Excerpt from the book I Die Daily
The Essential Cross of the Believer
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it.” Matthew 16:25
Now that we know who the Way is—Jesus, let’s look into what this very Son of God Himself said concerning those who would follow Him. After all, if a person is going to go to God’s Heaven, he needs to find out what God Himself said is essential to get there, right?
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If ANY man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
Like it or not, Jesus is speaking here of the eternal soul of every man. If need be, read His words again here. Notice that the Son of God uses the terms “if ANY man” and “whosoever.” Jesus is speaking to all about His requirements and conditions. (Anybody want to argue with the Son of God?) Did you notice that there is no special privilege or concession given here for those who have previously been saved? We should rid our minds of the subtle deception that we are somehow “secure” outside of the protection that comes from obedience to God’s Word (Prov. 30:5; Acts 20:32). Only those who are not currently “doers” of the Word of God are deceived into thinking they are secure while not presently abiding in Christ. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).
The crucified life is God’s only solution for complete victory over all sin. Walk it. Read Romans 6 each morning this week prayerfully. Stop listening to those not preaching the cross.
The apostle Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31). How did Paul “die daily”? How is this exemplary apostle’s dying depicted in Scripture? He sentenced himself to death, kept under his body of sin, and was crucified with Christ and to the world, and the world to him. He was buried with Christ and determined to glory in Christ’s cross alone (Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Cor. 1:9; Gal. 2:20; 6:14).
“Oh how the devil hates the message of the cross!” John Umlauf
We were all born in sin and “dead in sins,” and now the LORD “hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ” (Rom. 6:8; Eph. 2:5.) After being found and saved by the LORD, the believer should follow Christ in water baptism, yet only to show that he is now “dead with Christ” and that Christ now reigns in his life, as he is now “raised up” with Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; 8:11). Water baptism is the public announcement showing and openly declaring one’s own death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, one’s new Master. The death of self is symbolized in the going down into the water, and the coming up out of the water represents the resurrection accomplished by Jesus and now made effectual in that life. The Gospel is not about H2O, but rather it’s about being baptized into Christ’s death—being dead, buried, and raised up with Him (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:11-12). As we are dead with Christ and to self, buried with Him, He raises us up in His power to please Him.
One’s entrance into the kingdom of God at initial salvation is only the beginning point of his participation in the Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection life of Christ. The born-again saint never outgrows his essential need to participate with Jesus in the Gospel. The true disciple follows Christ “daily,” and that includes denying himself and taking up his cross to be crucified with his LORD and Savior. He chooses Christ who is the life, the only way, and the truth; and is therefore ready for His soon return. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).
Romans 6 is not speaking of water baptism, but it is that which is signified or symbolized by water baptism—being dead to self and sin, buried with Christ, and raised up to new life with Jesus, to no longer serve sin and please self but Christ. Look at verse 4 of Romans 6: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Note the words of Holy Scripture here— “buried … death … raised up.” This is the Gospel as it is being lived out in our lives. As we choose to daily die—moment by moment—giving way to His greater purpose, He raises us up out of the place of death and burial to be led and used of Him.
Anointed to the Burial
I remember fondly the days leading up to my water baptism as a young believer. My pastor at the time was keenly aware of the importance of people understanding what water baptism is, so he gave me a question-and-answer type work sheet to go through. Each question gave Scriptures to study and get the answers from. So, when I was water baptized there was a realization and spiritual anointing that came upon me—a distinct sealing type phenomenon by the Holy Spirit in which I was buried or hid with Christ in God. There was clearly a work of the Holy Spirit that day.
Beloved, there is no power or magic in water. God is trying to get at death to self, and His Spirit enables such. Water baptism merely represents going down into the death process and coming up out of the water represents the raised-up life. Without the work of the divine Person of the Holy Ghost and the believer’s going down into the death of Christ, water baptism is futile.
It is the work of the Spirit of God that is essential in our new birth, death, burial, and resurrection, just as He participated in our LORD’s birth, death, burial, and resurrection (Luke 1:35; Rom. 8:11; Col. 2:11-12).
For to this end (for this chief purpose) Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. Romans 14:9
Not only is the Holy Spirit’s involvement and Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on His cross essential, where He worked with Christ to shed His blood to redeem us, but according to this same and only Savior, the taking up the cross to deny and bury self is also essential in pleasing God. His resurrection rule cannot occur without the willing participation of the recipient of His salvation. Jesus died to buy us back from sin, Satan, and slavery to self; and now our lives are made new in Him, all things now being of God and under Christ’s reign (Rom. 14:9; 2 Cor. 5:17-18).
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:15
Those redeemed by the One who bled on that cross that stood atop Calvary’s hill, should from the moment they are grafted in, no longer serve self but rather the Savior.
The way the believer lives unto (pleases) the LORD and not self, is by the power of the One who was for us “slain from the foundation of the world.”
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (the antichrist), whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8
It all began “from the foundation of the world” when in His mind, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:6, 8). So, redemption through “the Lamb slain,” which grants His overcoming grace, began in the mind of God from “the foundation of the world” (Jer. 1:5; Rev. 13:8). How could we ever now doubt how much He loves us! It is to Him alone who is worthy that we, with our lives, now give “honour, and glory, and blessing.”
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Revelation 5:12
All this being said, we should observe that the LORD doesn’t do things against the free moral agency He gave to every man. The individual must be “willing and obedient” if he is to “eat the good of the land” (Isa. 1:19-20).
Gaze, oh gaze on the divine form, the eternal glory, the heavenly beauty, the tenderly pleading gentleness of crucified love, as it stretches out its pierced hands and says, ‘Oh, will you not abide with me?’ – Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ, p. 175
“The New Man”
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
You are no longer your own, but rather bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
If a saint chooses not to live out of the “new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,” he will by default revert back to the Adamic nature and its sinful deeds. Is this permissible in God’s eyes? Does the LORD overlook the sins of those He has saved?
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Romans 6:1-8
Hint: renewing your mind is biblical but it will never take the central place of the crucified life. The extent of “solutions” given in the modern church include renewing your mind. Yes yet that comes after the cross in kingdom priority – the crucified life – which is never mentioned in the apostate modern church world.
v1 – the cross
v2 – renewing the mind
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
Whenever the constant of the cross, the crucified life, is absent from our personal lives, there will be defeat, there will be no victory.
Trying to renew your mind, changing your thinking, is only successful after the fact of a life that is “crucified with Christ.” (Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; 6:14, etc.
Putting Your Foot Down!
https://safeguardyoursoul.com/dominating-the-devil/
The “But” Factor
The taking up of the cross, the implement of death to self, is essential in separating the saint from the taint of sin, self, and Satan, which would otherwise defile us in the eyes of Him who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8).
Are you beginning to see why the cross is essential—both Christ’s and ours? The LORD told His own covenant people that their sins had separated them from Him. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
The word “but” here speaks of the dividing factor or attribute of sin. Sin interrupts our fellowship with Him who is holy. Sin still separates. Both the cross of Jesus (first and foremost) and our carrying our own cross deal with the problem of sin, but only when applied and participated in.
To take up the cross in obedience to Christ’s command is to agree with God that the sinful man must be mortified with his evil deeds and desires (Gal. 5:24). We must by the crucified life, “put off” the old man, the man of sin, and “put on the new man.” (Eph. 4:22-24) When one takes up his cross, which is the implement of death to self, he demonstrates that he loves the LORD more than self. God then blesses his life to be separate from sin and sinners, and to escape the taint of sin that would otherwise defile him in the eyes of Him who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). Such a work is essential to separate the saint from the stain of sin, self, and Satan. The cross makes possible one’s death to self and sin and the resurrection presence of God (Rom. 6:7; 2 Cor. 4:1011). Holy-Spirit-enabled death to self disallows, stifles, and restrains the work of sin in us so that Christ’s divine life might work in and through us to bless others (Rom. 8:13; 2 Cor. 4:12).
Any person who has been made righteous by the LORD and now somehow believes he is secure while living in sin, is utterly deceived and all of Scripture testifies to this truth.
Who is it that is made free from the sins that violate the holiness of the LORD? “For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Rom. 6:7).
Beloved, it is the sanctifying work of the cross of Jesus and the application of it in the life of the saint that sets him apart in holiness to the Savior.
We find not one promise of security or assurance in Holy Scripture given to any person who is not presently abiding in Jesus Christ—as He prescribed in His Word (John 10:27-29; 15:1-6). Jesus promised His original 12 apostles an eternal throne in Heaven, yet one of them chose not to abide or remain in Him, and subsequently went to hell for his iniquity (Acts 1:25). Christ promised His 12 that “ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 10:22). Remaining in Christ—enduring to the end of one’s life—is a divinely-issued condition for being with the LORD eternally (this Bible subject is covered extensively in the book titled Lie of the Ages).
Concerning the daily cross and how it applies and does not apply to the believer, David Kupelian, vice president and managing editor of WorldNetDaily.com, writes:
It’s self-evident that we’re all born with a troublesome nature called ‘pride.’ Basically, pride is the part of us that wants to be God. It loves being praised, quickly puffs up with angry judgment over the real or perceived wrongs of others—and as a rule is oblivious to its own faults. Moreover, you can think of pride as a ‘life form’—a living, breathing ‘something’ which, like any other life form or ‘creature,’ can be fed or starved. When it’s fed, it grows and enlarges; when it is starved, it diminishes and dies—daily.
Of course—and this is something of a divine paradox—as Christians, we know we can’t save ourselves, and yet we are most definitely called to obedience. So, let’s not slough off our responsibility to ‘die daily’ by comfortably presuming on the unending mercy of God. His mercy is unending, indeed, but also balanced with justice, and these two seemingly contradictory qualities work together mysteriously and wonderfully toward our redemption, but only in the truly sincere human soul that doesn’t tempt God.
This writer realizes that the modern gospel differs from this biblical truth and message, but whom shall we trust? God, or mere men? Who is the Judge before whom we will one day stand to give account?
May God bless each of us to “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4), placing Him and therefore His holy truth above the words, concepts, or philosophies of any other (Prov. 21:30).
Do we take God at His Word? Do we believe, trust, embrace, and obey His words?
“The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.” – George Mueller
After repenting and receiving Christ and initial salvation, one must remain in fellowship with (abide in) Jesus till the end of his life or he will lose out eternally (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Rom. 11:22; Col. 1:23; Heb. 2:3, 3:6, 1215; 10:26-39; 12:14-15; Rev. 2-3, etc.). Jesus told those who had believed that if they continued in His Word (not man’s) they would be His disciples, and that they would know the truth and the truth would make them free (John 8:31-32).
Jesus died to justify us, saving us from living in sin which would merit us the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9). He certainly didn’t die to grant us a license to live in sin, but rather grace and power over sin through the crucified life (Rom. 6; Tit. 2:11-12).
The deeds of the body must be put to death, or they will wreak sinful havoc on that life where they are not crucified. The cross is the only answer, not behavioral modification, which is the level on which most messages in the modern church world seek to deal with sin. If the sinful nature is allowed to reign by not being put down, the course of resident, inherited iniquity will be sin and death (Rom. 6:1-23; James 1:14-15). “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die (spiritual death—separation): but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).
When man fell in the Garden, he became dead inside. He lost the relationship and place of intimacy with His Maker, and no longer needed to be tempted externally. Man’s original inner inclination toward the LORD became slanted and tending toward self. He became self-absorbed instead of absorbed into the LORD his Maker. He then lived unto self—out of self. His inward bent is now to please self, which is rebellion and part and parcel of the first Adam. This is the fate of all born with the stain of inherent sin.
Man cannot please God in his fallen nature— “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). This is why fallen man must be regenerated, and thereafter self must be denied by the power and grace of the Holy Ghost (Rom. 8:13; Tit. 3:5-7).
When self-will is laid down flat and the LORD’s will takes over, victory is brought about— “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). God’s greater grace, will, and glory, override self and succeed triumphantly. He said we are “more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
It is only when and as sinful self is laid down and sacrificed that the far exceeding blessing of the life of Jesus is manifested in our daily life (2 Cor. 4:10-11). When we are crucifying self and walking in the Spirit, in Christ, the saint is pleasing to the Father. Remember that it is only in Jesus Christ that the Father told us He is “well pleased” (Matt. 3:17; 12:18; 17:5). To be in Christ is to be pleasing to the Father, but to be in self is to be at enmity with Him (Rom. 8:1-7). May His divine life engulf us today as He increases, and we decrease (John 3:30). “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).
The Bible calls our fallen inherent sinful bent the “flesh,” “body of sin,” “carnal,” and the “old man.” We commanded to crucify the old man that is bent toward sin and evil desires that if acted upon, would cause us to be in violation against the holiness of God (Gal. 5:24). God is holy; therefore, that fallen sinful nature must be subdued, or one will not be pleasing to the LORD but rather experience spiritual “death” (Rom. 8:6, 13),
The Bible tells us that “the flesh” is “enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7, 13.) The apostle Paul said he had to “keep under” his sinful nature so that he would not ultimately become a “castaway” (1 Cor. 9:27). Sound out this word “castaway.” Many today would seek to manipulate the meaning of this word to fit their own convoluted theology, yet a “castaway” is simply one who would be cast away from God and forfeit His eternal blessings due to a violation of His order and holiness.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8
The sin of Adam affected the whole world. It was a sin that was felt throughout God’s creation, which was before according to His pristine and perfect design (Gen. 13). Adam’s sin affected all human beings from the time of his transgression. Many call this the doctrine of Inherent Sin, which states that Adam’s sin nature was passed on to all who came after him “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12).
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19
Once the LORD finds and regenerates the individual saint, this universally inherited Adamic nature must be restrained or made unresponsive by the power of the Holy Spirit and the willing participation of the disciple, in order for the life of Christ to manifest in that life— “if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom. 8:13.)
In the same way that we inherit physical features from our parents and ancestors, each and every man has inherited from Adam his fallen spiritual nature and condition, which is spiritual death— “death passed upon all men” (Rom. 5:12). All men are born of water spiritually dead (separated from and at enmity with God).
Since death “passed upon all men” after Adam and “ALL have sinned,” we are also under the condemnation of God, separated from Him who is “Holy, holy, holy” until reconciled through Christ (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 5:12, 18-19; Ephesians 2:3). We all stand guilty before God and deserving of the punishment of our sin (Romans 3).
No More Condemnation
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1
According to Romans 8:1, there is an initial and an ongoing condition for getting out from under the “condemnation” of God:
- One must repent, believe upon, and be “in Christ Jesus,” and
- “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Remaining or abiding in Christ is essential to remaining in the justification and blessing of God (see also John 15:1-6).
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus”—so as long as the redeemed believer remains “in Christ Jesus,” he is not under “condemnation” (Rom. 8:1).
“No good thing” dwells in man outside of Christ, and as long as he remains out of Christ, he is a slave to corruption (Romans chapters 6-8; Rom. 7:18). The only victory is Christ and being in Him. Only Jesus can conquer sin, and those who are in Him are possessed with the power of His conquering, overcoming grace.
The first Adam was conquered by sin. The last Adam (Jesus) conquered sin (Rom. 5). The first Adam left us with an inherent nature of sin while the last Adam regenerates, redeems, and rescues us from the sinful nature, condemnation, penalty, and punishment we received from the first Adam.
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:15-21
“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Through Jesus Christ, the Church and the individual believer have been granted “great grace” to live according to the righteous standards of the One who told us He is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Acts 4:33; Rev. 4:8). Grace was given to grant the believer power over sin and not to justify him in his sin (Tit. 2:11-12). When we come before His throne of grace, it is not only to receive mercy, but also grace, or divine enablement, to overcome (Heb. 4:16; Rev. 2-3). Fighting the good fight of faith and overcoming are a must (1 Tim. 6:12; Rev. 2-3).
“Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). The opposite of living in sin is living in the place of holiness. We are “called” and commanded to live holy, and this should be of concern to every person who “nameth the name of Christ.”
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16
His holiness prevails, and sin cannot have dominion over those who are dead with Christ, buried, and presently raised up in His life. This is the truth expressed in the whole of this passage.
Derek Tidball, in his book The Message of the Cross, asks:
“Why is there an uneasy silence about crucifying the sinful nature with its passions when it is clearly so crucial to the Bible’s teaching about holiness? For all our excuses, the truth is perhaps that such teaching does not fit easily into a comfortable world where self-indulgence and self- satisfaction reign supreme. Our silence betrays how deeply the atmosphere of the world has infected the church, and how we fear the opinion of the world more than the opinion of the Lord. The cross, however, cannot be shunted to the sidelines. It stands high on the hill of Calvary and calls individual believers to stand apart from the cultural values of the world. It equally calls the church as a whole to a deep repentance for its compromise with the world, to take radical action in ejecting sin from its midst and to demonstrate a new seriousness about holiness.” pp. 240-241
Many writers of old and today read Romans 5 and ignore the divinely imposed conditions of Romans 6. They therefore come out with a slanted and dangerous theology, which has led many to turn “the grace of our God into lasciviousness (license for sin),” and by doing so they are “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4).
Always remember that without personal holiness, no man is going to see the LORD (Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 3:5-6).
If one only read this portion of Scripture (Romans 5), he might lean toward Calvinism and an unconditional eternal security, yet there’s more to this picture, and the ensuing verses reveal the rest of the story. Romans 6 reveals the God-given personal responsibility of each saved saint, and how these blessings of His grace are conditional upon the obedience of the individual recipient. Read Romans 6-8 through three times in the next week. Also, a thorough and ongoing look at Romans chapters 3-8 is essential to a sound doctrinal foundation.
YOU know when you are right with God, when you are enduring the sound doctrine of His Word, when you are running TO the cross message and not AWAY from it! “Enemies of the cross” of Christ “mind earthly things” and not the things the LORD commanded (Philippians 3:18-19).
The apostle Paul said: “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” (Rom. 7:18).
We must rightly—biblically—assess our true spiritual nature, and when we do, we will know that without Jesus, we are corrupt and depraved in the nature of the first Adam. Knowing that there is “no good thing” that dwells in us, that is, in our flesh, we should sentence our self-life to death, that our lives might rely upon the LORD and not sinful self. “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2 Cor. 1:9).
The lack of teaching in the Christian world on this all-important biblical truth has greatly hindered the understanding of many who have a desire to fully please and serve the LORD. May the LORD bless each of us to have this message of the cross embedded deeply into our hearts and minds. Speaking of His own cross, Jesus told His disciples to “Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men” (Luke 9:44).
The gross lack of attention to this core biblical truth (the cross) has given way to a myriad of Cain-type methods to modify behavior instead of teaching men to crucify the evil tendencies of the fallen nature and walk in the new man—presenting ourselves as living sacrifices unto the LORD and being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2).
PRAYER: LORD, please teach me Your truth. Allow my heart and mind to understand from whence I came and where You desire to take this life that You gave. I am sinful by nature and yet, You have made me a new creature in Christ, granting Your overcoming grace by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Right this moment, if never before, I stop my life and humble myself under Your mighty hand, fully submitting my life to You, begging You to live in me and raise my life upward to glorify You alone from this moment forward. I am dead and buried with Christ—I am crucified with Christ. I am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God. Holy Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Capture Points
- On an index card, write out the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 16:24-26.
- Examining the words of Romans 8:13-14, discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering and leading the disciple to glorify God in this life by putting away the works of the flesh and living a life in the Spirit (KJB recommended).
- Because there is “no good thing” that dwells in us (in our flesh), discuss practical measures as to how the disciple of Jesus is to daily sentence to death the deeds of the sinful nature (Romans 7:18; 2 Corinthians 1:9; Galatians 5:19-21).
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Abiding
Knowing the Word of God and also the God of the Word [podcast]
The highest priority of the true disciple is knowing God.
So many strive to know God’s will.
It’s only when you know God that you will know His will.
We all know people who are now away from God. They backslid. They no longer serve Him as they once did. Well, were they truly serving Him, or the church? They had some kind of a departure from the local church they were so fond of and consequently have no semblance of a life with Christ presently. Could this be due to them putting their energy and affections into the local church friends they met and the festivities? Yes. They were in love with the externals and not Christ.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11
“God’s greatest desire is for us to have a relationship with Him. We were created for His great pleasure. Revelation 4:11” Karen Cochran
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Philippians 3:10
Kingdom Priority
KNOWING and LOVING, WORSHIPPING God. Read Matthew 4:10; 22:37-39; John 17:3.
Pinnacle Revelation
Knowing God is the paramount divine purpose for which He sent His only begotten ….. and for which He created, made us.
“And this is life eternal (the whole reason, purpose), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
Knowing God is the reason He sent His only begotten Son—to bring us to Himself in a present and eternal relationship (Exodus 25:8;Psalms 27:4, 8; Philippians 3:10, etc). One of Satan’s tricks is to get the elders to intercept that heart affection worship.
“It has always been about Jesus. Before Christ came to save us from our sins, the Bible was pointing to Jesus. Now after Christ came, we still look to Jesus. It has always been about knowing and trusting in Jesus. Before He came people just did not know His name, but now we do!” Serena Wagner
It’s not about elders, bishops. or pastors—Christ’s eternal kingdom is all about Jesus and no other. Read John 1; Colossians 1-2; Hebrews 1; Revelation 1.
WHAT will you say to the nail scarred risen LORD on Judgment Day when you made it about something else other than Him?
“Christianity can quickly become ‘Do this and Don’t do that.’ Jesus is quickly forgotten. Instead, repent and fall in love with JESUS, and through the power of the Holy Spirit you will live a life that pleases Him. When You are filled with the Holy Spirit You will hate the sin you once loved.” Alan Brayshaw
WHO is “known of” God as opposed to those He will tell “I never knew you”? (Matthew 7:21)
“But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” 1 Corinthians 8:3
“Those are the most frightening and terrifying words anyone could ever hear! That is why I always ask Jesus, ‘Do you know me?’ I want to be with my Lord and Savior for eternity! But I do not want to be so arrogant and prideful as to believe that God doesn’t have every right to spue me out. Or I that I am safe! I deserve hell. The only reason I have been spared is because of Jesus’ saving work for me on the cross! He redeemed me! But there are many conditions to be eternally with Jesus. We are to have a healthy fear of God knowing He has the power to determine the fate of our very soul! Matthew 10:28 It means nothing to Jesus if all we have is head knowledge of the Bible without any heart. He told the Pharisees they knew scriptures but they didn’t know Him in their heart (John 5: 38-47). It’s not based on what we know it’s based on knowing Him in an abiding relationship (John 15). The cross is the way to a real intimate relationship with Jesus. Through the dying of self He becomes your first love. And you begin to love Him with your whole soul, heart and mind (Matthew 22:37). I ask God daily ‘increase my hunger for Your Word.’ I want the hunger and love for God’s Word that David had! Just read and study Psalm 119. He cried out for more understanding even in the midst of persecution! That was his whole priority in life! David loved God, therefore he loved God’s Word as evidenced in Psalm 119. Every word is filled with love, devotion, respect, rejoicing and delighting in God’s words, pleading with the Lord that He might learn His statues and he might not err from God’s judgements. Psalm 119 is a treasure chest of David’s love for God’s word! If you want to truly fall in love with all of God’s word read, study and memorize Psalm 119!” Karen Cochran
Knowing the Facts and the Father
Recently, in order “to provoke unto love and to good works” I posted the meme above this paragraph and as has happened before, was confronted about how the Pharisees knew God’s Word but rebelled against Jesus (Hebrews 10:24). Let’s cross examine this position against the counsel of Scripture.
While it’s clear that we must know not only the Word of God but the God of the Word, the God revealed in His Word, how does that negate the need for Bible knowledge? It simply doesn’t.
Just because the Pharisees of Christ’s day knew His Word but didn’t choose to turn their hearts to Him, how does that mean that believers today should neglect knowing His Word? Such logic is not only bad, it’s un-scriptural and evil.
“When you fall in love don’t you want to shout it from the rooftops? He, the man you are in love with, is all you talk about! Should be the same with Jesus! You want to tell everyone about this man, the Savior who saved your life! Just as the woman at the well did. She told the whole city ‘Come, and see a man, which told me all the things that ever I did: is this not the Christ’ John 4: 28-29.” Karen Cochran
Beware of anyone who discourages learning God’s Word in any form, including memorizing Scripture. This is a novice error and it could only be coming from the evil one. Because the Jews knew the Bible and rejected Jesus, novices reason that this means that New Testament saints, saved by grace, are not to intimately know or memorize God’s Word. Nonsense!
Is the primary responsibility of the disciple of Jesus to:
A. Follow the instructions of God’s Word? or
B. Don’t be like the Pharisees (false leaders)?
A. is the correct answer.
The fact that the LORD cited the false religionists of His day for not coming to Him, for not opening their hearts to Him, in no way communicates that those who are His should not learn His Word too well. That would be like saying that just because the false leaders of Jesus’ day knew His Word and yet didn’t turn their hearts to Jesus, anyone who learns His Word too well (as if that’s even possible) will automatically not turn their hearts to Jesus.
Let’s look at the passage that is being taken out of context:
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40
“And isn’t that just what Jesus told the Pharisees? You know scriptures but you don’t know me in your heart! John 5: 38-47. It means nothing to Jesus if we only know of Him. We must know Him in Spirit and in truth! John 4:24.” Karen Cochran
Did Jesus rebuke them for knowing His Word? No.
Notice, Jesus says that His people are to “Search the scriptures” and the Scriptures “are they which testify of” (reveal) Him.
“Even the Pharisees knew the scriptures and knew of Jesus, but they did not know Him. Jesus told them they did not have Him in their hearts and therefore did not have eternal life . John 5: 38-47. Head knowledge means nothing to Jesus. We need to know Him in our hearts in a relationship with Him. Digesting His words! Getting to know Him. We should be emulating the sweet savour of Christ. 2 Corinthians 2: 15. How can you be like someone that you don’t know?” Karen Cochran
The Gospel message is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
In fact, it’s the seed of God’s “incorruptible” Word that is the instrument of His regeneration in our lives.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:23-25
The very way God ordained and orchestrated that we learn about and know Him, repent and believe upon Christ, is through the knowledge we get from “the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Listen to the apostle Paul instruct Timothy:
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The man of God cannot be perfected, matured, “throughly furnished unto all good works” without a deep knowledge of the Scriptures which the apostle reveals here is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
So the first of the 4 stated reasons God gave us His Word, the Bible, are for…
“doctrine”
Must know the facts and the Father!
Must know the Word and the God of the Word.
How are God’s people going to learn His Word if they don’t study and memorize and meditate upon it? How are God’s people going to be sanctified by the truth and washed by the water of the Word if they’re not in that Word daily and engaged in learning and obeying God’s Word?
So if the Pharisees did not know God’s Word would they not have also rejected him? How can knowing God’s Word be negative in any way? It’s simply can’t.
Is trying not to be like a Pharisee more important than actually following Christ?
In John 5:39-40 Jesus said nothing negative about the Pharisees knowing His Word but rather about them refusing to come to Him. Let us rightly divide saints and correct those who bear false witness (2 Timothy 2:15). In fact, in another place Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not knowing His Word: “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God“ (Matthew 22:29). God’s people need to know “the scriptures” and walk in “the power of God.” Only Satan could be behind the attempt to hinder either!
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40
There will be those who come and go who know the words of God but not the God of the Word. Beware saints. Many times they know all the right things to say and yet have not truly repented and are living in sin, darkness, pride, and deep-seated rebellion.
On this note, sister Karen Cochran writes:
“Modern Pharisees know the Scriptures but like the Pharisees of old they don’t know Jesus. Just like Jesus told them in John 5:38- 42. They knew the Scriptures but they didn’t know Him. What good is it if we don’t know Jesus? We can know of Him but not know Him. We must love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Matthew 22:37- 38”
These counterfeits are saying that God’s people shouldn’t know God’s Word too well, we shouldn’t memorize it, because then we may become like the Pharisees and not come to Jesus. Foolishness at best.
To the contrary, the Bible teaches us to read, to “study,” to “retain,” and “meditate upon God’s Word ….
Did the apostle Paul correct the biblically astute Bereans for diligently, meticulously searching the scriptures to see if he was telling the truth? No! (Acts 17:10-11)
They are saying that knowing God’s Word in your God-given mind will keep you from knowing Him in your heart. Nonsense. By divine design, information is contacted, first enters our minds before it can be processed and received in our heart.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
“Most people in the churches of today prefer to follow and believe the men/pastors and their words over the Word of God at their peril. This is because they are too lazy to study and read the Bible for themselves, sadly. Biblical illiteracy is the norm and not the exception today.” B.
Concerning ruling over the masses that have been kept ignorant of God’s Word, one disciple writes:
“Lacking of knowing God’s Word, memorizing it, is the direct reason the catholic church grew to so much power in the middle ages, and others down the ages. It was only the ‘priest’ that could read the Bible. So it meant what they said it meant and not what God meant. RUN!”
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6
Checking your ignorance at the door!
Those who are ignorant of truth are so willingly (Hosea 4:6). They “willingly are ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5).
He gave us His truth, and those who reject His knowledge, His Word, will be “destroyed.”
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because THOU HAS REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law (Word) of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6
“There was a time when churches were teaching the whole counsel of God and most Bible believers in Bible teaching churches could carry on intelligent biblical conversations if they had been saved for five years or so. In the last ten years, I have found that most Christians today have become biblical illiterates. Due to the constant tendency toward all kinds of new experiences ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4), many are influenced to the extreme, and they settle for simply repeating various phrases that they hear without true, biblical understanding. That, then, becomes the focal point of their Christian life rather than conforming to the teachings of Scripture which they are not taught. It is getting harder and harder to find people in a local church who have even a very basic knowledge of Scripture, let alone any in-depth knowledge. The false teachers are going to have a lot to answer for in this area, but so will pastors who have encouraged this in their people rather than taking on the discipline of learning how to do a proper exegesis and expository teaching.” 1980 Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
To a man who recently sought to discourage God’s people from memorizing His Word due to the fact that the Pharisees knew His Word and yet crucified Him.
I asked him if what the Pharisees did cancelled and negated the need for God’s people to know His Word in their minds and trust and love Him in their hearts? To this man I also wrote:
“Perhaps you should cease discouraging God’s people from learning and submitting to His Word…. there’s NO sense in which learning God’s Word is anything but a good thing…. and of course coming to Him in our hearts via His Word and Holy Spirit ….”
Our GOD-given brain is the passage way to the heart…. is it not? “Come now, and let us reason together…” (Isaiah 1:18).
God gave us a brain to “reason” with and a heart to believe upon Christ with (Romans 10:9-10). “COME now, and let us reason together” He said to His people (Isaiah 1:18).
Did Jesus memorize Scripture? Yes, beginning as a young boy. And this is how He grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52). In fact, He knew where things were in the Bible—“He FOUND the place” in the Word He wanted to read—“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written” (Luke 4:17).
ARE YOU “BLESSED”?
If you aren’t reading God’s Word daily, you are not “blessed.” Read Psalm 1.
“Blessed is he that readeth…” (Revelation 1:3).
See also Psalms 1:1-3.
Set it in your mind today that tomorrow, upon waking, you are diligently devouring God’s Word. Memorize and meditate upon 1 Chronicles 22:19. The message from Heaven is simple: FOLLOW JESUS via HIS WORD. The Bible is God’s truth and our safety. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield (protection) unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
No way to know the Word Himself outside of His own Word. “They are they (His words) which testify of me” (John 5:39-40).
The written Word is like the tangible standard whereas at times, each of us as humans, can think we are being led by the Spirit but actually not being led by the LORD…. and so the standard is always the written Word, right?… To rightly divide His Word of truth. Right and amen Jesus (2 Timothy 2:15).
The only way we can “rightly” divide the truth from error is by personally, diligently studying God’s Word. Memorize 2 Timothy 2:15.
ALL ministries not getting you into God’s Word are fostering your faith in them!
Stacy Strother writes:
“The true Spirit of God will NEVER discard truth or lead people outside the parameter of the written word of God. The Spirit of God will search out ALL things and even the deep things, and if we are born again, have patience, we can be taught and be led to stay within harmony of His word. Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.”
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Abiding
“Thou hast been in Eden the Garden of God.” ~ Ezekiel 28:13 [podcast]
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
THE INTRUDERS—THE RESTORATION
“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God.” ~ Ezekiel 28:13
The evil one had been thrust down from Heaven to the earth for the iniquity found in him (Ezek. 28:15; Lk. 10:18). This evil foe, who had been ejected by God from Heaven’s pristine and perfect premises, was cast down to the earth and allowed in the sanctuary of the Garden of Eden, because God gives men a choice to serve—or to not serve Him. He created in mankind the gift of free will. Temptation is ultimately the test as to whom the individual will love and serve. “For the LORD your God proveth (tests) you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 13:3).
The serpent slithered among the lush embellishments of the Garden of Eden. His goal was the fall of the first man and woman who were created in the image of the One who made all things. Satan obviously schemed and strategized as to what weapon to employ in order to accomplish his main objective—to cause the first man and woman to fall from grace by sinning, and consequently, be alienated from the LORD. This enemy of souls knew from personal experience that the Almighty keeps His Word and casts down those who disobey Him. To this point, Adam and Eve knew only righteousness. They did not yet realize what the evil one knew and had already been the recipient of – that is, the judgment of God for his sin. A hard lesson lay ahead of Adam and Eve, and a fallen creation would be left in the wake of their defiance of the holy LORD and His righteous command – not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17).
The enemy of all souls has not changed. His temptations are “common to man” (1 Cor. 10:13). Satan’s goal was, and is, to interrupt and destroy the relationship between his enemy, God, and His special creation—man. Jesus informed us that the ultimate “thief” has come to “steal, to kill and to destroy” (Jn. 10:10). This same goal—the fall of man—is still his aim and will be until the LORD Himself puts him away for good (Rev. 20:10).
From the Garden to the modern pulpit, the enemy has lied to mankind. Satan and his false teachers are the intruders—the very enemies of the Almighty. The serpent has slithered through the garden path of history, seductively spreading his poisonous seed, causing the fall of many and now possesses the thoughts and doctrines of an army of deceived men in ministry.
Ever since the Garden, the lie of the ages dwells among men, especially in the sanctuary where the LORD is supposed to be reigning—the Church world. As in the Garden of creation, so the enemy specifically concentrates on the sanctuary of his enemy’s people. He seeks to molest purity, beguiling those who are unlearned. Many times, he uses the body of Christ’s own leaders.
Today, the pulpits and platforms of modern media are the places that most people simply do not suspect to be the mediums where falsehoods thrive, reside, and flow. They do not see the serpent lurking among the trees in the garden of modern “Christian” pulpits, organizations, and media. Most are not aware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing who, like the lurking serpent in the garden, “lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14).
As foretold by the prophet Amos, the enemy of souls seeks to alter and remove the Word of God from the hearing of God’s people (Amos 8:11). This is what he did in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:17; 3:4). Today this same enemy uses the most subtle messengers—the ones many people look to for truth. The Holy Spirit forewarned us that in these last of days men would not remain in the truth but rather that “some shall depart from the faith” and that “many” would “corrupt the word of God” (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Cor. 2:17): “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
It simply doesn’t matter if a leader realizes he is teaching heresy or not. If he is teaching anything other than the Word, he is a detractor from the glory of God and leading others astray. Men of God are to “preach the word” and speak only “as the oracles (words) of God” (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 4:11). This is a non-negotiable command to all who would accurately represent the LORD. No matter the reasoning, one will be found a deceiver on Judgment Day if he preaches any other message than the Word of God (Isa. 8:20). One can be sincere and sincerely wrong at the same time (Prov. 14:12). “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4).
The holy and almighty God told us that He is going to judge all men according to His Word (Jn. 12:48; Rom. 2:16; Rev. 20:11-15).
From the very beginning (Garden of Creation), the beguiler’s target has been God’s people. Nothing has changed. His message to men is simple— “You don’t have to worry about obedience, it’s optional, you can live the way you choose and still remain in the grace of God.”
Through those men he uses today, the enemy mixes in some truth with this deadly lie of lasciviousness and poisons the whole pond, leading many astray into a false gospel and false security. Perhaps it has been wisely stated that “Satan will give you a million pounds of truth to blind you with that one ounce of a deadly lie which will kill you.” In order to bring in a lie among God’s people, the enemy likes to lead with truth as his smokescreen in order to bring in that deadly distortion behind the cover of truth. See Matthew 16:6-12 and 1 Corinthians 5:6. “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Gal. 5:9).
Why should we be surprised that this ultimate enemy still uses the most “subtle” and unsuspected methods and personalities to communicate his deadly message to God’s people? After all, his message still works to cause unsuspecting men to fall out of fellowship with God. Why should we wonder why the evil one still utilizes the same lie that claimed the first man and woman? Has this message not captured untold scores of souls since then? Are we so blindly naïve as to believe that there is no evil or devil? Why should we be surprised to realize that this same evil enemy of souls is ceaselessly in the midst of our garden today, telling this same lie by adding to the Word of the Maker?
God said “Thou shalt surely die,” and Satan countered with “Ye shall not surely die.”
Are pulpits more sacred than the very Garden of Eden? Obviously not. There was no sin in the Garden until Satan introduced the lie of the ages, and the man and woman bought it. In the very cradle of creation, the enemy of God initiated and launched the lie that would fatally wound mankind, claiming the souls of millions throughout the centuries. This exact same deadly lie was picked up, incorporated, and perpetuated by early century church fathers, so-called theologians, whose heresy-laced writings and commentaries regrettably hold great prominence among many evangelicals today—even though they have no reconciliation with the Counsel of God, which will be demonstrated throughout this book.
The Bible enlightens us to the reality that Satan is a strategist and has schemes of which believers are instructed not to be ignorant (2 Cor. 2:11; 1 Pet. 5:8). We are in a war, and like any good war general and his staff, we are to study and know the nature, weapons, and ways of our enemy.
The apostle Paul informed us that Satan’s methods are the same today as they were from the start—in the Garden.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
In this same text, the LORD told us that He makes a way to escape the re-used lies of the enemy and his temptations.
As can be clearly seen in Genesis, “once saved always saved” is not a new doctrine, and it’s also not the LORD’s doctrine. “Once saved always saved” is clearly the lie that caused the fall of man. This is the doctrine of the arch enemy of the Almighty. As in the very beginning, the unholy serpent himself is still creeping into the homes and gathering places of believers today and utilizing the same lie to mislead people and cause their fall from grace. The chief wolf who has come “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” seeks to devour souls for his kingdom and from the Chief Shepherd, who is “come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10; Heb. 13:20). Beware! “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).
The first lie led to the fall of the first man and woman and is leading to the fall of masses of people today. Millions in our day are being taught that they are unconditionally eternally secure—in the absence of the truth about the holiness of the God they will stand before in judgment, and His demand that we be made holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16).
The pulpits of America have been hi-jacked by men who have “crept in unawares” who are teaching a doctrine originated by the enemy of all souls and calling it “Christian.” This is paramount to using the name of the LORD in vain, by attaching His holy name to a teaching of his arch enemy.
Tracing the Lie
The adversary attacked God through His own creation—the Garden, the fruit, the serpent, the woman, and the man.
Does it intrigue you to uncover the very first lie told by the one Christ warned us of who is the father of all lies? Of Satan, Jesus said: “for he is a liar, and the father of it” (Jn. 8:44).
One three-letter word— “not”—changed the course of history! Satan told the woman “Ye shall not surely die,” after their Maker had told them that they would “surely die” in the day they disobeyed Him (Gen. 2:17; 3:4).
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” ~ Genesis 3:4-5
This first and poisonous falsehood, the lie of the ages, is still today the same deadly venom being injected by the evil one in the battle that rages for the eternal souls of men. The serpent infused the first man and woman with this venomous and paralyzing deception, robbing from their hearts the fear of the LORD, which led to their fall from grace. Consequently, a separation was incurred between a holy Maker and His creation with a catastrophic curse which fell.
This unconditional eternal security—without condition to the recipient—is the very FIRST LIE the devil ever told to mankind. “Once saved always saved” (OSAS) is one of the modern labels of the renamed, or repackaged, lie of the ages. In this deception in the Garden, as well as in our day, Satan craftily convinces people that they have irrevocable “security” and “assurance,” no matter what their actions against the clear command/Word of God.
The message of eternal security without condition to the recipient is that once one has been born again, he has no responsibility to continue to faithfully obey the Almighty—the One who saved him. Those who sit under this teaching are told that once they have been brought into fellowship with Him in His garden of salvation through Christ, they can never “die” or be separated from Him again, even if they blatantly rebel. This lie teaches that the person who Christ has saved can then choose to live as he wishes with no fear of consequence or righteous retribution from the One who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). This is the very lie that Satan gave Adam and Eve which led to their fall into sin and separation from the LORD.
Can you see why it is a big score for the enemy of souls when people are told by their misled leaders that they are “once saved always saved”—no matter what they choose to do, including revolt completely against the Most High and go back to the life of sin?
In the sanctity of the Garden, where there was no suspicion, Satan intruded. Today, in the sanctuary of the pulpits and various Christian media, his emissaries are intruding where few suspect. He prospers because so many believe that their leaders are guiding them correctly, and yet do not know and obey the Word of God for themselves. Only those who learn the way of the LORD through His Word can know and see the enemy’s work. Those who do not have a life in the Word will fall prey to deception and ultimately be destroyed (Hos. 4:6; Matt. 22:29). Discernment comes from being personally exercised in the Word of God (Heb. 5:11-14).
The New Garden—Restored Holy Bliss
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” ~ Isaiah 9:6-7
The Genesis account of creation and the relationship between the LORD and the first man and woman, is an ongoing saga to continue until the hour of Christ’s return, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. We are given this record (the Bible) in order to know the LORD and how He deals with men, and who He blesses and who He curses.
From the Garden to the Holy City—Genesis to Revelation, the war over the souls of men rages. The enemy seeks to reclaim those redeemed by the blood of the One who is the seed of woman (Gen. 3:15). What better way to undertake such an evil mission than to use those shepherds at the very helm of the visible church?
God’s account of man’s creation and fall is not left without a solution from the only One who can remedy his alienation. Holy Writ opens with the creation and fall of mankind and the promised prophetic restoration through the Messiah of all who will come to Him, as He justly prescribed (Gen. 3:15). The book of all Books ends with a warning to all of us concerning making the very same error Adam and Eve made when they bought into the distortion of His holy words, and thereby fell, joining forces with His archenemy.
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” ~ Revelation 22:12-21
In these final words of Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ tells us that He is coming quickly to reward all according to each person’s works. He says to us that those who keep and do His Word will receive blessings and “have right to the tree of life” in the restored “holy city” of God. Outside this blessedness will be all who have lived in and justified their sins—no matter what their previous relationship with Him might have been. Then, in the very final words of Holy Writ, there is the warning of adding to or taking from His words. This adding to or removing of truth is done first internally, in the hearts of those who do not genuinely love the LORD with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Those who love darkness rather than His holy light do not wish to come clean under the light of divine truth (Jn. 3:18-21; 2 Tim. 4:3-4).
This war for the souls of men spans from Genesis to Revelation, and the words of God are pivotal in this most crucial and consequential of battles. Those who play into the enemy’s scheme to “add unto” or “take away” from God’s words of instruction will be removed from the book of life, cut out of the holy city, and from all eternal blessings. The lake of fire waits.
PRAYER: LORD Jesus, please purify my heart and remove all dissimulation and mixture from me. Rid my life of all secret faults and presumptuous sins! Father, please grant me the blessing of knowing You in truth and living in Your holy light and will. Jesus, please preserve my eternal soul until the day of Your soon return. Amen.
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
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Abiding
Testing the Mettle of our Profession [podcast]
In this example, the phrase “testing the mettle” speaks of examining the authenticity of a person’s profession, putting to the test their claim of knowing Christ.
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16
1 John 3:5-23
“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 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 truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
Mark 4
“And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And HAVE NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” Mark 4:16-17
“Have no root in themselves” would be a good phrase to search out. When we choose to have impure motives, when we refuse to rid our lives of that sin which defiles us in His holy eyes, we still have a poisoned instead of a pure root.
IF one who has been saved and yet is not diligently seeking the face of the LORD for the REAL foundation that HE alone can build in our lives—the wheels are going to fall off before eternity. God told us He is going to shake all things, every life. There are no shortcuts. The divine kingdom system cannot be falsified.
“See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:25-29
ASSIGNMENT FOR THE HONEST: WANT to see, want to test if you are real, genuine, authentic? Read the book of 1 John. 5 chapters. Read 1 chapter per morning for the next 5 days. Pray as you begin and be ready, fervent, to repent—to cry out to the LORD to purge, to strip you of every trace of evil, of deceit, of pride, to the core of your being—as He alone can do. Psalms 51. You will do well to prayerfully camp in 1 John 3.
Never cover your sins. Confess them for what they are before the LORD (Hebrews 4:14-16).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Any saved person who does not deliberately choose to have a heart after God, a heart and life that is seeking God “continually” is not enduring to the end and will not make it. Such a person is clearly a foolish virgin (Matthew 25:1-13).
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
“This should be a way of life! Actively seeking a deep and intimate relationship with Him. Not just an occasional prayer but an active pursuit. ‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart’ (Jeremiah 29:13). This verse describes exactly how we are to seek Him. With all our hearts! Not half hearted! Jesus wants our total and complete devotion and commitment to Him. If we seek Him with our whole entire being He promises we will find Him!” Karen Cochran
The ONLY foundation standing in the end will be obedience to HIS Word (Matthew 7:19-29). Only those who chose to have their feet firmly planted on that one foundation will be with King Jesus (Matthew 7:21).
IN HIS MERCY, God is shaking EVERY foundation. Read Hebrews 12.
DO execute the calling of God on your life militantly (1 Timothy 2:1-5).
Heaven bound WISE virgins saints are staying full of God’s Word today. Matthew 25:1-13
Get militant or get mauled, mutilated by the flesh.
Your simple prayer: LORD, please help me love You more. In Jesus’ name.
Jesus Speaks…….. watch exactly WHO the the Son of God/Bible says are really saved…. which means the vast majority of professing “Christians” are hell bound….
“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8-9
ALL who do not confess Jesus to others prove they are ashamed of Him and will perish in the flames of hell. Counterfeits—“trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.”
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.” Jude 12
SO you claim Christ as Savior and yet you aren’t putting forth, preaching His Word? I doubt He knows you!
“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8-9
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Knowing the Word of God and also the God of the Word [podcast]
“Thou hast been in Eden the Garden of God.” ~ Ezekiel 28:13 [podcast]
Testing the Mettle of our Profession [podcast]
Mexico Mission Part 22
Conspiracy Among the False Prophets [podcast]
Man’s Problem – God’s Redemptive Solution [podcast]
Evangelism Adventures: Stories, Reports, and Testimonies of God’s Amazing Love [podcast]
The Way We Spend Our Money is a Direct Reflection of the Priorities of Our Heart [podcast]
10 Steps to Restoring a Brother [podcast]
The Only Solution to Man’s Sin [podcast]
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The Seed of Salvation [podcast]
“In Due Season We Shall Reap, If We Faint Not” [podcast]
There’s Only One Savior [video]
Biblical Case Against Naivety
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