John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

One may be stricter in his church fellowship than in his Christian fellowship. For example, one would not accept into a church for membership one who is not willing to be scripturally baptized, although he might be regarded as a Christian brother. One could have Christian fellowship with him while reserving the right to tell him that he ought to be baptized. - John R. Rice

One might break fellowship with a born-again Christian who continues in gross sin, as we see from I Corinthians 5:11-13. And one might refuse fellowship to a born-again Christian if he made doubtful disputations, division and strife on lesser matters, according to Romans 14:1. For example, I could let a Pentecostal brother come to a revival and help us win souls and I could have Christian fellowship with him, pray with him, and enjoy the Word of God with him provided he did not make a special issue of tongues. If he did cause "doubtful disputations," we could not continue in fellowship. That would lead others wrong. - John R. Rice

Let us say, then, that when Christians are "in the faith," that is, they believe the great essentials of the Christian faith, without which one cannot be a Christian; when they are converted and for soul winning; when their lives are not subject to reproach; when they try to be brotherly and do not make doubtful disputations, then Christians can work together and are commanded to do so in the Bible!
So, this is the stand of great soul-winning evangelists. It is the stand of THE SWORD OF THE LORD and has been from the first day of its foundation until now. It was the position of D.L. Moody, R.A. Torrey, J. Wilbur Chapman, Mordecai Ham, and of other old-time fundamentalists down through the years of the historic Christian faith. - John R. Rice

I can work with good, born-again Christians to help win souls. I am plainly forbidden in the Bible to work with infidels as if they were Christians.
One who does not believe the essentials of the Christian faith is not saved.
So. II John 9 to 11 says, "Whosoever trangresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." - John R. Rice

I know that you are by conviction a Baptist and so am I. But I would rather be with a Nazarene Christian or a Pentecostal one who is born again and who believes the Bible than with a Baptist by name who is an infidel in his heart. You are going to have to have fellowship with people who love the Lord and believe the Bible and you are going to have to break fellowship with people who do not love Jesus, do not honor Him as the Saviour, do not believe the Bible as the Word of God. - John R. Rice

It is still true that there is no way to do God's work aright without God's power, and His Holy Spirit power that New Testament Christians had is available for us today, too. - John R. Rice

Many people say to me, "I think I have committed the unpardonable sin." They tell me how they've longed to be saved and they can't get the feeling they want. To all such people I plainly say that they have not committed the unpardonable sin. The very fact that one wants to be saved is proof enough that he could be saved. And many of these who think they have committed the unpardonable sin are saved people who have definitely trusted Christ and been born again, but by the teaching of Holiness people or others who stress emotion as an evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit, they have come to the conclusion that they have lost their salvation and that they cannot be saved. Anybody who is basing the assurance of their salvation on his feelings may be misled on this question. Salvation is by faith, not by feeling. One can know he is saved because of the plain promises of God in the Bible, and every Christian ought to believe what God has said, that one who has come to Christ was not turned down, one who has called on Christ for salvation has received it, one who has believed in Christ for everlasting life got it. That is the clear teaching of the Bible. - John R. Rice