The Christian social gospel is a doctrine that is gaining popularity everywhere. It has actually become a deadly disease for "people of faith" and those of us who reach out to the unsaved.... The social gospel reinforces a belief that one's salvation can be attained by doing good works, putting aside our differences for the common good. And in merely treating others the way we want to be treated or acting morally, ethically, and sacrificially....... by doing so, our own actions will endear us more to God. Nope. Alone and by themselves, these are all self-deceptive strivings in and of themselves. Ones that can actually scorn God's salvation, deny His perfect standard, and reject His perfect justice. Salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast." It is "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8-9 Jesus declared Himself to be our condemned humanity's only hope for reconciliation with God:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" John 14:6 . There is no other way, because God's perfect justice demanded that the penalty for sin for every human be paid ("for all have sinned"-Romans 3:23) Only the perfect, sinless God-Man could and did pay God's infinite penalty in full by His death on the Cross. And only faith in Him will reconcile us with God.
Christians, we can't improve on the Gospel....... We can't make it more acceptable to itchy ears. We must not, for popularity or timidity's sake, "soften" God's consequences from which the gospel of Jesus Christ can save them!....... The wrath of God is real. The Lake of Fire is real and further, it awaits all who reject their own personal, God given salvation from it! Now, I'm acutely aware that many folks will have a serious temper tantrum over that truth.... however it's God's truth, His warning to mankind and refusing to believe it or tell others of what their etenal fate will be if they reject Christ, does not make the reality any less true!
We are talking about people's souls here! We are talking about their eternities and we are, because we love them, giving them a choice of their own final destination, according to Scripture, depending on whether they accept God's plan for their escape of it or reject it...... That IS what we are called to preach..... That is the MOST important decision any human being can make in this life! The works are a natural and instinctive result of salvation. Not the author of it!
The Bible declares and warns us that all the religions of the world are "illegitimate" and "consigned" not to "some kind of evil end" but to their just end. Only belief, acceptance and trust in the Biblical Gospel actually saves humanity: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved;...He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" Acts:4:12 and John 3:36
Today's Christian social gospel, among many of us who carry the name of Christian, in nearly every case is an ineffective, though sincere attempt by Christians to say and do those things that they believe will honor God and hopefully benefit others. In most every case however, the practical working out of "benefiting the lost" will result in a compromised Biblical faith, lost souls and a dishonoring of God.
Think about it folks....... How many of us have practiced or continue to practice and serve up this social gospel without the Lord's meat in it and do so at the expense of truth and validity of God's Holy Word? If we desire to spread the Gospel, then we must spread the entire Gospel in truth, love and spiritual discernment, thus fullfilling the Great Commission in all it's entirety and glory.......Grow in your faith, learn what's coming in the near future and develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of God's Word at http://www.raptureready.com/index.php
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Comments: 44
Or are you willing to see that Christianity's rationale for this "issue"--Invincible Ignorance, I believe it is called--is a "convenience" that fits in perfectly, with Christianity's need to define itself, without contradiction?
I wonder whether you will respond directly to this Post, here....
Oh, and by the way:
I believe that God exists.
I simply believe that he is an equal opportunity employer, throughout the Planet, if not the Universe....
I do not believe that God favors one religion over another.......
Here is truth: One cannot truly, and completely follow the values of Jesus Christ without believing in Him completely. When you read a great book or see a great movie, don't you tell your friends about it? A true Christian knows God's truth, peace, love, hope, joy, our heart's desire in His Love for us. Every true Christian wants to share that same experience in love for their fellow man. It's really simple, you will or you won't. No one is forcing you to do anything you don't want to do. That would not be Christian.
We can never fully understand all that is God. We CAN live our lives according to His word and promise. Unlike a human self-serving dictator, God gives us a choice for His Light, or we can choose the darkness. All that's left is having the wisdom to choose wisely for what's in our best interests.
Yes, God will (or may) know what is in their hearts--but NOT under the teachings of Christ.
No one says Chrisitanity is invalid; certainly, I wouldn't.
All I am saying--and the first paragraph in your comment, supports my observation:
That while Christianity is not invalid--Thank God--it is not necessarily ALL CONCLUSIVE.
Nor should it necessarily be.
It is "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8-9
Jesus declared Himself to be our condemned humanity's ONLY hope for reconciliation with God:
But it doesn't necessarily refer to others who are born in the future or who did not know about him when Jesus was alive.
What sort of God would punish human beings for being forced to only believe in Him, in one way?
What sort of God would condemn the innocent who follow the paths of hundreds of other religions in the History of the world--which teach love and brotherhood and goodness?
My God would certainly not do that. And the God of many others never would, either.
Therefore, the Bible is not necessarily fully the word of God. Doesn't mean it's not a great book, however.
You CHOOSE to believe that it is THE exclusive word of God. That is your choice.
This is a very arrogant post.
I'm shakin in my boots!
God's words, not mine. So I guess if you take issue with them, then take it up with Him....
If I sat around daydreaming all day, I too would be able to come up with bible quotes to substantiate anything at all. It's like living life by cliche. "Oh well, ya can't take it with ya", "Them's the breaks", "We shall see what we shall see", "Who died and left you king", "It ain't necessarily so", "git 'er done". Not my words, but words I came up with willy-nilly out of a hat-ful of cliches to look like I know what I'm talking about, but in the end, not meaning anything.
You are using biblical quotes, but you are painting your own picture. It may be nice to look at, or creepy at times, but the word of God? I'm not getting that out of it. Just a bit of literary criticism...
Have a nice life.
Any futile attempt from anyone attempting to improve on the Gospel would only be coming from their narrow subjective interests and sometimes inadequate interpretations of the facts. Ultimately, any such arrogance would be elevating themselves above God, within their own inadequate self importance while in the service of darkness. In the Light of Christ Jesus, there can be no darkness.
“…and lead us not onto temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Several people have asked me if they could reproduce articles found on this web page. I always say, "Yes of course." In fact, readers may disseminate this information via mail, e-mail, airmail, oral conversation, billboards, carrier pigeons, pony express, smoke signals; by means of telephone, television, telegraph, teletype; through Braille, sign language, placing messages in bottles, drum beats, books, CD's, radio, and telepathy for you New Age folks.
PLEASE don't ring my bell with bible hand and ask to pray with me... PLEASE don't. And don't tell me, though we've never met, that my behavior isn't "Christian." PLEASE don't insist it is your "duty' or "right" to tell me I fall short of the glory of god. I hope to fall even shorter, but not to do so as fast as your constantly annoying intrusion into my life may persuade me to.
He does not condemn those that believe in something or someone other than him.
As long as it's good, loving and loyal.
That's my opinion.
as Jesus did while He was here on earth, they even put Him to death.He said if they don't believe me, how will they believe you.
He also said every tongue shall confess, and every knee shall bow.May God give you give you the strength to keep on keeping on.
Matt 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you:
and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Luk 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it
hated you.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
2Timothy 3:12-17 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.