In the first installation of this series, I mentioned how Ruckman could not be qualified for the pastorate as the qualification 'not a novice' disqualifies him. By novice, I do not believe the Lord was referring to 'a total of experience'. See, someone could be a well experienced (and thus, not a novice) sodomite but totally lacking in any Bible knowledge. This person would be a Biblical novice and he would not be qualified as a pastor. A man could be well experienced at divorce, yet still be a novice in relation to Bible knowledge. Thus, he would not be qualified to pastor.
In the light of the Word of God, consider the following statement: "As anyone knows who has spent lengthy hours in studying the Bible, there are about 100 verses that teach WORKS are part of New Testament salvation. There is no salvation "by grace through faith" found anywhere in Matthew 24, 25; Hebrews 3; Revelation 14, Romans 2:6–10; Luke 18:18– 20; 1 John 3:7; and so forth." [100% False Exegesis from Bible Believer's Bulletin Oct, 2006, Peter Ruckman, 10/2006] That's right, you read it correctly. Dr. Peter Ruckman and his followers are teaching that WORKS are a part of the New Testament plan of salvation. He and his followers are teaching salvation through faith PLUS WORKS. You will not find this in the Bible. This is not a mistake proffered by a man, this is a lie from the pit of hell that denies the very power of Jesus Christ and it is open heresy in the face of the Word of God. God's plan for salvation was settled before the creation of the Earth. (Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.) In God's timeless eye, He saw the fall of Adam, the need for salvation and the perfect plan for salvation before the Earth was formed. From the first sacrifice, to the last drop of blood spilled before the cross, every sacrifice represented a kaphar or a covering. These sacrifices did not 'atone' or pay for the sins of the people offering the sacrifices, they only covered them and became symbolic of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus. When Jesus laid down in His perfect salvation, atonement was complete. There was no longer a need for a covering of sin, the final payment for sin was paid.
Does this mean the Old Testament saints were saved as a result of the sacrifices they made? No. The sacrifices made before the Cross of Christ were symbolic. They were saved just as we are saved today: by faith in the (from their perspective) forth-coming Messiah. Today, we are either saved by faith in the Messiah who came to earth and paid the debt for our sins or the Bible is a lie.
Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
One of the foundations of salvation, in fact, of the Word of God and the character of God, is that it (salvation) is BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO EARN YOUR SALVATION. If you have done something which you think has enabled you to earn your salvation, you are not saved! If you believe your 'good works' have earned your place in heaven, you need to turn to God NOW! You need to confess your pride in your works to God as a sin. You need to go to God immediately and confess to Him that you are a sinner, turn from your old ways and beg Him to save you.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Are there any examples of faith in the Old Testament? Hmm, I wonder if I can find any:
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Heb 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (9) By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: (10) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. (12) Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Heb 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. (18) Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: (19) Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Heb 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; (25) Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (26) Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
The Lord says it best by saying:
Heb 11:32-40 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (33) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (35) Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: (37) They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (38) (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (40) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
In other words, there is not enough time on the Lord's clock to tell us of all of the examples of faith in the Old Testament!
What this boils down to is simple: Either Peter Ruckman is wrong about salvation or the Bible is. If I have to choose between Peter Ruckman (or one of his followers) and the Bible, I'll choose the Bible and stand with God every single time. We must resolve to stand fast upon the word of God and reject anyone who opposes the Word of God. We are in a day when good preachers are hard to come by, but there is more to a good preacher than just being a loud mouth.
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