Paul describes in great detail that when a person believe on Christ Crucified, died and risen, God foreknew and had actually placed their old Spirit of Adam, their sin nature Spirit, on the cross with Christ. What then took place is amazing and a truth many believers have never heard to this day:
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
(Colossians 2:8-15 KJV)
Q: When a person believes on Jesus Christ and His final payment for our sins on the cross and His rising from the dead, is that person saved from that moment?
A: Yes. Eternally saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit until the day of bodily resurrection at the Rapture.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
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 1:1-14 KJV)
Is James 3:1 Something To Fear For A Believer In Salvation By God’s Grace?
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” (James 3:1 KJV)
In James 3, it is warning that teachers of the Gospel can face more severe judgment by God. Does that mean witnessing to others about the Gospel of Grace and teaching others by God’s Word is something to fear? A good question. I see many posting James 3:1 and pushing it as a fear tactic ! That sound more like the devil trying to stop believers from witnessing to others as Jesus instructed us to do!
James 3:1 is truth and it is true but it also to some may come off as ‘we should not preach the gospel’ or ‘witness to others’ in fear of great judgement? As if those teaching God’s Word to others cannot make ANY ERROR AT ALL or face severe judgement.
Think about this logically a moment. God knows we are not perfect. God knows we are all growing in the knowledge of the truth. He is the one teaching us. We will get it wrong at times and eventually will have correction in right belief. Who of us believers are perfect in the MIND right now? NONE! Paul says we need to RENEW OUR MIND by God’s Word (Romans 12). Jesus said the same in John 17:17. It happens over time. Even the most prolific Bible teachers are still learning the truth and correcting some things they previously taught wrongly. We must keep context in mind. Who in specific is this warning about?
Looking at the very next verse, James 3:2, it shows us that perfection is not the standard of this verse,
“For in many things WE OFFEND ALL. If any man OFFEND NOT in word, the same is A PERFECT MAN, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2 KJV)
Here is a good question at this point, ‘How are we PERFECT before God?’ Is it by what we do or by believing what CHRIST JESUS DID on the cross in saving us. We are the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST by the imputation of God (2 Cor. 5:17-21) since our belief on Christ (Eph. 1:13-14, John 3:14-18, 6:37-40, Colossians 2).
The offense is what then?
It is believing salvation is by OUR WORKS. Here in specific it is teaching ‘works of the Law’ for righteousness which is false. If a person is teaching ‘works for salvation’ today, it is basically the same thing, SELF RELIANCE for salvation – a false salvation Jesus warned about in Matthew 7:15-23. ‘Many wonderful works’ will not save anyone!
Even here within the book of James in the previous chapter he stated this,
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10 KJV)
That is the offence. Going back further for more clarity on proper context, remember James 1, and who he is addressing,
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, -TO THE TWELVE TRIBES- which are scattered abroad, greeting.” (James 1:1 KJV)
James is writing to the Jewish people in specific. What did the Jewish people believe about becoming righteous with God? They believed in LAW FOLLOWING for righteousness, which Jesus taught AGAINST.
In James 2, it starts with “MY BRETHREN” and he is addressing the Jewish believers. James 3 comes after James 2 and that matters. So we must understand these important contexts to understand the truth of what James is teaching in James 3.
Later in James 3, there is also a point that envy and selfish ambition are two of the criteria for judgment.
“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (James 3:14-16 KJV)
We see this today as well as the false gospel of ‘works for salvation’, mixing the Law with Grace is rampant in church organizations and many many pulpits.
Therefore, if you are witnessing to others and teaching others that salvation is by belief on Christ and not works, you are teaching correctly the Gospel of Salvation. Even if you misinterpret some passages and later are corrected on other things; if you teach the true Gospel, you are doing what Christ instructed us to do. Learning the deep things of the knowledge of truth happens over time by the indwelling Holy Spirit for all who believe on Christ – even Pastors and Bible teachers. But the core belief of the Gospel is either the true Gospel of faith and trust in Christ or faith and trust in others things. It is never the mixing of the two.
And remember also that Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world. And that includes sins of believers after salvation. James 3:1 is not a salvation issue. James 3:1 starts with “MY BRETHREN”. That is addressed to already eternally saved BELIEVERS. I suspect that most teachers of the Bible and even all believers who witness using Scripture may have some loss of rewards when we got it wrong. But even so, we are already in glorified resurrected bodies in Heaven at the Bema Seat Judgement of Believers. No sins are even mentioned because they were all already paid in full on Christ in judgement (1 John 2:2).
We may lose some rewards and gain some other rewards for our witnessing and teaching to others in the Bible. Who is perfected yet?! I believe for the most part, it will be rewards for helping others come to salvation by pointing them to Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life contains only the names of those who are part of the Church and who will reside in The New Jerusalem, the Heavenly city Jesus is preparing (John 14) for The Bride Of Christ (all believers from the cross to the Harpazo Rapture) (Rev. 21:27). It is not the Earthly Jerusalem in the Kingdom Age to come. This book is the registry of all believers from The Church Age who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. No one else will live in The New Jerusalem. It is the eternal residence of The Bride Of Christ who are in union with Christ with the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is important to note that Old Testament Saints are not indwelled by the Holy Spirit as believers in the Church Age are today. The Bride is set apart by God and are in UNION with Christ (John 17:21-26, Ephesians 1:13-14).
Old Testament saints were not indwelled by the Holy Spirit and SEALED in salvation. They had to continue in belief on the Messiah and Christ to come. As such, they will not be part of the Harpazo Rapture event which is reserved for Church Age believers only. After the Rapture, the Holy Spirit will again not indwell anyone who comes to believe on Christ. They will have to keep believing and reject the Mark Of The Beast until death or The Second Coming of Christ event. Old Testament Saints and those believers who die and/or are beheaded during the coming Tribulation Period will not be bodily resurrected until The Second Coming Of Christ to Earth to setup His 1000 year Kingdom Age (Revelation 20:4, Daniel 12:1-2).
THE BOOK OF LIFE (THE BOOK OF THE LIVING)
The Book of Life contains the names of every person from the time they are born (Psalms 139:16). Once a person has made a decision of finality (God knows who will and who will not believe from before the foundation of the world – Ephesians 1 ) to not believe in the once for all final payment for all sins by the foretold Messiah, The Christ, their name is blotted out of The Book Of Life.
For Old Testament believers, who looked forward to Messiah coming in belief, they are listed in the Book Of Life (sometimes referred to as The Book Of The Living). Their names are listed in The Book Of Life and they will be Bodily Resurrected at the Second Coming Event (Revelation 20:4, Daniel 12:1-2) and enter the 1000 year Kingdom Age on Earth. We see The Book Of Life again at the Great White Throne Judgement of all the unbelieving dead from all of time and it is where the names of all believers are found, including believers from the Kingdom Age Millennium with Christ ruling on the Earth. Believers from the Old Testament times and new testament times and from the Kingdom Age on Earth to come.
Since those at the Great White Throne have rejected salvation through belief on Christ crucified, their names were blotted out of The Book Of Life and are not found. They are all those who have decided to pay for their own sins through pride in self righteousness, thinking they are good enough, or those who outright just reject Christ. Because they rejected Christ’s full payment for their sins as a GIFT OFFERED, they have chosen to pay for their sins themselves. The wages of sin is eternal death in the Lake Of Fire (Romans 6:23) and all at this judgement seat will be condemned forever in the Lake of Fire. So sad! God did not want them to end up there. The Lake Of Fire was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41) but they have sided with satan in pride and will end up where he is going. God sent His only begotten Son to pay their penalty in their place so that they could be with Him forever. Yet, they rejected this amazing gift! Unfortunately, they unbelieving will have an eternity regretting it.
Since The Bride Of Christ and both the Old Testament and Tribulation believers will have been resurrected by the 2nd Coming (Daniel 12:1-2, Rev. 20:4), the only other people whose names will be written in the Book of Life at the end of the Millennium are the children of believing Tribulation survivors who will be born and come to faith during the 1000 year Kingdom Age. At the end of the 1000 year Kingdom Age to come, we see that many of the mortals will not be believers in Christ (even though He is on Earth with them!), satan will be released from the abyss and a final rebellion will occur. The end result is that Christ kills them all and defeats them quickly.
At some time after that, all the unbelieving spirits of dead are bodily resurrected, which is the Second Resurrection unto condemnation. All found at the Great White Throne Judgement Seat of Christ, are unredeemed and unbelievers. They are first shown that they are being condemned because they are not found in the Book Of Life where those who believe on Christ for righteousness are found. Their names were blotted out once they decided in finality to reject salvation by belief on Christ and His once for all blood atoning sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 10:10).
So, we see that the Book of the Living (Book of Life) and the Lamb’s Book Of Life are not the same book as some are teaching.
“8 And when he is come, he will REPROVE THE WORLD OF SIN, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because THEY BELIEVE NOT on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;” (John 16:8-10 KJV)
Verse 9 is about unbelievers. The Holy Spirit is convicting THEM of their sins so they might call out to God for salvation and mercy.
Verse 10 shows the truth for an already eternally saved believer. It is our newly created , born again Spirit and the fact of our righteousness of God, (which God made us by imputation, in Christ -2 Cor. 5:17-21). Our new RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD at our core being is the reason for us feeling icky and guilty when we sin. Jesus said ‘because I go to my Father’, because He could not send the indwelling Holy Spirit until He was back in Heaven. The Holy Spirit indwells a believer in their new born again, forgiven 100%, Spirit of God; our great comforter!
No more are we condemned (Romans 8:1)! Our sins are remembered no more by God against us as believers (Hebrews 10:17) and we should have no more consciousness of sins (Hebrews 10:2). That should not be our focus. A believer’s sins were all paid for by Christ crucified 2000 years ago (1 John 2:2). It is so hard for us to believe but that is the fact stated.
Our mind still needs renewing but our newly created Spirit NEVER SINS and cannot sin (1 John 3) because it was already made by God into the 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 Cor. 5:21 KJV)
Our core being, The Spirit, is already COMPLETE IN CHRIST and already risen with Christ (Colossians 2). So, when we sin, it is because our body and MIND is not yet renewed. It cannot inherit the Kingdom of God because it is still corrupt (1 Corinthians 15:50). That is why we need the resurrection of the body at the Harpazo Rapture.
Because there has been a change in our core being, in The Spirit, it is our own righteousness that makes us feel guilty and wrong when we sin in the body and mind. Why? Because that is not us anymore! Amen.
That is also why Paul tells us to ‘walk in the Spirit to avoid the lusts of the flesh’ (Gal. 5:16) and why Paul says we should renew our MIND by God’s Word (Romans 12), replacing wrong beliefs with true beliefs from the Word of God. We live outwardly as we believe in the mind and renewing the mind leads to better decisions when tempted and more good works outwardly in love toward others.
An inward change moving outwardly into our life until our bodily resurrection.
Dr. Andy Woods is the Senior pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. He is also the president of Chafer Theological Seminary. In addition, Andy has contributed to many theological journals and Christian books and has spoken on a variety of topics at Christian conferences.
“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)
The Pharisees during Christ’s Earthly ministry would not believe Jesus is the foretold Messiah that was to come and be the final blood atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:22 KJV). Of course, Christ did accomplish the Work of the Messiah and paid for the sins of the whole world. Apostle Paul tells us that in God’s economy of righteousness that,
“…the wages of sin IS DEATH; but the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 KJV)
Does Hebrews 10 Teach A Believer Can Lose Salvation?
In Hebrews 10, it clearly states that the annual blood sacrifices of ‘unblemished’ animals under the Law of Moses never removed sins FROM the people As A PAYMENT. They were only a TEMPORARY COVERING of the people’s sin for one year at a time. The people under the Old Covenant looked forward to the time when this foreshadowing would becomea permanent situation when the foretold Messiah, The Christ, would arrive on Earth and be the final “once for all” blood atonement for the sins of the whole world.
“For the law having A SHADOW OF GOOD THINGS TO COME, AND NOT THE VERY IMAGE OF THE THINGS, can NEVER with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto PERFECT. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had NO MORE CONSCIENCE OF SINS. But in those sacrifices there is A REMEMBRANCE again made of sins every year. For it IS NOT POSSIBLE that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:1-4 KJV)
In stating this fact regarding righteousness, the writer mentions the ‘perfection’ of a person. That after the Messiah makes the FINAL PAYMENT for the sins of the world, that a believer should have ‘NO MORE CONSCIENCE OF SINS’ having had his sin debt paid in full for ever. And now Christ came and did just that! This is a truth many Christians have not fully grasped who still believe their sins after salvation can mean their loss of salvation. Those thinking they must be doing more good works and deeds to remain saved, as if Christ’s sacrifice was not sufficient. God forbid!
The writer in Hebrews 10 continues,
“9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.” (Hebrews 10:9 KJV)
The New Covenant has already come since Christ already came as Messiah and the cross event happened and He rose again. Jesus’ atonement was a ONCE FOR ALL deal! He paid for all sins of believers and also unbelievers (1 John 2:2) as a GIFT to be accepted unto salvation (Romans 5, Ephesians 2: 8-9) or rejected thus remaining condemned already (John 3:18).
Continuing in Hebrews 10, we read that every Jewish priest was still being seen,
” …STANDETH daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can NEVER take away sins:” (Hebrews 10:11 KJV)
This was no longer needed as Christ came. He paid the wages for all sins. This is speaking about the unbelieving Jews and they were pressuring Jewish believers to go back to animal sacrifices. Today, believers should also take note of this. Should believers today believe salvation is by God’s grace as a gift PLUS OUR sacrifices and good works in order to ‘REMAIN SAVED’? Not according to Hebrews 10 ! Although Christian religions do not have animal sacrifices many do preach completion of religious rituals and good works as a REQUIREMENT TO REMAINED SAVED. Yet, Christ already paid the wages of our sins. As eternally saved and righteous believers, we need to understand that these things will also NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS. Yes, believers SHOULD do good works in love for others; ABSOLUTELY. But only Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient and is continuously sufficient to keep us saved. In Romans 5, Apostle Paul shows how God’s grace is free and is continuously paying for a believer’s sins like waves covering the sand on an ocean, wave after wave, grace MUCH MORE abounds.
“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20 KJV)
And Jesus Sat Down
“But this man, after he had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, SAT DOWN on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by ONE OFFERING he hath PERFECTED FOR EVER them that ARE SANCTIFIED.” (Hebrews 10:12-14 KJV)
Notice that the unbelieving Priests ‘STANEDTH’ where Christ completed the atoning work for sin in finality and ‘SAT DOWN’. It is so important to understand this comparison the writer of Hebrews is making.
During the animal sacrifices in the Temple the high priest was VERY busy, always working, walking around, completing the sacrifices, following the rules etc. Busy busy busy!
When Christ became the final once for all blood atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, His work was DONE in saving us and paying for our sins! And so He SAT DOWN at the right hand of God. As Jesus cried out on the cross, “IT IS FINISHED” (an accounting term used in that day which in the Greek literally meant ‘a debt paid in full’) and when He rose again HE presented His finished work to the Father and it was sufficient to the Father to pay for the sins of the whole world.
Then, Jesus‘SAT DOWN’!
What a powerful truth my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! By the ONE, Jesus Christ and by His ONE sacrificial blood atoning offering on the cross we have been perfected for ever. Apostle Paul wrote God MADE US the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST (2 Cor. 5:17-21), indwelt for ever by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14), complete in Christ and already risen with Christ in the Spirit (Colossians 2).
“Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them AFTER THOSE DAYS, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I REMEMBER NO MORE. Now where remission of these is, there is NO MORE OFFERING FOR SIN.” (Hebrews 10:15-18 KJV)
When God looks at a believer in Christ, we are HIS. We are a purchased POSSESSION having been bought and paid for by the precious cleansing blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). All wages for our sins WERE already paid in full by Christ crucified. By our belief on Christ we are seen by God as righteous as Christ is (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Think about that truth! TRUE FREEDOM !!! Free to do good works in love for others, not to remained savedbut because of what God did for us in love. From great gratitude and our new Spirit. Yes, we as believers still fail. Yes, we resist sinning but at times fail. But all our failures and sins were already paid by Christ, COMPLETELY!
Jesus truly meant it when He cried out,
“IT IS FINISHED.”
!! DO NOT ALLOW ANY PERSON
OR PULPIT TELL YOU OTHERWISE !!
” Let us HOLD FAST the profession of our faith WITHOUT WAVERING; (for HE IS FAITHFUL that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke UNTO love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV)
It is about the change in our core being, our Spirit and walking in our new Spirit of Christ in love to others. And sticking together in encouragement and support, knowing our chains of sin were both broken AND REMOVED.
The context in Hebrews 10 is THE ONE SIN (not all sins) of going back to animal sacrifices and the Law of Moses in unbelief in the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement for all sins of the whole world. That is the ‘wilful sin’ the writer is addressing through the book of Hebrews and where we read ,
“For if we SIN WILFULLY after that we have received THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH there remaineth NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27 KJV)
These verses are being taught by some (even from pulpits!) as a believer losing salvation but that is completely false seeing the true context here. The writer is teaching by comparison to those still under the Law; that is the unsaved Jews who were persecuting and pressuring believers to go back to animal sacrifices. Those persecuting the believers kept sacrificing animals AFTER Messiah already came and ACTUALLY PAID for sins. They heard ‘the knowledge of the truth’ (hearing it does not make a person saved. Believing it does!) but rejected such a great sacrifice for our salvation. In comparison, the writer is warning and encouraging the saved Jewish believers to keep faith and trust on Christ alone because His sacrifice is the only one that saves us. The writer tells these early church Jewish believers that for the unbelieving Jews, it is a fearful thing they are facing without Christ. As believers, it is an enormous sin to go back to animal sacrifices under The Law to cover sins. It is stating UNBELIEF in the utter complete sufficiency of Christ’s payment for sins as the foretold Messiah. This is the very FOUNDATION of the Gospel! It should never be rejected! God forbid!
Babes in Christ could fall for the pressures of the Jewish unbelievers and so assembling and encouraging each other in persecution mattered much. We should take note of this today in these End Times as well.
“He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith HE WAS SANCTIFIED, AN UNHOLY THING, and hath done DESPITE UNTO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS PEOPLE. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:28-31 KJV)
HIS PEOPLE are the Jewish people who had rejected the foretold Messiah. Despite the amazing grace of God to save anyone who will accept Christ’s free grace gift of salvation through His own shed blood, the Jewish people rejected it!
We see the writer now encourage FAITH (BELIEF AND TRUST in Christ alone) to abound among the Jewish believers,
“But WITHOUT FAITH it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God MUST BELIEVE that he is, and that he is A REWARDER of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)
What words of encouragement for these Jewish believers and for us today as well. As the saying goes, knowing the truth, believers today need to ‘Keep their eyes on the prize’, salvation through Christ alone by faith alone in the grace of God.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, from all over the world, persecution of Christian believers is on the rise. World events are showing us that the Biblically prophetic one world government and one world religion is almost upon the world. Persecution of believers will rise more according to the Godly inspired prophetic words of Scripture. The Church Age will soon end at the Rapture and then the antichrist system and rule is coming upon the whole world. The Jewish scholars in Israel are RIGHT NOW stating that they believe Messiah is about to arrive on the scene. The plans to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem exist now as foretold in the prophet Scriptures to happen in the time when the Antichrist arrives on the world stage.
Unfortunately, the Jewish have as a people, mostly not acknowledge Jesus as Messiah to this very day. They are still looking for the Messiah but will be duped to believe the Antichrist is their Messiah. But God is not done with Israel yet! God will raise up 144,000 Jews from the 12 Tribes of Israel to believe in Christ and His Second Coming event after the Tribulation Period. They will start evangelizing and a remnant of Jews, and many Gentiles, will come to believe that Jesus is the Christ.
In these times we live in believers, we need to KEEP THE FAITH. Jesus is coming for His Bride before the Tribulation and revealing of the Antichrist. Encourage and help one another under persecutions. Help to reach the lost for their salvation. Love others. Love your enemies. Time is shorter than ever before. The Church Age is nearing it’s completion. The Pre-Tribulation Rapture of Church Age believers can happen at any moment. The Lost need to hear the knowledge of the truth, The Gospel of Salvation Through Christ Crucified, Died and Risen more than ever before.
Lordship Salvation leads people to think that works are required to remain saved. This is not the Gospel of Christ Jesus. It teaches salvation is by grace but if a person does not MAKE a person Lord of their life with evidence of good works, then, they are not “truly saved”. That statement is very conflicting in Scripture. Why? Because we do not MAKE Jesus Lord; HE IS LORD whether a person is saved or not. If we are saved, the Lord helps us in being fruitful in good works but we do have our free will to live outwardly as we choose. Of course, we should be wanting to live outwardly in good works and love towards others just as Christ loved us. But no one MAKES Jesus Lord. We accept or reject His GIFT of Salvation.
When Does Jesus Become YOUR Lord?
Scripture says Jesus IS LORD OF ALL! Not just believers. He is everyone’s Lord whether they accept Him as the foretold Messiah and savior, the only begotten Son of God, or not.
“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)” (Acts 10:36 KJV)
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 KJV)
Look what this is telling us in Luke 2. Jesus IS OUR SAVIOURwho is The Lord. What we are to do is to TRUST in Jesus AS OUR SAVIOUR, because He is Lord, the foretold Messiah, The Christ.
“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, EVERY KNEE shall bow to me, and EVERY TONGUE shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom 14:7-12 KJV)
EVERY KNEE WILL BOW
This applies to unbelievers as well at the Great White Throne Judgement where they will find themselves condemned for not accepting the free gift of salvation without works required that Jesus and Paul taught. It is not the works nor deeds condemning them. It is because they are not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life and those in that book are those who accepted the free gift of Salvation through Christ crucified died and risen. ALL their sins were paid for by Christ and by believing on Him, the only payment for sins was placed on their account. And all sins and failures we have committed are future from the cross and that includes sins and failures of the believer as well. But those who do not accept the free gift of Salvation by BELIEF ON CHRIST ALONE, and who trust in their ‘many wonderful works’ (Matthew 7:21-21) have boasted in their own efforts to save themselves. So their sins must still be paid for (Romans 6:23); they had rejected the only payment that would eradicate the wages for their sins and that is Christ crucified, died and risen. The ONCE FOR ALL blood atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).
No one is saved by their works nor deeds.
Matthew 7 shows this as Jesus states that ‘many wonderful works’ will not save a person but only by trust in Him to save them. Paul stated that thinking salvation is kept by works and deeds makes Christ of “no effect unto you” in Galatians 5,
“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5:4-5 KJV)
It is fine and good that a believer wants to do good works after being saved. We have a new Spirit after all. Good works are, well, GOOD! Helping others come to salvation as ambassadors for Christ is a good privilege indeed! But to state that if we do not have good works after salvation that we do not have salvation is boasting in PRIDE (Ephesians 2:9).
I will also say this, born again believers, even those currently saved but living carnally, magnify what Jesus DID on the cross. They trust in HIM ALONE for their salvation. That said, I am not condoning living a sin lifestyle, God forbid (Romans 6). Also, new born again believers still need their mind’s renewed by God’s Word, more and more, to even come to understand what things they are doing are sin and which are not. It takes time. So are such new born again believers not saved because they have no good works as evidence of being saved? No, because works and deeds have NOTHING to do with salvation. And just HOW MANY good works are required to know you are saved anyway?
Anyone claiming to be born again and eternally saved who is teaching that NOW, BECAUSE I am saved, I am somehow better. NOW that I am saved I do not sin anymore. NOW because I am saved I am better than others because “I HAVE MADE Jesus Lord of my life” has got it all wrong. A person is only saved and kept saved by Jesus and His FINISHED blood atonement on that cross and rising again. Where is the bragging for a born again believer? In our own efforts, works or repentance after salvation? Or bragging on Christ and what He has done for us? This great love of God is what brings a person to repentance in the first place. Lordship Salvation is leading many to believing salvation has a “works” component to it and that is very dangerous belief.
What actually IS REPENTANCE?
Lordship Salvation teaches that repentance is ‘turning from sin’ and ‘doing good outward works’. If a person believes on Christ but never stops sinning, that they were never saved. Jesus never said such a thing. In fact, in John 3 and John 6 He emphasized BELIEF ON HIM, with nothing else required.
Repentance is just a WORD and it literally is defined by the Bible as “change your MIND”. Before salvation it is changing from our works for righteousness to belief on Christ for righteousness. After salvation it is about again ‘changing our mind’ by God’s Word (Romans 12, John 17:17) to believing the truth by God’s Word FROM SALVATION. This renewal can lead to outward good works but that does mean the good works after salvation will keep a person saved. IT IS CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK – NOT OUR WORKS that save us and keep us saved! Anything else is the sin of boasting and pride.
Lordship salvation teaches that your actions and works is how a person makes Jesus your Lord by “your works and repentance” after belief on Christ for righteousness. Find one verse of Jesus stating that, with the proper context of a verse intact. It is not there.
JESUS BECOMES A PERSON’S LORD AND SAVIOR AT THE SAME TIME
Jesus Christ becomes a person’s Lord, AND SAVIOUR AT THE SAME MOMENT OF TIME and that moment is from the very moment you believe on Christ for righteousness. Jesus was Lord before their salvation you see? We do not need to MAKE HIM our Lord after being saved. What we need is to be BELIEVE in HIM as our saviour and to trust in His finished work on the cross, which we have nothing to do with other than be thankful and accept this free gift of salvation through Christ Crucified, died and risen. Then we need to REPENT FROM OUR SALVATION which is renewing OUR MIND by God’s Word to the truth (Romans 12, John 17:17). Doing so leads to better decisions and God gives us desires to outward works in love for others.
“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)
The moment we believe on Christ, we were purchased by Christ and He owns us for ever! We are no longer slaves of unrighteousness and we became slaves of righteousness. Apostle Paul wrote,
“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness…For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” (Romans 6:18, 20 KJV)
There has been a big change! We were in the prison of unrighteousness and we could not get out by our own efforts in good works. The sin remained and needed to be paid. Believing on Christ and His finished work on the cross we were by grace (Romans 5) transferred to another prison! A prison of righteousness and nothing we do, or not do, can make us unrighteous again either! That does not mean we should just go and sin all we want and not care about how live. It is BECAUSE of this that we should want to.
Our works for Jesus before or after our MOMENT of salvation do not make Him our Lord. Belief on Christ and His blood atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world makes us saved BY THE LORD. To say that AFTER being saved a person needs to make Jesus the Lord of their life by how they live outwardly is to say salvation is BY JESUS PLUS OUR WORKS and that is false! It is confusing the Gospel of our salvation. It is leading many to believe they are saved when they may not be saved!
To bear good fruit what did Jesus tell the disciples?
“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 YOU CAN DO NOTHING.” (John 15:4-5 KJV)
It is all about Jesus Christ in us, the hope of glory! (Colossians 1:27)
“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 Cor. 15:1-4 KJV)
“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:30-31 KJV)
BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN YOUR HEART.
That is it. That is all as a REQUIREMENT of being saved. Now that we have been saved BY THE LORD (not trying to make Him Lord by our works after salvation), in great gratitude and by renewal of our mind by guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we SHOULD have outward good works in love for others from our newly created Spirit of God (Ephesians 2:10). Absolutely!
The Work Of Salvation Is Already Done. It was done by Christ 2000 years ago. Our job is to believe it. Renew our mind by the truth of God’s Word and love others.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)
Some are actually using these verses to state that a born again believer can lose Salvation. That is so very wrong when you look at all of Matthew 7 and the context. In Matthew 7 we see Jesus showing different roads people are believing to be saved and that only one road is the true way of salvation; BELIEF ON CHRIST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Jesus talked about TWO ROADS people are on regarding their salvation. One is by works and deeds and the other is by trusting in the finished work of Christ, the foretold Messiah. He also talked about two gates which are the strait gate and the wide gate. Jesus said,
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 KJV)
The straight gate?
Well, Jesus said few will find it. So what about the wide gate then? What is the wrong belief of those entering the false wide gate to salvation if many are on that road to that gate? Well, other then Christianity, just about every other religion teaches that a person is saved by their works and deeds and religious rituals. If a person has more good than bad deeds, then they will make it to heaven. The thing is, Jesus is telling us that that is what FALSE PROPHETS are teaching (verse 15)!
What Is The Narrow Way, The Straight Gate?
In John 14 Jesus proclaimed that HE IS THE WAY to salvation,
“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)
You see, Jesus is the narrow straight gate! Not our self righteous works and deeds. If we think our self righteous works and deeds and that we are ‘good enough’ will save us, it becomes are comparison game with other people who sin more. In fact, Jesus said that right from the start of Matthew 7,
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1 KJV)
The truth is that,
“…we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV)
It is only by understanding this truth of how God sees the unsaved that we can find the truth about how to be saved. It is NOT by good works, deeds and religious rituals in self righteousness. When we start from this truth, we see how wretched we really are before God and that NO ONE is exempt in this regard! What we need is to now seek the truth about salvation and the good news is that next we see Jesus saying,
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7: 7-8 KJV)
Thank God for this promise! The gate is narrow because salvation is only through Christ. But a person cannot find this unless they acknowledge their own sinfulness and how wretched they really are first. Our sense of good and bad by comparing with others who sin more, or have ‘greater’ sins is not seeking salvation. It is actually just deceiving ourselves!
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8 KJV)
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10 KJV)
Those On The Wide Road
:: Not Born Again Legalists:
These are those who believe they are saved and they use Jesus’ name even. They state things in the sin of PRIDE such as ‘Jesus saved me through the cross but now I have to work to keep saved.’ or even worse, ‘I have kept the commandments and no longer sin.’ These are people who are not saved but only think they are. Then they tell others that they are not saved if they think they have sin! They are judgemental towards truly saved people. This is a haughty Spirit and not a born again believer. God says ‘haughty is naughty’! (Romans 2:1-4, Luke 6:37).
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 KJV)
Some are even offended by a person saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross. They use Scripture, but they ignore the context.
:: Miracle Working False Prophets:
They use Jesus’ name. They believe in their works and religious rituals. They try to get God to do what they want. They may even have or seem to have done miracles. Because of this they believe they must be saved. That is not truth though. That is false doctrine. Remember that when the Antichrist comes he will perform miracles that will deceive people into thinking he is the Messiah come!
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thes. 2:9-10 KJV)
This is a person on the wide gate to condemnation. I am not saying a born again believer can not have miracles in their life. But the FALSE PROPHETS are not born again by belief and trust alone in Christ and believe they are saved because they are able to perform miracles. And some are faking miracles as false prophets as well.
:: False Works Based Belief On Salvation:
These are people that believe in God. They go to church. They follow the church religion rituals. They seem to be ‘good people’ outwardly. They may even do many good and wonderful works for others. The problem is that they believe their good works erase their sinful deeds. Or they think if they have more good deeds than bad deeds that God will somehow just forget about their sins. Yet, They fail to realize that God is an eternal being who NEVER CHANGES. This is once again the sin of PRIDE and BOASTING in self righteousness, just as the Pharisees were believing in Law of Moses following for righteousness. And it is seriously wrong! Jesus called the Pharisees things like ‘vipers’ and ‘hypocrites’, ‘looking clean outside but inside full of dead men’s bones’.
“For I am the Lord, I change not…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV)
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 KJV)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17 KJV)
Apostle Paul put it like this,
“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)
And to God the wages of sin is not good works and deeds nor religious rituals. In God’s economy of righteousness, the wages of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23)
:: False Belief That They Are Good Enough A Person:
If asking people if they will make it to heaven, how often do we hear someone say, “Well, I am a good and deceit person. I try my best to help others and to live a good life.” or “Well, I believe that most religions will lead people to heaven.” This is pure false belief regarding salvation. It once again hinges on the sin of PRIDE and BOASTING in self righteousness. Believing like this, they will not seek the truth and may not find it.
The most scary thing about those on this wide road is they have no idea they are headed for condemnation! They were never born again in the manner and way Jesus said is required.
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:5-7 KJV)
So if we must be born again in the Spirit, how do we do that? First, we recognize that we have sin that we cannot eradicate by our good works. Then Jesus says this is how a person becomes born again in the Spirit,
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:14-18 KJV)
Look how much Jesus is over emphasizing how to be born again and saved! See any ‘works’ and ‘deeds’ required? No. See any religious rituals required? No. How about tithing? No. What did Jesus say? Nicodemus asked Jesus directly and this was Jesus clear answer: BELIEVETH ON CHRIST!Nothing more. Salvation is the work of Christ and it is a GIFT to be accepted or rejected. As a GIFT it is never EARNED.
Having good works is , well, a good thing! But good works will never give a person salvation. Only belief on Christ’s finished work on the cross will give a person true salvation. After salvation a believer SHOULD have good works because God gave believers a new born again Spirit but even then, we do not do these good works to remain saved. Only Jesus keeps us saved.
“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5:4-5 KJV)
Dr. Andy Woods is the Senior pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. He is also the president of Chafer Theological Seminary. In addition, Andy has contributed to many theological journals and Christian books and has spoken on a variety of topics at Christian conferences.
