DANGER: The Church of Christ
By David J. Stewart
Reviewed and Refuted by Terry W. Benton
David J. Stewart said previously: As we see in 1st Corinthians 5:5, some believers live in unrepentant
sin; yet, they are still saved. -Unquote.
TB: Let us consider 1 Cor.5:5. Does this verse teach that
unrepentant sinful believers "are still saved"? No! It speaks of the
church taking a certain action "that his spirit may be saved in the day of
the Lord Jesus". Without taking this action, he may not be saved in the
day of the Lord Jesus. What action were they taking? It is called
"delivering such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh".
What does that mean? It means to withdraw fellowship and tell him he is with
Satan, not with them. When he is made to realize that he cannot practice his
sin AND continue in fellowship with them and God, then it may cause him to give
up and destroy the sinful, fleshly activity that is making him lose God and the
brethren. Repentance destroys the fleshly power of sin in the blood of Christ,
and as a result his spirit may be saved. So, this verse actually teaches the
opposite of what Stewart is claiming.
Stewart says the verse means this:
1 Cor 5:5 - deliver such a one to Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, because his spirit is already saved even to the day
of the Lord Jesus. (David J. Stewart Version).
But, now notice the difference between David's version of
the verse and what the verse actually says:
The word "that" means "in order that"
pointing to desired goals or results. It is the same in the whole context.
1 Cor 5:2 And ye are
puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that (in order that) he that hath done
this deed might be taken away from among you.KJV
1 Cor 5:5 To deliver
such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that (in order that)
the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.KJV
1 Cor 5:7 Purge out
therefore the old leaven, that (in order that) ye may be a new lump, as ye are
unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: KJV
So, once again, this man that calls churches of Christ a
"damnable religion" from the "pits of Hell" is sure
perverting and twisting a lot of scripture in order to promote his own
"heresy". For him to abuse the Bible like this means that he is the
one, in fact, who is working with Satan to "make you a victim of his
damnable religion". If you read the book of Acts you will see how the
early church was maligned and falsely accused in similar ways. Let us not allow
someone like David J. Stewart to pervert the word and falsely abuse and misrepresent
God's people.
If Stewart has been saved by “faith only” then we have too,
and if by faith only we have all been “once-saved-always-saved” then Stewart
should hold that there can be no “damnable heresy” to anybody who has faith and
has been “once-saved-always-saved”. He
should view churches of Christ according to his own belief. If he does not, then he is showing himself to
be a very confused man who does not even believe his OWN teaching. Clearly the problem is that this man is
twisting the scriptures to his own destruction.
(2 Pet.3:17f).
Terry W. Benton
