By One Spirit — Holy Ghost Ministry

Lary and his beloved dog Champ welcomed by Jesus into a radiant garden of flowers, waterfalls, and golden light — Remembering the ministry and teachings of Lary R. Hale

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The Most Misused Scripture

By Lary R. HaleMarch 29, 2016

Scripture, a wooden cross and folded linen beside the empty tomb at dawn. — © By One Spirit Ministries

Today I have just a few very important notes on the most misused scripture in the Bible today. But first I want to take a detailed look at a passage that says the exact same thing as the verse I’m talking about: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Cor. 15:1-4). Now I want you to consider why the apostle Paul made such a statement to the saints in Corinth. The next fifty four verses of the same chapter the apostle debunked the false teaching that there would be no resurrection of the dead, and that Jesus Christ himself had not truly risen from the dead. You can read it for yourself, that is what the chapter is about. This passage tells the story: “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (I Cor. 15:12-14). That kind of false teaching had become common among those who were attempting to subvert the faith of God’s people in that day. The same apostle spoke of that doctrine in another place in this manner: “And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some” (II Tim. 2:17,18). The devil will always try to find some subtle way of eliminating or perverting the truth that Jesus died for our sins, and/or that he did not physically rise from the dead. As the apostle stated in the opening text here, those are the core elements of the faith of Christ, and if Satan is able to pervert the fact and reality of these things to believers, then he manages to turn them into UNbelievers. As I said earlier, the death and resurrection of Jesus is the heart and foundation of the faith, and that is why Paul told the saints in Corinth that they would be saved if they retained the faith of those things. Any doctrine that changes anything about the physical death of Jesus for our sins, and/or his physical resurrection, is an ‘antichrist’ teaching and gives occasion to apostasy for someone who has already believed the truth of these things and received the Spirit of God as a result (Jn. 7:38,39; Acts 5:32).

It is very important also to note here that any teaching that denies in any way that the man Jesus was and is THE ONLY ‘Christ,’ is antichrist as well, and occasions the same possibility of apostasy to someone who has formerly believed this reality (I Jn. 2:22,23). I should also point out that 'apostasy’ is the blasphemy of the holy Ghost, which Jesus said is the one unforgivable sin. It is also the “sin unto death” that the beloved apostle mentioned as the sin that could not be prayed for, meaning it can’t be forgiven (Mat. 12:32; I Jn. 5:16). So if someone fully accepts a teaching that says Jesus did not raise from the dead physically, that means he is still dead, and therefore cannot be the Lord and “mediator between God and men” (I Tim. 2:5). It also declares Jesus to have been a sinner, because “the wages of sin is death” ((Rom. 6:23). If that kind of teaching has been accepted, then Jesus Christ has been renounced for who he truly is, and in that case the former believer who does this has no one left to forgive their sins, seeing it is Jesus alone who can do that for anyone. That is the meaning of these passages: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they [redeemed believers] shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame… For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” (Heb. 6:4-6; Heb. 10:26). This is why in our opening text the apostle Paul told the believers in Corinth that they would be saved if they continued in the core elements of the faith. Many in the body of Christ at that time were being led astray to various forms of the teaching that he was reproving and warning the Corinthians about, and were throwing away the hope of their salvation in doing so. Now that brings me full circle back to the verse that I referred to as the most misused scripture in the world today. That verse is found in Romans chapter 10, and it goes like this: “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:8-10). Verse 9 there has been and is used by Christian ministers everywhere as a means of getting sinners to be born again. If a sinner will just confess that Jesus is the Lord, and say that they believe God raised him from the dead, that means they “get saved."

Well, honestly that whole thing is really messed up. First of all there is no record in the scriptures of anyone that ever "got saved.” Secondly it is clear that the apostle was admonishing the already born again saints in Rome with the exact same admonition that he gave to the Corinthians that we have seen here. He clearly stated that “the word of faith” that he was talking about was ALREADY IN the hearts and the mouths of these believers, and that the same word of faith is that Jesus is the Lord and that God raised him from the dead. So these believers already having this faith and this confession, were reminded that this faith of their hearts and confession of their mouths would lead to salvation if they maintained it and did not 'fall away’ from it. Not to mention that the apostle had said to those he was writing to in the first chapter, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Rom. 1:8). These people were already “in Christ” by means of believing the Gospel unto being baptized by Jesus with the holy Ghost INTO him" (I Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; II Cor. 5:17). That is the new birth experience, and they had been there and done that. The gross misusage of Romans 10:9 has also been instrumental in the erroneous teaching that someone receives salvation at the BEGINNING of their faith, rather than at the “END of their faith” as the scriptures plainly and consistently show (I Pet. 1:9; Rom. 13:11; Mat. 24:13; Acts 15:11; Rom. 8:24,25; Heb. 2:1-3; Heb. 3:6,14; Heb. 4:1,11; etc.). That heresy is wrapped up in the 'getting saved’ tradition, which Romans 10:9 has been used extensively and erroneously to support. Salvation is the resurrection of the dead and subsequent glorification of the body at the second coming of Christ. That is why throughout the scriptures salvation is said to be a 'hope,’ and in fact it is the “ONE hope” of the Gospel (Eph. 4:4; I Thess. 5:8). Paul said in another place regarding that one hope of the Gospel, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question” (Acts 23:6). So it is evident that the believers in Rome were being exhorted by Paul to continue in the faith that they had begun in, even as he exhorted those in Corinth to do. It is just as evident that using Romans 10:9 as a means of getting sinners to be born again is a country mile out of context, and an introduction of mass confusion to everyone who names the name of Christ, or is seeking to do so. Keep the faith my friend, that Jesus died for our sins and rose again on the third day. If you keep that truth and love it, you will also keep the results of it, which is, “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17). Amen.

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In loving memory

Lary R. Hale

November 13, 1954April 21, 2024

Lary smiling with his beloved dog Champ — Lary with Champ

Obituary

A Hero Finally Rests.

Lary Redman Hale of Louisville, KY entered into his greatest joy, the presence of King Jesus himself, welcomed by the cheers of angels and the saints of God on Sunday night, April 21, 2024.

What the outside world would see as the untimely passing of a humble, local minister, heaven saw as the triumphant finale of a valiant warrior's life. He fought the good fight, having kept the faith, and received what Christ himself called "The Champion's Wreath of Victory".

Lary was born November 13, 1954 to Marvin and Norma Hale. Being the youngest of his siblings ensured he had lots of time with his loving mother, from whom he undoubtedly developed his profound sensitivity, heartfelt sentimentality and emotional comfortability - characteristics that were trademarks of his life. He grew up surrounded by cousins and classmates that became his best friends.

At his 50 year class reunion he was overjoyed and excited to catch up with so many of them, smiling and laughing more than he had in a long time. He would often tell stories of how he treasured those times as a young boy riding bikes, shooting B.B guns and playing with his childhood dog Peanuts; all while getting into assorted harmless mischief. He cherished the time he spent living on his parents houseboat and helping his dad, a united states marine veteran, take care of the boat and dock.

His relationship with his dad was only strengthened in their later years as they watched boxing matches almost every weekend for the remainder of his dad's life. He admired his brother Gary for his athleticism and industrious attitude, and thought his sisters Vicki and Mila had hearts of gold just like his mother. In his teen years Lary developed three of his lifelong loves: swimming, cool cars and lifting weights.

Some people said Lary was part fish because of how well he swam, but Lary would correct them, he was actually part dolphin. As a young man he managed a health club where he helped multiple people lose weight and counted that a huge joy. He loved nature and taking photos of it, honing his skills and knowledge in cameras. His vocabulary was second to none and he enjoyed learning new words and using them especially in his writings.

Before he passed he still exercised as much as his body would allow and he longed to return to the ocean and the white sands of Destin, Florida.

Like most disenfranchised teens in the early 70s, Lary indulged in countless vices that left him empty and searching for more. Although his long black curly hair, loud clothes, muscles and muscle cars made him the envy of the boys and the heartthrob of the girls, none of these things satisfied his heart. He pursued a college education briefly, desiring to be a marine biologist or philosopher but found that this was not what he was missing either - he longed for true fulfillment.

Depressed, empty, and feeling hopeless, Lary heard about a particular beautiful girl he had a crush on that was attending a small church where the "Spirit of God" was changing people's lives. After wondering why someone like her would attend a church like that, he began to attend also.

After a few months, he made a simple prayer on his hands and knees, saying "God I can't stop smoking, drinking, raging or any of the other countless vices I have - but if you can set me free from these things, I'll know you're real and that you want me to serve you". The next morning Lary woke up and described the next few hours as "walking on air" realizing he was, in his words "delivered" and never going back to those vices.

This began his life long commitment to glorifying Jesus, the king of glory, for how he transformed Lary's life from darkness to light. Lary would marry that same beautiful girl, the love of his life, Fay Kustes, and they would have two sons together, Benjamin Isaac and Elisha Daniel. Lary's greatest joy in life was being a husband and father.

He was happiest when he was sharing what he was learning in the bible with his family, and teaching them that knowing God was simplistic and yet powerful - that God was not merely a religious concept, but a powerful savior on a day to day basis. As Lary made it his life's goal to find "the lost sheep", he would tap into his multifaceted creativity that went largely underappreciated.

Lary produced well over a thousand episodes of gospel presentations: self-producing, mixing, editing and encoding both a radio and television show. Between the two, he broadcast for over 30 years. All of this in the analog age, where self produced radio and TV shows were nearly unheard of, especially without any budget whatsoever.

Lary was an evangelist in Louisville and southern Indiana, being asked to preach and teach in multicultural and multi-generational churches across the city. The churches he was most loved and welcomed by were the African-American Baptist and Pentecostal churches that loved and welcomed his passionate, excitable and action packed style of preaching.

Once the dawn of the internet came, he immediately worked to have a website published, making his literature and gospel teachings available. Eventually he'd use social media to teach, preach and encourage believers all across the world. He would spend every night praying with and encouraging christians from every nation until the end of his life. Many of which saw him like a second father and all of whom greatly mourn his passing.

Even though he produced over a thousand episodes of media, taught in multiple churches, mentored in multiple countries, and had multiple printed works of literature, he considered his greatest life's work to be his two sons. One of their earliest memories is Lary saying "the most important job in the world is not preaching the gospel, it's raising kids in the gospel". This threaded through his entire life.

In his final week on earth, he reminisced on his life saying "I see my life as the highest success, because my life's work are my two sons, who I am so incredibly proud of - not for their natural achievements but for their love, humility and personal faith in Jesus that is not only evident in their lives but also in their love. Because of them, I know my life is a true success - and I credit Jesus for all of it".

His sons today see him as the most successful man they will ever know. He succeeded in loving them and never hurting them. Leading them and never controlling them. Being there for them and never leaving them. He was a man that would apologize quickly, forgive quickly, and always encouraged his sons to "get up and go from here". He succeeded in teaching them faith, hope and love in a world starving so badly for all three. His ministry lives on in them.

The lives of everyone touched by their lives are forever indebted to this humble, prayerful man of faith.

He is preceded in death by his father Marvin, mother Norma, sister Mila, sister-in-law Marlene, nephew Adam, aunts, uncles, treasured cousins, and his beloved dog of 18 years, Champ.

Until they are reunited in the glory of heaven, he is survived and will be missed by his sons, Benjamin and Elisha (Katrine), his wife of 30 years, Fay, his brother Gary, His sister Vicki (Dan), his cousins, nieces, nephews, his friends, and those that called him their pastor and teacher.

"The righteous perish, and no man lays it to heart: merciful men are taken away and no one considers that the righteous person is being spared from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: he shall rest in his bed, having walked in uprightness." Isaiah 57:1&2

Remember him