Paul Washer vs Joel Osteen? Both Teach Seeking for Salvation
- 16 years ago
http://Godnoliar.com/Washer_vs_Osteen.htm
Paul Washer from Heartcry Missionaries teaches salvation by seeking - just like Joel Osteen does. Washer tells an unbeliever, “Dear woman, you have two choices. You can stop seeking him and go to hell. Or you can keep seeking him, until he finds thee.”
In other words, the woman must first seek – she must strive for salvation by praying and humbling herself – before God will save her. The woman must first BECOME GODLY BEFORE JUSTIFICATION. This is justification by our own godliness (which is actually wicked self-righteousness), and not the Righteousness of God – the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Contrast Paul Washer with the Apostle Paul.
Washer implies that, “to the one working, praying, seeking – God will save them”
The Apostle says, “Now to one working, the reward is not counted according to grace, but according to debt.” (Rom 4:4)
I.e. Romans 4:4 says that IF our own striving qualifies for salvation, THEN SALVATION IS NOT BY GRACE. If the woman’s prayers in any way make her a better candidate for salvation, then GOD IS INDEBTED TO HER, AND OWES HER SALVATION. And in that case, salvation would not be a gift.
Again…
Washer implies that, “God justifies those who first become godly”.
The Apostle says, “But to the one NOT working, but believing on Him justifying the UNGODLY.” (Rom 4:5)
Clearly, man is completely passive in salvation – he is ungodly when God justifies him. So it must be the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ that distinguishes one man from another in God’s eyes.
Paul Washer from Heartcry Missionaries teaches salvation by seeking - just like Joel Osteen does. Washer tells an unbeliever, “Dear woman, you have two choices. You can stop seeking him and go to hell. Or you can keep seeking him, until he finds thee.”
In other words, the woman must first seek – she must strive for salvation by praying and humbling herself – before God will save her. The woman must first BECOME GODLY BEFORE JUSTIFICATION. This is justification by our own godliness (which is actually wicked self-righteousness), and not the Righteousness of God – the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Contrast Paul Washer with the Apostle Paul.
Washer implies that, “to the one working, praying, seeking – God will save them”
The Apostle says, “Now to one working, the reward is not counted according to grace, but according to debt.” (Rom 4:4)
I.e. Romans 4:4 says that IF our own striving qualifies for salvation, THEN SALVATION IS NOT BY GRACE. If the woman’s prayers in any way make her a better candidate for salvation, then GOD IS INDEBTED TO HER, AND OWES HER SALVATION. And in that case, salvation would not be a gift.
Again…
Washer implies that, “God justifies those who first become godly”.
The Apostle says, “But to the one NOT working, but believing on Him justifying the UNGODLY.” (Rom 4:5)
Clearly, man is completely passive in salvation – he is ungodly when God justifies him. So it must be the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ that distinguishes one man from another in God’s eyes.