Ephesians 4:14-15, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
I have lived in Pensacola, Florida, since 2021. I bought a house in December of 2022 in West Pensacola. The number one thing that I dread about Florida, without comparison, is a little dreadful weed called NUTSEDGE! Nutsedge is considered one of the most frustrating weeds because it grows faster than grass, thrives in moist conditions, and is difficult to control due to its underground tubers and rhizomes. I hate Nutsedge weeds! Ouch!!!
I lived in Chicago for 37 years and never saw or heard of Nutsedge. I lived on the island of Guam for 17 years and I never saw or heard about Nutsedge. It doesn't exist in northern climates or even on Guam, but it's in Florida and those spiky little balls HURT let me tell you!
Nutsedge's Spiky Balls. OUCH!!!
I couldn't help but associate Nutsedge with the painful heresy of Lordship Salvation. There are several different variations of Lordship Salvation. A popular heresy in many Baptist churches today is that you must first be willing to “repent of your sins” or “turn from your sins” to be saved, which is 100% works. Although some preachers would not consider this false teaching to be Lordship Salvation, it absolutely is! Lordship Salvation in it's most basic form is simply combining service with salvation. That is, mixing discipleship with sonship.
I humbly think Pastor M.R. DeHaan (1891-1965) said it very well...
“There is a vast difference between coming to Jesus for salvation and coming after Jesus for service. Coming to Christ makes one a believer, while coming after Christ makes one a disciple. All believers are not disciples. To become a believer one accepts the invitation of the Gospel, to be a disciple one obeys the challenge to a life of dedicated service and separation. Salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ; discipleship comes only by sacrifice of self and surrender to His call for devoted service. Salvation is free, but discipleship involves paying the price of a separated walk. Salvation can't be lost because it depends upon God's faithfulness, but discipleship can be lost because it depends upon our faithfulness.” —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, “Hebrews”; Zondervan Publishing House; 1959 (p. 117)
My favorite preacher's quote is from Pilgrim's Progress author John Bunyan (1628-1688)...
“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” [emphasis added] —Evangelist John Bunyan
That brilliant quote is so profound and theologically correct. I love it! John Bunyan clearly understood that we absolutely must maintain separation between a Christian's sanctified walk with God (i.e., walking in the Spirit); as versus salvation itself which is by grace (i.e., living in the Spirit). Galatians 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
People often ask me if they should attend a church that preaches Lordship Salvation, since that is the best church they could find. My answer is always a resounding, “HELL NO!!!”
As long as I so shall live, I will NEVER, EVER, NEVER attend any church that uses any Bible version other than the inspired KING JAMES BIBLE! And I will NEVER, EVER, NEVER attend any church that is wrong on God's simple plan of salvation. That excludes the following CORRUPT churches on salvation that I have found in the city of Pensacola...
- Campus Church at Pensacola Christian College
- Smyrna Baptist Church
- Victory Baptist Church
- Bible Baptist Church (Dr. Peter S. Ruckman's cult)
- Family Baptist Church
- Fairfield Drive Baptist Church
- First Baptist Church of Pensacola
- New Warrington Baptist Church
- Olive Baptist Church
These are fake churches! They all pervert the Gospel of free grace, adding turning away from your sinful bad habits in order to get to Heaven.
Like the annoying relentless weed Nutsedge, the Devil's lies of Misunderstood Repentance and Lordship Salvation have crept into most of the churches today, poisoning them.
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