Romans
4:3-5,
“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto
him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of
grace, but of debt. But to
him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his
faith is counted for righteousness.”
One
of the most evil and corrupt videos on YouTube today is titled “It
Will Cost You Everything” by
Pastor Steven
J. Lawson of OnePassion ministries.
I am not writing this article to be unkind, nor to attack Dr. Lawson on a
personal level. My only intent is to contend for the Christian faith. As the
apostle Paul wisely said, “I AM SET FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE GOSPEL”
(Philippians 1:17b).
Dr. Lawson's biography on his website says that he has pastored churches now
for 34 years, and has authored 28 books. Since Dr. Lawson has widespread
influence over millions of people, true Christian believers must examine his
teachings in view of God's Holy Word and “try” (test) his works to see if
they are of God or not. I tell you, they are of the Devil. 1st John 4:1,
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of
God: because many false prophets are gone out into the
world.” Dr. Lawson has an impressive educational background
in theology; yet, as is often typical of highly educated men, they are
woeful ignorant of the truth of God's Word. I say that kindly, but
truthfully.
In his heretical “It
Will Cost You Everything” video, Pastor Lawson errantly preaches at 5:38
minutes into the presentation...
“But
it [salvation] is purchased with the total complete surrender of your life,
to Christ. That's what saving-faith is—it is coming to the end of yourself,
and completely and entirely and trusting, all that you are, and all that you
have, to all that He is! This is your eternal soul. This is the only life
you will ever live. This deals with the only eternity you will ever have.”
SOURCE:
https://youtu.be/5JQOBMi4QS8?t=5m38s
Video to right: The full
sermon by Dr. Steven Lawson: It Will Cost You Everything!
My dear friend, we do not purchase
our salvation with “the total complete surrender of your life.” That is utter
heresy! What saith the Scripture? 1st Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye
know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot.” There you have it, our redemption
was purchased by THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD!!! Jesus has already
purchased our redemption with His precious blood. You don't have to “ask”
Jesus to forgive your sins, because He has already paid for our sins with
His own precious blood. OUR SINS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR!!!
That's why forgiveness of sins is
a free gift! Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Eternal life is a free gift! You cannot earn, merit nor purchase it!!! Dr.
Lawson says you have to PURCHASE it! He is a false prophet!!! That's why we
don't have to do anything (nor will God allow anything) to be saved. God
never saves anyone who is TRYING to be saved, He only saves those who are
TRUSTING to be saved. Salvation is not doing your best, it is having
Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. Kindly,
Pastor Steven Lawson is an unsaved false prophet!!!
Dr. Lawson makes the dire error of
the wicked,
confusing discipleship with salvation. 2nd Peter 3:16-17, “As also in
all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things
hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as
they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore,
beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also,
being led away with the error of the wicked, fall
from your own stedfastness.” Have you also believed a lie? Has the Devil
deceived you friend?
We
are saved simply by BELIEVING (TRUSTING) “THE
GOSPEL” when we hear it preached!!! Ephesians 1:12-13, “That we
should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in
Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after
that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of
promise.” Your friend is the one who tells you the most truth!!! I am
being your best friend right now. I am telling you THE TRUTH!!!
The Lord tells a true story in
Matthew 7:22-23 about a sincere group of religious people, who went to Hell.
Yes, that is right. They attempted to defend themselves, as Dr. Lawson one
day will on Judgment Day, saying, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works?” They went about to establish their own righteousness,
and THEY DID IT IN JESUS' NAME!!! That is shocking! Oh my, what a tragic
thing to happen! But look at what the Lord said to them, and will say to
Steven Lawson in eternity... “And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART
FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY!!! Will that be you one day my friend? It
will be if you think salvation is a cooperative venture between you and God,
where you do your part and Jesus does His part.
Dr. Lawson teaches exactly that
heresy, a cooperative venture. He falsely teaches that you purchase
salvation, “purchased with the total complete surrender of your life, to
Christ.” Mr. Lawson says you must surrender all that you own, and all that
you are, to all that Christ is. That is NOT the Gospel!!! That is NOT
“the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). There is
nothing “simple” about a salvation which is “purchased with the total
complete surrender of your life, to Christ.”
Woe unto Dr. Lawson! My dear
friend, forgiveness of sins and eternal life won't cost you anything,
because JESUS PAID IT ALL!!!
Here are some excellent,
doctrinally sound, MP3 sermons defending the free grace view of the
Gospel...
What is the Gospel?
We are saved by BELIEVING “the
Gospel,” which is the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16, “For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is
the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Religion wants to fit us with glasses, but the Lord wants to open our eyes!
Thank God for the truth of His precious Word, which is a lamp unto our feet.
Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my
path.”
What exactly is the Gospel? The word “Gospel” means “Good News” or “Glad
Tidings.” There is no need to guess what the “Gospel” is because the Bible
plainly tells us. The “Gospel” is the Good News of Christ's DEATH on
the cross for our sins, His BURIAL and bodily RESURRECTION three days later:
1st Corinthians 15:1-4,
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel
which I preached unto
you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye
are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have
believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I
also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures.”
John 6:28-29, “Then said they
unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus
answered and said unto them, This is the work of God,
that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” It is that
simple to be saved. If you judge yourself as being a needy sinner in God's
sight, and you receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for
your sins, believing that He was buried and bodily resurrected three
days later, YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY, SECURELY AND FOREVER SAVED!!!
