Do All Religions Lead To God?
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Charles Stanley was considered by most in the OSAS camp as being one of the world's foremost experts on the doctrine of so called "eternal security" and he taught numerous times that it's OK to live in sin falsely teaching Christians can live in sin and still be saved
In his book, Eternal Security, Stanley says
"Even if a believer for all practical purposes becomes an unbeliever, his salvation is not in jeopardy” (Chapter 10, p. 93)
“Christ will not deny an unbelieving Christian his or her salvation because to do so would be to deny Himself” (p. 94).
“Believers who lose or abandon their faith will retain their salvation, for God remains faithful” (p. 94)
He actually taught one can be a "gay christian" and still go to Heaven proving he is a false teacher!
Here's a video where you can see video of Charlies saying this (just a few minutes into the video)
Can a Person Live a Life of Sin and Remain Saved?
Once Saved, Always Saved?
Video that addresses false claims made by Chales Stanley
The pastor does not live righteously in behalf of their congregation
Each person must have their own relationship for the Lord as they will be judged individually not as a church group
You just said in the previous sentence the pastor (Shepherd) keeps their congregation saved.
Jesus is like Noah's Ark... as long as one is abiding IN the Ark they are saved.
Sinful behavior is throwing one's self overboard and since they are no longer in the safety of the Ark (abiding IN Christ)... they are not longer on their way to Heaven but are once again on their way to hell.... unless they REPENT, confessing their sin to the Lord and forsaking their sin so they can be cleansed of unrighteousness and once again be back in right standing with the Father (see Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:9) just like the prodigal son who was dead while away but alive once again when he returned to the Father. (see Luke 15:24-26)
The smart ones know this and abide IN Christ so they aren't cut off as Jesus told us about in John 15 which is what happens to those that do not abide IN Him.
Those that follow false doctrines that ignore the teachings of Jesus... well, not much hope for them and when they get where they are going, they will regret their false doctrine for all eternity!
Jesus said is a man does not abide in Him, he is cut off (read John 15 and tell me Jesus is a liar!) so we are called to submit to the Lord and when we do so the power of God enables us to abide in Him and they power is in His Word which works thru the Holy Spirit
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
*Notice WE are to partake of His divine nature thru His Promises???
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
*Notice WE are to submit ourselves to the Lord???
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
*Notice WE can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us???
John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
*Notice Jesus is saying WE must abide in Him???
Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
(NOT in our own strength - see Philippians 4:13)
*Notice WE are to put to death the deeds of the flesh through the Holy Spirit??
Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
*Notice WE are to walk in the Spirit??
Those that don't know how to walk in the Spirit have no power or authority and are easily deceived by the devil thru the false religious teachings for the catholics and the so called reformers
As I read through the above post, I noticed you insist that "we must abide in Him" and "we are to submit ourselves to the Lord" etc.
That sounds good in theory, but the sad reality is that born again Christians are still overcome by temptation on a regular basis.
There are many scriptures which confirm that believers can't stop sinning while we are in this body of death.
In Acts 13:22 God testifies, "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will".
It's amazing to read that God said this about an adulterer and murderer, David most certainly left the abode of Christ when he was overcome by lust for Bathsheba.
After David committed adultery and murder, he remained unrepentant and in a backslidden state for around 12 months.
I'm just wondering how long do you think that murderers and adulterers can remain outside of Christ, before they are cut off forever. Would it be 2 years or 3 or more years.
So we can rejoice knowing that there is no sin that God will not forgive believers. BTW believers never blaspheme the Holy Spirit, so that unpardonable sin doesn't apply to us.
Mark 3:28-29 "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter..."
I strongly identify with David and the Apostle Paul, I try to resist temptation but I'm still overcome, years after my conversion. Paul admitted that he is overpowered by his nature to do evil.
Romans 7:19 "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.".
This verse describes the internal struggle between desiring to do good and being compelled by sin to do evil, highlighting the conflict within human nature, even for believers.
Hi TS, As I said in #368, there is a sense in which all religions lead to God:
Throughout history humanity has perceived deity to be the ground of meaning and morality.
The first people to perceive God were named Adam (Gen. 2:7) and Eve (Gen. 2:22 & 3:20).
The theocentric history of religions reached its apex or spiritual climax with the NT teaching
that there is one almighty and all-loving God, who desires all humanity to live in harmony on earth
and also in heaven, and who allows humanity to experience earthly existence including suffering
and disappointment for the purpose of teaching them their need for Him (cf. Heb. 12:9-10, 11:6).
TTYL
Hinduism has 300 million “gods”… and counting. Buddhism has no “god” at all. Mormonism claims every follower becomes a god. Islam has a different god than Judaism.
The Bible says there is One Who is God, and that He is revealed fully in Jesus Christ.
So the Christmas presents I got last month,that I didnt pay for, I dont own? That's convoluted logic. I only have the gift because of him but he gave it to me. I don't possess it of my own power and his giving it to me doesn't change that fact.
Oh course you have the ability to lose it. Yes I must take very good care of the gift.
I have no possibility of salvation without Gods gift of salvation but it's up to me if I remain worthy of it. Matt 22:11-14.
And if I have no part in whether or not I'm saved how can I be judged? Matt 25:31-46
Only the ones who are ignorant of God's Word and how to walk in the power of the Holy Ghost.
I was like that when I was a baby Christian, but now I'm grown and have put away childish things such as sin.
Only those who are deceived by the devil believe and say such things
How many times did Adam and Eve sin causing them to become corrupt and be separated from God?
Figure that out and you'll have your answer
So you believe Christians and just live in sin and let their freak fly then, right?
Proverbs 24:10
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
So what kind of sin is the devil overcoming you with and forcing you to go out and do?
Molesting children? Smoking crack? Beating up little old ladies? Spitting on the side walk?
Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
(NOT in our own strength - see Philippians 4:13)
Romans 6:16
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:14-16
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Sounds like the old devil beats you up anytime he wants because you don't know God's Word and you think living in sin is normal. Sad for you as this is walking after the flesh and living in darkness.
Romans 7 man says he is sold under sin which is how we know he's not a born again believer.
The answer to Romans 7 is Romans 8 so keep reading.
Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
You are being carnal minded which is death (separation from God)
Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Maybe you'll grow up spiritually someday and get out of those diapers and become spiritually minded and abide in Christ.
I'm not ignorant of Gods Word, as I have studied the entire Bible from cover to cover. And I try to walk in the power of the Holy Ghost, but I find myself being overcome by the temptation to sin everyday.
I've never found any scripture to support your theory that we can attain sinless perfection, by our willpower.
None of Gods Prophets or Apostles were able to overcome the temptation to sin. So I was wondering if you would be so kind as to share your esoteric knowledge, with us underprivileged bottom feeders.
Noah committed incest, Moses killed a man, Lot offered his daughters to a sex crazed mob, Jesus called Peter Satan and all the Apostles deserted Christ and I have already mentioned David and Paul the murderers. There are many more I could mention but the point is that all born again believers continue to sin, only the liars don't.
You don't earn salvation by pretending to be a nice guy while your heart still desires to have it's lust fulfilled. God can see straight through that highly polished cup, He can see the true state of every heart.
I'm not sure if you're aware of the fact that Adam was under a different covenant to us, so it's pointless to use Adams fall to defend your theory. Adam was under the "covenant of the law" and everyone after Adam is under the "covenant of grace".
The Lord Jesus has already paid for all of my past, present and future sins. So, I'm no longer under condemnation. Here are some scriptures to help you understand this truth.
Romans 8:1 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.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
See how that works, Christ fulfilled the law on behalf of Gods people. So we are not saved by keeping the law.
Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
All religions absolutely lead to God.
Straight to the Judgment.
Where He will separate the sheep from the goats, the sheep entering into eternal life, and the goats into eternal death.
Whatever hell is, it may be that the worst thing about it is; you must pass through Heaven to get there.
Straight to the Judgment.
Where He will separate the sheep from the goats, the sheep entering into eternal life, and the goats into eternal death.
Whatever hell is, it may be that the worst thing about it is; you must pass through Heaven to get there.
In context of what was posted, I was disputing that Paul's" SCRIPTURE" had to be approved by Peter to become "Scripture". It was scripture when the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write it. I could take offense at being called dishonest, but I choose to look over that insult and not fall into the trap of offense. Honestly, I wish you the best.
Maybe the term " Apostasy " should be considered here. In regard to the Hebrew scriptures in Hebrews 6, yes they were written to the Hebrews or Jews, FIRST, but when it says " crucify to THEMSELVES the Son of God AFRESH, and put Him to an open shame.", seems to indicate a mixture of law and grace or the transition from law to grace. " For it is impossible for those who were ONCE ENLIGHTENED, and have TASTED OF THE HEAVENLY GIFT, and were MADE PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY GHOST, And HAVE TASTED THE GOOD WORD OF GOD, and the POWERS OF THE WORLD TO COME, If THEY SHALL FALL AWAY, to renew them AGAIN unto repentance: " Sounds like Apostasy to me.
What people need more than anything is a father, not a teacher.
Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Barnabas is the one taking the lead here, he is the one who is mentoring Saul. Barnabas is a "good man", he was not egotistical, he was not trying to build up his own ministry and he was someone who was encouraging and consoling the body of Christ. He is also someone who is absolute, fully given to the Lord. Those are the things that made him the leader, Saul was well trained in the word of God, he was gifted and his eyes had been opened. Also, just as Barnabas had given everything, for Saul to repent of who he was and be converted required him to count everything that he was as dung. He had forsaken everything that he thought he had. But that is just the prerequisite. Here the Lord says to "separate" these two unto the work. To separate is to sanctify. When a priest is sanctified to be a priest he is separated unto the Temple for seven days. Previously they were fully given to the Lord, now the Lord wants them to also be fully given to the work. We are not saved by our works, rather we are saved unto them. I cannot be a priest of the Lord by doing good works, I can only become a priest of God if I am washed by the blood of Jesus and born again. But if you are saved, if you are a child of God, then what? Well then you should become a priest to God and that requires that you be fully consecrated and sanctified for the work.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
A lot of people do a work for the Lord, but some of them they go out without the church laying hands on them. Our labor needs to be one with the body. Don't get me wrong, you answer to the Lord, not to a board of directors. Let me give you an example. I was a brother in the church in Houston. I went to Irving and served full time in the ministry, being sent there by the church. I then went to Odessa to raise up a church. At that time an elder from Dallas came out to Odessa and attacked me describing me as a crazy kid, overcome with sins, that they were concerned about and had been praying for. This was an attempt to torpedo what was going on and seize control of that church. The members didn't know what to think. For the last year they had had a honeymoon with the church, everything was growing, everyone was full of joy and now they are being told it had been a lie and I was a crazy person. This caused a lot of confusion for a month. But then this elderly couple from Houston came and so they asked this couple about me. Their testimony obliterated what the elder had been saying. But we see it all the time, some kid gets saved, is all gung ho for the Lord but he is not sanctified. He condemns others for being "luke warm" and not absolute, and yet he is living in sin. The church realizes he needs to deal with the sin and these hidden rocks in his life first, before getting into ministry, so he gets offended and goes out on his own without their blessing. That is actually far more common than what we see here in Acts 13. We also see something else as well, a very gifted brother in the word, but who is still young in the Lord. He needs to be mentored by an older brother. Perhaps this brother is not so gifted in the word, but he is gifted nonetheless in the areas this brother is deficient in. The younger brother needs to recognize that the older brother is the leader and follow his lead and be mentored by him. The things that the world does not appreciate the Lord does. Do you realize that being able to teach the word is not a criteria for an elder? Paul says those that are able to teach the word should be given double honor. The primary function of an elder has to do with being a positive role model and example to the rest of the church in leading a family. We are told if you can't lead your own family then how can you lead the church of God? Leading your own family well is a prerequisite for an elder, teaching the word of God is not. Christianity has it backwards, they make teaching the word of God the prerequisite and leading your family well is a plus. Meanwhile the apostasy is in rebellion to the Lord. The word of God clearly says the elder must be the husband of one wife. That is a prerequisite and yet they simply toss that out as being unimportant. The single biggest problem in society and the single best testimony the church can have is to heal broken families. What people need more than anything is a father, not a teacher. This is also true of Saul, he needed Barnabas, not to teach him, but to mentor him.
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
The Lord did not say "separate unto me John for the ministry". This is not John the Apostle, this is John Mark, the nephew of Barnabas. We are going to learn later that Mark was not ready for the ministry. He was there because Barnabas was hoping he could train him as well.
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
Interestingly, this is the 666th mention of Jesus in the New Testament and it is a reference to a counterfeit Jesus, or "antichrist". in the previous chapter we could see a correlation between Peter being released from prison and "harpazo" or rapture. Now in this chapter we see the Antichrist being revealed.
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
This false prophet has attached himself to a deputy of the country. This means he is a "little horn", the deputy is the one who has the authority, but he is being manipulated by this false prophet. The deputy desires to hear the word of God, this is like Trump, he is the one with the authority and he has made it clear from his words and his advisors that he desires to hear the word of God. But we also know from his advisors that one is a very manipulative false prophet.
"Anyone who tells you to deny yourself is from Satan". Paula White, spiritual advisor to President Trump.
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew said you needed to deny yourself, Mark also said it, Luke also said it, and Jesus said it. According to Paula White they are all from Satan.
2Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
This word from her denies the Lord. This is what false prophets do and say.
I don't go where I'm tolerated. I go where I'm celebrated. Paula White, spiritual advisor to President Trump.
3 John 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
She is very straightforward in admitting she loves to have the preeminence. She is exalting herself and only goes where she will be exalted.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Elymas means "a wise man". This is how the false prophet portrays himself, it is the cloak that he puts on to disguise himself as a messenger of God.
It takes one to know one
Acts 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
This is a very clear reminder of the blindness that Saul had. There is a principle in biology, when you recover from a viral infection your body will have immunity to that virus. Your body studies it and develops special immunity to identify and destroy that virus. James was the leader of the cult of the "Judaizers", the group that Paul called "the concision" in the book of Galatians. When he recovered from that "infection" he wrote the book of James which is the cure to anyone in a cult. Here we see that prior to being saved Saul was infected by those who pervert the right way of the Lord. They are subtle, it is not obvious what they do, they are children of the devil and they are the enemy of all righteousness. Interestingly the Lord Jesus referred to the Pharisees in this way as well. It is very easy to see that a Cartel boss is the enemy of all righteousness, it is much harder to see that a corrupt governor who is on the take is also the enemy of righteousness. They are subtle, they do not go contrary to the law, rather they try to pervert the law. Arresting an illegal who is involved in a gang becomes "racism". He doesn't give money to human traffickers, no he gives money to child care centers which are simply a front for human traffickers. When the scales fell from Saul's eyes he saw many things that the Jewish religious leaders were doing that he had previously been blind to or made excuses for.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
It is very possible that Trump has believed. But if you are going to pray for his salvation you need to pray for this, that the Lord Jesus would speak through His faithful servants to rebuke false prophets who are full of all subtilty and mischief. This is also a reference to the rapture. There are several types and shadows of the rapture. One is Samson pushing out the pillars, that represents the church, the pillar and base of the truth. When they are taken out, the entire temple and worship of Dagon collapses. That is when the false prophets are revealed as being the enemy of all righteousness and perverting the way of the truth. Another example is when Elijah called down fire, after that they slaughtered the prophets of Baal. After the rapture the false prophets will be manifested and those who were deceived by them will be outraged. Now many will have been deceived, so they will not be killed, but they will walk around blind and humbled for a season. One day you are the advisor to someone very powerful and influential, the next day you are a fool. Think of Don Lemon, one day he was a CNN news anchor known by everyone nationwide, the next day he is this fool violating the law, and disrupting a church service. He is an example of someone who loves to have the preeminence. He had the nerve to say that he was a Christian. A genuine Christian would worship the Lord Jesus and lift Him up, they wouldn't try to exalt themselves and disrupt the worship of the Lord Jesus. I pray that the hand of the Lord will be upon him that the whole world can see that you do not touch the apple of the Lord's eye. Amen.
13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
In verse 9 we learn that Saul is also called Paul. But after rebuking BarJesus he will be called Paul from now on. The word Paul means small or little. Paul said he was "less than the least". He just rebuked this powerful and influential advisor to the deputy of this land. This was a "David vs Goliath" moment and Paul was clearly the "David". In that story David was trained by Jesse, his father, and Paul was mentored by Barnabas. Think of Gus D'Amato and Mike Tyson. Gus trained Mike, but when it is time to get in the ring Mike is the one in the ring. Mike needs Gus in his corner. This is the picture we are given of this ministry team.
Before any answer is proposed, the distinction between "God as YHWH" and "God as deity" must be made. "YHWH" is the creator of the universe, existing beyond the time-space continuum, he is unique; deity is a heavenly host, there're many of them in heaven. In polytheistic religions they are worshipped as God, but they're not God, at best they're God's angels.
Also, the only way that leads to God is Jesus, there's no other way.
Also, the only way that leads to God is Jesus, there's no other way.
I believe "YHWH" translates to "LORD", if that's true then Jesus is the Almighty Jehovah God, the Creator of everything that exists.
I think you meant to say "the only way to the Father is through the Lord Jesus" (who is God Himself).
All three persons of the Godhead (Holy Trinity) are equally God, none of them are higher than the others. But the Lord Jesus is the only One who is both God and Man at the same time.
He is seated next to the Father right now, still in the same body which he descended into heaven 2000 years ago, still baring the wounds from the crucifixion.