A reader told me about a May 20, 2018 blog by Justin Steckbauer entitled “How to Have Eternal Life.” The reader said, “After reading it I felt truly sorry for him.”
I just read the blog. You can see it here. I too feel sorry for Steckbauer and for all the people whom he influences.
I will explain why this blog makes me sorry as I review it.
According to Steckbauer, here is what we need to do in order to have eternal life:
1.“Christ alone.” After quoting Eph 2:8-9, Steckbauer explains what this means: “We must receive Christ. We must trust in Christ. We must declare our complete allegiance to Christ. We must give everything to Christ.”
2. “Repentance toward God.” After quoting 2 Cor 7:10, he says, “…to repent…means to lay aside our sins, and to embrace a new lifestyle.”
3. “Living in the Spirit.” Steckbauer quotes Gal 5:16-18. Then he explains, “When we live the Spirit life, we deny the flesh, and take up our cross and follow Jesus. When we live in the Spirit we surrender all to the Spirit of God, and He leads us into all righteousness.”
Before I go on, do you notice a trend? So far he has only quoted verses from Paul. Nothing from the Lord Jesus’ evangelistic ministry as reported in John’s Gospel.
Notice too that no matter what the verse says, Steckbauer sees the condition for eternal life as giving everything to Christ, laying aside our sins, embracing a new lifestyle, denying the flesh, taking up our crosses, and following Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9, the first text he cites, says that the condition is faith. Yet Steckbauer does not mention faith. He talks about receiving and trusting, which he defines as complete allegiance, giving everything to Christ.
The second text, 2 Cor 7:10, deals with the repentance of believers, not unbelievers. Yet Steckbauer finds there the condition of everlasting life. Yet that condition is not merely repentance. Not only must one lay aside his sins, but he must also “embrace a new lifestyle.”
The third text, Gal 5:16-18, is a call for born-again people to walk in the Spirit. The author sees this as a call for unbelievers to be born again by denying themselves, taking up their crosses, and following Christ.
So far Steckbauer is managing to turn whatever the text says into regeneration by commitment, turning from sins, self-denial, and following Christ until death.
On to the other conditions.
4. “Abiding in Christ.” Here he quotes John 15:1-10. Finally we do come to the words of Jesus and to the Fourth Gospel. However, Steckbauer is not quoting from one of Jesus’ evangelistic messages. This is a discipleship message to the disciples. He then explains what abiding in Christ means: “To abide in Christ means that we choose freely to love God above ourselves. It means we love with true love. And what is true biblical love? It’s not a wishy washy worldly love. Love in a biblical sense is to keep the commandments of God, the ten commandments, which are summed up by Jesus to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love others as yourself.” Though John 15:1-10 says none of that, Steckbauer has managed to circle back to commitment, surrender, and a lifetime of obeying God’s commandments.
5. “Repentance from all sin.” Here he cites Ezek 18:21-23 and Gal 5:19-21. This is a repeat of point 2. See above. Note, however, that here he says, “To sin daily is to be lost, plain and simple.” Wow. I guess Steckbauer believes he and other born-again people do not sin daily. I wonder how he explains 1 John 1:8, 10.
6. “Total sanctification.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 and 5:23-24 are his texts. Wesley, of course, famously suggested that it was possible for a born-again person to arrive at the point where he never sinned at all. He called this “entire sanctification” or “total sanctification.” Steckbauer does not think that is possible, saying: “This does not mean we become perfect in our actions, or never struggle with sin, but it does mean that our fundamental desires have been changed, and we desire wholeheartedly to do the will of God always.” He clearly sees that it will be true in the future when believers are glorified. No disagreement there. But Steckbauer says that total sanctification is one of the conditions on “How to Have Eternal Life.”
7. Matthew 25. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the Parable of the Talents, and the Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats (which Steckbauer mistakenly calls a parable), he sees that these conditions to have eternal life: “we will remain watchful, and remain active in [our] faith. If we ‘fall asleep’ in the Christian life, become inactive, [we] won’t go to heaven.” Never mind that the issue in the two parables is eternal rewards, not regeneration. Or that the issue in the judgment of the sheep concerns eternal rewards as well.
8. Revelation 2-3, The Messages to the Seven Churches. Now the author touches on the words of Jesus, but not from John’s Gospel, and not from an evangelistic passage. He picks seven discipleship passages which deal with eternal rewards to prove his point. He sees here that the condition of eternal life is “loving Christ,” “enduring to the end,” “overcoming sin by repenting,” “avoiding sexual immorality,” “completing the works that you were called to,” “keep persevering,” and “realize that you probably aren’t even saved.”
If that sounds legalistic to you, Steckbauer tries to explain why it is not.
He says that legalism would be pointing people to keeping the entire Old Testament Law. He counters, “I’ve simply cited the scriptures, almost all of which are from the New Testament. These teachings are for us today, and don’t constitute legalism, but honest biblical exegesis.”
I urge you to read his blog. There is no exegesis in it. None at all. Steckbauer thinks he knows what one must do to have eternal life and no matter any text says, he repeats the need to surrender, commit, turn from all sins, deny self, take up your cross, follow Christ, and endure to the end in obedience to Him.
He does recognize that some say he is “trying to add something to what Jesus did.” He replies, “That’s not true though. Jesus Christ has completed the work of atoning for our sins. But our part is to repent, and ask for forgiveness. The work of the Christian life is done by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Notice that Steckbauer says Jesus completed His part and we need to then complete our part. We must do “the work of the Christian life.” He evidently thinks the need to do this work is not works-salvation because the work “is done by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Funny thing is, Steckbauer repeatedly says we must submit, commit, turn from sins, deny self, take up our crosses, and follow Christ if this work will be done. This is not something the Holy Spirit forces upon someone.
Steckbauer imposes what he thinks a person should do to have eternal life upon the Word of God. No matter what the text he quotes is talking about, he comes back to commitment, surrender, turning, following, obeying, and persevering.
Why no discussion of John 3:14-18? John 5:24? John 6:35? John 6:47? John 11:25-27? Acts 16:31? Revelation 22:17?
The only text he cited which actually deals with eternal salvation, Eph 2:8-10, he fails to exegete. He leaves the text and returns to his formula.
Finally, is Steckbauer an Arminian or a Calvinist? He sounds like an Arminian. But you never know today. I looked and discovered that he works for the Salvation Army (Arminian) and that he is a graduate student at Olivet Nazarene University (also Arminian).
Evidently Steckbauer is a top blogger. This particular blog was published at “The Christian Post,” a very prestigious site.
Phil
Perhaps what I am seeing in Steckbauer’s blog is the common human desire, found in many of us, to insist that other people behave well in order to get into heaven. It is a sideways technique that allows us to condemn others while holding oneself above them. Way above them.
I am familiar with this attitude because I used to have it. Then along came GES.
Ken Tamashiro
Thanks, Pastor Bob
I too fell into that trap of thinking that way, because the Preacher said it was so, so I believed him, because he represented God.
The enemy has a way of confusing Gods people by using Verse-ology.
When I use the term Lordship Salvation, many people do not connect with the wrong Doctrine, but when I say Discipleship Salvation, they clearly understand the obvious error.
May I ask for your consideration only,… for the sake of the Believer and Unbeliever, that the word Discipleship Salvation be used more because it has the feeling of cold water being splashed on ones face. It has an obvious error to the word Discipleship Salvation.
Thanks Again for showing the obvious error of a Wrong Salvation Message.
Grace and Peace to You,
Ken
Ken Tamashiro
I’m perceiving the enemy has gotten more people confused by making Good Works necessary for Entrance into Eternal Life. ….God accepts us all with our faults and sins and wants to welcome us into Heaven because Jesus paid it all for us.
Jesus is basically saying, …come and drink Freely the Waters of Eternal Life.
Dennis
I spent 48 years of my life believing I had to do something to please God for salvation, and especially to keep it. Faith alone was not good enough. My sin at the time reminded me I fell short. Continually my assurance would come and go, but legalism blinded me. In the late 2000’s I ran into GES on the internet and still I was not totally convinced. I served as an Elder in a Baptist church that preaches the gospel, but fell away into sin that nearly destroyed me and my marriage. Sickness fell upon me, and I was hospitalized for ten days with ischemic colitis and depression. Recovery has not been easy, but its been through Him.
Sickness caught my attention. I had read about John 5:24 and discussed it with another elder in my church, and he somehow convinced me that I wasn’t really interpreting it right. It wasn’t that easy, that other scripture had to taken into consideration. You really had to believe!
Much later, I took John 5:24 for what it said, and have had peace that is beyond my wildest dreams. I love reading my bible now, worshipping, taking communion, and the joy Jesus has put in my life. Legalism has done nothing more for me than make my life miserable.
Believing in Jesus and Him alone for salvation, plus nothing, is where it’s at. Now, seeing it as a finished work, and His holy blood as my ransom and redemption, to me, is the only thing He would accept. It took all of Him to save me. The only thing I could do was put Him on the cross and accept His free offer. I regret the lost time I spent, but in His service and the rest of my life is ahead. Praise His name. Satan’s condemning spirit doesn’t work anymore.
John W Reed
Turning a free gift into a reward for good behavior or turning the gift into a wage earned alters the Gospel. Either it’s free or its a reward for works.
Theodore A. Jones
“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” Rom. 2:13
Brady Mayo
What makes us righteous Mr. Jones? Faith apart from works or our obedience? If it’s our obedience then you will have to create a mystery box for all of the verses that say just the opposite. But thankfully scripture makes it clear: “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Romans 3:22 Also,
“But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,” Romans 4:5 and “In Your name they rejoice all the day, And by Your righteousness they are exalted.” Psalm 89:16 and “For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:13. Theodore, you make the same mistake that Israel did through the context in which you are using Romans 2:13 (see Romans 9:30-32). If your implying that we obtain the righteousness of God through obedience within a salvation context then you have only one verse that can help you and that’s John 6:29: “Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” So in one sense you are correct and Paul does not contradict himself – obedience is required (but that obedience is not about behavior or works of any kind) and that obedience is to “believe”. So what is faith then? Well God’s word does not disappoint: “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1
alvin
Basicly what Theodore is saying by just posting this one verse is: Jesus gives eternal life freely as a gift, BUT it will cost you EVERTHING~! This is like mixing apples and oranges. Here are the apples and oranges:
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
John 12:25 “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
See, to Theodore these verses are saying the same thing, that’s because he has been brain washed.
I’m not wanting to be harsh, but Jesus even used shock treatment to the rich young ruler (see Luke 18:18-27). But of course this passage will fit right into Theodore’s theology, because he has swallowed the camel~!
Theodore A. Jones
Mr. Jones hasn’t said anything. I’ve only quoted what has been stated by an apostle and what he has stated is what you are contesting.
alvin
Mr Jones, your stating it in a context, “Confusion Abounds About How To Have Eternal Life.”
alvin
Mr. Jones this is just a game to you~! I have a neighbor just across the street who is dying of stomach cancer who has believed a work salvation lie, and on her way to hell. Her husband had a dream he was waiting in a line. There were two lines. When he came up to Jesus, Jesus just said I see your heart enter in. I told her husband that his dream was false and not according to Scripture. The believer doesn’t even come into the final judgment to determine his eternal destiny (John 5:24). It’s not to late for my neighbor and his wife. In fact my neighbor just walked out the door…..this is the real world~! The Apostle Paul would have never put a verse in a context where it didn’t belong. It’s not to late for you too Mr. Jones.
Theodore A. Jones
I am not the author of Rom. 2:13. What you must do is prove Paul’s soteriological paradigm is a falsehood.
alvin
Theodore
As he does throughout these verses, Paul is simply stating the basic principals of the last judgment. As the account in Rev 20:11-15 makes plain, at the Great White Throne men are indeed “judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Rev 20:12). If anyone were to merit acceptance before God on the basis of those books, he would be justified. But that acceptance will be granted only to those who have not sinned under the law (cf v 12), but are instead truly doers of the law. James himself tells us, in fact, that, “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (Jas 2:10).
Paul, therefore, knows perfectly well that “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (3:20), but he also knows that everyone at the final judgment will have his day in court. Innocence or guilt will be held in judicial abeyance until the evidence of the heavenly books are presented. But then only the doers of the law will be justified. Of these, however, there will be none.
Zane Hodges commentary on Romans
Theodore A. Jones
The law was changed in regard to and after the sin of murdering Jesus Christ by crucifixion. Heb.7:12. What you’ve not comprehended is which law Paul is referencing. No one will be declared righteous by observing the written code, i. e. the law written on stones. However Paul is not referencing the OT code in Rom. 2:13, rather he is referencing the word that has been added into law in regard to the sin of Jesus’ murder. No one will be declared righteous by God who who does not confess to God that he is truly sorry Jesus was murdered by crucifixion.
Justin Steckbauer
Top blogger? Eh, I wouldn’t go that far.
alvin
Theodore
Acts 4:27-28 For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontus Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
Do you hear that Theodore the crucifixion was God’s plan. There had to be a perfect sacrifice for sin. Saying your sorry for Jesus murder is not a condition for our justification. I don’t know where you came up with that? Jesus was God’s perfect Lamb that took away the sin of the world. That is the first sin Theodore ever did and the last one Theodore will do. That is why Jesus can give eternal life freely because He paid for it in full on the cross~! Look at John 1:29b “Behold~! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world~!
Theodore that’s ALL YOUR SIN~! That’s why Jesus can give the living water to anyone who desires it: Revelation22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come~! And let him who hears say, “Come~! And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Theodore, the water of life is the message of life Jesus offers freely. The moment you drink (believe) it springs up into everlasting life. You pass from death into life, you will never come into a judgment concerning your eternal destiny (see John 5:24). It’s that simple~! Believing is persuasion, it’s simply being persuaded that what Jesus promises in a verse like John 3:16 is true. The one who believes will never perish and has eternal life~!
alvin
Paul clearly says that the believer is NOT under the law but under GRACE (see Romans 6:14). The believer has been baptized by the Spirit into Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (see Romans 6:3-11). The inward man has been purified through the death of Christ so that Paul could say, I thank God—though Jesus Christ our Lord~! So then, with the mind I myself serve THE LAW OF GOD, but with the FLESH the law of sin (Romans 7:25). The inward man can no longer sin because he is born of God (1 John 3:9). But the believer still has another law working in his members, the law of sin and death so he’s not able to do always what he wants to (see Gal 5:16-18). For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, SO THAT YOU DO NOT DO THE THINGS THAT YOU WISH. BUT IF YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW.
The believer is no longer a slave to sin, but by the Spirit is able to accomplish the righteous action of the law. That is what he was not able to do because of the flesh, he is now able to do by the Spirit (see Romans 8:1-5). The believers initial faith has been given righteousness as a gift (see Romans 4:3). Romans 4:5 But to Him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the UNGODLY, his FAITH is accounted FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
So, the believer will be judged by the law of liberty (James 2:12). Theodore that is because we’re not able to keep the law because we still have our flesh. It’s only as we walk by the Spirit can our faith produce righteousness, and fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. That is the principal of the righteous action by the Spirit. That is not the OT law which was our schoolmaster until we came to Christ (see 3:22-25). We are now married to Christ, and not to the law ( Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become DEAD TO THE LAW through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we SHOULD bear fruit to God.