Hell Bound? Says who???

[ChristopherHall]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Bro. Hall this is a discussion forum for Apostolics NOT an evangelism outreach board. When I pastored our services were filled with visitors and yes they came back. Denominal folks who have known me would tell a quite different story than you are telling.
I am not preaching to THEM here I am contending with those who claim to be Apostolic. If that seems arrogant to you then so be it.

Bro. Epley, I want to approach you as though you’re a father of mine in the faith. I believe you’re mistaken. Read your statement above and ask yourself…does it appear arrogant? First, you claim that anyone who disagrees with you are merely “claiming” to be Apostolic. Second, you indicate that you don’t even care if you’re appearing arrogant or even about the mere possibility of considering the validity of those who disagree with you’re point.

Bro. Epley…I’ve not said that anyone who hasn’t obeyed Acts 2:38 is DEFINITELY saved. I’ve also refrained from assuming I’m qualified to judge their souls by not saying that they are definitely condemned to an eternal Hell. I’m leaving their eternal state in the hands of an eternal God. I then press into the present and admonish obedience to Acts 2:38 for the certainty of salvation. Outside of Acts 2:38 I don’t believe one can have any assurance of salvation.

God isn’t debating in a forum. God doesn’t care if his argument is “right”. God loves humanity. God is acquainted with our weakness. God also understands our ignorance and our failure to understand. I assure you that if God can justify saving a soul through his grace without violating his righteousness…he will do it. We may not understand HOW God can do it…but I assure you through the prompting of the Spirit that he will. God takes no joy in watching a soul cry out in horror as they are bound and cast into an eternal Hell. Some of us take joy in the notion. Why? Because if they are wrong…we assume that makes us right. I submit to you that such a perspective is unholy.

I do NOT believe in the doctrine of pluralism God has only ONE plan of salvation and everyone without exception is lost outside of Acts 2:38.

There is only one gospel. And there is a clear pattern of how that gospel was applied in the first century found in the book of Acts. However, Acts 2:38 isn’t the Gospel. The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to procure our salvation. Acts 2:38 is the full application of said Gospel. The plan isn’t a formula….the plan (or way) is a person…and his name is Jesus. Jesus said….

John 7:24
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

I know it appears that those who don’t have what we have are lost. Outwardly I can say they weren’t baptized in Jesus name or filled with the Holy Ghost. However, I am not qualified to judge the soul…so I am left with having to use righteous judgment by handing said judgment to God himself. I had read about so many who were being dealt with by God. They often knew they were living bound in traditions, they would survey the Scriptures and see glimmers of things they knew were true over their tradition…yet many things were still cloudy. They would weep into the evening and some experienced a spiritual “ecstasy” wherein they were groaning and sobbing with words unable to be understood. Their description sounds much like the baptism of the Holy Ghost…if God gives them the Holy Ghost…who are we to issue blanket condemnations? Many immediately sought water baptism through emersion realizing that their sprinkling wasn’t sufficient, however the only baptism offered anywhere for 500 miles or more was done in the three titles. So these individuals, screaming in their souls for salvation, frantically reached to grasp a truth through obedience to what they were able. Many didn’t even know there was even a controversy. They were just men and women of broken spirits seeking to obey what light they were able to see through their darkened looking glass. Do you honestly think God will laugh at their sobbing cries for salvation? Do you believe he’ll turn a snobbish disregard toward their frantic, but flawed, attempts to obey what they understood and were able to receive?

God judges between the thoughts and intents of the heart….God isn’t sitting in Heaven with a check list.

I’d say those who refuse to be water baptized are indeed in rebellion against the Scriptures. But untold numbers down through history, including the Reformers (flawed human beings that they were) felt the power of God, were broken under the ecstasy of the Holy Ghost, and sought the only water baptism available. God knows how to judge them. I cannot affirm their salvation….however, neither can I assure you of their condemnation. My God is able to judge justly. I can tell you that I believe the only way to be SURE one is saved is to obey Acts 2:38

I have baptized Trinity preachers and members, however if I believed like you I would not worry since they are already saved according to your theory missionaries ************ folks instead of saving people since ignorance saves.
In your view more folks will be in Heaven saved by ignorance rather than the blood.'
Either Jesus and His word is salvation or ignorance there is NOT two saviours.

I never assured you that non-Apostolics are saved. Neither have I assured you that they are eternally condemned. I have affirmed my Jesus and his ability to judge righteously and justly…for he is qualified to judge the thoughts and intent of the hearts of men…and you dear brother…are not.

A minister is not sent to condemn the masses…but to preach truth. I firmly preach that there is no salvation outside of Christ. I also firmly preach that the only assurance one can have regarding their salvation is found in applying the Gospel of Jesus Christ through obedience to Acts 2:38. If one refuses, I do not affirm that they are saved. I’m deeply saddened. I believe they are gambling with their very soul by holding onto traditions. And in the end…I weep into the night leaving them at the mercy of God. I’ve wept and pleaded that God would save and forgive men who were dying outside of Apostolic truth. I’ve pleaded their ignorance with tears and begged God not to charge them for their misunderstandings but rather put it on my account. Will God save them? I do not know. With much trepidation I can only say, I don’t know. But now the question is for those who are alive to hear…they CAN know. By obeying Acts 2:38.

If I believed like you I couldn’t even preach from the King James Bible, or any other translation for that matter. These translations were inspired and guided by scholarship and vision given to men outside of the Apostolic faith. I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to preach from THEIR Bible translation. Please…if you know of a distinctly Apostolic Bible translation…please I beg of you, present it to me. Why preach from a translation covered in the fingerprints of the damned?

Bro. Eply….do you know ALL truth? Are you qualified to judge the soul?