Ever heard someone professing Christianity make comments like these? Ever make them yourself?
“I may be backslidden, but I’m still a Christian. You don’t know what’s in my heart.”
“All Christians sin; the bible even says we’re never going to stop sinning – so get off my back, already!”
“I know I’m saved – I said the prayer and asked Jesus to save me.”
“Who are you to criticize me? Judge not, lest ye be judged.”
If you know that Christian, or if you are that Christian, you can’t afford to not read this book. Be Not Deceived examines salvation, repentance and obedience – and the doctrine of “once-saved-always-saved.”
“The present-day doctrine of once-saved-always-saved is, in a historical context, a fairly new belief introduced approximately 50 years ago. Certainly prior to the turn of the 20th century, there was not one major denomination that preached salvation without obedience. Quite the contrary. Salvation and obedience are, and always have been, synergistic. Research denotes it wasn’t until society demanded the right to be in open spiritual rebellion that some clergy found it necessary to create a worldly interpretation of salvation, thereby meeting the needs of the growing numbers of disobedient. Since then, others have simply followed the doctrine as Gospel, even though, because it is incomplete, it is not biblically sustainable.”
Is it possible to have justification without sanctification? Can Jesus be your Savior without being your Lord? What does biblical obedience really look like, and what does it mean if you’re not doing it? Be Not Deceived challenges professing Christians to take a long hard look at what’s inside – because where you spend eternity really does depend on it.
The first few chapters of the book discuss doctrine in plain English. Too many churches these days spend all their time on application and not doctrine, and many Christians simply have no idea why they profess what they profess. Be Not Deceived tackles the doctrine of salvation in a way that you don’t need a divinity degree to understand. A particularly useful section of the book is chapter 5, the “Spiritual Guide.” It is an alphabetized topical listing of bible verses. While the lists are not comprehensive, they do make a good start – if you’re interested in learning what the bible says about hypocrisy, ingratitude, or premarital sex, for example, these lists are the beginning of some good bible studies. Finally, Be Not Deceived dispenses with today’s “cheap and easy grace” and lays out the reasons why Jesus can’t be your Savior without being your Lord. In no way does this book put Christianity on the “works” side of the equation – but it does make clear that works, including obedience, are an essential part of the equation.
God’s grace is victorious over sin and gives strength to those subordinated to His knowledge of what is best in and for their lives. False grace supposedly saves the sinner while allowing him to remain in his wretched condition. Lest we fall into Satan’s trap of having the redeemed believe the lie that everyone sins (and therefore it is spiritually acceptable), understand, in Him, we are made holy and sin no more. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosever sinneth has not seen him, neither known him. (1 John 3:6) It is sacrilege to believe the secular lie that we all sin, and the grace of God covers our willful disobedience. The grace of God is an animate blessing giving us a way out of the filth of the world. Its purpose is not to allow us to exist in, or make peace with, indecency. Nor is it necessarily just a future, supernatural blessing, but rather an integral part of the here-and-now for those who claim His name. The problem is that too many of us want to remain in our sins, or at least those sins we like. … We cannot abuse God’s grace and expect to receive salvation. Christ is either our Lord and Savior, or He is nothing at all.
Author: Edward F. Mrkvicka, Jr. with Kelly Helen Mrkvicka
Publisher: Trafford Publisher
Title: Be Not Deceived
Genre: Nonfiction
Rating: 5 of 5
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