Rebuttals to Steve Winter's Bible Studies

As found on www.prime.org

The purpose of this page is to provide responses to Steve Winter's Bible Studies. It is my goal to accurately handle the Word of God. I make every effort to bring the whole counsel of Scripture to bear, and to come to conclusions that are supported by the whole counsel.

For those who read Steve Winter's posts and comments, I commend these verses to your minds:

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your hear that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness and with the mouth man confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

[ Romans 10:9-11 NASB]

I welcome comments, questions or critcisms at sadams@enteract.com.

Note: Additions are being made regularly. Check back often!

100 Answer to "The Basic Gospel Message"

Steve Winter's original article

When addressing this issue, the first thing that needs to be defined is what *is* the Gospel. "Gospel" literally means "good news." What is this good news?

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

[John 3:16 NASB]

That's it. That's the basic gospel. In one form or another, belief (faith) in Jesus Christ is named as the method of salvation. Jesus told us this...

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.

[John 11:25-26 NASB]

Jesus also said...

This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.

[John 6:29 NASB]

We see Paul, witing to the Church in Rome saying the same thing...

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your hear that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness and with the mouth man confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

[Romans 10:9-11 NASB]

Paul makes it clear that it is belief and confession, not baptism that saves. Note well that Paul says that those who belive will not be disappointed! He writes to the church at Ephesus saying...

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not as a result of works, that no man should boast.

[Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB]

Of course, this is nothing new. The author of Hebrews reminds us that it was always faith that saved. Check out the "Faith Hall of Fame" found in Hebrews 11, where the refrain "By Faith" rings loud and clear. Old Testament and New, it has always been faith that saves.

Steve Winter says otherwise. He says that...

The apostles made sure that folks had been re-born both of the WATER and re-born of the SPIRIT, the Acts 2:38 plan of salvation that has always been adhered to by true Christianity.

While it is true that salvation brings about regeneration (the re-birth), it is not true that baptism is required for salvation. To insist that baptism is required is to add to the gospel. The Gospel is GRACE+NOTHING. That is, salvation is accomplished soley by God's Grace, with nothing added in. Let me be clear. I am NOT teaching antinomianism (Paul was accused of the same thing because of his "pure grace" gospel - see Romans 5-8, especially vv 5:20-6:1). Salvation will bring repentence and obedience as its fruit.

It's important to realize that the salvation of believers was determined long before they were born. They are God's elect from before time. As such, they were elect long before there was any chance they were baptized. Paul tells the Ephesian church....

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blamelss before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestwoed on us in the Beloved.

[Ephesians 1:3-6 NASB]

And Paul tells the Church in Rome that...

And we know that God causes all things to work together for for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the first-born among brethren; and howm He predestined, He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorfied.

[Romans 8:28-30]

So, everyone who was predestined, before the foundation of the world is going to be called. Jesus told us what happens to those who are called...

And this is the will of Him who sent me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothin, but raise it up on the last day.

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day

[John 6:37,44 NASB]

It's clear that the elect are chosen before they can perform any act and that all of those that are chosen will be saved. But what about baptism? Steve Winter says:

Whenever either ingredient of the new birth was missing, the apostles IMMEDIATELY added the missing one. Those who had even been baptised personally by John the Baptist were IMMEDIATELY re-baptised in Jesus name for the remission of their sins. John's baptism was only for repentance it did NOT accomplish the remission of sins, but Jesus NAME baptism does remit sins by the POWER of the shed blood of God.

And baptism does not accomplish the remission of sins. You yourself say that the power is from the shed blood of God (the Lamb). Baptism in and of itself has no power. In the same way that circumcision was an outward sign of a covenant, so too is baptism a sign of the covenant of Jesus shed blood.

Believers SHOULD make every effort to be baptized. Why? Jesus told us:

But John tried to prevent Him, saying "I have need to be baptized by You, and do you come to me? But Jesus answered Him by saying "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him.

[Matthew 3:14-15 NASB]

Now, what baptism was John talking about here? Well, he told us...

As for me, I baptize you with water for repentence, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire.

[Matthew 3:11]

Now in light of the fact that there is only one baptism (Eph 4:5), and John's comment about Jesus method of baptizing, it must be that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the "One Baptism" we are called to. And this is not something we can do ourselves - it comes from God.

Steve Winter says....

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Those that suggest that non-believers would be baptised and that Jesus would have needed to mention lack of baptism WITH non-belief, are not being honest, so we need not waste time with them.

Mr Winter won't waste time with this because Jesus says NOTHING about what happens to believers who are not baptized. The answer to that question isn't given here. Not to mention the severe textual problems here. Some of the oldest available manuscripts do not have Mark 16:9ff. There is also an alternate short ending to the Gospel, which sometimes follows v8 and other times follows vv 9-20. To base doctrine on any of the verses from 9-20 is questionable at best. But even so, all scripture must be understood in the light of all other scripture that bears on the same topic. And the shear weight of scripture argues against the necessity of baptism for salvation, even when these verses are taken into account.

I want to repeat what I said - all true believers should make every effort to be baptized. All true believers will obey the commands of Christ. This is not antinomianism, no matter how much Mr Winter wants it to be. It is simply the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. Grace+Nothing.

101 Answer to "Why No Trinitarian Will be Saved"

Steve Winter's original article

Steve Winter insists that those who understand the nature of God as triune will "Die in their Sins" as unbelievers. Mr Winter continually demonstrates that he does not understand (or perhaps refuses to understand) what orthodox Christians mean by the triune nature of God, commonly called the Trinity. For example, he says that...

I hope to explain in this brief post why, according to the Bible, polytheists will die in their sins and spend eternity in a devils' hell (since hell was not originaly intended for men).

When Mr Winter says "polytheists" here, he is referring to trinitarians. The problem is, of course, that Trinitarians are NOT polytheistic - we do NOT believe in more than one God. It is basic to the teachings about the triune nature of God that God *is* One (Deut 6:4). Given this simple fact, any claims that Mr Winter makes about the fate of polytheists do not apply to Christians who believe in the triune nature of God.

Mr Winter says...

In Acts 2:38 we see that sins are remitted (washed away) by Jesus name baptism. Now the denominal polytheist is not really worshipping the single deity, Jesus Christ of the Bible, so they see no need to be baptised in Jesus name (even though the Bible clearly commands it). They think that their three "god persons" need three seperate "titles" in baptism. Let us notice the Pentecostal message preached on the birthday of Christianity.

There are several problems here. First of all, the water of baptism is NOT efficacious to salvation. It cannot remit sins. The author of Hebews tells us...

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

[Hebrews 9:22]

It was the Blood of the Lamb that washed us claen, not the water of baptism, which was purely symbolic, in the same way that circumcision was symbolic of Abraham's relationship with God. There are numerous people listed in Hebrews 11 who did not receive the baptism that Mr Winter claims is necessary. It was, and is, and will always be, faith that saves us. See the detailed commentary on this in section 100 above.

One response that is sure to arise from my comment is that those believers lived in a different dispensation. But the problem with dispensationalism is that there was NEVER a different method of salvation other than faith (which Hebrews backs up). Not to mention that Jesus Christ was, is and always will be the same! (cf Heb 13:8)

Steve Winter also says...

This is because, according to the Bible, Jesus is the Great "I AM" of the Bible and His name is the ONLY saving name.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Now the denominal polytheist will not accept that Jesus is "I AM". They "don't believe". They are scripturally "non-believers". That is why Jesus said that those who would not accept that He really was the "I AM" would die in their sins. I believe scripture supports:

This is not a problem for belivers in the triune nature of God. We have no argument with the fact that Jesus is "I AM" and we do not deny that He *is* God. As for Jesus name being the only one by which we can be saved, we agree as well! Where we disagree (and Scripture disagrees with you, not me) is how this is accomplished. Jesus tells us...

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

[John 3:16 NASB]

Jesus also tells us...

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.

[John 11:25-26 NASB]

Jesus also said...

This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.

[John 6:29 NASB]

Paul agrees with this as well. See Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9, etc. Most telling of all....

and after he brouht them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jeuss, and you shall be saved, you and your household."

[ Acts 16:30-31]

That's the power of Jesus name! And it comes by belief! Not by a ceremony.

Finally, Steve Winter says...

I hope that I have been adequate in this brief study to establish that Jesus name baptism is the method chosen by God to freely remit the sins of the repentant believer, and that rejection of Jesus name baptism results in the retention of ones sins by the Bible rejector.

Simply not the case. Sins are washed away by Jesus blood, spilled at Calvary. He paid the ultimate price, one that we could never pay. The "Free Gift" from God is grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9). The true gospel is Grace+Nothing. Baptism is a sign, not a requirement. Believers will desire baptism and seek to be baptized, and I strongly encourage them. Obedience is a result of salvation, not a prerequisite.

102 Answer to Principles of Basic Bible Study

Steve Winter's original article

In this document, Steve Winter wishes to give "Principles of Basic Bible Study" but he does not such thing. He makes a few simple statements (wrong, at that) and then launches into his regular Acts 2:38 statements. I will address his claims about interpretation and rightly dividing the word, as well as make a few points about how he is misusing the Scriptures.

Mr Winter says that...

The job of a real preacher is not to "interpret" the Bible, but rather to "rightly divide" or "portion out in bite sized portions". Notice that the same Bible that says the scripture is not open to private interpretation also advocates it's being "rightly divided" by a preacher.

Mr Winter says that a real preacher doesn't interpret the Bible, which I find interesting, since that is EXACTLY what he himself does! Here's what the dictionary says about the word interpret...

in-ter-pret v. -preted, -preting, -prets. --tr. 1. To clarify the meaning of; elucidate. 2. To expound the significance of. 3. To represent the meaning of through art. 4. To translate. --intr. 1. To offer an explanation. 2. To translate orally.

[ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, W. Morris, ed,]

So every time Mr Winter offers his comments on the significance of a verse, or the meaning of a verse, or any other such thing, he is interpreting. He can claim to be doing something else, but in the end he is interpreting. As for "rightly dividing" this really means giving proper meaning to the text - Greek texts were written without punctuation, paragraphs, sentences, etc, being noted, with all of the characters run together. Rightly dividing meant getting the proper meaning out of the text. Perhaps an example will demonstrate. Considder the following string of characters...

THEPACKAGEISNOWHERE

Does it say "The package is now here" or "The package is nowhere" ? That's what rightly dividing the word is all about. It means making the text clear. In other words, interpreting. Mr Winter is trying to avoid something he cannot avoid - he is an iterpreter.

As for private interpretation, the Bible is not talking about teaching - it is making it clear that the prophecies in the Scriptures are from the Holy Spirit, not from men. See 1 Peter 1:20-21.

Mr Winter writes...

We need to understand that a deceiver will also be quoting scriptures, but the bottom line will be that the false preacher will be teaching why it is not essential to obey the Bible. Two men will use the exact same Bible. One will use it to decieve folks into disobeying it, the other will use it in an attempt to get people to see the importance of obeying God.

Since I teach that obedience is a direct result of salvation (ie a believer WILL be obedient), then by Mr Winter's definition, I am not a false teacher. Of course, what he REALLY means is that anyone who does not agree with his private interpretation of Acts 2:38 is a false teacher. I wonder why he thinks private interpretation is OK in this instance?

Mr. Winter makes some claims about the Bible that simply aren't supportable. For example, when defending Apostolic Authority, he says:

2) Jesus chose to use Apostles to teach His message. The _ONLY_ record that we have of anything that Jesus said is what an Apostle wrote down. People who received the doctrine of the Apostles were said to have received "the word" or "Word of the Lord Jesus". (Receiver=Obeyer)

Well, that's interesting, since neither Luke nor Mark were Apostles. Luke himself admits that his writings are based on interviews, etc, much as any history book or news report. Mr Winter wishes his claims were true, because then he would find a tiny sliver of support for his private Acts 2:38 intepretation. But as it turns out, we have quite a bit of information about Jesus that wasn't written down by an Apostle.

As for his claim that a receiver is an obeyer, the issue is not if, but when. I continue to maintain that until salvation, a person is utterly incapable of obeying God. Only after God has graciously saved us can we even begin to obey. Remember that the author of Hebrews says that the saints walked and obeyed by faith. It was AFTER they were saved (by grace through faith) that they were able to obey.

Mr Winter, in trying to support his claims, writes...

Paul preached the same Acts 2:38 message that Peter preached on the birthday of the new testament church. Notice that Paul disputed daily with those that opposed the "word of the Lord Jesus".

But this simply isn't true. Paul told everyone what he was preaching! See Romans 10:8-11 for Paul's own words about what he is preaching. Paul repeatedly tells us that salvation comes as a free gift from God with NO pre-conditions and no action on our part assisting God. See Ephesians 1 & 2.

So what are the Principles of Basic Bible Study? I think they are dilligence in getting to the true meaning of the text, based on the literal, historical method, taking the whole counsel of scripture on any topic. It is not simply picking a verse here or there, but accurately reading and understanding the meaning that the author meant to convey. Mr Winter is far more interested in defending his private interpretation that in finding the Truth. Anyone who is a student of scripture should only care about the truth, no matter what it might do to a personal doctrine.

103. Answer to "God's Definition of Love"

Steve Winter's original article

The most notable thing about Steve Winter's comments on God's definition of love is what is missing, not what is included. Nowhere in Mr Winter's article do we find the most radical teaching on love in the Bible...

You have heard that it was said "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who presecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven...For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same?"

[ Matthew 5:43-45a,46 NASB]

It's not surprising that Steve Winter doesn't quote this verse! Why? Because he doesn't practice it! Like all statements about proper behavior of believers, Mr Winter fails to obey, despite demanding obedience to his private interpretation of Acts 2:38. Why should you listen to someone who is willfully and intentionally disobedient?

Mr. Winter quotes Jesus in John 14:15, and yet fails to keep the commandments given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. All this, while demanding his private interpretation of Acts 2:38. What utter hypocracy.

He will, of course, trot out the Gal 1:8, which he claims allows him to curse those who "preach another Gospel." There are several problems with this, though. First of all, the verse does not say "curse them," nor could it, since Jesus says

But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

[ Luke 6:27-28 NASB]

So either Paul is in opposition to Jesus, or Steve Winter has a wrong understanding. Clearly, the latter is the case. Paul, in Galatians, is condemning to Hell anyone who teaches another Gospel. The second problem that Steve Winter has is that when Paul talks about "another Gospel" he is talking about anything other that the gospel of "Grace+Nothing." The context of Galatians makes this clear. Paul does not want the Galatians to fall into the error that certain acts on their part are required for salvation (nor does he teach antinomianism - he insists that true believers will obey).

What is God's definition of love? It's another verse that Steve Winter doesn't quote because it shows him for exactly what he is! Paul writes to the church in Rome saying...

Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hoopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...

[ Romans 13:4-8a NASB ]

That's God's definition of Love.

What of obedience? It is a sign of our love for Christ. Steve Winter quotes those verses at length, so they do not need to be repeated here. Those who love the Lord will obey his commandments.

The love Steve Winter wants you to see is not a full picture. And he knows it.

104 Answer to "The Book of Romans

Steve Winter's original article

Steve Winter makes a case that the Epistles to the Churchs in Rome, Ephesus, Thessolonica, Galatia, Corinth, Phillipi, Collosae were written only to believers, and therefore cannot be used in support of any doctrine of salvation. It is clear, though, that Paul is addressing, repeatedly, HOW salvation was accomplished by God in the life of the believer. At this point, we can apply what we learn to our understanding of the elements and method of salvation.

In order to support his private interpretation of Acts 2:38, Steve Winter must insist that the Epistles have nothing to say about how salvation is accomplished. If we allow Paul's teaching of grace through faith, then Mr Winter's entire theology comes crashing down.

Mr Winter writes...

Remember, the book of Romans was a letter that was written to the Church at Rome. It was a letter written to Christians, to people who had ALLREADY become Christians.

If we accept this, we are still presented with quite a bit of information about how that salvation was accomplished. And it is NOT what Mr Winter wants you to think. He goes on to say...

The Epistles of the Bible were all letters written to Christians instructing them how to STAY Christians, and how to please the Lord.

And yet Paul has much to say about how they became Christians. And it is important enough to Paul that he continually reminds them that it is faith, not works, not the law and not obedience that saves. Paul wants to make sure that they are not taken hostage by deceivers who try to preach "Grace+something" as the gospel, when it is clear that the gospel is "Grace+nothing". Salvation is by faith, not by any act that we perform.

Mr Winter quotes Romans 10:9-10 and says...

These verses are excellent instructions for people who have allready obeyed Acts 2:38 and become Christians (we see in Acts 19 that when Paul founded churches he preached Acts 2:38). A Christian that will obey Romans 10:9-10 will remain strong and will endure to the end and will be saved.

First of all, he fails to quote the next verse which says...

For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

[ Romans 10:11 NASB]

Secondly, he says that these are excellent instructions for those who are alrady Christians. But that's not what the verses say! Paul says something in verse 8 that tells us exactly what these verses are! They are the "word of faith"...

that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord...

[ Romans 10:8b-9a NASB ]

Interesting! Paul says that this is what he is preaching. Not Acts 2:38. Belief. And that's all. Obedience comes as a result of this belief, but Paul is not giving instructions as Mr Winter says. He is telling us what he is preaching. Now, what was it that Mr Winter keeps quoting? Oh yes...Gal 1:8. Well, if Paul is preaching what he says he is in Romans 10:8-11, and Mr Winter says that this is not the gospel, who does Gal 1:8 apply to here? The answer is obvious. It applies to Steve Winter.

Steve Winter concludes with this "warning"...

Don't be suprised that Satan's ministers will pretend to be Christian preachers, the Bible says that they will; and it is their job to convince YOU that you can be saved without obeying the Bible.

Our salvation has nothing to do with obedience. It can't, since we were chosen from before the foundation of the world. On the other hand, those who are saved will obey. Tell me, how can we obey when we have not even been created? And yet, we are saved before we are created. Steve Winter teaches that obedience yields salvation, while the Bible teaches that salvation yields obedience. Steve Winter is preaching another Gospel.

105 Answer to "Paul's Gospel Message"

Steve Winter's original article

Steve Winter makes his usual claim here, saying...

The Apostle Paul preached the Acts 2:38 message. Notice how it is referred to as the word of the Lord Jesus.

But what is it that Paul says he is preaching? He tells the Romans...

that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your hear that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness and with the mouth man confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

[ Romans 10:8-11 NASB]

Is Paul telling the truth here? I would think so! Steve Winter says that the gospel is something different than that which Paul is preaching. Paul is consistant about HOW salvation is accomplished. It is always by grace through faith. Steve Winter says that it was obedience to Acts 2:38 that saved those in Ephesus, but Paul says differently...

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not as a result of works, that no man should boast.

[Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB]

Paul knows that they were saved by grace, not by their baptism. In fact, he makes is absolutely clear that they could not have affected their own salvation when he says....

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blamelss before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestwoed on us in the Beloved.

[Ephesians 1:3-6 NASB]

Paul tells them that their salvation was effected before the foundation of the world. How could they have obeyed? The answer is, praise God, they couldn't! That's the point Paul is making here. We are helpless without God. We cannot even hear His call unless we are His. Obedience prior to salvation simply is not possible. Obedience after salvation is a sign of our salvation, not a cause of it.

One other point needs to be clarified, and that is Mr Winter claims about tongues. He says...

Notice that when they did receive the Holy Ghost that they spoke in tongues just like every other real Christian.

But Paul himself says that not everyone speaks in tongues! When discussing spiritual gifts he says...

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? ALl do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

[1 Corinthians 12:28-31a NASB]

Who do YOU believe? God or Steve Winter? God says, through Paul, that not all have the gift of tongues. And yet Steve Winter claims that all "real" Christians speak in tongues. I stand with Paul when he says...

Rather let God be found true, though every man be found a liar

[ Romans 3:4b NASB ]

106 Answer to "An AntiChrist Religion Exposed"_("They who wrest with Scripture")

Steve Winter's original article

Steve Winter writes...

Many false Christians do much study, but are unable to see basic truths, people actually believe that they can be Christian without the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, or they claim to have the Holy Ghost even though they've never spoken in tongues. They really think that their misunderstanding of the scriptures concerning "belief" and "believeth" will save them; and they use that to ignore the truth of the Word of God. They mock at the basic Biblical teachings of holy living and decency, preferring the standards of the "world". And they brazenly lead their families to hell.

As has been shown in other parts of this page, Steve Winter has a serious misunderstanding of what it means to be a Christian and how one becomes a Christian. It is exactly belief that saves us (click here for details). And as for tongues, even Paul says that not everyone speaks in tongues (click here for details).

The problem here is that Steve Winter cannot see past Acts 2:38. He has built a house of cards on this one verse. He says further...

Some just want the scriptures that speak of belief, and feel that they can ignore the rest, at will; but they are not really honest. Often they just feel in their hearts that they are "saved" even though they have never really obeyed Acts 2:38. God uses a special word to describe prople like that:

Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. [KJV]

See what God has to say about those who wrest with the scripture rather than simply obeying it because they just know in their heart that they are saved. Did you see what God calls people like that?

Mr Winter is guilty of exactly what he accuses others of. He is relying on his private interpretation of Acts 2:38 and insisting that obedience to this one verse is required, while all the while he goes on behaving exactly opposite how Scripture commands him to. In each of the other articles on this page, you can see where Steve Winter is trusting in his own understanding instead of relying on the whole counsel of God's Word.

But what does this have to do with an AntiChrist religion? Nothing that I can see. His post exposes nothing except his own ignorance of the Word of God. He continues to build his own works-righteousness religion while cursing the true children of God. Of course, Mr Winter claims that since we fail to obey him that we are damned. But this is not the case. And we are not trusting in our own hearts, but in Jesus who saves us.

As for obedience, once again Mr Winter misses the whole point. Obedience provides no salutary benefit, but is a response of a believer brought about by his salvation.

Back to the Steve Adams Commentary Page