Sinner’s Prayer? Are Altar Calls Biblical? [podcast]
Is the Gospel not a divine ultimatum? Yes it is.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16
The Point of Leading Someone to Christ
Just another perspective to consider…. Personally, I won’t fault anyone who sees this differently…. for me, when the convicting law, the Word, the Gospel is preached, I often ask the now convicted hearer if he would like to repent and receive Christ (Acts 17:30; 20:21; John 1:12). Jesus saved me in this very fashion after I heard God’s Word preached and was then invited to pray with an elder.
“I was asked to say the sinners prayer after hearing the message of the cross back in 1980. I was not a false conversion. Still walking with Jesus today. 9-19-23.” Kathleen
“Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch (capture) men.” Luke 5:10
It seems to this disciple that if Jesus sent us forth to be “fishers of men,” that at times, we are going to actually land those fish in His boat, right? Those fellows are going to get into His ship – fellowship.
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
Those who truly follow Jesus are fishing for men – seeking to see Him save lost souls. It would seem from this that our LORD expects to land some of the fish He is seeking to save through our efforts. The goal of those who fish is to land fish into the boat, right? Do you concur?
The sinner’s prayer is NOT essential to salvation. Jesus says that repentance and faith in Christ and His finished work are essential, but not coming to Him via a “sinner’s prayer.” Yet please remember that the thief on the cross used his sinful mouth to call upon the LORD and was saved.
“I prayed the sinners prayer 51 years ago and I was transformed by the Holy Spirit, born again and still serving Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.” Judy
“Sinner’s Prayer” – Call it what you wish – Personally I can’t find a biblical reason why praying with someone who is repenting and putting their faith in Christ is a sin. Also, no shade cast upon those who don’t agree with such.
“I prayed by myself on my knees beside my bed! I had told a friend I can’t find God. She quoted me John 14:6. Even though she was not saved, but had heard those words from a Pastor. My life was a mess and I knew I needed something more outside of myself. I prayed a very simple prayer and said God I am told I need Jesus so I am asking to receive Him tonight. My life is a total mess! I can’t remember all the words I prayed but in the morning I was a completely different person! Everyone who saw me noticed immediately. And kept saying what happened to her? Jesus happened that’s what happened!! I went to bed and woke up a brand new creature in Christ!! Hallelujah!” Karen Cochran
Should we not throw altar calls perpetually … calling, inviting men to come to Jesus in repentance and faith?!
“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.” Revelation 22:17
Do you personally desire to pray with more people, sinners, seeing them come before our LORD in repentance and faith and be saved? How’s that going to happen if there’s no preaching and invitation, calling them to “Come”?
Can we observe that the so-called “altar call” and “sinner’s prayer” are simply catch phrases that define certain methods used in ministry? Yet, it seems observable that these occasions can be used differently, depending on the one conducting the ministry. Though never using these phrases until this type of discussion arises, in this disciple’s perception, that which is called an “altar call” or “sinners prayer” is merely an occasion to pray with someone in order to facilitate them drawing nigh to the LORD for the first time or otherwise.
I recently heard a very popular evangelist complain that only 1 of the 28 people he prayed with to be saved continued with Christ. Here was my response:
“Instigating a false conversion by not properly giving the sinner the Law and saving Gospel is one thing and leading a ready sinner in prayer to God is another. It happens both ways – a sinner praying to be saved with someone else or individually. Why do we think it has to be one way or the other? So, are you saying that praying with those 28 of your friends and only seeing only one truly get saved and follow Christ was a waste? Was that one eternal soul not worth it all?”
Perhaps the problem is not preaching the Law and Gospel to the sinner thoroughly enough before praying with them.
I’ve personally prayed with hundreds of people who were repenting and putting their faith in the LORD Jesus. Have seen a mixture of carry through or fruit after such – in perfect accordance with Jesus’ teaching of the seed of the Word and the heart soil. That’s what’s going to happen no matter who the ministering disciple is. See Luke 8:11-15. Have seen many who prayed to God in repentance and faith and are walking strong today in Jesus! Remember, sinful people chose to reject the ministering of Jesus, Peter, John, Paul, etc. That’s just how it goes with the Gospel – because God gave all men free will (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Isaiah 1:18-20; Joshua 24:15, etc.).
Personally I take issue with giving people the convicting Law and saving Gospel and then not asking them if they’d like to repent and receive Jesus right that moment (John 1:12; Acts 16:30; 20:21; Galatians 3:24, etc.). If it’s clear that someone is ready to repent and receive Christ, I ask them if they like to stop their life, admit to God they’ve sinned against Him, and let Him save and forgive them. The choice is there’s. Some people don’t like what is called “the sinner’s prayer” because they or someone they know prayed and didn’t get saved. First off, that’s one of the 4 heart soils Jesus taught about (Luke 8:11-15). Also, praying with someone to repent after they’ve heard the Law and Gospel is one thing, and the individual’s free will is another. There’s a timing for individual’s to be saved. Most of the time we, as Christ’s laborers, are planting the seed of salvation that may ultimately lead to the recipients repenting and putting their faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).
There are ministers I like who disagree with this. That’s fine. My use of praying with sinner’s to be saved is not the classic “sinner’s prayer” magic formula by any stretch of the imagination. No, it’s a thorough citing, reading of God’s Word and their own personal desire to repent and put Christ first in their lives.
“I encountered the Messiah while reciting the sinners prayer. Tech Sargent Mayfield lead the entire group in this simple, life changing prayer… I experienced God’s presence and my life was changed forever. 47 years ago. Thank You Lord.” Pedro
This message is primarily associating the use of praying with sinners in the context of personal evangelism, one on one…. and not leading a large group in saying some magical “sinner’s prayer.”
“I said the sinners prayer many years ago and while saying it I felt my pride leave and a tingling sensation on my head. Like the Holy Spirit was there. My life has never been the same. Weeks before a similar thing happened to my wife.” Dino
Reciting a prayer mechanically is one thing. Being led in a prayer of repentance and faith in Christ after hearing the convicting law and desiring to be saved, is yet another thing!
“Whether the sinners prayer is biblical or not, I was instantly born again when I said it…I went from blind to seeing. It’s about your eyes being opened by the Holy Spirit. Nothing at all wrong with the sinners prayer.” Jimmy
Just because some in ministry recklessly ran people through a sinner’s prayer in a meeting with masses of people and it didn’t “stick,” doesn’t change my view on praying with and leading a sinner in a prayer, a repentance and faith confession before God.
“15 years ago I was a truck driver working in the oilfields of Texas. One night I stopped at an old truck stop to get something to eat and on my way out I picked up a gospel tract that was sitting on a shelf by the door. Little did I know at that moment that my life would be forever changed. Later that night all alone in the middle of the Texas oilfield on an oil lease, I found myself on my knees crying out to God and reading the sinners prayer. Today, I am an ordained and licensed minister with a full time street ministry spreading the message of hope and salvation to the homeless on the streets of down town Houston, Texas. 15 years later I wished I could tell the person who placed the Bible tract in that truck stop that the seed he had sown did not fall by the wayside. I use Bible tracts with the sinners prayer today. It is a seed that I am planting. Some of the seed will fall by the wayside, some onto stony ground and some will fall among the thorns. BUT some will fall onto good ground. Not everyone who reads the sinners prayer will pick up their cross and follow Jesus but some will… It wasn’t easy and I made some mistakes along the way but with the help of the Lord I am an overcomer!” Carlos
Some have made an idol of the “sinner’s prayer” instead of preaching the Word, letting the Holy Spirit convict, and praying. There’s no such thing as a magical prayer. When the law to convict and saving Gospel of Jesus is preached, the prayer will merely facilitate their repentance and faith.
“I was saved using the sinner’s prayer. It helped me articulate words better. I know I’m saved because of my conviction of my sins and faith and trust in Jesus.” Dom
This writer is not condemning you if you don’t like praying with a sinner to God to be saved. You are welcome to your opinion. Personally, I prayed with a pastor and Jesus saved me. Since when do we factor out prayer, praying which is simply communicating with God, just because some misused it? Since many pervert the doctrine of salvation, why don’t we just abandon it also? Should we now glorify the devil by throwing away God’s truth because some mixed it with lies or misused it? Does God no longer answer prayer? Will the Almighty not listen to and answer a prayer, a simple request from a sinner, to save someone into His kingdom? …. as if He cancelled prayer due to a few diabolicals who perverted it?
“The Harvest”
If our LORD didn’t have in mind the harvest of precious souls for whom He died, why then did He come and die for them? Why would He have said:
“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38
A “harvest” is a reaping from seed previously planted and notice that Jesus says that He is “the Lord of the harvest.” Soul winners have long clung to the precious exhortation given us in Psalms 126 where a harvest is promised to those who labor in winning sinners to Christ.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed (God’s Word), shall doubtless (surely, definitely) come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves (harvest) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6
I believe this truth. It seems apparent that all true soul winners are going to see Jesus capture souls via their prayerful, biblical efforts!
Posturing the sinner’s heart by administering Holy Scripture is vital, so that if you do pray with them, their heart is made ready by the LORD.
There are some who do ministry by preaching the law and Gospel and then send those people they ministered to on their way without seizing the moment by inviting the convicted sinner to pray right there, settling things right with God.
“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured (helped) thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:2
It is this disciple’s conviction to help sinners be secured into Christ’s kingdom while the conviction is teeming in them.
There is no shade thrown here on those who do not minister this way and yet but rather a giving of thanks for the Word, the seed those ministers are sowing in the hearts of people. As we know, God’s Word never returns back to Him void but rather accomplishes what He pleases in those hearts in which it is sown (Isaiah 55:11). Though the methods of Christians differ, if they are preaching the original Gospel, may God be praised (Philippians 1:15-18). Yet, I will respectfully disagree and will definitely give my perspective on this matter of praying with sinners to facilitate them coming to Christ, as I believe that it’s important to capture the fish in a timely fashion when he is ready to be caught (Matthew 4:19).
While I am not going to judge another man’s servant on a non-essential matter such as this one, for myself, I will continue to pray with sinners who are ready to come to Jesus and agree to repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins (Matthew 26:28; Romans 14). Without apology, this servant is going to continue to preach the law to convict the sinner of sin, the Gospel of Jesus to save, and lead in a prayer of repentance and faith every precious, eternal soul possible! And, by God’s grace, I will continue to use a verbal confession to the LORD from them, as they pray aloud to the LORD, to secure their place in God’s kingdom, leading them to confess Christ aloud before men, turning to Jesus from their life of sin!
Is it okay to preach to them and just leave them? Well, in my limited opinion, I believe that if someone is ready to convicted and agrees to repent right there … not if they are ready to repent and to commit their life to Christ! That’s my perspective and I believe it’s according to and certainly not in violation of the biblical perspective.
A prayer saves no one. In fact hell is full of people who said a prayer to be saved. If one doesn’t repent, their prayer is in vain. Jesus says that repenting is an imperative. God does hear the cry of repentance from a sinner whom He then saves into His kingdom.
The reason I personally believe it’s important to “catch men” or capture them when they are presently convicted, is so that Satan has no place or time to steal that seed. See Jesus’ parable of the sower and the Word. See Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8. Another general truth that governs my concern for souls is that we are in a battle for the souls of men. Satan is the enemy. We as Christ’s are His “ambassadors” as you know and involved in winning souls to Him and catching them as a fisherman catches or captures fish and brings them in the boat (Luke 5:10; Proverbs 11:30; 2 Corinthians 5:20).
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” 2 Corinthians 5:11
There was a clear urgency about Paul’s ministering to others.
So, I may be wrong, but these biblical truths have formed my thinking in this matter of giving sinners the option, invitation to repent and receive Christ at the time they have heard the Law and Gospel.
“Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3, 5
Sinner’s Prayer?
—–SINNER’S PRAYER? This is a stirring examination of the use of the Sinner’s Prayer as it’s called.
What has become known as “the sinner’s prayer” is simply to get the sinner to confess Christ publicly – before men – in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
Does the Bible tell us that the sinner must “confess with thy mouth the LORD Jesus and believe with thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead” to be “saved”? Yes or no please?
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
My desire is not to be forceful. Just trying to qualify things here, squaring them with Holy Scripture.
Now, that being said … Don’t like the sinner’s prayer?
The fact is, that if someone repents and trusts Jesus, anywhere anytime on His green earth, like it or not, God is still going to save that soul.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
Here’s a believer who called upon the LORD and God kept His promise and saved him:
“The sinners prayer was my call out to Jesus and ever since then I’ve been saved by his grace and his sacrifice he’s changed my life.” Tino
The problem only arises when men misuse this method. Yet, for this disciple, I see the virtue of using this public confession to bring souls to Christ, one by one usually.
“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8-9
According to the full counsel of God’s Word, entrance into His kingdom includes true repentance, faith in Christ, and a verbal confession before God and others that one believes Jesus died, was buried, and rose again from the dead (Matthew 3:2, 6; 4:17; 10:32-33; Acts 16:31; 20:21; Romans 10:9-10).
In this disciple’s heart, at my current level of understanding, it is my opinion that God put this truth about the need for heart belief and verbally confessing Christ in His Word, particularly Romans 10:9-10, in order to give His body a sort of prescription for leading sinners to Him.
The sinner’s prayer is simply confessing Christ upon repenting and believing upon Him. It must never be used to simply run someone through a prayer, acting as if that sinner saying a prayer saves them. It doesn’t – repenting does. And, that repentance can be facilitated through a prayer. In order for this to be done correctly, several Gospel elements of truth should be utilized. When a sinner is led to believe that somehow, after praying a magic little prayer, that he is saved for life and eternity, that sinner has been completely misled. No, when a sinner is going to repent and believe upon Christ unto eternal life, they should be told that they are giving their whole life and trust to Jesus Christ, nothing held back. I like to preface the repentance prayer with “John, you should realize that you are not praying to me or any man but rather to God, and He’s listening. With everything that’s within you, pray this to the Father in Heaven who awaits your repentance and confession of Jesus Christ.”
To a man who preached the law and sin to sinners regularly, I once suggested that he also seek to win the souls of those who will choose to repent and be saved. I shared this with this particular man because the ministry he was conducting seemed to only communicate the condemnation of God upon sinners without offering them the Gospel of Christ’s saving grace. Praise the LORD that this man is actually sowing that biblical truth into the hearts of many – that they are condemned by sin. This will surely result in some of them, under the weight of guilt, eventually repenting. I applaud that brother’s efforts because the lost soul must be convicted that he is a sinner in order to see his need to repent and receive Christ.
Let me stop here to say that this most undeserving disciple, the one penning this article, was saved from an altar call and through repenting via a sinner’s prayer per se. How glad and grateful to Jesus do you think this unworthy man is for the beloved brother who firmly led me to the feet of Jesus that blessed night in 1984? Eternally! He made sure I had the opportunity to hear the original Gospel and to see that I acted on it. He didn’t send me off in the dark of the night for Satan to devour the seed that was sown in my heart (Luke 8:12).
“I love the story of Nicodemus’ chat with Jesus about being born again. If people just repeat the sinner’s prayer and backslide, then maybe they did not understand the power of God’s word. The “sinner’s prayer” is not an incantation where one speaks the magic words and voila! I remember specifically the day I bowed my head and prayed when a pastor gave the invitation during his summer crusades in ’67. At 13, I really did not understand, but know the Spirit of God kept me from many issues plagued by young people. Fast forward: After a year in Iraq, I was ready to head home when I suffered a stroke at Ft. Benning. As I laid in the ambulance, I realized how close to death I may be, or worse, becoming paralyzed. With that thought, I physically with my lips spoke praise to Jesus and proclaimed Him Lord of All. If I was to become paralyzed, then those would be my last words spoken. With that I asked what I could learn from this emergency to help others. Then I heard the Lord’s voice that nothing more will move against me. When I heard those words, the driver asked the attendant “Fast? Or slow and steady?” My attendant said “Slow. I think we’re good.” My word of confirmation. I suffered with NO debilitating conditions. Praise the Lord Almighty of Heaven and Earth!” Randy
Winning souls is God’s will. That is, winning them over into God’s kingdom from the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:12-14).
“He that winneth (seizes) souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
The Hebrew word here for the English word “winneth” is laqach and it means to carry away, receive, seize, take away, to win.
Think about and begin to meditate upon the word “winneth” here.
We are here to win – to seize the moment in bringing others home to Christ! That is, while they are under conviction, getting them to submit their lives to Christ on the spot. That’s how this sinner was saved into Christ’s kingdom and for that I am eternally grateful to Him and those who cared enough to win my soul to the nail-scarred, risen Savior!
We are Christ’s and so we will win it all in the end and even now! And, we shall be used of Him to win others in this late hour before His soon return!
Do you believe God can use you?
Jesus literally captured the hearts of men and He still does today – everyday! To His disciples, our LORD said “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch (capture) men.” (Luke 5:10)
In the Gospels we read how the Son of God called me to Himself. In fact, that’s why He came – to “save sinners” like us and all men (Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:15). When Jesus called the individual disciples of His twelve to “follow me,” they did. Is Christ still calling men to follow Him? Yes! And, Jesus is now using you and I to beckon others to follow Him. To follow Him, the individual must be willing to lay himself aside for the great reign and glory and supremacy of the King of kings to rule in their life!
“A true witness delivereth souls.” Proverbs 14:25
It seems noteworthy here to mention that Jesus never commanded any person to “join a church” or to “go to church.” Fellowship sure is important, yet like the earliest disciples in the first century, we should be experiencing fellowship “daily” and “from house to house” and not just in the context and confines of a certain building on Sunday morning (Acts 2:42-47; 20:20; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24-25). Christ told us that following Him is “daily,” not weekly (Luke 9:23-24). Jesus is the “first love” of all who are ready to meet Him (Revelation 2:4-5). That means that they are consumed with Him – “daily” – as opposed to the casual churchgoer who holds Jesus as a second class citizen, one only worthy of an hour or so per week. “Lukewarm” is hell bound (Revelation 3:15-16).
We must be careful what we “win” people into. Think about it: Most people today who are won to Christ in America are immediately whisked away and taught to become a churchgoer type or church member instead of a true “daily” disciple of Christ who is learning to deny himself, take up his cross and truly follow Christ (Luke 9:23-24; 2:42; Acts 17:11; 20:20). This is an abomination. They are not being won into a real, daily walk with Jesus where they study His Word diligently and seek His face in prayer, witness, and walk in His love. No, they are taught that the extent of “Christianity” is to be a good church going church member, pay their tithes, and go to sleep spiritually (Revelation 3:15-16). This has and will continue to send millions into eternal damnation who “fall away” due to this falsity and misrepresentation of Christ (Matthew 10:22; 24:1-13; Luke 8:13; Acts 14:22; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; Revelation 2-3, etc.).
“Ye are the Light of the World”! Matthew 5:13
Now for those who have laid down their lives and are presently following the Master, first, we should acknowledge that people in darkness need the help of Christ the light and those whom Christ has already brought into His kingdom of light. Jesus says “Ye are the light of the world” and that’s because He who is “the light of the world,” dwells in us and uses us to help others see and come to His blessed light! (Matthew 5:13; John 8:12)
Though some have used the altar call to get a “decision for Christ,” I personally don’t discount the power of preaching the Word that brings men to a decision. Obviously Peter’s preaching brought people to a decision and they responded by asking “what shall we do?” Peter answered:
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:38-42
Certainly, the apostle Peter didn’t leave them hanging. He told them to “Repent, and be baptized.”
It is my personal opinion that a prayer of repentance with that convicted sinner is permissible and for myself preferable. In my personal estimation, there’s no problem with praying with someone to repent and receive Jesus, the problem is when that person is not truly ready to repent and confess Christ – to lay down their life – due to the person ministering not bringing them to the place of deep conviction using the holy law (Psalms 19:7; Romans 7:7, 12; Galatians 3:24). This problem can be due to ineptness or lack of seasoning in those ministering to that person. By the leading and power of the Holy Spirit, we must give sinners the soul-converting, convicting law of the LORD and let it do its work to bring them to Christ (Psalms 19:7; Galatians 3:24). Then, some of those we give the law to are going to have their eyes opened and begin to see who Jesus is and why the Son of God came to die on a cross and be raised again. They will then see why they need Him and call upon Him to be saved! Those are the souls we want to “catch” or capture (Luke 5:10).
In praying with sinners to be saved by Christ, it’s important to realize that they should confess their sinfulness, rebellion, and that they believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again for them. This must be done with their own mouths. We have ample evidence that confessing Christ before another human being is very important to the LORD – in showing that one is not ashamed of Him and in coming into the kingdom of God as they call upon the name of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:13).
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized (public confession), he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” Acts 16:30-34
Getting the Sinner to Respond in Repentance Means Winning that Soul!
There comes that moment in time – that moment in the life of each individual – when Christ convictingly beckons to their heart to “Follow me.” That person must then choose to follow or to reject Christ. This is how it was with His twelve as He called each of them on a certain day in their lives. Jesus was there, present with them in person, when He called them to follow Him. Christ told the rich young ruler to “Come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22) That meant that this rich man (in this temporary world) had to deny himself and lay aside all and begin following Jesus at that moment. He chose not to and Jesus made no attempt to accommodate his rebellion.
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Mark 8:34
Well, we know Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever,” right? (Hebrews 13:8) Is it possible that the LORD now many times uses the members of His body to bring the souls He is seeking to “follow” Him? Does that begin at a certain moment in time? Yes. Is it possible that Christ wants to use you and I in divinely-ordained encounters to call sinners to repent and begin at a certain moment to follow Him? I happen to be of the distinct mindset that the answer is a resounding Yes!
The problem is not with calling men to repent and leading them in a prayer of repentance and faith, but rather in praying with people who are not ready and willing to truly turn their whole being to the LORD in repentance, placing all their faith in Christ alone for salvation. This is the laying down of their lives to follow the Son of God. When we minister correctly and thoroughly, we will know most of the time when a person is ready to repent and receive Christ. I like to ask them “Is there any good reason why you couldn’t stop your life this moment, repent, and receive Jesus today?” I dare you to try this!
As the LORD uses each of us in our daily lives of following Him, things will happen at least a bit differently in every scenario. Of course, our LORD is in control, not us. Not long ago, while on a trip out of state, I was blessed to meet a 59 year old man who was not yet saved. He grew up Catholic and so never heard the true saving Gospel of the grace of God through Jesus Christ alone. He was searching and yet didn’t know how to get things right with God. We spoke for about an hour and a half the first time we met and let me tell you, it was an engaging conversation I shall never forget. Well, before I departed that day, after I had thoroughly preached the convicting law and the saving Gospel of Jesus to this precious man, I gave him a copy of the Born Again book which is a small and super potent soul-wining tool. The next day, I went to the same coffee shop and immediately upon arriving was approached by this same man who was now wearing a bright and beaming smile. He said “Hey Todd, I read that Born Again book last night. Then, at 2:30 A.M. I woke up and prayed the prayer in the last chapter!” He had marked the page where the prayer is to repent and be saved. So, then, with his copy of the Born Again book in one hand and grasping my hand in a firm handshake with his other hand, he said, “Sir, I wonder if you would allow me right now to pray this prayer in your presence?” I immediately said “yes, I’d be honored” and told him “that’s exactly what the LORD wants you to do. He wants you to confess Him before men. Jesus says ‘Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.’” (Luke 12:8-9)
Well, I was privileged to spend the rest of that week with this dear man, nearly daily. We were able to cover a lot of ground in those precious times of fellowship where the LORD was discipling him deeper each day in his new walk (Colossians 2:6-7). As the LORD allowed, we covered many Bible passages and questions he had about a variety of things in this life and the life to come. He was now full of peace, joy and love. It was obvious by his new found words, manner of speech, and demeanor, that this man’s life was changed – that he was now a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). This man and I talk by phone on a regular basis now as we have since we met. He is now following Christ. The fruit is evident.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. … 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-10, 13
Note again that “with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
The word “confess” appears 28 times in God’s Word and is usually used when people are instructed to confess sin and to confess the name of the LORD.
“Every tongue” will one day “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” and yet, for most, that will be as they are terminated into the lake of fire. Does this not make it more the reason we should seek to secure that confession now, before it’s too late?
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:11
“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15
“Phillip Ran” – Go Get Em!
Securing the confession of a truly convicted, repentant soul is key, that is, when the timing is right. This is what Philip did with the Ethiopian eunuch whom the LORD saved.
“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:30-31
Notice that “Philip ran” to help this man get saved. That’s certainly very different than preaching to someone and then letting them just go away into the darkness of this world. Right? Philip was diligent to help this seeking man get saved. And note that the unsaved man realized that he needed someone to help him – “How can I (understand), except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said (confessed), I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 8:35-37
Believing upon Christ by confessing Him as LORD is the prerequisite to being water baptized, otherwise water baptism is futile/useless. Water baptism is the public confession of one who has already repented and believed upon Christ unto salvation! So, before this Ethiopian was water baptized, what did Phillip tell him he must do? – believe with all his heart, right? Then the sinner confessed aloud with his mouth that “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” He was saved by the LORD at that moment.
Confession Seems Universally Important to Saints and Sinners Alike
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21
Whether we understand it or not, verbal confession is very important in the divine economy. Perhaps it’s more important or useful for the human confessing than it is important to God for His sake. What it does in the human when he confesses seems to be powerful. – “with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) In this disciple’s opinion, I believe that a type of legal right is given to the entity associated with the words of our mouths. Following the simple instruction of James 4:7, I have seen many precious saints delivered from bondage and sin due to freshly submitting to God, then resisting the devil, and watching the enemy flee by the power of Jesus’ name! This all transpires by verbal confession with words proceeding from the heart. This is in line with Hosea 14:1-2:
“O Israel (God’s people), return unto the LORD thy God (repentance); for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.” Hosea 14:1-2
Also, how about factoring in the truth we have in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Jesus goes so far as to tell us that He will “deny” those who do not “confess” Him “before men.” Here’s His promise to “deny” those who refuse to “confess” Him in the presence of men:
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33
Knowing when the Iron is Hot
There’s a saying that speaks to the notion of seizing the moment (timing). The saying is “Strike while the iron’s hot.”
Before leading someone in repentance and their confession that Jesus Christ is LORD and that He rose from the dead, we must make sure the time is right. That is, that they are ready to repent and receive Jesus (John 1:12; Acts 20:21).
Discerning where a person is is important. Timing is everything as has been said.
“A wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.” Ecclesiastes 8:5
God is the only One who can save a soul and give the “increase” of salvation! And, He delights to do so. Watch here what the apostle Paul says of this:
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Most of the time we are sowing the Word in the hearts of men. Sometimes, it’s time for the harvest. May our LORD grant to our heart His discernment as to whether we are sowing into that person or that God is bringing the “increase” of His salvation – or both.
As we see here in this passage above, our LORD Jesus privileges us to be used in sowing the seed of His Word into the hearts of men. Those whom the LORD has saved “are ambassadors for Christ,” they are “a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Into our now regenerated lives, “all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
Walking in this new life and “ministry of reconciliation,” it’s important to realize that most of the time we are sowing the seed of divine truth while at other times and instances, we must be ready to pull the drowning sinner into the boat of Christ’s salvation.
I personally pray with people after communicating the law and Gospel to them to give their life to Christ when I perceive that they are:
- Convicted by the law
- Willing to repent and believe upon Christ
To the person who seems to realize that they are undone in sin before a holy God, I always ask them something like, “Are you willing to acknowledge to the LORD that you have violated God’s holy law, repent, and receive Jesus Christ today?”
Or,
“Is there any reason why you couldn’t admit to God what He already knows – that you are a sinner – and to repent and receive Christ?”
Question Received:
The “sinners’ prayer.” There are variations of it, but in a nutshell it involves confessing you are a sinner and asking for forgiveness from God. In your opinion, is this the point of salvation?
Reply:
Romans 10:9-10 … The mouth is important to God as it externalizes what’s in the heart (Matthew 12:34) and in their initial act of obedient repentance, one should with their own mouth confess Jesus Christ as their new LORD and outwardly/verbally acknowledge that He rose again from the dead. – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) In coming to Christ to be saved, that soul is repenting – turning their life over to the LORD, placing their full faith in Christ, the One who died and rose again to justify them (Acts 16:31; 20:21). Yes, if a sinner prays sincerely from the heart in repentance (turning their life to God), confessing Christ as the new LORD of their lives, believing He died for them and rose again, God is going to save them right then and there. That is according to His own Word of promise – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) So, praying with a sinner who is ready to repent and put his faith in Christ, is simply facilitating them calling “upon the name of the Lord” at which point the Word of God tells us that they “shall be saved.” I have personally seen hundreds of people genuinely saved this way. That is, people who went on to bear fruit in the LORD’s kingdom, something only possible by God’s saving grace.
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“Hi brother, your posts about, not just telling people about Lord Jesus, but–*Regaining That Fervour*–to actually spend the time to try and bring people to the point of–*Surrendering Unto Christ*–has really inspired me, I actually prayed with a lady that comes to my apartment to do 1 hour of home duties, but instead, I saw–*pain & distress in her* and spent the whole hour testifying that–*Only Surrendering Unto Christ*–Can He help with the–*extreme distress in her life and actually got her to pray with me, for her to accept Christ–and she did–Hallelujah–Amen brother, amen. As you know, repentance is the must of the Gospel along with the “must” of being born again (John 3:3, 7 and Luke 13:3, 5). Unless I am missing something, repentance means coming to complete surrender of our will and lives to Christ. Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21, etc. God bless you brother. Thanks bro, keep up the–*Good Works For Christ*–Amen.” Paul, Australia
Easy Believism and the Sinner’s Prayer
Most who misuse or over emphasize a “sinner’s prayer” also teach the eternal security heresy. So it’s an easy in and guaranteed forever no matter how you live “salvation” which is completely foreign to Scripture.
Easy believism is a curse of the modern apostate church world to be avoided by all true disciples of Jesus. “Once saved always saved” or unconditional “eternal security” as it’s called, is another horrible and deceitful falsehood peddled by many false teachers. Most evangelicals are taught the lie that they are “once saved always saved” which is a notion that never appears verbatim or in concept in God’s Word as a doctrine taught by Christ or His holy apostles. To the contrary, Jesus and His apostles taught that the one whom Christ saves, must “endure to the end” to be saved into eternal glory or that person will lose out in the end and have a more excruciating eternal torment than the sinner who was never saved (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 25:1-13; Luke 8:13; Acts 14:22; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21, etc.). See the books Lie of the Ages and Soul Damning Sins.
William MacDonald apply captures this easy believism apostate phenomenon:
“We have oversimplified the gospel. The first fatal flaw is the missing emphasis on repentance. There can be no true conversion without conviction of sin…We sugar-coat the gospel when we de-emphasize man’s lost condition…It is useless to tell un-convicted sinners to believe on Jesus – that message is only for those who know they are lost. We have forgotten that the message is repentance toward God as well as faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. A second serious omission is a missing emphasis on the Lordship of Christ … A third defect in our message is our tendency to keep the terms of discipleship hidden until a decision has been made for Jesus. Our Lord never did this. The message He preached included the cross as well as the crown … We popularize the message and promise fun. The result of all this is that we have people believing without knowing what they believe (with) no doctrinal basis for their decision. They do not know the implications of commitment to Christ. They have never experienced the mysterious, miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration.” (Author’s emphasis) William MacDonald, Evangelical Dilemma, p. 4
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Abiding
Counting the Cost – Following Jesus to the End of Your Life [podcast]
The Cost of Discipleship
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24
Those who count the cost refuse to count their own life dear to themselves and this is the only way not to be derailed, to finish our course, enduring to the end.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11
Those who balk at and ignore that Jesus says you MUST “endure to the end” to be “saved” into eternal glory, simply do not love Him (Matthew 10:22; 24:13, etc.). Jesus is not worth their life. They were worth His life which He gave for them on the cross, yet the Son of God is not worth giving up their own life in this fleeting world. Counterfeits. These are the frauds who hide behind the eternal security sham.
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
EARTHLY FAMILY DOES NOT COME FIRST – THE LORD DOES
By divine design, there’s an order of priority in the Ten Commandments. Here’s the first of the ten:
And the fifth:
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12
Honoring God supersedes even the love we have for our husband/wife.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus knew that if we don’t love Him supremely, we will allow other relationships to interfere and circumvent our relationship with Him.
If we don’t hate those other relationships compared to our love for Him, our decisions will be affected, will be to please them and not Him. When we love the LORD supremely, His will takes precedence, priority over all others.
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26
We must love the LORD so much that our love for others is near to being hate in comparison. If we don’t love God supremely, others will without exception, drag us downward and away from Him.
Of this passage in Luke 14, FB Meyer wrote:
“Our love must be greater than the ties of family affection, Luk_14:26; must be greater than our love for our own way, which must be nailed to the Cross, Luk_14:27; must be greater than our love of possessions and property, Luk_14:33. Christ has done more than any other teacher to cement the relationships of human love, but He always asks that they should be subordinated to the claims of God. Oh, for the love that Paul had! See Php_3:8.”
“What a comfort it is to realize that God counted the cost before He set about the task of redemption, whether of a world or of us as individuals. He knew all that it would cost, and surely He did not begin what He cannot complete!”
In Matthew 10, after speaking of the essential of enduring to the end (v22), Jesus gives warning concerning those things most likely to derail and prohibit our enduring to the end in His will.
“And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:36-37
Of this Adam Clarke wrote:
“He that loveth father or mother more than me – He whom we love the most is he whom we study most to please, and whose will and interests we prefer in all cases. If, in order to please a father or mother who are opposed to vital godliness, we abandon God’s ordinances and followers, we are unworthy of any thing but hell.”
Of Matthew 10:34-42, FB Meyer writes profoundly:
“RECEIVING CHRIST’S REPRESENTATIVES
In Jesus Christ we acquire a new affinity, stronger than that of family ties. When we enter into the family of God we belong to all His children. They are our brethren and sisters in the most intimate sense. See Mat_12:48-50. The new love that floods our nature does not make us less but more tender and sympathetic toward our own kith and kin; but if we are compelled to choose, then we must stand with the children of God, though it should rend us from the old happy family life in which we were nurtured.
As to the closing paragraph, may we not illustrate it thus? When the widow who sustained Elijah at Zarephath entered Paradise, she found herself standing amid the great prophets of Israel. When she asked the attendant angel whether there was not some mistake, he replied, ‘Certainly not. In treating the prophet as you did, you proved yourself to be of the same spirit and temper as he; and it is but right that you should share in the prophet’s reward.’”
To those who are entangled with earthly family, namely unbelievers who are not repenting, it would be spiritually beneficial to get free, to cease your dependence on them and to sever the soul ties and cease basing your emotional well-being on them and how they view you and your decisions. Lay the axe to the root as you denounce false obligation to them. “Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60). Read Matthew 10.
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole FAMILY in heaven and earth is named,” Ephesians 3:14-15
Jesus Addressed the Excuses
Jesus addresses excuses, diversions concerning obeying Him, asserting our highest priority – the LORD, not family. The point becomes even clearer – that we are to be captive to the LORD, our “first love,” supremely, and not family (Revelation 2:4-5).
“And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father (wait till parents die). 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-62
Jesus further establishes that He is to be supreme in our lives and those who are His – not natural familial bonds. The body of Christ, its members, are our eternal family.
“And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:27-28
The harshest of biblical truth is the delicacy, the delight of the true disciple of Jesus. He runs to all of it and never from any of it. He embraces the cross, never evading it. He delights in the sword of the Spirit that cuts to the core and carves the image of Christ into his life – into the fabric, the innermost core of who he is in Christ! Christ and Christ alone is his sole identity and he counts not his own life in this world dear unto himself so that he is able to finish his course with great joy – hearing from His Savior the sweetest of all words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant … enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21; Acts 20:24; Romans 8:29; Galatians 2:20; 6:14; 2 Timothy 2:3).
Militancy is essential in our abiding relationship with Christ (Matthew 11:12). Heartfelt love also.
So many today who claim Christ view salvation as something they did in the past and not a present relationship with Christ on His stated terms (John 15; Titus 1:16).
Jesus commands His very own to “endure unto the end” to be “saved,” and unless one becomes deliberate, absolute, militant, he will not make it “unto the end” with Christ (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 9:43-49; 2 Timothy 2:3, etc.). 
“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage (a messenger to negotiate peace), and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:25-33
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:5-7
Striving Lawfully – That is, According to the Rules, the Terms
Denouncing the crippling, corrupting comforts of Laodicea. Grasping for the obedient love of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-22).
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:3-5
May God bless each of His people to “endure hardness” as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). Take note that “there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11). The LORD made His servant Jeremiah obey Him on His terms. God never bends or modifies, bends the rules (2 Timothy 2:5). We must not deceive ourselves and must “strive lawfully” which means according to HIS terms, not our own or any other.
“And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:5
“Be Not Weary in Well Doing”
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
SATAN tempting you to give up? Who wins if you do? Where shall you turn? Turning away from God means we are without Him in our life and trials, right? The LORD, who is your Potter, has a plan. He will absolutely bring you through the floods of water and fire! (Isaiah 43:1-2; Jeremiah 18:1-6) After saving us, God has to bring us to an end of ourselves and that happens through “much tribulation” (Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 4; 12:7-12, etc.). Read 2 Corinthians 4. When Jesus had fed the flesh of the multitudes, they turned and walked away from the Savior. But…
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” John 6:67-68
Discipleship | Enduring to the End | Abiding | The Blessing of Suffering
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Articles
The Laid Down Life [podcast]
Chapter 5 from the book Raised Up (narration)
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
You know the counterfeits far outnumber the authentic followers of Jesus when you put out a message on youtube or social media titled something like “How to know your gifts” and the response is overwhelming due to the many self-centered, self-absorbed cross-less professors (2 Timothy 3:1-7). In contrast, when you put out a message titled something like “Learning to live the crucified life Jesus calls all His followers to” and but a “few” listen – you are reminded of how Jesus says His remnant, is a “little flock” and how Jesus says “FEW there be which enter therein.” (Luke 12:32; Matthew 7:13-14).
Living in the Spirit
Those who descend into death and burial will be blessed to be raised up by the LORD.
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Romans 6:5
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:13-14
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12
IT BOILS DOWN TO LOVE!
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
WHEN Jesus died for our sins, He submitted to the cross without reserve to the Father in order to redeem us! When you obey Jesus by laying down your life, you are saying: “Whew I love You LORD Jesus! You alone are my supreme LORD, love, and the Head of my life. I love You more than sinful self, and I have made a complete mess of my life, spinning my wheels for far too long. Please forgive my rebellion against You! I want You to reign supreme in my life Jesus, from this moment forward. Have Your way in me my LORD, I love You Jesus. I’m all Yours Jesus!”
Living in the Spirit and not in the flesh is a settled issue with the remnant. They “have crucified the flesh” and the evil the sinful nature would do. It’s a done deal – They “HAVE crucified the flesh” that Christ the LORD might reign in their mortal body.
“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:18
We cannot be a servant of righteousness unless we are crucified with Christ and sin is out of our way.
“Likewise reckon (count) ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you (because you have accounted yourself dead): for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:11-18
The “form of doctrine” delivered by Christ and His holy apostles in the original Gospel, included the accounting of one’s life now dead and then being raised up by Christ, with His life-giving grace operating within to please Him fully (see also Rom. 12:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 12:9).
“What does this mean for us? Remember that there are two aspects of Christ’s death. He died for our sins. He died for us – substitution. But then Paul tells us that we are also to die with Him. “I have been crucified WITH CHRIST” (Gal. 2:20): “Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin” (Rom. 6:11). The Israelites in bondage were delivered by the blood shed and sprinkled. But they are pursued by certain of their foes. These foes are slain at the Red Sea, but they themselves escape and are free. Egypt stands for the world of sin. Christ found us in “Egypt,” and by His death in our stead delivered us from the penalty of sin. But even after our conversion some of these sins followed us and harassed us – temper, pride, jealousy, lust, worry, avarice – causing discomfiture and misery, and occasionally temporary defeat. Where is there any escape, any real victory? Only through the Red Sea – baptism, or what baptism implies; i.e., a death to sin and a rising again to righteousness. That is a crucifixion with Christ, so as to be able to “reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin.” How to Live the Victorious Life, by an Unknown Christian
God’s desire, plan, and command is that His people reign victorious in this life over sin and the enemy and become abundantly fruitful as we await the soon return of our LORD Jesus Christ (John 15; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).
“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
The Cross of Christ and the One He Commands us to take up are Essential
Let’s peer again into the words of our LORD found in John 12:
“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:23-26
Laying down our lives is paramount to walking with Jesus. It is His command (Lk. 9:23-24; 14:33, etc.). He raises up in new life those that are bowed down before Him (Ps. 146:8). The seed (“corn”) is planted or buried alive, and is resurrected by God to a life of glory and blessing. Without a death, there can be no resurrection. This death to the self-life is volitional and ongoing in this life – “I die daily.” (1 Cor. 15:31)
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
As we are blessed to be “planted together in the likeness of his death”, so “we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Romans 6:3-5
This is rightfully the most popular Bible passage on water baptism and what the meaning and purpose of water baptism is. At water baptism, we are buried in water, figuratively dying to the old man, the man of sin, and being resurrected by the risen Savior and LORD to a new life where He reigns supreme.
“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:10-11
There are symptoms in the life of one who is not buried. The disciple who is buried with Christ is “dead to sin.” (Rom. 6:2) When we argue to justify the things we do in this life and call those who point them out “legalistic”, it is symptomatic of a life that is not laid down. When we argue against the truth (the Bible says “Lie not against the truth” (James 3:14) when we are shown it, we manifest the rebellion in our hearts because our lives are not authentically laid out before the LORD. The “corn of wheat” (dead seed) must be planted and remain planted in order to bud and bring forth new life. The laid down life does not make excuse when he realizes that he has sin. No, instead he rejoices to be yet more delivered and in the place of blessing and holiness with the One He delights to please and serve.
Aren’t we the temple of the Holy Ghost and commanded to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”? (2 Cor. 7:1)
If we still have habitual sin in our lives, we should know that we are not buried with Christ. If we were, His life would be teeming in us and causing us to put away sinfulness.
Overcoming sin happens when we bury the old man of sin by nailing it to the cross. God is with us to do such (Rom. 8:13; Phil. 2:12-13)
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:21-24
The LORD looks upon the hearts of men (1 Sam. 16:7). Getting our hearts right with God begins with laying down the right to ourselves and releasing ourselves into the unfailing hands of the One who made us and gives us the breath of life (Lk. 23:46). This is in following the ultimate example of our LORD Jesus who came and laid down His sinless life for us (1 Pet. 2:21; 4:1).
Let’s check our deadness. Let’s see how dead we are to this world system and all of it’s arrogant rebellion against the God of the universe and all that is: Do we defend our “right” to fill our minds and hearts with the evil things that are blatantly and subtly portrayed on some TV and radio programming (and other forms of modern media)? If so, the fleshly nature is not dead but is still alive and we are therefore not raised to new life.
Oswald Chambers wrote:
“The passion of Christianity is that I deliberately sign away my own rights and become a bondslave to Jesus Christ. Any fool can insist on personal rights, and any devil will see that he or she gets them, but the Sermon on the Mount means that the only right the saint will insist on is the right to give up personal rights.” Oswald Chambers, God’s Workmanship, p. 329
Perhaps it is true (as has been stated by some) that a person can be known by what he laughs at or finds humorous. What do we laugh at? What do we find entertaining? – “Charity…Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” (1 Cor. 13:4, 6)
Apparently, according to the Word of God, returning laughter when we witness foolishness (folly) confirms the person we are laughing at in his folly and causes us to partake of his foolishness and deeds.
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.” Proverbs 26:4
Laying down our lives requires a deliberate, willful decision to fear and obey the LORD and not men. Believers are called to be circumspect (fully set apart in holiness) and not glorify anything the LORD calls profane (Prov. 17:15; 24:24; Isa. 5:20-24; Ezek. 44:23; Eph. 5:15-17).
Yet we should ask: Why crucify the flesh when there is no reason to do such as the false church would have us believe? When a new believer is told that he is “eternally secure” or OSAS, why then should he get sanctified, live a repented life, be wholly set apart to the LORD, be matured and equipped to do ministry, and prepare for the soon return of Jesus Christ?
The following brief and yet convicting commentary is taken from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible concerning Romans 1:32. First let’s view the Biblical text, then the commentary.
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:32
“‘HAVE PLEASURE IN THEM THAT DO THEM’. Paul’s last word on general human sinfulness is God’s condemnation of a condition even more damning than the practice, i.e., supporting, approving, and encouraging evil by taking pleasure in the immoral actions of others. This disposition is the ultimate in depravity – vicarious enjoyment of lust and evil. Sin becomes entertainment. (1) The word ‘have pleasure’ (Gk. suneudokeo) means ‘are pleased with,’ ‘delight in,’ or ‘give approval to,’ and points to the casual enjoyment of the sins of others that prevails in human society. (2) Today we know that great harm is produced by the portrayal of immorality that dominates the entertainment media; yet many consent to it and derive pleasure from it. Being entertained by watching other people sin and engage in ungodly actions, even while you yourself abstain, brings you under the same condemnation of God as those engaging in such evil practices. Iniquity is intensified in any society where sin meets with no inhibition from the disapproval of others and where people enjoy watching it. (3) Hence, those (and especially those who profess faith in Christ) who use the immoral actions of others for entertainment and enjoyment are directly contributing to public opinion favorable to immorality and, therefore, to the corruption and eternal damnation of an indefinite number of other people. This sin is worthy of death and will be exposed and judged at the final day of judgment (2 Thess. 2:12).” p. 1729
Concerning the many things in this sinful world that would draw our affections away from Jesus Christ and blur that pure-focused disposition, the Psalmist wrote:
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” Psalms 101:3
Do we seek to protect our “right” to continue over-relishing or over-indulging in the things of this world which are despised of God? See 1 John 2:14-17. The Bible tells us that those who love this world system and the things in it, hate God and are His enemies – regardless of what they profess (Tit. 1:16; James 4:4).
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:24-26
When we live out the Word, He promised persecution and instructed us to rejoice (Matt. 5:10-12; Mk. 4:17; 1 Pet. 4:12). Have you ever been persecuted by other “believers” and called legalistic because you chose not to watch a movie that mocks at what God calls sin? I guess I have seen people do this to truth-speakers for so long, that it has little affect anymore, other than inducing a concern for where they really are in their hearts. Seeking to be upright in one’s ways in not legalistic – it is biblical. The Word instructs us to “walk circumspectly” which means fully obedient – exactly, diligently, perfectly.
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” Ephesians 5:15-20
“And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.” Exodus 23:13
What the LORD tells us in Proverbs 26:4-5, is that when we join a fool in his folly (foolishness), we become as guilty as he is and perpetuate this sinfulness in his life and more importantly – we offend the holiness of the LORD we claim to be serving.
What we partake of and/or laugh at reveals who we really are. If all these sinful things and justification of them are still alive in us, we do not have a laid down life.
“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” Proverbs 14:9
“Folly (foolishness)is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.” Proverbs 15:21
Yes, laughter is a blessing and there is a “time to laugh” and to rejoice, yet we are not made free from sin by the blood of Christ to laugh at evil things (Eccl. 3:4). LORD please bless us to be purified in our hearts and to rejoice and laugh more – for the right reasons! Please grant us Your joy Jesus! Amen.
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge and those who have it walk uprightly – they walk biblically in the Holy Spirit of grace and not legalistically. They have joy from Jesus and are the most blessed people in the world.
“The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” Psalms 145:14
Beloved, our LORD is calling us to lay down our lives like Christ did – that He might fully possess us. Bow down before His holiness that He may raise you up His way. Let it all go. Die to justifying your sins. Before this day expires, get alone with the Savior and release the life He gave to you back to Him. Completely relinquish control as you cry out like Jesus did on the cross when dying for us – “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk. 23:46) Give up the ghost. Cease living life on your terms. Lay your whole life at His feet and let Him raise you up in newness of life in the Holy Spirit and reign supreme in your body.
The Path of Our LORD Jesus
Jesus was to be glorified by the Father in laying down His life for all men (Jn. 15:13).
“…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done…” Luke 22:42
He laid down His own will because of the immeasurable love He has for each of us.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Do we love Jesus Christ in return? How much do I love Him? Will I lay down my whole existence before Him, knowing He will raise me up to new life and fruitfulness as He lives His life through me? Is this not the essence of Galatians 2:20?
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
He must increase and we must decrease, that He might be glorified in us, and we might be the living epistles He has called us to be. When Jesus is reigning in a person’s life, it is obvious. His holy and impelling presence is the life that exudes from that person instead of the stench of the self-centered and selfish nature (Jn. 3:30). At this place of resurrection life, the LORD who made and redeemed us is greatly glorified and pleased and His fruit is being yielded.
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:1-2
Finding that place with God in prayer is where the laid down life begins. May I suggest that you begin with prayerfully, and from deep within, citing Galatians 2:20 aloud.
“Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.” Psalms 42:7
PRAYER: Please draw me deeper in You LORD Jesus. Father in Heaven, You sent Your only begotten Son to die for me in order that I might be raised up in new life in this brief life and eternally. I love You Jesus and ask You to lead me to that crucified life that you lived when here on earth. Quicken me by Your Holy Spirit and fill me afresh O LORD, that this life You gave might be fully fruitful and pleasing to Thee. Lord, I am watching and praying in light of Your soon return. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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Articles
The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]
What exactly does the Bible mean by the phrase “the sure mercies of David”?
The divine guarantee in Christ is that God’s mercies are upon your life, is available to you – as His divine mercies were upon the beloved David, from whose lineage came the promised Messiah. This grants no license for sin, which leads to judgment – now and forever (Romans 11:20-22; Hebrews 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21). God’s mercy in no way negates the biblical truth that we must all reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8).
Biblical examples of Sinful People God Forgave:
- Adam and Eve (Genesis 3).
- David (2 Samuel 11-12; Psalms 51).
- The prodigal son (Luke 15).
- One of the two men who stood before the LORD to pray (Luke 18:9-14).
- Peter (Matthew 26:26-69, Luke 22:31-32; John 21:15-17).
- Thief on the cross (Luke 23:42-43).
- Woman taken in adultery (John 8).
- The fornicator in Corinth (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2).
According to Ezekiel 16:8-13 and many other Bible passages, God takes care of His beloved people.
Just as was the case with our earthly parents, so God took care of us, of you, when you couldn’t take care of yourself, He, your loving heavenly Father was there, tenderly taking care of you.
“Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. 9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. 10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. 11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. 12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. 13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.” Ezekiel 16:8-13
The LORD saved Paul as an example to us – to every vile sinner to be born thereafter.
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
IF God forgave David and told you that in Christ you have “the sure mercies of David,” why wouldn’t He freely forgive you? (Isaiah 55:3-4; Acts 13:34) If God forgave the fornicator of 1 Corinthians 5 in 2 Corinthians 2, WHY wouldn’t He freely forgive your sins? Return to Him, confess all sin, forget the past, and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
The “sure mercies of David” are exclusively reserved for those who are in Christ!
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33-34
What is meant by the phrase we read in God’s Word “the sure mercies of David”?
“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.” Isaiah 55:3-4
“55:2-5 In its alienation from God, Israel has been wasting its energy and resources. True satisfaction and lasting pleasure are found only in the Lord. If Israel returns to the Lord, they will receive all the sure mercies promised to David in the everlasting covenant (see Psa_89:3-4, Psa_89:28-29). These blessings are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus and in His glorious reign. The Gentile nations, too, will share in the benefits of the kingdom, and there will be amicable relations between Israel and the nations.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“the sure mercies of David” … yes those words definitely are so beautiful….. when we realize how wicked we are, we will find no stone to cast at any other. Instead we will send out the life saving message of “the sure mercies of David” which are in Christ.
UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross!
Read this verse carefully:
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13
Recently, someone asked me what is meant by “mercy rejoiceth against judgment”? Reply: God’s mercy is greater than the judgment of sin…… His mercy is powerfully forgiving. The LORD would clearly rather bestow His mercy upon sinners than His judgment.
“But God commendeth (exhibited) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
All men have sinned against our Maker and yet the LORD is so very good that He “gave his only begotten Son” to be sacrificed for “the sins of the whole world” so that none “should perish” (John 3:16-17; 1 John 2:1-2; 2 Peter 3:9).
I love this verse which puts it all in perspective…. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
Stay in the mirror – the Word. When we are not in the Word we forget just how wicked WE are, how in desperate need WE are of God’s mercy, and that’s when we judge others when we should be extending that bless-ed divine mercy upon them.
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass (mirror): 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty (Gospel), and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:23-25
God freely forgives His people on the basis of Christ’s perfect sacrifice…. and requires that we forgive all others as He freely forgives unworthy sinners like us on behalf of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We are unworthy in and of ourselves. Jesus’ righteousness alone provides for our salvation, the justification of God.
If God were not a forgiving God who restores the backslidden, NOT EVEN ONE of us would still be alive and headed for eternal glory.
It takes no less than to read Jesus’ 3 parables which make up Luke 15 to witness this glorious truth concerning His great mercy! Read it afresh with the restorational love of our God in mind!
Well, most of us would admit that we are not sinless… and sin is sin…. because God is holy….. and so we should have no stone of condemnation to cast at anyone except ourselves for any sin we committed in the past 😉
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” Luke 6:37
Does God forgive all sins? Yes, all except one…
“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Matthew 12:31-32
Well Judas committed perhaps the worst sin in history by betraying Christ and yet Jesus offered him mercy but he refused it.
Note that even in the midst of Judas betraying the innocent Son of God, Jesus called Judas, the traitor “friend.” This would clearly convey that Christ had his forgiveness in mind, had the desire to restore him.
“And Jesus said unto him, FRIEND, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.” Matthew 26:50
Of this verse where even while betraying the LORD Jesus, He refers to Judas as His “friend” or companion, Adam Clarke writes:
“Jesus said – Friend – Rather, companion, wherefore, rather, against whom art thou come? How must these words have cut his very soul, if he had any sensibility left! Surely, thou, who hast so long been my companion, art not come against me, thy Lord, Teacher and Friend! What is the human heart not capable of, when abandoned by God, and influenced by Satan and the love of money!”
God’s Word informs us that the LORD will love us all the way into hell if we choose to refuse to turn back to Him. Nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love (not life) of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39.) We see such unconditional love extended from the Savior upon the very man who was previously His close companion, one hand picked by the LORD Jesus and promised an eternal throne (Matthew 19:28). All men are given free will – till they die (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15, etc.). Instead of turning back to the Lamb of Glory before it was too late, Judas chose to kiss the Gate of Heaven and turn and plunge headlong into eternal hell (Acts 1:25).
God’s love is unconditional but His acceptance is not. | The Truth about Judas
“I would have been eternally lost if not for Jesus’ parable in Luke 15…O, may the prodigal, lost in this world, hear the good news, turn, and repent before its too late. O the tender mercies of God!” Jon Crane
As we see illustrated in Luke 15, RE-TURNING, turning back to God (repentance) is always the answer (Hosea 14:1-2). Denying such a need simply prolongs the separation and the misery of being in sin (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23). Just ask the prodigal son in Luke 15. Take a fresh look at the before and after on his life! Our loving heavenly Father, His mercy and desire to restore the fallen is so beautifully depicted in the three parables which makes up Luke 15.
Take a look at what our glorious LORD and Savior is depicting, is showing each of us in His parables of the lost sheep, silver, and son.
Mankind is already fallen, condemned, and separated from Him in sin. Never forget beloved that Jesus came to save and not to destroy! That’s His stated desire and will (Psalms 86:5, 15; Luke 9:56; 19:10; John 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:15, etc.).
ALL sin is first and foremost committed against God, not man. God is the only law giver who determines what sin is (James 4:11-12).
ANY sin one would commit is first and foremost against our Maker, God Himself.
“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Psalms 51:4
God is the only One who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
David is forever a trophy of God, set forth with the characteristic of the Messiah….. and yet, like all men, he fell, and was shown mercy….. in this we take heart and are forged with confidence by this example that if God forgave David, He will surely forgive and show mercy upon my life…. the key is to have a heart after God, which causes us to be honest and repent and confess all sin (Ps. 51).
“And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.” Acts 13:34
The promise of “the sure mercies of David”
“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.” Revelation 22:16
“The sure mercies of David” are secure to us in Christ because they are from our loving merciful God who forgive the beloved David.
God’s people are commanded to forgive others, to show them mercy toward, upon others as God has showed us His mercy in our sin.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God | Grace and Truth Bible School [modules] | 7 Study Guides to a Greater Foundation in Christ
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