Dan Corner's Teachings EXPOSED!
By David J. Stewart
Please understand that I don't condemn anyone, for the Bible condemns all of us as guilty, dirty, rotten, hell-deserving sinners. My salvation solely rests in Christ's righteousness, because of the precious blood that He gave for our sins. My intention is not to be unkind; but rather, to expose false teachings.
Daniel D. Corner, founder of Evangelical Outreach, Washington, PA, is a dangerous false prophet! Mr. Corner denies the Eternal Security of the believer and teaches a false gospel of Works Salvation.
Corner has written two popular books titled, "The Myth Of Eternal Security," and "The Believer's Conditional Security." Corner is associated with the Jesus is Lord Ministries International, Word Broadcasting Network, and the satellite Reformation Channel. These media conduits feature various Anglo-Catholics, Wesleyan/holiness ministers, revivalists, and charismatic preachers.
Beware! Dan Corner propagates his heresy to millions of naive people. The internet is saturated with lies and "doctrines of devils"... "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1st Timothy 4:1). Dan Corner has corrupted the simplicity that is in Christ and teaches doctrines of devils. The Bible DOES teach the Eternal Security of the believer, which is the only conclusion you can make if you believe Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
NOTE: All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Bible. Dan Corner's website is saturated with the corrupt New International Version of the Bible. No wonder Corner's so messed up doctrinally, he's using a corrupt bible!
Dan Corner Corrupts the Meaning of 1st Corinthians 6:9-10
1st Corinthians 6:9-11 is one of the most misunderstood and misapplied Scriptural passages in the Bible...
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
Deceitfully, Dan Corner and other enemies of Eternal Security fails to quote 1st Corinthians 6:11...
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
When you repent and believe on Jesus Christ to be forgiven of your sins, the righteousness of Jesus is IMPUTED to your sinful record. To be saved, You Need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. You are no longer viewed as an adulterer, or a murderer, et cetera. Every believer's sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus and cannot lose salvation. The spiritual birth is as irreversible as the physical birth. When God beholds the believer, He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
IMPUTATION is the missing doctrine in Dan Corner's demonic theology. Opponents of Eternal Security fail to understand that man's salvation rests in the righteousness of Jesus Christ; and not one's own self-righteousness...
"For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2nd Corinthians 5:21).
We don't go to Heaven because we live a life of obedience and faith; but rather, because we have trusted upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ to forgive our sins...
"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43).
Dan Corner teaches that salvation can be lost if believers willfully commit sin. If that's the case, then every Christian is unsaved because we all sin every day!!! Corner has even written a book teaching that one's salvation is CONDITIONAL upon living an obedient life to Christ. Yet, Corner deceitfully claims that salvation is still by God's grace. It can't be both ways! Dan Corner speaks out of both sides of his mouth. Salvation cannot be by grace and works... Romans 11:6 plainly states, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."
Salvation is either freely offered (Romans 10:13) by God's grace and freely received (Revelation 22:17) as a gift because of Christ's blood sacrifice (1st Peter 1:18,19); or else salvation is conditional as Dan Corner teaches and works are a necessary part of salvation.
Please do not be deceived, salvation has nothing to do with the life we live. That would be self-righteousness!!! Romans 4:5 quickly silences Dan Corner and those who agree with him... "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." A man's faith is COUNTED for righteousness. Salvation is a gift; Not a Reward. Dan Corner is WRONG!
The Damnable Heresy of Dan Corner
Dan Corner is an aggressive false prophet who vehemently hates the Biblical teaching of Eternal Security. The following garbage is quoted from Mr. Corner's website...
True grace teaches us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives (Titus 2:12). In contrast, there exists a false and dangerous "grace" message which gives a license for immorality (Jude 4) and breeds arrogance through a false security (Rom. 11:19-23).
The Biblical doctrine of Eternal Security does not give a believer a "license for immorality." Romans 6:15 plainly teaches that the born-again believer is NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW; yet is still expected to fulfill the Law... "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." But fulfilling the Law is a result of genuine repentance and NOT a prerequisite or requirement for salvation.
Again in Romans 3:31 we read, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." Just because sinners are saved without works (Romans 3:20) does not give anyone permission to sin. Opponents of Eternal Security make the mistake of placing the cart before the horse, i.e., they expect people to continually forsake their sins to guarantee salvation; but it's the other way around, we depart from our sins because we are saved and love the Lord.
Howbeit, even the best of Christians still sin, and are unable to completely escape the sin-nature. The Apostle Paul clearly had sin problems in his personal life...
"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
I dare say many believers today are as faithful to the Lord as the Apostle Paul; yet he struggled horribly with sin on a daily basis. Interestingly, Paul never once mentioned losing his salvation. This is clear evidence that Eternal Security is Biblical and no believer ever needs to fear losing the Salvation which God promised before the world began (Titus 1:2). John 3:17 tells us that Jesus didn't come into the world to condemn humanity; but rather, to save. JESUS SAVES SINNERS!
Here once again is Dan Corner...
A true Christian (or righteous person) can die spiritually because of sin (Ezek. 33:18; Rom. 8:13; James 1:14-16; Lk. 15:24; etc.) fall away (Lk. 8:13; Heb. 6:4-6; etc.) and never again return to Jesus, just as the Apostle Judas Iscariot and Solomon didn't return after they turned from the faith.
There is NO Biblical evidence that Judas was ever saved. The Bible says Judas was a known thief (John 12:6). Solomon was a Christian, clearly evidenced by his writings in the book of Ecclesiastes. There is no reason to doubt that Solomon went to Heaven, although it is abundantly clear that Solomon, as wise as he was in a worldly sense, foolishly abandoned the Lord for most of his life. Judas, on the other hand, never showed any evidence of being saved. Many religious people follow Jesus today, but they are as lost as the Devil. Being a follower of Christ is not Biblical salvation.
A true Christian (or righteous person) doesn't have to "practice" sin, such as adultery or murder, before they lose their salvation, since it only takes one act of adultery to make a person a Bible-defined adulterer (Lev. 20:10) and one act of murder to make him a Bible defined murderer (Number 35:16). Rev. 21:8 is clear in stating such people are headed for hell because of their sins. David is a clear example of a righteous man who lost his salvation for a time, due to adultery and murder.
No where in the Bible are we warned that committing sin can result in lost salvation. Yet, Dan Corner perverts the Scriptures and foolishly teaches that committing even one sin can rob us of our salvation. King David DIDN'T lose his salvation and there's NO Scriptural evidence to support Corner's heresy. In Psalm 51 David asked God to restore "the joy of thy salvation"; David didn't ask to get his salvation back.
We are not saved by works (Eph. 2:8,9) but to reap eternal life and not destruction you must sow to please the Spirit and not the sinful nature (Gal. 6:8,9). God is faithful to us (1 Jn. 1:9; 1 Cor. 10:13) but we must be faithful to him to the very end of our lives to escape the lake of fire or second death (Rev. 2:10,11). God surely loves us (Jn. 3:16; Mk. 10:21; Rom. 8:35-39) but those who inherit the kingdom of God love God (Jam 2:5; 1 Cor. 2:9) and to love God means to obey his commands (Jn. 14:15; 1 Jn. 5:3).
Clearly, Dan Corner teaches a works-based salvation, requiring obedience to Christ and holy living as absolute essentials to obtain eternal life. Such false teaching negates the gift of God. Dan Corner is a deceiver. Despite his claim that salvation is not by works, he clearly requires works when he mandates righteous living, obedience and remaining faithful as being essential to salvation. In sharp contrast, consider the words of Romans 4:5... "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Either salvation is by GRACE or it's by WORKS. It cannot be both... "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work" (Romans 11:6). What part of Romans 4:5 and 11:6 doesn't Dan Corner understand?
Dan Corner Perverts the Meaning of Romans 8:13
Dan Corner twists the meaning of Romans 8:13 to mean that sinful believers can lose their salvation...
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” —Romans 8:13
However, Galatians 5:25 plainly evidences that a person can LIVE IN THE SPIRIT (i.e., be saved); while failing to WALK IN THE SPIRIT (i.e., live for the Lord)...
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” —Galatians 5:25
Sadly, Dan Corner falls short of 2nd Timothy 2:15. He simply does not study! Corner teaches that a believer can lose salvation and must repent in order to get saved AGAIN. There are NO Scriptures to support his false doctrine. Again, I am not exposing Dan Corner; but his false teachings, because they are a road to Hell.
The Bible contains numerous examples of CARNAL believers who deliberately chose to live in sin, horrible sin. King David was a "man after God's own heart" (1st Samuel 13:14); yet he commit adultery with Bathsheba, impregnated her, and then murdered her husband to hide his sin (2nd Samuel 11). Noah got drunk (Genesis 9:21). Samson had sex with a prostitute (Judges 16:1). Jonah ran from God (Jonah 1:3). Peter cursed the name of Jesus and used profanity (Mark 14:71). One-third of the Bible was written by murderers: Moses, David and Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus). With the exception of Paul, Moses and David were already saved when they commit murder. Corner foolishly teaches that all these believers LOST their salvation and needed to get saved again. Corner is a heretic!
Corner Perverts Luke 15:24
Corner attempts to use Luke 15:24 to teach that a believer can be repeatedly saved, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” There is NOTHING in the account of The Prodigal Son to indicate that Jesus was speaking about a believer who had gone into sin and lost salvation. Corner makes that erroneous assumption!
In John 3:3 Jesus proclaimed, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The Bible never speaks of losing one's salvation or of being born again and again and again. Romans 8:9 states, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Every believer has the Holy Spirit indwelling their body. That Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ and God the Father. To teach that salvation can be lost is to claim that God is not faithful.
Dan Corner teaches that a believer MUST ENDURE 'til the end to be saved. This is unbiblical. Enduring or persevering is a good work. Titus 3:5 states, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Yet, critics of Eternal Security claim that works of righteousness are necessary for salvation. They are liars! We are saved by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ!
To claim that the prodigal son pictures a believer losing salvation is to twist and corrupt the Scriptures.
Dan Corner Corrupts the Meaning of Hebrews 12:14
Dan Corner horribly perverts Hebrews 12:14, by alleging that the Author of Hebrews was teaching that a believer must continue in holy living in order to go to Heaven. LIES! The Word of God is adamantly clear in Romans 4:5... "But to him that WORKETH NOT, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Here is a correct interpretation of Hebrews 12:14 by the mighty Bible-teacher, and man of God, Oliver B. Greene...
'Verse 14: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
This injunction has been so often misunderstood and misapplied that many believers who have endeavored to live holy lives have been tormented and discouraged, thus becoming useless as good stewards, good soldiers in God's great army.
The Greek word here translated "follow" means "to pursue, to follow after." Many believers have been taught from the pulpit that if they do not live above sin - (meaning "sinless perfection") - they cannot hope to see God...
It is not through perfect peace and perfect holiness that we see the Lord: it is by grace through faith! When we have been saved by God's grace, we are to pursue peace and holiness; but we see Jesus because we are covered by the blood and saved by His marvelous grace...
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." We note here our attitude concerning our fellowman, and also our disposition toward God the Father who loved us, and Jesus the Son who saved us.'
SOURCE: The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews; pg. 547-548; 1965; by Dr. Oliver B. Greene
Hebrews 12:14 is speaking about our influence upon other people. If we don't pursue peace with others, and live holy lives, then lost sinners WON'T see the Lord in us. You are the only Jesus someone knows. That person may go to Hell if they don't see the Lord in you. As believers, we are supposed to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Jesus said in Matthew 5:13... "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?..." Do you know what salt does to people? It makes them THIRSTY! Christians are supposed to be the salt of this sinful world, that cause lost sinners to thirst for God. Have you lost your saltiness, i.e., savor? This is what Hebrews 12:14 means.
In sharp contrast, Dan Corner corrupts Hebrews 12:14, claiming that a person cannot see God unless they continue in holy living. Mr. Corner perverts this Scripture to mean that one's salvation is dependent upon holy living. Clearly, Daniel Corner is a false prophet, who doesn't understand the Word of God. He is an unsaved heretic, a Modernist who pretends to be a Christian.
Hebrews 12:15 Explains Verse 14
Hebrews 12:15 states... "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." This Scripture warns us that we have the potential to cause others to sin. A believer who lives in unrepentant sin influences others for evil, like a poison.
Hebrews 12:15 speaks of a "root of bitterness." This Scripture is a quote from Deuteronomy 29:18 in the Old Testament... "Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood." Thus, when a believer sins, it often causes other believers to fall by the wayside. There's no better example of this than the false prophet, Balaam, in the Old Testament.
Clearly, we see that Hebrews 12:14 refers to our Christian influence upon others; and NOT to our personal salvation.
What Does Hebrews 10:26,27 Mean?
A Lame Accusation Against Proponents of Eternal Security
Romans 3:31 states, "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Most opponents of Eternal Security accuse us of believing that a person can believe on Christ and then go live in gross immorality with no fear of judgment. That is not true. 2nd Corinthians 5:10 warns, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." So you see, every believer must one day stand trial before God at the Judgment Seat of Christ and give account for the good AND THE BAD they have done. No one has God's permission to sin.
However, to corrupt the Gospel into damnable heresy by requiring believers to maintain a holy lifestyle of obedience in order to remain saved is blasphemy. This is what the opponents of Eternal Security have done. It is otherwise known as "Lordship Salvation." I don't know anyone who believes in Eternal Security who is excited over the idea that they can indulge in sinful living without fear of judgment. There WILL BE judgment, but it will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ; and not The Great White Throne of Judgment which will only be for the unsaved (Revelation 20:11-15).
When you think about it, the very fact that God has set apart a judgment entirely for the saved is evidence by itself that believers DO NOT lose their salvation. 1st Corinthians 3:15 states, "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." Many believers will receive no rewards in Heaven, and will cry tears of agony and remorse over their wasted lives. 1st Thessalonians 4:6 states, “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.” Every believer will give account to God for the GOOD and the BAD.
Hebrews 12:6-8 tells us that God chastises His children. It doesn't say He disowns them. In fact, Hebrews 13:5 promises us that God will never leave nor forsake His children. God is a faithful God Who keeps His promises.
Salvation is a promise from God, a gift paid for by the literal precious blood of Jesus Christ... “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” It is unbiblical to require people to live a holy life as a requirement for salvation. It is a false gospel. Corner spits on the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. There is NOTHING we can do to merit or lose salvation.
When will men learn that salvation is of the Lord? The problem is that people like Dan Corner confuse the ROOT of a believer's faith with the FRUIT of a believer's faith. Please read, Are We Justified by faith and Works? The Apostle Paul speaks of the ROOT of Abraham's faith in Romans 4:5; but the Apostle James speaks of the FRUIT of the believer's faith in James 2:18-21. The fruit is a result of genuine repentance; and not a part of saving faith. In other words, we don't give up our sins to get saved; but rather, we give up our sins because we are saved. To require the fruit as part of saving faith is the lie of Lordship Salvation and a damnable heresy.
Dan Corner's False Teaching On Sin
Dan Corner teaches that certain sins, e.g., adultery and murder, are worse than other sins and will cause a believer to lose salvation and go to Hell. There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that committing certain sins will cause a believer to lose salvation. All sin is horrible in God's eyes (James 2:10). Mr. Corner twists the Scriptures and makes many inferences where the Bible does not make any direct statements to support his wild theories.
I was listening to one of Dan Corner's radio interviews in which it was said that if a Christian man was shot in the act of adultery, while in the very bed of adultery, that he would go to Hell because he would have died before he had a chance to repent. Folks, that is crazy! Is our salvation that insecure? Can you imagine? If we risk losing our salvation every time we commit certain sins, then it is a Works Salvation. Dan Corner is bad news!
The mighty Bible teacher and man of God Dr. Harry Ironside made the following excellent statement...
“People try to put guards around that truth and say, 'Yes, you are justified by faith if you have enough good works to add to it.' That is not true. It is by faith alone, and good works spring from that. When you know you have eternal life, you will find your heart so filled with love for Christ that you will try to live for His glory.”
SOURCE: Dr. Harry Ironside — The Eternal Security of the Believer
Amen! The false teaching that salvation can be lost makes salvation an uncertainty. How much sin can a person commit before losing salvation? What a horrible way to live, being in constant fear of losing salvation if we cross certain sinful lines in our life. This is 100% Works Salvation, which is of the Devil. Whereas the Bible teaches that the believer is secure in the gift of eternal life which is rooted in God's unconditional love (Romans 5:8) and the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:3,4); opponents of Eternal Security place salvation in the hands of men, where it is sinfully rooted in self-righteousness. We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and not our own.
Dan Corner attempts to use 1st John 5:16 to teach that certain sins will cause a believer to lose salvation, i.e., die spiritual, but other sins won't... “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” However, the very next verse thwarts Corner's heresy... “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” Did you read that? ALL SIN is unto death (Romans 6:23). So what does 1st John 5:16 mean?
The wonderful thing that sets Biblical Christianity apart from the religions of the world is that our salvation is based upon God's unconditional love, mercy and grace (John 3:16). In sharp contrast, Muslims, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus and a host of other religions teach that men can only do their best, through good works and self-sacrifice, and hope they've been good enough to merit Heaven. Biblical Christianity is rooted in God's unconditional love and the righteousness of Jesus Christ; whereas, the world's religions are rooted in hypocrisy and self-righteousness.
Opponents of Eternal Security are Self-righteous Boasters!
Those who deny the Eternal Security of the believer are self-righteous hypocrites. Dan Corner thinks he's not as sinful as adulterers, murderers and homosexuals; but he is and he needs to get saved! Please read, Who's The Biggest Sinner? If salvation can be lost, then we're all going to Hell. It is arrogance and an insult to the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ for anyone to hypocritically claim that salvation can be lost, but they haven't lost it yet because they're living a righteous life. This is exactly what Ephesians 2:8,9 condemns... “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Every time Mr. Corner says he hasn't sinned unto death he is boasting of his own self-righteousness. All sin is unto death (1st John 5:17; Romans 6:23). Dan Corner teaches that believers who are guilty of adultery, greed, murder or homosexuality are not of a pure heart and will die spiritually and go to Hell if they don't repent and get saved again. Who does Corner think he is?
Dan Corner is a self-righteous hypocrite, as are his followers. Corner is as much a dirty, rotten, hell-deserving sinner as Adolf Hitler. Yet, he thinks he's secure in his salvation because he is avoiding certain DEEP SINS in his life. He fails to realize that he's already guilty of committing every sin in the Bible... “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). According to James 2:10, Dan Corner is as guilty as the vilest sinner who spits in Jesus' face. Mr. Corner needs to stop teaching heresy and realize that we are all vile, rotten, wicked sinners who can only be saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!
Eternal Life is the Free Gift of God
God is not a liar. God has promised salvation to all those who trust upon the name of Jesus Christ... “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” God gave us the rainbow as a token that He is an honest God Who keep His promises. Yet, those who deny Eternal Security call God a liar.
The Scriptures expose Dan Corner as a big liar. The Bible teaches that salvation is a “free gift” (Romans 5:15; 6:23). Ephesians 2:8,9 read... “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” A gift means a gift, with no strings attached.
The very idea that salvation is CONDITIONAL (as Daniel Corner teaches) upon the life we live negates the gift of God. In John 6:29 Jesus tells us the only “work” we need to do to be saved... “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” That's it, to BELIEVE (i.e., trust) upon Jesus to forgive one's sins. We are sinners and Jesus is the Savior. That is the simplicity of salvation.
Dan Corner is a false prophet! The Word of God exposes Mr. Corner as a false teacher because he requires self-righteous works for salvation. Adding anything to faith alone in Christ is a guaranteed road to Hell. If we are not saved by good works, then how can we be lost by bad works? Salvation is of the Lord. We are NOT saved by our own self-righteous efforts; but rather, by the righteousness of Christ Jesus. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. Thank God for the gift of His only begotten Son.
Dan Corner places a heavy burden upon sinners, teaching that their salvation is CONDITIONAL upon holy living, denying the flesh and avoiding certain sins. If this were true, then how could salvation ever be a free gift? It couldn't. By every definition of the word “gift,” it must be offered free of ANY OBLIGATION OR COMPENSATION. Carefully notice in Romans 12:1 that the Apostle Paul pleads with the believers at Rome to live for the Lord... “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Notice that Paul said it was their “reasonable service”; not their required service. 1st Corinthians 6:20 tells us that we are bought with a price, i.e., the blood of Jesus Christ. God gave the ultimate sacrifice to pay for our sins. Thus, eternal life is a free gift that does not require any compensation, obligation or prerequisites to receive it. God does remind us that He paid a great price and we ought to live for Him; but this is NOT mandatory to have the gift of eternal life.
In 1st Corinthians 5:1-5 we read about a Christian man, a member of the Church of Corinth, who was living in open fornication in the church. He was carnal and the church was also carnal (1st Corinthians 3:1). 1st Corinthians 5:5 reads, “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” This Christian man was living in unrepentant sin and Paul said to give him over to Satan for “the destruction of the flesh,” but notice that Paul also said the man's spirit would “be saved in the day of the Lord.” He was saved and DIDN'T lose his salvation.
I recently saw a commercial on TV offering a “gift” to anyone who opens a new account at their bank. That is false advertising. If I am required to open an account to get the “gift,” then it's NOT really a gift, it is a reward. There is a big difference between a gift and a reward.
If Saved, Always Saved
There is nothing wrong with the term “Once Saved, Always Saved,” but I prefer the statement, “If Saved, Always Saved” better. If a person is genuinely saved, then there is no possible way that person could ever be unsaved. Christianity is not a philosophy that can be renounced. It is not an organization that can be resigned. It is not a business that can be dissolved. Christianity is a new birth, a supernatural act of God Almighty in response to one's faith in Jesus as the Christ. Once a sinner has been born-again into the family of God, all the hordes of Hell cannot change that. God NEVER disowns His children.
The enemies of Eternal Security fail to address Hebrews 12:6-8 where God says He chastens His children... “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” The Bible doesn't say that God disowns His children; but rather, He chastises them. The idea that God kicks children out of His family when they sin and then requires them to forsake their sins in order to be accepted back into the family is an insult to the blood of Jesus Christ.
The Hypocrisy of Those Who Don't Believe in Eternal Security
The biggest flaw in the thinking of Dan Corner, and others like him, is that they fail to realize just how sinful they are themselves. Dan Corner and his followers hypocritically condemn other believers who live in unrepentant sin, failing to realize that they're just as sinful in God's eyes. If salvation can be lost, then who is righteous enough to keep their own salvation? Only a self-righteous hypocrite would claim to be self-righteous enough to please God. Isaiah 64:6 puts Dan Corner to shame... "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."
I thank God that my salvation is solely in the hands of my righteous Savior Jesus Christ; and not dependent upon my own sorry, frail, insufficient, rotten and sinful self-righteousness. Dan Corner's teaching are based in self-righteousness. He is no less a sinner than the adulterous believers he condemns. Dan Corner condemns other believers, whom he considers more sinful than himself, saying they've lost their salvation, but he's just as much a dirty, rotten sinner who fails to see the sinful beam in his own eye.
The Eternal Security of the Believer (by Dr. Harry Ironside)