We Are Saved By Christ's Obedience, Not Our Effort

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 had ever 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). To get saved, you simply need to believe that Jesus did it all for you. Simply by faith (taking God at His written Word) accept Christ's sacrificial death on the cross as full payment for your sins, believing that He was buried, but then resurrected three days later. The moment that you make this decision, God reads your mind and declarers you His redeemed child. You have been born again by the Holy Spirit of God in response to your faith in the Word of God (i.e., the Gospel).

Why I Don't Like Or Recommend The Roman's Road

John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Our text passage of Scripture gives the plain reason why I do not like or recommend the Roman's Road method of leading a lost sinner to Christ. God specifically authored the Gospel of John to convince the reader that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, the Christ, so that by believing we will be saved. God didn't write the Epistle of Romans to show us how to get to Heaven, that is why He gave us the Gospel of John. Why use the wrong tool for the job?

John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” In John chapters 19 and 20 we read about Jesus' death on the cross, burial and physical resurrection three days later. That's everything anyone needs to know to be saved. You are a SINNER and Jesus is the SAVIOR!

John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

The Problem Of Using The Book Of Romans

There's much debate today over obscure passages of Scripture in Romans 10:9-10 and 13.

Some Bible students claim that Romans chapter 10 is about the future physical restoration of the nation of Israel, and that the passage has nothing to do with the eternal salvation of a sinner. I reject that theory!

Others claim that you cannot be saved unless you confess Christ publicly (Romans 10:9-10), and pray a sinner's prayer (Romans 10:13). But John 12:42-43 refutes that heresy concerning Romans 10:9-10. And Romans 10:14 refutes that heresy concerning Romans 10:13 that you must pray to be saved. You don't have to "confess" the name of Jesus publicly to be saved, just as the saved Chief Priests did not confess Christ in John 12:42-43. And according to Romans 10:14 we are saved at the moment we BELIEVE, regardless of whether we pray or choose not to pray. You don't have to ask God to save you, you just need to believe.

The Epistle of Romans has caused much confusing regarding how to be saved. And although we do read helpful Scripture passages in many books of the Bible concerning salvation, it would be foolish to ignore the Gospel of John, or supersede it with other books of the Bible, when God specifically authored the book of John to show us the way of salvation. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

I mean, you could use a screwdriver and hammer to make a hole, but why not use the drill that God intended for you to use? Why use a spoon to cut a block of cheese instead of a sharp knife? Would you use a pair of scissors to cut your lawn's grass, while a power mower sits in the garage? God used the Apostle John to pen the Gospel of John for the specific purpose “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31b). So, why use any other book of the Bible?

Don't Complicate The Gospel

2nd Corinthians 11:3 speaks of “the simplicity that is in Christ.” I am so sick and tired of men complicating God's simple plan of salvation. The Gospel of John is very clear that we are saved simply by believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, simply by accepting His sacrificial death on Calvary's cross as full payment for our sins, believing that He was buried, but then resurrected physically from the dead three days later. This is "the gospel" according to 1st Corinthians 15:1-6. Believe it, oh sinner, and the work is done!

The beauty of God's simple plan of salvation is that in the Scripture we're never given a level of faith that has to be reached in order to go to Heaven. Isn't that wonderful? If your only hope for Heaven is Jesus Christ for what He did through Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago to pay your debt of sin, you are saved.

We Are Saved By Christ's Obedience, Not By Works

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).

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.”

Can A Person Be Saved And Still Pray To Mary?

1st Timothy 2:5-6, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.​”

In my humble opinion, praying to Mary will not prevent you from going to Heaven, if you are solely trusting what Jesus did on Calvary's cross to pay for your sins—believing that He died, was buried, but then physically resurrected from the dead three days later. This is “the gospel,” the 'Good News,' by which all who believe it are instantly, irrevocably and forever saved (Romans 1:16). Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do.

That being said, Jesus is the ONLY Mediator between God the Father and humanity. 1st Timothy 2:5-6, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.​” So, if you do pray to Mary, you are just wasting your time and going against the plain teaching of inspired Scripture. Mary was a sinner, just like everyone else, and she has no special power of influence with the Son of God. To pray to Mary is the horrible sin of idolatry.

Roman Catholicism is a prisonhouse of false religion. The wicked Vatican has sinfully fabricated many false teachings concerning Mary in an effort to venerate (worship) her. Mary was not immaculately born, she had a human mother and father.

Nor did Mary remain a perpetual virgin as Catholicism strangely teaches. The Bible clearly teaches in Matthew 13:55-56 that Jesus had half brothers and sisters by Mary and Joseph. Joseph was their biological father, but not Jesus' father. Joseph was his Dad that raised Him, but God the Father is Jesus' biological Father. Jesus was virgin born, a miracle wrought by the Holy Spirit without any physical contact with Mary (contrary to what pervert Mormons teach).

Pope Pius XII defined the dogma of the Assumption of Mary on November 1, 1950, stating that Mary was taken body and soul into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. This belief emphasizes her unique role in salvation and is celebrated annually on August 15. Here is a disturbing long list of false doctrines FABRICATED by the Roman Catholic cult over the past several centuries. God's curse is upon the Catholic religion, which sadly has 1.6 billion followers today. Since Catholics believe that Mary was sinless, and the Bible plainly teaches in Romans 6:23b that “the wages of sin is death,” they had to concoct another heresy that Mary never died, she was simply taken into Heaven by God. We know that is false! One heresy begets another false teaching, and another, and another; hence, Catholicism!

Getting back to the question question about praying to Mary. It is a sin. Praying to anyone other than members of the Godhead (Trinity) is the evil of idolatry. Catholic leaders are so evil that they've even removed God's second commandment from His Ten Commandments, which forbids bowing to graven images. It is perfectly acceptable to pray to either or all members of the Godhead, in lieu of the fact that there is only one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4).

It is difficult for me to comprehend how any thinking person could join such an obvious hoax of a religion. Reports indicate that since 1950, approximately 216,000 children have been sexually abused by clergy in the French Catholic Church alone, with similar patterns observed in other countries, including the United States. The issue has been widely documented, revealing systemic failures in addressing and reporting these abuses. All toll, MILLIONS of defenseless children worldwide have been sexually preyed upon by deranged Catholic leaders. And yet, wicked parents continue to feed their precious children to these wolves in sheep's clothing under the guise of religion.

I cannot warn you enough to steer clear of the deadly cults of Roman and Russian Orthodox Catholicism. They have different headquarter locations (Rome, Italy and Moscow, Russia), but they serve the same boss, Satan (2nd Corinthians 11:13-15). The Devil is a beautiful liar! Catholicism is of the Devil. We should never pray to patron saints like St. Anthony (his statue is often displayed with his dog) because the Bible strictly forbids it.

Revelation 22:8-9, “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”

When I lived on the island of Guam for 17 years, I was at my neighbour's house one day and his wife invited some ladies over from their Catholic parish down the street (St. Jude's). At their parish they passed a 3-foot tall statue of Our Lady of Fatima around from house to house, where it stayed at each house for a couple months. Each family would decorate their living room as if God Himself were coming to visit. I saw that wicked group of women bow in prayer to that Satanic statue in idolatry, and I got out of there as fast as I could, because I could feel the Devil's presence. Idolatry is a horrible sin, which brings God's judgment.

I humbly believe it is possible for a Christian to foolishly pray to Mary in ignorance. However, if a person is genuinely born again, the indwelling Holy Spirit will convict that individual about the present sins in their life, including praying to Mary (Hebrews 12:6-8). God is not an absent parent. He will chastise His children. The inspired Word of God is abundantly clear that we are only to pray to the Father in Jesus' name. Someone has said that as believers we pray to the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. I like that teaching.

That is what 1st Timothy 2:5 means. Man is sinful. God the Father is holy and perfect. Man was unable to fellowship with God, so Jesus (God the Son) came into the world to die on a cross 2,000 years ago to gap the bridge between man and God the Father. Now that Jesus is risen from the dead and has ascended into Heaven as our intercessory High Priest (Romans 8:32; Hebrews 4:14-16), we can access the Father's throne of grace at any time night or day 365.25 days a year. So, there is absolutely no need to pray to Mary. Again, to do so is fruitless. Mary cannot do anything to answer our prayers. Catholics have the weird idea that since Mary is Jesus earthly mother that she has special power of influence with Christ, but that is not true. Even Jesus downplayed such foolish thinking.

Matthew 12:47-50, "Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.​"

In this passage, Jesus plainly showed that his mother doesn't carry any special power of influence with Him. Jesus clearly said that whosoever obeys the will of the Father (to believe on Him - John 6:40) is equal to His mother. So, people who sinfully pray to Mary might as well pray to you or me. Mary is nothing with God. She was a dirty sinner, although a virtuous young woman as well. Mary needed to trust Jesus as her personal Savior too, or she would have gone to burn in hell forever. Thankfully, Mary did trust Jesus, calling Him “my Saviour” in Luke 1:47. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

“Dilbert” Cartoonist Scott Adams' Strange Deathbed Letter

John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

According to CBN News from January 14, 2026...

"Dilbert" cartoonist Scott Adams has died at the age of 68, issuing a posthumous statement (I made a backup of Scott's latter from X, just in case it vanishes or you don't have an X account) declaring his decision to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

In a livestream following his death on Tuesday, Adams' ex-wife Shelly Miles shared the statement he prepared before passing away. 

“I had an amazing life,” the statement said in part. “I gave it everything I had.”

"Next, many of my Christian friends have asked me to find Jesus before I go. I'm not a believer, but I have to admit the risk-reward calculation for doing so looks so attractive to me. So here I go: I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and look forward to spending an eternity with him. The part about me not being a believer should be quickly resolved if I wake up in heaven. I won't need any more convincing than that. I hope I'm still qualified for entry..."

Adams revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of metastatic prostate cancer.

WATCH: 'I Accept Jesus': 'Dilbert' Cartoonist's Final Message Before His Death

This is weird. “Dilbert” cartoonist Scott Adams (1957-2026) wrote a letter as he was dying, in which he said that although he is “not a believer” [i.e., in salvation through faith in Jesus Christ] he made a superficial superstitious type declaration of accepting Jesus as his “Lord and Savior” on his deathbed, hoping if the Bible is true God will allow him into Heaven. But he plainly said he does NOT BELIEVE. Scott plainly said that unless he wakes up in Heaven after he dies, he won't believe. Dear reader, that is NOT how faith and salvation work. You are not allowed to believe after you receive proof. You must trust in Jesus Christ when there is no proof. That is what faith is according to Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

In Luke 16:19-31 we find the true story of an unbelieving rich man and a believing poor man, Lazarus, who ate from the rich man's food scraps in his garbage. They both died on night. The Bible tells us that the rich man woke up burning in the fires of Hell, while Lazarus was escorted by angels to Abraham's Bosom (i.e., Paradise). Although there is debate among Bible preachers concerning where people went before Jesus died on the cross, I humbly ascribe to the belief that Hell (Greek: Hades) was compartmentalized, with the place of TORMENT on one side and the place of PARADISE on the other side. If you take this Scripture passage as literal in Luke 16:19-31, then you see biblical confirmation of this truth.

In sharp contrast, godly Bible preachers like Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) believed that Old Testament saints went directly to Heaven when they died, not a temporary place of Paradise. I respect the right of others to disagree with me. To clarify, Paradise is NOT Purgatory (a fabricated false doctrine of the heathen Roman Catholic church).

The inspired Scripture tells us that Lazarus experience peace, but the formerly rich man (now poorer than Lazarus) is suffering in fiery flames, torment and an unquenchable thirst for water. Although he earnestly begged Abraham for just one drop of water, he was denied (and so will you dear reader if you choose to go to Hell by rejecting Jesus as your personal Savior, that is, if you refuse to put your trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ). He did that for you dear sinner, and for me too, and for all humanity (John 3:16-18; 1st John 2:2). Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt of sin we could not pay (2nd Corinthians 5:20-21).

In John 6:47, Jesus promises eternal life only to those who BELIEVE ON HIM, not to those who merely say they believe on him while openly admitting that they DON'T BELIEVE. What a bizarre thing to write! I humbly do not think Scott Adams died in the Lord (Revelation 14:13), simply because he plainly stated that he DOES NOT BELIEVE in Jesus. I sadly think Scott died in his sins, because he refused to believe who Jesus claimed to be (John 8:24).

God Will Save Doubters, If You Believe Despite Doubt

In Mark 9:24 a distraught father of a demon possessed child cried out to Jesus, “𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲; 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳.” If the father had instead said: “Sir, I don't believe, help me to believe,” Christ wouldn't have healed his son. Jesus plainly said in verse 23, “𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗵.” The promise is to them that CANST BELIEVE, not to those who CANNOT BELIEVE. The miraculous new birth is not obtained by declaring some optimistic religious words from a heart of unbelief.

I can only hope that Scott Adams poorly chose his words, and what he really meant was that despite his lack of faith in Christ, he was choosing to trust Him anyway as his personal Savior. God will save any doubter who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. It's okay to have doubt, just so long as you act upon what little faith you have. We see this truth confirmed in Mark 9:24, when Jesus healed the son of the man who had doubts. Jesus healed the boy because the man TRUSTED Jesus despite his doubts.

The Helpful Chair Illustration

To help you dear reader understand how faith works, I like to use the illustration of a chair. Let's say for the sake of argument that you don't have a ladder. A ceiling lightbulb burned out and you need to replace it. You need something to stand upon to reach the lightbulb. So you use an old chair that looks shaky. You are not sure if the chair will support your weight if you stand upon it. In fact, you are very concerned. Yet, since that's the only thing you have at hand to stand on, you put your trust in that wobbly old chair.

Now, even though you had much distrust and lack of faith in that shaky old chair, you placed no less than 100% of your trust in it the moment you rested all your body's weight upon it. That is exactly how saving faith works! It doesn't matter how much you doubt God's Word, just so long as you sincerely trust in the Gospel (the 'GOOD NEWS' of Jesus Christ crucified for our sins, buried and physically resurrected three days later). This is the GOSPEL (1st Corinthians 15:1-6), by which all who BELIEVE IT are saved (Romans 1:16). There is no other path to Heaven according to Acts 4:10-12, than faith alone in the precious name of Jesus.

Faith is not the absence of any doubt; but rather, it is the presence of trust despite the doubt. Nor is faith optimism, having a positive attitude and outlook. If I tell you that I trust you with my money to go somewhere, but then I follow you to make sure you don't steal it, my behavior clearly contradicts my words. I obviously don't trust you, which is why I followed you.

In Scott's case, it is clear that he truly did not believe Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, the Christ (John 20:31). Scott simply agreed with his friends to appease them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with coming to Jesus by faith for fear of going to Hell forever. In fact, that is exactly why everyone should get saved (Romans 5:9). But to merely succumb to peer pressure from friends to declare “I believe in Jesus” while you simultaneously admit “I am not a believer” is alarmingly contradictory. It's no different than me telling you that I trust you with my money, while I am following behind to watch where you go and what you do.

Where Did Scott Adams Go In The Afterlife?

Sadly, I do not think Scott Adams went to Heaven. Scott plainly said, despite his insincere statement of faith, that he still did not believe in Christ. Scott said: “I am not a believer.” Did Scott go to Heaven or is he burning in Hell? I think he went to Hell forever.

Before he died, Scott mentioned in his letter having great concern over the potential eternal risk if the Holy Bible is actually true concerning Hell, fire and damnation...

"Next, many of my Christian friends have asked me to find Jesus before I go. I'm not a believer, but I have to admit the risk-reward calculation for doing so looks so attractive to me. So here I go: I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and look forward to spending an eternity with him. The part about me not being a believer should be quickly resolved if I wake up in heaven. I won't need any more convincing than that. I hope I'm still qualified for entry..."

Pastor J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) once wrote a problematic religious tract titled: “Missing Heaven By 18 Inches.” In his tract, Pastor McGee foolishly suggested that a person could believe the Gospel in their mind, but not in their heart; and consequently, still be unsaved. I completely disagree with that nonsense. If you believe on Christ in your mind, then you also believe in your heart (i.e., your subconscience). You cannot separate one's mind from your subconscience.

Furthermore, if we were to take Dr. McGee's title literally, “Missing Heaven By 18 Inches,” the “heart” is a muscle about twice the size of your fist which pumps blood 100,000 times each day. That makes no sense theologically! This is why I hate the unbiblical rubbish of “inviting Jesus into your heart” to get to Heaven. How do you invite Jesus into a muscle that pumps blood? By using such unbiblical poppycock, balderdash and tommyrot, children become utterly confused and will miss the simplicity that is in Christ. Inviting Jesus into one's heart (or life) may sound appealing to religious people, but such nonsense is theologically dangerous. Children should be taught to put their trust in Jesus; who died on a cross to pay for their sins, was buried, and three days later He resurrected from the dead. This is THE GOSPEL.

Like I said earlier, we can only hope that Scott Adams poorly chose his words in his last letter, and what he really meant was that despite his lack of faith in Christ, he chose to trust Him anyway as his personal Savior; but unfortunately (and no one can say otherwise) that is not what he wrote. Scott plainly wrote: “I am not a believer.”

God promises in Romans 10:13 to save whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord from a heart of faith (Romans 10:14). But without faith there can be no regeneration (i.e., no miracle of the new birth). I cannot say for certain if Mr. Adams was saved or lost, but from his written statement alone, I do not think he went to Heaven, because he plainly said that he DOES NOT BELIEVE in Christ. Salvation is not a prayer, it is faith in the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen. 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟰:𝟭𝟰, “𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺.”

If It's Not In Writing, It Means Nothing

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.”

Our text Bible passage teaches for all men to LET GOD BE TRUE, BUT EVERY MAN A LIAR. That naturally raises the $64,000 question: “How do we know what God says, versus what man says?” The answer is the Holy Bible. Jesus Himself exhorted everyone in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

I was listening to false prophetess' Joyce Meyer earlier today. She is very WRONG on God's simple plan of salvation, instead preaching another gospel:

“When you're born-again, you admit that you're a sinner. You ask God to forgive your sins. And you invite Him to come and live in your heart. You must be willing to turn away from sin. You don't just receive and kind of tack Him on to your mess like a magic charm. You'd have to be willing to turn away from sin. You can't do it on your own. But if you're willing to do it, God will help you and He will teach you how to live the way that He wants you to live.” [emphasis added] —Joyce Meyer, “How Do I Get To Heaven” (13:36 time in video)

Joyce Meyer further heretically teaches:

“If you've never received Christ as your Savior. You've never invited Him to come into your life. You've never come to that point of saying, 'I am a miserable sinner, and God I do need you, I cannot help myself.' Then you need to surrender tonight—and that's really what it's all about—it's about surrender! It's about letting God get into the driver's seat of your life. It's about you discontinuing trying to run the show, and telling God what all your plans are. It's you giving Him the reigns, and saying: 'You lead and I'll follow.'” [emphasis added] —Joyce Meyer, “How Do I Get To Heaven” (22:00 time in video)

Now dear friend, I triple-dog dare you to show me any of the garbage theology which Joyce Meyer preaches from the inspired King James Bible. Remember, if it's not in writing it means absolutely nothing! Where did Miss Meyer get all that junk? She sure didn't find it in the Holy Bible!!! I cannot warn everyone enough to mark and avoid Joyce Meyer and her circus of a pathetic ministry (Romans 16:17-18; Matthew 7:15). She just pulls manmade commandments out of her hate, fully rejecting the Word of God. Mark 7:7 and 8, “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ...And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Joyce Meyer is making stuff up!

Show me where the inspired Holy Bible teaches to be saved, we must:

1. Follow Christ
2. Invite Jesus to come and life in your heart
3. Be willing to turn away from your sin
4. Discontinue trying to run the show
5. Give God the reigns of control of your life
6. Surrender
7. Let God get into the driver's seat of your life
8. You lead, I'll follow

Ladies and gentlemen, you may do all of those things and never be born-again at all. What saith the Scripture? We don't need to wonder, debate or guess what “the gospel” is, because the Bible plainly defines the GOOD NEWS for us:

1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

There we have it, “the Gospel” is comprised of three things:

1. Christ DIED on the cross to pay for our sins.
2. He was BURIED.
3. Three days later Jesus bodily RESURRECTED from the dead.

That is the Gospel (i.e., Good News) by which we are saved, if we BELIEVE. Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” I didn't see any mention about surrendering all to God, turning away from your sins, following Christ, getting out of the driver's seat, inviting Jesus to come into our life, nor anything else!!! Joyce Meyer is a bold-faced theological liar!!! ...

Galatians 1:6-9, “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. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

Please do not take my word for it dear reader. You the reader must decide for yourself who is telling THE TRUTH, and who is lying. I already showed you 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 which clearly defines “the gospel” as Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. One of my favorite Bible verses is 1st Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” Here again we plainly see THE GOSPEL, how that Christ died and raised up the third day.

Let us also consider a Roman soldier who humbly asked Paul and Silas what to do to be saved. Acts 16:30b-31, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Paul and Silas simply told the soldier to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Paul didn't tell the man to turn away from his sinning. Silas didn't tell the soldier to follow Christ, surrender all, get out of the driver's seat, invite Jesus to come into his heart and life, et cetera. No, Paul and Silas just told him to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Again, please consider a group of hungry people who had followed Jesus in boats from Tiberias to Capernaum, seeking a handout of provisions from Jesus: 

John 6:26-29, “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

I love it! They plainly asked Christ what works to do to get into the Kingdom of God. Jesus replied that the only “work” God wanting from them to be saved is to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!! Hey, that is the exact same answer that Paul and Silas gave to the Roman soldier in Acts 16:30-31. Dear friend, the Bible couldn't be more plainer that salvation comes to the one who BELIEVES the Good News of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen the third day. You get saved by believing the GOOD NEWS, not by forsaking a lifestyle of sin or surrendering control of your life over to God. The Devil is a beautiful liar! Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again. Joyce Meyer has perverted the Gospel into a lifestyle that you must live to get to Heaven.

Remember, if it's not in writing it means nothing! Any attorney worth his stuff knows this. Any competent businessman will tell you that everything must be in writing to be valid. That is why God put His simple plan of salvation into writing. That is why Jesus told us in John 5:39 to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!! John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Carefully notice that the Apostle John emphasized that he wrote THESE THINGS to convince the reader that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God, so that by BELIEVING you will be saved.

Again, carefully notice that the Apostle Paul emphasizes the written Word of God:

Romans 10:11-13, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Paul is citing an Old Testament passage from Isaiah 28:16 in Romans 10:11. This verse is not saying that if you are saved you won't be ashamed of Jesus' name. Peter was ashamed, even denying and cursing the Lord's precious name. In Acts 10:42-43 the Bible says many chief rulers believed on Jesus, but they did not confess Him for fear of the wicked Pharisees. The Bible says that those saved chief rulers loved the praise of men more than God. But they were still redeemed adopted sons of God by faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26).

I have humbly shown you numerous Scripture passages, which plainly teach that we are saved by faith alone in the Good News of Christ crucified, buried and risen. None of these Scripture passages require that someone surrender control of their life over to God, nor that someone turn away from their sins, nor that we invite Jesus to come into our life. Judas became a Christ follower and went to burn in the fires of Hell forever! Matthew 27:3 says that Judas “repented himself” of his sins, but that didn't convert him into a Christian. You don't get saved by doing ANY of the things which Joyce Meyer sinfully preaches. The Devil loves Miss Meyer, because the unsaved religious masses are being blinded with a counterfeit plan of salvation, which does not match the Bible's plan of salvation.

Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Dear reader, only YOU personally can determine what you believe to be THE TRUTH. I am not asking you to believe me. I am asking you to compare what I have plainly shown you from the inspired Word of God, to what Joyce Meyer is teaching. What is the basis of her fraudulent theological claims? She sure didn't get those ideas from the Bible. 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.” If what I am preaching agrees with the written Word of God, then my preaching against Joyce Meyer as a false prophet will be vindicated and justified someday in eternity. Any doctrinal opinion that disagrees with God's opinion is heresy!

Here is a great quote from Dr. Curtis Hutson:

“Faith and repentance are the same; they are not two separate decisions. One cannot trust Christ as Savior without repenting or changing his mind. The very fact that he trusts Christ for salvation shows that he has changed his mind regarding sin, salvation, and God.” —Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995); 'Salvation Crystal Clear'

Dear reader, YOU HAVE GOD'S PROMISE IN WRITING in the Bible!!! John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That is a solemn promise from God. Anyone who puts their faith (trust, confidence, reliance) in the only begotten Son of God, is saved. The garbage which Miss Joyce Meyer is preaching has no authority behind it. She is talking trash!

If you don't know what you are talking about Joyce, keep your mouth shut! And if you do open your mouth, you'd better be able to back up what you are saying. Joyce has no Scriptural basis for her corrupt teachings. I have quoted you Bible verses to support everything I have taught you. I am as narrow-minded as the Holy Bible!!!

Don't Muddy The Gospel

I found this excellent blog article today, by Army chaplain David Rutkin, which I wanted to share with my blog visitors as well. I thank God for fellow truth-tellers like David Rutkin, who get the Gospel 100% correct:

Don't muddy the Gospel. Explain it simply so it can be understood by the hearer. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most significant element of the Christian faith. 

Needless to say, the Gospel should be preached at church and I firmly believe at every occasion. 

The Apostle Paul separated himself from others according to the clear Gospel message of Christ (Rom. 1:1). The Gospel is where he divided himself from another. 

The clear Gospel message should be the foundation of where a church stands. If one does not get the Gospel saving message correct (Rom. 1:16), then they are likely to err in other understandings of Scripture.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is His sinless shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection as the full substitute payment which saves a sinner from eternal damnation when believed by faith. 

If the Gospel is tampered with at all and not explained vividly, it can lose its saving effect.  Notice the verses below.

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” - 1 Corinthians 1:17

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 11:3

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” - Galatians 5:4 

This is a harsh reality, and a real tragedy which is going on in many Christian churches today. Every Bible-believing church should give a clear presentation of the Gospel and invitation to accept Jesus Christ alone as Savior by personal faith. 

I’m a stickler for a clear presentation of the Gospel. 

Salvation is not a sinner promising to turn from sin, sorrow for sin, or giving their life/heart to Jesus so that He will save them. Salvation has nothing to do with our promises or gifts to Christ. Salvation is simply us accepting Jesus’ satisfactory payment on the cross of Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. We simply trust in Jesus alone to save us (Acts 16:31, Rom. 4:5, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 2:8-9). 

Jesus gave His life for us (Gal. 1:4, 1 Tim. 2:6, Tit. 2:14); we don’t give anything to Christ for salvation. 

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Gal. 2:21). 

If we make salvation about us or something we promise to do for God, then salvation is no longer a gift, but we earned it (Rom. 4:16, 11:6). A sinner must understand they have nothing to offer Christ, but simply trust in Him alone to save them by accepting His substitutionary payment for their sins. 

I do not believe I am splitting hairs because as seen from numerous Scripture above, the Apostle Paul was just as dogmatic. 

SOURCE: The Crystal Clear Gospel Of Jesus Christ

Judas Repented - Matthew 27:3

God's Simple Plan Of Salvation

2nd Corinthians 11:1-4, “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

Since the beginning of human civilization, the Devil has tried to tempt humans to disobey God. The Devil's name is Satan, who fell from his lofty position as one of God's archangels in Heaven. In Ezekiel 28:11-17 we find what is called in theology, “Double Fulfillment.” That is, this passage of Scripture has two parallel applications. Although Ezekiel 28:11-17 is speaking about the king of Tyrus, it also describes Lucifer and his fall from glory. We see another example of Double Fulfillment in Hebrews chapter 7, which speaks of Melchisedec. This passage is also clearly about the precious Lord Jesus Christ, who is without beginning or end, the King of Righteousness (Hebrews 7:1-4).

Lucifer became Satan, a malicious spirit being who labors night and day to kill, steal and destroy. As such, the Devil desires for for and everyone else to go to Hell forever. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again. Sadly, it is rare nowadays to hear preachers even use the term “born-again.” What saith the Scripture? John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

So how do you get born again? What does that even mean? Well, the Bible says that when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, death passed upon all men. 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: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Every human being born into this world since Adam, has been born with an inherent sinful nature. It is a part of who we are as humans. Children do not need to be taught how to lie, cheat and do wrong; they need to be trained up to tell the truth, be honest and to always do what is right.

Because of our sins, there is a penalty, which according to the Bible is death. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Carefully notice the contrast in Romans 6:23, between the deadly wages of sin that we deserve, versus the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. No one needs to go to Hell forever. God desires for all men, even the worst of criminals, to repent of their unbelief and come to Jesus Christ in faith to be saved (2nd Peter 3:6).

Also, please understand that there is a difference between being spiritually dead versus the second death in the Lake of Fire. Every human being is born spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-2). But only Christ-rejecters are case into the everlasting Lake of Fire (Hell). Those sinners who never trust Christ as their Savior will perish in their unregenerated state. They were born spiritually dead into this world, and they will die spiritually dead. That is why everyone must be “born again,” it is not optional if you want to enter into the Kingdom of God.

You would be shocked friend, if in the Baptist church that you hopefully attend, you start asking the people around you if they know for certain they're going to Heaven. Ask them why they know. You will be shocked, as I was, to learn that at least half of them haven't a clue. I'm not kidding. I know a good elderly man, who has been an usher in a local Baptist church in Pensacola for the past five years, but when I witnessed to him, he told me that water baptism is necessary to go to Heaven. That is his pastor's fault for not feeding his congregation.

In that dear man's church, the pastor is always telling everyone that they must have “a relationship” with Christ to get to Heaven. What does that even mean? Judas had “a relationship” with Jesus, but John 6:70 says Judas had a devil in him. Judas died in his sins because of unbelief, and is sadly burning in Hell forever. The unsaved wicked Pharisees also had “a relationship” with Jesus, but perished in their sin of unbelief. I am so thankful that I know I am a born-again child of God. If you don't know that friend, you can and should KNOW beyond any shadow of a doubt (1st John 5:13).

Salvation is solely based on what Christ has already DONE for you through Calvary's cross, and the blood which He sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in Heaven (Hebrews 9:12, 22-24; 12:24). So many churchgoers have been lied to, misled by their heathen pastor to think that they are saved by partial faith in Christ, PLUS something else (repenting of sin, following Christ as Lord, living the Christian life, et cetera). I tell you that there is no plus anything in God's simple plan of redemption. You simply CEASE from your own false religious dead works (i.e., trusting in Roman Catholicism, good works, Mother Mary, the Pope, Mormonism, Hara Krishna, religion, sacraments, et cetera), and come to God as a needy guilty sinner, completely RESTING in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:10-11). That is what repentance is, a change of mind, turning from your UNBELIEF to BELIEF in Jesus as the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. When the Roman jailer asked Paul and Silas the $64,000 question: “What must I do to be saved?,” the answer was a simple: “BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (Acts 16:30-31).

It is important that you understand what you are being saved from. That is why I took the time to explain these things to you friend. It is not enough to merely believe the Good News of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen to get to Heaven; you absolutely must realize and admit to yourself and God that YOU ARE A GUILTY SINNER:

Romans 3:18-20, “There is no fear of God before their eyes. 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. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

God made two great divisions to His inspired Word: Old Testament and New Testaments (or respectively, LAW and CHRIST). Galatians 3:24-26, “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.” God's Old Testament law (which is summed up in the Ten Commandments) was intended by God to be used as a measuring-stick, by which when compared humans fall short of being sinless and perfect. Thus, realizing our shortcomings to perfectly keep God's law, we then realize our need for the blessed Savior, Jesus. That is what Galatians 3:24-26 is teaching.

This should make it obvious to you then, dear reader, why it is so wrong for any preacher to falsely teach that you must “turn away from your sinful ways” to be saved. Evangelist Ken Ham preaches this damnable heresy! Forsaking your sinful ways was never the intended purpose of God's law. Does God want you to turn away from a deliberate lifestyle of sinning? Yes, of course, but that has absolutely nothing to do with receiving His free gift of eternal life. You must keep living the Christian life (which is our SERVICE for Christ, or sanctification); completely separate from getting born-again (which is SALVATION in Christ, or justification. 

Pilgrim's Progress book author John Bunyan (1628-1688) well understood this very important distinction, as a free grace preacher of the saving Gospel:

“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.” —Evangelist John Bunyan

Also, Pastor M.R. DeHaan (1891-1965) had a very good understanding of this important distinction between sanctification and justification:

“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)

I hope you can now see dear reader why it is so very, very, very important to always keep getting saved completely separate from changes in our behavior, serving Christ, following Him as “Lord” of our life, turning away from our sinful ways, repenting of sin, running the Christian race faithfully, taking up our cross, giving up the old ways, surrendering “all” to Christ, counting the cost and paying the price, forsaking a lifestyle of sinning, living a lifestyle of repentance, et cetera, et cetera.

All of the preceding vain things have been wickedly added to the Gospel by today's corrupt neo-evangelical pastors, evangelists and Bible college professors. You may do all of these noble things and yet never have been saved at all. You don't get born-again by doing good works. You don't get born-again through the sacrament of water baptism. “Sacraments” are totally unbiblical and you ought never give any attention to such nonsense. The Bible teaches water baptism as a public profession of one's faith, but it is a command for BELIEVERS only, not a sacrament of any church. Likewise, the Lord's Supper is a command from God only for BELIEVERS, a time to remember what Jesus has done for on through Calvary's cruel cross. Please do not ever think, refer or partake of any sacraments, because they are unbiblical. There is no spiritual grace or power bestowed upon the recipient of water baptism or the communion. Beware of formal religion that corrupts the truth of God's inspired Word.

I love this helpful quote from Pastor Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951), which shows that Dr. Ironside had a very sound understanding that our service, sanctification and discipleship as Christian believers, has absolutely nothing to do with receiving God's free gift of eternal life by faith alone in Jesus Christ:

“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …

Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel?

One of my favorite authors is Michael P. Bowen. In his excellent defense of the Christian faith titled, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU,' Michael Bowen writes these wonderful words:

I am at eternal odds with the false, counterfeit messages of salvation-by-works that are taught from virtually every pulpit today, on every television channel, and on every Christian radio station; however, I am not at eternal odds with the individuals who preach these counterfeit messages. My heart literally goes out to all of them because they simply do not understand Christ’s plan of salvation. They have been lied to by a crafty enemy named Satan, whose sole aim is to take as many people with him to the lake of fire as he can possibly manage to steal away from God using a counterfeit plan of salvation that appears so real, so genuine, and so holy that few ever realize they have been deceived by it. Oh reader, so many of today’s professing Christians who think they are going to heaven when they die are not going to make it to heaven as they had assumed because they’ve been lied to by today’s error-filled gospel messages.

SOURCE: Michael Patrick Bowen, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU,' p. 17; © 2009, Xulonpress.com. Hard Copies Available

A tree without fruit is still a tree with roots. This is evidenced by the parable of the sower and the seed in Luke 8:12-15. Of the four groups, only the first group are unsaved, because the Devil removed the seed from their soul before it could sprout into new life. The second and third groups represent believers who never mature to bear fruit (leading others to Christ). They never matured into fruit-bearing Christians, because of their shallow roots; or because as with the third group, they become choked by the cares, riches and pleasures of this life. Ah, but the fourth group matured, having a good and honest heart the Bible says, keeping the Lord's Word, bearing much fruit unto Christ (cf., John 15:1-7). Just because the second and third groups didn't bear fruit, didn't mean they were not saved (as Ray Comfort errantly teaches).

I have shared these truths with you dear reader, to help solidify your understanding of what the Gospel is not. More people will miss Heaven someday simply because they trusted in TOO MUCH! Everything that is complicated about getting saved is God's part. The only thing that God demands of us to be born-again is to place our childlike faith in Jesus, His only begotten Son.

God's simple plan of salvation is so easy, free and plain to understand that even a small child can be saved. God needed to make His plan of salvation so simple, because the world is full of ignorant, unlearned and stupid people. I say that respectfully and with kindness, but it is THE TRUTH. There are a lot of not so bright humans on the planet. That doesn't make them better or worse than anyone else, it just means that God needed to make His plan of redemption for mankind utterly uncomplicated.

In 2nd Corinthians 11:3-4 the Bible even refers to the saving Gospel as “the simplicity that is in Christ.” We are saved by BELIEVING the Gospel. The “Gospel” means GOOD NEWS!!! It is the “Good News” (or “Glad Tidings”) that God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, into the world, to die on a cross to pay our massive debt of sin. Jesus died on a cross! He was buried. And three days later Christ bodily resurrected by a miracle of God from the dead. These three things comprise THE GOSPEL: Jesus' death on the cross, burial and physical resurrection.

1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

There you have it, THE GOSPEL!!! I didn't see anything in there about turning away from sinful ways, did you? Nope! Oh, how men make everything complicated! God's simple plan of salvation is to just put your childlike faith (confidence, trust) in Jesus Christ. God knows that you and I have never seen Jesus, so it is okay to just believe on His name. John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” Just take God at His Word as recorded in the Holy Bible. Simply BELIEVE the record which God Has given us in His Word of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen for our justification. What an awesome God and Savior!!!

Repentance
(a helpful article)

Wrong Repentance No Salvation
(MP3 sermon, by Dr. Hank Lindstrom, 1940-2008)