WHAT Happened to the Cross?

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Going to Church – Never Hearing Christ’s Cross Message

Beloved, where O where is the message of the cross that Christ and His holy apostles taught as an essential component of the original Gospel?

The offense of the cross is gone, vanquished from the midst of that which claims to be Christ’s church. Instead of “holding forth the word of life,” and “striving together for the faith of the gospel,” self-serving moral cowards have replaced the message of the cross with entertainment and ear-tickling messages that pander to the selfish, sinful, and base nature of unregenerate men (2 Timothy 4:2-4). The message of Christ’s propitiatory cross (where His redeeming blood was shed) is absent from most messages and local churches. These “enemies of the cross of Christ” have also denied Him in refusing to peach the daily cross He commanded must be taken up if one will truly know and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24; John 12:24-25; Philippians 3:18-19).

The daily cross Jesus taught, the crucified life, is a non-negotiable and essential component and command of the original Gospel.

These essential and core Gospel doctrines have been replaced with messages about how to become financially rich, how to cope, how to be a better husband or wife, better parenting, how to be happy in this fleeting life, etc. (Philippians 2:16). The message we see today, that has replaced the Gospel of Christ’s cross, was long ago foretold (1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-7). This soul damning message is all about self and serving the god of self and sacrificing Christ on the altar of that which pleases self. But the LORD’s apostle Paul spoke of much different things to the body of Christ as we abide in Christ in this brief journey on earth (Hebrews 13:14). Paul speaks to us about standing fast in the unity of the Spirit and the faith – in the original Gospel – and enduring persecution and suffering.

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Philippians 1:27-30

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“What a shocker to learn there is no good thing in me! But I was always seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus. I just didn’t understand dying to self was how I would find that relationship I was seeking. I am grateful to Him for showing me your ministry and for showing me what a wretched person I am. If I didn’t truly see the truth of my heart I would not have a deeper and richer relationship with Jesus. I desire that more than anything in my life! More of Jesus and less of me!” Karen

REPLY:

Definitely sister….. and oh what a relief it is when we can just be shown, admit, and realize that we are nothing and He is our everything! Whew! Then we begin to cease trying to be something we are not and allow Him to be our righteousness, our life, our peace, the One who resurrects us up out of that death and burial posture right boom.

Regrettably, many are indoctrinated to believe that going to their “church” equals fellowship. But honest Bible students know that the cross message, central, inseparable from the original Gospel, is nearly if ever taught or even mentioned in the vast majority of apostate local churches. Such was foretold (2 Timothy 3:1-7, 13; 4:2-4, etc.).

After church goers boast about their “church” or “pastor,” I usually ask them if they can explain and are they walking in the daily cross, the crucified life. Silence. Then I ask them how many Scriptures they are learning, memorizing from the King James Bible. “Are you anointed and overflowing with the Holy Ghost?” Dead silence. The simple fact that they are not being equipped but rather exploited is clear proof of epidemic apostasy in that which calls itself the “church.”

Many go to church, few go to Christ and obey Him by going to the cross with Him (Romans 6; Galatians 2:20). Therefore, in the end, so very many go to hell instead of Heaven – all while being convinced they are saved. Read the future scene in Matthew 7:21-23 and 25:40-46. “Depart from me” is coming. | Will You Hear “Well Done” or “Depart from Me”? [podcast]

God never told you to “go to church” but rather commanded that you repent and go to the cross – to deny yourself daily and follow Christ (Luke 9:23-24).

Most will go to a “church” and become part of that social club but “few” will go to the cross – live the crucified – life (Matthew 7:13-14). And there you have the Heaven bound remnant which Jesus says will be “few.”

The prophet Isaiah described the “remnant” as those in Christ’s cross…. taking root downward (death and burial) and bearing fruit upward (resurrection)!

Isaiah 37:31
“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:”

Perhaps “escaped of the house of Judah” speaks of escaping Babylon, escaping the false church, the “many false prophets,” the mere false prophets and false professors – as in “Come out of her my people…” (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; Revelation 18:4 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

“I would rather go to the cross of Christ where Jesus is than go to church where you wonder where Jesus is.” Karen Cochran

Anyone not learning the cross – to be “crucified with Christ” – has fallen away, is in darkness, is being misled.

Jesus did not come and die to forgive our sins so that we could go back and live in them. He died to “taketh away the sins of the world” (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29), to separate us to Himself and away from, free from living in sin. Prayerfully read Romans 6 each morning this week.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2

And in the ensuing verses, the Holy Spirit in Paul reveals that it’s the crucified life – to be dead and buried with Christ – that ensures God’s victory over all sin!

Jesus did not die to give His people a license for sin. Such is the teaching of “ungodly men” who are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).

YOU and I can’t win with God unless we do it HIS way beloved. Die. Now (Colossians 3:3). Depart from the frauds who have refused to preach the cross – the crucified life. And ask God to forgive you for patronizing, for bidding Godspeed to those “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:3, 18-19; 2 John 10-11). You are guilty of funding the enemies of Christ. Grave sin.

Sometimes we just have to camp out in Psalm 51, crying out to the LORD till He delivers us (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1-3). You MUST “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7). Never back off, never cower. Just die, lay down your life – death and burial – and Christ will raise you up in His victory (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

WHERE O WHERE is the cross in the modern church? WHERE? It’s up to you and me to preach it saints!

You cannot claim to be “led by the Spirit” and not live and preach the cross!

IF you’re not doing your life God’s way – the cross, the crucified life – you will not make it. Either die the death or get ready to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire with all other rebels. You are of the pitifully foolish priesthood of Cain, of Saul, of Judas, and every other betrayer of the Son of God. Repent now. Lay down your life and follow Jesus. Or perish.

“The love of many” is waxing cold already due to iniquity abounding (Matthew 24:10-13). And things haven’t even gotten started in this sprint to the finish, in this wrapping up of all things, and we already have people falling out, falling away. And it’s because they’ve been doing their own thing and not God’s – which is the cross, the crucified life. These are the patronizers of the “MANY false prophets” Jesus warned us about (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; 1 John 4:1, etc.).

“The Mind of Christ” is the Cross of Christ! Read Philippians 2.

It’s one thing to speak of the biblical reality, the absolute necessity of personal holiness, and yet we must give our hearers the divine solution which is Christ, the cross!

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that THROUGH DEATH he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Hebrews 2:14

There is no conquering without dying! Jesus conquered sin, death, hell, and the grave by dying. It was only then that the Father raised the Son of God from the dead! No grave could hold Christ from being raised and no man or devil or power can hold down the dead and buried disciple from being gloriously resurrected in and by the power of God!

“The enemy thought that the cross would bring death to Jesus and God’s kingdom. But, it was actually the power of God to destroy his (Satan’s) kingdom and set the prisoners free in Christ. Hallelujah! The cross is the gospel working in the lives of the redeemed! Rom. 1:16” Jon Crane

“Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:8

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:4

God will not raise up anyone who is not dead and buried with Christ (Romans 6).

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

Holiness is not manufactured, is not achieved in the flesh, by the self-will of mere men. No. Holiness is the very nature of the LORD and is the work of God in the life of the yielded, the crucified saint (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 6-8; 1 Peter 1:15-16).

YOU don’t press into the presence of God because HE controls that, not YOU. You DO press into the cross – the death and burial of the self-life – and He reciprocally raises you upward. Now is the hour to cry with our beloved brother John the Baptist – “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Please do it Jesus! “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

“It seems the more you get of Jesus the more you want … And the less you want of yourself.” Karen Cochran

There’s only one way to be “Hid” safely from the firestorms of this life – the firestorms of strife, hatred, persecution, affliction, lack, etc.

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

Until we die, door nail dead – in other words, die and be buried, stay dead, stay buried – we shall continue to take on and be harshly affected by the fiery darts of the enemy coming at us from all about us.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Holiness is NOT the way to Jesus.
Jesus is the way to holiness!

Pharisee preachers work from the outside in (Matthew 23).
God works from the inside out! (Colossians 1:27)

No one can be holy to the LORD until they are raised up into that holiness out of death and burial (John 12:23-25; Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

^“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-11

“Downward mobility is the way of the Cross. Whatever brings you down is progress. Dying and rising with Christ.” Hilario Guerra

A popular praise song says things like “There’s an army rising up.” Yet, we must make sure that “rising up” is preceded by a going down deep into the death of Christ – the cross, the crucified life. Thereafter shall be resident in us the resurrection life, glory, and power of GOD and not our own futile, fleshly, self-will.

Only after the fact that Jesus saves us – as only He can do…. we “work out” not work for our salvation He granted us with fear and trembling.

“…work out (not for) your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

Holiness is essential and holiness come from God into His submitted saints (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). God is “Holy, holy, holy” and holiness in us is His work that is wrought, it’s brought about through our submission to Him, to His cross message where we are dead and buried and raised up by Christ into that holiness (Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.).

The contrasting Outward and Inward – the counterfeits and the authentic disciples of Jesus – who trust HIM, not self.

“Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the OUTSIDE of the cup and of the platter, but WITHIN they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is WITHIN the cup and platter, that the OUTSIDE of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful OUTWARD, but are WITHIN full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also OUTWARDLY appear righteous unto men, but WITHIN ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matthew 23:24-28

Done Deal! Settled Reality!

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24

IF you’ve been taught that submitting to God is anything but dying to yourself, being crucified with Christ, you’ve been misled.

Satan hates the cross that defeated him on Calvary. He wants to prevent you from experiencing the victory of Christ – the victory Jesus died and rose again to give you (1 Corinthians 15:57). This is why he has conquered the vast majority of “Christian” leaders today. You will know who the fake ones are by the fact that they do not directly and continually put the cross that Christ mandated in your face! As if that wasn’t clear enough, let me say it another way: If the preacher(s) you listen to aren’t calling you to die the death, on the authority of Christ’s Word, such a man is 100% a fraud.

There can be no resurrection until there is a death and burial. The divine economy is a cross economy. Die or lose all. Die and be buried and win all. The only way up is down in Christ’s kingdom. Are you doing it HIS way? If it’s not death to self via the daily cross life, you are doing your own way, you are walking the way of Cain, Saul, Judas, etc.

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23

Doing life your own way – or any other way – than the cross, the crucified life, makes you a liar, a rebel. God has not changed, nor will He.

This is even more reason to realize that there is no shortcut to the crucified life – daily. Let us cease looking for an alternative. There is none. Get down low, today. Confess your sins to the Almighty, asking for His anointing on your life to be dead and buried so that Christ is reigning! Boom. Devil going down hard! Do it.

Satan is only defeated by the cross! Christ did it and ordained that you enforce that defeat of sin and Satan in your own life! He set the example! Christ conquered death by dying – which was essential for Him to be raised again in absolute victory of sin, death, hell, and the grave (Hebrews 2:14-15; Colossians 2:14-19)!

“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2

We do “sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians:2:4-6

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

He Purchased You with His Own Blood!

YOU are now Christ’s new creature and YOUR life is over concerning being relegated to the dictates of flesh, and so is all the misery, the shame, the guilt, heartaches, and the dismal darkness your sin brought upon you (Romans 6:23). It’s time to celebrate! You are a child of the KING! And He’s coming to get you – to bring you to His forever paradise called the New Jerusalem. Check it out in Revelation 21. You must stay the course. You must do things HIS stated way heretofore! This is how you “endure to the end” (Matthew 10:22; 24:13).

You serve a new Master – the Savior and no longer self. And in doing so, you deny the self-life daily, take up the cross that frees you, and walk with Heaven’s conquering KING of all kings.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

If you are truly born again, please be exhorted to repent afresh and begin obeying the Word of God instead of worshipping at the altar of self. The cross – crucified life – is the only way we can be separate from the flesh and world and savor the things of God, not men, not self! (See Galatians 6:14.)

“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:23

The biblical definition for enduring to the end is to live the crucified life now till you are with Christ.

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27

PRAYER: Holy Father, thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to die on that cross for my sins and the sins of the whole world. Let my heart never ever forget, never cease to weep for the price that my LORD Jesus paid to purchase myself and Your body back to Yourself! Please begin a fresh, a deeper work in me right now LORD. Father, break me! Let my life be poured out for Your glory dear LORD Jesus. I love You Jesus. Please fill me afresh with Your Holy Ghost and use me to spread Your glorious Gospel. We know You are coming soon! Unite our hearts to fear Thy name LORD. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

No Cross, No Growth

The Conquering Cross of Christ [podcast]

Will You Hear “Well Done” or “Depart from Me”? [podcast]

Abiding

The Weapons of Our Warfare [podcast]

Fighting Vertically (seeking His face continually) Guarantees that God will take care of the Horizontal

Your ground game will never work until you push praise to the One who made and saved you. Today is your day to train upward. The outward will follow. Verticaly praise to our LORD guarantees horizonal victory. The cross.

“Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalms 149:5-9

Dealing a crushing blow to your enemies – sin and Satan – requires kisses blown to Jesus Christ, the “first love” of your life! (Revelation 2:4-5) Like David, it will be the worshippers who will be God’s warriors!

“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Psalms 2:12

Seeking the face of the LORD is to be “continually.” The victory Jesus died to procure for you, to bless you to walk in, will evade all who do not “seek his face continually.”

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

The only way to get up swinging, get up winning, is to set your heart to seek the face of your Savior! Simple prescription. Do it. Your plan is set in stone. You arise each morning with joyful praise, hands and heart and tongue pointed, aimed at Heaven, lifting the name of Jesus Christ!

“Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.” 1 Chronicles 16:22

The only ones the LORD is going to powerfully use to “build” His kingdom in the hearts of men, are those who “set” their soul to seek His holy face.

Is your obedience being fulfilled? Are you filled with love and therefore obedience to the Savior?

The “weapons of our warfare” are:

The Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
Prayer and persistence in prayer (Luke 18:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
The name of Jesus (Acts 14:13-14; 16:23-24; Acts 3:16, etc.).

OUR GREATEST WEAPON IS THE WRITTEN WORD, PRAYER, AND THE NAME OF JESUS SAINTS. FRET NOT.

In the wilderness Jesus defeated the enemy by speaking forth the Word (Luke 4). He pulled out specific ammo for the enemy to address specific attacks, On all points, against every weapon of the enemy, Jesus had ammo with the devil’s evil name on it. And in doing so, He gave us the knowledge and example of how the enemy is defeated in our own lives. The Word of God is “mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” and is “sharper than any twoedged sword” (2 Corinthians 10:4; Hebrews 4:12).

Studying, knowing the Word of God is like building the military, the arsenal of your life, in order to defeat the enemy. Without a strong arsenal of weapons and ammo, and the expert ability to use those weapons, you will be naked in the battle and lose. God’s Word is your arsenal – that which you have in you – the knowledge and performance thereof. Nothing is more important to your life today than seeking God in His Word and prayer. Jesus is Heaven’s Mighty Warrior, He is “a man of war” and is coming back “in flaming fire…” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 19:11-16, etc.).

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

We are in a war and must fight to win! “FIGHT the good fight….”

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Jesus demonstrated exactly what “the weapons of our warfare” are when He faced Satan in the wilderness. That weapon is the Word of God.

David, who was first a worshipper, was also an expert warrior. His life is a great example to the New Testament saint. David was learning to walk with the LORD, faithfully seeking Him in the pasture as he tended to sheep. He was building up his arsenal. And because he truly knew and sought the LORD, having been diligently training for warfare, the LORD, who is “a man of war,” directed him in choosing the specific ammo from His arsenal to take out Goliath (Exodus 15:3).

The “good soldier of Jesus Christ” is entrenched in the business of war, of winning the war. His Master, Jesus Christ, has never lost – and never will. Yet that blessing is reserved exclusively to those of His saints, His holy soldiers, who “strive lawfully.”

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:3-5

Striving “lawfully” simply means striving or working God’s way, according to His instructions and wishes, and not your own. Such includes to:

“endure hardness.”
realize you are a “soldier” which means you are in a war.
not be entangled with this world.
seek to please the LORD, who is “a man of war” and has chosen you to be His “soldier,” waging His war.

The LORD has and is bringing His true disciples to the understanding that this truly is a WAR, a fight to the death. You must “FIGHT the good fight of faith” or you will be a needless casualty of war! (1 Timothy 6:12) And so a military, a militant stance, posture, must be assumed by the disciple who will endure to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:10-14, etc.).

Spiritual Warfare | Fake Bibles Exposed

Special Ops Spiritual Warfare [podcast]

The LORD, the Master Potter, continues to prepare each of His people. And as He does, He has ordained special missions for each to accomplish. Before our military men go to war, are sent on special ops, they must first be rigorously prepared, right? Before one of God’s people can be dropped behind enemy lines and used on special missions, he must be prepared by the Commander in Chief, Jesus Christ, who is “the Captain of their salvation.” (Hebrews 2:10) “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of […]

The Opening of Our Understanding [podcast]

“WHEN IT (the heart) SHALL TURN TO THE LORD, THE VAIL SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY” *** Major Biblical Truth The blindess vanquishes only when we truly turn our HEARTS to the LORD…. How the veil that blinds us, that hinders our understanding, is removed. “But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face […]

Abiding

A Fresh Look at Jesus’ 7 Letters to the Churches [podcast]

Did Jesus tell even one of the seven churches He addressed that they are as sure for Heaven as if they were already there due to being initially saved by Him?

Did Jesus give conditions for being with Him in eternal glory?

Can someone please help me figure out where un-conditional eternal security/OSAS fits in with the 7 letters of Jesus to the churches of Asia? Is it anywhere mentioned? No.

Can anyone find OSAS/eternal security in Jesus’ 7 letters to CHURCHES in Revelation 2 and 3? No. No such thing. Instead He gives conditions to overcome, to endure to the end, to abide, remain, and continue in Christ, in faith and obedience.

No such thing as “eternal security” in Christ’s kingdom until AFTER you are in Heaven. Such heresy is the bait of Satan as it was in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17 > 3:4). Only moral cowards who make excuse for sin instead of being crucified with Christ daily as Jesus commanded. Bite on this bait (Luke 9:23-25). Eternal hell awaits. Time to repent and get “honest” (Luke 8:15).

Satan’s First Doctrine is a Lie. Yet Many Claim it’s Part of the Gospel of Jesus. Beware of these Wolves.

No such thing as a born again AND presently abiding saint who is not fruitful, who is not bearing good fruit. Otherwise why did Jesus instruct His people to know themselves and others “by their fruit”? See Matthew 7:16, 19. Such a notion as is heretical. Anyone who Jesus saves and then they don’t endure to the end, they don’t continue abiding in Christ, is no longer the LORD’s and going to hell. Read John 15:1-6 and stop believing the Devil’s very first lie—OSAS (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).

“If a man abide (continue, remain) not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:6

WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR MIND beginning to make excuse for sin, you KNOW it’s your un-crucified flesh and Satan that are in control. You know then that repentance, re-turning to the LORD who is Holy, is necessary.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

When you are tempted to believe in the satanic heresy of “eternal security,” otherwise known as “once saved always saved (OSAS),” you know SATAN is seeking to seduce you (Genesis 2:17; 3:14).

Concerning these 7 letters of Jesus to the churches, one source notes the following:

“Revelation chapters 2 and 3 contain seven individual messages from Jesus Christ to seven historical churches in Asia Minor. The letters share a common pattern: an address to the church’s angel, a description of Christ, an evaluation of the church’s spiritual state, a call to repentance or perseverance, and a promise to those who overcome.”

Overview of the Letters

Ephesus, Pergamum, Sardis, and Laodicea receive direct rebukes for forsaking their first love, tolerating false teachings, dead orthodoxy, or lukewarmness, alongside urgent calls to repent.

Smyrna and Philadelphia face intense tribulation or persecution yet receive no rebuke, and are encouraged to hold fast to their faith.

Promises to Overcomers: Each letter concludes with eternal assurances for “him that overcometh” such as the tree of life (Revelation 2:7), the crown of life (Revelation 2:10), and exemption from the second death (Revelation 2:11).

The Notion of Eternal Security Expelled

Some interpret the repeated conditional commands to “overcome” and “hold fast” as evidence that eternal salvation requires ongoing faithfulness and endurance to the end, suggesting that warnings against unrepentance involve real spiritual risk rather than unconditional security.”

For Example, Jesus’ letter to the church at Sardis:

“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:1-6

Also:

“… confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved …. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22; 24:13

Concerning Jesus’ 7 Letters and OSAS, once commentator notes:

“The seven letters of Jesus in Revelation 2-3 challenge absolute eternal security (“once saved, always saved”) by repeatedly commanding repentance, warning believers that unfaithfulness carries severe consequences, and conditioning eternal promises on actual endurance.

Warnings and Conditions in the Letters

Ephesus: Jesus warns that if the church does not repent for leaving its first love, He will “remove thy candlestick out of his place” (Revelation 2:5). [1]

Smyrna & Philadelphia: The promise of the crown of life and inclusion is explicitly tied to being “faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10) and holding fast what they have “that no man take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11).

Thyatira: Jesus warns He will cast those committing adultery into great tribulation and will “kill her children with death” (Revelation 2:22-23).

Sardis: Jesus tells those who do not watch that He will come upon them “as a thief” (Revelation 3:3).

Laodicea: The lukewarm church is threatened with rejection: “I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16).

The Promise to the Overcomer

In every letter, rewards like eating from the tree of life or being clothed in white raiment are promised specifically “to him that overcometh” (Revelation 2:7, 3:5).

Supporters of eternal security point to Christ’s assurance in Sardis—“I will not blot out his name out of the book of life” (Revelation 3:5)—as proof of permanent keeping, while critics argue the conditional phrasing implies names can be blotted out for failing to overcome.”

The Return of Jesus

Departing and the 7 Letters of Revelation [podcast]

Notes: Pergamos the church of imperial favor. The Church became allied with pagan Rome. Pergamos means married (to the world). “The doctrine of balaam teaches those of the world how to bring a curse on the church by feigning friendship toward them through subterfuge in order to corrupt them thereby bringing a self-inflicted curse on a people who otherwise could not be cursed. To become an enemy of the world is to become the enemy of God. This is how…” Paul Roberts The Return of Christ | Support | STORE Victory Over the Iniquities that Currently Drive You [podcast] The More […]

Grace vs Holiness [podcast]

“The horrible travesty we have in America today is Christianity without holiness.” A.W. Tozer Grace and holiness come only from God. The LORD is Holy and He extends salvation by grace to repentant, believing sinners at the moment of conversion. Grave vs Holiness: WHY is one of these two so overwhelmingly overemphasized by today’s pastors and self-appointed “grace teachers,” when the other is prioritized by God as is demonstrated by the number of times it appears in Holy Scripture? Which word appears more times in the Bible?: Grace, or Holiness LET’S DO THE MATH: Comparing Grace and Holiness 170 to 654 […]

The Damning Myth of Unconditional Eternal Security! [podcast]

HELL Awaits! SO YOU THINK YOU ARE ETERNALLY SECURE? WHO TOLD YOU THAT LIE? NOT GOD! IT SIMPLY DOESN’T MATTER HOW POPULAR A PREACHER IS – IF HE’S TEACHING SATAN’S FIRST LIE THAT CAUSED THE FALL OF THE HUMAN RACE – OSAS/ETERNAL SECURITY – HE’S A FALSE TEACHER, AN AGENT OF SATAN (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). OF COURSE he’s popular – he’s not preaching the cross but rather excuses for sin against a Holy God! RUN from that devil! You will be safe and eternally secure when you get to Heaven, not before. ARE YOU enduring sound doctrine today or walking in […]

Apostasy

“Warn them from Me”: The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast]

The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast]

Jesus and His holy apostles often rebuked and exposed false leaders and false doctrine (Matthew 23; Acts 13:10; 20:29-31; Galatians 5:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2; 2 John 7-11; Revelation 2:6, 15, etc.). Therefore we know that part of following Jesus includes doing the same. In fact, the body of Christ is mandated to do just that (Romans 16:17-18; Philippians 1:17; Jude 3-4).

PWT = Preach, WARN, Teach

“Whom we PREACH, WARNING every man, and TEACHING every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:28

Did you catch what the apostle Paul did to prepare the church to meet Christ?

Preach
WARN
Teach

Any man not guarding, not protecting Christ’s flock, by warning of false teachers and false doctrine, is himself a wolf!

Simply put, it doesn’t matter what you think: The LORD has commanded that Satan’s ministers, his human emissaries, be exposed. Time to shut up and obey! (2 Corinthians 11:12-15)

Lest someone think that warning is a cover for slander, let’s address that.

There is a difference between warning and slander. Warning is to be distinguished from slander. William Penn said it correctly when he recorded these words of wisdom:

“Believe nothing against another but on good authority; and never report what may hurt another, unless it be a greater hurt to some other to conceal it.” ~William Penn

The love of God in us will compel us to warn. Firstly this is done in obedience to the LORD and for the protection and care of those being warned. Warning is divinely mandated in order to protect His beloved sheep.

2 Corinthians 5:9-11, 14-21

“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. … 14 For the love of Christ constraineth (compels) us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

“The Apostle had arrived at the deliberate conclusion and judgment that the ‘all’ who realized what Christ had done for them (and he among them) must live with as much devotion toward Him as others toward themselves. A new world had been opened by Christ’s resurrection. All things had become new. Let us live in daily touch with that world of faith and glory, refusing to be judged by the old standards. It is clear that the reconciliation of the world is as complete as God can make it, but it is for us to urge men to fall in with and accept God’s proposals.” FB Meyer

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we the more earnestly persuade men to seek his favour; and as God knoweth this, so, I trust, ye know it in your own consciences.” John Wesley

It’s a blessing to be humbled, to be brought low. Sometimes we need to be embarrassed (Proverbs 6:23). There’s a place for it. Paul openly rebuked Peter publicly (Galatians 2). That wound worked to the glory of God and the eternal good of Peter.

“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” Romans 6:23

Keep in mind that each one of us are at times in need of being admonished, corrected, or even rebuked…. it’s “the way of life” as long as we are in this world and it’s out of the love of our God and for our own eternal good.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19

Did God command us to warn the wicked?

Ezekiel 3:7 “Warn them from me.”

“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and WARN THEM FROM ME.” Ezekiel 33:7

What would you think of the father who lived on a busy street and refused to warn his children to stay away from that street?

“Whom we PREACH, WARNing every man, and TEACHing every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:28

Were Jesus, His prophets, and apostles trying to harm the body of Christ when they often warned of and exposed wolves and their false teachings by name? No, he sought to get the cancer out of the body of Christ so it couldn’t spread (Romans 16:17-18, etc.). Beware of the wolf defenders who refuse to believe the wolves they follow are antichrist enemies of the LORD (2 John 10-11).

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1

Most warnings in God’s Word are to the backslidden – those who after being Christ’s, have departed from the faith – and also the counterfeits who have a mere form of godliness.

Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Isaiah 59

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.”

“Thy prophets (leaders) have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered (uncovered) thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity (bondage); but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.” Lamentation 2:14

God instructed us to “mark” false leaders. Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the sheep and intends for them to be protected from being lured away (Hebrews 13:20; Romans 16:17-18).

“Christians do not judge the world. Christians must judge those who SAY they live for Christ. Wolves will not spare the flock where pretenders go unchallenged/unjudged.” Robert Lorne

Paul had the heart of the Savior as we should. He cried “with tears” for three years day and night over the protection of Jesus’ sheep and said He gave them all the counsel of God, not just some of it, to protect them (Acts 20:20-32).

Ignoring and deciding we are going to selectively pick out what we want to preach and reject the rest that WE don’t like is anything but the cross. This reveals the heart of a self-serving tare. A person truly in the cross says LORD, “NOT my will but thine be done,” and not “I’ll decide for myself what I’m going to preach” (Luke 22:42).

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (expose) them.” Ephesians 5:11

After promising that we are His and we shall be persecuted as He was, then our LORD informs us that He is going to expose darkness and that we are to be a part of this process as we stand and speak His His light of truth into the darkness of our day. And to fear not anyone except Him (v 26-28).

“Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:26-28

Jesus instructed us to know that He will bring all darkness, every dark deed and evil doer into the light (v26), and told us to shout it, to expose it to all from the housetops (v27), and to do so fearlessly as concerns mere sinful men – the guilty ones who will persecute you for exposing them (v28).

How are we to warn them? what is to be our disposition in warning others as the LORD commanded? One thing we should keep in mind is that God wants us dealing biblically – with the desire to restore – and without personal wrath (Galatians 6:1-2).

“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20

It’s a scary thing to NOT warn the wicked….

“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to WARN the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Ezekiel 3:18

“And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 22-23

Read these 2 verses closely. Notice how if you die in sin – no matter what your past relationship with God was – you are going to hell irrevocably. Enduring to the end of your life on earth with Christ, in an abiding relationship, is essential to eternal glory. Summation: The LORD judges people on their spiritual state at the moment of death. Share. Repent now heretic.

The Warnings of the Book of Jude [podcast]

“Reformed Theology“, is just a fancy way of saying ‘We know better than Paul, the old testament prophets, even David! And the very apostles who walked with Jesus must be unlearned men or liars.’ Nay, I will not say such a thing of my LORD and Saviour, Christ Jesus. Let God be true, and >every< man a liar.” Jonathan Crane It’s “ungodly men” who mislead the gullible with the eternal security heresy, and the heretical doctrines and system of calvinism. Jude warned us of just that, as did the prophets (Jude 3-4; Jeremiah 23:17, etc.). Then Jude reminds us of God’s […]

Colossians 1:28 PWT Preach Warn Teach [video]

PWT = Preach, WARN, Teach “Whom we PREACH, WARNING every man, and TEACHING every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:28 What is the Biblically Balanced Approach to Ministry in General? Did you catch what the apostle Paul did to prepare the church to meet Christ? Preach WARN Teach Jesus and His holy apostles often rebuked and exposed false leaders and false doctrine (Matthew 23; Acts 13:10; 20:29-31; Galatians 5:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2; 2 John 7-11; Revelation 2:6, 15, etc.). Therefore we know that part of following Jesus includes […]