Things You Need to Know About John Calvin

John Calvin was born in 1509.  He had tremendous influence on the founding and growth of America, yet he never set foot here. In fact he was a Frenchman, living in Switzerland, and died 43 years before the founding of Jamestown, the first colony established here.  He is considered to be a great theologian, but he went to a famous French university to be a lawyer.  He never studied religion beyond the basics at the university. 

While there, he was fascinated with the Greco-Roman philosophy of Stoicism.  Stoicism was the dominant belief system of educated Romans at the peak of their empire.  It’s not a “religion,” per se, but it does teach anti-Christian values, and our earliest Church fathers debated against it frequently.  It teaches that everything in the universe is predestined, and each of us has been given a role to play by fate.    We had no choice in that determination.   According to them, our goal in life is:  don’t complain--just play our role well.  Regarding adversities, we should rise above excessive emotion, and accept with resignation what fate has assigned to us.  In 1532 Calvin put together a commentary on Seneca, the leading Stoic in Rome.  But his commentary had a twist—he tied together (?) the philosophy of Stoicism and the teachings of Christ. 

In 1534 he became a Protestant Reformer, at the peak of Luther’s popularity in Germany.  Because the Catholics were hunting down Reformers, Calvin fled to Geneva, Switzerland, which became ruled by Protestants.   The leaders of Geneva were impressed with Calvin’s keen mind and energy, and made him the leader of the Reformation there. 

He began "improving" on Luther's doctrine, and came to believe that he was selected by God to bring God’s church back to his idea of “correct” doctrine. His greatest attribute was a singular confidence—and a massive ego.  To quote him:  He “knows, beyond doubt, that what (he says) is coming from God.”  He was determined not to equivocate, or change, his doctrine as he had seen Luther do over the years.  We’ll see, later on, where that takes him.

Let’s discuss Calvin’s doctrine.   In 1536 he wrote the first edition of "The Institutes of Christian Religion."  He expanded it in later editions—but didn’t change what it taught.  Its most-publicized aspect was its teaching on predestination.  According to Calvin, before God ever created the earth, He predetermined that Adam would fall, and all of his descendants would inherit his sin and guilt.  But in God’s “mercy,” He placed all Adam’s descendants all through history in two categories:  He chose individuals, before they were even born, amounting to a very small portion of mankind, to be the elect, to be given eternal life in heaven.  And thereby He chose everyone else to be tormented forever in hell.  This doctrine is also known as “double predestination,” since with two groups, automatically those who aren’t selected in one group fall into the other.  Now keep in mind two things:  (1) nobody can change these two elections (thus you can see the Stoic influence);  these were pre-ordained before you were born.  (2) God’s selection was completely arbitrary—done without foreknowledge or regard to any works, good or bad, or how we live our lives.  That’s because we’re all totally depraved (so he says), and completely unable to come to God without His help.   Any faith in God that you have is only because He randomly gave it to you.  A person’s lack of faith would be simply because God didn’t select that person to receive it—that person was thus predestined for hell. 

Does this doctrine sound like it reflects God's personality to you? 

You would think that few people would accept this philosophy, because it doesn’t line up with God’s personality in the Bible.  But people grabbed onto the nice collateral idea that the elect can know beyond doubt that they are the elect, and you cannot possibly lose your salvation.   He got a huge following—from those who felt like “the elect.” Not so much from the non-elect. 

Another aspect of his theology was, he didn’t see the difference between Christ’s moral teachings and the Old Testament Law.  Thus, he felt that communities should be theocratic, like Israel. Old Testament Law should rule.  That means everyone, whether elect or not, needed to be brought into Old Testament rules.  He decided infant baptism of all was mandatory, to keep the infant, if it died, from going to Hell (even though that was not a Biblical doctrine).  The Anabaptists, who believed in believer’s baptism only (as does Scripture), were thus heretical, to Calvin.  His approach to them?  Torture them, get them to recant.  They need to accept the truth.  (Luther had the same attitude in Germany, but less passionate about pursuing it).  In Calvin’s Institutes, it further spells out that every nation should be governed only by the elect.  The job of civic government was to protect the true faith, and regulate the lives of its citizens so they follow God’s law.  Even the non-elect had to “toe the line.”  If the nation does what was right, God would prosper it.  If the nation was experiencing military or economic decline, or natural disaster, it must be that God was punishing that nation for something they’re doing wrong.  The state mandated church attendance was for all, and the city elders’ job includes observing carefully the private lives of all its attendees to make sure they’re living in bounds with God’s Law. They would even survey your neighbors on you to find out "the truth." The church could excommunicate those who strayed, and then the state also would punish them, the worst punishment for the worst sins being hanging, burning, or even drawn and quartered. 

Membership on the church rolls was limited to the elect.   To keep non-elects out of membership, anyone who claimed they were the elect had to give a detailed testimony to the church demonstrating that they believed all of Calvin’s teaching, and that they had a conversion period in their lives—they usually related to the church how it took many years for that conversion to reach salvation levels.  Keep in mind, the New Testament procedure was, you had a conversion, it might be instantaneous upon preaching, and you repented—and you got baptized.  The baptism was the public announcement of your salvation—not a public auricular confession as Calvin demanded.   

Further, God has assigned you a vocation in life.  Your job is to excel in it, since you were serving God.  (This idea is one of the foundations of a very successful economic Capitalism.)  Wealth and prosperity were signs of God’s approval of your efforts.  Poverty is an indication of God’s judgment.  (How do you line this up with Jesus’ statement, “Blessed are the poor”?  And what about His scathing rebukes of the rich?) 

Geneva under Calvin was a dream come true for his followers—but a reign of terror for everybody else.  In one year after taking charge, he drew up a Genevan catechism, the accepted doctrine.  They had to promise to receive it as the one, the only true doctrine.  Anyone who failed to do so was banished from the city.  If that happened, the city’s fathers took over the homes that they were forced to leave behind.  Very profitable for them.  Thus, overall, they had a religious police-state.  Anybody guilty of even the smallest infraction would be reported. They even interrogated children about their parents.  Calvin made many enemies, but smashed every instance of dissent.  He was so confident in his correctness, that he didn’t believe in showing any mercy to “heretics”—defined as those who had a different item in their theology than his.  People were regularly tortured, imprisoned or exiled who dared to differ.  There were many executions.  In 1546, Jacques Gruet, not a threat to Calvin, who simply criticized him in private papers, was hideously tortured until he “confessed”—and then he was beheaded!    When it appeared, later, that Calvin had more opposition, he requested the city council to declare that only his Institutes were “the pure doctrine of the gospel” and “could not be criticized by any citizen.”      

 His huge ego reached its most grotesque result in the Michael Servetus case. Servetus was a gifted and well-known Spanish Renaissance man, but he questioned  the Trinity (an understandable problem to ration out), the infant baptism, and predestination.  Calvin thought he would do Servetus a favor, he felt, by sending him a copy of the Institutes to straighten him out.  Servetus had the "audacity" to annotate his own critique of the Institutes, and sent it back.  This began a flurry of arrogant letter-writings back and forth.  Finally Calvin said in a letter to another friend, “If I consent, he (Servetus) will come here...if he comes here, and my authority is worth anything, I will never permit him to depart alive.”  There never was a doubt about Calvin’s authority—no imprisonment, no exile, no torture or beheading went without his consent.  He was called “the pope of Geneva.”  Servetus made the mistake of naively wandering in.  He was arrested.  Calvin himself prepared the 38 criminal counts against Servetus, at least one of which was “insulting Calvin’s authority.”  Servetus did not have the right to an attorney, since as Calvin said, he could “lie without one.”  At trial he was not allowed to explain or defend any of his points.  He was sentenced to be burned at the stake alive.  He was chained to a stake.  The authorities then piled wood around him, half of which were green (which takes longer to burn, prolonging the agony of suffering).   The crowd watched in fascination.  Keep in mind: Calvin, by his position and by consenting, was guilty, in our courts, of conspiracy to murder.  This was similar to David’s crime (II Samuel 11:14-17)—yet in the Bible it was just as bad as murder--it was called murder in II Samuel 12:9. 

Unlike David, though, Calvin  was unrepentant.  Several months later he opined that he was “indifferent” to the hand-wringers who would want him to be apologetic.   Those who got weak when it comes to justice for blasphemers were guilty themselves, he wrote. 

In 1556 many in opposition had a demonstration against him.  They were arrested and sentenced to death.  This death sentence was the grisliest to date—they were drawn and quartered.  This was the epitome of the cruelest punishment possible.  Most countries of the time reserved it for the greatest crimes, like treason.  But to the Genevans, the worst crime was disagreeing with Calvin’s “words from God.”  They were first hung in such a way that their neck would not be broken.  They just hung there, strangling.  They were still alive when they would be cut down, then cut open at the waist and all their entrails pulled out and burned in front of their eyes.  Then they were finally beheaded.      

So, was the murderer Calvin (based on the Gruet and Servetus cases above) a believer in Christ?  Based on Scripture, as I point out in other blogs, that means did he follow Christ’s commandments and abide in Him (I John 3:24)?  Unless he repented at the end, I think not; I believe he ended up unsaved.  No one could consent to these unimaginable things and claim they “love the brethren” and love God, which believers must do (I John 4:8).   
Now the big question:  Are you a follower of Calvin’s predestination theology?  Most Americans who call themselves "Christian" actually are--most don't know its details or the details of its founder.  I don't doubt that most are really Christian.  But when you think about it, do you really agree that people are predestined to hell by God, by random selection, not based on any of their works or faith? Is that what God is to you?

But, here’s the bigger question--can the theology of clearly an unsaved man be accurate?   Can the theology of an unsaved man get you to heaven?  Think about that.

Acknowledgements:  David Bercot, CD, “Geneva.” 

Does Paul agree with Jesus on What It Takes to Escape Hell? (Part 3 of 3 of Bercot's "Paul vs James" CDs

Please read my related blogs, Parts I and II, summaries of Charles Bercot’s Discs of “Paul vs. James” before reading this. 

Now we finally get to Spirit-inspired Scriptures from Paul--the man that Martin Luther twisted the most to get his “faith-only gospel” started. Folks, we desperately need the truth about how to get to heaven.  We've seen what Jesus said about how to get there in Part i; we've seen that Peter, John, and James' Scriptures agree with that.  What do Paul's Scriptures say?  They say that, unlike what Luther wants you to believe, Paul was not a “faith-only gets you to heaven” guy. Yes, it takes faith--along with repentance and believer baptism to begin the path to heaven. But he, like Jesus and like Peter, James and John, taught, same as they did, that you must form an obedient, love-faith relationship with Christ to stay saved and make it to heaven.  Again because of time limitations, we have a limit on his inspired verses that we can cover, but if you want ALL the verses that prove this truth about getting to heaven,  buy “Paul v James” Disc 3 (from scrollpublishing .com), a Text CD, put it in your computer and read and print it.   Folks, the truth about getting to heaven—from Scripture—is not being taught much nowadays. Yet it is critical to our eternal life. Let us never become one of the “believers” in Matthew 25, for example, who go to hell, finding out too late that they were deceived when some simple real Bible reading would give them the truth.

Luther insisted that obedience has nothing to do with salvation. Just have faith, and you're eternally secure. Once you're in place, predestined, strict obedience to Jesus' commands are not critical to salvation.  But read Paul in Romans 2:3-11: 

And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such (evil) things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

Note how many times the these words appear:  "deeds," "doing good," "do not obey" "does evil," "works what is good."  Five of them--and not a word about faith.  God is clearly saying, doing ungodly works and not repenting, will not escape God’s judgment, no matter what your “faith” is; eternal life, or heaven, are for those who continue to do good. To maintain salvation, God “will render to each one according to his deeds.” Crystal clear, is it not?

Romans 8:1, 6: 

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit...6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

Romans 8:1a is quoted frequently by the "faith-only" crowd.  But if they would only finish the sentence, they would see that how they walk in life is a condition of escaping condemnation.  "Carnally minded" is not thinking about Christ or God six days a week, but thinking about the world--this results in guaranteed "death"--hell.

Romans 11:20-23: 

Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 

Yes, you begin in faith--but you need to fear God Who sees your behavior.  God, unlike what you hear from the pulpits, is also severe, and can remove your salvation, or leave you "cut off." We must endure against sin, we must continue in His goodness, to stay heaven bound.

I Corinthians 6:9-10:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 

Some sins are more serious, and by themselves will throw you off salvation and on the way to hell—unless you repent (repentance is not here, but it’s covered in other verses). There are no escapes: it bluntly says, you lose salvation by participating in these acts. Do everything you can to avoid these sins.

I Corinthians 7:19: 

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 

Paul is saying, we’re not bound to Mosaic law (such as on circumcision). We’re bound to Jesus’ commands. Study those. Maybe begin with the Sermon on the Mount.  Whenever He says, or implies, "do this," that's a command. An example there is to love your enemies, a tough one for sure.

II Corinthians 5:15&6:1:

…and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 6 We, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 

His purpose for giving us a new life?  So we don't live for ourselves (how many of us have ruminated on that one, how to avoid living for ourselves?)  We are to live for Him; that necessarily involves obedience to Him. How do you “receive the grace of God in vain”? By losing the grace you once had.  The only way we receive the grace of God is by getting saved. Then if it becomes "in vain," that means you lost salvation. Thus, this says, that at some point, living for ourselves and not thinking about transferring our behavior to living for Him, sets us back on the way to hell.

II Corinthians 13:5: 

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 

The eternal security person doesn’t like this verse.  The truth is, we have to examine ourselves, to see if our behaviors are more godly or more corrupt (i.e., are we still "in the faith").  The "faith only crowd" preaches that the "believer" must feel certain that he is saved, no matter what. But isn’t that complacent thinking? But the Truth, as seen in this verse, says that you should examine yourself for sin that threatens to eventually take you out of the faith. Doesn’t sound like much eternal security in this verse. If you're looking for proof that "behavior" is in this verse, look simply at one word:  disqualify.  there are some behaviors that can disqualify us. (A bad word to the Luther crowd).  If you're disqualified you're hell-bound. 

For the benefit of those "predestined folks," note this: Disqualify is not the same word as unqualify. “Unqualify” means you never got saved in the first place. Disqualify means you got it, then did something that got yourself turned out. Thus, another proof, in a single word, that you can lose salvation, and sinful behaviors are involved. A big difference in a little prefix, wouldn’t you say?

Galatians 6:7-9:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap IF we do not lose heart. 

God often places conditions on ultimate salvation by including the word “if.” “Losing heart,” or giving up faith, leading to unrighteous deeds ("reaping corruption"), will put us on a slippery mindset headed for hell. (I have a blog on the importance of the word “if” in Biblical gospel.) 

II Thessalonians 2:11-12: 

And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

These verses are on the Last Days. The idea that God would “send” strong delusion is outside the realm of this paper. But I ask: What is “the lie?” Is it explained in verse 12? Is the Lie the self-deception into believing that you can live for the flesh, and still gain heaven? Is God’s severity in judgment part of “the truth” that we seldom hear about, enabling us to deceive ourselves? 

I Timothy 5:8: 

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 

“Denying the faith,” a terrible sin, isn’t restricted to verbally denying Christ; it seems to have a broader, dangerous meaning that includes doing, or in this case, not doing, certain works. The man who is lazy and does not attempt to provide for his family has spoken loudly to the world that he has no Christian character. This is denying the faith just as much as verbally telling the world so.  Also note: This person was once a believer, since he is contrasted to an unbeliever. And note that an act of unrighteousness made him lose his salvation (implied because he became “worse” than an unbeliever.”) 

II Timothy 2:12-13: 

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 

Lots of people, including pastors I've heard, selectively grab the phrase “if we are faithless, He remains faithful,” to mean ‘He is faithful to save us, no matter what we do.’ But it doesn’t say that. How could He have meant that and in the same paragraph said He “will…deny us?” He can't save us and deny us in the same time.  Here is the answer, a troublesome truth, the only one possible: Look to the phrase “He cannot deny Himself.” It’s speaking of Him remaining faithful to His own words and to His perfect holiness. As we learn in context, “He remains faithful” simply means He will fulfill His promises to the letter. And if He promised elsewhere in Scripture that living for the flesh (being "faithless"), thus denying Him will mean hell, then that’s it; He will stick to His Scriptural promises and send us there, even though He loved and pursued us. He did of course also say elsewhere in Scripture that real repentance (change of behavior, not just sorrow) will bring grace. Note the conditional "if" again:  “IF we endure, we shall reign with Him.” Denying Christ obviously means we didn’t endure. So you’ve lost your salvation by doing that.

Thus, Paul and James really agree: We maintain salvation through faith and an obedient relationship with our Savior. And it is possible to lose salvation by not performing both sides of the linkage.  

Now onto a related subject:  Many of you will insist that I'm "avoiding" the verses that disparage works.  But when Paul disparages works, he is proving a different point than what you think.  He is arguing against the Judaist believers who wanted the Gentile new believers to be circumcised and forced to follow Mosaic (or, Old Testament) law—those works are what he disparages. So he’s saying that Moses’ laws, those works, are not essential to Christianity. 

So to prove that "selective verse picking" is not going on, let’s take a fresh look at these verses below, some of Luther’s favorites, in the light of what we've conclusively proven above. Let’s start with Romans 3:20-31: 

Therefore by the deeds of the (Mosaic) law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the (Mosaic) law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of (Moses’) works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the (Mosaic) law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law 

Note how the interpretation of these verses changes when you understand this term “law” means “Moses’ law.” To back that up, consider Romans 4:1-17, where Paul disparages the work of circumcision (a big item in Moses’ law), how Abraham was not saved by circumcision, but by faith. His circumcision came later, after God declared him righteous. So now, with this thinking, we have no problem reconciling these supposedly “work-disparaging” verses into our gospel, Jesus’ gospel. Paul was talking about a different meaning of “works” than James. 
On the meaning of "we establish the law."  He means, we are, through love and commitment, loyal to Christ and His family--by being "circumcised by faith."  That's the real meaning of circumcision.

Romans 10:3
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God

This seems to be about disdaining people trying to earn salvation through their own righteousness, or works. But it’s about disdaining the Jews continuing Jewish practices to obtain salvation. 

Romans 11: 5,6: 

Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 

Again, by disparaging “works,” he is not talking about ignoring obedience to Christ. He’s talking about Jews who have been saved did not get there by the works of the Mosaic Law. 

Paul talks a lot about the Judaistic mixup.  Galatians 2:3-5 is about circumcision. In Galatians 3:2, the works of the law is referring to the Law of Moses. Ephesians 2:8-17 has a couple of our favorite verses disparaging works, but Paul is AGAIN disparaging the Mosaic Law--for proof, note the reference to circumcision in verses 11 and 15. Philippians 3:2-5 disparages “confidence in the flesh” but he’s talking about circumcision, the Mosaic Law. Colossians 2:11-17 same story. 

As you can see, this “ammunition” used by some to disparage as “legalism” our insistence on obedience to Christ are clearly out of context. In those cases, he is talking about how wrong it is to try to live the Law of Moses as the basis for salvation. 

In summary: getting on the Vine requires belief, repentance, washing the water of regeneration. Abiding on the Vine, as John 15:1-6 clearly points out, requires obedience, a regular relationship with our Lord. You can lose your salvation by living by the flesh. Examine yourselves, readers! Read all Jesus’ words on what it takes to escape hell. Determining what it takes to spend eternity in heaven is a worthwhile occupation!

Do Peter, James, and John Agree With Jesus On What It Takes to Escape Hell? (Part II of Bercot CD)

You should read my Part 1 before reading this. Here is a very brief summary of it: What Jesus taught about salvation seems to be little taught nowadays from the pulpits.  Namely, true salvation from hell is in two phases: When you exercise faith and repentance (and baptism, another article forthcoming), you're saved.  But "staying on the Vine" requires abiding--i.e., works, or fruit, showing obedience to your Lord. Ignoring Christ's commands is a ticket to hell, even if you "exercised faith" at one time in your life. You should daily be in contact with His Spirit and His Word about obeying His commands and His will for your life. 

• Now let's look at Part II: Did the three leaders of the early church get the gospel right—which means, is it the same as Jesus’ gospel? Let’s read and see.
  
  PETER
  
  We’ll begin with Peter’s gospel. Acts 2:36-38 is his clear word about “how to get on the Vine” (see Part I last week for an explanation of that term):
  
  “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
  
  What do they do to be saved after they were told to accept the identity of Jesus as the Christ? Repent (have a change of heart and behavior), and be baptized—the normal way to get on the Vine.
  
  Now let’s see his gospel presentation at Acts 10:34-35:
  
  Then Peter opened his mouth and said…35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
  
  This seems to disagree with Peter's words in Acts 2 above. But Peter is simply giving the second phase of salvation: maintaining salvation through working righteously. This second phase doesn’t jibe with Martin Luther’s “just have faith, no works necessary"--what I call "easy believism." But Peter agrees with Jesus, not Luther.
  
  Keep in mind that God is happy with Peter’s accurate presentation of the gospel, which is why He grants Peter to open the door of the gospel to the Gentiles.
  
  I Peter 1:13-17 says:
  
  Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear
  
  Peter has the word "grace" (translated, unfortunately nowadays, as "no works necessary") included with the phase "obedient children." Does that fit Luther’s model of salvation—or Jesus’ model? But grace really means kindness or favor, and is awarded to those children who are obedient and holy. Remember what we said in Part I on Jesus' explanation of salvation: If you don’t obey Christ, you don’t love Him—and that means you’re not saved. He extends favor to those who abide while on Christ’s Vine—abiding means a relationship with Jesus, one of faithfulness and obedience. (Getting on the Vine, as we saw above, involves faith and repentance—but now Peter is talking about staying on the Vine.)
  
  These works are not “trying to earn merit,” they’re works of faith, works of obedience. Which everyone on the Vine who loves Christ is doing.
  
  I Peter 4:17-18:
  
  For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
  
  Note that Peter uses the word "obey" as necessary to pass the Judgment seat. Note his emphasis on being "scarcely saved." (Modern evangelistic churches avoid these negative terms).
  
  II Peter 2:20-21:
  
  For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
  
  Note that the knowledge of the Lord and Savior means we escape the pollutions of the world.  Thus, belief is not just mental assent, but the work of avoiding the world is involved.  Note that those who are entangled with the world enough to "turn away from the holy commandment" means "the latter end is worse for them than the beginning." This is clearly interpreted as losing salvation--note that this is AFTER they were originally saved.
  As we said in Part I, Luther didn’t like II Peter. You can see why—no two verses speak more clearly about the possibility of losing salvation—but that idea is not in Luther’s “gospel.” But Jesus said if we don’t bear fruit, we’ll be cut off from the Vine and thrown into the fire (John 15: 6). So Peter agrees with Jesus, not Luther. There are many more verses, lots more proof of Peter’s gospel agreeing with our Lord, but we have space restrictions.
  
  JOHN
  
  Moving to John, consider a difficult verse, John 1:16-17, which seems to agree with Luther:
  
  And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
  
  This seems to say that Jesus' grace replaces the law--and that seems to say that works are no longer necessary. But Scripture clearly doesn’t believe that, as we have seen. So, is Scripture contradicting itself here? No, there is a clear explanation: the word "law" here is the Law of Moses.  It is Christo-Judaism that John is battling against--those who believed that, to get on the Vine, it was necessary to be a Jew and be required to follow the Law of Moses; to, among other things, be circumcised. But that's not true Scripture; as we have seen, to get on the Vine, it's not the law of Moses--one only must repent, and have faith in Jesus as our substitute, Who paid for our past sins. John wants to jettison their list of Jewish works requirement.
  
  I John 2:3-5:
  
  Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
  
  Not knowing Him is a sentence to hell. As we see above, not keeping His commands means we do not know Him--and are on hell's path. Also note the last sentence. We are in Him, we know Him intimately (or, we are saved), how?-- by keeping His word (i.e, His commands), which perfects the love of the Spirit. And then we know that we are saved.
  
  I John 3:10:
  
  In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
  
  Loving your fellow believers is one of the fruits that God expects. Note also that not practicing righteousness leaves you "not of God," or not a child of God, but thus a child of the devil.  "Practicing" suggests a daily effort--in effect, abiding in Him.  This is a strong hint for regularly attending a gospel church.  How can you love the brethren if you avoid church, and know nothing about them?
  
  There are more, but space demands we move on.
  
  JAMES
  
  James 1:12:
  
  Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
  
  Note that “approved” (a salvation word) is not guaranteed forever by your once expressing faith—but it is conditional on our enduring temptation, a daily task.
  
  James 1:22:
  
  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
  
  How do we deceive ourselves? By thinking we’re saved when we’re not doing the word—by not practicing obedience.
  
  James 2:12:
  
  So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
  
  The phrase “law of liberty” is not an oxymoron, not self-contradictory. Good laws give liberty to people. Lawlessness in society is scarily restrictive on those who want order. Being freed from the bondage of Satan is freedom indeed. When James speaks of the law here, he means His commandments.  Note also that he is speaking to saved people; we will be judged. Many folks actually believe that Christians will escape judgment. Not the case, as this verse indicates. Our judgment will be based on whether we are speaking AND DOING what His commandments are, in Scripture. Agrees perfectly with Christ in Matthew 25:40ff.
  
  James 2:14:
  
  What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
  
  The last question is rhetorical; it is answered by the implication in “what does it profit.” The answer is “No”--that "faith" cannot save. Clearly, James is arguing that faith not followed by works does not gain us heaven. This is also made clear in James 2:24-26:
  
  You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
  
  Dead means dead—no life, so no heaven. Such is "faith" without works. Also, we need to be justified by God to be saved, and the verses are clearly saying, God’s justification expects the follow-through of works.
  
  Note that James nowhere implies that a "once-declared" faith means that God will force, or predestine, you to do proper works.
  
  (that's an idea that lends itself to believing in "eternal security"--what many theologians believe). No, it takes effort, striving, words that are elsewhere in Scriptures.
  
  James 5:19-20:
  
  Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
  
  Note that this says that AFTER one wanders from the truth that he knew (thus, he was saved before), someone could then correct us--and see us saved--again. Yes, if you were on the Vine, you can wander away—to death of the soul (or, hell). Thus, you can lose your salvation.  But you can sincerely repent and be saved again.
  
  Thus, we conclude: ALL THREE of these prominent Christian leaders—who were closest to Christ—agree in total to Christ’s gospel. An obedient love-faith relationship with Him is necessary to maintain salvation. The epistle of James, under attack later from Luther, should be particularly defended here—he had a leadership role in early Christianity—as Acts 15:13 and Galatians 2:9 show. The main point is, he praises works as essential--as how his half-brother Jesus preached it.
  
  NEXT WEEK: DOES PAUL REALLY DISAGREE WITH JAMES? 

Escaping Hell: Is It Faith, Works, or Both? The Real Gospel, per Jesus (Part 1)

Polls show that 85% of Americans believe they're going to heaven (ABC News Poll: December 20, 2005). Most Americans say they believe in the inspiration of Scripture, and say they are Christian, but meeting the demands of Scripture for entrance into heaven is not how they decided if they are going to heaven; in fact, our behavior patterns and specific beliefs often run the opposite of Scripture. According to a May 2013 Gallup poll, 59% of Americans believe gay sexual relations are morally acceptable, 63% believe sex between an unmarried man and woman is morally acceptable, and 42% say that about abortion. But Scripture, the basis of Christianity, says none of these behaviors are morally acceptable.  It seems that American “Christians” are saying fornication, sodomy, and murder are acceptable. We have to conclude that many people are calling themselves Christian, yet feel it’s OK to ignore Scripture and our Lord's commands. The problem is, a belief system that “gets me to heaven” with no sacrifice, no obedience necessary is what I call “easy believism.” But that kind of "believism" is a road to hell.

We need to be most cautious about what Scripture says to be saved. Can we really ignore Scripture, be disobedient and still escape Hell? Have we possibly deceived ourselves into assuming we're good enough for heaven, when Scripture warns us otherwise? Have we rationalized behavior that is unsupported by Scripture--and not considered the danger therein? Jesus, in Matthew 7:14 says:

“narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which ..leads to life, and there are few who find it."

The word "life," here, as any Biblical linguist would tell you, means "heaven." I've taken polls of my friends on the word “few,” without referencing its Scriptural source. It’s interesting how we basically agree on 6-7% of a group of people would fulfill the definition of the word. Thus, on average, only 6-7% of people are heaven-bound. That’s a long way from 85% who profess Christianity in America. Doing a little math, this says that one out of 12 or one out of 14 who call themselves Christian will make it to heaven. Do you like those odds?

This paper is inspired by a CD of David Bercot, a writer and lecturer on Scripture.  The big question is, Does maintaining salvation involve works?  The title of the CD is “Paul vs James,” since James seems to emphasize works and Paul seems to discount them and emphasize faith alone to escape hell.

Bercot points out that for most evangelical "theologians" today, this "contradiction" between Paul and James is “resolved” easily: their Study Bibles and commentaries “simply explain James away.” I.e., Paul “has it right,”  so what James says (works are important) is pretty much ignored. Thus they cancel out James completely. Bercot doesn’t like the way they pass over the clear plain INSPIRED statements of Scripture in James. He asks, what is the real truth about this important matter of works? For the answer, we need to study the words of Jesus. 

Actually, most Christian denominations, by focusing on Paul (as interpreted today) are ignoring what Jesus had to say on what it takes to be saved.  If we dare to speak out on what Jesus actually says about the role of works to go to heaven, modern-day evangelicals will call us “heretics!” After we're done putting Jesus' comments in, today they'll say we’re not saved for believing that, that we’re preaching a “works salvation,” that we’re “trusting our own righteousness instead of the righteousness of Christ.” But do not be intimidated when you read the Truth from the mouth of Jesus.

Intelligent theologians had a place for works in salvation all through history—until Martin Luther introduced corrupt methodologies, which were duplicated by Calvin, to give the Protestant movement an opposite twist from Catholicism.  The Catholics emphasized works, but they layered in un-Scriptural works.  The Protestants, under Luther and Calvin, felt they had to go to the opposite extreme, casting works completely aside and saying salvation is just faith in Christ.  But neither one had it right.

Here is where Martin Luther got it wrong:

a. He relegated the key teachings of Jesus to the back closet—Jesus “didn’t teach the theology of how to be saved,” the theologians--and Luther--concluded. “You have to read Paul to get that.”

b. He did "Proof texting:" He established theological positions by picking and choosing Bible verses that fit the theology you've decided ahead of time you want to promote, and ignored other verses that don’t fit. Most people, unfortunately, don’t read the New Testament in whole, to get the context of what is the overall picture. Your position on what it takes to be saved should be arrived at after reading the entire New Testament and fitting nearly all the relevant verses together on the subject.

c. He turned the New Testament writers into theologians, and changed their ordinary, everyday words into narrow theological terms.

d. He did, and we do today, make dishonest Bible translations and reference works. Remember, unlike Scripture, translations are made by humans who have their preconceptions to maintain.

Let's begin at the top:  Putting Jesus in the “back closet.” Christianity is the only religion or philosophy where the modern-day adherents ignore the teachings of the Founder and study the teachings of a disciple of the founder! To find out about what God says about salvation, do we go to Jesus, the God-man, the greatest Teacher who ever lived? No, we go to Paul—in Romans, for instance. This wrong focus started with the Gnostics, and somewhat with Augustine, but it became an overriding “principle” with Luther. He put a preface in front of each New Testament book, and an overall preface before the whole New Testament. His opinionated remarks (which books he favors, which books are “straw”) colored the thinking of theologians ever since. He said Romans was the “chief part of the New Testament, the very purest gospel.” (His praises of this one book are half the length of the book itself). In deciding “which are the best,” as he called it, of the New Testament books, he likes John, Paul’s books, and I Peter (but not II Peter or Matthew, Mark or Luke, 3/4 of the gospels!) John’s gospel is “far, far to be preferred to the other three” and “placed high above them.” He thus thinks we’re better off not reading the Sermon on the Mount or the Sermon on the Plain (which are only contained in the 3 Synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke)—because, Bercot suspects, their gospel by Jesus contradicts Luther’s gospel which he has made up from Paul. James he called an “epistle of straw” for “it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it.” (Now keep in mind, reader, that God inspired ALL the books of the Bible. They are all equal because they all have something to say for our edification.)

Bercot suspects Luther liked John over the Synoptic gospels because John uses the Greek for “believe” 99 times, vs only 9 or 10 times each in the other 3 Gospels. Verses with “believe” can be easily twisted to fit Luther’s gospel of easy believism. Luther’s favoring Paul over Jesus to make up his gospel was a direct violation of Jesus’ commandment of Matthew 23:9-10:

Do not call anyone on earth your father…10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.

To quote Luther: “We can know everything we need to know about Christ and the gospel without ever having heard or read the Sermon on the Mount or the rest of what Jesus said that’s not recorded in John.” Really?  The early Christians stood against that type of nonsensical thinking when the Gnostics tried to do something similar (further fascinating CDs on the Gnostics and Luther by Bercot are also available). But nobody is standing against this twisted thinking nowadays.

So let’s look at what Jesus taught on salvation from hell, for once. There are several long passages in the 4 gospels, and a hundred or more short passages, on this all-important doctrine of how to avoid hell. Let’s analyze a few of them. We start with parts of John 15:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit... 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned… 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love…19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Key teachings of this important passage:
a. Jesus, using the word "abide," describes an ongoing, life relationship with Him as Necessary for salvation.
b. We must abide with Jesus and bear godly fruit or we’re going to be cut off the vine (i.e., on the way to hell).
c. We abide in Christ’s love ONLY if we obey His commandments.
d. Abiding, in part, means separation from the world.

Bercot asserts that of hundreds of messages he’s heard, none have used this John 15 passage when they discuss salvation. But clearly (especially in verse 6) that’s what the passage is about! In summary, in order to be saved, we must maintain an obedient, love-faith relationship with Him. A one-time declaration of faith will not do the job.

Let's compare that to what's taught today.  Doctrines of salvation taught by men today can be categorized into two groups: Either they are (1) A system that requires an obedient, love-faith relationship with Christ, or (2) Everything else—since all other systems are “equally useless” (i.e., they will leave you deceived and hell-bound if you don't read Scripture thoroughly yourself).

Some of the alternate systems of “salvation” taught by men:
a. Paul in his day fought against Christo-Judaism: It had a knowledge of Jesus as Savior and Son of God, but added that you had to follow the law of Moses in the Old Testament to be saved.
b. Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox: Sacramentalism. Receive the sacraments, attend Mass regularly, don’t die in unconfessed mortal sin, and be a loyal member of a church, to be saved.
c. Merit-ism: Live dutifully by all the commandments in the New Testament to be saved. (Relationship with Christ not necessary).
d. Good-ism: Attend church and be a good person. That’s followed by liberals, and most Catholics, truthfully, nowadays.
e. Evangelical Protestantism: Accept Jesus as your personal Savior, have a born-again experience, believe that you’re saved by faith or grace alone, and obedience to Christ is not necessary for salvation. (Obedience is good, it's just possible to ignore it and still go to heaven, as long as you don't do something REALLY BAD. If you stress obedience as necessary for heaven, you’re teaching “unsound doctrine, and you’re probably not even saved.”)

None of the above 5 require an obedient, love-faith relationship with Christ. True, evangelicals stress the importance of a loving relationship with Christ, but they don't REQUIRE love as expressed in obedience (as John 15:10 above clearly points out, obedience is necessary to go to heaven). The "love" of these "Christians" is often when they are in trouble, or it may be emotion-driven, not sacrifice-driven.

Bercot stresses that, keep in mind, there are multiple thousands of people who attend churches that follow one of the 5 alternate systems above, who ALSO have a saving relationship with Him--on their own--and know His great love through sacrificial obedience.

I should make a note, that will make a lot of people uncomfortable:  It’s impossible to analyze “how much” obedience, or violation, is necessary to be saved, or exactly how much of sins will send us to hell. That can’t be measured —relationships can’t be reduced to a formula. We would all like perfect certainty--but with perfect certainty comes complacence.  Anyhow, a saved person doesn’t want to measure it, he just enjoys Jesus' company, and can't stand the disconnection when he sins.

Thus, salvation is not a one-time event of faith-and-you're-done. We must maintain (or abide with) the relationship. And the requirement to abide? Keeping His commandments. If we don’t keep His commandments, we don’t love Him. So it says in John 15.  Obedience is not a drudge, but a loving friendship. We feel good.  And remember, He chose us—God first loved us before we loved Him. Salvation was originated entirely through the acceptable blood of Christ. God wants perfection, and we couldn't do that--but Christ did, as our substitute. And when we stumble, we must experience real confession and repentance.  Then He gives His grace again.
And finally the world will hate us. Not everyone all the time. But our belief system is opposite the world.  They hate it--when you're not participating in their sins, their violating Jesus who died for them--and our behavior rains on their selfish parade. If you don’t feel some rejection in your frequent contacts with regular people, your light is not shining enough.

There are past, present, and future aspects of salvation. In the past, if we at some point accepted the Lord and repented from our sin—what He is, what He did—we became attached to the Vine (using the John 15 metaphor). We were really saved. But--very important, we have to maintain that relationship to stay saved. Are we walking in the Spirit (using His power to help us completely conquer known sin)? Then we are abiding on the Vine. It’s a breathing, ongoing relationship. A constant inflow of life-giving water drawn in from the roots of the Vine. And the future? Since our abiding produces fruit (Galatians 5:22ff), we are heaven-bound (yes, John 15). But if we don’t produce fruit, we will be cut off from the Vine and thrown in the fire. Just because we’re on the Vine now doesn’t mean we’re guaranteed to be on it next year. No unconditional eternal security.

On the corruption of proof texting, it's true, we can back up any of the 5 false methodologies above with selected texts from Scripture. But we would have to shove lots of others under the rug because they don’t agree together. The key is to understand everything that Jesus says on the subject first, and then look for agreement by the other Scriptural authors--then you put it together integrally. (All the relevant New Testament verses are given in a separate PDF CD, by the way). Full weight to each verse. Not picking one author (like Paul) and ignoring others (like Jesus!)

Keep in mind that every statement made in Scripture is not the gospel in full. John 15 above, however, is a good model of the maintenance side of salvation. Other statements, you’ll find, will add a piece to that, but none will make an exclusionary remark that disagrees with it. There are some unanswered questions in John 15 too that other Scripture fills in—i.e., what are the “fruit?” (Study Galatians 5 for that).  How do you get on the Vine?
.

So what else does Jesus say on the subject of salvation? We can’t give them all, but here are enough to whet your interest. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5ff, which Luther didn't like), look at Matthew 6:14-15:

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The importance of forgiving is a godly fruit we need to possess. When we are first born again, only our PAST sins are forgiven. On a daily basis, we still need to pray forgiveness for our sins (I John 1:8, 9). But how sincere is our repentance when we don’t forgive others? See Matthew 18:23-35—note how the servant’s penalty was reinstated on him due to lack of forgiveness on his part (no eternal security there—his release from debt was conditional on his future behavior). We conclude that if we are unforgiving, we can’t be sincere in asking God for forgiveness; that sin may be a stumbling block that lands us in hell.

Now consider Matthew 7:21, 23:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Their profession of faith required works.  But they only do good works on the surface, since Jesus accuse them of works of lawlessness, so their profession is meaningless. Their disobedience kept them from heaven--that's what easy believism leads to.

Bercot says people have this “cop-out:” They say, “I get suggestive feelings of supernatural instructions in my head. This must be God’s commandment for me!”—but we cannot let the so-called personal "instructions" override His written Word.  You have to know the written Word.  Study it.

Look at Matthew 10:32:

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

Don’t forget, you can deny Him not by words only, but also by living the way of the world. You cannot have two masters. If you live the world and think mostly of it, you lose Christ.  He will not be your Advocate when the Judgement Day comes.

Stressing sacrifice of personal indulgences as part of salvation is Matthew 10:38:

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Jesus requires great commitment. Yet His yoke is light (Matthew 11:29), infused and rewarded with His love. We will joyfully lay down our lives for Him, knowing that things are much nicer in heaven.

In Luke 16:6-9, Jesus is saying God will extend patience for us to produce fruit. But not forever. At some point, with nothing produced, the tree is cut down. It also says, He will help us, with His Spirit, to produce fruit—unless we let worldly pleasures block those efforts.

In Luke 24:46-47, repentance is necessary:

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

In John 3:3-5, we learn that salvation begins with a New Birth. That's when we realize our sin and the need of a Savior--and that Jesus is the only Savior.  That’s what puts us “on the Vine.” We all know John 3:16 and surrounding verses. Or do we? Let’s look at “the rest of what He said,” John 3:19-21:

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Again, deeds are involved, not just belief. We must "DO the truth."  Your real belief can be seen in your deeds (which is what James is saying, James 2:14ff).

Another treasure for you:  Two closely-related Greek words that are translated “believe:” The first word, pisteuo means to believe, trust, but it’s just mental assent. The other is peitho, sometimes translated “believe,” but other times translated “obey.” Thus, Scriptural believing is interwoven with obeying. Not just mental assent. Webster’s defines “believe” as “confidence in the statement of another.” Our level of confidence can be tested on us by God, and our response—our deeds--signifies if we truly “believe.” Thus belief and deeds are one. Do we believe Jesus when He says that we must bear fruit or else be cut off and burned? When He says that if we love Him, we will obey His commandments? Do we really read His Words to see what all those commandments are?  Do we believe that His commandments are truly in our best interest—enough to follow them even when they don’t make sense? Our deeds will signify if we believe. One-third of the world “believes” in Christ, but Bercot suspects it’s mostly the first Greek word—mental assent only. But that's a ticket to hell. Remember, Jesus said only the “few” would be saved (Matthew 7:14). Can Jesus be talking about the first definition, not requiring deeds, when He says “few” would be saved, when 1/3 the world claims to be Christian?  And Luke 13:24 says we must “strive” to enter heaven—that again suggests deeds are involved.

There’s an evangelism tool that says we ask the prospect, “If you die and are standing before God, and He asks, “Why should I let you in?” And if the prospect gives the “standard” answer (I’ve been good), you’re supposed to say, “No, all your works are as filthy rags; have faith in what He has done—not your works, which count nothing in salvation.” Well, it so happens that Jesus set up the same standing-before-God scenario in one of His sermons; And, He told all of us the “answer to the test” (every student’s dream)—on what basis will He let us into heaven. (Hint:  It's not the evangelism tool).  He said in the Last Judgment, people will be lined up, and He will let in some people and reject other people. His comments were the exact opposite of what modern theologians say. In Matthew 25:34, 35 and 40, Jesus says He will separate people, in the Last Judgment—based on their deeds. He says,

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in.. ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.

On that day, He won’t expect us to feel that our deeds mean nothing. He will be looking for deeds that show our belief is strong, and right. Once we are born again, we must strive to exercise our gifts and do the righteous deeds that will get us to heaven.

None of these teachings by Jesus disagree with our John 15 model—they harmonize with it. This is not a selection of proof texts. ALL of these clearly disagree with “salvation is by faith alone,” as Luther claimed. Works have a place. They always had a place, if you read the early church fathers (that’s Mr. Bercot’s expertise and books written.) Do you want to believe man’s gospel, or Jesus’ gospel? Where you spend your eternity may depend on it!

Acknowledgements:  Dave Bercot:  "Paul vs James" Disc 1

NEXT WEEK: IS THIS MODEL HARMONIZED BY THE OTHER BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT? BERCOT’S “PAUL VS JAMES”, DISC 2.

Most Americans are Not Saved

Most Americans are not saved. Most Americans are going to hell, barring a revolutionary event or revival. That includes many evangelicals. How can I say such terrible things? Believe me, I ran away from God to avoid this, but the Lord has laid this burden on my heart for quite a while, and it’s heavy, and I can’t shake it off. It’s the watchman story, from Ezekiel—when he must speak the negative word to avoid the blood on his hands in judgment (Ezek 33:6ff). I know how unacceptable this paper is going to be; I’ve spoken parts of it to people, and they went elsewhere for light conversation. Some want to know, what’s with this “God laid this burden on me” stuff? They reject that. But there is, after all, a message of hope, if you get to the end of this paper. 

So, you want to know, what proof do I have for the first paragraph? Well, it’s what you call a numbers game, based on Matthew 7:13-14:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction (hell), and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life (eternal life), and there are few who find it. 

Well, how many is “few,” the ones to be saved? I welcome you to take a survey like I did to see if you agree to my results. Invite someone to close their eyes. Tell them to imagine viewing from overhead, 100 people milling together on a person’s extended lawn. Then say, “OK, picture in your mind that a few of those people cross over a bridge to a gazebo.” Then you ask, “How many people, to your best knowledge, did you imagine doing that?” I did ask people that, and the answers were 3 to 7. Let’s be generous and say the average is 6. By that measure, Jesus is saying 6% of the people are going to heaven—so 94% are going to hell. There is no third alternative. I think 94% fulfills the word “most” in my title. 

Now, you might argue that Americans are “different” than these depressing numbers would suggest, that we’re “better than just a few.” Well, quite the opposite may be true. Consider this well-known fact: America is the richest large society in the world, and has been for several decades now. Our middle class is huge, and our middle class—including you and me, most likely—is “rich,” measured by any standard in world history. Now here’s my point: Jesus condemns rich people (and that includes you and me) several times in Scripture. When Jesus said, the chances of a rich person going to heaven are worse than the chances of a camel going through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24), that suggests to me that even less than the “few,” the 6%, are saved in our country. So America’s saved folk wouldn’t be greater—we might even suggest that it is less than 6%! What do Bible-reading Americans do when they read that their chances of being saved are like “the camel going through the eye of the needle”? Do they experience a fear of God? No; they either say “I’m not rich” (which is easily disproven in the vantage point of the world and of history, as I’ve pointed out above), or they call the phrase hyperbole—and then completely dismiss it. But folks, Jesus’ point in hyperbole is, it contains mostly truth. And you never dismiss what Jesus says. 

Well, people may ask in pride, what is our great evil here, that makes Jesus pick on us, that makes it extremely hard for us (Matt 19:23) to be saved? It’s this: If you have wealth (we’re talking larger houses than 1300 square feet, a retirement or 401k, or your own stocks or decent savings)--and lots of Americans have that wealth, not just the upper class—you got it by ignoring your suffering brothers. I know, that's an extreme statement, but please read on, please. The Scriptural fact is, we are supposed to use money on ourselves to fulfill basic needs only—and give the rest away, to the desperately poor and needy of the world. If we make the mistake of accumulating wealth, Luke 12:33 tells us what to do: Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will fatten your purses in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no rips or holes in them. Your treasures there will never disappear; no thief can steal them; no moth can destroy them.  See my blogs on this point. 

So I'm saying, you should only have what you "need." Scripture makes it clear what defines “need”: Food, basic clothing and basic shelter. Every dollar you make above the ability to meet your needs, you have a choice: Do I give this to a brother or sister in the world who is starving, even to death, who is repeatedly terribly sick because he is drinking contaminated water, who doesn’t have a decent or safe place to live—or do I just keep it, buy another toy, or throw it on my pile of savings to make my future easier? The fact is, most middle- and upper-class Americans choose the latter—without a single pang of conscience. But we must learn to know and think like God; He loves every person, and hates to see people suffering--of any religious faith. His saved children are supposed to make a difference in the world for the poor and the oppressed. As Jesus did. But we are complacently ignorant, consuming our extra money selfishly on ourselves. God will judge us for this—perhaps more than we know, because our pastors have been on a kick, far too long, of teaching us that God is a grandfatherly fellow, not a Judge. We assume we got the extra wealth because we’re smart, or God gave us this wealth because He loves us; or because our country is great, and we're proud of that. But the reality is, He gave us this extra money for us to share it with His suffering children, thereby bearing fruit. But we spend it on ourselves, and thus do not bear fruit. 

So what have you done with your extra dollars in the past? We’re talking about the difference between eternal life or eternal death. Surely you’re aware of the parable of the man who used his extra earnings to build better storehouses (Luke 12:18ff). Well, that “godly” saving impulse drew God’s judgment—He took his life away. His sin? Clearly stated in Scripture (Luke 12:21)—he was adding to his wealth. Hey, that’s an American goal, “everybody” does it—well, “everybody” is on the broad path (Matthew 7:13-14); that's a hellish path. And what about the story of that rich man, who passed by the beggar Lazarus every day (Luke 16:19ff)? What was his sin? He didn’t oppress him, like rich people often do to poor people; he just ignored him. What did God do to him, evidently because he ignored the poor? Sent him to hell (Luke 16:23). And that’s also what most of us better-off in America do. We are rich, but we buy, buy, buy things. We gorge our lusts so much we even get into debt, so we are trapped with huge payments and then we can never help the poor. Meanwhile, our desperate brothers often die in our complacency. 

Jesus says in Matthew 6:19, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth...” That is a crystal-clear command not to accumulate wealth. Frankly, I’ve never heard a single pastor—and I’ve heard many—teach this simple truth of Jesus’ statement: DO NOT accumulate wealth. And He says why in verse 21: Because the desires of your heart will be thinking about wealth, rather than on what God wants you to do for His kingdom. Also think about the Sower sowing seed into the thorns: “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). Guess where the unfruitful go? Hell (see John 15:5,6). What is the “deceitfulness” of riches? Maybe it’s this: Wealthy people assume they’re rich because God loves them—so they conclude they are assured of heaven. In America, even the large middle class is rich by world (and history) standards—so lots and lots of people feel assured of God’s love, assured they’re going to heaven. They want to believe this—so they ignore what Jesus says about rich people in Scripture. Surveys back up this assurance that people feel, indicating that 75% of Americans say they’re going to heaven (Gallup poll). But a more accurate number is 6%, as we’ve said--or even fewer, considering our richer people—so that means the other 69% are deceived, probably by their riches in most cases. So if 75% of Americans say they’re heaven-bound, but the real number is 6%, there’s a whole lot of people deceiving themselves going on. And a whole lot of surprises at the Judgement seat. Another way of putting this data is, of every 12 people who think they’re saved, 11 of those are going to hell. Only one is going to heaven. Only one is truly saved. 

Think of the odds against you, my friend. The fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10), might actually enter your heart. The question to ask is: have you been deceived? Out of the 12, are you in the 11? Statistically, more than likely. Or are you the one? Prove you're the lucky one by the standards I've enumerated above. If you assert that you are the one, what did you do to deserve being the one? The odds place you in the 11. Are you one of those, in judgment day, pleading like in Matt 25:44,

‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Will you be one of those hearing these sad words-- 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment

Could hell be your destination, and you don’t even know it? What would you do to avoid that horrible possibility? Let’s assume you believed in Christ as Savior, you felt assured of heaven; but this paper is an eye-opener, and you wonder what to do. To get motivated to do this, to revive the Spirit within you, you might read your Gospels intensively, make a list of Jesus’ commands—to be forgiving, to help the oppressed, to turn the other cheek, to love your enemies—and ask the Spirit, in prayer, to show you where you have violated each one. Develop a fear of God’s judgment on the unfruitful, ask in deep sincerity for forgiveness for each sin. God may discipline you, but He will forgive (I John 1:8,9). But you must repent. You can’t keep falling back, out of weakness or pride.  Don't just trust your feelings, saying "I feel God's got me."  God has patience, but it’s limited patience. Believing in Jesus as God, Who died on the cross to save us, Who rose again from the dead, will give you the Holy Spirit and is a good start. But we must endure to the end to be saved (II Tim 2:3,12). As the book of James says (especially 2:14), you must show your intellectual faith is real by bowing to His Lordship, by being His servant, ready to read His commands in Scripture and repeatedly work on them. If you are gifted with income above what you need (please prayerfully consider what the word “need” entails), would you change your lifestyle? Would you move into a smaller, less costly house? Would you sell the second car? Yes, there would be inconvenience, but the money you save and can give is huge; you could save many lives. Your reward is in heaven, your reward is eternal—that’s a much longer time than your “reward” (convenience) for keeping the second car on earth. God has promised to return our investing in heaven’s treasures 30, 60, 100 times (Matt 13:23)! We’re talking 1000% return! And you’re fighting for a 4% return on your investments here, which keep you “happy” for a vapor in time, comparatively.

Why fight for scraps on the floor, when if you look to the table of 100 times investment above, a feast awaits you! If you’re married, would you make it a dedicated goal to see your spouse change his/her mind, so you can do this effectively, together? Would you carry out a tight budget for a long time, and thus eliminate debts, and then go on to help the Lord? It would take a lot of “no we won’t comfort ourselves by buying that.” Would you go  online to get websites of relief organizations that are run efficiently (those that spend little money advertising or trying to manipulate people)? Try googling “charity review sites” and get a long list. Please, please consider international organizations, not just your local church. I doubt God approves of all the money we spend on making our buildings comfortable and beautiful when there are people who cannot meet publicly in safety, who cannot even get enough Bibles to go around. Will you help these people? Yes, obeying some of Jesus’ commands is tough. Lifestyle changes are tough. I know how you want to dismiss His clear command to give away assets, thinking that Jesus doesn’t want us to be so “imprudent,” giving away savings. You have a million excuses to keep piling up savings: for your retirement (but does the Scripture talk about retirement?--no), for your kids’ college (in most cases, where they will learn how to defy morality and turn away from God). But we must discipline ourselves, turn away from self, and sacrifice. Because Scripture says if we don’t obey His commands, we’re not saved (I John 2:4). It’s being obedient on a difficult command like this that we really learn the real meaning of faith. If we begin obeying here, then if we lose our job and have no savings because we gave it away to a needy brother, you can bet on this--God will help you find another job. It will be far better than what you could get on your own. None of His children beg for food, He promises (Psalm 37:25). I pray your answer is Yes to Jesus and No to the world.