Author: Hafley, Larry Ray

We have shown that: (1) the promise of Jesus in Mark 16:17, 18, did not extend to all believers, even in the first century; (2) the promise of Jesus includes more than tongues and healing; (3) the word was preached, and the signs confirming that word followed; (4) the word, the gospel, is to be separated or distinguished from the signs; (5) the signs have ceased, consequently no man today possesses any of them.

We take no joy in recounting the death of yet another Pentecostal preacher, Dwayne Long, who died while handling a rattlesnake during Easter Sunday church services.

Are the Scriptures cited sufficient to show one that he must believe before he can be saved (Mk. 16:16)? If those verses are able to lead one to understand that he must believe and repent in order to be forgiven and saved, why are they not complete enough to teach him that he must be baptized, too?

A good friend and brother in the Lord, Don Craven, wrote concerning a Baptist preacher, James O. Newell, who was baptized recently during a Baptist service. Several Baptists were confused about the matter and thought their preacher was being saved. One Baptist approached Don and asked what he thought about it. Don wrote the Baptist preacher and asked for an explanation. Below is the explanation from the Baptist preacher and my comments on it.

Baptist baptism makes one a member of a Baptist Church. The “one baptism” of the New Testament never made anyone a member of a Baptist Church. One is baptized “into one body,” the body of Christ, the body of the saved, the kingdom of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13; John 3:3, 5; Ephesians 2:16; 4:4; 5:25, 26).

“Be thou faithful unto death,” for it is only the faithful who will hear the welcome words, “well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

As long as one draws near to God, he is “saved forever,” but if one ceases to believe, departs from God and is “defiled,” a punishment worse than death awaits him!

Moses, Elijah, and the apostles had their word confirmed by signs that clearly and powerfully showed that God was the author and finisher of their faith (Exodus 4:1-5; 1 Kings 18:21-40; Hebrews 2:1-4). However, we see no such things from Pentecostal preachers who claim similar gifts and powers today.

Both of us cannot be right before God. If I am teaching a “works” oriented salvation, as defined in Ephesians 2:8, 9, and Titus 3:5, I cannot be saved, nor can those who hear me be saved (1 Tim. 4:16). On the other hand, if you are not submitting to God’s plan of making men righteous, then you are in danger of the judgment as are those whom you are misleading (Rom. 10:1-3; 2 Jn. 9). “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matt. 15:14).

Yes, it is right to pray for Pat’s recovery, but, again, since he believes in miraculous divine healing as per the lame man in Acts 3:6, 7, in accordance with the teaching of Mark 16:17, 18, why does not one of his brethren heal him?

Yes, my young Christian friend, I will, with love and kindness, overlook your earnest and perhaps honest “youthful ramblings.” I, too, was once young. I, too, have made foolish judgments and impetuous statements. Not knowing the Scriptures, and not having the experience of seasoned and mature, battle scarred veterans of the faith, when I said things that were “off base,” I was taught and led back to the way of truth.

That Mr. Robertson had cancer of the prostate is beyond dispute. So, why did they not call for one of his miracles working friends to heal him? Better yet, why didn’t one of them volunteer to do so? I mean, if I had such a gift, the very minute I heard that my friend, Pat Robertson, had such a serious disease, I would have insisted that I be allowed to come and pray that he might receive his healing!

Some hold to the contention that the gospel accounts are all the direction we need in our lives, and that the apostle Paul actually corrupted the teachings of Christ. This contention is false.

Imagine that-Methodists eventually may forsake a common Protestant practice and actually break bread as those non-Methodist, New Testament disciples did (Acts 20:7)! What’s more, the “weekly practice” would not only “fit the practice of Methodist founder, John Wesley,” but it also would “fit the practice” of the church of Christ’s founder, Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:20; Acts 2:42; 20:7).

Now, if ever there comes a time when everyone is saved, if there were ever a time when there were no lost sinners, if every man were forgiven, would water baptism continue? No, for its purpose would no longer be necessary. That is why the other baptisms ceased. So, water baptism would end and would no longer be practiced if everyone were saved. Obviously, that has not happened, and water baptism continues. It is, therefore, the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently (and erroneously) concluded that “Jews can be saved without coming to faith in Jesus Christ.”

Larry Ray Hafley answers from the scriptures questions asked by a Baptist Preacher.

Tongues are languages. In the New Testament, those who spoke in tongues, were miraculously enabled to speak languages, or tongues, they had never studied and never learned. In Acts 2, men from many nations heard the apostles speak in their tongues, their languages, and they understood them (Acts 2:4-11). It is one of those “things that are not debatable.” It is not being done today by the Pentecostals, nor by anyone else. And, that is “not debatable,” either!

Those who speak in tongues that are not understood produce confusion. They do not produce learning, edification, comfort, and peace. Hence, they are not to speak to others if there is no interpreter — “If any man speak in an unknown tongue (remember, an unknown tongue is simply a language not understood by the audience), let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God” (vv. 27, 28). Pentecostal churches violate these words of the Spirit every time they engage in what they call “tongues speaking.”

Before one can trust in Christ and be saved, he must hear the gospel (Ephesians 1:13). That faith comes by hearing the word of God as found in the New Testament. It can be received in no other way (1 Corinthians 4:6, 15; 15:1-4, 11).