Another Assault on the Gospel
Many people today claim to preach the gospel, but the sad fact is that what most are setting forth in word and in print is not the truth but “another gospel,” which is not another, as Paul wrote to the Galatians (1:6-9). Recently, a friend (actually, the one I have generally called, “Preaching Brother from Another State”) sent me a booklet he had received in the mail.
Most of the material consists of the Gospel of John, copied from the unreliable New International Version (NIV). But there are comments from the publisher (the Pocket Testament League, found at www.ptl.org) both before and after John. One soon learns, when visiting the Website, that they are not shy about wanting donations. What a surprise! Yes, one is strongly urged to give. The League was officially begun in 1904 by the husband of Helen Cadbury, the daughter of the president of Cadbury Chocolates. She “received Jesus” at the age of 12 (1893); she began sharing her faith immediately; later she, along with her “evangelist” husband, began the distribution of the gospel of John.
The front cover quotes Isaiah 9:6; the back cover tells how to get in touch with the organization. This booklet was a gift to Preaching Brother. The folks who mailed it to him must give away several of these because, instead of writing a personal message, they placed a white label (about twice the size of a return address) which states: “Wishing our family and friends a blessed holiday season, And blessings for the coming year.” Their names were printed underneath.
Calvinism?
Underneath the label is a handwritten personal note: “Thank you for your hard work and faithfulness”—with only initials below that. Of interest is that under the initials is the word Calvinists, which is underlined, as if to accent the fact. One wonders what kind of tract this one will turn out to be. But, surprisingly, it is not Calvinistic. After a few introductory comments on the first page, the authors then say:
God created the world, and that includes you—and He declared everything He made to be good! In fact, He says you're “very good” because you come from Him (2).
This paragraph does not sound like the Calvinistic doctrine that says everyone is born depraved. It sounds more like Psalm 139:13-16—about God forming our “inward parts”—and Zechariah 12:1, which mentions God forming our spirits within us (although these verses are not cited).
Then the problem of sin is introduced, but the approach to this subject is not Calvinistic, either. Sin is presented as a concept which involves choice on our part. The booklet adds, “You might think of it as walking away from God” (2). This does not sound like Calvinism's “born in sin” doctrine. You can't walk away from God if you're already born separated from him. Therefore, while the folks who sent this tract to Preaching Brother may be Calvinists, the tract itself is clearly not.
“Faith Only”
However, they are clearly “faith only” in their approach to salvation. After correctly saying that sin separates us from God now and that it can separate us from God forever, they then ask if there is anything that man can do to fix the problem. They assert that only God can fix the problem. It is true that we cannot un-sin or live a life of perfection. Mankind never originated a remedy to eradicate sin. We agree that God sent Jesus to die for our sins and that He is the only way back to God (John 3:16; 14:6 (4).
At this point, they take a giant leap which the Scriptures do not support. They claim that, “When you believe in Jesus, you are restored to the ‘very good’ relationship” you once had. Hold it! The two verses cited above do not say that this occurs when a person believes. They point out that Jesus is the way and that a person must believe in Him, but they say nothing about when a person becomes saved.
Neither does the verse cited after this assertion, which is John 1:12 (remember, this is the NIV): “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God” (4) As in the other two verses, this one does not say when or how a person receives Jesus; it only describes what can and should happen.
On page 5, the booklet finally gets around to answering when a person is saved. In answer to “How Can I Know God,” they say there are three steps. Oh, but wait. Is this man trying to build a bridge to God? No, everyone teaches that mankind must comply with conditions that God sets forth; the only difference in teaching is how many conditions exist.
Number one is: “Admit that you need God and turn away from sin (see John 8:11).” Actually, that's two different things, connected by the conjunction and. Both of them are true, but believing is number two on their list; they have put the cart before the horse. Why would we admit that we need God unless we believe what the Bible says about Him and about man's condition? Furthermore, why would we repent of our sins unless we first believed the truth?
Number two states: “Believe (have faith)” that, when Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty for our sins. We believe John 1:29, which is cited; the odd thing is that there is no Scripture listed for step 3, which is: “Receive (ask) Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.”
The reason is that the Bible does not teach that merely asking is the way one “receives Jesus.” Then they suggest the reader pray a simple prayer like the one they provide. So, then, this would actually be step 4 (or 5, if we count two actions in number 1). The reader ought to notice that on every page of the first five pages of this booklet there has been a Scripture for everything stated—until we get to step 3 and this prayer. Suddenly they have run out of Scripture—and the reason they omit them is that none support “receiving Jesus” by praying to Him.
Jesus did not even ask His disciples to pray to Him in the future—but to the Father (John 16:23). Yet this prayer begins, “Lord Jesus.” As with most sinner's prayers (written by men and not found in the Bible), thanks is expressed for Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, and forgiveness is sought, along with cleansing. Then we find, “I now receive you into my life as my Lord and Savior.” Really. Luke 6:46 finds Jesus asking a pertinent question: “But why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” If someone presumes to call on the Lord Jesus, they ought to be willing to do what He says. What did He say?
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). So, why is baptism, which Jesus commanded, omitted in every reference to salvation in this booklet?
On page six, the authors reaffirm that one is saved by saying the previous prayer. Now, they want the “saved” reader to read about the life of Christ so that they can believe—yes, they actually cite John 20:31. So, one is saved by faith first, and then he reads John to find out why he should have faith. Does this continual putting the cart before the horse make sense to anybody?
More Errors
After the gospel of John is printed, those producing this booklet have more totally unscriptural things to say. On page 61, they suggest “attending a local Church where the Bible is taught.” Why don't they suggest that the Lord has already added a saved person (which the reader of this pocket testament will not be) to the church for which Christ died (Acts 2:47; 20:28)—as He did to all 3,000 on the Day of Pentecost who were baptized (Acts 2:41)?
Yes, when the people believed Peter's message on that day, they asked what they should do. Since it was evident that they believed (step 1), Peter gave them step 2 – repent and step 3 – be baptized (Acts 2:38). Notice that these steps are seen in the Scriptures. The apostle said nothing about praying a simple prayer.
The booklet also affirms that “the Holy Spirit” will “be your Counselor, to guide you into all truth (see John 14:26; 15:26; and 16:12-13)” (61). That this is untrue can be seen by the fact that if the writers of this material were guided into all truth, they would not have taught God's plan of salvation without mentioning baptism!
Second, those words were spoken only to the eleven apostles by Jesus after Judas had departed. His apostles were guided into all truth, and they revealed all of it to us (2 Peter 1:3; Jude 3).
The Perverted Gospel
Although the entire gospel of John is included on pages 7 though 59, the publishers bolded certain verses—presumably to acquaint the reader with the really important verses. Some are thought-provoking and worthy of meditation, such as John 1:1-2 and John 8:58.
Many of the bolded verses emphasize faith, which is fine, but not one verse on baptism is highlighted. One finds John 1:12 and 1:29, for example, but the occasions on which John came baptizing in water are overlooked (John 1:26, 33; and 3:23). This last reference explains that John was baptizing where there was much water; thus showing that immersion was the mode of baptism (rather than sprinkling or pouring). But consider this: Which of the two following verses was highlighted?
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3).
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of the water and the Spirit” (John 3:5).
If you guessed the first one, you are right. It was no accident the verse mentioning water was not bolded. Verse 7 right afterward was emphasized. All three mention being born again, but they omitted the one with water in it—almost as if they have something against it. Just in case anyone wonders, John 4:1-2 are not highlighted, either—where it describes Jesus baptizing more disciples than John.
To be fair, they did bold water twice. The first time is in John 7:37-38 when water is used figuratively and does not refer to baptism (cf. John 4:10-16). The second time is in John 19:34, when the blood and water came forth from the wound made by the spear in Jesus' side. This mention of water probably does relate to baptism, but the average reader might not make the connection. The blood cleanses us when we are baptized in water for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 22:16; Rev. 1:5).
According to page 63, this tract has reached more than 150 million people. Think of that many people taught error instead of truth. And how many others likewise teach “faith only” (although this group does include repentance) and then add to that “once saved, always saved.” Eternal salvation has never been easier. “Receive Jesus” and you cannot lose salvation. Judas would undoubtedly vote for that concept.
Jesus is “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9). One must do the will of the Father (Matt. 7:21). Those who think compliance earns salvation should take it up with Him who inspired these verses.