The discussion has come to a close at the Fred Lybrand blog over his OPEN LETTER: The GES Gospel (aka- the ‘Crossless’ or ‘Promise-only’ Gospel. Elements in the thread discussion permanently identifies the Grace Evangelical Society (GES) as an aberrant sect of theological extremists that has “Drifted Far Off the Marker” of biblical orthodoxy.
GES member and national conference speaker, Antonio da Rosa, defined (in the thread) the GES reductionist system by clearly stating,
“Yes a (lost) person can…one could (consciously) deny the death and resurrection of Christ and still at that moment place His sole faith and reliance upon Jesus to guarantee his eternal destiny?” See Details HereThe GES, because of its Crossless gospel, has isolated itself into an extremist corner for its reductionist assault on the Gospel, i.e. the content of saving faith.
This week I am publishing a new multi-part series by Brother Ron Shea. The series is divided into the following chapters:
What Turned (him) to this Profound (Deconstructionist) Error?Check in later this week for the new series by Brother Ron Shea.
The “Deconstructionist” Gospel
THE “Crossless” Gospel Mantle
Regarding Us
A Final Admonition
Yours faithfully,
LM
I guess that Antonio would conclude that the false prophets in 1st John 4:2-3 can be saved and still deny that Christ has come in the flesh. The verse reads:
ReplyDelete"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
Either Antonio will claim that the false prophet is "out of fellowship" or that the false prophet can still refuse that Jesus had come in the flesh and still be saved.
I'm sure that Antonio will do a dance around these verses by asking questions that the passages does not, "Can a Christian deny at some point that Jesus had come in the flesh?" The passage is clear that a false prophet clearly denies that Jesus had come in the flesh.
If a false prophet denies that Jesus had come in the flesh showing a spirit of the antichrist then what can we say about those that openly deny that the deity of Christ or that deny that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ for salvation must be preached to the lost for them to be saved?
I guess their only retort is to call people "Hitler" that oppose their beliefs and bring up slanderous lies against others.
Dave:
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. The two recent announcements have really put the GES into cardiac arrest. I refer to these...
FGA Executive Council Open Break from the GES and its “Crossless” GospelDr. Fred Lybrand’s Open Letter: The GES Gospel (aka- the “Crossless” or Promise-Only” GospelI was conversing with another gentleman yesterday. Here are some thoughts that came from that discussion.
As this debate has gone on the passage that has come to the forefront concerning Antonio da Rosa and some of his supporters is:
“Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself,” (Titus 3:11).
This is really in play now with Antonio and furthermore the GES is not going to make it. They have lost a huge percentage of membership and financial support as one should expect that drifts far from the biblical plan of salvation as GES has. They really have no way to make disciples of their view now. The reductionist errors of Hodges, Wilkin and GES are very obvious and widely known.
The GES is deeply isolated into its own extremist corner so far from apart from Bible-believing circles that they will never again be taken seriously.
If Antonio or any GES person attempts to spread their Crossless gospel out side of what is left of their membership there will be those of us right there to warn the unsuspecting of GES and its Crossless gospel. There is now way and no how we are going to let GES gain any traction in the Christian community beyond their own borders.
The raw emotionalism that Crossless gospel people bring to the debate signals the end for them and the GES. They have no biblical argument for their system that ahs not been twisted out of shape to force it into conformity with the reductionism of Hodges. The emotionalism is due to their fierce loyalty to their departed leader Zane Hodges. They cannot consider even for a moment that he may have been wrong. Hence the personal ad hominen attacks, which is all they have left.
In any event, this new series by Ron Shea is going to shed a great deal of light on the how and why GES, under the leading of Hodges, fell into the trap of this reductionist assault on the Person and finished work of Jesus Christ.
Kind regards,
Lou
PS: As for “Hitler,” and numerous acts of libel/defamation: Pray for them, they have fallen under an influence that is obviously not of the Holy Spirit.