The Death Of The Passover Lamb Was NOT Enough

When the Lord was going to pass over Egypt and destroy the firstborn, he said to Moses and Aaron in Exodus 12:13...

Exodus 12:13, “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

The death of the lamb wasn't enough, the blood had to be applied Mr. MacArthur. God wasn't looking for a dead lamb in the backyard; No, rather, God was looking for the APPLIED BLOOD on the doorposts and lintel (doorplate) above the door. The blood had to be applied. John MacArthur's entire ministry is flawed, and he is a false prophet, simply because he is WRONG on the most important Christian doctrine of all—DENYING that Jesus' precious, literal, liquid, blood is sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat in Heaven! No genuinely saved person would ever deny the redemptive power of Jesus' physical blood! The Holy Bible reads:
Revelation 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”

If the Old Testament high priest killed the lamb and went home, the sins of the people were not atoned for. The lamb's blood had to be carried by a bowl into the holy of holies and applied to the mercy seat (which rested upon the Ark of the Covenant). On top of the Ark of the Covenant, there were two cherubim, facing toward each other. Hebrews 9:5, “And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.” In between the cherubim is where the presence of God abided, looking down upon where the blood was sprinkled.

When Jesus resurrected, witnessed by over 500 believers at one time, and then bodily ascended into Heaven with His shed blood, the Lord sprinkled that blood on the Mercy Seat in the presence of the Father. Under the Old Covenant, the Jewish Levite high priest was required by God to enter into the earthly tabernacle once a year. The high priest killed a young, male, spotless lamb, collecting its blood and sprinkled that blood upon the mercyseat to atone (temporarily cover) for the sins of the people for another year. This was an annual event, which symbolized the coming Messiah, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Christ's blood sprinkled in Heaven (Hebrews 12:24) ONCE AND FOR ALL WASHED AWAY MANKIND'S SINS...

Hebrews 9:24-26, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest [Old Testament high priest] entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others [animal blood]; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

The PRICE for sin has been paid. The PRICE is the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The PLACE is the heavenly Mercy Seat. For man's sins to be washed away, the right PRICE had to be applied to the right PLACE!!! This is why we don't have to “ask” Jesus to save us. God has already promised “TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE” (1st Corinthians 1:21).

Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

Hebrews 4:14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Amen, Jesus is our heavenly High Priest!!! WHAT GOOD WOULD A HIGH PRIEST BE WITHOUT BLOOD???

Here are the eloquent words of Dr. Jack Hyles (1926-2001) concerning the importance of the blood being applied...

In the Old Testament, the High Priest killed two goats on the Day of Atonement. The blood of one goat was taken by the High Priest into the Holy Place to the Ark of the Covenant. On the top of the Ark of the Covenant was the Mercy Seat. Over that Mercy Seat were two cherubims beaten out of pure gold. Between the wings of those cherubims was the Glory of God. The blood from the goat that was sacrificed was applied to the proper place which was the Mercy Seat. If the blood did not get to the Mercy Seat, then it was the proper price, but not paid to the proper place. It would have been no more valid than that check written but not paid to the creditor.

If the blood of Jesus was left on the ground at the cross, that means it did not get to the Holy Place and is not valid. "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus." It is not just the blood shed, but also the blood applied.

God told Moses to instruct the people to apply the blood of the lamb at the Passover. When He passed over and saw the blood of that lamb, He would withhold His judgment. God did not judge them based on His omniscience. He made a point of letting them know that He would not judge them only when He saw the blood. It was not enough that the blood was shed. The blood had to be properly applied.

SOURCE: THE PRICE OF THE CHURCH, by Pastor Jack Hyles

It's Still Jesus' Shed and Applied Blood That Cleanses All Sin

Jesus doesn't forgive sin. That is correct! Jesus has already paid for everyone's sins with His blood. IT'S STILL THE BLOOD SHED AND APPLIED THAT CLEANSES AWAY ALL SIN!!! Jesus has already paid for everyone's sins with His precious blood. Therefore, forgiveness of sins and eternal life are a free gift, paid for in full by Christ's BLOOD!!! A “gift” is simply received, not achieved. Jesus doesn't forgive sins, because He has already paid for them with His blood! God always sees our thoughts. He can read our mind. The very moment that we decide, as a needy sinner, to trust the Gospel [Good News] of Christ's death on the cross, burial and resurrection, God saves us eternally. John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Please trust the Savior!!!

Anyone who admits being a guilty sinner in the sight of a holy God (Romans 3:19, 23), BELIEVING the Gospel is saved!!! What is the Gospel? “The Gospel” is the Good News that Jesus is the Christ, Who DIED on the cross for our sins, He was BURIED, and He RESURRECTED three days later from the dead according to the Scriptures (1st Corinthians 15:1-6). The only requirement to be saved is to admit that you are a hell-deserving sinner, otherwise why would you need a Savior? You've got to know what you're being saved from. No man has ever been saved who didn't admit that he is a sinner! 1st John 1:10, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Thank God for the LAMB OF GOD!!! Jesus DIED as our LAMB, and He RAISED UP as our HIGH PRIEST!!! Jesus didn't come into the world to CONDEMN anyone; but rather, to SAVE those who were already condemned. John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” We were all born sinners; therefore, we are all CONDEMNED already!!! We are all sinners by nature and by choice. A cat meows, a dog barks and a sinner sins! God sent His only begotten Son into the world to keep everyone from going to Hell.

Christ's blood has already paid the PRICE for your sins, and if you'll simply BELIEVE on Christ, Who paid your sin debt, He will save you. All you have to do is BELIEVE (trust Him). Please listen to “LOOK AND LIVE” (a great MP3 sermon by Pastor Bob Gray Sr.). LOOK AND YOU'LL LIVE!!! Look to Jesus by faith and live! If you're trusting the Son of God as you're only way to Heaven, Who died for your sins on the cross and raised up three days later, you are saved!!! You either BELIEVE on the Son of God, Jesus Christ; or else you don't and you won't go to Heaven!!!

Beware Of Hillsong's “Heap” Of Damnable False Teachers

2ndPeter 2:1-3, “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, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

Ah yes, they shall MAKE MERCHANIDSE OF YOU! The following quotes expose Hillsong and it's apostate founders Brian and Bobbie Houston:

"Brian's intuitive genius is marketing," says one senior churchman, who asks not to be quoted. "Hillsong is a culture – success, beautiful people, a positive message and nothing negative. The message is, 'You're awesome and God is awesome and we are God's chosen and we have to be seen to be awesome.' And when you tease out what awesome means, it basically means prosperity. They go very close to going that to be poor is sinful, to be saved successful."

Sociologist Andrew Jakubowicz, of the University of Technology Sydney, observes that "this is not a church where the leader washes the feet of beggars".

But Houston is unapologetic about the self-advancement psychology embedded in Hillsong's message. "I'd rather give people some hope than no hope," he says. "We encourage them to look to Jesus and build their lives on the right foundations. My methods are relatable in a world where many say the church is a dying force. And I'm not prepared as a church leader to just sit there and let it die."

Just as the Murdochs have taken three generations to build an empire, the Houstons have taken three generations to build Hillsong into the behemoth it is today. The more it grows, the more adherents see this as proof of divine endorsement.

"People are not looking for stale religion" with "dilapidated buildings filled with narrow-minded, self-righteous finger pointers", Houston writes in his most recent book, Live Love Lead, released in July. "I am convinced beyond a doubt that God didn't create us to live mediocre, settle-for-less lives."

SOURCE: Inside the Hillsong Church's money-making machine

As a fundamentalist Bible preacher I'd like to break down some of Brian Houston's preceding statements. Hillsong is indeed A CULTURE of health, wealth and prosperity for it's greedy leaders! ...

1. "I'd rather give people some hope than no hope" - Do you see what Brian Houston did? He equates Bible preaching with no hope. It's either his way or the highway.
2. "We encourage them to look to Jesus and build their lives on the right foundations" - The only right foundation is Jesus Christ, but not in the way that Houston portrays Him. They exploit Jesus to make a buck, making money off the masses by lying to them, promising health, wealth and prosperity in exchange for donations. 
3. "My methods are relatable in a world where many say the church is a dying force. And I'm not prepared as a church leader to just sit there and let it die" - The church is a dying force only because people will not endure sound doctrine anymore. The church is not the problem, society has changed. Since 1946 television has provided a substitute for the local church. The local church cannot compete with the TV!
4. "'People are not looking for stale religion' with 'dilapidated buildings filled with narrow-minded, self-righteous finger pointers'" - Narrow minded? Here we seen evidence of what the Bible warned about people rejecting sound doctrine (the truth). People don't want to hear THE TRUTH anymore, they want entertainment. They want to attend a church that doesn't pressure them to change. Homosexuals are welcomed in their UNREPENTANT STATE in today's Hillsong churches. Anybody can attend and be held in good standing. You can dress any way you want. Women wear tight pants and halter tops. Men wear ripped out jeans. Homosexuals are welcome in their sin! Brian and Bobbie Houston are making tons of money by providing a FALSE CHURCH for sinners who won't endure sound doctrine to attend.

Hillsong CANNOT be recommended. Since the music and teaching come out of the same church, the danger of being drawn into their errors is very great, more so than singing the hymns of a long dead hymn writer with whom we might not agree. We would not promote the music of the Roman Catholic Church or the Mormons, no matter how good that music might be, and neither should we promote Hillsong. We must expose Hillsong's unscriptural acceptance of women pastors, its shady financial irregularities, the increasing promotion of 'Chrislam' (i.e., claiming Muslims worship the same God as Christians), vote stacking on Australian Idol, an empire of greed, et cetera. As the churches become more worldly, so also is the world becoming more churchy!

God didn't command believers to stay and try to clean-up and change a bad place, He told us to LEAVE! ...

2nd Corinthians 6:17-18, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Christians needs to COME OUT of Hillsong and find a true Bible-believing local church to attend. The Hillsong brand is a culture of worldly music, worldly dress, worldly associations, worldly philosophies, worldly greed, et cetera. The leaders of this movement are all millionaires!!! Jesus said he that is greatest among you shall be your servant! At the end of the day Hillsong's leaders are serving themselves, lining their pockets, making tons of money.

It is sickening to see Joyce Meyer giving money to the poor as a front for her greedy ministry. Take a look at the sinful extravagant lavish lifestyle that she enjoys. Meyer charges people $1,000 to $5,000 just to meet her! That is disgusting!!! You couldn't pay me to meet that horrible Jezebel! These greedy people from the TBN, CBN and Hillsong all belong in prison! They take advantage of millions of people, promising healing and wealth that never comes in exchange for donations!!! Bobbie Houston wears sensual tight unladylike pants. She blabs her mouth from the pulpit, sinning by usurping authority in the church.

Sad but true, our churches have become rock concerts! The speakers are women, dress like bums, jam on electric guitars, and today's wicked society can relate to them. Many people think that is good but it's not, it proves what the Bible warned in 2nd Timothy 4:4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” I can name a dozen fundamentalist Baptist pastors today whose preaching would change people's lives, but you'll never hear them on television, because people today don't want to hear sound doctrine!

One of the most dangerous false prophets of our time is Miss Joyce Meyer. The Bible strictly forbids women preachers.  Hillsong is of the Devil. Hillsong is a Satanic substitute for local New Testament churches. The organization as a whole takes in BILLIONS of dollars in revenues. Hillsong promotes an assortment of apostates; namely, J.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Robert Jeffress, Creflo Dollar, Joseph Prince, Steven Furtick, et cetera. None of these apostates will preach THE TRUTH against the homosexual movement. That is why Pastor Steven Anderson is hated and censored by the media, because he PREACHES the truth. What saith the Scripture? ...

2nd Timothy 4:3-4, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

The Bible says that the time will come (and it is here in 2021) when the world WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE! Instead they will “heap” (a bunch of them) false teachers (e.g., Bill Johnson, Louie Giglio, Joseph Prince, Earl McClellan, Carl Lentz, and Hillsong's Global Senior Pastors Brian & Bobbie Houston, Robert Jeffress, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, et cetera). NONE of these apostate PREACH THE WORD as the Bible commands!!! 

I just watched Joyce Meyer on TV. Her sinful show is literally called: “Enjoying life television program.” I'm not kidding folks! The enjoying life television program? You've got to be kidding me? All of the apostate ministers I just mentioned are pulling on the same rope as the Devil, including Pastor Robert Jeffress in Dallas, Texas.

Kindly said, Pastor T.D. Jakes is a loud-mouthed foolish old man. He is guilty of propagating the same health-wealthy and prosperity message as the rest of the Hillsong culture. I'm listening now to T.D. Jakes speak a message called: “The Danger Of Low Expectations.” You see, their sermons are all rooted in human psychology, not the inspired Word of God. They don't preach theology. They don't preach the doctrine of Christ. They intentionally avoid doctrinal issues, lest somebody be offended. So they stick to non controversial topics that wouldn't offend anyone. That is not Bible preaching, it is sinful compromise!!!

1st Corinthians 14:34, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” 1st Timothy 2:11-12, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

These are woeful apostate times! Bobbie Houston is sinning by preaching! She should take off those tight slacks and go put a long dress on! These are worldly people who've crept into the church, exploiting the name of Jesus to make a buck. They are not godly people! What has happened folks is that the Devil's crowd didn't like God's churches, so they started their own churches! Hillsong churches are the Devil's churches. Why do you think they beg incessantly for your money? An unlearned believer might think Hillsong is a great thing, since people actually want to attend these liberal churches!

I visited one of these modern churches. They had dry ice spraying into the air on stage, being pierced by blue and red disco-style flashing lights through the mist. I felt like I was in a nightclub. I was watching the colorful decorative lights being shone on the ceiling, moving around. The room's lighting was darkened as the band performed a Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) song. I heard the drums and the guitars, the oohs and the aahs, while their eyes were closed as the performers sang. I did learn something helpful from the sermon. The Lord was glorified by their mouths. I did enjoy myself. I did like being around another professed Christians. But the presence of the Holy Spirit wasn't there in their worship! There was a worldly spirit that permeated the whole event. Sad but true, the world has crept into the churches, and people today absolutely WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE anymore! ...

2nd Timothy 4:3-4, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

You won't hear rebuking and reproving in today's churches! The sad fact is that people simply won't go to church anymore unless you entertain them. Entertainment has become our God. I have been to numerous churches that have brought the world's entertainment into the church, and they feel phony. It is synthetic sycophantic worship! You might as well go to your favorite pop concert. Matthew 15:8-9, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Wherefore Rebuke Them Sharply

Titus 1:10-14, “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”

I am saddened and frustrated by so many professed Christians today. It is tragic that pastors, churches and Bible colleges all across America are in a slumber of isolationism. They are doing their own little thing, making money, enjoying life, but refuse to throw rocks at anyone who is teaching heresy. There are plenty of Scripture passages which exhort believers to expose false doctrine. Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” What is more dark than a false gospel? ...

2nd John 1:11, “For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

One of the biggest heretics of our day is Dr. Steve Pettit, who is the Executive President at Bob Jones University. Dr. Pettit is a devour follower of Pastor John MacArthur. They are friends. Steve Pettit bids Godspeed to Mr. MacArthur. They preach the same false gospel of “Lordship” salvation, damning men's souls to Hell. 

“He that lieth down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.” —Benjamin Franklin

If one spends time with bad or corrupt people, one will suffer in some way (often by becoming like said associates). Steve Pettit is as bad a preacher as he is a mandolin player!

Friend, where do we draw the line between what is acceptable doctrine and what is not? Where do we draw the line between orthodox Christian doctrine and heresy? We all agree that the inspired Word of God is our final and only authority, but since preachers all disagree over what the Bible means, how do we know what the truth is? It must then come down to each individual person doing their own study and investigation into a matter, so they can conclude for them self what the truth is. What may be THE TRUTH to me may not be THE TRUTH to you!

This is what the Bereans did in the Bible. Acts 17:10-11, “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” I love this passage of Scripture! I fully recommend buying Christian fundamentalist books from Berean Publications, named after the Bereans in the Bible. They carry some great books authored by Pastor Bob Gray Sr., one of my mentors. I highly admire the Bereans in the Bible, they didn't just follow a preacher as many people foolishly do today, they SEARCHED THE SCRIPTUES to verify the truth for themselves.

It burdens my heart to see thousands of students blindly follow a false teacher like Dr. Steve Pettit. Pettit is a Calvinist! Read what he taught 2,700 students and faculty at BJU on January 26, 2015:

“You can't just speak about getting saved, and you accepted Christ, and then that's it! There is a justification; There is a sanctification; There's ultimately a glorification, and though there are three parts, they are all part of the whole, and you cannot separate them. In order for you to qualify for the award, you have to get into the race, you have to stay in the race, and you have to finish the race. If you want to win, you have to run to the end; and winning in the Christian life is everything, because if you lose—if you don't finish—you lose everything—you lose your SOUL. And so, the Christian race is the life of faith that begins, is run, and is finished when we cross over into Heaven!” —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 11:34)

Now read what Evangelist John Bunyan (1628-1688) rightly said:

“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” [emphasis added] —Evangelist John Bunyan

Do you see the 180 degree difference in there philosophies? Steve Pettit teaches that you cannot be justified alone. He errantly teaches that you cannot go to Heaven unless sanctification follows. That is why Pettit made this statement in the same sermon:

“For the real reality of the genuineness of your faith is that you are faithful to run the race!” —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 22:44)

No, the reality of the genuineness of my faith is MY FAITH ITSELF! So according to Steve Pettit, you are not saved if your life hasn't changed, if there is no sanctification. John Bunyan wisely understood that failing to put a clear difference between justification and sanctification CORRUPTS THE WORD OF GOD AND CASTS STUMBLING BLOCKS BEFORE THE PEOPLE! This was the exact same thing (WORKS) which caused the Jews to STUMBLE...

Romans 9:31-33, “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

Please don't miss that friend. The Bible says that the Jews sincerely sought after righteousness, but they didn't obtain it! Why? It is because they sought it by the WORKS of the Law instead of by FAITH. That is exactly what Calvinists like Steve Pettit, Marty Herron and John MacArthur are doing. In their corrupt mindset you cannot merely put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and then that's it, you're going to Heaven! They think if you're really saved your faith will prove itself by resulting in a changed life (sanctification). As you just read for yourself, Steve Pettit teaches that you CANNOT separate justification from sanctification. That is, he says you cannot separate FAITH from WORKS. That is another gospel if ever there was one!!!

Pastor John Bunyan is absolutely right that we must put a difference between justification and sanctification, lest we CORRUPT THE WORD OF GOD AND CAST A STUMBLING BLOCK BEFORE THE PEOPLE! Steve Pettit and John MacArthur corrupt God's Word. These wicked men cast stumbling blocks before the people!!! I'm talking about the ungodly Bob Jones University crowd today! They have changed for the worst over the past 50 years. Why aren't pastors and churches exposing these wicked men?

Someone recently told me that their Hyles-Anderson College graduate pastor supports John MacArthur's ministry in California. Why oh why? Folks, there are not two gospels. John MacArthur's plan of salvation is so hard that he teaches children cannot be saved. The Satanic Mormon college, Brigham Young University (BYU) require their students to read John MacArthur's perverse text: “FAITH WORKS,” because they agree on Lordship Salvation. Pastor MacArthur blasphemously teaches that Jesus didn't have God's blood flowing in His veins, effectively denying Christ's virgin birth. Mr. MacArthur errantly teaches that Jesus' blood soaked into the dirt at Calvary and is not sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in Heaven. This corrupt man cannot be a child of God and hold to such perverse theology!!!

Dr. John MacArthur, as does Dr. Steve Petit, foolishly teach that salvation is an EXCHANGE, a TRADE, for all you are for all that Christ it. Dear reader, eternal life is a free gift from God, paid for in full by Jesus Christ through Calvary's cross. Jesus paid for our sins with His precious blood (1st Peter 1:18-19). Please RUN away from Pastor MacArthur!!! 

The Bible commands us as Christian men to REBUKE THEM SHARPLY who subvert whole households with a perverse gospel. It is our responsibility, especially preachers!!! The Pensacola Christian College (PCC) camp is sinfully silent, trying to remain neutral in the work of God. If Bible-believing Christians don't REBUKE THEM SHARPLY who preach another gospel, then who will do it? Dr. John MacArthur says a lot of brilliant things from the Bible. He is a suave orator, likable, bold in his preaching and a brilliant thinker, and yet he is of the Devil for perverting the Gospel.

Here again is the damnable heresy that Pastor John MacArthur preaches to millions of people. Any time someone comes along preaching that salvation will “cost” you something, you know that minister was inspired by demons...

“Don’t believe anyone who says it’s easy to become a Christian. Salvation for sinners cost God His own Son; it cost God’s Son His life, and it’ll cost you the same thing...” —Dr. John MacArthur, Grace To You, an updated quote from his book 'Hard To Believe', page 93.

Folks, that is not “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3b). There is no “cost” to a sinner coming to Jesus Christ to receive God's gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Eternal life is a gift from God, which we RECEIVE by faith in the the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way of salvation (Acts 4:10-12).

“Who is John MacArthur? He is the one man in America doing more than anybody to destroy soul-winning churches!” —Dr. Jack Hyles (a needful quote from the MP3 sermon, "I Sojourn In Mesech")

The “simple” thing about salvation is that all you have to do to receive eternal life is to BELIEVE the Gospel. If you gladly receive the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross, buried and bodily risen the third day, you are saved! Acts 2:43, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” (God will even save you if you grumpily receive the GOOD NEWS!) They were saved by gladly receiving the Good News of Jesus crucified, buried and risen. Then they were water baptized as a pubic profession of their faith.

At Some Point Pastors Stopped Standing

Ephesians 6:10-13, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

One of the saddest things that I have seen in my 41 years as a born-again believers (I was saved at age 13) is pastors who don't stand. I was only 5 years old in 1972 when Dr. Hyles preached this beautiful sermon. The older I get the more I understand what Pastor Hyles means in this encouraging quote:

“I've been preaching a long time, and I've watched a lot of things happen. To me the saddest thing that I've watched in my life, apart from my own country going to the Devil nearly, has been the change of preachers and churches. I find myself amazed and stunned with near disbelief, as I see men who once stood who don't stand anymore ... I know every week I cry some, I mean cry, I mean tear cry, because of preachers who are turning.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, from the 1972 sermon titled: “I SHALL NOT BE MOVED”

I get encouraged every time I read that quote, because I have seen the same thing in my lifetime, and especially today in 2021. I cannot think of more than a handful of pastors who are really standing, I MEAN STANDING! I get tired of hearing Baptist pastors attack Pastor Steven Anderson, when he is STANDING!!! America's pulpits have become weak! You'll have a hard time finding a church and pastor today who truly STAND for morality, right doctrine and truth in the community. I don't agree with everything Pastor Anderson says and does, but I stand with my brother who is standing. I am a friend at midnight.

I need to write a separate blog about the woeful problem of pastors who won't contend for the faith today. Bob Jones University's women's basketball team is called “The Bruins.” BJU's The Bruins competes in intercollegiate sports with Pensacola Christian College's team “The Eagles.” Folks, look at the perverse false gospel that Dr. Steve Pettit (president of BJU) preaches! BJU fully endorses their alumni Pastor John MacArthur and his ungodly Calvinist ministry in California!!! What am I saying? I have no idea...lol. No, seriously, I am saying that right doctrine ought to matter to us more than it does! By allowing their college students at PCC to yoke together with BJU they are bidding Godspeed to them. I am one of only a couple people preaching against Bob Jones University for teaching Lordship salvation.

Pastor John F. MacArthur is a damnable false teacher, an alumni of Bob Jones University (BJU). Sadly, BJU fully bids Godspeed to this wicked man today! Dr. MacArthur teaches that Jesus DIDN'T have God's blood flowing in His veins. Pastor MacArthur teaches that children cannot be saved. Dr. MacArthur is a self-admitted 5-point Calvinist, denying that Jesus died for all humanity (i.e., the heresy of Limited Atonement). By the way, Pastor Charles Spurgeon also taught the heresy of Limited Atonement. No pastor ought to praise, support or promote John MacArthur. It bothers me that today's pastors refuse to expose false teachers! BJU preaches Lordship salvation.

I could name a bunch of popular big name Bible colleges, well-known pastors and thriving churches today who go along quietly with Bob Jones University and won't say a word of warning about BJU or John MacArthur or the perverse teaching of "Lordship" salvation. Today's pastors and churches have become far too comfortable, complacent and indifferent toward false teachers! Pastors have become distracted by the work of the ministry, so that buildings, budgets and business meetings matter more than right doctrine and people. PEOPLE ARE THE MINISTRY!

When Pastor Grayson Fritts took an uncompromising faithful Biblical stand in Knoxville, Tennessee against the wicked LGBTQ movement, hundreds of scared local pastors and churches disassociated with him. Pastor Fritts was persecuted by Cracker Barrel restaurant, the chain refusing to serve their church events. It is wickedness!!! Ungodly newsmedia, website and magazine covers bared false witness against Pastor Fritts, falsely accusing him of saying that police should kill gays.

The truth is that Pastor Fritts simply upheld Leviticus 20:13 in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, which calls for capital punishment (by due legal judicial process) for homosexuality. There is a world of difference between preaching that the government should have laws criminalizing homosexuality, versus saying that police should kill gays. Do you see how wicked people slander, twist and dishonestly distort reality? Psalms 56:5, “Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.” The Devil is the father of all liars, and children of the devil are also liars (John 8:44).

Did you know that as recently as 1962 homosexuality was a punishable crime in all 50 states? It's true! So why is the media today so alarmed and hellbent on demonizing and censoring any pastor who dares to call for the government to go back to punishing homosexuals? God hasn't changed folks, we have! The Bible hasn't changed, our society has. Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God never changes (Malachi 3:6). In theology it is said that God is “immutable,” which means He cannot change! God's holiness cannot change. God's love and His promises cannot change. The Bible is forever settled in Heaven (Psalms 119:89). If you are wise you will attach yourself to the things of God which are eternal. This world and everything in it is only temporal. Ye must be born again (John 3:7).

Thank God that some things never change! American culture has been deteriorating at a rapid speed, becoming worse and worse each year for the past century. It is a strange and frightening phenomena to watch how our American culture has changed for the worse each generation, and to see what was once despicable and wrong to be promoted today as respectable and right. Who would have imagined a time in the United States when homosexuality, adultery, indecency, shady advertising, abortion and Marijuana smoking would all be legal. I am so sick of it all! And sadly, right doctrine doesn't matter anymore to most pastors, churches and Bible colleges. People simply follow their leader like dumb sheep.

Pastors' Steven Anderson and Grayson Fritts are exactly what America needs today—preaching preachers!!! That is why Satan has banned their preaching. YouTube removed 6,500 sermon videos by Pastor Anderson. Since, they have censored thousands more, again and again, silencing his voice for righteousness. Ultimately, in eternity every human being will be held accountable by our Maker for every good and evil deed done (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Matthew 12:36). Those wicked people today who silence the Bible preacher will be held accountable for all the people who would have been helped and saved, but weren't because they held back THE TRUTH from them.

This is a brief article, but volumes of books could be written on this important matter. Now is the time for Bible preachers to stand!  What is preaching? Pastor Jack Hyles rightly said that preaching is truth set on fire! Preaching is trying to convince other people to adopt our mindset. Teaching is merely the transfer of knowledge from one mind to another mind; but preaching is the appeal of one soul to another to change, to repent, to think differently and head toward a new course. The homosexual community have been preaching their vile LGBTQ message for decades. Now is not the time for God-fearing, Bible-believing, Christians to dip our sails and stop preaching THE TRUTH of God's inspired Word. STAND!

FIGHT, But If You Cannot FIGHT, WITHSTAND,
But If You Cannot WITHSTAND, Then STAND!!!

Logic Proves An Old Earth Creation In The Bible

Genesis 1:1-2, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Psalms 102:25, “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.”

If you listen to a Young Earth Creation (YEC) preacher, you will feel compelled to follow what they teach. This is because they have a very limited view of creation. In their mind God created the universe and everything therein in six days, end of story. They claim that anyone who teaches anything different is corrupting the Word of God. Taken by itself, that argument does sound very compelling to the simple mind.

However, for the thinking person, it is not that basic. Where did the serpent come from in the Garden if Eden, who was clearly Satan? When did dinosaurs live? Why did the psalmist say in Psalm 102:25 that only the FOUNDATION of the earth itself is “of old,” and not the things in the world? David specifically mentions the FOUNDATION of the earth being of old. This is exactly what proponents of an Old Earth Creation (OEC) believe, as am I.

One heresy begets another. When someone denies an old earth, they have no choice but to ASS-U-ME that dinosaurs lived with humans. This creates a whole slew of problems. The Bible names the lion in Proverbs 30:30 as the greatest of all beats. Certainly if there had been dinosaurs in the land; such as, a 15-foot-tall tyrannosaurus, it would have been much greater than a lion. The book of Job is commonly believed to have been written prior to the time of Moses, since the Law is not mentioned. Job was likely a contemporary of Adam in Genesis. 

We read about the “lion” six times in the book of Job. I get disgusted when I here preachers tout the one mention of the word “behemoth” in Job 40:15, using it in a lame attempt to justify the existence of dinosaurs in the Bible. It is very bad Bible interpretation!!! The Hebrew word for “behemoth” is plural, likely referring to a herd of elephants or hippos. Yet, ignorant preachers continue to beat this dead horse, claiming that it proves Jurassic Park existed in God's Word. Sadly, it just proves how ridiculously far desperate preachers will go to lie!

Common sense tells us that the Devil and demons must have been created prior to Genesis 3:1 when the serpent first appeared to Eve. An Old Earth Creation (OEC) view explains when the Devil and demons were created, rebelled and were cast down to the earth. An OEC view also explains when dinosaurs really lived upon the earth. They were destroyed by a catastrophic event, when God in His fierce anger laid the earth waste because of Lucifer's sin:

Jeremiah 4:23-26, “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.”

This Scripture passage clearly refers to a prehistoric land before time as we know it today. This explains when dinosaurs roamed the earth and what happened to them. Science itself evidences that dinosaurs existed between 60,000,000 and 220,000,000 years ago. The Bible supports that science! Yet we've got ignoramus pastors still today who boldly insist that dinosaurs lived 5,000 years ago! The Bible college kids may buy into that junk theology and junk science, but neither the Holy Bible nor true science agree with them!

And let me firmly make clear that I do NOT support evolution in any form or fashion. I reject Theistic Evolution (the idea that God created the universe but then it evolved). Nothing evolved from a lower species. If anything, creation is deteriorating, mover lower than higher. This is commonly known as Selective Breeding. Animal, bird, insect and fish species can reproduce down due to DNA, but they cannot reproduce up.

Logic proves that humans could not have lived among dinosaurs for any period of time, let along 5,000 years ago. In all of human civilization, beginning with the Egyptian Empire 3,500 years ago around 1,500 BC (the time of Moses), nothing has been historically recorded about dinosaurs. I have heard Dr. Ken Ham make bizarre claims about legends of fire-breathing dragons in folklore of every culture, which he cites as “proof” of dinosaurs. That is insanity! I do not support Kent Hovind today, who has gone way down in his testimony in recent years, marrying people without marriage licenses, marrying Mary Tocco himself without a marriage license, and greedily using Christianity to make filthy lucre. Why do people still follow this conman? I don't condemn anyone, but I don't like the greed that I see, the constant begging for more money and the departure from the Word of God.

I think these lame Bible colleges today who boldly promote a YEC are doing a great disservice to their students. Yes, I am talking about The Crown College and Pensacola Christian College! If these schools teach this rubbish, I am going to call them out for it! They can get mad if they want, but they are WRONG! The only way that you can conclude a YEC is to IGNORE the little details. The Hebrew words in Genesis chapter one vary greatly in meaning, clearing evidencing that different things were happening, not all the same. The Hebrew word “bara” is used in Genesis 1:1 but then doesn't appear until the end of the chapter. But in between you've got a few different Hebrew words used that clearly indicate something much broader is happening, that is, God is REMODELING His creation.

Genesis 2:19 teaches that Adam named ALL the beasts of the field. God wanted to see what Adam would name them. I loved that about God. The Lord enjoys watching us work, to see what we will make or create. We are created in God's image, having the freedom and ability to create things on our own (art). Yet, every one of the dinosaurs were given names by modern scientists in the 19th century. Just last month, two new species of dinosaurs were unearthed in China and given new names by scientists. Modern scientists named the dinosaurs, not Adam. The reason why is obvious, because dinosaurs didn't exist at the time of Adam. It is common sense folks.

Logic proves a Pretribulation Rapture. Logic proves that there was a place of Paradise for Old Testament saints. Logic proves that the King James Bible is God's inspired Word. And logic proves that the foundation of the earth itself is very old, likely billions of years as science evidences. Science estimates that the universe is 13 billion years old. Only God knows for certain, but one thing is for sure, the universe is not just 6,000 years old! Human civilization is 6,000 years old. Time began with the human race in the Bible. God made time for man, so He could use time as a tool to teach us (e.g., the Sabbath Day is a picture of Christ in Whom we rest for salvation). The six days of creation picture man's own self-righteous works. God made time so that He could use time to teach us spiritual truths. God also made time to share with humans what He plans to do next on His prophetic calendar in Scripture. Good is so good!

The YEC crowd totally ignore the Hebrew in Genesis chapter one. They completely ignore modern legitimate science. They completely ignore the subject of demonology. They completely ignore Jeremiah chapter four. They completely ignore Psalm 102:25. Teaching a Gap Principle (it's not a theory) does NOT in any way detract from a literal six day creation. It just means that something existed prior to those six days when God created the world as we know it today. Remember, TIME did not exist until the human civilization began in Genesis 1:2. The Bible says that evening and morning were the FIRST DAY. So here is where time began. But the Gap Principle says that there was a prehistoric world before time, that is, before man!

Jeremiah 4:23-26, “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.”

It is clear to me (and there are many more reasons why) that an OEC is correct. I firmly believe in an Old Earth Creation. The average pastor today is henpecked, terrified to go against his peers, lest he be rejected and ostracized by his own group for going against them. Not me buddy, I'll get in your face and tell you how WRONG you are, because I think for myself as God intended for it to be. I am loyal to THE TRUTH, not to the junk theology being dished out in today's apostate Bible colleges and college-run churches. Think for yourself!

Dear reader, there are just too many questions and problems with a YEC view. Such a shallow view is convenient, but leaves too many unanswered questions. If you have ever really studied the fascinating world of dinosaurs, there is no way that these beautiful, mysterious and intimidating creatures coinhabited the earth with mankind. If such creatures did exist in the Bible, no doubt we would have read MUCH about them in Scripture, but there is nothing! Furthermore, what other species of animals have been unearthed from prehistoric times than the dinosaurs, pterodactyls, mammoths and sabretooth tigers? Again, logic tells us that there is a clear and definite distinction between these majestic unearthed prehistoric creatures and the living world as we know it today. Why is that so hard to grasp? Why is an OEC view such a threat to the YEC crowd?

The Christian world has always been divided on this issue. Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) adhered to a YEC at the Sword Of The Lord. His successor Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995) adhered to an OEC. I agree with Dr. Hutson. By the way, you can hear a wonderful Bible study series called: “DEMONOLOGY” by Pastor Hutson from 1974, in which he explains his reasoning from the Bible for an OEC. Also, Pastor Max D. Younce preached this helpful sermon on “The Fallacy Of A Young Earth Creation.” Learn to THINK FOR YOURSELF friend! I am confident that any thinking believer can only conclude an Old Earth Creation (OEC) if they honestly consider every aspect of the matter. It is absurd to say that dinosaurs lived with mankind 5,000 years ago. If you really think about it, it is ridiculous to even suggest it.

Pat Robertson's False Teaching To Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem

Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Isaiah 57:21, “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

I was watching Pat Robertson on his 700 Club the other day. He said, “'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,' and then he quoted only the first part of Psalm 122:6.” But let's read the rest of the Bible verse, “they shall prosper that love thee.” You see friend, this ungodly world expects God to bless wicked people. Isaiah 48:22 and 57:21 warn that THERE IS NO PEACE, SAITH MY GOD, TO THE WICKED! Isaiah 3:11, “Woe unto the wicked!  it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.”

There is no Bible promise of peace in Jerusalem today. In fact, the Bible teaches the exact opposite! Luke 21:24, “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” We are now living in the Times Of The Gentiles. This is illustrated in Nebuchadnezzar's image in Daniel chapter two. In the dream, at the very end a stone cut without hands out of the mountain smashes the Gentile kingdoms of this world. That stone is Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, Who is one day coming to set up His earthly Kingdom. Jesus will reign supreme from the city of Jerusalem over the entire world. We (all raptured saints) will reign with Him (Revelation 20:6). 

Israel today is a very wicked nation! Tel Aviv has been nicknamed by the Huffington Post as the “Gay Mecca” of the world for sodomites. Less than 3% of Israel's inhabitants profess to be Christians, and that includes all the unsaved Roman and Orthodox Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, Church of Christ, et cetera. I dare say that 1 in 200 people are genuinely born-again in Jerusalem today! The Bible says in Psalm 1226: that THEY SHALL PROSPER THAT LOVE THEE! There is hardly any love in the great city where our Lord was crucified for the Lord Himself. 

Jerusalem has become a tourist trap to make money! For a fee they will show you where Jesus' brushed His teeth, made morning coffee and went jogging each day...lol. It is ridiculous to say the least. I have never been to Israel, but would love to go someday. I couldn't care less about all the places where Jesus allegedly dwelt. But what does intrigue me is to know that our dear Savior walked somewhere in that city, and I'm sure He got around and went just about everywhere. I'd like to see the same sea of Galilee that He walked on, and the same sunset that He saw, and walk on the same dirt that He traveled upon. Someday, but not likely in this lifetime, I'd like to visit Israel. I admit that it sickens me when I hear about pastors who are living large, who have been to Israel a dozen times!

So do not pray for the peace of Jerusalem, because you are wasting your time friend. The Bible says that Israel WILL BE TRODDEN DOWN by the Gentiles until Christ returns at His Second Coming. Only then will the Lord Himself regather true saved Israel (Hosea 3:4-5). No unsaved Jew has any right to lay claim to the Promised Land. Romans 2:29, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” You are only a Bible Jew if you have been born-again dear friend. Galatians 3:7, “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”

What further saith the Scripture? Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” The Holy Bible speaks very plainly in this matter. If your DNA is mostly that of a biological Jew, you are NOT of the seed of Abraham biblically unless you are in Jesus Christ by faith. That is what we just read! The promises made by God to Abraham's seed only apply to those who are in Christ.

There will never be any peace in Israel until Jesus returns to cleanse that place of the stench of it's sin and evil. Pastor J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) was right that Israel today is no different than any other heathen nation. I say that kindly and with love. I love Jewish people. I love Arabs. I love everywhere, regardless of who they are. God so loved THE WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son to die on Calvary's cross to save them from sin and Hell. Dear friend, have you received that free gift? Jesus didn't stay dead. Three days later He resurrected from the tomb into which His lifeless body had been laid to rest.

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever,
With His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Listen to song | Cool Acapella (one man sings all the parts)

I have nothing against Jewish people. That is not why I wrote this blog. I don't like when preachers lie. I don't like hearing Pat Robertson manipulating the Word of God to fit his agenda. There is a sinful movement in America called “Zionism” which seeks to recruit churches and raise billions of dollars annually to support wicked, but God Himself does not support wicked Israel today. Consider what God said to His people in Exodus 19:5-6, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.  These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” The key word there is “if” God said “if ye will obey my voice,” then I will bless you! Yet over 95% of Jews today reject Jesus as their Messiah, claiming that the messiah has not come yet. The Bible teaches that when the Man of Sin, the Antichrist comes, the Jews will embrace him as their False messiah. How sad!

I pray for the salvation of Israel, not for peace in their homeland. There will never be any true peace in Jerusalem until the Jews repent of their UNBELIEF and turn to Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Jesus is precious!

There Is No Command In The New Testament To Tithe 10%

1st Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

I have received letters from many believers over the years who express their contempt for pastors who have lied to them for decades about tithing 10% from the Bible. The truth is that nowhere in the Bible does it command believers to tithe 10%. Our text passage plainly teaches that we ought to give to God “as God hath prospered him.” This is the exact opposite of what most preachers will tell you.

Most preachers will wrestle the Old Testament, taking God's commandment to the Israelites to tithe 10% to the priestly tribe of Levi, and use that to trick you to give them 10% of your income. Then to add insult to injury, or injury to insult, they will quote Malachi 3:8, “Will a man rob God?  Yet ye have robbed me.  But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?  In tithes and offerings.” They will try to use this verse to scare you. I have literally heard pastors frighten their congregations with death, threatening them with the Bible that if they don't tithe God will cause their children to die, their home to burn down, they'll get fired from their job and all manner of evil will befall them! Ladies and gentlemen, nothing could be further from the truth!

And then those horrible pastors will take it a step further, falsely teaching you that if you don't give offerings above and beyond your 10% tithes, you haven't given God anything! There was a time in my life when I tithed 10% and gave an extra 5% to the church, 15% total of my income, and I was so broke as a married man with four children, that I unintentionally bounced checks and couldn't make ends meet, giving what I didn't have because a pastor lied to me! Yet, my pastor was living large, didn't owe a single cent to anyone, enjoyed the best of everything, took trips to Israel, and I couldn't even afford to pay attention. I was a victim!

The Bible teaches in 1st Corinthians 16:2 to give only as “as God hath prospered” you. That is one thing that I didn't like about Hyles-Anderson College when I attended when I attended for 8 years between 1985 and 1993. Pastor Hyles believed that you should pay God first, even if you were in debt. Every student was required to sign a statement weekly (i.e., an activity form) that you had tithed at least 10% of your income to God. I love Brother Hyles, but I do not agree Scripturally that anyone should tithe while living in poverty or in debt. I once heard Dr. Hyles say that he owned 50 pairs of shoes that people gave him. That bothers me! No one in my entire life has ever given me a pair of shoes. I don't think any pastor should own 50 pairs of shoes!

I never heard one sermon in Bible college against the fraudulent Federal Reserve System that has kept most Americans in financial bondage since 1913. Get mad at me if you want, you cannot show me one New Testament Bible verse that commands saints to tithe 10%. It bothers me when pastors need money, they just ask their congregation and people throw money at their pastor in love for him. But when you and me need money, we need to work overtime or get a second job. I think many pastors are spoiled. I agree that we should love and take care of our pastor's needs, but those pastors ought not then teach their church members that they are robbing God not to tithe 10% of their income. Pastors are often guilty of having double standards. In fairness to Brother Hyles, he did give away nearly everything he owned to help others, but he unquestionably lived a very comfortable lifestyle. People throw money at their pastors, thinking that God will bless them for it.

Ask any honest businessman and he will tell you that time is money. Yet most pastors don't want your time, they want your money! I am so sick and tired of hearing pastors talk about their vacation to Israel. In many cases, multiple trips to Israel. I have never been to Israel because I cannot afford it! I am sick and tired of preachers who live high on the hog, living large, lying to people to suck every last dollar out of them possible. If you owe money you ought not tithe until you get your bills paid. Furthermore, don't you dare feel bad about being in debt if you are making less than $50,000 a year in the United States! The average U.S. salary today is either close to or below the poverty level. And in places like San Francisco, Honolulu and New Jersey, you need $90,000 a year to avoid being in debt.

So if your pastor teaches for you to tithe 10%, I am not saying to quit your church or turn against your pastor, but don't you feel bad or guilty for giving a couple dollars instead of 10%. I do believe that we should never let an offering plate pass in front of us without putting something into it, just to stay in the habit of giving. But you can give $5. Children can give 25 cents. Don't you dare tithe 10% if your pastor is living large at your expense!!!

I hate Roman Catholicism, because it is a false religion that sends people to Hell. But I love Catholic people unconditionally. When I lived on Guam there was a church, Saint Jude in Sinajana, whose priests were of the Franciscan Order. They deliberately chose to live a modest life, doing without, living within their means as poorer than richer. I admire that! I am a firm believer that preachers, especially pastors, should live a very modest standard of living. Shame on pastors who drive an expensive car, live in a mansion and live a standard of living far above the majority of their church members. It will be a cold day in Hell before I ever play a game of golf! I hate golf for various reasons, but one reason is that it is a rich man's sport. I am leery of any pastor who plays golf with the rich men in his congregation.

The fact of the matter is that you cannot use the New Testament to justify hounding people in any church to tithe 10%, let alone giving even more! If you can tithe and give God 50% of your income, then you should do so as the Lord leads. But don't give it to some shameful church where the pastor is going to live an extravagant lifestyle. I would never support any church that pays its senior pastor over $100,000 a year!

You'd be shocked if you knew what pastors get paid. Billy Graham got paid $600,000 a year! His son Franklin Graham got paid $1,200,000 in just one year! That is sickening!!! The greatest man and preacher ever born among women, John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11), had nothing and lived off the land. Think about that the next time you empty your wallet to give to some fat-cat pastor who has taken umpteen trips to Israel with his family. There is a fine line between faith and foolishness dear friend. Be wise with what God has entrusted to you.

Common Misunderstandings From Romans 10:9-13

Romans 10:9-13, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This is one of the most debated passages of Scripture. I have heard much heresy taught by unlearned preachers from this passage. I love something that Pastor Curtis Hutson said: “A good rule to follow when interpreting the Bible is to never use an obscure passage to contradict a clear one.” That is one of the best quotes I have ever heard.

Without argument, Romans 10:9-10 is definitely an obscure passage of Scripture. Many Christians debate over the meaning of “confess with thy mouth.” The cult of Church of Christ is one example of those who corrupt the meaning of this passage, mandating that a person publicly confess Christ to be saved. Nothing could be further from the truth! We have a very clear passage in the Bible, the entire Gospel of John, which simply teaches to BELIEVE on Jesus Christ to be saved. John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” This is a very clear passage. Yet, the Church of Christ and other false teachers will use one obscure passage of Scripture from Romans 10:9-10 to add a requirement to the Gospel which God does not require.

In the Gospel of John the word “believe” is mentioned 88 times, but there is no mention of confessing Christ with your mouth to be saved. We have a precious promise from God in Romans 10:9-13 that God will save anyone who believes. The Bible elaborates on this truth, to ensure that there is no misunderstanding. Romans 10:12, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” Here we plainly learn that God is not a respecter of persons, promising to save ANYONE who places their faith (trust, reliance) in Christ alone.

Romans 10:10-11

Romans 10:11 is often misinterpreted. I have heard numerous Bible teachers and radio preachers get this Bible verse wrong, teaching that you are not saved if you are ashamed of Jesus. That is not what this passage means. Romans 10:10-11, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” At a glance it does seem, from reading verse 10, that verse 11 is teaching that a person won't be embarrassed if they truly believe. This is the errant interpretation of the Church of Christ cult.

We know this is not the correct interpretation for a few reasons:

First, Romans 10:11 is a quote from the Old Testament. Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” The correct meaning based upon Isaiah 28:16 is that someone who believes on Christ will never be let down. Jesus will not fail you! That is what Romans 10:11 really means. You can count on God's promise to save them that believe!!! This is a good example of why we must “Study to shew thyself approved unto God” as the Bible exhorts in 2nd Timothy 2:15a.

Second, as mentioned earlier, the Gospel of John plainly teaches that all God requires to be saved is to “BELIEVE ON HIM” (John 6:40). John chapters 19 and 20 tell the story of Christ's brutal crucifixion, burial and His bodily resurrection. This is the Good News (the Gospel) according to 1st Corinthians 15:1-4.

Third, we learn in John 12:42-43 that many of the chief rulers “believed” on Christ, but “THEY DID NOT CONFESS HIM.” John 12:42-43, “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” The Bible is clear that these chief rulers did get saved, but they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. This evidences that confession is NOT necessary to be saved.

Fourth, the Apostle Paul defines the Gospel in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” Paul makes no mention of confessing, repenting, water baptism or anything else. If turning away from a lifestyle of sin, or publicly confessing Christ, or anything else were necessary to be saved, then Paul would have mentioned it.

The written Word of God promises salvation to anyone who trusts in Christ.

Romans 10:13

Another commonly misunderstood Bible verse is Romans 10:13. Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Carefully notice what the next verse says. Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” This is another obscure passage of Scripture. I have heard some preachers errantly teach that praying to be saved is the Bible method. That is not true friend. It would be foolish to base a doctrine upon one Bible verse, when there is a clear passage of Scripture that contradicts that strange doctrine. 

As I mentioned earlier, the word “believe” is mentioned 88 times in the Gospel of John. There is no mention in John about “calling” upon the Lord. Romans 10:14 plainly teaches that a person cannot “call” until they first “believe.” This plainly shows us that Romans 10:13 is an exception to the rule. There is nothing wrong with praying when you receive Christ as your Savior. However, it is not necessary. Praying is a natural tendency when a person believes. Many soulwinners lead people to pray a Sinner's Prayer to receive Christ, but the truth is that the only reason they want to pray such a prayer is because THEY ALREADY BELIEVE. That is exactly what Romans 10:14a says, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” The Bible teaches that before a person ever prays to be saved, they were already saved the very moment that they believed. Isn't that wonderful?!

Oftentimes in churches an invitation is given for people who want to be saved to come forward to the altar in front. The truth is that those people were saved before they even left their pew, when they believed. I don't like altar calls for salvation. Why cannot those people be told how to be saved right in their pew? They certainly can. Why do they need to come forward? They don't need to. Many people, like myself, are shy and won't walk down to be made a spectacle in front of the whole church.

Other people may not feel well in their body. In every church I have seen, where altar calls are given to come forward, people are asked to get down on their hands and knees. That is not always a modest thing to do for women, depending on their attire. It is also a dramatic new experience for someone who has never been to an altar before. It is a shame that so many pastors woefully lack understanding, wisdom and respect for people. Most churches want people to come forward, so they can make a spectacle out of them and boast of their numbers saved.

Every preacher should ALWAYS tell people how to be saved right from their pew, without asking them to walk an isle to go up front. By requiring people to come forward those foolish pastors have ADDED an unnecessary step to the Gospel, corrupting it. Heaven only knows how many millions of people have died in their sins and gone to an eternal Hell, all because preachers never told them how to be saved from their pew. Pastor Max Younce has authored a wonderful book about this very topic called: 'Salvation And The Public Invitation.'

So in this blog we have learned that Romans 10:9-13 is often misunderstood in a few ways. You don't have to confess Christ with your mouth to be saved. Believing is enough! Just because you are ashamed of Jesus doesn't mean you don't believe. Even the Apostle Peter was ashamed of Jesus, denying knowing Him three times due to fear. God promises to “SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE” (1st Corinthians 1:21b). Beware of anyone who requires more than believing to be saved. The Bible teaches that faith is enough. Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” You don't need to pray to be saved. I love this helpful quote from Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968):

“'Pray to be saved. Ask the Lord to save you.' This is what I heard a minister say to a convicted sinner who came forward for prayer at the close of an evangelistic service. Nowhere in the Bible are men told to pray to be saved. There are examples where men did pray and were saved. Men are told to repent, to believe, to obey the Gospel, but the Bible never says to pray for salvation. It does say that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, but nowhere does the Bible command men to pray to be saved. I think I know why, God, who made the human heart, knew that it was not necessary to tell convicted sinners to pray. If a sinner can see Jesus Christ on the cross, it is as natural for him to pray as it is for birds to sing or flowers to bloom. 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.'” —Dr. Bob Jones Sr., “Comments On Here And Hereafter,” chapter: Prayer And Praise, page 163; Bob Jones University Press, Inc., © 1942

Amen and amen! Dr. Bob Jones Sr. is absolutely correct! Anybody why says that you need to pray to be saved is a liar. The Bible gives us the simple way of salvation. Acts 16:30-32, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”