven on our behalf,
applying His physical blood to the heavenly Mercy Seat (Hebrews 9:12,24).
In view of so many plain statements throughout
the Word of God that salvation is solely of the Lord, it is evil for anyone
to teach that a sinner must give up anything to be saved. Salvation is
receiving, not giving. Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15), freely
offered (Romans 10:13) and freely received (Revelation 22:17). There is much
corrupting of the Scriptures today. Salvation is without works of
self-righteousness.
In 1st Corinthians 3:1, Paul refers to the
believers at the church of Corinth as “babes in Christ” and “carnal.” They
obviously hadn't denied themselves. They were more than just covetous. They were suing each other (6:6). They were coming to the Lord's Supper drunk (11:21). They were
divided amongst each other in quarrels (1:12). Fornication was
openly allowed in the church (5:1). They even ate meats offered to
idols (8:4). According to the Lordship Salvation crowd,
there's no way these rascals could be saved; but the Apostle Paul called
them BABES IN CHRIST.
John MacArthur completely ignores 90% of the
Bible to teach his heresies. The Bible is filled with examples of believers
who sinned, lived in sin and ran from God. It's
not just a matter of semantics.
