ARE THE BELIEVER’S PRESENT AND FUTURE SINS AUTOMATICALLY FORGIVEN? [podcast]
MESSAGE RECEIVED/COMMON OBJECTION:
“If Jesus only died for past sins that means He has to ‘die again’ for present & future sins? This is not what the word says. He will not die again because his death fulfilled the law for the believer. Therefore there are no more sins to be forgiven for the believer. But we must still confess sins present & future.”
REPLY:
“He died once” (Romans 6:10). The perfect sacrifice of Jesus is not in question, but the faithfulness of the individual saved person, the recipient of salvation, certainly is. God “cannot deny Himself” – yet “if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:11-13.) Jesus died, offering the perfect sacrifice for ALL sins – past, present, future (Hebrews 9:12, etc.). Yet, the appropriation of His cleansing from sin is contingent upon our continuing to walk in the light with Him (1 John 1:7). It’s not automatic as some have been misled to believe. Jesus taught His own people that they must endure to the end to be saved (Matt 10:22; 24:13, etc.). The Son of God promised that those in Him who do not abide, continue with Him, will be cast into the fire (John 15:6). Jesus died for His church/people “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” He is soon returning “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). In His Word God has set forth conditions to appropriate His forgiveness. His promises are conditional, not unconditional and if the conditions are not met, the promise will not be given (Isaiah 1:18-20; Hebrews 6:11-12; 10:26-39, etc.).
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
WHERE did God ever promise you that all FUTURE sins are already forgiven, whether you repent and confess them or not? He didn’t. YES, they are all paid for but only remitted as you walk in the light, enduring to the end of your life (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 1 John 1:7, etc.).
QUESTION:
“Regarding Jesus’ atonement, did He or did He not die for all the sins of His people (past, present, future)?”
REPLY:
The question is not only whether Jesus died for all the sins of His saints but also, how are those sins forgiven? What are His conditions to appropriate His forgiveness by accessing the blood of Christ? (See Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 1:9, etc.)
Jesus died “for the sins of the whole world” and yet the “whole world” is not forgiven due to the free will He made us with (1 John 2:1-2). God’s conditions must be met in order to appropriate His forgiveness. And, such redemption is given initially upon the repentance and faith of the recipient. That recipient is to abide, to continue, to “walk in the light” in order to continue to be washed from his sins in the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7). All sin must be dealt with – nailed to the cross through repentance and confession as needed by the saint. Those who die with spotted garments will suffer damnation. They will be shut out of the eternal kingdom like the 5 foolish virgins who did not continue/abide with the Bridegroom until the wedding (Matthew 25:1-13). Jesus is coming back for a a people, a “glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
“God gives forgiveness of past sins. However, as to future sins, each one procures this for himself. He does this by repenting, by condemning past deeds, and by begging the Father to blot them out.” (Clement of Alexandria, A.D. 195)
The grace-perverting OSAS/eternal security frauds mock at this biblical truth and prove they are counterfeits who refuse to lay down their lives in this sinful world and are the very foolish virgins who will be shut out (Matthew 25:1-13; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Titus 1:16; Matthew 3:7-10; 1 John 2:4, etc.).
“Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19
Dear OSAS fairy tale believer: Grace is given to overcome sin and not to justify it.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” Titus 2:11-12
Eternal security/OSAS is diabolically designed to justify sin and lukewarmness, prevent the once saved person from living a repentant life, denying self in this sinful world, taking up the cross, and following Jesus for real! OSAS is the lie Satan uses to steal back the souls he lost. This is the very first lie of Satan which led to the fall of mankind (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
The Condition for Continual Forgiveness
“But IF IF 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. IF we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:7-9
Wow, once again we witness that bone-crushing, lie-leveling two-letter word which haunts every proponent of the unconditional eternal security myth – “if.” Read this again – “if”, “if”, “if” we confess then we are forgiven and cleansed, but not until the sin is confessed. God is without fail faithful to forgive if we will simply and sincerely confess our sins in true repentance.
“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…IF we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:7-9
The divine promise of ongoing forgiveness is conditional, it is conditioned upon the salvation recipient walking in the light of divine truth and confessing his sins (1 Jn. 1:7, 9). This is saving faith in action (Rom. 4-5). This is a manifestation in the life of every person who possesses authentic saving faith (James 2). The “if” word in this passage (1 John 1:9) and many others should haunt any person who still refuses to discard the OSAS heresy.
It’s not a denial that believers sin but rather an acknowledging of the need for continually returning to Christ in repentance, denial of self, learning the cross, personal holiness by way of the grace of God and the crucified life, and confession of all sin (1 John 1:3-10).
“For IF we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
Only “if” we enjoin the LORD in fellowship, judging ourselves and dealing with our sins and iniquitous tendencies, will we be “chastened of the Lord” and “not be condemned with the world.” Those who die outside of God’s grace will stand before Him at the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-15). Here the Holy Spirit blesses us to know exactly how to escape being “condemned with the world” at the Great While Throne (Prov. 28:13; Rev. 20:11-15). One who stands before that Great White Throne Judgment Seat is going to be issued a just sentence for his termination into the bowels of hell which will be engulfed in the lake of fire.
The OSAS proponents tout the unfounded myth that the truly saved person is somehow mysteriously exonerated from all liability, penalty and responsibility of all sins, past, present and FUTURE. Is this supposition biblically accurate? Where is this found in the Bible? To the contrary, the Scripture states something much different:
“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
Here the Lord had the perfect opportunity to tell us that all sins, even future sins, were automatically forgiven regardless of whether or not the transgressors heart was repentant or not. The “sins that are past” are forgiven, thank God, but all future sins will be forgiven when and “if” repentance is rendered toward the Lord by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13; 1 Jn. 1:7, 9). Actually the LORD had 27 books in the New Testament canon alone to tell His people they are unconditionally forgiven of all future sins no matter what they choose to do, and He simply didn’t. The absence of even the hint of such should make it abundantly clear that the forgiveness of the future sins of the individual believer is contingent upon his choice to continue to walk with Christ’s light (1 Jn. 1:7).
What the OSAS proponent doesn’t acknowledge or understand is that all sins, past, present, and future, have been paid for, yet the forgiveness of them is only appropriated by and granted to the individual when and as confession and repentance is rendered (1 Jn. 1:7, 9). We have the Word of God on this truth! As His Word clearly reveals, God set this system up and any person who disagrees can argue with Him if they wish to. Any person who doesn’t acknowledge this plain Bible truth has fashioned in his heart the image of a false god made in his own sinful image and likeness. When we honestly observe His Counsel, we witness that the LORD simply never indiscriminately washes away sins from anyone. There must be confession and repentance and faith.
“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Heb. 10:12). Salvation was paid for by Jesus “once” on the cross 2,000 years ago (Jn. 19:30; 1 Pet. 3:18). God dealt with all sins once and for all on the cross in the sense of satisfying the claims of His perfect justice (Rom. 3:24-25; 2 Cor. 5:19). The way that applies to the individual’s life is different. The same God who dealt with sin on the cross also equally gave condition for men to receive forgiveness – initially and on an ongoing basis. The LORD draws. No person can come to Him except by being drawn by Him – yet He leaves the final decision up to the individual (Jos. 24:15; Jn. 6:44). His desire is to save and not destroy, to rescue and not condemn (Lk. 9:56; Jn. 3:17). The one who will be in right standing with the Almighty must get in and remain in the relational will of God by repentance and faith in Christ alone (Acts 3:19; 20:21). Peter was rescued again or re-converted after sinning (Lk. 22:31-32). James 5:19-20 speaks of restoring or rescuing a perishing brother who errs into sin and spiritual death (James 5:19-20). Spiritual death is separation from God through sin and must be restored to re-establish the relationship (1 Jn. 1:6-10).
Peter denied Jesus three times and yet had to repent or he would not have been forgiven. Peter had to be reconverted – “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32; James 5:19-20) There are conditions to appropriating Christ’s salvation – initial and ongoing. Moral cowards hate this truth. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbw 28:13) …. It’s only “IFFFF we confess our sins” that God forgives them – it’s not automatic (1 John 1:9).
If sin can’t separate the saved from God, please explain this from Ezekiel 33:12-13. Who’s lying, God or those God-less wolves who teach eternal security/OSAS?
“Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” Ezekiel 33:12-13
To a defender of Satan’s eternal security/OSAS heresy who was teaching that we are saved by grace and therefore sin cannot separate us from God, this following reply was given:
Saved by grace means one can then live in sin? Wow! Did God cease to be “Holy, holy, holy” in His divine nature because He originally saved high and mighty you? You are clearly teaching the perverted, lascivious (license to sin) version of grace that Jude warned us “ungodly men” would teach (Jude 3-4). Repent sinner. There are several lists of soul-damning sins in the New Testament, warning us that God who is “Holy, holy, holy” will damn all who die in sin (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; 21:8, 27). You have allowed evil “ungodly men” to poison your mind and disobeyed God by not seeking Him, knowing Him by His Word for yourself (2 Timothy 2:15). OSAS/eternal security is the doctrine of moral cowards, spiritual pansies, who refuse to truly repent, lay down their lives, and follow Jesus for themselves. You are peddling Satan’s OSAS heresy and God is going to judge you if you don’t repent and cease (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
In many cases, the false security “gospel” is a message received by those who choose to deny Jesus rather than self and still wish to be exonerated for living a life that the Almighty sees as rebellion. In many cases these same people maintain an outward “form of godliness” (2 Tim. 3:1-5). The Word here should be to them an awakening to the reality of getting and staying holy before the living God. The keeping grace of God and a life of repentance are essential to the righteous being preserved to the end (1 Pet. 1:5).
“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 23-24
Sin Breaches
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” Exodus 32:33
Why would any person who truly loves God want a license to live in rebellion against Him by living in sin and not confessing and repenting? Shouldn’t believers “fight the good fight of faith” and “lay hold on eternal life,” overcoming that which offends the One they claim to love? The command to “Fight the good fight of faith” is written to believers. Saints are to violently fight the good fight of faith, laying hold on eternal life. The divine call is not a call to engage in a physical war but rather one to conquer the flesh, enabling the saint to overcome the enemies of his LORD and Savior (Isa. 58; Lk. 9:23-24; 1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Gal. 2:20; 1 Jn. 3:8). Will He not empower us as we live by faith and obey His Majesty? (2 Cor. 12:9; Phil. 2:12-13; 1 Tim. 6:12; 1 Pet. 1:5)
The Exodus of the Israelites under Moses’ leadership (a type of Christ the Deliverer) represents being brought out of sin and the world system by being birthed into the kingdom of light and translated out of the kingdom of darkness (Col. 1:13-14). After being brought out of Egypt and into the promise land, God’s people were then to fight and overcome their enemies through obedience to the One who is their Deliverer, the very Author and Finisher of their faith (Heb. 12:1-3). Deuteronomy 20:1-4 speaks concerning the people of God fighting after they were delivered from sin, Satan, and the world.
Could it be that the person who seeks to justify sin doesn’t truly love God but rather himself? (See James 1:22; 1 Jn 2:4-5; 3:18.) Do they deny Christ or self in their daily lives? It seems that some would rather live this earthly life in honor of themselves and vainly believe that they are “eternally secure” or “once saved always saved.”
“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.” Habakkuk 1:13
The absurdity and rebellion of believing that a holy God would accept and bring to Heaven a vile sinner who walks away from Him, is unholy, sacrilegious, unscriptural, and downright blasphemous.
Did you realize that God broke His promise to His own covenant people due to their rebellion? See Numbers 14.
“…ye shall know my breach of promise.” Numbers 14:34
The LORD broke (breached) His promise to covenant Israel due to their disobedience (sins against Him). His people refused to meet His just conditions and so they initiated this breach. All of Holy Scripture testifies to the truth that His promises are conditioned upon the obedience of the recipient.
“But your (God’s own people’s) 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
God is holy beloved, and sin separates people from Him. This is a basic Bible reality and without the understanding of this simple truth, we are doomed to be deceived. For the human race, it started with Adam and Eve, who were separated from the Lord when they sinned against His clear command (Gen. 2:17; 3:24; Rom. 5:12). Did Jesus shedding His blood somehow now excuse New Testament believers from living holy? Are their blatant and un-confessed sins not counted against them now? In the absence of any hint of such, the answer is obvious. There is no mythical wand waved over God’s people since Jesus came and died for our sins. There is no automatic covering of the willful sins of saved people. Not one Scripture hints that we are somehow excused from living lives separated unto Him.
“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
Did the Almighty somehow cease to be holy? If so, when? If He didn’t, we deceive only ourselves to think He will ever accept sin into His holy Heaven.
There has been no diminishing of the eternal attribute of divine holiness (Lev. 19:2; Isa. 57:15; 1 Tim. 6:16). His attributes are eternal as He is. In fact, because He is holy, He came to die for our sins to make us holy as He is holy. All this He did to initially make us clean and on an ongoing basis as we await our meeting together with Him (Jn. 13:8; Eph. 5:25-27; 1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Jn. 1:3-2:2). This leaves us with no excuse for remaining in our sins.
“The wages of sin is death (separation from the Lord).” Romans 6:23
Didn’t Jesus require Peter to repent and be “converted” or restored, after he sinned? (Read Lk. 22:31-32.) Repentance was a necessity as is the case for any saint who falls away in sin (James 5:19-20).
Sins must be diligently dealt with (Mk. 9:43-49; Rom. 6; Col. 3:5-10; 1 Pet. 2:11). We are told that one must confess and forsake them to receive His mercy afresh. Those who cover their sins without divulging, confessing and forsaking them, will not prosper.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
LOTS of people already in hell irrevocably for trying to cover/hide their sins with Satan’s OSAS lie.
According to the Word, aren’t “brethren” who “err” in need of being converted or brought back to repentance afresh? In such a case, isn’t one’s soul saved again “from death” and the “multitude of sins” forgiven?
“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death (eternal separation), and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20
Again, God’s holiness is an eternal attribute of His. Holiness is the essence of His nature. He is holiness Personified. He who was holy, is holy, and will forever be holy. He cannot be otherwise and demands the same of those who will be His, now and forever.
“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 20:7
In order to remain in the state of holiness, the believer must continue to humbly acknowledge his sins and obtain the forgiveness of the LORD.
Genuine saving faith includes repentance from sin and total trust in Jesus Christ, which produces a life of seeking the Lord with one’s whole heart, thereby producing Christ-like holiness in daily living (Acts 20:21; Lk. 13:3, 5; Heb. 12:14; 1 Jn. 2:3-6).
The abandonment and refusal of so many of today’s leaders to declare repentance is a mockery of God and an utter affront to His holiness. The modern false gospel peddled by the seeker-sensitive and emergent church business entrepreneurs is completely foreign to the message of the New Testament in which the early Church continued steadfast (Lk. 13:3, 5; 24:47; Acts 2:38, 42-47; 3:19; 20:21). Make no mistake: Only a counterfeit leader would dare remove such an essential component as the very holiness of God and the necessity of His people to fully and continually repent before Him (Lam. 2:14).
Some people are so arrogant that they suppose the Almighty God who is “Holy, holy, holy” somehow ceases to be holy and would not cut them off for their sins due to the fact that He initially saved them (Isa. 1:18-20; 6:3; Amos 9:10; Rev. 4:8). Such a notion reveals the height of blindness caused by pride, arrogance, and a self-serving heart (Isaiah 56:10-12).
Blatant and ongoing sin is the antithesis of divine holiness and that which He ordained His people to experience and walk in (1 Pet. 1:15-16). How can sin and holiness co-exist? We should pray and seek to more thoroughly understand the truth of His holiness and that in lieu of His holiness sin separates people from God and God from His people. To His own people, the Lord said: “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God” (Isa. 59:2). In Heaven, from eternity past, and in eternity future, the Almighty has and will be lauded and exalted with this one word descriptive of His nature, thrice consecutively – holy:
“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3
“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8
While God has revealed to us several aspects of His nature, it is interesting to note that only the word “holy” is used three times successively to solemnly praise Him and to reveal one of the attributes of His nature.
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8
Holiness is the enemy of sin and vice versa. It is the enemy of the antichrists in our midst who hide behind their sham façade teaching of ‘once saved, always saved.’
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, IF ye CONTINUE in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant (of sin) abideth (remains) not in the house (God’s) for ever: but the Son abideth ever.” John 8:31-35
“Whoso privily (secretly) slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer (to remain in His presence)…He that worketh deceit shall not dwell (remain) within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry (continue) in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off ALL wicked doers from the city of the LORD.” Psalms 101:5, 7-8
Four times the Bible states that names can be and are blotted out of the book of life – all because God is “Holy, holy, holy.” How important is it to be made holy by Christ’s precious blood and have one’s name written and remaining in the book of life?
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15
It is obvious that those names which are blotted OUT, had to first have been written IN the book of life in order to be blotted OUT of it (Exod. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Rev. 3:5; 22:19).
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which NO man shall see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
Space does not permit listing the plethora of Scripture revealing that the Lord will not allow sin into His presence – no matter what His previous relationship with a person was. (Have you closely studied Joshua 6-7 and Ezekiel 33:12-13?)
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23
“Holiness” is the manifest fruit of “eternal life.” If one doesn’t possess the fruit of personal holiness – a life separated unto the LORD, it is because he does not possess eternal life. The payment for living in sin is spiritual “death” (Rom. 6:23; 8:13). Those who are truly Christ’s are “made free from sin” and are “servants to God” and have their “fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Did you note that in verse 22 there is a clear correlation between “holiness” and “everlasting life?”
Polycarp, an early church disciple who existed before Augustine and Calvin, still held fast to, observed, and maintained the original Gospel given to us by the LORD and His apostles. Such is evidenced in this following statement of his to a fellow saint of Christ:
“Having obtained good proof that thy mind is fixed in God as upon an immovable rock, I loudly glorify [His name] that I have been thought worthy [to behold] thy blameless face which may I ever enjoy in God! I entreat thee, by the grace with which thou art clothed, to press forward in thy course, and to exhort all that they may be saved. Maintain thy position with all care, both in the flesh and spirit.” (The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp 1:1)
Polycarp was one of the apostle John’s direct disciples who existed before most of the apostasy from truth occurred. Polycarp still embraced and taught the original Gospel given Him by John. As Christ and His apostle’s instructed, He taught that maintaining ones place with God was essential to final salvation and if one didn’t hold his position, all would be lost.
A Special People
According to His Word, Jesus Christ gave Himself for us that He might redeem and purify unto Himself a peculiar people empowered by His grace.
“…our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar (special) people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:13-14
Why did Jesus come to die for you? According to Titus 2 the Bible says of Jesus Christ – “Who gave himself for us…
- “that he might redeem us from all iniquity”
- “that he might…purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works”
Why would the divinely-breathed truth of this passage ever need explanation? Explanation and defense of this truth is only necessary because there are those who are bent on proving an erroneous, pre-conceived position that is contrary to whole of the Word of God.
How many sins did it take for God – who is holy – to remove the first man and woman from His presence? Just, one right? Was their relationship with Him perfect before they sinned against Him? Yes. Why did Jesus come? Was it not to restore that relationship Adam and Eve knew? (Read Rom.5) What separated them? Sin, right? So, to believe that no sin can separate the saved person from the LORD would be absurd, unfounded and blatantly contrary to what is revealed in Scripture. Did the Almighty cease to be HOLY all because He saved your wretched soul? Do all things now revolve around high and mighty YOU and your self-serving desire to be able to live in sin and still feel secure? That is delusional moral cowardice at best. Hell awaits.
To concoct in ones mind the image of a deity who grants his people freedom to sin with no consequence is to worship at the altar of a false god. Such is completely contrary to what the God of Scripture told us of Himself. He came to die to forgive, deliver and empower us to overcome sin so that we don’t have it in our lives (Matt. 1:21; Jn. 1:29; Tit. 2:13-14; 1 Jn. 3:5). He did not come to free us to live in sin but rather “that he might redeem us from all iniquity…that he might…purify unto himself a peculiar people.” (Rom. 6:1-2, 15; Tit. 2:11-14).
“And ye know that he was manifested to TAKE AWAY our sins; and in him is no sin.” 1 John 3:5
The bottom line truth is that we all still sin against Him and are required to ask the LORD for His forgiveness and stay cleansed, especially in light of Christ’s soon return (Lk. 21:34-36; 22:31-32; Heb. 4:14-16; 2 Pet. 3:10-14; 1 Jn. 1:7-2:2). We have never been told by the LORD that we have a license to sin with no need to confess and repent (Ps 32:5; 38:18; 51:1-17; 69:5; Prov. 28:13; James 5:19-20; 1 Jn. 1:9; 2:1-2).
The LORD granted us His grace – not to live in sin – but rather to bless and empower us to please Him fully now “in this present world” and as we eagerly await His glorious return for His remnant body (Tit. 2:11-14).
Quoting David’s words in Psalms 32, the apostle Paul writes:
“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Romans 4:6-8
The “blessed” place to be is where we have a real walk with God, one that is accountable, repentant, and obedient. As we do, we are in His holy light and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin!
Of the true follower of Christ, Andrew Murray wrote:
“He (true believer) to be partaker, not only of the grace, but also of the holiness of his Lord; or rather; he sees that holiness is the chief beauty of grace. To live the life of Christ means to him to be delivered from the life of self; the will of Christ is to him the only path of liberty from the slavery of his own evil self-will.” p. 188 Abide In Christ
The LORD Almighty is a great God who has granted to us this “so great salvation” which He wrought through Christ alone (Jn. 19:30; 2 Cor. 5:19; Heb. 2:3). The LORD is a God of great mercy and forgiveness and yet He requires the participation of the one who is currently and desires to be continually forgiven.
PRAYER: Jesus please cleanse me afresh. I humble myself before You and acknowledge my sins and ask that You wash me clean with Your sinless blood and strike the fear of the LORD in my heart. Bless my inner man that I might never excuse my sins but rather confess and forsake them in godly sorrow. Strengthen my heart with Your Holy Spirit to glorify Your name in fruitful living till the end. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
QUESTION RECEIVED:
“Dear Todd, recently I am hearing on some T B N stations a teaching that I haven’t heard before. It is that one is forgiven all their sins at the onset of salvation, even future sins that might be committed. I never even thought of such a thing. I always remember if one did sin after salvation we have to ask for forgiveness and Jesus would forgive us, if we are truly sorrowful with a Godly sorrow. It seems strange that this is coming up now. I think it is wolves talking. Please let me know what you think and what the Scriptures teach. I am thinking 1 John 1: 9.”
REPLY:
That’s just another heresy being peddled by TBN. Exactly sister 1 John 1:9. Jesus paid for all our sins on the cross and yet the individual appropriation of divine forgiveness is contingent upon abiding, remaining in Christ in order to receive final salvation into glory (John 15:1-6; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39, etc.).
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Apostasy
Favorite Eternal Security “Proof” Text? [podcast]
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
Does John 10:27-29 Prove “Eternal Security”?
WHO are Jesus’ Sheep? Defined by, in God’s Word.
John 10:27-29
“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
Verse 27 is the condition necessary to appropriate the promises of verses 28-29.
Those who believe that a man can never lose his salvation, use this John 10:28-29 text but ignore the prerequisite, the divinely given condition – v27. Watch this:
Firstly, in this passage Jesus identifies those sheep whom He makes the security promise to. He says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” In this we see one part divine and two parts the responsibility of the individual:
- “I know them”—the divine part toward those who are truly in Christ, presently abiding (v. 27)
- Those who are His sheep “hear” His “voice” and “follow” Him—the individual’s responsibility (v. 27)
The promise to be kept is a conditional promise which requires that we choose to continue to hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27-29). Many today wrongly detach our LORD’s words in verse 27 from verses 28-29. In doing so, they perpetrate their “eternal security” mythology.
The problem for the eternal securists is that v27 has been intentionally been ignored…. It’s the actual condition Jesus gives for receiving the assurance promises He then gives in v28-29.
Those who seek to spread the “once saved always saved” heresy use John 10:28-29 to their advantage and conveniently ignore the preceding words of Christ in verse 27. Verses 28-29 are promises of security to those who have been genuinely born again and are currently abiding in Christ – hearing His voice and following Him (John 15:1-6). Many ignore the previous qualifying words (v. 27) of Jesus where Christ tells us that only those who are hearing His voice and following Him are promised that they are secure and will never perish. There is a condition to being secure in Christ—knowing Him—which requires continuing to abide in Him, hear His voice and follow Him (see also John 15).
“Jesus will neither leave us nor forsake us, but we can leave and forsake Him by choosing our sins OVER His love, grace and mercy!” Dino Filardo
Eternal securists have been taught to selectively interpret Scripture while ignoring mountains of Bible truth, in order to come to a predetermined conclusion.
Many a false teacher has built his own ministry empire dishonestly peddling this passage. Take a closer look. Anchor the promise to be kept in verses 28-29 on verse 27 where Jesus identifies who His sheep are – those who hear and continue to hear His voice and continue to follow Him (present tense). The promise to be kept is a glorious and yet conditional promise which requires that the individual recipient of the salvation gift of God chooses to continue to hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27-29). Many today wrongly detach our LORD’s words in verse 27 from verses 28-29 of John 10. In doing so, they perpetrate their “eternal security” or otherwise called “once saved always saved” mythology. Beware as this was the first lie Satan told mankind, which led to the fall (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
Instead of synthesizing the whole of Scripture, false teachers isolate certain verses for their own self-serving agenda and purpose (2 Corinthians 2:17, etc.).
The sheep Jesus’ promises are going to be kept are those who endure to the end, abide (remain) with Him (John 15:1-6). The Great Shepherd defines His sheep as those who are presently hearing His voice and following Him (present tense). John 10:27-29
It’s not difficult to mislead people in the direction of the sinful nature of their hearts – because then they can evade truly repenting which is a major life change and necessity for salvation. This is why Paul foretold of this hour and how men would “heap to themselves (false) teachers having itching ears.” (2 Timothy 4:3) “Itching ears” here represents unrepentant hearts.
OSAS people make a vain attempt at redefining the words of Scripture to fit their own self-serving agenda of lukewarmness, cross-less rebellion. For example they hyper-focus on “eternal” in the term “eternal life” while intentionally refusing to synthesize the whole of what Scripture states. They hyper-focus on the word “gift” and teach that a gift could never be lost which the rest of Scripture does not agree with. They then take the word “sealed” and make it to be permanent which it cannot possibly be because the same Greek word for “sealed” is used of Jesus’ tomb which we all know was NOT permanently sealed (Matthew 27:66). In this they bear false witness against the LORD and act like some Scriptures are more divinely inspired than others. This practice reveals the evil and deceit of their own hearts. Not just some Scripture in the Bible but rather “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) It must all be synthesized, put together, compared (1 Corinthians 2:13). Error will result in the hearts and lives of those who do not search, study, and revere “ALL scripture” in God’s Word.
Eternal security deceivers don’t want to talk about Bible verses that contradict and expose their proof texts. You see, they don’t want to get awaken by the truth to the scam they’ve bought into. The wolves who they gullibly believe instead of God’s Word, taught them to cry “context, context” all while THEY are the beguilers who are taking Scripture out of context. Just like the demonic democrats in America, they accuse their adversaries of the exact thing THEY themselves are guilty of (Romans 2:1-3).
YOU are defending OSAS and yet you gave no Bible verses? Self-deception. If “once saved always saved” were true, WHY O WHY didn’t God tell us? Such a term, phrase, or concept appear no where in Scripture and the verses you use to “prove” it are taken out of their context. OSAS is undeniably the very first lie Satan ever told and it led to the fall of mankind from a HOLY God (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). If OSAS isn’t a doctrine of devils, nothing is! (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
Is the unchanging, Almighty God no longer “Holy, holy, holy” now that He sent His only begotten Son? (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8) If He’s still holy, no unrepentant person with sin will enter His holy Heaven (Revelation 21:8, 27, etc.).
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14
HOW is it that so many treat the words of JESUS recorded in John 10 more divinely authoritative than the words of JESUS recorded in John 15? False teachers.
Most of the dupes who cite John 10:28-29 to “prove” they can never lose their salvation, 1. Don’t even know what the preceding verse says (v27), and 2. Have no clue what JESUS says in John 15:6.
“If a man abide (remain) 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
In this John 10 passage used by the unconditional eternal security crew to peddle their wares, some neglect to look closely at verse 27 to see who Jesus was specifically speaking to when He promised “they shall never perish.” “They” refers to those who “hear my voice” and “follow me.” According to verse 27 the promise of eternal security is conditional. Assurance of salvation is only to those who are presently following Christ. In verse 27 we learn that protection from judgment to come is only to those who are currently 1) hearing His voice, 2) known by Him, and 3) following Him. This is consistent with the message seen in the whole of Holy Writ.
“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. 21 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. 22 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
WHO did Jesus say His true sheep are?
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (Jn. 10:27). According to these words of Christ, those who “know” Jesus and “follow” Him are given the promise that they will “never perish.” As long as the follower hears His voice and follows Him, they are assured “eternal life.” This is exactly what the Son of God taught just a few chapters later in John 15 where He says that if a branch that is in Him does not remain or abide in Him, that person will be cut off and cast into the fire (hell).
Those who abide or remain under the shadow of His holy and protective wing shall remain secure in Him (Ps. 91:1). The Good Shepherd here said: “Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” No man can pluck us out of His protection except ourselves by our own decisions. We who are abiding are protected from the snare of other men drawing us away as we remain walking with the Son of God. If you’re tucked, you won’t get plucked. If you’re not tucked under the wing of intimacy with Jesus, you will, can, and are likely to be plucked out of His holy hand by your own sinful unbelief. The LORD told us “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev. 3:11).
It’s also notable that those who emphasize John 10 to convince themselves and others that they are “eternally secure”, don’t even know much less acknowledge the words of the Savior in John 15:1-6.
Telling.
“If a man abide (remain) 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
Jesus taught repeatedly that some would not continue to follow Him (“abide”) and hear His voice and would consequently “fall away.” There is record of some who once believed and then stopped believing (Lk. 8:13; 13:23-30; Jn. 6:66; Acts 8:14-23).
WHY do eternal securists get all upset when their fairy tale is exposed? Well, they are hiding behind the thin veneer of this heresy, feeling all secure, emboldened to live as they please, feeling assured in their lukewarmness and sin … denying Jesus instead of self, refusing to take up the cross that Jesus commanded all who would follow Him truly (Luke 9:23-24). Christ’s apostle Paul speaks of self-serving “enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18-19) What’s behind this myth? The Psychology of Eternal Security [book]
Another Example of the Twisting of Scripture
The eternal securists seek to justify their OSAS heresy by misusing the following passage…. but in this Paul is speaking of those who go to Heaven, the judgment of saints, and not those who fell away and won’t be there because they will be in hell. They will not be present when this happens….
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
One More….
Common Objection to Conditional Eternal Security….
“What about Romans 8:38-39 where it says nothing can separate us from the love of God?”
REPLY:
Simple: Notice the word LOVE not life. God will love us all the way into hell if we choose not to repent. His soul will even “weep in secret places for your pride” which comes before destruction (Jeremiah 13:17). The LORD is “Holy, holy, holy,” He’s just, and He will not ever coexist with sin. See the fall of lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:13-19; Luke 10:18). The wages of sin is still death and the LORD will damn every soul that dies in sin, with no exception (Psalms 5:4; Habakkuk 1:13; Isaiah 6:3; Romans 6:23; Revelation 4:8; 21:8; 22:11, etc.). Read Jesus’s parable of the prodigal son Lk 15. Did the father love and miss his son? Yes. Did the father (represents God) go chase him down? No. The son who departed had to choose to return. Much truth there. Speaking of Romans, read 11:20-22. Now read 2 Peter 2:20-22 and the book of Hebrews.
1 John 2:19 is often also utilized to “prove” eternal security. Not.
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” 1 John 2:19
Interestingly, the word “never” does not appear in this verse above which is so often used to “prove” OSAS. Let’s read it again with an objective mind. And, also remember what Jesus says about the primary importance of His teaching of the seed and the soil, the sower and the Word:
“And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” Mark 4:13
The honest student of the whole Counsel of God’s Word knows that numerous clear Bible truths reveal that a saved person can turn away from the LORD, so we know that the apostle John could not possibly be saying that a saved person could never depart from the LORD. In my opinion, this verse is the best argument the eternal security proponent has, yet it’s not enough. There must be two or three witnesses and not just one (2 Cor. 13:1). After a closer examination of this text, one will find that verse 19 does not teach or justify “once saved always saved.” When any one verse is taken to the exclusion of the whole Word of God, one will certainly misunderstand the doctrine of the LORD which can only be apprehended by “study.” (2 Tim. 2:15) This verse is like any other verse of Scripture – it must be taken in light of the entire Counsel of God. The context to be considered is 1 John 2:18-29).
In examining the context in which 1 John 2:19 is set, we see that false teachers whom John calls “many antichrists,” had come and were telling these believers that Jesus was not the Christ (v22).
Let’s look at verses 18 and 19 together:
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” 1 John 2:18-19
Note here that it is specifically of these “antichrists” that John speaks and says that “if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
John was speaking of those who were once saved but then departed from the faith (1 Tim 4:1), they believed and then fell away (Luke 8:12-13) …. then departed from the believers in that fellowship.
Teddy Caldwell writes:
“OSAS insists that those are professing believers, but 1 John 2:18 says such people are antichrists. 1 John 2:22 says an antichrist is one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Anyone who does that isn’t a believer and isn’t even trying to look like one.”
Concerning 1 John 2:19, Donald Stamps, in the Life in the Spirit Study Bible, writes:
“‘THEY WENT OUT FROM US.’ When the antichrists departed from their fellowship with true believers, they were not in a saving relationship with Christ. This allows for two possibilities: (1) They were never true believers to begin with, or (2) they had once been in a saving relationship with Christ but afterward abandoned their faith in Christ.”
Right here in verse 24 of this passage we see the doctrine of personal responsibility to “remain” in faithful obedience to the LORD or lose one’s place with God (1 Cor. 15:2; Gal. 6:9; Col. 1:23). This is a teaching found throughout Holy Writ – the divine requirement to stay saved or lose all in eternity, “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 7)
“Let that therefore abide (remain) in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. IF (denotes condition) that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” 1 John 2:24-25
Verse 24 alone tells us that we cannot think that verse 19 means that someone who is at some point in right standing with God can never depart from Him and lose out. Also, verse 25 tells us that “eternal life” (not just rewards) is at stake and the promise contingent upon the believer abiding or remaining in that “which ye have heard from the beginning” which is the Gospel. “Eternal life” is assured as long as one is remaining rooted in Jesus Christ. This is the overwhelmingly consistent message of God’s Word.
In verse 26 John says “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” Verse 19 is written about the deceivers who sought to “seduce” these disciples John was addressing and not of true believers.
With all of Scripture in consideration, we can conclude that 1 John 2:19 is a specific example and not a rule of doctrine.
If you truly wish to search out this matter, let me encourage you to closely examine, break down and study this entire text (1 Jn. 2:18-29). In order to ascertain truth, one must compare the verse in question with all other related Scriptures, beginning with the context in which the verse is set (Isa. 28:9-10; 1 Cor. 2:13).
Go here for more on the misuse of 1 John 2:19.
Eternal Security / OSAS Exploded
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Abiding
Abiding Under the Shadow of the Almighty [podcast]
“O Lord, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. 16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: Jeremiah 15:15-16
Dwelling “in the secret place of the most High”
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Psalms 91:1-2
“In the secret place of the Most High – Spoken probably in reference to the Holy of holies. He who enters legitimately there shall be covered with the cloud of God’s glory – the protection of the all-sufficient God. This was the privilege of the high priest only, under the law: but under the new covenant all believers in Christ have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus; and those who thus enter are safe from every evil.” Adam Clarke
“[Psalms] 91:1, 2 Jesus is the One who in a preeminent way dwelt in the secret place of the Most High, and abode under the shadow of the Almighty. There never was a life like His. He lived in absolute, unbroken fellowship with God, His Father. He never acted in self-will but did only those things that the Father directed. Though He was perfect God, He was also perfect Man, and He lived His life on earth in utter and complete dependence on God. Without equivocation He could look up and say, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him I will trust.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
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Abiding
The Warnings of the Book of Jude [podcast]
Water Baptism: Understanding It [study guide]
Favorite Eternal Security “Proof” Text? [podcast]
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Attend to My Words [podcast]
Gathering Fruit for Christ’s Eternal Glory [podcast]
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee [podcast]
Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High [podcast]
The Over Population Delusion Exposed [video]
Are You Bless-able? English and Spanish [podcast]
Mexico Mission Momentum Part 41
“Cursed be the Man that Trusteth in Man” [podcast]
Modern Day Cult of Personality Exposed [podcast]
The Cross and the Throne of Grace [podcast]
The Damning Myth of Unconditional Eternal Security! [podcast]
Calvinism’s Origins and Historical Roots [podcast]
Name Cult Warning: Beware of the Yahweh, Yahushua, Yahuah Cults!
Favorite Eternal Security “Proof” Text? [podcast]
Water Baptism: Understanding It [study guide]
Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High [podcast]
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee [podcast]
The Warnings of the Book of Jude [podcast]
Hell’s Menu
“You Who are Troubled Rest with Us” [podcast]
Penknife Sacrilege [podcast]
Attend to My Words [podcast]
The Over Population Delusion Exposed [video]
Diminishing Returns or Divine Blessings? [podcast]
Be Not Moved Away from the Hope of the Gospel [podcast]
Water Baptism: Understanding It [study guide]
Favorite Eternal Security “Proof” Text? [podcast]
Laboring Fervently for Christ’s Body [podcast]
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“Reformed Theology“, is just a fancy way of saying ‘We know better than Paul, the old testament prophets, even David! And the very apostles who walked with Jesus must be unlearned men or liars.’ Nay, I will not say such a thing of my LORD and Saviour, Christ Jesus. Let God be true, and >every< man a liar.” Jonathan Crane
It’s “ungodly men” who mislead the gullible with the eternal security heresy, and the heretical doctrines and system of calvinism. Jude warned us of just that, as did the prophets (Jude 3-4; Jeremiah 23:17, etc.). Then Jude reminds us of God’s judgment upon His own covenant people who were saved out of Egypt (the world) and then “afterward destroyed.” Then Jude reminds us that God judged the angels, a third of them, who rebelled against Him and were terminated from His domain, Heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:7-12, etc.).
“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” Jude 4-6
The Book of Jude
Greeting
1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Judgment on False Teachers
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 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;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
A Call to Persevere
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Doxology
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.