WesleyGospel Ministries

16:00 – Dr. Gerstner says that evil does not come from God himself, because God is good in nature. And because God is good all the time, so also are his plans and purposes. Evil, therefore, originates from something other than God; evil, is something that has come up and risen against God and his good purposes for mankind and the universe. However, even though God allows evil to exist, his attitude toward evil is to work around it, and turn evil’s plans around into something that can be used for good. The crucifixion, for example. To make lemonade out of lemons, so to speak. Rather than omnipotently destroying evil’s existence in a single moment, the general attitude of the God of the Bible, is to take evil as a unit, and work around it, and offer a way out of it. The free choice of angels, demons, men, women, and God are all allowed to exist, and to act, and to place faith in either the Gospel or the various evils that Satan has wreacked upon mankind through temptation, delusion, and sin in the world.

18:30 – Dr. Gerstner says that evil must have originated from beings which were created good, just like God is, like the angels in heaven, and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Good creatures made with a good nature, and created by a good God. One of these good creatures, which was good in nature, and came down from the good mind of God, must have fallen through choice. The Bible tells us that the first good creature to choose evil was a cherubic angel named Lucifer, Satan, and the devil (Ezekiel 28:13-15; Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:18). The second stage of evil was when he led a third of God’s angels in rebellion to become demons (Revelation 12:3, 4, 9). The third stage was when Eve was deceived by Satan in the Garden of Eden, in Genesis 3:1-7. –J.B.

²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. ²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to SHAMEFUL LUSTS. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for UNNATURAL ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. ²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a DEPRAVED MIND, so that they do what ought not to be done.
–Romans 1:25-28 (NIV)–

THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MINE HEART,
that I might not sin against thee.
–Psalm 119:11 (KJV)–

I PUNISH MY BODY AND ENSLAVE IT,
so that after proclaiming to others
I myself should not be disqualified.
–1 Corinthians 9:27 (NRSV)–

Homosexuals always try to give the impression they are more numerous than they actually are. Their numbers are growing, but they still represent a small percentage of our total population. Those who are given over completely to homosexuality preach that all of us have latent tendencies and could become more homo than hetero. There is no truth to that at all. Many young people who had a homosexual experience in high school or college have overcome even the memory of it and are happily married and normal. They are fortunate. Many others never got out and are now hooked. Homosexuality is not incurable. Homosexuals can and do change. Homosexual urges, no matter how strong, need not be permanent. The cure is more likely for those under 25 years who have not developed a strong attachment to one person. Those who are confirmed homosexuals stand very little chance of being cured unless they become totally desperate to change. In one survey, of 300 homosexuals interviewed, only 3% expressed a desire to change. The homosexual who proudly flaunts his way of life and scoffs at every attempt to help him is incurable. A cure is possible only in the case of one who desperately despises his homosexuality, who wants out, and who still believes it is possible to be cured. There is much controversy today about a cure for homosexuals, but I can prove, by the testimony of many I have counseled, there is a cure. It is not a hopeless addiction for anyone who wants to live a different life. God has power to change the very nature of man. I have never met a truly happy homosexual. The majority are sad, lonely, full of fear, shame, guilt, anxiety and torment. Homosexuals are being cured all over the world. God can cure you and will if you really want Him to. Desperation is the key word. Cry out in faith. –David Wilkerson

I believe that toxic family members should be avoided, but the definition should be Biblical in its source, not humanistic or secular (see Laban in Genesis 24-31 and Saul in 1 Samuel 18-20 as examples; and Jesus’ teaching on division within families in Matthew 10:34-37, 12:48-50, and Luke 14:26-27). But I’m under the impression that a lot of Gen Zers are going overboard on the cutting off “toxic” family members theme: and that this overboardness is anti-Christian, “exvangelical,” agnostic, and secular humanist in perspective: and is not based on Biblical principles like avoiding the ungodly (Ps. 1:1; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; James 4:4). This secular therapy toxic avoidance concept seems to be more based on supporting agnostic lifestyles and sexual immorality. A mentality that says, “If you can’t affirm my gay marriage or my trans identity, then you’re a toxic family member I should cut off,” or “If you can’t affirm and agree and support me living in polygamy like in the TV show Sister Wives, then you’re a toxic family member I should cut off.” See my e-book Nurture and Admonition. –J.B.

Where do you stand in this battle cry tribal soldier?
Represent I and I, Jah Jah warriors!
Where do you stand in this battle cry tribal soldier?
Represent I and I, Jah Jah warriors!
Where do you stand in this battle cry tribal soldier?
Represent I and I, Jah Jah warriors!
Where do you stand in this battle cry tribal soldier?
Represent I and I, Jah Jah warriors!

The reconstruction commences
The soldiers equip for the lessons
My life, a sacrifice is made new through these confessions
Manifested, this joy is my desire
Light this fire to flames
Praise the name Jehovah Jireh
Is my provider the truth that lives inside of this fighter?
Take me higher, master, sire makes me a good rider
I’m gonna ride on down ’til I break through the front lines
And ain’t going home until I gets mine’s
Tribal warriors

I grab ahold of my second chance
This time gonna make it last
Left the world, came back an outcast
To lie among the remains
Through the trials and the pains
Run for cover, make shelter, uncharted terrains
Bloodstains light the path to the ways of livin’ breath
And my soul’s put to the test next
Blessed with a mic in my hand
Jah make straight my steps
So then I hooked up with Payable On Death
We flow in unity
Stand in one while the foolish be
Lost in this hour
With power we have authority
To overcome while these cowards just pick up and run
Well we ain’t done ’til this battle’s been fought and won
This victory, how sweet it be, is already ours
Holding the stars, is the man that carries my scars
Always the same, wear his name with no shame
Here in this battle cry, we will never die

We will never die, tribal warriors
We will never die!
We will never die! Tribal warriors!
We will never die! Tribal warriors!
We will never die!

I want to know…

–P.O.D., “Tribal”–

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We hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
–Romans 3:28 (ESV)–

Come near to God and he will come near to you. 
Wash your hands, you sinners,
and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
–James 4:8 (NIV)–

We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.
–IX. OF THE JUSTIFICATION OF MAN–

Although good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, can not put away our sins, and endure the severity of God’s judgments; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree is discerned by its fruit.
–X. OF GOOD WORKS–

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Dr. John R. Rice, The Unequal Yoke (Sword of the Lord, 1946).

—. Why Preach Against Sin? (Sword of the Lord, 1985).

WesleyGospel, “Teaching As Doctrines the Commandments of Men.”

Liberal theology would have Bible believers to be ashamed about hellfire preaching. Any sort of “nice vs. mean” dichotomy over this subject comes from people who reject the existence of Hell as a real place in the realm of the spirit. Step 1: A person stops believing in the existence of Hell. Step 2: A person stops preaching about Hell and eternal punishment and thinks that it’s a joke or something trivial. Step 3: A person reframes their faith in terms of “relationships” and how to best cultivate them by talking about Biblical revelation in the “nicest” way possible–that is, by avoiding the absolute meanness, divine hatred, anger, wrath, horror, and terror of eternal punishment. Something a nice unbeliever in the supernatural has no problem doing away with.

Preaching the doctrine of Hell as eternal punishment in fire is supposed to be done by those who actually believe in it; not as something they force themselves to accept, but because they actually believe in it. Emotional regulation is not the driving force when the Spirit of God gets hold of a man to preach his guts out on this revealed doctrine: it will be characterized by urgency and agony, whether it’s regarding the holy hatred of God at his enemies, or Spirit-filled preaching on the wrath and judgment of God’s omnipotent power; being then directed to repentance and the substitutionary atonement of the cross for the sinner. It is wrong to succumb to the romantic sentimentality of liberals and their unbelief about Hell’s existence; all so that the Kindness and Niceness of American cosmopolitanism and workplace tolerance, are made to sit in judgment on the doctrine of Hell, and scoff at it’s evangelists with triviality. To do such is to trifle with the Word of God, unseriously, and having no fear of the Lord in our faith! Like Obstinate and Pliable who tried to dissuade Christian from embarking on Pilgrim’s Progress. To do such is to put out of our minds the reality of death, judgment, Heaven and Hell, the afterlife, eternity, and the immortality of the soul. These revelations are the foundation for the Atonement: which is the heart of the Gospel message.

Where’d all those people go in our history books? All those people in the cemetery down the block? The same could be said about the Biblical doctrine regarding the devil. Where’d all the schizophrenics go? Locked away out of sight in some mental hospital, tormented by the demons that the local pastors are unwilling to cast out, because they just came out of a children’s ministry room filled with little kids and bright colored toys. But what will he do to scare the fornicators, adulterers, and secret child molesters in his church? Or the embezzlers, the Judas looking after the money bag? Preaching to provoke a fight or flight response! Without this there can be no conversion and no sanctification in the church of Christ! Proverbs 16:6: “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” The God of the Bible is not so loving, and so rated G, that he’s unwilling to COMBUST AND CUT APART THE BODIES of “the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars” (Rev. 21:8; cf. Matt. 24:51). God did not choose to reveal himself to Scripture writers in a time of scientific materialism and sissified romanticism, but in an age of occultism, and barbaric ancient warfare akin to a Braveheart battle scene, or an ’80s body horror movie. In his providence, God wisely chose to reveal himself in Scripture in those ancient and “barbaric” time periods, instead of this highly sanitized culture loaded up with pills! Look at the beast, the false prophet, and the devil violently thrown into the lake that burns with fire and sulfur! Along with all those people who’s names are not found written in the book of life! (Rev. 20:10, 15). What will you say to the people of the earth now, pastor! What will you say, and care about to preach, once you become fully conscious of the raging tunnel of fire, that rotates and twists out of the attribute of God’s wrath for all eternity, and then lands on the heads of “the wicked,” for “he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest!” (Psalm 11:6). The unbelieving pastor will die and sink into A WORLD OF BARBARIC VIOLENCE AND HORRORS that he has never known! He had kept those things out of his mind while he was alive. He always avoided the horror section at Blockbuster because he “wasn’t into that” as he used to say. But this has become his eternal existence from which there is no escape. What a great fool he was to not believe what the Word of God said about it! What an eternally miserable character in a “movie” with billions of extras, in a wasteland where God forgets the offscouring of mankind, which touches the mental and physical senses; one which is not called Dante’s Inferno, but is simply a place called Hell. Extreme pain in fire, flesh eating botfly larvae, sorrow, anger, fear, incessant phobias, loud shrieks and cries, caverns, darkness, and monsters are all he will know forever! –J.B.

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Dr. William G. T. Shedd, The Doctrine of Endless Punishment (Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1886; The Banner of Truth Trust, 1986).

Drs. Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson, Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment (Zondervan, 2004), ch. 8: “Universalism: Will Everyone Ultimately Be Saved?” (J. I. Packer).

Dr. John R. Rice, Hell: What the Bible Says About It (Sword of the Lord, 1945).

Dr. Robert Peterson, Hell on Trial: The Case for Eternal Punishment (P&R Publishing, 1995), ch. 8: “False Witnesses (1): Universalism.”

Rev. Harry Buis, The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment (P&R Publishing, 1957), ch. 7: “Denials and Their Answers.”

Dr. John Walvoord, “The Literal View,” in Four Views on Hell (Zondervan, 1996).

Dr. John Gerstner, Repent or Perish: With a Special Reference to the Conservative Attack on Hell (Soli Deo Gloria, 1997).

Drs. Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley, Reformed Systematic Theology: Church and the Last Things, Volume 4 (Crossway, 2024), ch. 39: “Eternal Punishment in Hell, Part 2: Objections and Applications.”