Program#L14--The Theological Adventures of Johnny Lukewarm andPastor Loophole: Inability
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Radio Show Transcript, © 2001, Persuade TheWorld Ministries, Gordon James Klingenschmitt, Servant. Copyingand distribution (without editing) is highly encouraged.
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Opening introduction by MarkMcWilliams
Welcome and thank you for joining this radiobroadcast of Persuade The World Ministries. Youreabout to hear our radio production of the book written and taughtby Gordon James Klingenschmitt, entitled License To Sin,The Number One Reason America Is Losing Its MoralFoundation. If you call us in the next hour,well mail you a free cassette tape of todaysbroadcast, which you can copy and give to your friends. Justcall our toll-free phone number: 866-Obey-God. Thatstoll free, 1-866-O-B-E-Y-G-O-D. Gordon JamesKlingenschmitt is a graduate of the United States Air ForceAcademy, and a seminary graduate of
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Thanks Mark. Today we continue ourmini-drama entitled The Theological Adventures of JohnnyLukewarm and Pastor Loophole. You may remember ourcharacters, Johnny Lukewarm, and Pastor Loophole from our lastbroadcast. But before we re-introduce these two characters,lets read again from 2nd Timothy chapter 3. For the time will come when men will not put up withsound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, theywill gather around them a great number of teachers tosay what their itching ears want to hear. Theywill turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside tomyths. People often turn to counselors who tellthem what their itching ears want to hear. As is the casewith our character, Johnny Lukewarm, who comes into PastorLoopholes office to get advice
(Lower) Please have a seat, Johnny. What seems to bebothering you today?
Johnnys brow furrows with concern. (Higher)Pastor Loophole, Im very upset about this particularpassage of scripture. It seems as though God is commandingme to do something I really dont want to do. Do Ireally have to repent, and stop sinning, and obey God? Oris there some other alternative?
(Lower) Why, certainly there is, Johnny, you just relax. I can offer you dozens of alternatives, and give you very logicalreasons why you dont have to obey God.
(Higher) Oh, thank goodness. For a minute there, Ithought Id actually have to change my behavior and obeyGod! Johnny breathes a sigh of relief. He sitsforward eagerly, with his itching ears searching for some way ofescape from the Holy Spirits conviction. But theSpirit of God is grieved away, and He slowly withdraws hisconviction from Johnnys life.
Now lets continue with Loophole #19,entitled Perfect holiness is not possible. Soheres Pastor Loophole again.
Perfectholiness is just not possible to achieve in this lifetime,says Pastor Loophole. I mean, can any human beingreally live a perfectly holy life? If God demands absoluteperfection, then none of us can ever meet Godsstandardits just too difficult. And sinceperfect holiness is not possible, then it must not be requiredfor salvation. Perfect holiness is a nice goal, butits never fully reachable. Thats why Jesus diedon the cross! So you could go to heaven without holiness. Jesus forgives your sins, even while you continue to enjoy someof them! If perfect holiness is impossible, it must beoptional when it comes to salvation.
TIME OUT !! Lets look at thescriptures everybody, and analyze Pastor Loopholes advice. Lets rightly divide the word of truth, and separate thetruth from the lies in the advice given by Pastor Loophole. First, I want to acknowledge the true part. Its truethat God has high standards, and without access to Godshelp, nobody could be perfectly holy. But the lie is thateven with Gods help, you cant be holy in thislifetime. Heres the truth to replace that lie: WithGods enabling, strengthening help, you can be holy in thislifetime. And not only is holiness possible, itsmandatory for eternal life. The Bible says, withoutholiness, no one will see the Lord. The truth is thatGod does not forgive those sins you continue to enjoy. AndHebrews 10 says, if you deliberately keep on sinning, nosacrifice or atonement for your sins is left, and what Jesus didon the cross doesnt apply to you.
Now lets talk about these two words for a moment: perfectholiness. Say them out loud. Perfectholiness. What do you think? Is it possible foryou to achieve perfect holiness? Dont sayno right away, what does the Bible say about perfectholiness? You know, these arent my words,theyre in the Bible. Jesus commanded, Beperfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Now what does Godmean by these words, be perfect and beholy? Instead of making up our own definitions ofthese words, lets find Gods definition ofperfect holiness. Lets not create somedifferent standardeither higher or lowerand pretendits the same as Gods standard. Perfect holinessis doing everything God requiresnothing more and nothinglessonly what God himself requires in the Bible. Nowcan you at least agree that if you meet all of Godsrequirements for perfect holiness, then you are perfectly holy? Even if some theology professor looks at you and disagrees. If God says youve done everything He requires, thenyou are perfectly holy.
OK, so what does God require for perfect holiness? Jesussaid, Love the Lord your God with all your heartand with all your soul and with all your mind. Thisis the first and greatest commandment. And the second islike it: Love your neighbor as yourself. Allthe Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
So if you love Godwith all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself, you areperfectly holy, not according to my definition of perfectholiness, but according to Gods definition of perfectholiness. So this leaves us just one question: Is itpossible in this lifetime, to love God with all your heart, andlove your neighbor as yourself?
Now Im going to give you threetheological proofs that it is possible to love God withall your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. Perfectholiness is possible in this lifetime. And if lovingGod with all your heart is possible in this lifetime, thenits required, not optional. Now if loving God withall your heart is not possible, then it cant be required. But perfect love, or perfect holiness, are possible in thislifetime, and I can prove it three different ways.
Heres proof number 1:
This is what I call the Godsjustice proof. Let me ask you a question. IsGod full of justice? Yes. The Bible describes God asa just God. He treats people fairly. Hes notunjust or unfair. OK, then let me ask this: Does Godreward obedience and punish disobedience? Yes. TheBible says God rewards people when they obey, and punishes peoplewhen they disobey. OK, now heres my last question: Isit fair or just, for God to give you an impossible command, andthen punish you when youre unable to obey? Let me aska different way. If God commanded you to perform animpossible task, and you couldnt do it, would it be fairfor God to punish you for disobedience? No way! Thisproves that all Gods commands are possible to obey. Godis just and fair, and God will never command you to do somethingyoure unable to do.
Just imagine if God said to Johnny Lukewarm,I command you. Flap your wings and fly.
But I dont have any wings,God, says Johnny, I cant obey you.
Then you will be punished, saysGod.
But God, thats not fair! says Johnny, How can you punish me for disobedience, when Idont have any wings? Thats unjust! Youreright Johnny! The God of the Bible would never command youto do something impossible. The God of the Bible onlycommands you do things youre fully able to do! Sowhen God commands you to be perfect, and be holy, and love Godand love your neighbor, it must be actually possible to do thesethings. If it wasnt possible, God would be unfair togive commands like that.
Now heres proof number two:
I call it the all you haveproof.
Jesus says in Luke 10, Lovethe Lord your God with all your heart andwith all your soul and with allyour strength and with all yourmind
Or let me ask itthis way. Does God require 101% of what youre able todo, or just 100% of what youre able to do? If Godrequires everything youre able to give, does He demand morethan youre able to give? If God requires you do allyou are able to do, and nothing more, then are you able to dowhat God requires? If perfect holiness requires only thatwhich is possible, then is perfect holiness impossible? Of course not. As Charles Finney once said, To denythat entire obedience to Gods law is possible is to denythat a man is able to do as well as he can.
Now heres proof number three:
I call it the enabling Christproof.
Lets imagine that you are completelyweak and unable to obey God, but you have access to Jesus Christ,who can strengthen you and enable you. The Bible says, TheSovereign LORD is my strength; he makes myfeet like the feet of a deer, he enables meto go on the heights.
Again, if perfectholiness is impossible for you alone, is anything impossible foryou plus God? With man this is impossible, but with Godall things are possible.
Now think about that, while we take thisshort break.
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Middle segment by Mark McWilliams
Thanks Gordon. Hell be back injust a moment. But first, do you know somebody who needs tohear todays message? If you call our toll-free numberin the next hour, 866-Obey-God, well mail you a freecassette tape of todays broadcast, which you can copy andgive to your friends. All our tapes are copyable and free,but please remember we need your donations to stay on the air andto give away these free tapes. So please pray and obey,then send us your best possible donation, after you receive yourfree cassette. (Gordon: Hey time out! Ifits your first time calling us, no donation is required! Just call us!) Our toll free number is 866-Obey-God,thats 1-866-O-B-E-Y-G-O-D. And please specifyyoure requesting todays program. Do you believe
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Thanks again Mark. Lets continuewith Loophole #20, entitled, You cant know enough tobe holy. Heres Pastor Loophole again.
Its impossible to be holy in this lifetime,says Pastor Loophole, because we cant know everythingGod requires. It takes an entire lifetime to learn whatpleases God. Only when you see God face to face will youknow enough to be holy. Youre probably committingsins everyday, and you dont even realize it! No,sanctification is a lifelong process, and only after you die willyou know enough to live a holy life.
TIME OUT !! Lets look at thescriptures everybody. First, I want to acknowledge the truepart. Its true that in this lifetime we dontknow everything about God, and in our ignorance, we mightaccidentally violate some of Gods commandments that wehavent yet learned. But the lie is that accidentalsins you commit in ignorance are even sins in the first place. Its only a sin if you know what youre supposed to do,and dont do it. The Bible says, Anyone
whoknows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
Thats how brand new believers can live in actual holiness,even when they dont realize that their actions appearsinful! New believer might not realize theyre walkingin sin. And until the Holy Spirit reveals that sin issue totheir heart, theyre not responsible to deal with it. Ifthey dont know better, theyre innocent of allcrimewhite as the driven snow. Thats why Adamand Eve we totally innocent in the Garden of Edenbecausethey didnt know right from wrongthey hadnt yeteaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
But if your sinsare not committed in ignorance, Johnny Lukewarm, watch out! If you know better, and you deliberately continue to embrace yoursins, fear God! The cross covers sins of ignorance, but ifyoure walking in intentional sin, then what Jesus did onthe cross doesnt apply to you. Forsake your knownsins immediately!
Thatservant who knows his master's willand
does not do what his master wantswill be beaten with many blows. Butthe one who does not know and doesthings deserving punishment will be beaten with fewblows.
OK, lets change gears again, and go onto Loophole #21, entitled, Constant Thought. HeresPastor Loophole again.
You cant be holy all the time. If we had tolove God all the time, that would require we constantly thinkabout God, 24 hours a day. But can you love God whileyoure asleep? Or while youre doing a mathproblem? No, we cant be holy all the time, itsjust not possible. And if holiness isnt possible, itmust not be required.
TIME OUT! Lets look at thescriptures again, and analyze Pastor Loopholes advice. The true part is that living a holy life requires you love God 24hours a day, around the clock. But the lie is that lovingGod 24 hours a day means your mind has to be focused on God 24hours a day, and you have to walk around your house with yourhands up in the air, worshipping God 24 hours a day. Youdont have to do that to be holy. Holiness is takingtime to love your neighbors. Its being kind to yourenemies, and loving your children, and even taking care of yourown body, as long as youre not being selfish about it. Jesus loved God 24 hours a day, but that doesnt mean hestayed awake 24 hours a day. Jesus loved God even while hewas asleep! So it must be OK if we sleep too, as long aswere not lazy and slothful. And Jesus was acarpenter, so he must have maintained perfect holiness, evenwhile his mind was occupied with building furniture. Holinessdoesnt require constantly thinking about God. Peoplehave this screwed up concept of what holiness looks like, andsometimes we make it harder than God does. Just love Godwith all your heart, and prioritize the time you have. Whateveryou do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.
OK, lets change gearsagainlets hear Loophole #22entitled,Partial repentance is good enough. HeresPastor Loophole again.
Johnny, you dont have to be absolutely perfectly holyto get into heaven. I mean, Christian conversion involvesreal change, but not absolute perfection. Ifyou just forsake most of your sins, thats close enough. You dont have to forsake them all. Partial repentanceis close enough. After all, perfection is just not possiblein this lifetime, so it must not be required.
TIME OUT! Lets look at thescriptures again. Did you know Jesus commanded us tobe perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect? Thats not my teaching, thats the teaching of JesusChrist. Jesus said youve got to love God with allyour heart, not just part of it. And all your soul, notjust 90% of it. And with all your mind and with all yourstrength. You cant partially repent. Youvegot to forsake all your known sins, and make Jesus the Lord ofevery part of your life. Now if a man deliberately embraces1000 known sins before conversion, and he repents of 999 of them,but he willfully and deliberately continues to enjoy 1 tiny sin,does God forgive that one tiny sin he hasnt repented of? No way. Hebrews 10 says if we deliberately keep onsinning after receiving knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice forsins is left. But only a fearful expectation of judgmentand of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
If you haventrepented of all your known sins, you havent repented atall. A little yeast can spoil the whole dough. Anythingless than total submission to Gods rule is not submissionat all. God demands your unconditional, immediate, andtotal surrender. No one who continues to sin has either seenhim or known him.
Now some people might call this teachingperfectionism. But if you want to slap me witha label, then put that label on Jesus too. Jesus said, beperfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Im not talking about physical perfection, or mentalperfection. You dont have to be a super athlete, likeMichael Jordan, or a super genius, like Albert Einstein. Justlove God with all your heart. Just love your neighbors atleast as much as you love yourself. Just do everythingyoure able to do. Thats all God requires. Hes not demanding the impossible. Just love God asmuch as you can. If you love God as much as you can, andlove is made complete and perfect in your heart, youll havenothing to fear. Just walk in perfect love, like Jesus did. But if you refuse to walk in perfect love, like Jesus did, thendont claim to be a Christian. The Bible says, Thisis how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him mustwalk as Jesus did.
Lets pray together. Would youpray these words along with me, to God. Go ahead and saythem out loud. Father in heaven, I want to love youwith all my heart. I want to be perfect in the way I loveyou. I dont want to hold anything back. But Ichoose right now, to love you with every ounce of my strength,and every part of my mind, and with all my soul. I forsakeall my known sins, right now Lord. Even the tiniest one Ican think of. I hate my sins, and I ask you to come into myheart right now and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Comeand be the Lord of every part of my life right now. Isurrender all. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Did you just pray with me? If you justprayed with me, would you raise your right hand up to God? Whereveryou are, its OK. Just raise your right hand up toGod, as a sign that you prayed with me and gave your heart backto Him. Some of you are receiving a physical healing inyour bodies right now, as Gods loving rulership takes overin your heart. But if you prayed with me, whoever you are,can I ask you to write to me and get a copy of this book thatyoure hearing me teach from? In our book, and infuture broadcasts, well answer the questions you may haveabout faith versus works, or eternal security. So I hopeyoull write to us and tune in again next time. Now Ilove you and I care about you. So heres Mark withmore information.
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Closing trailer by Mark McWilliams
Thanks Gordon, and thanks everybody forlistening. Do you know somebody who needs to hear todaysmessage? If you call our toll-free number in the next hour,866-Obey-God, well mail you a free cassette tape oftodays broadcast, which you can copy and give to yourfriends. All our tapes are copyable and free, but please rememberthat we need your donations to stay on the air and to give awaythese free tapes. So please pray and obey God about how muchthese teachings are worth to you, and return to us your bestpossible gift after you receive your free cassette. (Gordon: Hey time out! If its your first time contacting us,no donation is required! Just call us!) Our toll freenumber is 866-Obey-God, thats 1-866-O-B-E-Y-G-O-D,and please specify youre requesting todays program. Now do you believe
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