Pastorbooks,
I would be very careful how you present this to your church. I met a young man thirty years ago who was living in an adulterous relationship at the time. When I questioned him he said, “My pastor said that I’m saved no matter what I do.” That is completely against the word of God. Even Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, “I forgive you; go and Sin no more.” What does that mean?
You seem to have trouble understading this simple statement, so I’ll say it again: if your theology is wrong . . .there will be judgment to pay. If I happen to be wrong, I’ve simply taught people to walk in obedience and rely on the grace of God for salvation. Where, in the scriptures, does it say we are to be disobedient?
“My sheep hear my voice, they listen and follow me . . .” To listen and follow means to obey—does it not?
The gospel is not for those who hear God’s voice and follow their own way—it is for those who take up their cross and follow him.
I wouldn’t believe in a gospel that does not transform my life.
Pastorbooks - This was sent to me but addressed to you
Whoa... FRiend, I think you misread my post! Or where you responding to someone else? I agree with everything you wrote in Post #19, so I’m wondering if your comment was meant for someone else.
I *strongly* believe that to be saved totally, completely, radically changes your way of living. To say that someone can have Jesus and continue to live in sin is to live in deception. One cannot be saved without the Holy Spirit, and no way can someone have the Holy Spirit and continue in a life of unrepentant rebellion.
I hold to the “Lordship” side of the debate, but that Lordship comes through the Holy Spirit, not a man-centered commitment of self-will.
As to my theology, I am a Calvinist charismatic with a Southern Baptist background. My two favorite Bible teachers are John Piper and Malcolm Smith. If those names sound familiar and you know what those two men teach, you know where I’m coming from. I also love Andrew Murray and Charles Spurgeon.
The point I was trying to make — and perhaps failing, I am so tired — is that to be saved is to be radically transformed. If someone truly meets Christ they cannot stay the same, and Jesus will be Lord of their life. Sins will start falling away. To see Him for Who He is is to see Him as Lord. It’s not to “make” Him Lord, because that’s Who He is.
Salvation is Jesus Christ living His life in and through us. It is a union. It is not a legalistic “Well, I guess I need to make this commitment.” It is to be united with the living Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit.
I have met many people who claim to know Christ, but there is no fruit, no evidence that they have ever met Him. Billy Graham has suggested that half of all people in churches may be unregenerate. I would guess the number is higher than that.
Perhaps I haven’t expressed myself well. I am very tired and right now all I want to do is get ready for bed. I will try to read over the thread tomorrow with a clearer head.
Goodnight, all.