The Savior never instructed anyone with this understanding: the idea of needing or using a physical object of any kind in worshipping Him. He in fact forbids such.
It simply does not matter what graven image, what physical idol is depicted – God will not be worshipped via any physical object. It’s only the religious who are not born again, who attempt such.
Those who have a personal relationship with the risen Savior need no physical reminder. He’s their hope, dwells in them by His Holy Spirit, the love of God, and they hear His voice (John 10; Romans 5:5; 8:9; 1 John 4:24, etc.).
There is no power in a cross – including the actual literal pieces of wood Jesus died upon 2,000 years ago, much less in some trinket you carry around like a good luck charm. Jesus told us that “ALL power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18).
Anyone can carry a physical good-luck-charm idol around. Most don’t want to die to self though as Jesus requires in order to follow Him (John 3:19-21). Jesus conquered death, sin, and Satan by dying, and we must also as we are “crucified with Christ” (Hebrews 2:14; Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6).
Jesus Christ didn’t come die on a cross and rise again from the dead so that His people could remember Him by a little piece of wood, a good luck charm they carried. Such is condemned in Holy Scripture.
To say someone should carry around a physical object to remember Christ would be like saying one should wear a shirt with a picture of his dad on it while he’s away from his dad in order to remember his dad. Ludicrous. One might say “But Jesus died and He’s away for now…..” 1. Jesus never told you to carry a wooden cross around your neck or in your pocket to remember Him. 2. He told you to repent…… deny self and take up the cross to follow Him – and this begins with surrendering your life to Him, confessing you are a guilty sinner and receiving Christ as the LORD of your life (Luke 9:23-24; John 1:12; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:9-10, 13). 3. Jesus is alive – always has been and always will be. He rose from the dead after being buried for 3 days. He’s reigning as the Great Intercessor at the right hand of His Father in Heaven (Hebrews 7:24-26).
The love of God in Christ is shed abroad in the hearts of God’s people. They need no reminder of such because they are known of Him – born again into Christ the LORD.
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5
To those who truly know the risen Savior, their hearts are daily fueled by His Word, by His Holy Spirit in them and not any physical object, token, idol or icon (1 John 3:24).
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9
Wow, hundreds of people liked “The Cross in my Pocket” poem and well over a 100 shared it!
This is clear proof that most people who claim to be Christians, have no clue of the original Gospel. They simply are not saved.
So we are now blessed because we carry a little piece of wood in our pockets and not because of the finished work of the nail-scarred risen Savior who died on the cross once, we buried, and raised again from the dead? Isn’t THAT the Gospel? (Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.) That cross was a one-time altar upon which the Son of God offered that one, final, perfect sacrifice. “It is finished” means the sin debt is “paid in full” by the only One who qualified to do such (John 19:30). The one perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on that cross on Calvary’s hill perfectly satisfied the claims of the Father’s justice to justify fallen men. He’s no longer on that cross beloved. He is risen from the dead, is seated at the right hand of His Father in Heaven, making intercession for us and dwells in the heart of each and every person who is His.
Wearing a cross around your neck or carrying a cross- shaped icon in your pocket or purse has nothing to do with following Jesus Christ. In fact it’s a violation of His Word.
If we need a piece of wood in our pocket to “remind” us of Christ who died on that cross, we need to be saved. “Ye must be born again” Jesus says. There is no Scripture or New Testament example of Jesus or His holy apostles or the earliest followers of Jesus using a physical object to supposedly “remember” Christ. If we are born of God we are new creatures in Christ, old things are passed away, and all things are of God (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). So, He has given us the miracle of regeneration and we are consumed with the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ (Romans 5:5).
“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Philippians 3:3
There is no power in a piece of wood, even though Jesus died “once” on a wooden cross. The power is in Christ, not anything physical.
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” 1 Peter 3:18
“Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7:27
“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12
“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Hebrews 9:26
“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10
Notice what Jesus says about “all power” and how it’s in HIM. He says nothing here or anywhere about carrying some physical object to remind you of Him. Such idolatry is only for those who do not know Him.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18
There’s no power in a piece of wood, even if it’s in the shape of a cross. “ALL power” is in the risen Savior Himself – Christ the LORD.
When Jesus spoke through His apostle Paul of remembering Him, He spoke of the cross He “once” – “one time” died upon for our sins (1 Corinthians 11).
Carrying an icon is a cheap counterfeit of knowing the Lamb of God. The cross Jesus commanded we take up is not carrying a little icon in our pockets (Luke 9:23-24). The cross itself has no value. It was merely the altar upon which the Son of God died for the sins of the world. This would be like saying we need to get a tattoo with the name or image of a now dead relative as if their memory in our hearts and mind wasn’t enough, we need to put their image on our body to remind us. This is all idolatry friends which God forbids in the very first two commandments. Pagan Catholics wear scapulas as if they are good luck charms. But those who are truly born again worship the living LORD “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). Jesus says:

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24
Instead of having to be reminded of the cross as your hand goes into your pocket, memorize and meditate upon the many Scriptures of the cross of Christ and the one He commanded you to take up in following Him (Colossians 1:20; Galatians 2:20; Luke 9:23-24, etc.).
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” Exodus 20:3-5
It doesn’t matter how much you use mere human reasoning to justify this idolatry. God simply forbids being “worshipped” via idols. He will not be and anyone seeking to do such will be excluded from His eternal kingdom as an idolater (Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8, etc.).
“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. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 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. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:11-17
Conclusion:

Personally, I do not have any imagery at all but rather have chosen to worship the LORD “in spirit and in truth” according to Jesus’ directive which He makes an essential “MUST” (John 4:23-24). This means to worship Him out of our spirit and by His Spirit and according to His truth, which is His written Word. See John 4:23-24; 17:17.
God Himself etches the image of who He is upon the heart of those who are His and thoroughly pour over His Precepts, His words.
Every image or picture, painting of “Jesus” comes from mere sinful mankind who cannot possibly begin to depict the image of an infinite Almighty God. Jesus walked the earth for 3.5 years but we no longer know Him according to the flesh.
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” 2 Corinthians 5:16
Satan has so corrupted the image of the Son of God, his arch enemy. We can only trust God’s Word to inform and reveal to us who HE is. So we get every single iota of our image of God straight from His own mouth, His Word. That’s the way the LORD has chosen to reveal Himself and every other way will inevitably mislead and corrupt His holy image.
His words and pouring over them, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating upon and obeying them is how we are moved by and walk with Jesus and not some false image, painting done by a finite sinner.
Jesus tells us that the Scriptures are what He gave us to reveal Himself to us as we come to Him John 5:39.
“Search the scriptures … they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39
Jesus Teaching on the Cross | Making Peace with God
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Articles
Soul Damning Sins [book]
Dispelling the Lie that
Has Blinded and is
Damning Millions
of Souls to
Eternal Hell
WHAT’S THE HOLY FEAR OF THE LORD WORTH TO YOU? DOES HIS HOLY FEAR POSSESS YOU TODAY?
This small book is a severe
wake up call to all who
name Jesus Christ
as their Savior.
THIS VOLUME WAS PRODUCED TO HELP US REALIZE THE IMPERATIVE OF LAYING DOWN OUR LIVES AND IT KEEPS THE READER ENCOURAGED IN THE DAILY CROSS AND THE DIVINE RECIPROCATION (RESURRECTION). BEWARE: THE READER OF THIS BOOK MAY BECOME ADDICTED TO THE CROSS.
“This little book is a spiritual treasure and a good one to share with others.” Darlene T.
All of Todd’s Books on Amazon: Buy E-Book Version on Amazon/Kindle
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Are there Certain Sins that will Damn the Soul?
- The Written Word of God is the Final Authority
- Sins that Defile a Man
- False Prophets and the Return of Jesus
- Why Did Jesus Come to the Earth?
- “Be Not Deceived”
- 5 Sins that Will Keep You Out of Heaven
- No Holiness, No Heaven
- “Fleshy Lusts Which War Against the Soul”
- The 7 Deadly Sins
- “Abide in Me”
- Fresh Start with God
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS BOOK:
“***** Five Star reading for every believer !!! Eye-opening and soul convicting classics!” Randy Orris
“The book Soul Damning Sins stepped on my toes…Thank you Jesus!” Mark Angelo Williams
“I bought the little Safeguardyoursoul book (Soul Damning Sins) and it’s very moving. I was worried that I had lost the conviction of the Holy Ghost, but the problem was that I was lazy and indulging which led to lusts. Very grateful for this small book.If I shared the file with one friend would that be okay? Thank you, will be looking at more of your stuff. This is a Godsend!!” Brittany
“I have read Todd’s books, “Lie of the Ages” and “Soul Damning Sins”, and have followed his teachings on social media. I can, without reservation, tell you that Todd places the Word of God as first and foremost authority in all of his teachings. His books are filled with scripture references and he does not handle the Word of God deceitfully, but carefully and skillfully remaining true to the context of the verses chosen.” Reggie Byrum
“I downloaded the Kindle version of this book Soul Damning Sins from Amazon and I refer to it time and time again. EXCELLENT book on the subject. Well written and easy to understand.” Reggie D. Byrum
“This little book is very handy and powerful to spread around to Christian people. It really helps us see if we are really right with God or not. And, that’s such a good thing because if we deceive ourselves and then have to stand before God to be judged, it will be too late. Jesus warned about this very thing and told us that “many” would do this exact same thing and hear “Depart from me!” (Matt. 7:21-23) God help us! Get this book. Read it and then get it to others around you.” Carol B.
“Great book! Convicting and truthful. Amazing!” Bill Wegener
“I have read ‘Soul Damning Sins’ twice thus far. I keep that little treasure in my pocketbook-reading it when I am in the car while husband is driving or sitting in a doctors office waiting to be seen-any time I am just sitting with nothing to do while out and about. I am reminded of how sensitive our Lord is to the way we live and this book refreshes the mind to remember to stay on the right path to pleasing our God! Thank you!” Darlene T.
“The message of this brief book is kindly presented and yet extremely potent. I have passed several of them out to Christians friends. In every single case, they read it and reported that their life was changed. You can actually see the Lord’s work in their lives after reading this The truth of the Lord shakes them to the very core of their being! It’s amazing to see Him work! Get a supply and get this book to every person you know who names Jesus as their Lord!.” TX
“This book ‘Soul Damning Sins‘ should put the fear of God into the heart of everyone reading it. It certainty opened up my eyes to areas in my life where I need repentance. Additionally, I no longer feel condemned because of my PAST willful sins. I believe that God, through His Holy Spirit would not still be calling me, blessing me, and I wouldn’t have the sensitivity to sin, or desire to follow Him, if I was lost. This book ‘Soul Damning Sins,’ along with the Holy Bible, should be required reading for all who profess Christ and non believers alike. Job well done. God bless and as the scriptures say ‘without holiness no one will see God.’ Praise be to God! I already gave out two copies of soul damning sins and born again at my workplace today.” Lemuel P.
“Soul Damning Sins Review: This is a book I highly recommend. It helps you to recognize how serious sin is and where we need to get right with GOD now while there is still time!” Dana R.
“PLEASE continue to pray for me I finished the book Soul Damning Sins and I have much to pray for and another thing I was very leery about the OSAS doctrine which is taught in my church because I could not understand how people could continue to sin and nothing happen and then why does David say in Psalm 51 please do not take the Holy Spirit from me if He could not be taken? When I asked Jesus to save me years ago I was under teaching from the false teachers was in all kinds of churches and did not know what to believe. I was always questioning what Jesus meant when He said count the cost and take up your cross. As I grow older I recognize in my life I was ‘ok’ with sinning because God loved me and He forgave me. How flippant I was about His gift of grace and the tremendous price He paid for me. I want to do whatever it takes to live holy before the LORD and may even have to remove myself from relationships and people. I will confess and forsake everything I know of now as soon as I send you this message. Also after I attended a church years ago there was a teaching on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. When I was heavy in sin I did not curse God or the Holy Spirit but while praying one day and reading my devotions there was cursing in my thoughts against the Spirit of God. I was horrified I could even have something like that in my head. I kept praying Psalm 51 over and over. I want to be saved and used by HIM to tell other people the lateness of the hour and to stop playing palsy walsy with Jesus and know that we have sins that need to be covered by HIS blood and even if it means standing for Christ through persecution we are to endure to the end. Pray for me to teach these truths to my children. I have 4 children …. I am going to use your site to teach them during home school. They already know who the false teachers are thankfully because I can recognize them. But now it is cutting time for me time to cut some people and sins out of my life for good. Thank you so much for your site and the teachings. Have a blessed weekend!!!” Dana
“This book absolutely nails it!!! I would highly recommend ‘Soul Damning Sins,’ especially if you’re a church member.” Bob Lyons
“The book you are holding contains a vital message for all of us who profess to be followers of Jesus. If you consider yourself to be a true believer in Christ, then you will obey His Word which calls us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. False teachers are running rampant throughout the world of contemporary ‘Christianity’ and are NOT speaking the full counsel of God. Their omissions are purposely designed to soothe ‘Itching ears’ with cheap grace and no cost faith. We are living in Laodicean times and the hour is late. Do not let the doctrines of men lead your soul into eternal fire. The stakes are high. The decisions you make now will echo in eternity. You owe it to yourself to learn the truth.” Stephen G. Michels
The lie Satan told the first man and woman was that they could disobey God and still remain in His presence (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). Today, millions of souls who think they are right with God have been lied to by a conspiracy of tens of thousands of false teachers who have inferred or boldly taught that all who have ever said a prayer to be saved are “once saved always saved.” Yet, this phrase is never found in Holy Scripture. Jude specifically prophesied about these grace-perverting “ungodly men” whom we are to “earnestly contend” against (Jude 3-4).
Find out more about this lie in the Garden and how it is still alive and being preached today and we are being told that this very lie of Satan himself is a foundational doctrine of Christianity. Find out more in this brief yet potent book.
The lie Satan told the first man and woman was that they could disobey God and still remain in His presence (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). Today, millions of souls who think they are right with God have been lied to by a conspiracy of tens of thousands of false teachers who have inferred or boldly taught that all who have ever said a prayer to be saved are “once saved always saved.” Yet, this phrase is never found in Holy Scripture. Jude specifically prophesied about these grace-perverting “ungodly men” whom we are to “earnestly contend” against (Jude 3-4).
How many people have you met who while having no heart after God and living in sin, still believe they are going to Heaven and not hell when they die? Our world is filled with blinded minds who believe this lie of the enemy of all souls. How did so many become misled? Who told them they are safe and secure while living in sin? It is the duty of every true disciple of Jesus to shine His holy light into this darkness before it’s too late (Isaiah 55:6-7; 58:1). This book will do just that!The message of this book is not for the person who wants to continue to deceive themselves into thinking they are right with God while living in sin. Such a person will be shocked when they are terminated into the bowels of hell for eternity. They denied Christ instead of self in their earthly life and even shunned and mocked Jesus’ disciples who dared warn them. It’s a call to full submission to Christ.
Heaven without holiness? No. Nothing could be further from the truth as the Bible teaches that man must render initial and ongoing repentance (as needed) in order to be with the LORD eternally (Hebrews 12:14-15; Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:14-15, etc.).
If you have ever been out witnessing, you have certainly run into the people who, though out living life in the flesh with no regard for Christ, engrossing themselves in sin, with no fear of God, boldly declare things like:
- “Oh, I’m already saved, I got saved when I was young.”
- “Oh, I go to church so I’m already okay.”
- “I was confirmed in the Catholic church.”
- “I’m a good person.”
- etc.
Let’s look at the first one in our list because it’s the one most often heard.
“Oh, I’m already saved, I got saved when I was young.”
They flippantly say this with no intention or regard for loving, worshipping, fearing, or obeying God. Why? They have been told that they are “eternally secure” or “once saved always saved.” They have been taught that after they said the prayer of salvation, that they have no further responsibility to obey God and that they will be going to Heaven no matter what. Yet, Jesus says:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
This verse and many others make it clear that every single soul that is not presently obeying God’s Word, is not in a saving relationship with Christ and is heading straight for eternal hell and then the lake of fire. In fact, these deceived, hell bound souls have been conditioned or brainwashed to believe that anyone speaking in terms of personal holiness or simply obeying the LORD according to His Word, is a legalist or is trusting/preaching works for salvation. Amazing delusionment! Satan loves this! They believe that “grace” is a license for sin or a type of “get out of hell no matter how you live” card that will one day give them entrance into God’s eternal kingdom, no matter how they live here on earth. They have been taught a false grace. All who have been truly saved and have remained saved, are overcoming by the true grace of God which actually empowers them to overcome all sin (Titus 2:11-14). They are “without spot or blemish” and “holy” in the sight of the LORD and therefore the only remnant ready to meet Jesus when He soon returns (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Reaching the Deceived Backslider
In reaching out to others, our call is to the backslider as well as the soul that has never yet been born again (Luke 15; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; James 5:19-20).
After having an exchange with the person who uses these above excuse(s), leaving them with this book could very well be the very thing God uses to bring repentance into their hearts, the fear of God, and full restoration to Him. Then, they will become His true disciple and joining the remnant of Christ’s body in reaching other precious, back-slidden souls before it’s too late!
This booklet is being used as a powerful tool to dispel soul-damning lies and to strike the fear of God in the hearts of men. This laser sharp message helps the disciple of Christ inform all those presently living in sin that they are headed for eternal damnation unless they heed the call of God to “Return” unto Him in repentance (Isaiah 1:16-20; Hosea 14:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:21). “The wages of sin” is still eternal death or damnation (Romans 6:23). According to the clear message of Holy Scripture, all who die in sin, regardless of any past relationship with the LORD, will suffer “eternal damnation” in the “lake of fire.” (Mark 3:29; Revelation 22:11).
The message contained in this booklet hits everyone between the eyes actually. No soul alive today is left unmoved while reading and after reading this book. There is absolutely no limit as to whom the LORD will minister to with this book.
The Bible tells us that “The fear of the Lord is clean” and that “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 19:9; 14:27) The biblical message in this small book will strike the fear of the LORD in the hearts of all who read it.
May God bless each of us to cry out in prayer with David, begging Him to“Unite my heart to fear thy name!” (Psalms 86:11)
In this late hour, is your heart burning to share the LORD’s warnings and requirementswith others? Are you hurting for your friends and family and others who are never warned to escape the wrath to come by clinging to and worshiping Christ who purifies all that are His? And how Jesus will return for a special people, a people who are without “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish”? (Ephesians 5:25-27) If so, this small book will do that and more. We have seen the message of this book change lives. Available in E-Book and Print.
Abiding
THE DEVIL IS A LIAR [podcast]
Eternal Security is not taught in God’s Word – Other than by Satan and his false prophets.
After being saved, one cannot live in sin and remain in relationship with Christ.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2
Reading Romans 6 each morning this week prayerfully will greatly benefit the disciple of Christ.
God said (Gen. 2:17):
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE.”
Satan said (Gen. 3:4):
“And the serpent said unto the woman, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE.”
Eternal Security Proof Text Plundered
1 John 2:19-29
Warning Concerning Antichrists
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
John makes it clear that the antichrists in their midst which departed, did so because they were departing from the faith (1 timothy 4:1-2). Verse 19 does NOT say they were never of us but rather “they were not of us.”
Teddy Caldwell writes:
“OSAS insists that those are professing believers, but 1 John 2:18 says such people are antichrists. 1 John 2:22 says an antichrist is one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Anyone who does that isn’t a believer and isn’t even trying to look like one.”
Concerning 1 John 2:19, Donald Stamps, in the Life in the Spirit Study Bible, writes:
“‘THEY WENT OUT FROM US.’ When the antichrists departed from their fellowship with true believers, they were not in a saving relationship with Christ. This allows for two possibilities: (1) They were never true believers to begin with, or (2) they had once been in a saving relationship with Christ but afterward abandoned their faith in Christ.”
Right here in verse 24 of this passage we see the doctrine of personal responsibility to “remain” in faithful obedience to the LORD or lose one’s place with God (1 Cor. 15:2; Gal. 6:9; Col. 1:23). This is a teaching found throughout Holy Writ – the divine requirement to stay saved or lose all in eternity, “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 7)
“Let that therefore abide (remain) in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. IF (denotes condition) that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” 1 John 2:24-25
Verse 24 alone tells us that we cannot think that verse 19 means that someone who is at some point in right standing with God can never depart from Him and lose out. Also, verse 25 tells us that “eternal life” (not just rewards) is at stake and the promise contingent upon the believer abiding or remaining in that “which ye have heard from the beginning” which is the Gospel. “Eternal life” is assured as long as one is remaining rooted in Jesus Christ. This is the overwhelmingly consistent message of God’s Word.
In verse 26 John says “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” Verse 19 is written about the deceivers who sought to “seduce” these disciples John was addressing and not of true believers.
With all of Scripture in consideration, we can conclude that 1 John 2:19 is a specific example and not a rule of doctrine.
If you truly wish to search out this matter, let me encourage you to closely examine, break down and study this entire text (1 Jn. 2:18-29). In order to ascertain truth, one must compare the verse in question with all other related Scriptures, beginning with the context in which the verse is set (Isa. 28:9-10; 1 Cor. 2:13).
Adam Clarke note on 1 John 2:19
“1 John 2:19
They went out from us – These heretics had belonged to our Christian assemblies, they professed Christianity, and do so still; but we apostles did not commission them to preach to you, for they have disgraced the Divine doctrine with the most pernicious opinions; they have given up or explained away its most essential principles; they have mingled the rest with heathenish rites and Jewish glosses. While, therefore, we acknowledge that they once belonged to us, we assert that they are not of us. They are not Christians; we abhor their conduct and their creed. We never sent them to teach.
They were not of us – For a considerable time before they left our assemblies they gave proofs that they had departed from the faith; for if they had been of us – if they had been apostles, and continued in the firm belief of the Christian doctrines, they would not have departed from us to form a sect of themselves.
That they were not all of us – They were not expelled from the Christian Church; they were not sent out by us; but they separated from it and us. None of them had been inspired as we apostles were, though they pretended to a very high teaching; but their separating from us manifested that they were not taught, as we were, by the Spirit of God. These false teachers probably drew many sincere souls away with them.”
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Articles
The First Commandment with Promise [podcast]
“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
Any person who mistreats their father or mother has brought a curse on themselves. Unbelievable.
“Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.” Proverbs 20:20
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and m
other; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4
To honor simply means to highly esteem.
Does the Bible say “Honor your parents but only if they’re perfect and only if you agree with them”? No! And thank God because none of us are perfect parents, right?
God has a plan and it’s the only perfect plan! If you follow it, your life will be blessed.
Does it seem like it’s easier for some children to honor their parents? Does their relationship with their parents seem more fluent? At least in some cases, could it be due to the graciousness that the parents fostered in their children? Genuine love governing and fostering a sincere relationship.
David Taylor writes writes this exhortation on honoring our parents:
“Hope you are enjoying mom today brother with blessings. Please do so. Mine is gone. I took her for granted during her life. Not honoring her, not loving her as I should have. What’s that old saying ‘You never know what you have till it’s gone.”
The greatest heritage we give our children is God’s Word.
“Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.” Psalms 119:111
Sharing how God is working in her life concerning her relationship with her beloved mother, Karen Cochran writes:
“I had to die to being right. Pride! How could I love her (my mother) with the love of Jesus? How would she see Jesus in me? She would not see Him in me in all my pride and arrogance! By being full of pride, all I did was stir up strife. Proverbs 10:12 ‘Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.’ Because she would retaliate and would be angry. I had to learn to keep my mouth shut. And it has completely changed our relationship. But first the Lord had to change me and cleanse me from my ‘know it all’ attitude and my pride. I went to the Lord and said ‘why is she (my mother) so mean to me?’ The Lord straightened me out quick. It was me not her! I couldn’t control her! All I could do was allow God to root out what was sin in me.”
“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10
PRAYER: Father, bless this life to be crucified with Christ, to be truly humbled before You – that You might raise me up to glorify You. Thank You for my beloved parents that You chose to bring me into this life through. Help me walk in Your wisdom which is Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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