List of psuedo-Christian cults that teach works-based salvation

It has come to my attention (since I became a Christian in the summer of 1999, that is.) that there are fake Christians who teach works based salvation or teach that it is okay for others to believe in works based salvation.

We are not saved by baptism, communion, confession to a priest, etc. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9

Some notable occults that teach works based salvation:

Roman Catholicism

Calvinism (John Calvin taught baptismal regeneration. See Infant Baptism—Is It Christian? . Also predestination presents a distorted view of salvation.)

Methodism (John Wesley also taught baptismal regeneration.)

Seventh Day Adventist (While not all adventists believe in works-based salvation, it is the churches official doctrine.)

Lutheranism (Martin Luther was not a Christian. He taught baptismal regeneration, Mary worship, and antinomianism)

Church of Christ (Teaches baptismal regeneration.)

Oneness Pentecostal (Teaches salvation by baptism, good works, and being baptized in the Holy Ghost (which is not a work) )

Worldwide Church of God

United Church of God

Salvation Army (supports and respects Roman Catholicism! http://www.cuttingedge.org/news/n1527.cfm )

Romans Chapter 13 by Chuck Baldwin

It seems that every time someone such as myself attempts to encourage our Christian brothers and sisters to resist an unconstitutional or otherwise reprehensible government policy, we hear the retort, “What about Romans Chapter 13? We Christians must submit to government. Any government. Read your Bible, and leave me alone.” Or words to that effect.

No doubt, some who use this argument are sincere. They are only repeating what they have heard their pastor and other religious leaders say. On the other hand, let’s be honest enough to admit that some who use this argument are just plain lazy, apathetic, and indifferent. And Romans 13 is their escape from responsibility. I suspect this is the much larger group, by the way.

Nevertheless, for the benefit of those who are sincere (but obviously misinformed), let’s briefly examine Romans Chapter 13. I quote Romans Chapter 13, verses 1 through 7, from the Authorized King James text:

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

Do our Christian friends who use these verses to teach that we should not oppose President Bush or any other political leader really believe that civil magistrates have unlimited authority to do anything they want without opposition? I doubt whether they truly believe that.

For example, what if our President decided to resurrect the old monarchal custom of Jus Primae Noctis (Law of First Night)? That was the old medieval custom when the king claimed the right to sleep with a subject’s bride on the first night of their marriage. Would our sincere Christian brethren sheepishly say, “Romans Chapter 13 says we must submit to the government”? I think not. And would any of us respect any man who would submit to such a law?

So, there are limits to authority. A father has authority in his home, but does this give him power to abuse his wife and children? Of course not. An employer has authority on the job, but does this give him power to control the private lives of his employees? No. A pastor has overseer authority in the church, but does this give him power to tell employers in his church how to run their businesses? Of course not. All human authority is limited in nature. No man has unlimited authority over the lives of other men. (Lordship and Sovereignty is the exclusive domain of Jesus Christ.)

FULL ARTICLE

Did Christ die only for “his chosen” or for the whole world?

The Orthodox Presbyterian Church claims that

The Son of God took upon himself a human nature in the womb of the virgin Mary, so that in her son Jesus the divine and human natures were united in one person. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and died on a cross, bearing the sins of, and receiving God’s wrath for, all those who trust in him for salvation (his chosen ones). He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, where he sits as Lord and rules over his kingdom (the church). He will return to judge the living and the dead, bringing his people (with glorious, resurrected bodies) into eternal life, and consigning the wicked to eternal punishment.

However the scripture states,

1 John 2:1-2

[1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
[2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Orthodox Presbyterian’s False Gospel of Infant Baptism

In an article titled Refusing to Present Children for Baptism, the Orthodox Presbyterian states:

1. God has revealed his great displeasure with those who refuse or neglect the administration of the sign of the covenant (Gen. 17:14; Exod. 4:24-26).
2. To refuse the covenant sign to the children of believers is to deny God’s covenant claim upon them, and thus to withhold from him those who are rightfully his. Such denial provokes him to anger (Exod. 4:22-26; Mark 10:13, 14).
3. The riches of God’s grace are most clearly seen in his covenant mercies, and to deny baptism to the children of the church prevents the grace of God from being seen in all its richness and manifestly detracts from its fullness. This cannot help but weaken the sense of gratitude in both parents and children and consequently rob God of the praise and thanksgiving that are due to him.
4. Those professing parents who refuse to present their children for baptism thereby deny their solemn obligation to keep God’s covenant by raising their children in the knowledge and fear of the Lord, and deprive their children as well as themselves of the comfort of God’s covenant promise.
5. Professing parents who refuse to present their children for baptism withhold from the church of Christ the holy seed which God in his goodness has provided for it, and consequently deprive their children of the nurture and discipline which the body of Christ imparts to its members.

They say that if parents refuse to baptize their children “God’s covenant claim” upon the children is denied. This is clearly a false gospel. The scriptures do not teach Christian initiation. You cannot be baptized into the kingdom of God. You must believe in Christ.

John Wesley was a Heretic and taught Baptismal Regeneration

The proof is found in his own writings:

On page 15 of The Works of the Reverend John Wesley, A.M. by John Wesley

Wesley writes:

4 By baptism we who were by nature children of wrath are made the children of God And this regeneration which our Church in so many places ascribes to baptism is more than barely being admitted into the Church though commonly connected therewith being grafted into the body of Christ’s Church we are made the children of God by adoption and grace This is grounded on the plain words of our Lord Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God John iii 5 By water then as a means the water of baptism we are regenerated or born again whence it is also called by the Apostle the washing of regeneration Our Church therefore ascribes no greater virtue to baptism than Christ himself has done Nor does she ascribe it to the outward washing but to the inward grace which added thereto makes it a sacrament Herein a principle of grace is infused which will not be wholly taken away unless we quench the of God continued wickedness The Works of the Reverend John Wesley, A.M. By John Wesley

Some have written that Wesley didn’t actually promote baptismal regeneration.  However Wesley made the following statement in his book The Works of the Reverend John Wesley:

…And the virtue of this free gift the merits of Christ’s life and death are applied to us in baptism. “He gave himself for the Church that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word;” Eph. v, 25, 26; namely in baptism the ordinary instrument of our justification. Agreeably to this our Church prays in the baptismal office that the person to be baptized may be washed and sanctified by the Holy Ghost and being delivered from God’s wrath receive remission of sins and enjoy the everlasting benediction of his heavenly washing…

Visit the following webpage for an excellent article debunking baptismal regeneration. CONTENDING WITH THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF
BAPTISMAL REGENERATION

Here’s a brief excerpt from the aforementioned article:

D. PEOPLE in the N.T. saved without water baptism.
Both the thief on the cross and Cornelius’ household are examples of New Testament believers who were saved without the benefit of water baptism.
Luke 23:43 (Jesus speaking to the thief on the cross)
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Acts 10:47 (Spoken by Peter in reference to Cornelius’ household)
47 Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized who HAVE RECEIVED the HOLY GHOST the same as we? (They already had the Holy Ghost, they were already saved, and then they were water baptized.)
There are many who teach that their church began at Pentecost, and that one must be baptized into their church in order to avoid going to hell. The following question needs to be asked of those false teachers, “Are Peter, James and John in hell today because they were not baptized into your church after the day of Pentecost?”

The Holy Ghost: The Seal of the New Covenant

The seal of the new covenant is not baptism nor the sabbath but the Holy Ghost.

In Ephesians 1:13, Paul tells the believers that they “were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”.  Paul restates in Ephesians 4:30 that believers are sealed with the Holy Ghost saying, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”  This seal is not obtained by any works but rather by the simple faith in Jesus Christ.  Romans 8:1-14 declares that God has given all believers his holy Spirit:

[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
[3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
[4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
[8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
[11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
[13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Furthermore, salvation is not of works but of grace.

Ephesians 2:8-10

[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Aliens Do Not Exist: Scriptural Proof

Some Christians have pondered on whether aliens exist or not. Some have believed news reports and videos of supposed alien spacecraft. This is simply a hoax and a fraud of Satan to steer people away from Christ and to implement global government.

Let’s explore the justifications that could be used to explain the existence of aliens:

Myth #1: Aliens exist and have sinned. Christ redeemed them as well as man.

Jesus Christ died for all men not aliens as Romans 5:17-18 says:

17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Myth #2: Aliens exist and are perfect. God prohibits them from traveling to earth.

Aliens do not exist because God only created life on earth.  Genesis 6:11-14, emphatically declares that all flesh is on earth.

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

I have concisely proven that aliens do not exist.  Neither is there a half-breed of men.  For all men are created in the image of God as Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”.

Love in Knowledge: Encouraging Words

Philippians 1:8-11
“[8] For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
[9] And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
[10] That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
[11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
Ephesians 3:14-19
“[14] For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
[15] Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
[16] That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
[17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
[18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
[19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

The Truth Shall Make You Free

John 8:18-36

[18] I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
[19] Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
[20] These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
[21] Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
[22] Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
[23] And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
[24] I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
[25] Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
[26] I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
[27] They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
[28] Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
[29] And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
[30] As he spake these words, many believed on him.
[31] Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
[32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
[33] They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
[34] Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
[35] And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
[36] If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Jesus told the Jews that believed on him in verses 31-32, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” What does this mean? It must be taken in the context of the words preceding and following the text.

Verses 24-30 shed light on the what Jesus spoke of.

[24] I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
[25] Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
[26] I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
[27] They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
[28] Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
[29] And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
[30] As he spake these words, many believed on him.

Clearly Jesus is speaking that they would know him if they continued in the words he spoke. To further prove this is the case let us look at the verses following the infamous “the truth shall make you free” verse.

Let’s read verses 34-36 again,

[33] They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
[34] Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
[35] And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
[36] If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Now it becomes evident that “the truth” Jesus Christ spoke of was of himself. He told the Jews if they continued to believe his report he spoke of in verses 28-29 that they would come to know Jesus Christ and that he would in turn would set them free. Jesus Christ is the truth as John 14:6 states,

[6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Thank God for setting us free through his son Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:1-18

[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
[7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.
[8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
[9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
[10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
[11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
[15] What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
[16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
[17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
[18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

We are free from sin and no devil can separate us from God.

Romans 8:35-39

[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Action Sixties with Gail Riplinger Author of New Age Bible Versions Part 2

Watch as host Herman Bailey slowly but surely becomes convinced that the King James Bible is the word of God for the English speaking world. Listen as Dr. Riplinger supplies the convincing answers to the questions that are most typically asked by the precious Christians who have been deceived by the new versions. The answers helped the host. Hopefully, they will help many others.