Jesus Christ is building HIS church. What church are you participating in building?
—- TODAY, in this prophesied hour of great apostasy before our LORD’s return, it’s nearly impossible to find a group of true, New Testament, God-fearing, Bible believing, Christ exalting disciples to fellowship with. It’s virtually impossible to locate a local gathering where the pastor and his wife aren’t carried away with building their own little (or large) kingdom. When this is present (heart greed) then their is the denial and hiding of convicting biblical truth so that the good times keep on rolling and the finances. This “little leaven” leavens or ruins the whole loaf (Galatians 5:9). … Jesus Christ is building HIS church. What church are you participating in building? Let’s face it, most people claiming to be Christians are biblically-illiterate as are those who lead them. And, wolves love ignorant people because they are easy to manipulate and control and get money from. Gullible people vainly believe that because their is a lot of noise and excitement going on, then it must be God moving. They never stop to prayerfully and through daily, diligently biblical study compare things to the Word of God as did the Bereans (Acts 17:10-11).
Saints, it’s the hour to return to BEING Christ’s church, His holy (set apart) PEOPLE and to cease patronizing the wolves who are our LORD’s enemies!
—–ARE YOU TRULY A MEMBER of the one, blood-bought, born again, body of Christ? If so YOUR ONLY IDENTITY IS CHRIST AND HIS ONE CHURCH. Cease saying you go to such and such a church. That has nothing to do with your identity. Well, actually, if it does matter to you, you may wish to repent and put your faith in the one, nail scarred risen LORD and Savior. The early church preached JESUS and only JESUS. It’s past time for you to cease being a pawn of mere men who are insidiously building their own empires and using you as free labor to do so. Jesus’ apostle Paul declared, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14)
There is no calculating the number of false prophets today who have set up their ministry businesses and build it on lies, half-truths, and the intentional refusal to study, know, and declare the whole counsel of God’s Word (Acts 20:20, 27, etc.). They are building their own ministry empires instead of dying to self, assuming the place of a humble servant, and letting God use them to participate with Christ in the building of HIS eternal kingdom … which these wolves will be excluded from if they don’t repent.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
CHRIST SAYS “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH” AND SO WE MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS AND WHAT IT DOES NOT MEAN, RIGHT?
We know by this definitive declaration from our LORD Jesus Christ, that He surely IS building His called-out ones (church). This means that He leaves no life the same when He finds and saves that soul. That disciple must continue in His Word, progressively being sanctified and made free from sin and stagnation (John 8:30-32, 36; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, etc.). Such change and growth, which begins by obeying Christ’s command to repent, has little or nothing to do with the church world in existence today. The grossly out of step modern church world has no resemblance to the earliest Christians we read about in Acts. Such becomes obvious to any born again student of Holy Scripture.
Real New Testament fellowship greatly edifies Christ’s saints.
What Church?
What “church” was Jesus speaking of that He promised He would “build”?
One thing that is grossly lacking is the simple definition of what/who the church is that Jesus is speaking of and what His apostles further established. The word “church” in the New Testament comes from the Greek word ekklesia which simply means the called out ones. So many Christians have never been told this simple truth and are therefore left to be deceived and exploited by hireling pastors who are merely using them to build their church business while pretending to be serving the LORD. Without this understanding of what Christ’s church truly is, one will be left to believe that His church is a physical building or one or more of the organizations of mere men we see in the modern church world.
Maturing and Equipping the LORD’s People
According to the divine revelation of the church given to the apostle Paul, if a group of Christians are not being matured and equipped to literally do “the work of the ministry,”then they are NOT a New Testament assembly/church – period. Such maturity is the duty of those called out to servant lead.
Unfortunately, so many today holding positions of leadership over people, are not divinely called. Others who are called out by God, have refused to truly lay down their lives for Jesus and His beloved people. Here’s how the apostle Paul describes and contrasts them with those truly obedient to Jesus.
“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction (hell), whose God is their belly (serve their own selfish desires), and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:18-21
Ninety nine percent of all local churches in America intentionally create good church members who are spectators, but that’s not what God had in mind when He purchased a people with the blood of His only begotten Son! Spiritual growth, maturity, and equipping would mean that if the elders are fulfilling God’s purpose for His New Testament church, there are many of those they lead that are fruitful in doing “the WORK of the ministry”and that’s not singing in the choir or cleaning the bathroom! (see Ephesians 4:8-15) No, that’s communicating God’s Word to the people and teaching people the whole counsel of God’s Word (Matthew 28:18-20).
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-15
Make no mistake: Wherever the LORD is honored, His saints are being built up, taught, warned, and prepared and activated in “the work of the ministry.” (Ephesians 4:11-14).
The vast majority of local churches today are apostate and that’s easily seen by the truth remnant in that they are entertaining, teaching false doctrine, and selling their unlearned audiences into the coming one-world religion. No true preaching is going on in the fear of the LORD and fullness of the Holy Spirit. People are not becoming disciples, personally learning to walk with the LORD daily, having a prayer life, and studying God’s written Word for themselves. Beware!
The very fact that equipping Christians is nearly nowhere to be found in that which calls itself the church is clear proof that the great falling away is in full swing (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-13; 4:1-4, etc.).
Instead of training people up to be fruitful to the eternal glory of God, modern wolves keep them dumb (out of God’s Word), entertained, and teach them to be good tithers and church members, no different than the rotary or country club.
Without fail, where the LORD is being honored, there is maturity transpiring in His saints:
“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:11-14
THE TRULY OBEDIENT SERVANT ELDER IN CHRIST’S BODY, PRAYS, DILIGENTLY LABORS, AND LIVES TO SEE THE WORK OF CHRIST TRANSPIRE IN HIS PEOPLE. GOD-FEARING SERVANTS AREN’T INTERESTED IN BEING CALLED BY A TITLE, PREACH THE PURE WORD OF GOD, REFUSE TO ENTERTAIN, NEVER HESITATE TO SPEAK DIVINE TRUTH WHEN THEY KNOW IT’S GOING TO OFFEND SOME, COULD CARE LESS IF SOMEONE GETS OFFENDED, AND LIVE IN THE HOLY FEAR OF THE LORD, EAGERLY EXPECTING HIS SOON RETURN AS THEY PREPARE A PEOPLE TO MEET HIM. THEY PREACH ON SIN, REPENTANCE, THE ESSENTIAL OF PERSONAL HOLINESS, THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS, HIS SOON RETURN, AND THE NEED TO OBEY GOD AND BE FRUITFUL FOR HIS ETERNAL GLORY! (Proverbs 28:1; Matthew 10:26-28; Acts 5:29; Galatians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4, etc.).
Paul, the master builder apostle, told us that he labored diligently to prepare Christ’s body to meet Him. He gave us the three specific things that he feverishly worked to accomplish in light of Christ’s soon return:
“… Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” Colossians 1:27-29
PWT =
- Preach
- Warn
- Teach
If you go to a church where the pastor/leadership refuses to preach, to WARN, and to teach, you should leave immediately. That is not a New Testament assembly. A man who refuses to warn you of false teachings and false prophets is himself a wolf. Any man who will not teach you the pure Word of God and get you in the Word daily yourself, is a wolf.
BELOVED, A TRUE SERVANT OF CHRIST, ONE CALLED OUT TO SERVE HIS PEOPLE, DOESN’T NEED A PHYSICAL BUILDING. IN FACT, THE LORD SEEMS TO BE CALLING OUT TRUE SHEPHERDS WHO HAVE REFUSED TO BE A PART OF THE APOSTATE SYSTEM. THESE MEN ARE ACCOMPLISHING MORE ON A DAILY BASIS THAN MOST CHURCH-BUILDING-MANAGERS EVER ACCOMPLISH.
Sadly, the vast majority of those leaders who have buildings are merely real estate managers, money raisers, and they are simply building a business for their own glory – a church business. Since this is the case, they dare not speak a hard word from Holy Scripture, such as a message on sin, repentance, the daily dying/cross, or the need for personal holiness.
The professional clergy we have in place today is never what God planned nor does He endorse it. In most cases it does not fulfill His will. This ‘clean as a whistle,’ never been bruised, battered, or in a battle persona is a farce. Jesus promises that all who will truly follow Him (not tradition and flesh) will certainly “be hated of all men for my name’s sake” and shall suffer great persecution (Matthew 10:22; 24:10-13; 2 Timothy 3:12-13). The word “affliction(s)” appears 14 times in the New Testament. Paul the apostle of Jesus was in many grueling, painstaking, scar-inducing battles. He suffered many things at the hands of wicked men and the elements for obeying God’s will (2 Corinthians 6:5-10; 11:23-30; 12:7-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:2). Never mind these sad spineless seminarians who do nothing much more than fund raise, entertain, and count nickels, noses, and numbers. Like the unqualified imposter in the White House who has never owned or run a business and is merely spending our money like it’s going out of style, the majority of these modern real estate managing, pulpit pansies have never gotten their hands dirty helping the poor, witnessing on the streets, or suffering vicious false accusations and afflictions and attacks by antichrist beguilers such as Alexander the coppersmith (2 Timothy 4:14-15). No, instead they have studied the church business industry, learning how to market and manipulate their communities to building their local franchise.
Deborah Blanchard notes:
“Paul knew he was facing imprisonment and afflictions in the very near future yet he said, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24) O that we had that same resolve to testify to the Gospel of God’s grace all the days of our life regardless of what may come of us! Testify! Acts 20:24″
If you will be with Christ in eternity, you must run for your life from any morally spineless leader who refuses to preach the hard truths of God’s Word. Such a man is serving self and Satan, not Jesus. Lay down your own life today.
For more on the LORD’s warning of and characteristics of false leaders, you may wish to begin by reading Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel 34, and Matthew 23.
“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” 2 Peter 3:17
The fruit of a true servant, according the Word of the Judge Himself, is that such a man has those he is leading who are learning to:
- Walk in the Spirit and holiness (Romans 1:4; 6-8; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:15-16, etc.)
- Deny self, take up the cross daily and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.)
- Discern truth from error and true servants from false prophets/wolves (Ezekiel 44:23)
- Personally study God’s Word diligently and daily (2 Timothy 2:15)
- Have a life of prayer (Matthew 6:6; 26:41; Mark 1:35, etc.)
- Communicate the Gospel, the Word of God, to others (Matthew 28:18-20; Philemon 1:6, etc.)
It does not matter what else is going on at a local church – if people are not being prepared to do His work, it’s a false ministry.
It’s time to cease propping up the local circus and entertainment center we call “church” … lest we be found guilty of bidding Godspeed to the very enemies/imposters of the Almighty and be judged with them – 2 John 7-11
What’s Wrong with The Modern Church World? | How to Find a Good Fellowship | Wolf Expose’
Sign up for free email devotional HERE… The Moments with My Master email devotional is sent out for the edification of the body of Christ.
Feedback:
Assembly Dialogues:
Message Received:
It’s disgusting to go into a church and listen to a pastor who obviously has little wisdom from God. It frustrates me. I believe God has me away from the church world for a reason. I have prayed many, many times about finding a church home and God has yet to open that door.
Reply:
Many are in this same place and perhaps the LORD is protecting His people and showing us just how much we need Him and causing us to cease depending on a local assembly so much. We are learning to trust Him in a real way now. Maybe it’s a season. True, biblical fellowship is needed. Think about this: When and since He saved most of us, we immediately and without interruption had a local church we have been a part of. So, we have never known what it means to truly trust Him and to sincerely walk with Him daily. May He grant each of us rich fellowship with Himself and His body (Acts 2:42-47).
Email Received:
“Last night there were 13 of us. We are studying the end of the age and Jesus’ 2nd coming. We have discovered that home fellowship can be similar to “Churchianity” if we aren’t aware of the pitfalls of offense, personal agendas, etc. We are learning to love one another with the love of Christ…and..we have a long way to go on many levels, but we are sticking with it. It took our core group 1 yr. to decompress from the church “drug” and from our woundedness over some things that happened and the loss of relationships from those who felt we were the enemy once we left. Well, you know this common story. We’ve been meeting for about 16 months now. We’ve had some come in and go back out again. I guess that is to be expected. We’ve had some leave because of doctrinal offense and not liking that most of us do not believe in eternal security. Our agreement is that anyone whom the Lord brings may come, but it’s not up to us to make them stay. What a journey this has been. I still miss the energy from a larger body, but have since learned that all the bells and whistles we used to enjoy in way of music, guest speakers, programs, etc. are not necessarily about the King. The decreasing is hard, the increasing of Christ is wonderful and supernatural.” Janet
Reply:
This is a great testimony for sure! This can help a lot of people who are coming out of the apostate church world and gathering in homes or elsewhere as Jesus’ body. It seems that people bring their baggage from the church mentality and culture to home groups. They put on their religiosity. We are all prone to this and this must be crucified. I often say this which I think helps and is according to 1 Corinthians 12, the every member functioning truth…. I say: “IT SIMPLY DOES NOT MATTER WHO TEACHES OR SAYS SOMETHING – WHAT MATTERS IS THAT GOD’S HOLY TRUTH GETS COMMUNICATED IN HIS LOVE.”
TO LEARN TO FUNCTION IN GOD’S LOVE AMONG HIS PEOPLE, WE MUST DAILY BEGIN PORING PRAYERFULLY OVER PASSAGES SUCH AS JOHN 13:35, ACTS 2:42-47, ROMANS 12, 1 CORINTHIANS 12-13, AND EPHESIANS 4, PHILIPPIANS 2:1-16, AND COLOSSIANS 3:16 … PLEASE SPREAD THIS WORD …. MAY IT BECOME OUR HOBBY TO BEGIN DIGGING OUT, SHARING, AND MEMORIZING VERSES AND PASSAGES ON HUMILITY BEFORE GOD AND MAN AND LOVE! PLEASE SPREAD THIS WORD …. THESE CAN BE PORED OVER TOGETHER ALSO (AS A GROUP).
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:4-5
This is simply an absolute wonderful testimony Janet!!!! God is able precious. The lower we get – that He blesses us to get – the less we are offended about anything!!!! Because at that low level, you can’t be knocked down so nearly everything is a blessing. Taking that lower seat, right (Matthew 23).
Isa 37:31
Articles
Grounded in Grace [podcast]

“What a powerful message! Life changing for sure. It truly blessed me. Every believer should listen to this video! But God! Two little words that I missed. And found this phrase used at least 44 times in the KJB. Those little words takes the focus off us! If it wasn’t for God coming to save our wicked souls we would be doomed forever to burn in hell. Psalm 49:15 “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah.” We are saved by the grace of God and kept by the power and grace of God. To which none of us can boost! (Ephesians 2:8, 1 Peter 1:5).” Karen Cochran | Grounded in Grace [podcast]
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) : And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10
Satan continues to pick off people with the same exact law-keeping deception he snared the Galatians with. They become in unbelief about Christ’s perfect sacrifice and begin to add law to salvation’s equation. This is deadly. Having begun in faith, in the Spirit, they fall away from the faith by trying to help God save them through self-effort, law-keeping (Galatians 3:3; 5:4). Many of those snared are seduced into this by way of the sabbath keeping deception, foolishness.
Being established in the saving grace of God is the only defense against the many deceptions creeping in among God’s people.
When the self-righteous legalist hears someone preach that Christians are saved by grace and not under the old testament law, they react – because they are still trusting self and have not truly repented/surrendered and putting their whole faith in christ. Law and grace don’t mix! You MUST choose! (John 1:17) Either you are saved by Jesus or your own law keeping works. There’s no in-between! It’s time to get into God’s Word, asking Him to give you a NEW Testament clue!
Especially with the upsurge of Judaizers and the law-keeping doctrines they perpetrate, every true born-again believer should pray, seek out, and study to be grounded in God’s saving grace in Christ.
SAINTS, we are saved by the LORD Himself, by His grace and not our own works. People who are still self-righteous, thinking THEY are earning their own justification, get very uneasy when the saving grace of God is preached. They are not yet students of NEW Testament truth. WE MUST have an ever-deepening biblical revelation of God’s justification by grace and faith! Please begin by memorizing Romans 5:1-2. AND, please read Romans chapters 3-5 prayerfully and over and over, this week.
To the Galatians, when Paul said “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”, he was saying that trying to mix even “a little” law keeping into the equation of salvation Christ alone 100% earned for us, ruins your whole relationship with God (Galatians 5:9). In fact, you don’t have one if you don’t 100% trust Jesus Christ!
Remember when Jesus saved you? He found and saved our wretched soul alllll by Himself!!!!! Right? Please pause and let that soak in. …. In light of this reality, this sheer mercy, how is it that we still strive in the flesh, thinking we are going to earn divine forgiveness, merit His blessings, etc. – “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:4-5)
“But God”
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:4
After hanging the backdrop (vv. 1-3), reviewing our alienation, our past life of trespasses and sin, how we are now found and rescued—brought back to life from our dead state—by the LORD, the writer now transitions upward.
Of Ephesians 2:4, William MacDonald writes:
“The words, But God, form one of the most significant, eloquent, and inspiring transitions in all literature. They indicate that a stupendous (astonishing, stunning) change has taken place. It is a change from the doom and despair of the valley of death to the unspeakable delights of the kingdom of the Son of God’s love.
The Author of the change is God Himself. No one else could have done it, and no one else would have done it.
“One characteristic of this blessed One is that He is rich in mercy. He shows mercy to us by not treating us the way we deserved to be treated (Psalm 103:10). ‘Though it has been expended by Him for six millennia, and myriads and myriads have been partakers of it, it is still an unexhausted mine of wealth, as Eadie remarks.’
The reason for His intervention is given in the words, for his great love wherewith he loved us. His love is great because He is its source. Just as the greatness of a giver casts an aura of greatness on his gift, so the surpassing excellence of God adds superlative luster to His love. It is greater to be loved by the mighty Sovereign of the universe, for instance, than by a fellow human being. God’s love is great because of the price He paid. Love sent the Lord Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, to die for us in agony at Calvary. God’s love is great because of the unsearchable riches it showers on its object.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1917
Satan attempts to make God out to be an unloving Father. Only mankind is created in God’s image, and He loves us beyond words (Ephesians 2:4-9). He loves us so much so that He gave His only begotten Son to die a horrible yet redeeming death on the cross, raising Him from the dead three days later to fully, completely justify us (John 3:16). God still has a remnant who trust Him and not self (Romans 5:6-8).
Justification
ARE YOU justified by sinful self or the Savior? Good luck flashing those “filthy rags” at the Throne of the Almighty who sent His only begotten Son to die for you! (Isaiah 64:6) You have called Him a liar! (Galatians 2:21) Righteousness comes from knowing and trusting the only One to ever keep the law perfectly and not from trying to keep the law (Galatians 2:16). Though the law be righteous, there is NO righteousness in the law other than repenting of your own efforts and putting your full trust in the only One who ever kept the law! (Romans 10:4) You deserve judgment and hell. You have nothing to offer God except a deeply repentant, honest, contrite, humble heart! (Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Matthew 5:3) You are a guilty sinner and must trash your stupid, ridiculous, laughable religious fig leaves which are a sham at best! True NEW Testament saints are dead to the law (Romans 7:1-4). Law keepers, do-gooders, and moralists are completely self-righteous antichrists who’ve put themselves in place of Jesus Christ as their own savior – denying Christ that place while vainly believing they can earn their own justification before a holy God and Judge of their eternal soul (James 2:10). Anti in the biblical word “antichrist” means “in place of.” Selah (meditate on that) God doesn’t want His children trying to keep the old law but rather to choose to worship, love, trust, and obey Him who is the only One to keep it and then nailed it to the cross and took it out of the way!
Revelation 2:8 “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”
Revelation 3:9 “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”
William MacDonald writes:
“His kindness toward us (2:7)
“His grace in His kindness toward us (2:7)
“The riches of His grace in His kindness toward us
“The exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us
“Now it follows that if God will be disclosing this throughout eternity, then we will be learning throughout eternity, then we will be learning forever and ever. Heaven will be our school. God will be our Teacher. His grace will be the subject. We will be the students. And the school term will be eternity.
“This should deliver us from the idea that we will know everything when we get to Heaven. Only God knows everything, and we will never be equal with Him.
“It also raises the interesting question: How much will we know when we get to Heaven? And it suggests the possibility that we can prepare for the heavenly university by majoring in the Bible right now.
“2:8 The next three verses present as clear a statement of the simple plan of salvation as we can find in the Bible.
“It all originates with the grace of God; He takes the initiative in providing it. Salvation is given to those who are utterly unworthy of it, on the basis of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“It is given as a present possession. Those who are saved can know it. Writing to the Ephesians, Paul said, ‘are ye saved.’ He knew it, and they knew it.
“The way we receive the gift of eternal life is through faith. Faith means that man takes his place as a lost, guilty sinner, and receives the Lord Jesus as his only hope of salvation. True saving faith is the commitment of a person to a Person (Christ).
“Any idea that man can earn or deserve salvation is forever exploded by the words, ‘and that not of yourselves.’ (2:9) Dead people can do nothing, and sinners deserve nothing but punishment.
“‘It is the gift of God.’ A gift, of course, is free …. The gift of God is salvation by grace and through faith. It is offered to all people everywhere.
“2:9 It is not of works, that is, it is not something a person can earn through supposedly meritorious deeds. It cannot be earned, for instance, by:
Confirmation
Baptism
Church membership
Church attendance
Holy communion
Trying to keep the Ten Commandments
Living by the Sermon on the Mount
Giving to charity
Being a good neighbor
Living a moral, respectable life
“People are not saved by works. And they are not saved by faith plus works. They are saved through faith alone. The minute you add works of any kind or in any amount as a means of gaining eternal life, salvation is no longer by grace (Rom. 11:6). One reason that works are positively excluded is to prevent human boasting. If anyone could be saved by his works, then he would have reason to boast before God. This is impossible (Rom 3:27).
“If anyone could be saved by his own good works, then the death of Christ was unnecessary (Gal 2:21). But we know that the reason He died was because there was no other way by which guilty sinners could be saved.
“If anyone could be saved by his own good works, then he would be his own savior, and could worship himself. But this would be idolatry, and God forbid it (Exod. 20:3).
“Even if someone could be saved through faith in Christ plus his own good works you would have the impossible situation of two saviors – Jesus and the sinner. Christ would then have to share the saviorhood with another, and this He will not do (Is. 42:8).
“Finally, if anyone could contribute to his salvation by works, then God would owe it to him. This, too, is impossible. God cannot be indebted to anyone (Rom 11:35).
“In contrast to works, faith excludes boasting (Rom 3:27), because it is non-meritorious. A man has no reason to be proud that he has trusted the Lord. Faith in Him is the most sane, rational, sensible thing a person can do. To trust one’s Creator and Redeemer is only logical and reasonable. If we cannot trust Him, whom can we trust?
“2:10 The result of salvation is that we are His workmanship – the handiwork of God, not of ourselves. A born again believer is a masterpiece of God. When we think of the raw materials He has to work with, His achievement is all the more remarkable. Indeed, this masterpiece is nothing less than an new creation through union with Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passes away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17).
“And the object of this new creation is found in the phrase, for good works. While it is true that we are not saved by good works, it is equally true that we are saved for good works. Good works are not the root but the fruit. We do not work in order to be saved, but because we are saved.
“This is the aspect of the truth that is emphasized in James 2:14-26. When James says that ‘faith without works is dead,’ he does not mean that we are saved by faith plus works, but by the kind of faith that results in a life of good works. Works prove the reality of our faith. Paul heartedly agrees: ‘we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’ (2:10)
“God’s order then is this:
“Faith->Salvation->Good Works->Reward
“Faith leads to salvation. Salvation results in good works. Good works will be rewarded by Him.
“But the question arises: What kind of good works am I expected to do? Paul answers, Good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. In other words, God has a blueprint for every life. Before our conversion He mapped out a spiritual career for us. Our responsibility is to find His will for us and then obey it. We do not have to work out a plan for our lives, but only accept the plan which He has drawn up for us. This delivers us from fret and frenzy, and insures that our lives will be of maximum glory to Him, of most blessing to others, and of greatest reward to ourselves.
“In order to find out the good works He has planned for our individual lives, we should: (1) Confess and forsake sin as soon as we are conscious of it in our lives; (2) be continually and unconditionally yielded to him; (3) study the Word of God to discern His will, and then do whatever He tells us to do; (4) spend time in prayer each day; (5) seize opportunities of service as they arise; (6) cultivate the fellowship and counsel of other Christians. God prepares us for good works. He prepares good works for us to perform. Then He rewards us when we perform them. Such is His grace!” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1918
“Riches” appears five times in Ephesians
Ephesians 1:7 – “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Ephesians 1:18 – “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”
Ephesians 2:7 – “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 3:8 – “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”
Ephesians 3:16 – “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”
Ephesians 2:1-10
WHAT GRACE HAS DONE by FB Meyer
“Evidently dead men may walk; that is, they may be dead to the eternal world but alive to this world, which is moving past like the films of a moving picture. The death of the spirit is compatible with much active interest in the course of this world. Behind the shifting scenes of the material is the great enemy of souls. As the Spirit of God works in the obedient, so does the evil spirit work in the disobedient. Note this trinity of evil-the course of this world, the lusts of our flesh, and the prince of the power of the air. If we desire to save men, we must be in living union with the all-conquering Spirit of Christ.
Notice, also, the past tense which describes the finality of Christ’s work, Eph_2:5-6. In the purpose of God we have been raised from the grave of sin and are seated with the risen Lord in the place of acceptance and victory. We were one with Christ when He lay in the grave and arose. In God’s thought we have already taken our seat with the glorified Christ upon the throne; only the pity is that we do not believe this or act as if we had done so. All this is the gift of God’s unmerited love. By grace have we been brought into this position, and by grace are we maintained in it. We are of God’s “making;” such is the Greek word for workmanship, Eph_2:10. We have been created for good works; they have been planned for us and we have only to walk in them.”



Abiding
5 Soul Damning Sins Named! Learning from History! [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.
WHATEVER it takes – those who choose to get real with God will sever themselves from anything and anyone who causes them to sin. This is what Jesus says about sin and hell:
“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Mark 9:43-50
NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:
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.
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).
Eternal Security/Once saved always saved is a lie from hell.
Support | STORE | | Podcasts | Eternal Security/OSAS | Accounted Worthy to Escape [podcast] | Eternal Security Exposed | Sealed? | The Return of Christ | Support | Lie of the Ages [podcast] | 10 Questions about Eternal Security | Is Salvation Eternal? | The Damning Myth of Unconditional Eternal Security [podcast] | The Essential of Fearing God | The KING is Coming [podcast] | Sound Doctrine for a Glorious Church



Abiding
“The Unalterable Basis of an Open Heaven is a Grave” [podcast]

Concerning the raising up process of the Gospel of God, T. Austin-Sparks wrote:
“The unalterable basis of an open heaven is a grave, and a crisis at which you come to an end of your own self-life. It is the crisis of real experiential identification with Christ in His death.”
Though we entered into His death upon initial salvation, accepting and experiencing that death is still a daily choice, an individual decision to be made on an ongoing basis. One’s choice to continue to persevere, following Christ as He clearly prescribed, will determine his eternal destination (Luke 9:62; 19:13; 21:19; Romans 6:16; Galatians 6:7-9).
The insidious circumventing of the cross can come in many clandestine ways that are masked with pious outer garb. Today, while refusing to utter the full counsel of the One they claim tobe representing, smiling and charismatic men stand in sheep’s clothing, promising heavenly life to those who live in sin. They only prosper due to the volitional biblical illiteracy of the masses. Ignorance of the truth is a choice with eternal consequences (Hosea 4:6; Matthew 22:29; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25
Of seeds, one source notes:
“Seeds do not technically ‘die’ when planted; rather, they germinate, transforming from a dormant state into an active, growing plant. While the outer shell breaks and the original form changes, the embryo inside remains alive.”
Just as nothing in hell could have held Jesus in that grave, NOTHING in hell can hold down the crucified saint! The divinely volcanic resurrection life of Christ bursting forth in the life of the crucified consenting disciple will be utterly unstoppable!
“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 (make alive, raise up) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11
The true disciple is always “delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:11). He has “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). He is daily putting to death “the deeds of the body” and being “raised up” by the power of the same Holy Spirit “that raised up Christ from the dead” (Romans 8:11, 13). He rejoices in “Christ Jesus” and has “no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).
“I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31)
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake … that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you” 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12.
The disciple who is dead and buried with Christ is “dead to sin” (Romans 6:2). There are tell-tale symptoms in one whose self life has not been terminated, put to death. When we justify the sinful things we do, and call those who point them out “legalistic,” it is symptomatic of a life that is not crucified with Christ. The Bible says, “Lie not against the truth” (James. 3:14). If we argue against the truth when we are shown it, we are manifesting rebellion. The “corn of wheat” must be planted and remain planted in order to bud and bring forth new life. The one whose life is laid down does not make excuses when he realizes that he harbors sin. No, instead he rejoices to be yet more sanctified and dwelling in the place of blessing and holiness with the One He delights to please and serve.
Prayer: LORD Jesus, I am crucified with You. I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God. Here and now I lay my life in Your holy hands, this moment. Please use me now and here forward in the Father’s business of the Great Commission as we eagerly look for Your soon return. I love You LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates |The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Consider Your Ways [podcast] | Consider and Build [podcast] | Holes in Your Money Bags? [podcast] | Dollar Dialogue | Jesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast] | Escaping Sodom! | Waste | Stewardship | Giving | Fellowship | Haggai | 100’s of Christ-centered, Scripture-rich Podcasts



America11 months agoThe Drugging of America: The Pharmakeia Sorcery Deception [podcast]
Articles2 years agoChildren being Rescued in Tunnels: Happening Now – UPDATE!
Articles8 years agoSelf-Examination in Preparation for the Lord’s Return
Apostasy2 years agoSHOCKING List of False Prophets Most Believe are True















































