Theological disunion over the mid-air collision between the ARMY Black Hawk and American Airlines Flight 5342 in D.C. over the Potomac River

As I write, I must admittedly say this. Only by the grace of God did He grant me repentance from the Arminianism seen in the below screenshot. Regretfully some of my former Arminianism still resurfaces on the internet. I hate that about me, but this is the now.

In response to the ARMY Black Hawk that negligently collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 in D.C. over the Potomac River, I saw this post shared by many on my Facebook feed.

The above-screenshotted post is by Mark Spence. Spence is Senior Vice President of the Living Waters ministry located in Southern California. Spence claims to have been saved because he “went forward” at an unbiblical altar call given by Greg Laurie at a Harvest Crusade. Though there are some truths in his above post, it is dangerously mixed with error. I will address a few of those errors.

Fear

Spence said “This is not about fear. It is about reality.”

Hebrews 10:31 says “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

For context read Hebrews 10:26-31 here.

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Every soul that perished in that midair collision found out, that it is a fearful thing to now face a Holy Just God and His judgment. And God will discriminate separating the sheep from the goats. Christ paid the sin debt of His sheep, but not of the lost.

Any souls that were God’s elect, had a reverential fear of God, respect, and awe for the awesomeness of the God that saved them. The non-elect in that collision have much to be afraid of as they face His “judgment and fiery indignation” that the above passage warns of.

Invitation

Spence said, “but we do have an invitation today to be reconciled to God through Christ.”

The Gospel is a command, not an “invitation.” Salvation is not a choice where the unregenerate chooses to accept Jesus and/or His salvation as we make a decision to respond to an invitation.

All the above are not only un-biblical, they are anti-biblical forms of soteriology.

Salvation is only for the elect. The elect are those whom GOD chose and predestined to be saved before the foundation of this world. It is God who accepts His elect. Salvation is the monergistic work of the Godhead as He freely and sovereignly saves them.

What the elect does in that immediate salvation is ‘repent and believe,’ and that repentance and belief are also a gift granted by the Lord.

Snooze

Spence said, “If you have not settled that, do not hit snooze on your soul.”

There is no “snooze” button for our soul. We’re either predestined to be saved or we’re predestined to be dammed into hellfire forever. Those who are dead (nekrós) in their trespasses and sin (Eph 2:1) are as dead as a corpse in a graveyard. They are unable to respond to the things above. They are not able to turn off the “snooze” button unless the Lord quickens their dead nonresponsive heart.

This false doctrine of invitation, or this apparent ability to snooze or not to snooze coincides with the false teaching called the ‘well-meant offer’ of the Gospel (aka the free offer of the Gospel).

This false teaching says that God meant well (or was well-meaning) for all, but somehow failed with some. Or, that Jesus is willing to offer you salvation via an invitation. To say that God is not sovereign is blasphemy and heresy (more here).

As I said before.

We must repent from the sinner’s prayer heresy. We must repent from the ‘acceptance Gospel.’ Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus say “Accept Me into your heart.” Could you imagine reducing the Lord of lords and King of kings, into a mere ‘acceptance?’ We don’t accept Him, He accepts His elect (John 6:44, 2 Cor 5:9, Rom 12:1). We don’t choose Him, He chose His elect (John 15:16). We love Him because He first loved His elect (1 John 4:10). We didn’t “find the Lord” (as I used to say.) [42] I was lost, therefore it was HIM who found me. Even our repentance comes from the Lord (Acts 11:18, 2 Tim 2:25)….

…Have we forgotten that salvation involves each of the three persons of the Godhead, that salvation is the Divine monergistic work of the Holy Trinity? Salvation comes to others as the Father ‘chooses whom He elects.’ He draws them (gives them) to His Son for redemption (John 6:37-44; 17:2,6,9,24). Christ then redeems them from their sins, through the redemptive work of Christ (John 10:15, Heb 9:11-28, Eph 5:25b). And the Holy Spirit regenerates their heart, as He quickens them by His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27, John 3:5-8, Titus 3:5-6, Rom 2:29; cf 2 Tim 2:25, 2 Cor. 4:6, John 10:27, Acts 16:14, John 1:13). Notice that man had nothing to do with this salvific process, except for preaching the glorious Gospel (Rom 1:16).

Soteriology, the doctrine of salvation, or how one becomes saved is essential, and we must lovingly divide over this.

Again, only by the grace of God so go the wretched man I am. Repent and believe the Gospel below and the finished work of Christ.   

THE GOOD NEWS!