Eternal Security by Charles Stanley

[Steadfast Fred]

- On a recent radio broadcast, Stanley said that God will not send people to hell if they have never heard the gospel. Following is an extract:

"� [W]ould God send somebody to hell because they did not receive Jesus whom they never heard about, never had the privilege of knowing about? And my answer is: No, he would not" (Stanley, In Touch Ministries, "Reconciling God's Love with His Justice," July 31, 2001).

This is a great error. In Ephesians 2, God describes the condition of those who are outside of Christ. They are dead in trespasses and sins (v. 1), by nature the children of wrath (v. 3), having no hope, and without God in the world (v. 12). This is the unsaved man's condition regardless of whether or not he has heard the gospel. He is condemned already, and that is why it is so imperative that Christ's commission be obeyed and the gospel be preached to the ends of the earth. (Church News Notes, 8/3/01, David Cloud, FBIS)

 

[TCGreek]

Dr. Stanley's work is elementary at best and sloppy exegetically.

 

[Bronconagurski]

Thing about eternal security is that it roots my salvation into the Soveregn will of God, and the Cross of Chrsit, and sealed by the Spirit, so ALL of the trinity secures me forever!

My behaviour will relate to eternal rewards for deeds/works done/not done while here, but does NOT affect eternal salvation!

Your behavior here reveals your eternal salvation, just as no works reveals the lack thereof. We may be playing semantics to a certain extent, but there is a distinction. Eternal security without any works reveals the heart of a lost person. James 2:17-18 (ESV)
17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Hebrews warns about those who would turn away from Christ. The problem with eternal security is that it only depends of how you start, not how you endure or persevere.

 

[freeatlast]

Dr. Stanley's work is elementary at best and sloppy exegetically.

I think it would be better say it is dangerous and non biblical.

 

[quantumfaith]

Dan Corner has an interesting article concerning this book.

Does Mr. Corner propose that he lives without sin? I assume not. How many sins, or how horrible must the sins be to evidence lack of a saving relationship with God? Is there a number? Is there a degree?

I think Dr. Stanley does an excellent job, a courageous job, whether or not you agree with him, attempting to describe one of the eternal tensions of scripture. The demand of perfection and holiness God makes to us, and our human nature and bent toward rebellion and sin.

I reject the notions of those who often appoint themselves heresy hunters.

 

[Steadfast Fred]

Does Mr. Corner propose that he lives without sin? I assume not. How many sins, or how horrible must the sins be to evidence lack of a saving relationship with God? Is there a number? Is there a degree?

I think Dr. Stanley does an excellent job, a courageous job, whether or not you agree with him, attempting to describe one of the eternal tensions of scripture. The demand of perfection and holiness God makes to us, and our human nature and bent toward rebellion and sin.

I reject the notions of those who often appoint themselves heresy hunters.

So you, like Stanley, hold to the doctrine that outer darkness is part of God's eternal kingdom?
You, like Stanley, believe that people can be saved without even knowing how Christ is?


Why?

 

[quantumfaith]

So you, like Stanley, hold to the doctrine that outer darkness is part of God's eternal kingdom?
You, like Stanley, believe that people can be saved without even knowing how Christ is?


Why?

1. I do like Stanley, both Charles and Andy.
2. I don't KNOW if the characterization of his position here is correct.
3. I do believe that God is capable of dealing with people as He sees fit.

 

[Steadfast Fred]

His teaching that outer darkness is in God's eternal kingdom is found in his book.

His teaching that people can be saved without even knowing Christ is in his sermon "Reconciling God's Love With Justice"

Neither of those positions are correct. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches just the opposite.

 

[quantumfaith]

His teaching that outer darkness is in God's eternal kingdom is found in his book.

His teaching that people can be saved without even knowing Christ is in his sermon "Reconciling God's Love With Justice"

Neither of those positions are correct. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches just the opposite.

Having not read this book, I will not comment on it. As to his sermon, I will try to listen to it.....and may even agree with it.

 

[Steadfast Fred]

To say that one can be saved without knowing who Christ is is to call the Word of God a lie.

Paul revealed in Ephesians 2 that those who do not have Jesus Christ have no hope.

 

[freeatlast]

Having not read this book, I will not comment on it. As to his sermon, I will try to listen to it.....and may even agree with it.

If a person can be saved without coming to faith in Christ then the bible is wrong and Christ died in vain.

 

[thomas15]

1. I do like Stanley, both Charles and Andy.
2. I don't KNOW if the characterization of his position here is correct.
3. I do believe that God is capable of dealing with people as He sees fit.

I read the book way back in the early 1990s but cannot remember much. Lately I have been thinking about revisiting it. I think the problem with this subject is that it is hard not to have an emotional response to the subject as we all know folks that have passed who know not Christ.

I agree with your observations above however a strong Biblical case can be made against it. In a purely technical sense I tend to believe that there is a difference between those who are in open rebellion against God and His ways and those who simply haven't heard the gospel.

In my life I feel strongly that God put a strong desire to own and read and study the Bible in spite of the fact that no one else in my family has this desire. The desire for me was strong enough for me to act on it. But just because I reacted the way I did doesn't make it a hard fast rule so I guess I'm in the undecided camp on this one. Good thread.

 

[Yeshua1]

- On a recent radio broadcast, Stanley said that God will not send people to hell if they have never heard the gospel. Following is an extract:

"� [W]ould God send somebody to hell because they did not receive Jesus whom they never heard about, never had the privilege of knowing about? And my answer is: No, he would not" (Stanley, In Touch Ministries, "Reconciling God's Love with His Justice," July 31, 2001).

This is a great error. In Ephesians 2, God describes the condition of those who are outside of Christ. They are dead in trespasses and sins (v. 1), by nature the children of wrath (v. 3), having no hope, and without God in the world (v. 12). This is the unsaved man's condition regardless of whether or not he has heard the gospel. He is condemned already, and that is why it is so imperative that Christ's commission be obeyed and the gospel be preached to the ends of the earth. (Church News Notes, 8/3/01, David Cloud, FBIS)

NONE of us though are without excuse, as both our Conscience and the creation of god around us convicts us of being a sinner before a living God...

There are biblical answers to what happens in the end to those who never heard of jesus, but to say ALL will be auto saved not one of them!

 

[freeatlast]

NONE of us though are without excuse, as both our Conscience and the creation of god around us convicts us of being a sinner before a living God...

There are biblical answers to what happens in the end to those who never heard of jesus, but to say ALL will be auto saved not one of them!

Repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved. If a person doe snot hear they cannot be saved because they can never come to faith.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 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? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18
Romans 10:12-18 (KJV)

I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to understand that, but it does take a lack of faith to say there are people getting saved who never hear.