Both Calvinists and Non-Calvinists Can (and Should) Agree on the Titus 3:10-11 Principle with Apostates

I stand by what Pastor Paul David Washer said about Calvinism vs. non-Calvinism. Yes, that shouldn’t even be an issue. As I was discussing the pitfalls of non-Calvinism (sometimes called semi-Arminianism), one of them is to just keep witnessing. What’s often ignored is the principle of shaking the dust from one’s feet (Matthew 10:14, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5,1 10:11). Furthermore, the Apostle Paul later gave this same principle in Titus 3:10-11. The KJV uses the word heretic is translated from the Greek word aihretikos or spelled as haheereteekos. The definition of a heretic is someone who is a schismatic. It means someone who is factious, a follower of false doctrine. The modern translations use terms like divisive person or one who stirs up division.

Apostasy After the Bread of Life Discourse

It’s the first Friday of March and today’s Lenten readings are taken from Mark 6:1-6 and John 6:60-71. My focus for today (and take note I’ll not be writing daily based on the Lenten Reading even if I’ll do the required readings) is John 6:60-71 focuses on the outcome. Many of those who followed Jesus, and heard Him say about the bread of life, soon said in John 6:60, “This is a hard saying, who can listen to it.” The KJV uses the term hear, while the footnote uses the term understand. The very bread of life discourse has been a tough saying.

Some People Only Think They’re Easy Believists (and Against Lordship Salvation) Until They Do Heavy Research and Self-Examination

Back then, I remembered reading the Hylestic site Jesus-is-Savior. Oh yes, some Christians were gullibly sucked into the sinister world of conspiracy theories. How I landed into Jesus-is-Savior was because of Chick Publications. Back then, David J. Stewart promoted Chick Publications and then stopped promoting him. I was sucked into that conspiracy world. It’s very easy to avoid noticing the glaring errors on that page. Conspiracy theories feel so interesting. Sadly, that’s where the KJV Only controversy is built upon. These days, I feel like asking, “Is your best source Chick Publications? Is your best source Jesus is Savior?” Both sites are severely misguided! Even worse, Jesus-is-Savior is run by diehard followers of the late Jack F. Hyles. One of the many issues that the site raised was on lordship salvation. It was more of a severe miswrite.

True Faith Needs Trials and Tribulations, In Order to Grow

This Sunday, I was looking at some of the minor trials I have in doing this blog. Internet speed has been slow and I can’t really write here until the speed is fast enough to load this blogging platform. Before going to church, I read through the Morning and Evening Devotional by Charles H. Spurgeon. I feel that a lot of times, the Church faces persecution for this reason–true faith may be real faith but it’s a dwarfish faith. 1 Peter 1:7 talks about the trials of one ‘s faith saying:

So that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Why Do Christians Do Good Works Even if Works Don’t Save or Keep People Saved?

The common accusation of the one who believes in salvation by works is Sola Fide leads to Antinomianism. If that’s not enough, another question that’s fired at Christians is this, “If you believe you aren’t saved by works, why do you still do good works?” Whether or not the question is fired as a good question or a mockery is now irrelevant. I want to really focus on answering that question by giving answers. This Reformation month, I’m going to show that the reformers defended this stand, “We are saved by faith alone but this faith is never alone.” The reformers never wanted to be reformers but to do the great command of following, “What the Bible says.”

“Are You Truly Saved?” is a Warning and Assuring Question

I remember reading Jesus-is-Savior a lot. I still read it because a lot of stuff was taken out of context. Yet, the more I read about what the Hylestics wrote about Pastor Paul David Washer. Why I kept reading that site after I ran into it (and I started with the very toxic Chick Publications) is probably due to how conspiracy theories can be so addictive. I was reminded of some things Washer mentioned in his sermon “10 Indictments Against the Modern Church” in which I don’t see any works salvation in it.

The Advocacy of Christ for Imperfect Christians

I would reject the idea that getting saved gives a license to sin. Such a repugnant thought can only be by a false convert. 1 John 2:3-6 talks about the lifestyle of both the unsaved and the saved. There are many who claim to be Christians but their lifestyle is disobedience. I was looking at the study notes of the late J. Vernon McGee and he mentions that assurance also comes from by keeping Jesus’ commandments. Jesus did after all say in John 15:14 that the test of friendship is given in obedience to His commands. John 10:27 talks about obedience as a mark of salvation. However, as Christians are facing sanctification, there is still the problem of the sinful nature.