Author: Don Gerrity

Salvation Cannot Be Lost

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions
Salvation Cannot Be Lost

A Believer Shall Never Perish

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall NEVER PERISH; NEITHER SHALL ANYONE snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27,28 KJV)

Jesus said nobody will take believers out of His hand and they will never perish. The truth is right from Jesus that believers in Him are eternally secure and no one can snatch them out of His hand. This ‘anyone’ includes ourselves. This is very clear.

A Believer Has Eternal Life From The Moment Of Belief On Christ For Righteousness

“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)

Jesus emphasizes belief in Him as Messiah, the foretold Christ as how a person is BORN AGAIN in the Spirit (John 3:5-6). No other REQUIREMENT is mentioned by Jesus regarding our justification in salvation. Jesus did not mention Law following nor never again having a sin. Jesus was asked directed and answered directly and clearly. The promise of eternal life is not true if it can be lost and what is the definition of ‘eternal’ and ‘everlasting’? They are both defined as FOREVER! There is no conditional statement here other than to BELIEVE ON CHRIST.

We see Jesus do this again in John 6,

“But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and BELIEVE NOT. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will IN NO WISE CAST OUT. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I SHOULD LOSE NOTHING, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME, that every one which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH ON HIM, may have EVERLASTING LIFE: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:36-40 KJV)

Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians that a believer is sealed in Salvation from the moment of BELIEF 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 1:13-14 KJV)

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby YE ARE SEALED unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30 KJV)

Salvation Is Not Future Based On Our Performance. It Is Ever Present With A Believer.

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and BELIEVES HIM who sent Me HAS ETERNAL LIFE and will NOT BE CONDEMNED; he has CROSSED OVER from death to life.” (John 5:24 KJV)

Salvation is secure forever once a person believes on Christ and trusts in HIS finished work on the cross. The BELIEF must be real though. An alter call or just a prayer does not have any power to save a person unless they believe and KNOW Christ.

“Now this IS ETERNAL LIFE: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 KJV)

Nothing Separates A Believer From God. Nothing!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword . . . For I am persuaded that NEITHER death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35, 38,39 KJV)

What is the definition of the word NEITHER in this passage? Strongs Greek is the word G3777, ‘oute’,  and is defined as “none, nor (yet), (no, yet) not, nothing”.

Essentially NOTHING AT ALL. NOT ANYTHING. A believer is never separated from God’s love as God has purchased us (Ephesians 1:14) forever as children of God by belief on Christ. We cannot even separate ourselves from God. We already died with Christ on the cross in the Spirit and we already rose again with Christ on the cross in the Spirit. Our old Spirit DIED on the cross WITH CHRIST and we are now forever IN CHRIST. Our sins will never separate us from God because all our sins have ALREADY been PAID IN FULL and God no longer views our sin as a stumbling block to be with Him forever. God will not judge that which has already been paid for by Christ.

Believers Do Not Keep Themselves Saved

“TO HIM WHO IS ABLE to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence WITHOUT FAULT and with great joy.” (Jude 24 KJV)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy HE HAS GIVEN US A NEW BIRTH into a living hope THROUGH THE resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can NEVER PERISH, spoil or fade – KEPT IN HEAVEN FOR YOU, who THROUGH FAITH are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5 KJV)

“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)

It is not believers who keep themselves saved. It is Christ who promised and keeps a believer eternally saved because He gave us a newly created Spirit of God and our Old Spirit if Adam was put to death on the cross with Christ.

A believer is IN CHRIST eternally because Jesus will live forever and we are IN Christ and so we will also live forever. Jesus put it like this in prayer for us,

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall BELIEVE ON ME through their word; That they all MAY BE ONE; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that THEY ALSO BE ONE IN US: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I HAVE GIVEN THEM; that they may BE ONE, EVEN AS WE ARE ONE: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:20-24 KJV)

Believers Are Right Now Already Glorified In The Spirit, Waiting For Our Bodily Resurrection Glorification

“And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8:30 KJV)

Notice the ‘ed’ at the end of the words JustifiED, glorifiED. It is PAST TENSE and so we are present tense justified and glorified in the Spirit. We are already risen with Christ in the Spirit as Apostle Paul stated in Colossians 2,

“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also YE ARE RISEN WITH HIM through the faith of THE OPERATION OF GOD, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together WITH HIM, having FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES; BLOTTING OUT the handwriting of ordinances that WAS against us, which WAS contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2: 12-14 KJV)

“And raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6 KJV)

Believers are PRESENT TENSE ‘risen with Christ’ and it is past tense (WAS) forgiven all our sins on the cross.

All Sins Of The Whole World Were Paid For By Christ On The Cross And Presented To A Person As A Gift

“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)

This ‘propitiation’ is defined as “the means of appeasing”. It is not our works nor deeds that will appease God regarding our sins. Only Christ’s finished work on the cross was sufficient to save us.

“For by ONE OFFERING He has PERFECTED FOREVER those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14 KJV)

Nothing we do can replace this offering of Christ to the Father in payment of our sins! It is CHRIST who has perfected us! His blood atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world was ONCE FOR ALL (Hebrews 10:10) and whosoever believeth on Him has eternal life (John 3:14-18).

A gift is never worked for nor earned. A GIFT can only be accepted or rejected. A gift is not something we pay for nor work to gain, it is something another has worked for and purchased for us.

“But not as the offence, so also is the FREE GIFT. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the GIFT BY GRACE, which IS BY ONE MAN, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is THE GIFT: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the FREE GIFT is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” (Romans 5: 15-17 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)

The word FAITH here is a NOUN and not a VERB. It is defined ‘believe’. It is not an action word of doing deeds.It is a FREE GIFT of God’s Grace through the cross of Christ. Our works have NOTHING to do with our salvation and righteousness. We do good works FROM our new Spirit because we have been CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS in our inner Spirit but the works do not save us nor keep us saved. Only Christ’s finished work on the cross did that.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6 KJV)

Jesus will keep us saved!

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18 KJV)

Jesus died for our sins and paid the FULL penalty for them. Jesus blood atoning sacrifice was not a partial payment for the sins of the world; it was a FULL PAYMENT! The Father already judged ALL OUR life SINS on Christ. Now paid, our sins will never be judged for condemnation ever again.

“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.” (Hebrews 10:16-17 KJV)

Believers Know They Are Heaven Bound

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that YOU MAY KNOW that you have ETERNAL LIFE.” (1 John 5:13 KJV)

If salvation can be lost why does Apostle John state this very clearly? Because it is truth! This idea of God saved us but if we commit a sin, that God somehow we lose salvation and then we repent and then God gives us back salvation; back and forth is non sense. It goes against the complete sufficiency of Christ’s blood sacrifice for us! It is actually unbelief and that is a scary place to be.

Committing a sin as a believer can affect our fellowship with God but it is not God turning away from us. It is not God kicking us our of the family. It affects our fellowship because we feel guilty before God and ashamed. It is at these times we need to NOT ignore God but we should RUN TO GOD and confess our sin and thank Him that He already paid for it on the cross and to pray to God to help us do better next time we are tempted. Now that is prayer based on Scripture and truth! That is a prayer God will surely answer given how much Jesus paid for us in unconditional love while we were yet His enemies.

I Am In No Manner Saying We Can Just Go And Sin All We Want Because Jesus Paid For Our Sins

NO! That is a horrible attitude given what Christ went through to save us! We need to be THANKFUL and GRATEFUL! To be clear, as believers we SHOULD STRIVE TO NOT SIN! It is wrong! It is hurtful! There are consequences in life for our sins as believers! The point is our justification and salvation do not rely on our deeds because Jesus paid for all our sins.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:1-11 KJV)

Can A True Born Again Believer Become Demon Possessed?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Satan & The Lost, Q&A: The Truth About...
Can A True Born Again Believer Become Demon Possessed?

A born again believer in Christ does have a MIND that needs renewing (Romans 12, John 17:17) but their Spirit is RIGHT NOW, COMPLETE IN CHRIST (Colossians 2), the very righteousness of God, IN CHRIST (2 Cor. 5:17-21), indwelt by the Holy Spirit from the very moment of belief on Christ for righteousness and sealed (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30).

The Bible is very clear that Christians cannot be demon possessed. The Bible does say that a believer can be OPPRESSED AND TEMPTED by a demon, the ‘wiles of the devil’ (Ephesians 6). BIG DIFFERENCE!

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)

Demon Oppression Is Biblical

DEMON OPPRESSION is Biblical and means that the devil and his demons will try to work circumstances against you and try to tempt you to sin. These are the schemes and wiles of the devil and we are to put on the Armour of God from Ephesians 6 to resist and fight them. That starts with verse 10,

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
(Ephesians 6:10 KJV)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
(James 4:7 KJV)

Asa born again believer with the Holy Spirit indwelling us (God is not ‘out there’, He is right here INSIDE believers!), we can stand against the demon attacks. But we must know who God made us, IN CHRIST! We are part of God’s family as born again believers with God inside of us.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have OVERCOME THEM: because greater is he THAT IS IN YOU, than he that is IN THE WORLD.” (1 John 4:4 KJV)

The demons are ‘in the world’ but born again believers are now far above them in authority and position. In fact, we are told that we who are born again in the Spirit will one day be judging these fallen angels / demons.

“Know ye not that WE SHALL JUDGE ANGELS? how much more things that pertain to this life?”
(1 Cor. 6:3 KJV)

Even Peter was shocked to hear that he was influenced by Satan. This does not mean he was demon possessed though. The demons enticed his fleshly mind. Peter did not yet understand why Jesus was fine with going to be killed. He was hurting in his mind and was going through Jesus’ words in his mind over and over in despair, not understanding why Jesus had to die. The Devil knew it and kept enticing until Peter could not take it anymore.

“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Then Peter took him, and began to REBUKE HIM, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

But he turned, and said unto Peter, GET BEHIND ME, SATAN: thou art AN OFFENSE TO ME: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that BE OF MEN.” (Matthew 16:21-23 KJV)

Notice that Jesus did not CAST OUT any demons within Peter. If Peter had been demon possessed, Jesus would have surely cast the demons out as He had for others. No, He did not! It is just that the devil enticed Peter’s fleshing thinking mind. And in great emotion did not want Jesus to die. Jesus knew it came from Satan who was trying to use Peter to prevent it. Peter was thinking as men think. Jesus did not say “get thee behind me Peter”. He said “GET BEHIND ME SATAN”.

At times a believer will fall into temptation and sin. The oppression from demons is very real. That does not mean the sin committed means loss of salvation. The Holy Spirit is still indwelling and Christ already paid for all sins of the whole world on that cross (1 John 2:2). That includes sins after salvation because all our sins are future from the cross. The demons know that you are eternally saved. They know the Bible. However, if they get you to sin it can RUIN YOUR WITNESS TO OTHERS with the Gospel of Grace Through Christ Crucified died, buried and risen. And it is the Gospel they are trying to prevent unsaved people from hearing!

These are what demons are doing to born again believers. They are OPPRESSING but not able to POSSESS born again believers with the Holy Spirit of God living inside of them.

Demon Possession

DEMON POSSESSION means that a demon, or demons, has taken over FULL CONTROL of a person as we see in Matthew 17:14-18 and Luke 4:33-35 and Luke 8:27-33.  When Jesus cast out demons in people, the people were awakened from being  unable to control their bodies. Keep in mind these verses are all before the cross and before the Holy Spirit indwelling upon believers happened on Pentecost.

No born again believer since Pentecost has been possessed by a demon nor is that found anywhere in the Bible. Demons can tempt and influence a born again believer toward sinning. Demons can, and do, try to entice the Fleshly thoughts in THE MIND (left over from the now DEAD old Spirit of Adam- Colossians 2, Romans 6) but can never ever possess as God MADE US through imputation, a new creation in the Spirit, which is of God and not Adam/man. BORN AGAIN IN THE SPIRIT is not something we work to achieve; it is a GIFT God gave us from the moment we believed on Christ for righteousness ( Eph. 1:13-14). It was NOT a partial gift!

In fact I can find no commands by Jesus to cast a demon out of a born again believer. Don’t you think God would have gave instructions to do so if it were true that a demon could possess a born again believer? Yet, it is not found anywhere in Scripture. Instead what do we see in Scripture? Just as Jesus did, when He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights with the devil tempting Him, believers are only instructed to resist the devil and use the Word of God against such influences and temptations:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
(James 4:7 KJV)

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
(1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV)

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 KJV)

John The Baptist & Water Baptism Truths

Don Gerrity Q&A: Water Baptism
The Holy Spirit

John The Baptist & Water Baptism Truths

Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and not Joseph, though Joseph was Jesus’ Earthly father. So for all intensive purposes Earthly wide, Jesus and John The Baptist were cousins; family. This is truth many do not know and it is important to understand.

John The Baptist:

“23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet cast into prison. 25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews ABOUT PURIFYING. 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27 John answered and said, A man CAN RECEIVE NOTHING, except it BE GIVEN HIM FROM HEAVEN. 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent BEFORE HIM. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: THIS MY JOY therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I MUST DECREASE. 31 He that cometh from above is ABOVE ALL: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33 He that hath received his testimony hath set TO HIS SEAL that God is true. 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given ALL THINGS into his hand. 36 He that BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE: and he that BELIEVETH NOT THE SON shall not see life; but the wrath of God ABIDETH on him.” (John 3 KJV)

 

“11 I indeed baptize you WITH WATER UNTO REPENTANCE. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.” Matthew 3 KJV)


John’s baptism was unto repentance, not salvation. The Bible teaches that Jesus Himself never water baptized others, only his disciples did. Yet, we have pulpits teaching people that Jesus water baptized others and so it must be a requirement of salvation. It is right there in the second verse of John 4! The Jews repenting asked God for mercy and confessed their sinfulness in water baptizing for cleansing. Of course, the Pharisee rulers thought as themselves as completely righteous. John actually called them out to their face as ‘vipers’ in Matthew 3.

“When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself 👉baptized not👈, but his disciples)” (John 4:1-2 KJV)

Why didn’t Jesus Himself baptize with water?

Because He did not want people thinking that the water baptizing is what saves a person. The water baptizing was a sprinkling of the person’s acknowledgement of their sins and an outward expression of them coming to realize that Law following will not make them righteous nor Heaven bound. Water baptizing was an outward expression of the salvation they received when the believed Jesus as the foretold Messiah to come (John 3:18). When the people came to believe this, it was a change of mind in how to be in right standing with God.

Why did Jesus insist on being baptized by John?

Because Jesus had to fulfill ‘all righteousness’ (Matthew 3: 15). Jesus identified Himself with those He came to redeem; sinners. Jesus had to be without sin (and was without sin) to become the once for all final blood atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Yet, Jesus never water baptized others, only his disciples did the water baptizing because Jesus had not yet been put on a cross for the atonement. It was unto repentance. When the person BELIEVED ON CHRIST, that is when they became eternally saved by Baptism of The Holy Spirit (John 3:14-18, 6:37-40). And the belief came before the water baptizing and not the other way around.

John the Baptist’s water baptism was a ‘cleansing of’ the people’s sins and was a preparation for the one foretold to come, The Messiah, who would permanently cleanse the people’s sins. It was UNTO repentance, a change of mind about how to be pure with God and their need for a saviour. That is why the Pharisees were asking John about the ‘purity’ in Matthew 3.

It was not about how to be eternally saved but was a preparing of the people for the soon coming Messiah. John knew the Messiah well! Jesus was his cousin! Jesus’ mother Mary, when pregnant with Jesus, went to visit John’s mother who had become pregnant while in her barren years. She too was chosen by God and knew it. So John was raised likely knowing about Jesus having a special purpose. John was given a sign by God for him to identify who the Messiah is. John went to the wilderness and starting preaching “…repent repent!”. He knew it was his time to start doing that because the Messiah’s ministry was soon coming. When the Holy Spirit came down as a dove upon Jesus, John knew it was Him. And he knew Him, as he was his cousin. John knew Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.

And Jesus started His ministry by going to John and getting water baptized to fulfill the requirement of cleansing (even though Jesus had no sin) to fulfill all  righteousness. This was required for the blood atoning sacrifice Jesus would soon make on the cross; just as the Jews had sacrificed animals ‘without blemish’ under the Law of Moses (Exodus 12:5). Animal sacrifices for the sins of the Jews under the Law of Moses only temporarily covered their sins until Messiah would come and was a foreshadowing of Christ on the cross paying for the sins of the whole world (Hebrews 9 and 10).

Some Truths to see here…

1. Water Baptism is not what saves.

Only belief on Christ as Messiah and His once for all blood atonement sacrifice for sins on the cross, paying for all the sins of the whole world, dying and rising again is required to be placed in right standing of righteousness with God (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 1:13-14, John 3, John6, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2, etc.). Look at the thief on the cross, he was not water baptized yet he is in paradise with Christ because, HE BELIEVED Jesus was the Messiah…nothing else required!

2. Jesus never water baptized others.

Only his disciples water baptized as an outward expression of the cleansing that took place FIRST, when a person believed on Christ and was Baptized by the Holy Spirit and received eternal life, born again from above in the Spirit (John 3:1-6).


3. Even AFTER THE CROSS, Water Baptism does not save nor is required for salvation.

In every passage where baptism is mentioned after the cross, it is always belief in Christ that saved a person and THEN they were water baptized as an outward expression of what already took place from the moment they believed (Eph. 1:13-14, John 3:18). Is water baptism wrong? No. It is an outward expression in celebration of a person’s salvation. It is just that water baptism is not a requirement of salvation.

The Holy Spirit In Different Dispensations

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times
The Holy Spirit In Different Dispensations

》 OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS

Old Testament believers looked forward to a coming promised Messiah who would be a final payment for sins. But because Christ had not come, those living under the Law of Moses had to make an animal sacrifice of an ‘unblemished’ animal as a temporary covering of their sins until Messiah came (Hebrews 9 and 10). The Holy Spirit was UPON believers of the foretold Messiah, but were not indwelled and sealed as Church Age believers are today.

King David himself prayed that God would not take the Holy Spirit from him following his sin with Bathsheba as we read in Psalm 51:11. This is showing that even they did not believe so.

Old Testament believers were never promised that the Holy Spirit would be sealed within them as a guarantee of their eternal destiny in Heaven.

》 CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS (The Bride Of Christ)

In the dispensation of grace we now live within (The Church Age between the cross and Pre-Tribulation Rapture), the Holy Spirit indwells and seals a person from the moment of belief on Christ (Eph. 1:13-14) and His blood atonement for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) and His rising from death (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Colossians 2). This belief seals a person and is our ‘earnest’ which means it guarantees our eternal destiny in Heaven. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is unique to The Bride of Christ (Church Age believers in Christ).

》 TRIBULATION PERIOD BELIEVERS

Israel, the Jewish people, as a group, have still not accepted Jesus as Messiah. They are still looking for the Messiah to come and unfortunately when Antichrist comes to power, many will believe he is the Messiah come. Yes, some Jewish people have come to salvation in Christ just as in the early church and to this day. Jew or gentile, a believer in Christ is saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit in the Church Age (Galatians 3:28). But Israel as a nation/group have not been indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Once Church Age believers are Pre-Tribulation Raptured, all left on Earth are unbelievers. I cannot find Scripture that makes an eternal security promise by an indwelling Holy Spirit for Tribulation believers. Scripture indicates that those who come to believe that Jesus, and not the Antichrist, is Messiah and who reject worshiping the Antichrist with the Mark of the beast must ‘endure until the end’. Endure how? Endure Antichrist persecution while not taking the mark, without which no one will be able to buy nor sell. This enduring is enduring in belief because they do not have the sealed indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will work as in Old Testament times, ‘UPON THEM’ , not sealed within them. The indwelling Holy Spirit will have already left when the Church Age believers were Raptured before the Tribulation Period starts.

We see this truth also in Matthew 25, when there will be 5 unwise virgins, who will not endure the Antichrist persecution and who will take the mark. (No this is NOT about the Rapture as some are teaching)

We need to understand that Tribulation believers are NOT the Bride of Christ.

In Matthew 25, we see that after the Second Coming event when Christ sets His feet on the Earth, there will be a judgement of nations. All Tribulation survivors will be placed as SHEEP or GOATS. We see works mentioned but really it is belief in Jesus Christ as the deciding point.

Those who endured Antichrist under persecution will have been helping their brethren to survive without taking the Mark of the Antichrist. Visiting their imprisoned brethren etc. It is their belief and rejection of worshiping Antichrist that moved them to produce these good works as SHEEP. They will repopulate Earth in mortal bodies in the Kingdom Age with Christ ruling for 1000 years of peace.

The GOATS are those who worshipped the Antichrist and took the Mark. They will have turned in their fellow Jewish (and gentile) family and friends who refused the Mark. They aided in not feeding those who could not buy nor sell. Etc. Jesus will say to them, “…Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25 KJV)

They will be put to death and await the Great White Throne Judgement to be condemned. Again, it was their unbelief in taking the Mark that had them commit these evil works.

Matthew 10:21-22: ‘who endureth until the end’

Don Gerrity Matthew
Matthew 10:21-22: ‘who endureth until the end’

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22 KJV)

Some are teaching that Jesus is telling us today that  a person can lose salvation if they do not believe until their death or until they are raptured. With so many passages showing the opposite to this, such a teching cannot be the case. I am not really sure how such a teaching can be justified unless they take just this one verse out of the context in Matthew 10 and then they make it a doctrine. No doctrine of truth can be made from just one verse, ever! Without proper context being used one verse can be shown to mean anything, including the opposite if the verse’s actual meaning. Doing such is a very dangerous practice and leads people astray about the very foundational truth of the Gospel Of Grace through Christ crucified.

Apostle Paul tells us otherwise,

“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 THE 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)

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby YE ARE SEALED unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30 KJV)

By the Holy Scriptures of the Bible, look what took place when a person believes on Christ and His once for all (Hebrews 10:10) blood atonement for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2). Jesus said the person becomes BORN AGAIN (born from above) in The Spirit when they believe on Christ alone for salvation in John 3 and He explains how a person becomes born again in verse 14-17 and then makes a simple straight up statement that,

“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)

Other passages as well, such as 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, show us that a believer in Christ has become a NEW creation in the Spirit and has become the very righteousness of God, IN CHRIST. That is, it is GOD who MADE a believer righteous in our Spirit, our core being. In Colossians 2, we see that a believer’s Spirit was placed on the cross WITH CHRIST 2000 years ago and died WITH CHRIST and already rose again WITH CHRIST. And that a believer is COMPLETE IN CHRIST.

This all happens immediately when a person believes on Christ. So this ‘enduring to the end’ must not be about The Bride Of Christ in the dispensation of grace that we now live within. And if we look closer at the context, it is not.

In the very first verse of Matthew 10, we see Jesus giving power to the disciples to send them out to preach the Gospel to the people. The message of the Kingdom Of God.

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” (Matthew 10:1 KJV)

Then Jesus sent them and in these next verses we see something of significant for the context of verse 22,

“5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 10:5-7 KJV)

Look at verse 6 here. Jesus sent them to who? To THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. Jesus does not have the Church age believers in mind here. The Church Age has not even begun as He did not yet go to the cross. He is addressing the Nation of Israel in specific. He sent the disciples out in pairs. Jesus tells them what will happen to those who reject them and their message in verse 14 and 15,

“14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha IN THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, than for that city.” (Matthew 10:14-15 KJV)

Now that is pretty serious right! Now let us ask did this happen to those places that rejected them yet? No. NOT YET! Jesus mentions ‘the day of judgement’ and so Jesus has now switched to talk about the Jews and Israel during the future End Times starting in verse 16.

In Matthew 10:21-22, Jesus is now talking about the End Times, long after His resurrection as we now know living on this side of the cross, 2000 years later. But His prophecy is still going to come to pass. Again, it is a prophecy not for The Church, The Bride of Christ; it is a prophecy to affect the House of Israel and we can see clearly He is talking about the rule of Antichrist in the Tribulation Period.

Look at Jesus’ prophecies about His 2nd Coming event where He will land His feet on the Mount of Olives and rule on Earth for 1000 years. Jesus describes the signs of His Second Coming at that future time in Matthew 24 and 25. In Matthew 24 Jesus states this about that future time,

“9 THEN shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:9-13 KJV)

Well well.. doesn’t that sound familiar to what Jesus is saying to them in Matthew 10? Let’s compare directly ,

“17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:17-22 KJV)

Now we can see the truth about verses 21-22 in Matthew 10. Jesus says the exact same thing. So this enduring unto the End is for the Nation of Israel and all who will believe that the Antichrist is not Christ, who do not worship the Antichrist and accept his mark without which no one will be able to buy nor sell. The Antichrist will be seeking to kill all who reject he Mark in worship of Antichrist. Even many Jewish people will accept the Antichrist as the real Messiah, as they rejected Christ 2000 years ago and are still looking for the Messiah. We see this in the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25 (no,  this is NOT about the Rapture of the Church!). Unfortunately many Jewish people will think the Antichrist is Messiah come but he will be the false Messiah, imitating Jesus Christ to deceive them.

Many times when Jesus talks to the disciples, He extends the answer forward to the Last days for the End Time Jewish people to read and heed His warnings. That is what we see here in Matthew 10. In our current Church Age, the dispensation of God’s Grace, a believer is saved eternally from the very moment of salvation, and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, just as the passages I mentioned at the start of this article show. Not just these but many many more passages of Apostle Paul as well, clearly show this.

After Church Age believers are Harpazo Raptured, and snatched abruptly off the planet to Heaven, those left will be facing The Seven Year Tribulation Period as the Prophet Daniel foretold. With all believers taken off the Earth, the indwelling Holy Spirit went with them. These Church Age believers are the only thing holding back the Antichrist and when gone, the Antichrist will do his bidding (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

To those living in the Tribulation Period, the Holy Spirit will be operating as during Old Testament times, and those who come to belief on the true Christ and refuse the Mark of the Antichrist in worship, will not be indwelt by the Holy Spirit as The Bride of Christ is today. They are not the Bride of Christ from our current dispensation. They will have to endure the persecution of the Antichrist and refuse the Mark of the Beast until their death or Christ’s Second coming to start His 1000 year Kingdom age on Earth.

Matthew 10:21-22 in no way refutes the Eternal Security Of The Believer in our current dispensation which Apostle Paul called The Dispensation Of God’s Grace in Ephesians 3:2.

Will Christ Be Ashamed Of A Believer At The Judgement Seat Of Christ For Believers (The Bema Seat)?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times, Q&A: Judgement Of Believers, Q&A: The Truth About...
Will Christ Be Ashamed Of A Believer At The Judgement Seat Of Christ For Believers (The Bema Seat)?

Jesus was the full payment for the sins of the whole world. Those who believe on Him and HIS blood atoning sacrifice on the cross and His rising from death, HAVE eternal life. All sins (future sins too, as all our sins are future from the cross) fully paid by Christ. As a full payment, we need not pay the wages of sin (death Romans 6:23) because He paid it all for us. Anything we may do wrong, including sin, is no longer a hindrance to your salvation. In fact, it gives us great gratitude to do good works in love to others and encourages us to live right.

“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)

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” (1 John 2:28 KJV)

If you believe on Christ for salvation, you will not be ashamed!

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED.” (Romans 10:9-11 KJV)

But What About At The Judgement Seat Of Believers?

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST.

Now if any man build upon THIS FOUNDATION gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s WORK of what sort it is.

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive A REWARD.

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire.

Know ye not that YE ARE the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God DWELLETH IN YOU?

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, WHICH TEMPLE YE ARE.

Let no man DECEIVE HIMSELF. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Therefore LET NO MAN GLORY IN MEN. For all things ARE YOUR’S”;

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; ALL ARE YOUR’S;

And YE ARE Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3: 11-23 KJV)

Paul tells us here that there is no other foundation other than Christ. Only He is what saves us and keeps us saved. He paid it all! Believers should have ZERO PRIDE in the fact that God saved us when we believed on Christ. ZERO!! Did we do anything to save us from our sins and from our old fallen sin bent Spirit of Adam? No. Nada. Who did this for us? Who MADE US righteous? Christ alone! Look closely at Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians, look very closely at the words to see the truth.

“Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And all things ARE OF GOD, WHO HATH reconciled us to himself BY JESUS CHRIST, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT IMPUTING their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then WE ARE ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

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 5:17-21 KJV)

See the truth Paul is stating here? It is God alone who made our salvation possible by sending His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus to pay for our sins and when He did that on the cross, God through imputation (not by our deeds) MADE US the righteousness of God, in Christ. Oh the world needs to hear this truth! In fact, there are many many saved believers who know their sins were paid by Christ but yet do not know the other amazing part. A believer has BECOME a NEW CREATURE in the Spirit, at our core being, and WE ARE right now deemed as righteous as God. Think about that! When God sees His children (anyone who believed on Christ) , He sees His perfect Son! Heaven is a perfect place full of ONLY perfect people. Yes, a believer may fall into sin. Yes believers still sin. But all those sins were already [aid for by Christ. And yes, we strive to not sin by walking in the new Spirit God (Galatians 5:16) has made us. And yes, we renew our mind by God’s word (Romans 12, John 17:17), The Holy Bible. The fact is though, to God all He sees is that we are perfect. How amazing is that! Do we deserve it? NO WAY! And that is why it is called God’s GRACE. So, we should have ZERO pride and boasting about ourselves just because God saved us by His grace. In fact, it should encourage us to live our lives for God and in love toward others.

The Bema Judgement Seat For Believers is about gaining rewards for the good works we have done after we were saved by our belief on Christ. Some eternally saved will be at this event who have had nothing but DEAD works. They had a DEAD faith as James 2 reads. But the dead faith is not about being saved or not. James is writing to already saved believers, the Brethren, as we see in the very first verse of James 2. In 2 Corinthians 3 above, in Verse 15, we do see that there will be believers who lived carnally after accepting the free gift of salvation. They will have no eternal rewards. Are they still saved? Well, yes! They are already in Heaven in their perfected glorified bodies.

What about the believer’s sins? Well, do you see the word ‘sins’ or ‘transgressions’ even mention in 1 Corinthians 3? We do not because Christ ALREADY judged our sins on that cross and God has no need to judge our sins again. The Father accepted Jesus’ blood atonement fr our sins 100%. Will they have remorse for having no rewards? Yes they will. They have missed great opportunities during their Christian life on Earth. And now in their perfected glorified bodies, with perfected minds, they will see so clearly what they have missed out on.

This English translated word ‘ashamed’ in the Strongs Greek concordance is G2617, the word kat-ahee-skhoo’-no; from G2596 and G153; to shame down, i.e. disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush:—confound, dishonour, (be a-, make a-)shame(-d).

Is It God’s Will For Believers To Be Ashamed Of Them For Believing The Gospel At His Coming For His Bride?

Every believer is sanctified and so to God, He has MADE YOU PERFECT FOREVER.

“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 OR EVER THEM THAT –ARE– SANCTIFIED.” (Hebrews 10:12-14 KJV)

When Is A Believer Sanctified? Is That Something W Do or Something God Made U?

To understand the truth about a person being sanctified we need to first understand what the word ‘HOLY’ is defined as. What does the Bible mean when it uses the English translated word ‘HOLY’. This is a matter of great importance in interpreting passages about a believer and how they are SANCTIFIED. Is sanctification a life long process, where we are moment by moment becoming more and more Holy? Or does a believer’s sanctification happen in an instant, from the very moment that they believe on Christ and His finished work on the cross, having in the past, PAID the just penalty for all our sins?

When we look up the English translated word SANCTIFY in the New Testament in the Greek , what do we find as the definition of the word? What we find is Strongs G37:

G37: ἁγιάζω hagiázō, hag-ee-ad’-zo; from G40; to make holy.
( Strongs Concordance)

So, the word Sanctify literally means to MAKE HOLY. So we see that how we define the English translated word HOLY matters much in seeing the truth about being sanctified as believers. So, when we further look into this in Greek, we are pushed to look into the word ‘Holy’ which is, as G37 tells us, G40:

G40: ἅγιος hágios, hag’-ee-os; from ἅγος hágos (an awful thing) (compare G53, G2282); sacred (physically, pure, MORALLY BLAMELESS or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), SAINT.
(Strongs Concordance)

In essence, the meaning is ‘most holy thing, a saint’.

Let us first look at this word Holy as it is used whenever the ‘Holy Spirit’ or ‘Holy Ghost’ is mentioned.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the HOLY Ghost.” (Matthew 1:18 KJV)

The Holy Ghost is GOD right? So how Holy and set apart is God from all of His creation? Hugely set apart! He is the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end. The one and only God of all that exists! So when the word HOLY in ‘Holy Spirit’ is used in the Bible, it is basically saying that God is completely SET APART from all of His creation. He is the almighty God who always existed and always will. Now, THAT is definitely a set apart being! Yes? The word HOLY in the name ‘Holy Spirit’ is Strongs G40 in Greek.

You see this word HOLY is used by many in so many different ways by believers today that it has become a pivotal part of how they believe about Salvation and justification with God. This is something we must get right! To be Holy is basically to be PERFECT and SET APART. Understanding this as the proper definition of the English translated word for HOLY, we now return to the word SANCTIFY (G37) in the New Testament because it references the very same word ‘HOLY” in the ‘Holy Spirit’, which is G40.

Apostle Paul used this word SANCTIFY many times in his ministry such as,

“That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY GHOST.” (Romans 15:16 KJV)

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but YE ARE SANCTIFIED, but YE ARE JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the SPIRIT OF OUR GOD.” (1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV)

This last quoted Scripture from 1 Corinthians 6 is a real eye opener. Sanctified by what? It states by the SPIRIT OF OUR GOD and when you look that phrase up in the Greek, it literally means the HOLY SPIRIT.

The word ‘sanctified’ is G37 and again, it is not defined as believers striving to become more sanctified by living more holy lives, as if we can even do that in our own efforts. Yes, of course a believer is to live right outwardly in love towards others and in good works. But regarding this word SANCTIFY that is not we see as the meaning. The word Sanctify literally means ‘TO MAKE HOLY’. Does that mean we have to make ourselves Holy to be sanctified by God? Not according to Scripture!

“And THE VERY GOD OF PEACE SANCTIFY YOU WHOLLY; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be PRESERVED BLAMELESS unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV)

In this verse, it is GOD who is making the believer HOLY. And it is God who keeps us in this state of being called ‘HOLY’. It is not our work; it is God’s work to make a person HOLY! That is in fact how we are saved is it not? Apostle Paul taught so,

“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. For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN Christ Jesus UNTO good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:9-10 KJV)

The writer of Hebrews also states so,

“Wherefore Jesus also, THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY the people WITH HIS OWN BLOOD, suffered without the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12 KJV)

Do we read, in any of these verses, that a person is sanctified by our works and right living? NO! A person is sanctified by God through belief in Jesus the Christ (God in the flesh, who is God!)

“But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, BECAUSE GOD HATH from the beginning chosen you to salvation THROUGH SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT and belief of the truth:” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV)

Again, we see that it is GOD who is setting a believer apart and making them Holy, which is the very definition of the word sanctification (G37), ‘TO MAKE HOLY’.

“But of him ARE YE IN CHRIST JESUS, who of God IS MADE UNTO US wisdom, and righteousness, and SANCTIFICATION, and redemption:”
(1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV)

It is God who sets us apart in sanctification and not something that we do. We do have an ongoing sanctification while still on Earth but this is really renewing our corrupt Fleshly mind to God’s truth of the Scriptures by guidance of the Holy Spirit. But that is about the beliefs in OUR MIND, not our Spirit. Our Spirit was already perfected the moment we believed on Christ and rose WITH HIM, and we are right now, in The Spirit COMPLETE IN CHRIST (Read Colossians 2 for a great blessing to see what happen to anyone, the moment they believe on Christ Jesus.)

Does Any Of These Truths Mean We Just Do Nothing For Christ?

God forbid!

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6 KJV)

YE BECAME SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Christ lives within every believer right now ! Believers are a new Spirit of God at your core being as a believers. Strive to avoid sin at all costs. sin still has consequences, even though loss of salvation is not one of the consequences. A believer who steals is still going to jail right? They are an eternally saved believer who stole something in sin. Christ foreknew that sin and they are still saved. But we should not be wanting to sin all the time. We are a new being now, and we should be doing good works in love for others. That should be our goal. Helping others come to salvation through Christ Crucified. That should be ou goal in life. Focus on the world to come when Jesus returns and do not conform to this current corrupt world which will be passing away.

Apostle Paul tells us that we should be Ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). Jesus prayed the the Father not take us out of this world the moment we believe and get saved (John 17). He wants us involved for the Kingdom Of God!

Love God. Be thankful in great gratitude for what God has bestowed on us, His very own Righteousness and eternal life! Live in love for others as Christ loved us. Renew you mind by God’s Word. Believe it over any emotion you have!

BELIEVE IT ALL!

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16 KJV)

Matthew 13, The Parable Of The Sower Sowing Seed

Don Gerrity Q&A: Parables Of Jesus, Q&A: Salvation
door of salvation is Jesus Christ

“Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

 

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

 

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

 

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

 

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
(Matthew 13:18-23 KJV)

 

This is Jesus explaining the parable of the Sower of Seed to His disciples and to us today as well. What is the topic? Jesus said ‘The Word Of The Kingdom’. This is the word and knowledge of the Kingdom Of God and it is what the Gospel is all about. But there are only TWO groups in this parable; the believer and the unbeliever. An important point to grasp.

What Is The Kingdom Of God?

This phrase, ‘Kingdom Of God’ is mentioned many times in the New Testament Gospels. A search of the New Testament King James Version of the Bible shows this phrase 70 times. The number 70 is an interesting number in the Bible. We see this in Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks, which is God’s timetable of human history and it is all about ‘completion of righteousness’.

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Daniel 9:24 KJV)

It is also very interesting that Jesus spoke 70 parables as we read in the New Testament. We see also that Jesus sent out 70 disciples to preach the Gospel as read in Luke,

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” (Luke 10:1 KJV)

Isn’t it interesting that when this phrase ‘Kingdom of God’ is used in Scripture, that the number 70 is related to it and which is seemingly having a meaning of the completion of God’s righteousness upon the believing? This is just one of so many amazing things of the Bible. It is not only words of truth. Every single word, number and name has significant meaning and it is all so amazing that it is an enormous testament that the Holy Bible is the true word of the one true God of the entire universe.

The Kingdom Of God Has Two Distinct Parts:

1. The Invisible Kingdom

The Invisible Kingdom consists of every single person who comes to belief in Christ for righteousness, who have been born again from above, in the Spirit. It is the body of believers who are members of this Kingdom, which Christ as the head (Colossians 2).

2. The 1000 Year Kingdom Age On Earth

The 1000 Year Kingdom Age On Earth that is to come after the Tribulation period. This is the Kingdom on Earth where Jesus will be ruling and reigning on Earth. The restoration of the world to the way it was before the fall of Adam and Eve. Everything we now see in today’s world system will be flipped 180 degrees to a Godly standard. We are right now living in the Biblical time known as ‘The Last Days’ and ‘End Times’. Our current dispensation we live in is the Dispensation of Grace which many call ‘The Church Age’. The Church Age is a time from the cross to the Harpazo Rapture and it will end once the last person that decides to accept salvation believes and then the Rapture happens (Romans 11:25-27). Then the next dispensation begins, The Kingdom of God Age, which is soon upon us, as is the Harpazo Rapture, the seven year Tribulation period and the Second Coming Return Of Christ to set His foot on the Earth and setup His 1000 year Earthly Kingdom.

The parable of the Sower sowing seeds is all about this Kingdom Of God. In specific it is about the ‘–word of–‘ the Kingdom Of God. God is letting the world know His plans so that we can each decide to continue living in pride and self-righteousness or to be humble and believe the Gospel. The Sin Of Pride is what started this whole mess we are in when Lucifer, who was closest to God’s Throne, had pride in his heart and wanted to be as God.

In Matthew 13 Jesus is expounding what He has been telling the Jews and the Pharisee leaders all along; that HE IS the foretold Messiah, the Son Of God, who has come at the appointed time (Daniel 9:26). From that time that Jesus spoke this parable and right up until today, the decision to accept this in belief or reject this, is what each person must face and decide upon. It is the most important decision for every person on the planet and it has our individual eternal destiny at stake.

SIDE NOTE: If you have not yet made a decision for Christ and need to know what that is all about, Click Here for a 10 minute read and then return to this article.

We see in this parable of the Sower that:

    1.  The FIELD is the world full of people.
    2.  The SOWER is God.
    3.  The SEED is the Word Of The Kingdom Of God

God wants every person to become a child of God in His Kingdom. This is the heart of the Father (2 Peter 3:9). We are all a creation of God and He created us with a FREE WILL to chose God or reject God. God is an eternal Spiritual being not confined to time and space. In fact, God CREATED the time and space that we live within. In simple terms, Jesus explained this in this way,

“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 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…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 3:2-3, 5-7 KJV)

All human beings were born with a ‘dead Spirit’ since the fall of Adam and Eve who committed the first sin as humans. This sin disease has been passed down through procreation ever since. In the book of Romans, the word SIN is a NOUN, it is a thing, it is this THING in us called sin; not a verb action word. Paul called this ‘The Spirit of Adam’ and a believer’s ‘Old Man’. Through belief on Christ we can be born again, ‘in the Spirit of God’.

Jesus continues in John 3 to explain how a person can be born again in the Spirit and it is not about our being a good person or doing good works to be righteous.

“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)

This is how a person becomes a child of God and God becomes our Father. It is how a person is Born in the Spirit. It is only by trusting and believing in Christ and His once for all blood atoning sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 10:10) having paid for all the sin of THE WHOLE WORLD, all of it (1 John 2:2). This is how to become a member of the family of God and how a person gains the inheritance of the Kingdom Of God. The knowledge of the Gospel that saves ‘whosoever will believe’ is the SEED in the Sower of Seed parable by Jesus.

A person only becomes a family member of God if they choose to believe on Christ for righteousness which is the central theme of the entire Holy Scriptures; both Old and New testaments all point to Jesus, The Messiah, The Christ. Belief on Christ is the only way any person can be redeemed in the Spirit.

“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)

 

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14 KJV)

 

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26 KJV)

 

Four Things Happen When God Sows His Seed Of The Word Of The Kingdom Of God

1. Those that have, or will, receive the seed by the wayside.

These are people for whatever reason have heard the Gospel truth of God’s grace but the devil comes and snatches away the words of what they heard or read about The Kingdom Of God. Jesus is telling us that not everyone who hears the truth of the Kingdom of God and the Gospel of our salvation will believe it.

Remember Jesus also said this,

“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:” (Matthew 7:13 KJV)

What is the straight gate? It is belief on Christ alone for righteousness and salvation as you just read above from John 14. So what is the WIDE WAY? Do you know that Biblical Christianity is the only teaching salvation by grace and not by works that we do? Every other religion from Hinduism to Islam teach ‘good works required’ to be justified by their god. There are also many FALSE religious organizations calling themselves ‘christian’ and even using ‘the name of  Jesus Christ’, that teach works are required and that is NOT Biblical salvation, nor the Gospel. Jesus warned sternly about believing it is our works that will save us in Matthew 7:21-23 and that ‘many wonderful works’ and ‘using the name of Jesus’ will not save ANYONE! On their judgment day before Christ they will hear the scariest words of all in shock,

“…And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23 KJV)

This ‘depart from me’ is eternal separation from God in condemnation. They thought they were ‘good enough’ people to make it into Heaven. They thought they had ‘more good works than bad works’ and would make it to Heaven. They thought they were close to Jesus because they used His name in these good works even, yet they were never ready for Heaven because one must be born again in the Spirit to be part of God’s family; and that is NOT about good works but belief on what Christ did for us on the cross. The simplicity of the Gospel is mind boggling to many people. Many are okay if you mention ‘God’, but if you mention ‘Jesus’ they get offended. Why? Because to come to salvation through Christ one has to admit they are a dreadful sinner. Please, please, please do not be like that in pride and boasting. Instead, RUN TO Jesus, the Christ and receive full mercy and eternal salvation!

“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)

In Galatians Paul taught that anyone teaching works of the Law for salvation are to be accursed! Apostle Paul wrote these verses as well,

“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)

Here we se that salvation is belief on Christ alone as GIFT. A gift is never worked for, otherwise it is EARNED. A gift is either accepted or rejected and that is all. Paul even goes so far to say that believing our good works have ANYTHING to do with being redeemed and born again in the Spirit is all PRIDE and BOASTING.

And look at this passage by Apostle Paul,

“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)

Following our good works of the Law and Ten Commandments is ‘of no effect unto us’?! Yes, that is correct! Our works do not save us at all. What does saves us? What does MAKE US righteous and a member of God’s family in the Spirit? God’s GRACE through our faith (which in Greek is defined as BELIEF) in Christ.

2. He with no root in themselves.

These are people who at first hear about Jesus and are joyful about it but they never came to a real deep belief. They believed the Gospel intellectually but not real belief. They know and receive the knowledge of the Gospel in their minds but they never had a real deep heart felt belief. And when troubles enter their life they gave up thinking it is all just not enough truth to have a real heart felt belief on Christ. These are people who believe that Jesus was ‘a great teacher of life’ and ‘a prophet come from God’ as Nicodemus did coming to Jesus for help in understanding what His message was about in John 3. Without true belief, the spirit is still The Spirit of Adam, dead in transgressions and sins. Still not part of the family of God by Spiritual rebirth through belief on Christ.

This is why if you hear a preacher or Bible teacher telling you that once you are saved, God will make your life perfectly happy and content, that you should take a pause because Jesus never promised a trouble free life for believers!

“In the world YE SHALL HAVE tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV)

Just one look at what happen to the Disciples of Christ in the early church testifies this is false. They were martyred for their faith. Killed by the sword, eaten by lions, burned at the stake and worse.  Apostle Peter was crucified on an upside down cross. Yet they stayed the course in their belief in persecution. Peter also denied knowing Jesus three times when confronted with persecution, but he still believed in his heart and was eternally saved.

3. The Unfruitful.

Jesus said these are those that hear the words of salvation but the worries an deceitfulness of riches choke it and they are ‘unfruitful’. They are too worldly focused instead of being Kingdom focused as people who are born again and as people looking toward the Kingdom Of God to come; saved people who “…are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16 KJV).

Using the word ‘unfruitful’ is a tell tale because salvation is never by our works but only by belief and trust in Christ’s work on the cross and His rising from the dead. Every person who is not saved is unfruitful though because they do not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them and God working through their lives in righteousness. I believe these are the people who receive the knowledge of truth and have believed it and are eternally saved, yet their lives are not bearing fruit for God and His Kingdom. They are not helping others in love nor helping others as a witness to come to the knowledge of the truth as Jesus instructed believers to do.

As the half brother of Jesus wrote in James 2,

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26 KJV)

A dead body is pretty much useless to do anything. A dead corpse cannot speak nor move nor write. It is DEAD just as believing and not having works for the Kingdom is DEAD and useless. That is what James meant when he wrote ‘faith without works is dead’. It is not about salvation but how we should be living after we become saved. They have a faith that is without works, a DEAD faith that is, as James wrote,  ‘not profitable’ nor fruitful. It is not about salvation but a ‘dead faith’ that is useless for the Kingdom of God.

Jesus told believers to,

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 KJV)

This does not mean every person is to become a preacher or pastor of a church. Yet, as saved believers by the grace of God in great love for us Jesus die on that cross and paid our debt of sins. Should we not in great gratefulness let others know the good news of the Gospel? God could have taken believers off the planet immediately following our belief on Christ but Jesus prayed that the Father would not do that in John 17. Jesus wanted believers to be part of His plan of getting the knowledge of the truth of salvation by grace through Christ crucified. It amazes me that God even wants to use me, how about you? Yet, that is His plan!

“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” (John 17:15-17 KJV)

And when Apostle Paul wrote about The Judgement Seat Of Christ For Believers there will be some that have no good works to receive a reward, yet they are eternally saved and already in their raptured and glorified bodies. Speaking about saved believers in Christ Paul wrote,

“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15 KJV)

4. Crop Producers For The Harvest Of God’s Kingdom.

This are what believers should be striving to achieve in our Earthly lives. These are those who heard the Gospel and have accepted the Gospel of Salvation through belief on Christ and not by good works.They are born again in The Spirit of God and in great gratitude became learners, and disciples. They have as Paul taught been renewing their mind by God’s Word. They are not focused on this Earthly life as their focus. They know the truth of God’s word and the Kingdom Of God. They listened to Apostle Paul to be “not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”. This is where a believer need to seek to become in this world!

As we replace wrong thoughts and beliefs in our mind by God’s Word and guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14), we are actually displacing The Fleshly thoughts and beliefs. The Flesh is where the devil tries to tempt us and if we replace these sin bent beliefs, left from our now DEAD spirit of Adam that always wanted to sin, we will make better decisions which turn into good works outwardly in love towards others.

 

 

This is exactly what Paul mean in Ephesians 2 where he states that our works have nothing to do with how we are justified and saved in righteousness but it is from our new Spirit if God, created in Christ, that good works will flow outward into our lives. Not self righteous forced good works for salvation, but good works of God through us.

“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.

For WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS –UNTO– GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

Paul did not write ‘good works FOR salvation’ right? NO, he wrote ‘UNTO GOOD WORKS’. It is all about being born again in the Spirit and now the Holy Spirit resides within a believer and that works outwardly into good works in love for others. It is all about Christ in us and us in Christ, being one with God in the Spirit (John 17:21-26, Colossians 2, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Ephesians. 1:13-14, Romans 6, John 15). We should have great gratitude for what God has done and for His amazing grace provided to us.

“…How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6: 2-14 KJV)

 

I Thought This Parable Was About A person’s Works?

The eternal security of the believer is a foundational truth of Christ Himself (John 3:18, John 6:37-40) and Apostle Paul (Ephesians 1:13-14). Once a person believes in Christ for righteousness, they are sealed and eternally saved and preserved by God in salvation from the moment of BELIEF ON CHRIST. The belief must be a real heart felt belief though; not just intellectual in the mind.

The first two who heard the seed of God’s Kingdom have not yet made a decision to believe the Gospel. They HEARD THE GOSPEL but in the end decided to not believe for the reasons Jesus gave when he explained the parable to the disciples.

Jesus was telling the Jews and Pharisee leaders that the truth is, Jesus is the fortold Messiah (as He proclaimed to the Jews and Pharisee leaders) who has come to pay for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Yet, some believe that one must –PERSEVERE in faith– in order to keep and have everlasting life, but that is not truth, and also not the truth in the Parable of the Four Soils.

The root, our Spirit, our core being, must be born again by BELIEF in Christ (John 3).

Some take this parable and make salvation about works but that is false. The seed is the Gospel. In context, the Pharisees and the other Jews that Jesus just spoke with had heard Jesus’ words of life (The Gospel of Salvation and the fact that HE IS Messiah), yet will not believe. Jesus describes this to the disciples when they asked Him privately why He is speaking in parables and not straight words.

“For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” (Matthew 13:12 KJV)

To those who believe, more truth will be given but to those who refuse to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, what knowledge they heard will be taken away even more. Jesus knew their hearts. Self righteousness is a strong thing in a person and it hardens hearts against God! We must have The Spirit of God, not the old Spirit of Adam. Because regarding our fruit, only those with Christ living in them, and they in Christ, can be fruitful at all.

” 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)

Salvation is by BELIEF ON CHRIST ALONE as the foretold Messiah, The Christ, the one who was foretold to come at the appointed time (Daniel 9:26) to be the once for all final blood atonement sacrifice  (Hebrews 10:10) for the sin of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Our works have NOTHING to do with being saved nor to keep ourselves saved. The belief has to be real and that is the point.

The Sower of seed parable is about the time when a person hears the true Gospel and how the devil tries to take the truth away from them BEFORE they decide to believe or not. Yes, saved people have had their Spirit REBORN. Our old spirit of Adam (a sin nature) DIED WITH CHRIST on that cross (Romans 6, Colossians 2) and we received a NEW CREATURE called The Spirit Of God. It is, RIGHT NOW, the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST and that is not something we work for, it was given to us by God through imputation by the operation of God (2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2:12). And having been recreated, IN CHRIST in our new born again Spirit, this works outwardly to mind renewing and good works.

Yet, look at the thief on the cross, all he did was BELIEVE JESUS IS who He said He is; God in the Flesh, the Messiah, which the Jews were looking for. He had no time to see his outward fruit change did he? He is in Heaven and saved eternally right? Just keep that truth in mind when reading the Parable of the Sower Sowing Seed.

The change of mind (repenting after salvation,Romans 12, John 17:17) found in the fourth group hearing the Word of the Kingdom, takes time and the amount of time is different for every individual that is saved and born again in the Spirit. And so, fruit bearing is evidence of faith OVER TIME, but we should never judge anyone by their fruit bearing, not necessarily ourselves either.

After all, God works on us inwardly in mind renewing at different paces. It is not our forced works, some 30, some 60 and some 100. It is the amount of knowledge and mind renewing that determines the amount of good works and that comes from God inwardly moving outwardly into our lives in love for others.

Apostle Paul tells us that, for eternally saved believers in Christ,

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

This is when we can see how much we really have changed by God’s indwelling Holy Spirit and the Word of God. This is our sanctification (John 17:17).

A believer SHOULD see more and more of these things as our mind is renewed to match up with who God has now MADE US, which is 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 Cor. 5:21 KJV)

That is GOD MAKES US RIGHTEOUS the moment we believe on Christ. Fruit bearing SHOULD follow. Why? Because we have been changed in our core being by belief on Christ. But NEVER JUDGE A PERSON regarding their salvation by their outward works. Saul (persecutor and murderer of Christians) became Apostle Paul (who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament and who GOD SENT to preach the Gospel of Grace to the gentiles). NOW THERE IS A CHANGE OF MIND!

But this transformation in our outward living takes time for each person.

Matthew 13:12: Is This About Money And Wealth?

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Gospels
Matthew 13:12: Is This About Money And Wealth?

“For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” (Matthew 13:12 KJV)

What is the meaning of this? Some take this one verse and make a whole theology of prosperity regarding money and riches. How very wrong that is! They ignore the context completely!

Jesus is not talking about money at all. He just told the Parable of the Sower and the seed is the Word of God, and in the context here it is about Jesus’ words during His Earthly ministry which is The Gospel of Salvation and preaching that He is the foretold Messiah and Christ. After telling the Parable of the Sower of Seed, Jesus is talking to the Disciples here as he takes them aside to answer their question. What question? When we look at the context we see that the disciples asked why Jesus was teaching in parables. Jesus’ answer is this,

“And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.” (Matthew 13:10-18 KJV)

In the context of Matthew 13 and the parable given in the Sower Of Seed, verse 12 is all about the knowledge of the parables about the Kingdom and that is which will be given and increased to a true believer in Christ. Where as those who do not believe in this context are the Pharisees Jesus had just spoken to. To those relying on their good works and Law following for righteousness with God will not receive the light of the Gospel. Not only will they not get the light of Salvation, but what knowledge of salvation that they do have will be taken away from them.

Jesus told the disciple believers that ‘…many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.’

The desire to see what? To see the Messiah on Earth! To see all the amazing miracles He performed! The prophets and righteous, before Christ came, all looked forward to a time when the Messiah would come and be the final atonement for sin. Yet, here are these Pharisee leaders during the very time of the coming of the Messiah, not only not believing Jesus is Messiah, but they sought to discredit Him at every opportunity. They failed and then ultimately murdered Christ on the cross. Jesus knew their hearts!

Yet, these Pharisee religious leaders, who were teaching and relying on Law following for righteousness, were so puffed up in self righteousness for justification with God that Jesus describes them as having their hearts ‘waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing’. They are set in their ways and belief.  Even when they seen all Jesus did, in fulfillment of the Torah (Old Testament) prophecies fulfilled in Jesus they would not believe. All the countless miracles and such amazing knowledge of the truth of God’s Word that Jesus spoke and Jesus outright told them many times that He was God’s Son; yet, they still would not believe. Jesus knows the hearts of each of them. He knew they would not believe and so, the knowledge of the parables would not be seen by them. But to the believers, the truth of the parables will be known. Their light of this knowledge will increase in their lives because they are born again in The Spirit in true belief. Jesus then explains the parable to the disciples.

So BEWARE the false teaching of the prosperity gospel that is running rampant in these End Times. BEWARE of those teachers trying to take one verse out of context and make it all about money and riches.

Do You Believe That Works Are Required For Salvation?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: Salvation
Do You Believe That Works Are Required For Salvation?

The Ten Commandments are Holy and true. They are God’s Laws and they will be forever. However, a believer on Christ has been set free of every sin and is dead to the LAW OF MOSES FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. I will not try to convince you with any of my own enticing words. Works for salvation is a false gospel belief by Scripture. A belief Jesus warned sternly about. A belief that that Apostle Paul warned sternly about as well and he wrote 2/3 of the New Testament.

If you believe good works and being a good person are what save you, and are required to keep you saved, and yet also believe the Bible is God’s true word I ask you; have you been looking at your Bible to be sure what is being preached from the vast majority of church religion pulpits is what the Bible actually teaches about salvation? Understanding the Biblical truth is a matter of eternal destiny! Make sure what you believe about salvation is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ FROM THE BIBLE! Jesus gave stern warning about this.

Below are Scriptures that will speak for the truth, all in proper context. Do not take my word for it. Instead, go and check for yourself the surrounding verses and chapter contexts of these passages and verses and you will quickly see the truth about salvation and that our good works, which are good things that we SHOULD DO in love for others, are not what saves us, nor keeps us saved.

Happy hunting for the truth of God’s Word.

===JESUS, THE CHRIST===

“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)

 

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME. And this is THE FATHER’S WILL which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME, that every one which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH ON HIM, may have EVERLASTING LIFE: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40 KJV)

 

“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)

 

(See John 6:37-40 above to see again what Jesus taught the Will of the Father is… belief on Christ alone. )

===JOHN THE BAPTIST===

“He that BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE: and he that BELIEVETH NOT THE SON shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36 KJV)

===APOSTLE PAUL===

+++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)

 

“For by GRACE are ye saved THOROUGH 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)

+++ROMANS:

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

 

“To declare, I say, at this time HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS: that HE MIGHT BE JUST, and the justifier of him WHICH BELIEVETH IN JESUS. Where is boasting then? IT IS EXCLUDED. By what law? OF WORKS? NAY: but by the LAW OF FAITH. Therefore we conclude that a man IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW. ” (Romans 3:26-28 KJV)

 

“Now to him that worketh is the reward NOT reckoned of grace, but OF DEBT. But to him that worketh NOT, but BELIEVETH ON HIM (Jesus) that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Romans 4:4-5 KJV)

 

“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness OF ONE the FREE GIFT came upon all men unto JUSTIFICATION OF LIFE. For as by ONE MAN’S disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience OF ONE shall many BE MADE RIGHTEOUS.Moreover the law entered, that the offence MIGHT ABOUND. But where sin abounded, grace did MUCH MORE ABOUND:” (Romans 5:18-20 KJV)

 

+++GALATIANS:

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the GRACE OF CHRIST unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would PERVERT the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be ACCURSED.” (Galatians 2:6-8 KJV)

 

“Knowing that a man is NOT JUSTIFIED by the works of the law, but BY THE FAITH OF JESUSU 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)

 

“O FOOLISH Galatians, who hath BEWITCHED YOU, that ye should not OBEY THE TRUTH, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, CRUCIFIED AMONG YOU? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by THE HEARING OF FAITH? Are ye so FOOLISH? having begun IN THE SPIRIT, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham BELIEVED GOD, and it was ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Gal. 3:1-6 KJV)

 

“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.” (Gal. 5:4-5 KJV)

+++ CORINTHIANS:

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

 

“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration OF THE SPIRIT be rather glorious? For if the ministration OF CONDEMNATION be glory, much more doth the ministration OF RIGHTEOUSNESS exceed in glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:7-9 KJV)

 

There are so many more verses and passages like these in the Bible and remember, if you see a contradiction on the Bible, that means you need to look closer at the context because there are no contradictions in all of the Bible.

Does that mean our good works AFTER salvation do not matter?

Oh yes.. THEY MATTER!

““Being then made free from sin, ye became THE SERVANTS of righteousness.” (Romans 6:18 KJV)

But these good works flow outward from our newly created Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Colossians 2, Romans 6), moving outwardly to mind renewing by guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God and study of God’s Word, The Holy Bible (Romans 12, John 17:17).

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what we have done whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV)

 

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.).” (1 Corinthians 3:10-13 KJV)

Christ will be giving rewards to believers for their good works in love toward others. To those who trust and rely on CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK on the cross having paid for the sin of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Christ will reward for their good works done with the right Godly motives. Yet, even these works are NOT what keeps us saved. Only God keeps us saved and safe through Christ’s finished work on the cross; believers are IN CHRIST and CHRIST in IN US.