From: Gerhard
To: The Path of Truth
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 7:30 PM
Subject: Derek Prince False teacher
Dear Sir,
I have noted your refutation of Derek Prince in terms of some of his teachings. From your website:
“Let it be known, however, that almost all who call themselves “Universalists” are in great error, as we explain in The Deadly Error of the Universalists. Whereas some of Mr. Prince’s words may apply to these erring Universalists (though his doctrine is error), we are not among those in line of his unrighteous fire.”
I am interested in the source of your concerns? Please can you direct me to the specific teaching – books, YouTube or otherwise – where I can find the teaching according to which you consider him a Universalist?
Should the above not clarify the question, can you refer me to what you will consider his most erroneous teachings?
Thanks very much. Best regards,
Gerhard
From: Paul Cohen
To: Gerhard
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 8:50 AM
Subject: Re: Derek Prince False teacher
Hi Gerhard,
You have misunderstood what we’re saying about Derek Prince. We aren’t calling him a Universalist. Here is the quote in context, with my added emphasis in red to help clarify what we’re saying:
“God having given us grace to do so, we address the late Mr. Derek Prince’s refutation of the truth of the reconciliation of all things, which truth the Scriptures do most certainly declare. We have written a few papers on this subject, otherwise called “Universalism” (see our section The Restitution of All Things).
Let it be known, however, that almost all who call themselves ‘Universalists’ are in great error, as we explain in The Deadly Error of the Universalists. Whereas some of Mr. Prince’s words may apply to these erring Universalists (though his doctrine is error), we are not among those in line of his unrighteous fire.”
Prince opposed the truth of God’s Restitution of All Things as preached in the Scriptures. What we’re saying is that some arguments against those who promote this truth are valid, not because the doctrine isn’t true, but because the Universalists promoting it are in error and have perverted the Gospel of Christ. They don’t know Him or have His Spirit.
Neither did Prince know the Lord or have His Spirit. If you read the entire paper on Prince carefully you’ll see that he opposed the Word of God with arguments according to his own thoughts and carnal intellect. By doing so, Prince came in the spirit of Satan (as an angel of light), even opposing his own and Satan’s ultimate redemption. That’s the contradiction of a sinner at work.
Do let us know if you have further questions or if we can help you in any other way, Gerhard.
In the One and Only Lord and Savior of all men, Jesus Christ,
Paul Cohen
www.ThePathofTruth.com
From: Gerhard
To: Paul Cohen
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 3:27 PM
Subject: Re: Derek Prince False teacher
Hello Paul,
Thanks for taking the time to respond. Thank you also for the work you do on your website.
Allow me to comment:
By your “Whereas some of Mr. Prince’s words may apply to these erring Universalists (though his doctrine is error), we are not among those in line of his unrighteous fire.” you leave the impression that Prince in some way agrees with Universalists but fail to clarify what his error is except to broadly refer to another one of your articles. I will suggest that you make plain your complaint against the man in your statement if you are going to refer to him at all. All we know from your statement is that you consider him/his words “unrighteous fire”. That is as good as saying you guys are simply false teachers and then refer to an article that addresses several issues pertaining to faith. It is not good enough. You have done a lot of work on your site, so I suggest you incorporate some of your complaints about the man as and when you refer to him as “unrighteous fire”. Refer again your “Mr. Prince was an intelligent, knowledgeable, and well-educated man, with many skills and talents, and respected by many. Still, he was without understanding in several points of true Biblical Christian doctrine, the reconciliation of all things being one of them.” You say nothing about where you disagree with him and how the Bible backs you up.
I have gone through your Statement of Doctrine and I have to say we agree on most issues, not all. Clearly you believe you have perfect understanding of what God’s love in relation to God’s justice looks like – how these strike a balance. I will not recommend such an attitude to anyone, but I sense you will not consider any other opinion, so you will likely be left to pursue your own sense of right. It seems as if you consider your 1978 hearing of the Lord has mandated you to speak on His behalf forever and a day, and that no error is possible on your behalf. That is not okay with me, hence my email. If my summation is correct, you are in great danger. That is not okay with me.
I will encourage you to consider where and how you are lacking agreement with Christ, His word and therefore His Spirit. Fore one, I may advise that you look at what appears from a distance a very judgemental attitude towards men/women. True, there are false teachers and it is important that you fulfil your ministry. Do so with grace. You are not perfect either.
In fact, you may find out that some of your teachings are error, leading others astray. Will you seek another standard of judgement with which you have judged others? You will have no opportunity to do so (Luke 6:38).
Best regards,
Gerhard
From: Paul Cohen
To: Gerhard
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2014 9:02 PM
Subject: Re[3]: Derek Prince False teacher
Hi Gerhard,
Thank you for alerting us to the need for clarification at the beginning of our Derek Prince writing. See if the way it now reads helps you to understand it better:
In his paper, “Will Satan Ever Be Reconciled to God?” Derek Prince attempted to refute the truth that God will reconcile all things, including Satan, unto Himself. (To set the stage of our answer to Prince’s objections specifically, you could read in our section The Restitution of All Things and our writing The Origin and Identify of Satan.)
Though we could be categorized by some as Universalists for believing in God’s plan of universal salvation, we don’t ascribe to the generic form of Universalism, which errs in a most fundamental way. To see how, read The Deadly Error of the Universalists.
While Mr. Prince may have legitimately refuted some error found or perceived in Universalism, he also deeply erred in throwing out the truth from God because of his false doctrine. If we would have been those targeted by his unrighteous fire, it would only have been because he was in the wrong, not because he had a legitimate (God-given) complaint against what we teach.
Derek Prince was an intelligent, knowledgeable, and well-educated man, with many skills and talents, and respected by many. Still, he was without understanding in several points of true Biblical Christian doctrine, the reconciliation of all things being one of them.
“For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the perceiving ones.’ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (1 Corinthians 1:19-20 MKJV) [END]
Are you still left with the impression that Prince agrees with Universalists? The entire thrust of his article, “Will Satan Ever Be Reconciled to God,” is a rebuttal of universal salvation. We answer this article point by point in the body of the writing on our site, citing the Scriptures, so I’m not sure how you’re coming up with this observation: “You say nothing about where you disagree with him and how the Bible backs you up.”
Have you red the entire paper, Gerhard?
Here’s one of many examples of where we disagree with Prince, which shows how the Bible backs up our disagreement (starting with a quote from Prince):
“This reconciliation, it is claimed, will include Satan himself and all the fallen angels and demons as well as any others who are presently at enmity with God.”
If God can bring back from the spiritually dead, as He did for wretched sinners like me and so many others, and if He can raise the physical dead, as He did for Lazarus and the ruler’s daughter, and as He performed on Himself, demonstrating He is God Almighty, then why can He not change anybody or anything how and when He pleases, including devils and Satan himself? Am I not asking a fair and reasonable question?
I’ll ask other questions for you to consider:
If God can’t save Satan, who can He save?
If He’s willing and able to save Satan’s children, why wouldn’t He be willing and able to save Satan?
And if He won’t save Satan, why won’t He?
(Mind, I am not trusting in argument, logic, and reasoning. Relying strictly on reason and my own understanding, I would fail before God, finding myself standing on the enemy’s side. But God has given us reason, so that we might use it by a sound mind, in the power of His Spirit.)
One might say that Satan and devils do not deserve salvation, but what saved man is there who can say he deserved to be saved? What man is there who can say he had any hope or opportunity of salvation except by the sheer grace of God? I know I can’t say it. I was dead, and He raised me from the dead; it is that simple.
Let’s mention Saul of Tarsus again: He was slaughtering Christians and causing them to blaspheme! Does it get much worse than that? He was Satan’s man! Yet God saved him. Why? Because He chose to do so. He loved him who hated Him. It was a prime demonstration of God’s ways. As it is written:
Romans 5:20-21 MKJV
(20) But the Law entered so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,
(21) so that as sin has reigned to death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Any man who says he was saved because he accepted Christ into his heart has never known salvation. That man is still sadly unaware that salvation has nothing whatsoever to do with any act, effort, strength, wisdom, knowledge, virtue, attitude, or quality of any kind on the part of the one being saved. (That is not to say that some who use that expression have not come to know the Lord; they may be using those words customarily and loosely, without knowledge.)
Otherwise, he would have somewhat to glory. But what does the Scripture say? Paul, knowing God’s grace personally, writes:
“For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Show me a man who thinks he had any part in acquiring, in his state of “ungrace,” the grace that saves, and I will show you a self-satisfied Pharisee who despises the tax collector who beats his breast in sorrowful prayer. [END OF EXAMPLE]
Would you like to read the paper again and give us some specific instances where you find error in what we’re saying, applying appropriate Scriptures as proof? Because otherwise, we really have nothing to go on with your general assessment of us – there’s nothing holding it up.
You say of me: “It seems as if you consider your 1978 hearing of the Lord has mandated you to speak on His behalf forever and a day, and that no error is possible on your behalf. That is not okay with me, hence my email. If my summation is correct, you are in great danger. That is not okay with me.”
From 1978 till the early 2000’s, I had very little to say. All that you see published on our site has been from the past ten years or so. How then, can you claim that I felt entitled to speak on God’s behalf from the time He began to give me the knowledge of Himself in Jesus Christ our Lord?
Do you discount the fact that He does take certain human beings through a process of discipline, chastening, teaching, and reformation, to make Himself able ministers of the Gospel? Do you know for a fact that we are speaking our own words, or could it just be that we’re speaking the Word of God as His servants? Are you not being the presumptuous one by speaking without certain knowledge?
You say: “I will encourage you to consider where and how you are lacking agreement with Christ, His word and therefore His Spirit.”
We consider that every day. Again, show us where we aren’t in agreement, or hold your peace and consider that it’s you who isn’t in agreement with the Lord.
You err by saying: “Clearly you believe you have perfect understanding of what God’s love in relation to God’s justice looks like – how these strike a balance. I will not recommend such an attitude to anyone….”
If we know God through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Perfect One, how is our understanding imperfect? You don’t realize that you’re finding Jesus Christ inadequate, not us. It’s through Him that we know the Father.
“And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us an understanding so that we may know Him Who is true. And we are in Him that is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and the everlasting life” (1 John 5:20 MKJV).
By God’s grace and doing, we have the fulfillment of the prayer He gave the apostle Paul, which you dismiss as arrogant posturing:
Ephesians 3:14-21 MKJV
(14) For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(15) of Whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named,
(16) that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;
(17) that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
(18) may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height,
(19) and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
(20) Now to Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
(21) to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, forever. Amen.
And we say, “Amen!”
You have much to consider, Gerhard. Apparently you aren’t among the perfect who receive God’s wisdom. That should greatly concern you according to your profession of faith.
1 Corinthians 2:6-16 MKJV
(6) But, we speak wisdom among those who are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, that come to nothing.
(7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, which God has hidden, predetermining it before the world for our glory;
(8) which none of the rulers of this world knew (for if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory).
(9) But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,” nor has it entered into the heart of man, “the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
(10) But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
(11) For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
(12) But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.
(13) These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no one.
(16) For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Paul
From: Gerhard
To: Paul Cohen
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 12:33 AM
Subject: Re: Re[3]: Derek Prince False teacher
Hi Paul,
I have briefly read your email and I want to thank you for taking the time to write it.
Opportunity does not permit me to respond at this time but I would like to do so a bit later if that is okay with you. In the meantime, if I may, you have responded beautifully to qualifying your disagreement with Derek Prince. This should leave the reader with little uncertainty as to what exactly you consider “unrighteous fire”. Thank you.
In the meantime, as before, whilst we do not agree on all points I want to thank you for the work you are doing on your website.
Till next time, best regards,
Gerhard
From: Gerhard
To: Paul Cohen
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Sunday, February 09, 2014 3:46 AM
Subject: Re: Derek Prince False teacher
Hello Paul,
Thanks again for your work. I will admit that this is a qualified “thanks” because I cannot agree with all you have written. Nevertheless, you are committed to your faith and dedicated to serve the interest of the one true God.
I feel you have qualified your disagreement with Prince so that the reader will clearly understand your points of difference as and when you categorise him as “unrighteous”. Where you assume the mandate from to make such self-righteous pronouncements is beyond me. Nevertheless, you have qualified your statements about him and I think that settles it for me. Thank you. Can you do the same in respect of other teachers you label “unrighteous” please? Your readers will be so much better informed.
I have looked for the underlying spirit behind your writings and I believe I have found it: the same spirit that produces feminism. Of course, that’s only my opinion and you have every right to reject it if indeed it is inaccurate. I will ask you to consider it nevertheless.
Okay, so here is your main thing: you believe all in eternity will (ongoingly) receive an opportunity to repent, and, according to which Christ’s atoning sacrifice they will be reconciled with God. You base that, essentially, on Collossians 1, and back the verses therein up with various references to God wanting all people to be saved. From a human logic perspective you object against the idea that God will create children whom He will end up punishing and tormenting.
Indeed, your argument holds water and may turn out to be correct. Thus, you do not deny hell, or its torment, but the everlastedness thereof especially in the light of God’s desire to reconcile all to Himself. The crux of your argument lies in repentance. In essence you say that all will come to repentance because God will allow them to do so.
Paul, what does the word “impossible” mean to you? Does it mean, ‘not likely’ or ‘difficult to achieve’ or ‘improbable’? Or, does it mean ‘there is no possibility whatsoever of something occuring or being done’? It is an impossibility – an event void of any possibility whatsoever. I think we will agree that it means the latter.
Refer the Greek “adunatos” as used in Hebrew 6:4 and Hebrews 11:6. There you will find this verse, written in respect of someone who had even been birthed by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8):
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV)
Forgive me of being very simplistic about this: if the writer of Hebrews thought it relevant to point out the fact that for some it will be impossible to repent, then it must mean that for some it will be impossible to repent. That means, according to His righteous character, these cannot be reconciled with Him – ever.
Now, you may say that they will have an opportunity to repent after their judgement and sentence to condemnation (refer John 3:18). Again, you may be correct, but I do not think so. There are some things that cannot be forgiven (refer Mark 3:22-30) no matter what. Thus, some will remain unrighteous forever.
It is no blasphemy to suggest that God is incapable of doing something (like saving someone or forgiving someone). On the contrary I would like you to consider that, in fact, it may be blasphemy to suggest that God can do something (like lie, or, perhaps, reconcile to Himself an unrepented unrighteous person) who remains totally contrary and in opposition to the testimony of His character.
Now, all I am saying here is this: there are passages in Scripture that provide evidence for both Universalist as well as Annihilist in addition to ‘traditional’ points of view; be careful how you describe what God can & will do and what He cannot and will not. You do not have His mind.
Now, also, forgive me if I have not read all your articles – I just do not have the capacity to do so.
All the best,
Gerhard
From: Victor Hafichuk and Paul Cohen
To: Gerhard
Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 7:59 AM
Subject: Re[6]: Derek Prince False teacher
Gerhard,
“Where you assume the mandate from to make such self-righteous pronouncements is beyond me.”
If it was a matter of self-righteousness, it wouldn’t much matter “where we assumed the mandate to make such pronouncements,” would it?
“Can you do the same in respect of other teachers you label ‘unrighteous’ please? Your readers will be so much better informed.”
You gave us specifics to improve our communication on Prince; we accepted and made the necessary changes. You’re welcome to point more out if you can.
“I have looked for the underlying spirit behind your writings and I believe I have found it: the same spirit that produces feminism. Of course, that’s only my opinion and you have every right to reject it if indeed it is inaccurate.”
See Opinion.
“you believe all in eternity will (ongoingly) receive an opportunity to repent, and, according to which Christ’s atoning sacrifice they will be reconciled with God. You base that, essentially, on Collossians 1,”
Wrong. We find this truth running from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. It is everywhere for those with eyes to see and a heart to comprehend. If you red our works, you wouldn’t be able to make such suppositions.
“From a human logic perspective you object against the idea that God will create children whom He will end up punishing and tormenting.”
Wrong. We judge and know from the Heavenly perspective.
“In essence you say that all will come to repentance because God will allow them to do so.”
Partially correct. God will not “allow” – He will perform it. No man comes to the Son except the Father draws Him. By grace are men saved; there’s no other way to repent, but repent all men must and will.
“It is an impossibility – an event void of any possibility whatsoever. I think we will agree that it means the latter.”
What is impossible with men is possible with God.
“That means, according to His righteous character, these cannot be reconciled with Him – ever.”
Concerning the word, “forever” and everlasting,” read The True, Scriptural Meanings of “Forever,” “Everlasting,” and “Hell”. Let the Bible go beyond simplicity of men and define the terms it uses and which men in their simplicity muddle.
“On the contrary I would like you to consider that, in fact, it may be blasphemy to suggest that God can do something (like lie, or, perhaps, reconcile to Himself an unrepented unrighteous person) who remains totally contrary and in opposition to the testimony of His character.”
If what you are saying is true, then you and all men are entirely without hope.
Ephesians 2:11-12 MKJV
(11) Therefore remember that you, the nations, in time past were in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
(12) and that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
“be careful how you describe what God can & will do and what He cannot and will not. You do not have His mind.”
Says who, Gerhard? You, a man? But what does God say?
1 Corinthians 2:13-16 MKJV
(13) These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no one.
(16) For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
“But let God be true, and every man a liar.”
Isn’t it evident you are the one in need of caution?
“Now, also, forgive me if I have not read all your articles – I just do not have the capacity to do so.”
We’re free of your blood.
Victor and Paul
From: Gerhard
To: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 1:15 PM
Subject: Re: Re[6]: Derek Prince False teacher
Gentlemen,
That you have answered my emails to you is impressive. I appreciate your effort. Most people will have filed my challenges to their teaching in the Recycle Bin by now. That you have not done so says much about your commitment.
I would love to continue with this discussion but I’m not sure you’ll want another response from me. So, I’ll leave it to you to let me know.
Till then, best regards,
Gerhard