By David J. Stewart | May 2019
Galatians 1:6-7, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
One of the most dangerous false teachers of our
generation is Pastor John MacArthur of the Grace Community Church in
California. Dr. MacArthur errantly states concerning getting saved:
“The narrow gate is hard to find and hard to go through, because it demands: denial of self, denial of self-righteousness, recognition of sin, full repentance, submission to Christ, commitment to obey Him, and follow Him no matter what the cost!” —Pastor John MacArthur, a quote from his sermon titled, “Saved Or Self-Deceived, Part One” (time: 4:25 in YouTube sermon video)
Let's list the SEVEN requirements for salvation which Mr. MacArthur just mentioned:
- Denial of self
- Denial of self-righteousness (this one is Biblical, you've got to trust Jesus alone)
- Recognition of sin (this one is Biblical, you've got to know what you're being saved from)
- Full repentance
- Submission to Christ
- Commitment to obey Christ
- Follow Jesus (no matter what the cost)
Ladies and gentlemen, that is not “THE GOSPEL.” The 'GOSPEL' (or, 'GOOD NEWS') is about Jesus Christ's DEATH on the cross, His BURIAL and subsequent bodily RESURRECTION three days later. This is “THE GOSPEL” according to the apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 15:1-6. Mr. MacArthur doesn't mention any of this in his requirements to make it thru the narrow gate. The ONLY requirement for salvation is to recognize your need as a GUILTY SINNER. What do we need? We need the precious Savior, Who has the nail-scared hands and feet! Romans 3:19, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” The hardest part about getting people saved is first getting them lost. Once a person recognizes their lost condition as a guilty sinner, then it is easy to bring them to Jesus Christ to be saved BY FAITH alone.
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HOW THEY PRAYED George Whitefield (1714-1770), the famous English evangelist, said, “O Lord give me souls, or take my soul!” Henry Martyn (1781-1812), a missionary, cried as he knelt on India's coral strands, “Here let me burn out for God!” David Brainerd (1718-1747), missionary to the North American Indians, declared, “Lord, to Thee I dedicate myself. Oh, accept of me, and let me be Thine forever. Lord, I desire nothing else; I desire nothing more.” The last words in his diary, written seven days before he died, “Oh, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.” Thomas a Kempis (1379-1471) said, “Give what Thou wilt and how much Thou wilt, and when Thou wilt. Set me where Thou wilt and deal with me in things as Thou wilt.” Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)implored, “Use me then, My Saviour, for whatever purpose and in whatever way Thou mayest require. Here is my poor heart, an empty vessel; fill it with Thy grace.” John McKenzie (1835-1899) prayed thus when as a young missionary candidate he knelt on the banks of the Lossie: “O Lord, send me to the darkest spot on earth!” John Nelson “Praying Hyde” (1865-1912), a missionary in India, pleaded, “Father, give me these souls, or I die.” Mrs. Sarah Comstock (1812-1843), a missionary in India, uttered this prayer of parting when she sent her children home, “Lord Jesus, I do this for Thee.” |
The main reason why tens of millions of churchgoers, have been deceived by the Devil nowadays concerning salvation, is because they have been listening to corrupt men, instead of SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES as Jesus commanded us in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Read for yourself dear reader how simple the Word of God is, clarifying what is necessary to be saved—simple childlike faith in the Lord...
Galatians 3:22-26, “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Now I ask you dear reader, where do all of John MacArthur's requirements fit into with this simple passage of Scripture? All I see that is necessary to be saved in the preceding Scripture passage is “FAITH”! That's it! The only recognition of one's sin that is necessary to be saved, is just enough to convince a sinner to BELIEVE THE GOSPEL. Even a small child can do that! Yet, notice what Mr. MacArthur, who is a ravening wolf in sheep's clothing, horribly says about children being saved...
“There is no such thing as a childhood conversion.” —Pastor John MacArthur
Liar liar pants on fire! Deception abounds in the churches today! Oh how we have a great responsibility as true Christians, to proclaim THE GOSPEL with clarity to the local community, region and world...
“That payment that Christ made, He put it to your account... Do you realize the opportunity that God has given to us, to be able to 'GO INTO ALL THE WORLD.' And the thing that bothers people, is this thing about sin, because of the guilt that it brings, and all the wickedness that it brings; and you and I are the ONLY hope [of] the people in this world—God has left us here and we are their only hope, if we don't explain the Gospel and make it clear! —SOURCE: Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold; a quote from his sermon, “A Study of Romans Chapter 10”
