Author: Don Gerrity

Matthew 25: 31-46, Sheep and Goats Judgment.

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times
Matthew 25: 31-46, Sheep and Goats Judgment.

The Sheep and Goats Judgement

In Matthew 25, we see Jesus passing a judgment on the nations and people that survived the Great Tribulation under Antichrist’s rule where He places the Sheep on His right hand and the Goats on His left hand. What is this about? Is this just another depiction of the final judgement by God or is this something more specific to the time of the Second Coming of Christ to begin His reign on Earth for 1000 years?

“31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

 

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

 

41 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: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:31-46 KJV)

Some are teaching this is the same as the final judgment but this is not about that. This is specific to the survivors of the Tribulation Period where Antichrist was ruling and demanding total allegiance or death.

During the Tribulation Period, those who reject the Antichrist as god (The Sheep) are going to be hunted down and persecuted harshly. Many will be beheaded for their faith in Jesus. Yes, there will be a large number of people who did not get Raptured but after the event will come to faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. Those martyred for their faith are seen in Heaven in White Robes, saved eternally, in Revelation 6. But there will be many who come to faith in Christ during the Tribulation Period who will survive the Tribulation Period as well. These are the Sheep in this passage.

It may seem like this passage in Matthew 25 is saying that works are required for Salvation but it is not stating that as doctrine. For the sheep it says they INHERITED the Kingdom. They did not work for it. But a believer in the Tribulation will be about God’s business right? They will be visiting believers in prison, taking believers in who are fleeing from the persecution, feeding them when they have food, clothing them when they have clothes. Remember that during the Tribulation, under the rule of Antichrist, that “…he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:16-17 KJV).

Believers will be supporting each other in their great time of need. Doing these things shows that they are believers going about showing God’s love to their fellow believers and for the Jewish people being persecuted greatly as the Antichrist attempts to wipe out all Jews from the face of the Earth, as Adolf Hitler had attempted. The Antichrist will have great big brother technology on his side to control the world though. This Mark of the Beast is some sort of technology for buying and selling. We already are using debit cards. With this new technology, debit cards will be gone. People will be tracked like never before under the Antichrist. If we look at today’s technology in comparison to the Antichrist’s technology as described in the Bible, the Tribulation Period is very near indeed. With technology doubling every 6 month, in the next 10 to 20 years we would have surpassed this type of technology. And if the Tribulation Period is nearing, the Rapture Event is even closer!

What about the Goats?

Well, these are those who have taken the Mark of the Beast and by their works one can see they never came to belief on Christ for Salvation. Because of their loyalty to the Antichrist, believing he is God, they are not helping the Jews or believers in Christ for Salvation. Instead they are ignoring their suffering under persecution, or even helping in the process of persecuting. We see Jesus saying this,

“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” (John 16:1-3 KJV)

The Goats will have believed the lie. The great deception of the Tribulation Period. They believe Antichrist is God and will think that by persecuting and killing the Jews and Christians that they will be doing a service for God. They are so very deceived. They took the Mark of the Beast as a badge of servitude and are lost forever. Jesus gives warning to those that take the Mark of the Beast during the Tribulation Period. It will be a clear dividing line between a believer in Christ and non believer. A CHOICE every person alive at that time will have to make. And Jesus says to them in warning,

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11 KJV)

This is the fate of the Goat nations. This is the fate of all people who chose wrongly accepting the Mark of the Beast, and worshiping Antichrist as God, and either ignoring the persecution of the Jews and Christians or actually helping in the persecuting. Jesus will send them away in physical death and they will end up in the torments side of Hades where they will remain until the Great White Throne Judgment of Unbelievers (which happens after the 1000 year reign of Christ on Earth) when Hades and it’s inhabitants will be thrown into a place of eternal punishment that was prepared for the devil and his fallen angels called the Lake Of Fire (Hell).

The believers on Christ for Salvation that survive the Tribulation Period will enter the new Kingdom Age and will repopulate the Earth during the Millennium. We do not know from Scripture if these sheep receive eternal life right at that point, or die after a long life (Isaiah 65:20), to be resurrected at the end of the 1000 years. It may be that these believers and all who come to believe on Christ during the Millennium are sealed from the moment of belief never to die physically and that only the unbelieving die physically. We simply do not know.

But Matthew 25:46 indicates these sheep believers in Christ will be given eternal life while the goats will be condemned to hell.

What about us today? What about the church?

That is the question to ask! If you are saved by belief on Christ (His virgin birth as the God in the Flesh, the only begotten Son of God, His sinless life, His death on a cross paying for the sins of the whole world, and His rising fro the dead) then you will be Raptured before the Tribulation Period.

If you have never accepted the free gift of Salvation, not of ourselves, nor our good works, nor of religious rituals (Ephesians 2:8-9) then NOW is the time to get saved by belief on Christ alone and by RESTING in His finished work on the cross, atoning for all your sins.

God bless.

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Bible Prophecy Videos By Dr. Arnold Yankee

Don Gerrity GO: Bible Prophecy Videos, Q&A: Uncategorized List
Bible Prophecy Videos By Dr. Arnold Yankee

PastorArnoldHeadshotDr. Ralph “Yankee” Arnold accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior at the age of 18. The major thrust of Dr. Arnold’s ministry is soul winning.  He is known for his clear presentation of the gospel and his fervent appeal for sinners to be saved. His sermons challenge and motivate Christians to win souls as a result of yielding their lives to Christ. As an evangelist, he speaks out clearly and unmistakably on the issues that effect fundamentalists, warning against compromise with liberals and modernists.

Website: http://www.biblelineministries.org/

 

Bible Prophecy Videos By Bill Salis

Don Gerrity GO: Bible Prophecy Videos, Q&A: Uncategorized List
Bible Prophecy Videos By Bill Salis

bilsalusBill Salus is a media personality that has appeared on major Christian TV networks like, TBN, CBN, Daystar and more. Additionally, he is a conference speaker and the bestselling author of Psalm 83, The Missing Prophecy Revealed, How Israel Becomes the Next Mideast Superpower. Bill’s ability to interpret and explain ancient biblical prophecies has earned him the respect of many of today’s top Bible prophecy experts.

Website: http://www.prophecydepotministries.net/

Bible Prophecy Videos By Walid Shoebat

Don Gerrity GO: Bible Prophecy Videos, Q&A: Uncategorized List
Bible Prophecy Videos By Walid Shoebat

walidshoebatWalid Shoebat is a Palestinian American, born in the West Bank to an American mother, and who converted to Christianity from Islam. Walid has spoken on end time Bible Prophecy and Islam all over America and the world including Chile, Mexico, Canada, the UK and South Africa. He has also appeared on national television stations all over the world including CNN, CNN International, FOX News, ITN, RTE, NBC, CBS, and ABC. He has also been featured on BBC radio 4 and 5.

Website: http://shoebat.org/

Ex terrorist and PLO member, Walid Shoebat, reveals critical links between Islam and the Bible’s prophetic timeline, explaining current events as disturbing signs of the Last Days… Talks about Israel, Greece, Turkey, Islam, America, Antichrist…

The Christian Bible and Christian Bible Prophecy predict that in the end times the Antichrist, a beast, an dreaded evil man, more evil than any who ever walked the earth in history, will be thrust upon the world scene, and that billions of people on planet earth will die between natural cataclysms and those killed by the Antichrist–including gruesome beheadings for those who refuse to bow to his religious-government system. Millions of American evangelicals believe that the Antichrist will rise from Europe from a ‘born again’ Roman Empire, as depicted in the immensely popular Left Behind book series. But what most people don’t know is that the Muslim Bible and Islamic Prophecy also predicts the coming of a person fitting nearly that identical description: The Madhi, the Muslim Messiah! How can this be?…

Is Matthew Bible Prophecy About The Church and Rapture of the Church?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times
Is Matthew Bible Prophecy About The Church and Rapture of the Church?

Matthew 24 and 25 Are Not About The Church Nor The Rapture

Context shows that the end time prophecies of Matthew are not about the CHURCH, the Bride of Christ. Jesus is addressing the nation of Israel as King of the Jews, not as Head of the Bride of Christ (The Church).

1. When Jesus spoke these things, the church did not even exist.

The Disciples knew nothing of the church when Jesus was speaking to them in Matthew 24 and 25. That knowledge only came after Jesus’ ascension when Apostle Paul revealed the mystery of the Rapture event.

2. The words used show the proper context in Matthew 24 as being addressed to the Jewish people of Israel.

Jesus uses words such as JUDEA. Not Florida, England etc. He is very specific and that is in Israel. He mentions Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks and there is still 7 years left to be fulfilled. He mentions when this last 7 years starts calling it “the beginning of sorrows”. In verse 29, Jesus is very clear that these prophecies are about those who survived THE TRIBULATION under the Antichrist.
 

3. Even when we look at Daniel’s 70 weeks that Jesus mentions in Matthew 24 it states clearly who the prophecy is about.

It is not the church.. it is for Israel.
“24 Seventy weeks are determined upon THY PEOPLE and upon THY HOLY CITY, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Daniel 9:24 KJV)
⇒Who was Daniel’s people? The Jews of Israel, the Holy City.
I have seen some ‘Bible prophecy teachers’ using Matthew 24 and 25 as if it is all about the Pre Tribulation Rapture of the church but they are wrong and the context is clear. Some use Matthew 25 as a Rapture passage as well but IT IS NOT. The very first word of Matthew 25 is the word THEN… so WHEN is the THEN? Matthew never had chapter and verse. That was added for our benefit of study and Matthew is to be read as one continuous writing.
So we need to go BACKWARD into Matthew 24 to see WHEN is the THEN and that brings us back to verse 29 again and it is AFTER the Tribulation.
“29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:” (Matthew 24:29 KJV)

Bible Prophecy Videos: Hal Lindsey

Don Gerrity GO: Bible Prophecy Videos, Q&A: Uncategorized List
Bible Prophecy Videos: Hal Lindsey

“The Hal Lindsey Report” is a weekly half-hour news and commentary series. It is hosted by popular Bible prophecy teacher Hal Lindsey, author of The Late Great Planet Earth. This informative program covers current events and national and international issues from a Biblical and prophecy-based perspective.

Visit and support Hal’s Ministry: https://www.hallindsey.com/

View more of His Videos: https://www.hallindsey.com/videos/

Myth: Unrepentant sin causes loss of Salvation and a destination of hell for a believer.

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: MYTHS, Q&A: Salvation
Myth: Unrepentant sin causes loss of Salvation and a destination of hell for a believer.

For those teaching that unrepentant sin means loss of Salvation, it is high time that believers believing this understand that not only are they wrong, they are denying that Jesus’ Sacrifice for us was completely sufficient with the Father. I am not in any way saying to just go live carnally and sin all we want. Absolutely not. We should be striving to live right because of the grace God has given to us to even be eternally saved. If you believe that you can get saved and then just live carnally, because God’s grace abounds (Romans 5), you may need to reconsider that belief.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6 KJV)

After explaining to us in Romans 5 that grace much more covers our sins, some thought that meant we can just live our lives after salvation as we always have, since Christ paid for our sins. But that is the wrong attitude. Apostle Paul also rebuked the Corinthian believers as a very bad example of a group of believers living very carnally and doing things that believers definitely should not be doing. Sexual relations within families not by marriage even.  Yet, the church ignored their grievous sins. Were they still saved believers? Yes and Paul addressed them as such while rebuking them. It seems they had the wrong attitude described in Romans 6; Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Did Jesus pay for just believers sins or ALL SINS from ALL TIME?

Jesus paid for the sins OF THE WHOLE WORLD on the cross. ALL SINS (past/present/future). (1 John 2:2).

Did Jesus make a partial payment for the sins of the whole world or did He pay for all sins completely and utterly?

On the cross Jesus cried out IT IS FINISHED. In the Greek that was penned it literally is an accounting phrase meaning a DEBT PAID IN FULL. Jesus did NOT make a a partial payment for the sins if the world; it was a full payment. His shed blood was SUFFICIENT to the Father! COMPLETELY SUFFICIENT!

How do we receive the forgiveness that the payment for all sins by Christ crucified died and risen provides? How does Jesus answer this question?

Was Jesusu answer to this direct question doing more good works? No. His answer was “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God..” (John 3:3). And how does Jesus tell us that we become born again in the SPIRIT? Jesus tells us CLEARLY and REPETITIVELY for importance,

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE. For God SENT NOT his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world THROUGH HIM might be saved. He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned already, because he hath NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:14-18 KJV)

Salvation hinges on BELIEF that Jesus as the Son of God, who is God in the flesh (John 1), born of the Virgin Mary (not born in sin) never sinned in thought nor deed, willingly shed His blood and paid in full for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD so that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM and ON HIM alone is UTTERLY and COMPLETELY FORGIVEN.

BUT THERE IS MORE THAN THAT!!

From that very moment of belief on Christ a person is IMMEDIATELY SEALED by the Holy Spirit and has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30, Colossians 2). They have become a NEW CREATURE which is called THE SPIRIT.  This new SPIRIT is now the REAL US. It is Holy, Righteous and redeemed COMPLETELY (2 Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 2:10).  Our bodies are still corrupt (1 Corinthians 15:50) and not yet fully redeemed as we await our bodily resurrection at The Rapture Event  prophesied by Apostle Paul.

DO believers still sin? DO YOU? Be Honest!

Yes we do. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8 KJV, where John was encouraging believers to not fall prey to the false teachings of the Gnostics heresies). Our body and MIND is still corrupt with this THING called sin. In Romans when Paul uses the word SIN, it is used as a noun and not a verb. It is not an action word. It is a THING. Our Spirit is already heaven ready and fully redeemed by belief on Christ. But Apostle Paul taught that we still need to RENEW OUR MIND (which is how we repent after our moment of salvation) by God’s Word and by help of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12: 1-3 KJV)

Jesus also prayed for us to the Father before heading to the events leading up to the cross stating the same thing. We need to renew our mind.

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17 KJV)

 

Are the sins we commit after our moment of Salvation forgiven?

Yes. They were forgiven in the ONCE FOR ALL SACRIFICE of Jesus on that cross (Hebrews 10:10-11). From the very FOUNDATION of the world God foreknew all sins that we would commit and yet He still sent Jesus to die and pay for them all (Ephesians 1:4)! Sins of believers are future from the cross as any sins are for unbelievers today and so they too are FORGIVEN.

But why do believers still have sin in our lives?

ANSWER: THE FLESH.  We still have this corrupt body that is bent on sinning. That is why when a believer dies physically, their Spirit goes to be with the Lord but their body goes to the grave. Our Spirit is perfect and the very righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21), without sin and can enter Heaven. But as Apostle Paul states, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” (1 Corinthians 15:50 KJV)

Apostle Paul in Romans 7 shows the conflict of a believer internally as The Spirit (the new us God MADE US in an instant of our belief on Christ) and The Flesh (which has a disease called SIN). The two are at WAR with one another but make no mistake; we are not the Flesh as believers. WE ARE THE SPIRIT still residing in this BODY OF DEATH. Apostle Paul makes this very clear in Romans 7 but one can skip over and miss verse 17 and 20,

“14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, SOLD UNDER SIN.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is NO MORE I THAT DO IT, BUT SIN THAT DWELLETH IN ME.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I FIND NOT.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is NO MORE I THAT DO IT, BUT SIN THAT DWELLETH IN ME.” (Romans 7: 14-20 KJV)

Reading Verse 17 and then again in verse 20 is the truth that so many Christians have not grasped. Paul is saying very clearly that inside of us is the Adam, our OLD NATURE before our moment of Salvation which Paul calls THE FLESH. Our old nature always wants to sin. Whatever feels right was right with no thought given to sin against God. The Flesh is like a disease since our physical birth.

And then there is the NEW CREATED SPIRIT (2. Cor. 5:17-21) we received at our conversion and belief in the Gospel Of Grace that  Apostle Paul taught.

The Spirit is now the real us and has become our very nature; though we may not act perfectly living in The Corrupt Flesh body.

The problem is The Newly Created Spirit is residing in The Flesh still and will until our bodily resurrection. Our minds have not yet been renewed completely and so our thinking is not perfect yet. We should strive in the renewing of our mind as it leads to be less deceived by the devil and his angels who scheme against us as believers. Right believing leads to better outward living.

Does the grace of God mean we have a license to sin?

Why is it that whenever the Grace of God through Jesus Christ and eternal Security of the Believer is taught it is assumed that means go and sin all you like? As if by believing the Eternal Security of a Believer that it somehow equates to us wanting to just go and sin all we want? DO YOU FORGET that we, as believers were not just forgiven.. we WERE MADE THE RIGHTEOUS OF GOD, IN CHRIST! (2 Cor. 5:21)

Believers STRUGGLE with our sins and no believer likes their sin! They may commit a sin, and even have repetitive sins, but they will feel very BAD about it. They will later have remorse. Guilt. They tell God and CONFESS the sin and agree with God that they blew it and sinned. Why can’t I stop this sinning God? Why does sin continue to happen in my life when I am now deemed to have DIED with Christ and Risen with Him (Colossians 2, Romans 6:4)? I do not want to sin! Yet, it still happens in my life. Why? BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS FLESH not yet resurrected. We struggle as Apostle Paul did.

Should we turn from our sins believing in the Eternal Security of a Believer?

YES! Paul says to the question of should we sin more with “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2 KJV). Yes, turn from your sins and when you blow it and do sin, CONFESS IT TO GOD.  HIM to help you overcome the sin. Yet, know this; you will struggle with THE FLESH until you receive new glorified bodies at your bodily resurrection when we will finally shed this disease of sin. Yes, TURN FROM YOUR SINS . Isn’t that what we want as believers? YES! But never because we need to in order to remain saved. Our sins were PAID IN FULL 2000 years ago!

“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.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power:

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

BURIED WITH HIM in baptism, wherein also ye are RISEN WITH HIM THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD, who hath raised him from the dead.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision OF YOUR FLESH, hath he quickened together with him, having FORGIVEN YOU ALL trespasses;

BLOTTING OUT the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2:8-14 KJV)

ONCE SAVED. ALWAYS SAVED!

Believers are secure IN CHRIST. The penalty for our sins was PAID IN FULL by Christ friends!

ENTER INTO HIS REST!

Hebrews 3:18 KJV: “And to whom sware he that they should not ENTER INTO HIS REST, but to them that BELIEVED NOT?”

Hebrews 4:1 KJV: “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of ENTERING INTO HIS REST, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

Hebrews 4:10: “For he that is ENTERED INTO HIS REST, he also hath CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, as God did from his.”

You no longer have to make sacrifice for your sins. JESUS FINISHED all that on the cross! Strive to not sin. Confess your sins. Renew your mind by the Word of God. Walk in the Spirit to avoid the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Be Godly. Forgive others. YES! Yet, understand that to God,

Hebrews 10:10-11: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, WHICH CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS:“

 

Does A Believer Fall Out Of Fellowship When We Sin And Back In Fellowship When We Repent?

Don Gerrity Q&A: The Truth About..., Q&A: Uncategorized List
Does A Believer Fall Out Of Fellowship When We Sin And Back In Fellowship When We Repent?

This is a rampant false teaching in the Christian community these days but it is not found in the Scriptures. First we need to understand that the English word repent is Biblically defined as ‘change your mind’. It is true that 90% of the time when the word REPENT is used in the New Testament, it is regarding changing your mind about how to be saved. For unbelievers it means to change from self righteous works and religious rituals and Law keeping for Salvation to believing on the finished work of Christ on the cross, paying the punishment we deserved for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2, John 3:14-18). Yet, as believers on the other side of Salvation we too need to repent, that is change our mind, about many things. We are saved and forgiven our sins but we need to renew our minds and change how we think about our sins and how we live for God.

There is no yo-yo fellowship with God. God does not turn away from you when you sin and turn back towards you when you do not! I hear believers and pulpits saying this a lot and it is just not found in Scripture. The Holy Spirit does not walk away from you when you are dealing with sin; the Holy Spirit works to help you overcome the sin. The Holy Spirit will discipline you when you sin in His great love for you.

There are only two kinds of people:

  • Those IN THE SPIRIT and
  • Those WITHOUT the Spirit.

Apostle Paul puts it this way,

“But ye are not in THE FLESH, but in THE SPIRIT, if so be that the SPIRIT OF GOD dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:9-10 KJV)

This RIGHTEOUSNESS is not of ourselves and is not attained by our works. This righteousness is what we BECAME from the moment of our conversion to being a believer in Christ’s finished work on the cross to save us.

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3:9 KJV)

From the very moment of belief on Christ, and the atonement He provided for us on the cross, a person is SEALED by the Holy Spirit forever.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV)

From the very moment of belief on Christ in Salvation God MAKES US a NEW CREATURE which both Jesus and Apostle Paul calls ‘THE SPIRIT’.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)

This is not about us externally making ourselves a new person in self righteous efforts. Salvation is not of ourselves in self righteousness (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is all about how from the moment of belief on Christ to forgive us our sins and how God MAKES US a new creation called THE SPIRIT and SEALS us for all eternity as being IN CHRIST. We do not do this – only God can do this and that is exactly what the Bible teaches us that He did.

Jesus says to believers,

“…I am with you always, even unto the end of the world…” (Mathhew 28:20 KJV)

“…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV)

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall NEVER perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:28-29 KJV)

We are always IN THE SPIRIT as believers because the Spirit is dwelling within us! We do not lose our fellowship with Christ because we are in Christ and He is in us…forever. And nothing will change that!

Does that mean we just go and sin all we want? Do we use the Grace of God as a license to sin?

Apostle Paul tells us, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2 KJV)

We have are a new creation with a NEW nature called ‘The Spirit’ now and so why walk by our old Flesh nature?

Walking by the Flesh will leave a believer unhappy. Why? Because our new Spirit, which is the new us God made us to be at our moment of conversion, will war with The Flesh and we will feel miserable and guilty.

Was that sin already paid for on the cross? Yes. Did God turn away from you in surprise of that sin? No. Nothing surprises God! God foreknew every sin we will make in our life from the very foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) , both before and after our Salvation. Yet He still sent Jesus to die and pay for all our sins. God is right there with you. He is not in judgment against you because Jesus already paid for that sin on the cross. Jesus paid for ALL THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2) and it was a sufficient payment to God.

However, we do reap what we sow still. The consequence of what happens in your Earthly life for that sin are still real. I mean, if you steal and are caught you will still go to jail if you are Christian right? If you commit adultery you will still have the consequences of that action. Your wife may leave you, your kids despise you. God will discipline you. Not a pleasant situation to be in.

But to say you will lose fellowship with God is not true. God made a CHANGE in you and it was a heart change of our very nature. He translated you from The Flesh as your nature to be The Spirit which is the very seed of God. Temptations fly our way every day in this fallen world. Even with Christ dwelling inside us we still have that old bad thinking of the Flesh nature that we had before we got saved by belief on Christ, even if that is no longer our NATURE. Our Salvation happens in a moment of time but our sanctification by the renewing of our minds by the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit takes a lifetime as we are in process to become more like Christ. We cannot be perfect and without sin until we receive our new glorified resurrected body which will not have The Flesh nature. That is why Paul writes,

“…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” (1 Corinthians 15:50 KJV)

Yet Paul tells us that at our physical death our Spirit goes to be with the Lord. Why? Because our Spirit is Holy Righteous and Redeemed but our body needs to be resurrected still.

That is why Apostle Paul tells us to “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16 KJV)

The more we keep our eyes focused on Jesus and not our OLD Flesh nature. The more we renew our mind by reading and studying the Word of God, the less we will fall prey to the lust of the old Flesh nature. And some temptations are strong indeed. They may not disappear from your life with immediacy. It may take time, sometimes a lot of time, to overcome their temptations.

Just know and understand this; God loves you. God forgave you all the sins of your life (future ones too – they are all future from the cross right?). You are completely and utterly SECURE in Christ. Christ is in you and you are in Christ and Christ in in the Father and so we are one with God. As Christ is seated in heaven, so are we seated with Christ. Focus on Christ and He will change you from the inner man and that will work outward into your life.

Your fellowship with God will last and grow forever.

Jesus promises you,

“… I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20 KJV)

What Does ‘Free From Sin. Free From The Law.’ Mean?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Grace Of God, Q&A: Law of Moses, Q&A: Salvation, Romans
What Does ‘Free From Sin. Free From The Law.’ Mean?

FREE!! FREE AT LAST!

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 KJV)

The English word ‘dominion’ here in the Greek is ‘kyrieuō‘ and is defined as ‘to rule over’. In essence, in today’s English would be the words ‘your master’.

Does that mean we will never sin as believers? No. But sinning will not be master over us. We have the Holy Spirit living within us to guide us into all truth and to change us by the renewing of our mind by the Word of God. It is an inward change that happens over time and changes us on the inside, in our inner man. This change slowly works it’s way outward into our lives and affects others.

What is it, according to Apostle Paul, that causes  sin to not be master over us as believers anyway?

Is it because we work so hard to not sin? NO , it does not say that. Is it because we obey the Law of Moses? No, it does not say that either.

Why will sin not be master over us then?

Because we are not under the law but under grace. Reading this verse backwards helps clarify what Paul is actually stating to us.

‘UNDER GRACE, we are NOT UNDER THE LAW, and so sin is not our master.’

Do you see how clear this verse is?

Paul goes on to say even more about Law following verses Salvation by the Grace of God through Christ Jesus in Romans 7:

“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.” (Romans 7:8 KJV)

First off what is ‘concupiscence’? It is defined in the Greek as ‘lusts and desires’. So let’s replace the word so we can see exactly what Paul is meaning in this verse.

“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of lustful desires. For without the law sin was dead.”

Paul is telling us that following the Law of Moses actually causes us to sin more! You see, that is the very purpose of the Ten Commandments. Here are other verses by Apostle Paul explaining this:

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED in his sight: for by the law is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.” (Romans 3:20 KJV)

 

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence MIGHT ABOUND. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20)

 

“The sting of death is sin; and the STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW.” (1 Corinthians 15:56 KJV)

The very STRENGTH of sinning is following the Law of Moses for justification. The Law and Ten Commandments as many know it by were given by God to bring the Jews to their knees in understanding that we CANNOT EVER justify ourselves nor make ourselves Holy in our own self righteous efforts. The Law is a mirror so we can see ourselves as God sees us; wretched sinners needing a Savior. The Law is meant to bring us to our knees and to cry out to God for mercy because only God can MAKE us Holy.

YES! The Ten Commandments are true and they are still valid as God’s Holy standard. However, following them will NOT make you Holy nor give you favor or justification with God. Only by belief in the Son of God, God in the flesh, Jesus The Christ, who never sinned in thought nor deed, who willingly died on the cross and shed His blood to pay for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2) and then rose again; it is through this belief a person is justified with God. (John 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

“For the law having A SHADOW OF GOOD THINGS TO COME, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” (Hebrews 10:1 KJV)

The Law of Moses was just a shadow of the real deal folks! Under the Law of Moses, innocent animals were killed because without sin there is no remission of sin. Yet, these sacrifices are not what forgave their sins under the Law (Hebrews 10:4) . It was a remembrance of the one who is to come – the Messiah, and the sacrifice He would make. Jesus is that Messiah who came 2000 years ago. The perfect sacrifice without blemish and without sin. The real deal is Jesus Christ crucified, atoning for our sins on the cross.

The NEW COVENANT began when Jesus died on that cross, paying for the sins of the whole world. When this happened the Old Covenant  was REPLACED by the NEW COVENANT of Salvation through the Gospel of Grace through Christ crucified.

“For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to every one that BELIEVETH.” (Romans 10:4 KJV)

 

“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can NEVER take away sins:” (Hebrews 10:9-11 KJV)

Jesus is the ONCE FOR ALL offering who paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) And if you believe this you are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14), have become a new creature, a new creation of God, called The Spirit. All your sins have been forgiven and God remembers them against you  no more! Jesus paid for all the sins for all of time. We do not have to sacrifice anymore for our sins – they are all paid IN FULL already. Christ perfected all who believe on Him.

“But this man (JESUS), after he had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, SAT DOWN on the right hand of God;…” (Hebrews 10:12 KJV)

Jesus sat down because IT IS FINISHED! Sins have ALL been paid for!

” From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  For by ONE OFFERING he HATH PERFECTED FOR EVER them that are sanctified.

 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

And their sins and iniquities WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE.

Now where remission of these is, there is NO MORE OFFERING FOR SIN.” (Hebrews 10:13-18 KJV)

What does that mean? Glory to God! It means our freedom! At last! Freedom from the chains of our sin debt. Free at at last through belief and trust in the FINISHED work of Jesus on the cross.