Believers never damned error -- another refutation of the error
This morning on the AM radio, I heard an elderly preacher shouting into his microphone about how "a believer will never go to hell". He meant, someone who believes Christ is the Son of God, will never go to hell. I do not know what this preacher's name was, but for now I name him Pastor Goodfornothing.
Pastor Goodfornothing annoyed me. I have expended considerable time and energy in the past, refuting what I have considered to be an erroneous doctrine, which is the doctrine that if you believe Christ is the Son of God, no matter what you think, say and do, you will go to heaven.
If Pastor Goodfornothing is correct, the New Testament scriptures that say, you need to do something to go to heaven (see example below), would have to have been addressed to persons who do not believe in Christ, and the doctrine of the New Testament would be that good guys who lack faith in Christ go to heaven.
However the doctrine of Pastor Goodfornothing, is that good guys cannot go to heaven without faith in Christ. Thus Pastor Goodfornothing contradicts himself.
And yet again, I have succeeded, taking a gunfight as an analogy for a debate, in shooting my opponent with his own gun.
The doctrine of the New Testament is that faith in Christ is a necessary ingredient. Therefore, the logical conclusion is that the passages in the New Testament that say you have to do something to go to heaven, are addressed to persons who believe in Christ.
Example of New Testament scripture exhorting ethical conduct:
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be haughty neither to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth but in God, who so richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Urge them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous givers, to practice sharing, and to treasure up for themselves a sound foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that is really life.
--1 Timothy 6:17-19
@2009 David Virgil Hobbs
Pastor Goodfornothing annoyed me. I have expended considerable time and energy in the past, refuting what I have considered to be an erroneous doctrine, which is the doctrine that if you believe Christ is the Son of God, no matter what you think, say and do, you will go to heaven.
If Pastor Goodfornothing is correct, the New Testament scriptures that say, you need to do something to go to heaven (see example below), would have to have been addressed to persons who do not believe in Christ, and the doctrine of the New Testament would be that good guys who lack faith in Christ go to heaven.
However the doctrine of Pastor Goodfornothing, is that good guys cannot go to heaven without faith in Christ. Thus Pastor Goodfornothing contradicts himself.
And yet again, I have succeeded, taking a gunfight as an analogy for a debate, in shooting my opponent with his own gun.
The doctrine of the New Testament is that faith in Christ is a necessary ingredient. Therefore, the logical conclusion is that the passages in the New Testament that say you have to do something to go to heaven, are addressed to persons who believe in Christ.
Example of New Testament scripture exhorting ethical conduct:
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be haughty neither to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth but in God, who so richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Urge them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous givers, to practice sharing, and to treasure up for themselves a sound foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that is really life.
--1 Timothy 6:17-19
@2009 David Virgil Hobbs
Labels: Christian theology, faith and works, heresies