Thursday, February 24, 2011

Heretics and apostates in heaven...

There are many Calvinists, Armenians, Charismatics, Baptists, Universalists and others believing and teaching against issues such as the inerrancy of the KJV and mid-Acts dispensationalism.  Are they heretics and apostates and, as such, are they destined for Hell?

No one who is saved (that is, who has trusted the shed blood of Christ for ALL their sins), will ever go to hell—even if they are a heretic, or an apostate.

In fact, there are actual instances in our Apostle Paul's letters to us where he refers to believers who are already in the church, the body of Christ (and who are therefore saved), as heretics and/or apostates. There were plenty of heretics and apostates in the churches at Corinth, Crete, and even Ephesus.

1 Corinthians 11:19
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Galatians 5:20
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Titus 3:10-11
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Heresy and apostasy today in the scriptures, is to go against the Apostle Paul's message.

Galatians 1:6
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

2 Timothy 1:15
This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

And whether you are lost or saved, you can commit this apostasy or heresy. Lost men will go to hell, but saved people will still go to heaven—only, they will lose reward.

1 Corinthians 3:15
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

2 Timothy 2:13
If we believe not, yet he [Christ] abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

The saved heretics and apostates still go to heaven because the moment they trusted Christ, they became members of his body and therefore they belong to him, and he cannot deny himself! They just lose their reward!

A Christian still has free will and can abuse God's grace, and even go as far as they choose to away from God's will and still go to heaven. But(!) we ought not abuse his grace.  However, if it is abused, not only will a believer lose their reward in heaven but they will also suffer the consequences of sin now!

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Galatians 6:7-8
Be not deceived ; God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.


Hopefully this helps!
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Do you have a question for Pastor Ron?





6 comments:

  1. http://www.gotquestions.org/ultra-dispensationalism.html

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  2. Dear Aonymous,

    Thank you for following this blog. It is our prayer you honestly and with a readiness of heart and mind receive the word of God and consider what He--scripture--has to say over what any man (or woman) may write in ANY blog or anywhere that does not line up with the Word of God.

    Romans 3:4
    ...yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

    Scripture exhorts each and every person to 'study...righly dividing the word of truth...but shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." [2 Timothy 2:15-16]

    2 Timothy 2:7
    Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

    ~Hedied4unme

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  3. Dear Anonymous,

    Forgive me, I forgot to add that if you had an honest question for Pastor Ron to feel entirely free to submit it to him. Studying out the questions--easy or difficult--is what he enjoys doing.

    ~Hedied4unme

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  4. I have wrestled with this question for awhile. My difficulty is that I find it hard to believe that the indwelling Holy Spirit would allow one to fall so far as to become a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and actually lead others astray with a false gospel. I was saved as a child only to later fall into lordship salvation, but I was never "comfortable" with those beliefs. Eventually I was lead to study further and had a "grace awakening" and them later I came across "A Dispensational Theology" in my local library. Maybe the answer is that a person who is a "settled" apostate was never saved in the first place? I love this site, praise God for you and your efforts! Grace and Peace!

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  5. I think I'm an apostate. Can I be saved if I come back to God through Jesus?

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  6. Thank you, Jim, for your question. I've passed it on to Bro Ron Knight and below is his reply:

    Thanks for writing Jim. And although you did not go into detail about WHY you think that you are an apostate, I do really appreciate your attempt to be honest about your condition before God, even if it is a negative condition. It is that type of honesty and contrition that God desires in a man.

    You mentioned coming “back to God”, which I assume that you had what you believe was some type of “relationship” with God in the past, but have subsequently severed that relationship. Not knowing your entire history spiritually speaking, I will just fast-forward to today, and the question that you posed.

    As far as whether or not you can be saved, if you, as you say above, “come back to God through Jesus?”...WELL ABSOLUTELY!

    It is clear from our Apostle Paul, that God’s will is that ALL men be SAVED…(and to come unto a knowledge of the Truth)…1 Tim 2:4.

    And that salvation is, as you say, “through Jesus.”

    Rom 3:23-26
    For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

    By placing your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ ALONE, no works of your own, God will SAVE your soul from hell, and declare you righteous FOREVER!

    Ephesians 2:8-9
    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

    You have ETERNAL security! And peace with God.

    Romans 5:1
    Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

    Once you are saved from hell, you are saved from hell forever! Nothing that you do, or don’t do, will ever affect your salvation! You become a member of the Body of Christ…bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh. (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:30 KJB).

    2 Timothy 2:13
    If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

    Lastly, begin/continue to grow with us in our Apostle Paul’s doctrine, and God’s rightly divided Word. That is what this blog, and the ministry of Nor Cal Grace is here to help you with.

    Hopefully this helps. Praying for you.
    Grace and peace. Ron Knight.

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