Resources/Articles
"At Least That Is What I Was Told"
On August 4, 2009, George Sodini randomly killed three women and wounded nine others in a shooting spree in an LA Fitness Club. The following is from his blog: “August 3, 2009: Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY PAID?” (emphasis Sodini’s).
Commit mass murder and go to heaven? Yes! Sodini wrote: “December 31, 2008: “…This guy [his pastor] teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder then still go to heaven.”
It is true that eternal life does not depend on a life of work without sin, in which case one does not need the atoning blood of Christ (that is what Paul meant by “works” in Romans 2.4-8; 9.30-33).
But Paul also warned his readers to be aware of God’s “severity” if they did not “continue” in his kindness (Romans 11.22). Likewise, he made clear to the Galatian Christians that those who practiced “works for the flesh” would “not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5.19-21). Being once saved by the grace of God does not mean one will always be saved regardless of how he or she lives.
Jesus warned us to “take heed” what and how we hear (Mark 4.24; Luke 8.18). Satan deceives by corrupting the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in our New Testament.
Read again Romans 11.22: A child of God is to “continue” in “his kindness.” What does this mean? Is it not a choice? Can one choose not to do this? Hear the words of the apostle Peter: “For, if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after they have known it, to turn from the old commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2.20-22).
Peter’s words are addressed to children of God. They can again become “entangled” in their sins. Just because some preacher may preach this as possible, remember the reality — and danger — of false doctrine. Jesus also said, “Take heed that ye be not deceived” (Luke 21.8). Why? Because it is possible to be deceived by false teaching.
“At least that is what I was told.” Was Mr. Sodini told the truth or a lie by his pastor?
On August 4, 2009, George Sodini randomly killed three women and wounded nine others in a shooting spree in an LA Fitness Club. The following is from his blog: “August 3, 2009: Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY PAID?” (emphasis Sodini’s).
Commit mass murder and go to heaven? Yes! Sodini wrote: “December 31, 2008: “…This guy [his pastor] teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder then still go to heaven.”
It is true that eternal life does not depend on a life of work without sin, in which case one does not need the atoning blood of Christ (that is what Paul meant by “works” in Romans 2.4-8; 9.30-33).
But Paul also warned his readers to be aware of God’s “severity” if they did not “continue” in his kindness (Romans 11.22). Likewise, he made clear to the Galatian Christians that those who practiced “works for the flesh” would “not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5.19-21). Being once saved by the grace of God does not mean one will always be saved regardless of how he or she lives.
Jesus warned us to “take heed” what and how we hear (Mark 4.24; Luke 8.18). Satan deceives by corrupting the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in our New Testament.
Read again Romans 11.22: A child of God is to “continue” in “his kindness.” What does this mean? Is it not a choice? Can one choose not to do this? Hear the words of the apostle Peter: “For, if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after they have known it, to turn from the old commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2.20-22).
Peter’s words are addressed to children of God. They can again become “entangled” in their sins. Just because some preacher may preach this as possible, remember the reality — and danger — of false doctrine. Jesus also said, “Take heed that ye be not deceived” (Luke 21.8). Why? Because it is possible to be deceived by false teaching.
“At least that is what I was told.” Was Mr. Sodini told the truth or a lie by his pastor?
