Altar Calls

 

According to the false doctrines of Churchanity, people in the Old Testament and those of the first century AD had to wait for the New Testament to be written, and organization religion to invent "the sinner's prayer" before they could receive salvation.

 

The phrase "get saved" and "altar call" occur zero times in zero verses in the King James Version of the Bible. 

 

Some Churches say baptism is essential for salvation, some baptize babies, some baptize young children, some sprinkle. some by immersion, some in lakes, creeks or rivers, and some to join a particular Church organization. You can't go wrong if you just do what the Bible teaches,  The Ethiopian eunuch said: “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” ~ Acts 8:26-40. Jesus was 30 years old before He requested baptism. Baptism is a symbol of death to sin and resurrection to new life, not for infants and young children who cannot comprehend the meaning of baptism.

 

Yet "get saved" and "altar calls" is all Churchanity preaches. Like so many doctrines and practices that goes on in denominational Christianity, altar calls are an emotional appeal that are man made traditions. Jesus does not beg, or force, people to "get saved." Neither does He threaten people with eternal torture.  

 

When Jesus gave instructions to his Disciples about preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, he was not concerned about altar calls. "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet." ~ Matthew 10:14  

 

Jesus simply says here's your free gift, take it or leave it. ~John 3:17

 

What did Jesus Command His Disciples to Preach?

Make Disciples, Not Church Members

1. Matthew 4:23 

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

 

2. Matthew 9:35 

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

 

3. Matthew 24:14 

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

 

4. Mark 1:14 

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God

 

5. Mark 1:15 

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” 

 

6. Matthew 6:33 

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Jesus never once gave an altar call after any of His sermons. Salvation is a free gift to ALL who accept it. The "sinner's prayer" is no where to be found in the teaching of the gospel of the kingdom. Any person who wants to enter the Kingdom of God must do so by entering through The Door. 

 

Jesus Christ is The Door, not a Church building door. The true Church that Jesus established is made of Godly people, not denominations. God's people can have fellowship with one another, but their spiritual walks are independent paths sovereignly directed by their Heavenly Father.

1. John 10:1 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 

 

2. John 10:2 

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

 

3. John 10:9

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

4. Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

What is Salvation?

The KJV translates the word salvation in the following manner: salvation (65x), help (4x), deliverance (3x), health (3x), save (1x), saving (1x), welfare (1x).

The Bible definition of the word salvation it is not the same as eternal life. "But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” ~Matthew 19:17

Luke 3:6

And all flesh shall see (better translated: perceive, understand) the salvation of God. How is that Possible?

2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

1 Thessalonians 5:9

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

~ John 3:17

 

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Question? Did Jesus say to the woman, "Go to a priest and make confession, or say the sinner's prayer, or join a Church?"

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” ~ John 8:10-12

Church attendance is a good thing, but going to Church is not the way to eternal life.

 

Traditions of men have made the Bible confusing. The Bible is really very simple. The more you follow the Bible the more you will understand when God chooses to reveal the truth to you. The Bible describes how the Faithful from every age will be resurrected... But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. - 1 Corinthians 15:23

 

Christ Jesus was the first Son to mature and be resurrected. Likewise, Christians in the Barley Company will come to maturity just as Jesus did. They will be harvested (i.e., resurrected or translated) before the Wheat Christians. The Barley Company are the Overcomers of all ages who will be raised in the first resurrection.

The Wheat Christians will be resurrected later, at the end of the millennium, and the olives and grapes companies even later. Desiring to grow rapidly, the Barley Company Christians leave (or get “disfellowshipped” from) churches that only preach the milk of the word, churches where virtually every sermon ends in an altar call to “get saved.” The Barley Christians strive to “go on to perfection; not laying again” the foundational doctrine of salvation.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.  ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

 

You are cordially invited to join Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group

 

The purpose of this post is to get people to think about what they believe and why they believe it, not debate who's right or wrong. To learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.