Can a True Believer Live Like the Devil?

By David J. Stewart | February 2018

Romans 5:20, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

       I received the following question from a web visitor...

QUESTION:

When you say you can be saved and live like the devil and still go to heaven, isn't that giving us a license to sin? I don't think [the] doctrine of eternal security gives anyone a license to sin. As a believer we should yield our self to God as you say, not to get saved but, because we are saved.

He based his question upon a truthful quote I had sent him by Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold...

“'You can't tell me you can trust Christ as Savior, and then go out here and live like the Devil, and still go to Heaven!' Yes, I can tell you that! That's what the Bible says. If you don't come to the conclusion, that—Yes, you can trust Christ as your Savior and live like the Devil, and still go to Heaven when you die—you don't get grace, because that is the exact truth! That is the truth! I do not have to change my life! I don't have to stop one sin! You say, 'I've never heard a preacher say that.' You just heard one! And you listen to me—I want to live as holy and as godly as I possibly can. I am now 70 years old. I've been saved for 52 years. ... the only reason I'm going to Heaven is because, 52 years ago in a little living room, I accepted Christ as my Savior.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, a great quote from the awesome sermon, Calvinism And Grace Are NOT Compatible | MP3


MY BIBLICAL RESPONSE:

Hey N****,

Theologically, every believer has a license to sin, as far as salvation is concerned. Once a person is saved, they are sealed with the Holy Spirit and can NEVER be unsaved again. Having said that, no believer has God's permission to sin. Romans 3:31, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." Jesus saved us so that we wouldn't live in sin anymore, but He does not require it as part of being saved. Eternal life and forgiveness of sins are the free gift of God (Romans 5:15, 6:23).

If eternal security is dependent upon the way in which we live, then it CANNOT be a gift. If living in sin can affect our position in Christ as His child, then we have a part in our own salvation, and we have a right to boast. But the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9 that no man has a right to boast, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Salvation is without works!

Hebrews 12:6-8 teaches that God chastises His children when we sin. God never punishes His children, because Christ paid our debt of sin. This is why 2nd Corinthians 5:10 says that every believer will be held accountable at the Judgment Seat of Christ for their works done in the body, "WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR BAD." We will NOT be judged for sins. Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross! As far as the east is from the west, God has separated our sins from us. Psalms 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

Ray Comfort, Paul Washer and John MacArthur wrongly mix discipleship with sonship (salvation). By faith, God saves a man, Nothing else is required. That man is born anew instantaneously, not over time. Getting born-again is not a process, it is immediate and forever! But being conformed into Christ's image takes a lifetime. We are saved immediately by trusting Christ, but being transformed into His image takes a lifetime. Here are some great quotes contrasting discipleship from salvation...

http://www.jesusisprecious.org/false_doctrine/lordship_salvation/lordship.htm#gift

Finally, here is one of the best MP3 sermons you'll ever hear by Dr. Jack Hyles, titled, "Steps To Sanctification; Or, The Root Of All Heresy!"...

http://www.jesusisprecious.org/sermons/audio/jack_hyles/steps_in_sanctification_or_the_root_of_all_heresy.mp3

We are saved by trusting Christ. Then, after we are saved, we die with Christ to our selfish ambitions and sinful ways. Then we rise up with Jesus in newness of life, to live for others in Christ. And then we ascend with Jesus to have sweet fellowship with God. This is what Dr. Hyles teaches. Now this is God's proper order... Trust, Die With Christ, Rise Up With Christ, then Ascend with Christ. It is heresy to combine and confuse dying with Christ with trusting Christ. We are saved only by trusting Christ. Then, as a believer, we are supposed to die with Christ in newness of life and walk in the Spirit. But many people trust Christ, but they don't die with Christ. They are carnally minded (1st Corinthians 3:1). Paul Washer is a satanic liar, who says "There is no such thing as a carnal believer." 1st Corinthians 3:1 says there is!

A person who believes that they cannot live in sin and still be saved, IS NOT SAVED! Dr. Hank Lindstrom teaches on this important truth in his classic MP3 sermon called, "How Permanent Is Your Salvation?"...

http://www.jesusisprecious.org/sermons/audio/hank_lindstrom/how_permanent_is_your_salvation.mp3

Kindest regards,

THE END

“Now you say, 'Brother Hyles, you make an issue.' You dead sure better know I'll make an issue!”
BATTLE OF THE AGES (MP3, Dr. Jack Hyles, “The King James Bible crowd is going to come out on top!”)


Souls Are Dying!

Precious Christian Testimonies

How Permanent Is Your Salvation?
(an excellent MP3 sermon by Pastor Hank Lindstrom, 1940-2008)

“The mark of the child of God is that he loves everybody!”
(a quote from Pastor Jack Hyles' classic MP3 sermon, “FORGIVENESS”)


Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!