The following is an article from THE PERSUADER and also a book written in April, 2002. You can find more of our materials on our web site http://www.thepersuader.org/. All our material is without charge. (Pro. 23:23)
Inoculated With the Gospel
Galatians 1:6-9
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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. 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."
The title of this message came as a result of a preacher who said to me one day, "Many of our church members have been inoculated with the gospel." This statement sounds like a good thing until you understand what the word "inoculated" means. The health dictionary states that "inoculation" is the act or practice of communicating a disease to a person, by inserting contagious matter in his skin or flesh. After reading that definition one may have a tendency to say that being inoculated with the gospel sounds like a good thing, but when the gospel is heard and the heart is stirred without a completed work of the Holy Spirit, a person will make a profession -- be inoculated with a profession that does not give peace and satisfaction because it is not real.
But there is a problem -- inoculation in the end keeps you from getting the disease. Inoculation really causes one to be immune to the disease for which they are inoculated or vaccinated. The encyclopedia states that vaccination is the inoculation of a person (or animal) in order to bring about immunity to an infection organism.
Being exposed to the truth concerning "inoculation" causes me to come to the conclusion that many Baptist, as well as other denominations today, have been inoculated with the gospel which in reality has caused them to become immune to the gospel.
With these thoughts in mind, I would like to use the physical inoculation to make application to the spiritual inoculation of the gospel. To do this let us develop the four following points: 1) Inoculation requires a vaccine. 2) The vaccine must be administered. 3) Booster shots are needed. 4) Sometimes a person still gets the disease.
1. Inoculation requires a Vaccine.
The encyclopedia states that a vaccine may consist of living organisms that are weakened in a laboratory so that they create immunity without giving them the disease. This is usually done by doctors who are specialist in their field. The vaccine they develop consists of a shot or a pill called oral vaccine. This means that the living organisms have been tampered with to create the vaccine that produces immunity.
Now let us make a spiritual application. Paul spoke to the church at Galatia and said, " I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." (Gal. 1:6-7) In these verses we see the use of "another" is used twice in our English language while the Greek uses two words. The first "another" is translated from the Greek word "heteros" while the second is from the Greek word "allos." "Heteros" means another of a different kind while "allos" means another of the same kind. Thus, we can summarize what Paul said, "I marvel that you are moved unto a gospel of a different kind which is not of the same kind -- of the saving kind." This is a result of the gospel having been tampered with or weakened by man, usually doctors who have been cloned out of religious institutions that are weakening the gospel.
The gospel is the good news of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. The gospel also includes the virgin birth, His sinless life, as well as His death, burial, and resurrection, and also includes His ascension, His ministry of intercession, and His bodily coming back again. Anyone who tampers with or weakens the gospel in any way produces a "heteros" gospel, thus producing a spiritual vaccine which when administered will cause immunity to the gospel.
2. The vaccine must be administered.
In the health world human instruments, such as doctors and nurses, are used to administer the vaccine. At first the vaccine was administered in shot form but later an easier method was developed -- in some cases that of an oral vaccine.
God's way in administering the gospel is by using human instruments. Rom. 10:13-15: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" I Cor. 3:5: "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?" Therefore we conclude from the Scriptures that no one will be saved without the aid of a human instrument. But the problem is that many human instruments have developed a weakened form of the gospel by using their "canned plan" on every one they meet.
By a "canned plan" I mean they use the same technique on every one they deal with. Some say, "If you want to go to heaven just raise your hand and pray this simple prayer and ask Jesus into your heart." Then they tell them they are saved because they prayed the prayer. The problem with this is that this is a spiritual vaccine that inoculates them with the gospel which in reality keeps them from receiving the gospel. Others use the Roman Road plan on everyone they deal with no matter what their need is. This too results in many being inoculated with the gospel instead of receiving the gospel.
Still others would refute these methods just mentioned as "easy believism" and would never practice such. Yet, they use Rom. 10:13 and put pressure on those they deal with by saying they call God a liar if they say they are not saved after they prayed because they heard them call on the name of the Lord out loud in their presence. This is just another form of vaccine developed by man to inoculate men with the gospel. All these spiritual vaccines, and many others, even though not mentioned, are used to get numbers while leaving many immune to the gospel -- not saved.
3. Booster shots are needed.
In health the encyclopedia states that periodic booster immunization is recommended with most vaccines because the immunity caused by the initial inoculation may decrease with time. Therefore, booster shots are needed.
This point holds true with all who have been inoculated with the gospel. They all need spiritual booster shots of the gospel from time to time to keep them in their immunized state so that they do not receive the gospel -- be saved. When doubt enters as a result of a person not having anything real, well meaning preachers and altar workers have their booster shots ready to administer assurance so that the person they are dealing with will stay immune to the gospel. These spiritual booster shots come in many forms.
1) That's just the devil making you doubt.
Sometimes this is the impression a person gets within due to the traditional teaching he has received. When really this is the devil trying to tell that person he is OK because "that is what happens to everybody who is saved -- they doubt." Usually the devil uses some human instrument to keep you immune to the gospel by telling you "it sounds good to me." Preachers, you are not God and a lost person who has received the vaccine of the gospel does not need to hear that from you for they have a tendency to be lifted up with pride and hold on to their profession when in reality they are lost.
There are those who say that one of the ways you know that you are saved is that you doubt. This is contrary to Scripture. I Thess. 1:5 states plainly that when the gospel is received there is much assurance which is the opposite of doubt. I Thess. 1:5: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." Therefore, if one has continuous doubt, it is because they have been inoculated with the gospel and are not really saved.
2) If you are not sure, just settle it now.
Another booster shot is administered by telling someone who comes to you saying they are not sure whether they are saved and you tell them just to bow their heads and ask Jesus into their heart. No one can be saved until they have the reality that they are lost. And that takes a completed work of Holy Ghost conviction for that reality to be present in a person. Therefore, if someone tries this technique on another person, they are administering a booster shot and causing that person to be immune to the gospel.
3) You need to be baptized by this church to make sure you are in the bride.
I have heard this told to someone who was not sure that they were saved. The preacher they went to said to this individual, "What you need is to be baptized by our church to make sure you are in the bride of Christ. It just might be that the church that baptized you may not be able to trace their lineage all the way back to Christ and we can." That individual submitted to that pastor's suggestion and as far as I know is still holding on to their profession. Brethren that is not only a booster shot of the gospel that keeps one immune to the truth of the gospel, but it is really "baptismal regeneration" which is contrary to the Scriptures.
4) You go to church and tithe.
This booster shot is real to me because I experienced this when I was in my 20's. I went to the pastor telling him that I was not sure if I was saved. He basically said you go to church three times a week and pay your tithe and that statement (booster shot) puffed me up with pride and caused me to go for years immune to the gospel.
5) You have had answered prayers.
Many administer booster shots of this nature to those who have had answered prayer. They do this by quoting John 9:31: "We know that God heareth not sinners." They quote that to give assurance to others, without looking at the context. A lost man said that to a bunch of Pharisees and it was based upon their tradition. The truth of the matter is that in Acts 10:31 the Bible stated plainly that an angel told Cornelius--a lost man, "Thy prayer is heard." This statement given to someone who is in doubt of their salvation is nothing more than a spiritual booster shot to keep that person immune to the gospel.
There are many other forms of spiritual booster shots I could mention but I think these are enough to let you see the problem -- many in our churches are lost because they have been inoculated with the gospel by well meaning preachers and personal workers who short circuit the work of the Holy Ghost thus causing those they deal with to be immune to the truth of the gospel. And when those come back to the same preacher, they administer them booster shots to keep them in their lost condition. Paul said in essence in Gal. 1:8-9, "Let those who practice such, go on to hell (be accursed)."
4. Sometimes the person still gets the disease.
Sometimes even after the vaccine has been given and the booster shots are administered (in health) the person still gets the disease when exposed to a strong source of the living organism. The good part of this in the health world is that there are a few who get the disease who have been inoculated. The sad part is that in the spiritual world there are few who encounter the strong source of the truth of the gospel and are saved. Mat. 7:13-14: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
But thank the Lord for the few, many of whom were saved in spite of the inoculation and booster shots that tried to keep them immune to the gospel. Paul said in I Thess. 1:5: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." This "power" and "Holy Ghost" refers to a completed work of Holy Ghost conviction. To explain this I will copy here a part of the message "Unbeatable Combination" printed in the Oct.-Dec. 2000 issue of The Persuader which dealt with the salvation of the eunuch in Acts. 8:26-37. (Quote):
The Holy Spirit was working His work in Acts 8. The Bible refers to His work as the "sanctification of the Spirit" in two verses. (I Peter 1:2: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." II Thess. 2:13: "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.") "Sanctification of the Spirit" means the setting apart work of the Holy Spirit in salvation.
1) He prepares the sinner.
He does this by giving light to every sinner. (John 1:9: "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.") He does this in creation (Rom. 1:20: "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.") which reveals that God exists. (Psa. 19:1-4: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.") Therefore, every man is without excuse. (Titus 2:11: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.") If a sinner will step in light that there is a God, the Holy Spirit will cause him to begin to seek God. (Heb. 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.") The eunuch left his country in search of God.
2) He plants the seed.
When the eunuch went to Jerusalem to find God, no doubt he felt he had failed for he was returning home in our text just as empty as he had left. The only difference was he had a copy of a portion of the Word of God -- Isaiah 53.
3) He positions the saint.
The Holy Spirit moved on Philip while he was in revival at Samaria. Philip obeyed, went where the Lord told him, met the eunuch's chariot, and heard him reading from Isaiah 53. After asking him if he understood what he read, the eunuch made a true statement in verse 31, "How can I unless some man should guide me?" God's plan in everyone's salvation experience includes a human instrument. (Rom. 10:13-15: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" I Cor. 3:5: "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?")
4) He plows the soil.
Every sinner's heart must be plowed with the plow share of the gospel sharpened by the Holy Spirit. Acts. 8:35 states that Philip "preached Jesus" (the gospel) to the eunuch from Isaiah 53. This is the Lord's way. (I Cor. 1:21: "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.") A sinner's heart must be plowed if it is ever to become good ground and be saved. (Mat. 13:23: "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.")
5) He produces all that is necessary to be saved.
The Holy Spirit produces conviction which is called "reprove" in John 16:8. ("And when he (Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.") "Reprove" means to convince and convict. Every sinner must be convinced of his root sin against God -- unbelief. Also he must be convinced of the righteousness of God who is Jesus. (I Cor. 1:30: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.") When convinced, then comes conviction -- being guilty of sin against a Holy God, deserving the judgment of God which is an eternity in hell. But the Lord does not save you just to keep you out of hell. He saves you for His glory. Conviction must be complete of all three ingredients -- sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Another name for conviction is godly sorrow (deep God caused grief) which works repentance. (II Cor. 7:10: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.") Repentance is a change of mind, but more. It is a change of heart, a change of attitude, and a change of direction. It is a turning toward God from sin, self, and the world and taking up sides with God against yourself.
Repentance is a work of God and is a must if one is to be saved. When repentance is worked the Holy Spirit produces faith. Faith is a gift (Eph. 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.") and not something you work up.
When repentance and faith are granted, then and only then can one obey the gospel, which is to repent and believe. (End Quote)
In conclusion I would like to say that a person who has had the vaccine and booster shots administered, but gets the disease when he encounters a strong organism of the disease, will have fever and the shakes. In a similar manner when one who has been inoculated with the gospel and had booster shots, when he comes in contact with Holy Ghost conviction will also have the shakes. He spiritually will be like Jeremiah when he encountered the Lord -- "all my bones shake." (Jer. 23:9) When Holy Ghost conviction comes there will be a shaking in your soul for there is a battle for your soul. The devil wants your soul and so does the Lord. That is why the devil wants you inoculated with the gospel so you will be immune to it and be lost forever. He gets many because Mat. 7:22-23 says: "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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
But the Lord wants you to be exposed to Holy Ghost conviction so that you might receive the gospel in power and assurance. That is why He is so longsuffering and good to you. "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Rom. 2:4.
Have you received the gospel or are you just inoculated with it? II Cor. 13:5 says: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
Inoculation in the health world is good but not in the spiritual world. It is good for the devil but not your soul. And Paul in essence said, "Let those, who inoculate with the gospel or give booster shots to immune you from the gospel, just go on to hell (be accursed)." (Gal. 1:8-9)
I pray this message will speak to your heart concerning your condition. If you need more information on any particular subject mentioned in this message, just contact me by phone, snail mail, or e-mail. If I can be of help in any way please feel free to contact me. I am your friend and I care. I also understand.
Because of Calvary,
Edgar Lee Paschall
(Used With Permission, according to their website)
Jerry's Notes: There are many solid and hardhitting articles that The Persuader sends out, which for the most part I agree with. Two points in this article I wanted to bring attention to because I disagree with them, but the rest of the article is worth reading and considering:
1) He mentions that answered prayer is not a valid measure of whether someone is saved or not. I agree in the general sense that God may have mercy on the lost and when they are humbly seeking Him, He may answer some of their prayers - though He is not obligated to do so. I have tried searching the Bible on this - and cannot find any passage that directly teaches that God ONLY answers the prayers of the saved. The Bible teaches that God doesn't answer the prayers of the wicked and those that regard iniquity in their heart (and this can even apply to a saved person). I think there are times that a lost person may be humbled enough that they cry out to God for His deliverance from a situation or His provision or mercy, and He grants it - though at that point in time they had not yet turned to Him for salvation (for whatever reason).
Cornelius' prayer was in regards to how to be saved. God will certainly answer THAT prayer from a contrite heart! As a baby Christian, I misunderstood a passage of Scripture, which the Devil used to wreak havoc in my spiritual life and convince me that I had lost my salvation. Even after hearing my pastor explain that salvation was eternal, that you could never lose it, I was not convinced (I did not yet have the Biblical foundation to see that I had a wrong understanding of that passage, and did not know and had not read enough Scripture to realize the overall teaching of Scripture regarding salvation - see Romans 10:17 - I did not yet have the faith to grasp this). What convinced me was about one or two months of seeing the Lord answer all my prayers (as I continued to read the Bible and seek the Lord, even though I wasn't sure of my standing before Him). I do not think He would have answered my prayers if I was condemned to Hell without hope of His mercy. Though, He may answer some prayers of the lost, He will not answer them all.
2) He mentions that faith is the gift referred to in Ephesians 2:8-9; however, I believe that salvation (ie. by grace are ye saved) is the gift of God. There are various other passages that clearly teach this. If God gave or offered faith to only some people, then I think God would be unjust, as we need faith to be saved. I believe the gift is salvation - freely offered to all - but our response is to repent of our sins and place our faith in the Saviour and His finished work of redemption.
Inoculated With the Gospel
Galatians 1:6-9
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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. 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."
The title of this message came as a result of a preacher who said to me one day, "Many of our church members have been inoculated with the gospel." This statement sounds like a good thing until you understand what the word "inoculated" means. The health dictionary states that "inoculation" is the act or practice of communicating a disease to a person, by inserting contagious matter in his skin or flesh. After reading that definition one may have a tendency to say that being inoculated with the gospel sounds like a good thing, but when the gospel is heard and the heart is stirred without a completed work of the Holy Spirit, a person will make a profession -- be inoculated with a profession that does not give peace and satisfaction because it is not real.
But there is a problem -- inoculation in the end keeps you from getting the disease. Inoculation really causes one to be immune to the disease for which they are inoculated or vaccinated. The encyclopedia states that vaccination is the inoculation of a person (or animal) in order to bring about immunity to an infection organism.
Being exposed to the truth concerning "inoculation" causes me to come to the conclusion that many Baptist, as well as other denominations today, have been inoculated with the gospel which in reality has caused them to become immune to the gospel.
With these thoughts in mind, I would like to use the physical inoculation to make application to the spiritual inoculation of the gospel. To do this let us develop the four following points: 1) Inoculation requires a vaccine. 2) The vaccine must be administered. 3) Booster shots are needed. 4) Sometimes a person still gets the disease.
1. Inoculation requires a Vaccine.
The encyclopedia states that a vaccine may consist of living organisms that are weakened in a laboratory so that they create immunity without giving them the disease. This is usually done by doctors who are specialist in their field. The vaccine they develop consists of a shot or a pill called oral vaccine. This means that the living organisms have been tampered with to create the vaccine that produces immunity.
Now let us make a spiritual application. Paul spoke to the church at Galatia and said, " I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." (Gal. 1:6-7) In these verses we see the use of "another" is used twice in our English language while the Greek uses two words. The first "another" is translated from the Greek word "heteros" while the second is from the Greek word "allos." "Heteros" means another of a different kind while "allos" means another of the same kind. Thus, we can summarize what Paul said, "I marvel that you are moved unto a gospel of a different kind which is not of the same kind -- of the saving kind." This is a result of the gospel having been tampered with or weakened by man, usually doctors who have been cloned out of religious institutions that are weakening the gospel.
The gospel is the good news of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. The gospel also includes the virgin birth, His sinless life, as well as His death, burial, and resurrection, and also includes His ascension, His ministry of intercession, and His bodily coming back again. Anyone who tampers with or weakens the gospel in any way produces a "heteros" gospel, thus producing a spiritual vaccine which when administered will cause immunity to the gospel.
2. The vaccine must be administered.
In the health world human instruments, such as doctors and nurses, are used to administer the vaccine. At first the vaccine was administered in shot form but later an easier method was developed -- in some cases that of an oral vaccine.
God's way in administering the gospel is by using human instruments. Rom. 10:13-15: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" I Cor. 3:5: "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?" Therefore we conclude from the Scriptures that no one will be saved without the aid of a human instrument. But the problem is that many human instruments have developed a weakened form of the gospel by using their "canned plan" on every one they meet.
By a "canned plan" I mean they use the same technique on every one they deal with. Some say, "If you want to go to heaven just raise your hand and pray this simple prayer and ask Jesus into your heart." Then they tell them they are saved because they prayed the prayer. The problem with this is that this is a spiritual vaccine that inoculates them with the gospel which in reality keeps them from receiving the gospel. Others use the Roman Road plan on everyone they deal with no matter what their need is. This too results in many being inoculated with the gospel instead of receiving the gospel.
Still others would refute these methods just mentioned as "easy believism" and would never practice such. Yet, they use Rom. 10:13 and put pressure on those they deal with by saying they call God a liar if they say they are not saved after they prayed because they heard them call on the name of the Lord out loud in their presence. This is just another form of vaccine developed by man to inoculate men with the gospel. All these spiritual vaccines, and many others, even though not mentioned, are used to get numbers while leaving many immune to the gospel -- not saved.
3. Booster shots are needed.
In health the encyclopedia states that periodic booster immunization is recommended with most vaccines because the immunity caused by the initial inoculation may decrease with time. Therefore, booster shots are needed.
This point holds true with all who have been inoculated with the gospel. They all need spiritual booster shots of the gospel from time to time to keep them in their immunized state so that they do not receive the gospel -- be saved. When doubt enters as a result of a person not having anything real, well meaning preachers and altar workers have their booster shots ready to administer assurance so that the person they are dealing with will stay immune to the gospel. These spiritual booster shots come in many forms.
1) That's just the devil making you doubt.
Sometimes this is the impression a person gets within due to the traditional teaching he has received. When really this is the devil trying to tell that person he is OK because "that is what happens to everybody who is saved -- they doubt." Usually the devil uses some human instrument to keep you immune to the gospel by telling you "it sounds good to me." Preachers, you are not God and a lost person who has received the vaccine of the gospel does not need to hear that from you for they have a tendency to be lifted up with pride and hold on to their profession when in reality they are lost.
There are those who say that one of the ways you know that you are saved is that you doubt. This is contrary to Scripture. I Thess. 1:5 states plainly that when the gospel is received there is much assurance which is the opposite of doubt. I Thess. 1:5: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." Therefore, if one has continuous doubt, it is because they have been inoculated with the gospel and are not really saved.
2) If you are not sure, just settle it now.
Another booster shot is administered by telling someone who comes to you saying they are not sure whether they are saved and you tell them just to bow their heads and ask Jesus into their heart. No one can be saved until they have the reality that they are lost. And that takes a completed work of Holy Ghost conviction for that reality to be present in a person. Therefore, if someone tries this technique on another person, they are administering a booster shot and causing that person to be immune to the gospel.
3) You need to be baptized by this church to make sure you are in the bride.
I have heard this told to someone who was not sure that they were saved. The preacher they went to said to this individual, "What you need is to be baptized by our church to make sure you are in the bride of Christ. It just might be that the church that baptized you may not be able to trace their lineage all the way back to Christ and we can." That individual submitted to that pastor's suggestion and as far as I know is still holding on to their profession. Brethren that is not only a booster shot of the gospel that keeps one immune to the truth of the gospel, but it is really "baptismal regeneration" which is contrary to the Scriptures.
4) You go to church and tithe.
This booster shot is real to me because I experienced this when I was in my 20's. I went to the pastor telling him that I was not sure if I was saved. He basically said you go to church three times a week and pay your tithe and that statement (booster shot) puffed me up with pride and caused me to go for years immune to the gospel.
5) You have had answered prayers.
Many administer booster shots of this nature to those who have had answered prayer. They do this by quoting John 9:31: "We know that God heareth not sinners." They quote that to give assurance to others, without looking at the context. A lost man said that to a bunch of Pharisees and it was based upon their tradition. The truth of the matter is that in Acts 10:31 the Bible stated plainly that an angel told Cornelius--a lost man, "Thy prayer is heard." This statement given to someone who is in doubt of their salvation is nothing more than a spiritual booster shot to keep that person immune to the gospel.
There are many other forms of spiritual booster shots I could mention but I think these are enough to let you see the problem -- many in our churches are lost because they have been inoculated with the gospel by well meaning preachers and personal workers who short circuit the work of the Holy Ghost thus causing those they deal with to be immune to the truth of the gospel. And when those come back to the same preacher, they administer them booster shots to keep them in their lost condition. Paul said in essence in Gal. 1:8-9, "Let those who practice such, go on to hell (be accursed)."
4. Sometimes the person still gets the disease.
Sometimes even after the vaccine has been given and the booster shots are administered (in health) the person still gets the disease when exposed to a strong source of the living organism. The good part of this in the health world is that there are a few who get the disease who have been inoculated. The sad part is that in the spiritual world there are few who encounter the strong source of the truth of the gospel and are saved. Mat. 7:13-14: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
But thank the Lord for the few, many of whom were saved in spite of the inoculation and booster shots that tried to keep them immune to the gospel. Paul said in I Thess. 1:5: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." This "power" and "Holy Ghost" refers to a completed work of Holy Ghost conviction. To explain this I will copy here a part of the message "Unbeatable Combination" printed in the Oct.-Dec. 2000 issue of The Persuader which dealt with the salvation of the eunuch in Acts. 8:26-37. (Quote):
The Holy Spirit was working His work in Acts 8. The Bible refers to His work as the "sanctification of the Spirit" in two verses. (I Peter 1:2: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." II Thess. 2:13: "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.") "Sanctification of the Spirit" means the setting apart work of the Holy Spirit in salvation.
1) He prepares the sinner.
He does this by giving light to every sinner. (John 1:9: "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.") He does this in creation (Rom. 1:20: "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.") which reveals that God exists. (Psa. 19:1-4: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.") Therefore, every man is without excuse. (Titus 2:11: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.") If a sinner will step in light that there is a God, the Holy Spirit will cause him to begin to seek God. (Heb. 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.") The eunuch left his country in search of God.
2) He plants the seed.
When the eunuch went to Jerusalem to find God, no doubt he felt he had failed for he was returning home in our text just as empty as he had left. The only difference was he had a copy of a portion of the Word of God -- Isaiah 53.
3) He positions the saint.
The Holy Spirit moved on Philip while he was in revival at Samaria. Philip obeyed, went where the Lord told him, met the eunuch's chariot, and heard him reading from Isaiah 53. After asking him if he understood what he read, the eunuch made a true statement in verse 31, "How can I unless some man should guide me?" God's plan in everyone's salvation experience includes a human instrument. (Rom. 10:13-15: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" I Cor. 3:5: "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?")
4) He plows the soil.
Every sinner's heart must be plowed with the plow share of the gospel sharpened by the Holy Spirit. Acts. 8:35 states that Philip "preached Jesus" (the gospel) to the eunuch from Isaiah 53. This is the Lord's way. (I Cor. 1:21: "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.") A sinner's heart must be plowed if it is ever to become good ground and be saved. (Mat. 13:23: "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.")
5) He produces all that is necessary to be saved.
The Holy Spirit produces conviction which is called "reprove" in John 16:8. ("And when he (Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.") "Reprove" means to convince and convict. Every sinner must be convinced of his root sin against God -- unbelief. Also he must be convinced of the righteousness of God who is Jesus. (I Cor. 1:30: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.") When convinced, then comes conviction -- being guilty of sin against a Holy God, deserving the judgment of God which is an eternity in hell. But the Lord does not save you just to keep you out of hell. He saves you for His glory. Conviction must be complete of all three ingredients -- sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Another name for conviction is godly sorrow (deep God caused grief) which works repentance. (II Cor. 7:10: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.") Repentance is a change of mind, but more. It is a change of heart, a change of attitude, and a change of direction. It is a turning toward God from sin, self, and the world and taking up sides with God against yourself.
Repentance is a work of God and is a must if one is to be saved. When repentance is worked the Holy Spirit produces faith. Faith is a gift (Eph. 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.") and not something you work up.
When repentance and faith are granted, then and only then can one obey the gospel, which is to repent and believe. (End Quote)
In conclusion I would like to say that a person who has had the vaccine and booster shots administered, but gets the disease when he encounters a strong organism of the disease, will have fever and the shakes. In a similar manner when one who has been inoculated with the gospel and had booster shots, when he comes in contact with Holy Ghost conviction will also have the shakes. He spiritually will be like Jeremiah when he encountered the Lord -- "all my bones shake." (Jer. 23:9) When Holy Ghost conviction comes there will be a shaking in your soul for there is a battle for your soul. The devil wants your soul and so does the Lord. That is why the devil wants you inoculated with the gospel so you will be immune to it and be lost forever. He gets many because Mat. 7:22-23 says: "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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
But the Lord wants you to be exposed to Holy Ghost conviction so that you might receive the gospel in power and assurance. That is why He is so longsuffering and good to you. "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Rom. 2:4.
Have you received the gospel or are you just inoculated with it? II Cor. 13:5 says: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
Inoculation in the health world is good but not in the spiritual world. It is good for the devil but not your soul. And Paul in essence said, "Let those, who inoculate with the gospel or give booster shots to immune you from the gospel, just go on to hell (be accursed)." (Gal. 1:8-9)
I pray this message will speak to your heart concerning your condition. If you need more information on any particular subject mentioned in this message, just contact me by phone, snail mail, or e-mail. If I can be of help in any way please feel free to contact me. I am your friend and I care. I also understand.
Because of Calvary,
Edgar Lee Paschall
(Used With Permission, according to their website)
Jerry's Notes: There are many solid and hardhitting articles that The Persuader sends out, which for the most part I agree with. Two points in this article I wanted to bring attention to because I disagree with them, but the rest of the article is worth reading and considering:
1) He mentions that answered prayer is not a valid measure of whether someone is saved or not. I agree in the general sense that God may have mercy on the lost and when they are humbly seeking Him, He may answer some of their prayers - though He is not obligated to do so. I have tried searching the Bible on this - and cannot find any passage that directly teaches that God ONLY answers the prayers of the saved. The Bible teaches that God doesn't answer the prayers of the wicked and those that regard iniquity in their heart (and this can even apply to a saved person). I think there are times that a lost person may be humbled enough that they cry out to God for His deliverance from a situation or His provision or mercy, and He grants it - though at that point in time they had not yet turned to Him for salvation (for whatever reason).
Cornelius' prayer was in regards to how to be saved. God will certainly answer THAT prayer from a contrite heart! As a baby Christian, I misunderstood a passage of Scripture, which the Devil used to wreak havoc in my spiritual life and convince me that I had lost my salvation. Even after hearing my pastor explain that salvation was eternal, that you could never lose it, I was not convinced (I did not yet have the Biblical foundation to see that I had a wrong understanding of that passage, and did not know and had not read enough Scripture to realize the overall teaching of Scripture regarding salvation - see Romans 10:17 - I did not yet have the faith to grasp this). What convinced me was about one or two months of seeing the Lord answer all my prayers (as I continued to read the Bible and seek the Lord, even though I wasn't sure of my standing before Him). I do not think He would have answered my prayers if I was condemned to Hell without hope of His mercy. Though, He may answer some prayers of the lost, He will not answer them all.
2) He mentions that faith is the gift referred to in Ephesians 2:8-9; however, I believe that salvation (ie. by grace are ye saved) is the gift of God. There are various other passages that clearly teach this. If God gave or offered faith to only some people, then I think God would be unjust, as we need faith to be saved. I believe the gift is salvation - freely offered to all - but our response is to repent of our sins and place our faith in the Saviour and His finished work of redemption.
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