– Fruit that Remains –
“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15
It is erroneous to believe that one is right with God when there is no fruit to evidence such. In many circles today, eternal security is sold to the unknowing as something people irrevocably receive as a guarantee no matter what their behavior is like after that initial “decision for Christ.” Is this what Jesus and His apostles taught?
Jude states:
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.” Jude 12
The theme of the book of Jude involves apostates (those who left their faith in Christ after having saving faith – 1 Tim. 4:1). Let’s observe a portion of what Jude says concerning those he addresses who were at one time saved and departed from the LORD:
- “trees whose fruit withereth” – these people obviously had fruit. This we know because it says that the fruit they had “withereth.”
- “without fruit” – some were fruitless instead of fruitful.
- “twice dead” – these apostates he addresses were like all men – born dead in their trespasses and sins. They obviously got saved and then died spiritually again due to not continuing in their relationship with the LORD.
- “plucked up by the roots” – a plant that is not first planted cannot be “plucked up by the roots.” It would be absurd to say that the plant (represents people) addressed here was not first planted in the kingdom. No plant could possibly be uprooted if it were not first planted in the ground. In the same way, no person could be removed from the vineyard of the LORD having not first been planted their by Him.
An authentic walk with the LORD is characterized and authenticated by the bearing of good fruit (Gal. 5:16, 22-23). When we flourish in our relational walk with the precious Savior, He grants us His enabling grace and we are able to bear His fruit.
Conversely, if the person once saved does not abide in Christ he forfeits the forgiveness he once received (2 Pet. 1:9-11). We are not free to live in sin and remain justified (Matt. 1:21; Jn. 1:29; Rom. 6:1-2, 15; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Jn. 3:1-15). God dealt with sin at the cross when Jesus “who knew no sin” became sin for us in order to redeem us (2 Cor. 5:21). At the cross the Father momentarily turned His holy face from Christ who had become sin for us (Matt. 27:46).
Why did Jesus Christ come and die? Did He come to save us from some or all sin?
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from ALL iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14
Burned or Blessed
Fruit is the proof that there is relationship. Obedience to the LORD is the expression that a person truly loves God and isn’t a mere professor, a counterfeit tare. Memorize Matthew 7:21, Titus 1:16, and 1 John 2:4.
ANY PERSON WHO ISN’T OBEYING GOD’S WORD DOES NOT LOVE GOD AND IS AS SURE FOR HELL AS IF HE WERE ALREADY THERE (Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16; James 1:22; 1 John 2:3-6; Revelation 2:26, etc.).
Regrettably, some want to believe they are insulated from judgment whether they continue to trust Christ or not. Jesus gave the promise of eternal assurance to those who are currently in relationship with Him and also guaranteed that those who do not abide (remain, continue) with Him will become spiritually “withered” and “cast…into the fire, and they are burned.”
Notice the curse pronounced upon those who do not continue with Jesus and the abundant blessings for those who do:
“If a man abide 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. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:6-8
Obviously it is possible for “a man” to “abide not” in the relationship with the Vine (Jesus) or such a statement would never have been made by our LORD. Let’s look at two of the blessings bestowed upon the lives of those who abide in Christ:
Answered prayer – “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
Fruitfulness – “that ye bear much fruit.”
Bearing fruit in God’s kingdom is very important to Him, and in particular, fruit that remains. Fruit bearing is the premium measure of His abiding and sanctifying presence and work in each of His saints. He produces His holy and good fruit as the believer abides in fellowship with and obedience to Him. In Scripture we never witness the slightest hint that abiding is an automatic and salvation an involuntarily fixed state. The initial and perpetual involvement of the recipient is required by the One who so loved that He gave. Like a good farmer, the LORD told us that He prunes or purges His own so that they bear even greater fruit whereby He is glorified.
“…every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2
So, the child of God should rejoice that He is being purged. It reveals that the LORD is pruning him to be a vessel to bear even more of His fruit.
The Vine also tells us in John 15 of the end of those who do not remain or “abide” in Him.
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away…If a man abide 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 15:2, 6
According to the LORD Jesus Christ, the person who does not continue to love the LORD supremely after He saves that soul, is taken away from the Vine, withered, and cast into the fire to be burned.
Notice closely in the above passage that it is the “man” who does not remain in Christ who is cast forth into the fire and not the branch. Our LORD only uses the imagery of the branch burning to help the hearer understand that He will cast forth into the eternal fires of damnation all who do not bear His fruit on that final Day. God’s Word is full of warning words like these about being burned up in unquenchable fire (Mk. 9:42-49).
Christ speaks in John 15 of “fruit…more fruit…much fruit,” and “that your fruit should remain.”
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16
Fruit and fruit that remains is of premium value in the kingdom economy.
“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for (consistent with) repentance.” Matthew 3:8
Who spoke these words? To whom was he speaking?
It is intriguing to note that John the Baptist spoke these words as he was speaking to men who were highly religious but not righteous in the eyes of God.
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father (religious affiliation): for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matthew 3:7-10
Didn’t Jesus tell us to know or discern others by their fruits? Also, aren’t we known by others by the fruit our lives bear? (Matt. 7:16, 20) He also informs us: “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matt. 7:19)
We are told to bring forth the real and tangible evidence (fruit) that we have answered the divine call and laid down our lives to follow Christ. The focus, affections, and actions of our lives are to conform to that inward work Christ began in us when He saved us (Phil. 2:12-13). This fruit will be that which is consistent with the grace of God which granted genuine heart repentance. We are dead and our lives are hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). We no longer live – He does (Gal. 2:20). The fruit of the true believer will be divine grace at work. His life will be marked by certain landmark, irrefutable characteristics. For the one who is truly in Christ, old things are passed away and all things are become new (2 Cor. 5:17-18).
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10
Recently, I spoke with a man who said he was saved and knew most of the correct things to say. He has been an active member of the most popular evangelical denomination in America, and has been taught that as long as he believes, he is saved. Yet, saving faith is defined much differently in Scripture. Saving faith is always seen in the fruit of the possessor’s daily life. This man’s perspective is all too common.
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19
It’s not enough to just say one has faith. In God’s economy, good fruit is an earmark of kingdom citizenship. Father, please bless us to abide in Christ and to bear His fruit.
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2
The fruit of being born again and remaining in Christ, is always according to Galatians 5:22-23. (love, joy, peace…)
Our works are the good fruit born out of Christ’s salvation and present work in our lives. Those good works do not save us but are a mere outworking of His great salvation in us.
Taking up the cross, suffering the death of self, is not earning us salvation… it’s simply rendering worship-filled “obedience to the faith” (Romans 1:5) – faith in the ONE who bled on that cross to earn salvation for us, all by Himself!
On this note of the premiere fruit of love, Cindy Rose Hatfield writes:
“Jesus taught us that the greatest commandments were to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbor as we love our self (Matthew 22:37, 39 KJB). When we strive to keep these commandments, we take the focus off ourselves and place it where it should be—on God and on helping others. In the Christian life devoid of ego, the ‘I will’ becomes a ‘thy will.'”
The life that is truly submitted to Christ bears unmistakable telltale fruit. Every one of us can be known by our fruits.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:22-24
Hindrances to Fruitfulness
Jesus has a question for us to ask ourselves – before it is too late:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46
Why lie? Why pretend? Not remaining in fellowship with Christ means we are not abiding (remaining) in Him. Living in blatant disobedience to the commands of the LORD is clear evidence that one’s heart is not in fellowship with Him. The lack of fruit is the attestation of the lack of relationship. The existence of good fruit is the verification of a life-giving relationship.
The Alpha and Omega told us exactly why a person becomes unfruitful after hearing the Word.
“And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Mark 4:16-19
If I have more time to pursue the pleasures of this sinful world than I do to seek the face of the Savior I profess to know, I have deceived myself. The one who truly loves the LORD, counts Jesus more important than all else in this life and wards off the false prophets and temptations that call him to worship at the altar of false gods.
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22
In the Mark 4 text above, did you catch the 3 things Christ told us choke out the life of God in us – making us “unfruitful”?
- “Cares of this world”
- “The deceitfulness of riches”
- “The lusts of other things”
Jesus said that these 3 things “entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” “Unfruitful” here means lacking the fruit consistent with a life that is rooted, grounded, and abiding in Christ and therefore assured and blessed. Beloved, we should stop here to examine whether or not the evidence of our lives reveals us to be real believers. Please show us Jesus!
When I am not putting first His kingdom by seeking His face and doing His will, “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
Remember what the Holy Spirit told us through Jude?
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water (have talk but not walk), carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.” Jude 12
Jude tells us that those who once knew Christ and have since fallen away, have withered fruit that was once healthy, are without fruit, twice dead, and plucked up by the roots. Scary isn’t it?
“When we believe that Christ is our Righteousness … we’re empowered to bear the Fruit of Righteousness!” Lynn Blakeney
This world and all the sinfulness in it will soon pass away. The message of holy Writ tells us beforehand that the King of all kings is coming soon and will separate the wheat from the tares, sending the tares to a burning and eternal inferno. Our LORD was intent upon us understanding this truth. In Matthew 13’s account, He summed up His long parabolic discourse concerning the eternal separation of the real and counterfeit (wheat/tares) with these words:
“So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.” Matthew 13:49-51
Is He Truly “First”?
Truly placing the LORD first in our lives and setting our affections daily upon Him and His kingdom work is paramount to our fruitfulness. What a blessed privilege to know Him and be known of Him! Help us love You more LORD Jesus!
In Matthew 6 Jesus was speaking to us about food and clothing and said “For after all these things do the Gentiles (those who do not have a covenant relationship with the LORD) seek.” (Matt. 6:32) He was conveying to us that is characteristic of those who do not know Him to greedily pursue the menial things of this fleeting life. Then He told us that as we – His children – seek first His kingdom, “all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33) So, is the insatiable, endless appetite and pursuit of that which will perish with the using ever going to fill or satisfy us? What is driving us? What do we lack inside that would drive us to chase that which those who do not know Christ strive after as if there is an answer in those things?
Learning to be thankful and content with what we currently have is not only a test, but it is also essential to kingdom living and the fruit of an abiding life.
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11
“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:8
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5
The secret to keeping our relationship alive with Christ is the daily, ceaseless pursuit of Him with joyful thanksgiving for the “great salvation” He has graciously purchased for us with His own blood (Heb. 2:3, 9). The best defense against evil weeds in the garden of our heart and mind truly is a powerful, militantly advancing offense. As we awake each morning to burst forth in exuberant praise to our God, the enemy is hindered in his work and our day begins with advancing and conquering faith.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
A person only falls into the pursuit of earthly pleasures when he is not seeking first – as his ultimate life priority – the King and His kingdom.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:33-34
If I do not daily seek Him in intimate prayer and in His Word, it is because I am engrossed in self-idolatry, seeking my own selfish ends, and not truly and duly worshipping, and upholding the God who made and bought me. “Ye shall have no other gods before me.” (Exod. 20:3)
Maintaining the “good works”, the disciplines of a holy life that is in communion with Christ, is essential to fruitfulness in God’s kingdom.
“And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” Titus 3:14
Maintaining the first fruit time of Bible study and prayer communion is indispensable to continuing to keep our lives in vital union with the Vine Himself. Nothing can be more rewarding – now and forever. Rendering to the Master the first minutes of our day, our very initial waking moments, is crucial to abiding close with our Savior.
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35
“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalms 5:3
If I don’t spend time with the Father in prayer communion, it must be due to the fact that something or someone else has become more important than Him. Heal our idolatry LORD! If my life is one endless pursuit to fulfill my own needs and desires (spiritual adultery and idolatry), it is because Jesus is not truly my first love. “First” means first.
- “Let each day have its value from your calling to abide in Christ. As its light opens on your waking eyes, accept it on these terms: a day, just one day only, but still a day, given to abide and grow up in Jesus Christ. Whether it be a day of health or sickness, joy or sorrow, rest or work, struggle or victory, let the chief thought with which you receive it in the morning thanksgiving be this: ‘This is a day that the Father has given; in it I may, I must, become more closely united to Jesus.’ As the Father asks, ‘Can you trust Me just for this one day to keep you abiding in Jesus, and Jesus keep you fruitful? you cannot help but give the joyful response: ‘I will trust and not be afraid.’” Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ, Pgs. 114-115
Though they had works which looked good on the outside, the people in the church at Ephesus had faded from upholding Jesus Christ as Head of their lives. This is exactly what inevitably occurs when the believer leaves off to experience Christ in personal communion. To this gathering of believers at Ephesus, Jesus said:
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5
The divine promise here is that if we do not repent and return to our first love, God will remove His holy presence (“candlestick”) from our lives – “quickly.”
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16
What’s the real score? Do I genuinely possess a relationship with Him or just profess or pretend to have one?
Our view of the One who is Judge of all is ultra important. He sees not as men see. Men see not as He sees (1 Sam. 16:7; Isa. 55:8-9). Jesus told us that those who are “born again” can “see (perceive) the kingdom of God.” According to how the born again believer lives in and by the Spirit and the Word, he is able to see or view or perceive the things the way God does.
IF you don’t love Jesus enough to lay down your life-you are none of His! (Luke 14:33; 17:33)
PRAYER: Holy Father, I ask You right here and now to grant my eyes to see and ears to hear what is priority to You. Do Your work in my heart and make me to be a rich and increasingly fruitful field for Your eternal glory. Please fill my heart afresh with Your love. Also, grant me the privilege to help others to be fruitful and that that fruit might remain to the end. LORD Jesus thank You for finding, saving, washing me and for continuing Your good pleasure in my life. I love You. Take full possession of my life Father, ground me in the cross life, and produce Your holy fruit in me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
todd tomasella
Holy Ghost Baptism Study Guide (highly recommended)
Becoming Rooted and Grounded in Christ
Bride of Heaven vs Harlot from Hell [podcast]
Preacher Viciously Attacked for Speaking the Truth! [podcast]
Articles
Jesus Paid it All [podcast]
“by the sacrifice of himself“
“Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Hebrews 9:26
“ALL have sinned” against our God and so our own good works do not atone for our sins (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10, 23; Ephesians 2:8-9, etc.). ONLY Jesus could and did do that for us – make the atonement that brings us back to God.
The LORD is “Holy, holy, holy” and therefore takes sin seriously (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). The coming of Jesus to die on that cross reveals how loving God is and how personal He takes sin. The LORD therefore “appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” The Son of God came in person to pay the full debt for the sin of mankind – “It is finished” which means paid in full (John 19:30).
Jesus “obtained eternal redemption for us” – “by his own blood.”
“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
“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins IN HIS OWN BLOOD,” Revelation 1:5
“WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3
ALL “BY HIMSELF” Jesus redeemed us, bought, brought us back to God by the shedding of His precious blood on that cross. Jesus needed no help: He alone was sufficient to propitiate, expiate, atone for the sins of mankind.
Jesus, I thank You for shedding Your precious blood for me and washing me afresh right now. I love You LORD Jesus!
The LORD desires to take His people “from glory to glory.” Think about that.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
As we seek and behold the face of our LORD, He will take us “from glory to glory” – deeper into the revelation of who He is, His eternal plan, and the inestimable blessings of the covenant He secured and ratified in His own precious blood (Matthew 26:28).
Jesus ALL “BY HIMSELF purged our sins” … Christ single handedly paid the sin debt with His perfect sacrifice on that cross – “It is finished” means paid in full (John 19:30).
“What the judiazers miss is that Jesus Fulfilled the Law at the Cross….Jesus being the perfect sacrifice was the Fulfilment.” Byron Wilson
“THE Lamb of God” has come and died, was buried, and raised again from the dead to fully justify His people, having redeemed them by the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:20)
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
Christ is our passover (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The passover of the OT was a mere shadow of what Christ is the substance, the solution. The passover, the sprinkling of the blood of sacrificed lambs by the people of God was prophetic of the coming Messiah which merely prefigured what He has come and already did – shed His precious blood on that cross to redeem us from our sins (Exodus 12; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 3:18). The doorposts were sprinkled/brushed with sacrificial animal blood in the shape of a cross which was a prophetic foreshadowing, prefiguring of our LORD Jesus Christ who was to come and has now come to die on that cross (Exodus 12:22-23). “It is finished” means paid in full (John 19:30). The price for your sins has been paid in full. Read Hebrews 8-10 several times prayerfully.
Why would anyone go to eternal damnation in hell when Jesus paid the full price for their sin, to bring them to Heaven? Unbelief.
Anyone who gets saved and then doesn’t drill down into the doctrinal letters and epistles and get grounded in grace through faith justification and living, will be susceptible to being deceived by the antichrist judaizers in our midst. It will cost many of them their eternal souls. There will be not 1 law-keeping judaizing snake in Heaven. If you don’t know that, you are biblically illiterate. Romans. Galatians. Ephesians. Philippians. Colossians. Hebrews.
Dear law-keeper, Torah-keeper: Tell us all how NEW Testament saints are not justified by Christ’s sacrifice…. Tell us how we must help God out to justify us …. when the Bible declares that ALL of our own righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
ANY person who adds anything to salvation except Christ, is antichrist! Salvation is Jesus Christ plus nothing.
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Hebrews 1:1-3
Jesus sealed the New Covenant in His own blood when He died on the cross.
“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28
Moses vs Jesus …. Every person must choose – John 1:17.
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
2 Corinthians 3 and Hebrews 8-10 contrast the infinitely superior NEW Covenant with the old covenant it replaced, superseded. Amazing! Now check out John 1:17. Moses = OLD. Jesus Christ = NEW!
Shall we be under Moses, the law, or Christ, the Gospel? Do you want the bondage of the law or the freedom of Christ, the only One to ever keep the whole law perfectly – before He nailed it to the cross and took is away?! (Colossians 2:14-19)
“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke (the law) upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” Acts 15:10
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (the law).” Galatians 5:1
Of this distinction between Moses and Jesus, law and grace, one disciple writes:
“The yoke of Moses’ law is heavy and oppressive. The yoke of the cross is easy and light. Matt 11:28-30. Why? The law cannot give one resurrection life. Rom 7:10. The cross, through faith, confers resurrection life and power on the recipient. The cross is on every page of the Bible either in type and shadow (OT) or reality (NT).
The cross and resurrection with Christ (grace) is totally antithetical to law/tradition/external observances/human effort. It astounding to see how much of the New Testament is devoted to teaching the difference in the two. Identifying Sin (behavioral management) and its consequences is addressed far far less.
Why? Because righteous living is a spontaneous byproduct of resurrection life and power. Without resurrection, the law multiplies the number of sins committed. Rom 5:20; 7:5″
If you will be planted deep into Christ, your Christology, your study of, your personal knowledge of Christ must be deep, not shallow (Colossians 2:6-10).
The Book of Hebrews!
Reading the book of Hebrews, pouring over it perhaps several times, will do wonders for your understanding and lay the foundation in New Covenant truth. In no other book of the Bible is the comparison, the contrast of the Old and New Covenants so poignantly displayed.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
GOD values our FAITH in HIM, most (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is a Gospel essential. It is rebellion to try to merit or do something GOD alone can and did do – paying the full, the whole, the entire, the perfect price for our sins! Christ! His cross! Faith connects us with God. Faith in Christ, His perfect sacrifice for us, appropriates His blessed salvation and all of His many benefits to those who are His. FAITH not works! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“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 2:8-10
Just because Jesus paid it all does not mean that Jesus doesn’t have stated conditions for receiving His gift of salvation. Repentance and faith are those conditions and true repentance and faith will be demonstrated, proved by who we love which is who we obey! (Matthew 3:7-10; Luke 9:23-24; 14:27, 33; 17:33; John 14:15; 15:14; Romans 6; James 2; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.). – “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
“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
Was Christ’s sacrifice perfect? What it enough? Yes or no?
One MUST leave Christ, to depart from the only Savior, to go back to law-keeping. Such a person has denied Christ, has “fallen from grace” – is under a spirit of witchcraft, and is no longer saved (Galatians 3:3; 5:4).
The Galatia believers allowed themselves to be sucked in, to be seduced, and the result was that they fell from saving grace (Galatians 3:1-3; 5:4). They were drawn away from saving grace in Christ to law-keeping and then fell away.
Memory Verse
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1
God desires that the hearts of His people be “with grace.”
“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” Hebrews 13:9
Hebrews 8-10 contrasts the infinitely inferior Old Covenant with the infinitely superior New Covenant which was ratified in the very blood of Jesus Christ, which was merely foreshadowed under the Old Testament.
Redemption Through Christ’s Perfect Blood Sacrifice
None of us is perfect. We have “ALL sinned” against our Maker (Romans 3:10, 23). And that makes us fully guilty of breaking the whole law and worthy of divine judgment (James 2:10). Only Jesus was perfect in keeping the whole law. He then nailed it to the cross and “took it out of the way.” (Colossians 2:14-19) This is the testimony, the message of Holy Scripture.
Read Romans 3-5 repeatedly.
Romans 10:4 – the law is over for righteousness. “The end.”
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:4
WHO is “the end of the law for righteousness”? “CHRIST”! (Romans 10:4)
1. The Ten commandments are the Old Covenant: Ex 34:27-28
2. The Old Covenant was abolished: Heb 8:13
3. The Ten Commandments are therefore abolished! “For righteousness” (Romans 10:4)
One disciple writes: “The law causes people to sin, people who would not otherwise have sinned without the law. Rom 5:20 (“causes transgressions to INCREASE, not decrease); 7:5 (the motions of sins which are caused by the law); all of Rom 7 which says the apart from the law sin is dead. The law revived sin in Paul’s life when it was formerly dormant. Moses’ law is a slavery and a curse which Jesus died to free us from. Rom 8:2; Gal 3:10-13. The law is the enemy of the Christian just as much as Sin and Satan are. The law kills. 2 Corinthians 3:4-7 and is a ministry of condemnation and death. 2 Cor 3. The law killed Jesus. Jn 19:7”
The keeping of a certain day, circumcision, or reenacting Jewish festivals that merely foreshadowed Him who has now come for all people, has no value. For the Jews (not NT Christians), those things were instituted and were mere “shadows” pointing to Christ Himself before He came, but now He has ALREADY COME. He completed His work perfectly and put away the law for righteousness and replaced that Old Covenant with His new covenant which is based upon better promises (Hebrew 7-10; Colossians 2:14-17; Galatians 4:1-10). This is a basic truth of New Testament Christianity and if the saint doesn’t get this in their heart, he can be vulnerable to be deceived by judaizers as we are so often specifically warned concerning.
YOU MUST CHOOSE: If you are going to be a law-keeper, you’d better not miss even one jot or tittle of the law or you are guilty of breaking it all.
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10
Or, you could repent and trust Christ who is the only One to perfectly keep the law. Then He nailed it to the cross and took it away for righteousness (Colossians 2:14-19).
DO you realize that if you are a law-keeper, you are an antichrist? You have openly denied Christ, denied His perfect sacrifice and are foolishly attempting to keep the law perfectly instead of repenting and trusting the only One who ever kept the law perfectly and then nailed it to the cross, taking it away for righteousness (Romans 10:4 Colossians 2:14-19).
ANY person trying to keep the law to be justified in God’s eyes has no clue who the Son of God is nor why He came. They are lost. This includes all sabbath-keeping idolaters and Jewish feast keepers, etc.
Are you seeking to earn your salvation, your place with God? Or, are you trusting Christ, the only Mediator between you and God? (1 Timothy 2:5)
Obeying God after He saves us is the expression of our love for Him and not that which justifies us. HE alone justifies us. Only God Himself can justify a man and yet He set conditions. And yes, those who know Him will definitely obey Him and yet their obedience doesn’t justify them, God alone can do that. Memorize Romans 4:4-5 today.
Heather Hunter McKowen writes:
“Romans 7 says: ‘For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”
The law reveals it is man who is full of sin, dead and in need of a Savior. The law is still a school master for those who have yet to come to the faith.
Galatians 3:
“Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Galatians 3:21-25
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America
“We’re Watching The Collapse of America in Real Time” [podcast]
Greatest Country in the World? – such a statement and others are the glue that holds the enslaved to their slave masters. And there was many more.
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17
America has for at least decades rejected God, even those who claim they are saved. They are bound for eternal damnation. They are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”
Is America what it used to be? I think not. America is reaping what it has sowed. More on God’s judgment on nations in a moment.
So why would present judgment upon the USA be a surprise to the true born again Bible saints? Would this not prove that we ourselves are still in darkness?
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,” Romans 1:22
Business as Usual? I don’t think so. Redemptive withdrawal at work – where God is removing His hand of protection over the USA due to the sin and unrepentant rebellion of the people. Notice how this starts – when we live in sin, we are unrepentant, we are digging out own pit.
“The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalms 9:16-17
“Excellent podcast! And I agree America is on a downward spiral of evilness I don’t believe we have ever seen, as we are nearing the end times. I think of 2 Tim 3:1-4. But what really sticks out is v3 ‘without natural affection,’. Isn’t this exactly what we are seeing? Natural affection in the Greek ‘astorgos’ meaning natural and instinctual family love for parents, and children is gone. Yet our society is now without this love and their hearts and has become hardened from the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12-15). The root cause is self-idolatry. The people have become ‘lovers of their own selves’. Children are now a burden to their lives, instead of a blessing from the Lord. So when that happens we kill them, we murder our own children. People are doing so either in the womb or whenever they tire of them. In our wicked society, killing children has become celebrated. Just recently Massachusetts passed a law, that you can kill your own baby up to birth. This was applauded, by these demonic, feminist, Jezebels! Remarkably, there was not one man standing with them when this was signed. This is how far America has come. Killing children is acceptable and applauded! God’s judgment is definitely upon us. We are rotten in absolute unrepentant rebellion all the way to the very core.” Karen Cochran
How did we get here?
What sins was Sodom committing when the LORD judged them?
PFA = Pride, Fulness of Bread, and Abundance of idleness.
The Sins of Sodom:
Sins Jerusalem cited for in Ezekiel 16:49-51:
- Pride (arrogance),
- Fulness of Bread (gluttony, hoarding),
- Abundance of Idleness (idle, lazy),
- did not help those in need due to preoccupation with self-worship (not generous in spreading God’s wealth to His people and work)
- haughty
- committed abomination (rampant fornication – just as in the days leading up to the Noahic flood. See Genesis 6)
Judgment is at hand.
HERE IS WHERE WE ARE – There’s a timing of judgment for each nation. The LORD has called America to repent for decades and she has refused and will not be repenting. She has wiped her mouth like she did nothing wrong. The people will not acknowledge their gross sin and only wants her freedom back in order to go back to living as she pleases but has no conviction of her sin to lead her to true repentance.
“AT WHAT INSTANT”
God has a specific timing for the judgment on each nation.
Jeremiah 18:10
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
7 At what INSTANT I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
Clear proof that America is under divine judgment. Rampant injustice such as judges giving bond to murderers and rapists so they can (and they are) go out and do it again. Read Isaiah 3.
Over 60 million murdered in cold blood precious babies, and county, with no voice crying out for abortion to cease.
No political party or candidate can save America from divine judgment. Only repentance could have done such—yet those claiming to be God’s people have refused (Jeremiah 18:1-10; 2 Chronicles 7:14).
Most other nations are not under such judgment at this time and this underscores the timing of God in judging individual nations. Those who live elsewhere or travel can testify that other nations are not the cascading catastrophe the United States presently is. The LORD told us that He has an “instant” in time, a specific time for the judgment of each nation – and in the end the final judgment of all nations (Jeremiah 18:1-10; Matthew 25:31-46).
“I see this on men’s faces all over America. The women have rotted their bones with their words! They destroy him and tear him down so much so that he stops fighting and surrenders to her. This is how they gain complete control. They strip him and tear him down to nothing. He then gives up.” Karen Cochran
At the time of this writing, nearly $1 million has been donated to the wicked woman’s defense fund by other wicked women who are defending her murders of her own three precious children and blaming her husband for it.
CONCERNING the woman who just murdered her three precious children, her attorney is using the “mental health episode” excuse. In other words, in the USA it’s okay to murder, even your own children, since after all, perhaps the pharmakeia drugs weren’t working good enough. So, your punishment is minimal. Justice perverted (Isaiah 5:20-24). | Sorcery, Pharmakeia | The Drugging of America
SHE knew exactly what she was doing and anyone defending this woman’s actions is accursed, pure evil. Sit down Jezebel. SIN and Satan is what was going on in this woman’s mind. As has been stated, “Sin will take you further than you want to go, will charge you more than you want to pay, and will keep you longer than you want to stay.” unknown …
There are consequences for our decisions.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8
We have all sinned against our Maker and are in need of His forgiveness before it’s too late. Call on Jesus today if you wish to be forgiven. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). America is over but eternity lies before each of us.
The Following Comments are Proof that the Sisterhood of Eve is Alive and Well
“Once you support murdering babies, there isn’t an evil left that you can’t justify.” Jesse
“Everyone that donated should get the injection along with the mother.”
“Women trying to escape accountability …. nothing new. I don’t recall men standing behind Chris Watts for nuking his family.”
“Killing of kids and even unborn ones are things that unite women the most for the last few decades.”
“I don’t think it’s ever been more over than it is now guys.”
“What if the husband committed this heinous act & he was suffering from depression? Would the women supporting and defending her, would have supported and defended the husband too and blamed it on depression? The answer is NO.”
“She planned it, sent her husband on a chore to get rid of him….then executed her children….”
“If a man had done it, NO WOMAN would be making excuses for him.”
“Guys, when Eve was seduced by the devil in the garden it wasn’t fiction.”
“At this point I am thinking ‘who seduced whom?’ “
“I have been shocked at the level of evilness in these women who are defending this demon! There is absolutely no doubt she did it! The prosecution said she did it, her lawyer said she did it, and she admitted herself she did it. And yet these lunatics are saying her husband did it. He wasn’t even home, as she sent him to the store. Sounds like pre-meditation to me. And not one mention of these three precious babies she killed, one by one! Oh boy! I have righteous anger over this. Especially because they are blaming the husband when she said, ‘I DID IT‘!!” Karen Cochran
The Killing Field known as the United States of America is under Divine Judgment – repent now, before it’s too late. You are going to burn in hell, consciously, irrevocably. Make Peace with God now. Jesus is calling you to Himself.
The right to abort, to murder one’s own precious innocent baby has given way to this exponential murderous evil – including murdering your own born babies. ALL abortion is murder and anyone in any way involved, has the blood of innocent babies on their wicked hands.
“Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
The LORD our Maker sees all.
- Proverbs 28:15: “As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.”
- Proverbs 29:2: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
- Ecclesiastes 5:8: “If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.”
- Isaiah 10:1-2: “Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!”
- Daniel 2:21: “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”
- Micah 3:9-11: “Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD…”
- Psalm 2:10-12: “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 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.”
- Psalm 82:1-2, 6-8: “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? … I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most Highest. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.”
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Abiding
Antichrist or Christ? [podcast]
Recorded at a fellowship in Colorado.
Who is truly reigning in my heart?
“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” Luke 19:27
Am I an antichrist?
Are there professing Christians who have “the spirit of antichrist” reigning in their hearts, their personal lives?
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Sitting upon the throne in the heart of this temple would make me an antichrist.
Anti as in antichrist means in place of: It’s the “spirit of antichrist” working through Satan’s false ministers that robs the glory from Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:12-15; Colossians 1:18; 2:8-10, 18-19; 1 John 4:1-3, etc.).
anti – a. Against, opposed to. b. Before, predating. c. Usurping, in place of.
“Deceived people have no idea that they have been deceived, so they fight those who attempt to direct them back to the truth of the gospel.” Jim Borge
Those not excited for Jesus to return simply love this fleeting world and are not ready to meet the KING! Jesus is coming
We know when “that spirit of antichrist” is working through a rebel when he speaks contrary to God’s Word (John 8:47; 1 John 4:3). “That spirit of antichrist” – anti (in place of) Christ is anything that contradicts what God’s Word says, working to subvert divinely stated truth while posing as Christ’s minister (2 Corinthians 11:12-15).
“That spirit of antichrist” is witnessed in the human agents, possessed by devils who make it all about something, anything but Christ. The emphasis is taken away from Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:18-19). They make it about the church, Zionism/Israel, a nation, a genealogical people, a mere pastor, a man or men, an organization, a creed, a fraternal order, etc. This becomes clearer as the word “antichrist” is broken down. Anti means in place of.
Read Colossians 1 and 2 each morning this week.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:1-4
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Christology | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | The 7 Sayings of Jesus on the Cross | How We Know the Bible is the Only Holy Book | More on Antichrists
Jesus Paid it All [podcast]
“We’re Watching The Collapse of America in Real Time” [podcast]
Antichrist or Christ? [podcast]
How Has Women Leaving Their Homes Hurt Culture?
Was Jesus the “One and Only Son” OR the “Only Begotten Son”? [podcast]
“Fear hath Torment” – 100% Deliverance from all Fear! [podcast]
Jacob’s Ladder: What Does it Mean to Us? [podcast]
The Idiocy of Calvinism
Church History or the Scriptures? [podcast]
Mission Mexico Part 46 [podcast]
The Cross in the Book of Job [podcast]
Apostasy Dialogues
The Gracious LORD will Abundantly Pardon [podcast]
“If God be For Us Who can be Against Us?” [podcast]
The Book of Jude Narrated [podcast]
The Idiocy of Calvinism
The Communication of Thy Faith
Jesus Paid it All [podcast]
“Fear hath Torment” – 100% Deliverance from all Fear! [podcast]
Jacob’s Ladder: What Does it Mean to Us? [podcast]
Was Jesus the “One and Only Son” OR the “Only Begotten Son”? [podcast]
“The Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” [podcast]
Exhort One Another Daily [podcast]
Overcoming that Old Serpent, Called the Devil, and Satan [podcast]
Jezebel The Depths of Satan [video]
“Seven Women shall take hold of One Man” [podcast]
Church History or the Scriptures? [podcast]
Redemption Through Christ’s Sacrifice [podcast]
“Warn them from Me”: The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast]
Apostasy Dialogues
Jesus Paid it All [podcast]
“We’re Watching The Collapse of America in Real Time” [podcast]
Antichrist or Christ? [podcast]
America1 year agoThe Drugging of America: The Pharmakeia Sorcery Deception [podcast]
- Articles3 years ago
Children being Rescued in Tunnels: Happening Now – UPDATE!
- Articles8 years ago
Self-Examination in Preparation for the Lord’s Return
- Apostasy3 years ago
SHOCKING List of False Prophets Most Believe are True
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It’s interesting that those I am closest to, all had the same sense this past weekend…. As events are unfolding in the USA…..