More Deceit and Heresy from the Antichrist Emergent Church Wolves
Beware of these emergent church beguilers who seek to cheat millions out of their eternity with Christ by robbing from their hearts the fear of the LORD! They do this by telling lies and promoting false doctrine regarding the “eternal damnation” promised to all who die in rebellion (Mark 3:29).
These are one of the newest breeds of slick talking snakes who have come to cast doubt upon, diminish from, minimize, break down, and undo the clear meaning of God’s Word as given to the English speaking world in the King James Bible. God was anything but silent on the nature and length of suffering to be experienced and endured by all rebels. By the way, if you don’t have a King James Bible, get one immediately and trash your new version.
These wolves in sheep’s clothing, and those who espouse their heretical teachers, are under divine judgment and being turned over to “strong delusion” so that they will ultimately be “damned.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Revelation 22:18-19) One thing we can observe about the LORD is that if someone is “not valiant for the truth,” God takes it personally and will help them be “deceived” and ultimately “damned.” Check this out:
“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 (going to eternal hell); 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
Anti means against or in place of. With this in mind, it’s clear to see that these men are operating under “the spirit of antichrist” and that is clear in that they are changing or replacing the meaning of Christ’s teachings (1 John 4:1-6).
Brian McLaren is the premier emergent church wolf. His most popular book is titled A New Kind of Christianity. It took defiance and audacity to name his book this way. His title clearly reveals what he is trying to do – change things. McLaren has espoused the age old deceits of the arch-enemy of mankind and seeks to undo the timeless truths of a Holy God, the very Judge of our eternal souls. What he is promoting is nothing more than a scam to sell books folks. Don’t be so gullible and ignorant. There’s nothing new about Brian McLaren’s lies. They are age old, yet packaged to deceived unlearned souls, ushering them into the fires of eternal damnation.
God and His Word cannot be separated. His Word is eternally perfect and therefore unchanging.
“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalms 119:89
“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Psalms 89:34
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Mark 13:31
After reading the above Bible Scriptures, there should be absolutely no doubt concerning the eternal perfection and the unchanging, non-negotiable nature of God’s Word.
What McLaren and his fellow emergent scammers are doing is nothing new because God’s Word tells us that “there is NO new thing under the sun” and “There hath NO temptation taken you but such as is common to man.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13) Satan started this same doubt-casting manipulation in the Garden of Creation when interacting with the first man and woman (Genesis 3). He cast doubt on God’s Word by creating doubt in the mind of the first woman. The enemy of your soul has not changed. He’s still got the exact bag of tricks, doubt-casting being one of his more successful. Beware! Believe God at His Word! Stand on God’s Word and refuse to be moved! When God says something, it’s an unchanging, non-negotiable truth – “Let God be true and every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4)
Classic Perversion of Truth
You will notice that when people don’t like what the Bible plainly says (in our language – English/KJV), they then search for an alternative meaning. Their hearts are in rebellion and so they don’t mind making up a god in their own image and likeness instead of humbly conforming to the Word of the one true God (2 Timothy 3:15-17). They have a mere “form of godliness” but are not submitted to Christ and will therefore search and find others who will not take God at His Word. They then minimize, make null, and distort the clear meaning of God’s Word by searching the many commentaries of God-less theologians, many who are already in hell.
Doctrinal Example: Is hell and the lake of fire literal and eternal?
Well, what did Jesus teach about hell, the suffering of those who die in sin, and the lake of fire? We will look at what Christ taught in just a moment.
In the emergent church’s predictably incestuous “conspiracy” of wolves, they endorse one another’s lies because they are all telling the same lies, just as the false prophets of old did (Jeremiah 23). Is this not exactly what the wolves of Ezekiel’s day did? (Ezekiel 22:25-27)
In the emergent church’s predictably incestuous “conspiracy” of wolves, they endorse one anothers lies because they are all telling the same lies just as the false prophets of old did (Jeremiah 23). Is this not exactly what the wolves of Ezekiel’s day did? (Ezekiel 22:25-27)
In a book written by emergent church false teacher Sharon L. Baker and endorsed by mega emergent wolf Brian McLaren, concerning the lake of fire, Baker writes:
“Unfortunately, diverse interpretations of ‘the lake of fire’ make it more difficult for us to propose its precise meaning. We can’t know for certain what it is or what reality it metaphorically refers to. Based upon the historical and cultural context, however, we can speculate. Revelation 20:10 refers to it as a ‘lake of fire and brimstone.’ Another translation from the Greek for the word ‘brimstone’ is the word ‘sulfur.’ (NRSV) From historical studies, we know that in those days, the sulfur fire burned hotter than any other fire, so hot that it completely disintegrated any substance that came close to it.” Sharon L. Baker, Razing Hell, p. 142
First, Baker says we just can’t possibly understand God’s Word. In other words, God gave us a message He is not able to help us understand. That’s clearly the unbelief of an apostate, God-less heart. So, she a type of a neo-agnostic or better yet, Sharon L. Baker is Christ-defying, a flat out unbeliever. Sharon L. Baker is telling us here in her book – that she wrote so that people could understand her heresies – the God Almighty gave mankind mountains of verses in His Word/message to us about hell and the lake of fire, but we just can’t understand them and He didn’t intend us to understand them. Yet, this wolf, Sharon L. Baker, fully expects that those who read her book can understand her false teaching. How convenient! She fully believes that “we can speculate” as to the meaning of God’s Word on this subject of the lake of fire.
Baker then does abuses Daniel 3 to attempt to justify her regurgitated annihilation heresy. This female agent of Satan continues with this diabolical assumption:
“When theologians talk about hell as annihilation, they mean that those thrown into the lake’s sulfur fire suffer complete destruction of annihilation. They do not suffer eternal torment in hell but cease to exist completely. So the lake-of-fire imagery suggests a fire that completely consumes whatever is thrown into it rather than eternal torment…” Sharon L. Baker, Razing Hell, p. 142
Baker reduces God’s Word to mere imagery while indignantly choosing to ignore the obvious eternal suffering Jesus taught (Mark 9:43-49).
Also, did you notice how Sharon L. Baker here assumes that all theologians are ungodly false teachers like her? Did you see how she, like her father Satan, deceptively slipped that assumption in her statement so as to deceive the unlearned? Notice she never speaks of God’s Word as being the self-interpretive, divinely-inspired masterpiece that it is, but rather she relies on sinful so-called theologians. That’s pure rebellion, disdain for the Almighty and brazen, damnable unbelief!
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (deceptively; secretly) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3
In utter contradiction to God’s clear revelation, every single cult does away with the eternal, conscious nature of divine retribution upon the wicked. This is a clear, earmark doctrine of all antichrist cults. You see, Satan wants us to believe that there is going to be no eternal consequence for dying in rebellion to our Maker, the very Judge of our eternal soul.
This is classic annihilation teaching, a doctrine of devils espoused by every cult known to mankind.
Are Hell and the Lake of Fire Eternal or Temporal?
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with EVERLASTING destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
What did Jesus teach about eternal punishment?
“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that NEVER shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm (consciousness) dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that NEVER shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm (conscious feelings) dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For every one shall be salted with fire (preserved in suffering), and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.” Mark 9:43-49
There will be salt in hell. Notice how these cultists are amateurishly obvious in their selective, seductive theology as they seek to do away with the plainly stated divine retribution that is coming on all wicked souls. Is salt not an obvious preservative? Well, is Jesus not confirming the rest of what He is saying here with the obvious truth that all sacrifices in hell will be salted to preserve them from being annihilated so they can be tormented consciously as a just reward for rejecting the very precious blood of Jesus? They also ignore the simple idiom Jesus uses here in saying that “their worm dieth NOT.” This refers to their consciousness which also just plain makes sense.
This passage begs the question of Why O Why would the Son of God give such a severe warning if the penalty for violating it weren’t so severe and eternal? That is, if those who die without Christ are just going to be annihilated? After all, Jesus tells us here that it would be better, that is more profitable, to literally cut off out hand, to cut off our foot, and to even pluck out our eye if these members cause us to violate the holiness of God.
“ETERNAL judgment” is one of the six foundational truths of Christ according to Hebrews 6:2. We see the LORD Jesus using the term “ETERNAL damnation” as recorded in Mark 3:29.
According to Revelation 20, at the Great White Throne Judgment of the wicked, death and hell shall be cast into the lake of fire.
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:10-15
In Revelation 20:10 here, the Bible assures that those tormented in hell, “shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Of all who take the mark of the beast, sealing their eternal doom with all other unrepentant souls, the Bible states:
“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:10-13
The Bible never hints that hell and the lake of fire (which it will be cast into) are temporary. Throughout Scripture they are revealed to be eternal in their duration.
Like her fellow wolves across the globe, Sharon L. Baker simply explains away the complete and crystal clear meaning from God’s Word concerning the conscience, everlasting torment that awaits all who leave this earth outside of a born again, abiding relationship with the one Redeemer, Jesus Christ. She is taking away from God’s Word which, by itself, brings the plagues of Revelation; including the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). This Baker does as she is led by her father the devil who did the same thing to the first man and woman. This Satan did by adding one 3-letter word to the Word of God. God told the man that if he sinned, “Thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) Satan then told the woman “And the serpent said unto the woman, “Ye shall not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4) In other words, the enemy of our souls told the woman that she would not suffer consequences for sinning against God. Yet, the LORD kept His Word and forced the man and woman out of His presence and pronounced many curses on them. Satan still seeks to diminish the severity of the divine warning of coming judgment. Look at this sample of what the Bible says lies just ahead for all who die outside of Christ – in sin:
In light of the fact that Christ-denying rebels seek to soften the blow and thereby lower the defense against sin, let’s look at a menu of the eternal consequences for dying in sin:
- A place of complete consciousness (all feelings)………..…Luke 16:25
- Torment with fire and brimstone……………………….……Rev. 14:10
- Weeping and gnashing of teeth…………………….………..Matt. 8:12
- A place of eternal remorse (devastating regret)……….……Luke 16:25
- A place of torments………………………………………….Luke 16:23
- No rest day or night forever (eternal misery)……….……….Rev. 14:11
- A furnace of fire with wailing………………….………..….Matt. 13:42
- A place of everlasting burnings………………..…………..Isaiah 33:14
- A lake (ocean) of fire…………………………….………….Rev. 20:15
- Unquenchable fire (ferocious flames)……………….………Mark 9:45
- Outer darkness (blinding loneliness)……………………….Matt. 22:13
- No 2nd chance to escape (utter hopelessness)…….…..……..Luke 16:26
- A place of sorrows (seething remorse and despair)…………….Ps. 18:5
- A place of everlasting destruction………………………….2 Thess. 1:9
Questions answered concerning where the lost soul goes at the moment of death:
Many are in hell right now. Judgment begins at the moment one dies (Hebrews 9:27) The unregenerate dead go to the rightful place they deserve as divinely just judgment is exacted upon them at the instant they die (Luke 16:19-31). Read these passages closely: Luke 16:19-31; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:20-23; Revelation 22:11. At the Great White Throne judgment, God will dredge up from hell all who died in sin and then cast them into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
A just God must have a penalty for sin. A loving God paid the ultimate price for that sin.
We owe a debt we cannot pay – He paid a debt He did not owe.
“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:15-17
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Abiding
The Prayer Life of Jesus [podcast]
Prayer is communion, communing with God. Those who earnestly seek God in prayer, who earnestly seek to know Him and to fulfill His will for their temporary lives in this world…. will glorify Him here and to be with Him eternally.
What do we learn from the prayer life of our LORD Jesus?
“Luke 5:16 PRAYERS OF JESUS. Luke stresses more than the other gospels the place of prayer in the life and work of Jesus. When the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at the Jordan, He was ‘praying’ (3:21), at times He withdrew from the multitudes ‘and prayed (5:16); ‘and He continued all night in prayer before choosing the twelve disciples (6:12). He was ‘alone praying’ before He asked His disciples an important question (9:18); at His transfiguration He climbed the mountain ‘to pray’ (9:28); the actual transfiguration occurred while ‘he prayed’ (9:29); and He ‘was praying’ just before He taught the disciple’s the Lord’s Prayer (11:1). In Gethsemane He ‘prayed more earnestly’ (22:44); on the cross He prayed for others (23:34); and His last words uttered before His death were a prayer (23:46). Luke also mentions that He prayed after His resurrection (24:30).
In examining the life of Jesus in the other Gospels, we note that He prayed before extending the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour …’ (Mat. 11:25-28); He prayed at Lazarus’s tomb (John 11:41-42), for Peter (Luke 22:32), and during the institution of the Lord’s Supper (John 17).” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23
“14:23 PRAY ALONE. While on earth, Jesus often sought time to be alone with God (cf. Mark 1:35; 6:46; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; 22:41-42; Heb. 5:7). Time alone with God is essential to the spiritual well-being of every believer. We must continually remember that the lack of desire for solitary prayer to our heavenly Father is an unmistakable sign that the spiritual life within us is in a process of decline. If this is happening, we must turn from all that offends the Lord and renew our commitment to persevere in seeking God and His saving grace.” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” Luke 18:1
“18:1 MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY. Jesus was frequently concerned that His followers pray continually in order to accomplish God’s will for their lives. From this parable of the widow who persevered we learn several things; (1) We must persevere in prayer with regard to all matters until Jesus returns (vv 7-8; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17). (2) In this life we have an adversary (v. 3), Satan (1 Pet. 5:8). Prayer can protect us from the evil one (Mat. 6:13). (3) In our prayers we should cry out against sin and for justice (v 7). (4) Persistent prayer is counted as faith (v. 8). (5) In the final days before the return of Christ, there will be increased diabolical opposition to the prayers of the faithful (1 Tim. 4:1). Because of Satan and the pleasures of the world many will cease having a persistent prayer life (8:14; Mat. 13:22; Mark 4:19).” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
SUMMATION you might ask?
Following Jesus by living a life of prayer with the Father and Himself – living your life in complete submission to and dependency upon the LORD …. daily declaring with John the Baptist that “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30).
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Be persistent. Be relentless – in praying, communing with your God!
Read aloud, begin to memorize and live out:
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
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IS DOUBTING YOUR SALVATION ALWAYS A BAD THING? [podcast]
Making Sure We are Truly Saved While We Still Can
Obviously, the assurance of salvation should concern each and every one of us.
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 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
Notice “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” Note that those who honestly assess and amend their ways in the LORD will not be judged with the wicked. Those who don’t, will be. They will fall away and not endure to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21, etc.).
Are you judging yourself, testing and discerning your life against Holy Scripture?
“Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.” Proverbs 28:5
Counterfeits refuse to judge their actual fruit, their lives. They want the assurance of eternal glory with no responsibility of actual repentance and an abiding, obedient relationship with the Savior they claim. They want the crown without the cross. They do not wish to be bothered with truly engaging in an abiding relationship with Jesus on His stated terms but rather seek to use Him to get them out of hell. Jesus tells all who’ve been saved that abiding, remaining in Him to the end of their lives is essential to eternity with Him (John 15:6, etc.).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Is believing the biblical truth that a saved person can backslide, fall away, and forfeit their place with God (lose salvation) a bad thing? No. It’s only a bad thing in the minds of those who want to live on their own depraved, self-serving terms while deluding themselves into thinking they are going to God’s holy Heaven.
WHY are we so afraid of doubting if we are truly saved – born again AND presently abiding in Christ? (John 15:1-6). It will be too late when we die which could be today. Think about this. NOW is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2) and so today is the day to honestly examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:31-32; 2 Corinthians 13:5). Please read the LORD’s book of Ezekiel. You will discover many divine treasures in this magnificent volume. Share this message if you wish to help others.
“A disciplined conscience is a man’s best friend. It may not be his most amiable, but it is his most faithful monitor.” Austin Phelps
“LORD Jesus, please grant me the Holy Fear of God!” should be the daily prayer of every true saint.
“Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” Psalms 86:11
I told someone recently that I love listening to a preacher or reading Scripture that can make me doubt my salvation because it further quickens my spirit in the fear of God to scamper to the feet of Jesus afresh.
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” 1 John 3:19-21
As we see in the passage above, assurance of salvation fills the hearts of all born again believers are who working out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out 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
There are conditions the LORD requires to procure and walk in His blessings.
Assurance of salvation is biblical. Eternal security is not. The idea that one is eternally secure no matter what they do after being saved, is a lie from hell. Jesus told us that among those He saves, any who don’t abide, continue with Him, will be cast into the fire (John 15:6).
The lack of a clear conscience, the lack of assurance in one’s heart, is due to the lack of present abiding, obedience. All who are Christ’s and presently abiding, are filled with the assurance of His salvation. Read John 15.
Wolves among us, when addressing assurance, nearly never speak of the personal responsibility God gives to all He saves – to obey Him (John 14:15, 21-23, etc.). When one lacks assurance, it’s only because they have chosen to lack obeying the Savior (2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Jude 3-4).
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22
WHAT ABOUT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE DOUBTS THAT YOU ARE TRULY SAVED?
When a true believer in Jesus Christ questions someone’s salvation, it is in no way to be rude, but rather out of godly concern. Jesus told us to “know” (discern) people “by their fruit” (Matt. 7:16, 20). Good “fruit” (produce) can only come forth from the born again, abiding disciple of Jesus. Good fruit comes forth from a real relationship with Christ (John 15). One must know Him and that begins at the moment of true repentance and faith (Acts 20:21).
If the overall fruit of someone’s life is not that which the Bible teaches is consistent with truly knowing Jesus and having been regenerated, then there should be concern.
There are some among us who violently object to doubting someone’s salvation, Yet, based on the biblical mandate to “know” (discern) others “by their fruits,” this will happen at times (Matthew 7:16, 20). When a professing Christian’s salvation is doubted based upon lack of good fruit to prove it, some become irate with a “How dare you doubt my/that person’s salvation! Just who are you to do such a thing!?” But wait a minute – didn’t Jesus instruct us to “know” others based on their “fruits”? (Matthew 7:16, 20). And if there are no counterfeits who pose as Christ’s people, why did Jesus say that there are chaff among the wheat? (Matthew 13). Yes He did and so why are we surprised if some of those around us are found to be lost even though they think they are saved? And yes the chaff are going to be separated by the angels in the end but for now Jesus told us to discern (to distinguish between) or to “know” them “by their fruits” and that’s done by fruit inspection.
One man said that he believed that over 90% of church goers in America have never been genuinely born again as we “must be” in order to be brought into God’s kingdom (John 3:3, 7).
Repentance is where and when regeneration happens. In the modern church world, such a foundational biblical doctrine is rarely mentioned much less preached or correctly taught to define what it is and bring conviction to the hearers. In the vast majority of churches today, salvation is never or seldom presented. So how can the sinner respond in repentance and be saved? Is it any wonder so few are saved? People are rarely if ever called to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ today as they were publicly called to do by the apostles of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 3:19).
There are some people who hang around with the Christian body that I just never got a peace about. There doesn’t seem to be the presence of the divine Person of the Holy Spirit and therefore the fruit He alone can produce is absent (Galatians 5:22-23). One must be born again and given a new nature by the LORD or we are not His. When this conversion takes place, there will be good fruit (Matthew 3:7-10).
Should we float people all the way into hell instead of helping make sure they have truly repented and been born again? Is that love or hatred?
If someone questions our salvation, how should we react? How about this way: “Well, thank you for being concerned about my eternal soul. I am open and willing to investigate (biblically) the possibility that I may not have truly repented (laid down my life) and placed my faith in Jesus Christ. Or, since He saved me in the past, perhaps I have backslidden and no longer know Him due to allowing sin in my life.”
HONEST CONCERN VERSUS CRUEL CONDEMNATION
There are going to be children of the enemy that will come in and attempt to confuse and to derail you by doubting that you are saved. They do this to bring “confusion and every evil work” instead of “godly edifying” (James 3:16; 1 Timothy 1:4).
David, the man after God’s own heart, was often persecuted by the wicked, his place with God being the central attack of the enemy.
“My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? … As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?” Psalms 42:3, 10
Those who are His have the “witness” of His Spirit in them:
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16
Why are you bothered when someone else doubts your salvation? Do you have the bearing witness of the Holy Spirit as a witness in your heart? (Romans 8:16). If you are assured by God (not self or mere man) of your salvation, why would you be concerned if someone else doubted it? Can you say with Paul “nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”? (2 Timothy 1:12). Did God not say that we who have and are believing the record He gave of His Son have HIS “witness” within us?
“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:9-13
David told us that our “sentence” comes from the LORD Himself not man:
“Let my sentence (verdict) come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.” Psalms 17:2
The Hebrew word that is translated “sentence” here means: act of deciding a case, decision, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable), sentence of formal decree.
By reason of creation, God Himself is the only One who can determine judicially that one is righteous or unrighteous, just or unjust, justified or not justified. The Almighty is the only One qualified to sentence any individual to Heaven or hell. Either He approves of us or He disapproves of us (Ezekiel 18:4).
“STRONG CONFIDENCE”
“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:26-27
The key to having “strong confidence” and escaping “the snares of death,” is fearing God.
God’s Word tells us that “The fear of the Lord is clean” (Psalms 19:9). The heart that truly fears God is made “clean” from any doubt and has full and “strong confidence” or assurance and strength of conviction.
The key is being with Jesus – being in Christ. Jesus told us that those who are “with” Him are His and all others are “against” Him (Matthew 12:30). The whole of Holy Scripture is the very testimony of God and we can plainly observe that being presently and truly “in Christ” is the determining factor.
The Father spoke from Heaven audibly, declaring of Christ, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). ALL who are presently in Christ, are well pleasing to God – justified, sentenced and declared righteous. Justification, to be declared righteous by God, is always “by faith” (Romans 3:21-5:17; Hebrews 11:4-7).
Ultimately, your “sentence” or sentencing comes forth from God alone who is the only Judge of your eternal soul. In light of this, Paul writes:
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33-34
According to the whole counsel of God’s Word, believers in Jesus Christ – those who genuinely turn to God in repentance, placing their faith in Jesus Christ – have been shown mercy by God. This gift of eternal life was made possible through the finished and perfect work of the One sinless, perfect Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who bled on the cross, was buried, and rose again from the dead. He is “the Son of God with power.”
“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:4
Being rooted and grounded in God’s love is so very important to being “sound in the faith,” having a “sound heart” and a “sound mind” (Proverbs 14:30; 2 Timothy 1:7; Titus 1:13). This all comes from learning and believing “sound doctrine” (Titus 1:9; 2:1).
GOING DEEP
Heeding the apostle Paul’s exhortation to all those whom the LORD has saved, is essential to an ever-deepening, abiding, assured place with the LORD.
“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.” Colossians 2:6-7
Only going on to perfection (spiritual maturity) by learning and obeying the truth of God can make one free from doubting that He is God’s child (Hebrews 5:11-6:3).
“As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:30-32, 36
As the born again disciple of Christ continues to walk in the light of truth with Jesus, He is kept in Christ and assured of salvation.
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 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 1:6-7
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