Truthful Error

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. no...: Heb. no morning - Isaiah 8:20

    The Word of God admonishes us to be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (Eph 4:14). Every doctrinal error is hedged about with many truths. It is like a beautiful, tasty apple pie laced with arsenic—when consumed it is fatal. The main and active ingredient is a paradox. The absence of the central truth is the deadly poison. An example of this is to use correct doctrinal terminology, and conveniently leave the application of these truths to the disposal of man.

    Many are so mesmerized by intellectual genius, oratorical skill, and personal charisma, they can never see what is missing. When the glorious truths of the Gospel are made subject to the supposed exercise of man’s free will, Christ is rendered an instrument in the hands of sinners, rather than the substance and cause of salvation in the hand of God.

    Universal redemption (nonexistent) made particular and effectual by the exercise of faith is not the eternal redemption obtained for the elect of God by the sacrifice of Christ our Lord. The universal love of God (nonexistent) that embraces all of mankind is not the love of God manifested in the death of his Son for his bride. Preachers and teachers may cleverly use all the Biblical and Calvinistic terminology they choose. However, until they clearly and distinctly proclaim, without apology, that God Almighty only, forever, and in every sense, loves his chosen ones in Christ alone; that God’s Lamb died for them alone, and no one else; that they had nothing to do in it or with it, I am convinced they are purposely and premeditatedly omitting the heart of the Gospel. They preach a lie for personal gain and for the praise of man.

    Particular and effectual redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ alone is the theme of all holy writ. It is the heart and soul of the Gospel of God. When this essential truth is veiled or omitted, there is poison in the pie (See also 2 Kings 4:40). Don’t consume it!