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PT 1
THY WORD IS TRUTH....
John 17:17"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."
Colossians 1:5"...because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you
heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,..."
THE GRACE OF GOD THAT DELIVERS US FROM:
The Judgment Of GOD That Is Upon Us As Lost Sinners!
All
have sinned. Sin Must Be FORGIVEN
"For the wages of sin is death.... (Romans 6:23)
GOD LOVES US * HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT
OUR LIVES*
*IN HIS GREAT LOVE HE HAS PROVIDED US*
THE SACRIFICE OF THE SON OF GOD* OUR SAVIOR*THAT DELIVERED US*
FROM
DEATH* AND PAID FOR* WITH HIS BLOOD*
*THE JUDGMENT FOR OUR SINS* (Romans 3:25; 5:9)
AND THE PENALTY* ETERNAL SEPARATION
FROM GOD*
*CALLED THE SECOND DEATH*
*HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD GUARANTEES US LIFE FROM ABOVE*
*AND ETERNITY
WITH HIM*
John 3:16*** Ephesians 2:8-9***
HOW DOES GOD SAVE US FROM JUDGMENT?
How does God save? In the Christian doctrine of salvation,
God has rescued us from judgment through Christ (John 3:17). Specifically, it was Jesus’ death on the cross and subsequent resurrection
that achieved our salvation (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 1:7). Scripture is clear that salvation is the gracious, undeserved gift of God
(Ephesians 2:5, 8) and is only available through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).
How do we receive salvation? We are saved by faith. First,
we must hear the gospel—the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Ephesians 1:13). Then, we must believe—fully trust the Lord Jesus (Romans 1:16). This involves repentance, a changing of mind about sin and Christ (Acts 3:19), and calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9-10, 13).
A definition of the Christian doctrine of salvation would be “The
deliverance, by the grace of God, from eternal punishment for sin which is granted to those who accept by faith God’s
conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.” Salvation is available in Jesus alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) and is dependent on God alone for provision, assurance, and security.
THE WAY
What is the way? What is the truth? What is the life? Jesus
answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior is the only WAY to
salvation. The message of the Bible is abundantly clear. We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23). Because of our sin, we deserve to be eternally separated from God (Romans 6:23). Because of His love for us (John 3:16), God took on human form and died in our place, taking the punishment that
we deserve (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). God promises forgiveness of sins
and eternal life in heaven to all who receive, by grace through faith, Jesus Christ as Savior (John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; Acts 16:31).
Salvation is not about certain steps we must follow to earn salvation.
Yes, Christians should be baptized. Yes, Christians should publicly confess Christ as Savior. Yes, Christians should turn
from sin BUT will sin, remainingin a sin nature all our lives (1 John 1:8-10; 1John 2:1-2). However these
are not STEPS to salvation.
Nor is the failure to be perfect in carrying out any
the loss of salvation! They are results of salvation. Because of our sin, we cannot in any sense earn salvation. We could
follow 1000 steps, and it would not be enough. That is why Jesus had to die in our place. We are absolutely incapable of paying
our sin debt to God or cleansing ourselves from sin. Only God could accomplish our salvation, and so He did. God Himself completed
the “steps” and thereby offers salvation to anyone who will receive it from Him.
Salvation and forgiveness ofsins is
not about following steps. It is about receiving Christ as Savior and recognizing that He has done all of the work for us.
God requires one step of us—receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and fully trusting in Him alone as the way of salvation.
That is what distinguishes the Christian faith from all other world religions, each of which has a list of steps that must
be followed in order for salvation to be received. The Christian faith recognizes that God has already completed the steps
and simply calls on us to receive Him in faith.
To Each Of You, ONLY GOD IS PERFECTLY FAITHFUL. THANK
GOD FOR JESUS!
To those who refuse to believe the Gospel of The Grace of
God through the Savior, by teaching or learning from false teachers that salvation is CONDITIONAL on OUR conduct AFTER we
are TRULY SAVED (Received the Holy Spirit) I ask this:
*Which of the millions of sins that man is guilty
of committing in a lifetime DID JESUS NOT DIE FOR? Which of your sins did His pure BLOOD NOT CLEAN in the eyes of His Father
when HE BLED TO DEATH ON THE CROSS AND SAID: "IT IS FINISHED"!
HAS GOD NOT PROVED THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS SON AND
HIS SON HAS FINISHED HIS SALVATION WORK?
You may not be faithful. In fact anything we do: NOT IN FAITH IS SIN!!! Which of these acts WILL THE BLOOD OF JESUS NOT COVER? GOD IS FAITHFUL TO THOSE
WHO LOVE HIM AND BELIEVE HIM. COUNT ON THAT!
Fence sitters, sinners who don't confess, teachers who lie
and walk around with head held high and all those who find fault with God and His free gift of Eternal Life in Christ Jesus
The Lord, EXAMINE YOURSELVES!
End Part 1
THE TRUTH
In the gospel, God, in His mercy, has provided a
remedy for all humans who are born with a sin nature and spiritually dead to God, a substitute for us—Jesus
Christ who is God The Son, SINLESS—who came to pay the penalty for ALL our sins by His
sacrifice on the cross. This is the essence of the gospel which Paul preached to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 15:2-4, he explains the three elements of the gospel—the death, burial and resurrection
of Christ on our behalf. Our old nature died with Christ on the cross and was buried with Him. Then we were resurrected with
Him to a new life (Romans 6:4-8). Paul tells us to “hold firmly” to this true gospel, the only
one which saves. Believing in any other gospel is to believe in vain. In Romans 1:16-17, Paul also declares that the true gospel is the “power of God for the
salvation of everyone who believes” by which he means that salvation is not achieved by man’s efforts, but by
the grace of God through the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
STIFF NECKED & PREACHING A FALSE GOSPEL
Mt.1:
21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt
call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
1 John 3:
5 "And ye know that he was manifested to take away
our sins; and in him is no sin."
They reject this truth of the still existing dead sin nature.
1 John 1:
7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is
in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
sin.
8 If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say
that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us
Their Gospel limits Christ's atonement for ALL our
sins claiming sins commited AFTER being "Born Again" can cause loss of Salvation Or that one was never saved
Speaking about the coming of the Holy Spirit after His departure
our Lord set forth one of the primary ministries that would be the work of God in us to the world at large:
John 16:8-11 (King James Version)
8 "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of
sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and
ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is
judged."
We are to be saved through the Gospel of the Grace of God,
by faith God gives, and upon belief, receive the Baptism by the Holy Spirit who indwells us until the day we are finally
redeemed from the presence of sin at the call of Jesus Christ well known to us as set forth in 1
Thess.4:13-17.
Now let me be clear. There are many who think of themselves
as having been saved, even earning degrees in "Christian" schools claiming they are "Pastors" and who are NOT
SAVED.
Why do I say that? And what does it have to do with the above
quoted scriptures? Even we need to think carefully about when we were saved and on what foundation did we stand to warrant
such a conclusion? For if we did not hear the correct Gospel and believed it, then
we never received the Holy Spirit baptism and are not saved.
8 "And when he is come, he will reprove
the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not
on me; "
What is it to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? It is to believe
that we are sinners, dead to God and separated unto judgment which is the "second death" after we die physically, causing our
spirit and souls to be separated from the presence of God forever.
That Jesus, who was Holy and without sin, died to rid us of
this judgment and it's consequence, and whose sacrifice on the cross paid for ALL our sins
until we are fully redeemed as His purchased possession at His call which concludes
the perfection of our salvation.
Salvation is not of works we do, but the free gift of
God through His Son. Works cannot save NOR do they keep one saved, or cause one to be lost after being saved.
Salvation is COMPLETE for the worst sinner in the world once they truly believe on Him. If one
who is saved dies without going through the rite of water baptism, they are fully saved. If one sins after being saved
and suddenly dies they too are saved.
IT IS HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT GOD
OUR FATHER SEES ON THAT CROSS AND NOT OUR SINS, AND IT IS HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT GOD SEES AFTER WE ARE SAVED. WE DIED
WITH CHRIST AND ROSE WITH HIM UNTO A LIFE FROM ABOVE LIVED ONLY THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE ARE STILL SINNERS REDEEMED
FROM JUDGMENT BY THE PERFECTION THAT IS IN CHRIST. WE STAND IN HIS SHOES AND ARE NOT GUILTY. THAT STATUS
IS PERMANENT.
"10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father,
and ye see me no more; "
TO BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS
NOTHING GOOD ABOUT US BEFORE GOD AND NOTHING GOOD AFTER EXCEPT BY FAITHFUL WORKS WE WORK THROUGH GOD THE SPIRIT. ANYONE WHO
DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED FOR ALL OUR SINS IS NOT SAVED ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL
I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. CHRIST IS SINLESS, AND WE ARE SAVED SINNERS WHO SIN.
So my beloved, these "teachers" who swear that there cannot
be sin in the lives of those who CHRIST stood up for and was nailed to a cross of shame for, have not been telling THE TRUTH.
And anyone who thinks they are saved according to this false gospel which is NO Gospel must
rethink their eternal security.
ARE WE STILL SINNERS? OR ARE WE "gods". Does God's grace shine on US daily through Christ and HE ALONE or have WE assumed the position
that we are sinless as He is sinless and perfect as He is perfect, and can STAND BEFORE
GOD THE FATHER IN OUR OWN RIGHT HAVING BECOME AS A god?
NO ONE IS PERFECTED BY THE DEATH OF JESUS, WHO SITS ABOVE
NOW, ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, PLEADING HIS BLOOD FOR OUR SINS! 1 John 1:8-10; 1 Cor.11:31-32;
32 "But when we are judged, we are chastened
of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world".
Heb.12:7
"If you endure chastening, God dealeth with
you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?"
IN CONCLUSION:
John 16:11 "Of judgment, because
the prince of this world is judged."
Beloved, we live by faith in Christ. We are not of this
world, who are all subjects of Satan, under judgment and in bondage to the
power OF DEATH, which Satan has OVER ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE NOT ON THE LORD JESUS BY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE
OF GOD!
This is the condition of the lost here on earth.
UNDER JUDGMENT, ETERNALLY LOST IF THEY DIE IN THIS SAME STATE OF DENIAL OF THE LORD.
Dear ones, do not be deceived. None of us are good for
anything to God unless we stand behind the righteous robes of Jesus and by faith move out into
the world in the power of the Holy Spirit with THE REAL GOSPEL MESSAGE THAT CHRIST DIED FOR ALL A SINNERS
SINS.
ONE SIN LEFT OUT MAKES HIS SACRIFICE
OF NO AVAIL AND THIS false Gospel PREACHED IS A HERESY THAT ONE MUST REJECT TO
BE BORN AGAIN IN HIM AND NOT UNDER JUDGMENT!
THE SINS OF A TRUE BELIEVER WERE ALL FORGIVEN ON THE
BLOODY CROSS OF CHRIST
John 17: 4 "I
have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."
John 19: 30 "When Jesus therefore had received the
vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
Beloved, anyone who preaches a tentative Gospel is denying God's
word and the completed ministry of Jesus Christ and therefore changing the Gospel truth making God a liar. (John 3:16; Eph.
2:8-9) This IS APOSTACY.
2 Pet.2:
1 "But there
were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."
Peter taught that it is essential that we must grow in
the knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is a life long process called "sanctification" and is accomplished by The Holy Spirit,
Christ in us.
2 Pet. 3:
18 "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
Jude spoke of apostates:
Jude
4 "For there
are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of
our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
Paul spoke as well.
2 Cor.11:
13 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel;
for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore
it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose
end shall be according to their works."
Acts 20:
29 "For I know this,
that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your
own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore
watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
2 Tim.3:
5 "Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this
sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning,
and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Gal.2:
4 "And that
because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that
they might bring us into bondage:"
We who are saved give all Glory to God's finished work of redemption
and work out our salvation in fear and trembling, always mindful that we are SAVED sinners who live out our NEW NATURE
BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US AND GIVEN TO US FREELY, and who hate the sin that so easily
besets us and seek to live to serve God by the Holy Spirit who is the power of our new nature within.
YES, either we believe and preach that all a sinners
sins are forgiven if they believe or, if we preach the loss of salvation by sin, we are convincing sinners to come to
Christ through heresy and not the truth! LET US EXAMINE OURSELVES AND THOSE AROUND US WHO PREACH A STRANGE GOSPEL.
THE LIFE
Because of the
Gospel, through the power of God, those who believe in Christ (Romans 10:9) are not just saved from hell. We are, in fact, given a completely new nature
(2 Corinthians 5:17) with a changed heart and a new desire, will, and attitude that are manifested
in good works. This is the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us by His power. Works are never the means of salvation, but
they are the proof of it (Ephesians 2:10). Those who are saved by the power of God will always show the evidence of
salvation by a changed life.
REPENTANCE
Many understand the term repentance to mean “turning
from sin.” This is not the biblical definition of repentance. In the Bible, the word repent means “to change one’s
mind.” The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions (Luke 3:8-14; Acts 3:19). Acts 26:20 declares, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove
their repentance by their deeds.” The full biblical definition of repentance is a change of mind that results in a change
of action.
What, then, is the connection between repentance and salvation? The Book of Acts seems to especially focus
on repentance in regards to salvation (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20). To repent, in relation to salvation, is to change your mind in regard to
Jesus Christ. In Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), he concludes with a call for the people to
repent (Acts 2:38). Repent from what? Peter is calling the people who rejected Jesus (Acts 2:36) to change their minds about Him, to recognize that He is indeed “Lord
and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Peter is calling the people to change their minds from rejection of Christ
as the Messiah to faith in Him as both Messiah and Savior.
Repentance and faith can be understood as “two sides
of the same coin.” It is impossible to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without first changing your mind
about who He is and what He has done. Whether it is repentance from willful rejection or repentance from ignorance or disinterest,
it is a change of mind. Biblical repentance, in relation to salvation, is changing your mind from rejection of Christ to faith
in Christ.
It is crucially important that we understand repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation. No one can
repent and come to God unless God pulls that person to Himself (John 6:44). Acts 5:31 and 11:18 indicate that repentance is something God gives—it is only possible because
of His grace. No one can repent unless God grants repentance. All of salvation, including repentance and faith, is a result
of God drawing us, opening our eyes, and changing our hearts. God's longsuffering leads us to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), as does His kindness (Romans 2:4).
While repentance is not a work that earns salvation, repentance unto
salvation does result in works. It is impossible to truly and fully change your mind without that causing a change in action.
In the Bible, repentance results in a change in behavior. That is why John the Baptist called people to “produce fruit
in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). A person who has truly repented from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ
will give evidence of a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:19-23; James 2:14-26). Repentance, properly defined, is necessary for salvation. Biblical repentance
is changing your mind about Jesus Christ and turning to God in faith for salvation (Acts 3:19). Turning from sin is not the definition of repentance, but it is one of the
results of genuine, faith-based repentance towards the Lord Jesus Christ.
Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith
plus works?
This is perhaps the most important question in all of Christian theology. This question is the cause
of the Reformation, the split between the Protestant churches and Catholic Church. This question is a key difference between
biblical Christianity and most of the “Christian” cults. Is
salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works? Am I saved just by believing in Jesus, or do I have to believe in Jesus
and do certain things?
The question of faith alone or faith plus works is made difficult by some hard-to-reconcile
Bible passages. Compare Romans 3:28, 5:1 and Galatians 3:24 with James 2:24. Some see a difference between Paul (salvation is by faith alone) and James
(salvation is by faith plus works). Paul dogmatically says that justification is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), while James appears to be saying that justification is by faith plus works.
This apparent problem is answered by examining what exactly James is talking about. James is refuting the belief that a person
can have faith without producing any good works (James 2:17-18). James is emphasizing the point that genuine faith in Christ will produce
a changed life and good works (James 2:20-26). James is not saying that justification is by faith plus works, but rather
that a person who is truly justified by faith will have good works in his/her life. If a person claims to be a believer, but
has no good works in his/her life, then he/she likely does not have genuine faith in Christ (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26).
Paul says the same thing in his writings. The good fruit believers
should have in their lives is listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Immediately after telling us that we are saved by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9), Paul informs us that we were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Paul expects just as much of a changed life as James does: “Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). James and Paul do not disagree in their teaching regarding
salvation. They approach the same subject from different perspectives. Paul simply emphasized that justification is by faith
alone while James put emphasis on the fact that genuine faith in Christ produces good works.
How can we have assurance of our
salvation?
How can we know for sure if we are saved? Consider 1 John 5:11-13: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things
to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Who is it that has
the Son? It is those who have believed in Him and accepted Him (John 1:12). If you have Jesus, you have life. Not temporary life, but eternal.
God wants us to have assurance of
our salvation. We cannot live our Christian lives wondering and worrying each day whether or not we are truly saved. That
is why the Bible makes the plan of salvation so clear. Believe in Jesus Christ and we ll be saved (John 3:16; Acts 16:31). Do you believe that Jesus is the Savior, that He died to pay the penalty
for your sins (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21)? Are we trusting Him alone for salvation? If our answer is yes, we
are saved! Assurance means “having been put beyond all doubt.” By taking God's Word to heart, we can “put
beyond all doubt” the fact and reality of our eternal salvation.
Jesus Himself affirms this regarding those who
have believed in Him: I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can
snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's
hand” (John 10:28-29).
Eternal
life is just that—eternal. There is no one, not even ourselves,
who can take Christ's God-given gift of salvation
We hide God's Word in our hearts so that
we do not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11), and this includes the sin of doubt. Take joy in what God's Word is saying
to you, that instead of doubting we can live with confidence! We can have the assurance from Christ's own Word that our salvation
will never be in question. Our assurance is based on God's love for us through Jesus Christ.
CAN A CHRISTIAN LOSE SALVATION?
“Christian”
must be defined. A “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer, or walked down an aisle, or been raised
in a Christian family, OR attends a certain "Church". While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience,
they are not what “makes” a Christian. A Christian is a person who has, by faith, received and fully trusted in
Jesus Christ as the only Savior (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9).
So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation?
Perhaps the best way to answer this crucially important question is to examine what the Bible says occurs at salvation, and
to study what losing salvation would therefore entail. Here are a few examples:
A Christian is a new creation. “Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This verse speaks of a person becoming an entirely new creature as a result
of being “in Christ.” For
a Christian to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be canceled and reversed.
A Christian is redeemed.
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way
of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect”
(1 Peter 1:18-19). The word “redeemed” refers to a purchase being made, a price
being paid. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself
would have to revoke His purchase that He paid for with the precious blood of Christ.
A Christian is justified.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
(Romans 5:1). To “justify” means to “declare righteous.” All those
who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He
had previously declared.
A Christian is promised eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave
his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Eternal life is a promise of eternity (forever) in heaven with God. God promises,
“Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be taken away. If a Christian is promised to live
forever, how then can God break this promise by taking away eternal life?
A Christian is guaranteed glorification.
“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified”
(Romans 8:30). As we learned in Romans 5:1, justification is declared at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification is guaranteed for all those whom God justifies. Glorification
refers to a Christian receiving a perfect resurrection body in heaven. If a Christian can lose salvation,
then Romans 8:30 is in error, because God could not guarantee glorification
for all those whom He predestines, calls, and justifies.
Many more illustrations of what occurs at salvation
could be shared. Even these few make it abundantly clear that a Christian cannot lose salvation. Most, if not all, of what
the Bible says happens to us when we receive Jesus Christ as Savior would be invalidated if salvation could be lost. Salvation
cannot be reversed. A Christian cannot be un-newly created. Redemption cannot be undone. Eternal life cannot be lost and still be considered eternal. If a Christian can lose salvation, God would
have to go back on His Word and change His mind—two things that Scripture tells us God never does.
The
most frequent objections to the belief that a Christian cannot lose salvation are 1) What about those who are Christians and
continually live an immoral lifestyle? 2) What about those who are Christians but later reject the faith and deny Christ?
The problem with these two objections is the phrase “who are Christians.” The Bible declares
that a true Christian will not live a continually immoral lifestyle (1 John 3:6). The Bible declares that anyone who departs the faith is demonstrating
that he never truly was a Christian (1 John 2:19). Therefore, neither objection is valid. Christians do
not continually live immoral lifestyles, nor do they reject the faith and deny Christ. Such actions are proof that they were
never redeemed.
No, a Christian cannot lose salvation. Nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love
(Romans 8:38-39). Nothing can remove a Christian from God’s hand (John 10:28-29). God is both willing and able to guarantee and maintain the salvation He has
given us. Jude 24-25, “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and
to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty,
power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
SAVED BUT STILL CARNAL
Why is it, after we are saved, after we believe the gospel,
we can SIN and live in the deadness of our old nature? Saint
Paul provides ample proof of the reality of our powerlessness to live the new life even after we are "born again".
EVEN AFTER WE HAVE RECEIVED THE
HOLY SPIRIT!
AFTER WE ARE A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST JESUS!
DEAD TO OUR OLD SELF
RISEN WITH HIM BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
ALL THINGS NEW
BORN AGAIN BY SPIRIT AND THE WORD
Romans 7 (King James Version)
15 "For that
which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me;
but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity
to the law of sin which is in my members.
24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with
the flesh the law of sin."
Paul goes on to distinguish between the two
natures of a believer: the old carnal nature and the new spiritual nature through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8
1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to
them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For
what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That
the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For
they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For
to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because
the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8So
then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9But
ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And
if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But
if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken
your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore,
brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For
if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the
sons of God"
If such a giant as Paul could suffer the misery of his old
nature, in conflict with his new life, after he personally saw and spoke with the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus,
we need to take stock of ourselves and our walk in this world. And like
Paul we need to cry out to our God to make our high calling in Christ Jesus a daily reality and redeem the life we were given
to serve Him.
AND there is more. Do you think GOD can use you more if you
do your exercise every day? Eat the right foods? Get the right amount of sleep? BE STRONG LIKE SAMSON! HAVE NO PHYSICAL OR
MENTAL PROBLEMS? BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR CLASS?
2 Corinthians 12:6-10
6 "For though
I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of
me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to
me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should
be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that
the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions,
in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
We who are in Christ, living by faith and richly blessed by
God's grace, undeserved, are most blessed of all people on earth.
God looks after us always and His will can be done in
our life, when we are in His Spirit, and not our lost nature.
Is there any better guaranty of our eternal security
then Jesus? God forbid.
And though your life will change dramatically when you
are in The Spirit, directed by God, you will find out that God's will brings you a new and real life that is amazing grace.
The costs will seem trite compared to the untold riches found in Jesus now and forever.
DON'T BE TROUBLED. IF YOU ARE TRULY SAVED
GOD WILL GET YOU THROUGH IT ALL AND YOU WILL BE GREATLY BLESSED.
John 17:9-17
9 "I pray for
them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through
thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and
none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in
themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as
I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the
evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
And you too, like Paul, will testify, that what you lost for
Jesus is your gain, and what you had before is like filthy rags and dung compared to your riches in Christ Jesus The Lord.
WHEN WE SIN
What we are to do is confess our sins: “If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). What this verse tells us to do is “confess” our sins to God.
The word “confess” means “to agree with.” When we confess our sins to God, we are agreeing with God
that we were wrong, that we have sinned. God forgives us, through confession, on an ongoing basis because of the fact that
He is “faithful and just.” How is God “faithful and just”? He is faithful by forgiving sins, which
He has promised to do for all those who receive Christ as Savior. He is just by applying Christ’s payment for our sins,
recognizing that the sins have indeed been atoned for.
At the same time, 1 John 1:9 does indicate that somehow forgiveness is dependent on our confessing our sins
to God. How does this work if all of our sins are forgiven the moment we receive Christ as Savior? It seems that what the
apostle John is describing here is “relational” forgiveness.
All of our sins are forgiven “positionally” the moment we receive Christ as Savior.
This positional forgiveness guarantees our salvation and promise of an eternal home in heaven. When we stand before God after
death, God will not deny us entrance into heaven because of our sins. That is positional forgiveness.
The concept of relational forgiveness is based on the fact that when we sin, we offend God and grieve His Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). While God has ultimately forgiven us of the sins we commit, they still result
in a blocking or hindrance in our relationship with God. A young boy who sins against his father is not cast out of the family.
A godly father will forgive his children unconditionally. At the same time, a good relationship between father and son cannot
be achieved until the relationship is restored. This can only occur when a child confesses his mistakes to his father and
apologizes. That is why we confess our sins to God—not to maintain our salvation, but to
bring ourselves back into close fellowship with the God who loves us and has already forgiven us.
Do we need to confess our sins to those
we have sinned against?
We know we are to confess our sins to God, but many Christians wonder whether we need
to confess to those we have sinned against. Do we need to tell the person we’ve sinned against that we’re sorry?
“Walking in the light” (1 John 1:7) means that we are living in obedience to God’s commandments. In the
same verse we have references to forgiveness through Christ and “fellowship one with another.” So, there is a
connection between having a “clean slate” and our relationship with other people.
Every sin is ultimately
committed against God (Psalm 51:4). The Bible consistently emphasizes our need to confess our sins to Him (Psalm 41:4; 130:4; Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9). As for the confession of our sins to people, the Bible gives no blanket command.
We are told many times to confess our sins to the Lord, but the only direct command to confess to someone else is in the context
of church elders praying on behalf of the sick (James 5:16).
This does not mean that we are never to seek another person’s
forgiveness. The Bible gives examples of confession to other people. One is Joseph’s brothers asking for his forgiveness
in Genesis 50:17-18. And person-to-person confession is implied in such passages as Luke 17:3-4; Ephesians 4:32; and Colossians 3:13.
The principles here seem to be 1) We should seek
forgiveness from the Lord for every sin. DIRECTLY! “truth in the inward parts”
(Psalm 51:6). IN JESUS NAME.
2) If our relationship with the Lord is right, our relationships
with other people will fall in line. We will treat others graciously, with justice and honesty (Psalm 15). To sin against
someone and not attempt to make it right would be unthinkable. 3) The extent of the apology for a sin should match the extent
of the impact of the sin. Or we should seek forgiveness from whoever was directly involved in order to ensure healing.
For
example, if a man looks with lust at a woman, he should immediately confess the sin to the Lord. It would not be needed or
appropriate to confess that sin to the woman. That sin is between the man and the Lord. However, if a man breaks a promise,
or does something that directly impacts the woman, he must confess to her and seek her forgiveness. If a sin involves a large
number of people, such as a church, a man or woman must then extend the confession to the members of the church. So the confession
and apology should match the impact. Those impacted by the sin should hear the confession.
While our forgiveness with
God is not dependent on our confessing our sins to others and/or their forgiving us, God does call us to be honest and forthcoming
with others regarding our failings, especially when it involves them. When we have offended, hurt, or sinned against others,
we should seek to offer a sincere apology and confession and ask for forgiveness. Whether the forgiveness is granted is up
to those who were confessed to. Our responsibility is to genuinely repent, confess the sin, and ask for forgiveness.
IN SIN BUT SAVED: IN SIN AND UNSAVED
This is a question that has been debated endlessly over the
years. The word “backslider” or “backsliding” does not appear in the New Testament and is used in
the Old Testament primarily of Israel. The Jews, though they were God’s chosen people, continually turned their backs
on Him and rebelled against His Word (Jeremiah 8:9). That is why they were forced to make sacrifices for sin over and over in
order to restore their relationship with the God they had offended. The Christian, however, has availed himself of the perfect,
once-and-for-all sacrifice of Christ and needs no further sacrifice for his sin. God himself has obtained our salvation for
us (2 Corinthians 5:21) and because we are saved by Him, a true Christian cannot fall away so as not
to return.
Christians do sin (1 John 1:8), but the Christian life is not to be identified by a life of sin. Believers
are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We have the Holy Spirit in us producing good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). A Christian life should be a changed life. Christians are forgiven no matter
how many times they sin, but at the same time Christians should live a progressively more holy life as they grow closer to
Christ. We should have serious doubts about a person who claims to be a believer yet lives a life that says otherwise. Yes,
a true Christian who falls back into sin is still saved, but at the same time a person who lives a life controlled by sin
is not truly a Christian.
What about a person who denies Christ? The Bible tells us that if a person denies Christ,
he never truly knew Christ to begin with. 1 John 2:19 declares, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us.
For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”
A person who rejects Christ and turns his back on faith is demonstrating that he never belonged to Christ. Those who belong
to Christ remain with Christ. Those who renounce their faith never had it to begin with. 2 Timothy 2:11-13, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live
with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will
remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
ETERNAL SECURITY
Is eternal security Biblical?
When people come to know
Christ as their Savior, they are brought into a relationship with God that guarantees their eternal security. Jude 24 declares, "To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before
His glorious presence without fault and with great joy." God's power is able to keep the believer from falling. It is up to
Him, not us, to present us before His glorious presence. Our eternal security is a result of God keeping us, not us maintaining
our own salvation.
The Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one
can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my
Father's hand" (John 10:28-29). Both Jesus
and the Father have us firmly grasped in their hand. Who could possibly separate us from the grip of both the Father and the
Son?
Ephesians 4:30 tells us that believers are "sealed for the day of redemption."
If believers did not have eternal security, the sealing could not truly be unto the day of redemption, but only to the day
of sinning, apostasy, or disbelief. John 3:15-16 tells us that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will "have
eternal life." If a person were to be promised eternal life, but then have it taken away, it was never "eternal" to
begin with. If eternal
security is not true, the promises of eternal life in the Bible would be in error.
The most powerful argument
for eternal security is Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Our eternal security
is based on God's love for those whom He has redeemed. Our eternal security is purchased by Christ,
promised by the Father, and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
THE REALITY OF CHRISTIAN LIVING IN LIGHT OF
HIS COMING
The fact that the glorified Son of God could step through the
door of heaven at any moment AND CALL US HOME is intended by God to be the most glorious, constant motivation for
holy living and aggressive ministry (including missions, evangelism and Bible teaching). It should be the greatest
cure for lethargy and apathy as well as CONDUCT UNBECOMING A SAINT and make a major difference in
every Christian's values, actions, priorities and goals.
As John writes in:
1 John 3:
2 "Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall
be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
God sees us as an artist sees a blank canvas. The image of the
art already appears finished in the eyes of the great artist. Well God sees us as we will be one day. Aren't we
blessed to know that what you and I are now is nothing compared to His Glory we will have when He calls us Home !
We shall be as He is...Like Him!!!
If you believe that Jesus is coming and that someday you are
going to be like Him, this will motivate us to live a faithful and pure life down here.
Our Rapture hope is said to
urge a watchfulness for Christ Himself (Mt.25:13);
13 "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man
cometh."
To encourage faithfulness in church leaders
2 Tim. 4:
1 "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the
dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears;
4
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."
8 "Henceforth there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only,
but unto all them also that love his appearing."
Are we keeping THE faith? Our lives are a trust from God. We
are beneficiaries of eternal rewards if we are true to our calling here. But, my beloved, we must keep the great doctrines
of our Christian faith and the truths of His word.
The daily expectation of the coming of the Lord encourages patient
waiting.
1 Thess.1:
10 "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom
he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."
Are we busy in The Work? To wait does not mean to be idle
or cocky. We must be about His business and in this there is a patient hope giving out the word of God. "...Even
so, Come Lord Jesus" (Rev.22:20).
In being in The Spirit and doing The Work we will be in a
state of calm expectation and watching and waiting for His coming.
Philippians 3:
20
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:"
Titus 2:
13
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;"
Heb.9:
28
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvation."
We will exhibit Godly moderation.
Philippians 4:
5
"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand."
Heavenly Mindedness.
Colossians 3:
1 "
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set
your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For
ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When
Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
To Bring Forth Successful Labor and Experience Comfort.
1 Thessalonians 2:
19
"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his
coming?
20 For
ye are our glory and joy."
Comfort.
1 Thessalonians 4:
18
"Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
Encourage steadfastness.
2 Thessalonians 2:
1 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That
ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of
Christ is at hand."
1 Peter 5:
4
"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."
To infuse diligence and activity.
2 Timothy 4
1
"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing
and his kingdom;
2 Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears;
4 And
they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But
watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
6 For
I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not
to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
To promote mortification
of the flesh.
Colossians 3:
4
"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify
therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
which is idolatry:"
Titus 2:
12 "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should
live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior
Jesus Christ;"
To require soberness.
1 Thessalonians 5:
6 "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."
1 Peter 1:
13
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"
To contribute to an abiding in Christ.
1 John 2:
28 "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear,
we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."
To support patience under trial.
James 5:
7 "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman
waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."
To enforce obedience.
2 Timothy 4:
1 "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the
quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;"
The pretribulation Rapture is not
wishful thinking. It is vitally connected to Christian living in the here-and-now. No wonder the early church
coined a unique greeting of "Maranatha!" which reflected the primacy of that Blessed
Hope as a very real presence in their everyday lives. Maranatha literally means "our Lord come!"
(1 Cor. 16:22).
FALSE TEACHERS REVEALED
Jesus warned us that “false Christs and false
prophets” will come and will attempt to deceive even God’s elect (Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18). The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers is to
know the truth. To spot a counterfeit, study the real thing. Any believer who “correctly handles the word of truth”
(2 Timothy 2:15) and who makes a careful study of the Bible can identify false doctrine. For
example, a believer who has read the activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:16-17 will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity. Therefore,
step one is to study the Bible and judge all teaching by what the Scripture says.
Jesus said “a tree is recognized
by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). When looking for “fruit,” here are three specific tests to apply
to any teacher to determine the accuracy of his or her teaching:
1) What does this teacher say about Jesus? In Matthew 16:15-16, Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are
the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and for this answer Peter is called “blessed.” In 2 John 9, we read, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching
of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” In other words, Jesus
Christ and His work of redemption is of utmost importance; beware of anyone who denies that Jesus is equal with God, who downplays Jesus’ sacrificial death, or who rejects Jesus’ humanity. First John 2:22 says, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.”
2) Does this teacher preach the gospel?
The gospel is defined as the good news concerning Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, according to the Scriptures
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4). As nice as they sound, the statements “God loves you,” “God
wants us to feed the hungry,” and “God wants you to be wealthy” are not the complete message of the gospel.
As Paul warns in Galatians 1:7, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying
to pervert the gospel of Christ.” No one, not even a great preacher, has the right to change the message that God gave
us. “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally
condemned!” (Galatians 1:9).
3) Does this teacher exhibit character
qualities that glorify the Lord? Speaking of false teachers, Jude 11 says, “They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into
Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” In other words, a false teacher can be known
by his pride (Cain’s rejection of God’s plan), greed (Balaam’s prophesying for money), and rebellion (Korah’s
promotion of himself over Moses). Jesus said to beware of such people and that we would know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).
4) *A false teacher will ADD our works,
either before OR AFTER one confesses Christ as Savior from their sins, to the saving faith God provides. In fact they will
NOT accept that Christ has delivered us from ALL OUR SINS but contend that WE must be SIN FREE in our lives for salvation
to vest in us with an additional heresy that God will withdraw His completed work in us IF WE SIN SINS OF ANY KIND OR CERTAIN
ONES DELINIATED BY THEM. One need only look at Catholic teachings for an institutional version of this which we find in many false teachers not associated with this religion.
For further study, review those books of the Bible that were
written specifically to combat false teaching within the church: Galatians, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, and Jude. It is often
difficult to spot a false teacher/false prophet. Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15). Only by being thoroughly familiar with the truth will we be able to recognize
a counterfeit.
APOSTASY
Apostasy, from the Greek word being apostasia, means
a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith. In the first century world,
apostasy was a technical term for political revolt or defection. And just like in the first century, apostasy threatens the
Body of Christ today.
With respect to apostasy, it is critical that all Christians
understand two important things: (1) How to recognize apostasy and apostate teachers; (2) Why apostate teaching is so deadly.
MOST TELLING IS THE "TEACHER" WHO ADDS ANY HUMAN ACT TO GAIN
SALVATION OR TO KEEP IT.
The Forms of Apostasy
To fully identify and combat apostasy,
it is important that Christians understand its various forms and the traits that categorize its doctrines and teachers. As
to the forms of apostasy, there are two main types: (1) A falling away from key and true doctrines of the Bible into heretical
teachings that proclaim to be ‘the real’ Christian doctrine; (2) A complete renunciation of the Christian faith,
which results in a full abandonment of Christ. HERESY becomes a heretical teaching that splinters and grows until
it pollutes all aspects of a person’s faith and then the full end goal of Satan is accomplished, which is a complete
falling away from Christianity.
The dangers of apostasy were warned about in the book of Jude, which serves as a handbook
for understanding the characteristics of apostates like those chronicled in Dennett and LaScola’s study. Jude’s
words are every bit as relevant for us today as they were when he penned them in the first century, so it is important we
carefully read and understand them.
The Characteristics of Apostasy and Apostates
Jude was the half-brother
of Jesus and a leader in the early Church. In his New Testament letter, he outlines how to recognize apostasy and strongly
urges those in the body of Christ to contend earnestly for the faith (vs. 3). The Greek word translated “contend earnestly”
is a compound verb from where we get the word “agonize.” It is in the present infinitive form, which means that
the struggle will be continuous. In other words, Jude is telling us that there will be a constant fight against false teaching
and that Christians should take it so seriously that we “agonize” over the fight in which we are engaged. Moreover,
Jude makes it clear that every Christian is called to this fight, not just the local body’s leaders, so it is critical
that all believers sharpen their discernment skills so that they can recognize and prevent apostasy in their midst.
After
urging his readers to contend earnestly for the faith, Jude then highlights the reason: “For certain persons have crept
in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God
into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (vs. 4). In this one verse, Jude provides Christians
with three traits of apostasy and apostate teachers.
First, Jude says that apostasy can be subtle. Jude uses the word
“crept” (found in no other book of the Bible) to describe the apostate’s entry into the church. In extra-biblical
Greek the term describes the cunning craftiness of a lawyer who, through clever argumentation, infiltrated the minds of courtroom
officials and corrupted their thinking. The word literally means slip in sideways; come in stealthily; sneak in; hard to detect.
In other words, Jude says it is rare that apostasy begins in an overt and easily detectable manner. Instead, it looks a lot
like Arius’ preaching and, for example, in a seemingly dismissive and nonchalant manner says that only a single letter
differentiates its doctrine and the real teaching of the Christian faith.
A GOOD EXAMPLE IS: HAS GOD COMMANDED REPENTANCE TO ALL AND
IF HE HAS THEN SINS FOLLOWING SALVATION RIGHTLY DEMONSTRATE A LOSS OF SALVATION. (THIS IS THE SWEET POISON OF "CONDITIONAL
" REDEMPTION IN CHRIST WHICH IS TOTALLY HERETICAL AND OF THE DEVIL).
Describing this aspect of apostasy and its underlying danger,
A. W. Tozer wrote: "So skilled is error at imitating truth, that the two are constantly being mistaken for each another. It
takes a sharp eye these days to know which brother is Cain and which is Abel." The Apostle Paul also speaks to the outwardly
pleasing behavior of apostates and their teaching when he says, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising
themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). In other words, do not look for apostates to appear bad on the outside or
speak dramatic words of heresy at the outset of their teaching. Rather than denying truth outright, apostates will twist it
to fit their own agenda.
Second, Jude describes the apostates as “ungodly”
and those who use God’s grace as a license to commit unrighteous acts. Beginning with “ungodly,” throughout
his letter Jude describes eighteen unflattering traits of apostates so his readers can more easily identify them. Jude says
the apostates are ungodly (vs. 4), morally perverted (vs. 4), denying Christ (vs. 4), ones who defile the flesh (vs. 8), rebellious
(vs. 8), people who revile angels (vs. 8), who are ignorant about God (vs. 8), those who proclaim false visions (vs. 10),
self-destructive (vs. 10), grumblers (vs. 16), fault finders (vs. 16), self-satisfying (vs. 16), people who use arrogant words
and false flattery (vs. 16), mockers of God (vs. 18), those who cause divisions (vs. 19), worldly minded (vs. 19), and finally
(and not surprisingly), devoid of the Spirit/unsaved (vs. 19).
Third, Jude says apostates “deny our only Master
and Lord, Jesus Christ.” How do apostates do this? Paul tells us in his letter to Titus: "To the pure, all things are
pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any
good deed" (Titus 1:15-16, emphasis added). Through their unrighteous behavior, the apostates show their
true selves. Unlike an apostate, one who is a true believer is someone who has been delivered from sin to righteousness in
Christ. With Paul, they ask the apostates who promote licentious behavior: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue
in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)
But the apostates’ false teaching also shows their true nature.
Peter says: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who
will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves”
(2 Peter 2:1). Another aspect of true believers is that they have been delivered out of
spiritual darkness into light (Ephesians 5:8) and therefore will not deny core truths of Scripture like the divinity
of Jesus AND HIS COMPLETED WORK OF SALVATION FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE ON HIM BY FAITH THROUGH GRACE!
“They went
out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out,
so that it would be shown that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19).
Ideas Have Consequences
That God takes apostasy and false teaching seriously is evidenced
by the fact that every New Testament book except Philemon contains warnings about false teaching. Why is this? Simply because
ideas have consequences.
It should be remembered that Satan did not come at the first couple
in the Garden with an external armament or supernatural weapon, but instead he came at them with an idea. And it was that
idea that condemned them and the rest of humankind, with the only remedy being the sacrificial death of God’s Son.
The
great tragedy is, whether knowingly or unknowingly, the apostate teacher dooms his unsuspecting followers. One of the most
frightening verses in all of Scripture comes from the lips of Jesus. Speaking to His disciples about the religious leaders
of His day, He said: “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both
will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14, emphasis added). This verse is alarming because Jesus affirms that it is not
only the false teachers that go to destruction, but their disciples also follow them. Christian philosopher Soren Kierkegaard
put it this way: “For it has never yet been known to fail that one fool, when he goes astray, takes several others with
him.”
Conclusion
Sadly, until Christ returns and every last spiritual enemy has been removed, tares
such as these will be present among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). In fact, Scripture says apostasy will only get worse as Christ’s return
approaches. “At that time [the latter days] many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another”
(Matthew 24:10). Paul echoes Jesus in his inspired writings as well. The Apostle told the
Thessalonians that a great falling away would precede Christ’s second coming (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and that the end times would be characterized by tribulation and hollow religious charlatans: “But
realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be . . . holding to a form of godliness, although
they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these” (2 Timothy 3:1-2, 5).
This being true, it is critical, now more than ever, that every believer
pray for discernment, combat apostasy, and contend earnestly for the faith that has once and for all been delivered to the
saints.
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