Abiding

3 False Assumptions about Eternal Security/Once Saved Always Saved [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

Most who believe OSAS/eternal security are not honestly seeking to apprehend and embrace the truth, they’re looking to justify a mere cliché which actually, blatantly contradicts what’s in black and white in the Bible, God’s Word.

Is salvation a “one and done”?

Recently, a firestorm erupted and continued for days on end, around the clock, when I made a brief statement on social media concerning the teaching of Jesus and His apostles concerning the necessity of abiding, continuing in Christ, and enduring to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Luke 21:19; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-39; Revelation 2-3, etc.).

Also recently, a meme was posted containing who Jesus’ disciples are in Him, our salvation. These points were stated from an eternal security/OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved) perspective. Of the list of 20 benefits of being “in Christ,” the list contained 3 popular heresies or points that needed clarification. Here they are in the exact wording of the meme:

1. “You Possess Eternal Life”

Yes when Jesus saves a person, they presently possess eternal life (John 6:47). The error though is to teach against Holy Scripture by saying that the now saved person cannot ever lose his place with God. There is heresy. Never mind the un-scriptural clichés, it’s simply not biblical.

Here’s yet another Bible verse intentionally taken out of context and misconstrued by eternal securists:

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” Hebrews 5:9

“Eternal salvation” is promised “unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:9) Initial and ongoing “obedience to the faith” is required to be in eternal glory with Christ (Romans 1:5). Though eternal life is eternal, the possession of it is not necessarily eternal, is not un-forfeitable. Such can and will be lost if the recipient does not continue, does not abide (remain) in Christ to the end of his life on earth (Luke 8:13; Matthew 25:1-13, etc.). Jesus and His holy apostles taught that after initial salvation, enduring to the end of one’s life is essential to final salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 25:1-13; Colossians 1:22-23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Revelation 2:26; 3:5, etc.).

OSAS/eternal security wolves teach a no-personal-responsibility, antinomian, law-less doctrine of “lasciviousness”, just as Jude warned us (Jude 4). “lasciviousness” = license to live in sin.

Seems to me that in “grace” circles grace itself is deified instead of the One who alone granted that grace?

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17

Our identity, our salvation is first and foremost in CHRIST JESUS Himself and not in the grace He brought and provided via His death on the cross! First things first! Keeping the main thing the main thing! (1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Hebrews 2:9)

Profile of the typical eternal securist: They want no part of personal responsibility to literally obey God’s Word (Matthew 7:21; 1 John 2:4, etc.).

OSAS people are those who want the guarantee that they are going to Heaven no matter how they live on earth. Jesus gave no such guarantee. This is the band of moral cowards who refuse any real accountability or personal responsibility. They force a lie on God’s Word, manipulating it, taking it out of context to say that they are “eternally secure” without following, worshiping, remaining in fellowship with, and obeying Jesus ON HIS STATED TERMS to the end of their life on earth. These are the vilest of snakes in the church world today of which Jude specifically warned us about (Jude 4). BEWARE.

IS Salvation ETERNAL?

2. “You are forgiven of all your sins”

Yes, initially and yet, many falsely teach that all past, present, and future sins of the initially saved person are automatically forgiven. That would mean that the now saved person has no personal responsibility to continue with Christ, to abide in Christ, to obey Christ, and to endure to the end. That’s an absolute heresy which has damned the souls of many.

According to Holy Scripture, present and future sins are forgiven as the believer confesses them, acknowledges, and approaches the throne of God’s grace where Jesus sits on the right hand of the Father making intercession for His saints (Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:24-26; 1 John 1:6-2:2).

There is no “one and done” in Christ’s kingdom! Receiving salvation initially is where our walk with Him begins and yet it’s a lifelong relationship, experience, and not a one-time event. It’s the false teachers who peddle OSAS and paint that “one and done” picture. these wolves are guilty of the damnation of many (2 Peter 2:1-3). They teach people to play upon, to abuse, to presume upon the good grace of god, “ungodly men” who are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (license to sin).“ (Romans 6:1-2; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16; Jude 4).

Any person who’s been saved and continues in sin, will forfeit the saving grace of Christ until and only if he repents – before it’s too late. Paul asks this very question and answers it in profound fashion:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2

Sin separates men from God – regardless of their past place with Him. There was no sin when God made man. There was perfect relationship between God and Adam/Eve until SATAN told them they would not be separated from God if they sinned against Him (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).

The wages of sin is still death – separation from He who is “Holy, holy, holy” and any person who tells you differently than God has told us, is absolutely an agent of Satan (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 6:23; Revelation 4:8).

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Hebrews 12:14-17

Jesus came and died for the purpose of providing His grace to free, to deliver His beloved people from “ALL iniquity” and not just some iniquity (Titus 2:11-14).

God is always able and desires to deliver and will do so as we submit to HIS terms, HIS will, HIS Word.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Honest people who’ve been poisoned by wolves with the OSAS teaching, when they read God’s Word for themselves, will see this heresy for what it is – a doctrine of devils (Luke 8:13, 15; 1 Timothy 4:1-2).

The eternal securist, and the calvinist migrate to these flesh-flattering lies because he wants an excuse to dismiss his sin instead of dealing with it the only way God’s Word prescribes – through the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.).

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

The forgiveness of present and future sins is contingent upon the abiding walk of the once saved person. He must remain in Christ to continue to receive divine forgiveness.

Romans speaks specifically of the “sins that are past” and not present and future sins. God had all the opportunity in the world to use the words “past, present, and future” here and He didn’t.

“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;” Romans 3:25

Present and future sins are forgiven as the divinely stated conditions of repentance and confession of sin are adhered to.

“IF”

“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.” 1 John 1:7

“IF we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house we are, IF WE HOLD FAST THE CONFIDENCE and the rejoicing of the hope FIRM UNTO THE END.” Hebrews 3:6

“For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence (obedient faith) stedfast UNTO THE END.” Hebrews 3:14

“And you…hath he reconciled (saved)…to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: IF you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…” Colossians 1:21-23

We see here in Colossians 1 that it is possible for those who have been “reconciled” to be “moved away” from eternal life, which is “the hope of the gospel.”

The eternal securist is willingly indoctrinated and intentionally, deceitfully selective in the way he interprets Scripture. Beware.

In Romans 11 Paul warned non-Jewish believers to take heed to what God did to His own covenant people who rebelled against Him:

“Be not highminded, but FEAR: For IF God spared not the natural branches (Israel), take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold (take hold of) therefore the goodness AND severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, IF THOU CONTINUE in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be CUT OFF.” Romans 11:20-22

“For IF after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are AGAIN entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:20-22

The eternal securists are dishonest and therefore love the “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” promise yet act like “if we deny him, he also will deny us” isn’t in the Bible (Hebrews 13:5; 2 Timothy 2:12). Eternal securists hate conditions because they wish to live as they wish and still vainly believe they are saved and going to Heaven, no matter what.

“IF” AND “AGAIN”: Death Nails to OSAS/Eternal Security

3. “You are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption”

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto (not until) the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

The eternal security deception, as usual is heresy, biblical truth that is twisted by Satan and his human agents. Notice that they use the word “until” but the Bible used the word “unto.” “Unto” denotes what Scripture consistently conveys – that born again believers are saved, are being saved, and will finally be saved – AS they “abide” to the end with and in Christ on HIS terms:

The Greek word for “unto” in Ephesians 4:30 and its definition is interesting, and telling:

A primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.) concerning, + continual, to the intent that, perish, throughout, till, to (be, the end, -ward), expressing motion

Eternal securists are famous for ignoring boat loads of Holy Scripture. This is moral cowardice.

“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:6

WHAT’S BEHIND THE BELIEF IN OSAS? OSAS is for weak, moral cowards who refuse to truly repent, lay down their life in this sinful world, take up the cross, and follow Jesus for real. Hell awaits (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

When you expose the lie of OSAS, those who hide behind this heresy for a security blanket become highly enraged. The demons behind this teaching now possess them and become hyper-indignant (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

Eternal securists are intentionally dishonest with Holy Writ. Yes they will ignore and don’t even care to know the words of Jesus above and yet, they hold to the words of Jesus in John 10, just 5 chapters earlier. They take this John 10:28-29 promise out of its context by ignoring verse 27 which is the condition Jesus gives, the qualifier. Notice:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29

Notice that Jesus first qualifies who this promise (vv. 28-29) applies to – “My sheep” and what do His sheep presently do? They “hear my voice (present tense), and I know them, and they follow me.”

The Twisting of John 10:28-29 by Eternal Securists

The eternal securist simply does not want to truly obey Jesus by denying the self-life, living a crucified life in this sinful world, and therefore rejects the biblical truth of a conditional, not unconditional, eternal security.

Believing the heresy of eternal security/OSAS is your ticket to being lukewarm and rejected by Christ (Revelation 3:15-16).

Enduring to the end of one’s life is essential to final salvation into glory. To say otherwise is to call the Son of God and His apostles liars and false teachers (Matthew 10:22; 24:13, etc.). An Explosive Look at what “Sealed” means and what it does not mean.

Lie of the Ages [book]

STORE

10 Questions about Eternal Security

If a once truly born again believer can’t possibly go back to sin and go to hell, explain: 1. Where did God say any man ever loses his free will on this earth? (Joshua 24:15) 2. Where did God say that those He saves cannot ever go back to sin? 3. How and why are the wages of sin no longer death? (Romans 6:23) 4. Why did God separate Adam and Eve from Himself when they sinned and yet now somehow changed and keeps rebels, violators, unrepentant sinners in His kingdom? (Genesis 3:24; Malachi 3:6) 5. Explain why God is […]

The Damning Myth of Unconditional Eternal Security! [podcast]

HELL Awaits! SO YOU THINK YOU ARE ETERNALLY SECURE? WHO TOLD YOU THAT LIE? NOT GOD! IT SIMPLY DOESN’T MATTER HOW POPULAR A PREACHER IS – IF HE’S TEACHING SATAN’S FIRST LIE THAT CAUSED THE FALL OF THE HUMAN RACE – OSAS/ETERNAL SECURITY – HE’S A FALSE TEACHER, AN AGENT OF SATAN (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). OF COURSE he’s popular – he’s not preaching the cross but rather excuses for sin against a Holy God! RUN from that devil! You will be safe and eternally secure when you get to Heaven, not before. ARE YOU enduring sound doctrine today or walking […]

Accounted Worthy to Escape [podcast]

TODAY: A dear brother in Christ just contacted me. He continues to listen to this message in order to stir up the holy fear of God and fervency for the things of our soon coming KING in his life, in order to remain “ready” and not lose out on all (Luke 12:40; 21:34-36; Revelation 3:11, etc.). TODAY, the body of Christ, the beloved of God, can lift up our heads to the LORD in fervent expectation of the glorious appearing of the Son of God. Redemption is closer than it’s ever been, today. Jesus is coming! This is all going […]

Abiding

The Death before the Death [podcast]

Gethsemane Preceded Calvary

“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:42-44

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25

Shall We Freshly Declare the Cross to be Front and Center in our Personal Lives?

“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.” Galatians 2:20

5 Aspects of the Mind of Christ [podcast]

5 Components of the Mind of Christ from Philippians 2 Jesus Christ made Himself of no reputation. He took upon Him the form of a servant. He was made in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:2-10 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but […]

The Cross and the Throne of Grace [podcast]

“Hid with Christ in God” “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.” Colossians 3:1-4 The safest place in the universe is in the cross of Christ: “your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Our place of protection is […]

Raised Up in Christ [podcast]

3 Resurrections to Celebrate 1. Christ’s resurrection (Matthew 27:64; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, etc.). 2. Your resurrection at the moment of regeneration and daily resurrection (Romans 1:4; 4:25; 6:3-14; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Ephesians 2:6). 3. Final resurrection into glory or damnation (John 5:28; 29; 1 Corinthians 15). Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours and that we need not fear death. Dancing on hell’s grace. Read 1 Corinthians 15 serveral times. “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and […]

The Only Way Up is Down [podcast]

Chapter 8 from the book Raised Up (narration) “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 The Down and Up Principle of God’s Kingdom “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root DOWNWARD, and bear fruit UPWARD.” Isaiah 37:31 The Scriptures follow a pattern of death and resurrection, a downward death and upward life. See if you can observe such a truth in the following verses: “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth UP all those that be bowed DOWN.” Psalms 145:14 Do you possess the blessed desire to be raised up by […]

Abiding

“Rend Your Heart, and Not Your Garments” [podcast]

Who Does God Look to? Who Does God Dwell in?

Beware of any man pretending to represent Christ who isn’t praying and preaching for you to be possessed by a humble and contrite heart.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:3). A low condition. ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4). To mourn over our sin and our utter wickedness before a holy and righteous God. Those are the ones who will receive the comfort and ‘joy in the Holy Ghost’ (Romans 14:17).” Karen Cochran

Abandoning Our Own Sin, Our Own Way, for God and His Better Way!

To “rend your heart” is a biblical phrase meaning to tear open your heart in radical sincerity, true humility, and genuine repentance.

The phrase comes from Joel 2:13 in the Bible: “Rend your heart and not your garments and return to the Lord your God.”

One source notes the following:

“Context and Deeper Meaning:

Cultural Background: In ancient times, the Jewish people would tear (rend) their clothes as a public, highly visible display of grief or repentance.
The Spiritual Message: God is warning that outward rituals (like ripping clothing) are meaningless if the heart remains unchanged. Rending your heart implies breaking through your pride, letting go of excuses, and being completely vulnerable and authentic before God.
The Reward: The verse goes on to say that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Tearing open your heart allows you to experience His forgiveness and restore your relationship with Him.”

To see an example of rending one’s physical garment in representation of rending their heart, see Acts 14:11-18.

Where is the LORD Looking?

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God” Joel 2:12-14

“What a gracious invitation is contained in these words. How tenderly the Lord reasons with his people. And what an encouraging assurance it folds up with. Reader! do not fail to observe that this call of the Lord, the accompanying grace to incline the heart to the observance of it is implied. It is most blessed ever to remember that when the Lord thus comes forth in his endearing invitations, he is secretly inclining the heart to accept them. Grace must first enter the heart, or there will be no inclination to obey.” Robert Hawker

“Jeremiah’s message was never meant to leave the heart in despair. Every warning from God carried an invitation to return. The Lord does not expose empty religion to shame His people, but to heal them. Repentance is not the loss of hope, it is the beginning of hope. Christ still receives every soul that comes with humility, and He gives living faith where there was only habit, peace where there was only fear, and joy where there was only emptiness. The call remains the same today, to draw near to Him with a sincere heart, trusting that His mercy is always greater than our weakness.” Dan Blincoe

A Fresh Start with God Always Begins with Humility and True Repentance

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

Concerning rending our hearts before the LORD, one source notes:

The classic Bible passage on this concept is Joel 2:13, where God commands: “Rend your heart and not your garments”. In ancient biblical culture, tearing (or “rending”) one’s physical clothing was a customary, visible display of extreme grief, despair, or repentance. Through the prophet Joel, God is essentially telling His people: Stop doing the empty, outward religious ritual of tearing your clothes to show everyone how sorry you are. Instead, let me see true, inward brokenness over your sins.

Examples of Rending Physical Garments

In the Bible, the physical act of tearing clothes was used as a dramatic expression of deep emotion in several well-known narratives:

Joseph’s Brothers (Genesis 37:29, 34): When Reuben realized Joseph was not in the pit, and later when the brothers brought Joseph’s blood-stained coat to Jacob, they tore their clothes in grief and despair.
Job (Job 1:20): After hearing that he had lost all his wealth and his children, Job stood up and tore his robe as an outward sign of his overwhelming sorrow.
King David (2 Samuel 1:11-12): When David received news of the deaths of King Saul and Jonathan, he and his men tore their clothes to mourn.
The High Priest (Matthew 26:65): In a dramatic display of hypocritical outrage, the high priest tore his own garments when Jesus declared He was the Son of God, falsely accusing Him of blasphemy.

The Spiritual Meaning of “Rending the Heart”

The concept of “rending the heart” contrasts an outward show with inward reality.

Genuine Repentance: Tearing your heart means being vulnerable, acknowledging your brokenness, and deeply repenting of sin before God.
Prioritizing Relationships over Rituals: God desires a sincere heart—true sorrow and a desire to change—more than he desires traditional religious pageantry or dramatic, public displays of grief.
The Promise of Forgiveness: In Joel 2:13, the command to rend the heart is immediately followed by the promise of grace: “Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love”.

God sees beyond our external habits and religious actions, requiring instead a humble, contrite heart to fully experience His mercy.”

God’s Mercy

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?” Joel 2:12-14

In God’s Word, where we see men who tear open their garments…. This holds the illustration of rending our hearts before the LORD.

Don’t render outward tearing, no, rather, tear open your inner man, your heart—be honest, sincere, exposed, and vulnerable to the LORD whom you trust.

Let’s attempt to get at, to ascertain what God is commanding of His beloved people to do in this “rend your heart” passage.

“Joel 2:13: Rend your heart—Let it not be merely a rending of your garments, but let your hearts be truly contrite. Merely external worship and hypocritical pretensions will only increase the evil, and cause God to meet you with heavier judgments.

For he is gracious—Good and benevolent in his own nature.

Merciful—Pitying and forgiving, as the effect of goodness and benevolence.

Slow to anger —He is not easily provoked to punish, because he is gracious and merciful.

Of great kindness—Exuberant goodness to all them that return to him.

And repenteth him of the evil—Is ever ready to change his purpose to destroy, when he finds the culprit willing to be saved. See the notes on Exo_34:6, Exo_34:7.” Adam Clarke

“Joel 2:12-14: III. DIVINE APPEAL TO JUDAH TO REPENT (2:12-14)
Even now, the LORD calls the people to repentance. It is not too late to return to Him. But it must be more than outward ritual. Their turning was to be with all their heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

To rend our hearts is the consistent message, mandate of God to His people of all ages and eras.

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:18

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17

In Joel 2 the LORD reminds those who are backslidden that He “is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? …”

They must meet His stated conditions to receive His blessings ….

He promises that He will forgive them as they…..

“Joel 2:12-27: THE AVERTING OF JUDGMENT
To rend the garment is easy, but a broken and contrite heart can be imparted only by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The love of God should bring us to repentance. He takes no pleasure in our miseries and if men repent and turn from their sin they find an immediate and loving welcome to the Father’s heart and home. Joel had called for the trumpet to announce war; he now directs the trumpet blast to summon the people, from the highest to the lowest, to plead for help. Prayer and true repentance and faith bring an immediate answer. As the husband yearns over his erring but repentant wife, and is indignant with those who have maltreated her, so will Jehovah remove from us, when we turn to Him, those who have cruelly oppressed us.
The great things Jehovah did against Egypt and Babylon are an earnest of what He will do again. The earth (and all the creation of God) … have good reason to rejoice in what awaits them. God promises not only to forgive sin, but to make us happy and well provided as if the locust and cankerworm had never settled upon our lives.” FB Meyer

Religious hypocrites, counterfeits, emphasize the outward to cover their inner darkness, rebellion.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Matthew 23:23-25

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6

"Blessed are the Poor In Spirit" [podcast]

Jesus’ longest recorded message to His people stands on the foundation of the very first words our Savior uttered in this sermon on the mount. The foundational truth of the entire sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) is found in the very first words of our LORD when unveiling this elaborate, far-reaching, and profound message to His disciples of all ages. Here are His first words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 Note, “poor in spirit.” Not poor financially or religiously. The two should be mutually exclusive. The Greek word translated into English as “poor” is PTOCHOS. It […]

"I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice": What does this really Mean? [podcast]

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 Jesus specifically instructs us to “go ye and learn what that meaneth.” UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross! Matthew 9:9-13 – Jesus calls Matthew 9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith […]

How to Walk in the Certainty, the Assurance of Salvation [podcast]

Real, actual assurance only comes from possessing authentic salvation – which begins with humility and true repentance, an original Gospel essential (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Luke 13:3; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21, etc.). Heretical calvinists and eternal security frauds rob people of true assurance which ONLY comes from having a faith that works, is obedient to Christ. Read 1 John chapter 3 and embrace what the LORD is saying. Here’s a taste – “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the […]

The Importance of Pureness of Heart [podcast]

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11 With pureness of heart, our words shall issue forth with grace and seasoning and be more readily received by those who hear. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6 David’s Prayer “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they […]

Abiding

Have We Misunderstood Why Christians Meet Together? [video]

“We’ve created a whole culture of Christians who are just known for going to church.” Dr Wadsworth!

“It is hard to convince a man (modern pastor) he is wrong when his livelihood ($) depends on not knowing he is wrong.” Unknown

The Simplicity of Real Fellowship [podcast]

Satan thinks he has Stolen the Fellowship of the Saints “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12 Exhorting God’s People “Daily” – not weekly. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing […]

Church Membership, Manipulation, and Money [podcast]

Is there a connection between church membership and money? “Her princes (leaders) in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27 There is no evidence in the New Testament of what we see today perpetrated as “church membership.” Church membership is merely a tool in the arsenal of modern pastors to capture the souls and the money of those ensnared by it. “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24 In […]

Is Church Membership Biblical? [podcast]

Churchianity vs Christianity Many use the term “very involved in church” instead of deeply rooted and in love with Jesus Christ. See the difference? Beware. Christ Jesus is your identity. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14 What is your identity? Why have you chosen such to be that with which you identify? Most pastors make a big deal out of belonging to some organization, church, or group—because this puts them in charge—instead of Jesus. Beware. […]