Paul Washer Quotes & Sayings

Salvation is a work of God to show His glory. That's why He's not going to let it fail. — Paul Washer

What is Christianity all about? It is about an intimate relationship with God. And I HATE a christendom, a churchianity that God is not big enough and glorious enough so that we have to give them other things. — Paul Washer

AMEN, let Him take it all! He's worthy! — Paul Washer

The church must seek to be biblical rather than relevant. We are not going to leave a mark upon our culture because we have studied its ways and adapted ourselves to it. We are relevant when we reject the world outright and are its polar opposite! This present darkness provides a great opportunity for the church to be the salt of the earth, but if we mix with the very impurities we are supposed to expose ... we are as useless as our culture already believes us to be. — Paul Washer

The truth is this: I am a Southern Baptist, and the great majority of Southern Baptists are lost. — Paul Washer

Those who would send out thousands of questionnaires asking the unconverted what they would desire most in a worship service should realize that ten thousand unanimous opinions of carnal men do not carry the authority of one jot or tittle of God's Word. — Paul Washer

All the decisions you makehow many of those decisions are based on you doing simply what's right in your own eyes, and how many times specifically have you gone to Scripture looking for the answer, with regard to anything? — Paul Washer

Again, the moment a person calls on the Lord he is saved. But the evidence is not that one time in their life they were sincere when they prayed a prayer. The evidence of their salvation is ... is there genuine repentance? Is there faith? And do both those evangelical graces continue on in their life and grow? — Paul Washer

If the devil walks in and starts pointing out all kinds of things about you, you yawn. And you go, 'You don't even know the half of it.' — Paul Washer

Prior to the reign of the godly King Josiah, the law of God had been lost in the temple for many years. Has the same thing occurred among us? Has the evangel been lost among evangelicals? — Paul Washer

When you refuse to teach on the radical depravity of men, it is an impossibility that you bring glory to God, His Christ, and His cross, because the cross of Jesus Christ and the glory thereof is most magnified when it's placed in front of the backdrop of our depravity! — Paul Washer

You may say, 'God doesn't hate anybody. God is love.' No, my friend. You need to understand something. Jesus Christ taught, the prophets taught, the apostles taught this: that apart from the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord the only thing left for you is the wrath, the fierce anger of God because of your rebellion and your sin. — Paul Washer

This is evangelicalism today: sensual, carnal, unconverted people that have just enough deceptive religion to drive them straight into Hell! Are you that kind of person? Or do you have new affections? — Paul Washer

The man who has truly believed in his heart ... his life will be marked by a biblical confession of Christ in word and deed. — Paul Washer

If you're going to choose your friends, you better choose them well, because when you look at your friends, you're looking at a mirror reflection. You're looking at you; you are looking at you. — Paul Washer

He is the creator, and sustainer and Lord of all things and He is worthy of your honor and obedience. — Paul Washer

Christ is not knocking on the door of a sinner's heart, but on the door of a wayward church. — Paul Washer

Remember this: you must always be growing in the gospel and your knowledge of it. It is not Christianity 101, but Christianity from A to Z. You have not mastered the gospel, nor will you master it, but it will master you! — Paul Washer

The great truths of Christianity do not belong to the professional theologians alone, but to every person who calls upon the name of Christ. — Paul Washer

A $50 haircut, cool glasses, skinny jeans and a tattoo does not a prophet make. — Paul Washer

You love to listen to the very things that nailed your supposed Master to the tree?! Come off of it, man! Become a hellion, give yourself to demons, run wild; but don't come in here saying you're a believer and playing that game! You want to dance with the devil, then dance all night long! But don't come in here dancing with Christ for a moment, and then go back out there and share your love. — Paul Washer

We must not adopt the world's view and then tweak it to make it Christian. We must draw a line in the sand and stand firm in the radical teachings of Christ and His gospel. We must preach the truth and be the examples of the truth we preach. — Paul Washer

Weight every purpose in the light of eternity. A trivial pursuit is that which is out side the will of God & detached from the glory of God. — Paul Washer

Next, they'll say, "Do you want to go to heaven?" Have you ever had anybody say, "No, I'd rather go to hell." My friend, understand this, everyone wants to go to heaven. They just don't want God to be there when they get there. — Paul Washer

The greatest heresy in the American Evangelical and Protestant church is that if you pray and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart, He will definitely come in! — Paul Washer

If a Work of God does NOT Continue, it was NEVER a Work of God. — Paul Washer

"But I got saved that way!" No, you got saved in spite of that way not because of that way. — Paul Washer

In the history of extra-biblical study and research tools there has never before been a resource as useful as the Puritan Hard Drive. — Paul Washer

If you have made the good profession, if you claimed to have passed through the gate, if you have received baptism in a public declaration of your faith, and you begin to walk-it doesn't matter how long it appears you're walking in that path-if you step off that path and there's no discipline and you continue on that path, you can have no assurance whatsoever of your salvation. And it is not that you lost your salvation, it's that you're showing now that you never had it. If we would only preach these truths — Paul Washer

It [salvation] is not this flu shot mentality of an invitation of the Gospel. — Paul Washer

A true Christian will be sensitive to the sin in their life and it will lead them to brokenness and genuine confession, but the person who says they are a Christian and are not sensitive to sin, it does not lead them to confession, a person who is that way is not a Christian. — Paul Washer

Are we willing to risk being misunderstood and maligned in order that truth might be told and men might be saved? Identifying a malady and explaining its seriousness are always the first steps to finding a cure ... God has ordained that men come to conviction of sin, repentance, and saving faith through preaching. Yet how can the [Holy] Spirit use our preaching if we are not willing to expose sin or call men to repentance? — Paul Washer

It's not comparing yourself with others who call themselves Christians. Compare yourself to the Scripture. — Paul Washer

Through the years, I have discovered some essential principles in discerning God's will: First, by God's grace, we must be firmly committed to seeking first the Kingdom of God and His glory. Secondly, we must establish a life discipline of renewing our minds in the Word of God. Thirdly, we must seek godly counsel from mature believers. Fourthly, we must watch for signs of God's providence opening doors and closing them. Finally, we should consider the desires of our heart. — Paul Washer

When preachers teach biblically and clearly about the judgment of God and the dangers of hell, men begin to see that their greatest need is to be saved from eternal condemnation, and the more "practical" needs of this present age become trivial in comparison. — Paul Washer

Can you honestly tell me that your great desire is to be holy? Can you honestly tell me your great desire is to not be like the world, but to be like Jesus Christ? Because if you cannot, you should be afraid. Those who love the world do not have the love of the Father (1 John 2:15). — Paul Washer

The differing opinions regarding the gospel are often categorized as different variations of the same truth, or coming at the same truth from different angles, or even emphasizing different aspects of the same truth. This fails to recognize that the different 'variations' are often altogether different gospels. The Reformed gospel is completely different from the Roman Catholic gospel; a faith-based gospel is in direct contradiction to a works-based gospel; a truly evangelical gospel stands in contrast to an ultracharismatic gospel. — Paul Washer

The devil would gladly give a Bible to every man and promote obedience to its commands if in exchange we would surrender to him the Gospel — Paul Washer

We honor the old prophets, we honor the Tozers and Spurgeons but we don't want to pay the price they paid, and they paid the price by being men who walked alone who lived with God and who loved His word. — Paul Washer

If you want to follow Jesus because He'll fix your marriage, if you want to follow Jesus because He'll give you a better life, that's idolatry. Follow Christ for the sake of Christ; He is worthy! — Paul Washer

To fight against pride, it is wise to surround ourselves with those who know us and love us enough to speak into our lives with words of correction and rebuke. — Paul Washer

God is an inexhaustible source of all we need. Our unbelief is discovered in how little we avail ourselves of this infinite fountain — Paul Washer

Anytime your banner becomes anything other than Jesus Christ you ought to be afraid of Hell. If your banner is "I'm a Calvinist", if your banner is "I'm a homeschooler", if your banner is this, that, or anything else, if you're rallying under any other name than Jesus Christ; you're in danger. You are in danger! — Paul Washer

We call men to repent and believe. And if they repent and believe, truly in that moment they are saved in that moment. But the evidence is more than just the sincerity of a prayer. It is a continuation of the working of God in their life through sanctification. — Paul Washer

I have never met an old saint who regretted having spent too much time in prayer, but I have met many who regretted having spent too little! — Paul Washer

The preachers are the greatest problem in the United States of America. — Paul Washer

You love to listen to the very same things that nailed your supposed Savior to the tree? — Paul Washer

Oh, that God would raise up missionaries. I don't wish the same things your parents want for you. They want for you security and insurance and nice homes. They want for you cars and respect. I want for you the same thing I want for my son, that one day he takes a banner, the banner of Jesus Christ, and he places it on a hill where no one has ever placed a banner before, and he cries out, 'Jesus Christ is Lord,' even if it costs my son his life. — Paul Washer

Know this! They (false prophets) are the judgment of God upon a wicked defiled people who although they have a knowledge of God they do not want him. And so God sends them the teachers that they themselves desire. — Paul Washer

When Jesus Christ comes back, it is not the liberal politicians who ought to be trembling, it's the pastors ... because so many men have built their 'ministries' on the dry dead bones of
unconverted church members. — Paul Washer

If [following Jesus Christ] doesn't cost you anything, it's because you've bought into 'American Christianity.' — Paul Washer

God saved you for Himself; God saved you by Himself; God saved you from Himself. — Paul Washer

[The 4 spiritual laws and sinner's prayer] is not the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that methodology and envangelism has done more to hurt this country than every heresy introduced by every cult combined. Millions of people in this country whose lives have never been changed believed themselves born again because we have so reduced the gospel of Jesus Christ that it means now nothing more than simple decision that will only take five minutes of your time. — Paul Washer

Right now if this preacher died he would go to heaven. Not because I spent years in the jungles and the Andes Mountains of Peru. Not because of piety, devotion or bible study. Not because of denominational affiliation, baptism, or participation in the Lord's supper. If I died right now, I would go to heaven because two thousand years ago the Son of God shed His blood for this wretched man. And that is my hope. — Paul Washer

It is absurd to think that a man can believe in Christ, with his heart, and it not have a radical affect on the rest of his life. — Paul Washer

What's the will of God for my life? You don't need to know the will of God in your life, you need to know the God of your life! — Paul Washer

Persecution has never hurt the church ... only prosperity. — Paul Washer

Radical Christians are not people who wear Christian t-shirts. Radical Christians are those who bear fruit of the Holy Spirit ... A little boy, Andrew, a Muslim shot him five times through the stomach and left him on a sidewalk simply because he said, 'I am so afraid, but I can not deny Jesus Christ! Please don't kill me! But I will not deny Him!' He died in a pool of blood, and you talk about being a radical Christian because you wear a t-shirt! — Paul Washer

People who only listen to preachers have a tendency to put them on a pedestal, but those who live with preachers recognize that they are just common men. — Paul Washer

The problem is not liberal politicians, its evangelical preachers. — Paul Washer

If Jesus Christ isn't strong enough to motivate you to live biblically, you don't know Him at all. — Paul Washer

How dare we, all these stupid evangelists walking around telling men after they've made some little prayer that they need to write their name in the back of their Bible, and put the date and if the devil ever comes to them, they need to show him that. That is Roman superstition, it is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, we've turned the gospel into a flu-shot. — Paul Washer

The person that I most admire is Jesus Christ. He is the only perfect Person. There is simply no comparison. The difference between Him and all other men is not merely quantitative, but qualitative. He is in a category all to Himself. — Paul Washer

We must refuse to lean upon the broken staff of human wisdom & cling to the gospel alone as the power of God to save a hardened humanity. — Paul Washer

To receive the gospel is to receive an entirely different view of reality where Christ is the epicenter of all things. He becomes the center of our universe, the source, the purpose, the goal, and the motivation of all that we are and do. When a man receives the gospel, his entire life begins to be lived out in a different context, and that context is Christ. — Paul Washer

There is no such thing as biblical dating. If you're dating, I don't care who you're dating, you're out of God's will. If you're a young man and you're dating, you're out of God's will. Period. You can come talk to me about it later, you can be mad if you want. But that's just the truth. There's no such thing as recreational dating. There is biblical courtship, there is no recreational dating. — Paul Washer

The Christian ministry is difficult, and we must not be lazy or trite. However, we often place burdens upon ourselves and make demands upon ourselves that are not according to the will of God. The more I know God and understand His perfect work on my behalf, the more I am able to rest. — Paul Washer

Don't touch the ark of God! It is the God of Israel who is wounding people with regards to their sin. Do NOT comfort the soul that God is breaking. — Paul Washer

The true convert does not receive the gospel as an addition to his previous life, but in exchange for it. — Paul Washer

I would not send my child to a vacation Bible school in 99.9% of the Baptist churches in America. Have some teacher that doesn't even understand anything about the gospel of Jesus Christ, ask those little children, 'How many of you want to go to Heaven?' and damn most of them! Harden their heart to the gospel with some silly profession of faith because it was a silly proclamation of the gospel! It brought no genuine repentance, it brought no faith; it's no different than the Roman church that baptizes every infant that is born. — Paul Washer

You are a steward of every moment, of every talent, of every gift, of every resource that God has given you. Chose wisely what you do today! — Paul Washer

The true gospel is radically exclusive. Jesus is not a way; He is the way, and all other ways are no way at all. If Christianity would only move one small step toward a more tolerant ecumenicalism and exchange the definite article the for the indefinite article a, the scandal would be over, and the world and Christianity could become friends. However, whenever this occurs, Christianity ceases to be Christianity, Christ is denied, and the world is without a Savior. — Paul Washer

Over the epitaph of this generation it will say ENTERTAINED TO DEATH. — Paul Washer

The most precise and thoughtful scholar is limited in what he knows and wrong in some things that he affirms; the most devoted saint is stained with sin and full of error; the bravest heart among us will fail and break; but Christ is altogether lovely, holy, and unfailing. — Paul Washer

I would not trade the difficult years for all the prosperity in the world. God knows what each one of us must suffer in order to be conformed to the image of Christ. — Paul Washer

We live in a culture bound by sin like bands of iron. Moral stories, quaint maxims, and life lessons shared from the heart of a beloved pulpiteer or spiritual life coach have no real power against such darkness. We need preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ who know the Scriptures, and by God's grace face any culture with the cry, 'Thus saith the Lord!' — Paul Washer

Sunday morning in America is the greatest hour of idolatry in the whole week. Why? Because most people who are even worshiping God, are worshiping a God they don't know. They're worshiping a god that looks more like Santa Claus than the God of Scripture. They're worshiping a god that is a figment of their own imagination. They created a god in their own likeness and they worship the god they've made. — Paul Washer

A Christian who does not pray is like prince in beggars clothes who stands but a few inches from His father's throne and yet does not ask. — Paul Washer

Remember when you got into the word and it wasn't because you had a sermon to prepare or you needed to learn some things or there were some doctrinal problems or you knew that to progress as a useful servant you had to continue on in the things of the word of God? Do you remember when you just got into the word because you wanted to hear something from God? You wanted to know something about Him. Do you remember when you just prayed because of Him? Is your heart burning for Him? — Paul Washer

If we judge our lives by what we know or by what we say, we can easily deceive ourselves into thinking that we are something we are not; it is wiser to evaluate ourselves by the amount of truth we actually live. This is very humbling. — Paul Washer

You go up to the devil and ask if he knows he's a sinner and he'll say, "Well, yes I am! And a mighty fine one at that!" — Paul Washer

Most people today in our churches are lost, and they demonstrate that they are lost because their entire Christianity is nothing more than, 'They made a decision.' — Paul Washer

There are endless treasures of grace waiting for those who will make even the most feeble attempts to pray. The weakest prayers yield grace. — Paul Washer

Your children will go to public school and they will be trained for somewhere around 15,000 hours in ungodly secular thought. And then they'll go to Sunday school and they'll color a picture of Noah's ark. And you think that's going to stand against the lies that they are being told? — Paul Washer

The mark of a man of God is God upon the man, — Paul Washer

A lot of people think that Christianity is you doing all the righteous things you hate and avoiding all the wicked things you love in order to go to Heaven. No, that's a lost man with religion. A Christian is a person whose heart has been changed; they have new affections. — Paul Washer

In that moment of salvation, of belief, they are opening their lives to the person of Jesus. — Paul Washer

The evidence that a person has truly opened their life to Christ is continued fellowship with Christ. — Paul Washer

This Christianity is not a cultural thing. It is not something that should be just a small part of your life; it is not something that you do on Sunday ... Christianity is not about you being just like the world all the time and then coming to church on Sunday. If that is your Christianity ... you are not Christian. — Paul Washer

We deal five minutes with a person and their conversion and then we spend the next fifty years trying to disciple a goat into a sheep. I'm not saying this because I'm angry. I'm saying this because countless people are being deceived. — Paul Washer

We as Americans are the wealthiest Christians who ever walked on the face of the earth. We are the most protected Christians that ever walked on the face of the earth, and yet we are the emptiest Christians who ever walked on the face of the earth. — Paul Washer

The work is hindered. The glory of God is tarnished and it is because the people of God no longer know how to discern the things of God. — Paul Washer

Look to the fields white unto harvest; pray for the fields; prepare for the fields; go to the fields or support those who go. — Paul Washer

I want to submit to you tonight that this country is not gospel-hardened; it is gospel-ignorant because most of its preachers are. And let me repeat this: the malady in this country is not liberal politicians, the root of socialism, Hollywood, or anything else; it is the so-called evangelical pastor, preacher, and evangelist of our day. That is where the malady is to be found. — Paul Washer

We have taken that truth, that if you truly believe and you confess Christ even if it costs you your life ... we have taken that beautiful truth and reduced it down to, "If you pray a little prayer before a bunch of people in a church in America, you can be guaranteed you were saved if you think you were sincere." — Paul Washer

The moment when you take your first step through the gates of hell, the only thing you will hear is all of creation standing to its feet and applauding and praising God because God has rid the earth of you. That's how not good you are. — Paul Washer

We are given so few years on this earth, and there are so many good things that get in the way of the best things. We must live for eternity. — Paul Washer

The MORE you Trust in the Arm of the FLESH, the LESS you're going to see of the POWER of GOD. — Paul Washer

Possessing a correct interpretation of each individual doctrine is not sufficient; we must also learn to hold each doctrine in harmony with the others. — Paul Washer

A man is saved only by faith ... only by faith. — Paul Washer