Author: Don Gerrity

Romans 11:16-23: ‘otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. ‘

Don Gerrity Romans
Romans 11:16-23: ‘otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. ‘

“For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in UNBELIEF, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.” (Romans 11:16-23 KJV)

Some are teaching Romans 11:22 is stating that a believer can lose salvation. Others teach that Romans 11 is proving that the Church and Israel is the same and that Israel is more prominent to God and others that Gentile believers are more prominent. But is that the truth when we look at the context? Not at all. Romans 11 is not addressed to anyone saved and born again by the Gospel of Grace that Paul taught except that we all need to be humble. His point is that he believes a majority of Jews and Gentiles will one day be saved and become part of The Body Of Christ through faith and belief on Christ alone, apart from works. That God had a plan knowing Israel would reject Christ and that that plan was to save the Gentiles. That said, God also plans to turn back to save Israel in the future as well. Of course, I am commenting in a corporate sense as both  Gentiles and Jewish individuals come to salvation everyday.

The whole point of Romans 11:16-23 (written Apostle by Paul) is the same as Jesus said in John 3:14-18 ; Salvation is only by belief by faith on Christ’s atonement on the cross as the foretold Messiah. God in the flesh. Paul is not flip flopping in his belief and teachings from his other writings to say salvation can be lost in Romans 11. Not at all. 

“For BY ONE SPIRIT are we all baptized into ONE BODY, WHETHER WE BE JEWS OR GENTILES, whether we be BOND OR FREE; and have been all made to drink into ONE SPIRIT.” (1 Cor. 12:13 KJV)

The whole point of Romans 11:16-23 (written Apostle by Paul) is the same as Jesus said in John 3:14-18 and Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9; Salvation is only by belief by faith on Christ’s atonement on the cross as the foretold Messiah. God in the flesh. The Jews relied on their works and Law following to have the favor of God. This is not acceptable to God and our best works are as filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). The Jews who rejected Christ (corporately as a people) were as dead branches that broke off from the tree/root which is Christ (See John 15). Gentiles are grafted in by faith; not works in self righteousness.

Paul’s marching orders from the risen Christ were to take the Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles. That stated, if a Gentile tries to be grafted in to eternal life in Christ by any manner other than by faith and belief on Christ crucified and thinks he has replaced the Jews, or because of his good works is justified, that person will be cut off. Why? Because Salvation is a free gift to be received, not of works but by belief on Christ alone. Paul is not contradicting his own teaching in other letters:

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And BY HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts13:38-39)

“For the law of THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS hath MADE ME FREE
from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2 KJV)

“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)

It is the faith is what Jesus DID on the cross. Salvation can only be achieved through faith in the Lord’s redemptive work on the cross. And that goes for both Jews and Gentiles.

“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” (Romans 11:5-6 KJV)

We see the context more clearly looking at verse 5 and 6. Paul in Romans 11, by context, is speaking about a  a remnant of the UNSAVED Jewish people that believed, and became saved by the Gospel of Grace Jesus.  Just as Jesus foretold, the unbelieving of Israel killed the prophets of old and will not accept the truth that He is the foretold Messiah and because of this will be condemned. Yet a remnant of Israel did believe.

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24 KJV)

At the cross, God then turned away from Israel (as a whole corporately as a people, those unbelieving Jews) who had fallen away from the truth and in fact blinded them to the truth!

“What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.” (Romans 11:7-10 KJV)

Who is the election? It is all who believed on Christ. There was and is today a remnant of Israel who believes and have obtained salvation. They are members of the Body Of Christ in the Spirit. To the unbelieving of Israel, God basically gave them what they wanted in their unbelief but God is not done with Israel as a people yet. That said, in verse 18, Paul reminds the Gentiles and us saved believers that we should not think of ourselves as superior to the Jews either.  We need to be humble too having been given such a great salvation. Paul also reminds them, and us today, that the root supports the branches – not the other way around. Here it is God’s plan what happened to Israel and God’s plan that He sent Paul to the Gentiles because of what happened with Israel. In this sense, Israel is a root from which the Church began as Paul preached. The root is Christ who was a Jew and there were many Jewish believers in the early church who died for their faith in great suffering.  Christ was born physically as a Jew.  And God had, and still has, a plan for Christ and the Jews. God wants all to become in union with Christ even though some will continue to reject them until it is too late. Paul’s office toward the Gentiles will also cause some unbelieving Jews to come to salvation too.

“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” (Romans 11:10 KJV)

Israel has STUMBLED but not fallen completely away from God. They are still God’s people and there is, and always will be, a remnant of believing Jewish people.  We see here that God foreknew that Israel would crucify Christ. Jesus even foreshadowed the cross event as the event required for salvation of anyone when answering Nicodemus in John 3:14-16.

“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.” (John 3:14-16 KJV)

Salvation by the death, burial and rising of Christ was God’s plan for the salvation of ‘whosoever believeth on Christ’ right (John 3:14-18)? So God was and still working in His grace, even toward Israel today. Remember that on the cross, as the Jews were killing Him, Jesus prayed to the Father to not hold it against them because they know not what they are doing. Even while suffering in death He called for grace upon them! How great is our Lord?!

At the same time, when Christ was rejected as Messiah and murdered, God then turned toward the saving of the Gentiles and that is what Paul’s office and his marching orders from Jesus were; bring the message of grace and salvation to the Gentiles. Paul goes on to state that,

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:  If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.” (Romans 11: 13-14 KJV)

Now we see the truth of Romans 11 and what Paul is conveying. Paul wants to also bring any Jews of the Jewish faith, to hear the good news of Gospel and how God worked in sovereignty to save all who will believe, whether Jew or Gentile.  Paul knew that it was God’s plan to use the preaching of the Gospel Paul taught to bring a jealousy to some Jews who would then also be saved. Paul is just saying that, he was given this office of preaching the Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles but he also will in the process provoke ‘those of his flesh’  (Unbelieving JEWISH PEOPLE as Paul is a Jew by physical birth) to see the truth that they may also get saved and become members of The Body Of Christ! God’s grace is still for Israel and the Jewish people. Members of the Body Of Christ are in union with Christ, IN THE SPIRIT, and as such are all one IN CHRIST.

In fact, God’s grace is so amazing that He will still keep His promises for the Jewish peoples, yet unbelieving. There is a remnant of them that will one day become saved by belief on Christ and His finished work on the cross! And God is working to save whosoever will believeth on Christ in faith for salvation.

“For God hath concluded THEM ALL in unbelief, that he might have mercy UPON ALL.” (Romans 11:32 KJV)

Earlier in Romans Paul wrote,

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV)

Do you see how Paul explains that Israel is not done for in God’s eyes. Yes, God has put Israel aside after rejecting Christ but He will one day turn back and save them all. It was God’s plan all along to save all who will believe, first the Jew and then the Gentile. Today we should not look negatively upon Israel and the Jewish people. They are God’s chosen people. Jesus was born a Jew as well.  And just look how God protects them against all odds today! They are back as a nation and in Jerusalem as God had promised them.  So we as the Gentile  born again Members of the Body Of Christ need to remember where our salvation came from (Christ crucified) and how that came to happen (in Israel, by the Jews) and not look down upon then as if being saved we are somehow better. HA! No we are not! What we are is blessed in having receive the riches of the GRACE OF GOD! God allowed what happened in Israel for a purpose and that purpose was to save you and me today! To have you and me as MEMBERS of HIS FAMILY in Christ! In union with Christ and the Father (John 17, Colossians 2, Eph. 1:13-14), having been recreated as the righteousness of God IN CHRIST by faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross and his rising again (2 Cor. 5:17-21, 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Sealing us forever in eternal life (Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30)!

There is NO BOASTING in ourselves in salvation my fellow believers. NONE!!!!! (Eph. 2:8-9) and we need to walk HUMBLE and with great gratitude. And knowing the plan God has for Israel’s future, where God will save all of Israel, we give them their due as the first. God has a plan for Israel today and in the future.

“And so ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” (Romans 11:26 KJV)

God declared this long long ago and He keeps His promises! Humans have free will and God is working all things to the good of them that believe! And that is WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH! Salvation is only by faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross, whether Jew or Gentile. There are Jewish unbelievers and Gentile unbelievers, then there are members of the Body of Christ which are both Jews and Gentiles.

And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)

 

“For by GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

 

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And BY HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts13:38-39 KJV)

 

“For the law of THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS hath MADE ME FREE from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2 KJV)

 

“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)

Salvation can only be achieved through faith in the Lord’s redemptive work on the cross. And that goes for Jews and Gentiles.

Zechariah 3:1-4: Robes of Righteousness

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: Salvation
Zechariah 3:1-4: Robes of Righteousness

“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan was standing at Joshua’s right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” (Zechariah 3:1-4 KJV)

Linda Harris is Administrating director at JESUS IS THE LAMB and she has written an excellent commentary on this passage of Scripture that is very significant in understanding Salvation by the Grace of God through Jesus Christ.  She has graciously provided permission to use it here on SeekKnockFind.org.

You can find Linda at her Facebook group called, JESUS IS THE LAMB located at https://www.facebook.com/groups/6350851779/. I am a member of her group and her commentary on this is so beautiful I just had to share it.

Here is Linda’s commentary…

Robes of Righteousness!

God has made a way for our sins to be taken away. He gives a picture of this in Zechariah 3:1-4:

“Then he showed me Joshua, the high priest, standing before the Angel of the LORD, (this Angel of the LORD is Jesus in “pre-incarnate” form), and Satan was standing at Joshua’s right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away YOUR SIN, and I WILL PUT RICH GARMENTS ON YOU.”

The filthy clothes represent sin. Isaiah 64:6 reads, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” In other words, even our “best” efforts are unclean compared to God’s perfect righteousness.

The RICH GARMENTS represent Christ’s own righteousness, which is absolutely perfect and without any sin whatsoever. They are the garments worn by the children of God who have submitted to the atoning work of our Savior Jesus. This is why the parable of the prodigal son includes these verses: Luke 15:21- 22 “The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. (This is repentance.) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the BEST ROBE and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.” (The repentant son is restored to full SON SHIP.)

Isaiah well understood this fact when he wrote, in Isaiah 61:10 “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

On account of this robe of righteousness that is given to every believer who trusts in what Jesus has done to save them from the penalty for their sins, they stand QUALIFIED to enter the Kingdom prepared only for God’s children.

Colossians 1:12 “Give thanks to the Father, WHO HAS QUALIFIED YOU to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” You are only qualified if you have been restored to the full status of son ship. ONLY those who are children of God wear the ROBES of righteousness given to them by the LORD HIMSELF.

Romans 3:21-26 reads,

“But now a RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD comes through faith IN JESUS CHRIST to ALL WHO BELIEVE. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented HIM as a SACRIFICE OF ATONEMENT THROUGH HIS BLOOD. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just, and the one who justifies those who have FAITH IN JESUS.”

Which is why, in Revelation, we read verses like these: Revelation 7:9 and 13-14:

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were WEARING WHITE ROBES.” “Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.”

No matter when people trust Him, even in the very final days of this world, He gives the Robe of Righteousness to them.

Revelation 7:15-17:

“Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

God’s perfect righteousness is HIS PERFECT HOLINESS. This righteousness is in the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This righteousness is ALSO BESTOWED onto every single person who trusts in Jesus’ atoning work.

John 15: The True Vine & The Branches

Don Gerrity John | 1 John, Q&A: Christian Living
John 15: The True Vine & The Branches

Righteousness Comes Not By Our Performance. Righteousness Comes By Faith In Christ Alone.

–

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
(John 15:1-6 KJV)

A couple of things must be stated before we get into unpacking John 15 and the Parable of the Vineyard.

+ + + First, Jesus is speaking directly to the disciples, before the passion and Jesus’ crucifixion.

The Holy Spirit is not yet indwelling the disciples. We know this because Jesus said this,

“But WHEN THE COMFORTER IS COME, WHOM I WILL SEND UNTO YOU from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” (John 15:26 KJV)

So we know by this context that Jesus is speaking specifically to the disciples. In fact we see Jesus telling the disciples just prior to His going to the cross that they will be persecuted as He was because,

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, THEY WILL ALSO PERSECUTE YOU; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because THEY KNOW NOT HIM WHO SENT ME.”  (John 15: 20-21 KJV)

Jesus is telling the disciples what is going to happen TO THEM after He is crucified. Jesus knows what they will be going through in Jesus name, as ambassadors for Christ. This is a prophecy specially FOR THEM in John 15.

As with many prophesies, this also has meaning for us today who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. But we must be careful to understand the specific context addressing of the disciples who were NOT YET sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to indwell them. That came later at Pentecost AFTER Christ died on the cross and rose again. So Jesus is seen in John 15 encouraging them to keep on going and be patient in persecutions because the Comforter is going to come upon them.

+ + + Second, Jesus is telling the disciples in John 15 how to bear good fruit for the Kingdom. It is not about salvation of a believer in Christ.

The parable of the Vineyard can also be extended to us today in understanding how we can BEAR GOOD FRUIT FOR GOD and HIS KINGDOM and also what God does to help believers do just that. Jesus is talking about how a believer should bear fruit and how God helps a believer to bear good fruit. He is talking about a saved person (here specifically to the disciples) and He does this with an analogy that the people listening at the time He told it would understand very well; a vineyard. He starts with a parable of a vineyard and a vine. He is not talking about salvation nor damnation in hell of an unbeliever. He is talking to saved believers and this parable is all about fruit bearing in our lives. Fruit bearing for Christ and the Kingdom.

A tree is a plant that has a wooden based support structure for the leaves to flourish. It is interesting to note that a Vine is a plant with stems that require support. A vine has a root but the stems must climbs up a tree or other structure. Without that outside support structure it will just lay over the ground and not be as productive in bearing good grapes. This is actually important knowledge for this parable as it is all about relying on the support Jesus provides a believer!

What is it that makes the vine look the way it does? What determines if a vine will bring forth healthy fruit or withered fruit? Or no fruit at all? Is it the stem? Is it the leaves? Is it anything externally on the tree at all? No. It is the health of the vine’s root. The part that is unseen and buried deep in the earth. What an amazing analogy Jesus is using here when we compare it to an actual vine plant.

“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” (Matthew 12:33 KJV)

Jesus also spoke about a person in an analogy of a tree in Matthew 12 and this is comparing the unsaved person to a saved person. It mentions fruit bearing and some take this verse and then apply it to John 15. But we should not because the context is different in Matthew 12. God wants salvation and righteousness before God, not of our own works, but through faith in Jesus the Christ.

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16 KJV)

The bottom line is that we all have a problem with our hearts, which is our Spirit, our inner man, our “root” until we believe on Christ (John 3:18). It is all about the tree of knowledge of good and evil because we were all born into sin. So Jesus says that we need to “…make the tree good and its fruit good.” It is important to notice and understand that Jesus did not say to do good works which would be good fruit. Instead He says TO MAKE the “tree” (our root) good and by doing so our fruit would be good. Good fruit bearing is God within us flowing outward into our life. And that can only happen if a person has been born again by belief on Christ (John 3:14-18, Ephesians 1:13-14). God’s righteousness, which He made believers by belief on Christ, is the source of the good fruit Jesus is talking about in John 15. So the concept of bearing fruit in Matthew 12 and John 15 is pretty much the same; but John 15 is not about salvation.

John 15 Is Not About A Saved Believer Losing Salvation

John 15 is not about a believer losing Salvation as some pulpits are teaching these days. The truth is, by using proper context, John 15 is Jesus telling the disciples  how to bear more fruit. And if we apply this to believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit today, how a believer bears good fruit as well. Before John 15 came, John 3:16, John 5:24, John 6:28-29, John 6:37-40, John 10:27-30 and the previous chapter John 14 where it is clear that Jesus tells us that Salvation is by belief and trust in Him alone.

For us on THIS SIDE of the cross event, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and sealed in salvation, so keep that difference in mind. Jesus made it clear to the Jewish believer’s during His Earthly ministry, that we are saved by believing that He is the foretold Messiah who has come at the appointed time. We are saved today for the same belief, but from the New Covenant side of the cross. In our current dispensation a believer is sealed from the very moment of belief on Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14) and salvation can not be lost. Before the cross the Holy Spirit did not INDWELL people and they had to keep believing in the foretold Messiah who would one day come and be the final blood atonement for the sins of the whole world.

Today we have more knowledge about this because we are on the other side of the cross and as Apostle Paul taught us that by believing Jesus is the Messiah, come as the Only Begotten Son of God, who never sinned, died for our sins on the cross for our sins and rose again, and that this BELIEF ALONE is the only thing God requires of us. That He will never condemn us or lose us as believers. And that no one can take us out of His hands! Jesus also made the promise to the Jews back then as seen in the previous passages in John that I have just mentioned, if they continue in belief on Christ. These Scriptures are in the very same book of John and are Jesus own words and it is the very context that must be used in interpreting John 15. To take one verse (verse 6) from John 15 and turn it into a believer losing Salvation is completely wrong by the book’s own context and Jesus’ own words.

John 15 Is About How A Believer Bears Fruit From The Spirit

In John 15, speaking to the disciples, Jesus tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches as believers. Now let us think about that for just a moment. For us today, from the very moment of our belief and trust on Christ to save us, we are SEALED by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) and our Spirit was recreated into the righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21). We have a new redeemed Spirit now as believers. We have a new root in our core being which is the Spirit. The Holy Spirit now indwells the believer forever and we are COMPLETE IN HIM (Colossians 2). Jesus becomes our new root and source of life. Jesus is one with the Father and Holy Spirit and we are IN CHRIST , also now one with God (John 17).

What Does Jesus Mean By The Word ABIDING in John 15?

This is very important to understand or you may not see the truth on what Jesus is talking about. Not understanding what the phrase ‘ABIDING IN CHRIST’ actually means is one reason some are teaching that John 15 is about a possibility that a believer can lose their Salvation today. Yet, that is just not the truth at all. The New Testament was originally penned in Greek and translated into the English Bible. When we look at the Greek this was penned we find Strong’s Concordance Number G3306 which matches the Greek word μένω (menō). This Greek word occurs 127 times in 105 verses in the Greek concordance of the King James Bible. By comparing the meaning with other passages using the same word, the meaning becomes more clear.

“And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there ABIDE G3306 till ye go thence.” (Matthew 10:11 KJV)

“And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there ABIDE G3306 till ye depart from that place.” (Mark 6:10 KJV)

“And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither ABIDE G3306 in any house, but in the tombs.” (Luke 8:27 KJV)

We can go on and on looking at such passages using the same Greek word and the meaning is very clear. Abiding is not a work we do to remain saved. That is the wrong teaching that seems to be rampant in many pulpits teaching the false ‘works for salvation gospel’ that is found in so many Christian Church Religions and Denominations today.

Abiding means where we live or where we stay. In John 15, Jesus is telling the disciples to live and stay in trusting Him. They were not yet indwelt by the Holy Spirit as we are. For us today, we can still apply this to ourselves because even more so, the Holy Spirit is indwelling believers today. Trust in Him as we go about working for His Kingdom. To live by The Spirit who God recreated us by belief on Him (John 3:18). To abide in HIM. Apostle Paul calls this ‘walking by The Spirit’ and not ‘The Flesh’.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:16-18 KJV)

Once we are born again in The Spirit (John 3:3), that is how we should be living. We have had a heart transplant at our very core of being, in our Spirit nature. Our old Spirit of Man nature (sin bent nature) DIED and has been reborn into The Spirit Of God (John 3:3, Romans 6, Colossians 2). We need to abide in Christ as our very life and support in order to produce good fruit from God to be used in love towards others. In order to Live in Jesus name as ambassadors for Him to the lost.

John 15 Verse By Verse, Watching The Context Carefully

Verse 2: Every Believer That Does Not Bear Fruit (John 15:2)

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:…”
(John 15:2 KJV)

This verse is not about fruit inspecting a person to see if they are saved or not as many are teaching today! Every branch ‘in me’, are already eternally saves believers. Those believers that do not bear fruit ‘He taketh away’. Some read this and believe it means God will take them away in judgment and condemnation but that is not so at all! The Greek word for this is airō. This is usually translated as “to raise up, to elevate, or to lift up”. Think about a field full of grape vines. Some branches of the vine may be slouching and even half in the dirt. Wind and tough times have this branch weary and weak, half covered and weighed down in the dirt. What does a person attending to the vines do? Cut it off? NO. This is common practice of a vine care taker and those not bearing fruit he will lift up off of the ground so that it takes to the nutrients better in hopes of bearing more fruit. He will prop it up with sticks to get more sun and nutrients from the vine root. This is all about God helping believers to bear more fruit! As believers, we sometimes receive miraculous help from God, the Vine care taker, in our time of need don’t we?

Verse 2: Every Believer That Bears Fruit (John 15:2)

“…and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2 KJV)

In the Greek, ‘purgeth’ is Strong’s G2508 and is defined as ‘to cleanse’. Such a branch (believer) is not laying in the dirt and God continually cleanses it so that it can bear even more fruit. This is where we want to be as believers and God is helping us to achieve that as our source and support and as our strong root.

Verse 3: Every Believer Is Saved and Cleaned (John 15:3)

“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3 KJV)

What are these words Jesus has spoken to them? Jesus has told the disciples so much truth during their journey with Jesus. By belief on Him as Messiah, they have been cleaned of their sins. Jesus is about to go to the cross for them and all of us! By context, the Words in the previous chapters in the book of John that Jesus spoke. Like John 3:14-18, John 6: 39-40, and the very previous chapter of John 14 which are all Jesus telling us that we are saved only by belief on Him and not by our works and Law of Moses following.

Verse 4 and 5: A Believer cannot do anything pleasing to God by living in The Flesh (John 15:4-5)

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: FOR WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING.”  (John 15:4-5 KJV)

These two verses by context are very clear right? As a indwelt believer today, we too can choose to do good works with the wrong motive. Some believers believe they have to do good works to remained saved but that is not Biblical truth (read Ephesians 2:8-9 and Galatians 5:4-5). Good works are all good and we should be doing good works for God. But we are not to go off acting like we are our own vines. WE ARE BRANCHES! The point is the motive matters in bearing good fruit. Are we relying on our own effort in bearing fruit? Jesus said He is the vine and we are the branches. As believers, we are not our own vine. We need to let God flow through us you see? A believer can do things by the wrong fleshly motives or they can live outwardly by ‘walking in the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:16). If we act as a vine when we are a branch, we have no source of nutrients to bear any fruit that will matter. Doing so just cuts off God’s power working through us. Is such a person still saved? Yes. Again this is not about salvation; it is about fruit bearing. Yet, don’t we want God working through us and producing good fruit and helping others come to salvation through belief in Christ? We need the ‘sap’ from God. Bearing good fruit is about allowing God to bear good fruit for the Kingdom, through us. We must be humble and not boast about our good works because they are all God’s work. To bear good fruit for God is to trust and rely on Him and then good works will flow from the root , to the branches and to the leaves; and good fruit will grow.

It is also true that without a person believing on Christ for salvation, God is not indwelling them and not working through them to bear good fruit at all. They are more like a weed in the vineyard growing next to a vine. They are not bearing good fruit because they cannot. Their root is the Spirit of Adam and is a sin bent nature. It is their very nature to sin. This is the Spirit of Man that we are all physically born with since the fall in the garden. But when a person comes to accept the free gift salvation through belief on Christ, there root was replaced by God and they can start producing good fruit in their life because they have become IN CHRIST and Christ is IN THEM. It is the very life of God residing within their very core being.

Verse 6: A believer NOT Living By The Spirit of Christ (John 15:6)

This verse has caused massive confusion in the Christian community and led many to believe that Jesus is talking about losing Salvation. But the context is clearly not about salvation in John 15. It is about a believer’s fruit bearing. It is about Jesus telling the disciples to keep Abiding In Christ. That is, LIVING, IN CHRIST. For indwelt believers today, a believer not abiding in Christ is not living by the Spirit of Christ within us. This is a saved person living carnally just like the Corinthians were living. They were saved but walking more by The Flesh than The Spirit of God. The Flesh is all the wrong sinful thoughts in the mind left over from when our old, now dead Spirit of Adam was our core being. We now have The Spirit of God as our core being but our MIND is not yet fully renewed. This is why Apostle Paul taught we need to renew our MIND in Romans 12. Jesus also mentions it in his prayer for believers before the passion and cross event in John 17:17.

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

Jesus says that those that do not live in the Spirit of Christ, will ‘wither’. In the Greek the word ‘wither’ is xérainó, meaning ‘to dry up’. They become dry and stale and so they do not bear any fruit at all. What happens to a branch not receiving nutrients from the source? It drys up. It withers. And eventually it is cast off, collected and burnt up as useless to bear good fruit. We need to walk by Christ in us. As Apostle Paul wrote, we need to “…Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). If we are a saved, Holy Spirit indwelt, born again believer and then we ignore the Spirit and live carnally, our works are useless for the Kingdom! Just as James said, such faith is DEAD, which in Greek is used as as analogy for useless.

What about the burned up part in John 15:6? Some are teaching that God will cut these believers off, they will lose Salvation and be burned for eternity in hell. But is that correct? NO. It cannot be because Jesus in John 14 talks about Salvation by belief on Him alone and John 15 is written to the disciples who definitely are BELIEVERS – not unbelievers. Look closely at the Scripture words Jesus uses in verse 6. It does not read like this,

WRONG:
‘and GOD WILL gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.’

That is the lie being taught by so many pulpits these days teaching this is about loss of Salvation. NO. NO. NO… it reads exactly like this,

CORRECT:
“..and MEN GATHER THEM, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Men! Not God!

Jesus is saying that not living in Christ will be looked at by the unsaved as a believer being a hypocrite. Their teaching and witnessing to others is withered as they are by how they are living. It will cause them to be useless for the kingdom. They are saved but their life is being played out by acting as vines and not branches. They are living carnally and without regard for fruit bearing in love towards others. Useless.

Jesus is simply using an analogy here of a well known thing to the Jewish people; and that is running a Vineyard. And this is exactly what they did with old withered and dried up branches. They cut them off so that they do not hurt the entire vine. It is NOTHING more than that. It is not about losing Salvation. Not everywhere in Scripture when the word ‘fire’ is used, is it all about condemnation in hell. In fact, what about in the upper room when tongues of fire were seen above the disciples heads? That was referring to the Holy Spirit. What about the burning bush Moses seen? So we must be careful about thinking that the word ‘fire’ only means hell in Scripture. We must look at context closer to see the truth.

Verse 7-10: Abide in Christ’s Love By Living By Christ’s Words and the Word of God (John 15:7-10)

“If ye abide in me, and MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that YE BEAR MUCH FRUIT; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: CONTINUE YE IN MY LOVE. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:7-10 KJV)

This is such encouragement from Jesus. Live by the Spirit of Christ in us – not The Flesh. If Christ’s WORDS are living in our mind, they are changing our mind (the definition of repent for a believer) and they have replaced wrong fleshly beliefs. We live outwardly as we believe IN THE MIND. The more we read Christ’s words from the Bible, the more we will make better decisions and act in love toward others, bearing good fruit from God through us.

Christ is The Vine and we are The Branches. We need to live as branches today, just as Jesus instructed the disciples not yet indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and allow God’s love to flow through us to others. There should be no boasting in this and we need to be humble. For believers today, our old Spirit of Adam is DEAD. BELIEVE IT!

Walk in the new Spirit God made us when we were converted by belief on Christ (John 3:18, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 6, Colossians 2 and 3, 2 Cor. 5:17-21). If we live in Christ by the New Spirit He made us, we will bear much fruit and God will help us to bear more and more fruit! And the beauty is, each fruit we bear has many seeds. And each of those seeds produce more fruit! Amen! God will help us in bearing good fruit in our lives. He keeps our leaves clean and branches strong in the Lord. What a great God we serve!

Verse 11: John 15 is all about God Wanting Our Joy To Be Full – Not About Salvation Loss!

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you,
AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.”
(John 15:11 KJV)

Here we see Jesus encouraging the disciples because He knows what they are about to go through, severe persecution.  This too can be applied to believers around the world today who are being persecuted for Jesus’ Name sake. Know where Jesus is taking us!

What Is Bad Fruit And What Is Good Fruit?

For believers today, we are born again in the Spirit and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul told us about good fruit and bad fruit.

The answer comes in Galatians 5 starting at verse 19.

(i) The Bad Fruit Of A Person…

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21 KJV)

(ii) The Good Fruit Of A Person…

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:22-26 KJV)

The goal is to not make yourself look clean on the outside while we are full of sin inwardly, in our inner man and mind. We need to be clean inside and it will work it’s way to your outward man. But we can’t do this ourselves. We need Christ’s forgiveness of sins and we need to read the Word of God to renew our mind to God’s viewpoint, and the Holy Spirit also changes us from within.

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” (1 Peter 3:3-4 KJV)

God looks at us inside; not outwardly. It is not what you DO but the motives you have inside that He looks at. Your Spirit is the real you regardless what is happening outwardly. And we can align our own thinking to what the Holy Spirit is doing in us so that we will bear good fruit as we see in Philippians 4:8:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
THINK ON THESE THINGS.”
(Philippians 4:8 KJV)

Rest in God

Allow Christ to change us from the inside out, through the true vine; Jesus Christ. And in time, we will bear the good fruit of God. And it will be our joy, the joy Christ wants for us! Love one another just as God loves and loved you in the blood sacrifice for sins through Christ Jesus. Abide in the words of God. Abide in the words of Jesus and we will learn to say as Paul and the writer of Hebrews also wrote,

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
(Romans 1:16 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 4:1 KJV)

Romans 7:8, “without the law sin was dead”

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Law of Moses
Romans 7:8, “without the law sin was dead”

“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)

There is something very special in this verse. Something much too overlooked by believers in Christ. The word CONCUPISCENCE is our tendency to sin, our inclination to sin when tempted. It is the very essence of our Sin Nature which the Bible calls ‘The Flesh’. Too many believe the Ten Commandments (and even the full 613 commandments in the Law of Moses) is to be followed to somehow make us right with God. To appease God into allowing us to please God and be saved by God.

Some of you reading this as believers in Christ may be shocked with what I am about to state but it is very Biblical. It is in fact, the main thrust of the writings of Apostle Paul, who was an expert in the Law of Moses. Paul was once known as Saul, a persecutor and killer of Christians, until one day he had a supernatural meeting with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus that changed his life forever. Saul became known as Paul, who gave us The Gospel of Grace Through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. In fact, two thirds of the New Testament exists because of the writings of Apostle Paul.

Romans 7 is a really pivotal chapter in the Gospel of Grace that is so under taught, yet is central to the truth of the good news of the Gospel of God’s Grace. Verse 8 above may not be what some have considered as the real truth of the freedom and liberty we have been given by belief in Christ for our Salvation. They instead may be pushing the Ten Commandments and preaching condemnation to believers instead of preaching the freedom and liberty that Jesus Christ has provided for us.

Paul just spent Romans 5 and 6 explaining what happens when we believe on Christ for righteousness. Salvation is all about God’s grace free gift to us. In Romans 7, Paul pauses teaching about life as a saved person and switches to explaining what it was like living under the Law for righteousness before he got saved. The word IMPOSSIBLE comes to mind! Paul is stating that following the Law of Moses causes people to sin more! Oh yes, this is very true indeed. Apostle Paul also stated this,

“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)

That is really not what most pulpits are teaching these days now is it? I mean all I hear is to ‘live by the Ten Commandments’ as if by doing so we will please God. Yet, the Bible teaches us that by trying to keep all the commandments as a means of having a good standing with God will result in our FAILING MISERABLY. In fact, the Bible tells us that it will cause us to SIN MORE.

You see, we all are born into this fallen world with a Flesh Sin Nature. A bent toward sinning. Try to tell a dog to act like a cat. GOOD LUCK! Why? Because the dog’s nature is to be a dog! It is the same with us since the fall of mankind in Eden. We all have this diseased sin nature. All The Flesh wants to do, is sin. The Law of Moses is all about “THOU SHALT NOT…”. And all that does is make our sin nature want to sin more. Paul explains the more we want to do good by keeping the Law, the more we end up falling into sin. Verse 17 needs to be looked at closely to see what Paul is talking about.

“Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” (Romans 7:17 KJV

The word SIN in Romans is mostly used as a NOUN. It is not an action word. It is not sins we commit but Paul is showing us that humans are born with this THING, a noun called SIN. It is a SIN NATURE you see? We sin because it just comes naturally from our birth.

Now when we are saved, we become a NEW CREATURE called The Spirit. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit from the very moment of belief that Jesus is the Christ who died for our sins on that cross, paying the penalty for ALL our sins (1 John 2:2), and rose from the dead. Apostle Paul tells us this in Ephesians:

“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)

So after our Salvation what is different? Some teach a believer has TWO NATURES. One sinful bent and the other perfected and righteous as God. However, do we still have a Flesh sin nature? According to Paul in Romans 8 the answer is actually no. We do not. Paul also had just explained in Romans 6 that our old nature DIED WITH CHRIST (in Colossians 2 as well). So that cannot be correct.

But our mind still has left over sinful thoughts and beliefs (from when we were living in the Flesh) which needs to be renewed. Our bodies will not be glorified until our bodily resurrection in the future. So we still have old sin nature THINKING in the mind wanting to sin at times. Yet, a believer in Christ is now a NEW SPIRIT. This new spirit never sins as it is the seed of God within us (1 John 3:9). We may still choose to live in a fleshly way and fall to temptation and sin, but our Spirit remains intact as born again believers. We are IN CHRIST forever. Because of this, we will feel guilt, remorse and call out to God to help us overcome such temptations next time because that is not us anymore. In fact, the devil and his angels cannot even touch our new perfected Spirit (Hebrews 10:14) so they entice the Flesh thoughts in our mind to tempt us to sin. There has been an eternal change in our Spirit. A believer will turn back to who they were made in Christ.

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9 KJV)

This verse is describing the NEW US that believers became when they believed on Christ for Salvation. This new us is called THE SPIRIT. It is at war with our old, left over, Flesh nature thoughts and beliefs IN OUR MIND.

In Romans 8, it is clear that a believer is no longer IN THE FLESH. That old sin bent nature was put to death on the cross with Christ (Romans 6 and Colossians 2). However, the mind has not yet been renewed. Only our Spirit was renewed. In 1 Corinthians 15:50 Paul states clearly that our bodies are still corrupt and cannot inherit the Kingdom. That is why we need a bodily resurrection to come. Our Spirit is heaven ready as born again believers, but our body and mind, still has a sinful corruptness it deals with.

Apostle Paul tells us to renew our mind in Romans 12 and to walk in the spirit to avoid the lust of the Flesh in Galatians 5:16. To walk in the spirit, a believer needs to understand what the spirit is because THE SPIRIT is now the NEW US as believers. We have that small voice telling us, do not sin. Yet, our fleshly left over thoughts (from when our Adam spirit nature died) strongly wants you to sin. We strive to not sin but as believers we do fail and sin as well. Paul described this situation as it was before his salvation in Romans 7. He is explaining that living under the law was impossible like this,

“For I delight in the law of God after the INWARD MAN: But I see ANOTHER LAW in my members, WARRING AGAINST the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the BODY OF this death?” (Romans 7:22-24 KJV)

The ‘inward man’ Paul is talking about here is his Adam spirit nature before he got born again by belief on Christ. Now why would Paul explain salvation in Romans 5 and 6 and in chapter 8, and then switch back to before he was saved in the middle, in Romans 7? He is explaining what it is like living under the Law for righteousness. We need to understand that, as believers. And then Paul says,

“25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

In Romans 7, Paul is showing us the complete impossibility to keep The Law in our own strength before Christ came.  He explains this between chapter 6 and 8 because it is intended to make the point to born again BELIEVERS, who think that The Law must be kept to remain righteous and is showing us that it is totally wrong. It is only through Jesus Christ our Lord that we can start to win battles between the wrong fleshly thoughts and beliefs in our mind and our new Spirit. It is so that we realize how to increase our faithful walk in life as believers. Born again or not, we live outwardly as we believe in the mind you see?

If we could not keep the Law to remain or be holy before we were saved, we most certainly cannot follow the Ten Commandments to keep ourselves holy and saved as believers either. Law following does not make our Spirit saved! The Law just shows us we have a SIN problem. Christ freed us from that bondage to the Law. He fulfilled all the Law and took our sins in exchange for His righteousness on that cross.

We do not have TWO natures at war. We have one new nature and left over wrong beliefs and thought processes from when our Spirit of Adam died on the cross with Christ. The REAL US as believers is The Spirit and The Spirit always wants to do good and what is right because it is Holy and without a sin nature. It is Holy, and the Holy Spirit indwells our new Spirit. In fact is is now the very righteousness of God, in Christ!

“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.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV)

If we were only in The Spirit, and not body, then we would be freed from this internal war between our sinful fleshly thoughts and the real us in the Spirit. That is why upon physical death a believer goes directly to Heaven where there is no sin. Why? Because our Spirit has NO SIN. All our sins were paid for by Christ on that cross. As believers on Christ, our Spirit was perfected (Hebrews 10:14) and made righteous (2 Cor. 5:21) by God. One day we will become whole as Jesus resurrects our physical body into a glorified body without this disease of bodily sinful corruption. Until then, we strive to walk in The Spirit because The Spirit is the new us now. And to be honest, that takes a while for a person to realize after their moment of Salvation. A process starts at our Salvation called our sanctification (John 17:17) and it lasts until our physical death, or Rapture.

Now we have our part in this sanctification after salvation. A person is saved and born again only by belief on Christ and His blood atonement and rising from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4). The person becomes eternally saved. However, if believe is all they do and they do not read the word of God and they just live worldly, they have not renewed their mind much. Because of this they are easily deceived by the devil and his angels. They end up remaining as babes in the faith just as is described in Hebrews 6. Eternally saved but as James wrote, having a dead, useless faith. Again, we live outwardly as we believe in the mind.

As believers if we read God’s word and we pray to God to help us increase our faith and knowledge in the truth of the Gospel of grace, we start to see the world differently. We renew our old Adam beliefs with the truth. In this case, also, as we believe in the mind, we live outwardly. See how this works?

“O wretched man that I am!”, Paul exclaims about using Law following to be justified. It is hopeless because we need the new Spirit to even be able to change! He is so right isn’t he? But there is a difference now that we are born again! It is so frustrating when we fail and sin. We know it is wrong and after we sin we just feel awful about it. It can really affect our fellowship with God because we are so ashamed to have sinned and so we shy away from God. My friends, do not do that! Instead, understand about this war going on inside you as a believer is between THE MIND and our NEW SPIRIT. It is not two Spirit natures within us at war. It feels like what it was like before our salvation just as Paul describes in Romans 7 but it is different now as a born again creation of God.WE HAVE A NEW CREATED SPIRIT OF GOD. It is who we now are!

We have fleshly Adam sin bent beliefs left in the mind, yet the Adam nature is DEAD. It died on the cross with Christ! But these left over thought processes and wrong beliefs  can be RENEWED by the truth of God’s word and with help from the indwelling Holy Spirit. That should be the focus of every believer! Paul goes on to explain this in Romans 12. Our struggle now, as born again believers, is with RENEWING OUR MIND to match up to who God MADE US at the moment of our conversion. It is not about Law following to the letter to remain holy. NO! It is just renewing our mind to match the truth of who God MADE US in the Spirit. That is where we get freed more and more, day by day, until our physical death and eventually bodily resurrection.

This tabernacle we live within called the physical body, is corrupted. Only our Spirit has been renewed. The body has a disease called sin (NOUN) and unbelievers sin because they have a sin nature. Believers sin because of left over sin bent thoughts and processes called ‘The Flesh’ in the mind.  And once a person is redeemed by belief on Christ (John 3:14-18, 36) we become a new creation called The Spirit that dwells within this sinful body. So important to understand this.

At first, after Salvation it may seem like not much has changed. We do not ‘feel’ much different actually because we are still here in this body. And it still wants to sin with wrong beliefs. But slowly you start to realize that you start to care about NOT sinning. The Holy Spirit begins to renew your mind by the Word of God and you start to see things by God’s worldview and not the world’s view. You start changing on the inside and it moves outward into your life in good works. This is The Spirit growing and the inward man becoming stronger while The Flesh becomes weaker. It does not happen over night and that is okay! You are completely redeemed and saved by the blood of Christ. You are Heaven bound because ALL your life of sins have been penalty paid by Jesus and placed on your account.

Keep on striving to not sin? Yes. But realize we are not to follow the Ten Commandments to keep us Holy, acceptable, nor saved. They just show us God’s moral high standard. They are the absolute truth. They show the Holy standard of God for us. Absolutely. Yet, they can never make you Holy! But we no longer use the Ten Commandments as our source. Our source now is the Holy Spirit indwelling us as believers. He will teach you and guide you in life into all the truth. This process cannot be rushed and the Holy Spirit works within believers individually and at different paces as well.

Since we are now, as believers, The Spirit, then we should strive to Walk in The Spirit which is the real us now. Study the Word of God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you. Be patient. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who is God in the human body. He did not start His Earthly ministry until the age of 30. It will take time for us as well! Take courage in this. God is not against you, He is for you!

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13 KJV)

Luke 9:26: ‘whosoever shall be ashamed of me’

Don Gerrity Q&A: Grace Of God, Q&A: The Truth About...
Luke 9:26: ‘whosoever shall be ashamed of me’

“For whosoever shall be ASHAMED of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26 KJV)

The word “ashamed” here in the Greek is ‘epaischynomai‘ and Strongs concordance shows the meaning as ‘with the accusative of a person and the infinitive of a thing’. Jesus is talking about those who are accusing Him that He is not the Messiah but a false prophet. That is a serious offence indeed.

An interesting note about this passage using the King James Bible is that when you compare Mark’s account we see something more specific.

“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words IN THIS ADULTEROUS AND SINFUL GENERATION; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38 KJV)

Mark is stating Jesus said, “IN THIS…GENERATION”. Jesus is speaking DIRECTLY to the Jewish people during the time of His ministry. The context becomes clearer when we go back verses to see the context.

“31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man MUST SUFFER many things, and BE REJECTED of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and BE KILLED, and after three days rise again.

 

32 And he spake that SAYING OPENLY. And Peter took him, and began TO REBUKE HIM.

 

33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

 

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

 

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

 

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

 

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words IN THIS ADULTEROUS AND SINFUL GENERATION; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

The Jewish people of THAT generation expected the Messiah to come in power and glory to be king. For some reason they ignored the prophecies about the suffering that the coming Messiah would have to go through. They did not expect Him to come in meekness, being humble as He did. To them Jesus words did not line up to what they envisioned the Messiah would be like when He came.

Peter was, just beforehand in Mark 8, the only disciple to answer Jesus’ question “Who do you say that I am?” with the correct answer “The Messiah”. Yet here we see Peter rebuked Jesus when He stated He would suffer and die. And then we see a chilling verse when Jesus replies to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan”. Peter believed Christ was the Messiah but not that He would have to suffer and die. This was not what the Jewish people envisioned of the Messiah. Peter likely thought that as the Messiah, Jesus was about to take over and vanquish the Romans ruler-ship over them. This was the belief in that day and we know it to be wrong today as Jesus did die on the cross for our sins and rose again. Jesus knew just how horrible the suffering was going to be and Satan was trying to tempt him to not go through with it. Peter was seeing as the Jewish people were seeing and not as God sees and planned for Jesus and Christ’s reply to Peter is “for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.”

Jesus then calls other people to come and hear Him speak and tells them not to reject Him but to pick up their cross daily and follow Him despite what the common view of the day and the teachings of the Pharisees and Scribes was. Jesus says to DENY THEMSELVES. The Pharisees and Jewish people believed that it was their self righteous Law keeping that would save them. Yet, within they all still had a debt of sins to be paid for. Jesus then warns them to not reject Him as the result will not be a good one as they thought and instead tells them,

“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words IN THIS ADULTEROUS AND SINFUL GENERATION; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

This passage in Mark 8 is directed solely at THAT GENERATION in specific. That said, the warning of rejecting Christ applies to all people in our generation as well. If a person relies on their own goodness or self righteous works or religious rituals (all of which is SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS), thinking it will save them because they are less sinners than others; the result is the same. If in unbelief a person rejects the free gift of Salvation through Christ, without works required (Ephesians 2:8-9), the end result for them will be Christ rejecting them when He comes back in glory at the Second Coming of Christ in our future.

Jesus gave a grave warning about this because their very Salvation is at risk if they continue believing that Law keeping will save them. Jesus gave another strong warning about the belief that Self Righteousness will save a person in Matthew 7 where we see a person is not saved by what they DO but by belief on Christ and His atonement for our sin (John 3:14-18, 36).

To those in that generation, and to those in our generation, who reject Christ because they think they are good enough on their own merit they will one day, at the White Throne Judgement, hear the most horrifying words of Jesus,

“…I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23 KJV)

This need not be you hearing these words. Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world and that includes your life long list of sins. God became flesh in the person of Jesus, The Christ, who lived a perfectly sinless life and willingly died on the cross to take the punishment for the sins of the whole world. And Jesus says to Nicodemus and to you,

“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 3:16-18 KJV)

Trust in the finished work of Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and not in your own ‘goodness’, nor your good works, nor any religious ritual. BELIEVE on what Christ already accomplished for you  on the cross and God will forgive all your sins (past/present/future) and SEAL you from the very moment of your belief (Ephesians 1:13-14) and MAKE YOU the very righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). If you believe on Christ alone to save you from the penalty of your sins this is true of you now, whether you feel it or not:

God says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12 KJV)

 

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ” (Romans 8:1 KJV)

 

“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)

This NEW CREATURE is the new you now in the Spirit within. You still reside in this sinful flesh body but now the new you, the Spirit, will war with the evil flesh desires. When you sin, you are going to feel guilty. When you are about to sin, you will have that small voice telling you to resist. Yes, you will fall and fail and still sin. But the Holy Spirit will chastise you and teach you over time. Renew your mind by reading the Word of God to see the truth and it will set you free.

 

Related Articles:

Mark 10: Did Jesus Teach That Rich People Cannot Be Saved?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Difficult Passages, Q&A: The Truth About...
Mark 10: Did Jesus Teach That Rich People Cannot Be Saved?

The story of the rich man, in Mark 10, should be read in proper context. It is not just about rich and poor people. There is a truth that we should give to others less fortunate in love. Yet, God does not expect anyone to sell everything they have and give it to the poor to be forgiven and enter Heaven. In fact, the whole situation described in Mark 10 is about those who believe in SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS that they are justified with God; yet are wretched and condemned. This rich guy was wealthy and was not in need of much. His father left him an enormous inheritance.

He asks Jesus,

“17 Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” (Mark 10:17-18 KJV)

Jesus knowing his heart replies with following the Law of Moses:

“19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.” (Mark 10:19 KJV)

》 The thing is, no one can keep all the Law of Moses!!

Jesus came to fulfill the Law and is the only one who was sinless in all of human history. Jesus freed us from the Law and gave us Salvation. We know, that from this side of the cross, we are not saved by works but by the grace of God. (Eph. 2:8-9). So what is Jesus really doing and talking about here to this rich guy?

The reply of the rich man is unbelievably naive and self righteous:

“20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.” (Mark 10:20 KJV)

WOW! REALLY? This guy is telling Jesus he has kept all of the Law of Moses which no one has? Really?!?!?

Now we see Jesus’ words react as He does so many times in His earthly ministry to the Jewish people who thought they are saved and justified with God by their Law following and good works. Jesus is going to bury this guy in his self righteousness and replies with:

“21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:21-22 KJV)

Jesus tells the guy,  ‘look here…you are very self righteous and relying on your riches. Give up your riches. Come follow me.’

If he had done so, he would have asked for mercy and acknowledged that he is a wretched sinner like everyone else and would have looked to God for mercy and Salvation. But as many do, he instead would not give up his self righteousness and reliance on riches instead of God.

We see Jesus burying the Jewish people and Pharisees many times in His earthly ministry. Those who were very SELF RIGHTEOUS, relying on their goodness and good works and Law keeping to justify themselves with God. We see Jesus saying things like, ‘pluck out your eyes’ and ‘cut off your hand’ etc. Jesus takes such people to the extreme of self righteousness. Why? Because He was preparing them for the New Covenant of GRACE through Christ crucified. Bringing them to the end of themselves in hopes they would recognize their sinfulness and instead cry out to God for mercy, understanding they can never match up to God’s Holiness and see their need for their Savior and Messiah, Jesus The Christ.

Jesus continues,

“25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10: 25-27 KJV)

Jesus knew that the New Covenant of the grace of God was coming so that Whosoever believeth on Him shall have eternal life. (John 3)

From the very start to the end of  Jesus’ earthly ministry He proclaimed to be The Christ and Messiah. Believing so means to give up our self righteousness and good works to be forgiven our sins and gain eternal life and instead rely fully on Christ’s FINISHED WORK on the cross; the only atonement for the sins of the whole world. (John 3:14-18, 1 John 2:2, Eph. 2:8-9)

》 ARE YOU SAVED? ARE YOU SURE? YOU CAN KNOW!!

Find out…
https://seekknockfind.org/getsaved/

Luke 9:62: ‘not fit for service’?

Don Gerrity Luke
Luke 9:62: ‘not fit for service’?

“62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 KJV)

CONTEXT MATTERS

Reading only this one verse without context of the verses just before makes it seem like a believer’s “service” and works are what save a person. That is a false gospel message.

Is this talking about a person losing Salvation? No! Jesus is addressing BELIEVERS and inviting them to be a follower. It is about DISCIPLESHIP. Jesus just told the 12 He is headed for the cross. Following Jesus means taking up their own cross to bear. It will not be for the faint of heart heading into surely persecution heading for the cross.  Nothing can be put as a priority other than the task at hand. Count the cost because a person could not ‘be fit’ for the task otherwise. By the way, look up the word ‘fit’ in the Greek and the meaning is not ‘service’. It is Strong’s G2111, ‘euthetos’, and means “well placed, i.e. (figuratively) appropriate:—fit,”.

Some pulpits are teaching that Luke 9 is about a believer’s “service”. If you use the NIV Bible translation it reads ,

“62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit 》FOR SERVICE 《 in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 NIV)

THE NIV BIBLE ADDED TWO WORDS: (FOR SERVICE) that should not be there.

These two words are not in the KJV version, nor the NASB version, nor the ESV version. The NIV is the worst Bible TRANSLATION ever. Look at King James Version…

“62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 KJV)

Also, if we look at verses previous to 62, the context is clear; Jesus is addressing unbelievers and inviting them to follow Him and believe in Him. He is not addressing BELIEVERS!

Jesus Himself said,

“28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is EASY, and my burden is LIGHT.” (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

The Moment of Salvation Verses Our Service After Salvation

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Salvation
The Moment of Salvation Verses Our Service After Salvation

Salvation Is By Belief On Christ And The Only Atonement For Sin; Christ Crucified, Died And Risen

Jesus explains Salvation through Him in John 3 through conversation with Nicodemus, one of the Jewish leaders, that knew Jesus must be sent by God due to all the miracles Jesus performed.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 KJV)

Jesus then goes on to explain that for a person to be born again means a new birth of a spirit from God. And how does Jesus tell us is the way we are reborn in the Spirit? Jesus then uses a series of repetitive statements to make it crystal clear:

“14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE .

16 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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world THROUGH HIM might be saved.

18 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 is by BELIEF IN Jesus, the Christ, the foretold Messiah without anything else added. Believing that Jesus is God in the flesh who came to pay the penalty for all the sins of the whole word on the cross.

Notice that Jesus did not mention our self righteous works nor penance nor ANYTHING; ONLY BELIEF ON CHRIST. Salvation is not something we work to achieve in our self righteousness. Nor do we keep our Salvation by doing good works nor by performing religious rituals. Salvation is God’s FREE GIFT to us. And as a gift we can accept it (by BELIEF ON CHRIST ALONE) or reject it (by UNBELIEF in Christ who provided the FINISHED atonement for the sins of the whole world on the cross.)

When Christ was on that cross He said, IT IS FINISHED just before His physical death. In the Greek this was penned, He literally said, DEBT PAID IN FULL. Christ had paid in full the penalty for the debt of the sins from all of time and for every person that ever lived. Not just for those who BELIEVE IN HIM but for everyone. Salvation is eternal. Once you believe you are saved eternally. Jesus did not make a oartial payment!

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2 KJV)

It is God’s desire that everyone accept the free gift of eternal life. Yet, the choice is ours.

Service After Salvation

And then there is our service for God AFTER the moment of our Salvation.

Salvation is a FREE GRACE GIFT TO BE RECEIVED FROM GOD and is an undeserved and unmerited favor. Salvation is by BELIEVING in the only atonement for our sins which is Jesus The Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who is God, born of the Virgin Mary, who NEVER SINNED in mind nor deed and willingly died on the cross in torment as He took the punishment for the sins of the whole world upon Himself. All who believe this are from the moment of belief SEALED With the Holy Spirit and have become eternally saved (Ephesians 1:13-14) as sons or daughters in God’s family of redeemed.

This is not MY THOUGHTS ON SALVATION! This is what the Bible, Jesus and Apostle Paul clearly taught!

Now after Salvation we should start walking by the new creation of Spirit. We need our minds renewed to match up to the now righteous, sinless, perfect Spirit we now ARE IN CHRIST. This Spirit is now the REAL US. We cannot do this perfectly because we still have this fleshly body with a sin nature and bent toward sinning. Our flesh is at war with the new us; the Spirit. Apostle Paul struggled with the Two Natures if a Believer in Romans 7. Read it and pay close attention to verse 17 and 20.

Do We Sanctify Ourselves or Does The Holy Spirit Sanctify Us?

In John 17:17, Jesus answers this question.

“SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH.”

Before Jesus became human His name was ‘The Word’. (John 1) Jesus Christ is not only the truth, He is the way and the life!

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV)

Jesus Christ is the only way back to a proper relationship with God. Such a relationship requires a perfectly Holy Righteousness but we have sins committed standing in the way of this. That is why The Word (Christ) became human, never sinned, and shed His blood for the remission of our sins. From they very moment of Belief on Christ and the atonement for our sins through the Passion of Christ, God made us the Holy Righteousness of God, in Him.

“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.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV)

What Is Our Part As Born Again Believers?

Again, what should we do as believers? First, thank God for such an amazing gift! Second, read the Bible because it is God’s Word and the absolute truth. The more you read the Bible and the words of Jesus the more the Holy Spirit renews your mind. You will see the truth and be set free from the guilt of your sins and set free from the punishment of your sins. You will look at things from God’s viewpoint and not the world’s viewpoint and that will empower you to accomplish the good works of God through you.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall MAKE YOU free.” (John 8:31-32 KJV)

Notice the word “make”. The Bible does not ever say it is our efforts making us saved and righteous before God. And it is not our own efforts that sanctify us completely. Only the Holy Spirit renews our minds and changes us from the inner self outwardly. That said, by reading the truth from the word of God we are pressing toward the goal of the Holy Spirit. It says over and over again what Jesus said in John 8. It is God alone that MAKES US positionally righteous and justified. It is never our works accomplishing this. It is our belief in Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! (John 1:29)

Writing to even the the carnal believers in Corinthians Paul makes this statement,

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” ( 2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV)

And we see in Titus,

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” ( Titus 3:5-7 KJV)

Paul also makes it clear that we should do our part in this renewing of our mind. How a person thinks and believes about the world will determine their actions in the world. A person’s viewpoint is an important key factor in how a person lives. We all begin with the world’s viewpoint. And who is controlling the world’s viewpoint of truth? The Bible says it is our adversary, Satan.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12 KJV)

In Ephesians 6, Paul continues and is telling us to put on the whole armour of God and “stand in the power” of God’s might (Eph. 6:10) and it is all about knowing the truth in the Bible and allowing this to transform us. And that means we should be studying the word of God to know the truth. Knowing the truths in the Bible will also protect us from our adversary!

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
(Ephesians 6:13-17 KJV )

We have our part to do in the Holy Spirit’s work of renewing our mind to God’s view point and truth.

You still have free choice after the moment of your Salvation to walk by the Spirit in truth (by God’s word) or to walk by the flesh in carnality as the Corinthians were doing. Are you still saved either way after Salvation? Yes. Paul called the Corinthians believers.

Does that mean there are no consequences for sin and we can just keep sinning and ignoring God’s word without consequences? No!

We have our part to do and why would we not want to know the truth from God’s word? Jesus redeemed us with His shed blood and has given us all things. Christ says in John 15 to abide in Him and His words and Christ will abide in us.

Do not just listen to Pastors or Priests. Do not just read my articles or e-books and believe. No.. start reading your Bible after your moment of Salvation, having received this most amazing GIFT from God. The Holy Spirit within a believer will Sanctify you and guide and teach you the truth.

“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.” (Romans 12:2 KJV)

When that happens over time, you will be changed and conformed more and more into the image of Christ. God will place desires in you to accomplish good works He has prepared for you to perform.

Start reading the amazing truth in God’s word; The Bible.

Is Water Baptism A ‘Requirement’ of Salvation?

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations, Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About..., Q&A: Water Baptism
The Holy Spirit

Baptism is not a REQUIREMENT OF SALVATION through Christ Jesus. There are pulpits that teach that WATER baptism is required for salvation. Although Water Baptism is something for a Christian to do, it is something done AFTER a person has become a believer in Christ as an OUTWARD expression of becoming saved by BELIEF ALONE in Jesus, the Christ, God in the flesh and the only atonement for sin that He provided on that cross 2000 years ago.

Let’s go through some of the Scriptures people use in stating that Water Baptism is required and see the truth.

John 3:18, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 2:8-9

Salvation Is By Belief On Christ Crucified, Died and Risen Alone

“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)

This passage of Scripture by Apostle Paul is a foundational truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and agrees with Jesus’ own words in John 3 where He defines whether a person is saved or condemned based on their belief or disbelief on Christ Jesus:

“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 3:18 KJV)

Ephesians 1:13-14 shows us that a person is SAVED from the very moment of BELIEF. Water Baptism is not required. Baptism of the SPIRIT is required. And we receive this newly created Spirit by BELIEF on Christ alone for Salvation and justification with God. Apostle Paul goes on to state that Salvation is not of ourselves nor by being a good person nor by any religious ritual.

“For by grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Acts 2:36-38

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, WHAT SHALL WE DO? Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:36-38 KJV)

The Jewish people were just told by Peter that the crucified the actual foretold Messiah and savior of the world. In reply, realizing it as truth they asked WHAT SHALL WE DO? Some are taking this question and making it ‘What shall we do to be saved?’, but that is NOT what the text shows. An important distinction to observe. If a person sees this question as ‘what must we do to be saved?”, then they read into the text that water baptism is REQUIRED for Salvation but that cannot be the case because if you read further in Acts 8, it shows the Holy Spirit coming with laying on of hands BEFORE water baptism (Acts:17). And we also read this in Acts 8,

“But WHEN THEY BELIEVED Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Acts 8:12 KJV)

They first believed and then were water baptized. Yet, it says no where in this passage that the WATER baptism was a requirement of Salvation.

Acts 16:30-31

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED, and thy house.” (Acts 16:30-31 KJV)

How much clearer can it be than this? Salvation is by BELIEF on Christ alone for Salvation.

1 Corinthians 1:17

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17 KJV)

This is Apostle Paul who stated this! If Water baptism is a requirement of Salvation, wouldn’t we see Paul stating so? Instead, we see Paul stating the opposite.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, UNLESS YE HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV)

Salvation is by BELIEF on CHRIST, His atonement for our sins, His death and His rising from the dead. No water baptism is stated here by Apostle Paul.

1 Peter 3:21

“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” ( 1 Peter 3:21 KJV)

This verse is used to support the idea that water baptism is a requirement for Salvation. Yet, what is the text in parentheses all about in this verse? Look at the words closely. It starts with ‘The LIKE FIGURE…’ and in parentheses ‘NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh’. This is our SINS. Water baptism is NOT putting away our sins. What is then? Read on in parentheses and it reads next, ‘a good conscience toward God’, and how do we get that? Read on, ‘BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.’

This is all about believing on Christ alone for Salvation. It is all about the Baptism of the Spirit that happens to a person from the very moment of belief as Apostle Paul taught in Ephesians 1:13-14 (see above).

Romans 1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one THAT BELIEVETH; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV)

Again Apostle Paul stating clearly that Salvation is by Belief on Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5 KJV)

This is a powerful verse. Jesus paid it all and we are not saved by ANYTHING we DO, including water baptism. You must realize that not only can no other person saves us but that we cannot save ourselves neither! Belief on Jesus Christ crucified for atonement of our sins is what saves us. HE is the ONLY mediator between us humans and God the Father.

We cannot even be our own mediators!

Trying to be our own mediators is the same as following the Law to save us and following the Law of Moses saves no one. Do not misunderstand that statement. Yes, the Law of Moses (including the Ten Commandments) is Holy and true. The point is that following the Ten Commandments in our own self righteousness will never MAKE US HOLY. We are only made the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST(2 Corinthians 5:21).

Is Being Water Baptized Wrong or Unscriptural?

Water baptism is Scriptural. Stating that it is a requirement for justification with God is not. I am not saying that believers should not be water baptized. Being water baptized is an outward expression of what happened when we became saved by BELIEF ALONE in Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world.

It is also a statement, announcement and celebration of a BIRTH. A BIRTH OF THE SPIRIT in us. Our newly created spirit of God, that we BECAME from the very moment of belief on Christ. By BELIEF on Christ we were changed from being UNRIGHTEOUS (and already condemned in our sins headed for hell) to being the very RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, in Christ. (John 3:15-18, 2 Corinthians 5:21). A believer is SEALED by the Holy Spirit for all eternity from the very moment of BELIEF.

Water Baptism is not a REQUIREMENT of Salvation. BELIEF ON CHRIST and the only atonement for our sins through Jesus crucified is the only requirement.

Does That Mean What We Do, And How We Live After Salvation Does Not Matter?

Of course not. We are to do good works after we are saved. We are to help others and love others as Christ loved us. It is okay to perform a religious act that lines up with the fact that Salvation is not by works but by belief and faith in Christ’s once for all sacrifice for our sins (Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 10:10).

Good works are, well, good right? Being a good person in love for others is good right? Celebrating Christ in a religious act is also good. However, we should never make these things we DO as a requirement of our Salvation. We do them in great gratitude of experiencing God’s love for us. We do them as Christ who lives within us does good works through us.

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Philippians 2:12: ‘work out your own Salvation’

Don Gerrity Philippians
The Blessed Hope

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
(Philippians 2:12 KJV)

Some are teaching that it is our works that keep us saved based on this one passage. Apostle Paul stated this verse in his writings. To believe this is to ignore the other teaching passages of Paul in total opposition. We cannot take this one verse completely out of context to make it mean we need to work to keep ourselves saved.

We must consider other passages by Apostle Paul. Think for a moment and ask yourself how this passage means we need to work to keep our Salvation when just previously in Philippians 1:6 Paul says that it is God who keeps us saved?

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6 KJV)

Passages by Apostle Paul that state Salvation is not of ourselves, nor by our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9) and Ephesians 1:13-14 that show us that a person is saved eternally from the very moment of BELIEF on Jesus Christ and actually SEALED by the Holy Spirit forever from that moment. And then there is 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 where Paul again states clearly a person is saved from the moment of belief.

“Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 KJV)

Also, what about Jesus’ own words in John 3: 15-18 where He repeats often to strongly emphasize that Salvation is by BELIEF on Christ with no mention of anything else?

The passage in Phillipians 2:12 does not mean we work to keep our Salvation. Context matters and so what is Paul teaching in this passage?

It is teaching that we cannot take any credit for our Salvation. Look what Jesus did for us! He is God who lowered Himself below rank of an Angel (Hebrews 2:7) and shed His own blood to save us. Humble to an enormous amount, yes? Well, if Jesus was that humble then how humble before God in respect should we be? Salvation is God’s unmerited favor for us! The amazing Grace of God!

In fact, look what is being taught to us by Paul as we continue reading the very next verse:

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phillipians 2:13 KJV)

Do you see echoes of Jesus talking in John 15?

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5 KJV)

We need to be humble! With respect and acknowledge that we can do nothing without God working through us. We need to understand this and not be too proud of our own self righteous efforts. Instead we should move forward in faith, in our weakness, knowing it is all by God working through us.