Homosexuals Are Made In God's Image

Genesis 1:26-27, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

The inspired Holy Bible is our Creator's Owner's Manuel for humanity. The old adage is true: When all else fails, read the instructions.

The Bible teaches in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” As I've mentioned in numerous recent blog articles, I am a big amateur fan of astronomy. It is my humble opinion that God made the universe and all the remarkable endless wonders therein to impress us as his creatures, who are all made in His image. James 3:9, “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.”

Kindly said, that is why I take a strong biblical stand against Pastor Steven Anderson and his New Independent Fundamental Baptist (New IFB) cult of followers who preach hatred for LGBTQIA+ people, who were all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). It didn't come as a surprise recently that Pastor Anderson's four oldest children have come out publicly against him and his wife with accusations of parental abuse. I say that kindly, but truthfully. Hatred just begets more hatred. One thing that I have learned during my lifetime is that people will not tolerate hatred. Dear reader, life is too short to live with a burden of hatred.

God created the universe and all therein to “wow” us, because He yearns for praise from His creatures. Just as God loves to be praised, so do we as human beings love to be praised. Proverbs 27:21, “As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.” That is part of what it means to be made in the image of God.

And just as we get our feelings hurt and are grieved, so also is God hurt and grieved. Ephesians 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” When Jesus healed ten lepers of the horrible disease of leprosy (incurable at the time), only one man bothered to return to thank the dear Savior. That really hurt Jesus' feelings. Luke 17:17, “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” I can hear some religious Pharisee at church saying, “Oh Jesus, you're so negative!” I love this inspired Scripture passage, because it teaches that it is perfectly okay and not wrong to express our hurt feelings are grief.

It is a natural part of life that people will sometimes hurt our feelings, and as human beings made in God's image we have a natural need to express those hurt feelings, as part of the healing process. Don't ever let anyone scold you, or try to make you feel bad or guilty, for expressing hurt feelings. If Jesus shared His hurt feelings, and He clearly did, then so can we. It is perfectly acceptable to assertively, in a passive voice, tell someone that your feelings have been hurt. Jesus' feelings were hurt that only one man who had been healed thanked him.

Homosexuals were all created in the image of God, their Maker. Kindly said, I do not believe that homosexuals were “born that way.” Just like all sins, homosexuality is a choice. Some people may have a disposition to steal, lie, lust or experience homosexual tendencies, but sin is always still a choice. That being said, we have all been made in the image of our Creator. No one is beyond the hope of the gospel, including homosexuals.

Just because as a Christian I do not go along with the homosexual agenda doesn't mean that I hate LGBTQIA+ people. Quite the contrary, I love them all unconditionally with God's endless love. Or better said, I am allowing God to love homosexual people through me. I do not love others; but rather, God who is love, loves them THROUGH ME. We are all selfish by birth and by nature. The Christian life is lived on purpose. That is, we must choose to walk in the Holy Spirit by faith (Galatians 5:22-25), or else by default we will walk in the flesh, in sin (Romans 7:14-25).

In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to love EVERYONE as our self. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Jesus didn't exempt any classes of society. He didn't disqualify unrepentant sinners. No, Jesus commanded us to love all of our neighbours, regardless of who they may be. That doesn't mean we must approve of their sinful lifestyles or choices. It doesn't even mean that we have to like them. But we do have to love everyone unconditionally with God's love, which means to treat everyone the exact what we would like to be treated. This is THE GOLDEN RULE according to Matthew 7:12.

Jesus Christ died for all mankind (John 3:16; 1st John 2:2). Not only are homosexuals made in God's image, but God's only begotten Son Jesus died for them on Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago (Romans 5:6-9). We have a solemn obligation as God's children to be ambassadors to the heathen world (2nd Corinthians 5:20-21). It is not our right or place to decide who is reachable or unreachable with the saving power of the truth of the gospel. God gives the increase (1st Corinthians 3:7-9). Our job is to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15b). Every creature includes everybody!

We Are Saved By Christ's Obedience, Not By What We Do

Romans 5:19, “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

The inspired King James Bible teaches that when Adam sinned, he opened the floodgate of sin and death upon the world. Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” This is why we live in a fallen world. This is why a drunk driver may swerve into your driver's lane and take your legs off in a crash. This is why things dry rot, wear out and break. This is why there is disease, pain and sickness, and then we grow old and die.

But thanks be to God the Father for sending His only begotten Son Jesus into the world to redeem humanity. Whereas mankind had utterly failed again and again to perfectly obey the law, Jesus did fulfill it perfectly. Therefore, Jesus Christ has become the end of the law to all who believe on His name. Romans 10:3-4, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” That it, if you will put all of your trust (reliance, faith) in Jesus as your personal Savior, God will count your faith for righteousness.

Romans 4:4-5, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” I am surprised how many unlearned preachers foolishly teach that people were saved by works under the Mosaic law. Peter S. Ruckman (1921-2016) was the biggest purveyor of this terrible heresy. Consequently, Ruckmanites today like Robert Breaker, Gene Kim and William P. Grady still promote this unbiblical rubbish that people were saved by works in the Old Testament. Dear reader, don't you believe it!

Romans 4:4 plainly teaches that if salvation has ever been been works, then God owed those sinners salvation, and it wasn't by grace. I hope you are not that gullible to believe them.

It was Christ's perfect obedience to God's Old testament law that qualified Him to be “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b).

The Wonderful World Of Astronomy

Genesis 1:14-19, “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:  And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.”

I absolutely love astronomy! For the past couple years I've been watching YouTube documentaries about the universe, which have sparked my curiosity into the subject. The more that I learn the more intrigued I become, fascinated by God's amazing universe. Psalms 145:3, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.” Our faithful omnipotent God is more than amazing!!!

Did you know that NASA says there are approximately one septillion stars? That's a 1 with 24 zeroes behind it! Yikes! And yet of those one septillion stars, mankind will only ever be able to physically visit one of them, our own Sun (which is 93 million miles away). The next nearest star Alpha Centauri is 4.24 light years away (25 trillion miles). Even if one of our fastest space probes travelling at 40,000 mph were to attempt the journey from Earth to Alpha Centauri, it would take 625 million years! So you see, man will never visit any star except our own Sun.

Astronomy is one of my hobbies, which I am getting more heavily into lately. I can't get enough of it. Every night as I sleep, I listen to the Calm Space or Sleepy Science YouTube channels. The man's voice from Calm Space (in the Netherlands) is very calming and I love learning facts about God's wondrous universe. The man's voice is also relaxing on the Sleepy Science (in the United Kingdom) channel. I encourage you to listen to these channels at night. I keep the volume just high enough so that I can understand what is being said, but not so loud that it wakes me up. Setting the volume at the proper level is important. The videos are each 2 hours long, intended to help you sleep. I love this stuff!

Helpful Tools For The Hobbyist Astronomer

I recently learned about some really awesome apps for mobile phones:

• Sky View (SkyView® is an app that lets you identify and learn about celestial objects in the sky, day or night. You can use your camera, schedule alerts, time travel, and share your discoveries with friends and family. I paid a one time fee of $4.99 to enable the full version, which lets you see all the full color constellations and thousands more stars)
• Star Tracker (Pretty much the same function as Sky View, but different controls. Get outdoors with your friends and enjoy star gazing! Let StarTracker guide you to explore the universe. I paid two fees: $0.99 and $2.99 to enable the full version)
• NASA (Launch into the joy and wonder of space exploration with the NASA app! Stream live mission coverage on NASA+, see the latest images from the moon and beyond, and so much more.)
• International Space Station (The Spot the Station mobile app is designed to notify users when the International Space Station (ISS) is visible overhead from their location.)
• Stellarium Mobile (Stellarium - Star Map is a planetarium app that shows exactly what you see when you look up at the stars.)

It was the 4th of July yesterday. I couldn't sleep, so I was outside this morning in my backyard using Sky View and Star Tracker. I love these tools! The GPS technology inside your phone allows the apps to locate and display where stars, planets, meteorites, the International Space Station and other astronomical things are found. It's amazing technology!

The Amazing Planet Venus

You can even use the apps inside your home. If you want to know where Saturn is, the app will show you. I've been watching the bright planet Venus all week in the evening sky from West Pensacola where I live. For the month of July, the planet Venus is called the “Evening Star” in the western sunset, and the Morning Star at sunrise in the east. Since Venus orbits closer to the Sun than Earth does, it is usually found close to the sun in the sky.

Venus is a remarkable planet, with an average surface temperature of 867° Fahrenheit, and an atmospheric pressure of 1,350 psi. Earth's pressure is 14.7 psi at sea level. Venus rotates at a speed of about 4 mph, which is slow compared to other planets in the solar system. Whereas the Earth turns on its axis once every 24 hours, Venus has a rotational period of 243 days, making one day on Venus longer than a year on Venus (which is 225 days). That is so weird!

The Soviet Union sent a total of eighteen probes to Venus as part of the Venera program between 1961 and 1984. The probe to survive the longest lasted for 127 minutes before the atmosphere of sulfuric acid, extreme pressure and lead-melting heat destroyed it. The Venera 13 probe holds the record for the longest survival on the surface of Venus, lasting 127 minutes before succumbing to the extreme conditions. Wow! List of missions to Venus.

It is my humble opinion that God made all these remarkable planets, stars, nebulas, black holes, galaxies, supernovas, dark matter and endless wonders of the universe to impress us as his creatures, who were all made in His image.

You can see the planet of Venus each night in July by looking to the western sky at sunset. It is the brightest object in the evening sky, which you cannot miss. If not blocked by trees or buildings, you can also see the planet Jupiter to the lower right of Venus.

God Knows The Exact Number Of Stars

For under $100 you can purchase a decent pair of 15 x 70 Astronomy Binoculars to observe the stars. If you already have a tripod for a video camera, these binoculars will fit on the same tripod (they're all standardized). You need a tripod because the glass get heavy over time. It has never been easier to study, be fascinated by and follow the sky. God is more than amazing!

Astronomers are unsure if the cosmos keeps going infinitely, or if the universe has an end to it. Based on the following Scripture passage, I think the universe has an end to it. Psalms 147:4, “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” If God telleth the number of stars, it sounds like there's an exact number, which would indicate that the universe does end. God not only knows how many stars there are, but He calls them all by their individual names. Wow! NASA guesses there are at least one septillion stars! I cannot even wrap my brain around that gargantuan number because it is so big. Let me write it out, so you can see how many stars there are in the known universe...

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars!

Just to count to one trillion (if you could count one number per second non-stop) it would take 31,700 years. Then there's quadrillion, quintillion, sextillion and septillion. These numbers are so large that the human mind cannot process them. And yet, our omnipotent God who spoke them into existence by the mere power of His Word has a personalized name for each star.

Before 1924, astronomers all thought the Milky Way Galaxy was the universe. It wasn't until 1924 that astronomer Edwin Hubble (1889-1953), discovered that there were other galaxies far beyond our own Milky Way Galaxy. Dr. Hubble discovered that the Andromeda Galaxy is located 2,480,000 light years from the Earth.

Then in 1929, Dr. Hubble discovered that the universe is expanding, which discovery led to the theory commonly known as The Big Bang. Scientists worked backwards and calculated that the universe must be 13.77 billion years old. But since the universe has continued to rapidly expand during that time, astronomers are able to peer 46.5 billion light years into the cosmos.

When I was a kid, I used to walk up the stairs on a moving escalator, which made me feel like I was moving super fast (and I was). Although my feet were stepping up the stairs at a normal pace, I was moving much faster since the escalator was also carrying me up to the next level. That's similar to what has been happening to the cosmos for the past 13.8 billion years. 

Although no object can travel faster than the speed of light (671 million mph), space itself can. That is an amazing reality and concept. So, during the past 13.8 billion years (a measurement of time), the cosmos has expanded 46.5 billion light years (a measurement of distance). This is why astronomers will never be able to see beyond 46.5 billion light years into the cosmos, because the light being produced now is too far away to catch up. Literally, the cosmos is expanding faster than the speed of light, so that light will never reach earth's telescopes.

It is my humble belief that the universe ends just beyond the point where man cannot see further. What would be the point? And remember, God “telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names” (Psalms 147:4). If you'd like to just try it out, you can freely download limited versions of Sky View and Star Tracker. My favorite though is Star Tracker. It only cost $3.97 total for enable the full version. First I paid $0.99, and then there was a $2.99 charge. I'm not sure what the $0.99 was for, I cannot remember. There are no monthly charges, which was the first thing I checked to make sure. I hate monthly payments.

If you have any interest in astronomy, even if to just follow the moon and some of the brightest stars, I think you'll enjoy the Star Tracker app. I turned on the grid lines in the app, which centers around the bright Northern Star, Polaris. I like the background planetarium music. It's an amazing tool. I just wanted to share something that I enjoy with everyone. I love this stuff! God is so good. Proverbs 18:1, “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.”

The Hated Independent Fundamentalist Baptist

Hebrews 11:36-40, “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

I love that truthful phrase in Hebrews 11:38b, “Of whom the world was not worthy.” This world is not worthy of the saints of God whom they persecute, prosecute and belittle. There is an alarming increase on social media of videos containing wicked slander, criticisms and hatred of Independent Fundamental Baptists (IFB). I for one am proud to be a lifelong Independent Fundamental Baptist. I thank God for my strong roots. When I was about 12 years old, I was born again in an IFB church on Chicago's northside. I was baptized in an IFB church. I was trained to serve God in an IFB church. God is good.

The ungodly hypocrites who make these slanderous videos act like they are above sin, but they are just as wicked in the sight of God as the fallen Christians whom they tear down. There but for the grace of God, go we! In the United States, our news media are infamous manure spreaders! Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) is correct that the only thing you can believe in the local newspaper is the date.

Pastor Jack Hyles is absolutely correct, “No one can withstand the attack of a critic.” In my humble opinion, most of the people who hate on IFB churches have deeper ill-seeded feelings at work, than any sincere criticism of an IFB church. There is a Satanic agenda at work to discredit, undermine and destroy today's IFB churches. The reason why is obvious, because they come closest to being New Testament churches that get the job done for God.

The ongoing hatred of IFB churches isn't a new phenomena. The heathen world has always hated the New Testament church. Revelation 12:10b calls Satan, “the accuser of the brethren.” Those haters today who slander and tear down the IFB are in league with the Devil. You're never more like the Devil than when you accuse others.

Now, I'm not defending anybody who commits a crime, God forbid. But what I see happening is thousands of malicious wicked haters are connecting dots that don't exist to discredit the IFB movement. They dig up all the dirt they can. They overturn every rock. They have their magnifying glass in hand, scrutinizing today's IFB churches and colleges for every fault, sin, crime and mistake they can find to slander, put down and attack Christians.

The inspired King James Bible says in Hebrews 11:38b concerning the saints, “Of whom the world was not worthy.” We are a royal priesthood. 1st Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Oh, what a great privilege it is to be a child of God, a born again believer.

God Created The Moon, Not A Cataclysmic Event

Genesis 1:15-16, “And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.”

Psalms 8:3-4, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

Psalms 104:19, “He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.”

The level of unbelief, ingratitude and wickedness in American society today toward our Creator is staggering. The inspired Holy Bible is very clear that God made the moon, not two asteroids crashing into each other billions of years ago.

According to NASA (the smartest people on earth) the moon just accidentally happened...

The Moon formed from debris created by a massive collision between the early Earth and a Mars-sized body called Theia about 4.5 billion years ago. This impact ejected material into orbit around Earth, which eventually coalesced to form the Moon. SOURCE

What ingrates! Why is it so difficult to believe that God made the moon? But wait, there's much more to the story. The Scripture tells us that when wicked people embrace the sin of homosexuality, they don't want to retain God in their thinking...

Romans 1:26-28, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”

Sadly, NASA has embraced the deplorable homosexual movement. So, it doesn't surprise me that NASA doesn't want to retain God in their thinking. There is nothing any more wicked than to attribute the creation of the universe to natural causes without God. NASA are just one of countless heathen organizations today who throw God under the bus.

I love astronomy and have been watching many intriguing documentaries on YouTube. I've seen several dozen videos, maybe even a hundred so far. Sadly, not once, has any of those videos glorified God as our Creator. I'm not kidding, not even one! What an insult to our omnipotent Creator who spoke the universe into existence by the mere Word of His mouth (2nd Peter 3:5). God is good!

Psalms 19:1-3, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”

God made the moon, and the sun, and the Milky Way Galaxy, and the stars and beyond.

Jeremiah 31:35, “Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name.”

Don't Let People Confuse You About Your Salvation

Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

A man hears the gospel and believes it to be saved. But then he hears someone say that if he didn't pray a sinner's prayer, he isn't really saved. So he prays to ask God to save him. Then someone else says he didn't really get saved if he didn't publicly confessed the name of Jesus. So he tells others that he trusted Jesus as his personal Savior. Then someone tells him that he didn't really get saved if he only believed in his mind, but not with his heart. So he worries about his sincerity in the matter and is confused. Then someone tells him that if he still indulges in sinful bad habits, he has never repented and is not saved. Another person tells him that if he isn't following Christ in obedience, he isn't saved. And on and on it goes!

What saith the Scripture? 2nd Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Dear reader, God doesn't want you to become a basket case of religious scrupulosity. God wants all of His redeemed children to have total peace of mind, especially concerning His promise of eternal life.

Let me say without debate that the life you and I choose to live has absolutely nothing to do with God's free gift of eternal life. Romans 6:1, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” The dear Lord doesn't want us to live in unrepentant sin, but if we do, His grace will abound so that we can never be in jeopardy of losing His gift of eternal life. As believers we always fall “in grace,” but never “from grace.” Only a lost person who tries to get to Heaven by keeping the works of the law has fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4).

I went through a nightmare for many years, being misled by preachers. I trusted Jesus as my personal Savior at age 13. But due to the unbiblical sinner's prayer, I was confused and couldn't find peace concerning the assurance of God's salvation. In the Christian high school that I attended in Chicago at our Baptist church, I finally mustered up the courage at age 17 to go ask my Baptist pastor for his help with my fear of not being saved. I had often cried, literally, worried sick for the previous 4 years that I might die in my sins and end up in Hell.

I kept wondering if I left something out when I prayed the sinner's prayer. Since I couldn't remember what I had prayed, I worried. So, I started asking for God to save me again and again and again, probably 50 times at least over those 4 miserable years. I would read religious tracts line by line, and carefully agree with each point, and then I would pray again and ask God to save me, as directed in the tract. I would then tell myself that I am saved, but it just didn't resolve my fears, worry and tears. What if I missed Heaven? What if I ended up burning in Hell forever? I was terrified.

So, I mustered up the courage one school day to go talk to my pastor, with the teacher's permission. I remember as I approached his office door that it felt like I was going to talk to God. I knocked on his door and he welcomed me into his office, and I told him of my concerns, fear and inability to settle my assurance. He assumed that since I didn't know I was saved, it surely must mean that I wasn't. Respectfully said, that was his first blunder.

Then my pastor made his second big blunder. He did the worst possible thing he could have done, he led me in another sinner's prayer. Oh boy, that was the whole problem! He prayed and I followed after him, and he assured me that I was saved. But I went home scared, still uncertain if I was really saved. He called my parents to tell them I had received Christ that day, and then he announced to the entire church congregation the following Sunday that I got saved. Now that everyone thought I was saved, I was afraid to tell anyone that I still feared that I wasn't. I felt trapped in my miseries of uncertainty that I was saved. I did trust Jesus with all my heart, mind and soul as my Savior, but I just couldn't find the peace that I was saved. In hindsight, I was afraid of something that I did not fully understand, and that stupid sinner's prayer was hindering me from learning what I needed to know.

My Dad was a preacher, who water baptized me weeks after my pastor assumed that I was saved, because he led me in another sinner's prayer. But I still remember how scared I was on the day I was baptized, thinking about 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟲:𝟭𝟲, “𝗛𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱; 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗻𝗲𝗱.” Would I be damned for getting baptized, still not knowing if I am saved? I felt trapped and went ahead with the baptism, but I was still worried and uncertain about my salvation.

I went off to Hyles-Anderson College at age 18, not knowing that I was saved. I was hoping to settle my fears at Bible college. Unfortunately, that fear stuck with me for the next 8 years during Bible college, because the First Baptist Church of Hammond and their Bible college all use the sinner's prayer. Now, I am not criticizing my home Bible college and the people whom I love, cherish and am indebted to who investing in my life as a young man training to be a preacher. But the fact of the matter is that FOR ME AT LEAST, the sinner's prayer was toxic.

Although Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) preached some great sermons, and he was correct on the gospel, he strongly promoted using the sinner's prayer, which obscured the truth FOR ME and prevented me from resolving my issue. Ironically, I have heard more helpful sermon by Brother Hyles since I have graduated (especially over the past 10 years), than all my time in Bible college. I was so busy laboring in the 'B' Bus Ministry, working various secular jobs, providing for my family, et cetera, that I missed most of Dr. Hyles' sermons while in college. I taught a Sunday School class every Sunday morning, and I worked on Wednesday evenings, so I was only able to hear Brother Hyles Sunday evenings.

One of the sermons that has helped me, which I've only heard in recent years (now at age 59) for the first time is titled, "FUNDAMENTALIST HERESY." In this sermon Brother Hyles explains that prayer does not save us, but faith. Inviting Jesus into one's heart doesn't save anyone, faith does. For whatever reason, I didn't get the answers I needed while attending Hyles-Anderson College. I did sit on the edge of my seat during all those years, learning new helpful truths about salvation, trying to complete the puzzle. As I said, I am not criticizing my beloved home college, but I have gratefully learned to present the gospel without the sinner's prayer, which has never been a problem. It is the sinner's prayer that causes problems!

I am forever grateful to the folks at Florida Bible College and Calvary Community Church in Tampa, whose godly pastors' A. Ray Stanford (1916-2012), Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008), Max D. Younce (1935-2023) and Ralph Yankee Arnold have opened my eyes to the clarity of the gospel. I cherish this quote...

“There is power in this Gospel message. Most people just don't know how to present it... The clarity of the Gospel is what makes it easy for them to believe.”—Pastor Yankee Arnold, “WHY GRACE CAN SAVE THE WORST MAN!”

God used the prolific writings of my long time ministry friend of 20 years, Pastor Max D. Younce, who is a graduate of Florida Bible College, to solidify my salvation beliefs. In particular, it was his wonderful book titled, "SALVATION AND THE PUBLIC INVITATION," that helped settle my assurance of salvation once and for all, and I have never doubted God's gift and promise of salvation for one second since. PRAISE GOD!

To clarify, there is nothing wrong if someone wants to accompany their faith with a sinner's prayer, but every soulwinner has a solemn duty to make sure a lost sinner understands that praying, asking, publicly confessing or calling is NOT required to get to Heaven. 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩. I learned that great quote from Dr. Younce. I miss my ministry friend.

Furthermore, a lost sinner should never have to walk down a church aisle to learn how to be saved. Dr. Younce addresses this primary problem in his book. Preachers who require people to walk an aisle are adding an unnecessary step to God's simple plan of salvation. Likewise, no one should ever be required to pray a sinner's prayer to be saved, when God is already freely offering eternal life as a gift to whosoever simply believes that Jesus did it all for them.

I exhort you dear friend to get grounded and settled in the inspired King James Bible, and avoid listening to the incompetent herd of misguided, confused and foolish neo-evangelical preachers today who will have you all turned around, confused and worried about your salvation if you let them. Romans 3:4a, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar...” And please don't leave off the last portion of the verse, in Romans 3:4b, “...as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” I love that warning! It means if what you are preaching and teaching aligns with what God is saying in His inspired Word, then you WILL BE vindicated on Judgment Day. But if what you are telling people is unbiblical and false teaching, then you will be in serious trouble with God (Proverbs 30:5-6).

That all being said, I DO NOT use the sinner's prayer anymore, and have not used it for twenty years; but if I did use it, I would absolutely make sure to explain that prayer is not required to be saved. For the ungodly toxic New IFB (Independent Fundamental Baptist) movement to mandate a sinner's prayer to get to Heaven is utter theological incompetence. They are deliberately obscuring the gospel with manmade garbage. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

Balaam, The Son Of Bosor

2nd Peter 2:14-16, “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.”

Jude 1:10-11, “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”

Balaam, The Son Of Bosor
(by Evangelist Justin Zhong)

This is excellent sermon truth by Evangelist Justin Zhong. FALSE PROPHETS can speak God's Word with cunning words like Balaam. God spoke through Balaam (Numbers 23:5). But just because God was speaking through Balaam doesn't mean that he was a righteous man. Sometimes God uses wicked people for His purpose.

The Spirit of God was upon wicked Saul (1st Samuel 19:23). In Matthew 10:1 the Bible names Judas Iscariot as one of the apostles to whom God gave power to cast out demons. Reprobate false prophets like Judas can cast out devils (Matthew 7:21-23). But just because Judas had power from God to cast out devils doesn't mean that God endorsed him. Pharaoh's Satanic magicians had the power to do miracles.

Caiaphas led the sinister plot to murder Jesus, yet Caiaphas prophesied the truth concerning Jesus' crucifixtion, burial and resurrection (John 11:49). False prophets can tell the truth sometimes, cast out devils, and even be used by God to bless people; yet they can love money and be of the Devil. You cannot judge a preacher by mere appearance alone.

Just because somebody in a church is doing the right things, working miracles, saying the right words and helping people in the community, doesn't mean that they are good people.
Effectiveness is not the same thing as faithfulness. Pastor Joel Osteen is a very effective speaker, but he is unfaithful, not preaching the truth of the inspired Word of God. Just because God is blessing you doesn't mean that everything you are doing is right.

Pastor Steven Anderson is a bold fiery preacher, but he is unfaithful, not preaching the truth of God's inspired Word that God unconditionally loves everyone (John 3:16). No preacher is faithful who teaches hatred for people. Just because somebody is doing some right things, saying some right words, and helping some people in the community—doesn't mean that they are good people. Popularity is not the same thing as faithfulness.

Infamous murderous gangster Al Capone (1899-1947) was well-liked in Chicago for his generosity to the poor during early days of The Great Depression. The infamous gangster distributed food and clothing to the needy, for which many people in the community loved him. But was he a good man? Reports indicate that there were at least 522 gang-related killings in Chicago during the 1920s, a portion of which can be attributed to Capone and his evil criminal organization. Even Judas Iscariot was given the power to cast out devils and heal the sick (Matthew 10:1). As you know, Judas was not a good person, he betrayed Jesus to death.