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• many people say a prayer and consider themselves saved
• many people call themselves a Christian, but are not changed
• many people tack on Christian like a title as a get out of hell free card

let me explain what being “Christian” is to me first and foremost, to me Christian isn’t something we do, but who we are. If we are truly born again, then it’s a dying to the way we were, and a new life in who God wants us to be. I understand we’ll all fall short, some (like me) more than others but there will be a growth in those the Lord has changed.  I boast in my Lord, not in me, I can look back at my life in the past and see how I have changed, and where I still need a lot of work, but the key is God is changing me to be a better reflection of Him. I can attest to the Spirit’s conviction when I sin, and His leading me in a way more righteous than I was before. (Not that I am righteous by anything I do, I will always fall short, it’s only by the righteousness of Christ that we’re saved!) in short there is a noticeable change from who I was, to who I am, and from who I am to who I will be. I believe certain “Fruits” will follow a true believer as well, obviously love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22 – 23) but also a desire to be around fellow Christians (1 John 1:7), a desire to be in prayer, a desire to live a holy life (1 John  3:8 ), a distaste for the world (1 John 2:15)a desire to study, and read the Word of God. I think a true Christian can’t get enough of God and will seek out sermons, studies, etc.  Now I understand we all feel “stale” occasionally, but an overall lifestyle that reflects the above.  I hope that makes sense, but I also hope that convicts you if you’re not in that lifestyle. I do want to preface that though and say that those are signs of being a Christian, but not the only signs, for signs of being saved I would study 1 John, I would listen to this series by Paul Washer

I want to deal with each bullet point above as well, while they could all be rolled into one I wanted to look at each of them.  

“many people say a prayer and consider themselves saved” In todays world the preacher gets up, the lights are down low, the music is playing softly, and he pleads at the end of his sermon, for all those who want to pray a prayer of salvation to come forward. I’ve heard it said the Sinners prayer will damn more people to hell than false teaching, and I agree with it (in Part). Here’s why, typically a sinners prayer is led by the preacher, and repeated by the “sinner”. However, if I cheat on my wife, and I am truly sorry, will anyone have to lead me in an apology to her?  It’s also implied that when you say the prayer, there is some magical force that makes God save you. Guys it’s so easy to “pray a prayer” and not mean it at all, especially when we’re being led in the prayer. I was blessed once to see a young man come up to an open air preacher and ask (regarding sin, and God) “is all that true? what must I do to be saved?!”  the preacher said “repent, confess your sins, and believe”, and  I watched as the young man, maybe 14 yrs. old poured out his heart to God, confessing sins, praising God, thanking God, he gave, what appeared to me, to be a true heartfelt apology with a broken and contrite heart, he wasn’t led in a prayer.

many people call themselves Christian, but are not changed. This is a big one for me, but as I heard Paul Washer say, being born again is a radical change, we can’t have a run in with a freight train and remain the same! It’s 100% true, even the newest Christian will show change in his/her life. granted it may be small, but it will be there. without that change, and continued growth, we need to be worried, and seeking the Lord more and more!

many people tack on Christian like a title, as a get out of hell free card. This one is more of a fruit of the other two, often we see that fire and brimstone preaching only seems to scare people into a false confession of faith to escape hell.  Much like in the parable of the sower, we see that when temptation comes these are likely to whither and fall away from the faith. Christianity is not “an ornament we hang around our neck” (as one of my friends said) It’s a lifestyle, the Lord said “Take up your cross daily” not take it up once, but to live in continual submission to Christ, continual denial of self, Living for Him and Him alone. . If we’re still worldly, unchanged from before our conversion, how are we living to Christ? Christian means “Christ like”…. we should reflect that as best we can!

In short, examine yourselves! is there growth in your life? do you see fruits in your life? please listen to the series by Paul Washer, whether you consider yourself “saved” or not.  Also please watch this!! AND this!!

Case in point, Time Magazine, In there April 25th edition with the cover story “What if there is no Hell?” (an article based of of Rob Bells heretical views) the author of the article titled “Is hell dead?” is a man by the name of Jon Meachum, who based on the assumptions made in his article can’t be considered Christian..  Various places throughout he makes small statements that not only disagree with my Theology, they sometimes spit of the face of God and Christianity as a whole.  Bear in mind, Bells view of Hell is heretical, and the author of the article’s view (though written as “fact”) is gravely in error.

Still, the dominant view of the righteous in heaven and the damned in hell owes more to the artistic legacy of the West, from Michelangelo to Dante to Blake, than it does to history or to unambiguous biblical teaching. Neither pagan nor Jewish tradition offered a truly equivalent vision of a place of eternal torment; the Greek and Roman underworlds tended to be morally neutral, as did much of the Hebraic tradition concerning Sheol, the realm of the dead.

I don’t know about “pagan” religions, but Jewish tradition does in fact paint a view of an eternal hell, while I am no biblical scholar, using the resources available to me I can find there are four words in the Greek used to represent Hell in the bible. “Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Tartaros”  two of the four words Gehenna, and Tartaros refer to the eternal hell, and the other two point to those two!  I don’t think my God is so inept that He’ll not reveal truth to someone, even in the darkest of times He had a remnant of people who knew and preached the truth regarding Him.  The author later goes on to say there are places in scripture where Christ, Paul, and the Apostle John (called John the Divine in the article)  mention the eternity of hell, but then states there are “contrary” Scriptures to those statements. Which leads to the next lie the author vomits..

Like the Bible — a document that often contradicts itself and from which one can construct sharply different arguments …

The author goes onto state that theology differs greatly among Christians, however, this is my jump off point for the article, this statement proves the author has no knowledge of the bible, no knowledge of Christ, and the spirit isn’t dwelling within him. Thus, much like Rob Bell,  he has little or no knowledge of a spiritually discerned book, and is unable to understand the things of God. To say that the bible contradicts itself is to say God is inept at composing His word, it is to say He is a changing God and therefore unknowable, and ultimately a liar. Time magazine, I understand you write to please the masses, you have to please the Muslim, the Jew, the Christian, and the secular reader. I would say that an article on Muhammad would have been more thoroughly researched and contained at least some truths the cult of Islam holds to. 

Time magazine, you should research your articles before printing your lies. here’s a great site to show the “contradictions” you name, Here’s a teaching on Hell and it’s eternity as well. Finally, and most importantly here is something you need to understand and grasp…

I could go on and on about this article, the author seems to lack all sense of Christianity.   Of course what should I expect from the magazine who once name Rob Bell as the “Rock Star” pastor. Obviously they don’t have a grasp on evangelical Christianity, and paint the view they want you to see. Folks Rob Bell is not orthodox, he is not preaching the gospel of Christ, and according to the Apostle Paul should be “anathema”.  

Time when will you correct the lies you’ve printed?

I’ve heard some claim Paul Washer is a false teacher, beware of them.. do you think you know God? examine yourself.

But inside I was a mess, I don’t know why now, but I wanted nothing to do with my family. I truly didn’t care about anything. I was a jerk, to people I’d meet, to my friends, to my family, especially to my parents. after all I was 19, and knew everything. At this point in my life, I was a praying person… every night before bed… “dear God, please give me this, and that, and this, and oh, please give me this too… “ I never thought about the afterlife, nor did I care. God was my celestial Santa Claus, I knew nothing of my real state in his eyes.

Fathers day morning, 1990,  I was involved in a hunting accident and lost the sight in my right eye, and was in the hospital for a bit. but that’s not the point of this story, nor is the fact that before I got shot I was a monster. I wish I could say the Lord used this event to save me, but He had other plans. You see… what I came to realize is two things…

1. had I been shot in the “old days” I would have died
2. had I died I would have gone to hell

See I was a “good kid” but had no clue who God was, He was a Santa Claus I prayed to. This is hardly a biblical view of God. would I have gone to hell for being a “good person”? no, I would have gone to hell for my sins. Let me explain them… looking at the 10 commandments (and check yourself as well, it’s that important!!)

• have no other Gods before Me
  • Was God my god? no way! I was my own god, I did what I wanted, when I wanted.  God was of no concern to me.
• Don’t make unto thee any graven image
  • what wasn’t I worshipping? God. I worshipped hunting and fishing, and some may think I am being over the top here, but let me explain. If you couldn’t find me… I was in the woods, or at a lake or creek. It made me happy, it was my escape, truly it was my god. I wouldn’t study a lick for college, but read multiple books on deer and deer hunting, etc. I was over the top in my worship of hunting and the outdoors.
• Don’t take the Lord’s name in vane…
  • wow, to my shame I did this nearly hourly.
• Remember the Sabbath and Keep it holy
  • Nope, failed miserably. I didn’t usually go to church and Sunday was another day to be in the woods hunting.
• honor thy Father and Mother
  • Fail. to my embarrassment, I practically hated them. I never obeyed them, and was seldom even honest with them more on that soon tho.
• Don’t kill
  • failed here to, based on the book of Matthew we see that even hatred is murder in Gods eyes! I already admitted I hated (literally) more people than I liked – I was a mass murderer according to Gods standards
• Don’t commit adultery
  • I thought I was good here! but I failed, again in Matthew we see that Lust is consider adultery by God… I lusted nearly hourly, pornography, pre-marital “relationships”, etc. I was guilty here as well.
• Do not steal
  • guilty, I never stole anything big, but would take small things, time from my employer,  etc. Still theft.
• Do not lie
  • The Bible declares Satan to be the father of lies. I was his star pupil, it’s all I did… to my shame.
• Do not covet
  • Guilty, like most others I wanted to “keep up with the Jones’” if my friend got a new archery release, or fishing rod, I wanted one. and so on..

No folks I was guilty according to Gods law. I am thankful I didn’t die that day.. but that later by His grace and mercy He led me to the Cross! One day, nearly 20 years after being shot, I heard that I was a sinful man, I saw that sin in the light of Gods law (10 commandments above) and saw that I was doomed. But then I heard something amazing….

Do you know what God did so you wouldn’t have to spend eternity in Hell? It’s so important. God sent His son, Jesus Christ to earth – He lived a perfect and sinless life, but went to the cross to die for your sins (1 John 2:2) – God’s punishment and wrath was poured out on Christ that day. Christ died and was buried – But on the third day Christ rose again, forever defeating death and the grave.

Many think if they just believe in God, and live a good life, they’ll go to Heaven. But the Bible says that it’s only through God’s grace through faith in Christ that we’re saved (Eph 2:8-9).

The time is coming when all men everywhere will be judged in righteousness (Acts 17:31), and God commands that we repent (turn from our sins) and put our faith in Him.

On Fathers day 1990, I could have died.. but in March more than a decade later, the Lord showed me I was already dead in my sins. I was guilty of breaking His holy law. He also showed me His forgiveness, I couldn’t be more thankful.

What would you do if that was someone’s real stance on things? I would ask if they could explain how the central nervous system works, or how how the brain functions, chances are they couldn’t, and hence be proven wrong. I’ve run across a website, www.pathoftruth.com (warning it’s a heretical site) where the site owner denies  the Trinity, the eternity of Hell, and the inerrancy of Scripture. (among other things)

I want to look at their page on the Trinity (title not listed because it’s blasphemous) (link here) to set it up the page is an attack on “GotQuestions.org” a site I’ve not visited often, but have occasionally.

**this is not a comprehensive look at it, just a quick glance

If it is impossible to explain, why try? If impossible to understand, how do theyunderstand and know they are speaking the truth? Are they not in confusion and condemned out of their own mouths as liars from the get-go for trying to convince you of something they say is incomprehensible?

If they don’t understand God, how can you believe what they say about Him? They might answer that you need to take their knowledge “by faith,” but faith is the evidence of things not seen, not speculation or opinion about what is invisible to outward sight. That is anything but evidence.

The author suggests the inability to explain something adequately means it to be untrue. If I can not explain how the sun brings light and warmth  to our planet, does that mean it doesn’t exist? or that the sun being hot and big is a lie? absolutely not, we can see clearly that the sun is both big, and hot, and not only that, but also brings light and warmth. So my inadequate explanation in no way destroys the truth that the sun is real. The same is true for Scripture, God is clearly revealed in Scripture in three “persons” NOT THREE GODS!! One God, revealed in three “persons”

Moving On…. I would like you to pay attention as you read the page, at the terminology used, the way the author says stuff, and the attitude in which the entire article is written. A sense of superiority, a sense of “I am right because God told me so”, a sense of being a prophet?  Note also as you read how the author switches translations of the bible, to make the verses he’s twisting fit his point.  He claims Trinitarians as worshipping “that which they do not know” why? because the things of God have not been revealed to the carnal man, thereby saying Trinitarians are carnal men, and unknown by God. Going onto say “Children of light do know these things…” implying he is one of these children, and that we should listen to him.  The the Author quotes John 16:13 as a proof text for the special revelation he’s been given.  Keep in mind, in an article AGAINST the Trinity the author quotes (what is in my mind)  one of the clearest support texts for the Trinity.  Lets look at it.

(13) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

I want to also include verses 14 & 15 to help prove my point.  (which the author of the site didn’t include)

(14) He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  (15) All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

the text states that when the Spirit comes He will guide us into all truth also the verse states that He will NOT speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears he will speak… If the Trinity is false, who will tell Him what to say?  If the Trinity is wrong.. on whose authority will He speak?!  verse 14 states that “He will glorify me…” wouldn’t it say “he will glorify himself” if the Trinity were false? and finally verse 15 “he will take what is mine and declare it to you..” why say “He will take what is mine…” our Lord is certainly intelligent enough to convey a simple sentence. He and Mine and Father clearly show three separate persons of the Trinity (again not three gods!)  I have to admit, after reading this passage, and the faulty reasoning behind the authors logic, I came away more encouraged in the doctrine of the Trinity.

The author goes onto mention 1 John 2:2, and 1 John 2:27 as support for his being one of the few (if not the only) with this revelation, going onto finally say that the authors of GotQuestions.org do not have the Spirit of God.. After Much bloviating on GotQuestions, the authors own Spirituality and an improper definition of “Mystery” we get to the next point.

*(quote from “GotQuestions.org”) “The Bible teaches that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also teaches that there is only one God…The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. Understand that this is not in any way suggesting three Gods.”

Firstly Just Truth agrees wholeheartedly with this definition. After seeing the clear declaration they do not support three gods, the site author goes on to declare

What twaddle! How are “three Persons” not “three Gods”? Oh yes, we are told this is inexplicable. Well, we will explain how wickedly stupid and wrong such thinking is, because it calls the Lord a liar when He says He is the only One and Singular God, with no God beside Him (Isaiah 45:5,21). Line up three “Persons” – “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit” – and there are Gods beside each other, are there not?

and then puts words in their mouths

According to GotQuestions’ doctrine, there could actually be a fourth God, “the Trinity,” which exists in these three other “Persons.” When any of these three “Persons” speaks, it is the fourth God, the combined “Trinity Personality,” speaking through the individual Person-God. Such confusion!

In the last sentence he creates confusion, only to appear to solve the confusion with his explanation, looks like a cult trick. The pages author gravely misunderstands the word “Person”, assuming it to be an individual.  Although the author claims him to be heretical, here’s a great link from CARM.Org that may help explain it.  At one point the author says

“Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21 HNV).

(Where, by the way, is the Holy Spirit, Who is supposed to be one with the Son and the Father? Why doesn’t the Son mention Him?)

I am amazed at how adept the devil is with using his pawns to twist Scripture out of context.  In the previous Chapter our Lord speaks of the Holy Spirit! if we go by the authors logic, since the Lord didn’t mention bananas are we to assume they do not exist?! The author goes onto “prove” God is one, which… well nearly everyone would agree with. God is one.. revealed in Scripture as three persons.

going further the author states

Here is a famous Scripture used by GotQuestions, and Trinitarians everywhere, who cry, “See all three Gods together – proof of the trinity!”

“And Jesus, when He had been baptized, went up immediately out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. And lo, a voice from Heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17 MKJV).

I urge you to read his explanation of this passage of Scripture, in essence he doesn’t answer it, because he can’t. It’s once again a clear representation of the three persons of the Godhead. (again, not three Gods!) he does make an attemptto say that this doesn’t show the trinity, but God speaking as He indwells the Son. Obviously this fails when taken in context.

The author goes on to make more attempts at discrediting the biblical doctrine of the Trinity, but fails miserably. Most of it hinging on the word “person”. (again, a misunderstanding of the word on his part)  as well as denying the deity of Christ the author makes grave errors in his doctrines.

in short, after much thought I decided to post this on my blog, Just Truth after all is about posting truth, exposing those preaching lies, and making sure the saints are equipped. Though this cult is far from anything, if you, like me find yourself speaking with anyone who denies the Trinity, or espouses any of the heresies seen on www.pathoftruth.com please know how to combat them.  some great apologetic sites are CARM, Contender Ministries, and Let Us Reason Ministries. However, nothing beats studying the bible, don’t just know what others say about it, learn it yourself! In two weeks, I had two separate people debate the Trinity with me, both calling me damned because I hold to it. It’s an important topic, learn it.  (I am still in the process)

I have to ask though, please be in prayer for this man, AND those he’s led astray – I do not know him, I know his doctrine is that of demons, and no one hearing from God could be this wrong. I must assume while he “hears” something, it’s not God. The purveyors of the site go on to say that Christianity as we know it is wrong, they are the one true light. They name false teachers to be Ray Comfort, (a true man of God), Paul Washer (Seriously?!), Francis Chan, etc… as with any cult, mind control, Scripture twisting, and so on are the rules.

In short, please pray for them, the attack that will no doubt come from this post, and for myself. I encourage your comments.

This outreach has the potential to reach over a million people with the Gospel of Christ. Here in St. Louis we need your help, we need your prayers most importantly, we also need you to show up and help us hand out these tracts, and Lord willing engage folks in conversation, as well as Open Air preach. We also need your help financially, ordering day for the tracts is just days away, (please prayerfully consider helping us out with the cost of the tracts) I would like to order 1,000 – 2500 tracts.

I have updated the event on Facebook (please find it here) if you can help out with prayer, handing out tracts, or financially please let me know.

I would ask that you be in prayer for this event, not just the St. Louis event but the events has they happen around the U.S. This will be a great weekend of getting the word out. for more information on this outreach please visit the Bezeugen Tract Club page