Propaganda and Heresy - The “Dallas Letter”

Church Heresies that Encourage American Socio-political Dysfunction - Part 1(c)

Propaganda (definition): Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

Simply put propaganda is a means of spreading lies. When right-wing political christians use propaganda to falsely condemn all of their chosen political enemies, it is the same as bearing false witness – a lie. The BIBLE plainly states that all liars will go to hell – all means all - it says nothing about “once saved” people being allowed to unrepentantly lie and still being saved. Rev 21:8

Currently, the word “WOKE” has been weaponized as propaganda for use by the right-wing media cesspool and is being used to attack anyone who does not support white christian nationalism, i.e., republican politics. “Woke” originally meant to be self-educated about racism and injustice. Right-wing operatives have incorporated a bizarre denial of historical reality in their propaganda campaign by creating an entirely false definition for the term “CRT.” 

Associated with being “woke,” CRT has been weaponized as a racist dog-whistle meant to frantically condemn any mention of American anti-black racism as being an expression of “anti-white” racism. Thus, America’s racism is projected back onto its historical victims. JESUS wept.

In 2018, John Macarthur published a manifesto that helped to legitimize the use of right-wing propaganda in American “christian” circles. The Statement on Social Justice & the Gospel, the so-called "Dallas Letter," was / is nothing more than a thinly veiled white nationalist political screed masquerading as “christian” doctrine. Like the 4 sermons discussed in Part 1(b) of this series, the Dallas Letter attacks “social justice” instead of reminding Christians to love their enemies - as JESUS commanded.

Endorsed by thousands of right-wing political christian “leaders,” the Dallas letter is so spiritually dangerous because, through it, a prominent Christian “leader” helps to legitimize the use of propaganda. When white nationalists, inspired and emboldened by such propaganda, condemn their political enemies as being satanic – that is a bold first step towards the dehumanization and the subsequent murder of their political enemies – the civil war that heretical white-supremacists have long fantasized about. Rev 13:10

The Dallas Letter is in 16 sections and is many pages long. For your consideration - I excerpt and discuss some of its more egregiously unbiblical statements below. (The quoted language is highlighted.)

The Statement on Social Justice & the Gospel

Introduction - 1st Paragraph

In view of questionable sociological, psychological, and political theories presently permeating our culture and making inroads into Christ's church, we wish to clarify certain key Christian doctrines and ethical principles prescribed in God’s Word.

They (MacArthur and his ghost writers) can only “clarify” according to their Calvinistic / christian nationalist / right-wing doctrine. Note that they equivocate and say that the “theories” are questionable, not undeniably false. The historical / political aspects are only questionable because the right-wing church refuses to embrace historical truth. My concern is racism and I will concentrate my commentary on that aspect of this screed.

Note that it is actually very questionable as to whether anything was clarified by this document because they do not specifically explain what the “questionable theories” teach or how they making inroads in the church. The fact that they use the “dog whistle” terms invented by the right-wing media indicates that they expect their target audience to already hold the required prejudice against what they are pretending that these terms mean (specifically Woke and CRT).

Clarity on these issues will fortify believers and churches to withstand an onslaught of dangerous and false teachings that threaten the gospel, misrepresent Scripture, and lead people away from the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

Nothing can threaten the gospel – the Bible says that no one and nothing can separate us from the love of GOD. Rom 8:38 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Oddly this is one of the Calvinists favorite scriptures used to prove their doctrine of election. Interestingly, racism and hatred in the form of white christian nationalism does in fact “lead people away” from the grace of GOD. It causes unbelievers to reject Christianity as hypocrisy instead of drawing them with love. We will see the real reason for their alarm in the next paragraph.

2nd Para

Specifically, we are deeply concerned that values borrowed from secular culture are currently undermining Scripture in the areas of race and ethnicity, manhood and womanhood, and human sexuality.

They are probably being unintentionally honest when they present “race and ethnicity” as their foremost concern. How can teaching the truth about racism and genocide in western society undermine the scriptures? That is ridiculous – it is obviously political – people simply don’t want to acknowledge that their prosperity was built on racist exploitation. IMO, all the other stuff is largely filler to justify the maintenance of racism for the purposes of white supremacy.

The Bible’s teaching on each of these subjects is being challenged under the broad and somewhat nebulous rubric of concern for “social justice.”

See how this is presented as an unsubstantiated claim, like many Calvinistic doctrinal claims, it cannot be supported by any specific BIBLE passage. What does social justice really mean? Social refers to society (everybody) – justice means fair and equal treatment. Ignoring the false definition imposed right-wing propagandists (satan’s lie machine), social justice just means equal treatment under the law for everyone. The literal definition of social justice can only be seen as being evil if you hate JESUS’ and HIS great commandment – Love GOD and love your neighbor as yourself.

What BIBLE teachings are challenged by Black Americans calling for an honest national discussion of the history of American genocide and continuing structural racism, with the goal of being granted the rights that are supposedly already guaranteed in the constitution?

If the doctrines of God’s Word are not uncompromisingly reasserted and defended at these points, there is every reason to anticipate that these dangerous ideas and corrupted moral values will spread their influence into other realms of biblical doctrines and principles.

If you examine the “ideas” that they would typically include in their strawman definition of social justice, you realize that their own law – constitutionally guaranteed rights - like unimpeded voting rights for Blacks and minorities, are considered to be “dangerous ideas” because they threaten white supremacy. At the same time, it is ridiculous fear mongering to say that some new form of immorality will spread and influence the church when every form of immorality has been present in human society since the creation of the world.

3rd Para

We submit these affirmations and denials for public consideration, not with any pretense of ecclesiastical authority, but with an urgency that is mixed with deep joy and sincere sorrow. The rapidity with which these deadly ideas have spread from the culture at large into churches and Christian organizations—including some that are evangelical and Reformed—necessitates the issuing of this statement now.

This is mere politics – it is clarion call to white supremacists / christian nationalists to “circle the wagons.” It goes without saying that they have no ecclesiastical authority to present a raft of half-truths in the service of their racist right-wing political agenda.

4th Para

In the process of considering these matters we have been reminded of the essentials of the faith once for all handed down to the saints, and we are re-committed to contend for it.

Note that the Calvinism that MacArthur follows is not the faith that was handed down to the saints; it is instead a popular heresy created by a guy in Switzerland 1500 years after the time of CHRIST.

We have a great Lord and Savior, and it is a privilege to defend his gospel, regardless of cost or consequences. Nevertheless, while we rejoice in that privilege, we grieve that in doing so we know we are taking a stand against the positions of some teachers whom we have long regarded as faithful and trustworthy spiritual guides.

It is our earnest prayer that our brothers and sisters will stand firm on the gospel and avoid being blown to and fro by every cultural trend that seeks to move the Church of Christ off course. We must remain steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

My guess is that the cultural trend that really concerns them is anti-racism and the acknowledgement of a historical reality that upsets mythology of white christian nationalism that is necessary to justify their fantasy of a future earthly dominionist kingdom.

5th Para

The Apostle Paul’s warning to the Colossians is greatly needed today: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

Right-wing politics itself is a deceitful philosophy that is wants you to forget that the main message of the BIBLE according to JESUS Christ is love GOD and love your neighbor as you love yourself – IOW simple human decency, the same concept as social justice. People who despise the idea of equal treatment for others have a serious spiritual problem.

Affirmations & Denials

The document that follows is an attempt to heed that apostolic command. We invite others who share our concerns and convictions to unite with us in reasserting our unwavering commitment to the teachings of God’s Word articulated in this statement. Therefore, for the glory of God among his Church and throughout society, we offer the following affirmations and denials.

This section of the document is a series of propositions that pretend to prove the introduction by supposedly clarifying certain Christian doctrines. It would be overly long to try to address every point that I consider deceptive, so I have commented on 2 of their “denials” and offered a conclusion that (IMO) summarizes their true intentions.

WE DENY that Christian belief, character, or conduct can be dictated by any other authority, and we deny that the postmodern ideologies derived from intersectionality, radical feminism, and critical race theory are consistent with biblical teaching.

Note that the “Ideologies” that they attack are propagandistic strawmen that 90% of their audience can’t define, other than to believe that these terms threaten their feelings of white-supremacy. This is another red herring. It is almost meaningless to claim is that some progressive social issues, especially the right's lies about them, are not consistent with biblical teaching. They don't define the code words or actually provide any proof of their hysterical claims. 

The rest of the Affirmation and Denial statement is just a long screed that cleverly intersperses Calvinistic doctrines with some BIBLICAL truths, as well as some historical falsehoods, to try to prove that nothing should be done to give all people access to the supposed constitutional right to pursue happiness. It includes just enough “reverse discrimination” type code words to make it plain that the anti-discrimination language isn’t meant as a call to actually do anything to address racial inequality. In a near paroxysm of projection they claim to “deny” many of the attitudes of the overt anti-black racist while simultaneously suggesting that anti-racism is still somehow un-Biblical. Simply put: Opposing anti-racism is pro-racism. It is as simple as 2+2=4.

WE DENY that treating people with sinful partiality or prejudice is consistent with biblical Christianity. We deny that only those in positions of power are capable of racism, or that individuals of any particular ethnic groups are incapable of racism.

This is the classic self-justification by racists which claims that the actual victims of racism are also racists, or would be, if they were in power.

We deny that systemic racism is in any way compatible with the core principles of historic evangelical convictions.

This is an interesting turn of phrase given that several of the main American Christian denominations supported chattel slavery. Any denomination that supported slavery has historically had racism as a core principle. The Southern Baptist Church admits this – what they and many other white political churches wont admit is that they continue to practice racism via right-wing politics.

We deny that the Bible can be legitimately used to foster or justify partiality, prejudice, or contempt toward other ethnicities.

It cant, but it has and continues to be used to justify racism by white racists claiming to be christians. This is another weird passive denial of obvious history.

We deny that the contemporary evangelical movement has any deliberate agenda to elevate one ethnic group and subjugate another.

The fact that the white nationalist evangelical movement has been abandoned by practically all Black americans should say something about the truth of this statement. Many Black preachers and churches have recently publicly separated from the SBC.  

And we emphatically deny that lectures on social issues (or activism aimed at reshaping the wider culture) are as vital to the life and health of the church as the preaching of the gospel and the exposition of Scripture. Historically, such things tend to become distractions that inevitably lead to departures from the gospel.

Another ridiculous statement that is shockingly hypocritical on several levels. The typical Sunday sermon often includes a lecture about the sinfulness of contemporary society. What they really mean is that white churches should not openly discuss social inequality (the actual sin of racism) and the historical evils of American society. IOW, stick to attacking strawmen victims who can't respond.

My Conclusion

Because the SJ Statement is bookended by statements on race, it intentionally or unintentionally exposes the true concern of its writers. The statement is a directive to the right wing political church that means to discourage truthful discussion of America’s anti-black racism. It is an interesting mixture of Calvinistic doctrine and right-wing politics; a kind of passive aggressive denial of both historical and contemporary reality. In a bizarre type of projection, the writers have created a laundry list of attitudes that describe the overt anti-black racist; saying that the church should not support such attitudes. At the same time, they heavily infer that anti-racism is also un-Biblical, so the white church should not support it either.

In sum, while this manifesto rightly informs us that racism and prejudice are not compatible with BIBLICAL Christianity, it also emphatically implies that the white protestant church and its congregants should not embrace anti-racism, in any form. It is yet another screed in the long tradition of such writings where certain religious people pretend to wring their hands over racism, but go on to conclude that the victims should not complain because it upsets white America; i.e., Americans should not be forced to hear that their idol (American Culture) is evil – even when the BIBLE tells us that all nations are controlled and dominated by the evil one. 2 Corinthians 4:4, John 12:31

Are Reformed Evangelicals Against Human Decency?

Church Heresies that Encourage American Socio-political Dysfunction - Part 1(b) 

It seems almost ridiculous to ask whether any Christian would be against human decency, but in recent years, the most popular Reformed Church leader in America has gone far, far out of his way to attack the concept of “social justice.” This post will discuss a series of sermons by right-wing preacher, John MacArthur, where he bizarrely attacks the idea of “social justice” as though it is the very concept of evil. (He actually attacks a strawman – a false definition.)

 Is Social Justice the same thing as Human Decency?

Human decency means treating others the way you want to be treated – to love your neighbor as yourself. (BibleVerses) The word “Social” pertains to the organized groups we live in. “Justice” means fairness and equal treatment under the law (and in the eyes of GOD). Most formal definitions of “social justice” have three general ideas in common: 1) equal rights, 2) equal opportunity and 3) equal treatment – all things guaranteed by law under the US Constitution. Everyone wants to be treated fairly. The question is, why would a famous preacher want to attack the concept of decent treatment for all people?

John MacArthur vs Social Justice

In a short interview on Youtube - which one of his followers gleefully titled “John MacArthur destroys the social gospel in 2 minutes…” - MacArthur makes several biblically false arguments against social justice. He says (paraphrase): “Jesus didn’t do anything to change the social structure or bring about social justice. He didn’t try to fix law courts, end poverty, or overthrow slavery – (so) there was nothing of social justice in the ministry of Jesus.” MacArthur is obviously making a biblically twisted argument, meant to signal his right-wing libertarian followers that they don’t need to be concerned with social justice, i.e., human decency – that somehow, they can set decency apart from their version of Christianity, especially when it conflicts with their political goals. 

BIBLE

At the very beginning of the New Testament, JESUS says: If you are hateful towards other people, you are as guilty (spiritually) as a murderer. Don’t retaliate or seek revenge, but love your enemies; pray for those who persecute you. Mat 5:21, Mat 5:43 People at that time believed in taking revenge, and the Jewish leaders not only hated their non-Jewish enemies, they also despised the poor and downtrodden among their own people.

Wasn’t it a fundamental change when JESUS taught that the most respected class in Jewish culture, the religious hierarchy, far from being blessed, where in fact greedy hypocrites that HE judged worthy of damnation in hell? Mat 23:15, 1Joh 2:15 This was a complete restructuring of the people’s understanding. They thought that the rich were blessed but JESUS told them that because the rich loved money, they were actually the enemies of GOD. Mat 6:24 

Keep going... OK I will

As I mentioned above, MacArthur has a whole series of sermons (three hours’ worth) on the topic, which I discuss below. But first, I want to note that I am not fixated on opposing or “exposing” John MacArthur. (I would personally prefer to just ignore everything he says.) I focus this series on him because he is regarded as the top right-wing political christian teacher of our time, and it seems that many other right-wing political Christians are emboldened by his hate-tinged political talking points. Another popular Calvinist, John Piper, recently said that MacArthur’s type of preaching sends his people out into the world seething with anger… IOW, it is a message of hate, essentially right-wing propaganda that makes political christians hate worldly people instead of being examples of Christian love that would make them want to come to Christ. (Note that this attitude is generally in line with Calvinist doctrine.)

The Tactics of Twisting the Truth

Why do people create strawmen? In general, it is a dishonest way to discredit your enemy / victim. White Christian nationalists want to believe that America was and is destined to create a Christianized world kingdom, so they must pretend that America is not and has never been evil – that it wasn’t founded on chattel slavery and genocide. For white Christian nationalism to work, the victims must be erased, or in this case, disqualified. MacArthur is using the BIBLE to cast the historical victims of America (lumping them in with modern lifestyle sinners) as responsible for their own victimization. He is very good at making his views sound reasonable, until you realize that every twisted statement follows the same general pattern; a series of equivocations followed by a false or unproven conclusion (e.g., we are all victims in one way or another, so people claiming to be victims don’t even deserve our sympathy).

The following are just some of the falsehoods from each of the four sermons:

Sermon 1 (There is a link to the sermon transcript under each video.)

Note that he uses Ezekiel 18 as a framework for this entire screed. Although this is Old Testament, he keeps calling it the Gospel for some reason. The theme of Ezekiel 18 is “The Soul Who Sins Shall Die.” It teaches that each person will be judged for their own sins. The tie-in has to do with the common racist talking point that no one alive today is responsible for slavery or genocide, so it should just be forgotten. Of course, this is a hypocritical pretense that overt, even legal, racism hasn’t plagued black Americans since the formal end of enslavement. In fact, MacArthur often claims that institutional racism doesn’t even exist.

He starts out with a twisted statement, a false strawman definition of social justice (the equivocations and false conclusions are in bold text):

“You don’t find social justice as such in the Bible. Social justice is a term that describes the idea that everyone has the right to equal upward mobility – everybody in a society: equal upward mobility, equal social privilege, equal finances or equal resources. And if you don’t have those rights and you don’t have those opportunities the society is, by nature, unjust.”

He refers to “self-perceived” victims as though victimization by racism doesn’t exist.

At 1:10 MacArthur says “social justice is part of classic socialism.” Classic socialism is communism. This is a lie. False redefinition of words is a classic political tactic used to create “dog-whistles” to attack political enemies. Calling your chosen adversary an evil communist is a century old political smear used whenever average Americans start to demand justice.

He brings this one out of the blue:

Let me make it clear. In God’s eyes – listen – no one is a victim. We are all perpetrators of open rebellion, scandalous, blasphemous sin against God. We are all rebels, we are all obstinate, we are all stubborn. Sure, the exiles, they were in Babylon because of bad choices kings made, because of bad choices that their ancestors made to bring the idols into the land.

This isn’t really accurate, most of the Israelites, not just the rulers, were in open apostacy against GOD before they lost their kingdom.  

They were in captivity because of those choices. That created the context in which they live. But Ezekiel says to them, “The soul that sins shall die.” Here we have the critical fundamental principle of the gospel; no one is a victim. From God’s viewpoint, no one is a victim.

This is followed by another unsupported conclusion, also based on Calvinist doctrine: 

They (the victims of America) don’t take responsibility, they just blame somebody else; and they’re perfectly happy to blame God.

People might blame false Christians, a historically racist church, or religion in general, but when was the last time you heard a black person blame racism on GOD? Then here comes the equivocation followed by a false conclusion wrapped in Calvinist doctrine:

Look, I know people have suffered injustice, I get it; that’s a fallen world. But I also know the Bible is explicit. If you are a preacher, regardless of what people’s social condition is, you have one job, and that is to warn them of wickedness and the coming judgment of God… Is it our duty to affirm that people are victims of the sins of somebody else? You know where that leads? They’re going to blame God. And if they blame God for their condition, how are they going to go to God because they think He’s merciful? You acknowledge that somebody got a bad deal in history; you’ve indicted God, because He’s the author of history. That’s a slippery slope.

This is the false conclusion – Christian nationalists refuse to shoulder any blame at all, even for modern racism, so they create a trope saying that victims of American racism are blaming GOD! It is all wrapped in a weird apology for the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. One of the main objections to Calvinism is that, via predestination, GOD directs people to do evil. MacArthur refuses to admit that America is responsible for any evil, so he offers an illogical mishmash saying that you cant acknowledge historical reality because to a Calvinist, this is blaming GOD. He goes on to conclude the message without ever explicitly mentioning the victims of 400 years of slavery and racism – which is of course, what this screed is really all about.

Sermon 2

Sample ridiculous false conclusion:

Everybody wants to find victim status in some way, because only victims are empowered in the culture, only victims have moral authority.

At the end of Sermon 2, after droning on about how social justice is not in the BIBLE, MacArthur turns on a dime and admits that Eze 18 does in fact address social issues:

This righteous person, in verse 7, “does not oppress anyone.” This is now social virtues of love and mercy, compassion, generosity…. “He doesn’t commit robbery, gives his bread to the hungry, covers the naked with clothing.” You can see here that this kind of life, the life of a righteous man, does address social issues, right? These are all social issues. It addresses social issues absolutely. They are avoiding adultery. They give the highest level of care. They don’t oppress anyone ever. They restore to the debtor his pledge. They don’t commit robbery. They give bread to the hungry, cover the naked with clothing. This is what a righteous person does. This is the result of salvation. This is the result of the gospel changing a life.

So, social justice is, in fact, in the BIBLE, even in his hand-picked verses. But is this attitude – the acts of Ezekiel’s righteous man - the real attitude of right-wing political Christianity in modern America? Doesn't the right-wing church politically oppose all these things?  

Sermon 3

Main false conclusion:

No person is being punished (by GOD) for somebody else’s sins (true, this is the theme of Eze 18) so… …no one is a victim of anybody else’s sins. (A ridiculous statement – is a murder victim the victim of another’s sin?)

In other words, the victim of injustice is a sinner who is responsible for his own victimization! Blame the victim, indeed.

Sermon 4

Strange unproven conclusion:

The Christian message is hopelessly lost if people get caught up in social issues.

He offers no proof of this. Did the Christian message get lost when black and white Christian abolitionists in the north worked to end chattel slavery in the south? It took 100 years but the “Christian” denominations that separated to support the slave system finally admitted their evil.  

Conclusion

MacArthur’s main false conclusion is:

“You (black people) are not victims, you are willful sinners. You are guilty for blaming past generations for your “delusional” victimization.”

Then here comes the Calvinist projection:

“Sinners (victims of injustice) are not victims of an unjust sovereign God. They’re not victims of an indifferent God. They’re not victims of another generation.”

GOD allows good and bad things to happen to all people on the earth; but to say that enslaved and genocided people were not victims of the people who killed and enslaved them is just plain crazy. The ultimate dog-whistle false conclusion is that: since ongoing racism isn’t actually real, the right-wing political church does not need to concern itself with addressing inequity in the past or in the present. Does this selfish attitude represent the main teaching of the BIBLE - to love your neighbor as yourself?

Church Heresies that Encourage American Socio-political Dysfunction - Part 1(a.)

…and there was a glitch in the evangelical/reformed matrix…

In 2013 a shocking statement, made years earlier by the foremost reformed preacher in America, came to light. During a Q&A session, John MacArthur had been recorded saying that, in the end times, Christians can take the “mark of the beast” and still be saved. There was an instant out cry by those who considered this statement to be a heretical contradiction of scripture. One YouTube commenter said (paraphrase): “… MacArthur is clearly going against the word of God to promote his own interpretation; Calvinism first, everything else second.”

Scriptural background: In the Book of Revelation, the BIBLE says that in order to be able to buy food and live, people on earth during the reign of the anti-christ will be forced to take a mark on their bodies (666) - signifying that they worship/belong to the beast (satan). Rev 13:15-18

What does the BIBLE say about taking the mark?

Rev 14:9-10:  …"If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb” (indicating final damnation). This is an “if – then” statement. IOW, if you (take the mark), then you will be damned. The word tenses in the original Greek indicate that this is a certainty – not just a possibility. It goes on -  Rev 14:13 tells us that “… anyone who receives the mark…” will receive eternal punishment. The BIBLE plainly states that those who receive the mark are damned; it never teaches that you can receive the mark and be forgiven. The certainty of damnation after taking the mark is the accepted interpretation of these verses. Rev 19:20, Rev 21:8

A Mistake?

MacArthur must have realized that he mis-spoke. He has a seminary, surely someone must have pointed this out and he made a correction – right?

Nope.   

A defense of this statement is still up on his website today. Typically, it begins by falsely re-stating the question that led to MacArthur’s heretical statement. The actual question asked by the audience member was: “once a person takes the mark, is there any possibility of him coming to Christ?” (The original Q&A transcript is here – search the word “beast.”) The website defense claimed that the original question was whether “taking the mark of the Beast during the Great Tribulation would be an unpardonable sin?” The “unpardonable sin” is an entirely separate theological discussion that is specific to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. MacArthur’s followers are still using this red herring to defend his teaching – they claim that since taking the mark is not specifically said to be the “unpardonable sin” – then this must be a sin that can be forgiven. 

An honest restatement of the question would be: “If you take the mark of the beast in the midst of the tribulation can you still be saved?” MacArthur says yes, if you repent after taking the mark you can still be saved. This is a weak “argument from silence” debate tactic, i.e., since Rev 14:10 doesn’t say that you can't repent, then you must be able to. The scripture, however, says elsewhere that the worshippers of the beast (those who take the mark) will refuse to repent - even as their souls are being destroyed. Rev 9:20-21, Rev 16:9-11  There is obviously a spiritual aspect to this scenario where those who do not love the truth are eternally deceived. 2Th 2:8-12

Why would MacArthur teach this? It may be as simple as the need to defend the Calvinist system. Maybe this stance seems necessary to support Unconditional Election / OSAS; the Calvinist teaching that says if you are one of the elect, your salvation can’t be lost for any reason. However, selling your soul to the devil to live a short while longer during the tribulation is plainly the opposite of faithfully enduring to the end to be saved.   

Why bring this up now - decades later?

Is this statement the heresy I wish to expose? No, I point to this episode in order to set the stage. In recent years, John MacArthur has gone on to make a number of public pronouncements that use similarly faulty interpretations of scripture to support right-wing, proto-fascist, republican propagandistic talking points. Many other American right-wing political christians, from across the evangelical spectrum, have signed onto these statements and, no doubt, convey these sentiments to their congregations.  

In upcoming posts I will show how such statements contribute to the division in modern American society by heretically contradicting the most fundamental teaching of scripture - to love your neighbor as yourself.   

Church heresies that Encourage American socio-political dysfunction

How did America get into a situation where radical right-wing demagogues are threatening wide-spread violence, wanting to enforce their half-baked belief system on a majority that does not agree? The answer can be simple or complex, political or spiritual, depending on your point of view. Some points to consider:

1) Mythology. America has never been the model of democracy that it portrays itself to be and there is a desperate backlash against the truth by those who idolize Americanism.

2) Billionaires. For no visible reason beyond feeding their overwhelming greed, corporate billionaires have taken control of the government through a system of legalized political bribery. Their apparent intention is to maintain control of the masses by any means necessary – divide and conquer being their favorite weapon.

3) Propaganda. The current state of political and social dysfunction in America is largely the product of an evil, propagandistic, right-wing media complex; created and deployed by an often-unnamed oligarchy. It spews the propaganda that continues to convince a large segment of low information voters to support the status quo. What are long-term motives of those who own and control this malevolent media juggernaut? As Christians we must consider the spiritual intent behind the creation and sponsorship of a machine that manufactures a limitless supply of lies. John 8:44

Right Wing Propaganda - Apostate Religion Plays its Part

This series of posts will discuss several unbiblical teachings, spread by influential American church leaders, that have been weaponized as part and parcel of right-wing political propaganda. These teachings have been a crucial component of the decades long propaganda campaign to encourage people to vote against their neighbor’s best interests, as well as their own. Mark 12:31 It will be up to you to decide whether such statements are consistent with the GOSPEL or if they were made entirely in the service of worldly, right-wing, Christian Nationalist politics. The outline:

Part 1. Recent political statements from the reformed church that oppose the BIBLE.

Part 2. Dispensational theology – what it is and the role it plays in Christian Nationalism.

Part 3. Racism – how can right-wing political Christians say they are not racists but still openly support anti-Black racism?

Part 4. Dominionism and Christian Nationalism are woven into the right wing’s proto-fascist agenda. What is their desired end game?

See my previous series, Unconditional Salvation vs the BIBLE. https://calvinism-racism-trump.blogspot.com/2022/06/is-salvation-really-unconditional.html

OSAS #4 – Grace vs Works: “Mud in the Water”

Intro

This is the fourth in a series of posts that compare the modern “Once Saved Always Saved” church doctrine with what the BIBLE actually teaches. This post explains why Calvinists / OSAS believers have enshrined a false unbiblical distinction between grace and works as an inflexible part of their salvation doctrine. 

What is Grace?

Grace simply means favorable treatment from GOD. Eph 2:8 In regard to salvation, GOD’s grace is the act of drawing you to CHRIST so you can receive the offer of salvation. The parable of the sower shows that grace is given unconditionally to all, but it can be rejected - so salvation itself is not unconditional (as some falsely teach). Mat 13:1-23

What are Works?

Many religious systems share the belief that if your good works outweigh your sins, your afterlife will be in paradise. Modern agnostics believe something similar – that if there is an afterlife, their generally moral / charitable lifestyle should earn them a place in heaven. The BIBLE, however, teaches that you cant “earn” salvation, not even by being morally good. Christian salvation, can only be had through faith in JESUS. “Good works,” done in love, are evidence that you are living out your faith according to the commandments of JESUS. Rom 4

How Did the Grace vs Works Controversy Get Started?

Somewhere on its long march towards apostasy, the Catholic church started to teach that doing ritualized good works leads to salvation. One such work was making a donation to the church. Medieval Catholics could buy a certificate from the church, called an indulgence, that supposedly allowed them to sin and still be saved. This scam was made possible by the fact that the Catholic church generally didn’t allow the common people to read the BIBLE and had convinced medieval believers that it had the right to create doctrine – including doctrine that opposed the BIBLE. The accumulation of similarly outrageous heresies eventually led to a rebellion against the church known as the Protestant Reformation.

The 16^th century Protestants that left Catholicism created a dogmatic stance against “works righteousness” to separate themselves from the old Catholic practices. Unfortunately, they (notably Calvin) overemphasized grace to the point that they began to teach that willful sinners would also be saved – the genesis of the “unconditional salvation” doctrine.

What are Works (According to Calvinists / OSAS Believers)?

The acts of obedience that JESUS commanded are often ridiculed by modern Calvinists and OSAS believers as “works” that don’t contribute to salvation. They argue that (according to their doctrine) salvation can only be had by passively accepting GOD’s grace. IOW, trying to cooperate with GOD to achieve salvation is an act of unfaithfulness that proves that you don’t believe that GOD is powerful enough to save you. Their bottom-line belief is that salvation, once requested, is instantaneous and permanent so nothing that happens after that, including continuing to live in willful sin, can cause you to lose it. In order to uphold their false doctrine, they must reject the very commandments of JESUS – the ongoing actions HE requires from us to maintain and ensure our salvation.

Argument Framing – the “Mud in the Water”

Argument framing is a manipulative debate tactic that OSAS teachers, particularly Calvinists, have long used to set false, misleading boundaries around the “grace vs works” salvation argument. In an effort to justify their false doctrine, Calvinists and OSAS believers redefine the works of righteousness commanded by JESUS as “acts of Old Testament legalism, i.e., works under the law.” According to them, it is black or white; either you accept their unconditional salvation doctrine or you are someone who believes in Old Testament legalism. If you accept their “framing,” you have already lost the argument.

What Did Jesus Say about works?

When Calvinists / OSAS believers defend their “unconditional salvation / salvation by faith alone” doctrines and disparage acts of Christlikeness and obedience as “works,” they are willfully ignoring JESUS’ threat to damn people both for hypocritical religious “works” and for the works of righteousness that they did not do. Mat 7:21-27; Mat 25:34-46 The BIBLE repeatedly states that we will be judged according to our works.

What are Works according to Apostle Paul?

The purpose of the OT law was to teach people the difference between right and wrong – Paul called it a “schoolmaster.” Under legalism, the Jews did ritual works that were meant to earn forgiveness for specific sins, but their inner attitudes often remained unchanged. So, according to the New Testament (NT), OT rituals did not result in final salvation. Nevertheless, some early Christians assumed that everyone should become a Jew before being allowed to become a Christian. Paul opposed this in the strongest terms - he taught that returning to the OT law would be to reject the work of JESUS. JESUS was the final sacrifice – the fulfillment of the OT that activated the offer of forgiveness through eternal salvation. Mat 5:17-20 There was no purpose in returning to the law, i.e., continuing to seek forgiveness through ritual animal sacrifice.

This is the doctrine that the Calvinists twisted to claim that all works, including the acts of righteousness commanded by JESUS, are pointless attempts to return to the law under the OT.

The Necessity of Works according to James

James gave a simple BIBLE formula regarding works: “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:14-22 IOW, Christian belief without maintaining a Christlike attitude and doing Christlike actions is meaningless. James was talking about the works of obedience and Christlikeness according to the teaching of JESUS – actions that are evidence of loving GOD by loving others.

The “Mud in the Water” - Christlikeness and Obedience are Not OT Legalism

The Calvinistic argument that you must accept the “salvation by grace only” doctrine or you are a “works salvation” heretic, is the “mud in the water.” It is a false controversy that clouds the clear WORD of GOD in order to lead believers astray. BIBLE readers know that the scripture says both points are true - that salvation is by grace and that we must be Christlike and obedient to receive that salvation.

The grace of GOD is the primary action in the salvation process – drawing you to JESUS so you can hear HIS word and decide whether to accept it. Does this mean that you have no responsibility for cooperating with the salvation process? The BIBLE plainly indicates that you must continually do GOD’s will – loving GOD by loving your neighbor – to maintain your salvation. These are the very actions that Calvinists / OSAS believers denigrate as “works.”

Ironically, the people who teach Calvinism / OSAS count on ritualistic actions (works) themselves for salvation. The so-called “sinner’s prayer” (not found in the BIBLE) has become a ritual among OSAS believers. They insist that saying it just one time is a guarantee of salvation – even for those who continue living in sin. The same folks also seem to think that being part of the demographic that faithfully attends a right-wing “conservative” American church, a church body that is idolatrously loyal to republican politics (i.e., Christian nationalist), is a ticket to salvation.   

Regardless of what some want to believe, you cannot dictate your relationship to GOD - deciding which commandments you will or will not obey. Salvation is in reading and doing the WORDS of JESUS.

OSAS vs “Keep on Believing”

This is the third in a series of posts that compares the modern “Once Saved Always Saved” church doctrine with what the BIBLE actually teaches. This post acknowledges the gospel truth of BIBLE verses that say “Believe and be Saved” but gives additional insight into these verses that is rarely taught in modern denominational churches. 

Believe and be Saved

In order to spread the gospel, the Apostles had to preach one thing before anything else - that if people believed in JESUS, they would be saved; and by doing so they no longer had to fear death. “Believe and be saved” was, and still is, the central message of the Christian faith. (Verses) Nevertheless, every New Testament author made pains to inform believers that they also needed to be righteous to achieve final salvation.

JESUS: "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Mat5:20 

Keep On Believing...

Sadly, many modern American churches scorn the parts of the Gospel message that encourage, and even warn us, to be holy They choose to focus only on the BIBLE verses that tell us to “believe and be saved.”

You might be surprised to learn that the very word “believe,” (as in John 3:16), has a generally unrecognized meaning. In the original Greek, the actual meaning is: “Keep on believing” / “Continue to be faithful.” 

The Greek word “pisteuon,” translated as “believe,” is grammatically a present active participle. This is similar to adding the ending “-ing” to a word in English. As an active verb, it means to keep doing something, i.e., “Continue in faith / keep on believing.” Most of the verses for “believe and be saved” imply a life-long spiritual relationship with JESUS – not a casual “set it and forget it” oath that buys you eternal salvation. John14:21-24 See this BIBLE hub link for more examples.  

This simple lesson highlights the fact that scripture tells us again and again that we must keep on doing what JESUS commands - actually live life according to HIS WORD; both in inner attitude and in outward action. It is yet more evidence that salvation is not necessarily instantaneous and permanent, as taught by OSAS. Even though scripture contains many verses that say “believe and be saved,” there are even more verses that tell us that we must overcome (be victorious) through holiness and obedience. We must do both to be secure.

Who’s Will?

People show that they have lost the fear of GOD when they decide that they can pick and choose which parts of scripture they will obey. OSAS people readily accept the “believe and be saved” verses and often reject the call to be obedient. Some have even come to believe that they will be saved in unholiness - in willful sin. JESUS himself stressed that HE was doing GOD’s will, not HIS own. The WORD plainly says that it is GOD’s will that you be holy, love HIM, and love your neighbor as yourself. To love what GOD loves is true obedience.

Amazingly, many American denominations actively and sometimes belligerently attack anything other than their “believe once and be saved” teaching. They casually accuse anyone who questions OSAS as trying to earn salvation through their own works. Some even take the “grace vs works” teaching so far as to encourage their parishioners to believe that they don’t even have to try to be good to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven! This attitude is easy to spot  in the hateful tone of modern right-wing political churches that brazenly repeat the lies of political leaders.

Entrance into New Jerusalem

Listen to what the apostle John said about those who will be allowed in the Holy City (the Kingdom of GOD):

“...there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean (unholy / defiled), or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb's book of life.” Rev21:27 Eph5:5

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life (eternity in Heaven), and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Rev 22:14-15 

Nothing, i.e., no one who is unholy, who lies, who does not obey GOD’s commands, will enter into the kingdom of Heaven. It continues to amaze that people calling themselves Christians do not believe these verses apply to them; choosing instead to believe nationalistic doctrines brought into the church as recently as 20 years ago.

In the next installment we will examine the grace vs works controversy, as it pertains to OSAS.

Definitions

Righteousness - When GOD justifies a person, i.e., judges a person to be acceptable to HIM. Abraham was determined to be righteous for believing and acting on what GOD told him to do - nevertheless, he was far from perfect. The sinner in the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee was justified because he humbled himself before GOD and admitted his sinfulness. In Matthew 5:20, JESUS is referring to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees - their hypocrisy was the opposite of righteousness. Believers achieve righteousness through their faith in JESUS.   

OSAS vs the BIBLE #2 – Are there Additional Requirements for Salvation?

This is the second in a series of posts that compares modern “Once Saved Always Saved” church doctrines with what the BIBLE actually teaches. I was challenged to list any BIBLE verses that add requirements for salvation (beyond just believing) so this post focuses there.

Sorry this is so long – but one of the problems in modern society is that so many things get reduced to oversimplified, propagandistic sound-bites that discourage thinking. So, this is not a quick, easy read; it calls for contemplating the linked BIBLE verses. Is it worth it? You have to ask yourself whether it is worth your time to read what the BIBLE really says or if you will just leave your eternal fate in the hands of a preacher who is being paid to (rightly or wrongly) quote his denomination's official doctrine.

The conditional verses listed below add responsibilities to the believer's initial decision for CHRIST - i.e., the believer is responsible for holding onto salvation, after accepting it. The conditional verses do not teach a supposed “works gospel” where people try to earn salvation; they warn the “saved” believer against maintaining a worldly sinful attitude and then still expecting JESUS to accept them. Again, please see Bob Utley’s teaching about BIBLE paradoxes (seeming contradictions) regarding perseverance and assurance (see definitions below).

Utley: “Christianity is an initial response of repentance and faith followed by a continuing response of repentance and faith. Salvation is not a product (a ticket to heaven or a fire insurance policy), but a relationship. It is a decision and discipleship.” Paraphrase: “… a believer’s salvation is described in the New Testament in all of the following ways: as having been completed, as an ongoing process, and as something to be realized in the future.” 

The Unconditional Salvation Doctrine

First, let’s look at a verse commonly used to teach OSAS and an accompanying denominational argument for unconditional salvation.

Joh 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This seems entirely straight forward – believe in JESUS and be saved. A typical related denominational argument for “salvation by faith alone” is given at (Calvinistic) gotquestions.org: 

“Any (Bible) verse that ascribes salvation to faith/belief, with no other requirement mentioned, is a declaration that salvation is by faith alone.”

I would contend that this very confident sounding statement is not borne out by the New Testament. In worldly terms, it might even be called a logical fallacy, i.e., an argument from silence. They are saying that because some “believe and be saved” BIBLE verses do not contain any qualifying statements in the same verse, then there must not be any.

None of the BIBLE authors who told us to believe and be saved, specifically indicated that only belief was necessary. On the contrary, the very same people who revealed the WORD that gives us assurance in salvation also warned us to “stand firm, repent, hold on, remain, be obedient, enter the narrow gate, be holy, overcome, and strive for Christlikeness.” Why give all these cautionary statements if salvation is truly instant and permanent at the moment the believer asks for it?

Conditions for Salvation Stated in the BIBLE

BIBLE commentators affirm that there are many more verses which present conditions for salvation than there are verses used to teach unconditional salvation. There are so many verses outlining conditions for salvation that it can be useful to break them out into separate categories:

• Verses calling for the believer to “stand firm” and continue living with JESUS to the end.
• Verses that warned the original saved Christians that they could lose their salvation.
• Verses warning people that if they are not Christlike, that if they maintain a worldly attitude, they won’t be allowed in the Kingdom of Heaven.

I. Stand Firm / Abide in ME / Keep on Believing / Persevere – to be saved

JESUS and the disciples never said that we only need one moment of faith at the beginning of our Christian walk; they repeatedly warned us to remain faithful to the end of our lives in order to gain the final victory (salvation). Why would it be necessary to emphasize the requirement to abide, if salvation is instantaneous and permanent at the time of conversion?

But what does it mean to abide / stand firm? It means to stay, endure, to remain in a certain place, condition, or state of mind. IOW, you must live with JESUS and continue to do HIS will, which is to love GOD and love your neighbor as yourself, until the last day of your life. I Joh 5:2-3 says that we prove our love for GOD by obeying HIS WORD. The BIBLE, in its entirety, shows us that although GOD is love, HE is also Judgement – negatively judging those who refuse to obey in good faith.

A typical verse relating the commandment to stand firm:

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Mat 24:12-13 

Comparable verses that call on the believer to be faithful to the end, abide, remain, hold firm, continue, etc. (Note that the shortened references and commentary statements are given for the convenience of the reader and are not meant to be “proof texts.” The links are provided so you can review the full chapter and verse where these statements occur):

• Matt. 10:22, Mark 13:13 - You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 
• John 8:31-32 - To the Jews who believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, (then) you really are my disciples. I.E., If you live according to the word (commandment to love each other, etc.) then you are the actual followers of JESUS.
• John 15:4-10 - "...I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Joh 15:6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned (lost).
• Hebrews 3:11-13 “…Help each other to stand firm…” “…beware that none of you becomes deaf and blind to God through the delusive glamour of sin. For we continue to share in all that Christ has for us so long as we steadily maintain until the end the trust with which we began.”
• 2 Ti 2:11-13 – “…if we endure, we will also reign with him.”
• 1 Cor. 15:2 – “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”
• Col. 1:23 – “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.”
• Rev 3:21 - "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

II. The Danger of Losing Salvation

Does the BIBLE actually say that Christians can lose their connection to CHRIST and in some cases, lose their salvation? Those who teach unconditional salvation say no, but the BIBLE gives a multitude of warnings. A typical verse:

Joh 15:1-6  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit… …If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” This was/is a warning by JESUS to saved Christians that, like the Jews who refused to accept HIM, they too were subject to being cut off and cast into the fire (eternal damnation).

Similar verses warning those who had entered into salvation that they could lose it:

• Matt. 18:21 – The parable of the unmerciful servant – he was forgiven an impossible debt – but because he did not forgive others, his forgiveness was revoked and he was sent to the “prison” (metaphorically hell)! 
• Matt. 13:1-23 – The Parable of the Sower (a farmer planting seeds) – JESUS tells us that three out of the four hearers of the Gospel accepted the WORD. According to OSAS this has to mean that they were “saved” at the moment they believed. In the parable JESUS tells us something different - that only one of the three hearers who initially accepted the Gospel went on to actually be saved because they had produced fruit in their lives – i.e., Christlike obedience.
• Matthew 3:10 – “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Judgement was prophesied for Israel because they would not accept JESUS.
• Matthew 24:4–14; Mark 13:5-13; Luke 21:8-19 – End time deception … Jesus: “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray…. But the one who endures to the end (maintains belief in the real JESUS) will be saved.”
• Luke 21:34–36 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.” Those who are in sin when their own individual judgement day comes are cast out with the hypocrites (not saved). Mat 24:48-51
• Phil. 3:18-20 - Paul, speaking to believers, told them that worldly believers are enemies of the cross of CHRIST.
• Heb 6: 4-8 - Indicates that believers who leave JESUS and do not produce fruit will be burned.
• Jas. 5:19 - James says that if believers would "wander from the truth" that they would be in danger of spiritual "death."
• Gal 6:9 - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
• 1Timothy 4:1 - Deception in the end times: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…”
• Rev. 2:7, 17 , 26 ; 3:5, 12, 21 – JESUS gave repeated warnings to the already saved believers in the Revelation churches that they needed to repent. He says that the ones who overcome, conquer, win the victory (over worldliness) will be saved. Doesn’t this infer that those who are not victorious over worldliness could be lost?

III. Christlikeness and Holiness

Two well-known BIBLE passages present a list of sins that make people ineligible for heaven if they do not truly repent of such sins - Gal 5:19-21 and Rev 21:7-8, 27. These warning verses were sent to saved Christians that had been evangelized by the original disciples. Note that they do not mention any exceptions for those who had previously made a decision for CHRIST. The OSAS concept, that continuing willful sin after being saved can’t cause you to lose salvation, directly contradicts these verses and many more. Review Galatians 5 and consider how many of these disqualifying sins could be said to characterize the general attitude in America's right-wing political churches.

Mat 7:21-23 warns saved Christians that they must maintain Christlikeness or be in danger of damnation:

JESUS: Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

This verse was clearly written to warn Christians, who are entirely confident in their salvation, that they will be rejected by JESUS for hypocrisy and continuing sin – they were not living with HIM or in HIM, so HE says HE doesn’t know them. 

The scripture repeatedly calls on believers to be holy. 2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Peter 1:15-16,  Hebrews 10:26-29 Willful sinners (like some emboldened by OSAS) are warned that they will receive severe punishment because they have "insulted the Spirit of grace" – the very grace that they are counting on to excuse their continuing sinfulness. Heb 10:29

Related verses that demand holiness:

• Rom 6:1 – “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” Answered at: Rom 6:15  “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death (Thanatos/hell), or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” This plainly says that disobedience and continued willful sin after accepting JESUS leads to physical/spiritual death.
• Mat 5:48 – “Since you are children of a perfect Father in heaven, you are to be perfect like him.” 
• Mat 7:15-20 – “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” This verse leads right into Mat 7:21-23 above. 
• Mat 5:21 – Hatred shows that people do not know GOD and are not saved according to 1 Joh 3:15. It Is shocking how many people in modern right wing political churches (who are counting on OSAS) are filled with hate and prejudice when JESUS demands that you love your enemy!
• James 2:14 – “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” This doesn’t mean works of ritual religion done in an attempt to purchase salvation, but loving actions done for others which show that JESUS is living in you.
• James 5:19–20 – “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” IOW, if someone in the church starts to live in sin, they are headed towards spiritual death, unless someone warns them and they repent.
• 2 Cor. 13:5 – “Test your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate.” Reprobate means lost forever.
• Gal 5:16-26 – “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. …The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
• Gal. 6:8-9 – “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” “Sows” means to plant, i.e., one's actions in life.
• 2 Ti 2:17-19 – “The Lord knows those who are His, and Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
• 1 John 2:3-6 - It is only when we obey God’s laws that we can be quite sure that we really know him. The man who claims to know God but does not obey his laws is not only a liar but lives in self-delusion. In practice, the more a man learns to obey God’s laws the more truly and fully does he express his love for him. Obedience is the test of whether we really live “in God” or not. The life of a man who professes to be living in God must bear the stamp of Christ.
• 2 John 1:5-6 - “… I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”
• Rev. 21:7-8 - “….He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Outro

If you have gotten this far, you will recognize that all I have done is quote the BIBLE – and these are far from being all the verses that illustrate the point that your salvation isn’t necessarily secure until the day you find yourself in the presence of GOD. It is up to you to read and study the individual verses in their entirety – how can you know what JESUS actually commands and desires if you don’t read HIS WORD? (Note: If a verse is hard to understand, choose a plain English Bible from the dropdown list at the link.)

DEFINITIONS

Argument from silence - Assuming that a claim is true based on the absence of textual or spoken evidence from an authoritative source. (In this case, the supposed "silence" is related to the fact that many "assurance" BIBLE verses don't include conditions in the same sentence. OSAS teachers act as though the moderating statements made elsewhere in the BIBLE don't exist. Nevertheless, verses offering assurance of salvation and verses demanding obedience are made often by the same author on the same page.)

Assurance – Also known as “assurance of salvation.” The desire to know that you are saved. Paul told his disciples in the churches he founded that he was confident in their salvation. Php 1:3-6 The verses listed in this study show how to remain confident. In my opinion, OSAS is a very broad assumption.

Justification - Judged and accepted as righteous (holy – separated from the world) in the sight of GOD.

Perseverance - A continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition: the action or condition or an instance of persevering: steadfastness. (The fact that the BIBLE continually calls for perseverance shows that salvation is not necessarily instantaneous.)

Proof Texting – Taking single sentences or phrases out of their proper BIBLE context and quoting those few words to pretend to prove something that the BIBLE does not actually teach, e.g., "twisting" the scripture by only presenting the verses that teach assurance while ignoring the verses that demand holiness.

Repent / Repentance – To repent doesn’t just mean to regret your sinful actions, it means to actually do something about them. Repent means to change your (sinful) ways and also change the way you think (your internal attitude – your desire to / acceptance of sin). IOW, to turn away from worldliness and towards Christlikeness.