AUGUST 2000 OCTOBER 2000 THE READING ROOM HOME
Is Everyone Going To Be Saved?
(Kent Heaton)
The idea of judging others is not very receptive to the mind of man. The basis of judging can many times be very harsh and unwarranted. Judging can be from motives of prejudice, ignorance and hatred. Jesus warned His disciples,
"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37) From this passage many find solace in not having to pass judgment upon others. The basis of religious tolerance is founded upon this principle. However, the teaching of Jesus in this passage does not hold for religious tolerance of all beliefs and practice.The type of judging forbidden by Christ is that which is based upon rash, unkind and unloving dispositions of condemnation based upon preconceived notions or ideals. He commends His disciples to
"not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." (John 7:24) How can we judge with righteous judgment? Righteous judgment is judgment which is based upon the righteousness of God and His will. Jesus teaches His disciples in Matthew 7:15-20 to judge men by their fruits. Men who were false teachers would be judged by their fruits in accordance with the word of God.Judging others is to be based upon a comparison of God's word and their lives. This will help us understand the answer to the question, "Is everyone going to be saved?" People feel uncomfortable in seeking an answer to this question yet the Lord tells us very plainly that most people will be lost.
"Then one said to Him, 'Lord, are there few who are saved?' And He said to them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.'" (Luke 13:23,24) Jesus said that many will seek to be saved but will be lost. His judgment was based upon the righteous judgment of His Father.Can judgments be made about different beliefs and systems of faith? Jesus said in John 14:6,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." If I believe this statement to be truth, I must believe that anyone who does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God will be lost. Does a Buddhist believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do those of the Islamic faith proclaim Jesus to be the Son of God? What view does a Jew have of Jesus? What is the view of Jesus from the standpoint of the Hindu or the Confucianist? Can a judgment be made of these faiths?None of these religions teach that Jesus is the only way to the Father. A judgment can then be made that anyone who does not believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God - cannot be saved! Paul wrote in Romans 10:9 -
"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." An agnostic will not confess this no more than an atheist. Will everyone be saved? No!If a judgment can be made of those who reject Jesus as being the Son of God, what will become of those who do not abide in His word? Again, Jesus makes this statement:
"But why do you call Me `Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) There are many faiths and beliefs that say they follow Christ. Jesus said that many religious people will be lost! (Matthew 7:21-23) Not everyone will be saved, even of those who profess Jesus to be the Christ. Only those who obey the will of the Father - not the will of Conventions, Papal decrees, Synods, Temples or such like - will be saved. It makes a difference and judgment must be made in accordance with the will and the word of God.(Kent Heaton)
The word
"covet" is found (in various forms) 18 times in the Old Testament and 22 times in the New Testament. Webster defines covet: "To desire (passionately) [especially, something that another person has]." The Latin word that we derive "Cupid" from is "cupidity", meaning a "strong desire for wealth, greed." The Greek meaning of the word is "to fix the desire upon (syn., lust.)"The Lord declares His feelings about covetousness in the Old Testament with such passages as Exodus 18:21 and 20:17 -
"Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens ..... You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."The Christian is bound by the Law of Christ with such passages as Colossians 3:5,
"Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." The nature of covetousness is the act of idolatry. In this realm, God is not put first but the fleshly desire for wealth. Romans 1:29 shows the kind of company covetousness keeps: "being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers."The apostle Paul warns Timothy of what men will become in turning from the Lord:
"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy." (2 Timothy 3:2) To be "lovers of money" is the very nature of covetousness. Jesus said the heart is filled with wickedness (Mark 7:14-23) and the heart is where the love of money comes from. In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus teaches His disciples that life is not about the things we possess. "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (v15)The true danger of covetousness is that a person will lose their soul and be damned to Hell for it. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 is very plain when it describes those who will not be saved:
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." Consider again what Paul writes in Ephesians 5:5 - "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God."The Lottery is very popular in our culture and has caused a lot of people to spend millions of dollars trying to win an elusive prize. For the Christian, the money is not the problem but the heart that is desiring the riches of this world. Playing the Lottery is the sin of covetousness and the Lord reminds us that covetousness will damn a soul to Hell.
"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him." (Luke 16:13,14) Will you also deride the Lord Jesus Christ by playing the Lottery? "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints." (Ephesians 5:3)Mr. Hays Has Chosen Not To Debate
(Kent Heaton)
A response was received last week in the Gilchrist County Journal from Mr. Don Hays, former pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Bell, to a request for a debate on the issues of the "Rapture." For a number of weeks on WDJY-101.7FM, Mr. Hays has been presenting his thoughts and beliefs on what he calls the "Progressive Rapture." During his radio programs in August of this year, Mr. Hays repeatedly said that no one would discuss these matters with him. In the August 10 edition of the Gilchrist County Journal, I made the following statement: "It is my desire to let Mr. Hays know that I am willing to debate him on the issues of the rapture and the teaching of Premillennialism ... If Mr. Hays would be willing to debate these issues, we stand ready to prepare for such a debate at a future date."
The only response that I have received of this simple request is a large ad in last week's paper, titled: RESPONSE TO KENT E. HEATON SR. RAPTURE. In the second paragraph of this article, Mr. Hays stated: "In the Gilchrist County Journal dated August, 10, 2000, Mr. Heaton challenged me, a former local pastor, to a debate. A debate is often like a dog fight, a lot of noise but little if any benefit. I have chosen to answer him in the Gilchrist County Journal with published questions, giving Scriptural answers."
I am disappointed that Mr. Hays is not willing to take up the challenge that he himself laid before the radio audience. I am saddened that Mr. Hays would make a debate become a dog fight as the purpose of a debate is to discuss in an open format the issues presented by him on the radio program as presented by Faith Baptist Church. He believes that an open discussion of the Bible is nothing more than a lot of noise and contrary to his earnest pleas on his radio program, of little benefit. I am glad he answered in the format that he chose so that many more people can see and understand those matters that were to be discussed in the debate.
As Mr. Hays has declined our offer to debate the issues presented on his program, we invite you to tune in Sunday morning to WDJY - 101.7FM for our program beginning at 8:00am to hear what Mr. Hays will not be hearing concerning the discussion of the 34 points given in rebuttal to our request for a debate. Also, we will present in writing, answers to the 34 points Mr. Hays has stated as Truth in our weekly column here on page two It would be my desire for someone at Faith Baptist Church to mail copies of these articles to Mr. Hays for his consideration.
As we stated on our program Sunday morning, this is not a personal attack against Mr. Hays. In our day and time, people become uncomfortable with open discussions of religion. Mr. Hays acknowledged that no one would discuss the issues with him and we took the opportunity to offer a public discussion of the issues. The difficulty of his situation by logistics is that he has moved to South Florida. If someone from Faith Baptist Church would be willing to discuss these issues with the convenience of distance, we would welcome that discussion also. As the program is presented by Faith Baptist Church, they are responsible for the matters presented and it is our prayer they will find a way to present answers to our discussions of the rapture.
To you, the readers, we seek your thoughts and questions concerning these very important matters. You can write to us at the address below. We welcome your participation and will try to include your thoughts in our study together of the Bible. Look here (on page two) for our discussion of Mr. Hays' 34 points and remember to tune in Sunday morning to WDJY - 101.7FM for "Bible Talk.". We look forward to hearing from you.
Hebrews 9:28 & The Second Coming Of Christ
(Kent Heaton)
The foundation of the teaching of the "Rapture" is to believe Christ will return on numerous occasions. To follow the progression of Premillenialism, Christ will return three (if not four), times. Mr. Hays' first response is to assume the Bible teaches Jesus will return more than the scriptures say. He writes, "Does the statement in Heb. 9:28, 'unto them that look for him shall he appear a second time', limit Jesus to a second appearance only? No." Upon this verse from the word of God, the next 33 questions and answers posed by Mr. Hays stand or fall.
The context of Hebrews 9:28 is found in the preceding verses - especially verses 23-28: Here we find the Hebrew writer describing how Jesus came to earth as the sacrifice for sin. He did this only one time:
"But now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." (v26) The first time Christ came to mankind, it was to bear the sins of all men and this was at the "end of the ages."Having established why Christ came the first time, the writer tells us that Christ will come again. Notice the use of how the writer describes the coming of Christ:
"To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." The next time Christ will come, will be the second time, and when He comes the second time, it will be for salvation.The contrast of the coming of the Lord is clearly shown in this passage. The first time Christ came was to bear the sins of many and the second time Christ comes will be for the salvation for those who eagerly wait for Him. Early in school, teachers taught us that one plus one equals two. The only times that are described as Christ coming to earth is the first time and the second time.
The importance of words is essential to understanding the manner God has revealed His word. If Christ comes back a second time for salvation, what is there to come back for a third or fourth time? Mr. Hays would have you believe that Christ will come back a second time for the saints (without manifesting Himself to the whole world), return a third time with the saints and set up His millennial Kingdom. The final and fourth time Christ will return, would be to bring an end to the world. The Bible only teaches Jesus coming the first and second time and God expressly uses the term - SECOND TIME - leaving no doubt of what will happen when the Lord returns.
There is not a single passage in the Bible that makes reference to a "third" or "fourth" coming of Christ. Numerous passages talk about the coming of the Lord. Take a moment and read in your Bibles these passages and determine which time Christ will be coming:
Philippians 3:20,21; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9; 2 Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:1-13. Did Paul and Peter misguide the first century Christians about the coming of the Lord? No, the Holy Spirit guided these men to write the Truth as revealed from the Father. Christ will return only one more time!Mr. Hays takes a lot of liberty with God's holy word to presume that Hebrews 9:28 would not preclude Jesus from coming only a second time. That liberty is based upon the false teaching of men and not of God. He has yet to prove a single passage that allows for Christ to return even a third time. The early Christians so believed that the next time Christ would return, it would be the great resurrection and end of the world, they wrote to Paul about it. He answered them in 1 Thessalonians 4. We will discuss that chapter next week. Remember to tune in Sunday morning at 8:00am as we continue to talk about the Rapture on "Bible Talk" - 101.7FM.