The “Sealed” Scam Exposed
Beware of the false definition of sealed by dispensationalist heretics.
What does the biblical term “sealed” mean? What doesn’t it mean?
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will …” Ephesians 1:3-5
The saints of the Most High God are “blessed … with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” We also read here that “He hath chosen,” not forced, us “that we should be holy and without blame before him.” Those who are “chosen” and choose to live unto the LORD are made “holy” by Him. If one is not being made holy, it is clear that he has no part with Christ (John 13:8; 2 Timothy 2:19; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 21:8, 27).
Here’s just one more example of how we know that no honest, sane person believes OSAS… Just another example of deceit and dishonesty to deny personal responsibility in obeying Jesus (Matthew 7:21). It’s ALL about THEM. Totally self-serving and could care less about knowing and obeying the Savior they claim as LORD and yet deny Him the honor of truly knowing, serving, worshipping, and obeying Him. Paul says they are “abominable” (Titus 1:16).
It’s interesting how these wolves tout the grace of God as if it’s a license to sin and automatically covers all their sin without their involvement. Yet they have NO faith in the grace of God to grant them power over sin through the crucified life (Romans 6:3-14). Are we beginning to see why they push this perverted definition of grace? If they believe so strong in grace, WHY won’t they choose to believe God’s enabling grace will bring them to victory over sin via the crucified life?
Paul makes it clear that saving grace does not abide in anyone living in sin:
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2
Every person walking in God’s saving grace, outside of which no one can be saved, is:
- Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
- living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” Titus 2:11-12
IF A SEAL IS PERMANENT JESUS COULD NOT HAVE RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD BECAUSE THE SAME EXACT GREEK WORD IS USED IN MATTHEW 27:66 CONCERNING HIS SEALED TOMB AS IS IN EPHESIANS 1:13 AND 4:30.
To a man who said that those who are born again are sealed and they cannot possibly lose it, the following response was given:
Not true. SEALED cannot possibly mean that the seal is unbreakable. You’ve followed false teachings. JESUS’ tomb was unsealed (Matthew 27:66) and He was raised from the dead. It’s the same Greek word as “sealed” Ephesians 1:13; 4:30. Case closed. Jesus’ tomb was sealed then unsealed and He was raised from the dead. Anyone who doesn’t believe Jesus rose again is not saved (1 Corinthians 15:17). OSAS/eternal security is a lie from hell.
“Sealed” is not un-sealable. It cannot possibly mean that once one is “sealed” that the seal cannot be broken as is often taught by today’s “ungodly men” who are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 4) “Sealed” in Ephesians is the same Greek word used in Matthew 27:66.
“So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, SEALING the stone, and setting a watch. … he is risen from the dead …” Matthew 27:66; 28:7
“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17
Define “sealed” from Ephesians … same Greek word as Matthew 27:66 where Jesus’ tomb was sealed and yet it was UN-sealed when He raised from the dead. So, “sealed” is not an unbreakable seal. To seal simply means to stamp. One writer notes:
“Seal was not a lock that could not be opened; it was a mark of ownership, such as would be placed on a document.”
We see yet again in Revelation that a “seal” in God’s Word is never defined as something that is automatically permanent.
“And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” Revelation 20:3
In the verse above, we see that Satan will be cast into the bottomless pit and a “seal” will be set upon him for a thousand years and then that pit will be unsealed to release the Devil.
The OSAS false teachers are always seeking to find yet another way to prove their father Satan’s first lie. They are constantly grasping for straws.
The attempt of eternal securists to make the definition of “sealed” confirm their lie, is pitifully weak and actually completely fraudulent. Heresy. Foolishness. Sealing in the Bible does not mean permanence. Typical scam theology attempting to fortify a lie.
Some will say “But how can one become un-sealed after being saved and sealed?”
Simple: The question is not whether you can become un-sealed – that’s a moral coward approach. The question is WHO ever said the Bible definition of “sealed” meant that seal can’t possibly be broken? The same exact Greek word for sealed is used concerning Christ’s tomb which we all know was UN-sealed (Matthew 27:66). So “sealed” in Ephesians can’t possibly mean that the seal is unbreakable.
IF in fact you are truly and presently “sealed” by God, it’s proven in that you “depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19).
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19
Notice those who try to use the two “sealed” Scriptures in Ephesians don’t even want to know about this Bible verse below which gives definition to those who are truly “sealed” – as in they “depart from iniquity” instead of making excuse for it, instead of hiding behind sin-justifying false doctrine.
Joseph Gorscak writes:
“Put it together people: ‘Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'” (2 Timothy 2:19)
The fact that the “ungodly men” who’ve taught you Hell’s doctrine of OSAS purposely refused to tell you this biblical truth, reveals they are false prophets whose “damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 3-4).
God’s choosing of us who have trusted in Christ does not automatically determine that the individual believer will answer His call to continue to trust Him. According to Revelation 17:14, Christ will soon return with those who are “called, and chosen, and faithful.” God unfailingly does His part and the individual must do his part in which he will always be granted the enabling grace of God to perform (Philippians 2:12-13). The human will must never be factored out of the picture or there will be misunderstanding. Jesus told us that “many” are “called” yet few “chosen” due to the fact that only a few choose to be “faithful” to the LORD (Matthew 7:13-14; 20:16). “Without faith it is impossible to please him” and those who “draw back unto perdition (destruction),” not choosing to “believe to the saving of the soul,” will lose out eternally (Hebrews 10:26-39; 11:6).
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:11-14
One will find that the “sealed” teaching is prevalent among those who seek to justify the perversion of the grace of God using His very words. Their teaching on being “sealed” is quite the occasion to privately interpret, twist and misuse the Scriptures. Those who are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” find much opportunity to exaggerate what the Bible states and does not state about being “sealed with that Holy Spirit.” Upon a closer, more thorough and sober look at the word “sealed” and in the context it is written, and of the whole of the Word of God, a quite different perspective should emerge.
Note here in Ephesians 1 that the Holy Spirit is speaking of those who have “obtained an inheritance, being pedestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” or word. His Word is His will and the fullness of His recorded Counsel reveals that the Almighty before destined (predestined) that all be saved and live according to His truth and holiness. Yet, He never forces any person to believe or obey Him. Is it not the “purpose” of God and the way that has been predestined and not the person? The LORD told us clearly that He wills all to be saved and come to repentance and that none (not one) should perish in Hell (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). In light of this fact of Scripture, we know the LORD would not choose some to be saved and some to be lost. According to His own Word, He clearly has not predestined some to go to Heaven and some to Hell. God so loved the “world” that He gave His only begotten Son to pay the full price for the sins of all of mankind – not just some (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2). Only those who appropriate His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, by meeting the conditions He set forth, will spend eternity with Him and His family in Heaven (Isaiah 1:19-20; John 1:12; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:12-15; 10:26-39; Revelation 2-3).
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men.” Titus 2:11
Who told you a seal couldn’t be broken? That’s ridiculous… we break open seals every day. “Sealed” comes from the Greek word sphragizo which is defined this way: to stamp with a signet or private mark for security or preservation. (Lit. or fig.) by implication. To keep secret, to attest: – seal up, stop.
SEALED? Phil Kassees writes:
“Do not break the seal of your salvation thus becoming reprobate (fitted for destruction). There will be many that at one time who walked with the Lord, fell from grace and shipwrecked their faith. It’s not only that someone has come to the Lord at one time, but that they continue to abide in him for all time.”
A seal can be broken. A sealed envelope can be opened. It is conditionally sealed. This Greek word, sphragizo, is the same word translated “sealing” concerning the tomb in which Christ was laid after He died on the cross for the sins of the world.
“So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, SEALING the stone, and setting a watch.” Matthew 27:66
Christ’s tomb was sealed and we all know that the seal of Jesus’ tomb was broken, and He rose again. It was not a permanent bond that could not be broken just as the sealing work of the Spirit of God in the believer is not necessarily a permanent bond. The LORD wants it to be, yet will not force any saved person to continue to meet the conditions to be ultimately saved into His holy presence. Biblically speaking, sealing does not mean permanence without condition.
The fact that Jesus’ tomb was unsealed clearly establishes that something sealed CAN be unsealed.
Was the “sealed” stone of Jesus’ tomb rolled away? Yes or no please. It was rolled away after being “sealed.” “So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch” (Matthew 27:66).
Did you know that the same Greek word for “sealed” that is used in Matthew 27:66 is used in Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30? That must in biblical terms mean that sealing is not necessarily permanent!
The tomb in which He lay was divinely un-sealed: “He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:6).
HAVE YOU EVER OPENED A “SEALED”ENVELOPE? I DO IT NEARLY EVERY DAY. THAT SEAL ON AN ENVELOPE CAN BE BROKEN AND SO CAN GOD’S SEAL. GOD IS STILL “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” AND IF YOU LIVE IN SIN, HIS BLESSED RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE LIFTED AND YOU WILL NOT MEET THE CONDITION TO ENTER INTO ETERNAL GLORY (ISAIAH 6:3; EZEKIEL 33:12-13; GALATIANS 5:19-21; HEBREWS 12:14-15; REVELATION 4:8; 21:8, 27 ETC.).
IN FACT, YOU’RE NOT SAVED IF YOU THINK THAT SEAL (ON CHRIST’S TOMB) WASN’T BROKEN BECAUSE HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD WHEN THAT SEAL WAS BROKEN. AND, THE RESURRECTION IS A FOUNDATIONAL, ESSENTIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHRISTIAN’S FAITH (1 CORINTHIANS 15:17).
It’s obvious to see that Reformed theology/Calvinism has redefined what God intended in the word “sealed.” Those who are caught up in this deception are willingly deceived for buying this lie (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
As it is that the Father in Heaven alone could have broken the seal and raised Christ from the dead, so only God can break the seal He has formed. From His Word we learn that He will break the seal and loose the person who was once saved from His kingdom, if that person departs from the faith (Ezekiel 33:12-13; Acts 1:25; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 2:5; 3:16).
THE SAME GREEK WORD FOR “SEALED”THE CALVINIST GRABS AND PERVERTS FROM EPHESIANS IS THE VERY SAME GREEK WORD FROM WHICH WE READ THAT JESUS’ TOMB WAS SEALED. DID THAT SEAL THAT WAS OVER CHRIST’S TOMB REMAIN OR WAS THAT STONE ROLLED AWAY AND JESUS RAISED FROM THE DEAD?
WE KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION AND SO MUST CONCLUDE THAT A SEAL CAN BE BROKEN AND IS NOT IRREVERSIBLE!
“Seals left unattended can allow bacteria (sin) to enter in, losing their seal and turning from good to rotten fruit.” Clarissa Saum
From the whole of Scripture, we can conclude that it is the divine intention that the subject be sealed all the way until the day of redemption and yet no individual’s free will has been removed or diminished. If one begins to rebel, the seal is in jeopardy. The term “sealed unto the day of redemption” in no way negates what the rest of Scripture clearly states. Those who take this to seed, take it out of context, do so to their own destruction.
Every believer is “sealed” when they initially get saved yet this does not prevent that believer from sinning which grieves the Holy Spirit of God who is their seal, and that sin brings forth spiritual death (Ezekiel 18:4, 30; 33:13; Romans 6:23; 8:13; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; Revelation 21:8, 27).
The person who believes in “once saved always saved” will say “When one is saved he is sealed by the Holy Spirit and no power in Heaven or earth can break God’s seal!”
To this position, Jeff Paton decrees:
“There is no Scripture verse in Heaven or Earth that says that we cannot break God’s seal! Must they prey on the ignorance of their readers to get them to believe something the Scriptures never say in order to prove their point? Ephesians 4:30 warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit, the very One who is our Seal. A warning that serves no purpose if there is no danger! Maybe they should take off their theological glasses long enough so they can stop seeing things that are just not there!”
Another author notes:
“The term ‘predestinate’ is found in two chapters; Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:5, 11. There is no reference in these four verses to either Heaven or Hell, but to Christlikeness. Nowhere are we told in Scripture God predestinates one man to be saved and another to be lost. Men will be saved or lost eternally because of their belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
It should be remembered that the Greek definition, no matter the “scholar” rendering it, is never more authoritative than collating the Scriptures in English on any particular subject matter (Isaiah 28:9-10; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16). This must be realized or there is the distinct vulnerability to deception by leaders who use Greek ad Hebrew to their own advantage.
Concerning this text (Ephesians 1:13-14), Donald Stamps, in the Life in the Spirit Study Bible, writes:
“‘Holy Spirit…the earnest.’ The Holy Spirit is an ‘earnest’, i.e., a first installment or down payment, guaranteeing our inheritance. In this age the Holy Spirit is given to believers as a down payment of what we are going to have in great fullness in the future. His presence and work in our lives is a pledge of our future inheritance (cf. Rom. 8:23; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5).”
Let’s look at the last part of this text, verses 12 through 14.
“…who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:12-14
Here we observe that in this context, the writer of Ephesians speaks of those who “first trusted Christ” and this they chose to do after they “heard the word of truth.” Trusting Jesus and His full payment for our sins is volitional (left as a choice to each individual). Those who believe, trusting Christ, are then said to be “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” The whole context here is that these who are “sealed” are trusting in the LORD. The text says nothing of those who “depart from the LORD” which is a clear possibility according to the Word (Hebrews 3:12-14). The Bible has much to say of this and how all who leave the LORD by not continuing to follow and obey Him to the end of their earthly lives, will perish. Those who depart from Christ after knowing Him will have a worse time in Hell than if they had never believed and been saved in the first place (2 Pet. 2:20-22). In this text, the sealing is clearly connected to one’s trust or trusting in the LORD. Carefully notice that the word “trusted” appears ahead of (prior to in sequence) the word “sealed.” In the divine economy, trusting Christ fully precedes and is a prerequisite to the sealing of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures teach that a believer can stop believing, that sin can separate him from God, and that he can fall from grace (Isaiah 59:2; Luke 8:13; Galatians 5:4; 19-21; Hebrews 12:14-15; Revelation 21:8, 21).
According to Ephesians, the presence of the Holy Spirit is the earnest, down payment or deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession. This however does not promise or automatically conclude that the one blessed to be chosen and redeemed will continue in the grace of the LORD and be ultimately saved. The individual’s ongoing choice to love and serve God are controlled by himself and no one else. God will not force the free will of men (Genesis 6:3; Deuteronomy 30:19; Isaiah 1:19-20; Galatians 6:7-9; Revelation 2-3).
On predestination, one writer notes:
“Predestination tells us about the ship’s destination and what God has prepared for those remaining on it. God invites everyone to come aboard the elect ship through faith in Jesus Christ. Predestination, like election, APPLIES TO THE CORPORATE BODY OF CHRIST (the true spiritual church), and recognizes individuals only in association with that body through a living faith in Jesus Christ. EXCEPT THESE ABIDE IN THE SHIP YE CANNOT BE SAVED.”
Let’s look at an equally divinely inspired passage of Scripture – equal in divine authority as Ephesians 1. And we know that the divine Person of the Holy Spirit would never contradict Himself in His Word. This will also help to balance and account for the whole divine counsel that we might apprehend the mind of Christ in this matter. To see that departing from Christ after trusting Him is possible, let’s look at Hebrews 3:6, 12-15:
“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end…Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you (brethren) an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” Hebrews 3:6, 12-15
Being “sealed” in no way exempts the one who has “first trusted in Christ” from obedient faith. He must “hold” his “confidence (in Jesus) stedfast unto the end” and not “depart from the living God.” The one who endures to the end must remain in the grace of God, not possessing “an evil heart of unbelief,” and becoming a “castaway.” A “castaway” is a biblical word for one who is cast away from God after being with Him. The very apostle who wrote these words in Ephesians did not believe that he was indelibly sealed into salvation with no possibility of departing from the LORD (1 Corinthians 9:27; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15).
“Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.” 2 Corinthians 1:10
No Scripture states that the child of God is locked into salvation. Paul says here in 2 Corinthians 1:10 that the great LORD has “delivered us…doth (presently) deliver us” and will “yet deliver us.” Those born again are presently saved, are being saved, and as we continue in His grace will be saved. This verse 10 must be taken in context with the text, including the words which precede this verse. Here this apostle of Christ is speaking of those whose lives are truly in Christ. The words of verse 9 are the following – “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9) Those who are saved, must continue in grace and if they do they will ultimately be saved into eternity with the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 21:6-8; 22:13). According to God’s Word Christ must reign in the lives of those who will be His now and forever (also see Romans 6; Gal atians 5:24). In relationship with Christ and by His grace and our own free will, we must sentence to death the deeds of the body that the resurrection life of Jesus might dwell in our mortal bodies (Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
In Ephesians 4:30 we are instructed to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” The whole verse says:
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30
Grieving the Holy Spirit is obviously possible or such a warning would not appear in God’s Word. In no place does the Bible hint that the seal cannot be broken. The grace-corrupters assume such with no Scriptural authority.
The Bible truth that one can depart from Christ after believing makes it self-evident that God’s sealing does not mean that one who initially believes is automatically locked into or forced to remain a child of God and go to Heaven. This truth must supersede the conclusion drawn by those who insist upon a “once saved always saved” theology and therefore seek to make the sealing of the Holy Spirit a permanent thing without the consent of the individual.
There are those who vainly believe they are “sealed” in such a way as to exempt them from personal accountability or responsibility for their sins. This many times leads to gross irresponsibility. What the Word of God is communicating here in Ephesians 1 concerning sealing is that the Holy Spirit’s presence is in the one who has trusted and is trusting Christ. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer is the “earnest” or divinely-given down payment until final salvation has occurred when that person is in Heaven (Ephesians 1:13-14). One must “believe to the saving of the soul” and be “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” to be an overcomer and receive the heavenly crown (Hebrews 10:39; 1 Peter 1:5; Revelation 2-3). There is no hint of an unconditional eternal security in this Ephesians 1 text where the Bible uses the word “sealed,” yet when dishonest men are bent upon convincing themselves and others of something, they will twist and spin Scripture until they accomplish this. While violating the text and intentionally excluding the whole Counsel of the Word of God, these men make up their own doctrine and are leading many astray. These who corrupt the grace of God for their own purposes, vainly imagine that they are “sealed” in a way the Bible never describes or validates. The “sealing” they speak of is a sham – a sin-justifying lie, placing their souls in danger and at ease in Zion. “Woe unto them” (Amos 6:1)
This whole “Sealed” doctrine cannot possibly mean that such a seal can’t be broken. This is the manipulatory twisting and redefining of biblical truth by the very wolves, the false teachers that Jude warned us about who are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.” (Jude 3-4)
The OSAS proponents are assuming something without proper biblical authority. They run with the sealing doctrine and yet cannot prove what they teach. Beware!
Be not deceived when men attempt to hold the Greek over you as if they have some superior position of understanding with the LORD. This is where they supposedly prove their error from the Greek. God gave us His Word in our own language as He promised (Psslm 12:6-7). Knowing the Greek and Hebrew is far inferior to knowing the full spectrum of Scriptures in our own language. Collating the Word in our own language – line upon line – is said to determine the divine verdict on any given subject (Isaiah 28:9-10; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16). The LORD Himself clearly breathed His Word to us and had it transmitted to us in our own language from Genesis to Revelation. Numerous clearly revealed truths in the Bible overwhelmingly nullify the misuse of the “sealed” doctrine peddled among the deluded. In utter defiance of volumes of scriptural warnings, some convey by what they teach and do not teach, that there should be no thought of eternal danger for the believer who strays into rebellion.
Question: Was there a fall? Did mankind fall? Yes or no please.
How did the fall happen? By sin right? Was that sin a choice? Did God force or lead Adam and Eve to sin? No. They chose to disobey Him and therefore by their sin they were separated from Him who is unchangingly “Holy, holy, holy” and so anyone in sin is separated from Him, even those who were once His (Isaiah 6:3; 59:2; Revelation 4:8).
Paul Cairns writes:
“If ‘once saved – always saved’ was true, by applying the same principal to Adam and Eve… their sin would never have been counted against them. Yes… throughout the Bible, God repeatedly talks TO His children, and ABOUT those who are not. The Bible primarily is a book of instruction and correction to God’s children. 2 Ch 7:14 makes this perfectly clear; “If MY people, which are called by MY name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Matt McCoy writes:
“It’s so hard to read the Bible for what it says. If you can’t let God be true but every man a liar, you can’t have a relationship with the God of the Bible (Romans 3:4). I follow no man. I think for myself, according to the written Word of God alone (2 Timothy 3:16-17). I personally believe that yes you can lose your salvation. For those of you who believe you are eternally secure without condition, well, don’t work out your salvation with fear and trembling. See where it gets you in the end. Don’t lie to yourselves. It’s very dangerous. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell (in the wilderness) severity (severe and final judgment), but toward thee goodness, IFFFFFF thou continue (abide) in his goodness, otherwise thou also shalt be CUT OFF. If ‘once saved always saved’ was true, we wouldn’t need to be concerned about having our names blotted out of the book of life, and that would mean that all the warnings in Scripture are pointless and that God is a fool for putting them there in His Word. The Bible is for believers, specifically. All Scripture applies to God’s children.”
Calvinism | Eternal Security | Eternal Security Audios | Eternal Security Dialogue
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MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
’13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.‘”
REPLY:
God chooses “ALL men” to salvation and yet only some, a “few” choose to obey Him (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2). Who’s going to be with Christ eternally? …. “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14
Those who will be in eternity with Christ are those whom He has “called, and chosen” and who were in their earthly life “FAITHFUL.” (Rev. 17:14) God does the calling and choosing and men must be “faithful” to receive His eternal reward. We see everywhere in Scripture, the initiating grace of God and the condition given to men – to be “faithful” to God to the end of this earthly life. Any person seeking to eliminate or deny the involvement of the personal will of men is not dealing honestly with the LORD and His Word.
Jesus Christ promised that only those who know and obey Him will be with Him eternally (Matt. 7:21; Mk. 8:34-38; Lk. 6:46; Rev. 2-3). Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages.
Salvation is by Christ’s WORK on the cross and YET that same Savior demands conditions to be met or there is no deal … like it or not … once saved, that saved person MUST “abide” in Christ which means to remain in Him and when one does good works and good fruit are produced, not sin (John 15:1-6). Any saved person who does not “abide” or remain “to the end” will not be in Heaven with Christ but will rather be cast into the fires of hell for eternity (2 Peter 2:20-22, etc.).
Message Received:
“A seal cannot be broken you need to study this.” Susan
Reply:
Okay, how many people open envelopes daily? Did you open that envelope? If so oooops it wasn’t permanently sealed. The OSAS dupe assumes that “sealed” means that it’s an unbreakable seal. Tell me, what seal is unbreakeable? They’ve never stopped to look to see if the Greek really means that this sealing cannot possibly be broken. No Greek definition of this word will turn such up. It’s inferred by the “ungodly men” who use this word to turn God’s grace into a license for sin (Jude 3-4).
OSAS is a cliché of devils and mere sinful men. IF the Almighty, who gave us 66 books in His Word, wanted us to know that we are unconditionally, eternally secure no matter what we do after being genuinely saved, why didn’t He simply tell us straight out? Did the Almighty forget to tell us something we need to know? Absurd!
NOOO such language as “once saved always saved” (OSAS) ever appears in Holy Scripture. So, in light of this fact, we should ask and seek out what God says in the whole of His non-contradicting written Word. Only then shall we know the truth and be made free from lying clichés like this mythical fable.
There are numerous warnings to God’s people in Scripture about falling away and being lost again.
Why, Why, Why do some insist upon defending and promoting the unfounded ‘once saved always saved’ myth which is not only NOT taught in Scripture, but is actually refuted repeatedly in Scripture???
DID PAUL BELIEVE OR TEACH ‘ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED’???? Paul didn’t believe in ‘once saved always saved’ whatsoever: “But I KEEP under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27
Paul never believed or taught the heresy of no-personal-responsibility.
SIN SEPARATES – GOD IS HOLY: “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas BY TRANSGRESSION FELL, that he might go to his own place (eternal hell).” Acts 1:25
Salvation is received and kept by faith – “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 Chron 15:2 (KJV)
—- Jude warned of the “ungodly men” who would peddle their perverted grace, the very lie of “lasciviousness” – a perverted grace (see Jer. 23:17)….. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:3-4 (KJV) … The Perversion of Grace by Dr. Robert B. Thompson
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Apostasy
8 Classes of Sinners Guaranteed to Spend Eternity in the Lake of Fire [podcast]
8 Classes of Sinners Guaranteed to Spend Eternity in Hell
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
“The second death”
[which is the second death] The second death is the lake of fire, or the second separation from God in hell (Rev_2:11; Rev_20:14; Rev_21:8).
Of Revelation 21:8, Adam Clarke writes the following:
Revelation 21:8
But the fearful – Δειλοις· Those who, for fear of losing life or their property, either refused to receive the Christian religion, though convinced of its truth and importance; or, having received it, in times of persecution fell away, not being willing to risk their lives.
And unbelieving – Those who resist against full evidence. And sinners, και ἁμαρτωλοις, is added here by about thirty excellent MSS., and is found in the Syrian, Arabic, some of the Slavonic, and in Andreas and Arethas. On this evidence Griesbach has admitted it into the text.
The abominable – Εβδελυγμενοις· Those who are polluted with unnatural lust. (sodomites, lesbians Romans 1)
And murderers – Φονευσι· Those who take away the life of man for any cause but the murder of another, and those who hate a brother in their heart (.
And whoremongers – Πορνοις· Adulterers, fornicators, whores, prostitutes, and rakes of every description.
Sorcerers – Φαρμακοις· Persons who, by drugs, philtres, fumigations, etc., pretend to produce supernatural effects, chiefly by spiritual agency.
Idolaters – Ειδωλολατραις· Those who offer any kind of worship or religious reverence to any thing but God. All image worshippers are idolaters in every sense of the word.
And all liars – Και πασι τοις ψευδεσι· Every one who speaks contrary to the truth when he knows the truth, and even he who speaks the truth with the intention to deceive; i.e., to persuade a person that a thing is different from what it really is, by telling only a part of the truth, or suppressing some circumstance which would have led the hearer to a different end to the true conclusion. All these shall have their portion, το μερος, their share, what belongs to them, their right, in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. This is the second death, from which there is no recovery.
“21:8 But not all are overcomers. Some are cowardly, afraid to confess Christ; unbelieving, unwilling to trust the sinner’s Savior; sinners, all those who remain in their sins, whether guilty of the gross iniquities listed here or not; abominable, given over to disgusting immorality; murderers, malicious and savage killers; sexually immoral, practicing fornication and other forms of sexual sins; sorcerers, those who traffic with evil spirits; idolaters, insulting God by worshiping images; and all liars, compulsive deceivers. These will be assigned to the lake of fire as their final destiny.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. … 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:10, 14-15
One source notes the following:
“Brimstone and fire” refers to the fiery imagery of divine judgment and eternal punishment found in the Bible. It symbolizes God’s wrath, often describing the fate of sinners in hell, and is a phrase used in religious sermons and literature. “Brimstone,” an old word for sulfur, is a key component of this imagery, evoking a smell and heat associated with inescapable, fiery destruction.
Biblical origins
Old Testament:
The phrase originates in the King James translation of the Old Testament, used to describe God’s destruction of enemies. A key example is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
New Testament:
The imagery is used to describe eternal damnation, a common theme in both the Old and New Testaments. In the book of Revelation, for example, it describes those who worship the beast being tormented in a lake of fire and brimstone.
Etymology:
The phrase is a calque of the Biblical Hebrew and Ancient Greek words for “sulfur and fire”.
Geological evidence:
Archaeological and geological evidence of sulfur deposits and charred formations in areas like the Dead Sea region have been noted as consistent with biblical descriptions of fire and sulfur-related events.”
“But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:12
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Articles
The Purpose of Elders in Christ’s Body [podcast]
There is no more important work transpiring in the earth today than the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 9:35-38; 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.).
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
In short, the authentic under-shepherd ordained of Jesus Himself (John 15:16), will give up his life in this fleeting world for the sheep of Christ – just as the Great Shepherd of the sheep did on the cross. Such a divinely called-out man, will teach only God’s pure Word and watch for the souls of the LORD’s people (Hebrews 13:7, 17). He will take up the cross – live the crucified life – and therefore ministry will not be about them but rather about Jesus and His beloved sheep for whom He shed His blood and is soon returning (Philippians 3:17-21).
Also in Hebrews 13 …. The true elder of Christ will, according to Hebrews 13, do two things:
- Speak the pure Word of God to you and get you into it:
“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation (their way of life).” Hebrews 13:7
2. Will in the fear of God pray for and “watch for your soul.”
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17
In review, just WHAT are the earmark fruits of true under-shepherds as opposed to the many wolves among us?
- True under shepherds relentlessly teach God’s Word – “who have spoken unto you the word of God.” (Hebrews 13:7)
- They are there for you! – “they watch for your souls.” (Hebrews 13:7)
IF they aren’t preaching God’s pure Word to you, fearing God, not you…. and watching for your eternal soul, they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Repent and run to Jesus beloved.
Let me add that if they are using a fake “bible” instead of the King James Bible, that should be a clue to the darkness they walk in (Matthew 7:16, 20).
Elders are ordained of God and yet never to take His place nor to negate our own personal responsibility to seek God daily for ourselves. Yet, we do not need a preacher. Why? – because we each have a Bible. Read it. We don’t need a preacher to tell us what the Bible says! Read it for yourself, learning of the LORD yourself. Today is your day to take personal responsibility to seek God for yourself! Stop depending on a preacher or preachers. Devour God’s Word daily. Jesus taught personal responsibility and the essential nature of it when He said “Take heed to yourselves” (Luke 21:34-36) …… Paul instructed Timothy to “Study” the Word (2 Timothy 2:15).
Today we have all around us church-goers who are not possessed with a heart after God, do not diligently study and read and live out Christ’s Word. This lukewarm, world-loving fruit clearly reveals the prophesied priesthood of wolves (1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 27:4, 8; Matthew 24:11; Acts 13:22; 2 Timothy 3:13; 1 John 4:1, etc.). Until a pastor has provoke you to get into God’s Word for yourself, to seeking His holy face daily in prayer, he has failed. If has has diligently, biblically sought to do these essentials, and people have refused God’s Word, refused to seek His holy face continually, the blood is off of his hands (Ezekiel 3:18-20).
“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Ezekiel 3:18-20
When you check the fruit of a fellowship, check, discern if the individual saints are vibrant in Christ, diligently seeking His holy face, in His Word, living a life of prayer, denying self, taking up the cross daily, and following Jesus. This sounds like what we see of the earliest saints in the book of Acts, right? Boom. Remember how Peter preached and 8,000 were saved and how the Berean believers put Paul’s teaching to the Scriptural test? (Acts 2-4; 17:10-11, etc.).
Sadly, usually you see a bunch of people who are proud to be a member of a church with none of the biblical fruit list above.
The apostle Paul kept a close watch on those he oversaw.
“For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” 1 Thessalonians 3:5
Having a physical “church” building makes no mere man, no supposed elder, an official representative of Heaven. Feeding the sheep of Christ with His pure Word and equipping them “for the work of the ministry” is the mark of a true under-shepherd of Christ (John 21:15-17; Ephesians 4:11-12, etc.). Discern. Beware. Inspect the fruit. Jesus nor any of His holy apostles collected a penny to build a building called “church.” No, they went to the people – to serve them instead of having the people come to them.
Let’s test that…. How many people do you personally know who are good church members, Sunday morning church attenders, and ALSO true, daily disciples whom God is using everywhere they go? Think about that…. How many true disciples of Jesus do you know who are involved in a Sunday morning church program? If you personally know even one true disciple, that’s a miracle and in spite of his attendance at the Sunday morning circus called “church.”
Unlike Christ’s apostle Paul, most in leadership today foster in their prey a dependence on THEM and their church business instead of prayerfully, biblically exhorting people to depend on Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5).
Like Christ’s apostle Paul, the true elder labors relentlessly to see you grounded in Christ – not in him or his ministry or church, but in CHRIST! Listen closely:
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7
It simply doesn’t matter what else he’s doing, if any minister is not prayerfully, biblically, perpetually rooting and grounding you in Christ, he’s a fraud. Run.
Like Jesus and His holy apostle Paul, part of grounding you ever more deeper in Christ, is warning you to “beware” of the “many false prophets.” (Matthew 24:11)
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:8-10
SO, he’s not exhorting and admonishing you to seek and know the LORD in an ever deepening fashion? He’s not equipping, maturing you “for the work of the ministry” and yet you still consider him one of the LORD’s under-shepherds? He’s not getting YOU into the Word (2 Timothy 2:15) for yourself? That’s a false leader who is entertaining the goats instead of feeding and equipping the saints! Run! (See Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.)
False leaders divert the attention, the heart affections, the resources, and the energy of God’s people away from Christ and simple obedience to His Great Commission mandate. YOU are personally responsible! Waste is rampant! If you support, “bid God speed” (2 John 7-11) to a false leader, false ministry, then you will perish with them!
The divine purpose for elders is not to dominate nor entertain the LORD’s sheep but rather to help their joy in Christ! Get to know this verse saints:
“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24
There is the citing of elders in the Word and their divine purpose – to humbly serve God by helping His sheep grow in the knowledge and grace of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:1-6).
Christ’s apostle Paul desired the “perfection” (maturity in Christ) of the people of God (Ephesians 4:11-15).
“For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.” 2 Corinthians 13:9
Like Apollos, Elders among God’s people must remain teachable to God’s Word and simply and only teach and preach his word (Proverbs 9:9; Acts 18:26). Elders true to the LORD act on his behalf and never out of a personal agenda for self gain (2 Corinthians 3:5; 4:5, etc.). They live the crucified life (Galatians 2:20).
We are to humble ourselves like Apollos did and learn the way of our God more perfectly from each other, via God’s Word – as Apollos learned it more fully from Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-28).
Beloved Apollos was a very effective, anointed communicator of God’s Word and yet, was in need of maturing, of being perfected. So, God sent to him an elder and his wife, Aquila and Priscilla. Apollos humbly received the LORD’s elders and His grace to grow in Christ:
“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” Acts 18:24-26
The vast majority of “churches” that meet in “church buildings” are simply and merely conducting “church services” where they entertain their prey. They are not equipping the saints for the work of the ministry and therefore discerned as being counterfeit (Ephesians 4:11-13). If they were, there would be salty disciples in their midst who go forth to minister Christ’s kingdom blessings wherever they go. Not even a trace of this transpiring in the apostate modern church world. Run. Run. Run.
The Purpose of Kingdom Elders:
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting (equipping, maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12
Philip Lye writes: “Paul says in Ephesians 4, that he gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. He expressly says these people are given to mature the saints, to equip them for their ministry and growth in Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that many false prophets and messiahs will arise deceiving many. They are simply functions that God has given and not titles which the proud use to strut about like a peacock. Most of these people that I have met (and I have seen a lot of famous ones) are false, proud and arrogant and not servants of the the Lord Jesus Christ. I have seen humble genuine ones who move mightily in truth, calling people to repentance and right relationship with Jesus and a demonstration of genuine miracles and wonders. They are to be genuine servants to God’s people.”
VIEW this following verse from Solomon’s day in light of our calling and work till Christ returns:
“Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.” 2 Chronicles 8:16
Let’s read a larger portion of this important passage in Ephesians 4. God fearing under-shepherds must prayerfully labor for and be intent upon seeing God’s people grow in the grace of Christ to the full stature of maturity He has ordained!
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-15
The Error of Using Titles in the Modern Church World
God sovereignly and exclusively ordained MEN to feed, lead, and equip His saints (Ephesians 4:8-11). Women are called to and seen doing many ministry functions in the New Testament but never as a leader in a position specifically designated in Scripture for men.
Repent. The American “church” is a catastrophe of spineless moral-coward Ahabs who’ve allowed, suffered women to lead, and the fall out is incalculable (Revelation 2:20-24).
GOD’s men must never allow women to lead where they (men) are called to lead (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2; Revelation 2:20-24).
To put yourself under the ministry of a woman who is acting as an elder among God’s people, is to defy Christ, and to agree with Christ’s arch enemy and his Jezebels and to bring severe destruction on the people of God (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2; Revelation 2:20-24).
JUST because a woman can run her mouth and even genuinely have a gift of the Spirit DOES NOT mean she’s an elder in the body of Christ – which is divinely reserved non-negotiably for men, male elders (1 Timothy 2:11-12; 3:2). | Beware of Scripture-Twisting Jezebels
We must humbly confess before our LORD and God that we have nothing and are nothing without Him!
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5
God can use us in spite of having a seminary or Bible college background…. If we will truly denounce it, lay it all down, and truly submit to Him – just like Paul did (Philippians 3). Otherwise we will join the epidemic of false prophets who build their own kingdoms in this fleeting life and spend eternity in hell (2 Peter 2:1-3). Paul counted his “higher education” as “dung” to know and serve Christ (Philippians 3).
BIBLICALLY SPEAKING, BY DEFINITION, ELDERS ARE NOT SEMINARIANS (UNLESS THEY’VE DENOUNCED SUCH) BUT RATHER PROVEN MEN OF GOD WHO HAVE WALKED WITH CHRIST FOR SOME TIME AND ARE SEASONED IN DOCTRINE AND GODLY CHARACTER AND ABLE TO HELP ASSIST OTHER BELIEVERS GROW IN GRACE (Philippians 3).
In part, we can be transformed in our thinking/perspective of what leaders are seen to be in the apostate modern church vs the biblical definition of an elder which is a humble servant with sound doctrine and a godly life (1 Timothy 3; 2 Timothy 3:10; Titus 1-2, etc.).
Christ’s kingdom ordination is not like the ordinations of many denominations….. To ordain seems to mean to recognize the work of GOD in a man’s life and to set him forth into ministry as by the leading of the Spirit of God.
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16
ORDAIN
G5087
τίθημι
tithēmi
tith’-ay-mee
A prolonged form of a primary word θέω theō (which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses); to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from G2476, which properly denotes an upright and active position, while G2749 is properly reflexive and utterly prostrate): – + advise, appoint, bow, commit, conceive, give, X kneel down, lay (aside, down, up), make, ordain, purpose, put, set (forth), settle, sink down.
Total KJV occurrences: 96
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” Acts 13:1-3
Denominations of mere men set their elders forth to do THEIR bidding, to perpetuate their own cause and existence, to build their false church businesse$. God fearing assemblies of the saints simply recognize Christ’s work in a man and prayerfully send him forth to do GOD’s work. They worship and exalt Christ whole heartedly!
MINISTRY is about feeding sheep, not entertaining goats (John 21:15-17). So, when you see a “minister” entertaining, you know he himself is a goat (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5).
What True Elders Teach
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
THERE is nothing good in us except Christ. We are not featured but JESUS is. “We preach CHRIST crucified” (1 Cor 1:23). All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags and HE is the One and only righteous Redeemer whom we communicate to others (1 Cor 9:16; Rom 7:18 etc.).
Jesus’ true disciples are crucified vessels who preach with His authority, unlike the lame leaders we have today (Matthew 7:28-29). True Gospel preaching rocks the world of those who hear it – it never coddles people in their sin. That’s the work of wolves! Beware!
Godly Elders Teach God’s People to Discern
“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23
Why don’t some leaders teach discernment?
“Anyone that profits off of you being blind, will never teach you or inspire you to see.” unknown
Any man in leadership who doesn’t warn you of false prophets as did Christ and His apostles, is a wolf who does not want you to see who he truly is.
God’s people are to continue to learn to discern – to test, to weigh all things against Holy Scripture. Ungodly elders have the “I said it so it’s true” notion. Or the “We’ve always taught that” or “That’s what we believe” philosophy. Not. What saith the Scriptures is what every true follower of Jesus asks, as he searches God’s Word to ascertain truth. Every student of Christ should become extremely familiar with Acts 17:10-11.
QUESTION RECEIVED:
“I am curious as to how one man is considered the other’s elder? Do they attend the same church gathering thus, he is a church elder or is it through willful submission of the younger as an understudy or simply due to the fact that one man is older?”
REPLY:
Great question brother. Elder, biblically seems to mean older and more seasoned in God’s Word, having walked with the LORD longer. Two views come to mind: 1. The organic body of Christ, the kingdom relationships we have, where there appear men in our lives who are seasoned and there’s an automatic elder/young relationship (that’s how it is here)… and 2. Where a person attends a church group and they have their elder in a more organized fashion as you mentioned…. that help?
Nothing brings definition to this like God’s Word as you know…. and notice how it begins with “The elders which are AMONG you”….
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” 1 Peter 5:1-6
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NLT New Living Translation EXPOSED
CALLING OUT THE GUTLESS COWARDS WHO ARE NOT BOTHERED THAT SATAN HAS CORRUPTED THE WORDS AND DOCTRINES OF THE LORD THEY FALSELY CLAIM TO SERVE.
“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: 19 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.” Revelation 22:18-19
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