Who knows, maybe John (Reformedispy) MacArthur is right and the greatest Greek scholars (Google “Famous Rapture Watchers”), who uniformly said that Rev. 3:10 means PRESERVATION THROUGH, were wrong. But John has a conflict. On the one hand, since he knows that all Christian theology and organized churches before 1830 believed the church would be on earth during the tribulation, he would like to be seen as one who stands with the great Reformers. On the other hand, if John has a warehouse of unsold pretrib rapture material, and if he wants to have “security” for his retirement years and hopes that the big California quake won’t louse up his plans, he has a decided conflict of interest. Maybe the Lord will have to help strip off the layers of his seared conscience which have grown for years in order to please his parents and his supporters – who knows? One thing is for sure: pretrib is truly a house of cards and is so fragile that if a person removes just one card from the TOP of the pile, the whole thing can collapse. Which is why pretrib teachers don’t dare to even suggest they could be wrong on even one little subpoint! Don’t you feel sorry for the straitjacket they are in? While you’re mulling all this over, Google “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty” for a rare behind-the-scenes look at the same 180-year-old fantasy.

Gleason never once confessed Christ in that interview. How can one mention faith in God without Christ, the cross, or the resurrection? He stayed in the realm of works in that interview. I pray he did confess Christ. If not, he had to rely on himself. And, as you say, none of us have any hope.

So is in effect what you are saying that if we commit sins that we cannot get into heaven?

Because it is my understanding that this is not true. If everyone who commits a sin cannot go to heaven, then no one goes. We are all sinners.

This is why Christ had to die and pay the price for us. The true believer in Christ knows that sin is wrong. This person also needs forgiveness for his sins, which is gained through believing that Christ already paid the price. Redemption is not gained any other way. You can’t work for it. You can’t earn it. It is by the grace of God alone.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

So how do you know he didn’t make peace with God? he said he didn’t think he deserved heaven, but what does that mean? None of us do… Not one… Can you say that because he committed one sin that he is guilty of everything the whole law and not going?

The guilt and law set aside, he may be going if he came to Christ and was sorry in his heart fro what he did.

Heb 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Heb 7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
Heb 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Thanks for your thoughtful and faithful priorities listed here. Two months into being a small church pastor in Seymour, IN, I appreciate the challenge of keeping the Great Commission and the Great Commandment first order priorities, loving God and loving people…all the while filtering the other needs and requests and decisions that come your way as a single-pastor, deacon-served church.

Stay faithful, brother!

David Schrock
Pastor, Calvary Baptist
Seymour, IN