Alexander was "shipwrecked in his faith" Cobus! Your analogy makes no sense in light of that.
And Skin, your list of those you think are heretics on your website makes me not want to answer you. While I find myself not fully in agreement with all the doctrines of everyone on your list, I can't in good conscience be so vindictive. You seem to have an agenda that is divisive to Christ's body.
I'm not trying to say that it's alright for Christians to sin, to be saved and sinful. But it seems that every word of Scripture is calling us to be faithful to God, recognizing the struggle that we have as saints living in a fallen place with a fallen race and a fallen face (evil world, evil nature, evil outlook). The struggle is real, but so is the victory.
Anyone teaching that you can be in rebellion to God and be right with God at the same time is a false teacher in the service of Satan.
Paul warned...
Act 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
He cried with tears for three years warning the Ephesians about the wolves whom would come.
Jesus warned...
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
and...
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Jesus warned that MANY who professed His name would be rejected. These people WORKED INIQUITY.
Yet many theologians today teach that...
III. Nevertheless, they (the Elect) may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation,
fall into grievous sins;[7] and, for a time, continue therein:[8] whereby they incur God's displeasure,
[9] and grieve His Holy Spirit,
[10] come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts,
[11] have their hearts hardened,
[12] and their consciences wounded;
[13] hurt and scandalize others,
[14] and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.
[15]
Westminster Confession, Ch. 17
In other words they teach that YOU CAN work iniquity and still enter the kingdom. They teach this because they teach salvation as a POSITIONAL STATE apart from "manifest heart purity." Thus in their minds the saints of God are still wicked sinners and therefore workers of iniquity.
They teach...
V. God does continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified;
[14] and
although they can never fall from the state of justification,[15] yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
[16]
Westminster Confession, Ch. 11
In other words they teach sin/confess/sin/confess/sin/confess all covered by the death of Christ serving as a cloak for this ongoing state of inward wickedness.
R.C Sproul teaches...
If you trust Christ and are struggling with sin, know that the presence of this struggle and the desire to do good are evidences that you belong to Jesus. Seek help and counsel from a pastor or Christian friend today if you are losing the battle against sin.
The Battle Within | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org
He teaches that "struggling with sin" and "desiring to not sin" are evidences of belonging to Jesus. Yet the Bible teaches...
1Jn 2:3 And
hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
These preachers are the wolves who appear as lambs that the Bible warns about.
Jesus said...
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Yet these wolves teach you can disobey Jesus and yet have an assurance of salvation so long as you feel guilty about it and desire to change. They have no clue as to what salvation really is for they have fallen prey to theology as a replacement to the simplicity that is in Christ and the doctrine according to godliness.
1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
A pure heart. A good conscience. Faith unfeigned.
Not "struggling with sin." The wretched man of Romans 7 struggled with sin because he was carnal and sold under sin and therefore needed deliverance.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
...
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Jesus came to set us free from such a state...
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
A freedom wrought through...
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That
the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The above scriptures are denied by these people. They contend for ongoing bondage in salvation which is no salvation at all. Sure they have the numbers, they have the platform, they own and run the seminaries, they have the radio and tv shows, their books fill the book stores. Yet they contradict the plain and simple words of the Bible. They isolate and proof text verses completely out of context and ignore vast portions of the Bible. They handle the word of God deceitfully.
So do I have a divisive agenda? You bet I do. I wish to divide truth from error.
Heb_4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
