WHAT ABOUT JUDAS? [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

The Son of Perdition Exposed

Dear eternal security adherent:

You cannot take one verse or passage and make a conclusion without the whole of Scripture agreeing. Judas was chosen, sent out by Christ to preach Christ’s Gospel, raise the dead, and heal the sick (Matthew 10:1-8), and was promised a throne in Heaven (Matthew 19:28) and died and went to Hell for betraying Jesus (Acts 1:25). He followed Christ and then departed from the Son of God. Jesus says that one can believe and then “fall away” (Luke 8:13). Are you going to call the Son of God a liar? Are you going to tell God He can’t eliminate transgressors from His own kingdom? See Revelation 21:8. Since when do you tell God what to do?

The truth about Judas is a death nail and nightmare to the calvinist and OSAS/eternal security adherent.

If “once saved always saved” is true, then what about Judas?

“That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas BY TRANSGRESSION FELL, that he might go to his own place (Hell).” Acts 1:25

How did Judas fall away from the LORD? Can we let the One he fell away from answer that important question? “Judas BY TRANSGRESSION FELL.” (Acts 1:25) Note here that Judas did not fall because he was predestined to fall by some divine pre-selection, but because he made the deliberate and ongoing personal decision to live in sin against a holy God. The idea, as supposed by the Calvinistic mindset, that the Almighty chose Judas to transgress and betray the Son of God is obliterated by numerous Scriptures, including James 1.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15

This statement of divine authority clearly and forever establishes that the LORD never leads a person to sin. The LORD may turn the unrepentant transgressor over to be deluded, but that is only after that hardened offender has intentionally lived in contempt against His holiness (2 Thess. 2:10-12). The glorious grace of God, provided through Christ’s costly sacrifice, is not a license for sin. Divine grace is rather the blessing of God for His people to enable them to fellowship with Him and to please Him fully and be fruitful in His holy kingdom. The Savior’s grace is supplied in ample and sufficient supply to those who truly choose to love and serve Him.

First and foremost, Judas was not chosen before time to betray the Son of God, but rather was one of Christ’s twelve, chosen to love and to serve Him. The LORD did not foreordain that Judas would fall but rather He simply foreknew that Judas would fall. Judas was selected to be one of only twelve men Christ would pour His life into (during His 3.5 year ministry on earth) in order to lay the foundation of the New Testament Church. I believe that it is highly offensive to a holy God for any person claiming to be His to indict Christ for purposefully bringing into His ministry a man who was a devil (originally, when chosen). The fact that Jesus “knew from the beginning who…should betray him” in no way alleviates God-given free will. Judas never lost the divinely-given freedom of choice – to choose and to continue to decide whom he would serve.

“But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus KNEW from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” John 6:64

“Jesus knew…who should betray him.” Such divine foreknowledge does not affect the moral choice He granted to every man to exercise himself for or against the LORD (Rom. 6:16). The cult of calvinism denies the foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23; 1 Peter 1:2). Just because God foreknew everything, in no way means He tampers with any one person’s free will (James 1:13-15). Faith is always a choice and a privilege. There are those who believe and those who “believe not.” Believing and rebelling in unbelief is a divinely-granted choice and each brings its own reward from the One who made man with the ability to choose. Those who exercise their faith toward the LORD please Him and those who don’t, displease Him (Romans 1:16-18; Hebrews 3:12-15; 10:34-39; 11:6). In the case of Christ’s original twelve, eleven chose to initially and continually trust Christ through much tribulation and one freely chose to betray Him.

“Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.” John 6:70-71

Of Judas, Christ told His twelve: “One of you is a devil.” Was Judas a devil because God created him to be a devil or because he “by transgression” fell from grace and became a devil? Nowhere does the Word tell us that Judas was from the beginning a devil but rather that Christ knew from the beginning (in His divine foreknowledge) that Judas would betray Him. Jesus says here that “one of you is a devil.” At the time of this statement, Judas had already betrayed Christ in his heart and was therefore a “devil.” The fact that he was a devil at that point does not mean he was always a devil.

The Almighty “inhabiteth eternity” and therefore knows all – past, present and future (Isaiah 57:15). Such divine foreknowledge (all-knowing) does not affect the free will He granted to every man to exercise either for or against Him.

How could Judas always have been a devil if he was Jesus’ “own familiar friend” and sent forth by Jesus Himself to represent Him in ministry? Satan entered Judas at the end of Christ’s ministry which proves he was not always an agent of the devil or a devil from the beginning but rather that he became Christ’s enemy by his own deliberate choices.

“The betrayal of Jesus by Judas didn’t just happen incidentally or accidentally. Satan had been working on Judas for a long time. By this tragic event recorded in the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit wanted all to know what an opportunity this man Judas had thrown away. The OSAS (once saved always saved) false teaching is no different. It did not just happen. Satan sold a lie and many, like Judas, will throw away the greatest opportunity that the Lord had given them (Luke 22:3-4). Judas went his own way and not God’s way.” CB

Let’s peek into the scenario on the very night before our Jesus was crucified and observe how things unfolded:

“Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. THEN entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.” Luke 22:1-6

“THEN entered Satan into Judas” –It was only “then” –after the religious leaders sought to kill Jesus that Satan entered into Judas. This proves that Judas was not always a devil or traitor.

Here’s the same account from the Gospel of John:

“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.” John 13:1-2

Judas’ betrayal of the Son of God did not come in an instant. His hardened heart of unbelief was a process (Hebrews 3:12-15). Judas’ backsliding and heart-hardening sin was of his own doing. Like every individual, Judas made decisions in his brief earthly life which had and have eternal consequences. His refusal to believe and obey and continue to experience relationship with Christ, came through hours, days, and months of unbelief which hardened his heart. Such unbelief gave way to the infiltration of Satan (John 6:70-71; 13:2; Hebrews 3:12-15).

“And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.” John 13:2

Please re-read the above verse and ask the essential question who it was that put into Judas’ heart to betray Jesus. Was it God or Satan? Note: “…the DEVIL (not the LORD) having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.”

“God cannot be tempted with evil.” James 1:13

The enemy was able to “put into the heart of Judas…to betray” Christ due to Judas’ choice to live contrary to Him. The same potential remains true for all this side of eternity.

Like every believer in the Son of God, Judas was predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ and to be glorified with Him, yet his free will was never tampered with or removed (Romans 8:29-30). Many of those who have espoused an unbiblical grace do so because they have elevated certain Scriptures above other Scriptures and yet “All (not just some) scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). One of the erroneous beliefs of Calvinism is that it elevates and aggrandizes Romans 8:29 above Romans 8:13. This is the classic reason for the belief of false doctrine – conclusion of a matter without a full investigation and faith in the full-counsel of God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17).

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live…For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:13, 29-30

God loves all people and has predestined each to be washed in the blood of and conformed to the image of the Son of God and to be glorified with Him eternally. Yet, He leaves that ultimate choice up to the individual. The God who is love has provided sufficient and glorious grace for each to love and obey Him and to overcome. His grace truly is sufficient to those who exercise their faith in Him. Every blessing of the saint was provided through Christ’s one and perfect sacrifice on the cross (1 Corinthians 1:30-31; 2 Corinthians 1:20).

Just because a father desires and leads his son or daughter to become a doctor, does not guarantee that such will happen. The fact that the LORD, who is love, desires for all those created in His image to be with Him eternally, does not guarantee that will be the case (Matthew 7:13-14; 25:41).

“…Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15

The Reason Hell was Created

Those who choose to believe Him and are doers of His Word will be with Him eternally in Heaven (Revelation 2-3). Each individual is the servant of the one he chooses to serve – self or Jesus (Romans 6:15-16). Those who freely choose to betray Christ as Judas did by not loving and serving Him in deed and in truth, will spend eternity with the rest of God’s enemies in a place called hell which will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41

The original divine intent for this horrid place called “hell” was the divine justice of “everlasting punishment” for the devil and his angels (those who depart from the LORD due to their iniquity (Matthew 25:46). The purpose for Hell did not include one precious eternal human soul spending forever there. Yet, because men have free will and some will choose to live contrary to the divine Judge, they must be imprisoned eternally as rebels (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

There are a few different schools of thought in the Calvinistic camp. Some tout the teaching they call “the perseverance of the saints” while others term their belief “once saved always saved.” In each case those who have been taught these doctrines of mere men violate the biblical truth that men have free will and never lose the free will to choose while on earth. Any time one removes the Bible truth that God never forces men to do His will, they inevitably err.

“All Scripture” Must be Considered

“All (not some) scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine…” 2 Timothy 3:16

The one who believes in and teaches a no-responsibility salvation, does not adhere to “All scripture,” but rather isolates a certain verse or two here and there to make his point. This is the way heresy and false doctrine is propagated in the church world. “All Scripture” must be taken in context with the whole of the Word of God in order to apprehend the mind of Christ (2 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 28:10; 1 Corinthians 2:13). Error is inevitable when clear Bible truths are excluded (Hosea 4:6; Matthew 22:29; 1 Corinthians 2:13). “Precept upon precept; line upon line” learning is essential to sound biblical doctrine (Isaiah 28:10).

Judas, a man selected by the very Son of God to hold the highest office in the Church (Apostle), and promised an eternal throne, “by transgression FELL.” See Matthew 19:28. The Bible tells us that Judas was a man who was Christ’s “own familiar friend, in whom I trusted” (Psalm 41:9). Jesus not only chose Judas as one of His twelve, but “trusted” him so much so that He made Judas the treasurer of His ministry. Dare we insinuate that Jesus Christ, the very Righteousness of God, chose a devil or an evil man to be part of His ministry? Judas was originally fit for the ministry and “friend” of Christ’s, before He chose to turn from Christ. Judas Iscariot is now in “his own place (Hell)” because he refused to endure to the end or continue abiding in relationship with Christ. This very disciple of Jesus neglected to cultivate the soil of his heart and chose to live in disobedience to the clearly known will of God. Judas, like all believers, never lost his ability to choose life or death (Joshua 24:15; Deuteronomy 30:19; Isaiah 1:19-20, etc.).

The life of Judas is a nemesis to those who pervert, twist, and maul the true grace of God revealed in Holy Scripture. The grace corrupters are forced to downplay the apostleship of Judas and his relationship with Jesus in order to make their unconditional eternal security teaching palatable. For this same reason, they must overplay the prophetic fulfillment of the son of perdition (means utter destruction), not acknowledging that such a divine foreknowledge did nothing to remove Judas’ free will. Concerning this, Wayne Jackson writes:

“Another important fact that must be recognized is that foreknowledge does not demand predetermination. God foreknew that Judas, exercising his own free will, would betray his Son. These passages, therefore, reflect Heaven’s foreknowledge, but not a predetermined action over which the betrayer had no control. Even Presbyterian scholar Albert Barnes, in commenting on John 13:18, wrote: ‘It does not mean that Judas was compelled to this course in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled…’

A further illustration of this principle is seen in the fact that Christ was delivered up to death by the determinate counsel and the ‘foreknowledge’ of God (Acts 2:23), and yet the ones who were involved in the Savior’s crucifixion were held accountable for their evil deed (23b; cf. 36-38).

The frequent rationalization, ‘I can’t help what I do; I was predestined to do it,’ is a false notion, but one that finds ready acceptance in a modern world that seeks to escape from personal responsibility. The Scriptures teach that men will give an account on the day of Judgment for their own conduct (Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10) – not for actions thrust upon them by God. The very idea of such is an affront to the Almighty.” (Notes on Luke and John, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1954 Edition, p. 320).

Judas made volitional decisions. The LORD sovereignly created man with free will – the ability to choose the way he will go. Judas made choices to deny Christ and betray the Son of God. There was no divine influence whatsoever upon Judas to make him sin. We know this because “God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”

The unchanging, eternal God had nothing to do with Judas turning away from Him and to sin. God is love and God is holy and He leads no man into sin and to imagine such is to lie against the truth (James 3:14). The Almighty told us that He is “…not willing that ANY should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Of God the Word tells us:

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men.” Titus 2:11

Sin Separates – God Is Holy

“That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas BY TRANSGRESSION FELL, that he might go to his own place (eternal Hell).” Acts 1:25

The wages of sin is still death (separation from the Lord (Romans 6:23). Even before Adam and Eve fell by their own transgression, the angel Lucifer, who apparently held the highest office in Heaven among His angels, was cast down for his sin of pride (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Luke 10:18).

Was Judas without free will? Was he helpless? Was Judas’ sin forced upon him by the foreknowledge of God? Or was it volitional? Did Judas make a choice to betray Christ? Was Judas, as the Calvinist asserts, a pawn of the evil dealings of a wicked deity? What god does the Calvinist serve since he refuses to gain his theology from the one true God who gave us His precious written Word?

“Then Judas, which had betrayed him…Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood…went and hanged himself.” Matthew 27:3-5

Judas chose to sin and therefore fell from grace. Concerning this matter, Wayne Jackson writes:

“Some would suggest that Judas was but a helpless pawn, unable to resist the invasion of Satan into his life. That certainly is not the case, as even Judas himself conceded. He never pled: ‘I could not help myself; Satan made me do it!’ Rather, he confessed: ‘I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood’ (Matthew 27:4). It is a remarkable oddity when modern man, twenty centuries removed from the event, can profess to know more about the situation than the culprit himself!”

SIN SEPARATES – God told His own covenant people: “But YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).

Of His own people who had gone back into sin after being brought out of Egypt (type of salvation through Christ), the LORD said: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book” (Exodus 32:33).

Not only is divine grace not a license to sin, New Testament believers are under greater responsibility to live unto the LORD than Old Testament saints were (Hebrews 10:26-29). This is such an elementary truth of Scripture that it boggles this believer’s mind that there would be those who call themselves Christian teachers and theologians who will not teach this truth and give notion that unholy living will enter the gates of His holy Heaven! What treason is this!

Like Lucifer, Judas is a prime example in all of history that the all-knowing God forces no one of His children to continue to serve Him. Judas betrayed Christ and never repented so went to “his own place” – the place justly and divinely reserved for all who turn back from following the LORD and do not return in repentance. In contrast, Peter betrayed Christ and returned and is now in eternal glory where he will forever reign with His LORD and Savior.

Judas kissed the Gate of Heaven, the very Son of God, then turned and marched deliberately into eternal Hell, where he will forever be.

Perhaps Judas expected the Messiah to come the first time as a conquering King. Like many of the Jews, he had misguided expectations, which caused his heart to misfire as the Savior came the first time as the suffering servant and sacrificial Lamb (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Christ will return the second time as the conquering Warrior and “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19) Judas failed to discern the difference between the first and second coming of the Messiah as many in Israel did. This led to unfulfilled expectations. Like all false teaching and believing, this may have had a profound and negative effect on Judas. Jesus came as a suffering Servant the first time but will come as the conquering King the second time.

The LORD is a merciful and loving Savior (Psalm 86:5, 15). Jesus wanted to restore Judas to a right relationship with God. Christ even called Judas His “friend” in the Garden of Gethsemane all the way to the point of being taken to be crucified having been betrayed by the son of perdition (Matthew 26:49-50). Having been betrayed by Judas for a small amount of money, Christ still held out hope of redemption for him, but Judas refused the divinely-extended grace and betrayed Heaven’s King for a small amount of earthly money.

“Now he (Judas) that betrayed him (Jesus) gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore (why) art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.” Matthew 26:48-50

Jesus called Judas “Friend” all the way to the end. There is a significant truth here. In this perhaps we see that God’s love will pursue us all the way to Hell if we choose, after knowing Him, to betray Him and refuse to turn back to Him in repentance. Might this indicate that one is not separated from God’s love and the opportunity to repent until he leaves the earth? Romans 8:38-39 is written to those who are truly “sons of God” and are living according to the Holy Spirit and not the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:1, 5; 13-14). It is when one is abiding in the presence of the LORD that he has assurance and is secure in the love of God and not separated from Him who is love.

Matthew 10:1-5 – THE ORIGINAL TWELVE DISCIPLES OF JESUS

All John Calvin’s 5-point TULIP teaching stands or falls on Judas. The Calvinist loses his whole argument if Judas was truly saved as the Bible clearly shows he was.

To those who seek to justify Satan’s “eternal security” . . . “once saved always saved” heresy by saying Judas was never saved, I would ask: “So Jesus, the Son of God, chose out a devil to the highest office in His kingdom as one of His twelve original apostles? Jesus sent a devil to preach His Gospel, to cast out devils, to heal the sick, and raise the dead? Read Matthew 10:1-8. Jesus promised Judas a throne in Heaven but Judas wasn’t His child? See Matthew 19:28.

Jesus promised Judas an eternal throne in Heaven, undeniably (Matthew 19:28).

Let’s look a little deeper into Holy Writ to find out what really happened with this most dastardly character named Judas Iscariot.

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and JUDAS ISCARIOT, who also betrayed him. These TWELVE (not eleven) Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go…” Matthew 10:1-5

**According to the Holy Bible here in this passage found in the Gospel of Matthew, who were the original “twelve disciples” or apostles of the very Son of God elected and chosen and sent forth to represent Him and do His work, spreading His Gospel to the world? Let’s enumerate who these twelve special men of God were whom the infinite and eternal and Almighty God – Jesus Christ of Nazareth – specifically chose to represent Him:

1) Peter

2) Andrew

3) James

4) John

5) Philip

6) Bartholomew

7) Thomas

8) Matthew

9) James

10) Labbaeus

11) Simon

12) Judas Iscariot

These twelve men were elected and answered the call to the highest office of the church – apostleship. Can there remain any doubt whatsoever that according to the historically accurate record and documented account of the life of Jesus Christ that Judas Iscariot was one of His twelve chosen original disciples and that He sent Judas and the other eleven forth to preach His Gospel and do His ministry?

“He (Judas) Was Numbered With Us”

“And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he (Judas) was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.” Acts 1:15-18

Jesus Christ had died and rose again completely propitiating for man’s sins. He had instructed His apostles not to go forth yet but to wait in Jerusalem until they received the fullness of the Holy Ghost which they would need to do His work (Luke 24:49; John 16:7; Acts 1:4-8). This would be the actual birth of the New Testament Church! Here they are, gathered together waiting for the promise of their Savior (Acts 1:4-8). Wow! While the 120 disciples gathered to await the promised Holy Spirit, the apostle Peter stands in the midst and of all things, is Spirit-led to speak of this prophecy found in the Old Testament that Judas would betray the Son of God. He says that such a prophecy “must needs have been fulfilled.” It had to be fulfilled, not because God foreordained and wanted Judas in Hell or because the God of Heaven needed a pawn to use then destroy, but rather because the LORD Almighty cannot lie and knows the end from the beginning (because He alone is all-knowing). He knows all things past, present and future, yet such infinite knowledge does nothing to influence or alter the God-given moral and volitional nature and decision-making process of any individual. Such a notion paints the picture of an evil being, which must be Satan and not God who “is love” (1 John 4:8) To attribute such evil and iniquitous intent to the Almighty is a blasphemous atrocity at best. To claim that He would create any person just for the purpose of exploiting and then damning that person to an eternity of conscious torment, would be completely unbiblical and a wicked accusation to make against the LORD who “cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man” (James 1:13). Of Him the Word says “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…” (Habakkuk 1:13). Such is the doctrine of the devil and his agent John Calvin and many today who mislead others to worship at the alter of a false god (2 Timothy 3:13).

Forget John Calvin and any other heretic in church history – What does the Holy Bible say concerning this matter of Judas Iscariot?

Note here in Acts 1 (shown above) that the apostle Peter says that the “Holy Ghost” through king David had hundreds of years before foretold the betrayal of Christ – “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9). This was going to be fulfilled, not because God is ruthless or had it in for Judas – No! But rather because His foreknowledge and understanding is perfect and “infinite” (Psalm 147:5) Now that’s a case for the sovereignty of God and not (the very opposite) that He would create a human being, a man in His own image – Judas or any other person – just to mislead, relegate and damn him to eternal suffering. How erroneous, ludicrous and evil a thought!

Take close notice of verse 17 here in Acts 1 – “He (Judas) was numbered with us (the original twelve), and had obtained part of this ministry.”

Judas:

1) “was numbered with us” – one of the twelve apostles of Jesus.

2) “had obtained part of this ministry” – all twelve (not just eleven) were appointed and sent forth by Christ to represent Him and do His ministry work.

Another of the original twelve is speaking here – Peter. Peter was a firsthand eyewitness. He was present with Judas and the other ten when his very ears heard and eyes beheld the Son of God promise an eternal – everlasting throne in Heaven to each of the “twelve” of them, which includes Judas Iscariot – “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones (not 11), judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).

Judas wasn’t kept and Jesus specifically and irrefutably promised him an eternal throne in Heaven – Matthew 19:28. “TWELVE” not eleven~!

At the time of this divinely-given promise, it is more than abundantly clear that Judas was eternally secure, otherwise Christ would have never given this promise to the “twelve” which includes Judas Iscariot (Matthew 19:28). It is only after this that Judas allowed iniquity in his heart and by his own deliberate will fell by his own iniquity (Acts 1:25; Heb. 3:12-15).

If Judas Iscariot, one of Christ’s very twelve, was not unconditionally eternally secure, then why would anyone else be since there is “no respecter of persons with God” (Romans 2:11)? Did Judas not lose out? Yes! It’s too late for Judas but not for us (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Some look at this topic through the heretical glasses of Calvinism which is diabolical. So, they force things, force interpretation based on believing the OSAS/eternal security/perseverance of the saints doctrines of devils.

So, Jesus sent out a devil to preach His Gospel, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, etc.? Read Matthew 10:1-8. Jesus prayed and selected a devil to the highest position in the church and called him an apostle? You going to indict Jesus, bearing false witness against the Son of God?

Now let’s look at Acts 1:18 in this revealing and detailed passage about the apostle Judas –“Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.” How did Judas fall from grace after being chosen by Jesus Christ as one of His very twelve original apostles and sent forth to heal sick people, cast out devils and preach His eternal Gospel? The Bible tells us here that Judas “purchased” his own destiny which means he deliberately brought it into his own bosom by his own resolve to reject (after possessing) and live outside of a relationship with the LORD. He simply reaped what he sowed (Galatians 6:7-8). This word “purchase” here is strong and even more clear evidence that Judas made full provision for and utilized his full faculties and expended the energies he was given to do what he did in betraying the Son of God. The wages of sin is still death and Judas reaped spiritual and eternal death (separation from God in Hell) for his sinful betrayal of the Messiah and refusal to turn back to the LORD before it was too late, which he was free to do even to the end.

If someone jumps off a building, was that what was supposed to happen? Was that God’s will? No, it was the will of the one who chose to jump. Judas went to Hell because he rebelled against the only Savior, not because God wanted him there. Judas refused to repent and turn back to the LORD after being given ample opportunity to do such.

We have record that Judas was quite right with God but was in the end left out of the eternal blessing of Heaven. Of the apostle Judas, the Word says – “For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry” (Acts 1:17). This forever settles the issue and silences the critics who argue (without basis) that Judas was never right with the LORD. Judas Iscariot certainly was chosen to the highest office in the Church and as an integral part of the very ministry of the Son of God and yet turned against Him, betraying Him to death for a small sum and forfeiting his place in the eternal kingdom of God after being promised it (Matthew 19:28). Such a clear example alone makes it more than abundantly clear that falling from grace is utterly possible as the remainder of Holy Scripture unmistakably testifies to.

Holy Father please grant our hearts grace to be convicted and repentant that we be never hardened through the deceitfulness of sin! (Hebrews 3:12-15)

Judas’ End

“That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas BY TRANSGRESSION FELL, that he might go to his own place (eternal Hell).” Acts 1:25

Judas is in Hell. Here’s further proof. Prophetic of Judas betraying the Son of God, Psalms 55 gives us some insight:

“For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me (from the outside) that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal (insider), my guide, and mine acquaintance (“mine own familiar friend” Ps 41:9). 14 We took sweet counsel together (Matthew 26:23), and walked unto the house of God in company. 15 Let death seize upon them (all betrayers including Judas), and let them go down quick (alive) into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. … 23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction (eternal Hell): bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.” Psalms 55:12-15, 23

In the booklet The Eternal Security Teaching, J. L. Stauffer offers these thought-provoking words concerning Judas Iscariot:

“It should be noted that the statements that our Lord made about Judas being a devil, were made toward the close of His ministry. Note some Biblical facts:

1. Christ chose twelve apostles, including Judas Iscariot. No intimations are made at the time of choosing the twelve that Judas was not a true believer the same as the others. See Matt. 10; Mark 3; Luke 6. Reference to Judas Iscariot as the traitor is made by several writers of Scripture, long years after the incident of his death to distinguish him from the other Judas. It is a mark of identification and in itself throws no light upon the character of Judas Iscariot when he was chosen by our Lord. We have a similar designation regarding ‘Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin,’ which throws no light upon Jeroboam’s character at the time the prophet Ahijah brought him the message from the Lord. (I Kings 11:26:40.)

2. If Judas was a ‘devil’ from the beginning as some claim, then you have the startling fact to face that our Lord chose a devil as an apostle.

3. Our Lord foreknew who should betray Him from the beginning, but Judas had the same teaching, call, environment, and opportunity to make good as did the others. Divine foreknowledge does not interfere with the free will God gave every man.

4. If Judas was a devil from the beginning, then such terms as were prophesied of him are hard to reconcile with the other teachings and principles of the Master. ‘Yea, mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me’ (Psa. 41:9). Would Jesus, knowing Judas was a devil, trust in him or call him His ‘own familiar friend?’ A ‘devil’ is an adversary and enemy; but if, as some eternal security teachers think, Psalm 55 is a prophetic Messianic psalm of which Ahithophel turning traitor to David was a type of Judas turning against the Lord, then we have a second witness from the Psalms that ‘it was not an enemy that reproached me.’ It was ‘a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company’ (Psa. 55:13-14). Certainly this language does not describe one who was a devil from the beginning, as eternal security teachers affirm.

5. If Judas was a devil, while the other eleven were ordinary men, then you have another contradiction; viz., Satan casting out Satan, because the apostles (Judas included) were sent out two by two to heal the sick, cast out devils, and preach the Gospel. There is no intimation in the Gospel records that Judas was a misfit on this missionary journey. Other emissaries of Satan, when they tried to cast out a demon by the use of the name of Jesus, were not at all successful. (See Acts 19:13-17.) Christ made it clear that Satan does not cast out demons. See Matt. 12:25-26; Luke 11:15-18.

6. It was not until at the last feast that the devil entered into Judas, although Christ towards the close of His Galilean ministry (John 6:70-71) announced that one of the twelve would betray Him. Christ was omniscient and knew all events that would be connected with His life here on earth. Covetousness, greed, love of money, were doubtless the besetting sins of Judas and despite the warnings of our Lord against covetousness and ‘the deceitfulness of riches,’ these sins got the upper hand of Judas and he finally went to the chief priests, and of his own free will bargained about the sale of our Lord for silver.

7. John 17 does not say that Christ only received eleven apostles from the Father. He chose twelve at the beginning of His ministry that they might be with Him, and Christ was unable to keep one. Not because of a lack of power on Christ’s part, but because Judas was unwilling and this limited Christ’s keeping power. ‘Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them (that thou gavest me) is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled.’ The literal Greek of part of John 17:12 is ‘and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled.’ This implies that Judas was once saved with the rest, but not fulfilling the conditions for Christ’s keeping perished spiritually. The Scriptures prophesied that there should be a betrayer and God foreknew that Judas would be he, but God did not foreordain Judas to be the betrayer of his Lord. If Judas, against his own will, was foreordained to be the betrayer, then the one who foreordained Judas would be responsible because Judas could not have helped it.

8. Last, ‘Judas by transgression fell’ (Acts 1:16, 17, 25). Judas was a man into whom Satan entered. He was no demon incarnate. If there were no erroneous doctrine to defend, the various references about Judas Iscariot would present no difficulty at all to the eternal security teachers. The Judas episode would be simply a clear case of apostasy from the truth.”

11 Kept – 1 Lost

“That he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him…While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition…” John 17:2, 12

The Father gave eternal life to the twelve whom He had given to Christ. Jesus kept them and they were safe except one who chose not to be kept. The fact that twelve were given Him of the Father and only eleven made it to Heaven is telling.

It is abundantly clear in Scripture that Judas was given to Jesus by the Father (as one of His very own) and then lost due to his own decision to sin in his heart and betray the Son of God (Acts 1:25). Jesus said He kept all except one – Judas. The fact that Judas was one of His and yet was not kept tells us that the LORD doesn’t keep everyone who is at one point His own child. Judas was the LORD’s “friend” (Psalm 41:9) We are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5). Man has his God-given personal responsibility to continue in faith in order to be “kept” by Him.

Saint of the LORD, a study of the life of Judas is a lesson for each of us. We are all predestined to be conformed to Christ’s image and to be with Him eternally and do His work, but the LORD leaves it up to the individual as to whom he will choose to serve (Joshua 24:15). Such will determine the eternal destination of each person.

Calvinist Nightmare: The Judas Dilemma | The Very First Apostate | The Truth About Predestination and Sealing

FEEDBACK:

Of Judas and calvinists, Robert Cox writes:

“I want to put this to rest then I’ll be quiet about it bc some of you have been taught wrong and you’ll fight the truth to death. Yes, Judas was saved at one time. Jesus picked him. He performed miracles alongside of the other disciples. He was trusted enough to be the treasurer. Satan entered him at the last supper. He was not predestined to do what he did but God had foreknowledge that he would. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. That’s the example. Not some sinner out in the world that disavows Him.

And one last thing…..Judas could have repented. Peter did and was restored. Judas chose to take his life. He wasn’t sorry that he betrayed Jesus. He was sorry that his plan didn’t work. He felt shame and guilt but he didn’t turn to the only one that can forgive us for that. Feeling sorrow is not the same as being under conviction.

And I ain’t arguing this bc it’s clearly biblical for anyone that wants to see. The rest of you keep believing what you’ve always believed. I ain’t talking to you anyway. Stiff necked people.”

Message Received:

Judas never did repent. His heart was pure evil and this why Satan entered in him.

Reply:

Hi. Well Judas was definitely right with God. He had to be. Jesus would not have otherwise chosen him to the highest office ever in the church and sent him forth to represent Him – to preach and to do His works (Matthew 10:1-8) Yet Judas allowed his heart to be darkened through “the deceitfulness of sin” and so he eventually had “an evil heart of unbelief.” (See Hebrews 3:6, 12-14) It was only then that Satan could enter him. This is the biblical explanation from a full-counsel perspective. The idolatrous calvinist HAS – must of necessity – to scapegoat Judas in order to make his deceitful doctrinal wares fit and palatable.

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Of this post, Nate M. wrote: “This was an awesome study. I am glad I read this because it is such an amazing refutation of calvinism and osas. This just makes it so clear. Great job. I hope many people who are in bondage to the doctrines of calvinism and osas read this and repent of their false doctrine. I pray that they may be set free from the snare of the devil.”

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12 Not 11 It is undeniable that Jesus chose Judas and that Judas was in right relationship with the Son of God, was sent out by Jesus to do His ministry work, and was promised an eternal throne in Heaven. Let’s talk about it. “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you TWELVE, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.” John 6:70-71 “Have not I chosen you TWELVE” – Did Jesus choose a devil and send him […]

Apostasy

Doubt Casting Wolves

Beware of this New Fad of Uncertainty

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11

Satan was the first to cast doubt on God’s Word, on what God had said. This led to the fall of mankind. It seems to be the first play in his playbook – in order to deceive mankind.

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1

Beware: Satan is the very father of all lies and the one who casts doubt upon the Word of his arch-enemy – the LORD. Did you notice that in the above verse, God’s Word describes our enemy as the creature that is “more subtil than any beast”? Then it shows us just exactly who he operates as we see this “subtil … beast” cast a question mark on the LORD and what He stated to the man and woman just previously (Genesis 2:17).

To “endure to the end,” we must be aware of this significant tripping tool, this pitfall of the enemy of all souls (2 Corinthians 2:11).

There are many ways and vehicles through which Satan casts doubt on what God has said in His Word – what He has spoken to us, mankind. In this message, we are merely touching on a few of those ways, in hopes of assisting the reader of being aware of the way our enemy works.

It has actually become fashionable to question the Almighty in the things He has non-negotiably stated to us in His Word. Is this not a fulfillment of many prophetic Scriptures warning us of apostasy?

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:20-21

Satan is in the Seminaries

Casting doubt on God’s Word is an ancient tactic of Satan and we must be aware of it and on guard against it. There are no boundaries to it – where ever the enemy works, this tactic will be seen and it’s most “subtil.” In fact, the place we think this evil scheming to be least likely to be found is the very place it can be most prevalently found – Bible colleges and seminaries! Personally, I have attended two Bible colleges and have dialogued with hundreds of seminarians. It doesn’t take long at all to see just where their faith and trust is and how they have allowed themselves to have “an evil heart of unbelief,” refusing to take God at His very Word (Hebrews 3:12-14). Rather, they are “subverted” as they have been taught not to believe God for what He says in His Word (Titus 3:9-11). Instead, they have systems in place to cast doubt upon the Most High which is treason and betrayal of Christ! See Satan’s Seminaries!

Doubt-Casting in the Margins of Perverted Versions of the English Bible

Have you ever noticed that in the margin of the new, corrupt versions of the English Bible, where the godless translators have rebelliously and brazenly removed portions of Holy Scripture, they have a note casting doubt on whether or not that portion they removed should have been there in God’s Word in the first place? The lie in the margin is that “many earlier manuscripts didn’t contain this portion of Scripture.” This is an outright lie. Satan is busy people (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus warned us that the enemy has come to steal, kill, and destroy and that “Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word.” (Mark 4:15; John 10:10)

Of a new diabolical fad that is arising, Jim Clark notes:

“It seems that the latest apostate fad is ‘uncertainty’, also referred to as the certainty vs. assurance debate. They say that you can only have ‘assurance’ (something less than 100% certainty — like it’s something that you can scientifically measure) and only omniscient God has certainty. This is eisegesis (opposite of exegesis) — inserting human philosophy into Scripture. 1 John 5:13 says ‘These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.’ KJV”

In the divine economy and the heart of every true disciple of Jesus, salvation is a definitive certainty. Jesus made it certain because His blessed miracle of salvation in the hearts of men is certain. How can the most powerful experience (regeneration) in this life happen to a person and they not know it? The Son of God says:

Those who are truly saved, KNOW they are truly saved. Any person who is only 99% “sure” they are saved, is not saved. Huh?! Yes! Read these words of Holy Scripture:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47

1 John 3:14 says: “We KNOW that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

This doubt is purely diabolical. Satan has not changed and that he is limited to the same tricks he had in the beginning (1 Corinthians 10:13). In the Garden of creation he cast doubt on God’s Word when he said to the woman: “Yea, hath God said?” (Genesis 3:1)

Of these doubt-casters, a brother named Preston notes:

“I think this stems from a philosophy embraced by many Calvinists. Christian Existentialism was started by Soren Kierkegaard and is where we get the idea of “blind leap of faith”. That is, the more obscure a belief can be the more “faith” one must exhibit or have to believe in it. This is a satanically-inspired, man-made philosophy and is not of God. God has given us overwhelming evidence not only of his existence, but also salvation as well. These men are preachers of confusion and are enamored with their so called intellect. In fact they are nothing more than fools!”

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

Beware of the wolf who would cast doubt on the “certainty” of knowing God (Proverbs 22:17-21). Along with the divine Person of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer, His “words of truth” are His “incorruptible” seed and make evident within every true born again and abiding saint that he is saved!

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:14-16

Among other evils, this doubt that Satan’s ministers are introducing and casting, stifles witnessing and fulfilling the Great Commission our LORD gave us (2 Corinthians 11:12-15).

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the CERTAINTY of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21

Now that these smooth talking animalistic wolves have enormous masses of gullible audiences following their cultic personalities, they are beginning to cast doubt on the salvation of their constituents. Beware and be rooted and grounded in Christ!

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:6-8

Seek, love, and obey Jesus Christ and cease following men! Repent of this idolatry and spiritual adultery!

The LORD’s holy truth is divine, eternal, and non-negotiable, amen. “FOREVER O LORD, they word is settled in heaven.” Psalms 119:89

Concerning Satan’s process through the modern church of deceiving and damning the souls of millions, one commenter writes:

“Those of us who keep our nose in the crack of the Holy Word of God and ignore the imaginations of men will be glad we did! Whew, denominations and their doctrines have killed more people than Hitler could have imagined! No denominations, no politics, no electorate process, no opinions in Heaven! God IS. That is enough to know!”

“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:22

Remedy for the sins of lies and doubt:

Repent/surrender afresh
- Cling to Christ
- Repent of spiritual idolatry and adultery
- Denounce your human idols – all of them (Ezek. 14:3)
- Stop trusting mere men
- Get into God’s Word with reckless abandon
- Memorize Scripture by writing them on index cards – KJB

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Feedback:

“Excellent word! Sharing! I must admit I have been caught in Satan’s trap on this one in my life! But got right back up again, repented and know that I am His!” Darlene T.

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Articles

Thank You for Declaring that the Mexican People Matter to Jesus! Mission Mexico Part 50

Mission Mexico Rolling

Here’s to thanking God that you care for these beloved people and are praying and supporting. God is able.

So much is transpiring that I don’t know where to start….

Hopefully the pictures and other things in this 50th update will help attempt to give a taste of how good our LORD is.

From sister Crystal …

Subject: RE: Picked up 20k more JESUS tracts recently.

Good morning and BLESS YOU BROTHER TODD!

Your last note made me cry, so blessed to be able to get more “fishing tracts” out. LOL

I also prayed for the printer and their workers, seeing how many are being ordered, and how important they are. I know they’re glad to get your “business”. May their hearts and souls be pierced within also. They have to see the front page repeatedly…may it stick like glue in their minds and hearts. Thank you! The devoted distributors of GOOD NEWS. The best news known to man. I may have told you this already, but when I mailed that case of Bibles and the clerk asked what books they were, I said, “The Bible, the greatest bestseller of all time.” She smiled. I love working together with our family, each doing their little part in moving things along–may many hearts and souls be pierced within, and brought to the knowledge/measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Carrying on in Christ…occupying…Crystal

P.S. I sometimes say in prayer: Lord, you are the glue that holds me together. What EVER would I do without you!!! Without Him, I could do nothing. Without Him, I’d surely fail, Without Him, I would be drifting, like a ship that has no sail. For Jesus is the lighthouse, I owe my life to Him…My pianist/friend/Sister/Adopted Mom used to cry every time I sang that. She and her Son are now home, waiting for us to arrive. He is no longer in a wheel chair, but oh so happily singing for/with the Lord. Oh, how I miss them all.

IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL….WHEN WE SEE CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

He sent this to the Spanish group recently …… Brother Daniel was out ministering. He sent this picture.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

RECENTLY: Went to visit and refresh our beloved sister Maria. She was busy passing out JESUS tracts to the people. She was given some cash and we got her some food to bring home!!!! The Gospel, charity work being done here in Mexico is super well received here and is due to the love offerings of Christ’s saints.

A steady portion of what you give is given to brother Juan and sister Maria and other of Christ’s disciples. They are worthy of their hire.

“And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.” Luke 10:7

One of our main directives in this mission is to edify, feed, fuel, support, and take care of our LORD’s few labourers!!!! Amen!

“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38

“I marvel in amazement at all the Lord is doing through you guys in Mexico. Each new story, brings such awe in my heart of how open the people are to the gospel. It is sure is a supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the people. There could be no other explanation. Praying every morning. This morning I prayed Ephesians 1:15-23. May God’s power be continually released in the saints who are ministering in Mexico!” Karen Cochran | Mission Mexico

Your prayers are being heard by our LORD and He is blessing many of the humble bless-ed people of Mexico.

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” Philippians 1:19

The Mexican people are so very authentically well behaved, naturally, trained, nurtured from birth to be kind, gentle, loving, and helpful. Most importantly, for eternity’s sake, they greatly desire to hear the Gospel of Jesus. It’s an evangelistic field day. Thank you for lifting a prayer right now for God to save the people of Mexico.

“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalms 2:8

Juan received another box of the JESUS tracts today after fellowship. Here’s a small part of what Juan, in his own words, spoke:

“Brother, we have chosen the best part—one that will never bring us shame. We have the best job: serving our Father in this Ministry of Reconciliation to expand His kingdom. It has truly been a great blessing to share His word; we can never fully grasp the scope of God’s vision, for His word never returns void—it always fulfills its purpose. Glory to God.

God restores us; God gives us our reward; God lifts us up, brother. There is power in the Word. Can you picture Moses? When he had a personal encounter with God, he would come away with a countenance—his whole face shining—and he had to wear a veil. That is how we are, too, when we have communion with God—an intimate relationship with Him. You are good and merciful to each one of us.” Juan

RECENTLY: Brother Juan picking up more JESUS tracts (Spanish) to pass out! Thank you for praying for and supporting Mission Mexico

During fellowship, brother Juan shared the following:

“The Word of God never returns empty; it always fulfills its purpose. We don’t know the full scope of God’s worldview, but we trust completely in the message of salvation. It speaks to us in all times, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, in Revelation, urging us to repent and turn to Christ. Glory to God for this message, brother. May God continue to use you greatly today, for His glory, and to expand His kingdom.

His blessed Word says that whoever perseveres to the end will be saved, but when Jesus was asked if they would enter the kingdom of heaven, he didn’t say they had to do much—there were few of them—he simply said to strive. So God commands us to take action in Joseph 1:9: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Amen Juan.

Meals like this are just a part of the torment one must endure to live in beautiful Mexico.

This meal was during fellowship with brother Juan. Most of all we (includes Tom and yourself) were blessed feed our brother and give him a nice cappuccino…. and fellowship where he was refreshed and also he took more JESUS tracts.

Brother Daniel was the first convert to Christ in Mexico 2 years ago upon arriving. Here’s a picture of Daniel recently when we met to fellowship, etc.

Would you like to lift our brother in prayer? Colossians 4:12

Mission Mexico Rolling

MORE CHANGED LIVES

Sister Nayeli is really growing in Christ. Wow

She cried out to the LORD this morning

And He answered EVERY one of her specific prayers…

For peace, food, provision, etc

She even asked him for a small pocket size Bible

And she got 2 of them also

Along with lots of food and provision

She is now handing out the JESUS tract and testifying of Christ

You may recall she was previously a lifelong Jew

God is good and your prayers are coveted for sister Nayeli

After all those blessings Nayeli and I went to refresh Maria. She wasn’t there. We were able to ministry Christ’s Gospel to many and ended with feeding and ministering to a dear elder homeless woman….

Thank you for praying. Yes Nayeli is a young disciple and growing in grace as she is seeking the LORD.

Last night I would tell her a Bible reference. She’d open up to that chapter and start reading out loud and in real time was blessedly stunned to have the LORD speak to her, showing her many things, including that He does hate her as satan was telling her. No, he loves her and is producing fruit in her life, which clearly proves she is His. The fruit and purging going on in her life clearly proves she is in Christ. Her whole countenance was transformed as she read those words. The reality of what our LORD Jesus taught in John 15:1-7 was made fully alive to her. She now saw things from God’s eternal perspective and how He was purging her so that even more fruit could be born. I haven’t talked much with her lately and so didn’t know but the things in her life were being sifted, stripped. She’s lost clients since becoming a saint of Christ, snatch from satan and Judaism.

Other passages Nayeli read aloud were Matthew 5:10-12; James 1:2-5, 12; Hebrews 10, 11, etc.

Nayeli was exhorted to “punch satan in the face” when he attacks her by not sitting around in heaviness. No, but by getting out and passing out some Gospel tracts, evangelizing the lost! She broke out in a joyful laugh at that one. Then we got in the car and went looking for dear sister Maria. She wasn’t there and so we evangelized and then a dear elderly homeless lady came by with 2 bags and a sad face. We were able to walk with her to get her some fresh delicious food with a large cold water and were able to give her some cash, etc. God is good saints.

Such deep sadness in this beloved woman.

Father, please heal and lift this beloved woman up from the mirey clay of sin and darkness in this world

Make her an example to many of Your love in Christ

Thank you for praying.

God is able.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

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Apostasy

John Wesley on Calvinism, Once Saved Always Saved, and Conditional Security

John Wesley on Calvinism, Once Saved Always Saved, and Conditional Security

“Calvinists, who deny that salvation can ever be lost, reason on the subject in a marvelous way. They tell us, that no virgin’s lamp can go out; no promising harvest be choked with thorns; no branch in Christ can ever be cut off from unfruitfulness; no pardon can ever be forfeited, and no name blotted out of God’s book! They insist that no salt can ever lose its savor; nobody can ever ‘receive the grace of God in vain’; ‘bury his talents’; ‘neglect such great salvation’; trifle away ‘a day of grace’; ‘look back’ after putting his hand to the gospel plow. Nobody can ‘grieve the Spirit’ till He is ‘quenched,’ and strives no more, nor ‘deny the Lord that bought them’; nor ‘bring upon themselves swift destruction.’ Nobody, or body of believers, can ever get so lukewarm that Jesus will spew them out of His mouth. They use reams of paper to argue that if one ever got lost he was never found (John 17:12); that if one falls, he never stood (Rom. 11:16-22 and Heb. 6:4-6); if one was ever ‘cast forth,’ he was never in, and ‘if one ever withered,’ he was never green (John 15:1-6); and that ‘if any man draws back,’ it proves that he never had anything to draw back from (Heb. 10:38,39); that if one ever ‘falls away into spiritual darkness,’ he was never enlightened (Heb 6:4-6); that if you ‘again get entangled in the pollutions of the world,’ it shows that you never escaped (2 Pet 2:20); that if you ‘put salvation away’ you never had it to put away, and if you make shipwreck of faith, there was no ship of faith there!! In short they say: If you get it, you can’t lose it; and if you lose it you never had it. May God save us from accepting a doctrine, that must be defended by such fallacious reasoning!” ~ John Wesley

OSAS people make a vain attempt at redefining the words of Scripture to fit their own self-serving agenda of lukewarmness, cross-less rebellion. For example they hyper-focus on “eternal” in the term “eternal life” while intentionally refusing to synthesize the whole of what Scripture states. Purposely, they do not distinguish between initial and final salvation and refuse to believe that after being saved, the recipient of His salvation must “endure to the end” to be “saved.” (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15:6; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Revelation 2-3, etc.) They hyper-focus on the word “gift” and teach that a gift could never be lost which the rest of Scripture does not agree with. They then take the word “sealed” and make it to be permanent which it cannot possibly be because the same Greek word for “sealed” is used of Jesus’ tomb which we all know was NOT permanently sealed – it was unsealed when Jesus came out of that grave! (Matthew 27:66) In this they bear false witness against the LORD and act like some Scriptures are more divinely inspired than others. This practice reveals the evil and deceit of their own hearts. While they scream, “context, context, context,” they themselves syphon things out of the immediate and overall context of Scripture. Not just some Scripture in the Bible but rather “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) It must all be synthesized, put together, compared (1 Corinthians 2:13). Error will result in the hearts and lives of those who do not personally search, study, and revere “ALL scripture” in God’s Word.

The Cancer of Calvinism | Eternal Security/OSAS is a Scam

The Myth of Eternal Security [podcast]

“For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.” Psalms 73:27 BAD NEWS FOR CROSS-LESS COUNTERFEITS WHO HIDE BEHIND THE “ETERNAL SECURITY” SHAM: YOU WILL BE ETERNALLY SECURE WHEN AND IF YOU ARE WITH JESUS IN ETERNITY, NOT BEFORE! Can’t leave Christ after He saves you? Think again… dear one who continues to search for a way to justify your sin, for not truly repenting and laying down your life in this fleeting sinful world and overcoming (Luke 9:23-24; 14:27, 33; 17:33; 19:27; Titus 2:11-14; , etc.). All […]

The Lying Vanity of "Eternal Security" [podcast]

WHY was Satan expelled from God’s presence, from Heaven? What happened the last time sin was found in Heaven? Did God coddle it or kick it out? Jesus told us: “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18 Oh and will we lose the ability to choose in Heaven? One man recently stated: “Even if you are in Heaven you do not have eternal security.” Interesting and apparently true…. because as I am sure you were alluding to, lucifer and a third of the angels still had choice in Heaven, they chose sin […]