I realize that this is not entirely on topic, but is in reply to Keylla's question: I want to be very careful in how I speak about others, but I also want to be bold to defend the truth. Much of what Charles Stanley teaches sounds true, but there is a deadly poison mixed with it. I do not believe that what he teaches is the real gospel.
In his book, Eternal Security, he makes this statement:
"There are many similarities between salvation and marriage. A person does not become married by acting married. Neither does one gain a divorce by acting divorced. A man and woman are married by entering into a legal contract. Obtaining a divorce is a legal matter as well. Whether they ever act married or not is irrelevant. I have known several couples who separated and adopted lifestyles that gave no evidence of their marital status. Yet they were as married then as the day they said their vows…Salvation, as we have seen, occurs at a moment in time when we by faith accept God’s free gift…Just as there are married people who acts as if they are not, so there are Christian who show no evidence of their Christianity as well. But that does not change their eternal status, any more than a lost man can change his eternal destiny by acting saved.”
Stanley says that there are Christians who show no evidence of their Christianity. But Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits." In 1 Corinthians 6 and Ephesians 5, Paul taught that the unrighteous would not inherit the kingdom. In both passages, he says, "Do not be deceived." Those who teach that the unrighteous can inherit the kingdom are deceivers.
What Charles Stanley and many like him teach is that salvation happens at a point in time and we are justified with God and can never lose our salvation. But what he does not teach is that true salvation always produces fruit. James 2 tells us that faith without works is dead. This kind of faith will not save. We are not saved by our works, but true faith will produce good works. But Mr. Stanley says that there are Christians who show no evidence of their Christianity. This is a blatant rejection of Scripture and a serious one, as this doctrine is giving false hope to millions who have not been born again.
For a deeper understanding of this subject, I would highly recommend Charles Leiter's book Justification and Regeneration or any sermons on sermonindex by Paul Washer.
Ezekiel 13:22 has this to say about the false prophets: \t"Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life."
Mr. Stanley and many like him are strengthening the hand of the wicked by promising them that they can continue living in sin, loving sin, and still have eternal life. May we pray for them as Paul did, even with tears, for they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.
Above all, spend time reading God's Word humbly and prayerfully. So many are deceived by preachers twisting texts or ignoring the great themes of Scripture because they do not know God's Word. May the Lord protect you, me, and all on this forum from deception in the days when iniquity abounds and the love of most grows cold. He is able to do this in our lives, and may God continue to raise up many godly men (such as those whose sermons are on here) who are preaching the true Gospel with the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ is worthy!
