"A Bible Map" (A Review)

Recently, one of our members was given two tracts, printed on glossy paper on both sides (8rA Tribulation Map, which will be reviewed next week, and the other is called, A Bible Map. The inside is (allegedly) God s Plan of the Ages. It is a total fabrication with seven supposed ages of mankind, and it reflects the error of premillennialism, which is the entire subject of the other tract. The other side of this tract promotes error concerning salvation.

The author of this tract, Leon Bates, thinks he is clever by offering only two choices. He says salvation is either 100% by God s grace r there is some element of human works involved. He writes: THEREFORE, when we try to earn our salvation, we are actually REJECTING Christ s death which has ALREADY PAID for our sins and salvation (emph. Bates). To be sure, if we tried to earn our salvation, we would be wrong. But grace only is also wrong. Why? Because it eliminates faith (which the author insists humans must have). When he says that a person must have faith, isn t human effort involved? Faith comes from the conclusion of the evidence that Christ is Who He said He was. It involves a thought process and drawing the correct conclusion. Why would we not be earning salvation?

Some may not think that faith is a work, but Jesus said it was: This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent (John 6:29). But let s consider another question: Is repentance a work? It does require human effort, doesn t it? If a sinner is going to repent of his sins, he will have to learn to control his tongue and his body. Anyone who has ever given up sin knows that repentance requires effort. Oh, but wait a minute. When Bates tells people how God says we are saved, he fails to mention repentance. Was it not Jesus Who said, unless you repent you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3)? Why, yes it was. Why does Bates omit this part of salvation? The reason is that he has sinners saved at the point of faith. He asks, What % of your trust for your salvation SHOULD be placed in human efforts? Repentance requires human effort.

This will come as a great shock. He neglects to mention baptism. Would he argue that it too requires human effort? The Scriptures teach that it is the work of God (Col. 2:12). God does the cleansing when we comply with the command to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). Bates meanders all over the Scriptures but does not examine even one conversion in the Book of Acts. He ought to be ashamed for hiding the truth. Although he quotes from Revelation, he does not acknowledge 2:10, in which Jesus said, Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Does that require human effort? For the same reason, Bates never quotes Hebrews 5:9: He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.