Saved By The Blood Of Christ

Saved By The Blood Of Christ

The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ.   We sing songs stating this truth over and over.   Some titles, among many I could choose, are: “Power In The Blood” and “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus.”  The opening words of this latter song are, “What can wash away my sins?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  What can make me whole again?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”   Both water baptism (see Romans 6:3-5) and the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26) are based upon the facts and meaning of the death of Jesus Christ.

The death of Christ is part of the plan of God from eternity whereby men and women could be saved.  “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,  but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.  For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Pet. 1:18-21).  The evidence of God’s long range purpose is seen in God’s statement to the serpent in Genesis 3:15, in the law of Moses containing many types and figures, and especially the sacrificial system, all pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ (see Heb. 10:1-9).  It is seen in the words of Jesus as he prayed and submitted to the will of the Father in the shadow of the cross (see Matt. 26:42).

The importance of the death of Christ (symbolized by the word cross or crucifixion) is seen in gospel accounts of the life of Christ.   There is a total of thirteen chapters describing the trials, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.   The awful ordeals of the cross are described in great detail.  Every time Christians observe the memorial feast (Lord’s Supper), these details are remembered with gratitude and thankfulness.  Every one who is scripturally baptized in water acknowledges the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is committed to pattern his life after that of Jesus (see Romans 6:3-5).  

  The Death of Christ is the Heart of the Gospel Message

It carries such importance that the entire gospel or means of God saving man is summed up by focusing on the cross.   Paul wrote: “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.   For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,  but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:21-24).    Again Paul wrote: “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).  Whenever the gospel was preached throughout the world, as recorded in the book of Acts, both the death of Christ and the resurrection constituted the heart of the message.  See Acts 2:23-24; 3:14-15; 4:2, 10, 27, 33; 5:28-32; 10:39-40; 13:28-30, 32-37; 17:3; etc.

The Death of Christ is the Basis of Discipleship

Jesus explains the terms of what it means to be a disciple in these words:  “Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it'” (See also Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:23).   So the cross is at the heart of discipleship.  After Paul was converted, he wrote of these objectives:  "that I may know Him and the power of His resur-rection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil. 3:10-11).  In fact, every real Christian share in the sufferings of Christ as they commit their lives to His service.

The apostle Paul urges Christians to imitate the attitude of Christ with these words:

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:5-11).

The apostle Peter sets forth the suffering of Jesus Christ as the reason why many are attracted to Him and are willing to follow in His footsteps:   “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,  WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;  and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;  and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.  For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Pet. 3:21-25).  What kind of world would this be if all truly followed in the footsteps of Jesus in every area of life?

Jesus Himself said:  “‘And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.’  But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die” (John 12:32-33).   Yes, we are drawn to Jesus through the cross.  Jesus accomplished in his life and death more than the most powerful dictator.

The Death Of Christ is the Payment For Sin

The redemption price for sin is the death of Christ.   There is no other way for God to be just and justify the ungodly.   The price for sin was paid in full.  If there were any other way, then we must conclude that God was cruel in allowing His son to be tortured and die needlessly.  Paul sums it up this way (and especially read verses 24-26):  “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.  But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,  even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;  whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;  for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:20-26).

Paul had previously stated that it was through the gospel that the righteousness of God (that is, God’s way of making men righteous) was revealed.   “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” (Romans 1:16-17).

The Death of Christ is the Motive for Faithfulness and Growth

Those who turn their back on Christ through willful sin are described in Hebrews 10:26-29:  “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?”  I would not want to face Christ in judgment having stomped on Him, regarding his blood as unclean and insulted the Holy Spirit.  But this is what we do when we turn away from him in disobedience.

Also, if you as a Christian are not growing in faith, moral excellence (courage), knowledge, self-control, perseverance, brotherly kindness and love then this is how such a one is described:  “For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.”   In short, we have forgotten the meaning of Christ dying for us.

The death of Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for sin.   Since it required the blood of Christ to make atonement for sin, this shows the awfulness of sin.   Also the death of Christ is the ultimate motivation for Christian living.   “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Cor. 5:14-15).  His willing sacrifice reaches our hearts as nothing else can and causes us to want to live for Him.  His resurrection made all of this possible.     Paul’s letter to the Romans is the greatest thesis on this subject, but it is talked about all through the epistles, and even all through the Bible.  

Since salvation is made possible through the blood of Christ, no one should conclude from this that it is unnecessary for the gospel to be preached.  Nor should it be thought that discipleship requires little or nothing on the part of man or that it is not necessary for us to turn away from our sins and be baptized into Jesus Christ.   Neither should it be thought that growth in Christ is an optional matter of small importance.  In fact, the blood of Christ embraces and strengthens all of these concepts.  My friend, I pray that you will appreciate what Christ did, and is now doing, at the right hand of God and be able to say like Paul: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20).

You can send your questions or comments to me at lindymcdaniel77@reagan.com.

I will personally address every response.   If you would like for others to be placed on the e-mail list to receive Pitching For The Master, just let me know and it will be done.   If you would like to have all of my articles in Pitching For The Master written in 2013, let me know and I will attach them to E-mail in 1 file.  This file will not include photos.  If you wish to go to the Pitching For The Master blog, go to my website at http://lindymcdaniel.com and from there access the blog.  Thank you very much for reading.    --- Lindy McDaniel, Dec. 13, 2013

Saved by Grace through Faith

Saved by Grace through Faith

(Comments On Ephesians 2:1-10)

Much of the denominational world, which often dominates the Christian landscape, teaches that one is saved by grace only through faith only, and that this salvation has nothing whatsoever to do with any work or activity on the part of man.  We are saved solely on the basis of God’s sovereign acts alone.  Their creeds state this as a fundamental truth, and that such teaching is wholesome and full of comfort.    But is this what the Bible teaches?   So I want to address this question in a positive way by going to the primary passage used to prove this point.  When we read verses, it is important to understand the entire context of the passage.  So let us begin and look at Ephesians Chapter Two which is the bedrock text of the doctrine of salvation by grace only through faith only.  I am going to go through this step by step.

Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-3: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, ² in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  ³ Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 

Lindy’s Comment:  The above is taken from the New American Standard translation.  Here also is the New Century translation that makes it even more understandable: “In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God.  Yes, in the past you lived the way the world lives, following the ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth.  That same spirit is now working in those who refuse to obey God.  In the past all of us lived like them, trying to please our sinful selves and doing all the things our bodies and minds wanted.  We should have suffered God’s anger of the way we were.  We were the same as all other people.”   Notice that this refers to our own trespasses and sins, not the sin of Adam.  There comes a time of accountability when we become aware of our sins before God.  This truth is stated in a lot of other places as well.  The god of this world is Satan and his influence is seen everywhere (see 1 John 5:19).  The word nature does not refer to genetically inheriting the sin of Adam, but refers to the idea of continual habitual sin, or to be sold into bondage to sin as taught in Romans with no possibility of escape.  See Romans 6:13-18.  Such is also clearly taught in Titus 3:3-5.  But continue reading. . .

Ephesians 2:4-7:  "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." 

Lindy’s Comments:  Mercy means receiving something that we do not deserve, and this is based upon God’s great love for us, even when we were spiritually dead due to our own transgressions.  Romans 5:6-8 teaches that Christ died for the ungodly.  Christians have been both buried and raised up with Christ in water baptism (see Romans 6:3-5).  Read also Col. 3:1-4: “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”   Heavenly places refers to our exalted and blessed state in Christ.  This is covered in great detail in Chapter Three.  The expression “Ages to come” shows that this is part of God’s eternal plan, conceived before creation and enduring forever, that is, salvation in Christ Jesus.  Christians are presently saved in Christ and are greatly blessed, but will inherit the hope of salvation in the final resurrection where they will personally join Christ and all the saints in heaven (see 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2 Tim. 4:6-8).  Grace refers to the fact that God will bless us for beyond anything that we deserve.  So mercy means receiving less than we deserve (relating to punishment), while grace refers to receiving more than we deserve (relating to God’s blessings poured out on us in Christ). 

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

Lindy’s Comments:  Grace refers to God’s role in salvation by making full provisions for our salvation by means of the blood of Jesus Christ.  There are many factors pertaining to God’s grace (that is, God saves us by means of Jesus coming to earth, His life, death, burial and resurrection, the Holy Spirit who has communicated this by the Word, etc.).  Faith refers to how man responds to what God has done.  Faith does not compete with the grace of God which is the ground of salvation, but rather, faith is the access to the grace of God.  Obviously Christ died for all men, but all men will not be saved.   Only those who are willing to put their trust in Christ will be saved.  Thus it is by means of faith that we can be saved. 

Grace here is contrasted with works.  It is by grace that we are saved as opposed to works.  The works under consideration here are works of human merit whereby we deserve salvation, or receive salvation because we have earned it through our own efforts.  This is only possible if we are sinless, which no one has achieved.  (See Romans 4:1-5).   It is impossible for man to earn salvation either in part or in whole.  The debt that we owe God can never be repaid.  All boasting is reserved for Christ and not ourselves.  We are drowning and God has thrown us a lifeline, but we must be willing to grab and hold on to this lifeline.  No sane person who has been saved because he grabbed the lifeline will say that he saved himself.   No, he will give credit to the one who saved him.  But some say that we don’t have to do anything.  They say that any effort on our part means that we are trying to earn salvation.  Even gifts have to be accepted.  To interpret “works” here to mean that any activity on the part of man is excluded in terms of fellowship with God or salvation is to ignore hundreds of passages of scripture that teach otherwise.  In fact, if I were to list all of these passages, it would make a very long list.  At the end of this particular article I will go into some of these passages.  Does the Bible contradict itself?  No, it is the doctrine that teaches that salvation is by grace only through faith only that contradicts the scriptures.  Do you really think that we are assured of salvation when we refuse to do what Christ has told us to do?   By obeying Jesus Christ, does anyone think that somehow he or she has earned salvation?

Ephesians 2:10:  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." 

Lindy’s Comments:  Yes, we have been created in Christ Jesus for good works.  How much are good works emphasized in the life of a Christian?   Just look at these passages.     “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col. 3:17).

 “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed” (1 Tim. 5:18-19).  “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.  These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority.  Let no one disregard you” (Titus 2:13-15).  Even the grace of God reinforces these truths:  “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,” (Tit. 2:11-12).  For men to teach that nothing is required of us that has to do with salvation is just not factual.  I might add that these works have to do with what God has authorized us to do.  Notice what Jesus said about this:  “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS'."(Matt. 7:21-23).  To practice lawlessness means to act outside of the authority of Jesus Christ. Some think that they are doing the works of God but they are mistaken, because they are doing their own works by their own authority and are not submitting to the authority of Jesus Christ.  And they do all these things in the name of religion.

Saving Faith Includes Obedience

When we separate faith from obedience or teach that salvation requires no action on the part of man, we make nonsense out of many passages of scripture.  For example, Jesus taught this:  "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).  And also this: "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10).  But men say loving Jesus does not require that we keep His commandments.   John wrote: “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His command-ments.  The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;  but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:  the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:3-6).    But men say, in order to know Christ it is not necessary to keep His commandments.  This is optional and not necessary for salvation.  In Hebrews 5:8-9 we read: “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.  And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,”   But men say that it is not necessary to obey Christ in order to be saved.    Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?  Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:  he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.  But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great" (Luke 6:46-49).   But men say, we can recognize Jesus as Lord without doing what He says.   Jesus said that a wise man is one who builds his house on the rock by hearing and doing what he teaches.  Men say that we can build our house upon the rock without doing what Jesus taught.  Paul wrote: “and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions” (Col. 2:11-13).  But men say that baptism does not cut off sin in our lives.  Peter wrote: “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (1 Pet. 3:21).  But men say that “baptism does not save us.  It has absolutely nothing to do with salvation.    I can produce hundreds of hundreds of passages that contradict the teachings of men.  So the question is simply this.  Do we believe Jesus or do we believe what men say that goes contrary to the words of Jesus?   Do men lord it over us, or do we allow Jesus to be Lord?  To me, that seems to be a simple choice.   The Pharisees refused to be baptized by John’s baptism (see Luke 7:30).  Jesus posed to them a simple question, “Is the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” (see Mark 11:30-33)  This passage also shows that believing John and the action of baptism go hand in hand.   If it was from heaven, they knew that it must be obeyed.  They refused to answer the question.   The same thing is true regarding the baptism commanded by Jesus Christ.   If we say “No, it is not necessary”, then we place ourselves in the same position as the Pharisees.   And yet I have been called a “Pharisee” or a “legalist” just because I teach that we must obey Jesus Christ.   Go figure?! 

Obedience Does Not Mean Sinless Perfection

Some may protest by saying , “Lindy, how in the world can we keep the commandments of Jesus Christ?”   When you ask this are you probably thinking that these passages teach perfect and absolute compliance?    If you have a heart to obey Christ, does that mean that you never sin?    If you come to recognize that Jesus is the Lord of your life, and decide to follow Him, does that require sinless conduct?   Our holiness is to be patterned after that of God (see 1 Peter 1:14-16 ) but does that make us as holy as God and worthy of all praise?    Do you not understand than none of us perfectly understand or practice the commandments of the Lord, yet we are to be taught to observe all that Christ has commanded (See Matt. 28:20).   Jesus taught that only God is good (see Mark 10:17-18).   This means that none of us, apart from God, is good in the ultimate sense.   For anyone to say that he is “sinless” and therefore does not need the blood of Jesus Christ is to make a ridiculous and arrogant claim.  But does that mean that it is O.K. to sin willfully?   Of course not!!  This point is fully dealt with by the apostle Paul and the apostle John.  Paul wrote: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?  May it never be!  How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Rom. 6:1-2).   John wrote: “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).   In both the Old and New Testament the Bible makes a very clear distinction between willful sins, and sins committed in ignorance or unwittingly.  The Christian is not to live in the practice of sin, for such is contrary to the character of the life in Christ.  The Bible is understandable, practical and sensible.  Every Christian should understand that the ground of his acceptance before God is the grace and mercy of God provided by means of the death of Jesus Christ.   Here is a crude baseball illustration.  The goal of the infielder is to catch the ball and throw out the runner.  But try as he may, he still makes errors.  That does not mean that he quits trying and is not seeking to improve his skills?  One of the blessings in Christ is that forgiveness is always available to the Christian. 

Salvation in Christ is a very broad subject.  My effort here is brief.  Thank you so much for reading.   My next article will discuss the importance of the blood of Christ and how the sacrifice of Jesus Christ relates to the grace of God and our salvation.

You can send your questions or comments to me at lindymcdaniel77@reagan.com.

I will personally address every response.   If you would like for others to be placed on the e-mail list to receive Pitching For The Master, just let me know and it will be done.   Thank you very much for reading.  

--- Lindy McDaniel, December 12, 2013

Who Is A Heretic?

I recently examined a 563 page “Handbook of Today’s Religions” by Josh Mcdonald and Don Stewart, published in 1983.   Under the heading of Orthodox Christianity is this statement: “For the last two thousand years, the Christian Church has held certain beliefs to be vital to one’s faith.  While there is some doctrinal disagreement within the three branches of Christendom – Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant – there is a general agreement among them as to the essentials of the faith.  Whatever disagreement the church may have among its branches, it is insignificant compared to the heretical non-Christian beliefs of the cults.  We offer this section as a yardstick to compare the errant beliefs of the cults.” (page 26).   It may come as a surprise for many to learn that these three branches lie within the mainstream of Christian beliefs and practice.  By the way, there is not one word about these “branches” in the Bible.  Nevertheless, according to the book, these are all a part of the great universal church (see pages 37-38).  Again, there is no definition of the church, either local or universal, in the Bible that fits this description .  The writers tell us that the only real heretics lie outside of these main groups.  Although these authors claim to embrace all of these groups, as a student of religious history, I am not so naive as to think that all these broad categories are dwelling together in UNITY or would even agree as to what constitutes orthodox faith as defined in this book.  It is also a fact that many of the basic principles of humanism, Marxism and Socialism, described clearly as cults in this book, have penetrated and influenced greatly these three branches.  This in principle is no different than the falling away of New Testament churches as they were influenced and penetrated by false teachers and heretics (see Acts 20:29-30;  2 Cor. 11:3-4, 13-20; 2 Thess. 2:7-12; 2 Peter 2; Rev. 2-3).   So this clear distinction between what is called “Orthodox Christianiy” and the “Cults” does not hold water.

The authors proceed to go into the details of what constitutes “Orthodox Beliefs”.   The book defines orthodox as “adhering to established beliefs and practices, especially religious ones.  From a Christian perspective, an accurate adherence to biblical truth and worship”  (page 552).  They set forth the proposition that all three of these “branches” agree upon Christian orthodox truths, including the fact that the authority of God comes from the 66 books of the Bible.  Of course, two of those “branches” recognize other books as inspired as well.  Also never mind that the Catholic church recognizes other sources of authority which include  “the traditions of the church”, “the voice of the Pope” and the apocryphal or books of doubtful authority.  But none of this really matters.  To establish this, the book quotes 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21; Deut. 4:2 and Rev. 22:18-19.   Good passages indeed, but this totally ignores the fact that there are great fundamental differences between all of these “branches”, including such specifics as rejecting the Bible teaching of divine inspiration, having broad differences on fundamental things like church organization, homosexuality, women pastors, whether or not the Bible is real history, the teaching of theistic evolution, the function and purpose of the church and a very long list of rather substantial subjects.  Under the book’s basic definitions of what constitutes a heretic, many of the churches and teachers found in these three branches surely fit the description.  

Modern denominationalism is increasingly defined by this “big tent” monstrosity, which is ever changing and splitting into hundreds of different factions.  This is not exactly what Jesus prayed for in John 17:20-21.  The only real solution is to get back to the basics of the word of God.   Paul warned Timothy to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,  and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Tim. 4:2-4).  

The authors state again and again that man is saved by grace only through faith only as a tenant of the faith, which they quote from various creed books,  and anyone who denies this is a surely a heretic.  In the very back of the book is set forth the “Four Spiritual Laws” leading to conversion. The last law teaches how to receive Christ as your personal savior and experience the “new birth.”   As to this law, which the authors imply to be God’s law (or why teach it?), there are included many details, even the necessity of repentance.  However, there is not one mention of  “baptism”, although such is included in all the accounts of conversions recorded in the book of Acts (see Acts 2:36-38, 41; 8:12, 34-38; 10:47-48; 16:14-15, 30-33; 18:8; 22:16).  God’s record of how to be saved states clearly the fact and purpose of water baptism.  Does that make Luke, the author of Acts, a heretic?  Does this omission constitute some “brainwashing” by the authors which they condemn when practiced by the Cults?

When the book describes various cults, it clearly states that one characteristic of a cult is the teaching that one must be baptized for the remission of sins.  In condemning the World Wide Church of God, which I also condemn, the book states that they teach that “salvation is a process beginning in this life and culminating in the resurrection.  Salvation consists of repentance, faith and water baptism. . . . According to Armstrong a person must be baptized in order to be saved. . . ‘God commands water baptism; and for one who is able to either defy the command and refuse, or neglect. . . certainly would be an act of disobedience which would impose the penalty of sin and cause loss of salvation’.”  (page 118).  I would not use the words of Armstrong , but I would simply state it in the words of Jesus: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16) or in the words of Peter, “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:37).   However,  the authors of this book believe that such teaching is heretical. 

Don’t get me wrong.  I also reject the cults that are named in this book about world religions, and do agree that the most basic problem is a failure to believe and apply the principles of Biblical authority.  Over all, the book is very useful and informative as to various cults.  They do a good job in exposing the radical views of the cults. But the authors need to realize that many of the arguments used against the cults can be applied to the mainline churches as well.  To fail to do this would be like Isaiah the prophet condemning the pagans around Israel, but failing to condemn Israel itself for their great sins.  Isaiah calls upon Israel to repent and did not soft soap any of their sins.  The divisions and teachings of these mainline churches is one of the principle reasons the cults have been so effective.  To teach that one can be saved by grace only through faith only and that it is not necessary to obey Christ in order to be saved is a hole that even a big Mack truck can drive through.  So it is no wonder that these cults take advantage of this discrepancy to create doubt and then proceed to influence people with their particular brand of indoctrination.   Also the divisions of organized religions, with their multiple creeds and sectarian bias, give plenty of ammunition to the atheists as well.  How anyone can sugar coat all of this is beyond my power to understand.  The only answer to any heresy, and the Bible does talk much about heresy and false teaching, is the knowledge of the Bible itself.  As to this knowledge, Christendom as a whole is truly lacking.  But any honest reading of the scriptures leads one to understand that there have always been problems along that line even in the days of the apostles.

I have been discussing here the problem of who is a heretic.  This is connected with the problem of false teachers.   Both problems are discussed in the Bible.  As to a heretic, this is mentioned in 2 Peter 2:1: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;”  Also consider this passage:  “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.  Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,  knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned..” (Tit. 3:9-11).   In the context, controversies relating to the law had to do with those who wanted to impose Judaism upon Christians.  This matter was settled in Acts 15.  Heresy has to do with a “party spirit” built around a particular person or opinion producing division, rather than that which is built upon Christ resulting in unity.  (see also 1 Cor. 1:10-17).  False teachers are those who undermine the authority of Jesus Christ by teaching things contrary to sound doctrine.  But if one is teaching only what is clearly set forth in the Bible, and the Bible only, that person is not a heretic.

According to many of the human creeds used by most mainline protestant churches, the doctrine of salvation by grace only through faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and full of comfort.  Salvation requires no action on the part of man whatsoever.  However, this is not taught in the Bible.   It turns out to be deceptive and not full of comfort at all.  The Bible simply states that we are saved by grace through faith.  The word “only” is not in the text but is added by man.   One main passage used to teach this is found in Ephesians 2:8 which states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”   If we are saved by grace alone then nothing else is required.  This would result in universal salvation.   But grace has a condition and that condition is faith.  Faith is the access to grace,  for  “ . . without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).   I might add that the only time the Bible speaks of faith only, it denies that faith only can save.   Faith must be active or else it is useless.  James expresses it this way, What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,  and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.  But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."  You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.  But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (James 2:14-20).  

Dear reader, thank you for reading this article.  God has graciously given us the Bible by means of the Holy Spirit.   This is God’s gift to us.   Go to the word of God for all religious belief and practice.    

I am not angry with those people who actually believe that one is a heretic by simply believing and teaching what the Bible says.   In fact, I talk to such people all the time and am willing to reason with them as to what the Bible teaches.  I strive to always do this in a spirit of gentleness and humility and in the fear of God. How else can we serve Jesus Christ?   This also applies to the “Cults” mentioned in the book.

In the next issue of Pitching For The Master,  I will address the Bible teaching of “Salvation by Grace through Faith”. 

I do recommend a booklet titled, “Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up” by David W. Bercot.  You can access this book at www.scrollpublishing.com.

I like this particular comment on Bill O’Reilly’s book “Killing Jesus” (which was the subject of my last article) by David Smitherman.  He wrote:  “A lot of interest lately in the death of Jesus due to the Bill O’Reilly book and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. What follows is just letting the scriptures tell us what the attitude was of both Jewish rulers and Jewish people and what it led to. . . . None of this should be used as an excuse for anti-Semitic attitudes and mistreatment of Jews today for what their ancestors did 2,000 years ago. Nothing can excuse such things.  It’s simply a matter of looking at an historical event, and the only truly reliable documents which record that incident, and let the facts speak for themselves.

Whenever political correctness means more to us than scriptural correctness, the Bible ceases to have any meaning at all.  Its meaning will change with whatever the latest popular whim is, history will be rewritten and the concept of ultimate, objective truth will no longer exist”.

--- Lindy McDaniel, December 11, 2-13