
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.
This message was sent out to each person who is on our Moments For My Master email devotional list. We would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:6). Click here to Join.
—– MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“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
The Imperative of Private Prayer [podcast]

We must be aware of our prayers we throw up while they have no congruence with our personal life – when they are shot gun prayers void of the foundation of private prayer, private praying, and holy living.
Private prayer with God is an essential to set your life up for success.
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6
Private prayer is essential to the disciple. Jesus reveals here that those who seek His face in prayer privately, will be used of Him publicly!
Are you at Christ’s feet? Do you live a life of prayer? Have you ever studied the life of Christ and beheld the many instances of His prayer life?
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35
“Solitary” simply means uninhabited.
If we want to assess our true spiritual state with God, we need only look to our prayer life or lack thereof. Show me a man’s prayer life, and I will show you who that man is! When God is truly first in a person’s life, all else will be demoted in importance!
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5
Backsliding begins with neglect of our relationship, our prayer life, our life of prayer with our LORD and Savior.
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
I will either pray my way into glory, or I will not be there. Matthew 26:41
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I return to You now. Please forgive my sin of prayerlessness. Break me LORD. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at safeguardyoursoul.com/store and amazon. English and Spanish.
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Abiding
What Eternal Security Wolves Refuse to Teach [podcast]

THE 5 SINS THAT KEPT ISRAEL (God’s own covenant people) OUT OF THEIR PROMISED LAND OF BLESSINGS and will keep us out if not relinquished. Friend, please read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 with all your might. Make this text your meat.
The world seeks to romance sin but if God says it’s sin, that’s what it is. Toning down the terms changes nothing. Judgment Day is on the way.
We are fighting the good fight of faith, “striving against sin” and “more than conquerors” over sin through Jesus who loves us and bought us with His own blood! (1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:4; 13:12; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:37)
There are the 5 sins listed here that kept God’s people out of His blessings. We all need to L.I.F.T.M. up to the LORD in repentance and for His perfect forgiveness and cleansing. God the Holy Spirit warns us here through Paul’s pen (1 Cor. 10:1-13), that Israel and these sins are “examples” (vv. 6, 11) to all NT believers. God destroys those who go back on Him after knowing Him (transgressors – Ps. 68:21; 73:28; 125:5, etc.). If not ridden out of our lives, any one of these 5 sins WILL keep us out of our promised land. God is holy (Heb. 12:14). As taken in order from 1 Cor. 10:6-10, here are those 5 sins:
-
Lust
-
Idolatry
-
Fornication
-
Tempting Christ
-
Murmuring
This simple acronym should help us to remember these sins and remain separate from them as we grow today to know and love our Savior more fervently. “Keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).
Committing the sin is one thing (1 John 1:8-10, right) and refusing to repent of it is yet another. Refusing to acknowledge, repent, confess, and cease is what snares the soul and ousts us from Christ (Proverbs 28:13).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
If the Holy Spirit has quickened any offences of your heart, simply L.I.F.T.M. up to Christ the Redeemer, Forgiver, Cleanser, and Transformer of lives.
Fornication Defiles
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2
1 Corinthians 10 completely destroys the OSAS / eternal security argument.
Notice the word “OUR” in verses 6 and 11. This is directly spoken to warn NEW Testament saints that they are going to hell if they live and die in sin.
Case closed.
1 Corinthians 10:1-12
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were OUR examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also LUSTED.
7 Neither be ye IDOLATERS, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit FORNICATION, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us TEMPT CHRIST, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither MURMUR ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for OUR admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
The cross. Christ raises up those who are crcified with Him – outside of which no man can overcome sin. Romans 6.
“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
Eternal security is a false teaching. 1 sin separated Adam and Eve from God and “The wages of sin is (still) death” because God is Holy (Rom 6:23, etc.). Moral coward counterfeits hate, despise the Gospel essential of the cross, the crucified life. They want Jesus to save them to Heaven but not from sin. These are the sin-justifying, grace-perverting “ungodly men” Jude warned us about (Jude 4).
The divine declaration that “The wages of sin is death” which means separation from God, appears throughout Scripture (Romans 6:23).
“He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.” Proverbs 19:16
Die or death always means separation.
OSAS/eternal security is a lie from hell. OSAS was Satan’s first lie and so it’s blasphemy to teach this doctrine of devils and claim it’s part of the Gospel. You are attributing Satan’s lie to the LORD Jesus. Repent now sinner. See Genesis 2:17; 3:4; Romans 11:20-22; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Jude 4, etc..
The concept of an un-conditional eternal security is not established in Scripture … Except for it being Satan’s first teaching, His first lie – the “Ye shall NOT surely die” lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:7-9
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3
“Psalms 51:1-19
Psalm 51: Sweet Perfumes of Penitence
Alexander Maclaren once said, ‘The alchemy of divine love can extract sweet perfumes of penitence and praise out of the filth of sin.’ We have an illustration of this in Psalm 51. As the heading explains, it was written by David after Nathan the prophet had boldly exposed him for committing adultery with Bathsheba and for murdering Uriah. Utterly convicted of his sin, David pours out this torrent of penitence from his broken and contrite heart.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
Read and pray Psalm 51.
Prayer of Returning: Holy Father, You gave all when You gave Your only begotten Son who came and died for our sins. You’ve also called me to lay down my life, to lose my life in this fleeting world. I have not done well at giving over my life to You … You alone who are worthy of my full, unreserved worship. Right this moment I ask You to forgive my sin of having another god before You which is self idolatry and spiritual adultery. I have alienated the affections of my heart away from You LORD and onto myself. For this I ask You to forgive me and I right here and now turn to You Jesus. Right this moment I lay my life in Your holy hands LORD. Into Your hands I submit my spirit – my whole being. Not my will but Thine be done LORD Jesus! I am no longer my own. I am Yours. I am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God. I love You Jesus and am ceaselessly grateful that You bought me with the price of Your own blood! You must increase but I must decrease. I ask You to unite my heart to fear Thy holy name! Teach me daily to lay myself aside and to give the reins over to You! In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Eternal Security/Once saved always saved is a lie from hell.
If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here: Born Again: What is It?
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Abiding
Purifying Ourselves even as He is Pure [podcast]

Ready or Not – Jesus is Coming
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3
Here’s how you know if you are ready to meet Jesus—whether by dying or His soon return. The context of the Bible verse above is the return of Jesus and being ready for it (1 John 2:24-3:3). Those who live for Christ long to see Him and look expectantly for His soon return. This world is not their
home.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
God is holy and He says to …
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14
Holiness simply means pure, sanctified.
Clearing out everything that defiles us in His holy eyes is the sign that we are living in fervent expectation of our LORD’s return for His bride.
“His wife hath made herself ready”
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:7-9
We see here again, the earmark fruit of the Heaven bound remnant of Christ, the bride of Christ – “his wife hath made herself ready.”
2 ways to purification
- The precious blood of Jesus (Matthew 26:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7
- The washing of water by the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26).
Washed in His Precious Blood
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:18-19
The Washing of Water by the Word
“Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
Your present spiritual state is what matters most to God. In Ephesians 5:25-27 carefully note the state of the Church—the people for whom Jesus will soon return.
Those not purifying their lives (washing daily in the blood and water of His Word), do not live daily with the hope of Christ’s return.
Memorize 1 John 3:3 today.
“And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Mark 4:17-19
Jesus warns us here of …
- the cares of this world,
- and the deceitfulness of riches
- and the lusts of other things
We are “espoused” to Christ the Bridegroom. We are not yet married to Him and will not be if we are not purifying ourselves before Him (2 Corinthians 11:2).
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2
All 10 virgins in Jesus’ parable were engaged, invited to attend the the marriage, the wedding (Matthew 25:1-13). Only 5 of them made it in and the other 5 were rejected. Why?
One source summates the importance of the parable of the 10 virgins – where 5 made it and the other 5 were shut out.
“The parable of the ten virgins teaches about spiritual readiness for the return of Jesus Christ, with five wise virgins who prepared by bringing extra oil for their lamps and five foolish virgins who did not. The foolish virgins were turned away by the bridegroom when he arrived, as they were unprepared and missed the feast. The parable, found in Matthew 25:1-13, encourages constant vigilance and preparation for the unknown time of Christ’s coming.”
Here is a picture of our abiding fellowship and relationship with Jesus…..
“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Psalms 73:23-24
When your vessel is full of the oil of Heaven via fellowship, you will be purifying your life of everything that defiles you in His holy eyes, in the eyes of the Great Bridegroom.
We are no longer our own. We are Christ’s. He bought us, purchased us back to Himself and the Father with His blood.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“The flesh and spirit”
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
Prayer: Father, I know You are holy and will have Your holy Bride whom Jesus died to purchase. Please purify my heart, mind and life of all that defiles. Make me holy dear LORD, as You alone can do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“Loved this podcast. I think it was important to stress that women need to be submitted to their husbands as our country is infested with Jezebels. Who refuse to lay down their lives and submit to God and their husbands. Who can find a virtuous woman? Proverbs 31:10. Do men ask that question? And more importantly our relationship with our husbands is a direct result of our relationship with the Lord. If a woman is not submitted to Jesus she will never submit to her husband. It starts at the feet of Jesus. We must be like Mary. Bringing all of our alabaster box (ourselves) to Him. I love what Job says, ‘The root of the matter is found in me.’ Job 19:28. This is always true! If my husband or anyone else upsets me I must go before God and let Him search my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me! Psalm 139:23-24. And I can guarantee there is. It all starts with me!! Allowing God to purify and cleanse my heart. My heart!!” Karen Cochran
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