Those who do not endure sound doctrine will not support the preaching of sound doctrine. Counterfeits support antichrists who tell them what they want to hear instead of giving them the raw truth of the whole counsel of God’s Word – and they’re all going to Hell together (Philippians 3:18-19). Beware. Those who support frauds prove themselves to be frauds and will be damned with those antichrists they bid God speed to (2 John 10-11).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (stories, fairytales).” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
HINT: If you aren’t in God’s Word daily, for yourself, you prove to be outside of Christ’s kingdom. Now get before Him in repentance, confess your sin of self-idolatry, spiritual adultery, pride, and rebellion.
“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” Joel 2:12-17
IT’S NOT OUR DUTY to see how many people listen to or take in the ministering God gives each of us to do individually. Remember how 5,000 walked away from Jesus after He preached His truth to them in John 6? Remember how only His own 12 remained? Selah.
Jeremiah had very few visible results of his ministering.
Never forget what Jesus told us:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus calls His people a “little flock” (Luke 12:32).
“I sometimes can’t comprehend the pervasiveness of so many of these false unbiblical doctrines that dominate most churches today. We left quite a few churches over the years for these very reasons.” B.
“It is truly shocking how gullible people are. When there is so much evidence in the Bible to the contrary. Look how bad things are right now. Pointing us straight to the antichrist. You can see it lining up with scripture. But if you don’t know the Bible, and don’t care to, you wouldn’t see, or know that. People just lap up every doctrine of man without being like the Bereans, checking it against the Word of God. Because of this and how gullible and lazy people are they are “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” Ephesians 4: 14.” Karen Cochran
Be led by the Holy Spirit and test all things against the written Word which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalms 119:105), which the Holy Ghost gave us (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
Many claim the Holy Spirit is leading them and yet when tested against the Word, often it’s not accurate and contradicts the Word. Acts 17:10-11 right?
Regardless of what some claim, as in they claim to be “led by the Spirit” … if their doctrine contradicts Scripture, we know they have and are being led by “another spirit,” a demon…. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).
Essential Biblical Doctrines Nearly Never Heard in the Apostate Modern Church World!
1. The divinity of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-4, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16).
2. The virgin birth of the only begotten Son of God (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).
3. The essential precious blood of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
4. The inherent fallen nature of mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18).
5. Worshipping God not idols (Exodus 20:3-5).
6. The essential doctrine and necessity of repentance (Luke 13:3).
7. The return of Christ and being ready for it (Luke12:40; 21:34-36).
8. Who Jesus is returning for and who will be shut out of His eternal kingdom (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-27).
9. The essential of enduring to the end to be with Christ eternally, and initial and final salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-30; Revelation
2:26).
10. The essential daily cross, the crucified life, which Jesus requires in following Him (Luke 9:23-24).
11. Forgiving all others from the heart (Matthew 18:21-35).
12. Walking in God’s love (Ephesians 5:1).
13. Holiness—including the necessity of personal holiness (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
14. Judgment (Psalms 9:15-17).
15. Hell (Matthew 8:12; Mark 3:29; Luke 16:19-31).
16. Fearing God (Psalms 2:11; Luke 12:4-5).
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:” Amos 8:11
“Amos 8: 11 says: ‘Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.’ … There is a famine among Christians and it is deadly. This foretold famine is caused by lack of spiritual food that nourishes one’s soul. We need to be saturated and rooted in God’s Word. If not we become desensitized and stiff necked. This is why so many today claiming to be ‘Christians’ don’t see anything wrong in reading fake Bibles or promoting so-called biblical movies. When they repeatedly refuse to obey truth, their conscience becomes seared (1 Tim. 4:1-2), and hardened.” Karen Cochran
In ministry many times we get to thinking it’s OUR duty to EXPLAIN the Scriptures, the Word to people. Not. First and foremost our God-given duty is to teach and “preach the word” – thereby getting the WORD itself into the hearts of the people so GOD can teach them.
It would be better to simply read pure Scripture than to just be giving YOUR explanation or current understanding of the Scripture.
Yes, we as Christ’s disciples are to “give the sense” of the Word and yet, what is primary priority is getting the WORD itself into the hearts and minds of the people.
“So they (the elders) read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” Nehemiah 8:8
The duty of Christ’s disciples is to:
1. Read the actual Word, words of God into the hearing of the
people.
2. Help them understand the words of Holy Scripture themselves – give the sense of the message, the words of our LORD.
Of the false priesthood of the modern church, Karen Cochran writes:
“Because their power is in themselves. They exalt self. Not Jesus. They refuse to lay down their lives and die so Jesus can be raised up! It’s a constant love feast of self. Bathed in unholiness, lukewarmness, iniquity, rebellion and religious garb. The light of Jesus has been extinguished! (Matthew 6:22-23). Just as Jesus told the churches in the book of Revelation, if you don’t repent you will lose God’s presence. And your name will be blotted out. This is what the spirit says to the churches. ‘Take heed lest he fall’ (1 Corinthians 10:12.)”
Jeremiah 23 is an education in false leaders. Of this chapter, FB Meyer wrote the following:
“Jeremiah 23:1-32
SHEPHERDS THAT MISLEAD GOD’S FLOCK
It is God’s purpose to care for His people through shepherds (pastors) who are responsible to Him. Jesus our Lord is the Branch into which we may be grafted. He is our King who saves us and clothes us with His own spotless righteousness. God finds us in Him, Php_3:9. Because He reigns, we are saved and dwell in safety. When we are brought into contact with false shepherds, whether the failure be in doctrine or example, let us ask for the broken heart of Jer_23:9.
God is everywhere present; as the latter paragraph indicates, He is near at hand to overhear the blasphemy of those who deride religion, and to be a very present help in time of trouble. If He fills heaven and earth, can He not fill thy heart? If His Word is like fire, let it cleanse thee! If it is as a hammer, let it pulverize thy pride! Let those of us who essay to teach and preach, not steal our words from our neighbors, or utter our own, but receive them from the source of all truth.”
The written Word is like the tangible standard whereas at times, each of us as humans, can think we are being led by the Spirit but actually are not … and so the standard is always the written Word … to rightly divide His Word of truth, right? Amen Jesus (2 Timothy 2:15)!
The only way we can “rightly” divide the truth from error is by personally, diligently studying God’s Word. Memorize 2 Timothy 2:15.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
Most who claim Christ don’t know His Word and many don’t want to know it, otherwise they’d be in it and it would be in them.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6
Hosea 4:6
“The true test of the knowledge of God is a holy life. These act and react (knowledge/holiness). The better you know God, the more you will resemble Him; compare Psa_111:1-10; Psa_112:1-10. The more you are like God, the better you will know Him.” FB Meyer
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17
“There was a time when churches were teaching the whole counsel of God and most Bible believers in Bible teaching churches could carry on intelligent biblical conversations if they had been saved for five years or so. In the last ten years, I have found that most Christians today have become biblical illiterates. Due to the constant tendency towards all kinds of new experiences ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4), many are influenced to the extreme, and they settle for simply repeating various phrases that they hear without true, biblical understanding. That, then, becomes the focal point of their Christian life rather than conforming to the teachings of Scripture which they are not taught. It is getting harder and harder to find people in a local church who have even a very basic knowledge of Scripture, let alone any in-depth knowledge. The false teachers are going to have a lot to answer for in this area, but so will pastors who have encouraged this in their people rather than taking on the discipline of learning how to do a proper exegesis and expository teaching.” 1980 Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Spiritual Adultery
Is your life more about going to some “church” than it is about seeking, worshipping, loving, and serving Jesus Christ?
“Those apostate churches don’t serve Jesus they serve self! Puff each other up in their flesh! Wanna find the true Jesus of the Bible? Stay home and read your KJB! And find other true disciples to fellowship with. Many are not in the churches!” Karen Cochran
Notice here that the Holy Spirit foretold of these final days in which we now live. He told us that there would be a great seduction transpiring via “seducing spirits” or evil diabolical spirits.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1 Timothy 4:1-2
“SEDUCE” IS THE ROOT WORD OF SEDUCTION
Like a good husband or wife who warn each other about seducers, like Jesus and His apostles, true servants of Christ warn of spiritual seducers, seduction to draw you away from Christ and how to be victorious over these temptations.
“Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” Psalms 17:4
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5
“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to SEDUCE, if it were possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22
“These things have I written unto you concerning them that SEDUCE you.” 1 John 2:26
“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to SEDUCE my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” Revelation 2:20
Divine Protection Comes via the Word
“This is why these false prophets exist – tickle their ears. That’s what they want. No love of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2- 10- 12). This is a strong delusion sent by God. The consequence of their choice to refuse God’s truth is God’s judgment.” Karen Cochran
There’s a high price to pay for rejecting the light of Christ and being thereby subject to, trapped in darkness. Receiving He who is the light is the only way out of darkness.
God says “I gave you the Light of the world Himself and the light of truth, and still you chose darkness.”
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
And then there’s the explosive revelation of 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12:
On the topic of studying, knowing God’s Word, Arlean Benedict Kelley notes:
“This is so simple. It is something any of us can do. No special talent required. Just time alone with God, soaking up Scripture and praying as the Spirit leads. So doable. And this is the place from whence cometh the anointing.”
The greatest threat faced by God’s people in the New Testament era is and has always been false doctrine (Acts 20:20-32; Galatians, etc.). And, it takes false teachers to perpetrate false doctrines. God is the ultimate Father, Protector over His people. And for any parent, safety is at the height of priority.
“BY THE WORD”
“By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” Who’s ever gotten themselves in trouble by sin? Would you like to avoid present and future trouble that is not necessary to get into?
“Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” Psalms 17:4
Keeping ourselves from the path of destruction, from the destroyer, sin, and Satan, requires taking heed to God’s Word. Walk in it. Make it the constitution and foundation of your daily life!
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105
SAFEGUARD AGAINST FALSE DOCTRINE
“Does anyone ask me, What is the best safeguard against false doctrine?
The Bible: the Bible regularly read, regularly prayed over, regularly studied. We must go back to the old prescription of our Master: ‘Search the Scriptures’ (John 5:39). If we want a weapon to wield against the devices of Satan, there is nothing like ‘the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.’ But to wield it successfully, we must read it habitually, diligently, intelligently, and prayerfully. This is a point on which, I fear, many fail. In an age of hurry and bustle, few read their Bibles as much as they should. More books perhaps are read than ever, but less of the one Book which makes man wise unto salvation. Rome and neology could never have made such havoc in the Church in the last fifty years, if there had not been a most superficial knowledge of the Scriptures throughout the land. A Bible-reading laity is the strength of a Church.” JC Ryle
Rejoicing in the Riches of God’s Word
“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.” Psalms 119:14
So many today are looking for ear-tickling wolves to give them “smooth things.” They want nothing to do with conviction of sin which comes when the whole counsel of God is taught (Psalms 119:104, 128; Acts 20:20, 27; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, etc.).
“If you love God’s truth you will hate anything that deviates from it.” Karen Cochran
“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:” Isaiah 30:9-10
Recently, on social media, someone posted this:
“New to the area. Looking for the best non denominational church close by. Very specific to family oriented. Positive (no hell and fiery brimstone). Welcoming. Non judgmental. Forgiving. Kind. Accepting. Diverse. Just a really good positive God and His people loving church for my family.”
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
Abiding
The Weapons of Our Warfare [podcast]
Fighting Vertically (seeking His face continually) Guarantees that God will take care of the Horizontal
Your ground game will never work until you push praise to the One who made and saved you. Today is your day to train upward. The outward will follow. Verticaly praise to our LORD guarantees horizonal victory. The cross.
“Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalms 149:5-9
Dealing a crushing blow to your enemies – sin and Satan – requires kisses blown to Jesus Christ, the “first love” of your life! (Revelation 2:4-5) Like David, it will be the worshippers who will be God’s warriors!
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Psalms 2:12
Seeking the face of the LORD is to be “continually.” The victory Jesus died to procure for you, to bless you to walk in, will evade all who do not “seek his face continually.”
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
The only way to get up swinging, get up winning, is to set your heart to seek the face of your Savior! Simple prescription. Do it. Your plan is set in stone. You arise each morning with joyful praise, hands and heart and tongue pointed, aimed at Heaven, lifting the name of Jesus Christ!
“Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.” 1 Chronicles 16:22
The only ones the LORD is going to powerfully use to “build” His kingdom in the hearts of men, are those who “set” their soul to seek His holy face.
Is your obedience being fulfilled? Are you filled with love and therefore obedience to the Savior?
The “weapons of our warfare” are:
- The Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
- Prayer and persistence in prayer (Luke 18:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
- The name of Jesus (Acts 14:13-14; 16:23-24; Acts 3:16, etc.).
OUR GREATEST WEAPON IS THE WRITTEN WORD, PRAYER, AND THE NAME OF JESUS SAINTS. FRET NOT.
In the wilderness Jesus defeated the enemy by speaking forth the Word (Luke 4). He pulled out specific ammo for the enemy to address specific attacks, On all points, against every weapon of the enemy, Jesus had ammo with the devil’s evil name on it. And in doing so, He gave us the knowledge and example of how the enemy is defeated in our own lives. The Word of God is “mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” and is “sharper than any twoedged sword” (2 Corinthians 10:4; Hebrews 4:12).
Studying, knowing the Word of God is like building the military, the arsenal of your life, in order to defeat the enemy. Without a strong arsenal of weapons and ammo, and the expert ability to use those weapons, you will be naked in the battle and lose. God’s Word is your arsenal – that which you have in you – the knowledge and performance thereof. Nothing is more important to your life today than seeking God in His Word and prayer. Jesus is Heaven’s Mighty Warrior, He is “a man of war” and is coming back “in flaming fire…” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 19:11-16, etc.).
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12
We are in a war and must fight to win! “FIGHT the good fight….”
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Jesus demonstrated exactly what “the weapons of our warfare” are when He faced Satan in the wilderness. That weapon is the Word of God.
David, who was first a worshipper, was also an expert warrior. His life is a great example to the New Testament saint. David was learning to walk with the LORD, faithfully seeking Him in the pasture as he tended to sheep. He was building up his arsenal. And because he truly knew and sought the LORD, having been diligently training for warfare, the LORD, who is “a man of war,” directed him in choosing the specific ammo from His arsenal to take out Goliath (Exodus 15:3).
The “good soldier of Jesus Christ” is entrenched in the business of war, of winning the war. His Master, Jesus Christ, has never lost – and never will. Yet that blessing is reserved exclusively to those of His saints, His holy soldiers, who “strive lawfully.”
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:3-5
Striving “lawfully” simply means striving or working God’s way, according to His instructions and wishes, and not your own. Such includes to:
- “endure hardness.”
- realize you are a “soldier” which means you are in a war.
- not be entangled with this world.
- seek to please the LORD, who is “a man of war” and has chosen you to be His “soldier,” waging His war.
The LORD has and is bringing His true disciples to the understanding that this truly is a WAR, a fight to the death. You must “FIGHT the good fight of faith” or you will be a needless casualty of war! (1 Timothy 6:12) And so a military, a militant stance, posture, must be assumed by the disciple who will endure to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:10-14, etc.).
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Abiding
A Fresh Look at Jesus’ 7 Letters to the Churches [podcast]
Did Jesus tell even one of the seven churches He addressed that they are as sure for Heaven as if they were already there due to being initially saved by Him?
Did Jesus give conditions for being with Him in eternal glory?
Can someone please help me figure out where un-conditional eternal security/OSAS fits in with the 7 letters of Jesus to the churches of Asia? Is it anywhere mentioned? No.
Can anyone find OSAS/eternal security in Jesus’ 7 letters to CHURCHES in Revelation 2 and 3? No. No such thing. Instead He gives conditions to overcome, to endure to the end, to abide, remain, and continue in Christ, in faith and obedience.
No such thing as “eternal security” in Christ’s kingdom until AFTER you are in Heaven. Such heresy is the bait of Satan as it was in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17 > 3:4). Only moral cowards who make excuse for sin instead of being crucified with Christ daily as Jesus commanded. Bite on this bait (Luke 9:23-25). Eternal hell awaits. Time to repent and get “honest” (Luke 8:15).
Satan’s First Doctrine is a Lie. Yet Many Claim it’s Part of the Gospel of Jesus. Beware of these Wolves.
No such thing as a born again AND presently abiding saint who is not fruitful, who is not bearing good fruit. Otherwise why did Jesus instruct His people to know themselves and others “by their fruit”? See Matthew 7:16, 19. Such a notion as is heretical. Anyone who Jesus saves and then they don’t endure to the end, they don’t continue abiding in Christ, is no longer the LORD’s and going to hell. Read John 15:1-6 and stop believing the Devil’s very first lie—OSAS (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
“If a man abide (continue, remain) not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:6
WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR MIND beginning to make excuse for sin, you KNOW it’s your un-crucified flesh and Satan that are in control. You know then that repentance, re-turning to the LORD who is Holy, is necessary.
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
When you are tempted to believe in the satanic heresy of “eternal security,” otherwise known as “once saved always saved (OSAS),” you know SATAN is seeking to seduce you (Genesis 2:17; 3:14).
Concerning these 7 letters of Jesus to the churches, one source notes the following:
“Revelation chapters 2 and 3 contain seven individual messages from Jesus Christ to seven historical churches in Asia Minor. The letters share a common pattern: an address to the church’s angel, a description of Christ, an evaluation of the church’s spiritual state, a call to repentance or perseverance, and a promise to those who overcome.”
Overview of the Letters
- Ephesus, Pergamum, Sardis, and Laodicea receive direct rebukes for forsaking their first love, tolerating false teachings, dead orthodoxy, or lukewarmness, alongside urgent calls to repent.
- Smyrna and Philadelphia face intense tribulation or persecution yet receive no rebuke, and are encouraged to hold fast to their faith.
- Promises to Overcomers: Each letter concludes with eternal assurances for “him that overcometh” such as the tree of life (Revelation 2:7), the crown of life (Revelation 2:10), and exemption from the second death (Revelation 2:11).
The Notion of Eternal Security Expelled
Some interpret the repeated conditional commands to “overcome” and “hold fast” as evidence that eternal salvation requires ongoing faithfulness and endurance to the end, suggesting that warnings against unrepentance involve real spiritual risk rather than unconditional security.”
For Example, Jesus’ letter to the church at Sardis:
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:1-6
Also:
“… confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved …. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22; 24:13
Concerning Jesus’ 7 Letters and OSAS, once commentator notes:
“The seven letters of Jesus in Revelation 2-3 challenge absolute eternal security (“once saved, always saved”) by repeatedly commanding repentance, warning believers that unfaithfulness carries severe consequences, and conditioning eternal promises on actual endurance.
Warnings and Conditions in the Letters
- Ephesus: Jesus warns that if the church does not repent for leaving its first love, He will “remove thy candlestick out of his place” (Revelation 2:5). [1]
- Smyrna & Philadelphia: The promise of the crown of life and inclusion is explicitly tied to being “faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10) and holding fast what they have “that no man take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11).
- Thyatira: Jesus warns He will cast those committing adultery into great tribulation and will “kill her children with death” (Revelation 2:22-23).
- Sardis: Jesus tells those who do not watch that He will come upon them “as a thief” (Revelation 3:3).
- Laodicea: The lukewarm church is threatened with rejection: “I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16).
The Promise to the Overcomer
- In every letter, rewards like eating from the tree of life or being clothed in white raiment are promised specifically “to him that overcometh” (Revelation 2:7, 3:5).
- Supporters of eternal security point to Christ’s assurance in Sardis—“I will not blot out his name out of the book of life” (Revelation 3:5)—as proof of permanent keeping, while critics argue the conditional phrasing implies names can be blotted out for failing to overcome.”
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Exhort One Another Daily [podcast]
“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:22-25
Saints, let’s always remember that other disciples have the SAME exact iniquitous flesh to deal with daily as we do (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3, etc.). They are just like us – absolutely wicked and depraved without the present working of the saving grace of our God at work in us! (Romans 7) Each of Christ’s followers are like us, working out their own salvation with fear and trembling as the LORD works in them both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2
Let’s lift up our LORD’s disciples instead of wrongly judging them in our attitudes, etc. Seeing and treating them with God’s love is important ( 1 Peter 4:7-8; 1 John 4:7-8, 16-18; 5:1, etc.).
“And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” Zechariah 7:10
“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Romans 14:19
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
DOES the Bible tell us to “Go make disciples” OR to “Teach others God’s Word”? Interesting. Does the Bible Ever Say “Go Make Disciples”?
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Exhort One Another Daily [podcast]
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Jezebel The Depths of Satan [video]
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“I Love You Son” [podcast]
“Warn them from Me”: The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast]
“He that Loveth Pureness of Heart” [podcast]
The Weapons of Our Warfare [podcast]
The Weapons of Our Warfare [podcast]
A Fresh Look at Jesus’ 7 Letters to the Churches [podcast]
“Warn them from Me”: The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast]
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