November 4, 2005
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Ryan asks: “why should i disregard my beliefs, which by way, i happen to think are just as right as you think yours are, and i am just as passionate about my beliefs as you are …?”
My response: Ryan, I’m no Ambassador of Christ. I don’t expect you to listen to a thing I say about theology, if it contradicts The Ambassadors of Christ (the Apostles).
Only Paul and his fellow Apostles can say, “Then on behalf of Christ, we are ambassadors.” We NEVER speak “on behalf of Christ”. We can merely remind people of what the Holy Spirit said through the Apostles. This is because, today, the Spirit doesn’t utter a syllable outside His Word (the Scripture is sealed).
So what about those people who think they are “led” or ”guided” by the Holy Spirit by means other than the words of Scripture? Well, these people do NOT value the words of Scripture. They consider their “motions” and “leadings” to have more authority than God’s Word !!
But you hear Reformed “Christians” talk this way all the time. How many times have your heard this line – ”I think God’s calling me to the ministry.”?
Think about what that person just said. They are saying that God is speaking to them or communicating with them OUTSIDE the Scripture. What a blantant denial of Revelation 22:18. “For I testify together with everyone hearing the Words of the prophecy of this Book, if anyone adds to these things, God will add upon him the plagues having been written in this Book.”
The idea that God leads you outside the Scripture might sound super-spiritual. But it’s Satanic.
They should forget about their speculations and read Romans 10. Men and saved and sanctified by God’s Word Alone. And it’s the PREACHING of Isaiah, Paul etc. that saves, NOT the words of men. Isaiah says — “Lord, who has believed OUR report?”. The words of Isaiah and Paul will save, not the stories about how-my-god-saved-me etc.
14 How then may they call on One into whom they have not believed? And how may they believe One of whom they have not heard? And how may they hear without preaching?
15 And how may they preach if they are not sent? Even as it has been written, “How beautiful” “the feet of those preaching the gospel of peace, of those preaching the gospel of good things.” Isa. 52:7
16 But not all obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Isa. 53:1
17 Then faith is of hearing, and hearing through the Word of God.
And what does the Word say? It says that Jesus Christ took the place of certain sinners. Jesus Christ suffered on behalf of certain sinners. He represented certain sinners. He suffered as a vicarious sacrifice. “But He was wounded for our transgressions; [He was] bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His wounds we ourselves are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). “… For also Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). “… This is My body being given for you … My blood, which is being poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-20). “… this is My body which is broken on behalf of you …” (1 Corinthians 11:24). “… for even Christ suffered on our behalf …” (1 Peter 2:21). “Truly [He] who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up on behalf of us all …” (Romans 8:32). “… our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself on our behalf …” (Titus 2:13-14). “… He has been manifested for putting away of sin through the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). “Because even Christ once suffered concerning sins, the just for the unjust …” (1 Peter 3:18). “… Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us …” (Ephesians 5:2). “… the Son of God, the [One] loving me and giving Himself over on my behalf” (Galatians 2:20). “… Christ also loved the Assembly and gave Himself up on its behalf” (Ephesians 5:25). “… The Good Shepherd lays down His life on behalf of the sheep … I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:11,15). “… by [the] grace of God He might taste death for every [son]” (Hebrews 2:9). “… if One died for all, then all died” (2 Corinthians 5:14). “For if by the deviation of the one the many died, much more the grace of God, and the gift in grace, which [is] of the one Man, Jesus Christ, did abound to the many. … For if by the deviation of the one death reigned through the one, much more those who are receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall rule in life by the One, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one deviation [it was] toward all men to condemnation, so also through one effected righteousness toward all men to justification of life. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many shall be constituted righteous” (Romans 5:17-19).
Imputation denotes a legal charging to one’s account. All of the sins of certain sinners, with all their guilt and condemnation, were charged to Jesus Christ. For He made the [One] who knew no sin [to be] sin for us …” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us …” (Galatians 3:13). “… Christ having been once offered to bear [the] sins of many …” (Hebrews 9:28). “who Himself carried up in His body our sins onto the tree …” (1 Peter 2:24). “Surely He has borne our sicknesses, and He carried our pain … and Jehovah made meet in Him the iniquity of all of us. … He shall bear their iniquities. … He bore the sin of many …” (Isaiah 53:4-12).
The Atonement fully and perfectly accomplished complete, absolute, entire remission of all the sins of all the people for whom Christ died. To remit means to cancel, to forgive, to pardon, to take out of the way. Jesus Christ’s bloody death on the cross totally canceled, totally purged, totally paid the debt for the sins of His people. Jesus Christ is “The Lamb of God, taking away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He “was revealed that He might take away our sins” (1 John 3:5). His blood was “poured out for remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). He “made purification of our sins through Himself” (Hebrews 1:3). His mission was“to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make atonement for iniquity” (Daniel 9:24), and to “undo the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), that “through death He might cause to cease the [one] having the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Jesus Christ“has been manifested for putting away of sin through the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). He “washed us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5). He has “forgiven you all the offenses, blotting out the handwriting in the ordinances against us, which was contrary to us, even [He] has taken it out of the midst, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14). His blood “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). In Him there is “the remission of sins” (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). His blood was shed once, because “apart from shedding of blood no remission occurs. … But where remission of these is, there [is] no longer offering concerning sins” (Hebrews 9:22; 10:18). God in Christ was “not charging their trespasses to them” (2 Corinthians 5:19), and “with His wounds we ourselves are healed” (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).
What of the “christ” of universal atonement? The “christ” of universal atonement died for everyone without exception. Did this death actually accomplish the remission, the cancellation, the pardon, the putting away of the sin of everyone without exception? It did not do anything even close to that. There are people in hell for whom this “christ” died, for whom this “christ” atoned, whose sins were supposedly “taken away” and “pardoned” and “paid for.” Universal atonement advocates use John 1:29 to try to prove that their “christ” took away the sins of everyone without exception. Yet they also say that there are some who are burning in hell. Were the sins of those who are burning in hell taken away by the blood of their “christ”? If so, why are they burning in hell? It is because their “christ” actually accomplished NOTHING on the cross. There are people burning in hell for sins that were not pardoned or taken away. Their god is a liar when he says that this “christ” took away the sins of everyone without exception. The blood of their “christ” is of no effect in and of itself. And they blaspheme the true Jesus Christ by using His Name in their damnable heresy, claiming that the true Jesus Christ of the Bible paid the sin debt for everyone without exception. They hate the true God and the true gospel. They are unregenerate.
Comments (12)
And here’s my response to Daniel Townsend.
Dan, I was wrong.
I assumed you claimed to believe that Arminianism is a FALSE gospel.
Then I read this from you at my Xanga….
“In my opinion, there are plenty of Scripture passages to support Calvinism and there are at the same time plenty of passages to support Arminianism. While I lean more towards Calvinism, I respect the validity of Arminianism as a legitimate way of interpreting Scripture.”
Now I understand — you are an Arminian.
In fact, I couldn’t help noticing this when — describing your “conversion” – you wrote — “Mere Christianity, the apologetic book written by Lewis, impacted me … It inspired me to surrender to Christ and begin to truly live in him and not merely give him lip service. “
It’s clear from these words that you are holding to the view that man is ACTIVE in his conversion. It was something CS Lewis wrote that “inspired” you to make a decision / choice. Sounds to me like you think faith is a work (more than a bare belief of the bare truth).
The Apostle John says that belief in God is the same as belief in men, only that it is greater. “If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater.” (1 Jn 5). Furthermore, faith is PASSIVE. believers are as PASSIVE in receiving the truth, as the blind receiving sight. “God who said, Out of darkness shall shine, who shone in our hearts to [give the] brightness of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
For anyone who denies that faith is a bare belief of the bare truth, please read 2 Corinthians 4:3-4. Here, Paul says, “But also if our gospel is being hidden, it has been hidden in those being lost, in whom the god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving…” Notice that it’s a failure to have the correct THOUGHTS about Christ that indicates someone is unregenerate. True thoughts of Christ would include these words, “Not to us, O Jehovah, not to us, but to Your name give glory; on account of Your mercy, on account of Your truth.” (Psa 115:1). It’s nothing in a sinner that saves them. God gets all the glory, which means it’s only Christ’s righteousness (obedience to the Law) that can justify a man.
BUT what about those who think it is some personal holiness or commitment in them that saves? What about those who believe “Christ” died for everyone? Surely they think it’s something they’ve done that distinguishes them from those that go to hell!! It must be their works that save them, because Christ’s work was not enough to save ALL He represented (according to them).
Let’s hear what the Apostle Paul says on the matter. “Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or do you not yourselves perceive that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are disapproved?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Arminians believe in a false “christ” — who died for everyone — so they cannot discern in themselves the True Christ who lay down His life for the sheep. And what does Paul say about those who cannot discern the True Christ in them? “You are disapproved.”
Andrew Bain
Sydney, Australia
do you think anyone was saved prior to the Reformation? ‘cuz I don’t. (I mean the Apostles etc maybe) Heck, most people post-reformation aren’t saved either! I think I might be one of the only ones. You ever feel like me?
hahahahaha………
I mean, I should be studying for my Macroeconomics exam right now, but man, this crap’s hysterical.
I share very little with my brother in the way of theology, but man, you sir, Andrew C. Bain, are an absolute riot.
I’m not convinced that this blog is serious. Maybe some research will prove otherwise.
ihavesaladforfingers’s comment might just capsulate all my thoughts on this matter. Very funny!
Oh, yeah. And you’re a SATANIST. You worship SATAN! SATAN! The reason being you…aren’t…nice? Yes! SATAN!
[is it not enough to rebuke sin and error in theology, which may ontologically be construed as sin by God? for what reason are you provoked to calling genuine people (people who may be wrong, of course) as liars? I resent that! I think my brother is wrong on many accounts, but he is no liar! How dare you! On what standard did you judge the situation and conclude, dogmatically, that my brother consciously told a falsehood?
Sir, you claim the supremacy of the Word. Amen.
Yet it is not the Word of Christ you hold high.
Thou hast retranslated John 1.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Bain, and the Word was Bain."
The ontology of truth, the metaphysics of epistemology, the standard of justice-- all are under new headship.]
ZEIG HEIL!
Lay off the blow, man.
The funniest thing, Ben, is that he got his ideas from Marc D. Carpenter, the guy who runs the Outside the Camp website. The reason that’s funny is that Andrew C. Bain wouldn’t even be allowed to join Marc Carpenter’s church!
Notice this excerpt from the Outside the Camp homepage:
“We at Sovereign Redeemer Assembly agree in full with all the doctrines contained in the Christian Confession of Faith, as these doctrines are a Scriptural summary of the Christian Faith. We will not fellowship with anyone who we know opposes at least one of the doctrines contained in this Confession. We will not endorse, promote, or be a part of any church, religious group, missionary work, or denomination that we know (1) opposes at least one of the doctrines contained in this Confession or (2) has at least one member who opposes at least one of the doctrines contained in this Confession.”
Here is Andrew C. Bain’s statement of belief about the Eucharist:
“NO food is to be set apart.”
Here is my comment to Andrew C. Bain, showing him that he is out of accord with the Westminster Confession of Faith and all other reformed confessions:
“Not a single Protestant confession would back that statement up. Not the Westminster, not the Second Helvetic, not the Belgic, none of them. Do you even have a confessional standard which summarises your beliefs? Does it bother you at all that nobody in the history of the church has ever agreed with you?
Wherefore, the water, bread, and wine, according to their nature and apart from the divine institution and sacred use, are only that which they are called and we experience. But when the Word of God is added to them, together with invocation of the divine name, and the renewing of their first institution and sanctification, then these signs are consecrated, and shown to be sanctified by Christ. (Second Helvetic Confession VIII:viii)
Neither do we approve of the doctrine of those who speak of the sacraments just as common signs, not sanctified and effectual. (Second Helvetic Confession VIII:x)
Christ hath appointed the ministers if His Word, in the administration of this sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, to set apart the bread and wine from common use, by the word of institution, thanksgiving, and prayer. (Westminster Larger Catechism Q. clxix)
The Lord Jesus has, in this ordinance, appointed His ministers to declare His word of institution to the people, to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to an holy use. (Westminster Confession of Faith XXIX:iii)”
So, even though Andrew C. Bain owes his entire belief system to Marc D. Carpenter, neither one of them would actually be allowed to be members of the same church – they’ve already excommunicated each other! You simply have to love these guys.
Can’t you guys go out and win souls for Christ in another form? I really, really think you are going to be astounded when God reminds you on Judgment Day of all the time you wasted fighting with one another. Perhaps we should let Almighty God use His Spirit to convert the lost through any doctrine which conveys the essential truth of the Gospel. I think Saint Paul would be ashamed to see you cutting one another other down over disputable matters.
Does anyone else agree with this comment? I’d love some positive feedback or constructive criticism because I feel like I’ve stepped into the realm of eternal intellectual damnation. So if you happen to respond please spare the spiteful intonations.
In Christ,
Peter Gunn
This comment will probably be brushed off because of its exposure to what is going on in this website.
Most of these responders believe a “gospel”, unfortunately it is not the one and only gospel that saves. Now they will respond that that kind of response is not “loving” and people who would say such things are “harsh” and “judgmental”.
What is harsh and cruel is NOT bringing the truth when a person brings a false gospel. Loving your brother is bringing the truth of the gospel. THE GOSPEL, that reveals “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. This is the TRUTH that sets free. All of God’s sheep will hear His voice, and will be converted, and believe THE GOSPEL, and will not tolerate any false gospel, because “they shall be all taught of God”.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” – This is the offense of the gospel, that the best religious works of man are a ball of stench. This is why the true gospel is hated by the world of false “christians”, because the “gospel” they hold to is nothing more than reformulated self-righteous religion.
Christ only saves those who HAVE NO RIGHTEOUSNESS, and this can only be known when the Holy Spirit comes down and teaches a sinner what sin, righteousness and judgement REALLY mean. This must come from above, and in power, and in TRUTH. The tradgedy of sin is that NO MAN CAN EVEN UNDERSTAND anything spiritual unless it has been revealed to him from above.
For those who hold to traditions of men above the Word of God, no matter how great the reputation of that man, you have rejected God and His testimony: “Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mr 7:9 “Lu 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
Dude! More elect!!! I thought at first it was just Andrew (and maybe some of the Apostles) but Jim2300 is “down” (I use hip terminology) with the gospel. Man oh man! Can we have a conference? I mean we got like 3 elect so far! Thats at least enough for me to bake some brownies. I promise I won’t set them “apart” too.
This is a silly argument.
I doubt Paul would have anything to do with it… or Jesus himself for that matter.
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.” Phil 4:5
;o)
thanks andrew, i was worried there for a while. you always have everything very well thought out, i was worried when i thought i saw contradiction in your points.
God bless you, love ya brother.
I just wanted to say, it is awesome to find a another person who believes and proclaims the true Gospel. Some times I feel like my church is about the only one that strives to stand strong, still preaches the true Word of God and isn’t swayed by all these false doctrines that are infiltrating the church today.
What you were talking about in this post, I actually just taught in a girls Bible study on a couple weeks ago. We were going through Colossians, and Paul is warning the church about false doctrines, we were looking at Mysticism, and how it is just not supported in Scripture. Scripture IS the only way God communicates to us now, not by feelings, or callings or signs.
Anyway, i was very encouraged to find your site! Keep up the faith.
Alive by His grace,
Karen
Andrew and Jim its been good. I look forward to seeing both of you at the 2006 Believers Only meeting. A fresh plate of brownies will be waiting for you. ; ).