Have a Nice Day
QUESTION
I’ve got a bible verse for you:
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)
You have a false gospel which teaches people who believe on Christ aren't born again. Also by the sounds of it, you're a Calvinist, or at least have some poisonous Calvinistic doctrine. If the natural man can't believe on Christ, then no one can be saved. That doesn't even make sense. Don't bother answering this message, I couldn't care less what you have to say.
Burn in hell you heretic!!
ANSWER
I had forgotten about this short correspondence I received back in 2019. I took a moment to respond and thought I’d share that here…
I got a bible verse for you: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16:17-18)
I absolutely love that verse. Pay very close attention to the phrase “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.” The doctrine that the Roman church learned under Paul’s teaching was that salvation is “not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Romans 9:16). What’s more they learned that a natural man is incapable of believing the gospel in his unregenerate state because his carnal mind is enmity against God (Romans 8:7). To make matters worse he is not righteous (Romans 3:10), has no understanding of spiritual things (v11), does not seek God (v11), is unprofitable (v12), incapable of doing something good – like believing gospel truth (v12), and has no fear of God (v18).
The bottom line is that Romans 16:17-18 is not saying “mark those who teach salvation by the sovereign grace of God and avoid them.” It is telling the church at Rome to avoid those who teach another doctrine such as salvation by works – like the Judaizers that Paul opposed in the Galatian latter (Galatians 1:6). Paul said that those men should be accursed (Galatians 1:8-9). I believe that warrants a great deal more consideration on your part.
You have a false gospel which teaches people who believe on Christ aren't born again.
I have never said or taught that “people who believe on Christ aren’t born again.” That is a baseless accusation. I teach that people who believe on Christ are born again, indeed if they were not born again, they would be unable to believe on Christ at all, because faith is a fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). You are leveling a zealous, but incorrect accusation regarding my beliefs. That should give you pause. I invite you to reconsider the matter and at least come to a clear understanding of what I believe and teach before launching out against it in ignorance. I say that in sincerity.
Also by the sounds of it, you're a Calvinist, or at least have some poisonous Calvinistic doctrine.
I make no claim of Calvinism. Neither do I quote Calvin to sustain my beliefs. I try to be transparent regarding the scriptural basis for my beliefs and build my case entirely upon the word of God.
If the natural man can't believe on Christ, then no one can be saved.
Not exactly. Jesus Christ said, “With MEN this is impossible; but with GOD all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) So while it is impossible for a natural man to believe, God is capable of regenerating him and giving him faith that shows forth his state of eternally saving grace and enables him to receive gospel truth. Indeed this is precisely what he does do: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2:1), “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” (John 5:25) God gives eternal life to men IMMEDIATELY in the same way that he gave natural life to Adam – without any assistance from man whatsoever. This is precisely why Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Because until a man is born again from God, wherein God chooses to have mercy on whom he will have mercy (Exodus 33:19), then man is totally without any perception of the spiritual truth of salvation whatsoever.
That doesn't even make sense.
It makes perfect sense provided you believe that God can create the world out of nothing and can raise the dead. That’s what he does in the new birth – he quickens those who were previously dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). The only question you need to answer is: Do you believe that God can raise the dead? If you do, then there’s no impediment to believing the gospel truths I’ve set before you. If you do not, then you deny that God raised Christ from the dead, and have departed from the Christian faith altogether. So, which is it? Can God raise the dead or not?
Don't bother answering this message,
It’s no bother. It’s all part of gospel ministry.
I couldn't care less what you have to say.
Many do not care about the truth of salvation by the grace of God. But some come to care about it… eventually. This is why the Lord taught that we must be longsuffering in ministry (II Timothy 2:24, II Corinthians 6:6). The Lord has been patient with me. Being patient with others in ministry is the least I can do to show my appreciation.
Burn in hell you heretic!!
May you find that which you do not seek (Romans 10:20). Have a nice day.
- Elder Daniel Samons