Unsaved Christians—Thoughts on Sin, Hell and Following Jesus in an Unsaved Condition
Unsaved Christians—do we understand the threat of sin in the life of Christians?
There is a glorious salvation to be had, and the enemy has tainted powerful, life-giving theologies in an attempt to counterfeit them—and draw people away from the one true God. God’s passion is for people to be wildly in love with him, and that is what the enemy is afraid of. Instead of radical intimacy and passionate obedience, people are falling for a lesser false-doctrine that communicates God’s apparent affirmation of them and affection for them—and it is resulting in a faux closeness to him for millions of “Christians.”
Our salvation is glorious and it is also weighty. We can’t presume upon it or take it lightly. I suggest it’s possible that most people who are convinced of their position in Christ would actually be in Hell if they died today. I will share some convincing and powerful stories that speak directly to further down in the article. People like Corrie Ten Boom, John Mulinde and Daniel Ekechukwu have a perspective that few others do.
The concept of unsaved Christians seems contradictory. I understand that. A Christian is a follower of Jesus. I am suggesting that there are many followers of Jesus, many who name the name of Christ, who are living their lives following him in an unsaved condition.
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Revelation 3:1-6
But, are we not free from condemnation if we are in Christ Jesus? Yes. But, let’s look at that verse:
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
A massive and increasing number of Christians have been lulled into a slumber regarding the reality of salvation. They have a reputation of being alive, but are dead because of their sin. The common presumption is now that if we pray, read our Bible, go to church and identify ourselves as Christians than we are automatically exempt from condemnation. The problem? Too many have misunderstood just what it means to be in Christ Jesus. Tragically it’s true that countless professing Christians are actually living in a place of condemnation because they aren’t truly in Christ Jesus. We can’t just call ourselves Christians and presume that we are truly in Christ.
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8
For the last 24 years my life and ministry have been marked by a troubled spirit and an unrelenting passion for extreme surrender, zealous prayer and an unapologetic call for passion, repentance and holiness. I understand just how separated, intense and broken we must be to truly be counted among the saved—or, I at least have an understanding of the type of deception that is causing people to remain careless in their walk with Jesus. To be a true follower of Jesus requires more than today’s theologies are communicating, and that does indeed both anger and wreck me. This is why I just cannot lead a church or ministry without an intense, burning edge to them. Anything short of radical just can’t be promoted anymore!
Why is my spirit troubled? Because I am convinced both by Scripture and by a horrifying encounter I had with the terror of Hell over two decades ago that a shocking percentage of professing Christians are on their way to Hell. We must exhort one another into radical faith.
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12-13
The risk of falling away is very real, and very terrifying:
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4-6
In my encounter, I was dragged toward Hell as a praying, worshiping, professing Christian—and I almost went mad. The terror is beyond anything I could ever describe and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. When people tell others to go to Hell, they have no idea what they are saying.
When I came out of the encounter I received the most troubling message that God has ever given me: Many Christians will be shocked to find themselves in Hell one day. My life long mandate is to shout this truth and awaken the sleepers.
These are people who believe they are in Christ Jesus—but are not—and who are heading to a judgment day that will stun them. This is why continual warnings and messages of awakening must pierce our church culture. This is why anything less than a white hot, high bar atmosphere of fervent prayer, repentance and brokenness must be rejected in our churches. It’s time for Ichabod churches to be made known so it become clear who the martyr-minded true Believers are. Those who are willing to take up their cross make up the true church.
Today the world is watching millions of people following Jesus with no cross on their backs, and this is the heretical deception that must be exposed. God will, in time, reveal the wheat and the tares.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25
CHRISTIANS LIVING IN MINOR SIN GO TO HELL?
And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 1 Peter 4:18
With the emerging of the false-grace, or what I prefer to call unbiblical grace, teachings, the thought of worshiping, tithing, praying, Bible reading Christians who have great families and seem to be the model of righteousness going to Hell seems ridiculous.
I believe this is one of the most important passages of Scripture in today’s false-grace generation:
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31
This means that tongue talking, hand lifting pastors, for example, can go to Hell if they struggle with lust. People that refuse to forgive another are at risk of Hell. If we continue in sin the Bible is clear—there remains no sacrifice for those sins. There are supposed minor sins such as gossip, lust, rebellion to authority, lying and others that seem to fly below our radar—but not God’s. We can’t continue in so called minor sins and presume all to be well. We will experience judgment in this life and in the next if we do not repent. This brings the sweet little lady who’s known as the church gossip into the light—and a terrifying light it is.
Have you ever met someone who has lived with unforgiveness in their heart? What about someone who is into pornography? It’s horrifying to think this, but those very people, even if they are amazing in every other way, are very possibly unsaved right now. Barna recently reported that 97% of BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN men are into pornography! 84% of Christian women are viewing pornography.
Is it any wonder Leonard Ravenhill famously said that he doubts that 5% of professing born again Christians in America are truly saved?
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation… Hebrews 2:1-3
CORRIE TEN BOOM
Consider Corrie Ten Boom. You may have read her story in the book The Hiding Place. She was a general in the faith as she and her family hid Jews during the Holocaust. Eventually they were discovered and were put into a concentration camp. She ministered Jesus in inhuman conditions. She was faithful in a time where all faith was lost. Ultimately, after torture at the hands of one particular guard and countless horrors, her entire family was killed. The war ended and Corrie was released.
Shortly after Corrie was walking down the road when a man approached her. He said, “Excuse me, you were in the camp, weren’t you?” Corrie affirmed that she was. He continued, “After the war I gave my life to Jesus. I prayed that he would allow me to find one person that I hurt so badly in the concentration camp.” It was the guard—the one who brutally tortured and killed her family. He said, “I told God that I wanted to seek their forgiveness. Would you please forgive me?”
Corrie, in her own words, shared her reaction. She said that she simply could not forgive him. As that thought consumed her soul, God spoke to her. He said, “Corrie, if you don’t forgive him, I won’t forgive you.” She knew, as a general in the faith, if she refused to forgive that man than she herself would die in her sins. Hell was her future. She then looked at the man who brought so much horror to her and took his hand and said, “I do forgive you.”
She said the love of God shot through her hand into the former guard’s.
Tragically, so many Christians today presume they are exempt from such truths in Scripture.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15
THIS IS A MUST WATCH VIDEO. IT WILL ROCK YOU TO TEARS:
DANIEL EKECHUKWU
Daniel Ekechukwu is a Nigerian pastor who died tragically in a car accident. He was told that he would go to Hell if he wasn’t raised up—because he refused to forgive his wife regarding an issue. Here’s a short transcript:
“Daniel, if the book of your life was to be closed today, this would be your portion.”
“No, I’m a pastor; I’m a child of God. I’m born-again — and I’ve preached all over….”
“Enough, Daniel, on your way to the first hospital, you were asking God to forgive you, but you would not forgive your wife. And your sins have not been forgiven. It is a matter of reaping what you’ve sown. You cannot sow unforgiveness to your wife and reap forgiveness from God.”
JOHN MELINDE
Check out this lengthy but wildly troubling story of an encounter by John Mulinde, a leader with a world ministry on every continent except Antartica. God told him, “If I had come today to take My Bride, you wouldn’t be part of that. I wouldn’t take you.” :
Then suddenly a bright light hit my eyes. My eyes were closed. I was on my knees with my head on the ground, but a bright light hit me. I lifted up my eyes and said, “What is this?” I opened my eyes and I couldn’t look in the light. Even when I closed them, it pierced into my eyes. I bowed my head again, and I was trembling and thinking, “What on earth is going on?” Then I heard a voice, deep and calm. He called my name three times. I couldn’t answer. There was no strength in me to answer, but inwardly I was saying, “I’m here.” He called me—“John”—three times.
Then He said to me, “I knew you before the creation of the world, and I chose you and set you apart to serve Me as a witness in these last days. I want to say to you, if I had come today to take My Bride, you wouldn’t be part of that. I wouldn’t take you.” I can’t describe the shock that came upon me. I think I was in shock. I didn’t even respond. It hit me. He repeated it. He said, “I wouldn’t take you. For it is written, ‘He will appear to those who wait upon Him’ (Isa. 49:23, paraphrased). You’re not living your life as a person waiting upon Me. You’re allowing all kinds of filth to come into your life. You’re living like one who cares not.” As I said, I couldn’t speak with my lips.
At that moment I was thinking, “This can’t be happening to me. I gave up my job to serve the Lord; I gave up my house that my father had given me because I wanted to go to the mission field. I gave up this, I gave up that; this can’t be God saying to me that He wouldn’t take me.” None of my theology and teachings could accept that. He spoke to me these words written in the book of 1 Corinthians 6. He quoted them; I found them later. I couldn’t even remember that they were in the Scriptures, but later on I found them in the Scriptures. It says: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:10). “THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY WICKED”
He went on to say to me, “Your life is so full of filth. You walk with an outward appearance, and you cover many things in your heart. You forget that I am the Lord who examines the heart. You are not ready to meet Me.” He began to say to me, “If your life is full of this and this and this and this, then are you ready for My appearance?” As He measured the various things, I could say, “OK, Lord, have mercy.” But then He mentioned one thing that my heart rejected. In my own understanding, I had never turned into that. He said, “If your life is full of fornication . . . ” And everything in me said, “Oh, no. That cannot be.” I said it in my heart, and the voice stopped. For a moment there was silence. Then He said to me, “There is no crooked word that comes out of My mouth. Do you call Me a liar? But because you don’t even know your own heart, I will show it to you. Remember this day when you were in this place at this hour?”
Brothers and sisters, I didn’t even remember. I practically saw myself back in that very moment—not as a memory, but as a reality. I was back in that moment. I saw myself sitting in the taxi waiting for the taxi car to be filled. Then I was looking out at some lady with all kinds of filthy imaginations. The moment it came back, I thought, “Oh, God, I have sinned against You.” He said, “No, you haven’t sinned. You live in sin. You live in that. You live from morning to evening in such imaginations. Even in your bed at night you indulge in the same. I know every moment of your private life. I know your thoughts. You don’t even fear, even sitting in church. Someone steps up on the platform to serve Me and you strip them naked in your imagination. You imagine all kinds of things. I am the Lord who examines the heart. Have you not read that he who even looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her (Mt. 5:28)?” Pictures began to pass before me of how my imagination works.
This isn’t something of which I could say, “Lord, I fell in sin. Lord, I was weak.” It was my way of life. It was my constant way of life. I was comfortable in it. I was comfortable that no one else could see it, but God was saying, “I see it. I am the Lord who examines the heart.” I was so ashamed, but then He said, “That’s not the worst of all. You still live in this.” He began to mention things that appear humanly small: the envy, the manipulation and undercutting of one another so that you remain appearing the best, so that you appear to do the best, to preach the best, to work more miracles, to be more anointed; all the manipulation and self-promotions, all the grudges we hold in our hearts when we see someone else being promoted or recognized before us.
The way the Lord brought it up, it was so filthy. I cried and cried, and at some point I was so intent on my grief. Then He raised His voice and said, “Keep quiet and listen.” “I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS!” I kept quiet, and He went on and on and on, unveiling more and more things. Even the things which appear so small, at that moment appeared so rotten. I felt like I was standing before the judgment seat with everything being thrown out. I wanted to say, “Stop, stop, I accept it all,” but He wasn’t stopping. At some point I was just saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” He said, “Keep quiet.” I wasn’t speaking loudly; I was speaking in my heart. He said, “Keep quiet and listen.”
As He continued I thought, “I must have been deceived. All along I thought I was serving God and yet I’m so filthy inside. I must have been deceived. The Devil must have taken my life captive a long time ago.” At that moment I thought of the miracles we were witnessing. I thought of the healings. I thought of all those wonderful things, and suddenly my heart sunk. I thought, “The Devil has so deceived me that he could even use me to produce counterfeit miracles; to produce things I thought God was working—and yet it was the Devil all along . . . ”
The voice kept quiet for a moment, and then He said to me, “Why are you imagining such thoughts? I don’t do miracles because you’re worthy. I do miracles because I love My people before whom you stand to preach. Have you never read of how they will come to Me on that day and say, ‘Lord, Lord, in Your name we worked miracles, cast out demons, and prophesied’? Then I will say to them, ‘Get out of My sight, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you’” (Mt. 7:21–23, paraphrased). He said, “Don’t depend on the miracles to assess your worthiness. Your worthiness isn’t in the signs and wonders you witness in ministry. I do miracles because I love the people, and My name shall never be left without witness on earth.” He said, “Have you not ever read that without holiness, no one will see God (Heb. 12:14)? It’s not the miracles; it’s the holiness that comes from God.” He spoke to me the scripture in the book of Hebrews.
Here’s the full length sermon he delivered at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City—possibly one of the most powerful sermons ever:
Do we need to confess our sins as Believers? Should we be sin conscious?
Yes and yes.
False-grace teachers would say that it’s not necessary to confess sins because, if we do in fact sin, it has no eternal impact. There is no sin in us. God’s grace has eradicated it without any action on our part.
Folks, let me be very, very clear: that is a heretical teaching that absolutely puts people at risk of Hell.
1 John 1:8-9 (ESV) 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Life Application Bible notes:
Being God’s people does not mean denying sin (1:8), but confessing it. Because all people are sinners, Jesus had to die. Because sin is not completely eradicated from the lives of those who believe in Jesus, God graciously gave his followers provision for the problem of sin.
It’s not only critical, but it’s wonderful to live in a state of continual repentance! God’s love for us is so amazing, that running away from sin and to him is awe inspiring!
As we daily allow God to search our hearts and reveal issues that are barriers to his love fully impacting us, the freedom and resulting life is amazing!
I often hear people say that Christians shouldn’t be sin conscious. Not only is that not biblical, it does us a disservice. Ignoring sin doesn’t disarm it, it empowers it! Allow God to reveal the darkness and set us free!
2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV) 1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
We must remain diligent regarding sin. As we grow in grace and knowledge we will have the strength to remain stable.
2 Peter 3:14 (ESV) 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
2 Peter 3:17-18 (ESV) 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
FIVE MARKS OF THE FALSE GRACE MESSAGE: A THEOLOGY OF EXEMPTION
I discuss this point in an article titled Five Marks of the False Grace Message:
Point One:
We believe in a theology of exemption.
A theology of exemption states that since we are saved, we are exempt from the penalties of sin. That there are parts of the Bible that no longer apply to us. Yes, it’s a heresy. False-grace removes bible-based responsibilities to respond to God in holiness.
The number of people who subconsciously or unwittingly embrace a theology of exemption is far greater than those who explicitly pronounce their agreement with this doctrine. Many subscribe to false-grace doctrines without realizing their deception.
Many have been lulled into a false sense of security while actually existing in an unsaved state. They are confident they’d enter Heaven if they died, yet the reality is that they would not. They have come to believe they are exempt from certain parts of the Word of God that requires response.
1 Peter 1:15-17 (ESV) 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
Be holy. God judges according to one’s deeds. Those who hold to a theology of exemption don’t believe they are subject to what this verse is communicating. The command to be holy is to them a great goal, but not a mandate. A principle not a command.
Our name can actually be removed from the book of life—and that is determined by our obedience, our holiness. Sin can still separate a follower of Christ from him. The Rich Young Ruler saw that this was the case. He wanted to follow Jesus, but could not. He was not exempt from judgment even though he wanted to follow Jesus.
The argument of grace is actually quite revealing. People in the false-grace movement would say, “It’s not possible to be holy, or to avoid sin, so thank God for his grace that covers those sins. In fact we are automatically holy… innocent by association!”
Grace isn’t meant to cover up sin, grace is power! Those who walk in true grace would never say that we, as Christians, are predisposed to sin! True grace enables us to do the impossible! False-grace confesses that we cannot. Because of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus, we now have something they didn’t have in the Old Covenant—we have the power to obey! We can do this!
In fact, not only aren’t we exempt from obedience in the New Covenant, the call to obedience is even more humanly impossible than in the Old!
Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV) 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
We as Christians are not exempt from judgment or from the repercussions of sin. If we are in Christ, there is no condemnation, but if we are deceived by false theology into thinking we are in Christ, while actually living in disobedience, we are in trouble. We are not in Christ and there is condemnation. No salvation. The wrath of God remains on us. False-grace doctrine is eternally deadly. There are many people following Jesus today in an unsaved condition.
John 3:35-36 (ESV) 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 3:18-19 (KJV) 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Deeds. Fruit. Works. They are evidences of our position in Christ.
Yes, it’s hard to get saved, hard to stay saved, but if we walk in humility and grace and in the Spirit, eternity with Jesus is our inheritance!
WHAT ABOUT GRACE?
I believe one of the most vile teachings the unbiblical grace message communicates is that we as Christians are hopeless—that we cannot find freedom from sin. It is presumed that we will continue in sin but we are exempt from judgment. What a fallacy that is! It is an offense to the cross to declare through our teachings that the sacrifice of our precious Lord is insufficient to keep us from sin.
True grace enables us to turn from temptation. Grace is power and we need a revelation of this power in the church like never before!
When we turn to God in repentance after falling, it’s the mercy of God that keeps judgment from us. If we are truly in Christ, repentant and walking in obedience, God will always be there to help us through every addiction, habit, fear, inappropriate thought and attitude of the heart. His grace empowers us to win! The cross is that powerful!
I often hear Christians say, “Well, we sin every day…” What? If we sin every day we have a serious sin problem. This is a very dangerous place to be. If we continue in sin, there remains no sacrifice for that sin! We need the true grace of God to enable us to walk free from sin, not free in sin!
We must shout this message and pray for a reformation in the understanding of salvation. Christian Universalism is moving at great speed. A local well known minister has recently declared their church to be gay friendly, that the Bible in it’s current form is not the accurate Word of God and that they believe that all will ultimately be saved. My God! This is a manifestation of a theological thread that is weaving into the fabric of mainstream Christianity.
This is exceedingly dangerous. Will you help sound the alarm? We must slow the flow to Hell and our mission begins in the church.
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 1 Peter 4:17-18
Salvation is not easy to receive or continue in, contrary to popular teachings—but for those who are truly saved, we have a glorious eternity with the lover of our souls ahead of us!
I wrestle with the severity of salvation daily, and while I do fail at times, I do not have a pattern of sin in my life—not because of my ability, but because of God’s. This must be the testimony of all, and from that place we can live in never-ending joy, freedom and abundant life!
Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:26-30
Thank you for continuing to preach this message without wavering or backing down.
In the verse Hebrews 10:26, I think that little word “deliberate” is so important. It says that if we deliberately sin, not just if we sin. We all sin. And the word says that “If we say that we are without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If it is that easy to lose my salvation that what a sad salvation it is. I am trusting in God’s ability to keep me safely in his hands, not in my own strength or works or abilities. Salvation is dependant on Him and what He did. “For by “grace” are you saved, by faith, lest anyone should boast.” It’s not our works that save us, so why do we think that after we are saved it’s any different? The book of Galatians is so clear on this. Salvation comes through Him, through trusting in Him. I don’t deserve it. I never will. I will never earn it. I will never be good enough. Thankfully it’s not dependant upon us, or none of us would make it to heaven.
Absolutely. When we make a decision to continue in sin…in lust, in unforgiveness, in gossip, etc…then we are in trouble. Regarding 1 John 1:8, that does not mean that we as Christians are continually in sin. No way. If we say that we are without sin because of our own goodness, then we are deceived. But, the cross of Christ is powerful enough to keep us from sinning. We simply have to be empowered by grace to respond. The scriptures are so clear that there is eternal judgment for those who rebel, who continue in sin. Obedience and works are not the same thing. That’s one of the great deceptions in the church today. Our response to the cross is mandatory in order for us to be truly saved. There will be a great falling away…people who once were saved falling away in large quantities. If it can happen then, it absolutely can happen now…and it does. We can’t buy into a theology of exemption. If we don’t forgive, even as Christians as Corrie Ten Boom clearly communicated, we won’t be forgiven. We will go to Hell.
I’m sorry but I think that’s a bit extreme. I believe if I am truly a child of God, I cannot be unborn. Can a child be unborn? Can your child ever stop being your child? No. John 10 says nothing can pluck us from the Father’s hand. I am totally with you about holiness and I think the church needs to begin preaching about it. We need to repent and confess our sins. That’s important, but I don’t believe that if we fail to confess a sin, we are going to hell. I think this is talking to someone who totally rejects their faith and spits in the face of God and goes willfully back to a lifestyle of sin. I am so thankful for the grace of God. I don’t believe in extreme grace at all. But I am thankful that he is gracious, forgiving and compassionate and that he does not hold my sins against me. I repeat we are saved by our faith and yes, our lives will show it but our works will never save us. The law cannot save us. Only trusting in his grace and forgiveness can.
The Bible does say that if we don’t overcome then our names will be blotted out of the book of life. We have to come to Jesus on his terms, not ours. The Rich Young Ruler wanted to follow Jesus but was turned away because he refused to respond rightly. Again, if we continue in sin the Bible is black and white. There remains no more sacrifice. It really is quite intense. But, of course, the good news is that we are in full control of the outcome. If we sin, we simply repent and endeavor to live in holiness.
The bible clearly pointed that all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD .
THE SOLUTION is JESUS CHRIST not our efforts !!
Lisa,
Sounds like we come from a similar spiritual background. So I understand what you are saying. But just like John, the Lord got my attention through a ‘hell’ experience. The first Sunday after this happened, I went to a small Bible study group of avid believers in the eternal security of a believer. I shared my concerns with them that something was wrong with our theology. They began to remind me of scriptures that I am well familiar with such as: those of us who are saved have been “sealed by the Holy Spirit”; “no one can pluck (us) out of (Jesus’) hands”; and “nothing can separate us from the love of God”, etc. All I could tell them is that the Lord was bringing specific passages of scripture like Matt 7:13,14 to my attention and several parables.
To say that we can’t be unborn is not written in the Bible, but the ability to die twice is. That logic trail was sold to me as well, but it’s nothing more than an inference.
During this intense Bible study debate I found myself in, one of my closest, sweetest friends said something trying to comfort me that actually became a key that opened a door of understanding for me. She said, like you, that surely as a parent I could understand how a father’s love could never condemn us, that sometimes children stray as we all do and a loving parent will always welcome them back into the fold and never do anything to harm them. I couldn’t disagree with that, but I left that meeting feeling as though something was still not quite right. I was not comforted by these insights.
The minute I got home and sat down on the couch, the Holy Spirit spoke to me in a loud internal voice saying, “You need to tell your friend that this has nothing to do with a parent/child relationship. God the Father isn’t the judge; Jesus the Bridegroom is. This is all about a Jewish betrothal. Look it up!” So I did.
It’s true that Jesus (our Bridegroom) is the judge; not the Father. (John 5:26-30; Acts 10:42; Revelation 19:11).
But this other thing I had never heard a teaching about. So I immediately put ‘Jewish betrothal’ in the search engine, and here are two out of the many articles I read. I encourage you to read these for yourself. http://messianicfellowship.50webs.com/wedding.html ; http://www.livingwordbc.org/PDF/SLB-034.pdf
After I read the articles, He began to teach me how every detail in a Jewish betrothal actually depicted a spiritual truth about the church prior to entering into His glory. He said that we are in the `betrothal’ phase of our salvation, or better known as the ‘sanctification’ phase – the process of being saved, set apart for sacred use, to be made holy and purified.
During this time, It is our (The ‘brides’) responsibility to to keep herself pure, prepare her wedding gown (white robe of righteousness), assemble the bridal party, and wait for the Bridegroom to come and take her back to the house He has prepared. The Holy Spirit basically let me know that If He returns and finds that she has played the harlot, He can legally give her a certificate of divorcement.
Even after this revelation, I still wasn’t completely convinced. This was all just so shocking to my system. I just couldn’t get past what I had been taught about eternal security. One of the key verses that had convinced me of it years before popped into my mind, so I felt compelled to take another look. You actually quoted this verse. When I did look it up, I was startled by what He highlighted in my mind.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:27-28
This is another reason why I know it was the Holy Spirit who was talking to me. There was a period of time when every single person I shared my concerns with began quoting Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” John has already pointed out that people lack understanding on what it means to be IN Christ. But the Holy Spirit told me to cross check translations on this verse. He had never told me to do that before, nor has He ever said it since. So I did.
I have never been a KJV person ever. But look at how the meaning changes when you read a different translation of that same verse: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT. A “Christian” whose mind is on everything but the Lord, who never consults with Him, but depends on their own human wisdom and abilities is not walking in the Spirit.
Why do I take the time to write since you posted 3 months ago? Because I am determined to begin dismantling Satan’s lies one by one until the truth is obvious to the body of Christ.
Hi brother, let’s forget about Romans 8:1 because you are right, but how about John 5:24? Doesn’t it says the same thing?
Another question is, what it really means to be born again and what exactly happens when one is born again?
Hi Casey, I’m a sister BTW 🙂 This is the same argument as Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. That one scripture seems to indicate baptism is a mandatory part of salvation. Most would argue that would be taking that one verse out of context and not considering the totality of scripture or the full council of God. I would agree with that, but for very different reasons.
I am getting to your question in a round about way. Bottom line is free will and choice to be justified by your confession and to cooperate during the sanctification process to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
I asked God some very deep questions about salvation because I was confused by what seemed to be contradictions, but learned that they were not contradictions at all. He addresses different groups of people throughout the Bible and gives us His Word as mirror to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith.
There are some wonderful promises of salvation throughout the Bible, but those promises are for very few people Matt 7:13, 14. A ‘carnal Christian’ who reads these promises automatically thinks they are for him/her based on a prayer they said once when they called upon the name of the Lord, they believed on Him who sent Christ, professions of faith, sacraments, seasons of obedience and evidence of the inner working of Holy Spirit at some point of their lives. But then when trials, tribulations come, God is really asking them to take up their cross and follow Him, they resist the sanctification process, they allow the oil in their lamps to diminish, they despise God’s judgment of the condition of their heart, and start falling back into worldly ways of thinking and doing things or they are side tracked by worldly concerns and distractions. There are plenty of scriptures about that group who fall away or abandon the faith, seed and sower is a wonderful example of that concept.
Salvation isn’t following a list of dos and don’ts. It’s not a one time deal. It’s a journey with the Lord. At any time, you can by your own free will and choice leave the flock and protection of the Shepherd.
I asked God one day why He allowed there to be so much confusion – same Bible, but so many interpretations of the same word. Why can’t it be more cut dry? Why does one scripture say we who have called upon the name of the Lord are sealed until the day of redemption whereas another indicates that those involved in sexual immorality, hatred, drunkenness, etc., which many Christians are involved in, will not inherit the kingdom of God?
God’s answer was quite interesting and profound. Bottom line is that this is all a matter of the heart. He said that all the pieces of the puzzle are hidden in plain sight. A web of truth weaves in and out of the pages capturing the attention of those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Just because these truths are separated by chapter and verse doesn’t detract from the overall message. The response to that truth lies within a person’s heart. Ambiguity will expose the true condition of a fence sitter’s heart. Those whose hearts have a propensity to sin may abide in truth for a time, but if their assurance in eternal security causes them to let down their guard, fall back into sin, and never heed the prompting of the Spirit to repent, then they never really belonged to Him in the first place. There are also those, like the Pharisees, who may stay the course out of fear and dread or pride, but their hearts are not turned towards God because they don’t love Him or believe that He is good. Either way, the truth is that neither extreme shares God’s heart, and the heart is the only thing He looks at. God is a relational being who wants true love and commitment that leads to holiness, thus conforming us to the likeness of Christ. You will hear this truth proclaimed in some denominations, but it seems to be treated as a side note having no bearing whatsoever on salvation. But I believe that is where salvation begins and ends. The condition of the heart individually judged based on how much grace and revelation God has poured into it.
Hi sister 🙂 Thanks for your reply.
To give you more details on how I approach salvation in Jesus I need to clarify some things:
-Man is a three part being: spirit, soul and body.
-Man has a FREE WILL and he has to choose who his Lord will be from now to eternity, either Jesus or the Devil. This is a one time choice/decision during lifetime because Man is a spirit being and only chooses once before God!
-Born Again Christians are the only ones who live both in the New Creation in Christ (with their spirit) and in this old sinful creation (with their soul and body).
Having said the above let’s see John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” The believer shall not come into condemnation!
Something amazingly powerful happened when we got born again but it seems that to most of us doesn’t really mean that much. Unless we realize the depth of being made new in Christ we will never be able to walk with God as we should. As a matter of fact most Christians soon after they get born again they slip back to the world because they start feeling being a Christian is just another religion with tons of rules and regulations no one can ever keep and follow.
Even the condition of the heart. Most Christians don’t know what is the heart of man according to the Bible much less its condition. The heart condition is not an absolute, meaning may be up or down as opposed to the spirit of man which is or not. I mean before we got born again we were dead to God and alive to Sin, however good works we were doing this status could not change. Now that we are born again we are dead to Sin and alive to God. We are still in this world and live our daily lives but our new status in Christ does not change. Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” Our born again spirit constantly bears witness with the Spirit of God that we are His children and belong to Him forevermore!
Wow! I love you Kim! I guess the next or parallel deception that’s next in line for dismantling is spirits do not exist in church. I notice especially in the Western church that because of the new revelation of grace everything is just ‘out there’. We have moved so far to the extreme side of grace that deliverances have completely died down. Demonised people are receiving “counselling” for problems that are blatantly spiritual. We have become so grace oriented to the extent that even to mention the word “spirit” in some churches you are immediately flagged up as a weirdo bent on bringing back “works” to the church and steal people’s freedom and joy. I found myself one day asking the question: Do people Really believe God IS A SPIRIT? It now seems barbaric or uncouth to think spirit yet MOST of the problems that bring people to church are spiritual. When are. We going to really start living lives where we see things through the lens of God rather than the lens of flesh!?
Of course I accept that there has been some extremities in the teaching about deliverance but that should not mean we completely ignore the devil harassing people driving them to behave like brute beasts at will and when they come to us (the church) for help instead of prayer we counsel them!?
The teaching about grace where it is wrongly understood has been taken as a licence for sin and the Holy Spirit is now rarely ever mentioned or given opportunity to be God. People who operate I the gifts of the spirit are now considered weirdos and not very welcome in most churches. They make people uncomfortable because they bring the reality of God into view. We prefer talking about God as a warm fuzzy feeling who tolerates everything as long as we turn up at events done in His Name, including church…
Finally! A voice of godly reason in the word of ministry. Nice to know I’m not alone in teaching this.
Hi, Sam: I’m replying to you on this thread because (bend me stupid and color me sideways!!) I’ve been banned from Charisma News
The majority of my posts to Janebel, for example, were removed. Just F.Y.I.’ing you that you should expect the same, because you are taking a similar tack that I did.
I know how to recognize a ‘false prophet’ — and frankly, I have reason to believe ALL of the current ‘prophets’ are false. Every single one of them.
Thank you for speaking out. Since the 1980s I have noticed the slow fade of the church away from holiness and godly lives to the toxic doctrine of false grace. Whenever I have brought it up to pastors, I’ve been shut down and shunned. At this point my family hasn’t found a church in our area that doesn’t embrace some form of false grace.
Brilliant article, I can see so many parallels in my own life, I can TRULY attest to this – that God’s grace is very powerful in helping us not to sin, although I became a Christian at 20 and have been for many years now, I struggled with lustful thoughts but recently have experienced a complete delivery from it, it is great, I do not need to do that anymore and praise God for His miracle in me. If anything ever tries to creep in, I am onto it and repenting of it before it takes hold. It has left me with a desire to seek out other baggage and hand it to Him to get rid of as well. The pursuit of holiness is paramount in the daily walk once we have been forgiven. Although your article overall does leave me with a great fear in wondering if I am going to get zapped on the last day for something I have overlooked?!
There’s no fear…we simply stay connected with Jesus and repentant. The problem comes when we continue in deliberate sin…without repentance.
Thanks John, I wholly agree, the Christian walk is a daily one and is characterised by exactly that – repentance, you and me could have some rip roaring conversations about this stuff, it is vitally important and I would like to know your thoughts on a few other matters in due course. Thanks for your reply, although very short, it has helped to settle me a bit.
listen to sermons of J prince and be free from guilt of sins
the problem of sin arises in the entire life of a believer because of the roots of sins are in the body of the believer the minute they are born physically on earth !!
the blood of JESUS cleanses past sins present sins and future sins for the believer .
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repentance is a process and not a switch !!
John, the timing of this article is an answer to one of my prayers. Since Feb 22nd, I’ve asked the Lord on two occasions for confirmation of my calling. This was the second.
About one month ago, I had a series of dreams that showed me I was on the wrong path and not fulfilling my mandate. In fact, in one of the dreams, I was in a mall with a friend. I knew somehow that God had told us to go to a specific store, but on the way I decided to stop off at an ice cream shop. I heard my friend in the dream say very plainly, “God said He didn’t tell you to go to that store. He wants you to know there are natural consequences for deviating from the plan.” So I woke up and recorded everything I remembered hearing in the dream.
Later, I asked Him to show me what plan I had deviated from. Right away, He sent me to John Mulinde’s video. Just as you and John were called as watchmen, the Lord reminded me of something He told me to do in 2012, but I have been derelict in my duties of warning people.
A little background information is that in August 2012, I had what I have described as a ‘hell experience’ also. I didn’t feel myself being dragged there as you describe, but it was so horrific to me that I cried for a week in repentance. When I finally calmed down enough to ask those really hard questions and listen to the Holy Spirit, He told me very plainly to remove my theological filter (OSAS) and allow Him to teach me from here on out. It’s amazing when He really begins to peel back the layers of deception what you are able to see it. He took me to parables like the foolish virgins, the seed and the sower, the wicked servant, and I began to see myself in His parables. It was so shocking. He told me to study a Jewish betrothal for insight. He explained Satan’s deception in the doctrine of eternal security, which I had believed for 30 years. After He told me to ‘get the leaven out’ of my house, meaning my life, the accursed items out of my home, and His church, I kept hearing Him say, “My bride is asleep and isn’t ready for me. Wake her up!”
So I tried to take this message to the Christians in my life, and I met some frustrating resistance to the message. People were holding on so tightly to their theology that it was drowning out compelling evidence. Some got outright angry. I have always been a very non-confrontational person, so I let up quite a bit and tried to come at people with a more positive message by prophesying, making declarations, and trying to encourage.
But after the series of dreams and stern reprimand from the Lord, I realized that He wants me to publish a letter I have been writing on for the past few years. I have been adding to it as God reveals things to me and have sent it to a few people in my life. But He told me to turn it into a book and get it published. He even sent someone to me to teach me about CreateSpace so I can publish a book for minimal cost.
I would like you to take a look at an excerpt I’ve written and let me know what you think. Thank you so much
“So now my mind was in a whirlwind trying to make sense of it all. I realized I needed to get back to basics and try to rightly divide the word with His guidance. I revisited established, foundational truths by asking questions on salvation. Does Jesus ever leave or forsake us? The Bible says NEVER! Can anything separate us from Him or His love? The Bible says NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US! Do I believe that? Yes! If we begin to stray, will He come after us? He said He would. Will He continue to call for us? Yes, I absolutely believe that, as this was my experience. Will He plead with us to repent? Yes, because He loves us and is the Good Shepherd. But the Lord showed me the critical missing piece.
Eternal security in theory is correct, that is until you start adding to it. A person who is truly saved will never lose it, cannot lose it. But the Holy Spirit said that our logical inferences and deductions based on this theology are not true and lead people astray. What gives hope and assurance to one becomes a stumbling block to another. What eternal security doctrine fails to take into consideration is FREE WILL and CHOICE. One can make a sincere decision for Christ one day, and then walk away the next. Decisions are made moment-by-moment. We always have options. At any moment we have the ability, through our free will and choices, to either follow Jesus or to leave and forsake Him. We can abandon the faith at any time. We can opt out of the sanctification process any time. We can commit adultery by clinging to and loving the things of this world, thus nullifying the betrothal contract anytime we please. God will never force Himself on us or force us to stay under His protection. We can leave anytime we want of our own free will. Now, He will extend grace and continue to chase after us relentlessly. But ultimately, if we continue moving away from Him of our own free will without ever turning back, He cannot and will not force us to stay. There are no leashes in heaven. Only faithful followers.
So the question is, “If it is true that you can walk away of your own free will, at what point have you fallen so far that you are condemned? Where’s the assurance and the hope in that?”
I will address this in part here by saying that I believe this question is inherently flawed based on the premise. A mind that wonders where the line is that crosses from life to perdition is a mind set on the flesh. A mind that espouses love and trust in God and submission to His will through a desire to please Him is a mind that is set on the Spirit. The latter doesn’t worry or try to define where the line is because they love God and trust Him so much that they have no intention of ever getting close to that imaginary line, if in fact there even is one.
But for the person who craves absolutes as a black and white thinker, for now, let it suffice to say I believe history was written before the foundation of the world was set. This is not predestination in the sense that some are favored and others are not. God’s love and invitation is available and extended to all people with every possible opportunity given to follow Him. But based on His foreknowledge, God already knows who are His and who are not. He already knows who is passionate about Him and really wants eternal life and those who really don’t care. He already knows whose heart will reflect His. He already knows who will repent and be overcomers and those who will not regardless of His pleading. If someone dies in their sin and goes to hell, I firmly believe that the Father has considered every possible strategy to get that person to repent of their sins and follow Jesus, and He saw it just wasn’t going to happen.
Personally, I hadn’t followed Jesus for years. I had strayed away from the faith and was following the wrong voice down the broad way to my ultimate destruction. I had, by my own free will, left the flock and the protection of the Good Shepherd. But I believe in His omniscience, He saw this day coming. He was patient with me knowing I would repent one day and turn back to Him. I believe that is why He postponed judgment because it is His will that none perish, but that all have a chance to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9).
The Holy Spirit told me that the way I understood (and I’m not alone) the doctrine of eternal security or Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS) is a cleverly devised deception by Satan himself where he takes truth and distorts it by mixing in a pinch of half-truths and a dash of outright lies.
Here are some commonly used Christian catch phrases that really do seem to be inferred, but are not actually written specifically anywhere in scripture that I could find: OSAS; eternal security; “Your sins past, present AND FUTURE are forgiven on the day you are saved”; “You didn’t do anything to save yourself, so you can’t do anything to lose your salvation”; and “You can’t be unborn” to name a few of the inferences. Conversely, there is an opposing camp that contends “You CAN LOSE your salvation”. None of these statements are written in the Bible anywhere I could find. People use these phrases all the time because this is what someone coined in the past to support their interpretation of a cluster of scriptures. I am not completely opposed to this type of association terminology in general, but in this case I believe it is flawed. Jesus did not teach this. In fact, He cautioned His disciples all of the time to be on guard and remain in Him.
Many people who think they are saved will go to hell; I’m convinced of it! Maybe they said a prayer at some point in their life, were involved in some sort of sacrament or dedication ceremony like baptism, someone told them they were saved, maybe they even repented of their sins at that time and even served the Lord for a time. Yet they have backslidden and are living a double life, walking the fence, lukewarm. Their conscience has bought into cultural norms of a society’s collective seared conscience and Satan’s age old lie of, “Did God REALLY say that?” They think, “What does it matter if I dabble over here a bit or compromise over there some? That passage of scripture doesn’t apply to me anyway because I am saved! I’m in danger of losing a few rewards? I can live with that.” These are the lies of the enemy that lead to compromise and ultimately destruction. People who think this way are generally willing to risk suffering the consequences of sin as long as it is not eternal. So they let their guard down and before you know it, they are ensnared in the deception.
I’m not talking about a person who went into his/her decision for Christ with the attitude or thought process that they had a license to sin due to a misunderstanding of grace. That is very safe theology. The controversial hair I’m splitting is a person who, at one point in his/her life, sincerely committed to the Lord – accepted His marriage proposal, but there came a time where they began to compromise and befriend the world. Maybe they were enticed by the shiny objects of this world, or deeply hurt by someone and harbored a grudge to the point that the root of bitterness established unforgiveness in their heart. Some may have become overly generous in their estimation of themselves, justifying their sin in their own minds as opposed to prudently examining themselves to make sure they are in the faith. They began failing to filter their thoughts, words, and deeds through the word of God and prompting of the Holy Spirit. They began to resist that still, small voice and quenched the Holy Spirit of God to the point that it fostered a reprobate mind. They eventually became completely desensitized and not under conviction anymore. They stopped taking every thought captive; stopped following the voice of the shepherd; stopped resisting the devil; abandoned the faith; and denied Christ through their lifestyle.
The Holy Spirit told me all of these aforementioned concepts (taking every thought captive, resisting the devil, following the voice of the shepherd, etc.) were not just helpful hints or suggestions for Christians. They were COMMANDS and words of life – every single word intended to lead us down the path of righteousness so that we might inherit life eternal. But because many already feel eternally secure and don’t see the danger, they don’t guard their heart and mind like they should.”
Thanks for sharing all that, Kym! Amazing insight. This topic is usually extremely volitile… you might comment on the Charisma Magazine site where this article appears as well. http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/revival/22679-the-pitfalls-of-false-grace-for-minor-sin
I see the carnage over there. I will comment. I see the twisting of words and arguing over minutia. The enemy is showing his hand. I see the deception and it is compelling and interesting how he does it. But I know what you are saying is true. I stand with you and come against the spirit of error in the name of Jesus.
Brother John don’t you believe that salvation has to be studied based on the reality that man is a three part being (Man is a spirit being, has a soul and lives in a physical body) … and how the born again experience by the power of the Holy Spirit makes him a new creature in Christ?
From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry he began preaching the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus is the King and his message was and is the message of doing good under his command. If one takes a look at the teachings of Jesus they will soon see that he demands we love our enemies: because it purges hatred from your heart. Any lack of love (affection) for others is to justify hatred. Your emotions are the true mirror of the state of your heart: if they are not good you are not good.
Jesus didn’t go around and tell everyone, “hey everyone listen to me: I’m going to die in 3.5 years, believe in the sacrifice I am going to make and you will be saved”. He told them to change the way they live and follow his teachings of doing good: instead of justifying evil.
Obedience to Christ is demanded for salvation to be obtained: it is not the byproduct of salvation, it is the terms of it.
Jesus dying on the cross is a footnote to the New Covenant, established under Christ, just as the sacrifice made by Moses, which blood was sprinkled upon the people and the alter, was a footnote to the Old Covenant: the blood only covers you if you abide in terms of the Covenant; the words of Jesus are the terms of the New Covenant.
John said it well when he stated: “We have to come to Jesus on his terms, not ours.”
So then we must conclude that Christians who don’t keep the 4th commandment are list
And if they don’t observe the 7 festivals of God they’re lost
As Jesus calls those on his left workers of lawlessness..as in Torah Law
Why do most Christians throw out and ignore the 4th Commandment?
God’s law is Gods Law
Sin is a transgression or Breaking God’s Law
Nobody, not even Paul Apostle can or did invalidate keeping the Sabbath
So if a Christian ignores keeping the Sabbath he is a worker of Lawlessness
Here is the full-length transcript of John Mulinde’s sermon titled “Being Found Ready:” https://web.archive.org/web/20111216011135/http://blog.ihop.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/John-Mulinde-Being-Found-Ready-110301-1.pdf. It was originally found on the old ihop.org’s blog. It seem to get somehow lost as IHOP moved to a new website and I hope they can put it back somehow because it is such an important message.