The Life And Death Issues of Gospel Doctrine
by Bobby R. Bullington
The Great Commission Christ gave to all His disciples has always been very clear and precise. It tells believers to address all unbelievers as lost, guilty sinners who are in need of salvation. It tells believers to desire the salvation of sinners enough to tell them the truth of their sad condition so that they would seek the only remedy in Christ -
Mark 16:15 (KJV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. {16} He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
By these words we can plainly see that the first evidence of spiritual life is belief of the Gospel and one of the main evidences of spiritual death is unbelief of the Gospel (John 3:18). It is by this Gospel that God's people are commanded to make distinctions between true brethren and false brethren. This commission is for the church to spread the good news of God's grace in providing for the complete, eternal salvation and final glory of every sinner who comes to Him pleading the merits of the obedience and death of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Substitute for sinners. The Gospel is a specific message of salvation by grace. It is God's promise of salvation for sinners based on the righteousness that Christ established for His sheep. The Gospel declares that the righteousness of Christ (the entire merit of His whole work of mediation) alone demands the eternal salvation and final glory of all whom He represented. The Gospel commands sinners to bow and submit to this Christ. The Gospel declares positively that all who come to God pleading the blood and righteousness of Christ as their only ground of salvation shall be saved. It declares negatively that all who refuse this Christ and refuse His righteousness shall be damned.
The vital significance of the Gospel and its doctrines can also be seen in that this Gospel is the basis of all Christian unity and fellowship. All who believe this Gospel are brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ. They have the same Father, the same Savior, and the same Spirit. All who do not believe this Gospel, all who are either ignorant of or not submitted to the righteousness of God revealed in this Gospel (Rom. 10:1-4), are lost. They do not have the same father, the same savior, nor the same spirit, as believers. It is clear in God's Word that true believers are commanded to recognize and have fellowship with all who believe this Gospel. It is also clear in God's Word that true believers are commanded to recognize and not have fellowship with unbelievers. God's people are commanded to comfort each other and take sides with each other against the world. God commands His people to speak peace to their brethren, but God forbids His people to speak peace where there is no peace. The basis for Christians either to speak peace or not to speak peace is the Gospel and its doctrines. Having established this command from God for all true believers, it is therefore necessary that we be able to define what it means to be "saved" and what it means to be "lost" according to God's definitions of these terms.
I. THE NECESSITY OF DEFINING SAVED AND LOST
Everything God has so graciously revealed from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is revealed that guilty sinners might be saved. God reveals the particulars of man's spiritual disease and all the vital details of salvation by His grace so that we should seek and find eternal salvation and blessedness. Consider the following:
John 1:7 (KJV) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
John 5:34 (KJV) But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
John 20:31 (KJV) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Christ revealed this when He spoke to the Samaritan woman in John 4.
John 4:10 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Christ in essence said, "If you knew, you would ask, and I would give." By nature we do not know. By nature our understanding is darkened, our wisdom is of the world, and our ways of salvation are not God's way. By nature we do not know God's definition of our lostness, nor do we know God's definition of salvation. Consider this as illustrated in Matthew 7.
Matthew 7:21 (KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. {22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? {23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
This is one of the most horrible and staggering realities revealed by Christ. No one would go to the Judgment deceived if he knew he was deceived. No one would deceive his loved ones if he knew better. Now is the time to examine carefully the vital truths that God has revealed. Now is the time to make sure we know God's definitions of "saved" and "lost". Now is the time to make sure we understand the details and implications inseparably joined to each basic truth. It is an awesome responsibility dealing with these issues of life and death. These issues are directly related to the glory of God and the preeminence of Christ.
As you read this article, it will be helpful to understand that I am not writing about infants, nor am I writing about those whose tenor of life is one of immorality and unconcern. I am writing about those who are moral, sincere, and dedicated, even to the point of appearing outwardly righteous unto men. Those who merely appear righteous unto men are the same as those who are "going about to establish their own righteousness" (Rom. 10:3). They are described in the Bible as those who are "walking after and minding the things of the flesh" (Rom. 8:5), and who are "carnally minded" (Rom. 8:7a). They are described as those who are "servants of sin" (Rom. 6:17a), and who are bringing forth "fruit unto death" (Rom. 7:5). They are described as those who are "not subject to the law of God" (Rom. 8:7b).
Satan has been a soul-murderer from the beginning, and his main weapon has always been to influence people to make judgments based on his lies and to speak peace to themselves and others while yet in a cursed state before God (John 8:44). He deceives lost men and women into setting their own standards of "lost" and "saved". He inspires men and women to invent their own definitions of such terms as grace, gospel, servants of sin, idolatry, lost, etc. He does all this in the name of love and unity, and it seems right until God is pleased to expose these deadly deceits by enlightening our understanding with His truth. Satan's love, which is only self-love, will always promote the eternal destruction of sinners by promoting false security and this by speaking "peace; when there is no peace" (Jer. 6:14; 8:11). This began with Satan's lie to Eve when he said, "Ye shalt not surely die" (Gen. 3:4). Love enlightened by God's truth will not speak peace to our loved ones and friends because enlightened love knows that this would encourage our loved ones and friends to continue under the wrath of God. God FORBIDS His people to speak peace where there is no peace.
2 John 10 (KJV) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into <your> house, neither bid him God speed: {11} For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
1 John 3:13 (KJV) Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. {14} We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Christ told Nicodemus he was lost, a servant of sin (John 3:7). Christ told the woman at the well that she and her loved ones were idolaters (John 4:22a). He told lost religionists who sincerely thought they were saved that they were spiritually kin to Satan (John 8:44). The first thing the Apostle Peter told his hearers at Pentecost was that they were lost, cursed of God (Acts 2:22,23b,36,40; 3:13-15, etc.). Notice how the Apostle Paul did the same thing when it concerned lost religionists (Rom. 2:1-3; 3:19-20; 8:5-8; 10:1-3, etc.). This is true Godly love, and this is a major part of fulfilling the Great Commission and of what it means to be Christ-like. Most certainly we cannot make such distinctions based on our own wisdom, prejudices, and preferences. We cannot make such judgments based on outward appearance or reputation. We must be careful to make such distinctions based on God's testimony alone, and when we cannot make such distinctions based on this standard, then we are to be silent.
II. THE NECESSITY OF MAKING DISTINCTIONS BASED ON GOD'S TESTIMONY
If, as stated before, God FORBIDS His people to speak peace where there is no peace, and God COMMANDS His people to comfort each other and take sides with each other against the world, this, of necessity, DEMANDS that we distinguish between our brethren and the world as Christ commanded in the Great Commission. We have the example of this in the preaching of Christ and in the New Testament epistles:
Christ's Sermon on the Mount -
Matthew 7:15 (KJV) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
The Apostle Paul in Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians -
Romans 16:17 (KJV) 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.
2 Corinthians 11:3 (KJV) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. {4} For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with me.
Galatians 1:8 (KJV) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The Apostle Peter in 2 Peter -
2 Peter 2:20 (KJV) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. {21} For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known <it>, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. {22} But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog <is> turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
The Apostle John in 1 John and 2 John -
1 John 2:19 (KJV) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would <no doubt> have continued with us: but <they went out>, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. {20} But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1 John 3:10 (KJV) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.{11} For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. {12} Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. {13} Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. {14} We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1 John 4:1 (KJV) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. {2} Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: {3} And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:
and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. {4} Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. {5} They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1 John 5:19 - <And> we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in [wickedness].
2 John 9 - Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
When God's people distinguish between their brethren and the world, based on God's testimony, not based on outward appearance or reputation, this will bring the hatred and persecution that comes over the "offense of the cross" (Gal. 5:11). This persecution comes over our testimony of the Gospel when we take sides with Christ and our brethren and tell all who are either ignorant of or not submitted to the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel that they are lost and that their deeds are evil. This is what the writer of Hebrews called the chastisement that comes from God and that is common to all true believers -
Hebrews 12:8 (KJV) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
This is strong language and very serious business. Those who refuse to distinguish between believers and the world refuse to do so because they refuse to suffer the offense of the cross. They give evidence that they are "bastards, and not sons". They are not yet adopted into God's family even though they may have professed to believe the truth. They are illegitimate children. Notice how ALL of God's adopted children suffer the offense of the cross. NO EXCEPTIONS! Consider the following Scriptures: Matthew 5:10-12; 10:22-37; John 7:7; 15:8--16:3; Philippians 1:29-30; 2 Timothy 1:8; 3:12.
We who are God's adopted sons and daughters, like Christ, the prophets and apostles, are to tell lost men and women the truth -- that their persons are condemned and, as a result, all their deeds are evil, fruit unto death. We tell them these sad, sad truths hoping that they might seek GOD'S salvation. We desire that they believe the Gospel and repent of their dead works and their idolatry.
We must realize that whenever we call anyone "brother", we are speaking peace to that person. This means we are either comforting, reassuring, and seeking fellowship with a true brother in Christ, or we are speaking peace where there is no peace. Comforting, reassuring, and seeking fellowship with a true brother in Christ is Christ-like. Speaking peace where there is no peace is Satanic because it is the same as saying, "ye shalt not surely die," when God says "they shall surely die." We must determine the truth of this matter by God's testimony alone. We tell others that they must humble themselves and bow to God's testimony alone with a teachable spirit! The question we must confront is, "Will WE bow to God's testimony of truth? Do WE have a teachable spirit? Will we bow to God's testimony and make distinctions based on God's testimony?" Again, we must see that the Gospel, clearly defined by God's testimony, is to be our standard in these matters.
III. THE NECESSITY OF GOSPEL DOCTRINE IN MAKING SUCH DISTINCTIONS
There are many ways that professing believers excuse speaking peace and entering into religious fellowship with those who deny the sovereign grace of God and who are not submitted to the righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel. One way is they claim that although a person may deny or be ignorant of these doctrines, they at least believe the Gospel. Another way is they separate the person from his/her doctrine. They will claim that even though the person's doctrine is wrong, even heresy, that person is godly because of their godly life. We will deal first with the error of separating the person from his/her doctrine.
I hope you agree that God plainly reveals that we cannot separate any person from the doctrine that person believes and confesses. In fact, if we can see, for example, that in the case of a person who is moral, sincere, somewhat dedicated, and who appears righteous unto men, that God tells us plainly that doctrine alone reveals that person's state. Doctrine alone reveals whether they are saved or lost, condemned or justified IN GOD'S SIGHT. It is true that a person can mentally know and intellectually agree with right doctrine and still be lost, but that is another matter altogether. Here we are talking about those who are religious, moral, dedicated, and sincere, but who are either ignorant of or not submitted to the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel. We are talking about religious people who deny the Gospel and the doctrines of God's sovereign grace. In this case, God tells us that no matter if that person has the reputation of an apostle or the outward appearance of an angel, his doctrine will reveal his state.
Galatians 1:8 (KJV) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. {9} As we said before, so say I now again, If any <man> preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
2 John 9 (KJV) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. {10} If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into <your> house, neither bid him God speed: {11} For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
John 3:19 (KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. {20} For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 5:38 (KJV) And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
John 5:42 (KJV) But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
John 6:53 (KJV) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily , verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
John 6:54 (KJV) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:63 (KJV) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, <they> are spirit, and <they> are life.
John 7:16 (KJV) Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
John 7:24 (KJV) Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
God COMMANDS us to judge according to a person's doctrine and the evidences as to whether or not they truly believe that doctrine, but it begins with the person's doctrine, whether or not it is of God. God FORBIDS us to judge by any other standard -
Matthew 7:1 (KJV) Judge not, that ye be not judged.
John 8:32 (KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:47 (KJV) He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear <them> not, because ye are not of God.
John 14:23 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. {24} He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
John 14:17 (KJV) <Even> the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Romans 10:1 (KJV) Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. {2} For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. {3} For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
It is doctrine whereby the only true and living God identifies Himself and distinguishes Himself from all idols, especially concerning all the vital particulars of salvation. It is doctrine whereby Christ identifies Himself and distinguishes Himself from all counterfeits. All without exception who outwardly appear righteous unto men, who are sincere, moral, religious, will reveal the "god" they worship and serve, the "Christ" they come to and trust, and the "spirit" that indwells them by their doctrine.
Isaiah 8:20 (KJV) To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, <it is> because <there is> no light in them.
2 Corinthians 11:3 (KJV) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. {4} For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or
<if> ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with me.
It is such a person's doctrine that reveals whether or not his sincerity, morality, and religion are pleasing to God or wicked in God's sight.
When it comes to salvation we can know absolutely none of the vital particulars apart from God's revelation, God's testimony, God's doctrine (John 1:7; 5:34; 20:31; 1 Cor. 1:21; Rom. 1:16-17)! The only ground of salvation is revealed in God's Gospel (Rom. 10:14,17,10; Mark 16:15). God's doctrine concerning the vital particulars of salvation all have substance, truths that can be defined specifically, not mysticism and subjective feelings and ideas. How many times does God's apostles say that justified sinners KNOW these things based on God's testimony?
Romans 6:17 (KJV) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Notice carefully how all of us without exception are "servants of sin" until we believe "from the heart that form of DOCTRINE" preached to us. God's doctrine is God's truth, the light that removes darkness when the Holy Spirit applies it to God's people.
John 3:18 (KJV) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. {19} And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The "light" here is specific. It is the truth that exposes a specific sin of which we are all ignorant by nature, the same sin that deceives us all (Rom. 7:11). This specific "light" exposes the fact that before justifying faith and true repentance, all the things we by nature highly esteem concerning the ground of salvation are an abomination to God (Luke 16:15; Phil. 3:4-9; Rom. 6:20-21; 7:5). God the Holy Spirit uses this specific "light" to convince us of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11). It is God's doctrine effectually applied by the Holy Spirit that enables us to make right distinctions between "saved" and "lost."
IV. THE NECESSITY OF GOSPEL DOCTRINE FOR FAITH AND REPENTANCE
We must keep in mind also that our goal in making such distinctions is that lost sinners come to faith in Christ and true repentance. The reason the Apostle Paul told the unbelieving people of Israel that they were lost was because he desired their salvation (Rom. 10:1). He knew that it would have done them no eternal good to speak peace to them. He wanted them to know the truth and be set free.
John 8:32 (KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
This is a specific truth. It is that light, that form of doctrine, that God the Holy Spirit uses to set sinners free. Nothing else will set lost sinners, servants of sin who appear righteous unto men, free and bring sinners to justifying faith and true repentance. It is in this specific area wherein our total moral inability consists. This is the reason this specific inability does not remove our responsibility.
All without exception by nature, apart from regeneration by God the Holy Spirit, reject this specific light and truth because by nature we are so full of self-love, self-righteousness, and religious pride. None of us will receive and rejoice in doctrine we by nature despise. None of us by nature will obey from the heart that form of doctrine, that light which demands we repent of former idolatry and dead works because by nature we think too highly of ourselves and too little of Christ and His righteousness. This Gospel light, this doctrine, must be applied to our minds to turn our affections and our wills towards the God who justifies the ungodly based on the merits of Christ. Without this specific light, this specific truth, this specific doctrine, there will be no justifying faith or true repentance.
Adam's sin became ours by representation and by imputation. Adam's sin, which is our sin by representation and imputation, demanded that each of Adam's natural descendants, each person he represented, be born guilty and defiled, morally depraved. Christ's righteousness alone, HIS perfect satisfaction to law and justice established in the name and nature of all whom He represented, demands that every one of God's elect in time, in each successive generation, be born again spiritually. They must be made holy and unblamable in God's sight based on Christ's righteousness alone. They must be quickened, called, justified, purified, and fit for Heaven, and all of this is the fruit and effect of Christ's righteousness alone. Imputed sin brings death; imputed righteousness brings life! Just as it is certain that the fruit and effect of Adam's sin is total ruin, it is just as certain that the fruit and effect of Christ's righteousness is total and eternal blessedness.
All of the work of God the Holy Spirit IN the elect is the certain fruit and effect of that specific righteousness established in time by Christ as the Representative of His sheep, His bride, all that the Father gave Him in election. Christ's righteousness alone demands the regeneration, calling, and every other subjective grace, for all of God's elect. This truth demands that we admit, be ashamed of, and repent of the horrible fact that the god whom we worshiped and served, the god who accepted our persons and our worship based on something other than Christ's righteousness, was no god at all, an idol, the invention of our wicked imaginations.
Many who call themselves Calvinists loudly proclaim that God is holy and sovereign, that God does everything, especially in salvation, according to His will. This is most certainly true. Therefore, we must search the Scriptures to find and know exactly what God has willed to do in this vital issue of salvation. Many say that God is holy and sovereign and that God can do anything He pleases. This also is most certainly true, but this, in and of itself, is not the real issue. The real issue is this -- WHAT HAS GOD REVEALED THAT HE IS PLEASED TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO THE SALVATION OF HIS ELECT?
The Bible tells us plainly and often that God is holy and sovereign and that GOD HAS WILLED, PURPOSED, AND IS WELL PLEASED TO SAVE HIS ELECT BASED SOLELY ON THE IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF HIS BELOVED SON! God's holiness and sovereignty is just as much engaged and honored in bringing the elect to justifying faith and true repentance as they are in the fact of election and predestination. In fact, God never separates these truths. The Bible tells us that none of God's elect are saved in their own persons until they come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). None of God's elect have eternal life in their own persons until they KNOW the only true God as sending His Son to establish that righteousness, to finish that specific work of redemption (John 17:3-4). None of God's elect have justifying faith until they know Christ as the Representative and Substitute of guilty, defiled, enemies of God, who came to do His Father's will in establishing that righteousness as the only ground of salvation!
God's sovereign purpose in the salvation of His elect is first and foremost His own glory, and no sinner sees this glory apart from regeneration and conversion by the Holy Spirit. None of God's elect are saved until God is glorified in their hearts (i.e., their minds, affections, and wills) (2 Cor. 4:6). All sinners are by nature blinded to this glory before conversion (2 Cor. 4:3-4,15-16). This is why we must agree that anyone who cries loudly that God is holy and sovereign in salvation but who says that many of God's elect are saved and do not know it, or that many of God's elect will live and die having never heard the Gospel, or that many of God's elect who preached and believed a counterfeit gospel in this life will be in Heaven, actually deny both God's holiness and God's sovereignty. Their claims are not so according to God's revealed Word.
God identifies Himself, His Christ, and His Spirit, by His doctrine of salvation so that sinners may come by faith to the true God by the true Christ and in repentance reject all idols and counterfeits! Our doctrine reveals our state, the "god" we worship, the "Christ" we trust, and the "spirit" that indwells us. It has pleased our sovereign God that none of His elect will live and die in unbelief. ALL will know Him, and ALL will hear and learn of the Father (John 6:45; Heb. 8:10-11). This is what our sovereign God is pleased to do.
What does this say, according to God's testimony, about, for example, Arminians, or any who believe in salvation conditioned on the sinner (works), or who believe in a universal atonement and deny the sufficiency and efficiency of Christ's blood and righteousness to insure the salvation and final glory of all for whom He died? They believe and promote a system of doctrine that dishonors every attribute of God's character, casts shame and reproach upon both Christ's Person and atonement, and which leaves sinners room for boasting? Their false doctrine reveals the same about them as the Bible says of anyone who "abideth not in the doctrine of Christ." They are lost, altogether ungodly, and their deeds are evil. Their faith is not justifying faith, and their repentance is merely legal, natural-conscience conviction.
We all without exception, even God's elect before salvation, believe such God-dishonoring, Christ-denying doctrine. To say then that they are lost, yet in a state of nature, altogether ungodly, cursed and defiled, is not to say that they are non-elect persons. Many are indeed God's elect, but are not yet saved. None of them, while they believe such false doctrine, give evidence of being Christ's sheep and cannot until they come to justifying faith and true repentance (John 10:27). Refer again to God's testimony as quoted in all the above Scriptures.
Most, if not all, Primitive Baptists boldly affirm that many of God's elect who live and die in unbelief will be in Heaven. They claim that many of God's elect might even hear and continually reject God's Gospel in this life, but that they will learn it and bow to it when they get to Heaven. This is the main way they justify themselves in speaking peace where there is no peace. As stated above, others justify their speaking peace where there is no peace by separating the person from his doctrine. They speak peace to the person while admitting that his doctrine is heresy, even deadly. They might say that a person is a "Godly person" even though that person despises God's Gospel. These are just more subtle than Primitive Baptists.
Many so-called Calvinists, present and past, and some who have attained great reputations, can and could indeed preach much truth, so much that even God's elect would be deceived if it were possible. Many who are very dogmatic in affirming that God is holy and sovereign in all things, including salvation, which is true, will always evidence that powerful principle of darkness that reigns in their hearts by speaking peace when there is no peace. They, therefore, actually deny the holiness and sovereignty of God, and reveal they are not subject to the law of God, who says that all who are either ignorant of or not submitted to the righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel, all who do not love and abide in the truth, the doctrine of Christ, are lost (Rom. 8:7; 10:1-3; 2 Thess. 2:10-11; 2 John 9).
Where God in His holiness and truth, where God as righteous Judge, pronounces, "Ye shall surely die," these lost Calvinists say, "Ye shall not surely die." They speak peace to those who are yet cursed and alienated from God. These lost Calvinists, being deceived themselves, are actually promoting Satan's kingdom in the name of love and unity. This is not Christ-like! This is the case where a person gives intellectual agreement to the right system of doctrine but who has no love for the truth (2 Thess. 2:10). This is a case where a person has some right knowledge but does not savingly know the Christ of the doctrine. This is another way that a person has a "form of godliness" but denies the power of godliness (2 Tim. 3:5).
Do you realize when you tell a person who is ignorant of or not submitted to the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel and the doctrines of sovereign grace that they are saved, justified in God's sight, when you call them "brother," or when you yourself might claim to have been saved before you were converted to the truth, here is what you are actually saying,
"Men and women are saved even though they believe, witness, and support a system of doctrine that totally dishonors every attribute of God's redemptive character and totally dishonors and denies His glory."
"Men and women are saved even though they believe, witness, and support a system of doctrine that casts shame and reproach upon Christ, His Person, offices, and His whole work of redemption, and who openly proclaim that Christ's righteousness has no real saving value at all in and of itself."
How can a person who claims to know the truth of God's sovereign grace speak peace to those who are not subject to the law of God, who are either ignorant of or not submitted to the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel? How can such a person speak peace to those who are walking after and minding the things of the flesh, those who preach "another jesus" by "another spirit," and who abide not in the doctrine of Christ? How can such Calvinists say that such a person is "godly" and lives a "godly life," when the doctrine he confesses evidences one who is guilty and defiled and condemned? An unbeliever's doctrine reveals that all his life's activities are fruit unto death and wicked works in God's sight. Unbelievers must be warned and encouraged to seek those truths of Christ that will set them free from their present state before God. They do not need to be encouraged in a "refuge of lies" (Isaiah 28:14-17). Satan's ministers will always cry, "peace, peace, when there is no peace."
One main way that lost Calvinist support speaking peace to such persons is the argument of compassion for ignorance. They say we all still have much to learn, that none of us know all things, and we are still so inadequate and sinful even in our knowledge that we cannot claim all who do not believe as we do are lost. Arminians, they say, for example, just have not learned as much, and we should not be so proud and puffed up with our knowledge.
Such an argument on the surface appears compassionate, loving, and humble, but it is not Scriptural. It is true that we are sinful, imperfect in knowledge, and we should be compassionate with those who do not know what we know. But that does not excuse speaking peace to unbelievers in the name of love in order to gain their approval and esteem by removing the offense of the cross. If this were the case why did God the Holy Spirit by the Apostle Paul use such harsh language in Romans 16:17-18 and Galatians 1:8 and 5:1-3? Why did He not tell the believers in these churches to be patient, kind, and compassionate because these who differed in doctrine just did not know as much, they had not come as far in knowledge?
The truth is, according to God's testimony, that there are times when we must be compassionate, kind, and patient with weak and immature believers, but that does not include those who are ignorant of or who deny God's Gospel wherein Christ's righteousness is revealed as the only ground of salvation. To speak peace to an Arminian, we would have to claim that he was a weak, immature, and/or unlearned believer, but we would also have to say he at least knows and believes the Gospel. If you believe an Arminian knows and believes GOD'S GOSPEL, then you do not know what GOD'S GOSPEL is as revealed in God's Word.
What is the gospel of Arminianism? They say that God loves and promises to save all without exception and that He sent Christ as a token of His love to die for their sins and make it merely possible for all to be saved if they would just meet the condition of faith. Their gospel is "salvation conditioned on the sinner." Their gospel puts no real value upon the Person and work of Christ because it says that Christ's blood and righteousness did not secure the actual salvation of any sinner. In fact, they say that Christ's blood and righteousness makes no real difference at all between saved and lost, Heaven and Hell, as it does no more for the sinner in Heaven than it does for the sinner in Hell. It is the sinner exercising his faith that makes the real difference.
Now, is this GOD'S GOSPEL AS REVEALED IN THE SCRIPTURES? NO, IT IS ANOTHER GOSPEL WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER (Gal. 1:6-7)! According to God's testimony, no matter what men of reputation say, we cannot, therefore, speak peace to any who believe such a gospel. We are to be compassionate, patient, loving, and kind towards such unbelievers, but our compassion must come in the form of telling them the truth, that they are lost and their deeds are evil, in hopes that they might seek God's salvation in Christ.
The very heart and substance of total depravity, which is the greatest evidence of man's natural spiritual kinship with Satan, is a person's insistence on speaking peace to himself and others based on something, anything, other than the imputed righteousness of Christ. I know because I have been there. But thank God He delivered me from the powers of darkness and translated me into the kingdom of His dear Son. God did it, and He used His doctrine. You too are invited and commanded to believe God's promise and repent of idolatry and dead works. This is a Gospel issue, and it is not merely a matter of higher doctrine. It is a matter of life and death.