Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
Counterfeits hunt high and low, far and wide to find Scripture they think they can use to justify not taking up the cross – living the crucified life. And, they run from, they avoid any Scripture that calls them to truly repent, to lay down their life in this fleeting world, deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus for real. Hell awaits.
“By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:2
If, If, If?
Personally speaking, if I were somehow misled to believe in the 5 point heresies OSAS and John Calvin, this 2-letter word found throughout Scripture – “if” – would greatly haunt and embarrass me – hopefully to the point of repenting of my belief in a myth (which is one of the works of the flesh – “heresies” – Gal. 5:19-21).
The true grace teacher, the apostle Paul, writing to “Brethren” concerning the “gospel” states, “By which also ye are saved IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, UNLESS YE HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN.” (1 Cor. 15:1-4) “Believing in vain” is clearly possible or it would not have been mentioned here. “Believing in vain” would mean that one’s initial/ previous saving faith is useless “if” they do not “keep in memory” the gospel which Paul preached to them and they received. This verse clearly reveals that initial saving faith becomes useless (“vain”) if that person chooses to cease living in faith and obeying the Lord.
“Jesus will neither leave us nor forsake us, but we can leave and forsake Him by choosing our sins OVER His love, grace and mercy!” Dino Filardo
True believers must make sure the Gospel once given to the saints is diligently declared and defended (Jude 3-4; Phil 1:17). This includes verse 2 of this passage which defines what the true Gospel is and how it is maintained.
According to 1 Corinthians 15:2, “IF ye keep in memory” the Gospel, including enduring to the end, “ye are saved” and “have not believed in vain.”
“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house we are, IF WE HOLD FAST THE CONFIDENCE and the rejoicing of the hope FIRM UNTO THE END.” Hebrews 3:6
Here we learn that we are members of “Christ’s … house … IF WE HOLD FAST THE CONFIDENCE and the rejoicing of the hope FIRM UNTO THE END.”
“For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence (obedient faith) stedfast UNTO THE END.” Hebrews 3:14
“And you…hath he reconciled (saved)…to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: IF you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…” Colossians 1:21-23
We see here in Colossians 1 that it is possible for those who have been “reconciled” to be “moved away” from eternal life, which is “the hope of the gospel.”
In Romans 11 Paul warned non-Jewish believers to take heed to what God did to His own covenant people who rebelled against Him:
“Be not highminded, but FEAR: For IF God spared not the natural branches (Israel), take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold (take hold of) therefore the goodness AND severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, IF THOUCONTINUE in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be CUT OFF.” Romans 11:20-22
The avid unconditional eternal security proponent must, of necessity, find a way to wax over or deceitfully manipulate the numerous “if”’s of Scripture if he is going to make this doctrine palatable to his own conscience and others. In doing this, one continues to hide the truth from his own heart so that he can continue to live the life he so desires and still possess eternal life. (This teaching is designed by Satan to give license to escape the Lordship of Jesus.) Did not the Holy Spirit foretell of those in the last days who would do this after they departed from the faith (apostatized)?
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1-2
Especially in these final days, some have so denied the truth that they have seared their own consciences (Romans 1:18-25). The person who decides to deny truth must become skilled at deceiving his own heart. The many “if’s” found in Scripture clearly reveal a conditional security – a security or assurance only granted by God to the heart of the doer of truth (Romans 2:7-13; James 1:22; 1 Jn. 3:16-19). Like the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons, the cult of Calvin steeps its adherents in the fine art of twisting Scripture to arrive at the enemy’s desired erroneous outcome. If you have ever dealt with a staunch follower of Calvinism, then you are familiar with the way they have mastered the evil art of Scripture twisting.
The word “if” found throughout Scripture plainly reveals that there are divinely instituted conditions for getting saved and remaining saved. There are those (namely new believers) who honestly have never seen the volumes of Scripture texts which plainly eradicate any possibility of there existing an unconditional, eternal security. And yet, there are those who, after seeing the Scriptures, which refute such a falsehood, choose to cloak themselves in the garment of lascivious deceit. Instead of owning up to the clear truth of Scripture, there are those who would rather twist and deny Biblical truth that stares them in the face, in order not to disturb their false sense of security, which they have wrapped themselves in using this doctrine which makes a mockery of sin and the holiness of God. Is there anything new about this depraved state of heart? Did men of old also cut the Bible up and discard those things they didn’t like?
In his booklet entitled The Eternal Security Teaching, J. L. Stauffer says that the “Eternal security as a teaching is based on partial Scriptures.” Stauffer wrote:
“‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable.’ This teaching magnifies the ‘verilies,’ but discounts the ‘ifs’; yet both are given by God and are equally inspired. Conditions of salvation and conditions of keeping are not named in every Scripture. Scriptures of warning are addressed to such believers as may be careless, indifferent, trifling, boastful, or presumptuous. The usual group of Scriptures quoted by the eternal security believers are the kind that are needed to encourage and sustain the fearful, trembling, and weak saints who earnestly desire to do the will of their Lord, but are harassed by the devil and beset with doubts. ‘Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed,’ was a ‘verily’ as far as the statement was concerned, but there was an ‘if’ implied in one of the promises of God. (See Jer. 18:1-12.) Such Scriptures as John. 10:27, 28; Col. 3:1-3; John.3:36; 5:24; Jude 24; Rom. 8:34-39; Heb. 7:25, and a lot of others that might be given are precious to every believer. They make it clear that we are safe in Christ Jesus. No outside power or influence, neither men, angels, nor devils, can come between us and our Lord; but there are conditions of salvation and there are conditions that govern our keeping. We do not question God’s sovereignty, His power, His omnipotence; we believe and hold to all of them. On the other hand as honest people, we dare not close our eyes to the fact that God has laid a responsibility upon free moral agents that He does not violate by His sovereignty, His omnipotence, His election, or any other office or attribute belonging to Deity. The condition that saves is the same condition that keeps. Eternal security believers constantly underscore ‘hath’ in John 5:24 but overlook the condition, ‘believeth.’ They will take John 10:27-29 and underscore the ‘never perish’ and ‘no man is able to pluck them out of my hand,’ but ignore the fact that this promise is made to the ‘sheep that hear his voice and follow him.’ As long as this condition continues, the keeping continues. No other interpretation is consistent with free moral agency.”
Of the sovereignty of God and the free will of men, one responder writes:
“God is sovereign. God is God. He is all-knowing. He is all-wise. He is eternal…‘No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.’ Yes, He draws us to Him. We choose to follow, to receive or reject his sweet offer of forgiveness and life, to accept or to put it off. There is a ‘we’ side to the equation, though, or all men would be saved, for He says that He is ‘not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ – 2 Peter 3:9. So you see, some of it is up to our choosing.”
One-Word Nightmare of OSAS – “Again”
“Again” – Here is yet another word that haunts those who embrace the lie of the ages which emanates from the serpent in the Garden who came to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (Jn. 10:10)
The prodigal son was a son of his father then abandoned his father’s house (God gives free will to all men). Of him Christ said: “For this my son was dead, and is alive AGAIN; he was lost, and is found … for this thy brother was dead, and is alive AGAIN; and was lost, and is found.” (Lk. 15:24, 32)
The prodigal son parable gives us more confirmation that a person can be “twice dead.” (Jude 12) This term “twice dead” means that one who is born dead, as all men are, is saved and then falls away from God and is “dead” again. Let’s look at verse 32 of Luke 15 again:
“It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother (part of the family) wasdead, and is alive AGAIN; and was lost, and is found.” Luke 15:32
To begin with, the prodigal son was clearly a member of the family, otherwise he wouldn’t be referred to as the “brother” of the older son. He then departed from his father’s house in rebellion. He became “dead” and then “alive AGAIN.”
Let’s consider Jude 12 in light of this truth:
“Twice dead, plucked up by the roots.” Jude 12
Concerning this Bible passage, in her book Secure in Christ, Dr. Cathy Burns states: (emphasis hers)
“Notice that here were trees whose fruit withered so that it was without fruit and it was TWICE DEAD. This would refer to a person who was originally spiritually dead as all are born in sin. This person then got saved, bore fruit for awhile and then backslid. He is now unsaved, and once again spiritually dead – thus TWICE DEAD.” p. 33
Is re-conversion Biblical? Must one who is saved be reconverted when he falls away?
“But I (Jesus) have prayed for thee (Peter, Christ’s own apostle), that thy faith fail not: and when thouart converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:32
If one who is in right standing with God can “fall” like Peter, and need to be “converted,” then he was obviously in danger of eternal judgment.
Is re-conversion necessary for eternal life?
“Brethren(who?), IF (denotes the possibility) any of YOU do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth (again) the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death (eternal damnation), and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20
More on “Again”
2 Peter 2:20-22
“For IF after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are AGAIN entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:20-22
First of all, according to this divinely breathed utterance, a person can possess “the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” having “escaped the pollutions of the world” and can become “AGAIN entangled therein, and overcome.” The text also reveals that this person in question had “known the way of righteousness” yet did “turn from the holy commandment.” If such a person does not repent before it is too late, “the latter end” will be “worse with them than the beginning.” In other words, his eternal torment in hell will be utterly worse than if he had never tasted of and experienced the heavenly gift of eternal life.
This 2 Peter 2 text alone completely removes the possibility of an unconditional eternal security. This passage all by itself annihilates the diabolical teachings of John Calvin and all modern strands of it. The bottom line is that a person who has once been truly saved can lose His salvation! Any person who reads these words and still denies such is not being honest with God’s Word.
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, IF thou continue (DENOTES ACONTINUAL CHOICE) in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:22
Previous to these words Paul speaks about the fruit which is determined by the root. In any tree or plant, the fruit reveals the substance or nature of the root (Rom. 11:16). The root determines the fruit. According to the Bible, fruit that once existed can wither and die. Those who have been saved are required to “abide” or remain “grounded and settled” in the LORD and through that relationship His fruit will be yielded in their lives (Jn. 15; Col. 1:23).
Of those apostates (people who departed from the faith) who operate in the midst of the people of God, the Word states:
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water (these men do not contain nor pour out true divine substance), carried about of winds; trees whose FRUIT WITHERETH, without fruit, TWICE DEAD, PLUCKED UP BY THE ROOTS.” Jude 12
Note here that these apostates Jude addresses had previously been saved and bore “fruit” which now “withereth.” An apostate is one who leaves the faith he once knew and embraced (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Pet. 2:20-22). Those who depart from Christ are also said to be “TWICE dead, plucked up by the roots.” How can one be “plucked up by the roots” if he were not first planted in the ground – the soil of the LORD’s vineyard? The biblical truth is that those planted in the house will be “plucked up by the roots” if they do not continue to seek Him and obey Him. Do you remember what 2 Chronicles 15:2 says?
“The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2
PRAYER: Holy Father, please grant my heart your grace, to live in love with You and wholly pleasing in Thy sight. Cleanse from my heart every distorted notion of who You are and what Your will is. Help me to help others in Your truth and love. Make my heart to be resolutely honest about what You told us in Your Word. I love You LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Abiding
“Thou hast been in Eden the Garden of God.” ~ Ezekiel 28:13 [podcast]

Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
THE INTRUDERS—THE RESTORATION
“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God.” ~ Ezekiel 28:13
The evil one had been thrust down from Heaven to the earth for the iniquity found in him (Ezek. 28:15; Lk. 10:18). This evil foe, who had been ejected by God from Heaven’s pristine and perfect premises, was cast down to the earth and allowed in the sanctuary of the Garden of Eden, because God gives men a choice to serve—or to not serve Him. He created in mankind the gift of free will. Temptation is ultimately the test as to whom the individual will love and serve. “For the LORD your God proveth (tests) you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 13:3).
The serpent slithered among the lush embellishments of the Garden of Eden. His goal was the fall of the first man and woman who were created in the image of the One who made all things. Satan obviously schemed and strategized as to what weapon to employ in order to accomplish his main objective—to cause the first man and woman to fall from grace by sinning, and consequently, be alienated from the LORD. This enemy of souls knew from personal experience that the Almighty keeps His Word and casts down those who disobey Him. To this point, Adam and Eve knew only righteousness. They did not yet realize what the evil one knew and had already been the recipient of – that is, the judgment of God for his sin. A hard lesson lay ahead of Adam and Eve, and a fallen creation would be left in the wake of their defiance of the holy LORD and His righteous command – not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17).
The enemy of all souls has not changed. His temptations are “common to man” (1 Cor. 10:13). Satan’s goal was, and is, to interrupt and destroy the relationship between his enemy, God, and His special creation—man. Jesus informed us that the ultimate “thief” has come to “steal, to kill and to destroy” (Jn. 10:10). This same goal—the fall of man—is still his aim and will be until the LORD Himself puts him away for good (Rev. 20:10).
From the Garden to the modern pulpit, the enemy has lied to mankind. Satan and his false teachers are the intruders—the very enemies of the Almighty. The serpent has slithered through the garden path of history, seductively spreading his poisonous seed, causing the fall of many and now possesses the thoughts and doctrines of an army of deceived men in ministry.
Ever since the Garden, the lie of the ages dwells among men, especially in the sanctuary where the LORD is supposed to be reigning—the Church world. As in the Garden of creation, so the enemy specifically concentrates on the sanctuary of his enemy’s people. He seeks to molest purity, beguiling those who are unlearned. Many times, he uses the body of Christ’s own leaders.
Today, the pulpits and platforms of modern media are the places that most people simply do not suspect to be the mediums where falsehoods thrive, reside, and flow. They do not see the serpent lurking among the trees in the garden of modern “Christian” pulpits, organizations, and media. Most are not aware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing who, like the lurking serpent in the garden, “lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14).
As foretold by the prophet Amos, the enemy of souls seeks to alter and remove the Word of God from the hearing of God’s people (Amos 8:11). This is what he did in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:17; 3:4). Today this same enemy uses the most subtle messengers—the ones many people look to for truth. The Holy Spirit forewarned us that in these last of days men would not remain in the truth but rather that “some shall depart from the faith” and that “many” would “corrupt the word of God” (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Cor. 2:17): “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
It simply doesn’t matter if a leader realizes he is teaching heresy or not. If he is teaching anything other than the Word, he is a detractor from the glory of God and leading others astray. Men of God are to “preach the word” and speak only “as the oracles (words) of God” (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 4:11). This is a non-negotiable command to all who would accurately represent the LORD. No matter the reasoning, one will be found a deceiver on Judgment Day if he preaches any other message than the Word of God (Isa. 8:20). One can be sincere and sincerely wrong at the same time (Prov. 14:12). “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4).
The holy and almighty God told us that He is going to judge all men according to His Word (Jn. 12:48; Rom. 2:16; Rev. 20:11-15).
From the very beginning (Garden of Creation), the beguiler’s target has been God’s people. Nothing has changed. His message to men is simple— “You don’t have to worry about obedience, it’s optional, you can live the way you choose and still remain in the grace of God.”
Through those men he uses today, the enemy mixes in some truth with this deadly lie of lasciviousness and poisons the whole pond, leading many astray into a false gospel and false security. Perhaps it has been wisely stated that “Satan will give you a million pounds of truth to blind you with that one ounce of a deadly lie which will kill you.” In order to bring in a lie among God’s people, the enemy likes to lead with truth as his smokescreen in order to bring in that deadly distortion behind the cover of truth. See Matthew 16:6-12 and 1 Corinthians 5:6. “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Gal. 5:9).
Why should we be surprised that this ultimate enemy still uses the most “subtle” and unsuspected methods and personalities to communicate his deadly message to God’s people? After all, his message still works to cause unsuspecting men to fall out of fellowship with God. Why should we wonder why the evil one still utilizes the same lie that claimed the first man and woman? Has this message not captured untold scores of souls since then? Are we so blindly naïve as to believe that there is no evil or devil? Why should we be surprised to realize that this same evil enemy of souls is ceaselessly in the midst of our garden today, telling this same lie by adding to the Word of the Maker?
God said “Thou shalt surely die,” and Satan countered with “Ye shall not surely die.”
Are pulpits more sacred than the very Garden of Eden? Obviously not. There was no sin in the Garden until Satan introduced the lie of the ages, and the man and woman bought it. In the very cradle of creation, the enemy of God initiated and launched the lie that would fatally wound mankind, claiming the souls of millions throughout the centuries. This exact same deadly lie was picked up, incorporated, and perpetuated by early century church fathers, so-called theologians, whose heresy-laced writings and commentaries regrettably hold great prominence among many evangelicals today—even though they have no reconciliation with the Counsel of God, which will be demonstrated throughout this book.
The Bible enlightens us to the reality that Satan is a strategist and has schemes of which believers are instructed not to be ignorant (2 Cor. 2:11; 1 Pet. 5:8). We are in a war, and like any good war general and his staff, we are to study and know the nature, weapons, and ways of our enemy.
The apostle Paul informed us that Satan’s methods are the same today as they were from the start—in the Garden.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
In this same text, the LORD told us that He makes a way to escape the re-used lies of the enemy and his temptations.
As can be clearly seen in Genesis, “once saved always saved” is not a new doctrine, and it’s also not the LORD’s doctrine. “Once saved always saved” is clearly the lie that caused the fall of man. This is the doctrine of the arch enemy of the Almighty. As in the very beginning, the unholy serpent himself is still creeping into the homes and gathering places of believers today and utilizing the same lie to mislead people and cause their fall from grace. The chief wolf who has come “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” seeks to devour souls for his kingdom and from the Chief Shepherd, who is “come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10; Heb. 13:20). Beware! “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).
The first lie led to the fall of the first man and woman and is leading to the fall of masses of people today. Millions in our day are being taught that they are unconditionally eternally secure—in the absence of the truth about the holiness of the God they will stand before in judgment, and His demand that we be made holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16).
The pulpits of America have been hi-jacked by men who have “crept in unawares” who are teaching a doctrine originated by the enemy of all souls and calling it “Christian.” This is paramount to using the name of the LORD in vain, by attaching His holy name to a teaching of his arch enemy.
Tracing the Lie
The adversary attacked God through His own creation—the Garden, the fruit, the serpent, the woman, and the man.
Does it intrigue you to uncover the very first lie told by the one Christ warned us of who is the father of all lies? Of Satan, Jesus said: “for he is a liar, and the father of it” (Jn. 8:44).
One three-letter word— “not”—changed the course of history! Satan told the woman “Ye shall not surely die,” after their Maker had told them that they would “surely die” in the day they disobeyed Him (Gen. 2:17; 3:4).
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” ~ Genesis 3:4-5
This first and poisonous falsehood, the lie of the ages, is still today the same deadly venom being injected by the evil one in the battle that rages for the eternal souls of men. The serpent infused the first man and woman with this venomous and paralyzing deception, robbing from their hearts the fear of the LORD, which led to their fall from grace. Consequently, a separation was incurred between a holy Maker and His creation with a catastrophic curse which fell.
This unconditional eternal security—without condition to the recipient—is the very FIRST LIE the devil ever told to mankind. “Once saved always saved” (OSAS) is one of the modern labels of the renamed, or repackaged, lie of the ages. In this deception in the Garden, as well as in our day, Satan craftily convinces people that they have irrevocable “security” and “assurance,” no matter what their actions against the clear command/Word of God.
The message of eternal security without condition to the recipient is that once one has been born again, he has no responsibility to continue to faithfully obey the Almighty—the One who saved him. Those who sit under this teaching are told that once they have been brought into fellowship with Him in His garden of salvation through Christ, they can never “die” or be separated from Him again, even if they blatantly rebel. This lie teaches that the person who Christ has saved can then choose to live as he wishes with no fear of consequence or righteous retribution from the One who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). This is the very lie that Satan gave Adam and Eve which led to their fall into sin and separation from the LORD.
Can you see why it is a big score for the enemy of souls when people are told by their misled leaders that they are “once saved always saved”—no matter what they choose to do, including revolt completely against the Most High and go back to the life of sin?
In the sanctity of the Garden, where there was no suspicion, Satan intruded. Today, in the sanctuary of the pulpits and various Christian media, his emissaries are intruding where few suspect. He prospers because so many believe that their leaders are guiding them correctly, and yet do not know and obey the Word of God for themselves. Only those who learn the way of the LORD through His Word can know and see the enemy’s work. Those who do not have a life in the Word will fall prey to deception and ultimately be destroyed (Hos. 4:6; Matt. 22:29). Discernment comes from being personally exercised in the Word of God (Heb. 5:11-14).
The New Garden—Restored Holy Bliss
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” ~ Isaiah 9:6-7
The Genesis account of creation and the relationship between the LORD and the first man and woman, is an ongoing saga to continue until the hour of Christ’s return, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. We are given this record (the Bible) in order to know the LORD and how He deals with men, and who He blesses and who He curses.
From the Garden to the Holy City—Genesis to Revelation, the war over the souls of men rages. The enemy seeks to reclaim those redeemed by the blood of the One who is the seed of woman (Gen. 3:15). What better way to undertake such an evil mission than to use those shepherds at the very helm of the visible church?
God’s account of man’s creation and fall is not left without a solution from the only One who can remedy his alienation. Holy Writ opens with the creation and fall of mankind and the promised prophetic restoration through the Messiah of all who will come to Him, as He justly prescribed (Gen. 3:15). The book of all Books ends with a warning to all of us concerning making the very same error Adam and Eve made when they bought into the distortion of His holy words, and thereby fell, joining forces with His archenemy.
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” ~ Revelation 22:12-21
In these final words of Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ tells us that He is coming quickly to reward all according to each person’s works. He says to us that those who keep and do His Word will receive blessings and “have right to the tree of life” in the restored “holy city” of God. Outside this blessedness will be all who have lived in and justified their sins—no matter what their previous relationship with Him might have been. Then, in the very final words of Holy Writ, there is the warning of adding to or taking from His words. This adding to or removing of truth is done first internally, in the hearts of those who do not genuinely love the LORD with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Those who love darkness rather than His holy light do not wish to come clean under the light of divine truth (Jn. 3:18-21; 2 Tim. 4:3-4).
This war for the souls of men spans from Genesis to Revelation, and the words of God are pivotal in this most crucial and consequential of battles. Those who play into the enemy’s scheme to “add unto” or “take away” from God’s words of instruction will be removed from the book of life, cut out of the holy city, and from all eternal blessings. The lake of fire waits.
PRAYER: LORD Jesus, please purify my heart and remove all dissimulation and mixture from me. Rid my life of all secret faults and presumptuous sins! Father, please grant me the blessing of knowing You in truth and living in Your holy light and will. Jesus, please preserve my eternal soul until the day of Your soon return. Amen.
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
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Apostasy
Is YOUR Work Finished just Because Jesus’ Work is Finished? [podcast]

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30
These are the 3 most powerful words ever uttered. What did this mean? What did it not mean? Did “It is finished” mean that those who believe on the LORD Jesus, receiving initial salvation, are free from all present and future responsibilities before God?
The finished work of Christ is a foundational truth of Christianity, but His accomplishment does not arbitrarily guarantee the final salvation of the individual believer. Christ’s perfect and completed redemptive work to save mankind does not change the God-given free will of each human being – nor does it change His conditions, the ones Jesus and His holy apostles gave, for final salvation. God’s grace through Christ did not change His definition of sin and the fact that sin separates the sinner from God – no different than how it separated previously sinless Adam and Eve after they sinned. The wages of sin is still death (Romans 6:23). Any person who was saved in the past and then dies in sin, will be in hell forever. Read Ezekiel 33:12-13; Revelation 22:11. God is “Holy, holy, holy” and that never changed and never will (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
One’s works won’t save them, yet one’s works clearly prove WHO they are truly serving.
The simply fact that Jesus command His people to do many things, clearly proves that our work, “your WORK of faith, and labour of love” are not finished….
“Remembering without ceasing your WORK of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;” 1 Thessalonians 1:3
“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the WORK of faith with power:” 2 Thessalonians 1:11
True saving faith is always seen in good works.
“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” James 2:18
All those truly saved by grace through faith are doing the good works of God in the earth – the Great Commission, etc. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:47, etc.). Those without the fruit of good works clearly prove they don’t have saving faith. | What are the 4 Types of Faith
To the church at Thyatira Jesus says that keeping His “works to the end” is required to be given “power over the nations.” (Revelation 2:26)
Paul was ready to meet Christ and could be assured of such, of his eternal destination being with the LORD and not hell because he truly abode in Christ – which Jesus says is a must after being saved (John 15:1-6). Paul did things God’s way and not his own.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
IF you “love his appearing” you will fight “a good fight”, you will endure to the end by finishing your “course”, and keeping “the faith.” In abiding in Christ you are assured to have waiting for you from the LORD “a crown of righteousness.”
The LORD commanded and expects each of His children to “fight the good fight of faith,” to finish his course, and to keep the faith of the Gospel to the end of his life on this earth.
Jesus’ work was perfect and yet He gave conditions for the appropriation of His gift of salvation.
Jesus said HIS work is finished, not yours. See Revelation 2:26; Philippians 2:12-13; John 6:29.
“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29
And one must believe “to the end” of his life to enter eternal glory (Ezekiel 33:12-13; Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Acts 14:22; Colossians 1:22-23; Hebrews 3:12-14; 10:26-39; Revelation 2-3; 22:11, etc.).
Believing upon Christ and being saved begins with an initial repentance and faith and yet doesn’t stop there. The recipient of His salvation has entered into a relationship with Christ. We must conclude, through an honest reading of the whole of Scripture, that enduring to the end, abiding, remaining, continuing with Christ, is essential to final salvation. Salvation is not a one-time event but rather a lifelong walk, relationship with the living God. Sin, lack of repentance, unbelief will derail, make shipwreck of this relationship (1 Timothy 1:19).
No, your work doesn’t save you (Romans 4:4-5; Ephesians 2:8-10). Yet when you’ve truly repented and Jesus has saved you, your life is changed, it’s all about God and not you (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). ALL who are truly saved by divine grace are “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) As you yield to Him, abide in Him, HIS work in you will produce certain fruit, good fruit (Matthew 7:16, 20; John 15:1-6; Galatians 5:22-23).
Millions have been taught that because Jesus said “It is finished” – paid in full – that they have no further personal responsibility to obey God. Those who peddle this heresy erroneously conflate (lump together) Christ’s perfect sacrifice with their own personal accountability to “be ye holy” as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Regrettably, we have a prophesied whole generation of “Christians” who want nothing to do with truly obeying Christ. They want the crown but not the cross.
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:26
It’s the counterfeits who want “It is finished” to mean they have no more personal responsibilities to obey God. When Jesus cried “It is finished,” He was speaking of HIS OWN WORK and not our personal responsibility before God when He said “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
The fact that Jesus “finished” HIS work perfectly in no way negates your personal responsibility to learn, acknowledge and obey EVERYTHING He commanded. Obeying God is true faith, true saving faith, worship, and required. Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46; 1 John 2:4-5, etc. People who refuse to get real with God by true repentance, HATE, despise, and will argue themselves sick to justify themselves behind the groundless, lame, no-personal-responsibility eternal security fairy tale. Not going to fly at Judgment Day. Mark it.
The same Savior who declared that His work was “finished” on the cross also commanded each and every person who would know and be with Him to deny self, take up the cross, daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23-24).
THERE ARE DIVINELY REQUIRED CONDITIONS TO BE SAVED INITIALLY AND INTO GLORY – ETERNALLY. JUST ASK THE 5 FOOLISH VIRGINS WHO WERE ENGAGED TO THEN SHUT OUT OF THE ETERNAL BRIDAL CHAMBER! (MATTHEW 25:1-13) GOD’S PROMISES ARE CONDITIONAL AND HE WILL ONLY GIVE THEM TO THOSE WHO MEET HIS STATED CONDITIONS.
GOD sovereignly placed conditions on appropriating His salvation. If you have a problem with that, you have a problem with the LORD. He didn’t ask your puny permission to do anything that’s in His power alone to do. It’s time to shut up and obey (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
Those who espouse lies, while claiming to love God and to be “eternally secure” are frauds who are full of self-love. It’s proven in that they simply don’t want to give up self and this is why they hide behind this OSAS fairy tale. You see, they simply do not want any part of true repentance, laying down their life, losing their life, and being crucified with Christ. Jesus is unchanging and He commanded these things which He requires, which are essentials, and which He holds each of us personally accountable to do (Matthew 7:21). Counterfeits want the crown while refusing the daily cross Christ requires, commands.
The following are the words of the Son of God to His own people:
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” Revelation 2:26
Flash Point: The finished work of Christ makes you even more accountable to obey God, live holy, and “endure to the end” – or you will be cast into hell!
“He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer (more severe) punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:28-29
“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” 2 Peter 2:20-21
If a true believer can’t “fall away,” why would Jesus have given this exact warning? Why would the Son of God ever have used the words “fall away” if such were not possible?
“They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation FALL AWAY.” Luke 8:13
“There would be no ‘FALLING AWAY’ described in 2 Thessalonians, if such were not possible.” William Pavichevich
The fact that you may not wish this to be true changes nothing. The truth doesn’t go away based on how you receive or reject it (Romans 3:3-4).
“Cut Off”
“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off (the Jews), and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, IF IF IF thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:20-22
Those who obey God appropriate His blessings. They come with conditions. The honest student of Scripture will acknowledge and obey God – proving his saving faith. Faith that is not accompanied with the fruit of good works is not saving faith but is rather devilish faith.
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:17-20
Works based salvation? Not at all. Fruit saves no one and yet, those who are truly known of God produce the fruit that comes from this abiding relationship (John 15:1-16; Matthew 3:7-10; 7:16, 20, etc.).
Counterfeits deeply hate any biblical teaching that convicts them, calling them to true repentance, fruit-bearing, and obedience to the God they claim to love and be saved by. Beware.
Counterfeits love to cling to the positional while ignoring the essential of the practical. They feast on Ephesians while purposely evading, staying clear of biblical truth that requires them to truly repent, lay down their lives, and obey Jesus. And, anyone preaching these BIBLE truths will be called “legalistic” and “works based.” In other words in their corrupted minds, obeying Jesus is “legalistic.” Unreal. In light of this, let’s read what Jesus said…
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Did Jesus give initial and continual conditions for appropriating His justification? Is salvation a one-time event or a life-long relationship? What does the whole counsel of God’s Word reveal on this matter?
You see, it’s the eternal security counterfeits who simply want to use Jesus to get to know Him but they have no intention of truly worshiping Him, obeying Him.
To one deceived OSAS person, the response was: You were given several Bible verses and texts which clearly prove that no saved person is un-conditionally eternally secure and we are all personally responsible to “endure to the end” or we lose all (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 2 Peter 2:20-21, etc.). Yet, like the hell bound pharisees of Christ’s day, you let your tradition trump divine truth (Mark 7:6-9, 13). Also, there is no divinely given guarantee that any saved person on earth is automatically going to be in Heaven. The terms “once saved always saved” and “eternal security” appear no where in Scripture and the apostles and Jesus never taught it.
Jesus promises that those in Him who do not “abide” or remain, continue in Him, will be cast into the fire.
“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:6
The reason many clinch tightly this OSAS teaching is that they are simply hiding behind it. These are the un-repentant, self-serving, Savior-denying, cross-less counterfeits we read about in the New Testament Scriptures so often (Philippians 3:18-19; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 4:2-4, etc.).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (stories told by story tellers).” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
True Heaven-ready disciples of Christ “endure sound doctrine.” To “endure” here means to hold ones self accountable to.
Abiding
What Really Happened in the Garden of Eden? [podcast]

Satan’s Goal, Game, and Gamit
The phrase “Back to the Garden” many times refers to growing and eating your own organic food. Good move for sure. In this case, let’s say that going “Back to the Garden” is going to refer to the Garden of Eden – in the book of origins whereby we foundationally begin to understand the things of God, the perfection of man’s original state, the temptation, the fall into sin, His creation and divine intention for mankind, how things came to be as they are, redemption, etc.
In the Garden it was Satan who displaced the man and woman from God via casting doubt upon what He had stated, and then adding to it (changing it). Read Genesis 2:17; 3:1, 4. Selah. Any man doing these things today, is the very agent of the enemy of all souls himself – Satan.
It was satan himself, in the Garden, who convinced the man and woman they couldn’t lose their salvation (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). Those teaching “eternal security” are teaching this same doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1).
Paul the apostle was “jealous over” Christ’s body whom he “espoused (engaged) … to one husband (Christ).” As an overseer called by God, the apostle sought and fought to “present (them) as a chaste virgin to Christ.” He feared that as Eve was subtly beguiled by Satan, so Satan’s ministers would seduce and corrupt the minds of God’s people away from Christ, removing them from being singly affectioned to Christ, from “the simplicity that is in Christ.”
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
One commenter notes the following about these 2 enlightening verses above:
“2 Corinthians 11:2
a [For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband] The apostle here alludes to the custom of special care of virgins to see that they are educated and kept pure for marriage.
b [virgin to Christ] Paul was jealous over his own converts that he might present them to Christ just like a chaste virgin is presented to her husband. It was not Paul’s job to present the whole church to Jesus Christ. Each man will have rejoicing in his own converts (1Th_2:19).
2 Corinthians 11:2
[so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ] Here Paul fears for his own converts that they may be turned away from Christ, as Eve was beguiled by Satan to turn away from God.” Dake
Not only did man collude with Satan in the Garden ….. Satan has personal knowledge of what it means to be expelled from the presence of God because of his choice to sin against Him.
Satan began perverting God’s Word, changing what He said, all the way back in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17; 3:1, 4).
“Individuals have believed the worst lie unleashed by Satan on humanity when they believe redemption cannot be lost in the temporal realm. It is as the lie the serpent told Eve. The fact is, that the eternal security lie has been largely perpetrated by Calvinism. There are no verses that support it. It is the major reason for the apostasy, and currently the great and final apostasy.” Cedric Fisher
It ALL Goes back to the Garden
Garden of Eden. The fall of mankind. How Satan works. Genesis 1-3.
HOW TO KNOW SATAN’S SNAKES
It’s simple: they teach the same “eternal security” lie that Satan taught and which caused the fall of mankind in the Garden. Beware. Confirming people in their sin—promising them eternal security while they are not in a present, holy, abiding, obedient relationship with Christ, is the work of wolves! (Genesis 2:17; 3:4; Jeremiah 23:17; Jude 3-5)
Satan’s Goal and Game in the Garden!
What was his goal? – to cause the man and woman to sin. Remember, Lucifer, now Satan, spent eons in Heaven hearing the angels crying out in worship to God, “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). The devil has intimate knowledge of God, of His holiness, and of what separates His created beings from Him. Satan himself is a product of rebellion! Selah.
Historical and foundational understanding happens when you see where eternal security/OSAS originated! Game over for Satan!
GOD SAID this to the sinless man in the Garden, Adam:
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE.” Genesis 2:17
SATAN SAID THE FOLLOWING AS HE TEMPTED THE WOMAN TO EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREE GOD HAD FORBIDDEN.
WHO told the woman she was not going to “die” if she sinned? Satan.
In the Garden God told the man that if he disobeyed, if he sinned, he would die which means to die spiritually and be separated from God (Genesis 2:17). Then Satan countered with:
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die:” Genesis 3:4
There it is. This is the exact lie we know is being peddled today as OSAS (once saved always saved), eternal security, or the perseverance of the saints.
The first man and woman took the bait of the enemy and were expelled from the presence of God, from the garden of God.
Now are we beginning to see how the OSAS counterfeits are shaking their fist in the eyes of a holy God when they declare that sin doesn’t separate them from Him?
We know the LORD kept His Word and yet if God had not expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden when they sinned, we’d be saying:
- He is a liar
- He did not keep His own Word
- He is no longer holy
- that the wages of sin is not death
- the fall of man never happened
Like the first man and woman whom Satan tricked, many today have been weakened in their resolve via Satan’s first lie which is peddled today under the guise of being part of the Gospel. They use cliches of OSAS (once saved always saved) or eternal security. As we see in the Garden when Satan used this very lie to cause the fall of mankind, his unconditional security heresy removes the holy fear of God from the hearts of those who allow it and lowers their guard, always leading to sin against a God who told us that He is “Holy, holy, holy” and to “Be ye holy as I am holy” (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8). He also told us that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” and “the wages of sin is death” (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23).
QUESTION: IF Adam and Eve who were born sinless, who were in perfect communion with God, who NEVER knew sin, fell only AFTER they were told by Satan that they were “eternally secure”, how could those possibly born in sin not fall away? hmmmmm Satan himself is the author of the doctrine of “once saved always saved.” See Genesis 2:17; 3:4.
The Pristine State of the Garden of God’s Creation – Before and After Sin was Committed
Were Adam and Eve in perfect communion, perfect standing with the LORD? Yes. What changed? Sin. Did God then remove them from His presence? Yes. Why? He’s “Holy, holy, holy,” and therefore “the wages of sin is death” which means separation from God because He is holy (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 6:23; Revelation 4:8). Has He changed? No (Hebrews 13:8).
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4
All who vainly believe they can live in sin and still be Heaven bound are serving themselves. They view things from their own selfish-perspective because they have never truly repented and are serving the god of self – are living according to a self-serving agenda. Their “god is their belly” (Philippians 3:18-19). In contrast, those who truly serve the LORD honor Him for being who He told us He is – “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). And, in doing so they conform to HIS will, and do HIS thing, not their own thing. They live on HIS stated terms, and not their own. This is in contrast to the many who claim to be Christ’s but live according to their own selfish agenda, on their own terms and not God’s. These are the ones Jesus foretold He’s going to declare to them “Depart from me.”
“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.” Matthew 7:21-23
God and Adam
Satan and Eve
- Once saved always saved
- Eternal security
- Once in grace always in grace
- God’s not an Indian giver
Eternal Security Exposed | Genesis |
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