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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Articles
Salvation is Not a One-Time Experience but a Lifelong Walk [podcast]
WE’VE BEEN LIED TO!
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” Revelation 2:26
Christ’s work is finished, not yours (John 19:30). According to Holy Scripture, if you’ve been truly born again, you must abide in Christ, remain in Him, endure to the end or you will be cast into the fires of eternal damnation (John 15:6; Matthew 10:22; 24:13, etc.).
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10
Enduring “to the end” is a condition for ultimately being in Heaven with the LORD.
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22
The LORD Jesus and His apostles never once used the words “once saved always saved” or “eternal security.” So, who’s lying? What they did teach contradicts such a notion.
Who did Jesus promise is going to be “saved”?
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:11-13
You MUST “walk in the light” of truth to the end of your life on earth to be with Jesus eternally (1 John 1:7). Only THEN will you be eternally secure!
“But IF we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
Since when is obedience to the truth legalism or works salvation?
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4
Actually, if a person doesn’t have the fruit of good works in their life, it’s because either they have not yet truly been saved or due to their falling away (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:20-21, etc.).
“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
Who’s Going to Heaven and Who’s Not?
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Who’s going to be with Christ eternally according to the Son of God?
“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14
Those who are “called, and chosen, and faithful.” God calls and chooses “ALL men to be saved” and yet it’s only those who repent, become converted and endure to the end (“faithful”) who will reign with Him eternally (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 1 Timothy 2:4). He calls and desires all men to be saved and yet He will only save those who obey Him by repenting and putting their faith in Christ.
EVER WONDER why the OSAS adherent is often extremely vigorous about defending the unconditional eternal security sham he has bought into? What’s at stake for him? Why does he defend this teaching that has no ground in Scripture and that he has learned of men and devils?
The lame, refuses-to-take-personal-responsibility eternal securist hides behind his false facade that nothing he does including sin or doesn’t do affects or is related to his “relationship” with Christ. The word “fruit” appears 67 times in the New Testament canon. So is fruit important to the LORD? Good fruit, which includes good works doesn’t save us but it’s the clear proof that we know Him who came to do us and all mankind good by dying to bring us back to God (John 3:16).
PEOPLE who are hiding behind this satanic lie told by the serpent in the Garden become immediately irate and infuriated when the thin sham veneer of their pretention and self-preservation is pulled open by the truth. The light of truth shines into their darkened hearts. These want nothing at all to do with personal responsibility (Titus 1:16). They don’t care what the Bible teaches. They don’t want their little “eternal security” “I’m saved no matter what” myth busted because they are rebels at heart and refuse to truly surrender – which is what true repentance involves.
We need not kid ourselves, the fruit of our lives demonstrates clearly to God and man who we really are. Jesus taught “For EVERY tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.” (Luke 6:44) …. “Even a child is known by his doings (works), whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” (Proverbs 20:11)
The Calvinist and eternal securist wants to put the whole responsibility of salvation upon God because he wants no part of personal responsibility to “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) This is cowardly is it not? “Fearful” in Revelation 21:8 means cowardly and the lake of fire awaits all who are.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
If you die in sin, HELL is where you end up in (Ezekiel 33:12-13).
What does Hebrews 12:14 guarantee us?
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
God sent His Son to pay the full price “for the sins of THE WHOLE WORLD” and those He calls and chooses must be “faithful” or full of faith “to the end” or they will be shut out of the eternal kingdom just as the five foolish virgins were who ran out of oil due to neglecting fellowship with the Bridegroom (Jesus) (1 John 2:2; Revelation 17:14; Mathew 10:22; 24:13). See Matthew 25:1-13.
Explain why we think a bride to be can be unfaithful, commit adultery, fornicate, just before the wedding, and still be accepted as the bride at her scheduled wedding. Delusional. If such were the case, why is this not illustrated, why does it contradict Jesus’ parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1-13?
If we don’t truly repent and become “honest” with the whole counsel of God’s Word and rather live our one life on lies, namely, the myth that we are “eternally secure”, we shall find ourselves in the domain of the damned, from which we shall never escape (Luke 8:11-15).
Anyone Going to Argue with Jesus?
Jesus taught us that one who is in Him (saved) must abide or remain in Him or that person will be “cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned (hell).”
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned (hell).” John 15:1-6
Yes, salvation begins in the life of the sinner who has been drawn in and found by Christ and chooses to repent and put His faith in Jesus (John 1:12; 6:47; Acts 16:31; 20:21; Romans 3-5; Ephesians 2:8-9, etc.). Initial salvation is instant and yet that’s not the end of it … according to the record of the New Testament Scriptures. Christ and His holy apostles never spoke in terms of salvation being a one-time done deal.
Paul makes it clear that saving grace does NOT abound toward, in the life of any person who has been saved and yet is now living outside of Christ’s stated will, His Word.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2
It’s time to get into the Word friends and cease to walk in delusions.
What is the agent that will cleanse the Great Tribulation saints? (Revelation 7:14) – “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
The washing we are to receive of God by the cleansing blood of Jesus is not a one-time event but rather a lifelong walk/experience. Such is our walk with Christ – it’s an abiding relationship and to abide means to remain (John 15:1-6). And if we don’t remain in Him – we shall be “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) (more on this verse in a moment)
“But IF 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.” 1 John 1:7
There are conditions for continuing to remain, to abide in Christ’s saving grace. Only counterfeits refuse to acknowledge this. They want no part with personal repentance, laying down their lives in this fleeting world, and truly following Jesus. No, they want the crown but not the cross. They don’t love Jesus enough to truly serve Him and so they buy into diabolical systems like the heretical “eternal security” or calvinistic systems.
The vast majority of pastors and writers today are in gross darkness and treat salvation as a one-time event instead of an abiding, a remaining walk with Christ “to the end” of our lives (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15:1-6; Col. 1:23; Heb. 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-39, etc.). Many have espoused these lies because they have not chosen to get diligently and deeply into God’s Word for themselves but have rather followed other men’s selective line through Scripture. Those who aren’t diligently studying God’s Word daily are “not valiant for the truth” and will therefore be turned over to delusion and ultimately damned (Jer. 9:3; 2 Thess. 2:10-12).
“And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies (they go to the furthest lengths to embrace lies): but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:3
Those who do not love divine truth (the Holy Scriptures) manifest plainly that they do not love He who is “the truth.” (John 14:6) God takes that personally and will actually help or assist in their delusions and damnation.
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
God is able and will keep all who trust Him to the end and do not deny Him:
“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.” Jude 24-25
Will Every One Jesus Saved be in Heaven? | Is Salvation Eternal? | Is Doubting Your Salvation a Bad Thing? |
FEEDBACK:
——- FROM Shannon Cook: “To the “once saved always saved theorists”
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not “blot out” his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
For something to be “blotted out” (i.e. removed) it would had to have been there in order to be “blotted out” which totally contradicts the theory of “once saved always saved.”
So, who is saved?
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Consider the warning to the church of Ephesus:
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast “left thy first love.”
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT, and do they first works;[or else] I will come into thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick out of his place, expect thou repent.
Laodicean Warning:
“And unto the angel of the church of Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, [the faithful and true witness], the beginning of the creation of God. 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot,I would thou wert hot or cold. 16 [So then] BECAUSE thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:14-16 pass it on – Heaven Guaranteed to all who have Received Jesus?
Amen, never to depart from the Christ, he shall walk with us as we endure till the end!
“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5 Not never will you leave me nor forsake me. We’re sheep, we have natural, fleshly tendency to wander. Ever reminding us how crucial it is to continuously follow the Christ.
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye [endure] chastening, (there’s that word endure again) God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he that the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof ALL are partakers, then ye are bastards,(illegitimate) and not sons. Hebrews 12:6-8
The elect of Christ have and will experience chastening, and no matter the discomfort in and through it, we always rejoice and know there’s purpose (to the glory of our Christ) as we “endure.”
– check this out – Will Everyone Jesus has Saved be in Heaven?
Reply Received:
“Where do I begin. Every person born of God, WILL be faithful. Even if they are faithless, He remains faithful because He can NOT deny Himself. We are HIDDEN in Christ, and seated with Him right now in the heavenlies. We have passed from death to LIFE. This is an event that is unchangeable. God causes it to occur and doesn’t change His mind. He adopts us. Permanently.
Context is everything. It is king. It determines what a passage actually means. Did you know Todd, that God has saved you forever? It’s great to be free and assured of that. Are you afraid He might not keep you to the end? It’s His desire and intent to do that, bro.
Reply Back:
We only have security in Christ AS we are abiding – remaining – in an intimate relationship with Him.
According to Jesus in John 15, “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 (hell), and they are burned.” (Jn. 15:6)
In order to receive final salvation, one must abide or remain in Christ (Jn. 15:5-6). There is no guarantee that God’s seed will “remain” in the person who is born again and later departs from the LORD.
What you are doing is simply spouting off what you have been taught of mere sinful men…. speaking of context, let’s look at the context of what you partially quoted, conveniently and selectively excluding the whole context:
2 Timothy 2:11-13
“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:11-13
The person seeking to convince others of “once saved always saved” will misquote this text by saying that because “he (God) abideth faithful” He would never “deny us.” This is a distortion. Let’s read the verse again okay? The passage states that “if we deny him, he also will deny US.” The Word here tells us that “if we deny him, he also will deny US.” Does it get any clearer than this? Being honest with what the Bible says is essential to a clear conscience and to possessing the mind of Christ and true doctrine. Again, those who seek to make palatable the unconditional security teaching can be heard misquoting this text saying “He cannot deny us.” Is that what verse 13 says? No. It says “He cannot deny HIMSELF.” This passage tells us that He “will deny us” if we “deny him” and that “He cannot deny Himself,” not us. In this Bible passage we see that the LORD “abideth faithful”to Himself and to those who do not deny Him. Didn’t Jesus tell us to “deny” ourselves and that if we were “ashamed” of Him or His words He would be “ashamed” of us? See Luke 9:23-24 and Mark 8:34-38.
Below is a classic perversion of this very passage of Scripture. I read this on the internet. The persuasion intended by the person who wrote this is to convince people of something the Bible simply never puts forth.
“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13 – God wants you to know for sure that you cannot lose it (salvation) under any circumstance whatsoever, even in the worse scenario. The first part of the verse above says that we can come to a state of mind that we do not believe in God anymore. But, the second says that He will remain faithful if that happens…God cannot deny what He said, because God cannot lie! (Hebrews 6:18 KJV AV1611) He promised to keep us eternally secure and He will remain faithful in that promise even if we ‘believe not.’ Another possible way of looking at ‘he cannot deny himself’ is that we are one in Him. If He was not faithful in His promise, He would be denying himself of eternal security, that is, He would be casting part of himself in eternal damnation in the lake of fire.” J. A.
First off, if in fact as J.A. supposes, “God wants you to know for sure that you cannot lose it (salvation) under any circumstance whatsoever, even in the worse scenario,” then why did God Himself warn His very own people throughout His Word concerning the danger of:
• “Departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:12-15)
• Losing the reward of Heaven for turning back into sin after being saved (Ezek. 33:12-13; 2 Pet. 2:20-21)
• “Falling away” (Lk. 8:13; 2 Thes. 2:3)
• “Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith” (1 Tim. 5:12)
• Being “cut off” (Rom. 11:19-23)
• Being forsaken of Him (2 Chron. 15:2; Ezra 8:22; 2 Tim. 2:12)
• Being blotted out of the book of life (Exod. 32:33; Ps. 69:32; Rev. 3:5; 22:18-19)
The fact that God remains faithful in no way predicts or determines whether individuals will partake of His plan of salvation. His faithfulness in no way forces men to remain faithful (abide), nor does it disable the Almighty from rendering a due reward of eternal judgment upon those who do not meet His requirements/conditions. This is a truth completely ignored by those who embrace the unscriptural notion of an unconditional eternal security.
“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar …” Romans 3:3-4
All sin will be accounted for – one way or the other, and this is the reason for the Judgment Thrones to come (Exod. 34:7; Rom. 14:12-14; Rev. 20:11-15). This should shine yet a brighter light upon the glorious Gospel salvation Jesus Christ wrought for His people and how we can “come boldly” with our sins to His holy throne of grace to receive grace and mercy in time of need (Heb. 4:14-16).
It seems to me, after listening to hundreds of those who believe in an unconditional eternal security, that some people believe that their theology is going to change the unchanging, immutable God (Rom. 3:3-4; James 1:17). The twisting of Scripture, instead of “rightly dividing the word of truth” is done to one’s “own destruction.” (2 Cor. 2:17; 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet. 3:16-17) The disciple of Jesus Christ must be intent upon studying to show himself “approved unto God,” not men, and therefore be able to “rightly” divide “the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) The person who does not diligently study and know God’s Word, stands to be deluded by the many false teachings circulated in the church world.
What happens if a saved person does not obey and remain faithful to God? Those who do not choose to persevere in saving faith:
• Possess “an evil heart of unbelief” (Heb. 3:12)
• Depart from the living God (Heb. 3:12)
• Cannot and do not please God (Heb. 11)
• Depart from the faith through “doctrines of devils” (1 Tim. 4:1-6)
• “Turn away their ears from the truth” and are “turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:4)
• Cannot enter into His rest or presence (Heb. 3:19; 4:6, 11)
• Are “broken off” from the LORD (Rom. 11:20)
• The “unbelieving…shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone …” (Rev. 21:8, 27)
The Bible never guarantees that all Christ saves will automatically “endure to the end” which Jesus says is essential to ultimately being saved into Heaven when speaking to His very own people (Matt. 10:22; 24:13). Christ Himself invented the term “fall away” when speaking of those who would “believe” and be saved and not continue with Him (Lk. 8:13).
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Abiding
“Feed My Sheep” [podcast]
The Paramount Divine Importance of Nourishing the Saints of Christ
“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” 1 Timothy 4:16
Nourishing Christ’s Sheep
“Feed the Flock of God.” 1 Peter 5:2
First, it’s God’s flock, paid for with the very blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28).
Jesus Christ is “that great shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20). He instructed us to follow Him and, in doing so, to “FEED my sheep” (John 21:15-17). Tending to the sheep of Christ’s pasture involves nourishing them with His Word, warning them, comforting them, and at times admonishing or rebuking.
Every single disciple of Christ should pray to be pastoral in heart and life. We are each to tend to our fellowship with Christ daily and to minister His grace to His people as we ourselves grow in His grace.
In this, we must ask Him to grant our hearts a kingdom perspective, not a local church attendance perspective.
Christ and the apostles were the salt and light every day. They had no building. They went to the people as did all the disciples upon being scattered from Jerusalem during persecution. “They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).
“Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” John 21:15
Prayer: Father, in Jesus’ name, please nourish my heart in Your truth, fill me with Your Spirit afresh, and use me to refresh Your saints. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” John 21:15-17
To “feed” His sheep is to nourish, to perfect, to mature, and to equip them to do ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12).
THOSE who corral instead of preparing and launching God’s people into ministry WILL answer to the Almighty! They will have hell to pay. Their rebellion is more than obvious. They are the self-serving “enemies of the cross of Christ” Paul spoke of in Philippians 3:18-19.
Oh, and “ministry” is not cleaning the so-called “church” building or singing in the choir. Many have reduced “ministry” to something never seen in Scripture. True ministry would be to be involved in the Great Commission Jesus gave His people (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Acts, etc.). There were no church buildings to clean or choirs among the earliest followers of Jesus.
Feeding Christ’s sheep is so that they grow in His grace and DO “the work of the ministry” (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Leaders who are simply using, holding back the sheep for their own self-serving agenda, are the vilest of Satan’s pawns who make up the vast majority of leaders in today’s apostate modern church—and every honest Bible student knows it.
“For the LEADERS of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16
Make no mistake: The false leaders of our generation are the greatest threat to the fruitfulness of the body of Christ and the eternal souls of all men. Jesus and the apostles and prophets perpetually warn us of such a threat!
God did not send His only begotten Son to come die so wicked greedy frauds could have a church business. Jesus told His servant elders to FEED His sheep. WHY? So they can grow and be fruitful in doing HIS work.
“FEED my sheep”
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, FEED my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, FEED my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, FEED my sheep.” John 21:15-17
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6
Helping Lay the Foundation
The ONLY foundation standing in the end will be obedience to HIS Word (Matthew 7:19-29).
IN HIS MERCY, God is shaking EVERY foundation. Read Hebrews 12:24-28.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Bridegroom is Calling His Bride | Purifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast] | More on the Sabbath of the New Testament – Jesus!
Abiding
How do We Know Who is “of God” and Who is “Not of God”? [podcast]
Scripture vs Subjectivity/Human Reasoning
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8
There are many people pretending to be representing Christ. Many pretend to speak for God but how do we know who is truly “of God” and who is “not of God”? Jesus gave us the answer to this important question because He desires His people to be protected by proper discernment. He has warned us repeatedly to “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know (discern) them by their fruits. … And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matthew 7:15-16, 24:11).
Jesus says to use that we shall “know” (discern) others “by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16, 20)
“You’re taking things out of context” is what unrepentant heretics throw at you when you state the Word. And they say “rightly divide the word of truth,” using it out of context for their own self-serving agenda because they don’t like what the plain truth of God states in His written Word. They are clearly “not of God” according to Christ who also said “by their fruits” we are to “know” (discern) others (Matthew 7:16, 20).
Here’s the clear proof that most of the “church” is not Christ’s church, not His people at all. They falsely claim to be, as did the Jews of Jesus’ day. Memorize John 8:47 – who is “of God” and who is “NOT of God.”
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47
Simply put: We know who is truly “of God” and who is “NOT of God” by how they treat God’s Word.
True Heaven bound disciples of Jesus follow God according to the Bible (Psalms 119:105). All others follow a false god they concocted in their own deceived imagination (John 8:47).
One of the examples in this late hour of those who pose a threat to believers is the New Apostolic Reformation movement which has produced and sent forth an army of false prophets. Their false insinuations and claims include that their prophetic words, visions, apostles, prophets, and prophecies are equal to the divine authority of Holy Scripture. More on the New Apostolic Reformation Cult and its false teachings and false prophets is here.
When you or I or any other mere human claims to be hearing from the Holy Spirit, such is purely subjective and must be tested against the Holy Scriptures (1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 John 4:1, etc.). THAT’s WHY we have the written Word – to protect us from being misled from the “MANY false prophets” who are deceiving “MANY” as Jesus forewarned would be the case (Matthew 24:11). Final divine authority is the written Word, not some mere sinful man or woman posing as God’s voice.
The LORD gave us His Word in order that we could know Him who is “the truth” and not be “led away (from God) with the error of the wicked” by following “cunningly devised fables” (John 14:6; 2 Peter 1:16; 3:17).
2 Peter 1:16-21
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a MORE SURE WORD of prophecy (the written Word); whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The Word of God is sure and steadfast as is its Author who is eternally perfect and unchanging in His divine nature. Our faith is not based on mere fables or stories, but rather on the Word of the very One who created and sustains all life in His vast Universe (Colossians 1:16-17).
“The apostasy is here. Everyone is a Christian until it gets biblical.” F.
You wanna know who is really “of God” and who is “NOT of God”? John 8:47 – memory truth.
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47
Every person who is “of God” has their conscience captive to His Word. Any person who is casual about God’s Word instead of fervently attentive, is “not of God.” When the true follower of Jesus hears Scripture, they hearken, are comforted, corrected, edified, etc. They love God and therefore change to conform to the Word. His words are the highest authority of their lives.
Is God’s Word your final authority or not?
IF God’s WRITTEN Word is not the final authority of your personal life, we have nothing in common – you are not saved. Jesus says you are “NOT of God” (John 8:47).
LOTS of biblically-illiterate guys hanging out on social media arguing using subjectivity, lies, and false notions when they should be diligently studying and speaking only the Word. The problem is not only “lack of knowledge” but also the pride that underlies their refusal to be teachable (Hosea 4:6).
The godly man will own the truth – he will surrender and allow it to own him – even when it is correcting him (Proverbs 1:5; 15:32; Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, etc.).
IF you refuse to allow God’s Word to correct you, you are “not of God” (John 8:47).
The righteous declare with Christ’s apostle Paul to “Let God be true and EVERY man a liar” (Romans 3:4).
IF you don’t love God enough to voraciously study His Word, you do not love Him!
“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
We know who is truly “of God” by their resolved, unwavering love for God’s Word.
Those who preach the Word of God continue sending a whole slew of ungodly men packing! These ungodly men who vainly believe they are of God, prove their rebellion by their refusal to be corrected by God’s Word (Romans 3:4; Matthew 7:6; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Titus 3:10-11; 2 John 7-11).
“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 3:15-17
IF it is discovered that God’s written Word is not your absolute final divine authority, you will be rebuked and sent packing if you don’t repent. You are “NOT of God” (John 8:47). Time to clean house! Time to flip the tables of the hypocrites.
The only way to be rooted and grounded in Christ is to be an ardent student of His Word. There are no shortcuts and all who are not rich in His Word will be misled for not loving Jesus enough to prayerfully, daily pour over, learn, apply, and walk in His Word.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:6-10
We are “complete in Christ” and Christ is revealed to us in His Word (John 5:39-40, etc.).
IF you are living by human reasoning instead of strictly by God’s written Word, you are a lost soul in need of repentance. Repent now and when you do, the proof will be that God’s Word will become the authority of your life (John 8:47). Those who truly repent are in Christ and live by His Word and nothing else.
There are so very many people today acting like they know Jesus while His Word is not the final divine authority of their lives – which clearly proves they have either never repented or have since backslidden and are lost!
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
Satan is able to master the lives of those who “received not the love of the truth. … for this cause God shall send them strong delusion.”
Not getting into God’s Word will cost us everything. Those who do not love God’s Word, clearly prove they do not love Him.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6
Many modern “pastors” are little more than those who entertain goats/counterfeits and we know this because they are not fervent but rather casual about the Holy Scriptures and most of them use fake “bibles.”
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep (John 21:15-17). Christ never instructed Peter or anyone else to merely hold church services. Of course believers are to gather and yet, when we gather, what’s most important is feasting on God’s word (Nehemiah 8:8; Acts 2:42, etc.). Instead though, today most gatherings called “church” are little more than an hour of empty entertainment, void of the fear, the holiness, and the Word of God.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (abundantly) in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16
Hireling wolves aren’t getting people into the Word for themselves because they want people to need, to depend upon THEM instead of God so they can build their own brand, church, club! They are using people, building a busine$$ on the gullibility of their prey! (John 21:15-17; 2 Timothy 2:15; 4:2-4; 1 Peter 4:11).
Sink or swim! Get into God’s Word daily for yourself and stop trusting entirely on your Sunday morning gathering – which if you attend such, should be just one of many times you are fellowshiping with God and His people in a week’s time frame and not an end in itself -which inevitably it becomes!
After Pentecost, the birth of the New Testament church, the earliest believers are seen in temples (Jewish church buildings) for a time. They are also seen fellowshiping “house to house.”
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (the Word) and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:42-47
Jesus told Peter to “feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). Perhaps more like “Go feed them” as Jesus and His apostle did. They went to the people (Matthew 9:35-38; Acts 1:8; 8:4; 10:38, etc.), and not “Go get them to come to you for their weekly entertainment and so you can fleece them with your church membership program and system you’ve set up to catch unsuspecting souls.” Gathering together is God’s will and yet, being corralled to be preyed upon is something about which we see warnings throughout God’s Word.
Corralling and entrapping unsuspecting souls is one of the schemes, devices used by beguilers. In my opinion, this is what the apostate modern church world has become – a baited trap, a stage performed on by pied pipers who use music, bands, and story-telling to seek to capture, to ensnare souls.
Those who allow themselves to become indoctrinated and ensnared in this system become “twofold more the child of hell” and continue this campaign of evil for generations (Matthew 23:15).
“And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:2-4
PRAYER: Holy Father in Heaven, I come to You now solely on the basis of Christ’s perfect sacrifice for my sins. Please forgive my sin of self-idolatry and spiritual adultery where I have not put You first but had other false gods before You. In this very instant, right now, I repent. I turn back to You dear Jesus and ask You to wash my sins afresh in Your precious blood. I love You LORD Jesus and from this moment forward, I am relishing, worshiping, loving, obeying, and seeking Your holy face relentlessly. Please fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit and use me dear LORD. Also, please give me the deep desire for more of You and for a photographic memory of Your words. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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