Don Smith
Introduction
In the midst of a world of religious doctrinal chaos, it seems the battle never ends—and in accordance with God’s will, we are to continue this fight to the end. When becoming a Christian, we sign up for the spiritual military of the faithful, where “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4-5). It is a major part of the life of a Christian, where the ultimate goal is to pull souls from the clutches of Satan. Sadly, many of these battles will be lost, not due to any insufficiency of God’s word, but to the contrary mindsets of man’s will against God’s. Ultimately, we must remember that “as long as there’s breath, there’s hope.” However, people are many times bent on destroying themselves to the very end. With as much as Mrs. Julie Jackson had received in straightening out her false doctrines by comparison to God’s word, and as bent as she still was on destroying herself, this exchange of correspondence that took place with her seems to be a case in point. Let us now delve into this next portion of her second response.
(11)
1See my relationship with the Lord God almighty is a real and tangible relationship. 2([TGP, Oct. 2023, pg. 30, par. 2, sent. 12] asks me to put this relationship on the shelf.) 3I could no more divorce that relationship (or put it on the shelf) than I could walk away from my family. 4In fact, as I have grown more mature in the Lord, I truly do love the Lord more than my husband and more than my children. 5That is something for a Mother to say but it’s true. 6My Father God sent me Jesus Christ for remission of my sins AND for an example and then sent the Holy Spirit to lead, guide & comfort me every day, every hour and every minute that I will lay down “my will” and listen to that still small voice that speaks to my spirit within. 7The Word is needed but I assume you know that I believe that or would not be communicating with you about it. 8The most courageous prayer yet the most peaceful prayer, I have come to know is, “God’s Will be done!” 9His Will not mine. 10We are all created by Father God and he puts that desire to communion with Him in us. 11It’s just a pity that not everyone takes the time to develop the relationship. 12But like you said, it’s never too late.
Reply to Paragraph 11
It can be seen from the beginning of this paragraph, in sentences 1-3, Mrs. Jackson has taken the position that she refuses to set aside her “experiences,” which she calls her “relationship,” in order to consider she is under doctrinal error. In sentence 6, she states that God sent Christ for remission of sins—the question she needs to consider is, “How are they remitted?” She has had that thoroughly answered throughout the correspondence with her, and it is very simple if she would consider Acts 2:38. She also states that the Holy Spirit leads, guides, comforts, and speaks to her—in effect stating that the scriptures do not make the man of God complete (2 Tim. 3:16-17). In sentences 8-9, she puts on the hypocritical mask and spouts “God’s Will be done!” but performs the exact opposite of His will in rejecting His salvation.
(12)
1So in [TGP, Oct. 2023, pg. 30, par. 2, sent. 2-4] where you say my life experiences trump the Word of God, that is only because you don’t believe that the scriptures I mentioned above, about the HS being alive today. 2My experiences/relationship with the Lord fits right in with the scriptures if you read them with a liberated mind than that of your doctrine. 3[Sent. 10] you state “…that your experiences would reasonably line up with what we should expect today.” 4No my experiences don’t line up with your doctrine. 5Don you also say in [par. 1, sent. 6-7] that “you are only the messenger of the word and will of God and not the judge.” 6But you (the COC doctrine) make yourself the judge when you add to the Word of God and put stipulations and steps and cause division. 7There is no way that Father God, the Creator of the Universe would require a person in a perilous situation to go through the steps you outlined for salvation. 8A person being swept away in a spumoni or about to die in a plummeting airplane would not need the COC teaching to be “taught” to them and made to go through the steps before God would sweep up their souls (IF they were crying out to Jesus) and take them to heaven. 9Now, should we live our life in disobedience to God and then expect to cry out at the end? NO. 10But God knows the motive of our heart, not man! 11He is the judge and He sent the redeemer! 12He doesn’t need any mans help.
Reply to Paragraph 12
As is typical, there are quite a few typographical errors in that paragraph, which is likely an indication she was very emotional in writing her response and did not pay attention to her own writing, let alone truly study the reply she was responding to. In sentence 1, she says this writer does not believe the scriptures she mentioned about the Holy Spirit being alive today. This is as false as can be—I believe every one of the scriptures, just not the erroneous conclusions that she came to. I believe them all in proper context. However, she has taken them out of context, ignoring pronouns and other rules of grammar to make them mean whatever she wants them to mean. She should heed the warning of Peter regarding this (2 Pet. 3:16). By this, it is obvious that she does not love the truth, and it is very likely that God has given her up to strong delusion (2 Thess. 2:9-12). In sentence 2, she calls the doctrine of Christ “your doctrine”—this is what she would say to anyone who just showed her the scriptures. By “liberated mind,” apparently she wants all to ignore the rules of grammar too. In sentences 3-4, she partially quotes from the reply, then states that her experiences do not line up with “your doctrine.” Actually, in the reply it was stated that she provided no scriptural proof that her experiences are factually scriptural (TGP, Oct. 2023, pg. 30, par. 2, sent. 9-10). She is, in effect, equating “your doctrine” with scriptural proof. In essence, she is, herself, saying that her experiences do not line up with scriptural proof. She knows she has no defense for this, so she attempts to confuse and insult what was written by calling it “your doctrine.” That is exactly how strong the Word of God is – it will make detractors run from it! In sentences 5-7, she states that this writer had added to God’s word. There were no additions, however, she is in the camp of taking steps out. In sentence 8, she makes a play on emotionalism in giving the “God wouldn’t do that” argument. However, if a person has not obeyed the gospel and finds themselves in a situation like she described, that person has lived recklessly. Should we expect God to set aside His plan of salvation for a person who has lived in sin and only regrets it when they are facing eminent death? What about all the warnings to be prepared? Such a person is certainly not prepared— again, in complete defiance of God’s prescribed plan. Finally, in sentence 12, she states that God does not need man’s help. That is true, however, He does use us as earthen vessels to do His will, and it is our duty to carry out this charge as was thoroughly explained to Mrs. Jackson in TGP, Oct. 2023, pg. 32, par. 12.
(13)
1Even though I don’t agree with all of your doctrine, IF you believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins (and I do think that you believe that) then you are saved and you are going to heaven! 2But you don’t think that I am saved even though I believe Christ died for my sins.
Reply to Paragraph 13
She states that, even though she does not agree with the doctrine, if this writer believes Jesus died on the cross for our sins, then he is going to heaven. If we go to heaven just for believing this, why all the scriptures warning against false teaching? Does she think preaching a perverted gospel will not cause us to be accursed if we just believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins (Gal. 1:6-9)? Why would Paul tell the Romans to mark and avoid them which cause offenses contrary to the doctrine, if doctrine does not matter (Rom. 16:17)? Does she believe that teaching false doctrine and damnable heresies will not bring upon her swift destruction if she just believes Jesus died on the cross for her sins (2 Pet. 2:1)? Does she believe she cannot twist the scriptures to her own destruction if she just believes Jesus died on the cross for her sins (2 Pet. 3:16)? The devils believe, and yet they tremble (Jas. 2:19). Why do they tremble? Because they are not saved? If they believe, why are they not saved? It is because it all comes down to obedience to the doctrine of Christ. That is why, if we are not adhering to it, we do not have God, and we are not saved (2 John 9-11).
(14)
1Titus 3:4-7 explains justification by Faith. 2Vs 7 “That being justified by His Grace points out that we can only be justified by Grace and not at all by works (Eph 2:8-9). 3I totally agree with [TGP, Nov. 2023, pg. 25, par. 20] and I agree with [par. 21, 22, and 23] – Amen. 4I am comfortable studying the Word precept upon precept. 5[Par. 23, sent. 9-11] is so true. 6When I stated an aversion to be called “religious”, I was referring to “religious groups/denominations etc” being so set in their ways that they believe a “man’s doctrine” or a “denomination doctrine” disregarding the purity of God’s Word.
Reply to Paragraph 14
1Here, in sentences 1-2, Mrs. Jackson states that Titus 3:4-7 explains justification by faith, then says we can only be justified by grace and not by works at all, citing Ephesians 2:8-9. So, does she believe we are justified by faith or justified by grace? “Faith” and “grace” are not synonymous terms, and justification by grace only excludes everything else—including faith. Her statement that we are not justified by works at all directly contradicts God’s word in James 2:24: “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” In fact, we are justified by grace, faith, and the works God has commanded us to do but not by works of the Old Testament law. That middle wall was broken down by the cross (Eph. 2:8-22); we are not justified by it (Gal. 5:4). In sentences 3-5, she said she agreed with TGP, Nov. 2023, pg. 25, par. 20, 21, 22, and 23. However, in TGP, June 2024, pg. 18, par. 9, sent. 3-5, she says the law of Moses is still in effect. The pages she states she agrees with explain that the law of Moses is not in effect (TGP, Nov. 2023, pg. 25, par.22, sent. 1-13). Again, it’s clear she does not know what she believes. In sentence 6, when she departs from the standard definition of a word, such as “religious,” she ought to initially indicate she is doing so. Otherwise, she seems sly and underhanded. When people called her “religious,” as she stated in TGP, July 2023, pg. 32, par. 6, sent. 2, did she really believe they meant it in the way of her definition of it here? Moreover, if she did not think they meant it in this unique way she has defined it, why would she twist it in response to them as though they did—if her intent here is really sincere?
(15)
1In [TGP, Oct. 2023, pg. 32, par. 12, sent. 1-2, and par. 13, sent. 1-3] You were speaking of your experience and how you arrived at your current belief system. 2This was through “teaching by man and scripture and reason, honesty and independent investigation”. 3I applaud you on your hunger for truth. 4I can also relate to that. 5I was a philosophy minor in college (before I was saved) and that was only because I was on a quest for truth. 6Nothing I read regarding the main stream philosophers even remotely gave me rock solid answers or peace. 7Until I was saved by grace through the Lord Jesus Christ and started studying the scriptures with the guidance of the HS did I really know truth. 8Yes, I have gotten off track over the years with certain teachings until I lined them up with the Word of God and thew them out. 9Again, that is a form of “walking out your salvation”.
Reply to Paragraph 15
In sentence 7, Mrs. Jackson continues to state her erroneous position of being saved and being guided by the Holy Spirit—in complete defiance of what the Bible teaches on these subjects. In sentence 8, if she is lining anything up with the word of God, she would know she is now throwing out the Bible. Finally, in sentence 9, she seems to be afraid to quote Philippians 2:12 correctly, substituting “work” for “walking.” Could this be because she had just stated we are not at all justified by works in paragraph 14, sentence 2? The contradictions of erroneous teaching are endless.
Conclusion
Coupled with her defiance of the truth, Mrs. Jackson’s blunders also continue and are glaring. This happens when people argue against the absolute truth of God’s will. If only she would have let the word be her guidance, she could have left all these false teachings behind. However, the world of religious doctrinal chaos continues with her. The next installment will be the final portion of this exchange.
