Critical Concerns in David Cloud’s Discipleship Material, Among Other Teachings

As much as we appreciate David Cloud’s Way of Life ministry, especially his bold warnings on every sort of error from any camp, compromiser, heretic and apostate, whether it be “evangelicalism,” ecumenicalism, false teachers, ungodly “Christian” music such as CCM or “Christian” rock, other worldly music, Bible perversions, and the horrible compromise amongst the Independent Baptists many of which have gone heretical and apostate, etc, and we could go on and on, Cloud is not our standard for faith and practice, nor do we exercise respect of persons. We try not to get personal with any posts, and here again we don't intend to. We have supported Cloud a lot over the years by many different means, at some personal cost. We’ve defended him when it hasn't been easy to do so (it hasn't been easy-defense-ism). Though much of his material is excellent and edifying, concerns arise in the matters of sanctification, salvation scripture and some in salvation itself, divorce and remarriage, corruption of certain scripture and biblical doctrine. We have exposed his compromise on the gospel and could have for some time exposed his embracement of Keswick theological heresy and corruption of salvation passages into sanctification, and this discipleship text has been on our radar for quite some time, where we come across some of these issues.

This report and expose has mostly to do with his discipleship text, the One Year Discipleship Course, which we have personally gone through on at least three separate occasions over a span of the previous twenty years. Though there be a number of good and solid Biblical sections in this text some of which cover so-called “controversial” subjects that are crucial to help new believers especially (e.g., music, dress, separation), there are nevertheless certain sections that pose as a danger to believers and unbelievers were they to be reading (which could certainly be the case in our day of apostasy, where many “believers” are in fact counterfeits, unsaved fakes). Not only are we well versed with the content and have been edified by much of it, we have also personally promoted the text in the past to other believers and churches, resulting in a number of people purchasing copies. I say that to qualify my critique, though a Biblical critique should require no qualification besides the new birth. In hind sight, we should’ve not promoted this text, which repents us.

This is not written as a smear campaign or an attack on David Cloud but a warning to those who might be using the text, and similar books or material from Way of Life Ministries. We have personally confronted Cloud about these errors and he was ungracious and unhelpful in his reply and has refused to repent and change any of these serious errors. In his reply he informed us that his book "Holiness: Pitfalls, Struggles, and Victory"contains "a lot more teaching on sanctification and Christian growth," but "Beyond that, I have nothing to say." The same errors are found in that book (and more), and we will demonstrate in this report that his sanctification position has heretical elements to it, and his corruption of salvation passages is dangerous and heretical. Cloud's downfall is his heavy reliance on commentaries.

Obedience to God’s Word compels us to continue to speak the truth about the discipleship book by Cloud, “earnestly contending for the faith” (Ju 1:3). Of course there is lots of good in there, but practically everything to do with sanctification, and some of salvation, and a few other subjects, is not in line with Scripture. It’s egregious and dangerous with faulty interpretation of Scripture. A further reason why this is being exposed is because of the commonality of these errors in professing Bible believing Christianity today.

*An Important Side Note:

For the neo-evangelical and reformed-calvinist heretics and other gainsayers and scorners reading here for nefarious purpose, let me be very frank and upbraid you with the clear fact that David Cloud is miles above the wickedness, worldliness and heresy that you have believed, embraced and live. There isn't even a comparison. So don't think for a second you can find something on Cloud here that somehow justifies your corruption and perversion and rejection of the truth of Scripture and rejection of sound Biblical living, as you continue with your puffed-up sojourn down the broad path to the eternal lake of fire. The gates of Hell are slammed wide open for all deplorable and deceitful rejectors of the truth, regardless if they come with some kind of profession of faith, but especially those (cf. Matt 7:21-23).

The sections that will be critically critiqued to some degree are:

• Repentance

• Saving Faith

• The Gospel

• Evidence of Salvation

• Eternal Security

• The Law and the NT Christian

• Christian Growth and Victory

• Prayer

• Faith for Christian Living

• The Armour of God

• The Church

• Principles of Bible Interpretation

• Foundational Bible Words

• Making Wise Decisions

• Separation from the World

• Suffering in the Christian Life

• How to Be Wise With Your Money-Tithing

And Then Other Errors Outside of this Book.

This critique, which is largely based on notes taken during the undertaking or teaching of the course, is based on the Third Edition (Aug 11, 2014), and is given in chronological order as found in the text.

"REPENTANCE" (p. 10)

Much of what Cloud writes is true and good in this section besides his inclusive statement here on saving faith,

“The true meaning of faith must be explained and emphasized. The common way that “faith” or “belief” is defined by people today involves a mere mental consent to something, such as “I believe that George Washington was America’s first president” or “I believe that Jesus was the Son of God and came to die on the cross.” That is not what the Bible means by saving faith. Saving faith is a faith that issues from a heart that is convinced of its own fallen condition and has stopped making excuses and hiding in self-righteousness. Saving faith issues from a heart that is convinced that Christ is the only Lord and Saviour and that reaches out to Christ in personal trust. Saving faith issues from a surrendered heart, which is the very essence of repentance. That, and that alone, is saving “faith.” And when we are dealing with people’s souls we must be careful to explain the meaning of the terms of the gospel, as opposed to hastily running through some little “Roman’s Road” plan and then trying to get the person to pray a sinner’s prayer before he knows what he is doing.”

Everything he writes here is good (and kudos for speaking of surrendered faith, found in Lk. 14:25-35), but for one sentence, which is wrong, and twists the truth: "That, and that alone, is saving “faith.” Actually faith is even more than that, so “That, and that alone, is saving “faith”” is not entirely true. What is the faith required for salvation, that Cloud doesn't mention here but cannot be neglected? True saving faith is faith that importantly obeys the gospel (2 Th. 1:7; Rom. 10:16; 1 Pet. 4:17). It is repentant faith (Ac. 3:19 & 4:4; Matt. 21:28-32), which is probably the most critical element of saving faith, and everything that incorporates saving faith, which is more than surrender. It is faith that loses one's life and dies to self and denies self (Jn. 11:25; Matt. 10:39; 16:25; Mk. 8:35; Lk. 9:24). It is faith that exchanges masters (Matt. 6:24). It is faith that puts on the cross of Christ (Matt. 10:38; 16:24; Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23; 14:27). It is faith that stems from a poor and broken and contrite heart (Matt. 5:3). It is faith that seeks to be cleansed and purified (Jam. 4:8). These all encapsulate saving faith, including the above that Cloud wrote, but critically need to be mentioned here because these attributes of saving faith and their scripture references are corrupted by Cloud (e.g., Jn. 11:25; Matt. 10:38-39; 16:24-25; Mk. 8:34-35; Lk. 9:23-24; 14:25-35).

Cloud writes,

“The Thessalonians turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9). That is biblical repentance. Notice that they didn’t turn from idols to God; they turned to God from idols. The order is important. If a man turns to God, he has his back to his old gods and old life. This is true repentance. It is “repentance toward God” (Acts 20:21).”

Though we agree in part with his definition of repentance here (but there is much more to repentance than just turning from idols), the order actually isn’t important at all and is a red herring. If it was important, then Acts 14:15 would have the same order, but it does not.

“And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:” (Ac 14:15)

"Vanities" are actually a form of idols as well, so the two texts are speaking of the exact same thing. More Scripture puts the order the same as Ac 14:15, such as Ezk. 18:30, “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” And Ezk. 33:11, “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?”

We have found in most cases where this red herring is used, repentance is being corrupted.

Cloud writes,

“Unless a person rejects his false gods and false religions and self-righteousness and surrenders to Christ’s Lordship, he cannot be saved.”

I certainly agree with this but where I have problem is Cloud rejecting Lordship Salvation in other places (and we expose here). It is double speak because of compromise and not holding a sound view of repentance. Clouds rejection of turning from our sins, makes this statement problematic. Turning from sin in godly sorrow is the most important element in Biblical repentance.

Cloud writes,

“Second, it is not necessarily the word “repentance” that always has to be used; it is the concept that the soul winner must get across. We must make the individual understand that God requires surrender.”

He never defines what surrender is. It is however described along with repentance in many passages such as Matt. 10:32-39 and 16:24-26 and 19:17-31 and Mk. 8:34-38 and 10:17-30 and Lk. 9:23-26, 57-62 and 14:25–15:32 and Jn. 12:24-26, etc, but Cloud habitually corrupts these passages into something post-salvation, for practical sanctification. He also avoids using the Biblical language of receiving Jesus as Lord, attempting to avoid the label of “Lordship Salvation.” Hence why no actual description of “surrender.”

Cloud writes,

“I could have said, “Don’t worry about that. Just pray to receive Christ and those things will work themselves out later.” That’s the method I was taught in Bible School, but I don’t believe it would have been scriptural counsel. I don’t believe he could receive Christ and be saved unless he repented of his immorality and his dishonesty.”

That’s a heretical Bible school! (This was Tennessee Temple University, pastored and led by Lee Roberson, a hotspot for biggism, big numberism, Jack Hyles-type of false gospel and evangelism, easy believism, and quick payerism, producing false "converts" by the droves. Unsurprisingly, shortly after his passing this school and church became an emergent hotspot. He should have separated himself from such heresy, from a school that taught a false gospel.

"SAVING FAITH" (p. 17)

He omits a key passage in the memory scripture he gives, which reflects the keswick theology he embraces. He has Matt 11:28-29 but where is v. 30? Verses 28-30 all refer to the same subject, the one “rest” offered by Jesus in salvation if you will come to Him, but what Cloud does here is leave out v. 30 because he embraces a two-tiered Christianity where vv. 28-29 happen at salvation and v. 30 happens sometime during the Christian life (it is a common Keswick teaching and he embraces this in other writings of his). That is heresy because there is ONLY one rest. Verse 30 is further describing the salvation of vv. 28-29. To corrupt these passages is to corrupt the very doctrine of salvation itself.

The rest of this section is good but a bit shallow. Saving faith is a repentant faith and should be mentioned in the material. To not believe is to wilfully and perversely disbelieve, to be disobedient, to disobey the gospel and refuse to repent and believe (translated from apeitheo, found in such passages as Jn. 3:36, as “believeth not”).

"THE GOSPEL" (p. 20)

Cloud claims here that the gospel is only the “three major parts” as found in 1 Cor. 15:3-4.

That Jesus died for our sins, was buried and resurrected to life and then ascended back to heaven, is certainly the heart of the gospel (1 Cor 15:1-4), but that is not all there’s to it; there is more to the gospel than that. 1 Cor 15:3-4 does summarize the gospel in a nutshell for a specific purpose as that entire chapter puts forth. How preachers like Cloud often use 1 Cor 15:3-4 today is not what Paul intended with this brief summary. It was given in the context of the resurrection of the body and warning of false teachers denying the resurrection. It wasn’t meant to be an all-inclusive account of the gospel. The Greeks rejected bodily resurrection and the false teachers at Corinth sought some means to consolidate rejection of bodily resurrection with the gospel. Paul is saying it can't be done. If you reject bodily resurrection, then you reject the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which then means you reject the true gospel, since this is part of the gospel.

There is much more to the gospel than "three major parts." What isn’t mentioned in this passage of Scripture but is as “major part” of the gospel as anything includes repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ac 20:21 and 24; Mk 1:1-4; 1 Cor 15:1-2), the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Phil 2:10-11), the shedding of Christ’s blood (Christ’s atonement for our sins — 1 Jn. 2:1-2; Is. 53:4, 6, 8, 10-12; Heb 9:14-22), sufferings of Christ (Is 53:5-7; Lk 24:46; 1 Pet 3:18), the fear of God (Ac. 13:6; Rev. 14:7; Ps 66:16; Pr. 1:7; 9:6), judgment of God (Ac. 17:30-31; Rev. 14:7), repentance of sins and self (Matt. 4:17, 23; Ac. 20:21, 24; Lk. 24:44-48), the call to salvation (Matt. 4:18-21, cf. with vv. 17 and 22), worshipping God in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:23-24: Rev. 14:7), receiving an eternal inheritance (Heb 9:15) and eternal life (Jn 3:15-16, 36; 5:24), and glorifying God (Rev. 14:7; 16:9; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 6:14; Eph. 1:6, 12-14). If you look at those passages of Scripture, you will see that they all relate to the gospel.

Is this important? It’s critical. All these additional things not mentioned in 1 Cor. 15:3-4 are under the umbrella of the gospel. Removing them will change and negate what constitutes as a false and perverted gospel as warned of in Gal. 1:6-9 and 2 Cor. 11:4.

The gospel is read in many other passages such as Gen 15:1-6 (Abraham’s salvation, referenced in Rom 4:1-8, 18-25; Gal 3:6-9) and Ps 2:12 which reads, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Repentance is seen in the first half here and faith in the last half. We see in the passage the truth of Ac 20:21, “Repentance towards God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” The foundation of gospel preaching is repentance as seen by God the Son (Matt 4:17; Lk 24:44-48), which is granted by God to seeking sinners (Rom 2:1-4; Ac 5:31; 11:18) which without no man can be saved (Lk 5:31-32; Matt 21:28-32).

Under no. “2. Christ was buried (1 Cor. 15:4) a”, Cloud writes,

“The reason the soldiers did not break Jesus’ legs is because He was already dead (Jn. 19:31-34).”

This is only partially true, leaving out the most important reason why they didn’t, which is because the Bible prophesied that no bone would ever be broken in the Messiah (Ps 34:20). God always fulfils His prophecy to perfection and precision.

Concerning the resurrection,

“b. This resurrection dramatically changed the lives of those who saw Christ. Whereas before He rose, the disciples were fearful and in hiding from the authorities (John 20:19), after they saw the risen Christ they were bold and were willing to lay down their lives for their faith.”

They did't get bold until they received the Spirit of God, not after the resurrection. It wasn’t the resurrection that made them bold, as they still hid after the resurrection (Ac. 1:13). They went fishing after the resurrection (Jn. 21), indifferent to the will of God. It was ONLY the indwelling Spirit of God that made them bold (Ac. 2, ff., 4:13, 29, 31). Very clearly! Ac 4:31 clearly imparts this truth:

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

"EVIDENCE OF SALVATION" (p. 26)

This is a new section in the book in 2013, the third edition, whereas it should’ve always been there to start with considering its critical importance, which absence I find very strange. What we find here is mostly Biblical but it’s weak, even at the introductory and most basic level, and yet, again, it’s the most important section of the book besides salvation/gospel and is in fact very closely tied to salvation, seen wherever salvation is taught in the Word of God, the immediate effect of true conversion (e.g., Eph. 2:1-10; Ti. 2:11-14; 3:3-7; Matt. 7:21, 23; 13:23; etc). Cloud’s history of a lack of emphasis on it (never before in this book) in many of his writings, and scant mention of it here without really revealing the significance and cruciality of this truth and the necessity of self examination and proving ones faith, does the doctrine great injustice. Especially when we consider no subject is more important besides salvation itself. Consider this passage on its incredible importance, its the evidence of salvation that permits entrance into the kingdom of God, because evidence always flows from a good true, from the good ground that is born again indeed:

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Rev. 22:14-15)

We cover the evidence of salvation here: Evidence of Salvation in John's Epistle’s and mention very frequently in our writings.

This section is also in error on a few points.

It is not entirely true that,

“To depart from iniquity is not the way of salvation; it is the evidence of salvation.”

To be saved we must turn from our sin and self and stuff and people, and that means to depart from those things which is repentance. It means to forsake all.

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Lk. 14:33)

Departing from iniquity, turning from sin, is equally repentance, and every born again believer knows that is not enough, that on its own is not enough; the repentant sinner believes on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (Mk. 1:15; Ac. 20:21), and understands that its by Gods grace alone that we are saved. Cloud even admits this himself as he gives examples of the murderer dropping the knife, the drunkard dropping the bottle, the thief stopping the steal.

Cloud claims,

“[There are] five evidences of salvation described in the New Testament.”

"Five"?! Below is an example of a number of the evidences of salvation in scripture, thirty listed, and there are yet more, a list that will soon be exposited in a separate report on the said subject, while the following report covers the evidences of salvation in the epistles of John, which alone documents at last a dozen marks and evidences of salvation: Evidence of Salvation in John's Epistle’s.

The following evidence of salvation is present in all true born again believers, without exception, and without it being grievous either (1 Jn 5:1-3). Evidence is not established by partialness; it’s inclusive of all, just like fruit of the Spirit. That is how God’s Word reads everywhere. And evidence of salvation is what procures assurance but doesn’t produce security. Evidence and assurance of salvation comes because of security of salvation. Salvation is permanent, miraculous, supernatural and dramatic, and it produces a lot of things, and not years or months or even days down the road either. But immediately! “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:21). That happens immediately at conversion, and continues on after into glory. God guarantees all these things will come out of him or her that is born of Him (e.g., Jam 1:18-27):

1. The truly saved have a true Biblical testimony of conversion which includes both saving repentance and saving faith at one instantaneous moment in time. (Is. 8:20; Matt. 13:3-23; 21:28-32; Mk. 1:15-20; 8:34-38; Lk. 5:31-32; 9:57-62; 14:25–15:32; 18:9-30; 19:1-10; Ac. 3:19 & 4:4; 20:21; Jn. 3:3-21).

2. The truly saved persons nature and life has been changed immediately and permanently (2 Cor. 5:17; Ac. 20:18; 26:18; 1 Th. 1:9-10; Ti. 2:11-14; 3:3-8).

3. The truly saved both know and do the will of God by patiently continuing in, keeping and obeying God’s commandments, whereby they prove their love for God (Num. 15:39-41; De. 12:32; 13:3-4; 26:16-19; I Sam. 15:22-23; 1 Ki. 8:23, 57-58, 61; Ps. 103:17-22; Matt. 7:20-21, 24-27; 12:47-50; Mk. 3:31-35; 4:21; Lk. 17:10; Jn. 7:16-18; 8:31-32, 51; 10:25-27; 14:15, 21-24; 15:10-14; 17:6; 2 Cor. 2:9; Eph. 2:10; Heb. 10:36; Jam. 1:22-25; 2:14-26; Jam. 5:7-11; 1 Jn. 2:3-6, 15-17; 3:22-24; 5:1-3; 2 Jn. 1:5-6; Rev. 22:14-15).

4. The truly saved know the truth, they understand and grow in spiritual truth; therefore they speak the truth and are spiritually minded. (Pr. 1:5; 3:5, 13, 32; 8:5-9; 9:9-10; 10:13, 23b; 14:33; 16:22a; 17:24; 18:2; 22:21-22; 23:23; Matt. 11:27; Lk. 1:3; 1 Cor. 2:7-16; Jn. 8:44, 47; 14:26; 15:26-27; 16:13; 17:6-8, 17, 19; 18:37).

5. The truly saved are fruitful, starting at salvation (Ezk. 36:25-27; Jer. 23:3; Ps. 1:1-3; Pr. 11:30; 12:12b; Matt. 3:1-12; 7:15-20; 13:8-23; 21:28-32, 41-44; Mk. 4:20-29; Lk. 8:15-16; Jn. 4:35-38; 15:1-16; Rom. 11:16; 2 Cor. 5:18-20; 9:10; Col. 1:4-6; Jam. 1:18; 2:14-26; 3:17).

6. The truly saved live characteristically and faithfully in righteousness and holiness and godliness, not in sin and evil (1 Jn. 2:29; 3:1-10; Pr 8:20-21; 14:2; 16:17; Ps. 97:10).

7. The truly saved love the saints, their brethren in Christ (1 Th. 4:9; Jn. 13:34-35; 15:12, 17; 1 Jn. 2:9-11; 3:10-16; 4:7-12, 16-21; 5:2; 1 Pet. 1:22).

8. The truly saved love not the world and thus are separated from the world (Jn. 15:18-20; 17:14, 16; Rom. 6:17-22; 8:1-17; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; 3:1a; 4:5; Jam. 1:27; 4:4; 1 Cor. 7:34).

9. The truly saved are overcomers of apostasy, of the devil, and of the world (Jn. 16:33; Matt 17:14-18; 1 Jn. 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:4-5; Rev. 21:7).

10. The truly saved continue on with other true believers that likewise demonstrate these evidences in their lives. (I Jn. 2:19; Heb. 10:25).

11. The truly saved hear, believe, love and study the Word of God. They do not question or cast doubt upon God's Word; they love it and they love all of it. (De. 6:4-6; Ps. 1:2; Jn. 8:31-32, 44, 47; 1 Jn. 4:4-6; Pr. 9:9).

12. The truly saved are waiting and watching for Christ's return and coming judgment; they live in expectancy of His imminent return. (Mk. 10:32-37; 1 Th. 1:9-10; 5:6; 2 Th. 3:5; 2 Pet. 3:1-13; 1 Cor. 1:7; 1 Jn. 3:2-3; Matt. 24:42-51; 25:1-13; Jam. 5:7).

13. The truly saved abide in Christ, including the doctrine of Christ, for they can never stop abiding in Christ, nor can He stop abiding in them (Jn. 15:1-16; 1 Jn. 2:24, 27-29; 3:24; 4:13; 2 Jn. 1:9).

14. The truly saved walk in the Spirit and thus have a Christ-like spirit. (Gal. 5:22-26; Jam. 3:13-18).

15. The truly saved glory in the Lord and not in themselves, thus live for Him and labour in His Word, not for the flesh and after riches. (e.g. Ps. 49:6-20; I Jn. 2:15-17; Lk. 1:46-47; Jn. 16:13-14; 17:10; I Cor. 1:26-31; 3:18-23; 5:6; 2 Cor. 4:15; 5:15; 10:13, 17-18; 11:2, 12-13, 18, 30; 12:1-12; Gal. 6:14; I Th. 2:4-6; Jer. 17:5-8).

16. The truly saved have spiritual discernment and thus contend for the faith. (1 Jn. 4:1-3; Ac. 17:11; 1 Th. 5:21; Isa. 8:20; 1 Cor. 2:12-16; Jn. 7:24; Gal. 2:4-5; Ti 1:9-16; Jude 1:3; Rom. 16:17; Phil. 3:2, 17-19; Isa. 8:20). Therefore they are not led astray by false teachers (1 Jn. 2:18-27; 4:1-3; 2 Jn. 1:6-11; Matt. 24:24); they follow not the voice of strangers but their Shepherd (Jn. 10:1-5; Deu. 13:3-4).

17. The truly saved judge, and they judge righteously (Lev. 19:15, 35-37; Pr. 21:15a; Pr. 21:3, 15; Ze. 8:16; Jn. 12:7; I Cor. 2:15-16; Phil. 1:9-10).

18. The truly saved have the indwelling witness of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14-17; 1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 1:13-14; I Jn. 3:24; 4:13; 5:9-10; Gal. 4:6).

19. The truly saved are no longer ashamed of Christ. (Is. 28:16; 54:4; Rom. 10:11; 9:33; Heb. 2:11; 11:16; Rom. 1:16; 5:5).

20. The truly saved respond positively (Biblically) to reproof and rebuke and admonishment. (Pr. 10:17; 12:1; 13:1, 8, 18; 15:5, 10, 31-32; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Rom. 15:16; Jam. 3:17-18).

21. The truly saved are not pursued by evil. (Pr. 12:21; 13:21; 15:15, 19; 19:23; 11:19; 22:5; Jn. 17:14-16; II Th. 3:3). “Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.” (Pr. 13:21).

22. The truly saved are chastened by God. (Heb. 12:5-11; Pr. 3:10-11; Job 5:17; Ps. 94:12-13; 1 Cor. 11:31-32).

23. The truly saved are hated by the world and persecuted for being a Christian and suffer and endure trials for Christ. (De. 13:3-4; Ps. 7:9; Matt. 5:10-12; Jn. 15:18-20; 16:1-4, 33; 17:14-18; 2 Tim. 3:12; Rev. 12:17). “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Ps. 119:165).

24. The truly saved have fruit of the Spirit. (Jn. 16:22; 17:13; De. 28:47; Gal. 5:22-25).

25. The truly saved separate themselves from sin, error and worldliness, which includes people and churches/ministries (Ps. 1:1-6; 1 Cor. 5:9-11; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:7-12).

26. The truly saved endure, persevere and continue to live by faith unto the end, because the just live by faith. (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Lk. 18:7-8; Rom. 1:8, 12, 16-17; 1 Cor. 2:5; Gal. 3:18; 6:10; Col. 1:4; Phil. 2:17; 1 Th. 3:2, 5-7; 2 Th. 3:2; Heb. 6:9-15; 10:38-39; 11:1–12:12; Jam. 5:10-11; 1 Jn. 2:24).

27. The truly saved pass God’s trials and proof test of faith. (De. 8:1-2; 13:3-4; Pr. 17:3; Jn. 10:1-5; Jud. 3:22; Lk. 9:57-62; Mk. 4:13; 1 Cor. 2:9; 2 Tim. 2:19; Jam. 2:14-26; 1 Pet. 1:7).

28. The truly saved do not have a respect of persons. (Jam. 2:1-26).

29. The truly saved fear God (Job 28:28; Ps. 25:12-14; 33:8; 36:1; 66:16; 85:9; 103:10-13, 17-18; 110:10; 145:19; Pr. 1:7, 20-29; 3:7; 9:10, 16-20; 14:16, 26-27; 19:23; 22:4; Mal. 3:16–4:3; Matt. 10:28; Lk. 1:50; 3:3-18; 12:4-5; Ac. 13:16, 26; Heb. 12:28; 1 Pet. 1:14-17; Rev. 11:18; 14:6-7; Rom. 3:18).

30. The truly saved know they have eternal life that can never be lost (1 Jn. 5:9-13).

Cloud writes:

“The believer still has the “old man” that he inherited from Adam, and the Christian life is a process of putting off the old man and putting on the new man, which is Christ (Eph. 2:22-24).”

There is truth to what he writes here but he fails to mention something extremely important concerning this, that the “old man is crucified with Christ” (Rom. 6:6). This truth should not be absent from this teaching. Every born again believer belongs to Christ, “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Gal. 5:24). It happened at salvation, not some point after as heretical keswick theology teaches. Gal. 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” To leave these important truths out in the face of that statement, geared towards new believers essentially, is very concerning. The victory for the true born again Christian happened at the moment of salvation (Rom 6:1-23; 2 Pet 1:3-4), but you wouldn't know that in reading this text or much of Cloud's other writings. One last thing about what he said here: "the new man" referenced in Eph 4:22-24 (not chapter 2 as he had written), is NOT "Christ." This is Cloud being influenced by Keswick doctrine once again, this time the heretical traditional possession doctrine, which falsely claims that its Christ that does the actual working in the believer, and not the believer, hence the statement by Cloud, "the new man, which is Christ." This is completely wrong and heretical. Even the very passage tells us that it's referring to the actual regeneration of the person, "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

Cloud writes:

“Some believers are more passionate in living for Christ than others. We are not saying there will be a “total transformation”; we are saying that there will be at least some sort of transformation!”

Where does the Bible read like that? Even the examples he gives in this very section completely contradicts what he says here. For instance:

“In every case the individual’s life was dramatically changed: e.g., the woman at the well (John 4), Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). Consider the conversions described in the book of Acts. Again, in every case the individual’s life was dramatically changed: e.g., those who were saved on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41-42), the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39), Paul (Acts 9:1-21), Lydia (Acts 16:14-15), the Philippian jailor (Acts 16:27-35). Consider the believers at Thessalonica who modeled genuine salvation (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).”

Which one of these had less passion than the others or wasn't "totally transformed"?! Every person born again is “totally transformed”! As transformed as he or she can ever be, for all are saved equally the same. Romans 6–8 makes that very clear. To say otherwise is to deny the Triune God and specifically the work of the Spirit of God in regeneration. One example among hundreds: 2 Cor. 5:17-21. Every example in the bible is one of “total transformation”! The entire body becomes light (Lk 11:33-36), for one is either light or darkness, not a mixture of both. Regeneration itself (Ti 3:4-6) produces “total transformation.”

"ETERNAL SECURITY" (Parts 1-3)

Part 1 (p. 31)

Cloud writes:

“Conclusion: The knowledge of one’s eternal security in Christ is the believer’s “helmet” to protect him from the devil’s fiery darts of doubt (1 Thessalonians 5:8).”

1 Th 5:8 says, "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." It says nothing about the devils fiery darts of doubt. Saved people do not doubt their salvation, nor can Satan cause them to doubt. It’s impossible, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them [the antichrist, the devil]: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 Jn. 4:4). We cover this subject here: The Counterfeit Salvation of Doubting, Uncertainty and Rededication, Frequently Accompanied with Asking Jesus Into The Heart.

Part 2 (p. 34)

Cloud writes,

“Does the doctrine of eternal security cause people to live carelessly?”

One chapter alone powerfully refutes that man-centred philosophy derived by lost deceived men, which Cloud strangely does not mention. Romans 6. The whole chapter, and specifically vv. 1-2, 14-15. You need no other argument, because it is specifically addressed here, yet very strangely absent in this text.

Part 3 (p. 36)

Cloud writes,

“5. The sinning believer reaps corruption (Galatians 6:7-8).”

That is not what this passages says, nor is that part of this passage applicable to saved people. Paul is not contrasting two types of Christians, or two conditions in a Christian; nothing in these passages even closely indicates that. Rather, and very clearly, Paul is contrasting lost and saved people, which contrast is found everywhere in Scripture. The one reaping corruption is an unsaved person, a false believer, the fake professor.

Cloud writes:

“Many believers have paid a terrible price, such as losing their marriage over such things as adultery, anger, and worldliness; losing their kids’ hearts; and losing their ministries. Any sin can be forgiven by confession, but sin has consequences. For example, I know many divorced believers who have confessed their sin but the divorce is still a reality, with all of its ugly and hurtful lifelong ramifications.”

There is so much wrong with what he says here. He is describing unsaved people, but proclaiming them as saved. Professing Christians, in this age of grace where the Spirit of God dwells in them, that commit physical adultery are not saved (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21). Professing Christians that are habitually angry, are not saved (Pr. 22:24-25). Professing Christians that are habitually worldly, proving they are friends and lovers of the world, are not saved (1 Jn. 2:15-17; Jam. 4:4; 1 Cor. 2:12). Professing Christians that lose their children, are not saved (Pr. 22:6; 23:13-14). Professing Christians that divorce, are clearly not saved (Mal. 2; Mk 10:2-9; Eph. 5; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Cor. 7:10-11, 39).

Cloud writes under no. 6,

“When the Israelites doubted God, they were forced to walk in the wilderness for 40 years even after they repented (Deut. 1:37-45).”

The Israelites were lost in the wilderness. Almost all of them. In fact, we only ever read of four that weren’t. There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of Scriptures, entire chapters that speak of their lost condition, that they were blind and unsaved, that they rejected salvation, that they were false believers. They were forced to walk in the wilderness because God was long-suffering to them wards, “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9). He wanted them to be saved, that was the point.

Here Cloud also speaks here, and very frequently, of “backslidden believers.” There is no such thing. Saved People Don't Backslide - They Are Not Apostates.

"THE LAW AND THE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIAN" (p. 41)

Cloud writes:

“The Old Testament cannot bring salvation...”

This might be a grammatical error, we hope, for the OT does indeed bring salvation, seen in many examples throughout the OT and the fact the gospel is found everywhere in the OT and the fact many people were saved in the OT.

He writes that the true believer is still “under the law of the flesh.” Definitely NOT true. The flesh is “crucified with Christ” (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:10; 5:24) and has been sanctified (1 Th 5:23).

"CHRISTIAN GROWTH AND VICTORY" (Parts 1—4)

This entire section (all four parts) should be abolished and rewritten to reflect the truth of Scripture. It is actually plain and simple heresy, Keswick/Revivalist heresy.

Part 1 (p. 45)

There is lots of error and seriously unscriptural teachings and doctrine within this section that must be addressed and exposed due to their dangers. This section propagates the heresies of lukewarm “Christians” and unfruitful “Christians” and backslidden “Christians,” all of which are in complete contradiction to Scripture. The most blatant errors are under the sections d, h, i, and j. These sections also contradict section k.

2 Peter 1:5-9 is not being interpreted properly, contextually. Verse 10 is a huge part of this passage but is skipped strangely.

Cloud writes under ‘d’,

“Jesus said that He hates lukewarmness (Rev. 3:15-16).”

Indeed He does, but Cloud perverts Christ's teaching here in this section, as he does regularly and chronically. He likens lukewarmness to the true Christian when nothing could be further from the truth. The pastor of the Laodicean Church is an apostate; he is lost. Read vv. 17-18. God vomits him and most others in that church as him, out of his mouth 🤮 No clearer language could be used in describing someone that is lost and without salvation, while professing to be a "believer."

There is spiritual and there is natural, but there is no lukewarm category, just like there is no carnal Christian. The carnal Christian theory is often likened to Laodicean Christianity (e.g. the "lukewarm Christian") which is actually a marker of second blessing and Keswick theology. It’s something done by David Cloud very frequently but it’s heretical. Those at Laodicea were unsaved, Rev. 3:17-18, 20-21 makes that very clear. That church is an apostate church. Lukewarm is not referring to a saved person, but someone who is not only unsaved but also likely never to be saved. God spews them out of His mouth. Since when does God spew His children out of His mouth? Is that chastening language? Is that how God loves His children, who are inseparable from His love (Rom. 5:5; 8:31-39)? (The very context even tell us that “as many as I love, I chasten”, referring to those that are actually converted among them, He is chastening for He only chastens His children – Heb. 12:5-11; Pr. 3:11-12). God doesn’t even spew lost non-religious (no pretence of religion) sinners out of His mouth, but rather "is longsuffering to [them], not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9). God hates hypocrites, religious fakes, and we see that throughout Scripture, including Matt. 23 and Paul’s parallel teaching in Rom 2. Lukewarm is not referring to someone that is saved (“hot”) or a sinner who is lost with no form or pretence of religion and likely even knows they are lost (“cold” — whom God desires over the lukewarm); lukewarm is clearly referring to someone that is pretending to be “hot” while they are actually “cold” but because they are imitators and fakes pretending to be “hot” while they are actually “cold”, they become “lukewarm” upon combination of the two temperatures, just like when combining water as such. It’s very clearly referring to people who are pretending to be believers while they are actually lost (like those in Matt. 7:15-20, 22-23; Jn. 2:23-25; 6:60-66; I Jn. 2:19; Ac. 8:13-24; Judas). A good example of that in Scripture is the religious Jews in Jesus’ day (Mk. 7; Matt. 23) and those in the wilderness (Heb. 3:7-4:11; Ps. 78) pretending to be of God while plainly lost with the faith of devils (Jam. 2:14-19). Language like "lukewarm" and "backslidden" and "carnal" and these types of terms have become the currency of Keswick and second blessing. They explain "Christians" who very likely are not Christian. The Bible doesn't explain these people as saved, but they are labeled so by this new theology. Keswick Currency of “Unbelief,”“Lukewarm,” “Backsliding,” and “Carnal,” Describe False Professing “Christians,” Not True Born Again Believers.

Cloud writes under this same letter (‘d’) about half-hearted Christianity, which is also false Christianity and fits with his erroneous use of lukewarm:

“The half-hearted Christian will not grow. He will remain a babe and will continue to cause trouble in the church and do more to hinder God’s work than to help it.”

He is describing the “lukewarm Christian” here, which follows his next sentence, but according to Gods Word he is describing a lost person, for every Christian grows since it is God that works in them and chastens them and He doesn’t leave them to themselves (Phil. 1:6; 2:13; Heb. 12:5-11; Pr. 3:11-12).

Cloud writes under ‘h’,

“Christian growth guarantees fruitfulness (2 Pet. 1:8).”

NO, salvation always guarantees fruitfulness. This is completely backwards. He is giving credence to non-fruitful “Christians” here, which also fits his error on the “lukewarm” and “carnal” and “backslidden” “Christian.” The Bible very clearly says those that don’t produce fruit are unsaved (read Ezk. 36:25-27; Jer. 23:3; Ps. 1:1-3; 92:12-15; Pr. 11:30; 12:12b; Matt. 3:1-12; 7:15-20; 13:8-23; 21:28-32, 41-44; Mk. 4:20-29; Lk. 8:15-16; Jn. 4:35-38; 15:1-16; Rom. 11:16; 2 Cor. 5:18-20; 9:10; Col. 1:4-6; Jam. 1:18; 2:14-26; 3:17), as we see with the only ground that is saved, the good ground (Matt. 13:23), which is why he also corrupts this parable, claiming that the thorny soil are saved people. They are certainly not. Those that don’t bear fruit do not have root and vine which is Jesus Christ, they do not abide in Jesus Christ (Jn. 15:1-6), regardless of their claims to the contrary, for “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (Jn. 15:6). “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matt. 3:10).

Cloud writes under ‘I’,

“If the believer is not growing, he is going backwards (2 Pet. 1:9). It is like traveling up a river against the flow of the current. As long as I keep paddling I can make progress, but as soon as I stop paddling I start being carried back down the river. Likewise, the believer cannot stand still spiritually. He cannot say, “I am satisfied with where I am, so I will just stay at this place in my Christian life.” We must keep pressing on to higher ground, or we will backslide.”

No true believer is ever satisfied with where is is spiritually, but that dos not mean he is "going backwards." 2 Pet 1:9 is primarily referring to false professing "believers," people that aren't actually saved. Backsliders are apostates, Saved People Don't Backslide - They Are Not Apostates.

And under ‘j’,

“Backsliding makes the believer nearsighted and forgetful (2 Pet. 1:9). He becomes filled with the cares and lusts of this world so that he does not think about eternity. His eyes are on man rather than on Christ. He forgets the important things and focuses on the unimportant things. Backsliding is a sad and unfruitful condition.”

Ditto to backsliding, which is a sad and unfruitful apostate condition of the false, fake "believer.". Those “who become filled with the cares and lusts of this world so that he does not think about eternity” are lost. Unsaved. Unregenerate. The unprofitable servant. They are the thorny soil, which is one that cares about the things of the world and riches and other lusts, but they are clearly unsaved (but Cloud also, very concerningly, mostly coins as "saved") . They are also unfruitful, which further reveals their lost estate. All People Fit into One of the Four Soils of the Parable of the Sower and Seed — Which One Are You?

This is contrary to scripture. No believer goes backwards. The bible says those who do that are unregenerate, apostate. Both the O.T. and N.T. specifically state that the one who goes back, the backslider, is unsaved.

“But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.” (Jer. 7:23)

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb. 10:38-39)

The actual word for backsliding ("soog") only applies to lost people. It means to apostatize, apostasy. No place in Scripture that uses this word refers to saved people but only lost people, mostly the lost nation of Israel. In Scripture, namely the O.T., none of the sixteen occasions the word and its derivates show up does it ever refer to saved people but always to lost people and almost entirely to Israel as a lost nation: Pr. 14:14; Jer. 2:19; 3:6, 8, 11-12, 14, 20-22; 5:6; 8:5; 14:7; 31:22; 49:4; Hos. 4:16; 11:7; 14:1-4. The NT is silent on it, even on its principles. The term appears to only apply to the Jewish nation and the individual Jew (the only context its ever found) with whom God has everlasting covenants and who’ve had incredible privilege and opportunity to be converted (Rom. 3:1-3; 9:4-5; 10:8; Ps. 78:1-72; 81:10-13; etc).

The question and answers for numbers 6, 8, 9, 10 are contrary to Scripture. Question 11 contradicts 6, 8, 9, 10. This type of erroneous teaching that doesn’t come from scripture but from heretical books and commentaries read by David Cloud, will always produce contradictions and confusion. It’s inevitable because it’s unscriptural.

I find it a bit strange that Cloud is completely silent on the significant truth that all true born again believers have the victory at salvation (abundantly taught in Rom. 6, 7 and 8 and other places of Scripture), NOT after salvation as Cloud implies and Keswick theology pushes, but at salvation (its also telling because it runs contrary to the Keswick/higher life type of heretical sanctification that runs rank through most IB churches). So nothing here (or the other 3 parts) about the victory over the flesh at salvation, as Rom. 6, 7 & 8 plainly teach. Nothing about the old man being crucified with Christ at salvation (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20; 5:24). He also teaches Keswick type of error on John 15 in further parts. All four parts are in fact taught with a wrong footing. Instead of calling into question the professors alleged salvation, he classifies them as not growing. The Biblical pattern is that of saints, true born again believers, not backsliding, not going backwards, but always moving forward (e.g. Ac. 7:39-53; Jn. 6:66-69) and upward (e.g. Col. 3:1-17). Yes, sadly, they can and will very likely lust after the flesh and sin (e.g. Rom. 13:12-14; Eph. 4:20-32), but they live in the spirit which has been quickened (Eph. 2:1-5), they are spiritually minded and not carnally (fleshly) minded ever again (Rom. 8:1-14), they “have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16), and they live after the Spirit Whom indwells them and not after their flesh or the world (1 Pet. 4:1-2; 1 Cor. 2:12; 6:19-20), for their flesh has been circumcised from the heart/spirit which has been quickened, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” (Col. 2:13; cf. Rom. 2:28-29; De. 30:6) and therefore characteristically and perpetually walk in the Spirit, for their flesh, the carnal nature and mind, the old man, is crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6:6; 8:1-16). It is dead (Rom. 6:6-11). Henceforth, sin has no power or dominion over the saint anymore (Rom. 6:1-23), nor is the desire for it there any longer (Rom. 6:1-2, 11-18, 22-23; Ti. 2:11-14). They are freed from the power and penalty of sin starting immediately at salvation (Rom. 5:21–8:39).

At salvation we are “crucified with Christ” (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20; 5:24) and we become “dead to sin” (Rom. 6:2). It has no more dominion over us (Rom. 6:14), since "our old man is crucified with him" (Rom. 6:6), and we are "dead with Christ" (Rom. 6:8) and therefore "henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin" (Rom. 6:6-7) and is "alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:11). A “backslidden/carnal/lukewarm Christian" is a servant of sin, "But God be thanked, that ye [born again believers] were the servants of sin, but ye [born again believers] have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye [born again believers] became the servants of righteousness." (Rom. 6:17-18). At the moment of one's conversion, simultaneous with his justification, someone receives in that instance everything he needs to live the Christian life, and he has the victory for he is an overcomer of his flesh, the devil, the world (Rom. 6; 1 Jn. 2:13-14, 15-17; 4:4; 5:3-4; etc). Every genuine believer is a have. There are no have-nots. Nothing more is necessary than what he already possesses from that moment on. Consider some passages on this: Rom. 6:1-23; 7:4-6; 8:1-16; 1 Cor. 1:4-7; Eph. 1:3; Col. 2:9-10; 2 Pet. 1:1-4; Jn. 8:31-32; etc).

Rom. 8:5-9:

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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."

Rom. 7:5:

"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death."

Notice that Paul writes, "When we were in the flesh." We were. So much in these verses plainly says a carnal/lukewarm/backslidden Christian does not exist. If someone wants to call it that, they can do as they will, but the Bible says they are lost. They, including Cloud, label them as saved, which contradicts salvation and Scripture. The born again believer isn't after the flesh. He doesn't mind the things of the flesh. He doesn't walk in the flesh (Rom. 8:1-4; 2 Pet. 2:10), that is, he doesn't live in or after the flesh. He isn't carnally minded or in the flesh any longer, for when he was saved there was a "putting away of the filth of the flesh," (1 Pet. 3:21), “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Pet. 1:4). Many of these passages are corrupted by David Cloud so as to fit the false teaching that he is propagating in this book.

What Cloud does with these false labels and teachings on false Christians (but treating them as true) is creating a third category of person, two-tiered Christianity, which isn’t Christianity at all. There are only two categories of man found in God’s Word, not three. It’s the third category theology, two-tiered “Christianity,” that has produced these erroneous and unscriptural terms (and doctrines). It's the basis of the extremely heretical keswick/higher life/deeper life/ revivalism “theology.” It is erroneously and egregiously claimed by many that a true born again Christian can "backslide," be "lukewarm" and become a “carnal Christian.” None of this is true. Its pure fabrication made out of sheer cloth. Nowhere in Scripture do we find this to be true. We find this truth even collaborated in the Anabaptist Schleitheim Confession of 1527, the confession of faith that Menno Simons and the Mennonites embraced:

“For truly all creatures are in but two classes, good and bad, believing and unbelieving, darkness and light, the world and those who (have come) out of the world, God's temple and idols, Christ and Belial; and none can have part with the other.”

Amen to that! David Clouds writings contradicts this Biblical statement (and I would add, Michael Sullivant’s from PVBC teachings are completely loaded with this type of heresy, which does reflect back to a false gospel, as it practically always does, but happily not the case with Cloud).

Cloud writes under ‘k’, the last point, which actually contradicts what he had just stated:

“Christian growth does not save, but it does prove one’s salvation (2 Pet. 1:10). Peter’s challenge in 2 Peter 1:10 is the same as Paul’s challenge in 2 Timothy 2:19 and James’ in James 2:17-18. Those who profess Christ but do not live for Him have no biblical basis to say that they are saved.”

This is true but completely contrary to almost everything we have refuted here already. He completely contradicts himself with this statement. His description, and the Bible’s description even more so, of the backslider, the unfruitful, the lukewarm, describes people “who profess Christ but do not live for Him” so such “have no biblical basis to say that they are saved.” But he says the very opposite in sections d, h, i, and j. He says those people are true Christians that just don’t grow. Not only is this is contradictory and confusion, its heresy as well. Language like lukewarm and backslidden and carnal (although not used here, but very frequently used in similar settings by Cloud, as noted already) have become the currency of Keswick and second blessing, which Cloud’s writing are loaded with. He is explaining "Christians" who almost for certain are not Christian. The Bible mostly doesn't explain these people as saved, but they are labeled so by this new theology.

What Cloud is teaching runs contrary to Scripture and could be detrimental to the truly saved, and worse, will keep the lost false professing “Christian” as exactly that, a lukewarm/backslidden/carnal “Christian” but never challenged and reproved on their lost estate. This teaching, dovetailing with a false gospel, is the primary reason for all the lost people in churches today, and men like Cloud are feeding it along.

Part 2 (p. 48)

Phil. 3:13 is Paul reflecting back to his state before salvation (vv. 3-8), “forgetting those things which are behind,” not to some state post-salvation, as Cloud implies, which fits into the rest of what we are exposing here.

Abiding in Christ.

Cloud claims that Jn. 15:1-10 is teaching two types of Christians, but that is far from the truth. This is Keswick/Deeper life two-tiered “Christianity” heresy. This is not talking about how to be a better Christian. People who abide are saved people. This passage is a contrast between true believers and false believers. All born again believers abide in Christ and He in them. They never stop abiding in Him and He never stops abiding in them (which is taught in these very passages: Jn. 15:1-10 and also in 1 Jn. 2:27; etc). Only the abiding person in this passage is fruitful and the Bible is very clear that only true Christians are fruitful while false/fake "Christians" (hypocrites) are unfruitful (Matt. 13:3-23; Ezk. 36:25-27; Jer. 23:3; Ps. 1:1-3; Jn. 15:1-16; Rom. 11:16; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; 9:10; Col. 1:4-6; Jam. 1:18; 3:13-18) which corresponds perfectly with what is being taught in this passage in Jn 15.

Cloud writes under abiding in Christ:

“If the believer forgets Christ and starts living his life apart from conscious fellowship with Christ, he is in spiritual danger.”

This statement denies the indwelling Spirit of God, Who never stops leading those He indwells: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14). God never stops working in those He’s saved and thus indwells, in every true born again believer, molding, leading, guiding, directing, convicting, chastening, growing, producing fruit. This never stops though it may be hindered in a temporal periods of time by grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit through unconfessed sin or disobedience to Gods Word, but God never stops working in them, known by His chastisement, its actual purpose (e.g. Pr 3:11-12; Heb 12:5-11). This is both a promise and guarantee as read in Scripture: Ps. 18:24-26; 48:14; Jer. 32:37-41; Jn. 10:1-5, 26-27; Rom. 8:28-39; 1 Cor. 1:6-9; Eph. 1:11, 13; 3:20; Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13; 1 Th. 2:13; 5:23-24; 2 Th. 2:12-17; 3:2-3; 2 Tim. 1:12; 4:18; 1 Pet. 1:5; Heb. 13:20-21. What does it mean when someone is not led by the Spirit of God? Obviously they are lost. Since a true believer cannot lose his salvation, they are always led by Gods Spirit. That means then he cannot forget Christ (how could be forget Christ?!) and will not live consciously apart from Christ. The problem here is Clouds false interpretation of Jn. 15:1-6, conforming it to his experience, that it’s two types of Christians whereas it’s surely not; this is a contrast between the truly saved (fruitful, purged) and the false believer (unfruitful, cast into the furnace of fire).

Cloud is indicating that some people don’t abide in Christ, so they’re not fruitful. The “branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away” (v. 2) however, is a lost branch. All born again believers bear fruit, as we know from the parable of the sower: only the good ground is saved and bears fruit (Matt. 13:3-23). Those that don’t abide in Christ are lost, not unfruitful Christians like Cloud falsely teaches. Jn. 15:6 Jesus says, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” That refers to hell. It ties perfectly into John the Baptist's teaching, "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." (Lk 3:9).

True converts abide (continue) in Christ (1 Jn. 2:6, 19, 27-29; 3:6) which is in accordance to Gods Word because He always abides in them (1 Jn. 2:24; 3:9, 24; 4:13; Jn. 15:1-16) while false believers do not (Jn. 15:1-10; 1 Jn. 2:27; 3:1-15; 2 Jn. 1:9). “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (1 Jn. 3:6). This passage speaks of all professing believers and those who do not continue to abide in Christ have never seen or known Christ. And like many other similar ones, perfect tense verbs are used, indicating that those who do not abide have never experienced the point action of the new birth with its continuing results in seeing and knowing Christ. “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (1 Jn. 2:27). Note that in this text possession of the Holy Spirit—the “anointing” that all the children of God have—guarantees that “ye shall abide in him.” Those that don’t “were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us:” (1 Jn. 2:19).

Putting off the old man and putting on the new.

Cloud claims that that true believers heart is corrupt:

“There are a thousand ways that the corrupt human heart, the old man, lies and dissimulates.

No place in scripture says the saved heart is corrupt. It doesn't. This is falsely interpreting scripture. Just the opposite; every born again believer has a new and pure heart: Ezk. 11:19; 18:31; 36-36; Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8. Only a lost heart is corrupt: Jer. 17:9; Ps. 53:1; 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:22; etc. The corrupt heart of Jer 17:9 is an unsaved heart (read the context, vv. 5-9, if the verse itself cannot convince you).

Confessing sin.

Repeatedly he claims that true born again Christians walk in darkness. When they sin, they are walking in darkness allegedly. This is not true. It goes against what Gods Word actually teaches. Walking in darkness means living in darkness. That’s how the bible describes it, just like walking and living in light. It’s the way of life of a person, based upon their position in Christ or out of Christ. Saved people live and walk in the light. Always. Characteristically. They are never in darkness again. Lost people walk in darkness. Characteristically. The following scripture makes these truths very crystal clear: Jn. 8:12; 11:9-10; 12:35-36, 46; Eph. 5:8; 1 Th. 5:4-5; 1 Jn. 2:8-11; 2 Cor. 6:14; Matt. 6:22-23. When the eye is single it is full of light, when it is an "evil eye" it is full of darkness (Matt. 6:22-23; Pr. 23:6-7) which is reflective of either full of light or full of darkness (1 Jn. 2:8-11; Matt. 5:14-16; Lk. 11:33-36; 1 Th. 5:2-8).

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Th. 5:4-5).

“Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” (1 Jn. 2:8-11).

The second paragraph in this point of the text (starting with “Making excuse and blaming others...”) describes lost people, not saved people, even though Cloud is applying it to saved people. What he is describing here is not what saved people do. When Adam and Eve blamed others, they were lost. They had just lost their salvation, the only place in Gods Word where someone actually lost their salvation. This is the moment they spiritually died. That’s why they blamed others. It’s part of the fallen nature of man. Saved people are not of the natural man anymore, but spiritual (1 Cor 2:9-16). They don’t push blame, they don't Play the Blame Game. True converts confess their sins to others (1 Jn. 1:8-10) and to God (1 Jn. 1:9; 2:1-2). They confess and forsake their sins (Pr. 28:13). They admit when they have sinned and don’t deny it and cover it up. False believers ignore their sin or they justify and excuse it and blame others for it.

Part 3 (p. 51)

Part 3 of the Christian Growth and Victory portion of the discipleship text contains a fair amount of error, false interpretation of scripture and purveying of false sanctification. There is misuse and misinterpretation of Scripture, falsely dividing Gods Word and not interpreting in context. What he is propagating in this section is incredibly dangerous and will destroy lives. Lost people are fed this unbiblical garbage and they continue on in their lost nature and estate, blinded as before. Truly saved people could hypothetically believe this for a time, but it will destroy their spiritual zeal for a time. These erroneous teachings of Cloud contradict Gods Word and what happens at salvation and continues on in all true believers. The purveying of this Keswick/higher life/deeper life false sanctification will build you a church full of false believers. That is a major reason for this everywhere today, among evangelicals and fundamentalists alike. This is how men like Michael Sullivant build a big church in Winkler, Manitoba, and then maintain it. Those that graduate out of their school (CBBC), a Hyles/Revivalism/Keswick-type of institution, will be champions at this. People need to be warned of these errors and their errors. This is no light matter. No true under-shepherd will fail to protect the Lord’s sheep from these dangerous and pervasive errors.

Devouring the Word.

Cloud writes,

“It has been said, “A dusty Bible indicates a dirty heart,” and, “The Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible.””

Neither of these popular sayings is Biblical, if they are applied to the true Christian as Cloud is doing here. To lost people maybe, but not saved. People that are truly born again love the Word of God. Their Bible is not dusty, nor is their heart dirty. They have a new heart, and they confess and repent of sins as fast as they come, for God consistently chastises them (Pr 3:11-12; Heb. 12:5-11). When a saved person sins, he is not kept from the Bible. That is not how the indwelling Holy Spirit works, and He is greater than anything in this life including your sin.

Similarly, the following statement is also false:

“If we try to take in the Word while holding onto our old sinful ways, we will not grow.”

Not one true born again believer in the Bible tried to hold onto their "old sinful ways." That is unscriptural. When a sinner repents and is saved, his old man is crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20; 5:24). He is a new creature and all old things are passed away (2 Cor 5:17). He does not pursue after his old sinful ways anymore. Can he fall into sin? Of course he can, as he lusts after the things of the flesh, but he is not attempting to hold onto his old sinful ways as Cloud indicates here. There is a big difference here. That’s a heart issue, whereas falling into sin because of sudden moment of lust is not. The Christian life can be a struggle (Rom 7:17-25) but that is altogether entirely different than desiring to hold on to the old man and his sinful ways. Rom 5, 6, 7 and 8 make this abundantly clear. Rom 6:1-2 on its own refutes what he is saying here:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

Protecting the Word (Matt 13:22).

Cloud claims that the thorny soil in the parable of the sower and seed is a saved person:

“In the Parable of the Sower Jesus warned that the Word can be choked by the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. Mark adds the “lusts of other things entering in” (Mark 4:19), and Luke adds the “pleasures of this life” (Lk. 8:14).”

This is plainly false. The thorny soil is lost, not a true Christian. This soil has never and will never bear any fruit (Mk 4:7; Lk 8:14).  All People Fit into One of the Four Soils of the Parable of the Sower and Seed — Which One Are You? The fruitless “Christian” is a false Christian. There are dozens of verses that teach this, even this very parable. This false teaching that he is propagating here lends support to the heretical “carnal Christian” theory. They dovetail.

And yet in other writings of his, the thorny soil is unsaved. The confusion.

Separation from the World.

Cloud writes,

“The Bible says that if the believer loves the world, he does not love God (1 John 2:15-17). The world is defined as “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Therefore, the believer must make many hard choices. He must choose whether to love the world or to love God. This shows the error of the “Christian rock” philosophy. I cannot love the world’s wicked pop culture and love Christ, too.”

This is completely unscriptural and untrue about believers loving the world. The Bible does not say "if the believer loves the world, he does not love God." Cloud has interjected "believer" into 1 Jn 2:15, which does't exist in the KJV or in the underlying Greek Textus Receptus. No true believer needs to make these choices because he doesn't love the world any longer. The choice of masters he says here that a Christian makes, actually happens before salvation, NOT after. It is in fact necessary for salvation. Cloud is putting the cart before the horse. Do I want to love God or the world (1 Jn. 2:15)? Do I want to serve the Lord or my own false gods (Jos. 24:15)? Do I want to continue serving the master mammon/world or the Master God (Matt. 6:24)? Do I want to love my flesh and my lusts and the world, or do I want to love and serve God (1 Jn 2:15-17)? These are questions answered before salvation, NOT after! 2 Pet 1:3-4 completely refutes what he is saying here:

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD THROUGH LUST.”

Rom 7:5-6 likewise,

“For when we WERE in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”

Many more passages reflect this truth including all of Rom 6 and 8.

Cloud corrupts and falsely interprets 1 Jn. 2:15-17. John is warning false believers who love the world that they are unsaved. The entire epistle of first John is an epistle on the evidence and markers of true salvation. They don’t have the love of the Father in them (1 Jn. 2:15). People that are absent of the Father's love are unsaved (Rom. 8:31-39 and Jn. 5:42 make this crystal clear). The entire epistle is one on evidence of salvation. It’s meant to show those that are unsaved their lost estate; and those that are truly saved will see the evidence of salvation in their lives and will have assurance. Everything that he says here about saved people supposedly loving the world is patently false.

Furthermore, there is no warning of those who don’t grow and love the world, etc, of their lost nature, which is perhaps even a greater tragedy, but it fits the teaching.

The importance of proper interpretation of Scripture is beyond the need for explanation. God the Spirit does not teach error nor does He misuse His Scripture. Gods Word is perspicuous and clear to the saved and MUST be interpreted properly.

Part 4 (p. 55)

In the part on “Keeping Ones Eyes on Christ“ Cloud writes:

“But those who are looking at man and following man become discouraged and even quit when someone or something offends them.”

This is true but unfortunately Cloud does not warn about the true spiritual condition of these man-centred and man-following fallers away, which is hugely important. They are not true believers at all, but those of the stony soil warned of by Jesus in the parable of the sower, who “have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.” (Mk. 4:17). Lukes account about these “on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” (Lk. 8:13).

In the part on “Abiding in Christ“ Cloud reflects back to the first part, with what he had started in this section on Christian Growth and Victory. But this is completely unscriptural for he is teaching that Christians can stop abiding in Christ, whereas they don’t. They never stop abiding; only false professors do, for they were never abiders in Him to begin with. They professed to be branches in Him, but He never knew them and they never bore true godly and good fruit (Jn. 15:1-6). That is the same thing that Jesus teaches in the parable of the sower, where only one actually abides in Him and He in them, the good soil. Jn. 15:1-10 is contrasting saved people with false professors (lost) NOT two types of Christians. Every single born again believer abides in Christ and Christ in him. That never, ever stops! (see 1 Jn. 2:3-6, 24, 27; 3:24; 2 Jn. 1:9; Jn. 10:1-20 [the entire context]).

Cloud is claiming that Jn. 15:1-6 is teaching two types of Christians, but that is far from the truth. This is Keswick/deeper life two-tiered “Christianity” heresy. This is not talking about how to be a better Christian. People who abide are saved people. This passage is a contrast between true believers and false believers. All born again believers abide in Christ and He in them. They never stop abiding in Him and He never stops abiding in them (which is taught in these very passages: Jn. 15:1-10 and also in 1 Jn. 2:27; etc). Only the abiding person in this passage is fruitful and the Bible is very clear that only true Christians are fruitful while false Christians are unfruitful (Matt. 13:3-23; Ezk. 36:25-27; Jer. 23:3; Ps. 1:1-3; Jn. 15:1-16; Rom. 11:16; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; 9:10; Col. 1:4-6; Jam. 1:18; 3:13-18) which corresponds perfectly with what is being taught in this passage. True converts abide (continue) in Christ (1 Jn. 2:6, 19, 27-29; 3:6) which is in accordance to Gods Word because He always abides in them (1 Jn. 2:24; 3:9, 24; 4:13; Jn. 15:1-16) while false believers do not (Jn. 15:1-10; 1 Jn. 2:27; 3:1-15; 2 Jn. 1:9). “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (1 Jn. 3:6).

The passage he mentions here, Matt. 11:28-30 is also misused. That passage is only referring to salvation. It is at salvation we enter into rest, not after. There is only one rest: Heb. 4:1-11. We cover this in detail here: The Bible Teaches Only One Rest, Not Two, Including in and Especially Matthew 11:28-30.

"PRAYER" (p. 58)

It appears this part is incomplete. Grammar not right in the beginning.

The following written by Cloud from the beginning of this section, is mostly error:

“Nothing in the Christian life is more important than prayer. . . . Prayer changes things, and nothing is changed without prayer: no one saved, no sermon blessed, no marriage victorious, no child turn out right, no church stay in God’s will”

He is not rightly dividing the word of truth. As important as prayer is, reading and obeying God’s Word is without exception and without comparison more important. Yes prayer changes things, but obedience does way more. “No one is saved” without prayer? That is false. “No sermon blessed” without prayer? That is false. “No marriage victorious” without prayer? That is false. “No child turn out right” without prayer? That is false. “No church stay in God’s will” without prayer? That is false. None of this is true. Yes prayer plays an important part, a very important part, but find me anywhere in scripture where this is stated. You won’t find it anywhere. What we find rather is obedience, obedience, and more obedience, which is almost everything in the Christian life. Even one of the passages referenced by Cloud refers to this: 1 Jn. 3:22. We don’t need to pray over things that God has stated. That is the power of the Christian life, it is why God saves us (Ecc 12:13), it is why God did such great miracles among the Jewish people, not because they were saved and obeying Him, but so they would bring Him glory through obedience from conversion (Ps 105:45).

"FAITH FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING" (p. 60)

Cloud writes under no. 3:

“Faith steps out when God calls. Jesus warned about putting off the call of God (Lk. 9:59-62).”

Yes Jesus did warn about putting off the call of God, about putting off the call of God to salvation, but that is unfortunately not what Cloud is referring to. That is what Lk. 9:57-62 is however all about, the entire context. It has nothing to do with what Cloud is referring to, a call to "service," or something else post-salvation. Cloud is misusing and misinterpreting this important passage and creating serious confusion. There is only one calling found in scripture and that is the call to salvation. That includes this passage, which very clearly teaches salvation. Following Jesus when He was physically on earth was walking and living by faith. The one that wanted to be saved, would do that. The rich young ruler wouldn’t (Mk. 10:21). The reason Cloud confuses salvation and sanctification here, as in many other places, is because he is loaded to the brim with Keswick/revivalism/higher life (etc) heresy. He is dividing faith in two, hence the reason why this section even exists in this book. Popular teaching among Baptists and evangelicals is that there are two types of faith: saving faith and serving faith. Although Cloud doesn’t say that here, he clearly means it by what he writes in this section. But this is false. Nowhere in Scripture is faith ever divided like that. We serve God by the same faith that we were saved. Nothing changes. The just live by faith (Rom. 1:17; Hab. 2:6; Gal. 3:26?). The same grace of God that saves, also sanctifies (Ti 2:11-14). Many passages refute this serious error Cloud is propagating, error that corrupts both salvation and sanctification and creates a ton of heretical teachings such as “backslidden-lukewarm-carnal Christianity” and keeps the lost, as lost, such as Col. 2:6-7 for example:

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Cloud writes under no. 4, that faith looking beyond this life,

“Will keep me from being lazy, selfish, carnal, lukewarm. Young people need to do this. New believers need to do this. Businessmen need to do this. Elderly believers need to do this. My mom starting reading the Bible every day when she was in her 70s and has read it through twice a year since then.”

Professing believers that are “selfish, carnal, lukewarm” have likely never been saved. These are terms used by Cloud very frequently and by Keswick/revivalists to describe professing Christians that are very likely not Christian at all. By writing the way he does, Cloud is giving credence to false believers, which is many. The Bible says "carnal" and "lukewarm" are unsaved people, while Cloud says they are not. Who is right, God or David Cloud?

Cloud writes under no. 5:

“Faith is always tested. It is tested to see if it is real and it is tested to purify it. We see this in the lives of the Jews in the wilderness (Ex. 4:29-31; 5:4-23).”

This is true but it is unknown where Cloud is going with this. If it’s not real, is it because they are unsaved? Indeed it is, but Cloud never says that because he doesn't believe it, even though Scripture teaches it everywhere. It is true that “God wants to see if our faith is real or only superficial” but Cloud falls seriously short in describing the reason and outcome of that. God does that to see if we are true believers or not. Of course He knows that already, but that person might not (self-deceived and deluded and doubly blinded) and the people around that person might not either (hence why we are justified by works as Jam. 2:20-26 details, which isn’t for salvation but to prove salvation, the evidence of salvation). Faith that is without godly works and fruit is dead; that means they are lost (Jam. 2:14-19). If someone fails God’s test of faith, he proves to be lost (e.g. Jn. 10:1-5; De. 13:3-4; Further reason why this is unclear and confusing what Cloud writes, whether he is referencing saved or lost people (the title and the rest of this section clearly implies saved people), is referring to this testing of faith in the Jews in the wilderness. These Jews were lost. Out of the millions of Jews, very very were actually saved. Their faith was tested and it was shown over and over and over to be dead.

Cloud writes under no. 7,

“Faith can give us the same wisdom to make major decisions, such as these: Whether to follow the crowd or to follow Christ. Whether to be wholehearted for Christ or not (Rom. 12:1). Whether to separate from the world or not (Rom. 12:2). Whether to serve God or mammon (Mat. 6:24). Whether to be lazy or diligent (Prov. 13:4). Whether to give to God’s work richly or to keep it for myself (2 Cor. 9:6).”

Cloud is confusing saved and lost people here. Big time. No saved person makes these kinds of decisions. He did that BEFORE he was saved. He turned from living for himself and denied himself to become a servant of Christ (Mk. 8:34-38; 13:34; Lk 14:25-33); he turned from following the crowd to following Christ (2 Cor. 6:14-18; Pr. 9:6; Mk. 8:35-36); he turned from serving mammon to serve God (the very passage that he references even says that, Matt. 6:24, noted in all true salvation testimonies in the Bible such as the Thessalonians, 1 Th. 1:9-10); etc. What Cloud is advocating for here is Keswick/revivalists heresy. Two-tiered “Christianity.”

"THE ARMOUR OF GOD" (p. 63)

The entire section on “The loins girt about with truth” (Eph. 6:14) is falsely interpreted. He says that “This refers to truthfulness, honesty.” He is not speaking honesty, the truth, some pun intended. Of course “God is a God of truth, and His people must be truthful people” but that is NOT what "loins girt about with truth” (Eph. 6:14) means. It’s a given that Gods people are honest and truthful and it’s not a piece of the armour that reinforces that they must be truthful. They ARE truthful, for "all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire that burneth with fire and brimstone" (Rev 21:8, 27)

On the point on the helmet of salvation, Cloud writes “The teaching that the born again believer can lose his salvation weakens the helmet.” This indiactae that Cloud thinks they are saved people ,when they are not. The Bible says those who believe they can lose their salvation have never been born again (1 Jn. 5:9-13; amongst many other passages). This passage, specifically v. 10, says those who deny the record that God gave of His Son which is eternal life through Him (vv. 11-13), (1) do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit (“the witness”); (2) make God out to be a liar; and (3) do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Cloud writes,

“To put on his helmet properly, the believer must understand his salvation.”

True believers do understand their salvation properly, because it was required for them to be saved. It’s false believers, who fill the churches today, that don’t, the kind that Cloud is helping create.

Cloud writes,

“A weak translation of the Bible is a sword but it is dull and not as powerful and effective as it should be.”

NO it’s not a sword. Things that are different are not the same. They are perversions. They are not the Word of God, though they may contain some of the Word of God. At best, they are commentaries--and for the most part, very poor ones at that.

Cloud writes,

“If we study the Bible in our own ability we will not interpret it correctly.”

How does a born again Christian study the Bible in his own ability? Does he ask the Holy Spirit to leave?

"THE CHURCH" (p. 68)

Cloud writes,

"The Bible does not use the term church, singular, when addressing a group of churches in a region. In such cases, it always uses the term churches, plural--the churches of Galatia (1 Cor. 16:1), the churches of Macedonia (2 Cor. 8:1), the churches of Judea (Gal. 1:22), the churches of Asia (Rev. 1:4). It is not Scriptural to speak of the church in Nepal or the church in America. This use of the term “church” was devised by the Roman Catholic Church and was kept by the Protestants when they left Rome. The apostles established the church as an autonomous institution with its one Head, Christ. Each church has its own leaders and its own business. This pattern began on Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 14:23)."

Yet, Cloud belives in the same universal church as Rome does, though it is not stated in this section of the course text. The "universal church" teaching is heresy: Is the Church Local, or Universal, or Both? Part 1 and Does the Bible Teach the Church is Universal? Part 2 and The Destructive Damage of the “Universal Church” Doctrine.

Cloud writes,

“9. The believer needs to contribute his tithes and offerings (Mal. 3:10). In the Mosaic dispensation the tithes and offerings were brought into the Temple, but tithing was a practice that began in ancient times before Moses. Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, God’s priest in that day (Gen. 14:18-20). We believe tithing is a good starting point for New Testament believers. If God’s people faithfully tithe, the needs of the church will be met. Tithing is a wise, equitable plan; those who have more give more. But we should not think that the tithe is all that we should give to God. In fact, under the Law of Moses, the tithe was at least 20% of one’s income. The Israelites were required to give 10% of all of their increase (Num. 18:24-28; Neh. 10:38), plus they were required to bring offerings to the annual feasts (called the second or festival tithe). They were also to give to the poor. The pattern in the first church was for the believers to bring their offerings to the church and place them before the leaders (Acts 4:34-37). This particular example did not involve the tithe, but it does show that the believers gave in and through the church and that the offerings were under the oversight of their leaders.”

The tithe was for the Levitical priesthood because they did not have land like the 12 tribes (Heb. 7). The Jews were commanded to tithe. It was an obligation incumbent on every Jew. Num 18:20-32 speaks to this, quite clearly. Lev. 27:30-34 also speaks of the tithe, and it includes all increase, animals and the land. Heb. 7:1-12 makes it very clear that the tithe was abolished with the Levitical priesthood. That is buttressed by the fact that Paul or any other Apostle or writer never mentions it anywhere around the subject of money, giving and the church. 1 Cor. 8, 9 and 16:1-2 speak against tithing. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1 Cor. 16:1-2). The following passage in 2 Cor. 9:6-7 makes it absolutely incredibly clear that NT saints do NOT tithe, for that would be giving grudgingly and out of necessity:

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

"PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION" (p. 103)

Although we agree with all the principals of interpretation he mentions here, he actually misses one that is as important as context, the first one mentioned. The one not mentioned is grammar and syntax. God uses specific words on purpose and they richly mean things. To properly understand a passage one must also understand what the words mean, which very importantly includes examining the underlying Greek and Hebrew words from which the English was translated. Even the translators of the KJV strongly advocated for that. Many times just by simply looking at what other words are translated from a single Greek or Hebrew word gives us a much greater understanding of that word.

Cloud actually contradicts his very own rule of context being the most important, in the second part on comparing scripture with scripture. He uses the example of Lk 14:26 and Matt 10:37 claiming its post-salvation and obeying Christ in all things. That is NOT what Jesus is teaching there. Not only do the actual words teach us that salvation is the subject, but the very context. Lk 14:26 is in context of Lk 14:25-15:32. It’s all the very same sermon on the call to salvation and how to be saved. It’s very very clear. Abundantly clear. Jesus is not teaching the clearly lost multitudes (Lk 14:25) and sinners and publicans and Pharisees and Scribes (Lk 15:1) how to be better Christians. And in Matt 10 the entire context is Jesus teaching the disciples what they are to preach and what their response is to be as the people respond to the gospel message, as He sends them out in that context (Matt 11:1). The entire context tells us that (Matt 10:5–11:1).

These things should be addressed as they are extremely important and cannot be left unexposed.

"FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE WORDS" (Part 1, p. 108)

Cloud divides grace into two distinctions, while the Bible doesn’t do that anywhere, but just the opposite. Ti 2:11 says that it’s the very same grace that saves us that teaches us how to live, what to do and how to glorify God. There aren’t two types of grace. This once again reflects the heretical two tiered Christianity that floods Cloud's writings.

"MAKING WISE DECISIONS" (Part 1-3)

Part 1 (p. 125)

Cloud writes,

“2. Walk in the light (1 John 1:5-10). To walk in sin is to walk in darkness, and it hinders spiritual living and thinking (1 Peter 2:11). The Bible warns that the backslider will be filled with his own ways rather than with the ways of the Lord (Prov. 14:14).”

Again, repetitive language misused. The Bible warns that the backslider is lost. Nowhere in scripture is the backslider saved, including Pr. 14:14, which he misuses here. Yes truly saved people can sin but they are not apostates (the actual meaning of backslider and it’s derivatives) nor do they walk in darkness. Professing Christians that walk in darkness are unsaved (Jn 8:12).

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12).

Part 3 (p. 134)

Cloud writes:

“6. Do not fear man (Proverbs 29:25). Jesus warned that we must love Him even more than our dearest relatives. See Luke 14:26. What did Jesus mean when He demanded that we “hate” our nearest and dearest loved ones? We understand this by comparing Scripture with Scripture. Consider a companion passage in Matthew 10:37. When Jesus said we must hate our father, mother, wife, children, brethren, and sisters, he was saying that we must love Him far more than we love others.”

Although this is true in principle, he makes no mention that Jesus is teaching these passages (Lk. 14:26; Matt 10:37) to lost people as requirements to be saved. They tie into repentance and surrender. Cloud consistently teaches these passages and others like it, as something post-salvation whereas nothing in the text or context lends support to that egregious interpretation. Jesus is not teaching lost people in Lk 14:25-15:2 how to be better Christians or disciples. His audience is the lost multitudes (14:25), including publicans and sinners, Pharisees and scribes (15:1-2). He is teaching them what it takes to be saved, what it means to repent and surrender to Him. Similarly, in Matt 10:32-39 Jesus is also teaching salvation, instructing the apostles what to preach as He sends them out (see Matt 10:1-11:1). Of course these truths and commandments continue on in the life of the regenerate, it’s not just a one shot deal, reckoning these things daily, but they start at salvation, yea they must lest you cannot be His disciple, I.e. you cannot be saved. The Call to Discipleship is a Call to Salvation.

Cloud writes:

“Many, faced with such a choice [to obey God’s command to preach the Word of God], have turned their backs on God’s call.”

I would say “many” of these are unsaved, something Cloud should also say, because that is what God says. 2 Cor 5:18-20, amongst others passages, make it very clear that all saved people will preach the gospel, since they are truly converted (2 Cor 5:17, 21) and have not received the grace of God in vain (2 Cor 6:1-2). This is what puts the good ground apart from the other three grounds (wayward, stony, thorny—the latter two are unsurprisingly considered by Cloud as saved but conveniently “carnal Christians” or “lukewarm Christians” or “backslidden Christians”), the only ground that is fruitful, and always fruitful, which fruit is specifically referring you souls here. Of course there may be struggles and some fear but Gods will always supersedes and thus done by the regenerate, and for it to be considered not is to deny Gods Word, deny salvation and makes God out to be a liar.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6).

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:12-13).

Cloud claims that saved people will be ashamed of Christ and Christ in return ashamed of them, misusing Mk 8:38 to support this. Mk. 8:38 along with the rest of the text, vv. 34-37 is referring to salvation. Saved people are never again ashamed of Christ, just like He is not shamed of them. It's actually a fulfillment of prophecy (Rom 10:11). Ashamed of Christ? It is Permanently Eliminated in Conversion.

Cloud again uses the language of backsliding, which continues to only refer to lost people in scripture, and never used even once towards saved people and completely absent in the NT because it is strictly referring to Jews, for only they in their lost estate can “backslide” by definition. They had everything at their disposal to be saved, Rom 3:1-3; 9:3-4 but they threw it away.

Cloud gives James Robinson credibility as a true believer when the man clearly was a heretic (Ti 3:10-11) and false teacher (2 Pet 2:1-3, 17-22). This only produces massive confusion, and prevents false believers from seeing their true nature.

"SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD"

Part 1. p. 148

This is very good, writing:

“The world is in open rebellion to God, and each person must make his choice: the world or God (1 John 5:19).”

Yet in oiher places he claims these people to be saved. Maybe even here. Cloud uses 1 Jn 2:15-17 towards saved people as if they can love the world. They don’t. They can’t. John is contrasting saved people and false professing believers (the lost). We see that in v. 15 and v. 17. If a person loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them (v. 15). That means they are lost, just like Jesus says in John 5:42. The love of God never leaves a saved person, not God’s love for the saved, or the saved persons love for God, it is actually impossible (Rom 5:5; De. 30:6; Matt 22:37-40; Rom 8:35-39). And all saved people do the will of God (v. 17). Its a huge evidence of salvation (Matt 7:21; Phil 2:12-13; 1 Jn 2:3-5; Heb 10:36; Rom 1:17; Jn 14:15-24).

He separates the new birth and surrendering, while the Bible is clear surrendering is required for salvation. He says “because they either have never been born again or they have never surrendered to Christ…” (p. 151). If they haven’t been born again, they haven’t surrendered to Christ.

He says,

“A backslider in heart is easily ensnared by the world and devoured by the devil (1 Peter 5:8).”

The backslider in the Bible is always a lost person. The word means an apostate and is only ever applied to lost people in Scripture, mostly to the lost nation of Israel. The “carnal Christian” theory does not exist, which is where this language comes from. 1 Pet 5:8 is referring to a saved person, but that person is not a "backslider." Misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 to Produce the Erroneous Teaching of "Carnal Christianity".

Part 2, p. 153

Most of this section is good. Lots of good practical and Biblical advice. Even most scripture is handled exegetically as well, for a refreshing change. But not all though.

He corrupts James 4:4. This is ONLY referring to lost people, and tons of proof of that in Scripture, yet Cloud is describing saved people,

“James uses very powerful words. To befriend the world is to commit spiritual adultery. God is a jealous God.”

No place in scripture is someone considered saved that commits spiritual adultery. Furthermore, in no place EVER is a saved person called an enemy of God, what Jam 4:4 says of the friend of the world. We are friends of God, His beloved.

Towards the end second point under Some Final Points he speaks of ways “to avoid becoming a slave to sin.” Though we avoid sin and its ways, saved people do NOT become a slave to sin. At the very moment of salvation we are delivered not only from the penalty of sin but also from the power of sin: Rom 6:1-23; 7:4-6; 8:1-16. It has zero dominion over the saint. We are freed from it permanently. Before salvation, when “we were in the flesh” (Rom 7:4), we were slaves to sin, but after salvation we become slave to Christ. Rom 6:1-23 makes all this very abundantly succinctly and explicitly clear!

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? . . . For he that is dead is freed from sin. . . . For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Rom 6:1-2, 7, 14)

"SUFFERING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE"

Part 1, p. 168

Cloud writes,

“Faith is always tested. Testing comes after someone professes faith in Christ. Jesus spoke of the seed sown among “stony places,” which springs up quickly but then dies because of “tribulation” (Mat. 13:20-21). Testing also comes after we make new decisions such as the decision to be faithful to church or to establish a daily Bible reading time or to begin tithing or to join an organized evangelistic outreach.”

The stony soil is lost, not saved. Not one word about that very critical point because he believes they are saved.

Tithing was under the levitical law. It doesn’t apply anymore (Heb 7), also clearly evident in the fact that Paul never mentioned it even once in the multi-chapters dealing with giving. Tithing also contradicts giving with a cheerful heart. It is giving out of necessity, just like it was under the OT.

There are “divers temptations” (verse 2). Troubles come in a great variety of forms. This is not talking about the devil’s temptations by which he tries to get us to sin. This is referring rather to troubles that are sent by God or allowed by Him to test our faith, a test which all true believers pass.

"HOW TO BE WISE YOUR MONEY-TITHING" (p. 203)

Of course tithing is being pounded from the pen. The tithe does not pertain to the NT believer. The tithe was for the Levitical priesthood because they did not have land like the 12 tribes (Heb. 7). The Jews were commanded to tithe. It was an obligation incumbent on every Jew. Num. 18:20-32 speaks to this, quite clearly. Lev. 27:30-34 also speaks of the tithe, and it includes all increase, animals and the land. Heb. 7:1-12 makes it very clear that the tithe was abolished with the Levitical priesthood. That is buttressed by the fact that Paul or any other Apostle or writer never mentions it anywhere around the subject of money, giving and the church. 1 Cor. 8, 9 and 16:1-2 speak against tithing. “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1 Cor. 16:1-2). The following passage in 2 Cor. 9:6-7 makes it absolutely incredibly clear that NT saints do NOT tithe, for that would be giving grudgingly:

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

From our article, Are New Testament Believers Obligated to Pay the Tithe?, Are Christians obliged to pay tithes, or was it only a mandate for the people of Israel?

1. Firstly, yes tithing came before the law but it pointed to the law and was established by the law. Heb. 7:5, 12 makes that clear:

“And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: . . . For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”

2. Secondly, the tithe actually consisted of food and animals, not money! It was a law for the Jews in the OT to support the Levitical Priesthood who had no inheritance in the land. Those that support the tithe are limited to quoting the OT since the NT does not teach it, especially Malachi, to coerce the audience to believe it is mandated for Christians, but they do not even closely teach the tithe in truth, skipping many of the main tithing passages in the OT, especially those in Lev. 27:30-33, Num 18:20-21, 24-29, and De 14:22, passages that make it very clear that the tithe is for the Israelites only, the covenant people of God, and it is mostly food and material related. These tithing passages read as follows.

Lev. 27:30-33,

“And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord. [31] And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. [32] And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. [33] He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.”

De. 14:22,

“Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.”

Num. 18:20-21, 24-29,

“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. [21] And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. [24] But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord , I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. [25] And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [26] Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord , even a tenth part of the tithe. [27] And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress. [28] Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the Lord's heave offering to Aaron the priest. [29] Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the Lord , of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.”

There is a lot of ignorance or twisting that has to occur to teach that the tithe is monetary only, and its for the Gentile Christians of the NT Church.

If all pastors followed the OT Mosaic law, they should also follow the same traditions that the people of Israel do, give tithes to Levites, strangers, orphans and widows, and he should not eat pork, fish without scales or fins, eagles, insects, etc. (Lev. 11:3-23), and not use certain types of textile fibers, and continue the tradition of the Sabbath (Saturday) instead of Sunday. Tithes were for God, but were intended to support Levites, strangers, orphans and widows.

3. Thirdly, whether tithing is acceptable since giving is good is not the question. If tithing is under the law and for a specific people only and not for the NT Christian, then it's wrong to teach and demand the tithe in NT churches. Thats the issue that must be answered. And that is exactly what we find. It is not for the NT Christian because tithing was under and for the Levitical priesthood. In a special way, the tithe was destined for supporting the priests and Levites who were dedicated to the service of God and that had not received their plots on land distribution. (Num 18:21-33; 2 Ch 31:5-19). And it consisted of food and material.

Heb. 7:5, 8-12,

“And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: . . . And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them , of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."

The priesthood was indeed changed, by the Lord Jesus Christ. All born again believers are now under the royal priesthood (1 Pet 4)

Lev. 27 is quoted for the tithe but since when have NT Christians been "tith[ing] of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree" (Lev. 27:30)? Or how about De. 14:22? “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.”

Mal. 3 is wrested from its meaning and context when applied to Christians. Its actually referring to the Levitical priesthood and it again refers to the tithing of food items.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal. 3:10).

“Into the storehouse” is NOT into the church or even the Temple. Is exactly what it’s saying it is: a storehouse. A place where you store things. Food is stored in a storehouse. “Meat” is stored in a storehouse.

We are under the perfect law of liberty (2 Cor. 3:17; Jam. 2:12 and many more verses). The tithe produces bondage to the law.

4. Fourth, tithing is a command, but giving is voluntary. A born again believer is to give “as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Giving is not about the amount of money, but the amount of the sacrifice.

Did you know that in promoting tithing you are promoting something that is unscriptural. Of course tithing was once required and the law under the Old Covenant, but Heb. 7 makes it clear that it is no longer enforced because the levitical priesthood has passed away. Whether tithing is acceptable since giving is good and commended is not the question. If tithing is under the law and for a specific people only and not for the NT believer, then its wrong to enforce the tithe and wrong to be teaching this and wrong to not be teaching it in its proper doctrine. It is not for the NT Christian because tithing is under and for the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:5, 8-12). 

Tithing is also unscriptural because it is never mentioned in a passage that should have mentioned it, if it was yet applicable. If there was any place in the NT where tithing would be mentioned – if it was required – it would be in 1 Cor. 16:2. In this passage, Paul would have most definitely mentioned tithing if it was required for NT churches. But we do not read that, only “giving” as God prospers them.

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." (1 Cor. 16:2)

In promoting tithing how do you reconcile the fact that tithe always consisted of fruit, vegetables, meat and material, NOT money? Not surprisingly, this central aspect of tithing is never mentioned at all when it is taught or promoted. Lev. 27 is the benchmark passage on tithing, but since when have NT Christians been "tith[ing] of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree" (Lev. 27:30)? So when you teach on tithing and you don’t actually teach this is the tithe, you are unfaithful to the doctrine itself.

The fact remains, tithe was a law for the Jews in the OT. That is why those that teach this always have to quote very specific privately pulled passages out of the OT, especially Malachi (while ignoring Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) to make people believe that is mandated for Christians, but do not mention that it was for the people of Israel, with whom God had made this covenant, and we are not Jews, but Gentile believers, people of the New Covenant.

Furthermore, there is not even one passage anywhere in the NT that commands tithing. Not even giving for that matter. Giving is never commanded for it’s to come from a willing and cheerful heart, which runs completely contrary to tithing. 

1 Cor. 8, 9 and 16:1-2 actually specifically speak against tithing.

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” 

We are to give “as God hath prospered” (1 Cor. 16:2). Whatever we give must be from a heart of love for Christ and His children. Nobody should put pressure on any saint to give, which is exactly what tithing does:

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality” (2 Cor 8:12-14)

Cloud is trying to dovetail tithing and giving in his writings, using the words interchangeably, but that is wrong. They are two VERY different things and concepts and the Old Covenant has passed away. He, and all that do this, is placing NT believers under the bondage of OT ceremonial law.

OTHER ERRORS BY DAVID CLOUD OUTSIDE OF THIS DISCIPLESHIP TEXT

Unfortunately we have moved from a position of embracing, supporting and promoting David Cloud for over a decade and half, buying practically all his material and giving financially to his ministry, promoting his material and name far and wide throughout multiple continents — to a position where we have to warn of him. Why?

1. His censorship. He laments the destruction of our freedoms and the censorship in America and worldwide, but actually does the very same. “You are the man” is correct. When someone opposes his position, he cuts them off, blocks them, cancels them. He doesn’t like reproof for embracing an unBiblical and ungodly position, for propagating lies. He just cuts people off. If he doesn’t, he usually just cuts them down. Sadly this man-centredness of the ole IFB boys club is revealing itself in him.

2. His twisted and unBiblical position on Trump, Vaccines and Such. Believing, endorsing and promoting mainstream media lies (e.g. on Trump) and mainstream medicine lies (e.g. vaccinations, natural health—though some is certainly quackery, a lot isn’t).

Unbelievably, he advances the lies and deceptions of mainstream fake news that the 2020 presidential election was lost, not stolen (Friday Church News Notes, July 22, 2022). He also believes their wicked lies and false witness concerning J6, claiming that the charge of the election being stolen "riled up Trump fans to assault law enforcement personnel in Washington D.C. and to broach [sic] the Capitol building on January 6, 2021." Just. Wow. Massive amounts of evidence has existed for A LONG TIME already that J6 was a demoncratic operation led by the FBI, who were incognito by the hundreds in the J6 crowd and led the Capitol building breech.

Almost everything he writes concerning vaccines is untrue, lies propagated through mainstream medicine. NO ONE should ever put a "vaccine" into their body. They are patently evil and meant to destroy and kill, just like their father (Jn 10:10a). Especially the covid death shot which Cloud advocated for, unbelievably, am evil shot built upon lies with the MO of destruction and death, that has led to literally millions of people dead and hundreds of millions injured forever.

David Cloud has very little actual discernment when it comes the wicked wiles of the devil within the world system, which is almost entirely against humanity. His head is buried deep in the sand when it comes to mainstream media lies and mainstream medicine lies. Almost everything that the government puts out and promotes, he believes. How very sad.

3. His manifold doctrinal errors and practices. The following list likely dovetails to the above in some form or fashion, which require not only reproof, but also warning:

• He embraces and propagates the sinful and heretical position that divorce and remarriage is acceptable in some cases (it's not!); 

• Opposes Lordship Salvation (which is really rejecting salvation itself) with straw man arguments while actually hypocritically teaching aspects of it (Rebutting David Cloud's "Repentance and Lordship Salvation Revisited" Article);

• Other errors on salvation (that people who doubt their salvation are saved) and specifically on repentance (teaching logical fallacies and error on repentance, such as we don’t have to repent of all our sins in order to be saved);

• Unscripturally and erroneously propagating Keswick currency such as “lukewarm, “backsliding,” and “carnal Christians” as being true Christians, thereby twisting a lot of Scripture in the process;

• Hypocritical in his positions (e.g. warning of Hyles while embracing Hyles type churches; putting out articles like Chewing the Meat and Spitting out the Bones, while doing that exact thing in many instances, including in his heavy use of commentaries; when reproved plays the victim card but sharply reproves others);

• Teaching loads of error about discipleship and the victorious Christian life, derived from Keswick/ Victorious Life/ Higher Life/ et al false theology (especially noted in his One Year Discipleship Course, as documented here, and many such books);

• False teaching that sanctification is not by works;

• Corrupting and wresting massive amounts of salvation scripture including but not limited to: 2 Ch 7:14; Pr 2:1-5; Matt. 6:22-24; 7:1-5; 10:32-39; 11:28-30; 16:24-26; 19:16-30; Mk 8:34-38; Lk. 9:23-26, 57-62; 12:8-9; 13:23-30; 14:25-35; Jn 12:24-26; 15:1-17; Ac 15:36-41; Rom 4:16-21; 8:9-23; Jam 4:1-10; 1 Jn 1:5-10, turning these many salvation passages into something post-salvation, which is in fact a damnable heresy;

• Corrupting scripture such as Matt 7:1-5 (claiming the hypocrite is a saved person — which is contrary to the parallel passage in Lk 6 and other passages such as Matt 23; Rom 2:1-5; Acts 15:36-41; etc); 

• Corrupting highly significant parables like the parable of the sower where he claims the stony soil may be saved and the thorny soil is saved, which fits his Keswick theology error (misinterpreting the sower and seed parable is actually an indication of a lost estate, Mk 4:13), along with other parables, and also teaching the serious error that parables don’t teach doctrine; 

• Embracing and propagating two-tiered Keswick-type Christianity (by doctrine and by manner of twisting passages such as Jn. 15:1-8; Matt. 11:28-30; Heb 3-4), e.g. separating salvation and discipleship (claiming the call to discipleship in Scripture is something post-salvation), separating salvation from the penalty of sin and power of sin;

• To proud to publicly repent of error and false positions (such as promoting the heretic Charles Finney at one time while now warning of him—without any public repentance of such double standards, for promoting a wolf in sheep’s clothing);

• Believing and propagating the false teaching of salvation by works in the O.T., contradictions on this position, and other false teachings on the law; 

• Falsely teaching that tithing is for N.T. Churches, which is blatantly wrong and hypocritical;

• False teaching that sanctification is not by works, only by faith (a heretical Keswick-type teaching);

• Gives credence to lost people (by not calling them lost but rather treating them as “carnal Christians” or something else), which is excessively dangerous; 

• Perversion of Matt. 22:37-40 and then develops a false teaching in line with the perversion; 

• Falsely teaches that the Israelites were saved in the wilderness, which is an absolutely massive and dangerous error considering there are hundreds of scriptures (throughout all books of the OT and most of the NT) that very plainly and perspicuously teach that the nation of Israel has always been lost, and specifically unsaved in the wilderness, and then subsequently corrupts and wrest those hundreds of verses, turning God’s call for Israel’s salvation into something post-salvation sanctification (again following heretical keswick “theology”) which is then tied to the "carnal" and "lukewarm" and "backslidden" behaviour all NT "believers," all of which are fatal errors, preventing lost people from seeing their unregenerate nature and getting truly converted;

• His book “The Discipling Church” contains a lot of error, false doctrine and misinterpretation of Scripture;

• Corrupts and misuses Bible labels that God only uses towards lost people, instead using them towards supposed Christians, such as “fool,” hypocrite,” “lukewarm,” “backslider,” “carnal,” etc, in the process creating false doctrine;

• Corrupts Christ’s lineage in Matt 1, unbelievably claiming that there is a curse in that lineage (yikes!);

• Maligning godly people of the Bible such as Rebekah and Jacob (in their obedience to Scripture in Gen 27), Samson, etc;

• False teachings on Abraham and Melchisedec;

• False teachings on Ecclesiology;

• And more, et cetra.

There could be more, we'll leave it at that for now. We have references to all the above in the event anyone is interested where he teaches what.

Any corruption of Scripture or error in doctrine is very serious. The Bible labels such that do this wilfully as false teachers (2 Pet 1:16-2:3; 3:16-17; 2 Cor 2:17). David Cloud needs to repent of these dangerous and unscriptural errors. He should also spend less time reading commentaries and other books and more time actually studying Scripture, not according to what someone says but what Scripture says, actually rightly dividing it and interpreting God’s Word according to God’s definitions. It doesn’t take effort to know the truth, since the Spirit of truth is the Teacher of truth to all them He indwells (1 Jn 2:20-21, 27), and since God’s Word is plain and perspicuous (Pr 8:8-9) and easy to understand for them that are converted (Pr 22:20-21), but it does take effort to teach error.