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Can people get saved while they practice a false doctrine?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by ajg1959, Mar 20, 2008.

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  1. ajg1959

    ajg1959 New Member

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    This subject has been on my mind alot lately because of concern for some of my family. And since there are so many pastors and teachers here on the forum, I thought I would ask for some opinions.

    I have family that are charismatic, Assembly Of God, Church of Christ and Methodist. (Of course there are many Baptists, like me) The Charismatics are the most puzzling to me because they seem to be God-fearing folks, but they seem to base their relationship with God on selfish doctrine, in that they only seem to be concerned with getting healed and getting rich. I have seen them stand in a circle hoilding hands and "command God to produce a miricle", of course none occured, but it scared me to hear someone "command" God to do something. I am concerned that some of my family sought salvation because they wanted the health and wealth and not because they knew they were a sinner and repented. Also, they say that one can lose their salvation and have to be resaved....

    I have other family that are Assembly of God. They tell me that I am not saved because I dont speak in tongues. If they base their salvation on physical evidence, then where is the faith? And is there true salvation if you go to God on the premise of expecting a personal experience? They also believe in losing salvation, and getting saved over and over again.

    I have cousins who are Church of Christ. They tell me that I can repent, but that I am not saved and going to heaven until I am baptised. And because I have already been baptised, which I did in obedience, but not for remission of sin, that it wont get me to heaven. I am concerned for them also.

    And I have Methodist cousins that live on the East Coast. They went to a class at church when they were teenagers for a certain period of time, afterwhich they became recognized as church members and christians. They tell me that we will all be judged by God, and that if we dont do anything really bad in life then God will let us into heaven. They also have some doctine of losing salvation which I dont understand because I dont understand their plan of salvation to start with.

    Anyway, I said all of this to ask your opinions...can people get saved while practicing a false doctrine? I know some folks do get saved and then find a bible believing church, but what about the ones that claim salvation but stay in the church with the false doctrine?

    “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”(Romans 10:9).

    I am concerned that my family's adding to the gospel, ignoring parts of the gospel, and sometimes even changing the gospel to suit themselves puts thier eternity in jeopardy.

    What do you think?

    AJ
     
    #1 ajg1959, Mar 20, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 20, 2008
  2. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    I believe God can and does use anybody to bring the lost to Himself. Just read a story about ex-Cleveland Brown RB William Green coming to Christ as a result of hearing a Creflo Dollar sermon. Seems genuine to me.

    My father was saved as a result from watching Ernest Angeley late one night on TV.

    If I recall from Acts, Appolos was preaching Christ, even though he had some errors in his beliefs. Paul (or was it Peter?...don't have a Bible in front of me :)) pulled him aside to correct him. I believe God can use even those who believe in a false doctrine. Look at the great calvinist preachers :D
     
    #2 webdog, Mar 20, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 20, 2008
  3. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    You have raised some important issues and that is why I believe it is imperative that we reread Scripture as to what are considered destructive heresies.

    Some of the things that we label destructive heresies are really not.

    Do we all, whether Baptists or not, have all our theology correct on every biblical subject? I don't think so.

    Are these differences destructive? I don't think so. Do they fit the false doctrine label? I don't think so.

    I do believe, however, that charismatics who teach that a person can be saved without actually having the Spirit of Christ, are in serious error, to the point, perhaps of destructive heresy.
     
    #3 TCGreek, Mar 20, 2008
  4. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    No, only Baptists are saved. :rolleyes:
     
    #4 Magnetic Poles, Mar 20, 2008
  5. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    The OP never even insinuated such...so why are you?
     
    #5 webdog, Mar 20, 2008
  6. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    I do agree with Webdog that God can use a sermon preached by Creflo Dollar to save someone.
     
    #6 TCGreek, Mar 20, 2008
  7. pinoybaptist

    pinoybaptist Active Member
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    I praise God that He saved those whom He saved not because they practiced correct doctrine, or did works of righteousnesses, but because He had mercy on them.

    Titus 3:5-7 says "Not by works of righteousnesses which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."


    When talking of eternal salvation, doctrine, theology, righteousnesses, or any such do not come into play.
    Jesus saved His people because that was the Father's will for them.
    Mercy and Grace were the only pre-requisites, and these were all from God.

    HOWEVER, understand that there is also such a thing as being saved from unprofitable works on this earth, unprofitable and ungodly living, and false doctrine. That is why the Lord sent out His apostles to spread the gospel (the good news of a finished salvation for God's people), in order for them to teach men, and make disciples (students), constituting churches where true doctrine is taught, and where God is truly glorified. This means teaching those whom they are able to reach, and to whom God directs them, correct doctrine and gospel obedience.

    It is unfortunate that there are so many false doctrines out there, and undoubtedly, there are those of God's people who are in their grip. These are those whom Paul addressess when he says: And how shall they believe, except someone be sent ?

    I will pray to God, if I were you, to lead out of those doctrines those among your relatives who are truly His own. And since you do not know who are truly His own and who are not, I will pray for each of them.
     
    #7 pinoybaptist, Mar 20, 2008
  8. ajg1959

    ajg1959 New Member

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    Thank you.

    The Charimatics are the most pressing on my direct family because my wife's father is a Rhema grad and lives in the same town as us. He thinks that I am just evil because I reject his doctrine. He goes so far as to say that he is "righteous" in the flesh, and is without sin. This scares me, and I refuse to let my son go to church with them, because I dont want him to be taught this.

    So, are you saying that the method of salvation, or even the motivation for seeking salvation can differ but still be accepted by God? For instance, if you believe that baptism is required to be saved that you can get saved that way? Or, if you believe that you must speak in tongues to be saved, that God will accept that as well?

    AJ
     
    #8 ajg1959, Mar 20, 2008
  9. ajg1959

    ajg1959 New Member

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    You have hit the nail on the head.

    Some of them , like some in my Baptist church, just go through the motions anyway, not really taking a stand for any doctrine, true or false.

    But a few really seek the Lord, and it is obvious that they are not happy, but they are so mislead. Of course, none of us can truely know their hearts or thier standing with eternity, but it still worries me that a distorted gospel teaching has led them away from either true salvation, or living a victorious life for God in their salvation.

    AJ
     
    #9 ajg1959, Mar 20, 2008
  10. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    Can people get saved while they practice a false doctrine?

    I hope so. I don't think a human being's own doctrine is going to be absolutely perfect any more than his own life... and that's if he actually followed his own 'perfect' doctrine in practice.
     
    #10 Alcott, Mar 20, 2008
  11. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    Uh, WebDog, it's a "tongue in cheek" statement.

    HankD
     
    #11 HankD, Mar 20, 2008
  12. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

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    right school; right class; right pupil; wrong teachers

    Actually, it was neither, but two ordinary believers, the husband and wife pair of Aquila and Priscilla, who took Apollos aside, "and explained to him the way of God more accurately." (Ac. 18:26b2 - NKJV)

    Ed
     
    #12 EdSutton, Mar 20, 2008
  13. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    I have wondered the same thing from time to time...

    If someone teaches a works based doctrine, can they be saved? Since they don't understand that we don't work for salvation, they don't understand the plan of salvation, so if they are trusting in themselves to get to Heaven, they are on their way to Hell....

    THEN I am reminded, that maybe some heard the Gospel, and responded to it... Got saved, and fell into a false doctrine... in this case, they are on their way to Heaven...

    If we say that everyone must have a correct doctrine to be saved, WE are adding to the plan of salvation, and in effect making it a works based doctrine...

    See.. I still struggle with it...

    What I have come down too, is talking one on one with my relatives and friends about their salvation... That way I know for sure they are trusting Christ, and Christ alone...
     
    #13 tinytim, Mar 20, 2008
  14. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    You are right. I had a New Testament moment :laugh:
     
    #14 webdog, Mar 20, 2008
  15. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    From MP's past posting habits...I doubt it.
     
    #15 webdog, Mar 20, 2008
  16. ajg1959

    ajg1959 New Member

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    Thank you for your post Tim.

    I agree with you that understanding the plan of salvation is required to get saved. And I agree with you that saved people can fall into practicing a false doctrine.

    But my main concern is false doctrine as it applies to the plan of salvation. If the gospel is distorted, added to or even ignored, and because of the teaching the people follow the distorted plan, and these people claim to be Christians, are they really saved?

    The different practices of worship, ect, I think are insignificant compared to the main purpose of the church, and that is to lead people to salvation. I just see alot of church leaders that are not teaching the gospel as Jesus laid it out to us.

    As for the poster that said "Only Baptists go to heaven"...let me add, that I believe there are many many Baptists, deacons and pastors included that are lost. Too many Baptist churches are teaching a watered down gospel, and promising salvation to folks for simply reciting a "sinner's prayer". Dont get me wrong, a sinner's prayer is essential for salvation, but repentance must come from the heart for it to matter. The "sinner's prayer" is not a magic spell that gets us to heaven just by reciting it. And too many Baptist churches are looking for "numbers" to chalk up as victories, whether they are real or not. Being a member of a Baptist Church is not an automatic ticket to heaven.

    That said, I want to say that I am Baptist because I believe in the literal Word of God, and the basic teachings of the Baptist faith are based on the Word. I am Baptist for no other reason than that.....

    AJ
     
    #16 ajg1959, Mar 20, 2008
  17. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Webdog, look at the rolling eyes. Hank got it. It apparently was over your head. Now you can go back to sleep. :sleeping_2:
     
    #17 Magnetic Poles, Mar 20, 2008
  18. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Well, since MP can't spell School right, what else would you expect? lol
     
    #18 tinytim, Mar 20, 2008
  19. Rex77

    Rex77 Member

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    Php 1:
    15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
    16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
    17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
    18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoi    ce.
     
    #19 Rex77, Mar 20, 2008
  20. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    Is God ever at a loss in any situation?

    Is there any situation that God cannot use to help people find him?
     
    #20 Crabtownboy, Mar 21, 2008
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