Abiding

Does “Abide” Mean that One Must Continue? Is Your Salvation Secure? [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

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

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

Must one “abide” in Christ to the end after being saved in order to be in eternal glory with Christ, the Father, and their saints?

Yes.

“Abide in Christ” means to remain, dwell, or live in a continuous, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s about maintaining a close connection, relying on Him, and allowing His Word to shape one’s thoughts, will, and affections. Essentially, it’s about a life lived in constant communion with Christ.”

Typically, like the false religionists of Christ’s day, they put aside the WORD of God to keep their heretical tradition. In others words, they made their idol false doctrines king and final authority instead of God’s Word (Mark 7:6-9).

John 15:1-6

1 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 (remain, continue) 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.

Of this passage, we received a typical reply from an indoctrinated eternal security pawn.

“This is a warning for false converts. They were never saved in the first place. Jesus will not lose one that his father has given him..so if the false convert takes heed to this warning … hopefully they would be led to true salvation through the gospel.” Craig

MY REPLY:

Nice try. Typically, like false religionists of Christ’s day, they put aside the WORD of God to keep their heretical tradition. In others words, they made their idol false doctrines king and final authority instead of God’s Word (Mark 7:6-9). The context of John 15:1-6. Context John 15:1-6. Notice the term “IN ME” appears 5 times …. so were they in Christ, or saved? Yes. In Verse 3 they were cleansed by His Word (regeneration Titus 3:5-7). Also in this passage, the word “abide” appears 5 times. “Abide” means to remain, to continue in Him. So, why would Jesus be telling the counterfeit, a lost souls to continue in Him if they weren’t even saved? That would be lunacy.

Of this passage, Alan Heron writes:

“Craig, this cannot be true, as Jesus explicitly stated that this person WAS ‘in Him’, but IF he didn’t REMAIN ‘in Him’, he would be cast off. There’s no mention of this person being self-deluded into BELIEVING that he was in Christ, merely Jesus’ statement that this person WAS in Him. You can’t be cut off from a vine that you were never a part of. To argue otherwise is deny basic logic.”

Undeniably, un-conditional eternal security is the first lie Satan told to mankind which caused his fall – and he’s still telling the same lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). Jesus taught “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). See also Ezekiel 33:12-13; Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Hebrews 10:26-39, etc.).

The eternal security frauds, cowards, HATE Jesus’s teaching on the absolute necessity of abiding, continuing with Him after being saved – or else suffering the consequence of eternal fire (John 15:6). It’s time to man up, read John 15 honestly, and take personal accountability before the LORD who uttered those words.

Abide or Perish – YOU Don’t Make Up the Rules – God Does! And if You Don’t Abide by them, You Shall Perish as a Rebel.

Notice Jesus said “IF” – “IFFFFF you abide (walk, continue, remain) in me” – which clearly denotes terms you must agree to and walk in or all is lost (John 15:1-6). This speaks of a CONDITIONAL and not an un-conditional eternal salvation. If after being saved, that person does not continue in Christ, what did Jesus say will happen? Let’s review His words again:

“IF a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and CAST THEM INTO THE FIRE, and they are burned.” John 15:6

To “abide” is to remain, to continue and so there are things involved, there are conditions to meet, responsibilities for the recipient, otherwise why these words from Jesus? Who’s the fool – you are the Son of God? What if fiance’ doesn’t remain in relationship with the man/woman he/she is engaged to marry? Will that marriage happen or will it the engagement be ended? The answer is obvious by the 5 foolish virgins being shut out of the eternal bridal chamber. Read Matthew 25:1-13.

The finished work of Christ is a foundational truth of Christianity, but His accomplishment on that cross does not arbitrarily, automatically guarantee the final salvation of the individual He graciously saved in the past. Christ’s perfect and completed work to save mankind does not change the God-given free will of each human being – AND THE UTTER IMPERATIVE, ESSENTIAL OF FAITH-FILLED OBEDIENCE, abiding, ENDURING TO THE END.

When Jesus stated “It is finished,” that did NOT cancel or negate or diminish from ANYTHING else He stated. Jesus says to those He saves that they must “abide” in Him or they will be burned in the fires of eternal damnation (John 15:6). To “abide” simply means to intimately fellowship with, remain in and continue in, which is essential. He says we must “endure to the end” to be saved into eternal glory (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15:6, etc.).

Jesus certainly did pay the perfect price to purchase you out of sin, back to the Father, and yet, your appropriation of that gift is a requirement. Christ’s perfect sacrifice does not in any way remove what Christ Himself mandated for you to do in order for you to remain in Him and be with Him eternally! Salvation is conditional, not un-conditional. And it’s only those who refuse to truly repent and meet those conditions who ravenously balk at such a clear observation of Scripture. They have chosen NOT to love the LORD with all their being and are still in love with self and therefore violently react to the biblical truth that they are personally accountable to God – to obey Him or perish (Matthew 7:21; 1 John 2:4; 3:3-10; Titus 1:16; Revelation 2:26; 3:5, etc.).

Biblically speaking, the perfect finished work of Christ is only appropriated by those who repent, abide in Christ, enduring to the end in love, faith and worship of Him. Remember that true saving faith ALWAYS, without exception will be witnessed in the fruit of good works (Revelation 2:26). All who get saved and don’t abide, remain, endure, continue in Christ to the end of their lives on earth, will perish, and their suffering will be even worse! (Hebrews 10:29-21; 2 Peter 2:20-21).

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 (Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 3:3-10; Revelation 2:4-5; 3:15-16, etc.). This is the very first lie of Satan which led to the fall of mankind (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).

Get saved – Stay saved! It’s not enough to get saved. One must stay saved.

Some of the Baptist persuasion for example, upon hearing the truth, regrettably choose to continue to peddle the OSAS (once saved always saved)/eternal security lie – to cling to a diabolical tradition, heresy, instead of conforming to the truth.

John 15 is a very important passage and we should prayerfully pour over it and ask God to bless us to truly “abide” in Christ – on HIS terms, according to HIS definition!

“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

“Abide”

G3306

μένω

menō

men’-o

A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): – abide, CONTINUE, DWELL, ENDURE, be present, REMAIN, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.

Total KJV occurrences: 120

God is working in the lives of every abiding believer! Than You Jesus!

OSAS is a Christ-denying, cross-rejecting message. It circumvents what God demands – that you truly repent, lay down your life, take up the cross, and live a crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; Colossians 3:3, etc.). YOU are no match for sin – so just die so Christ can reign and conquer in your life! (Luke 9:23-24; 1 Peter 4:1-2, etc.)

“Work out (not for) your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

Your part is to “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” and His part is working in you “to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

“Continue” – a Bible Word/Truth Deliberately Avoided by False Teacher

“In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” Colossians 1:22-23

“By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:2

Jesus said to His own disciples that He required them to endure to the end to be saved therefore we must conclude that any man teaching otherwise is a false teacher and lying against 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

“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 24:10-13

What could Jesus possibly have meant other than what He said?

IF you don’t authentically love the truth, aren’t humble, aren’t willing to change, you are a foolish virgin who will be shut out of Christ’s eternal kingdom! Repent now. (Matthew 18:3-4; 25:1-3)

Paul didn’t believe he was un-conditionally eternally secure. He told us that he knew he was in jeopardy of losing it all if he didn’t remain in Christ, a crucified vessel:

“But I keep under my body (a continual necessity), and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27

Many times we hear John 10:28-29 cited to “prove” OSAS when the person saying this never considers the condition Jesus gave for such a promise not to be plucked out of His hand.

Yes Jesus told us in v. 27 of John 10 exactly who He was speaking to – those who hear (present tense) His voice and follow (present tense) Him:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they (those who are presently hearing His voice and following Him) shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 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

In v. 27 above Jesus gives the condition for the promise of verses 28-29.

Jesus defines His sheep as those who currently hear His voice and are presently following Him. Present tense! Jesus says …..

“My sheep …

hear my voice, and
I know them, and
they follow me…”

Read John 15:1-6.

One writer notes the following:

“To hate is the world’s part, but to endure until the end is our key part who suffer for our Lord. To be hated is a key point to keep in mind of the world, but to endure is our key to succeed and to enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

TODAY, Jesus is continuing the good work of redemption He began in you the moment He saved you from sin into His eternal kingdom! You have His divine promise on this – and His instruction for you to “abide” – to remain and continue with Him or be cast into the fires of eternal damnation (John 15:1-6)

YOU can only be turned over to a “strong delusion” by God if you do not choose to love and devour and obey His truth! (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) And you will be if you are not “valiant for the truth” (Jeremiah 9:3).

RECENTLY: Some lady was attempting to say that those Jesus saves have no conditions or responsibilities to meet. She said there are no conditions. She also said that Jesus was not speaking to saved people when giving this discourse on abiding in Him and bearing fruit in John 15:1-6. Here was the response to her:

What could Jesus’ command to “abide” mean other than remaining in relationship with Him? And, it must and does require something of you. But since your heart is lawless, you want nothing to do with dying, laying down your life, taking up the cross DAILY and truly following Jesus as He commanded.

Now you are lying on the LORD. Notice the words HE uses …. “in me” …. He tells us exactly who He is addressing and why would He be so intent upon speaking of abiding/remaining in Him if His audience weren’t already in Him??????

Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Joh 15:2 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.

Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Joh 15:4 Abide (remain) 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.

Joh 15:5 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.

Joh 15:6 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.

Hold Fast … firm to the end … Do not depart from the living God … do not be hardened in heart … so you can be partakers of Christ …. hold your faith, your confidence in God stedfast to the end …

“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. … Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” Hebrews 3:6, 12-14

“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.” 2 Peter 2:20-21

OSAS EXCUSE:

“Oh but ‘endure to the end’ is speaking of the Tribulation.”

REPLY:

Lame. False. Enduring to the end, final salvation, is taught throughout Scripture – by Christ and His apostles. Yet, if you are hell bent on believing Satan’s first lie – OSAS/eternal security, there’s nothing I can do (Genes 2:17; 3:4). Read Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; Colossians 1:22-23; Revelation 3:5; 2:26, etc. Many put this OSAS doctrine of devils and doctrine of sinful men above God’s Word. IF you are not a man/woman of truth, there’s nothing I can do for you or God – just like the counterfeit religionists of Jesus’ day to whom He said:

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

Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (like OSAS).

Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God (you lower it), ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God (Word of God), that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-9

The Holy Spirit dwells in every true believer but that in no way guarantees or forces that individual to “abide,” that is, remain, continue in Christ to the end of His life on earth. And Jesus says to His own that we must “endure to the end” to be “saved” to “abide” and if we don’t we shall be cast into the fire (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15:6, etc.). God’s Word teaches both initial salvation and final salvation. Most of the evangelical world has been deceived into limiting salvation to that initial born again experience. “If we deny him he also WILL deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12).

OSAS Exposed | Lie of the Ages (book)

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The Damning Myth of Unconditional Eternal Security! [podcast]

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

DID Jesus' Apostles Teach "Eternal Security"? [podcast]

Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages “Great podcast, 🔥❤️ – EVERYONE should and needs to listen to this. I found that too many believe that sharing these harsh truths that come from the Bible is putting out negativity……. Why anyone would think that God’s words are negative is beyond me. With this way of thinking, says a lot to me, of what their true beliefs are…. sad. – Thank You for putting up another great podcast, and I pray that everyone will take the time out to give it a listen to. God Bless! 🙏✝️” GOD is going […]

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

Regrettably, so many today who profess to know Christ have a mere “form of godliness, but denying the power (authority) thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). They want the crown but not the cross. They want to have security, the assurance, but have not truly repented and are not living a crucified, raised up life (Luke 9:23-24). Assurance only comes from obeying God. Assurance does not come from assuring ourself of assurance or that we’re eternally secure. God’s promises are conditional, not un-conditional (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Joshua 24:15; Matthew 6:33; Revelation 2-3, etc.). Only the rebellious balk at such a truth due to […]

Abiding

What Did Paul Mean by “I Keep Under My Body”? [podcast]

In spite of all the evil that is me, dear LORD You have been so gracious (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7; Titus 3:5-7). Thank You Jesus. Please bless this life to be crucified with Thee!

If OSAS/eternal security is true, WHY did Paul say he himself that he could be “castaway” from God in the end if he didn’t endure to the end, perpetually keep under his body (the cross life)?

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27

Here Paul speaks of his own need for the crucified life – to keep under his body, the flesh – in light of the sins that kept God’s people out of their promised land and his own jeopardy of soul if he were to neglect the cross in his own personal life (1 Corinthians 9:27-10-13).

Why O why would this apostle of Christ have uttered these words if he believed he was “once saved always saved”/”eternally secure” or that he was automatically going to be in Heaven no matter how he lived his life after being genuinely saved? Why would he ever had said that he would be cast away from the LORD in the end if he didn’t keep under his body if such were not possible? Paul follow Jesus and knew he was responsible to “endure to the end” of his earthly life to be saved into eternal glory (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Colossians 1:22-23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39, etc.).

Most evangelicals have been sold on the lie that initial salvation means a saved person will automatically be in Heaven, no matter what he does after being saved. Not. Jesus and His holy apostles taught initial and final salvation.

Though the vast majority of those who pretend to represent Christ today do not preach His original Gospel, Jesus says that to follow Him, one must deny self and take up the cross daily (Luke 9:23-24). These are what Paul calls “enemies of the CROSS of Christ” who are building a ministry busine$$ and know that the golden calf heresy of eternal security $ell$ (Philippians 3:18-19; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

The idol of self is the enemy, the antichrist we deal head on with everyday with the cross which slays the god of self!

We therefore can safely conclude that this daily denial of self, this cross, this crucified life, is exactly what the apostle is speaking of when speaking of keeping under his body, his flesh. When Paul penned these words, he was speaking of what he so often spoke about – the cross.

What is there to crucify, to “keep under”, to subdue?

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. … O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24

Believing we can live sanctified, abiding in Christ without the cross He prescribed is self-deception and only further confirms our need to be truly crucified with Christ, buried, and raised up daily by Jesus (Galatians 2:20).

“I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection” = the cross, the crucified life.

Some who are hell bent of corrupting the plain words of Christ would say that this is not speaking of eternal glory, of one’s salvation being in jeopardy. Better think again.

Of this passage, Donald Stamps, in the Life in the Spirit Study Bible notes:

“9:24-27 RUN, THAT YE MAY OBTAIN. Paul illustrates the principle that if one fails to exercise self-control, self-denial, and love with regard to others, he himself will be rejected by God, even if he is a gospel preacher.”

“9:27 I MYSELF SHOULD BE A CASTAWAY. ‘Be a castaway’ (Gk. adokimos) conveys the idea of ‘failing the test,’ ‘being rejected.’ Paul uses this same term in 2 Cor. 13:5, where he states that Christ does not dwell in any who are ‘reprobates’ (Gr. adokimoi). Paul is not referring merely to the loss of ministerial reward. What he recognizes is the possibility that he may fail to obtain the prize (i.e., the inheritance of final salvation (vv24-25) if he should cease living a holy life, exercising self-control, and enduring hardships for Christ (vv 25-27).”

The correct preaching of the full counsel of God’s WORD creates in us the desire to be set apart to our LORD (holy) and to cease the things, the sins that defile such purity necessary to abide in vital union with our Maker who is our Savior!

Notice below how Jesus knits the denial of self, the daily cross, the putting off the deeds of the body, of keeping under the body – the iniquitous fallen nature – with the destiny of the eternal soul.

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

Jesus made it clear here that the cross is an original Gospel essential, an absolute imperative to eternal glory with Him! The cross is essential to eternal glory. In other words, following Jesus on His stated terms – living the crucified life! (Luke 9:23-24)

Each of us proves exactly who we love the most by the way we are living! – God or self!

Everything that is happening in your life now is being allowed by God in order to get you down low into the death and burial with Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 4.

There’s no such thing as a Heaven-bound person who does not love God enough to offer their life to Him a living sacrifice and thereby overcome sin. Read this passage closely.

“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death (separation); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:15-23

Notice in verse 22 that those having been born again and now truly abiding in Christ of the fruit of holiness, not sin. And to them alone will end up with everlasting glory!

Jesus made it clear here that the cross is an original Gospel essential, an absolute imperative to eternal glory with Him! The cross is essential to eternal glory. In other words, following Jesus on His stated terms.

The deeds of the body must be kept under the power of the Holy Ghost and such is only possible by way of adhering to the cross Jesus mandated!

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:13

The cross is the condition for overcoming the ensuing 5 sins that Paul then teaches kept some of the children of Israel out of their promised land. Our promised land is Heaven and just as some of the God’s people didn’t make it, didn’t “endure to the end”, were like the 5 foolish virgins, some of those Jesus had saved will not “endure to the end” and be in glory with Him (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 25:1-3, etc.).

Here are the ensuing words, the text immediately following 1 Corinthians 9:27. It’s a contiguous theme, warning from the apostle. Let’s read the whole passage, the context. He made no chapter divisions when he penned this divinely-inspired letter. Paul speaks of the personally responsibility and necessity of the crucified life in light of the 5 sins we all face which if we live in, will disqualify us from eternal glory. Here’s our main Bible verse, truth again and what follows:

“27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea (represents salvation);

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also LUSTED.

7 Neither be ye IDOLATERS, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit FORNICATION, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us TEMPT CHRIST, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither MURMUR ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

1 Corinthians 9:27-10:12

Clearly in this passage we see that the cross is a prerequisite for overcoming the 5 disqualifying sins. | The 5 Sins that Kept God’s People from their Promised Land

Life in the Spirit Study Bible on 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

10:1 I WOULD NOT THAT YE SHOULD BE IGNORANT. The fact that one may be redeemed, partake of divine grace, and yet later be rejected by God, a “castaway” (see 9:27), because of unbelief and evil conduct is now verified by examples from the experience of Israel (vv. 1-12).

10:5 THEY WERE OVERTHROWN IN THE WILDERNESS. The Israelites had experienced the grace of God in the exodus. They had been delivered from bondage (v. 1), baptized (v. 2), and divinely sustained in the wilderness, experiencing close fellowship with Christ (vv. 3-4). Yet in spite of these spiritual blessings, they failed to please God and were destroyed by Him in the wilderness; they forfeited their election and hence, failed to reach the promised land (cf. Num. 14:30. Paul’s point is that, as God did not tolerate Israel’s idolatry, sin, and immorality, so He will not tolerate the sin of believers under the new covenant.

10:6 THESE THINGS WERE OUR ESAMPLES. The terrible judgment of God upon the disobedient Israelites serves as an example and a warning for those under the new covenant not to desire evil things. Paul warns the Corinthians that if they repeat Israel’s unfaithfulness to God (vv. 7-10), they too will receive His judgment and fail to enter the promised heavenly country.

10:11 WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION. The history of God’s judgment of His people in the O.T. was written down in the Scriptures to provide those in the N.T. with ample warnings against sinning and falling from grace (v. 12; see Num. 14:29).7

10:12 TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL. The Israelites, as God’s elect, thought they could safely dabble in the sins of idolatry, and immorality; yet they met with God’s judgments. Those who believe they can securely live without turning away from unrighteous conduct and worldly passions should take notice of the warning of God in this passage.

10:13 GOD IS FAITHFUL. A professing believer may not justify sinning with excuses that he is simply human and thus imperfect, or that in this life all born-again believers continue sinning in word, thought, and deed (cf. Rom. 6:1). At the same times, Paul assures the Corinthians that no true believer need fall from the grace and mercy of God. (1) The Holy Spirit explicitly affirms that God provides His children with adequate grace to overcome every temptation and thus to resist sinning (cf. Rev. 2:7,17,26). God’s faithfulness expresses itself in two ways: (a) He will not allow us to be tempted above that which we can bear, and (b) He will with each temptation provide a way by which we can endure the temptation and overcome sin (cf. 2 Thes. 3:3).

(2) The grace of God (Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 2:11-14), the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:13; 1 Pet. 2:24), the Word of God (Eph 6:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17), the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5-6; 1 Pet. 1:5), and the heavenly intercession of Christ bring sufficient power for the believer to be victorious over the poser of sin and demonic influences (Eph. 6:10-18; Heb 7:25).

(3) If the Christian yields to sin, it is not because Christ’s provision of grace is inadequate, but because the believer fails to resist his own sinful desires by the power of the Spirit (Rom 8:13-14; 2 Pet. 1:3).”

Was Paul involved in a relationship with Christ? Was Paul required to participate or was he a robot? Was it “all God,” “all grace” as the calvinist would claim?

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have FOUGHT a good fight, I have FINISHED my course, I have KEPT the faith: 8 Henceforth (therefore) there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8

If a person whose has been saved in the past is not fighting the good fight, finished what God began in him and called him to do – finishing his course, and keeping the faith, how can he possibly say with Paul “there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness”?

The kingdom of Heaven is to be pressed into and not taken casually.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12;

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:14

Colossians 3:1-10

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

“The old man” must go down before “the new man” can be raised out of that grave – death and burial.

Ephesians 4:20-24

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Prayer of Returning: Holy Father, You gave all when You gave Your only begotten Son who came and died for our sins. You’ve also called me to lay down my life, to lose my life in this fleeting world. I have not done well at giving over my life to You … You alone who are worthy of my full, unreserved worship. Right this moment I ask You to forgive my sin of having another god before You which is self idolatry and spiritual adultery. I have alienated the affections of my heart away from You LORD and onto myself. For this I ask You to forgive me and I right here and now turn to You Jesus. Right this moment I lay my life in Your holy hands LORD. Into Your hands I submit my spirit – my whole being. Not my will but Thine be done LORD Jesus! I am no longer my own. I am Yours. I am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God. I love You Jesus and am ceaselessly grateful that You bought me with the price of Your own blood! You must increase but I must decrease. I ask You to unite my heart to fear Thy holy name! Teach me daily to lay myself aside and to give the reins over to You! In Jesus’ Name, amen.