What happens to the urgency of evangelism when there is no real threat of someone dying in their sin or experiencing eternal judgment? What happens to the urgency to pray for souls when one does not believe a soul is in danger?

I was praying recently and I heard these words, “they will die in their sins”. I immediately went to John 8 where Jesus spoke these words and was prompted by the Holy Spirit to wake up to a new urgency for those who think they are secure, but in fact are under false security.

After Jesus rescued the woman caught in adultery he said:

John 8:10-11 TPT Until finally, Jesus was left alone with the woman still standing there in front of him. So he stood back up and said to her, “Dear woman, where are your accusers? Is there no one here to condemn you?”

Looking around, she replied, “I see no one, Lord.”

Jesus said, “Then I certainly don’t condemn you either. Go, and from now on, be free from a life of sin.”

As Pastor Greg Nangle has been saying: “Jesus said go and sin no more, not go and sin some more!”

Most of us older folk are blown away at the fact that in the last fifteen years the church has so freely changed the conditions of salvation from repentance and embracing the Lordship of Jesus in our daily lives, to just simply saying, “I believe”. This has occurred primarily because of the practice of proof-texting the word of God. What is meant by proof- texting?  It’s when people take the scriptures and cut them out of context and end up changing their meaning altogether.

I began to see this fallacy back in the 80’s and 90’s in the charismatic movement concerning pet doctrines around the “prosperity and healing message.” I want to be doctrinally sound and have the integrity to rightly divide the word of truth. There are what I call “stand alone principles in the scripture and then there are truths that must be contextualized. “God is good, God is Holy, God is the most high God”, these are indisputable and stand alone.

“Jesus said go and sin no more, not go and sin some more!”

Let me show you an example of truths that need contextualized. The angel said to the Shepherds, “Peace on earth good will toward men”.

But then Jesus said:

Matthew 10:34 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth . I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  NKJV

These messages seem to contradict each other as do many things in God’s word until you read the whole thought and context.

While we find the words that seem to say “only believe and you will be saved”, it takes more than simple acknowledgment, which is how most modernly define belief.

Romans 10:8-13

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”   NKJV

Now let’s look at this verse in the Amplified Bible translation which actually defines the word believe…

Romans 10:8-11

8 But what does it say? The Word (God’s message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach, [Deut 30:14.] 

9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.

11 The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed. [Ps 34:22; Isa 28:16; 49:23; Jer 17:7.]   AMP

So we must adhere to (or obey) Jesus’ teachings to be saved not just acknowledge them.

Most public funerals today are a total mockery of the truth of eternal life. I will not preach someone into heaven just to comfort their grieving loved ones, but it happens several times a day by Pastors in funeral services all over this community. Who wants to believe their loved one is in the devil’s hell?

Jesus called out religious leaders in John 8 and told them they were the devil’s sons and not God’s sons! He told them they would die in their sins!

I don’t have a “dog in this hunt.” I am not concerned about being right for my sake. I am concerned with those who have been falsely secured with a half truth from a half presentation of a gospel message. There is a reason Apostles were tasked with judging doctrine. Evangelists seem the most prone to minimizing the requirements of salvation and I think their gift of preaching good news sometimes overshadows the truth of the message of repentance from sin and dead works.

I have locked horns with many Evangelists and their desire just to get a person to “pray a prayer” and then telling them “your OK”, when it is obvious that the person (that just prayed) had no true commitment to the Lord. A prayer can save you but a prayer may not save you. It depends on the heart of the person, not words repeated by a person. I am typically very clear on the presentation of the Gospel that there is an expectation of repentance from sin by God for their acceptance by God.

It pays to read the whole thought when reading the Bible, so before you repeat a promise, check the context and make sure you are not creating your own Gospel.

Remember a deceived person does not know that they are deceived!

Be blessed!

• Date - June 18, 2020
• Author - David Chisholm

What are you filled with today? Our nation is overflowing with all sorts of emotions isn’t it? Outrage is being demonstrated at levels we have not seen in decades. From the Covid 19 lockdown, to now the protest and riots happening in our communities, I am reminded of the following words in the Bible. “Is there not a cause?” These words were spoken by David and then the Son of David , Jesus, said “For this cause I was born” as he spoke before Pilate.

What cause are you filled with? There are many causes, some righteous, some not. At one point a man asked Jesus to come and be the arbitrator in an argument over a division of family inheritance, Jesus refused.

Luke 12:13-21

13 The Parable of the Rich Fool Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 

15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” 

16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 

17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 

18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 

19 And I will say to my soul,”Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”‘ 

20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 

21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” 

NKJV

Jesus exposed that the real issue here was greed in the man asking. There is a fruit of the Spirit and directive of the Kingdom that most believers do not listen to or want to submit to. It’s called “turn the other cheek.” Most people find an amendment or way to justify or exclude themselves from this “way of the Master.”

I think a lot of people who are inflamed right now in the body of Christ need to take a moment and read the Beatitudes again. A violent response to evil is not the way of Christ when we are being treated unfairly or even unjustly. Love doesn’t overcome with violence it overcomes by demonstrating a higher way that Jesus himself demonstrated. He was innocent and killed, but loved and forgave. Peter took the other approach in the Garden of Gethsemane, like some are with rioting and looting, and how did that work out for him?

Matt 26:47-56

47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”

49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 

53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 

54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” 

55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 

56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.  NKJV

Luke 6:27-36

27 Love Your Enemies (Matt 5:38-48) “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 

29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 

30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 

33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 

34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 

35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 

36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.   NKJV

 Taking the high road goes against all out self-defense mechanisms and as much as I hate to say it, many of Jesus’ disciples are still ready to “cut someone.”

Stay sane and blessed!

• Date - June 3, 2020
• Author - David Chisholm

I was in a conversation yesterday and was asked this question? Why do so few people have a real concern for the lost today in the church? People used to weep for the lost, now it seems few do. I do remember a time in the past when there was such a concern for the lost. So what happened?

Here is the problem; why should I be concerned to the point of emotional distress over someone, if I don’t believe they are really in danger? When the doctrine of eternal judgment disappears from the church, there is no urgency to deliver people from eternal judgment. The bottom line is people don’t actually believe their loved ones are going to  hell without a life filled with the fruits of true salvation.

Think about it. When was the last time you attended a funeral where someone’s eternal salvation was questioned? I say it this way – “In today’s modern church, all dogs go to heaven”. This is not a Disney movie folks, it’s real life! We are looked at with disdain as preachers if we dare question someone’s salvation. So what does the scriptures teach?

Proverbs 16:6

6 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. NKJV

So we see three ingredients for salvation, mercy, truth, and repentance.

What happens when we just include mercy? We lose the fear of God because we only consider His goodness.

Proverbs 14:16

16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. NKJV

Let’s look at the true fruit of a real salvation experience:

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them  And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”  

17 Therefore “Come out from among them  And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”  

18’I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”   NKJV

This doesn’t show all mercy does it? Our salvation must be verified with fruits of a changed life. James said it best. “Faith without works is dead.”

So when half of the Gospel message is excluded from preaching then we have a disaster. False doctrine is what produces false security and false security takes away the fear of the Lord which is a true motive for repentance. If I believe I am OK with God there is no need to change.

The Bible condemns the false Prophet who declares peace when there is no peace. Preachers are so afraid to speak of the judgments of God today it is sickening and what they think is compassion is actually condemning people in their sins. Just read carefully the warnings from the Lord’s brother Jude:

Jude 1:4 TPT

Warning against False Teachers

There have been some who have sneaked in among you unnoticed. They are depraved people whose judgment was prophesied in Scripture a long time ago. They have perverted the message of God’s grace into a license to commit immorality and turn against our only absolute Master, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I need to remind you, even though you are familiar with it all, that the Lord Jesus saved his people out of Egypt but subsequently destroyed those who were guilty of unbelief.

In the same way, there were heavenly messengers in rebellion who went outside their rightful domain of authority and abandoned their appointed realms. God bound them in everlasting chains and is keeping them in the dark abyss of the netherworld until the judgment of the great day.

In a similar way, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and nearby towns gave themselves to sexual immorality and the unnatural desire of different flesh. Now they all serve as examples of those who experience the punishment of eternal fire.

These truths should return us all to the fear of the Lord and reality that many are in false security and not at all safe from eternal judgment. So we all need to look around and realize the majority of the people we know and love are not safe, but in danger of eternal judgment! In doing this, only then will we have our urgency back and fight for their salvation!

• Date - May 13, 2020
• Author - David Chisholm