Question to the GES: Deity of Christ

Hodges Dcumented

Hi Mr. M:

I understood why you used the qualifier, and I am fine with that.

Below are links directly to the two part series by Zane Hodges where you will be able to read in his own words how he arrives at his "Crossless" interpretation of the gospel.

BTW, "Crossless" does not even go far enough in defining the strange interpretation of the Gospel. Hodges eliminates everything from what a lost must believe for salvation with only one exception. The ONLY thing lost men need to believe is Jesus if the Giver of eternal life, and they are saved.

The following are from Part 2 of Hodges' series, How to Lead People to Christ.

What this, where Hodges says anything beyond believing God's offer of eternal life is "excess baggage."

Hodges mean the cross, the resurrection, His deity are "excess baggage." The implication is clear, Hodges believes these things constitute false additions and therefore, creates a false gospel.

Here are the links:
How to Lead People to Christ, Part 1

How to Lead People to Christ, Part 2

You might also read-
A Response to Zane Hodges: How to Lead A Person to Christ, Part 1 & 2

 

You would think so, but the "Crossless" advocates redefine and twist this passage to suit their interpretation of the Gospel. Zane Hodges, for an example, would refer to what you are claming as "extra-baggage."


LM

 

Update on Deity Question: Response, sort of

Greetings:

The defining question below was primarily directed to Zane Hodges, Bob Wilkin, John Niemela, Jeremy Myers, Antonio da Rosa and any advocate of the position on the Gospel coming from the Grace Evangelical Society (GES).

Can a lost man be born again while
consciously denying the Deity of Jesus Christ?
​

Thus far only da Rosa has responded to the question at my blog. Antonio is a young man who is a very passionate apologist for Zane Hodges and the GES. He has a widely known reputation for recklessness in his comments and is often banned and/or censured at closely moderated sites around the Christian blogosphere.

First, da Rosa posted a hit piece that I had to remove because of its nature.

Second, when da Rosa did attempt a reply it was with a NON-answer. Instead he opted to answer with a question. He tries to redirect the discussion away from the defining question on the Deity of Jesus Christ because he does not want to deal with it from his theological platform. Antonio would have done better had he chosen to ignore the question entirely.

Here is another article for your consideration. It is written by a former member of the GES and is a reaction to the “Crossless” gospel being taught by Zane Hodges. This is a continuing multi-part series. The title is: The Tragedy of the Crossless Gospel, Part 1 & 2.

This first article in the series appears under the SPRING 2007 journal, third item down. Part 2 of this series is under the SUMMER 2007 journal and is fourth down in the set.

Click on these and you can download them in PDF. These are important articles and are well worth reading and sharing with others.

I am hopeful that unsuspecting believers across a wide spectrum of evangelical Christianity are put on notice to beware of this position from Hodges and the GES, which is the most extreme form of a reductionist Gospel I have ever encountered.


LM

 

Fixed the BUNGLED Question

To All:

At the beginning of this thread I just realized I bungled the defining question on the Deity of Christ.

The question is primarily directed to the advocates of the "Crossless" gospel and should appear as follows.

Can a lost man be born again while
consciously denying the Deity of Jesus Christ
if he believes in Jesus for eternal life?​

LM

 

Hi:

If you have be to my blog you'll see the one non-answer.
http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2007/08/deity-of-christ-defining-question-to.html

IMO, they are not going to give a straight up or down answer to that question.


LM

 

Hi:

Got my first answer to the Deity question from a GES man. See: The Deity of Christ. Comment #7,


LM

 

Important Development

To All:

At the Grace Evangelical Society blog Bob Wilkin has responded to the OPEN LETTER to the Free Grace Community.

The core of the debate is the belief by Zane Hodges and Bob Wilkin that the ONLY thing a lost man must believe is that “Jesus is the Giver of eternal life” and he is born again.

This interpretation of the Gospel has come to be known as the “Crossless” gospel.

Some of the “Crossless” gospel advocates also believe that a lost man can consciously reject and deny the deity of Jesus Christ and still be born again if he believes Jesus will give him eternal life. For details please read, The Deity of Christ: A Defining Question to the Grace Evangelical Society

I am happy to discuss these issues here as well.


LM

 

Deny Him, but Still Receive Him

To All:

At the Grace Evangelical Society blog Bob Wilkin has responded to the OPEN LETTER to the Free Grace Community.

The core of the debate is the belief by Zane Hodges and Bob Wilkin that the ONLY thing a lost man must believe is that “Jesus is the Giver of eternal life” and he is born again.

This interpretation of the Gospel has come to be known as the “Crossless” gospel.

Some of the “Crossless” gospel advocates also believe that a lost man can consciously reject and deny the deity of Jesus Christ and still be born again if he believes Jesus will give him eternal life. For details please read, The Deity of Christ: A Defining Question to the Grace Evangelical Society

I am happy to discuss these issues here as well.


LM

 

Update on the "Crossless" gospel Controversy

To All:

I thought this would be a good time for an overview of the current debate being waged at my blog and the Grace Evangelical Society blog. This is a synopsis of the issues in the “Crossless” gospel debates and I feel this would be a good transitional piece for over the holiday weekend.

The following is a slightly edited version of a note I just posted at the pro-“Crossless” gospel blog, UnAshamed of Grace . Antonio da Rosa administers that blog. Antonio is one of the most vocal, emotionally charged and spiritually immature advocates of the “Crossless” gospel you will find anywhere in the blogosphere.

{Antonio da Rosa deleted my post and one from another man, which is da Rosa'a standard practice when he has to bury some of the most disturbing aspects of their theology and/or practices. He is often banned and/or reprimanded at blogs for this and other poor choices in behavior.}​

On this issue there is no doubt that Antonio and Jeremy Myers (GES staff member) have checked out on Scripture. They not only have reduced the Gospel to a message that has little resemblance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but they have undermined His deity with the twisting of His titles.

When my book on Lordship Salvation came out I warned Antonio ( and other GES men)not to get too cozy with me. I purposely did NOT quote Hodges and even in my book gave a warning to my LS readers about Hodges. I saw the signs of this radical departure from orthodoxy as far back as 11 years ago. That is why I kept my distance.

Once I finally went ahead with public thoughts and posts at my blog on Zane Hodges and his interpretation of the Gospel, which is the official position of the GES, it set off this months long open debate. The one disappointment is that these men are never going to be genuine or transparent. Their doctrine has come under intense scrutiny and they are having are hard time dealing with it. They fall back to what they feel are the safe mantras and will not deviate from them.

The acceptance of the teaching of Zane Hodges on the Gospel has thoroughly corrupted their view of the Scriptures. They view the Gospel of John such single-mindedness that for them it trumps and negates the balance of the Bible whenever it touches on the Gospel and/or salvation. To make matters worse they have badly misinterpreted and skewed John’s Gospel.

Now, their egregious errors on the Gospel have come to light. Their view is now under intense scrutiny and I am finding that many who had little idea of just far they have gone doctrinally astray are seeing it.

Readers have also been able to witness the evasion and dodging of the deity of Christ questions. A few notable exceptions have admitted that under their system a man who consciously denies the deity of Christ can be born again only by believing in the name of Jesus for eternal life. At the GES blog I have gained more admissions to this disturbing fact that is inherent with their interpretation of the Gospel.

For the advocates of the “Crossless” gospel a Jehovah's Witness, who clings to his heretical beliefs about the deity of Jesus, can be born again under their system of believing in the name of Jesus, who for the JW, is anything but deity. William Fiess and Alvin at the GES blog have affirmed this position. This is no hypothetical situation; it is real and reveals one of the most egregious extremes coming from the GES on the Gospel.

There is no doubt Antonio da Rosa and Jeremy Myers take the same position, their message demands it, but they will NOT acknowledge it or ewven address a question about the diety of Christ if it involves their belief on the Gospel. Jeremy is especially unwilling to do so because from his GES position, that admission would be catastrophic for the GES, which has already lost a great many members over this issue.

Furthermore, I have been in contact with Bob Wilkin, who has written me several times, but has not yet replied to a proposal I have made to him to have the public debate on the doctrine of the “Crossless” gospel he has publicly called for. Once I offered to help organize that debate he stopped replying. I trust and asked him if I can expect to from him by Tuesday. I have been updating this exchange at my blog.

There is new set of articles coming to my blog shortly after the holiday weekend. These articles will raise the level of debate on their interpretation of the Gospel. The men (Jeremy, Antonio, Wilkin, et al.) who hold to the position coming from Zane Hodges and the GES will have much to be called to account for.


LM

 

Alex:

Thanks for the kind remarks.


LM

 

The Heart of It

Aaron:

Let's get to the heart of it; shall we?

Can a lost man be born again, while consciously denying the deity of Christ, if he believes in the name Jesus for eternal life?​

LM

 

New Development

To All:

Another very important development in the debate over the "Crossless" interpretation of the Gospel.

Please read, Bob Wilkin (Alleged) Response to the Debate & Deity Questions.


LM