Donald Trump, front-runner
in the United States' Presidential election, has excited diverse interest.
Americans of many ethnic backgrounds are getting behind the Manhattan, New York
real estate mogul and reality TV start.
in the United States' Presidential election, has excited diverse interest.
Americans of many ethnic backgrounds are getting behind the Manhattan, New York
real estate mogul and reality TV start.
He has also
piqued concern among Christians.
piqued concern among Christians.
Trump once claimed that
he never had to ask God for forgiveness.
he never had to ask God for forgiveness.
For God's Glory Alone Ministries (FGGAM) reported the following:
Donald Trump told CNN
last Sunday that he has a “great relationship” with God. He explained: “I like
to be good. I don’t like to have to ask for forgiveness, and I am good. I don’t
do a lot of things that are bad. I try to do nothing that’s bad.”
last Sunday that he has a “great relationship” with God. He explained: “I like
to be good. I don’t like to have to ask for forgiveness, and I am good. I don’t
do a lot of things that are bad. I try to do nothing that’s bad.”
Granted, there is
nothing wrong with confidence. Yet confidence which does not stand on truthful,
gracious grounds is useless. Perhaps today we do not ask for forgiveness of
sins. Under the New Covenant (Hebrews 8: 10-12), men and women in Christ rest
because they received and continue receiving it. In the case of Trump, he seems
convinced that he never had reason to be ashamed or sorry for.
nothing wrong with confidence. Yet confidence which does not stand on truthful,
gracious grounds is useless. Perhaps today we do not ask for forgiveness of
sins. Under the New Covenant (Hebrews 8: 10-12), men and women in Christ rest
because they received and continue receiving it. In the case of Trump, he seems
convinced that he never had reason to be ashamed or sorry for.
There's little to Trump’s
trumped-up theology. Hot air can only soar so far. Lots of people believe in
God. In fact, even demons believe in God, and they are scared.
trumped-up theology. Hot air can only soar so far. Lots of people believe in
God. In fact, even demons believe in God, and they are scared.
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou
doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." (James 2: 19)
doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." (James 2: 19)
Faith in God does not
save.
save.
Faith in Christ Jesus
does! His blood saves, cleanses, restores, and blesses us in every way!
does! His blood saves, cleanses, restores, and blesses us in every way!
Trump’s confession is definitely
troubling, not just for his supposed beliefs, but also the warped
misunderstanding of many Christians in America.
troubling, not just for his supposed beliefs, but also the warped
misunderstanding of many Christians in America.
He says that he's a good
person.
person.
What does the Bible say
about our good works, or about making ourselves good?
about our good works, or about making ourselves good?
![]("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Donald_Trump_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg") |
| Donald Trump |
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and
all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and
our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64: 6)
all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and
our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64: 6)
and then
"They are all gone out of the way, they are
together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
(Romans 3: 12)
together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
(Romans 3: 12)
and also
"For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God;" (Romans 3: 23)
glory of God;" (Romans 3: 23)
Notwithstanding the
truth, that all men have sin and need a savior and a new life, Trump thinks
that he is a pretty good guy who does good things.
truth, that all men have sin and need a savior and a new life, Trump thinks
that he is a pretty good guy who does good things.
No!
FGGAM reported the truth with conviction and clarity–through a clear
reference to the Scriptures:
reference to the Scriptures:
Hopefully you know
better. Hopefully you know that you are saved only on the basis of God’s grace
(Ephesians 2:8–9), and that you can do nothing to deserve such love.
better. Hopefully you know that you are saved only on the basis of God’s grace
(Ephesians 2:8–9), and that you can do nothing to deserve such love.
We are saved by the
grace of God, shed upon us through His Son, who died for us, who rose from the
dead for us, and sits as us at the right hand of God the Father:
grace of God, shed upon us through His Son, who died for us, who rose from the
dead for us, and sits as us at the right hand of God the Father:
"Herein is our love
made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he
is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)
made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he
is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)
Why would I settle for
my own works? His work is so much better!
my own works? His work is so much better!
"For the grace of God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous
of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous
of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
Notice how we start with
grace, and then good works follow.
grace, and then good works follow.
Apart from Christ Jesus,
we can do nothing (John 15:5)
we can do nothing (John 15:5)
Whatever good things
Donald Trump has, he did not earn them through his efforts.
Donald Trump has, he did not earn them through his efforts.
"Every good gift
and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James
1: 17)
and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James
1: 17)
Donald has a big
problem, and yet his arrogance is a symptom of the greater malaise killing the
United States.
problem, and yet his arrogance is a symptom of the greater malaise killing the
United States.
Notice once again that
as many as 71% of Americans think works play an essential
role in salvation.
as many as 71% of Americans think works play an essential
role in salvation.
What?!
Read the Bible much?
These beliefs are heresy
at its core. Tragically, the common denominator in many modern denominations allowed
this little bit of leaven into the whole lump.
at its core. Tragically, the common denominator in many modern denominations allowed
this little bit of leaven into the whole lump.
We are not saved by what
we do, but what Jesus did! This country has drifted so far away from the truth
of the Gospel. Today, if anyone preaches the grace of God, he is branded a
heretic or a fraud.
we do, but what Jesus did! This country has drifted so far away from the truth
of the Gospel. Today, if anyone preaches the grace of God, he is branded a
heretic or a fraud.
And yet. . .
"Be it known unto you therefore, men and
brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye
could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye
could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
Too many Christians
really do not know the Gospel. Many Christians (especially in the United
States) are still walking around with a sense of guilt and shame, or pride in
their self-efforts.
really do not know the Gospel. Many Christians (especially in the United
States) are still walking around with a sense of guilt and shame, or pride in
their self-efforts.
None of us have what we
have, or go anywhere with any greatness, by our own efforts. We are saved by
grace through faith, taken from our dead selves in Adam to living forever in
Christ. Still, so many Americans, including Presidential front-runner Donald
Trump, believe that their good works (or big donations) can get them to heaven
or at least help keep them there.
have, or go anywhere with any greatness, by our own efforts. We are saved by
grace through faith, taken from our dead selves in Adam to living forever in
Christ. Still, so many Americans, including Presidential front-runner Donald
Trump, believe that their good works (or big donations) can get them to heaven
or at least help keep them there.
Forget Bible thumping.
The United States suffers from Bible trumping, in that they do not believe the
Gospel in its fullest, and reduce grace to an aid or assist to our own works. America—and
the world—needs a revival of the truth, and the truth is revealed to us through
the grace of God, granted to us in Christ Jesus: not our works, our wealth, or
our inflated sense of self-worth.
The United States suffers from Bible trumping, in that they do not believe the
Gospel in its fullest, and reduce grace to an aid or assist to our own works. America—and
the world—needs a revival of the truth, and the truth is revealed to us through
the grace of God, granted to us in Christ Jesus: not our works, our wealth, or
our inflated sense of self-worth.