“Once Saved Always Saved” (OSAS) is a Lie from Hell and Taught by “Ungodly Men” (Jude 3-4)
“For there are certain men crept in unawares (undetected), who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (license to sin), and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 4
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“I guess you need to send me packing too. I absolutely believe in the doctrine of OSAS.”
REPLY:
“With no further ado, you have openly professed to be a child of the devil by embracing HIS first and enduring lie…. “ye shall NOT surely die“ is undeniably the first mention, the first time eternal security / OSAS was taught and it was by Satan himself (Gen. 2:17; 3:4). Like Satan, you have added to God’s Word. That one 3-letter word Satan added led to the fall of mankind.
QUESTION ASKED:
REPLY:
No, not at all. It merely reveals that God has to initiate the relationship and “IF any man” enters through the door – Christ – he is saved. That is initial salvation but one must continue to the end, to endure to the end to ultimately be in glory. Yes we are saved immediately and yet the possession of eternal salvation is not unforfeitable.
Question Received:
“What is your definition of abiding in Christ?”
Reply:
Great question. The whole of Jesus’ teachings define abiding in Christ. The cross! See Lk. 9:23-24. We must lay down our lives. There are no short cuts (Jn 12:23-24).
Message Received:
“But if you believe someone can lose their salvation, isn’t that works salvation?”
Reply:
Works salvation? No the work of Christ saves us and yet HE – JESUS – says that after being saved we must ABIDE / remain in Him or we will be thrown into the fires of hell – John 15:6. Anyone who dies in sin is going to hell – God is “Holy, holy, holy” and told you to “be ye holy” and that He is only coming back for a church without spot, blemish, or any such thing but one that is holy (Revelation 4:8; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Ephesians 5:25-27). Those who are truly saved by grace, and are abiding in Christ, are overcoming sin, not making excuse for it like you are doing. You are preaching a cross-less false gospel saying that sin is greater than the LORD. You are preaching sin – that man can’t live holy. You are a child of the devil Mario, and God is calling you to repent. You speak nothing of Christ and His power but only make excuse for man’s sins. Read your own words. Your words are the words of a cross-less, Christ-denying counterfeit.
“Faith without works is dead” – it’s not saving faith (James 2). The fruit of truly knowing and abiding in Christ will always be good works (Matthew 3:7-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14, etc.). Those who presently in Christ are keeping His works – obediently doing what He sent us to do.(Revelation 2:26).
Email Received:
“Hi Bro. Todd, Hope you’re fine and well. You may know that I used to be a calvinist. …sad, but true. I’m just curious if you’ve ever had or known (of) anyone who abandoned that ‘unconditional OSAS’ teaching…where they believe that a Christian can completely disown the Lord Jesus, depart from/abandon the faith etc., and still be/remain saved… sounds crazy, eh., but that’s what they believe (even NON-calvies). They’re sooooooo stubborn these folks…seems impossible to debate/reason with…as if unchangeable.
They’re ‘glued’ to this ‘doctrine’, which was unknown to the earliest church, right?! I even know ‘former’ Christians…but they’ll just say that they were never saved to begin with bla bla bla. It’s very aggravating…like talkin’ to a wall hahaha!
I don’t know a single person who believes as we do; who used to hold to that OSAS. Please let me know if you might. At least I’ll feel a bit better. God Bless You, Bro., thanks so much; & Maranatha! In HIM, B.”
Reply:
Brother, I know that same feeling after trying (like yourself) to reach many OSAS and Calvinists for many years. It’s clearly a heart matter… they are “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil. 3:18-19)…. They do not want any personal responsibility and that’s why they cling to this lie…… meditate on this as I know you may have already. Brother, I have received correspondence from several people over the years who once believed the OSAS lie and now have seen it’s a lie. Yet as you said, there aren’t many of them who will repent of this heresy. Keep preaching His Word brother, you are being a light!
Common Deception:
“But God is “sovereign” so that means He is in total control and requires nothing of me! He sovereignly saved me and there’s nothing I can do to change/alter my relationship with Him!”
Reply:
Sovereignty is a largely misused word today – misused to the advantage of sinful men who do not want personal responsibility so they have fabricated a false sovereignty to their own destruction and to excuse themselves from personal accountability to the Judge of their eternal souls. Their false “sovereignty” is a mere ploy to remove the personal responsibility the God they claim is sovereign requires of them. That’s what underlies all of this – the un-repentant desire to live life on their own terms while deceiving themselves into believing that God will not hold them accountable by excluding them from His eternal kingdom (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy4:3-4). The words “sovereign” or “sovereignty” never appear in Scripture. Divine sovereignty can only be defined by the whole of what the LORD has revealed to us about Himself in HIS Word (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalms 119). Those who misuse this word “sovereign” refuse to take the whole counsel of His Word into account. They want to divorce this term from the very One they are claiming is “sovereign.” Amazingly hypocritical.
Isn’t it interesting that these same people, in their self-serving fashion, constantly speak of God’s “sovereignty” (which they have conveniently redefined) and yet these same people are never heard speaking of God’s holiness which is stated throughout Scripture. In fact, it’s the only one of His divine attributes which is listed three times in succession and He did this twice – once in the New and once in the Old Testament (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). In fact, the LORD told us to “Be ye holy” because He is holy.
“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
The sovereignty of God is not directly stated in His Word and yet holiness is all over the Bible, not only that God is holy but also that He requires such from any person who will spend eternity with Him (Hebrews 12:14).
Now, are you beginning to see just WHO the OSAS religion revolves around? It’s a religion with sinful man enthroned and the LORD dethroned!
Why do they adopt this OSAS (un-conditional security) theology?
“For the time will come when they will not endure (hold themselves accountable to) 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 (as God defines it in His whole Word), and shall be turned unto fables (stories, notions, false philosophies).” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
“After their own lusts” they have denied Christ by denying Him the reign of their personal lives. So, they have made up a god in their own sinful image who requires of them no personal responsibility for their thoughts and actions or accountability to be crucified with Christ in that daily cross Christ commanded to all who would truly follow Him (Luke 9:23-24). Paul calls them the very “enemies of the cross of Christ … whose god is their belly” (Philippians 3:18-19).
“(For MANY walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction (eternal damnation), whose God is their belly (carnal appetites), and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things (preserving their own lives),” Philippians 3:18-19
“For our conversation (way of life) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” Philippians 3:20
Message Received:
“You are stretching the truth by trying to link the lie Satan told Eve to OSAS! OSAS didn’t exist back then!”
Response:
The doctrine of OSAS “didn’t exist”? Of course it did or it started right there. “There is NO new thing under the sun” and Satan tempts us with what is “common to man” (Eccl. 1:9; 1 Cor. 10:13). It’s “common” and began with Satan telling the man and woman that they were going to be okay if they sinned against God. Adam and Eve had to be restored and that’s why the LORD shed the blood of animals to restore them which depicted Christ’s blood (Gen. 3:21). If Satan has changed his methods then Paul the apostle of Jesus lied to us by telling us that what the devil tempts us with is not “common to man” (1 Cor. 10:13).
Also: If in fact Satan is the king of “ye shall NOT surely die,” then we know he possesses all who buy that lie (Gen. 2:17; 3:4). DID Satan say “ye shall NOT surely die”? Yes or no please! Yes! If Satan originated this lie then anyone espousing it has brought devils into their life. Paul spoke of “seducing SPIRITS (devils) and doctrines of devils.” (1 Tim. 4:1) One comes with the other. Devils attach to and control the lives of all who buy this lie of the ages – OSAS is clearly equivalent to “ye shall NOT surely die” (Gen. 2:17; 3:4).
Carol B. writes:
“What is “Relativism”?” – A philosophy or theory holding that truth or moral or aesthetic value, etc., is not universal or absolute but may differ between individuals or cultures.
What is it that makes OSAS (once saved always saved) like Relativism?
If there is truth that can be known, then any departure from the truth, for whatever reason, is nothing more than situational ethics. In other words, to deny or disregard truth because we do not agree with it, do not like it, do not believe it, or want to live our lives our own way based on what we perceive to be right or wrong, will always ultimately lead to relativism. “Do what thou wilt” is the mantra of the church of Satan and is the philosophy that the arch enemy of man wants us to believe in and practice. Choosing to live your life this way, I warn all readers, is in direct rebellion to the truth revealed in the written Word of God.
When God’s commandments and precepts can be known, and the consequences of disobedience are clearly stated in His written Word, no excuse can be made, or will be accepted for turning away from the truth. Relativism is nothing more than finding a way to sin, and believing that it is acceptable. For those who call themselves Christians, relativism manifests itself in the damnable doctrine of OSAS. This happens by disregarding the warnings clearly stated in the Holy Scriptures and denying reality itself. Adherents of OSAS willfully deny God’s warning of judgment for sin.
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, Hebrews 10:26
Christ can only die once for your sins. If you reject, mock, or deny His free gift. He will not crawl back on the cross and do it all over again
Make no mistake about the truth that sin separates us from a holy God. I have found that most of those who complain about God being silent, are the same ones who will justify sin. Can you really believe that you can take part in sins willingly and still hear from God?
When God speaks to us, he confirms that He approves of what we are doing or trying to do.
So, to think God will speak to us when we willingly sin, is to believe that God approves of the sin you are committing. Light and dark cannot occupy the same place at the same time.” Carol B.
To a pastor who emailed me and was upset that I was teaching the biblical truth about a conditional eternal security, the following response was sent:
“Yes, we have eternal life and yet the possession of eternal life is not automatically eternal … that is, if we do not abide which means remain in Christ to the end, we shall be “cast into the fire.” (Jn. 15:1-6) This is a missing doctrine from the modern church, especially those who have pigeon holed themselves into this “once saved always saved’ mentality which is not taught in Holy Scripture.
God is calling you to repent of the antinomian (lawless) heresy of “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” (license for sin). Jude 3-4.
Greg, you have no Scriptural/divine authority to teach the unconditional eternal security you are teaching. Jesus and His holy apostles taught to the contrary. See Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Acts 13:43; 14:22; Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; Rev. 2-3, etc.).
The LORD’s first priority is not the lost but those He has saved and keeping them saved. See John 17:9; Gal. 6:10. WHERE has satan’s false prophets breathed their strange fire? (Ps 74:3-4, 7) WHAT was Paul’s concern that he cried day and night for three years about? Was it from those who would come from without or from within? Acts 20:27-32
I am attaching the book “Lie of the Ages” which has never been refuted. I encourage you to read it.
The same Greek word for “sealed” in Eph. is used for Christ’s tomb being sealed and WE KNOW that seal was broken (Matt. 27:66).
Tagging Christ’s teaching to abide to the end is not roman catholic. That’s a smokescreen. You need to repent and stop being so prideful. You have much to learn young man.
You have no Scripture to refute this truth. The Truth about Predestined and Sealed.
The Bible says you are an “ungodly man” if you teach this lascivious lie (Jude 3-4).
*Specifically concerning false teachers, the Bible instructs: “rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;” (Titus 1:13)
When Jesus said “It is finished” He was referring to HIS perfect work of redemption and NOT your personal responsibility to die to self and follow Him! Yes “by faith” and if you have true, Heaven bound, saving faith, you will have the good fruit of good works. Why then would He have given you things to do? Why His many commands to be obeyed by those who truly love Him?
The possession of salvation is not automatically eternal. Why then would Jesus have told us – His own – that we must “endure to the end to be saved”? (Matt. 10:22; 24:13) What else could this possibly mean than if we do not continue with Him to the end of our lives on this earth, that we will not be saved?
Message Received:
“Thank you for speaking the truth on so many issues. I almost always agree with the points you prove from Scripture.
I grew up in a very non Calvinist church (Free Methodist). I’m not sure if I took their doctrine past the point where they were teaching or not, but as a child and teenager I believed that if I died and had any unconfessed sin, that I was doomed. In really looking at it now, I think that I still believe that to be the case!
When I was 19, my former husband told me the OSAS doctrine. This was the first time that I knew there was such a thing. After we married, we went to a Conservative Baptist church. Before we joined, I asked the pastor about the OSAS doctrine, and he gave me the standard answer about that if they left the faith, then they were never saved to begin with. (Interesting to note is that he grew up Free Methodist!)
Anyway, I don’t think that I’ve ever truly believed OSAS, even when a member of that church. I’ve been a member of two other churches since then, neither OSAS. At the present time, I’m not a member of any church and attend a home fellowship with like minded believers.
Knowing that some challenging times are ahead makes it hard for me to say with certainty that I could never deny Christ, even though that is the desire of my heart. Truly, I think that until I’m with Him, I’m not sure that I can be sure that I’ll be with Him for eternity.” Kathy
Reply:
Kathy, thank you for sharing your testimony. It’s refreshing to see people who were taught the truth from the beginning – that OSAS is a heresy. What you stated at the end is so very vital. Millions who were once saved (for sure) and then told they had no further personal responsibility to follow Christ in a real way, are going to deny Him openly in the end and go to hell for eternity and it will be worse for them than if they had never know the LORD (2 Pet. 2:20-21). They were betrayed for the false teachers who taught them this OSAS lie and also for their own disobedience of refusing to learn of the LORD from His written Word for themselves. Ready or not -Jesus is coming for a spotless bride (Eph. 5:25-27).
***QUESTION RECEIVED:
If I recall you pretty much said that Calvinist’s are not saved and that is just not true! Now was that a gracious thing to say??? I mean we could dialogue on this until doomsday, and I could pretty much say the same about you, but what would be the point???
REPLY:
No offense meant here but let me say it once again, standing on both feet and all boldness and no slight apology – No person who is trusting in some other system of theology other than that “doctrine of Christ” we must received AND continue in, will be saved in the end. – “WHOSOEVER (whether saved in the past or not) transgresseth (goes back), and abideth (remains) not in the doctrine of Christ, HATH NOT GOD. He that abideth (remains) in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9)
I have no problem at all with you are anyone disagreeing with me. It’s all about divine truth which is available to us all in God’s written Word friend.
And YES, that is a very gracious thing to say because – “Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”(Proverbs 27:5-6) Now, let me ask you a question now: “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16) …. by the way, you are welcome to say I’m not saved. There is no doubt that can tamper with the divine “great peace” of those who only get what they believe from God’s pure Word and “hate EVERY false way” such as calvinism (Psalms 119:104, 128, 165). In other words, why read it and pollute your mind if it’s not the BIBLE? No true disciple of Jesus looks ANY where except to Christ, the Word and His written Word for the truth. ALL others are deceived and will be damned (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalms 119:165
Doctrinal Purity (audio)
Comment Received:
“Hello bother, this is Pastor Frank. I see that you are working hard for the Lord and contending with many deceived souls regarding that wicked false teacher, John Calvin and his demonic belief system. You are doing a great job! My words seem to fall on deaf ears. In the ministry that I am involved with, we minister mostly to people who are in the occult/cult systems. We have helped many, thanks be to our God! I really did not know a whole lot about this wicked man until I ran into a Calvinist preacher. After hearing him and disagreeing with the lies he was teaching, he got crazy and it could have turned violent. It made me really dig into why this lying preacher was so crazy. When I studied hard I found out the real truth of John Calvin, the person, and his demonic system. I could see that these people have the same spirit as there god Calvin, the monster. Even when I point out the fact that he was a mass murder, it does not seem to bother them at all! That in itself is amazing to me and is evil, to say the least. I think that if they could, they would burn us at the stake in the name of Calvin. Hang in there! You are doing a great job exposing this devil. God bless.” Frank S.
Comment Received:
“Calvinism is so far removed from scripture and the heart of God. It is an absolute assault on God’s own character. However it will fulfill scripture. Unfortunately many will be losing their soul because of this. Matthew 7:21-23 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. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Steve Anderson
Message Received:
Didn’t James say, we are tempted by our own lusts? James 1:14
So yes, God is not enticing us to sin. We are drawn away by our own lusts. Again, we are under the law. How can he be transgressing the law, when he wrote it?
To put all the Scriptures in focus, God did harden Pharaohs heart.
An evil spirit did come from the Lord to Saul.
God did create the devil.
God is working, manipulating, arranging everything. If He’s not, he’s not God.
Now, to blame God for your sin is unlawful. I repeat, we are under the law not Him.
Reply:
God only hardened Pharoah’s heart in the sense of allowing him to choose and then responding just like we see He does now in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. No, God did not create the devil, He created Lucifer who then rebelled (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:13-15). You are on dangerous ground attributing sin and evil to the Almighty who said He is “Holy, holy, holy” and that He “cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he ANY man.” (Isaiah 6:3; Rev. 4:8; James 1:13-15).
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15
Message Received:
“I believe in ‘once saved, always saved’. I have read the KJV Bible through several times and have listened to arguments against OSAS. To believe otherwise is to dilute the power of Jesus’ blood to save to the uttermost and that is blasphemy. Love in Christ! I’ve walked with the Lord faithfully for 50 years out of 61. When I went ‘worldly’ God didn’t dis own me, but gently called me to Himself and I repented of what I had done. If you are truly saved,’no man shall be able to pluck you out of His hand.’”
Reply:
Hi. The blood of Jesus is perfect. However, its’ application to the individual is yet another thing. Perfect righteousness is only arrived at/received and kept through the initial, continual, and presence of the perfect blood of Jesus Christ. This is accomplished as we choose to “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 Jn. 1:7) Note the ongoing nature of the verse you just read as you re-read it slowly and prayerfully. Contrary to what Holy Writ plainly reveals, the eternal securest wants the convenience of a one-time “Profession of faith” or “Decision to accept Christ” as the way to be saved. This type of professing believer does not want to pick up the daily cross. He wants to believe he is secure in his daily life, while forsaking the Savior he claims to be saved by (Matt. 7:21; Lk. 6:46). In his mythical, fairy tale- like self-deception, he wants the heavenly crown, yet denies the daily cross (Matt. 16:24-25). He refuses to lose his own life for the life of the Savior and LORD because he is not truly trusting God. He wants his sin instead of the Savior. He makes excuse for living in sin and hides behind the thin veneer of his doctrines of false security. He is a hypocrite and a moral coward who refuses to literally obey the God He claims to be saved by (Tit. 1:16; Rev. 21:8). The LORD promised that our sin – if retained – WILL find us out in the end if we do not confess and forsake them (Num. 32:23; Prov. 28:13; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5-7; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 21:8, 27). God did not cease to have His immutable eternal divine nature – “holy, holy, holy” just because He saved us! Think about how sinfully presumptuous, self-serving, and pride-filled this assumption is! This heresy underlies all of reformed/Calvinistic theology and thinking. The teachings of “Once Saved Always Saved” false doctrine, as well as reformed theology, are simply the insidious workings of Satan to attack Christ and subvert His holy truth.
According to 1 John 1:7, only those who get saved and then continue to “walk in the light” with Christ will continue to be washed from their sins. Sin MUST be confessed (1 John 1:9).
The wages of sin is still death and God is “Holy, holy, holy.” Nothing could be more clear in His Word than the fact that any person who dies in sin will be in the lake of fire eternally (Rev. 21:8, 27; 22:14-15; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5-9).
Information on “plucked” below … keep reading ….
In the divine economy, as is expressed throughout the Holy Scriptures, salvation is not a one-time event, but the ongoing experience of knowing Him in an intimate, willing, obedient relationship (Exod. 25:8; 2 Chron. 15:2; Isa. 1:19-20; Jn. 17:3; Phil. 3:10; 2 Tim. 2:12, etc.). The fact that we all have stumbled and sinned after being saved does not justify that sin. God is still “holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8) His divine nature does not change just because He by His sheer mercy saved us (Tit. 3:5-7). This is where the Calvinist utterly and foolishly errs (Jonah 2:8). In fact, God told us that those who COVER (instead of CONFESS and FORSAKE sin) are not right with Him. Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:6-2:2 are essential Scriptures which should be read in order to better understand this most critical doctrine.
In fact, He told us that those who COVER instead of CONFESS and FORSAKE their sin are not right with Him and will be found having their own righteousness instead of Christ’s perfect righteousness (Prov. 28:13; Phil. 3:9). 1 John 1:6-2:2 are essential in understanding a fuller scope of this whole topic. We must not err in the other direction from lasciviousness to legalism, thinking we can be made perfect in the flesh lest we fall from grace like the Galatians (Gal. 3:3; 5:4). Trusting in self instead of the one Savior will result in a fall from grace which is only accessed and abode/continued in “by FAITH.” (Rom. 5:1-2)
Righteousness can only come from Jesus Christ…imputed as we repent and place our full faith in Him alone for salvation that He alone earned for us (Rom. 3:21-4:5). God requires faith, not only to initially receive His imputed righteousness, but also ongoing to the end of one’s life or all is lost. This is a doctrine the reformist OSAS adherent completely denies and yet it is all over Scripture (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Col. 1:23; Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Pet. 2:20-22; Rev. 2-3, etc.). The appropriation of His saving righteousness is only to those who truly believe on Jesus Christ and continue in that faith to the end. Many “fall away” (Lk. 8:13) or fail to realize that their “faith” is not authentic. Real, saving faith will always produce a life of good fruit, denying ungodliness and worldly lust and looking daily for the soon return of Jesus. Our Lord will be looking for those who are daily being washed by His Word, without spot and blemish (Titus 2:11-12; Eph. 5:25-27; 1 John 3:3).
We still have our sin nature. Paul says it is still a part of us and even he laments that he struggles with it. Paul also said that “if ye live after the flesh ye (believer) SHALL die” and of himself Paul the apostle said that he was personally responsible to “keep under” his body of sin – keep it crucified – or he also would be a “castaway” which simply means that he would ultimately be cast away from God into hell. Paul was not an eternal securest as the tradition of Calvinism and reformed theology erroneously teaches today. The real grace teacher, Paul, said this of divine grace, a passage purposely and completely dodged, avoided, shunned, and refused by the modern Calvinist…
Titus 2:11-14 brings in many rejected truths, including 1. What divine grace teaches when it is truly in a person’s life, 2. That Christ died to free us from ALL unrighteousness, and if we are not walking in this sin-killing grace, we will not be ready at His soon return, and 3. That when God’s grace is truly in us, we are “zealous of good works”:
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL MEN, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14
Titus 2:11-14 brings in many rejected truths, including:
1. What divine grace teaches when it is truly in a person’s life
2. That Christ died to free us from ALL unrighteousness, and if we are not walking in this sin-killing grace, we will not be ready at His soon return and
3. That when God’s grace is truly in us, we are “zealous of good works”.
The phony grace message of the evangelicals who follow Calvin instead of Christ, robs the fear of the LORD from the hearts of their gullible audience and leads them into a life of sin. The catastrophic result is that they are not ready for the return of Jesus and will be rejected as lukewarm …. Check what Jesus said out here in Luke 21:33-36….
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:33-36
Calvinists also call sin “doing wrong” or “having faults” and that these things will not be imputed to Christians, but will all burn at the judgment seat of Christ. Where does Holy Scripture say this? No where, especially when biblical passages are read in their own context and in context with the whole of Scripture. Paul warns CHRISTIANS of the 5 sins that kept God’s people out of their promised land (Heaven) ….. L.I.F.T.M. = lust, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, murmuring …. See 1 Cor. 9:27-10:12. Paul cited 17 specific sins that will keep a former believer out of the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21). There’s much more on this in the NT Scriptures (Eph. 5:5-7; Rev. 21:8, 27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10, etc.
Only our works will be judged there. Yes, we are known and will be judged by our works due to the fact that our works clearly reveal what is truly in our heart.
“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. (why such a warning if there were no possibility of losing it?) And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” Revelation 2:25-26
Enduring to the end is a requirement. Irrevocable eternal damnation awaits all who after being saved fall away, do not continue to walk with Christ on His stated biblically recorded terms. Abide or perish (John 15:6).
When speaking to His very own people, Jesus promised that only those among them that “overcome” would be with Him eternally (Rev. 2-3). The Holy Spirit told us through Peter that in the end “the righteous” would “scarcely be saved.” Many have fallen away or not endured to the end which is a requirement imposed upon us by the LORD. “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Pet. 4:18)
Whether previously saved or not, all those who die in sin are going to the lake of fire. The whole of God’s Word testifies to this fact. Jesus said to cut off the hand and pluck out the eye that causes us to offend the one true God who said He is “holy, holy, holy.” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8) Read Mark 9:42-49, a passage purposely dodged by the spineless, self-serving coward behind today’s pulpits who claim to be representing Christ while refusing to declare the full counsel of His Word. He promised us that He will be ashamed of them in the Judgment, which means they will be vanquished into the bowels of eternal damnation (Mk. 8:38; Jn. 8:47). There is no doubt that after we have been saved, we have all sinned against God and yet there are those who openly and honestly admit they have sinned and repent, turning back to the LORD (Lk. 8:15; 1 Jn. 1:7-10; Rev. 3:17-19). Tragically, there are many who use false doctrine like OSAS (once saved always saved) to cloak themselves in that sin, falsely claiming they are still secure. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Proverbs 28:13 says “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Speaking to Christians, Rom. 8:13 says “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.”
If we are to have the Peace of God, how can we have that peace if we are always fearful of losing our salvation when we do wrong? God has not given us the spirit of fear. Brother, this is mere reasoning, with self at heart instead of the Savior. We must die to self and self’s desires, “needs”, and wants. “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3) You are approaching this in the flesh instead of by the pure counsel of His Word in the holy fear of God. Reread your statement above and perhaps you will see that self is first – the preservation and pampering of self. Peace is a by product or fruit of abiding in Christ which means abiding in/obeying His teachings to deny self, take up the cross to mortify self, and follow Him (Lk. 9:23-24). The false teachers will never teach this but rather a diabolical and utterly false security. They sell this as a ware, to tickle ears, entertain, and grow their nickels, noses, and numbers. These guys have their own bellies or carnal appetites at heart and “mind earthly things.” (Phil. 3:17-21). These are the ravenous wolves we are so often warned about in God’s Word (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:20-32), etc.). Having peace is not the goal, but rather the goal is to “know him” and “the power of his resurrection, being made conformable to his DEATH.” (Phil. 3:10). He has called us to be conformed to the image of His Son – His Son came to die – and to be rightly serving the very “Prince of peace” we claim to know (Isa. 9:6-7; Rom. 8:29). When knowing Him is truly our goal (as was Paul’s and not some selfish end) we will refuse error and man’s tradition and search out and obey His holy Precepts and will be granted by Him “GREAT peace” – “GREAT PEACE have they that LOVE thy law (Word) and nothing shall offend them.” (Ps. 119:165) False teaching produces a pseudo peace that is a cheap counterfeit for the deep, clean, sound, peace of God that passes all understanding and keeps our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our LORD (Phil. 4:4-8, etc.). Only those who love and therefore obey His pure, clean, and clear counsel will be granted His “great peace.” (Ps 119:165) All others claiming to have peace are deceived.
My prayer today is that both of us will be blessed to completely change any single thing we have espoused and that is not aligned with the clear message of the full-counsel of Holy Writ.
At least think on these things. If we are a part of the Body of Christ, He cannot cut off a part of Himself if we do wrong. See also John 17. “Cut off” is a term used by the LORD as a serious warning. It is an ultimatum for those of His who do not “continue in his goodness” (Rom. 11:22). Jesus said that those who do not remain/abide in Him after being in Him (saved) will be cut off and thrown into the fires of eternal damnation (Jn. 15:5).
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Articles
Sinlessly Perfect? I Doubt it [podcast]
Yes the LORD commands His people to “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Yet we should ask whether or not His desire is for His people to tout to others that they are “sinlessly perfect” or does His Word rather reveal that His people are to be dependent upon Him through the humility of Christ and crucified life He ordained us to walk in? Did the apostles walk around telling people they were sinlessly perfect? No. Didn’t Paul confess his own utter poverty of spirit outside of the saving, present grace of Christ? Yes. (Romans 7:18, 24, etc.) Are there biblical warnings about claiming that one is sinlessly perfect? Yes. (Job 9:20; Proverbs 20:9)
“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
Saints, would it be accurate to observe that we cannot possibly begin to appreciate this “so great salvation” that is Christ until we understand how lost, helpless, and alienated we were in our sin? (Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 2:3) We must pray and study to understand the biblical doctrine of inherent sin, fallen mankind, and the holiness of God …. in order to begin to be able to appreciate the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Job 9:20
Solomon said:
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9
Speaking of king David’s imperfections, even nearing the end of his life on earth, one commentator writes:
“Surely there can be little ground for the doctrine of perfectionism, otherwise David, whose religion was so earnest and so deep, would have been nearer it now than this chapter shows that he was.” Expositor’s Bible
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
I am not a good person, neither are you – “There is none righteous, no, not one“ (Romans 3:10). Admit it. The sooner we become HONEST with that which is more than obvious, announcing freely and transparently – that there is “NOOOO good thing” in us except CHRIST, the sooner God will begin a new, deeper work in us! (Romans 7:18, 24) The Cross!
God is able to establish our hearts in His grace and to multiply His grace to us (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 3:18)
ALL of our deeds are not perfect (1 John 1:8-10). “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). The truly righteous remain humble, teachable, and repentant. Note verse 21 saints:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
Saved by Divine Grace and Yet Now Made Perfect by Your Flesh?
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
The Galatian believers had begun their walk with Christ by responding to the conviction of the Spirit, repenting, putting their faith in Christ, and being regenerated. Yet, now they were allowing false teachers to seduce them back under the law, law-keeping for righteousness – to attempt to please God by their own self-will and performance.
Jesus’ disciples must live a set apart life. Living sinless? Well, it can be done: Here’s the key – “In him (Jesus) is no sin. He that abideth in him sinneth not” (1 John 3:5-6). We whom Jesus has saved must “cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Yet, the only way to be sinless is in presently abiding in Him and that begins with the essential of announcing our own poverty in self which is being poor/desperately dependent on Him in spirit (Matthew 5:3, 6). Yet some insist that they are perfect by their own will, ability, and doing. This is the exact error of the Galatians which caused them to fall from saving grace (Galatians 5:4). They left Christ for something else – law keeping. Leaving Christ, departing from faith, and casting off trusting fully in HIS saving grace, is deadly. Realizing there is “NO good thing” in us except Christ, is essential to abiding saved in Him (Romans 7:18, 24; John 15:1-6). Galatians 3:3 says it all – “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). The great apostle of Jesus was desperate for the LORD, ever seeking His holy face and dreadfully not wanting “to be found having mine own righteousness which is of the law” (Philippians 3:9-10).
“The great secret of abiding in Christ is the deep conviction that we are nothing, and He is everything.” Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ
Heart purity and a sinless life emanate only from intimate union and abiding with a holy God. This occurs as we consent to the cross and not by human effort alone. Jesus raises up those who are truly bowed down – crucified with Christ (Psalms 145:14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). One cannot possibly “stop sinning” until they come to Jesus and He saves them, making them new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Only then can the regenerated disciple “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” (Colossians 3:9-10). There MUST be something to “put off” …. that inherent sinful nature, otherwise no such language would be in Scripture (Colossians 3).
Beware of the sinless perfectionists who speak of overcoming sin outside of the daily cross and the saving, enabling grace of God. It’s only possible by God’s enabling grace in and through a true abiding relationship.
If we claim we are sufficient in and of ourselves and because of our own “natural ability” to do right, and can be perfect (which God requires) without Christ and our total trust IN HIM, we are apostate. Memorize Romans 4:4-5.
We cannot be “made perfect BY the flesh” or by means of our own self-will and effort alone. If that were possible WHY then did Jesus come? We are only perfect in the sense of Christ’s perfection AS we abide in Him (John 15:1-6). As we do, we will “walk in the light, as he is in the light … and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Here’s the whole verse:
“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
Yes, we are “new creatures” in Christ and must humble ourselves before Him, put off the old man, put on the new man, and walk in the Spirit with Him. Yet, the victory Christ has wrought and ordained for us to walk in daily all begins with acknowledging instead of denying that there is something to deny and die to and “put off” (Colossians3:5; 2 Corinthians5:17-18). Denying that we have inclination toward sin is not the answer. Crucifying the deeds of the body by the power of the Holy Spirit is the answer (Romans 8:12-14). Many are getting hoodwinked by this self-righteous “I can do it with my own ‘natural ability’” spirit. This is a Christ-denying devil-exalting heresy, doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Many who are not grounded in the grace and Word of Christ are adopting this error of Pelagianism which fosters self righteousness. They are aggressively teaching this sinless perfectionism (in the flesh) error to others. These people seem to have one common denominator – they have studied the teachings of Charles Finney or Mike Desario. Beware!
Many of those who preach sin without saving, rescuing, enabling, overcoming divine grace are perhaps still trapped in their own sins. They have no answer for others and therefore we should wonder if they have the LORD’s answer for and in their own lives. If they did, would they not be full of His great joy and sharing with others how to be delivered? Why are they content with condemning others in sin? Is God willing that ANY should perish? See 2 Peter 3:9.
Never forget to make a decision to be deepened in the essential truth that it’s “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7
WHEN we realize that God is “Holy, holy, holy,” we will no longer wrongly condemn others if they sin, just because the flavor of their sin differs from that sin which we’ve committed, knowing that the sin we committed was no less evil in the eyes of He alone who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense
It’s only by God’s grace that we are found and saved by Him and kept and enabled to please Him which includes participating in holiness, separated unto the LORD, as He is holy (Hebrews 12:14-15; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8, etc.).
Titus 2 tells us that we are only saved by divine grace and only kept to the end by His enabling grace.
“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; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-15
Deliverance from sin/sinning is only possible through faith, loving, worshiping, and obeying our LORD, that is, moment-by-moment abiding in Christ, the crucified life, being raised up by His Spirit (Romans 6; 8:13-14, etc.).
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:3-6
Perfection is the perfect forgiveness and justification of the LORD which God brings about by His Spirit and our faith which always brings our adherence to the daily cross (Philippians 2:12-13). It’s divine perfection worked out in the abiding disciple as he walks in the Spirit abiding in Christ (Galatians 5:16, 25, etc.).
True OR Feigned Holiness? | Saving, Enabling Grace | Have We Ourselves Become Pharisees? | The Spirit of Holiness |
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Living the Edification Lifestyle [video]
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Articles
The True Temple of God [podcast]
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
Today’s priesthood of wolves, who falsely claim to be the LORD’s elders, nearly all insist that they MUST have and operate out of a physical so-called church building (Jeremiah 12:10; 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 24:11, etc.). Well, wouldn’t that mean that Jesus and His holy apostles weren’t legitimate elders—because none of them raised a penny for, or built a physical building?
A temple is a holy place, a sanctuary of worship. The temple the LORD had Moses construct was in order that He might dwell among His people. “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). Why was there a tent of meeting? “That I may dwell among them.” We must never lose sight of the original and perpetual purpose for a temple—for God and man to abide together in relational communion and that the Creator’s will could be advanced in the earth (Genesis 1:26; John 14:15, 21, 23; 17:3; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18).
In the divine economy, a temple is a place where God dwells. And, just where is that temple today?
The temple of God is the place He chooses to dwell—to reside. Where did the LORD tell us He chooses to dwell?
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for (now) he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also … Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient (better) for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 14:17-19; 16:7
When Jesus spoke these words He had not yet ascended back to Heaven. The Son of God here promised that when He went to the glory of His Father He was going to send the divine Person of the Holy Ghost to dwell inside every born again believer (His temples). This is why Jesus tells us in John 16:7 that it was “expedient” or better for them His disciples (and us), that He went away—so that upon re-entering His Father’s heavenly throne of glory, He could send into the hearts of every saint, the divine Person of the Holy Spirit. Apparently, up until this point the Holy Spirit was only with His saints and not inside of them in the special way He dwells with us under this glorious New Covenant (read the book of Hebrews). Christ here foretells that soon, when He rose again from the dead and ascended up on high, He was going to send forth the Holy Ghost and though now “he dwelleth WITH you,” soon He “shall be IN you” (John 14:17). But not everyone can receive the divine presence, the divine Person of the Holy Spirit. There is a qualification to receive the very presence of the Holy Spirit— “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17). Only those who know Jesus and have been cleansed by His holy blood will receive the Holy Spirit and be His temples—the place He dwells. Now that His blood was shed to take away the sins of the world, the divine presence of “the Spirit of truth” was now going to dwell in those temples whom He had regenerated and cleansed in preparation for His abiding (John 14:17).

There is a shadow of this in the law and days of Moses. This truth (that one must be washed in the blood to receive the Spirit) is a prophetic prefiguring of what Christ become the reality and fulfillment. Jesus Christ has become the substance of what this was a mere “shadow of things to come.” Hebrews 10:1 says, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”
The blood of Jesus has provided for us much better things in our relationship with God, including the truth that we are His temples —the place He has chosen to dwell. The sacrifices under the Old Covenant were infinitely inferior to that of the supreme and matchless perfection of Christ’s sacrifice through which He has granted us a “better covenant.” —“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant (far superior), which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).
The shadow: Do you remember that under the law, the blood was first applied to the priest and then the oil? The substance: There is order with the LORD—one must first be cleansed of all unholy contamination (sin) by the blood of sacrifice before the oil of God the Holy Spirit will come and dwell there.
“And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.” Exodus 29:21
With these truths at heart and for a deeper understanding, let’s peruse through a larger portion of this vital passage recorded in John 14, even the words of our LORD:
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide (dwell) with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:16-26
The Holy Spirit is now dwelling in us as His temples—“he abideth (dwells) IN US, by the Spirit which he hath given us … greater is he that is IN YOU, than he that is in the world” (1 John 3:24; 4:4).
“Ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
The person who does not understand what God’s Word teaches concerning the identification of God’s real “church”—“God’s building”—is prey for a wolf to make him loyal to his own cause, diverting and intercepting his focus and funds from the LORD God (soul-damning idolatry – Ephesians 5:5-9).
Did Jesus ever build a physical building to further His heavenly kingdom? No. So what does He mean by the declaration “I will build my church”? See Matthew 16:18.
“Many have no idea that 1 Corinthians 3:16 means God dwells within us. They pride themselves on how often they attend church. It becomes a ‘holier than thou’ attitude (Isaiah 65:5). And they believe they are morally superior because they attend ‘church.’ God forbid you leave their apostate building and become the real church! At our last ‘church’ we were ostracized for that. Because according to them, when you leave their physical building, you have now left God. They believe that Jesus is only in those buildings and not in us! But those church buildings are only made of wood. And Jesus does not dwell there because of the defilement, self-righteousness, and sin. He dwells in us. We are the temples of the living God! And we are to carry His Word and shine His light into the world and not to hide it behind a fake, lukewarm, religious building!” Karen Cochran
How does the Bible define His “church”? Greek – ekklessia, which means called out ones (people).
What Jesus is building is “a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). This is transpiring as His Word is sown into the hearts of men.
The Carpenter from Heaven promised to build and work on His “building” causing it to prevail against all hell could offer (Matthew 16:18). His people are the “church” Jesus promised to “build.” We are each lively stones— “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Each one of His people is a living stone making up His “building,” His “temple,” His “spiritual house” (1 Corinthians 3:9, 16; 1 Peter 2:5).
“And I (Christ) say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (the revelation that I am the Messiah) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
Jesus says “I will build my CHURCH” (Matthew 16:18). His “church” is HIS PEOPLE, not a physical building but rather He is building His kingdom in the hearts of His PEOPLE. Are you STILL wasting God’s money on physical buildings many erroneously call “church” ?
The revealed divine goal is to “build” His family by saving and changing lives that are houses of clay and being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29). Christ didn’t come to give license to sub-leaders to build their own little kingdoms using His name. He is orchestrating all things to this divine and holy end—it’s all about Him and not us. This is why He has redeemed us and come to dwell in us—to do what He promised and is doing, build His church. Any movement, leader, or organization that does not own and communicate this foundational truth through the Gospel, is preaching another gospel and is false (Galatians 1:6-9). Defining the true Church as the LORD has in His Word is ultra important, especially in this late hour of epidemic apostasy (Matthew 24:3-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Revelation 12:12). Jesus Christ told us that His kingdom was “not of this world” and that His kingdom was within His people and not an organization of mere men or physical buildings— “the most High dwelleth NOT in temples made with hands” (Luke 17:21; John 18:36; Acts 7:48).
Just as the blood of an animal sacrifice preceded the application of the anointing oil, so the precious blood of Christ made it possible for His Holy Spirit to dwell inside each and every one of His saints. This is why Jesus told us that it was “expedient” for us that He go to Heaven after paying the full price for our sins on the cross so He could send the Spirit into each heart (Acts 2:1-4).
Did you catch that? — “The most High dwelleth NOT in temples made with hands” (Acts 7:48). God is holy and cannot dwell in any place prepared by the hands of sinful men. As God would have it, only the divine blood of His only begotten Son via His nail-pierced hands and feet could have possibly prepared the place in us for His holy presence to dwell.
This “so great salvation,” wrought by the very blood of Jesus, provided for the indwelling Spirit to inhabit us as His temples and gives full access and blessed provision to every disciple for communion and any need (Hebrews 2:3; 4:14-16).
JESUS WANTS THE GATHERINGS OF HIS PEOPLE CLEANSED FROM THE HIRELING WOLVES WHO MONETIZE HIS NAME AND HIS CHURCH! They refuse to emphasize the divine desire for God’s people to have pure hearts nor the cardinal doctrines of the doctrine of God.
God is all about people and yet cannot bestow His blessing until there is true repentance and humility (Isaiah 1:18-20; Acts 3:19; James 4:6-10). We should ask His forgiveness for the idolatry of having other gods before Him and therefore aggrandizing self, physical temples, organizations, programs, and mere men.
“For the LORD taketh pleasure in HIS PEOPLE (not physical buildings, organizations or leaders, etc.): he will beautify the meek with salvation.” Psalms 149:4
The Father sent His only begotten Son for people. The earth and everything else is only in existence for His highest creation for which He came and bled. The eternal Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, ultimately purchasing our redemption with His own blood in order to wash away all our sins and grant us intimate relationship with Him who is “holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 26:28; Revelation 4:8). Christ did not come to the earth so that men could use His name to amass organizations to their own glory, ruling over the people—such is the occupation of “evil workers” (Philippians 3:1-3, 17-19). Jesus told us that those who truly followed Him would be the greatest servants (Matthew 20:24-28). Any person in leadership who does not strive to be “servant of all” is in direct disobedience to the command of Christ and will inevitably become a wolf operating among the sheep if he does not repent and lay down his life (Mark 9:35). Hirelings are those who are in ministry positions for their own personal gain—they serve their own carnal appetites (Philippians 3:17-19). As we were repeatedly forewarned, there are “many” who erect physical monuments and perpetuate the existence of religious organizations of mere men while claiming to be Christ’s leaders. This they do while simultaneously rejecting His words (Matthew 7:21; Mark 8:38).
The LORD is all about “HIS PEOPLE” and not physical buildings, organizations, religious politics, or the undue and idolatrous worship of human leaders, etc. Those who do not emphasize this truth that Jesus Christ is “Head” and is building His people—His Church—His building, are those who are “not (up)holding the Head (Christ), from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God” (Colossians 2:18-19).
Oh yeah to the naked and untrained eye it looks like Christianity is growing in America with all the church buildings that are being constructed. That’s a picture of the organized, visible apostate church world. As Elijah and the apostle Paul were taught and reminded of, God’s remnant people are not always readily visible to the physical eye (1 Kings 19:14, 18; Acts 18:9-10). But we must ask ourselves if the growth of the kingdom of God is parallel with the construction of brick and mortar buildings and the numeric growth of organizations or local churches.
According to history, organizations, properties, and numbers of people can be thriving while men are simultaneously departing from the LORD.
“For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.” Hosea 8:14
“Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples” —From this telling statement it seems that as men forget God, they tend to migrate to the idolatry of self by building physical structures as a way to make up for what they lack spiritually and what they would otherwise be receiving from God if they were worshiping Him “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). The innate tendency in the man who has a mere form of godliness yet does not know the LORD, is to construct physical things, believing that he is contributing to the building of God’s kingdom. For this sin the LORD promises to send the “fire” of His judgment which must begin at the house of God (Isaiah 5:20-24; 1 Peter 4:17-18).
Those who understand the biblical truth about the true Church and that we are His temples, will cringe when we hear a pastor stand up and say “Welcome to the house of God.” We are the Church (called-out ones) and therefore cannot go to church as many insinuate. We are the temple or house of God and therefore cannot go to the house of God. Now we can fellowship with those in “the household of faith” yet the house of God is not a physical building where we gather (Galatians 6:10). Any leader who misleads people to believe that his little church program or business is “the house of God” simply does not possess a foundational knowledge of the kingdom of God.
Like apostate Israel, in America we see the exponential proliferation of “church houses” at the expense of the advancement and spread of the kingdom of Heaven. Wasn’t this the case with the Laodiceans? They appeared to have substance with all their material wealth and yet God saw them as ready to be rejected out of His body because they were “lukewarm… wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…” (Revelation 3:14-22). Let’s freshly read these vitally important words of Christ and examine our own hearts in this light:
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22
One deceived pastor of a large and financially affluent church here in the Dallas area attributes the financial increase and his accumulation of real estate properties to the growth of God’s kingdom. Is that biblically accurate?
“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” Isaiah 66:1-5
The LORD is not impressed with physical buildings and organizations of religious men who don’t know Him. The Almighty told us that He only chooses to commune with that redeemed person who is of a “poor and of a contrite spirit” and therefore trembles at His holy Word (Isaiah 66:2).
Being His dwelling place requires that I obediently keep His temple clean. (God be praised for repentance, His holy throne of grace, and the restoring love of Christ.) Such is a condition for remaining His son and receiving His blessings:
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 6:15-7:1
PRAYER: Father, please do a fresh work in my heart. I ask You in Jesus’ holy name. Grant a heart of flesh and please remove all stony places in this heart. Bless this vessel to please You in all thoughts, meditations, and acts in this short life. Please dig in deep, probing the depths of this heart. Please test the substance of my life and reveal the true value or lack thereof. Grant repentance and the holy fear of the LORD. Let me be clothed with Your righteousness through the precious blood of Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here okay: Born Again: What is It?
Feedback:
“Brother TODD you are such a blessing .. I came out two years ago .. HE kept taking me out.. I thought something was wrong with me.. not anymore .. brother AUSTIN shared this teaching on the living stones and gave an illustration.. I will send this to him he will love it and I have sent it to a few others as well.. thank you for writing it for the FATHER is using you and all your past experiences HE is using for his glory!” Marsha O.
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