Does anyone actually believe Jack Chick's theology?

[Bible Highlighter]

To elaborate further. The first covenant was conditional upon Israel accepting it along with its stipulations (commandments) and their willingness to keep those stipulations.

The second covenant is also conditional. It was conditional upon Jesus Christ accepting it along with its stipulations (His expiatory death on the cross) and His willingness to keep that stipulation. Thus, those who enter into that covenant (believers in Jesus Christ) are not bound by the stipulations (commandments) of either covenant.

That’s crazy. Sure, we are not under the Old Covenant, but to say we are not under the stipulations of the New Covenant is not correct.

“He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:28-29).

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” (Hebrews 10:26).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

So are you saying, in another way, that all of us who believe in 1 Cor 15:1-4, have also joined the House of Israel and Judah in Hebrews 8:8?

That is why all of us are also under that New Covenant stated in that verse?

The New Covenant for Israel is yet future. Obviously Israel as a nation has not accepted Jesus as their Messiah yet. That will not happen until shortly Christ returns with His second coming. Hebrews 8:11 is a repeat saying of Jeremiah 31:34. This is speaking prophetically of the Messianic Jew living in the Millennium. For they will not have to tell others to know the Lord because everyone during the Millennium will know the Lord Jesus because he will be living and reigning during that time period in the future.

 

[Guojing]

The New Covenant for Israel is yet future. Obviously Israel as a nation has not accepted Jesus as their Messiah yet. That will not happen until shortly Christ returns with His second coming. Hebrews 8:11 is a repeat saying of Jeremiah 31:34. This is speaking prophetically of the Messianic Jew living in the Millennium. For they will not have to tell others to know the Lord because everyone during the Millennium will know the Lord Jesus because he will be living and reigning during that time period in the future.

So as I was asking him, are you also saying that, in the meantime, all of us believers can claim Hebrews 8:8 for ourselves, even though we are not Israel?

Or are you also saying we in the Body of Christ have become Israel, that is why we are under the New Covenant?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I don't believe God plays such games. Christ came to save the world. Period. Full stop.

-CryptoLutheran

The invitation to believe the Gospel has gone out into all the world, but those who reject the Gospel will not be saved. Just making some kind a profession of Christianity and joining a church won't save anyone either.

 

[bbbbbbb]

That’s crazy. Sure, we are not under the Old Covenant, but to say we are not under the stipulations of the New Covenant is not correct.

“He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:28-29).

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” (Hebrews 10:26).

The Old Covenant had clearly enunciated commandments which had to be kept. It was conditional upon the obedience of those within that covenant.

Where in the New Testament are we given a set of new commandments which must be kept in order for us to receive the benefits of the new covenant (i.e. eternal life)?

 

[Aussie Pete]

That’s crazy. Sure, we are not under the Old Covenant, but to say we are not under the stipulations of the New Covenant is not correct.

“He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:28-29).

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” (Hebrews 10:26).

There is a huge difference between law and sin. Reread the sermon on the mount. It would help if you update your definition of sin also. "Whatever is not of faith is sin". Romans 14:23. And
"Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin." James 4:17

Hebrews 10:26 is often misunderstood. The writer was talking to Jewish believers. What he is saying is that you can't go to the Temple and offer a sacrifice any more.

Do you know the difference between sin that is wilful and sin that is not? Do you imagine that wilful sin cannot be forgiven? That's not what Lord Jesus said. Or John for that matter:

1 John 8-10
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.

Commandments are not law in the OT sense. God gave no word as to how the people of Israel were to be able to keep the Law. You cannot have a relationship with a stone tablet. The will of God is now revealed in the born again spirit of the Christian. The Lord Jesus lives in the spirit of the Christian to empower him to obey the leading in His spirit. Plainly God is not going to contradict His word. But we now have a relationship with God through Christ.

We are saved by grace, not by keeping commandments. I was saved by grace the moment I was born again. I woke up the next day and I was still saved by grace. 50 years later and I am still saved by grace. Knowing what to do does not give us the ability to do it. That's why we need the Lord Jesus.

No born again believer loves to sin. We are convicted of sin before we are born again and the new spirit hates sin. But there is no instant perfection. We all stumble in many ways. We need to know that God understands where we are at and we need to avoid the trap of wallowing in condemnation after we sin. God forgets our sin, so why should we dredge it up again?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

The Old Covenant had clearly enunciated commandments which had to be kept. It was conditional upon the obedience of those within that covenant.

Where in the New Testament are we given a set of new commandments which must be kept in order for us to receive the benefits of the new covenant (i.e. eternal life)?

“And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 19:17-19).

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” (Luke 10:25-28).

Has these commands changed in the New Covenant?

Romans 13:8-10 says,
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Are keeping God’s commands still a part of eternal life in the New Covenant after the cross?

According to the last chapter of the Bible, it appears that keeping the commandments is still a part of eternal life.

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:14-15).

Even the apostle John says:

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12).

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3-4).

“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.” (1 John 3:10).

“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15).

 

[bbbbbbb]

“And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 19:17-19).

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” (Luke 10:25-28).

Has these commands changed in the New Covenant?

Romans 13:8-10 says,
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Are keeping God’s commands still a part of eternal life in the New Covenant after the cross?

According to the last chapter of the Bible, it appears that keeping the commandments is still a part of eternal life.

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:14-15).

Even the apostle John says:

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12).

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3-4).

“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.” (1 John 3:10).

“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15).

Who, may I ask, in your opinion, has kept every single commandment in order to merit eternal life? Have you?

 

[Hammster]

Are keeping God’s commands still a part of eternal life in the New Covenant after the cross?

We keep the commandments for the same reason my kids do what I say. It makes things better for them. They certainly don’t do it so that they can stay my children. That would be a horrible way to parent. It seems that some are okay with that, though.

 

[bbbbbbb]

We keep the commandments for the same reason my kids do what I say. It makes things better for them. They certainly don’t do it so that they can stay my children. That would be a horrible way to parent. It seems that some are okay with that, though.

That is a great analogy. Thanks!

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Who, may I ask, in your opinion, has kept every single commandment in order to merit eternal life? Have you?

Not all sins are the same. In Matthew 5:22 we learn that Jesus teaches us about sins that do not lead to death and a sin that does lead to death.

“But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother
or harbors malice against him shall be guilty before the court;
and whoever speaks [contemptuously and insultingly] to his brother,
‘Raca (You empty-headed idiot)!’ shall be guilty before the
supreme court (Sanhedrin); and whoever says,
‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fiery hell.”
(Matthew 5:22) (AMP).​

The words in blue above are “sins not unto death” because they are the kind of sins that lead to punishment in earthly courts, but the words in red above is a “sin unto death” because it involves punishment in the afterlife in fiery hell.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

That is a great analogy. Thanks!

Sorry. This analogy does not work.

Let’s say there is a man named Bob who had a son. If Bob's son turned out to be the next Hitler, I don't think he would love him like he did before when he was a child, and nor would he invite him over to his house for dinner and act like nothing is wrong with him. While Bob may love his son's soul, that does not mean Bob would approve of his sins and give him the same favor and love that he had when he was more of an innocent and good child. If Bob had a moral conscience, he would try to bring his son to justice so that more people would not be hurt (or harmed) by him. For sin is destructive and can hurt oneself and other people's lives. To turn a blind eye to sin because one is simply is a son is to turn God's grace into a license for immorality (See: Jude 1:4).

 

[bbbbbbb]

Sorry. This analogy does not work.

Let’s say there is a man named Bob who had a son. If Bob's son turned out to be the next Hitler, I don't think he would love him like he did before when he was a child, and nor would he invite him over to his house for dinner and act like nothing is wrong with him. While Bob may love his son's soul, that does not mean Bob would approve of his sins and give him the same favor and love that he had when he was more of an innocent and good child. If Bob had a moral conscience, he would try to bring his son to justice so that more people would not be hurt (or harmed) by him. For sin is destructive and can hurt oneself and other people's lives. To turn a blind eye to sin because one is simply is a son is to turn God's grace into a license for immorality (See: Jude 1:4).

However, the fact that Bob's son is his son, nothing can ever change that fact. Bob might disown his son, but his son can never cease to be his son. That is a very simple biological fact.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Not all sins are the same. In Matthew 5:22 we learn that Jesus teaches us about sins that do not lead to death and a sin that does lead to death.

“But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother
or harbors malice against him shall be guilty before the court;
and whoever speaks [contemptuously and insultingly] to his brother,
‘Raca (You empty-headed idiot)!’ shall be guilty before the
supreme court (Sanhedrin); and whoever says,
‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fiery hell.”
(Matthew 5:22) (AMP).​

The words in blue above are “sins not unto death” because they are the kind of sins that lead to punishment in earthly courts, but the words in red above is a “sin unto death” because it involves punishment in the afterlife in fiery hell.

Gotcha. You can commit a whole range of sins and all is okey-dokey with God as long as you don't commit a mortal sin. Will you be going to Purgatory to suffer for your venial sins or does your God just wink his eye at those sins?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

That is a great analogy. Thanks!

Jesus says:
“And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.” (John 8:35).

What kind of servant is Jesus referring to here?

“Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John 8:34).

“The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41-42).

In other words, the Son of man (Jesus) will send forth his angels and they will gather out of HIS KINGDOM them which do iniquity (sin) and they shall be cast into the furnace of fire (i.e. the Lake of Fire) where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. So we see here clearly that those who do sin or iniquity in Christ's kingdom will be gathered out of Christ's kingdom at the Judgement. This will happen before Christ can give His Kingdom back to God the Father.

Here is a true son:

“If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” (1 John 2:29).

Obviously if one is doing sin and righteousness at the same time, they are not doing righteousness. For Jesus says you will know false prophets by their fruit. For a good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bring forth good fruit.

“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.” (1 John 3:10).

“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15).

But according to Belief Alone-ism, one can disobey God and still be saved. So the apostle John must have written 1 John 3:15 in error. But I believe what John says and not popular Christianity.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

However, the fact that Bob's son is his son, nothing can ever change that fact. Bob might disown his son, but his son can never cease to be his son. That is a very simple biological fact.

But sons can die and they can no longer partake in having a relationship, and or family events, etc.; When the prodigal son returned back home sought forgiveness with his father, the father said of his prodigal son, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:24).

So we can see here that the son was dead spiritually while he was living it up with prostitutes, and when he came back home to the father and sought forgiveness with him, he became “alive AGAIN” spiritually.

This same truth is taught in James 5:19-20.

James 5:19-20 talks about how if a believer errs from the truth and another believer converts this sinning believer back to the faith (so as to confess of their sins to Jesus and to live faithful to the Lord again), they should know that they have helped to cover a multitude of their sins, and they helped saved a soul from spiritual death.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Gotcha. You can commit a whole range of sins and all is okey-dokey with God as long as you don't commit a mortal sin. Will you be going to Purgatory to suffer for your venial sins or does your God just wink his eye at those sins?

First, I am not Catholic, nor Orthodox. I am Bible alone and I am strongly against traditions in churches (Especially Catholicism). But guilt by association is not always true. Just because the Catholics believe in the Trinity does not mean the Trinity is untrue. So they obviously do hold to some true things (even though I believe most things they hold to are unbiblical in my view).

Second, a Christian will desire to not commit even sins that do not lead to spiritual death. They will seek to obey the Lord in everything (See: 2 Corinthians 7:1); But God knows that we can stumble, and if we do, we have an advocate that we can go to named Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1) (Hebrews 4:16). For if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Most think they can do those sins that the Bible condemns and they are okay with God all because they trust in Jesus as their Savior or the finished work of the cross. But that’s not what the Bible teaches (Unless one wants to look at only select words by the apostle Paul out of context).

 

[Hammster]

When the prodigal son returned back home sought forgiveness with his father,

He didn’t actually seek forgiveness.

 

[BNR32FAN]

In this Jack Chick tract, a Christian couple is sent to eternal conscious torment in hell for actually obeying Jesus' commands to love your neighbor, serve the poor, heal the sick, make disciples of all nations, etc.:



This has to be the most absurd Bible tract I've ever seen. Does anyone actually base their soteriology on Chick tracts?

All this tract seems to do is discourage people from obeying Christ through fear and intimidation. Was Jack Chick a radical antinomian?

The tract even quotes Matthew 7:23 out of context. When Jesus says "Depart from me, I never knew you," he is speaking specifically to people who never followed His commandments:

Matthew 7
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

How could Jesus be any more clear than "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire"? (Matthew 7:19)

Jesus said that, if you love Him, you will keep His commandments (John 14:15), that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:20) and Hebrews 12:14 says that, without holiness, no one will see the Lord.

Without God's sanctifying grace, given by Christ's imparted righteousness, this righteousness wouldn't be possible:





The doctrine of imparted righteousness is that Christ died to save people from sin rather than just to give them an excuse to continue in sin. This power over sin is freely given by Christ's sanctifying grace to those who trust in Him.

While one might not like the source, this breaks down how Chick quoted verses on good works out of context to suit his own theology and agenda:

It seems like these people were trying to attain justification by works similar to the Galatians in Galatians 5. So if they were in fact trusting in their works for salvation then I can see how this could be a condemning act. Now if they had done these works out of a genuine love for others then I don’t think this would be a similar case to Galatians 5 and they would not fall into condemnation.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

The prodigal son did seek forgiveness with his father.

The prodigal son said:
“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,” (Luke 15:18).

“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” (Luke 15:21).