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I am not a Baptist either, but Dr. Charles Stanley has been a favorite Bible teacher of my wife and I for decades. I do make it Church most Sundays, but my wife is disabled. So we both are thankful for Dr. Stanley. God truly has gifted Him to teach.
Here are a couple others online you might enjoy:
This is Dr. Ben Haden, with a series of 15 min. sermonettes, that he packs a lot of info into those 15 min. sermons. Ben Haden was an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. I prefer one hour sermons on Sunday, but these short one are nice just before I go to bed:
Answers
Here is Dr. John MacArthur, who also has the Christian Radio Program "Grace To You". He is also President of the Master's College in L.A. His sermons will be one hour long, and have always been a blessing to listen to:
Grace to You
U
Charles Stanley is an awesome preacher. He is the only TV preacher (of the ones that i know of) that i respect or even believe is a true Christian. He is very God/bible centered and doesn't teach the usual self centered droll of psuedo-spiritual mindlessness or cult doctrine like many other people teach now.
M
This does not mean a formal calling upon the Lord, but a committing of themselves unto him as their Lord and Master.[The calling here is of the kind by Saul by Ananias: "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name." (Acts 22:16.)
in Acts 2:21, Peter said, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." There is not a doubt concerning the validity of what Peter said. But as we think about what the New Testament says, we need to examine everything that God has to say on a subject and take the total of what God has said.
In Acts 2, Peter went on to say other things that people overlook. Acts 2:21 does say, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But what does that mean? Peter went on to say in Acts 2 that a person must hear, believe, be convicted, repent, and be baptized (vs. 38). But here is one of the most important principles that re*lates to this objection. How, according to Scripture, does a person “call on the name of the Lord”?
Think of it like this,man is in sin. He is sinking in the cesspool,the muck and mire,of sin. He realizes that God is the only One Who can save him. Man is sinking in the cesspool of sin, and he cries out to God, “Save me!” What does the person have to do? Does he have to do anything? He is sinking in sin. Does he have to meet God’s con*ditions to get out of sin? Does he have to do whatever God says in order to get out of that predicament? How does a person call on the Lord’s name?
In Acts 22:16, we are given a commentary on Acts 2:21. What Saul did. Ananias said to Saul, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” How did Saul call on the Lord’s name according the Scriptures? He got up, did what God said, and was baptized for the remission of his sins in order to have those sins washed away. That is what it means to call on the Lord’s name. When we find ourselves sinking in sin, if we call out to God for help, and if God says, “Here I am; I am ready to help you,” then we have to be willing to do what God says in order to get out of that predicament. That is what Acts 22:16 is teaching us. We must get up, obey God, and be baptized in order to wash away our sins. Saying simply, “All you have to do is ‘call on the Lord’s name’ is a very shallow comment on what the Bible actually says that a person must do to be saved.
in Acts 2:21, Peter said, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." There is not a doubt concerning the validity of what Peter said. But as we think about what the New Testament says, we need to examine everything that God has to say on a subject and take the total of what God has said.
In Acts 2, Peter went on to say other things that people overlook. Acts 2:21 does say, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But what does that mean? Peter went on to say in Acts 2 that a person must hear, believe, be convicted, repent, and be baptized (vs. 38). But here is one of the most important principles that re*lates to this objection. How, according to Scripture, does a person “call on the name of the Lord”?
Think of it like this,man is in sin. He is sinking in the cesspool,the muck and mire,of sin. He realizes that God is the only One Who can save him. Man is sinking in the cesspool of sin, and he cries out to God, “Save me!” What does the person have to do? Does he have to do anything? He is sinking in sin. Does he have to meet God’s con*ditions to get out of sin? Does he have to do whatever God says in order to get out of that predicament? How does a person call on the Lord’s name?
In Acts 22:16, we are given a commentary on Acts 2:21. What Saul did. Ananias said to Saul, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” How did Saul call on the Lord’s name according the Scriptures? He got up, did what God said, and was baptized for the remission of his sins in order to have those sins washed away. That is what it means to call on the Lord’s name. When we find ourselves sinking in sin, if we call out to God for help, and if God says, “Here I am; I am ready to help you,” then we have to be willing to do what God says in order to get out of that predicament. That is what Acts 22:16 is teaching us. We must get up, obey God, and be baptized in order to wash away our sins. Saying simply, “All you have to do is ‘call on the Lord’s name’ is a very shallow comment on what the Bible actually says that a person must do to be saved.
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sounds like you do believe that "all that call upon the name of the Lord will be saved"
but only that you concern over what it truly means to "call upon the name of the Lord"
incidentally there was some whack gnostic on the forum a few months back saying you had to call on Him while underwater otherwise your faith & baptism were unacceptable
what's a sheep caught in a thicket to do? he can't free himself, so he bleats until his shepherd hears and finds him, and sets him free. if he then follows the shepherd, he will be led away from harm. but if he turns away again and tangles himself again in thorns, is he no longer part of the shepherd's flock? once again, he calls out to his shepherd, and the good shepherd comes again and saves him. the sheep graze in the wilderness, ranging over many pastures, until the shepherd drives them to their pen, where they rest in safety. at no time does a lost or snared sheep cease to belong to his master, and if he could free himself from a bush or a pit, he has no need to call, but if he is helplessly caught, what more can he do but call?
but only that you concern over what it truly means to "call upon the name of the Lord"
incidentally there was some whack gnostic on the forum a few months back saying you had to call on Him while underwater otherwise your faith & baptism were unacceptable
what's a sheep caught in a thicket to do? he can't free himself, so he bleats until his shepherd hears and finds him, and sets him free. if he then follows the shepherd, he will be led away from harm. but if he turns away again and tangles himself again in thorns, is he no longer part of the shepherd's flock? once again, he calls out to his shepherd, and the good shepherd comes again and saves him. the sheep graze in the wilderness, ranging over many pastures, until the shepherd drives them to their pen, where they rest in safety. at no time does a lost or snared sheep cease to belong to his master, and if he could free himself from a bush or a pit, he has no need to call, but if he is helplessly caught, what more can he do but call?
M
sounds like you do believe that "all that call upon the name of the Lord will be saved"
but only that you concern over what it truly means to "call upon the name of the Lord"
incidentally there was some whack gnostic on the forum a few months back saying you had to call on Him while underwater otherwise your faith & baptism were unacceptable
what's a sheep caught in a thicket to do? he can't free himself, so he bleats until his shepherd hears and finds him, and sets him free. if he then follows the shepherd, he will be led away from harm. but if he turns away again and tangles himself again in thorns, is he no longer part of the shepherd's flock? once again, he calls out to his shepherd, and the good shepherd comes again and saves him. the sheep graze in the wilderness, ranging over many pastures, until the shepherd drives them to their pen, where they rest in safety. at no time does a lost or snared sheep cease to belong to his master, and if he could free himself from a bush or a pit, he has no need to call, but if he is helplessly caught, what more can he do but call?
but only that you concern over what it truly means to "call upon the name of the Lord"
incidentally there was some whack gnostic on the forum a few months back saying you had to call on Him while underwater otherwise your faith & baptism were unacceptable
what's a sheep caught in a thicket to do? he can't free himself, so he bleats until his shepherd hears and finds him, and sets him free. if he then follows the shepherd, he will be led away from harm. but if he turns away again and tangles himself again in thorns, is he no longer part of the shepherd's flock? once again, he calls out to his shepherd, and the good shepherd comes again and saves him. the sheep graze in the wilderness, ranging over many pastures, until the shepherd drives them to their pen, where they rest in safety. at no time does a lost or snared sheep cease to belong to his master, and if he could free himself from a bush or a pit, he has no need to call, but if he is helplessly caught, what more can he do but call?
After Saul was presented with that bright light, and after having scales on his eyes so that he could not see, he recognized that he had been doing wrong, so don’t you know that he definitely was saying a “sinner’s prayer”? Yet, Paul still was told, “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” You will not find the sinner’s prayer in the Bible, and the only time we find someone praying prior to salvation, he still had to do what God said to do to be saved. That is conclusive evidence to show that the sinner’s prayer is not a legitimate step in the plan of salvation.
Oh there are more than Dr. Stanley, but you do have to search for those who were Gifted by GOD to teach. Here are the ones who had an influence on my life, since I was born again in 1978.
Dr. Charles Stanley
Dr. Ben Haden
Dr. John MacArthur
Dr. Homer Edwin Young
Dr. Richard Lee
Dr. Adrian Rodgers
Dr. Zola Levitt
Dr. Gil Rugh
Dr. Billy Graham
Dr. Chuck Swindoll
Dr. James Kennedy
As well as my local Pastors, especially Pastor Neal Berry
Dr. Charles Stanley
Dr. Ben Haden
Dr. John MacArthur
Dr. Homer Edwin Young
Dr. Richard Lee
Dr. Adrian Rodgers
Dr. Zola Levitt
Dr. Gil Rugh
Dr. Billy Graham
Dr. Chuck Swindoll
Dr. James Kennedy
As well as my local Pastors, especially Pastor Neal Berry
I was heard an old sermon from adrain rogers on my local Christian radio a while back in which he told a young lady she was hell- bound because he came up to her on the street and offered her Christ and she refused. the way he told the story, that was the only chance she would ever have to accept Christ and because she did not, she was hell-bound. she did not reject Chrsit, she rejected him. to tell people outright lies like this is shamefull. I hope he repented of these things late in life and went to heaven. I hope.
what is "the sinner's prayer" ?
are you saying repentance isn't a 'legitimate step' in salvation?
why did Saul/Paul say "Lord, what would you have me to do"? is this anything less than calling on the name of the Lord?
how could he say this if he had not in his heart confessed his sin, repented, and looked to God to set his paths straight? how could he say "Lord" if he did not first believe? now Paul afterwards followed the Lord's command and did many things - but unless he first believed, he would have done none of them, and i reckon he tried to make it very clear in all his epistles that it was by grace that he was saved, not by earning it somehow with works.
in Mark 9, the disciples were unable to cast a demon out of a boy. the Lord asked one thing only of the boy's father:
Jesus said unto him,
If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
(Mark 9:23-24)
if you believe it's cold outside, you'll put on something warm before you go out.
if you don't you're either a fool or you didn't believe at all.
this doesn't change the fact that faith comes first, that faith without works is dead faith, and that works without faith are vain.
it comes quite simply down to this:
if you say that the things you do earn your salvation, then you magnify your self and your works.
if you say that the grace of God alone saves you, you magnify God.
if you are His sheep, you will hear & obey His voice.
if you are not His, you will obey your own master.
there is no need to divide belief from the fruit of belief.
A
MsLimpet, I don't understand how you can call Charles Stanley a false teacher while at the same time praise him for a word you received through him. If he is a false teacher, as you say, why would you listen to him to begin with? How could you trust anything that comes out of his mouth? Satan in the garden appeared as a serpent and spoke half truths that led Adam and Eve astray.
Really!
31 years ago, I said a one line prayer something like this:
"Jesus I need your help, please help me!"
And He obliged, He didn't answer and say, "Well fellow that is NOT the kind of prayer I answer, but I need such and such a kind of prayer!"
He met me at my need and answered that simple (unscriptural to you anyway) prayer! Acts 2v21
I also have seen Him answer many other types of "unscriptural" prayers for help!
It may be wise of you to think again on your postition of this and not be so dogmatic...don't put God in "your" kind of box!
Yahweh Shalom...
31 years ago, I said a one line prayer something like this:
"Jesus I need your help, please help me!"
And He obliged, He didn't answer and say, "Well fellow that is NOT the kind of prayer I answer, but I need such and such a kind of prayer!"
He met me at my need and answered that simple (unscriptural to you anyway) prayer! Acts 2v21
I also have seen Him answer many other types of "unscriptural" prayers for help!
It may be wise of you to think again on your postition of this and not be so dogmatic...don't put God in "your" kind of box!
Yahweh Shalom...
It is such a blessing to hear my dear brothers and sisters in Christ say they are blessed by someone who shares Christ with them, with only one person condemning him.
The word and the spirit is our only completely reliable teacher, all men must be compared to the word for absolute truth, but sharing what we hear of truth is such a "builder upper". Charles Stanley has truly listened to the word, I love his sharing.
I read the story of his life, it was fun. He actually taught dancing in a studio at one time. He has spent lots and lots of time in the word.
The word and the spirit is our only completely reliable teacher, all men must be compared to the word for absolute truth, but sharing what we hear of truth is such a "builder upper". Charles Stanley has truly listened to the word, I love his sharing.
I read the story of his life, it was fun. He actually taught dancing in a studio at one time. He has spent lots and lots of time in the word.
><>t<><
Perhaps you only think it is a false teaching, because you have never been taught where that comes from in the Bible.
First of all, receiving Jesus Christ as LORD (which means Master) is purely a Work of the Holy Spirit. It is not a work of the flesh nor of one's human intellect. If your are burdened to do so, it is the Holy Spirit at work in your heart.
John 1:12-13 (HCSB)
[SUP]12 [/SUP] But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,
[SUP]13 [/SUP] who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. (BORN AGAIN - John 3:5-7)
What is BORN AGAIN? That purely is a Work of the Holy Spirit. We inherited sin from Adam, and because of that inherited sin, our human spirits are not ALIVE to the Will of GOD at natural birth, therefore they NEED to be brought to become ALIVE to the will of GOD by the Holy Spirit Himself; and that life HE GIVES is Eternal. Is the human spirit functioning at natural birth? Yes, but it is only in tune with the will of the flesh, in other words, prior to being born again the human spirit is Dead to the Will of GOD. What about infants and small children or mentally handicapped? Sin is not imputed (counted against them) until they know right from wrong according to God.
Colossians 2:13 (HCSB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses.
See, born again is NOT a result of a work that is of this flesh.
Okay, HE brings our once Dead to the Will of GOD human spirit to eternal life. So where does the receiving HIM as LORD come in? See the opening part of John 1:12 above, it points out that those who are genuinely Children of GOD, are those who DID receive HIM? But where does it say or imply that we are to receive HIM as LORD? (The Word "LORD" by the way does mean MASTER.)
Colossians 2:6 (NIV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him,
Can I validate that even further?
Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
[SUP]9 [/SUP] that if you confess* with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
[SUP]10 [/SUP] for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
NOTE: *It is NOT a confession if it is something that has not ALREADY taken place in your heart. That would ONLY be a profession and NOT a confession.
Our conclusion then, it is the HOLY SPIRIT then WHO brings our once DEAD to the Will of GOD human spirit to become ETERNALLY ALIVE to the Will of GOD, and that born again human spirit also thinks and desires to do the will of GOD, which is ALL PART OF THE GIFT of Faith from GOD. NONE OF THAT is from our human minds. If you have the desire to obey GOD by receiving Jesus Christ as LORD, that was put in your spiritual mind by the Holy Spirit Himself.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
[SUP]9 [/SUP] not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
[SUP]10 [/SUP] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Perhaps you only think it is a false teaching, because you have never been taught where that comes from in the Bible.
First of all, receiving Jesus Christ as LORD (which means Master) is purely a Work of the Holy Spirit. It is not a work of the flesh nor of one's human intellect. If your are burdened to do so, it is the Holy Spirit at work in your heart.
John 1:12-13 (HCSB)
[SUP]12 [/SUP] But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,
[SUP]13 [/SUP] who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. (BORN AGAIN - John 3:5-7)
What is BORN AGAIN? That purely is a Work of the Holy Spirit. We inherited sin from Adam, and because of that inherited sin, our human spirits are not ALIVE to the Will of GOD at natural birth, therefore they NEED to be brought to become ALIVE to the will of GOD by the Holy Spirit Himself; and that life HE GIVES is Eternal. Is the human spirit functioning at natural birth? Yes, but it is only in tune with the will of the flesh, in other words, prior to being born again the human spirit is Dead to the Will of GOD. What about infants and small children or mentally handicapped? Sin is not imputed (counted against them) until they know right from wrong according to God.
Colossians 2:13 (HCSB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses.
See, born again is NOT a result of a work that is of this flesh.
Okay, HE brings our once Dead to the Will of GOD human spirit to eternal life. So where does the receiving HIM as LORD come in? See the opening part of John 1:12 above, it points out that those who are genuinely Children of GOD, are those who DID receive HIM? But where does it say or imply that we are to receive HIM as LORD? (The Word "LORD" by the way does mean MASTER.)
Colossians 2:6 (NIV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him,
Can I validate that even further?
Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
[SUP]9 [/SUP] that if you confess* with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
[SUP]10 [/SUP] for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
NOTE: *It is NOT a confession if it is something that has not ALREADY taken place in your heart. That would ONLY be a profession and NOT a confession.
Our conclusion then, it is the HOLY SPIRIT then WHO brings our once DEAD to the Will of GOD human spirit to become ETERNALLY ALIVE to the Will of GOD, and that born again human spirit also thinks and desires to do the will of GOD, which is ALL PART OF THE GIFT of Faith from GOD. NONE OF THAT is from our human minds. If you have the desire to obey GOD by receiving Jesus Christ as LORD, that was put in your spiritual mind by the Holy Spirit Himself.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
[SUP]9 [/SUP] not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
[SUP]10 [/SUP] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
M
Alot of people say the sinner’s prayer as a means of salvation, the truth is it is not even found in the Bible one time! The sinner’s prayer usually goes something like this:
“Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior. I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. Please save me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
“Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior. I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. Please save me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
E
This would be more realistic.
"Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior. Please save me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
One should not make a promise that will most likely take lots of growth, Lots of studying and teaching, and losts of tribulation to grow his faith before they could even think of keeping.