If: The Conditionality of the Gospel and the Danger of Apostasy

by Todd Pylant

If. What a little word, and yet it totally changes the meaning of promises. I will buy you a car if… I will marry you if… We will accept you into our program if… When someone makes a promise to you that contains an “if,” you know that promise is based upon certain conditions being met. “If” statements imply conditionality. According to the Bible, the gospel is an “if” promise. The promises of God are based upon certain conditions being met. The very idea of a conditioned gospel is shocking to a religious society that treats the “sinner’s prayer” as a magic charm, a phrase that once uttered binds God into a promise and yet frees us from the conditions. But God is too wise to be mocked and too holy to be trifled with. " The Conditionality of the Gospel and the Danger of Apostasy" explores the biblical teachings of what it really means to be reborn and redeemed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. By examining the Scriptures, it demonstrates that the assurance of our salvation is not based upon a past religious experience but upon our ongoing faith relationship with Christ. It’s time the church reacquaint herself with the biblical gospel and do everything we can to make our calling sure. It’s time to rediscover the gospel of “if.” Dr. Todd Pylant has been the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Benbrook in Fort Worth, Texas since 2004. He has studied at Baylor University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Bethel University. In over 24 years of ministry, he has served churches in Texas and Georgia. He is the author of Word of God Understanding the Bible, Hearing God’s Voice. Sermons and writings are available at www.toddpylant.com.

63 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 17, 2012