The
Apostle Paul (writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) makes an
amazing statement in Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that
cannot lie, promised before the world began.”Before God ever spoke the
universe into existence, he had already promised eternal life.Before God ever
created the first human being, Christ has already been slain in the eternal
mind of God.
Revelation
13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not
written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world.” Notice the words, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
In
God the Father’s mind, Jesus Christ had been crucified before the world began,
which is why God was able to promise eternal life BEFORE the world began God in
His foreknowledge knew that mankind would choose to go into sin.
God
created Adam and Eve, knowing fully that they would rebel against His Word.Yet, God loved humanity and made a way of escape before man was even created.
Before the first man was ever formed from the dust of the earth, God had
already PROMISED eternal life to mankind.Thus, God made a provision, the
sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus, to take away the sins of mankind.
We
must realize that God does not live in the limitation of time as does humanity.God lives in eternity, where there is no past, present, nor future.This is the
reason why the Bible tells us in 2nd Peter 3:8, “But, beloved, be not ignorant
of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand
years as one day.”
Whereas
mankind is forced to wait and wonder and hope due to the uncertainty of our
future; God KNOWS exactly what the future holds, because it is not the future
to Him.It is important as Christians that we pray and trust upon the Lord,
because He knows the way.
Notice
in Titus 1:2 the words “hope of eternal life.” The word “hope” here does not
speak in the sense of uncertainty; but rather, in the sense of expectation.
Thus, we don’t hope that God will give to us eternal life; but rather, we HAVE
A HOPE that God has given to us eternal life.We already have it!
Every
believer has the blessed assurance of sweet salvation and eternal life.When we
pass away from this earthly life as believers, our spirit which is already
alive forevermore will simply enter into eternity to be with the Lord.2nd
Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from
the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
The
Bible does not teach soul sleep.This is clearly taught in Acts 7:54-59, “When
they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him
with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly
into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of
God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on
the right hand of God.Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their
ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and
stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet,
whose name was Saul.And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Notice
that as Stephen was being martyred, he looked up into Heaven and saw Jesus Christ standing
on the right hand of the Father.Jesus was welcoming Stephen home, giving him a
standing ovation.The Bible says that Stephen said, “I see the heavens opened.”How much clearer could the Bible be, that departed loved ones who have been
saved go to Heaven to be with the Lord? Amen! Stephen saw the Heavens opened
and his wonderful and precious Lord waiting to receive him home into glory.
The
Bible tells us that eternal life is A PROMISE to the believer! If salvation
were by works of self-righteousness, then eternal life would merely be a
reward.But salvation is not a reward, it is a gift from God.
Ephesians
2:8,9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Those
who teach that salvation can be lost attempt to nullify and cast doubt upon the
PROMISE of God to give eternal life to him that believeth. John 3:36a, “He that
believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” This is God’s promise to mankind.God’s Law indicts all humanity as guilty sinners.
Romans
3:19, “Now we know that what things whosoever the law saith, it saith to them
who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may
become guilty before God.”Notice the words, “all the world may become guilty
before God.”
We
are all guilty sinners.God the Father is the Prosecutor, whose holiness
demands justice and punishment for sin.Jesus Christ came to the Father as our
Attorney and offered a plea agreement on our behalf, that we might be pardoned
for our crimes against God.Jesus, the holy Lamb of God Who knew no sin, became
as sin, that we who knew no righteousness could be made the righteousness of
God in Christ.
2nd
Corinthians 5:21, “For He (God the Father) hath made Him [God the Son] to be
sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in
him.” If the proponents of the heresy that salvation can be lost would only
accept this Biblical truth, they would cease from attacking the PROMISE of God
to save those who simply believe.
We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., the
righteousness of God which is through faith in Christ Jesus crucified.
Before
God ever created the world, He had already made a promise to mankind.That
promise was eternal life according to Titus 1:2, which also states that God
“CANNOT LIE.” To say that salvation can be lost renders a believer hopeless,
living in constant fear and doubt, wondering if they’ve sinned too much and
have lost their salvation.How tragic! How unbiblical!
The
very fact that the Bible proclaims the PROMISE of eternal life, is clear
evidence that God wants the believer’s heart to be comforted and settled
concerning salvation.If salvation can be lost, then there is little comfort or
assurance of salvation.
God wants each believer to have the peaceful assurance of salvation because of what Jesus Christ did for us, and not because of what we’re doing for Him.
God wants each believer to have the peaceful assurance of salvation because of what Jesus Christ did for us, and not because of what we’re doing for Him.
Let’s
break down Titus 1:2 to disprove the notion that salvation can be lost:
God
has provided ETERNAL LIFE to mankind through the redemptive work of Christ.But
God wanted us to have more assurance than that, so He,
Made
us a PROMISE that He’d give to us eternal life through His Son.But God goes
further than that to comfort us in our salvation, He tells
us that He made this promise BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN.Even still, God goes
further and wants us to be completely comforted in our salvation by telling us.
So,
we see that God not only has provided eternal life to mankind through the blood
sacrifice of His dear Son, Jesus, but has also committed Himself to us in the
form of a promise, that He made before we were ever created, and God reminds us
that it is IMPOSSIBLE for Him to lie about anything.
God
went out of His way in Titus 1:2 to comfort our hearts concerning eternal life.If I may paraphrase a bit, God is saying to us, “Look, I have a plan to redeem
you, and by the way, you can hold me to this because I’m making a promise, and
by the way, I made this promise before the universe was ever created, and if
that’s not enough, I absolutely cannot lie.So, you can rest assure in your
faith in Jesus as the Christ.”This is our blessed hope of salvation.We can
depend on Jesus that He won’t disappoint us for our faith in Him.What a Saviour!
God
keeps His promises!God is a promise making and a promise keeping God.The
Bible contains literally THOUSANDS of promises from God. Amen! The rainbow is a
token that God always keeps His promises, particularly not to destroy the earth
again by flood.The Bible tells us in Titus 1:2 that God “cannot lie.”
One
of the promises God makes to mankind is found in Romans 10:13, “For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The promise is simple. If
we call upon the Lord, we will be saved.The word “call” means “to appeal
unto,” that is, we are to seek salvation in Jesus Christ.Those who come to
Jesus Christ to be saved will be.
There
is a serious flaw in the teaching that salvation can be lost, in that it makes
God a liar and a promise-breaker. There are numerous passages of Scripture
which promise Eternal Life unto those who BELIEVE.
For example: John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That is a promise from God Almighty!
For example: John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That is a promise from God Almighty!
To
say that eternal life can be lost is to call God a liar. There is not one
single Scripture in all the Bible that teaches salvation can be lost.
Only be wrestling the Scriptures can one come to the erroneous conclusion that salvation can be lost.Yet, we do have clear Scriptural teaching that those who believe on the Lord SHALL BE SAVED.
Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”Could the Scriptures be any clearer?
Only be wrestling the Scriptures can one come to the erroneous conclusion that salvation can be lost.Yet, we do have clear Scriptural teaching that those who believe on the Lord SHALL BE SAVED.
Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”Could the Scriptures be any clearer?
When
considering the doctrine of Eternal Security, let us begin with the clear and
solid teachings of the Word of God, before we entertain the unscriptural and
unfounded teachings of men who pervert the Scriptures to satisfy their own
self-righteousness.
Salvation is of the Lord; and not men.It is our part simply to believe on Jesus Christ to keep His promise to wash our sins away and save us through faith.
Salvation is of the Lord; and not men.It is our part simply to believe on Jesus Christ to keep His promise to wash our sins away and save us through faith.
There’s
a precious Christian hymn based upon Deuteronomy 33:27 titled, “Leaning On The
Everlasting Arms,” which goes . . .
What
a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning
on the everlasting arms;
what
a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning
on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning,
leaning,
safe
and secure from all alarms;
leaning,
leaning,
leaning
on the everlasting arms.
O
how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning
on the everlasting arms;
O
how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning
on the everlasting arms.
(Refrain)
What
have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning
on the everlasting arms?
I
have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning
on the everlasting arms.
(Refrain)
The
Word of God comforts us greatly, giving us strong encouragement, in knowing
that God’s arms underlie our salvation and are everlasting arms.God’s arms
never get wearied.God never gets tired.
Our salvation is as secure as is God.It is a mistake for those who would rob us of our blessed assurance of salvation, to ignore such powerful Scriptures as Deuteronomy 33:27.
Our salvation is as secure as is God.It is a mistake for those who would rob us of our blessed assurance of salvation, to ignore such powerful Scriptures as Deuteronomy 33:27.
What
good or purpose would there be in the Bible making such a comforting statement
as, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms,”
if salvation could be lost?Here again we clearly see that salvation is
dependent upon God alone.Those who teach that salvation can be lost do not
focus upon the everlasting arms of God; but rather, upon the frail, weak and
often collapsed arms of men.
Moses
(writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Deuteronomy 33:27), told
God’s people that they had nothing to fear, because the arms of the eternal God
were protecting them.
Notice especially verse 29.a, “Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD.” What wonderful words, “O people saved by the Lord.” Salvation is of the Lord! The Apostle Paul states in Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Amen!
Notice especially verse 29.a, “Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD.” What wonderful words, “O people saved by the Lord.” Salvation is of the Lord! The Apostle Paul states in Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Amen!
Notice
the precious Words in John 10:28 spoken by our Lord, “And I give unto them
eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out
of my hand.” Here again we are reminded of the unwavering promise of God to
give eternal life which CANNOT be taken away.Those who believe on Jesus “shall
never perish.”
Notice
the words, “neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Notice that the
Bible doesn’t say “Satan,” it says “men.” Who are these men who would pluck
God’s children out of His hand?They include those false prophets who teach
that salvation can be lost.
It
is a popular teaching in Charismatic circles still that king David lost his
salvation when he sinned with Bathsheba, committing adultery with her, and then
having her husband murdered.Although David sinned horribly, and shamefully,
David only lost the “joy” of salvation.
Psalm 51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Notice that David called eternal life, “THY SALVATION.”It is God’s salvation.Our part is simply to”BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (Acts 16:31).
Psalm 51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Notice that David called eternal life, “THY SALVATION.”It is God’s salvation.Our part is simply to”BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (Acts 16:31).
Thank
God for the everlasting arms of Jesus Christ, upon which the believer can rest
assure. Romans 10:11, “For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him
shall not be ashamed.”This Scripture doesn’t mean what many people think.It
doesn’t mean that one who believes on Jesus will never be embarrassed or follow
from afar off like Peter did.
Peter
denied knowing Jesus and even cursed the Saviour’s name, but Peter didn’t lose
his salvation. Romans 10:13 is a quote from the Old Testament, from Isaiah
28:16,“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a
foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation:
he that believeth shall not make haste.”In other words, those who believe on
Christ will not be disappointed.The everlasting arms are beneath each believer
and salvation cannot be lost.
A
correctly understood gospel—salvation by grace alone through faith alone on the
basis of Christ’s finished work alone—mandates eternal security.
On the other hand, if one is trusting in one’s works or a “commitment” to perform works or to live a certain way to be saved, then salvation cannot be assured, and the doctrine of eternal security is either negotiable or is denied.
On the other hand, if one is trusting in one’s works or a “commitment” to perform works or to live a certain way to be saved, then salvation cannot be assured, and the doctrine of eternal security is either negotiable or is denied.
The
Word of God teaches preservation concerning His saints, not perseverance.Here
are some more Scriptures that speak concerning the preservation of the saints.
Luke
17:33, “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever
shall lose his life shall preserve it.”
1st
Thessalonians 5:23, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray
God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jude
1:1, “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are
sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.”
Notice
in Jude 1:1 that the Christian believer is “preserved in Jesus Christ.”The
word “preserved” in Jude 1:1 means “to guard from loss or injury” and to “keep
an eye upon.”God keeps His eye upon us continually and protects us.Hence, our
salvation is safe and secure in the Lord’s hands.
There
is no chance of losing our salvation.We are “preserved in Jesus Christ,” that
is, we have eternal life, and no one can take it away from us, nor can we mess
things up and lose it.Those who trust in Jesus Christ are preserved unto God’s
heavenly kingdom…
2nd
Timothy 4:18, “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will
preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever.Amen.”
The
word “preserve” in 2nd Timothy 4:18 means “to deliver or protect.”Hence, God
will make good on His promise of eternal life to those who believe on Jesus
Christ.God will deliver as PROMISED.The Bible teaches that God will finish
what He has started in each and every Christian…
Philippians
1:6, “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.”
This
means that salvation CANNOT be lost.The Bible teaches that God begins “a good
work” in every believer at the time of salvation, and God “performs it” until
the day of Jesus Christ.To say that salvation can be lost is to say that God
doesn’t finish what He has started in every believer.
The
Bible only mentions the word “perseverance” once in relation to prayer…
Ephesians
6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
We
do not need to put forth effort, nor live a certain type of lifestyle, to
maintain our salvation.
We are saved by God’s merciful grace through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.God’s preserves His own; this is, He delivers us as promised unto His heavenly kingdom and we are safe in the hands of the Father.
We are saved by God’s merciful grace through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.God’s preserves His own; this is, He delivers us as promised unto His heavenly kingdom and we are safe in the hands of the Father.
John
10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Notice what Jesus said, “they shall
never perish.”This is a divine promise from the Lord which teaches Eternal
Security.If we can never perish as believers, then we cannot lose our
salvation.
John
10:29,30, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is
able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” Christ Jesus
said that “no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” “No man”
includes one’s self.
It is impossible for anyone to lose their salvation, for God has said that “no man” can remove us from God’s divine hand of protection, and that must include our self as well.
It is impossible for anyone to lose their salvation, for God has said that “no man” can remove us from God’s divine hand of protection, and that must include our self as well.
The
Bible speaks plainly concerning salvation, “And I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish” (John 10:28a).When Jesus says, “they shall never
perish,” He is simply saying that every born-again believer is “preserved in
Jesus Christ.”
God
watches over His children and delivers them unto eternal life as He has
PROMISED.God does not require His children to persevere as part of
saving-faith; no, rather, God preserves us by His mighty power, sealing us with
the Holy Spirit, and finishing the good work He hath begun in us.
Perseverance
places the burden of salvation upon mankind, which is sinful
self-righteousness; BUT, the Word of God teaches that salvation is solely of
the Lord, and God preserves each believer in Christ Jesus.
We
are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ which
God imputes (attributes to) our record at the time of salvation.2nd
Corinthians 5:21, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Amen!
Psalm
118:8, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
It
is tragic that the false teachings of a man is still influencing millions of
people for the Devil.
Psalm 118:8 tells us to trust in the Lord and not men.In John 5:39 Jesus commanded for each of us to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!!
It
is tragic that so many people today follow heretical teachings or doctrines of
devils.There is nothing taught in the Word of God about sacraments.
The
term “holy baptism” isn’t found in the Scriptures, nor is the term “holy mass.”
These are man-made terms. Water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are simply
ordinances which the Lord instituted in the local New Testament church.
There is no grace imparted to the believer, nor spiritual power bestowed, by being water baptized or partaking of the Lord’s Supper.Also, infant baptism in unscriptural.
There is no grace imparted to the believer, nor spiritual power bestowed, by being water baptized or partaking of the Lord’s Supper.Also, infant baptism in unscriptural.
The
Word of God strongly contradicts all false teachings. Revelation 22:17 in the
New Testament so wonderfully tells us,” And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.And let him that heareth say, Come.And let him that is athirst come.And whosoever
will, let him take the water of life freely.” Notice those words, “whosoever
will.”That means you, and me, and everyone else on earth, are invited by the
Holy Spirit to take the water of life FREELY.
Eternal Life is the gift of God.Salvation is receiving; not giving.Jesus Christ paid it all by His own blood sacrifice for our sins.
Eternal Life is the gift of God.Salvation is receiving; not giving.Jesus Christ paid it all by His own blood sacrifice for our sins.
The
very notion that God chooses who will or won’t be saved is absurd.God NEVER
chooses who will be saved, or who won’t be saved.The choice is solely ours to
make as individuals. In John 5:40 Jesus said to the Jews, “And ye will not come
to me, that ye might have life.” Carefully notice that Jesus DIDN’T say, “Ye
cannot come,” no, rather, He plainly stated, “Ye will not come.” Anyone will be
saved if they come to God the Father through the Son. John 14:6, “Jesus saith
unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.” Amen!
1st
John 2:2 we are taught, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for
ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
The
word “propitiation” means “to appease one’s wrath.” Jesus’ blood sacrifice
satisfied the Father’s demand for justice and made salvation available to all
humanity as a gift.
The Bible plainly states that Jesus appeased the wrath of God for our sins, and not for ours only, “but also for the sins of the whole world.”Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world.Amen!
The Bible plainly states that Jesus appeased the wrath of God for our sins, and not for ours only, “but also for the sins of the whole world.”Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world.Amen!
God
will not force anyone to get saved.In Acts 26:28b, after hearing the Apostle
Paul present the Gospel, king Agrippa said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me
to be a Christian.” There was no irresistible grace at work.We all have free
will to make our own choices or decisions.
We
have no part in salvation except to enter our guilty plea before God the
Father, for violating God’s holy Law, and then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
for forgiveness, so that Christ’s precious blood can wash away our sins
forever. Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even
the forgiveness of sins.”
The
Bible plainly states that a man’s faith is COUNTED for righteousness.This is
because Christ’s righteousness is attributed to, or charged to, our record in
Heaven through faith in Christ.Literally, we are saved by Christ’s
righteousness; and not our own self-righteousness in any way.
Read
carefully the words of Romans 10:3,4, “For they are ignorant of God’s
righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not
submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.For Christ is the end of
the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” Christ in the end of the
Law for righteousness to everyone who believeth.Amen!
We
don’t have to persevere to stay saved, nor can we determine if one is unsaved
because they backslide and stop living for the Lord.
We have no part in our own salvation except to BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive our sins.Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
We have no part in our own salvation except to BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive our sins.Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
David
said in Psalm 32:2, “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not
iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”False teachings essentially
ignore the great Biblical doctrine of imputation, i.e., the truth that we are
saved by Christ’s righteousness, which the Father attributes to our heavenly
record the moment we trust Jesus Christ as our Saviour.
Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself at Calvary, and by faith God places Jesus’ righteousness upon our record at the time of salvation.
Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself at Calvary, and by faith God places Jesus’ righteousness upon our record at the time of salvation.
The
best of Christians still struggles with sin and fail on a regular basis, as did
the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:14-25. The Christian life is a life of struggle
with sin, of temptation, of sorrow and woe, of sadness and heartbreak.
John
16:20, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the
world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned
into joy.”
Jesus
said we would be sorrowful because of the sinful world we live in.Jesus said
in John 15:19 that people would hate us merely for being Christians.So, even
the best of Christians have it rough in this world.
Those who teach that salvation can be lost have a distorted view of the Christian life.Rest assuredly upon the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Those who teach that salvation can be lost have a distorted view of the Christian life.Rest assuredly upon the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The
word “perseverance” is only mentioned one time in the entire Bible and is only
speaking concerning prayer, Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints.”Let us beware of man-made doctrines that ensnare
our soul and lead us astray from the precious truths and sound doctrines of
God’s Word.
James
2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he
is guilty of all.”
You are! I am! We all are! It is human nature
to look upon the sins and faults of others, while often overlooking our own
sins.This is hypocrisy.One of the worst deceptions is overlooking our own
faults.
The Word of God proclaims in James 2:10 that committing even ONE SIN
makes a person GUILTY in God’s eyes of breaking every command in the Bible.This is a startling doctrine that is hardly touched upon in churches today.
“Now we know that what things soever the law
saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped,
and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).
In
the eyes of men, murdering someone is obviously worse than fornication or
adultery; but as far as God is concerned we are all equally lacking any
righteousness of our own.We each have faults as the other person. Oftentimes
what people perceive as acceptable, such as fornication or homosexuality, is an
abomination unto God.If we SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES as Jesus commanded in John
5:39, then we can only come to the conclusion that we are as sinful as the
worst sinner in God’s eyes and it matters not who is more guilty.
We
are all guilty (Romans 3:10,23).The fact of the matter is that we are all
sinners deserving of punishment in Hell (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15).Although we may never commit murder or have sexual intercourse before marriage,
that does not make us any less guilty of being a horrible sinner in the eyes of
God.
People
tend to selfishly judge themselves based upon what sins they personally DON’T
commit.The Bible perfectly illustrates this in Jesus’ account of the Pharisee
and the publican who went up to the temple to pray…
“Two
men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a
publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee,
that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as
this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto
heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.I
tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for
every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself
shall be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).
The
Pharisee in Luke 18:10-14 made the grave mistake of comparing himself with
other people, instead of measuring himself up against the holy Law of God.If
we foolishly look at other people who commit worse sins than we do, then we
naturally become self-righteousness and think we are “better” than that person.
“But
we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us
away” (Isaiah 64:6).
Would
to God that Christians in churches today would stop saying, “he has sinned,” or
“she has sinned,” and that we’d all start saying, “we have sinned.”
It
is sinful pride that causes the manure spreading news-media to mercilessly
destroy people’s lives for temporary wealth.
It
is sinful pride that causes self-righteous hypocrites to meddle in other
people’s lives and relationships.
The
Apostle Paul realized this great truth…
“This
is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1st Timothy 1:15).
The
Apostle Paul was a faithful missionary, who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and
helped people everywhere he went.
Paul suffered horribly from shipwreck, hunger, turmoil and malicious beatings from his enemies; yet he kept going for God.Paul was a mighty preacher and a strong Christian.Although Paul was arguably the greatest missionary who ever lived, he still addressed himself as the “chief of sinners.”
Paul suffered horribly from shipwreck, hunger, turmoil and malicious beatings from his enemies; yet he kept going for God.Paul was a mighty preacher and a strong Christian.Although Paul was arguably the greatest missionary who ever lived, he still addressed himself as the “chief of sinners.”
I
don’t know too many believers today who are anywhere near as dedicated and
committed to Jesus Christ as was Paul.If a good Christian like Paul esteemed
himself as the “chief of sinners,” then we ought to feel the same way.
We
must distinguish between condemning someone for their sins versus publicly
exposing them because they are a threat to society.I publicly expose darkness;
but I do not condemn any of them personally.I am not condemning them; God’s
Word condemns all of us (Romans 3:19-23).
I
am not self-righteous;I am trusting upon HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., the
righteousness of Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:21).
Godless
heathens are quick to cry out, “Jesus said, ‘judge not lest ye be not judged.’
They conveniently fail to quote John 7:24 where Jesus stated, “Judge not
according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”So, we are supposed
to judge, but rightfully so.
Ephesians
5:10-11 reads, “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”The
word “proving” in Ephesians 5:10 is the Greek word (dokimazo) and means “to
test.” Thus, God wants us to test everything, to judge righteously, to discern
whether or not something is acceptable to Him, i.e., in agreement with His holy
Word.
Ephesians 5:11 commands God-fearing believers to reprove [Greek: elencho, i.e., “to expose”] all works of darkness. This is not condemning; but rather, judging righteously as we are supposed to do.
Ephesians 5:11 commands God-fearing believers to reprove [Greek: elencho, i.e., “to expose”] all works of darkness. This is not condemning; but rather, judging righteously as we are supposed to do.
Would
to God that more believers today would realize the extent of their wickedness
in the eyes of God.Our only hope is the precious Lord Jesus Christ and the
salvation that He freely offers to us, paid for by His own shed blood…
“Forasmuch
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and
gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot” (1st Peter 1:18,19).
If
it weren’t for the literal precious blood of Jesus Christ, we’d all be doomed
to the Lake of Fire.God is a good God, so don’t hate Him or blame Him for your
mistakes and faults. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Amen!
You
and I are as guilty of sin as anyone else.So, if anyone can lose salvation,
then we all lost it a long time ago. Thankfully, salvation cannot be lost. If
saved, always saved.
Galatians
2:16, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
The biggest flaw in the thinking of the enemies
of Eternal Security is that they fail to realize just how sinful they are
themselves.They hypocritically condemn other believers who live in unrepentant
sin, failing to realize that they’re just as sinful in God‘s eyes.If salvation
can be lost, then who is righteous enough to keep their own salvation? Only a
self-righteous hypocrite would claim to be self-righteous enough to please God.Isaiah 64:6 puts them to shame…
“But
we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us
away.”
Do
you have any idea just how sinful you and I are?It should be obvious to you
just how hypocritical the people are who teach that some believers can lose
their salvation by living in sin.If that were the case, then we’d all
immediately drop down into the fires of Hell beneath.
The very notion that
certain sins can cause a believer to lose salvation is insane.We ALL deserve
to go straight to Hell, right now!
I
don’t care how self-righteous you may think you are, you deserve to plunge
without delay into the Lake of Fire.This blasts the entire Lordship Salvation
crowd out of the water.If salvation can be lost, then we’ve ALL lost it a long
time ago.What arrogance for anyone to claim that some believers are bigger
sinners than others and have therefore lost salvation.That’s a bunch of
garbage not taught anywhere in the Scriptures.We all deserve to go directly to
Hell.Is there any among us without sin?
I
thank God that my salvation is solely in the hands of my righteous Saviour,
Jesus Christ; and not dependent upon my own self-righteousness.
Critics
of Eternal Security are hypocrites.They are no less sinful than the adulterous
and murderous believers they condemn.They condemn other believers, whom they
consider more sinful than themselves, accusing others of losing their
salvation, but they’re just as much hell-deserving sinners, who fail to see the
sinful beam in their own eye.
Those
who DON’T believe in Eternal Security have a completely different mindset
towards salvation.They DON’T have the blessed peace and assurance which comes
from resting upon the promises of God.Jesus is our Sabbath, upon whom we
solely rest for our salvation.
Titus 1:2 speaks of the promise of eternal life, from God Who cannot lie, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” Amen!
Titus 1:2 speaks of the promise of eternal life, from God Who cannot lie, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” Amen!
As Christians, we can KNOW that we are saved,
because our salvation is not rooted in merit or works, but upon the finished
work of Christ.Our salvation is based upon God’s love for undeserving sinners,
not upon our own self-righteousness.
To
say that a believer is not eternally secure in God, Jesus Christ, is to lower
the Christian faith to the level of the woeful false religions, which offers no
security to its followers.In false religions, you do your best, and hope to
make it. Isn’t this the same garbage that is being propagated by those who
claim that there is NO security in Christ?
I
find it a great hypocrisy for anyone to claim to be wholly trusting the Saviour
for salvation, while at the same time holding to the self-righteous idea that
we can mess things up if we backslide and walk into sin.If the latter be true,
then our salvation is dependent upon man, as much as it is upon God.The Word
of God is clear on this matter in Jonah 2:9, “Salvation is of the LORD.”
Ephesians
1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed
with that holy Spirit of promise.”
Every born-again believer is SEALED at the
time of salvation with God’s Holy Spirit.The word “sealed” means “to stamp
(with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation.”
Every
new believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit, making us eternally secure and
preserved in God’s protective hands.The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit
that we are saved.
Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God.” Amen! We are sealed by God the Father
when we get saved.John 6:27, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for
that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give
unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” Notice the words, “him hath God
the Father sealed.”Every believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit at the time
of salvation, safe and secure in the loving hands of the Heavenly Father.
In
view of the plain teaching of the Scriptures, how ridiculous it is for anyone
to question the eternal security of the believer.We are sealed by God’s Holy
Spirit, i.e., that Spirit of promise, the moment we place our faith in Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.Salvation is a matter of God keeping
His promise to those who come to Him by way of His Son, Jesus Christ.
John
14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 6:37,47, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
God the Father PROMISES eternal life to those who believe on Jesus Christ!We
repeatedly find the word “promise” in the Scriptures concerning eternal life.For example, Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie,
promised before the world began.” Notice the word “promised.”
John 6:37,47, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
Those
critics who reject the Biblical doctrine of the Eternal Security of the
believer are calling God a liar, because they have not taken God at His
PROMISE.
God PROMISES eternal life to anyone who acknowledges their guilt of
sin and comes to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness.God then seals that
person with the Spirit of PROMISE.
The
Holy Spirit Who lives within the body of every believer then testifies “with
our spirit, that we are THE CHILDREN OF GOD” (Romans 8:16).
No amount of sin,
nor backsliding, nor anything else can cause us to lose our salvation, because
God PROMISED eternal life to anyone who believes on the Lord. Salvation is a
matter of God keeping His PROMISE; and not how we live or think as believers.Salvation is receiving; not giving.Our part is only to believe, God does the
rest.
God
gives us His Holy Spirit of PROMISE the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our
Saviour, and the Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are God’s child.If salvation can be lost, and then gained, and then lost again, and then gained,
then salvation would not be a matter of God keeping His PROMISES to us; but,
rather, of how well we are doing in our Christian life, which is
self-righteousness.Salvation cannot be lost, because God has PROMISED eternal
life to him who believes.
Ephesians
4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the
day of redemption.” The Bible teaches that the believer is “SEALED WITH THAT
HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE” (Ephesians 1:13).
Jesus
Christ PROMISED that the Holy Spirit would come once He was departed from the
earth.John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”The Bible refers the the
Holy Ghost as “that Spirit of promise.” God keeps His promises.This is why we
are encouraged in Romans 10:11, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth
on him shall not be ashamed.”
Look
at the Apostle Peter, who cursed the name of Jesus and denied any affiliation with
the Saviour.Yet, later Peter wept bitter tears of sorrow and got right with
God. Romans 10:11 means that Jesus won’t fail anyone who believes on Him.This
is another wonderful Scripture that exposes the heresy that salvation can be
lost.The Bible PROMISES, and I love that word “promise,” that whosoever
believes on Jesus Christ will not be disappointed whatsoever!
Every
believer is given the Holy Spirit of God at the time of salvation, which is
God’s seal upon us, showing that we belong to God and are eternally secure and
preserved in Christ Jesus.Our salvation is secure in the PROMISES of God.
2nd
Corinthians 1:22, “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit
in our hearts.”
When
a person trust’s Jesus Christ to get saved, the Holy Spirit immediately
indwells that person, i.e., God the Father and God the Son come to live within
that person in the form of God the Holy Spirit.Amen!
The
Bible teaches in 2nd Corinthians 1:22 that God not only seals us with His Holy
Spirit at the time of salvation, but He also gives us the Holy Spirit as proof
of God’s down-payment on us! 2nd Corinthians 1:22 reads, “Who hath also sealed
us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” The word “earnest”
means “a pledge, i.e. part of the purchase-money or property given in advance
as security for the rest.”
God
has given each believer the Holy Spirit as a PLEDGE, or PROMISE, that He will
make good on His PROMISE to give us everlasting life and joy and a home in
Heaven that the Lord Himself is preparing.This is such a wonderful truth!God
has given us the Holy Spirit, as believers, to testify that we are God’s
children, and as a pledge that He is coming back to get us, that where He is,
there may we be also.
John
14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told
you.I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may
be also.”What a wonderful Saviour!
God didn’t just make a bunch of empty
promises to us, He placed His Spirit into our hearts the day we were saved as
evidence that He will make good on all His promises to us.
Oh,
how God wants to bless us and give us good things as His children!For now,
Jesus said we would suffer tribulation in the world, and be hated by the world
for Christ’s sake, and suffer persecution; but there’s a blessed home beyond
the sunset where our Lord is preparing a special place for us to live.
God has given us His Holy Spirit as evidence
that He’s coming back to get us.Sometimes when a friend is going away for a
long time, there is apprehension and worry that the friend may not come back,
so the departing one will leave something of sentimental value or something
that is dear to them as assurance that they will come back.The same is true
with the Heavenly Father, Who has given to us His Holy Spirit as assurance that
He is coming back again to receive us as His own.This is what 2nd Corinthians
1:22 means when it says that God has given us “the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts.”Amen!
Romans
4:6, “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God
imputeth righteousness without works.”
What
in the world does that big word mean . . . IMPUTETH?The word “impute” means
“to pass to one’s account, to count over”It means that Jesus places His
righteousness upon our record when we trust upon Him for salvation.
Romans chapter four speaks concerning Abraham, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was COUNTED UNTO HIM for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).What a beautiful truth!
Romans chapter four speaks concerning Abraham, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was COUNTED UNTO HIM for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).What a beautiful truth!
Abraham
was not saved by good works; but rather, he believed God and was saved by
Christ’s righteousness. Christ’s perfection was imputed (placed) on Abraham’s
record in Heaven.God the Father viewed Abraham thereafter as having the
righteousness of Christ.What a Saviour!
Abraham
believed God concerning the coming Messiah which was to save His people from
their sins . . . “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for
righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).
Why was Abraham able to simply believe God in place of merit or good works?It’s simply because Jesus paid the price for mankind’s sins.You see, Abraham could NOT please God in his own self-righteousness, nor can we (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 10:3,4; Titus 3:5).
Why was Abraham able to simply believe God in place of merit or good works?It’s simply because Jesus paid the price for mankind’s sins.You see, Abraham could NOT please God in his own self-righteousness, nor can we (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 10:3,4; Titus 3:5).
No matter how much good we may do here on
earth, our sins are still recorded in Heaven.Our sins must be dealt with.This
is why Jesus came to earth to paid the price for our sins with His own precious
blood . . . “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition
from your fathers;But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot.”
All
mankind is corrupt and destitute of God.Even in our sincerest efforts,
humanity is tarnished with the curse of sin and rebellion.We need HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.We are saved by
Jesus’ righteousness through faith.
“But
to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his
faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).
We
read in Romans 4:8, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not IMPUTE sin.”Not only was Christ’s righteousness imputed (counted) to Abraham’s record, but
Abraham’s sinful record was imputed to Christ. Literally, Jesus became as sin
for us and died a sinner’s death . . . “For HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US,
WHO KNEW NO SIN; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2nd
Corinthians 5:21). Amen!
We
read concerning Abraham . . .
“And
therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for
his sake alone, that it wasIMPUTED to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be
IMPUTED, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead”
(Romans 4:22-24).
This
is a beautiful passage of Scripture, teaching that God is willing to IMPUTE
Christ’s righteousness to us as well, just as He did to Abraham, if we’ll
simply believe on the Lord… “To him give all the prophets witness, that through
his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
These
Scriptures were written for us, that we might also have Christ’s righteousness
imputed to our record, and our sins imputed to Christ’s record.He who knew no
sin, became as sin, that we who knew no righteousness could be made the
righteousness of God in Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:21).
What
a wonderful truth! To think that Jesus Christ would actually bear our sins upon
Himself and sacrifice His precious blood for our sins—we are not worthy.
Thankfully, God looked beyond our faults through His love and saw our need . .
. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.”
I
cannot express in Words how much I thank the Lord for what He has done for a
sinner like me.Do you realize all that you will miss if you reject Christ as
your Saviour?
Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15; 6:23), which anyone may have simply by acknowledging their guilt of sin and believing on the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness . . . “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved,
so that God the Father may view us as having the righteousness of Christ which
is imputed unto us at salvation . . .
Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15; 6:23), which anyone may have simply by acknowledging their guilt of sin and believing on the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness . . . “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
“Even
as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God IMPUTETH
righteousness without works” (Romans 4:6).
“And
the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was
IMPUTED unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (James
2:23).Would you like to be the friend of God?It all begins when you say yes
to God, Jesus Christ and let Him become your Saviour.
Jesus
Christ earnestly wants to impute your sin to His record and impute His
righteousness to your record.All you must do to be saved is admit your guilty
condition before God for violating His holy Law (Romans 3:19), and then trust
upon the Son of God to wash away your sins with His shed blood.
Admit you’re a sinner deserving of Hell.Turn to Christ now in faith and trust Him to forgive your sins and cleanse you.
Admit you’re a sinner deserving of Hell.Turn to Christ now in faith and trust Him to forgive your sins and cleanse you.
John
3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
In John chapter three, Jesus told Nicodemus
that unless he became born-again he could not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.Nicodemus didn’t understand and asked Jesus in John 3:4, “How can a man be born
when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be
born?” Jesus replied in John 3:6,7, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto
thee, Ye must be born again.”
Just
as a person is born ONCE physically, so must a person be born ONCE, and only
once, spiritually.It is IMPOSSIBLE to be born twice, whether physically or
spiritually.Once a baby is born into the world, time cannot be erased.Likewise, when a person is born-again spiritually, i.e., born anew into God‘s
family, that birth cannot be undone or redone.
Jesus
did not say to be born again and again and again. No, rather, He just told
Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” The saying is true, “If you’re born twice,
you die once; if you’re born once, you die twice.” That is, if you’ve been
born-again into God’s family, then you won’t die the Second Death in the Lake
of Fire.
Revelation
21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.” Notice that the Bible mentions the”second death.”
Thankfully,
because of the blood sacrifice of our great Savior, Jesus Christ, we don’t have
to die the Second Death. But we MUST be born-again if we are to escape such
horrid damnation. 1st Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
The Word of God is the precious Seed by which we are born-again.Amen!
John
11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
There are hundreds of New Testament references which tell us to believe on Jesus as the Christ for salvation, but none of them give indication or lead us to think that salvation can be lost, or that a person must be born-again more than once.The spiritual birth is as irreversible as the physical birth.
There are hundreds of New Testament references which tell us to believe on Jesus as the Christ for salvation, but none of them give indication or lead us to think that salvation can be lost, or that a person must be born-again more than once.The spiritual birth is as irreversible as the physical birth.
The
great Biblical doctrine of being BORN-AGAIN is solid proof against the notion
that a person can lose salvation. It is absurd to think that an earthly mother
could give birth to the same child twice.
It is just as strange and absurd to
claim that a born-again child of God could ever be unborn and be required to
start all over again in the family of God.
1st
Corinthians 5:5, “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the
flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the
Church of Corinth, reprimands them for allowing the sin of fornication in the
church.Paul states that fornication is
“commonly” reported among them.
The
carnal church was KNOWN as a house of sin. Yet in 1st Corinthians 3:1 the
Apostle Paul called them… BABES IN CHRIST! This is Scriptural proof that
salvation cannot be lost.
You
can’t argue with the Scriptures, some believers do live a life of sin. 1st
Corinthians 3:15, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but
he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”Many believers will enter into
Heaven with nothing to show for their life for God.
In
Romans 12:1, the Apostle Paul states, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Paul is asking these
BELIEVERS to make a commitment to God. They are ALREADY saved, but they have
NOT yielded themselves to God yet.
When
a baby is born into this world physically, everything is new to him/her. The
same is true about being born-again, everything becomes new, a whole new world
of understanding is opened (2nd Corinthians 5:17).Now the growing process has
begun, and God’s Holy Spirit will nurture that believer, through the Word of
God and preaching (1st Peter 2:2; Titus 1:3).
The
fact that the Apostle Paul beseeched (i.e., begged) the believers at Rome to
surrender to Christ is further Scriptural evidence that believers do not lose
salvation. The believers at Rome were not yielded to God’s will for their
lives.
The
heresy that salvation can be lost attempts to force people to live a righteous
life in order to keep their salvation.In sharp contrast, Romans 4:5 simply
states, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”Again, we are saved by HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ which is obtained
through faith alone in His blood sacrifice.
Romans
3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,
to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through
the forbearance of God.” Notice the words, “through faith in his blood.”We are
redeemed by the physical, precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Proverb
24:16 states, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the
wicked shall fall into mischief.” Even the best of Christians stumble and
commit sin.We are all sinners incapable of living beyond sin. The Apostle
Paul, who is arguably the greatest missionary who ever lived, battled with sin
in his life.
Romans
7:15,24, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but
what I hate, that do I. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the
body of this death?”
Every honest believer can relate to the words of Paul.
This is not to say that any believer has God’s permission to sin, we do not. It
just means that all believers will be vulnerable to sinful temptation as long
as we are in the body of this flesh. Notice in Romans 7:24 that Paul speaks of
“the body of this death.”
According
to 1st Corinthians 5:5, the vilest sinner at the church of Corinth was saved.This is conclusive evidence that a believer cannot lose salvation.If saved,
always saved.
“For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” -John 3:16
2nd
Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he
hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
The fact that the Bible teaches two separate
judgments is proof that believers do not lose salvation.There are two major
judgments mentioned in the New Testament, one for the unsaved, and another for
the saved.
We
are told in Revelation 20:11-15, “And I saw a great white throne, and Him that
sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was
found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God;
and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of
life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the
books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it;
and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were
judged every man according to their works.And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death.And whosoever was not found written
in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” This event is the Great
White Throne of Judgment.This will be the final judgment for the unsaved.That
is, for all those who have died in their sins throughout history without Christ
as Saviour.This will be a criminal court for unbelievers, who will be
sentenced to the Lake of Fire forever to pay for their own sins, because they
rejected Jesus Christ.
The
other major judgment will be The Judgment Seat of Christ and is only for
believers.II Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”This will be a
civil court for all believers, many of whom won’t receive any rewards and will
have nothing to show for their time on earth.
I
Corinthians 3:15, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but
he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Notice that every believer will
give account to Christ for the good and bad “done in his body,” that is, while
hear on earth in this fleshly tabernacle.
II Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” This fleshly body is only a temporary dwelling place of our spirit, which when we die will enter into eternity. Our salvation was settled by our acceptance of Jesus Christ, but now we are to be judged for our works and service.
II Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” This fleshly body is only a temporary dwelling place of our spirit, which when we die will enter into eternity. Our salvation was settled by our acceptance of Jesus Christ, but now we are to be judged for our works and service.
Oh,
how the tears will flow on Judgment Day, when each believer will be required to
give account to God for the bad done in the body.And thankfully, there will be
joy for the good we have done for the Lord’s sake and the Gospel’s.
The
very fact that there is going to be a separate judgment exclusively for
born-again believers is solid Biblical evidence that salvation cannot be lost.If salvation could be lost because of riotous living or departing from the
faith, then there would be no need for a separate judgment just for Christians.
The
fact that I Corinthians 3:15 tells us that some believers will receive no
rewards and be “saved; yet so as by fire,” shows us that even the worst of
Christian believers are still saved and go to Heaven.The Bible tells us these
believers barely escaped the fires of Hell, “saved; yet so as by fire.”
The
vilest convicted criminal on death row will be abundantly pardoned by God, if
he’ll acknowledge his guilt of sin for violating God’s Law and come for
forgiveness by way of the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Notice that the Bible says for the wicked to forsake his “way,” not sins, his “thoughts,” not lifestyle.
A
changed life is the fruit of genuine repentance of sins, and not a prerequisite
to saving faith.That is, we forsake our sins because we are saved; not in
order to get saved. Biblical repentance means owning before God that I am as
vile a sinner as He has declared me to be in His Word.
The
Bible speaks of numerous future judgments, but the two main judgments will be
the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne of Judgment.
The fact that Christians will stand in court before God at a separate judgment is irrefutable evidence that every believer has Eternal Security, for if salvation could be lost because of sin there wouldn’t be a need for a separate judgment for Christians.If saved, always saved.
The fact that Christians will stand in court before God at a separate judgment is irrefutable evidence that every believer has Eternal Security, for if salvation could be lost because of sin there wouldn’t be a need for a separate judgment for Christians.If saved, always saved.
Proverb
24:16, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked
shall fall into mischief.”
Christians at best are people, and people at
best are sinners.No one can live above sin all the time.If we could, we would
be sinless like Christ.Only Jesus is without sin. II Corinthians 5:21, “For He
[God the Father]hath made Him [God the Son] to be sin for us, Who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”Thankfully, God will
one day replace this old corruptible body with an incorruptible body.
I
Corinthians 15:52,53, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and
this mortal must put on immortality.” Amen! What a day that will be. But until
that glorious day, we will always be at war with the flesh.I Peter 2:11,
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts,
which war against the soul.” The Bible calls fleshly lusts “a war against the
soul.” A war is won fighting one battle at a time.
King
David was called a man after God’s own heart in I Samuel 13:14 b, “The LORD hath
sought Him a man after His own heart.” Tragically, David coveted Uriah’s wife,
Bath-sheba, committed adultery with her, impregnated her, and then murdered her
husband to hide the sin (II Samuel 11:1-17). What a horrible king! How could
such a person be a man after God’s own heart? It just proves that even the best
of Christians mess up big sometimes.
Every
believer struggles with the sinful flesh on a daily basis. David was a man
after God’s own heart because David loved God’s Word. Psalm 119:140, “Thy word
is very pure: therefore Thy servant loveth it.” Yet, David ruined his life
because of sin. His reputation was ruined. His friends and own family turned
against him. He lost his throne for a time and his beloved son Absalom was
executed. David’s first child by Bath-sheba died.David paid dearly for his
sins. In Psalm 51:3,4,12, we read David’s prayer of repentance unto God,
“For
I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee,
Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest
be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest. Restore unto
me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.” Notice that
David did not ask God to save him again; but rather, to restore the “joy” of
salvation. Also notice that David calls it “Thy salvation.”
Salvation belongs
to God alone, that is His department. Our part is to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST (Acts 16:31).
No
believer has God’s permission to sin. Romans 3:31 plainly states, “Do we then
make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” And
again in Romans 6:15, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the
law, but under grace? God forbid.” These Scriptures clearly teach that
believers are no longer under the curse of the Law; but rather, are under God’s
saving grace by faith in Christ Jesus.
We
are under grace and salvation is completely in God’s hands. Nevertheless, some
believers do choose to live in sin, as witnessed in the lives of many of God’s
men in the Bible. Noah got drunk (Genesis 9:21).Samson had sex with a
prostitute (Judges 16:1).
Abraham
and Sara doubted God, laughing at His promise (Genesis 17:16,17).
Jeremiah
quit preaching God’s Word (Jeremiah 20:9).
Isaiah
had unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5).
Jonah
fled from God’s will (Jonah 1:10).
Peter
cursed the name of Jesus and denied knowing Him (Mark 14:71).
The
Apostle Paul said he struggled with sin continually (Romans 7:14-25). These are
just a handful of examples of believer’s who struggled with sin in their lives.
Proverb
24:16 states, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the
wicked shall fall into mischief.” Everyone fails at times when it comes to
living right. Even the most mature of Christians mess up. If we were perfect,
we wouldn’t need a Saviour. Yet, there is a vast difference between the heart’s
attitude of the righteous versus the wicked. Many people don’t even try to live
right anymore. The nicknaming of Las Vegas to the hideous “SIN CITY” is
evidence of this. What a mockery of God!
I
can assure you that what HAPPENS in the worlds is recorded in Heaven! God will not
be mocked.Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a
man soweth, that shall he also reap.”It is no trifle matter with God when men
live in sin, defying the Word of God, indulging in that which God calls
abominations.
Here
are three Scriptural principles to help us live right for God:
Psalm
119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
This is reading, studying and memorizing the Scriptures.Remember, sin is the
breaking of God’s Laws. All sin is against God.
Mark
14:38, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is
ready, but the flesh is weak.” Prayer is asking.We need to continually pray
about everything, trusting upon the Lord through prayer.
Galatians
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.” God doesn’t merely want
to help us live the Christian life; but rather, to live the Christian life
through us.
A
genuine born-again believer cannot live in sin without being convicted by God’s
Holy Spirit. Hebrews 12:7,8, “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as
with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be
without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not
sons.”
The
Bible teaches that a true believer will be chastened (disciplined) by God.A
person who does not have the Holy Spirit living within their body is not saved.
Romans
8:9b, “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”It is
God’s Spirit that causes the believer to desire to please God, to get back up
when we sin and try to do better, to ask God to lead us not into temptation but
deliver us from evil.
The
unsaved person doesn’t have God’s Spirit living within them and doesn’t care
about living right.The wicked parade their sins publicly and defend their
wickedness as being acceptable and moral, which it certainly is not.
Most
people who claim to be Christians nowadays are not. Many people think that being
religious will get them to Heaven, but Hell will be their home if they don’t
become born-again as Jesus commanded in John 3:3, “Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Many
arrogant religious people will be horrified one day when they are cast into the
Lake of Fire forever.In John 10:35c Jesus warned, “The Scripture cannot be
broken.”
The
Bible openly declares that a just man, i.e., a saved man, stumbles seven times;
yet riseth again.The number seven in the Bible represents God’s perfection.Hence, a righteous man spends his entire life trying to live for God, while
messing up along the way, and continually getting back up because he desires to
please the Lord. This is exactly what Paul said in Romans 7:15, “For that which
I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”
The
wicked are not so, but quit, and don’t even try to please God.That’s what
Proverbs 24:16 means.The wicked person couldn’t care less about pleasing God
with their life.While they indulge in vile sins, they condemn the believer who
stumbles even once into sin.
The
fact that God said a just man falls down repeatedly evidences that salvation
cannot be lost. Christians do sin, sometimes horribly so, but the evidence of their
salvation is that godly sorrow worketh repentance, and they will hopefully,
eventually, get back up for God. Yet, Paul clearly stated in I Corinthians 5:5
that a saved man can be turned over “unto Satan for the destruction of the
flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
Self-righteous
religious people need to stop condemning those who they feel are more sinful
than themselves, for they are just as sinful according to James 2:10, “For
whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty
of all.”A hypocrite is someone who views another person as being a bigger
sinner than them self.
When
a backslidden believer gets right with God, that doesn’t mean they’re getting
saved again, it just means they’re getting right with their Heavenly Father.Contrary to what Pentecostals teach, king David DIDN’T lose his salvation when
he sinned with Bath-sheba and murdered her husband.There is absolutely no
Scriptural evidence to support the claim of Pentecostals that David lost
salvation.
The
Bible says, “A just man falleth seven times.” You can’t rise up if you don’t
fall. Although sin is never acceptable to God, struggling with sin is an
inherent part of the Christian life, because our flesh continually wars against
the Spirit of God living within our
body.
Here
are some precious words from Psalm 103:8-14, “The LORD is merciful and
gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide:
neither will He keep his anger for ever.
He
hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our
iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy
toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He
removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so
the LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth
that we are dust.”
What
a beautiful passage of Scripture! What a wonderful God! Our Lord knows them
that fear Him and He remembers that we are dust.
How ridiculous is it for
anyone to teach that God takes away the birthright of His own children, kicking
them out of the family of God because of sin in their life. “For a just man
falleth seven times.” The Bible says that fallen man “riseth up again,” it
doesn’t say he gets saved again. The second birth cannot be undone.If saved,
always saved.
Jonah
2:9, “Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly…
Salvation is of the LORD.”
I
was reading the Old Testament Book of Jonah the other day and stumbled across a
truth that I never saw before. We often hear the Biblical story about Jonah and
the Whale; but I’ve never heard anyone address the prayer which Jonah cried out
from the whale’s belly.
Jonah’s
Desperate Prayer from the Whale’s Belly
Here
is what Jonah prayed to God from the inside of the whale’s belly…
“Then
Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried
by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly
of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.For thou hadst cast me into the
deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy
billows and thy waves passed over me.Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight;
yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.The waters compassed me about,
even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about
my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars
was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD
my God.When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer
came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.They that observe lying vanities
forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of
thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed.
Salvation is of the LORD.And
the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”
—Jonah 2:1-10
Jonah
said something remarkable in his prayer to God. Jonah stated that people who
trust in “lying vanities” for their salvation literally “forsake their own
mercy.” That is to say, they forfeit the free gift of eternal life which God in
His loving mercy has made available to all mankind through the sacrifice of His
only begotten Son. This would be equivalent to the Apostle Paul’s statement in
Galatians 5:4 … “Ye are fallen from grace.”
There
is ONLY one way to Heaven and that is through the precious redeeming blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ (1st Peter 1:18,19).Anyone who tries to merit Heaven
some “other way” has fallen from the saving grace of God and has forsaken the
mercy which God has bestowed upon them through the gift of eternal life found
only in Christ Jesus (Acts 4:10-12; John 10:1,9).
God’s
Merciful Gift of Eternal Life Versus the Lying Vanities of a False Gospel
As
I read Jonah’s plea to God, I couldn’t help but immediately think of all the
religious people in the world today who trust in “lying vanities” to get them
to Heaven.They have forsaken the very mercy that God has bestowed upon them
through His precious Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, the wrath of God abideth
upon them (John 3:36).
Jonah
knew that “SALVATION IS OF THE LORD” and pondered over it in the whale’s belly.I find it very interesting that Jonah was thinking about the merciful gift of
God, and of those who trust in “lying vanities” which lead to Hellfire.You
see, when Jonah was fleeing from God he was only thinking about himself; but
now that Jonah is in woe and desperation, he is thinking about what is
important to God—SOUL-WINNING!!!
I
believe Jonah was thinking about the unsaved inhabitants of Nineveh (where God
had told him to go preach the Gospel).Jonah promised God to obey His will if
his life was spared. God caused the whale to spew Jonah forth on dry ground.Interestingly, Jonah made a 3-day journey in just ONE DAY.Jonah ran all the
way to Nineveh after God delivered him from being entangled in weeds in the
whale’s belly in the depths of the sea. That’s quite a testimony.
Many
religious people today have a false sense of peace, like the calm in the eye of
a hurricane, because they’ve been lied to by some unholy priest or arrogant
minister. Death and destruction await them after the calm is gone, i.e., when
they enter into eternity in their sins without the Lord.
The
most dangerous thing you’ll ever do is trust what men say. You’d better do what
Jesus commanded in John 5:39… SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!!You’ll never go wrong
listening to the Word of God.
The
Bible is filled with warnings about listening to people…
“It
is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” —Psalm 118:8
“There
is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death.” —Proverb 16:25
“Behold,
ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.” —Jeremiah 7:8
“Thus
saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his
arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” —Jeremiah 17:5
“God
forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou
mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art
judged.” —Romans 3:4
“This
people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips;
but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men.” —Matthew 15:8,9
Jonah
knew that SALVATION IS OF THE LORD, and that those who trust in “lying
vanities” are traveling on a highway to Hell.The only One Who can forgive
anyone’s sins has nail-scared hands and feet—Jesus Christ.Believe on Him!!!
Jonah
was your typical person who forgets about God until tragedy strikes.It’s sad,
but true, that most of us don’t think about what pleases God until we’re in the
back of an ambulance or in a dangerous situation. Whereas Jonah was stubbornly
fleeing from the will of God before; now he is in the morbid belly of a whale
facing imminent death, crying out in repentance for God to deliver him.Whereas
Jonah wasn’t concerned about fulfilling the will of God just days earlier; now
he is desperately desiring to do God’s will and preach the Gospel to lost sinners
who trust in “lying vanities.”
What
will it take for us to surrender our lives to do God’s will? Why does God
always have to send a whale to devour us, fiery serpents to bite us (Numbers
21:6), an evil spirit to afflict us (1st Samuel 16:14) or a thorn in the flesh
to humble us (2nd Corinthians 12:7). Mankind is sinfully proud and stubborn.
Deuteronomy
6:12 warns, “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth
out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”It is so easy to become
ungrateful for all the wonderful things that God has done for us.So often as
believers we forget about the very God Who brought us forth out of darkness
(bondage to sin) and gave to us new life in Jesus Christ.
Trust
Upon the Lord Jesus Christ and Simply Say, “Thank You.”
Jonah
said that he would sacrifice unto the Lord with “a voice of thanksgiving.”
Mankind has no part in salvation other than to receive it through faith in
Christ Jesus and say, “Thank you.” Salvation is receiving; not giving.
We have zero righteousness of our own.Even our own self-perceived goodness is “filthy rags” in the sight of Almighty God (Isaiah 64:6).
We have zero righteousness of our own.Even our own self-perceived goodness is “filthy rags” in the sight of Almighty God (Isaiah 64:6).
The
very reason why God sent His Son to pay the price at Calvary for our sins is
because we cannot save ourselves. If there are any sins at all on our eternal
record, no amount of good can expunge them. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse
our sins away forever (1st John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 7:14).
Jonah
had a spirit of thanksgiving because he knew that salvation is based upon GOD’S
MERCY and not upon man’s own self-righteousness or any other “lying vanities.”
Salvation is of the Lord Jesus Christ.We just take it and say, “Thank you.”
