Miscellaneous errors in the theology of Herbert W. Armstrong (i.e.-HWA):
wwcg (and its offshoots) taught (borrowing from Mr. Armstrong - who himself borrowed from Thomas Paine!) that:
"That government is best
which governs least." -
THIS IS WRONG! Based on Scripture...(the Word we Christians must live by) we must
"bring every
thought into captivity to the
obedience of Christ"!
(2Cor 10:5 [KJV])
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
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For some reason (and it probably originated with HWA - most things do, since he had virtual total control over doctrine - especially doctrine that has persisted over the years), in the old wwcg, Christ was looked upon as a type of "training wheels" for the Christian - where as one learned to "walk in obedience" then the Christian could depend less and less on Christ until (finally, in theory) we become spiritually "self-sufficient". In the meantime (i.e.- until we become "sufficient" - of ourselves), God will "do for us what we can't do for ourselves" or "will pick up the slack" of what we cannot do. The problem with this reasoning is that Christ says that without Him we can "do nothing"!
(John 15:5 [KJV])
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
(2Cor 1:9 [KJV])
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
(2Cor 3:5 [KJV])
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Uh...so much for the "self-sufficiency" theory!! Also (as further proof of that egregious error), it plainly contradicts John 3:30 where John the Baptist says (and...if I may say so...gives us the godly view of sanctification "in a nutshell"!)...
(John 3:30 [KJV])
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Their sanctification "theory", instead, is (tantamount to saying) that the Christian must "increase" and Christ must "decrease"!! [Sure leaves "room for boasting" in the Armstrong-style "Christian", doesn't it?!]
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Another wwcg "theory" is that we (Christians) are "saved by grace" and "kept by our works" (similar to what British scholar N.T. Wright teaches). However, Peter says (as if in anticipation of this "new" heresy),
(1Pet 1:5 [KJV])
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Does the theory of being "kept by our works" leave "room for boasting"? You better believe it! If we're kept by "our works", then we can say..."Look what I did (or, am doing)!"...or "I must be pretty good, aye - 'keeping myself' by doing all these 'good' works!"
This is the Galatian heresy - all over again...starting the Christian life (theoretically) "in the Spirit" [i.e.- by God's grace] but then...trying to be "perfected by the flesh" (i.e.- our own strength)!
(Gal 3:3 [KJV])
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
What, then, is the biblical solution to this Galatian heresy?
Col 2:6
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord [i.e.- by faith], so walk ye in him [i.e-by faith]:It's not "God's part" and "your part" in salvation or justification (IT'S ALL "GOD'S PART"!); it's "God's part" and "your part" in SANCTIFICATION! [The way "Reformed" theologians describe it is that "Salvation is monergistic and sanctification is synergistic"!] In other words, we're "saved by grace" (only) and "rewarded according to works" (but ONLY REWARDED according to works done in the "power of the Holy Spirit" (i.e.- "grace-empowered works"!) - that you give due credit (or glory) to God for!)
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Armstrong followers (I've heard it "straight" from a couple of their ministers!) say, "YOU HAVE TO HAVE FAITH AND WORKS; IT (SALVATION) CAN'T BE BY JUST FAITH ALONE! THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS IN JAMES 2:24!" But then it (James 2:24) would contradict
Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
TEACHERS OF ARMSTRONGISM SAY THAT IF YOU HAVE "SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE", THEN THAT "DOES AWAY WITH GOOD WORKS" - OR KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS.
BUT THAT'S A "STRAW MAN' (ARGUMENT)!!!
There are LOTS of Christian ministries "out there" that teach that "salvation is by faith alone" but still believe in "keeping the commandments" (i.e.- the OT "Law")!! Ministries like: John MacArthur Jr.'s ministry (Grace to You), RC Sproul's ministry (Ligonier), Alistair Begg, Erwin Lutzer, Coral Ridge Ministries (of the late D. James Kennedy), the ministry of the late James Boice, the late Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Michael Horton (White Horse Inn) and others... Granted, all these ministries teach that the Saturday Sabbath is done away and replaced with a Sunday "sabbath" (Notice they don't believe that the Sabbath command is "done away", but that the 7th-day sabbath is done away (and replaced with a "first day of the week" Sabbath!)) but THERE IS A SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH AND "COMMANDMENT KEEPING" MINISTRY THAT TEACHES "SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE" - THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH!! THEY HAVE THE TRUTH OF "SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE" (WHICH IS PROBABLY LESS CONFUSING THAN REFERRING TO IT AS "SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE") - WHICH IS THE BIBLICAL "WAY" OF SALVATION AND YET, AGAIN, THEY "KEEP THE LAW"!!
In a "nutshell", salvation is (contrary to what Armstrong followers/ ministers say) not "by faith AND works" but by a "faith THAT works"!! (NOTE: For a great discussion of the alleged contradiction between James and Paul, read this article by John Piper!):
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ScriptureIndex/13/1085_Does_James_Contradict_Paul/
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Or...as people of the "Reformed view" put it: "Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone - yet not by a faith that is alone." ["yet not by a faith that is alone" means that works have to "be there", yes, BUT AS AN EVIDENCE OF ONE'S FAITH (NOT as something separate from (OR ADDED TO!) faith!). As James says, "I will show you [WHAT?] MY FAITH [HOW?! (Pray tell!)] 'BY MY WORKS'!" James talks about Christians having a "living" or WORKING faith - as opposed to a dead faith! [Nevertheless, salvation is STILL by faith alone or "the working of Christ" ALONE! Do you see, friends, then, how there's NOT a contradiction between James and Paul?! (I hope and pray you CAN and DO see it!)]
http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/Five-Solas/Sola-Fide/
Armstrong followers (following the "cue" of Armstrong's ministers) routinely "dis" Martin Luther for calling the book of James "an epistle of straw" but they don't want to accept the fact that Luther "came around" to the necessity of works and keeping the law in his later writings, most notably in his widely-read "Preface to Romans"! (See for yourself!)
http://www.ccel.org/l/luther/romans/pref_romans.html
We're not saved by our good works (We are saved by CHRIST'S GOOD WORKS - 1) His paying the just penalty for our sins (death) on our behalf AND 2) by having the righteousness that HE ACHIEVED by living a perfect life in the flesh imputed to us by grace, so that we have "right standing" with the God and, therefore, have access to all of God's blessings wrought by Christ's obedience (including adoption into His Family)...(see Rom. 8:32 below)): yet we are not saved without good works (for God's work of salvation in the believer includes the creation of a new heart that is obedient to God).
Rom 8:32
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with Him also freely give us all things?(We're dealing with a problem of definition here. As it says in Rom. 8:7, "those that are in the flesh (i.e.- those who are NOT Christians) cannot please God"! Therefore, the non-Christian cannot do good works - i.e.- works that God approves of (or is pleasing to Him)!)
You can say, "We're not saved because of good works; we're saved for good works! (In other words, we (true Christians) don't "do good works" in order to "get saved" but we DO "do good works" (and CAN DO good works) because we are saved!)" Again, a person who is not saved is the person described in Rom. 8:7-9 (with a carnal mind or one who is "in the flesh", rather than "in the Spirit") and cannot please God (because no "good thing" (NOTE: the Holy Spirit is the "good thing" Paul is talking about here) dwells in his sinful nature (Rom. 7:18))! That's why Christians are to "put to death" or "reckon as dead" their old self - that old self that is evil. One of the biggest deceptions going on nowadays is that "human nature is good"! Until we see the depravity of our nature, we'll never come to the point where we even BEGIN the Christian life. (What's the point of "putting to death" something that you believe is good?) That's why the "depravity of man" is one of the key doctrines a person must understand before God's Spirit can work in the person - to convict him of his sin - not only what he has done, but what he is! We're not sinners because we sin; we sin because we're sinners! It's our nature to sin (cf. Rom. 8:7).
Matt 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Matt 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.Rom 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.Rom 8:8
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.Rom 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
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I heard a minister (in one of the Armstrong "offshoots") say that Christ's righteousness "credited to our account" is His Righteousness that will "pick up the slack" of where we (of ourselves) fall short of God's glory (or perfection). The problem with that is that in us (again, our human nature) "nothing good dwells" (Rom 7:18)[!] so anything NOT done in the "power of the Spirit" profits us NOTHING. In other words, IT'S ALL CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS; HE"S "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS"...our righteousnesses are AS FILTHY RAGS (Isa 64:6)! It's not only His Righteousness "credited to our accounts" (so we can "stand" or have "right standing" before God), but it's also His Righteousness (by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit) "being formed in us" (in the process of our sanctification)!Rom 7:18 For I know that
in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.John 6:63a
[NOTE: Jesus speaking] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:Jer 23:6
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and
all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.Gal 4:19
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another problem with Armstrong theology (and, in my opinion, is nit-picking about words!) is that he has set up a false dichotomy of a person either being NOT saved (either now or in the past) and ONLY being saved in the future - if we endure to the end. YES, A PERSON MUST "ENDURE TO THE END" TO BE SAVED, BUT...A PERSON WHO HAS THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLING IN HIM/ HER (IN OTHER WORDS, THE PERSON WHO IS A CHRISTIAN) RIGHT NOW HAS PRESENT SALVATION - I.E.- IF THEY DIE TODAY, THEN THEY'LL HAVE "ENDURED TO THE END" AND ARE SAVED! (Notice the "past, present, and future" aspects of salvation for the true Christian:)
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved [past tense!] through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
1Cor 6:10-11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you [in other words, if you're a Christian
when you die], he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When cog people speculate on why God "chose" them for salvation, the usual answer given from the ministry (i.e.-whichever cog ministry you want to talk about) is: "Well, God looked forward in time and saw that you would follow Him whereas others wouldn't". Uh...salvation by works (again)! Room for boasting (again)! If God chose you because you would follow Him in the future, then you are/ were saved by your (future - at the time) good works! But...(Gal 2:16)"By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in His Sight! (and, if you're justified, you have "right standing" with God and you're "saved"!)"
Gal 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;If you're looking for possible reasons why God called you (assuming that you really are a Christian - i.e.-in God's Sight), here's a couple that the Bible speaks about:
1Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
Hard to get "puffed up" over either one of those reasons, right?! (Here's the full text of 1Cor 1:26-29 (KJV) which puts that verse into context and adds a couple more reasons why you (if you're a Christian) may have been called. )
1Cor 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Cor 1:27
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;1Cor 1:28
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:1Cor 1:29
That no flesh should glory in His presence. [NOTE: "glory" (in "King James" English) means "boast" and is translated that way in most other translations.]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herbert Armstrong called George Mueller an "Apostle of Faith" but George Mueller never kept the Sabbath, so did HWA consider him a Christian or not? He called him "an apostle of FAITH" but he didn't come out and call him a Christian. The answer is: If he had true faith in God and Christ, then HE (i.e.- Mueller) WAS A CHRISTIAN! The thing is that many, if not most, people that follow Armstongism won't acknowledge "Sunday-keepers" as Christian. But..."Judge not, that ye be not judged!" How do you know that Mueller and/ or any other "Sunday 'Sabbath' " keeper haven't been living according to all the "light" that they had (cf. John 12:35)? Cog-ers almost invariably judge those who don't hold their views on the Sabbath and Holydays as non-Christians and, in that, they set themselves as judges of people's hearts - which only God can do with 100% accuracy. There are people (believe it or not) who truly believe that they are "keeping the Sabbath" when they "keep" Sunday. We "Saturday Sabbath"-keepers can't judge everyone who keeps Sunday as "the Sabbath" as non-Christians or we may (if we don't repent of that) come under the judgment of God! (Let us who believe and keep the Saturday Sabbath (as what we believe to be the true Sabbath) keep that in mind!) I think Romans 8:7 comes into play here. The carnal (non-Christian) mind is not subject to God's Law or the Ten Commandments. If the person doesn't believe at all in keeping the Commandments or believes that the Commandments are "done away", THEN we can judge (meaning "discern" NOT "condemn"!) the person as being non-Christian (based on Rom. 8:7). Otherwise, let us be merciful in our judgments - (again) lest we come under God's judgment.
NOTE: Here's what George Mueller actually said about faith (which, in my opinion, is very instructive and helpful!):
http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.94
[Also...at the end of that article, it has a link to DesiringGod.org that is "broken", but you can look up and see more articles on George Mueller on that same site by clicking on the following link:
http://www.desiringgod.org/Search/?search=george+mueller ]
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Another problem I see in Armstrongism/ wwcg /its "offshoots" is that they believe that faith precedes regeneration when it's the other way around! Check out this link (and, for that matter, check out the whole website! Armstrongites are so "messed up", so to speak, on various points of doctrine that they need a systematic approach used on them to help them see the error of their ways!):
http://covenantofgracechurch.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=17
A key scripture (that ultimately convinced me of the truth that regeneration precedes faith) is Romans 8:7. If the carnal mind is against God and His Law, how can any person who has a carnal mind (in other words, a non-Christian) ever decide to believe?! The only way the person can believe is if God miraculously draws the person unto Himself)! John 6:44 (one of HWA's favorite Scriptures, by the way!) says, "No man CAN (in other words, a non-Christian doesn't have the ability to...) come to Me (i.e.-Jesus) except the Father which has sent Me (Jesus) draw him...". So...it's not a matter a person willing it or not willing it. The person will NOT will to come to God (because he CANNOT) unless God is drawing him to Himself (or changes his carnal mind)! They MISinterpret Acts 5:32...
Acts 5:32
And we are His witnesses of these words, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."Their interpretation of that verse is: God GIVES the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. But...if that interpretation is true, then THAT'S "SALVATION BY WORKS"!!! If a person has to obey God to get the Holy Spirit, what's the point of having the Holy Spirit in us - empowering us to obey God (if we can obey Him without the Holy Spirit)?? (Makes no sense!) Look at Acts 5:32 again...God HAS GIVEN (past tense!) the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. In other words, IF A PERSON CAN, WANTS TO, AND DOES OBEY GOD, IT'S BECAUSE HE/SHE HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN HIM/HERSELF!!! WAKE UP cog-ers!!
Update! (2/20/11) I just noticed a couple contradictions in the UCG's booklet,"The New Covenant: Does it Abolish God's Laws?" The first one is about 1/2 way down the page @ http://www.gnmagazine.org/booklets/NC/ :
"God's latest and most important covenant revealed in the Bible is centered on His promise—His unwavering commitment—to create a new heart in those who unconditionally turn to Him for help.
Why is divine intervention essential in receiving that change of heart? It's really very simple. We were created incomplete!...
He promises to give us the knowledge,
understanding and the power to rightly manage how we think, feel
and behave—if we choose, willingly and sincerely, to give Him
our full cooperation. "
[My comment: How can anyone "turn unconditionally to Him (God) for help" or "choose willingly and sincerely, to give Him our full co-operation" IF he/she has a carnal mind as mentioned in Rom 8:7 that is "enmity (HOSTILE) to God" and "NOT SUBJECT to the Law of God" and "neither indeed CAN BE?!!!...
(Rom 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.)
Another contradiction to Holy Scripture I found (down a little farther on the same page) is:
"We desperately need that added ability! The sad record of human history shows that we cannot consistently make right choices or maintain right attitudes without God's divine help."
Instead, each of us naturally weaves his own web of thoughts and patterns of behavior into a conflicting mixture of good and evil. Not everything we think and do is wrong. But neither is it always right. Like Adam and Eve, we reap the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil."
[ My comment:
Notice Rom 8:8:Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh [i.e.- non-Christians] CANNOT please God.
IF Rom 8:8 (above) is true (and if it isn't, you don't have a Saviour!), then EVERYTHING that a non-Christian [Interesting that they "lump" Christians in with non-Christians here and make no distinction between the two!] thinks and does DOES NOT PLEASE GOD!!! ]
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In a similar vein, Mr. Armstrong used to say that "God will not give His Holy Spirit to anyone he can't govern". NOT TRUE!!
Rom 4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.Rom 5:6
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.Mark 2:17
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."Rom 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.1 Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. [Notice that Paul still saw himself as the worst of sinners - even after conversion!]
"Why did He [Jesus] come? To save sinners. It was not to save good people (there were none!). Neither was it to save those who kept the law perfectly (none had done this either). "Again, if one is already "righteous" or "good" (before receiving the Holy Spirit of God - i.e.- before one is converted!) by one's "keeping the commandments" (in this case - "in the flesh" - i.e.- by one's own power or strength), then one (theoretically, but not in actuality) doesn't need the Holy Spirit (or Christ in him/ her) to govern his/ her heart (since he is able to govern his heart on his own!)!
No, God has to change the person's heart or he/ she will NEVER "come to Christ" and/ or "be governed"!! Again, WAKE UP, Cog-ers!!
[Jeremiah 32:39-40 (ESV)
39 I will give
them one heart and one way, that they may fear me
forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.
40 I will make with them an everlasting
covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And
I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may
not turn from me.
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Here's a
link to a great article (on John Ankerberg's website) on justification (I think
that, if
you're like me - i.e.-when I was a member of the wwcog - it will straighten out
a lot of misconceptions about salvation that you may have - because of false
teaching that members are subject to there.):
http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/editors-choice/EC1003W2.htm
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NOTE: This link is on my home page but, in case you (cog-ers, aka "Armstrongites" - for lack of a better word) missed it there, here it is again [a video that, in a "nutshell" tells what this website is all about - i.e.- How to be "right with God"! (Notice how it strongly constrasts with HWA's teaching on the subject!)]:
http://www.coralridge.org/medialibrary/default.aspx?mediaID=4032
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When I left the United Church of God (an offshoot of the original wwcg) pretty much "for good" (in about 2001), I had to be sure that I wasn't making a mistake by doing so, so I asked three members of that church if they understood salvation (cog-'style") the same way that I understood it -i.e.- that "There's God's part and your part in salvation; God's part is to forgive your past sins and thereby justify you (and you have to accept that - that's "God's grace" and "God's part" of our salvation) and then your part is to "do the works" and then by doing those two things you are then are made acceptable in God's Sight , right?" (I asked them.) All three said "Yes" - that that is how one is "saved" - in their estimation - by (and HWA repeated this over and over again over the many years he, pretty much, ran the church! ) "grace AND works!" There's no doubt about it, current followers of Herbert Armstrong's teachings! The Bible is very specific about it: If you add works to grace, then "grace is no more grace"! Again, remember that it's not (as HWA used to say) "a matter of grace (or faith) AND works" but of a "faith THAT works!"
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Mr. Armstrong used to say (and most cog ministers still insist that...), "It's (i.e.- salvation) is not a matter of grace or works, but a matter of grace AND works!" (UH...NO...IT'S NOT!!) The Apostle Paul is a greater authority than Herbert Armstrong (Wouldn't you agree?) and he says, in effect, that "It's not a matter of grace and works but a matter of grace OR works!"...NOTICE:
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
So...who's view of salvation are you going to accept and follow, Herbert
Armstrong's or the *inspired Apostle Paul?! (Whoever you finally choose, there
are eternal consequences to your
actions!! THIS IS SERIOUS, FRIENDS!!!)
*2Pet 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as
our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;2Pet 3:16
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Armstrong correctly said, "No one can be saved by his own works" but he apparently understood that as meaning that one can't be saved by HIS OWN WORKS ALONE (hence, he borrows the "solution to the dilemma" from the Catholic Church (or was it the Jehovah Witnesses?) that one must be saved by "faith AND works" (or (as Mr. Armstrong put it) "grace AND works" - which is basically the same thing!). People...this is the same issue that was the main issue in the Protestant Reformation (if you haven't yet, download and read this file by RC Sproul)! Yet, Mr. Armstrong agrees with Catholicism on this VITAL issue. That should (if it hasn't already!) "throw up a red flag" (especially since Mr. Armstrong, himself, believed that the Catholic Church was the "Great Whore" mentioned in the book of Revelation!) for any Armstrong follower (or would-be follower) reading or understanding this for the first time!
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02/22/2011
[NOTE: I'm "repeating" this entry from my main page because I believe that it's necessary for cog-ers to understand the correct interpretation of this verse and not a "salvation by works" interpretation of it!]
SUPPORTING IDEA: Eternal life cannot be earned; it must be received as a gift from God.
The closer Jesus got to the cross, the higher he raised the stakes for those who would follow him. Much as the disciples' question of 18:1 revealed their misunderstanding of "greatness" in the kingdom, so also this man's question (19:16) revealed his misunderstanding of the "goodness" required for entrance into the kingdom.
19:16. The man respectfully addressed Jesus as Teacher. It is apparent from the conversation and his response that the man was sincere in his question about the way to get eternal life, but he was mistaken about how this might come about. He expected to earn eternal life by his own righteous acts (what good things must I do?) rather than through God's gracious endowment of righteousness (Rom. 3:9-31).
19:17. Jesus responded by driving the discussion toward the nature of true "goodness." His initial response seemed to bring his own goodness into question. However, by the time he finished the discussion, it was evident that this was one more claim to deity. It was not the goodness of Jesus that was in question here, but the man's assumptions regarding the goodness required for eternal life. Eternal life requires absolute goodness, and there is only One who is good enough to earn it on his (sic) own (see Pss. 106:1; 118:1,29; 1 Chron. 16:34; 2 Chron. 5:13).
Jesus final statement of 19:17 might be paraphrased like this: "If you insist on pursuing this impossible, self-dependent avenue toward eternal life, I will tell you just how good you must be. To begin, perfect righteousness requires absolute obedience to the Old Testament commandments." Of course, that is impossible. That was Jesus' point in the Sermon on the Mount (5:20). Even the best of Pharisees did not come close. Jesus contrasted the reality that only God is absolutely good with the man's foolish expectation that he could be good enough for eternal life.
19:18-19. The man's next question revealed his misunderstanding still further. He did not understand that God required absolute perfection. He seemed to presume that God graded on a curve and that his "goodness" was better than many. Jesus let this man know that anything less than perfection is no "good" at all. A righteous man would have to keep all of the commandments perfectly. The man, grasping for possibilities, assumed that there must be some special set of commandments that made a person particularly righteous.
Jesus listed some of the commandments. His listing of the fifth through the ninth of the Ten Commandments, together with love your neighbor as yourself from Leviticus 19:18 (cf. Matt. 22:34-40) was intended not as an exhaustive list of all commandments necessary for eternal life but as a representative sample. The man would need to keep all of the Old Testament commandments. Even this "short list" would be understood as impossible for anyone.
19:20-21. The young man still did not grasp Jesus' true meaning. He claimed to have kept all the commandments. Yet he knew that such observance was not enough. He asked, What do I still lack? No matter how good a person's life may be, if he examines his conscience honestly, he will know that there is still something lacking about his own righteousness (Rom. 2:12-15).
Jesus' answer went straight to this man's self-righteous god—money. He read him perfectly. He knew where his heart and treasure lay (Matt. 6:21). To make such a sacrifice would be to exchange earthly wealth for treasure in heaven (cf. 6:19-20). But Jesus also knew that this outward action would require first an inward transformation that was humanly impossible. Jesus attempted to drive the man to the point of seeing his real need.
19:22. But the man did not grasp Jesus' point. He had no sense of sin. And he certainly was not willing to give up his false god. Therefore, because the rich young man was not willing to have his heart transformed, he went away sad. He wanted wealth in both worlds, but Jesus' statement demanded that he choose between the two. As much as he wanted the wealth of eternal life, he could not give up his great wealth to obtain eternal treasure.
This should not be taken to mean that wealth automatically disqualifies a person from eternal life. Rather, the worship of wealth over God is the problem. There are rare individuals who are able to possess much wealth while keeping God on the throne of their lives, ready at any time to give it all up for him (e.g., Job). Paul made this same distinction in 1 Timothy 6:10, clarifying that it is the "love of money," not money itself, that is "a root of all kinds of evil."
19:23-24. After the young man left, Jesus saw a teachable moment for his disciples. He turned to them and made a statement about the lesson they needed to take from this episode.
I tell you the truth grabbed the disciples' attention and alerted them that Jesus was about to say something of great importance: It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Note that Jesus did not say such a thing is impossible; merely unlikely, because of the lure of earthly wealth. The rich young ruler had bought into a form of what is today called prosperity theology, which teaches that God blesses those who follow him with material riches.
But Jesus pressed home his argument as his restatement heightened to the point of impossibility. Such a thing is even harder than putting a camel (the largest animal of that region) through the eye of a needle.
19:25-26. The disciples were conditioned by their culture to believe that wealth was a sign of God's blessing on a person's life (Deut. 28:1-14). Therefore, they were astonished. Matthew used the specialized, superlative Greek adverb sphodra, amplifying the disciples' astonishment to an extreme. If the wealthy—so blessed by God—can never enter the kingdom, Who then can be saved?
The phrase Jesus looked at them added further emphasis to what he was about to say. The key to the whole dilemma was the One who is the source of righteousness. People in themselves do not have what it takes to enter the kingdom! But with God all things are possible. What a person cannot do to save himself, God does by providing a gracious entrance. Salvation is a supernatural gift.
-Holman New Testament Commentary - Holman New Testament Commentary – Matthew
[My (i.e.-Tony C) comments:] I think most of the members of the UCG and other WWCG “splinter groups” still believe (in their "heart of hearts") that salvation is BY WORKS. How do I know this?? It’s because of their interpretation of Matt. 19:17 where they believe that Jesus was giving the “way to be saved” there (i.e.- by His answer to the rich, young ruler to “keep the commandments”). No…if it’s true that (for the average person "on the street" - who doesn't have the Holy Spirit) can “enter into life" by "keeping the commandments”, then what’s the purpose of Christ’s life and death??!! ONE DOESN’T NEED CHRIST ANYMORE…UH... DUH!!! No…what Jesus was showing the rich, young ruler was his INABILITY to keep the law without God’s grace (i.e.- forgiveness and present righteousness and POWER through Christ)!! In the words of Augustine, “The Law was therefore given, in order that grace might be sought: grace was given, in order that the law might be fulfilled.”
P.S.- It can be argued (correctly) that our salvation is by works, but IT’S DOUBTFUL THAT COG-ers THINK RIGHTLY ON THIS ISSUE!!! We’re saved TOTALLY BY CHRIST’S WORK (or WORKS) (I.E.- HIS DEATH ACCEPTED AS PENALTY FOR OUR SINS, HIS LIFE LIVED ACCEPTED AS PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS “CREDITED” (like a bank!) TO OUR ACCOUNTS (SO WE CAN HAVE PRESENT ASSURANCE OF SALVATION! (Rom. 8:1)) AND HIS WORKING IN US (THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT- SO WE CAN HAVE PRESENT AND FUTURE VICTORY OVER THE POWER OF SIN IN OUR LIVES!). As it says in Hebrews 12:2, Jesus is the Author and FINISHER of our faith!!! (Another way of putting it (biblically – from Phillippians 1:6) is “He which hath begun a good work in you WILL PERFORM IT until the day of Jesus Christ”) Yet…so many in the Churches of God believe like the “foolish Galatians” that…”having begun in the Spirit”, they are “now made perfect by the flesh (i.e.- their own strength!)”…But, instead, Galatians 3:3 asks the "burning"[!] question, “(KJV) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”!!! Obviously, COG-ers, the answer Paul is "looking for" to that question is a resounding "NO!!!"!!
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11/27/10
Dr. Roderick Meredith, leader of the LCG, recently gave a series of sermons where he AGAIN re-affirmed and re-iterated Mr. Armstrong's "grace AND works" 'solution' to how one is (supposedly!) to be saved. Also, he lumped all "Protestant" churches in with the Catholic Church as her "daughters" and called everyone to "Come out of her my people". Regarding the first issue (above),
we're saved NOT by works but we're saved NOT WITHOUT WORKS. In other words, any works we do (i.e.- in the power of the Holy Spirit - NOT on our own strength!) are a sign or fruit (or evidence) of one's justification (or salvation) before God - not the CAUSE of it. It's the difference between the living and dead faith talked about in the book of James. (For some reason, like the Catholic Church has done over the years, people like Dr. Meredith confound (or confuse) justification and sanctification and thereby gives us a false "way of salvation" -i.e.- by "grace AND works" - where "grace" is "God's part" in salvation and "works" are "our part"*** in salvation. But... the Apostle Paul , in Rom. 11:6-7 says you can't mix "grace and works" in salvation - because (our) works nullifies grace!! cf. HERE.) Regarding the second item above, I can, ironically, say the same thing to followers of Dr. Meredith's (and HWA's) "way" of salvation as he says to Protestants (since Dr. Meredith also subscribes to the "Roman Catholic" view of how one is saved!): "Come out of her my people!!" (P.S.- if you don't think Dr. Meredith, as I allege, "subscribes to the 'Roman Catholic' view of how one is saved", read THIS ARTICLE!!*** If we DID have "our part" in salvation (in the sense that we "contribute" to our own salvation (or justification)!), wouldn't we have reason to boast? (and...wouldn't that violate what it says in Eph. 2:8-9?) [But...I can "hear it now", though... Phil 2:12!! "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling!"!! Yes, THAT'S TRUE cog sophists, but LET'S NOT ALSO FORGET Phil 2:13 (which gives the context for the previous verse) which reads, "FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU both to will and to do of His Good Pleasure."!!!! ] In a "nutshell", readers, justification (or being made right with God, or SALVATION) is monergistic (i.e.- ONLY the working of God!) while sanctification (or being made more and more holy or like God) is a process that's synergistic (the working of God AND you - i.e.- you using the "means of grace" (Bible study, prayer, fasting, etc.)) We're saved by grace (only!) and rewarded according to works (BUT works done in the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal 2:20) - NOT works done in our own strength!). [Hope all this helps!!! (FINAL NOTE: The reason why I do "all this" is that I don't want anyone to miss out on God's free gift of salvation because of false doctrine!)- Tony C.]
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BTW... GOD ACCEPTS US "AS WE ARE" WHEN WE'RE SAVED!! WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO "RECEIVE THE GIFT" BUT WE WILL BEGIN TO "KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS" (PROGRESSIVELY - MORE AND MORE PERFECTLY - "IN THE SPIRIT") ONCE WE ARE SAVED. IF A PERSON IS HOSTILE TO GOD'S LAW (ROM. 8:7) WHEN (AND FOLLOWING WHEN) HE/ SHE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN "SAVED", THEN THAT PERSON, ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, HASN'T BEEN SAVED YET (AGAIN, CF. ROM. 8:7)!!! IN OTHER WORDS, ANTINOMIANISM IS A "FALSE CHRISTIANITY"!!
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Miscellaneous quotes against "works-righteousness" (i.e.- works done in one's own strength):
“While we live here on earth, we will be accused, exercised with temptations, oppressed with heaviness and sorrow, and bruised by the law with its demands of active righteousness. Because of this, Paul sets out in this letter of Galatians to teach us, to comfort us, and to keep us constantly aware of this Christian righteousness. For if the truth of being justified by Christ alone (not by our works) is lost, then all Christian truths are lost. For there is no middle ground between Christian righteousness and works-righteousness.
There is no other alternative to Christian righteousness but works-righteousness; if you do not build your confidence on the work of Christ, you must build your confidence on your own work. On this truth and only on this truth the church is built and has its being.”- Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians. [Note: REGARDING THE SENTENCE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED: cf. Rom. 11:6-7]The validity of good works in God’s sight depends on whose
power they are
done in and for whose glory. When they are done in
the power of His Spirit
and for His glory, they are beautiful and acceptable to Him.
When they are
done in the power of the flesh and for the sake of personal recognition or
merit, they are rejected by Him. Legalism is
separated from true obedience by
attitude. The one is a rotten smell in God’s nostrils, whereas the other is a
sweet savor.
MacArthur, John. F., Galatians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary,
(Chicago: Moody Press) 1987.
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The closest any of the wwcg offshoots has gotten to "salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone - yet not a faith that is alone" (i.e.- the "Reformed" formula - in other words, "sola fide") is Ralph Levy's sermon transcript in January of 2009 entitled: "Justification – By Faith or By Works?" Yet...if the United Church of God really accepts "sola fide", then they should come out and say so - unequivocally - in their Fundamental Beliefs! That they haven't yet (in seeming deference to Herbert Armstrong's (what I believe is mistaken) insistence on "Grace AND works" in salvation) tells me that they're more concerned about not offending tithe-paying members of the Church (that cling erroneously to HWA on this issue) than in teaching or "standing" for truth! Come on UCG...let's see you acknowledge "sola fide" in your "Fundamental Beliefs" page on the worldwide Web! (Until you do so, I have to continue to categorize you as being a cult - since NOT accepting "sola fide" is one of the main "marks" of being a cult!!) Ralph Levy seems to understand what "sola fide" is but do others in the UCG? If they do, then I have to categorize those that do as Christians - since they acknowledge the place of works in salvation as being the "fruit" of their salvation - i.e.- NOT the CAUSE of their salvation! Again, read the short article by RC Sproul HERE if you still don't understand what I'm referring to here!
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Here's some "words to the wise" about the current upheaval (as of Dec 2010) taking place in the
UCG:
"Take heed that ye be not consumed one of another" (Galatians 5:15). What you sow you reap. If you bite and devour others, you will experience the same. Unjust criticism reciprocates unjust criticism.
- Analytical Bible Expositor (John G. Butler)– Galatians-Colossians.
[My comments on the current troubles in the UCG (in the form of relevant Scripture verses):
Romans 12:17-21 (ESV)Here's the best sermon I've ever heard (up 'til now - i.e.-Dec 31, 2010) on the subject of sanctification in the Christian's life (Be ready for "new vistas in understanding" as you listen to this sermon, COG-ers!)!
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/how-the-spirit-does-what-the-law-could-not-do
(Note: This is the same entry as on my main page on Dec 31, 2010)
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"Is Salvation by Law or Grace?" (Sermon (from 1973) by John MacArthur Jr. - (NOTE: He even mentions Herbert Armstrong by name!)) Listen (or "right-click" and "Save Target As..." to download the file to your computer) [If you want to read it instead, the sermon transcript can be found HERE.] Bottom line: One isn't saved by doing good works (or keeping God's Law but is saved UNTO GOOD WORKS (in other words, keeping (as well as BEING ABLE TO KEEP (Rom. 8:7) and ALSO LOVING (Rom. 7:22)) God's Law is the RESULT (or evidence) OF ONE'S SALVATION - NOT THE CAUSE OF IT!
Rom 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.Rom 7:22
For I delight in [i.e.- "love"] the law of God after the inward man:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEBRUARY 19, 2011 (NOTE: a "repeat" from my main page because it speaks to a great misconception in the various churches of god!)
The young ruler who came running to the Lord saying, “What good thing shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” was a perfect example of a legalist. Indeed, Nicodemus, beloved man, “understood not these things”—of being born again. Now, if a man is really a child of God by begetting and birth, he becomes indissolubly God’s heir! This is a fact of such overwhelming magnitude that our poor hearts hardly grasp it. It is said of no angel, cherub, or seraph, that he is an heir of God. Believer, if you will reflect, meditate deeply, on this, I am born of God; I am one of His heirs! [cf. Gal 3:29, Gal 4:7] earthly things will shrink to nothing. Now, J. D. Rockefeller, Jr., has inherited his father’s wealth: why? Because he was his father’s born son. The young ruler said, “What must I do to inherit?” a contradiction in itself!
-Romans Verse-by-Verse (by William R. Newell) [commentary on Rom. 8:17].
Gal 3:29
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.Gal 4:7
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've noticed a cavalier attitude [NOTE: I'm "preaching to myself" also, here!] toward indwelling sin in many in the various "churches of God"; it seems that instead of overcoming the world, we've been, in great measure, "overcome by the world"! That being the case - in my opinion, I think it would be helpful (for everyone reading this) to study and/ or listen to the following sermons by John MacArthur Jr. (from 2005):
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/90-304 http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/90-305
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