Nine Awful Fallacies In Christianity

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These nine awful fallacies were paraphrased from chapter four of the book “Exactly What Our Savior Taught About Sin” by M. L. Dye. Also, the ninth fallacy: Once Saved, Always Saved, was greatly expounded upon in another awesome book, “The Believer’s Conditional Security” by Daniel D. Corner. Both books are simply outstanding and have clarified many questions that I have had regarding Christianity in general. I highly recommend that every Christian read these books to help simplify Christianity. I believe these books and, of course, the Bible will help us all to be in harmony with the views and commands of Jesus Christ as depicted in the Bible.

These are nine fallacies that we may already know. Many have been accepted and embraced by some Christians in the Church today, but are not according to the truth as clearly expressed in the Word of God. These must be exposed and eradicated as they will greatly impede our walk in holiness toward God if we believe and embrace them. Please may we always “Let Scripture Speak!!!”. We must not allow clichés and doctrines, mere words of men, which are contradicting Scripture, to permeate our minds and hearts. Let not tradition or multitudes contradict God’s Holy Word.

These nine fallacies will first be listed, and then details with clear Scriptures, will be used to prove that each one is in direct contradiction to the Word of God. Let’s all keep an open mind and heart as we examine these fallacies. Let’s seek the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to verify that all these fallacies are false according to the Word of God. These are all fallacies when we apply them to a true believer (Christian) abiding in Christ.

We are not referring to the “unsaved” or to the “backslidden Christian” as both categories of people are not currently abiding in Christ according to Scripture.

1 Timothy 3:15 NASB says, “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth”. I am compelled to write this information to hopefully expose the darkness of these fallacies, and allow the truth of God and His Word to shine through. It is the Truth that will set us free!!!

There is none righteous, no not one
The filthy rags fallacy. Our righteousness is but filthy rags.
Conscience is not safe as a guide
God’s commandments cannot be kept
If we keep God’s commandments after confession and repentance of our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior by grace though faith which is salvation (initial salvation), then we have no need of God’s grace as we are, by necessity, being saved by works.
Sermon on the Mount preaching by Christ Himself in its primary application, gives neither the privilege nor the duty to the Church. In other words, what was spoken by Christ in His Sermon, the promises (privileges) and commands (duties) were not intended for Believers (Christians), in general, to obey.
Stinking Corpse Fallacy of Romans 7
Sin every day in Thought, Word and Deed based on 1 John 1:8 implying that we are always living in sin.
Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS) or Once in Grace, Always in Grace.

1 There is none righteous, no not one

Those who teach that we sin every day in thought, word, and deed use this #1 Fallacy to prove their position. It is critical to know that Romans 3:9-18 is referring to all Jews and Gentiles before coming to faith in Christ. Verse 9 says, “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin (No one can be under sin or in bondage to sin while being under grace and abiding in Christ simultaneously according to Scripture: 1 John 3:3-10 and Romans 6:16 and 8:14).
Verse 10 says, “as it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one. Since the words none and one are clearly referring to all Jews and Gentiles before coming to faith in Christ, then it is apparent that none, no not one of these Jews or Gentiles prior to their conversion to Christ is righteous. As true believers, abiding in Christ, we have the righteousness of Christ from God on the basis of faith in Christ as depicted in Philippians 3:9 and 1 Corinthians 1:30.
Verse 17 says, “And the path of peace they have not known”. The word “they” is referring again to all the Jews and Gentiles before coming to faith in Christ. As true believers, abiding in Christ, we must have the peace of God dwelling within us as depicted in Philippians 4:7,9.
Verse 18 says, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” The word “their” is again referring to all Jews and Gentiles before coming to faith in Christ. As true believers, abiding in Christ, we must have fear of God. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” and 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” So, because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and we have the wisdom of God from Jesus Christ as we abide in Him; we must have a healthy, reverent fear of God.

2 The Filthy Rags Fallacy

(Our righteousness is but filthy rags)
Isaiah 64:5-7 says, “5You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways. Behold You were angry, for we sinned. We continued in them (sin) a long time; and shall we be saved? 6For all of us have become like one who is unclean. And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7There is no one who calls on Your name, who arouses himself to take hold of You, for You have hidden Your face from us and have delivered us into the power of our iniquities.”
It is essential to know that this “filthy rags or filthy garments” statement is clearly demonstrated in Isaiah 64:6 of the Bible, and is referring to the backslidden Jewish Nation who is continuing in sin and iniquity as depicted in Isaiah 64:5-7. They are trying to merit the favor of God with their “righteous deeds” (works of Law) while living in iniquity. In verse 5 it states that they are continuing in their sins and in both verses 6 and 7 it states that they are living in iniquity. In verse 7 it states that God hides His face from them. Also, Zechariah 3:3-5 speaks of “filthy garments” referring to iniquity, but God wants to clothe us in “festal robes” with a “clean turban” on our heads as we truly walk in holiness before the Lord.
As true Christians (Believers) abiding in Christ: we won’t be living in iniquity and God won’t hide His face from us.
Revelation 19:8 says, “It was given (gift or instruction) to her (bride of Christ) to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Filthy rags and fine linen are totally and completely different.
If we are true Christians abiding in Christ presently, then which garments are we currently wearing: Filthy Rags (unclean) or Fine Linen (bright and clean)?

3 CONSCIENCE IS NOT SAFE AS GUIDE

It’s true that the Word of God must be used to enlighten the individual conscience more and more; and, also true that some consciences are more enlightened than others. But at the same time, it is wrong to say that one should not follow one’s conscience. Webster defines “Conscience” as “the moral sense within, which urges to right conduct.”
Conscience will always lead us to follow the Word of God, so far as we know it. Let’s look at Matthew 6:22-24 in light of the statement above. Matthew 6:22-24 says, “22The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” It is critical that we not be deceived (believing a lie) in our spiritual walk as it will lead us to destruction.
Conscience will lead us to study more of the Word of God. We can choose to ignore and even sear our conscience, but if followed it will always lead us in the right direction.
Acts 24:15,16 says, “15Having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16In view of this (resurrection of the righteous and wicked), I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.”
1 Timothy 1:19,20 says, “19Keeping (holding onto) faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme”.
God created us all with a conscience (With knowledge of knowing the good to do) to follow and not to be ignored. Romans 1:18 says, “18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth (in a sense this would mean simply ignoring our conscience) in unrighteousness”.
James 4:17 says, “17Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin”.

4 GOD’S COMMANDMENTS CANNOT BE KEPT

If none of us could keep God’s commandments, then, by necessity, we would have a valid excuse before God, and this would prove that one of God’s character attributes, namely justice, would be called into question. Do any of us really believe that God’s grace is insufficient to keep us and sustain us in our being led by the Holy Spirit to be humbly obedient to God’s commands?
Let’s all be honest with God, ourselves, and one another that the only reason we don’t obey God’s commands is simply because we have chosen to serve another master, and to serve God simultaneously, would be an impossibility.
Romans 6:16-18 and 22 says, “16Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 22But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life”.

Romans 8:6-8 says, “6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so (compare with 1 John 3:9), 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God”.
John 14:15,21 says, “15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” “21He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Matthew 5:17-19 says, “17Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”.
Deuteronomy 4:2 says, “2You shall not add to the Word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you”.
Deuteronomy 5:29 says, “29Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever”.

John 3:36 says, “36He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Matthew 7:20-23 says, “20So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

1 John 2:1-6 says, “1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him; 5but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”

1 John 1:5-7 says, “5This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

5 IF WE KEEP GOD’S COMMANDMENTS, WE WOULD HAVE NO NEED OF GOD’S GRACE

Some say that if we keep the commandments of God, we would have no need of God’s grace, but would then, by necessity, be saved by works. They stress Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:8,9 which says, “8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
To say that keeping God’s commandments, after one confesses and repents of sin, is being saved by works, reveals a total misunderstanding of what saved by grace really means. By God’s grace (God’s part) through faith (man’s part) we are saved. We are saved from the guilt, power and penalty of sin!!! God’s grace is totally sufficient to not only forgive us of our sin, but also to deliver us from our sin.
Matthew 1:21 says, “21She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”.
John 8:36 says, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed”. (Webster defines the word indeed: In truth, really, in fact, certainly). If someone says, “I have positional sanctification in Christ and yet bears bad fruit, then he is not free indeed. He has no position with Christ and cannot possess Christ. One who presently possesses Christ cannot help but to bear good fruit and will be free indeed!!!
Hebrews 10:26-29 says, “26For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?”
When we are truly “born again” and set free indeed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we then proceed to “work out” (not work for) our salvation with fear and trembling (as depicted in Philippians 2:12). To “work out” our salvation implies our work of faith (not a works of Law trying to earn or merit our salvation) in securing our steadfast relationship with Christ as we obey Him. (Please see Hebrews 5:8,9 to clarify).

6 SERMON ON THE MOUNT PROMISES AND COMMANDS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR BELIEVERS

One prominent Bible teacher said on page 1000 of the Bible that he published: “The Sermon on the Mount, in its primary application, gives neither the privilege nor the duty to the Church.” He says, in other words, that neither the promises (privileges) nor the commands (duties) of the Sermon on the Mount were for believers in general. The promises are the privileges and the commands are the duties of all believers.
Now let’s see what Christ Himself said of His own Sermon on the Mount:

In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus said, “24Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and it fell—and great was its fall.”
In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said, “18All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus said, “25For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28And why are you worried about clothing?
Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat? Or ‘What will we drink? Or What will we wear for clothing? 32For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”.

7 STINKING CORPSE FALLACY (ROMANS 7)

This fallacy is called the “stinking corpse fallacy” because a corpse is a dead body. If we are living according to the flesh, we are dead in sin according to Romans 8:6 which says, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace”. Now, unfortunately, many Christians believe that Paul in his letter to the Romans in chapter 7 is referring to the “normal Christian experience” who are always living according to the flesh.
However, we must read Romans chapters 6,7, and 8 entirely to truly understand Romans 7:14-25. These verses may refer to all people who have come to the knowledge of the Law of God and are heavily convicted by this Law, but have not yet surrendered to Christ, and therefore disobey God’s Law while being controlled by their flesh. However, Romans 7:14-25 may also refer to the backslidden Christians who have at one time truly surrendered to Christ and were living in obedience to Him, but have now chosen to live according to their flesh.
No, I am absolutely not saying that anyone who sins subsequent to their initial salvation has lost their salvation or has never really been saved. But what I am saying is that salvation is a continuum: We are saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved. In Matthew 24:13 Jesus said, “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved”. So, my prayer for all of us is that we won’t put God to the test to see just how patient He is in allowing us to live according to the flesh before giving us over to a depraved mind depicted in Romans 1:28 which says, “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper”.
In general, we will all die as we live. If we are consistently living according to the flesh; we are dead in our sins. If we are living according to the Spirit; we are alive in the Spirit. We are saved from sin and saved unto God. In general, our life should bear good fruit. God is very patient and compassionate toward us, and will give us time to repent. Revelation 2:21 says, “I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality”. We must all live out the New Covenant promise depicted in Ezekiel 36:25-29 through God’s Holy Spirit by grace through faith to please our Heavenly Father.
Let me clarify my thoughts on pleasing our Heavenly Father. If someone is promoting holiness, and is always judging, condemning, or criticizing people for continually falling short; obviously the motive of his heart is wrong. This would not be holiness, but pride and arrogance. If a basketball player is great and
every time he slammed dunked, he points to himself and shouts praise to himself; this, as well, is pride and arrogance. In both scenarios above most people would want the “holiness guy” to fall and sin, and the basketball player to miss the basket or maybe even break his ankle. The reasons for this are obvious, because the pride and arrogance, is quite disgusting to others.
However, what if someone calls himself and others to holiness or obedience of God from their hearts with the only motive being to please our Heavenly Father with our lives; would this be perceived as pride or arrogance? Before answering this question to yourself let me share an expression I heard. “Do not allow your EXPERIENCE (Christian walk) of tried/failed, tried/failed to become your STANDARD, but allow GOD’S STANDARD, Jesus Christ, to become your EXPERIENCE”. Remember, we are never to compare ourselves with others.
2 Corinthians 10:12 says, “For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding”. Our only STANDARD is Jesus Christ, and our only hope of pleasing our Heavenly Father is when we live according to the Holy Spirit by grace through faith and put no confidence in the flesh. SAVING FAITH: PURIFIES THE HEART, OVERCOMES THE WORLD, and WORKS BY LOVE.
There are in general Four types of people: Careless Unconvicted Sinners, Convicted Unconverted Sinners, the true Christian who is presently living according to the Holy Spirit, and the “backslidden Christian” who has returned to his vomit, and once again is living according to his flesh. If being true Christians, we now choose to sin, and walk out of God’s grace and according to our flesh, we have now entered into a backslidden state. This backslidden state is actually worse than the first two categories of people because we have not only at one time come to the knowledge of God’s Law, but we had completely surrendered to Christ leading us to obedience and righteousness by the Holy Spirit.
While we continue to live in this backslidden state; 2 Peter 2:20, Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26-29, and Hebrews 10:36-39 could all apply to anyone who stubbornly resist God’s saving grace and apostatizes as depicted in 1 Timothy 4:1 which says, “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons”. I am not condoning sin of any kind as Jesus would not as well, but occasional sin that is quickly and sincerely confessed and repented of is vastly different from one living a lifestyle of persistent sin without remorse.
Please read for ourselves Romans 7:14-25 carefully after reading Romans chapters 6 and 8 and determine for ourselves if this man depicted in Romans 7 is living according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 as Paul himself rebukes anyone stating that he, as a Christian, is walking according to the flesh.
Also, ask ourselves if this “Romans 7 man” is living according to Galatians 2:19-21 which says, “19For through the Law, I died to the Law so that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” We must remember that the same Paul who wrote Romans 7 is the same Paul who also wrote Romans chapters 6 and 8 as well as all of Galatians and Corinthians. To take Scripture out of context is to distort the true meaning of God’s Holy Word.
Romans 7:14 says, “14For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.” From this Scripture alone the idea that this “Romans 7 man” is a true Christian (abiding in Christ and walking according to the Holy Spirit) is absolutely false!!! We cannot be sold into bondage to sin and completely surrendered to Christ simultaneously. Matthew 6:24 says, “24No one can serve two masters….”, Romans 6:16 says, “16Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey…”
Remember, from fallacy #3 Conscience is defined as the “moral sense within which urges to right conduct”. God created all mankind with a conscience which means “with knowledge”: the knowledge of good. Whether we are Christians, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist or agnostic we all have a conscience that is operable if we are of sound mind with a developed reason. When our hearts (our wills) are making evil choices contrary to our conscience (always urging to right conduct) disharmony and lack of peace will result. Once we make an evil choice, our flesh becomes our master: all the members of our body, by necessity, will submit to this choice and act accordingly. In Bible language it is a principle or law (rule of action): Moral or immoral choices result in mental and/or physical actions. The only one that can make a choice for us is us. Let’s void our minds of any “victim mentality” and realize that we are only living according to the flesh, because we have not allowed Christ through faith to rule, control and constrain us at all times. Please see Romans 7:4-6, Romans 6:16, Romans 8:6, Galatians 2:19-21 and 5:24,25 to verify that our freedom to choose will either lead us to life and peace or death.
In Romans 7:14-25 verses below, all the “I’s” in red represent the heart (our will) making choices in subjection to the flesh (which in this case is the master). The red color was chosen to represent the blood of Jesus that is required to forgive us of this evil choice. All the “I’s” in green represent the conscience acknowledging the right thing to do, as well as the peace and life which would result if we truly live by our conscience.
This “Romans 7 man” is clearly a “convicted unconverted sinner” in light of all 14-25 verses below, but especially Romans 7:24 and 25. We are not “wretched” nor in need of being “set free” if we are presently born again and abiding in Christ. We would be free indeed. We have crucified our flesh with its passions and desires if we truly belong to Christ. (See Galatians 5:24)
Romans 7:14-25 says, “14For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
20But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”

8 SIN EVERYDAY IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED

(FALLACY REGARDING 1 JOHN 1:8)

We are not espousing sinless perfection as if no one has sinned since being truly converted, nor legalism (trying to earn or merit our salvation through works of law), nor a “holier than Thou arrogant attitude”. We are coming against the idea or mindset that embraces the false notion that we must, by necessity, be living in sin of some kind at all times because of our “humanness”. Claiming to be free from sin at any point in time is often viewed as prideful, deception or an attempt to earn our salvation. However, this freedom is simply the magnificent manifestation of God’s glorious grace and Holy Spirit working in and through anyone who accepts the Gospel on God’s terms: This is not pride, but humility. To truly and practically walk according to the Holy Spirit by consistent and unbroken faith in Christ may be viewed as an impossibility, but this is God’s will for the life of a believer.

Proverbs 23:7 says, “7For as he thinks within himself, so he is…” No one will rise higher than the expectations that are put upon him! See 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 and 2 Peter 1:2-11 which views Christians as victorious!!!
Those who insist that “we sin every day in thought, word and deed” will often pick one ambiguous Scripture such as 1 John 1:8 to prove their position while totally ignoring many other Scriptures, which lead to an opposite conclusion in the same epistle. We must look at all these Scriptures in context in order to truly know what John taught about sin.
1 John 1:8 says, “8If we say that we have no sin we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” In this Scripture John is addressing the Gnostics: A sect of heretics who believed that the spirit is entirely good and matter is entirely evil (Unbiblical dualism). John knew that the Gnostics were living in sin, but yet because they believed their spirit was always clean, they believed they were pure. So, in 1 John 1:8, John was directly referring to the Gnostics who were living in sin, and so deceived to think they were pure while living that way. John was not trying to establish some doctrine stating that all believers everywhere must, by necessity, always be living in sin. Rather, 1 John 1:8 really should be interpreted as 1 John 1:10 which says, “If we say that we have not sinned we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us.”

Let’s look at some other Scriptures in the book of 1 John depicting obedience to God:

1 John 3:3-10 says, “3And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. 7Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”
1 John 1:5-7 says, “5This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
John 14:15,21 says, “15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” “21He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Matthew 5:17-19 says, “17Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19Whoever then annuls one of the least of these

commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”.
John 3:36 says, “36He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Matthew 7:20-23 says, “20So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
1 John 5:18 says, “18We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.”
1 John 5:2-4 says, “2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

9 ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED

(ONCE IN GRACE, ALWAYS IN GRACE)

This fallacy “Once Saved, Always Saved” (or Once in Grace, Always in Grace) will be abbreviated OSAS in this letter. OSAS proponent theology consists in either Extreme or Moderate views.
The Extreme OSAS position, is embraced by teachers such as Charles Stanley and Charles Ryrie. Their position declares that after a moment of saving faith (Initial Salvation) such a person might even become an unbeliever, but will still remain saved.
The Moderate OSAS position, is disseminated by John MacArthur and others who especially subscribe to the Westminster Confession. The moderate position of OSAS states that a true, saving faith will last forever. In other words, a true believer cannot become an unbeliever. The moderate position also tends to deny the concept of Carnal Christians which is embraced by the extreme position of OSAS (To deny Carnal Christianity is a true and accurate view of the Bible, but this does not negate the error they hold believing once saved, always saved unconditionally).
To believe that once we are truly “born again” we can never lose our salvation (Apostasy) no matter what our behavior displays, is to deny the truth of the Bible as depicted in 1 Timothy 4:1: “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons”. To assume that if any of us is bearing “bad fruit” consistently, then we, by necessity, never were truly saved is to deny the possibility that after “Initial Salvation” we can choose not to believe, and go our own willful way. The Moderate OSAS proponents really don’t believe in apostasy (fall away from our faith in Christ), because they believe that Christ’s death covered our sins past, present and future and that repentance after coming to the initial faith in Christ (Initial Salvation) is merely optional, but not essential.
The two strongest props that are used to brace this false doctrine are:

No man can pluck you out of My Father’s hands.
You can’t be spiritually unborn.
Let’s briefly examine these props. True, the first one consists of Christ’s own words. But let’s be sure we do not read into them what is not there. When Jesus said, “No man can pluck you out of My Father’s hands”, He did not say, “You cannot get out, if you try,” but only that “you are secure against all attacks from without” only while we remain, by faith, in Christ’s hands. Our safety in the Father’s hands is like the safety of a man in a castle where the windows and doors are all barred securely against any intruder who might come to forcibly take him out. One important factor is too often forgotten:
The man inside the castle still possesses the key. The Christian is not made a prisoner in the Father’s hands against his will. He still possesses the key (his free moral agency; his free will to choose). God does not destroy our will when He saves us. He wants us to love Him enough to walk with Jesus voluntarily!!! Now, let’s examine the second prop: “We can’t be spiritually unborn”. The Lord Jesus likens the spiritual birth to the natural birth. All informed people will agree that the term “born again” is used here by the Lord Jesus as a metaphor. Using “born again” as a metaphor does not mean that the new birth and the natural birth are in all points alike, though it does mean they are alike in some points. Webster defines a metaphor as a “figure of speech by which a word or phrase, literally denoting one kind of object or idea, is applied to another (word or phrase) to determine a likeness or analogy between them”.
Nicodemus inquired whether this metaphor would apply by a man entering the womb again, and being born in the natural. It is a fact that no metaphor ever applies in all details to that which it simulates. The “new birth” is like the “natural birth” in some respects, but quite unlike it in other respects. When a person repents of sin, evil forces are no longer in control. In the act of repentance these evil forces have been rejected. James 4:7,8 says, “7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” It is essential to know that if we don’t first submit to God (repent of sin) our efforts to resist the devil are futile. As long as (period of time) we obey God, the Spirit-life that controls, empowers, and equips us is God’s Spirit. Romans 8:14 says, “14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God”. Those who are not led by the Spirit of God are led by the devil. In John 8:44 Jesus said to the hypocritical Pharisees, “44You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Romans 6:16 says, “16Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”

1 John 5:18 says, “18We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.”

By obeying the Word of God in genuine repentance, we come into God’s Kingdom and family, and it is a “new birth” in the fact that a “new Spirit life” is taking possession of us as we give consent.

1 Peter 1:23 says, “23For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.”
1 Corinthians 4:15,16 says, “15For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.”

“Begotten” = “Born again” in Greek translation. The “new birth” reveals that the Spirit of God, by divine persuasion, produces the change known as the “new birth” whereby: (1) a Sinner becomes a Saint and (2) a Child of the devil becomes a Child of God.

The Holy Spirit is the Agent of the “new birth”. The Word of God and one who preaches the Word are the instruments of the “new birth”.

Agent is defined as one authorized to carry on business or affairs for another; person or thing producing effect; cause; natural force. Instrument is defined as a tool, implement, means, person or thing used to make, do, measure, etc.

The Holy Spirit, at conversion, begins a cleansing process to clean up selfish motives that have been inspired by Satan. Thus, through conviction He leads the convert to hate and turn from all sin. So then, the new birth is like the natural birth, in that a new life takes possession of the one who is “born again”, but it is quite unlike the natural birth in the fact that it is voluntary; while the natural birth is wholly involuntary.

Revelation 22:17 says, “17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” In the new birth it is a matter of “God now commands all men everywhere to repent” and some will do so and some refuse. Freedom to choose is the possession of all.

Now, certainly the new birth does not deprive a man of his free moral agency. For this reason, he can of course, later turn his back on God and Christ if he chooses and become “spiritually unborn”. God never cancels man’s power of choice!!!

Because the new birth is conditioned on repentance (or obedience) and the new birth does not destroy an individual’s freedom of will, it can be revoked or cancelled by the will of that individual. The new birth is thus annulled, and the

subject in that sense is “spiritually unborn”, or becomes “spiritually dead” again in trespasses and sins.

Ephesians 2:1,2 says, “1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience”. Jesus and His Apostles taught that REPENTANCE is essential to salvation!!!

May God bless you all as you search God’s Holy Word and seek the Holy Spirit through prayer to know the truth and most importantly to live according to this truth that you come to know. May the Lord keep you free as you continue to trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. I encourage you and I encourage myself not to be bamboozled or deceived by false doctrines or false prophets.

I truly do not believe that everyone who is deceived and is currently believing false doctrines or false prophets is evil. Of course not! However, I believe everyone should be honest and sincere in searching out the Word of God to verify what we currently believe by Scripture, and never suppress the truth that would clearly show a doctrine or teaching to be false.

However, EXPONENTIALLY MORE IMPORTANT than throwing out any false doctrines is to embrace God’s Holy Spirit promised to all believers in Ezekiel 36:25-29 for a Victorious Christian Holy Life in Jesus Christ that is pleasing and honoring to our Heavenly Father. This is why Jesus Christ died for us all.