DO YOU WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN?

There's only one way!  

Ye must be born again.

Jesus said . . . Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  John 3:3

HOW TO BECOME A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN

Understand you are a sinner:  As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10)

Understand that you cannot save yourself by any good works:  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Understand Jesus Christ is the only way to be forgiven:  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  (Romans 10:9)

Repent, and ask Jesus Christ to forgive you:  I tell you, nay:  but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (Luke 13:3) (JESUS' OWN WORDS)

Pray this simple prayer and mean it with all of your heart:  Lord Jesus, I confess I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness.  I now receive You as my Saviour and Lord.  I believe that You died, shed Your blood, and rose again from the grave to purchase my salvation.  I am willing to turn from my sin.  In Jesus' name I ask this, Amen.

The Only Solution to the Greatest Problem!

Sin is the Greatest Problem Facing Humanity

Sin has caused wars between nations, conflict between individuals and groups, fear and anxiety, illness and death, and all kinds of natural and human-influenced disasters.

In the Bible, the beginning chapters of the book of Genesis report that the curse of sin after the fall of Adam and Eve disrupted three basic relationships.  First, men and women were separated from God when they became subject to spiritual death (Genesis 3:6-13).  Second, they became at odds with nature.  From then on it would resist their efforts to cultivate and control it (Genesis 3:17-19).  Third, people were separated from each other as sin brought envy and conflict into the world.

Everyone who dies, no matter from what cause, dies as a victim of sin.  Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death."  Every human being is subject to the fearful power of sin.

The Definition and Characteristics of Sin

The definition of sin is simple:  "sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4).  Practicing sin is living as if there were no God and no law.  It is arrogantly living on one's own terms, not being bound by God's standards.  Sin is not only open disregard of God's Law, but also a defiling or polluting of the divine standard.  Sin makes a person's soul stained with guilt and unrighteousness.  

Sin is rebellion against God.  Scripture describes those who rebel as people who walk contrary to God and defy Him (Leviticus 26:27).  If sinners had their way, they would go as far as overthrowing God which is what Satan attempted to do (Isaiah 14:12-21).   

Sin causes a multitude of people to live each day in absolute ingratitude despite the fact that God created them to praise and glorify Him forever -- a loftier purpose than they could ever imagine on their own.  All people owe their very existence and all that they have to God.  Acts 17:28 says, "For 'in Him we live and move and have our being' . . . 'For we are indeed His offspring.'"

The Extent of Sin

The book of Romans clearly states that sin's extent is universal:  "'None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.  All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one'" (Romans 3:10-12).

When we enter this world, we are already sinners.  Sin is in our natures, woven into the fabric of our lives.  That's because we are all descendants of Adam, and as such, we all bear his corruption.  

As if it weren't bad enough that humanity's fall into sin subjected the whole creation to many miseries and hardships (Genesis 3:8-24; Romans 8:18-22), the most devastating result of sin is that it has the power to condemn the soul to eternal punishment and separation from God in hell.  

With sin, humanity has a horrible, pervasive, incurable spiritual disease that cannot be defeated by human means (Jeremiah 13:23).  Men and women in their own strength cannot cure the sin that is within them because their minds and consciences are defiled and depraved.  There is simply no human remedy for the problem of sin.  It will not be cured by any acts of human will, any programs of moral reformation or educational renewal, no pieces of legislation, no efforts of man-made counselling, and consultation, nor any deeds of self righteousness.

Good News:  The Solution

But if humans can't cure themselves of sin, what can they do about it?  The answer is found in Romans 6:23:  "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The apostle Paul expresses two absolute truths in that verse.  First, he reminds us that spiritual death results from sin.  It is the rightful destiny of every life that is lived apart from God.  Second, the verse tells in one concise statement the remedy for sins effects -- salvation freely granted through Jesus Christ.  Paul writes in the book of Ephesians:  "For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The gospel -- the good news of Jesus Christ -- offers the only solution to the stark reality of sin.  Because of God's immeasurable love for His creation, He provided a way for all humanity to experience the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  Jesus is "the way, and the truth, and the life."  Not one person will be rid of their sin except through believing in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (John 14:6).  

Jesus was not just an ordinary person, prophet, or Jewish scholar.  He was the perfect, sinless Son of God -- God incarnate.  Jesus was the only one who could take our place on the cross, and He died the death that we deserve for our rebellion against God.  Because of Jesus's sacrifice, those who repent of their sin and trust in Him alone for salvation receive the good news:  Their sins are forever washed away, and they are adopted into God's family as beloved children. 

The darkness of sin is no match against the light of Jesus Christ and the good news of salvation that He offers.  Turn and repent of your sinful rebellion against God today, and receive new life and the promise of eternity with our loving Saviour.  

Heavenly  Father, I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son, and that He died on the cross to save me from my sin.  I believe that He rose again to life, and that He invites me to live forever with Him as part of your family.  Because of what Jesus has done, I ask you to forgive me of my sin, and allow me to receive eternal life.  Help me to live in a way that pleases and honours You.  Amen.

If you would like more information about the good news that Jesus offers, we encourage you to meet with a Christian friend and begin attending a local Bible-believing church.  Find someone who is knowledgeable about the Bible and can help you learn more about God.

-- John MacArthur

The Fire of Hell

The term fire is often used in connection with the punishment of the lost.  In Revelation 20, the expression "lake of fire" occurs three times to denote the final destiny of God's enemies. 

Fire is also associated with hell because of the Greek word "gehenna," the term most often employed to denote the place where the lost will go after death and judgment.  It occurs 11 times in the Gospels and once in the rest of the New Testament (James 3:6).  The word itself referred to " the valley of Hinnom,"  just south of Jerusalem.  It was there that the Israelites under Ahaz and Manasseh (II Chr. 28:3, 33:6) placed children on a fiery altar dedicated to the god Molech.  The specific place where this was done was called Tophet (literally "fire place").  There is a strong tradition that the valley became a city dump where refuse and the bodies of criminals were burned.  The terrible reputation of this valley plus its association with fire and judgment made it an apt symbol for the place of final punishment for the wicked. 

The Bible presents a literal hell as the place of eternal punishment for all who die in unbelief and rebellion.  This truth can be used by God to strengthen Christians and to awaken sinners to their need of Christ.

We don't like the idea of eternal punishment.  We may even find ourselves repulsed by the concept.  But we need to be careful.  God sees and understands infinitely more than we do. 

He has proven His love in so many ways, especially providing salvation through Jesus Christ (Jn 3:16; Rom. 5:8).  He wants you to place your trust in His Son.  Listen to Him and accept His salvation.  Accept His warning to escape "the fire that shall never be quenched -- where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched'" (Mark 9:44, 46, 48).

Other Distorted Views of Positive Thinkers

The faith teachers have misread the plain meaning of the words of the Bible in their context.  Gloria Copeland, Kenneth's wife, is a good example of how the faith teachers not only misinterpret but occasionally deliberately delete the words of Scripture that deny their view.  For example, Gloria Copeland quotes Daniel 3:17, 18, which is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo where they told the king that they would not serve their gods.  These men tell us they believe it could be God's will not to save them, but they will still trust and serve Him just like Job . . . .  But this goes against the theology of the Copelands and other faith teachers who say Christians should overcome in every circumstance.  Since the words of Daniel 3:18 didn't fit her view, Gloria deleted them.  She leaves out the words "but even if He does not".  She actually cites a Scripture in her defense that were it quoted in full would disprove the point she is making.

Consider the following areas that the faith teaching has distorted.

God

Faith teaching has distorted both the sovereignty of God and the will of God.  God is no longer sovereign if He can be forced to act on the basis of what men do.  Thus, in some cases, His will can be replaced with man's will.  In essence, what God's sovereignty lacks, human sovereignty supplies.  Not even God will interfere with the believers "divine rights."

Jesus and the Atonement

Faith teachers have redefined the mission of Jesus Christ to incorporate their beliefs.  For example, J. Osteen teaches, "did Jesus die for your prosperity?  Yes."  Robert Tilton teaches, "Jesus came to deliver man from failure, and to cause him to be once again a success . . . Christians who do not believe in divine healing, who do not believe in prosperity -- they do not believe in what was atoned for  at Calvary."  Charles Capps teaches that Jesus came and died for us to get Adam's power back to rule and dominate the earth.  Gloria Copeland states, "You have a titled deed to prosperity.  Jesus bought and paid for your prosperity just like He bought and paid for your healing and your salvation . . . .  This prosperity already belongs to you."  Here you can see these four faith teachers are saying that because of Jesus' death on the cross, He bought and paid for your healing or success now.  Their conclusion is that (even if it takes time to manifest) you can claim success or immediate healing by faith.

This is wrong.  Why?  First, because it is another misinterpretation of Scripture; namely, Isaiah 53:4, 5 and Matthew 8:17.  

Secondly, it is wrong because the Bible plainly teaches that the average Christian, the Apostles, and Jesus Himself did not teach or hold this view.  Physical healing is not the instantaneous gift assumed by the faith teachers.  The Apostle Paul himself had a physical infirmity or bodily illness he simply had to live with.  Paul told Timothy to take a little wine "for the sake of your stomach [problems] and your frequent ailments."  Paul said, "Trophimus I left sick at Miletus."  Paul never once told Timothy or anyone else to "claim your healing."  He clearly did not believe the death of Christ healed believers' illnesses.  Otherwise, how did such great men of faith as Paul and Timothy fail to know and teach that Christ died for our illnesses?  Nor was Christ's death a guarantee of success in this life.  To the contrary, by worldly standards, Paul, the apostles, and the early church were highly unsuccessful.  These godly men accepted the fact of their sickness and tribulations.  Even Jesus also accepted and expected sickness and hardship among believers.  In fact, Jesus Himself taught that sickness could be to the glory of God.  Jesus said of Lazarus, "this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it "(John 11:4).

Faith

In prosperity thinking, faith is similar to the power of magic.  J. Osteen states, ". . . faith reaches out into the invisible area.  It creates the physical realm out of invisible truths."  Here the faith teachers ascribe faith as a force to be exerted upon God forcing Him to act in our behalf.  But this is wrong.  The Bible nowhere states that God relinquished His will to each one of our wills.  He knows that would be chaos.

Man

In Positive Confession,  man is considered "a god" or a godlike being.  In some ways man is the ruler of God, who is his servant.  Like the genie in the bottle, man decides what he wants and then commands or demands God to do his bidding.  In some teachings, man comes close to deification.  

As Charles Capps states, "natural men can become supernatural" . . . and are no longer totally subject to their natural ability."  For example, the miracles done in the book of Acts were not done solely and directly by God but by believers exercising their supernatural powers and influence on others.  In Acts 14:8-10 when Paul told the cripple "stand up," the result is that "spirit words received into his spirit released spiritual power in his physical body.  This creative ability of spirit words formed in his spirit and produced physical results."

Nevertheless, the idea that men are gods is denied in the Bible.  Even Paul, a man of great faith, never considered himself a god.  

Angels

The prosperity movement is overly obsessed with the demonic and has distorted biblical teaching on the angels.  Many teach that physical illness results from demons.  They do this even though Scripture clearly distinguishes physical illness and demon possession (Luke 8:2).  Frances Hunter, for example, teaches "a demon takes a look at a woman and says, 'Wow, I think I will lay a little cancer on her. . . ' so he jumps into her body . . . and before long, the woman discovers she has cancer of the breast . . . . "  Not only does such teaching produce fear of demons in people, it offers a cruel and false hope of a "quick fix" by "exorcism" to those with serious illness.  The logical conclusion of reading some of the faith teachers' instruction has been to lead many people into fear and bondage to demons.  An example of how far this can be taken is seen by Don Basham's teaching that post-nasal drip, fingernail biting, and arthritis of the knees, among many other normal ailments, can be caused by demons. 

Conclusion

Many people have been influenced by false teaching in the church.  Some of them have been hurt because these teachings have not worked.  For example, the "faith assembly" of Hobart Freeman has resulted in the deaths of almost 100 people because his people were told that seeking medical help was supposedly "a sin" and "denial of faith."  Instead they were to claim their healing.  But sadly in claiming their healing the sick all died one by one.  This is just one of the terrible consequences of false teaching.  Not surprisingly, many of the other people felt betrayed and felt like giving up on Christianity.

Jesus stated that false teachings will lead to harmful consequences (Matthew 7:17; 24:11, 12: Acts 20:30), but He said there is a way out.  Those who truly live by His Word , the Bible, can stand the pressures of life because their lives are built on His Word, the solid rock (Matthew 7:24-27).  He promises those who know and obey His Word, that they will be set free (John 8:31, 32).  Have you neglected to learn and obey His Word, relying instead on spiritual experiences and unbiblical faith?

If you are hurt, feel betrayed, and feel like giving up on Christianity, what can you do?  First, you should not continue to fellowship where false teachings are taught (Romans 16:17).  Diligently search until you find a church where the Word of God is honoured and taught accurately, where the pastor has spent years of study in an evangelical seminary.  

Second, you must learn the Word of God yourself.  Take the time and effort to learn the basic doctrines of the Bible so that you will know when it is being "wrongly divided" (misinterpreted).

You should visit a Christian bookstore and purchase some good commentaries.

Try and help those still caught in false teachings.  The Bible encourages us to reprove those following false teachings "severely that they may be sound in the faith" (Titus 1:13).

Finally, we ask some of you to consider whether you have substituted a technique of salvation for salvation itself.  Is what you consider "faith" in God really nothing more than a mechanical technique to manipulate God for your own ends?  In John 6:26, 27 Jesus said that many people followed Him only to satisfy their own hunger.  He said instead of following Him for "food that perishes" they should rather seek the "food that endures to eternal life."  Jesus went on to explain that His food that endures to eternal life was not anything material that we can possess; rather it is true knowledge of God Himself (John 6:33-35).

Augustine spoke of this true knowledge in his commentary on Psalm 73.  There he said that God Himself should be our only treasure and reward.  To seek anything but God alone is not to seek for God.  Does this depict you?  Do you love God for Himself alone or for what you can get out of Him?

-  John Ankerberg & John Weldon

For more information on Victory Churches and the Faith Movement, go to the Reference Library.  Click on any book title to get a brief overview of the book.  All books on the list are available through www.amazon.com. 

Why Are Christian Positive Thinkers Wrong?

What Is Possibility Thinking?

Possibility thinking is Robert Schuller's Christian form of Positive Thinking.  He says, "I call it possibility thinking. Others call it faith."  In essence, he stresses never verbalizing negative emotions.  He also stresses conditioning the subconscious mind by programming positive thoughts into the conscious mind.  To Schuller, faith in oneself and self-esteem is vital to success.  He believes that in each one of us there resides an inner reservoir of divinely implanted creative potential which we can draw upon.  "Fill your life with the God Spirit and all kinds of power will break forth."

Schuller encourages Christians to use deep relaxation and meditation to enter the "alpha state."  He is wrong in teaching that Transcendental Meditation, for example, is not religious or anti-Christian.  It is both.  He is also wrong in teaching that the mantras with the "M" sound will help clear your mind from the distractions in the world.  Maharishi Yogi himself has said TM mantras are spiritual vehicles involving or invoking Hindu spirits or deities, which the Bible would identify as evil spirits or "demons."  Robert Schuller is also wrong in stating "it is important to remember that meditation in any form is the harnessing, by human beings, of God's divine laws."  They are clearly eastern or occultic.  They are used for occultic purposes, such a developing psychic powers or helping one realize one is God.  Schuller's form of meditation should be rejected by the church -- not accepted by it or practiced as a means of spiritual growth.

Robert Schuller's Religious Views

He believes what is needed is a "reformation of theology" along psychological lines.  He states that (1) "Christian theology has failed to accommodate" modern psychology; and (2) that Christian theology has failed to "apply the proven insights" of psychology to human behaviour.

Sin is Redefined

Schuller teaches "sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem."  Thus, "the core of sin is a lack of self-esteem."  The Bible teaches something altogether different.  Sin is transgression against God and His law, not against oneself. (I John 3:4).  David said, "Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned" (Psalm 51:4).  Robert Schuller teaches:  "Do not fear pride.  The easiest job God has is to humble us.  God's almost impossible task is to keep us believing every hour of every day how great we are as His sons and daughters. . . "  The Bible teaches "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" and "pride goes before destruction" (James 4:6, Proverbs 16:18).

Salvation is Redefined

Schuller teaches "to be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image. . . "  He teaches "pursuing possibility thinking is the way of the cross. . . the cross sanctifies the ego trip."  He means that the hardships we experience will keep our self-esteem in check just like the cross Jesus died upon was God's method to keep Jesus' self-esteem in check.  Does Schuller mean to say that Jesus didn't have a perfect humanity and required the humility of the cross to keep His self-esteem in check?  The proper answer to that question is no.  Jesus was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

The Bible teaches that salvation is repentance from sin (and self) and faith in Christ for forgiveness of sins (Acts 26:18).  As a result of being "born again," a true Christian will surrender his life to God and deny his own way.  Thus, the Bible teaches that the way of the cross is self-denial, not Possibility Thinking (Matthew 16:24, 25).

Unbelief is Redefined

Schuller teaches unbelief  "is really a profoundly deep sense of unworthiness."  Unbelief in the Bible is mainly referring to man's rejection of God's gift of salvation, that is, belief in His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:36).  This is what Schuller does not mention.  In fact, where in the Bible does God ever mention that unbelief is man not thinking he has value?  Where does the Bible say unbelief is a profoundly deep sense of unworthiness?

Hell is Redefined

Schuller teaches, "and what is 'hell'?  It is the loss of pride that naturally follows separation from God. . . the person is in hell when he has lost his self-esteem."  The Bible, however, teaches that hell is a real place of eternal torment, black darkness, and weeping and gnashing of teeth, not a state of mind. (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:10-15; Matthew 13:42).

Evangelism is Redefined

Schuller teaches, "I do not think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality, and hence counter productive to the evangelism enterprise than the often crude, uncouth and un-Christian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition."  He also teaches "for the church to address the unchurched with a theocentric [God centered] attitude is to invite failure in mission."  The Bible, however, teaches that unless people are aware of their "lost and sinful condition" before a Holy God (a "theocentric attitude"), they will never be saved (Romans 10:13-15).  Schuller is wrong.  Jesus said, "and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations" (Luke 24:47).

Sanctification is Redefined

Schuller states, "God's ultimate objective is to turn you and me into self-confident persons."  The Bible teaches God's ultimate purpose is to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).  In conclusion, the above views of Robert Schuller are not biblical and should not be accepted by the Christian church.



For more information on Victory Churches and the Faith Movement, go to the Reference Library.  Click on any book title to get a brief overview of the book.  All books on the list are available through www.amazon.com.