I ran across this news clip of a man who held to a belief of a literal hell as the Bible teaches, but claimed to have a revelation from God which superseded the Word of God. Are we to accept the word of a finite man who questions an infinite God, or the word of the created over the word of the Creator? It is obvious to me this man is influenced by pride and never had a message from God.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2 Peter 2:17-3:1
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.
Tags: Accountibility, Baptists, Beliefs, Bible, Christianity, Church Growth, Church Planters, Doctrine, Eternal Life, Expository Preaching, Faith, Family, Family Values, God, Godly Faithfulness, Landmark Baptists, Godly Responsibility, God’s Word, Pastors, Pastor’s Wives, Preachers, Religion, Scripture, Separation, The Cross, The Cross of Christ, Theology, Worship
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
- John 3:3
Our Lord gave Nicodemus three reasons why he must be born again. These three things make it imperative that we must be born again.
- Verse 3 - Until a person is born again, they will not understand anything spiritual. The natural man is totally void of spiritual understanding. They may be a logical, reasonable, rational, and well educated person among men, but with regard to spiritual things of God they are ignorant, foolish, and unreasonable. A lost person will have no capacity for spiritual knowledge, Romans 8:5; 1 Corinthians 2:14. The lost heart is stone-hard, cold, unbending, and unaffected. Until a person is born again, they will not understand.
- Verse 5 - Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Unless a person is born again, they can never enter into the kingdom of God. You can reform your life without the new birth. You can be baptized without the new birth. You can join a church, be zealous in religion, teach a Bible class, serve as a deacon or pastor with seemingly great success without being born again, but unless you are born again you will never enter the kingdom of God.You will never be a part of the family of God. You will never have eternal life. You will never embrace the worship and fellowship of God’s saints. You will never be admitted into the presence of God’s glory in the bliss of heaven.
Re: Revelation 20:6; 21:27. Only new creatures will enter the New Jerusalem and only holy people will walk into the Holy City. - Verse 6 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, because, by nature, we are all fallen, sinful, depraved children of human flesh. The “flesh” is our natural, sinful self – Psalms 51:5; 58:3; Romans 5:12; Revelation 20:11-15. All flesh is defiled, corrupt and sinful, condemned, and must die. Unless a person is born of the Spirit, they will die in their sins and they shall be justly damned.
John 3: 7 - Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.