WesleyGospel Ministries

Righteousness exalteth a nation:
but sin is a reproach to any people.
–Proverbs 14:34 (KJV)–

—

Curtis Hutson, ed. Great Preaching on Patriotism (Sword of the Lord, 2000).

Jeff Farnham, The Octopus of Humanism (Sword of the Lord, 2009).

Dr. John R. Rice, Evolution or the Bible–Which? (Sword of the Lord, 1963).

—. The Murder of the Helpless Unborn…Abortion (Sword of the Lord, 1971).

Dr. Hugh Pyle, The Truth About the Homosexuals (Sword of the Lord, 1978).

This is such a robust falsehood that I don’t know how to fully respond to it. But I just intuitively know that it’s wrong and that’s it’s yet another lukewarm device of Satan propagated in the church. It’s because of stupid statements like this, and many, many others, that I have avoided pursuing pastoral ministry since 2010.

If this ridiculous statement were true, then the following people would fall under it’s condemnation:

1. Jeremiah.

2. John the Baptist.

3. God in the Old Testament.

4. Jesus Christ the Son of God when speaking to the Pharisees. Jesus told Philip, “If you have seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”

5. Peter when speaking to Simon the Sorcerer.

6. Paul when speaking to Elymas.

7. Stephen when speaking to the Pharisees.

8. Timothy when rebuking a pagan parade – Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.

9. Martin Luther when speaking about the Catholic leaders.

10. George Wishart when speaking about the Catholic leaders.

11. John Knox when speaking about the Catholic leaders.

12. John Wesley when speaking about antinomians.

13. Charles Finney when speaking about antinomians.

14. Leonard Ravenhill when speaking about cheap grace American Christianity.

15. David Wilkerson when speaking about prosperity preachers.

A temporary expression of anger at injustice is fine. But constantly abiding in anger should rightly be called bitterness. Lukewarm pastors never make that distinction, because they lack indignation at sin. That’s the best response I have for that at this point.

Originally from here.

Easy believism is a somewhat derogatory term used against the idea that salvation is by faith alone to the extent that those who trust in Christ are under no obligation to live transformed lives. Easy believism is not just holding to sola fide (“faith alone”). Rather, easy believism is a rejection of any degree of repentance or change as a necessary aspect of saving faith.

The Bible is clear that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The essence of this doctrine is found in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (ESV). Faith, given as a gift by God, is what saves us. Ephesians 2:10, then, in contradistinction to easy believism, tells of the results of that salvation: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (ESV). Rather than being saved by some act of our own wills, we are saved by the hand of God Almighty, by His will and for His purposes. We are His servants, and from the moment of salvation, we embark on a journey of pre-ordained good works that are the evidence of, and result of, that salvation. If there is never any evidence of growth and good works, there is good reason to doubt that salvation ever took place.

The problem with easy believism is that, in its desire to defend salvation by faith alone (a vitally needed effort), it severs the biblical ties between faith and repentance and between faith and the results of salvation.

Repentance is a change of mind from an embrace of sin and a rejection of Christ to a rejection of sin and an embrace of Christ (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; 3:18). Repentance is not a work that earns salvation. Repentance, just like faith, is something that God grants to those He has drawn to salvation (Acts 11:18). Repentance and belief/trust are the two ingredients of biblical saving faith.

Faith in Christ, according to the Bible, has an impact on the lives of those who believe. Second Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” The idea that the new creation could permanently look exactly like the old creation is foreign to the Bible. How could the creation be new if it is the same as the old? How could the old have passed away if it is still entirely in control? How could the new have come if there is absolutely no evidence of it? When people come to faith in Christ, they progressively go from producing the acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) to the Holy Spirit producing in them His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).

The teaching of God’s Word, discipleship by another believer, regular Christian fellowship, and many other factors have a tremendous impact on how much fruit a believer produces. To say that salvation results in change is not to say that the change always happens automatically or easily or quickly. No, of course, discipleship plays a huge role in spiritual growth and maturity. At the same time, a new creation necessitates change. It is impossible for the life of a believer to continually resemble the life of an unbeliever.

Again, the goal of many of those accused of teaching easy believism is a good one. Salvation by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone must be defended. As with many doctrines of the Christian faith, though, biblical truths can be overemphasized to unbiblical extremes. The idea that God instills a desire to turn from sin and follow Christ in those He is drawing to salvation does not contradict salvation by faith alone. The idea that salvation results in a transformed life that will produce fruit does not contradict salvation by faith alone.

Salvation is “easy” in the sense that God does all the work and simply calls on us to receive the salvation He has provided (John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 16:31). Believing unto salvation is “easy” in that there is not a long or complicated series of actions to perform before salvation will be granted. Believing is not easy in that it is not possible unless God does a work in our hearts (John 6:44). Salvation is not easy in the sense that it has a powerful and progressive impact, utterly transforming the lives of those who receive it.

Some Christians believe that you should only listen to CCM, hymns, and worship music; and that all rock music is either carnal or inspired by evil spirits under the influence of drugs. Good Fight Ministries leans in this direction, but I still agree with their general sentiment that wholesale acceptance of songs that are just plain worldly in lyrical content is ridiculous. I personally don’t think that all secular songs are unredeemable, but your personal knowledge of and commitment to Biblical holiness should come in primary. Do the lyrics contradict or agree with the Ten Commandments? This should be a good starting point for judging songs and their spiritual influence. –J.B.

If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.
–James 4:15 (NIV)–

Are you down in the dumps right now, because your circumstances have changed? You didn’t want things to go the way they have, but they did go that way. And now you’re thinking, How in the world am I going to get out of this? Every great artist, every great inventor, every great innovator, always has their greatest breakthrough when they’re at their lowest point. You know that? There are many examples of this, too many examples to count. If you look into their lives, their biographies, you’ll find that it’s in the crucible, the hardest spot. John Bunyan, when he was in Bedford Prison, he was writing, separated from his wife and kids, but writing and eventually has prophetic dreams and writes Pilgrim’s Progress, which has lasted about 350 years as a devotional classic, probably saving untold numbers of souls from eternal damnation. Martin Luther finally got the Bible translated for regular non-clergy people to read for the first time in over a thousand years, but he was in hiding, on lockdown, and often harassed by evil spirits.

There’s lots of things like that in history; and probably in your own personal history. Your greatest accomplishments, if you have any, were likely born out of the fire of adversity and affliction: it’s at those moments, those low points, that you start thinking, and developing perspectives, that you never would’ve, if your situation had remained the same all the time. High quality songs, books, and films often come out of the heart of the distressed artist. And even with all of this: earth is just a temporary pilgrimage. From Point A to Point B. You’re either on your way to Hell or you’re on your way to Heaven. You’re either with Jesus or you’re not! Think about this next time you have adversity in any of the following areas: finances, family, friends, physical and mental health. If things are going bad in any of these areas, or some other category, think about this. All suffering is temporary so long as you’re walking with Jesus. You have more than the whole world! Because Jesus Christ abides in you! Do you spend time in communion with God? You’ll know his indwelling more if you do. Communion with God the Holy Spirit, the triune God. So now you’re understanding that the Christian’s life is just a journey, a going from Point A to Point B. Hopefully you’re on your way to Heaven with Jesus. If you’re a parent I hope you’re teaching the Bible and catechism to all your kids. This is why we’re here. Hopefully you’re on your way to Heaven, getting ready to live in the city where Jesus is king. Walking now with his Holy Spirit and his holy angels. Hopefully, you have the proper perspective about everything that’s going on around you. Hopefully you understand that the devil and his angels are after you as well, to try to attack you at different periods, especially at your low points.

With the stalwart military heart of a strong soldier in the thick of battle, you press and push forward, you press onward. You don’t give up! You keep on pushing, you overcome temptation! You put all those things behind you, and walk on a trail covered with the blood of God’s Son. You bathe yourself with the blood of Jesus by faith and walk around with your sins forgiven. You’re washed in the blood of Jesus. You’re clean now! Keep on going towards Heaven, keep on RUNNING, sprinting towards Heaven, jogging, taking breaks and picking up where you left off, and running, running, running towards Heaven! The years creep on, the decades pass. You get weaker, you feel sorrow. You get discouraged at times, but only considering these things temporary, to the point of losing your breath in a run, and so you get up and you keep on running some more. Finally, as you reach the point where you might think, This is something that I’ve wanted to do all my life. Consider this. If according to James 4:15, whether you really need to feel this out, if God wills for you to do this or that, or this or that. Don’t fall into the trap of being misguided by self-will. Got some personal ambitions and goals? Well, just try to make sure that everything you do is in obedience to God and his clarion call.

Just believe that Jesus is real, they said
You don’t have to change your ways
Just believe that he died and rose again
You don’t have to seek God’s face, because of

God’s love, God’s love, God’s love
Don’t talk about sin, or repentance, or faith
God’s love, God’s love, God’s love
Don’t say death, Hell, or Judgment Day
God’s love, God’s love, God’s love

Preach against the holy, call them legalists
Cry out “salvation’s not by works!”
Every time you look at porn
Just tell yourself your future sins are forgiven, ’cause of