Don Gerrity, Author at Ask Seek Knock Find Christian Resource

The Truth Most Christians Do Not Yet Know, But Should!

Don Gerrity Colossians, General OSAS Questions, Q&A: Salvation January 5, 2022July 18, 2023

This image is a depiction of Christianity today. There is one major missing piece that provides all the missing pieces. And when the puzzle pieces are all filled in, it is a truth that makes us want to shout. Filling in the pieces takes time; time in learning the knowledge of the truth;
The Gospel of Grace Through Christ Crucified, Died and Risen.

ALREADY RAISED WITH CHRIST? RIGHT NOW?

In Colossians 2 we see a truth that still today a large number of people who claim they are born again believers have still not heard, nor understand. It is not that Christ forgave our past sins, but now we have to not have any sins again. It is not that we have to have good works after salvation in order to remain saved and born again. Colossians 2 takes these false Christianity beliefs and tosses them into the same pile as following The Law For Righteousness; which is UNBELIEF in the sufficiency of what Christ accomplished on the cross for all humankind and especially for those who have gained eternal life by belief on Christ, and not by works.

Jesus taught not to judge others who are sinning more, or more grievous sins, then we have in Matthew 7,

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? THOU HYPOCRITE, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5 KJV)

Looking at others as if you are better than they are because you have less sin, or less grievous sins, in God’s eyes in nothing but UNBELIEF and being a hypocrite. Believing this way is screaming unbelief and yet this is what the majority of church pulpits are teaching in these last days of the dispensation of God’s grace. Just as Israel fell away from God many times, the Christian community in these churches surely has fallen away from the true Gospel Of Grace here nearing the end of the time period from the cross to the Rapture; The Church Age. At the time of Jesus’ Earthly ministry Israel had fell from true belief and trust that one day the Messiah would come and pay for all sins, as foretold in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.) The leading Pharisees were teaching The Law for righteousness and favour with God. Jesus comes on the scene and causes quite a turbulence because He started teaching the true extent of this false belief. To those who thought they were in right standing with God because of their good works and genealogy as Jews, Jesus shows them that they are far from the Holiness of God. Jesus is teaching them the falseness and impossibility to keep all of the Law of Moses, let alone just the Ten Commandments. We see Jesus teaching in opposition to their wrong belief in Matthew 5,

“27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
(Matthew 5 KJV)

Jesus took the Law and made it even more impossible for a person to actually keep the Law in a few points, if not all points of even the Ten Commandments. He was showing the Jewish people , God’s chosen people, how wrong their belief actually is. He was preparing them for the truth which is the Gospel of Grace. He was bringing them to their knees so that they would cry out to God for MERCY, instead of living in pride not knowing they were headed in the wrong direction. These teachings went against the very core of their wrong belief at that time and is the reason such resistance was encountered. Jesus is the foretold Messiah but he was rejected and as the Prophet Daniel wrote in prophecy, the Messiah was cut off, on that cross (Daniel 9:26).

Jesus taught that our works will not be what gains us entrance in Heaven when we die in Matthew 7:15-23. Jesus taught not to judge others who are sinning more, or more grievous sins, then we have in Matthew 7.

It is not just that believers in Christ are forgiven their sins by their belief in Christ.

In Colossians 2, we see a truth that still today a large number of people who claim they are born again believers have still not heard, nor understand. It is not that Christ forgave our past sins, but now we have to not have any sins again. It is not that we have to have good works after salvation in order to remain saved and born again. Colossians 2 takes these false Christianity beliefs and tosses them into the same pile as following the Law for righteousness; which is UNBELIEF in the sufficiency of what Christ accomplished on the cross for all humankind and especially for those who have gained eternal life by belief on Christ, and not by works.

Jesus taught not to judge others who are sinning more, or more grievous sins, then we have in Matthew 7,

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? THOU HYPOCRITE, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5 KJV)

Looking at others as if you are better than they are because you have less sin, or less grievous sins, in God’s eyes in nothing but UNBELIEF and being hypocrite. Believing this way is screaming unbelief and yet this is what the majority of church pulpits are teaching in these last days of the dispensation of God’s grace. Just as Israel fell away from God many times, the Christian community in these churches surely has fallen away from the true Gospel Of Grace here nearing the end of the time period from the cross to the Rapture; The Church Age.

Jesus taught that our works will not be what gains us entrance in Heaven when we die in Matthew 7:15-23.

“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)

Where from most pulpits have you heard these words of Jesus? And if you did, did the pulpit teacher state this is about a saved person who loses salvation? Such as false teaching that is! Look at the clear context I have bolded in this passage and the truth becomes very clear. First notice that in verse 15 Jesus states that He is warning about FALSE PROPHETS, false teachers; not born again believers. They are teaching an iniquity with grave consequence; ending up condemned. Their teaching words (fruit) shows their false belief. What is this iniquity? The context shows that it is believing their self righteous works in pride will save them and justify them with God. Here Jesus showed what it will be like for them at the final Great White Throne Judgment of all unbelievers in Christ. They will be in shock and will be told they are headed for the Lake of Fire. And they are seen still full of pride mentioning their ‘many wonderful works’, but never mentioning that Christ paid for their sins. They denied belief on Christ alone for salvation and righteousness. They are NOT BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS as Jesus clearly will say “I NEVER knew you”. These are not born again believer losing salvation.

What about ‘he that doeth the will of my Father’? Jesus taught what this will of my Father is for us to do.

“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 6:39-40 KJV)

What God wants us to do is TO BELIEVE ON HIM (John 3:14-18) and HIS blood atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) and His rising from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

Please, if you learn any truth about the Gospel of Grace Through Jesus Christ KNOW THIS TRUTH; WORKS WILL NEVER SAVE YOU, BEFORE OR AFTER YOUR SALVATION! Yes, we should have good works after our salvation. Yes, good works are good and the right thing to do in love for others with Christ living within us. Yes, with the Holy Spirit guiding us He gives us desires toward good works in love for others by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12, John 17:17, Ephesians 2:10). The point is that good works do not save us nor keep us saved. Apostle Paul wrote,

“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)

The English translated word ‘faith’ in the Greek text is defined not as TO DO. It is defined simply as BELIEVE.

Jesus Accomplished More Than Just Forgiving Our Sins

Thank God all my sins have been PAID FOR IN FULL by Christ. Not just my past sins, all of my sins. All of my sins of my entire life are all future from the cross. Jesus foreknew what sins I would commit in my life (Ephesians 1), yet to all that believe on Christ for righteousness He forgave us anyway! The thing is believer, this is not the only thing Christ did for us on that cross! He also…

MADE US a totally new creation in The Spirit with the Holy Spirit indwelling our new born again Spirit.
And this new Spirit we now have is present tense, ‘the righteousness of God, in Christ’ ! (2 Cor.5:17-21) READ THAT AGAIN and let the power of this truth sink in deep. Even though our body and mind is not yet fully redeemed (1 Cor. 15:50, the reason we need a bodily resurrection in our future) and Heaven ready, OUR SPIRIT IS as righteous to the Father as Christ is to the Father. It is a real mind blowing experience when a person believes this truth. It is a LIFE CHANGING moment. It is the TRUE GOSPEL OF GRACE THROUGH CHRIST CRUCIFIED.

God foreknew from the foundation of the world, before you and I even exited on this planet, who would believe and be saved and who would not belief.
God foreknew all who would accept the FREE GIFT of Salvation by belief on Christ alone apart from our works and deeds (Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 7:21-23), through belief alone on Christ’s finished work on the cross. Saved by grace (Romans 5). The cross happened 2000 years ago and so when a person believes on Christ and His death and rising from the dead that forgave sins they are eternally saved (John 3:14-18) and sealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit from that very moment of belief until the day of our bodily resurrection (Eph. 1:13-14), at which time we will already be in the Heavenly New Jerusalem (what most today call heaven).

You see, Christ accomplished this all at the cross. When we believe it now in a future time from the cross, it has already happened to us in God’s view. Remember that God created EVERYTHING and that includes TIME. We live within time; born in time, living in time and eventually dying in time. But God lives outside of time because He created time. To God, He sees all moments in time as right now. Hard for us to grasp because all we know is time. To God, all who accepted Him and His Son Jesus the Christ, He sees as already with Him in the New Jerusalem. Salvation happened at the cross. He foreknew who would believe and He placed our old sinful Spirit on the cross with Christ! This truth really clears up many questions people have about salvation. It is not a ‘work by work until we get to heaven’ salvation. No. It is a single event in time on the cross as Jesus paid for all sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2, Hebrews 10:10). And when a person comes to believe, the predestinated gift (Eph. 1) is credited to your account immediately upon your belief on Christ. Jesus bought and paid for all your sins (2 Cor. 5:21). He has perfected you on that cross (Hebrews 10:14) and your old sin bent spirit was on the cross with Him as you are about to see by Scripture.

If you never heard this taught from your church building pulpit, please let this truth sink in. And be careful what you are being taught by a pulpit. We do not ‘work our way’ to heaven before or after belief on Christ. It happened 2000 years ago on the cross and is credited to the account as a GIFT to all. The FREE GIFT OF SALVATION can be accepted or rejected; but never earned! (Romans 11:6) And never kept by ‘good works and deeds’ (Galatians 3).

Colossians 2. Putting The True Gospel All Together.

In Colossians 2, Apostle Paul does a great job explaining what exactly happened when Christ died on that cross. The passage shows an event that happened in the past tense (Jesus on the cross) and who it made every believer in Christ in the present tense. This truth cannot be refuted because the context of past tense and present tense cannot be refuted. If you never read Colossians 2 closely this is going to change your life and belief on salvation. It is all by the grace of God – not our works and efforts. The same Apostle Paul wrote this in Romans 6,

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 KJV)

The wages for even just one sin (and we have thousands!) is ETERNAL DEATH in the Greek it was written. The wages for our sin is NOT good works! Good works do not erase nor pay the punishment for our sins.

Colossians 2

“6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

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

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

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

12 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.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 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;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:6-15 KJV)

I have bolded some text so you do not miss the context. Watch the words of Paul carefully and the truth screams forth. And in belief, so should our minds! You see, Jesus did not only pay for our sins and forgive us. We were on that cross in the spirit and we died with Him, and rose again with Him in the part that is our core being; THE SPIRIT. In verse 13 it reads “he quickened together with him”. Looking at the Greek this was written we see the definition is in Strongs Concordance,

“from G4862 and G2227; to reanimate conjointly —quicken together with.”

Powerful words ! Powerful truth!

Our old spirit that was dead in sins was born again just as Jesus described in John 3 and made a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Christ took our sin, paid for it and then ALSO GAVE US HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS! That’s right! What an exchange to our benefit! The very righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). This is the truth that even Christianity today needs to hear above all else. It is the very foundation of our salvation and freedom in Christ. The truth that can change the effectiveness of our witness to others. Teaching them the knowledge of the truth. The true FREE GIFT OF GOD, The Gospel of Salvation Through Christ Jesus Crucified , Died and Risen.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

(1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV, bullet points added)

That is the True Gospel. Our very core being has been changed. MADE BY THE OPERATION Of GOD (Colossians 2:12), COMPLETE IN CHRIST in the Spirit in the present tense, as in we are complete in Christ in the Spirit, right now. But how can that be if we still fight sin and yet still have sin in our lives? As a born again believer we strive to avoid sin right. Yes! But we will still fail and sin at times right? If we are honest the answer is, yes. We hate our sin. We confess our sin to God and apologize. We thank Him that He foreknew and paid for that sin on the cross 2000 years ago. A FREE GIFT to us but Jesus suffered horribly to give us this salvation. It is free to us but Jesus paid dearly! Do not forget that. I once heard some say that the Jews killed Jesus. The truth is Jesus went to the cross to pay for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) and so the truth is that I killed Christ, you killed Christ, we all did! Because He would not have had to go to the cross if we did not have committed sins. We must not be puffed up with pride because God gave us the FREE GIFT of salvation and believe we need to earn some of it. Instead, we as Paul did, need to BE HUMBLE. Not thinking too highly of ourselves because Christ saved us. It is only Christ living through us that even has any power 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)

Again we see Paul show this amazing truth of Colossians 2 in his writing to the Galatian believers, in humbleness. Paul states he IS crucified WITH CHRIST. It is a present tense statement!

“I am crucified WITH CHRIST: nevertheless I live; and the life yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 KJV)

Notice in specific that Paul did not write “by the amount of my faith and the son of god”. He specifically states it is the “faith of the son of God”. It is not Paul’s faith but trusting in Christ’s faith living within us as believers and working through our life. Works that count are HIS works through us. Do we have part of the works? Well, it is all Christ in us, working through us, but God gave us a free will. The real truth is that we live outwardly as WE BELIEVE in our MIND. Our core being, The Born Again Spirit of a believer is already fully redeemed, complete in Christ and as righteous as Christ to God from the moment we trusted Christ for salvation. But our body is not yet redeemed. It is corrupt with this thing called sin (a NOUN in Romans – not a verb). The MIND is the connector between our Spirit and body. Paul taught to renew our MIND by God’s Word, the truth about who GOD MADE a believer (Romans 12). Paul also wrote this to the born again believers of the worst model of a group of believers in Corinthians,

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ” (2 Cor. 10:5 KJV)

This is done by knowing the truth of who God made us as born again believers and renewing our MIND by God’s Word. We must know who God made us in Christ. The more truth we KNOW IN THE MIND, the better decisions we can make when temptation comes. Paul said we should ‘walk in the spirit to avoid the lusts of the flesh’ (Galatians 5:16). The indwelling Holy Spirit helps us and brings us to all truth and that truth is the Word of God. So if we read and study the Word of God, we will know more and more of the truth. Our old sinful thoughts and ways that stayed behind when our Spirit was redeemed on the cross with Christ gets thrown out and replaced by the truth and God’s world view. It takes time and accomplishes a few things in our lives:

1. 1. We see our sin and repent (change our mind) about our sins which helps us avoid the sin. This is walking in THE SPIRIT (Galatians 5:16). Perfectly? Not until we receive our bodily resurrection, but increasingly. Just remember, that all our sins are already paid in full.
  2. We start seeing things as Christ does. We live outwardly in love for others as Christ does. We do not seek revenge but love our enemies. We live toward others as Jesus does towards us.
  3. We become better witnesses for Christ and the Gospel so others come to salvation.

This is our sanctification from our inward new Spirit moving outwardly until our bodily resurrection. Jesus prayed for us in John 17,

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

In the next chapter of Colossians 3 we see what that means for us and how we should be living as born again believers. It is the ‘walking in the Spirit’ that Paul told the Galatians in Galatians 5:16. Understanding this amazing truth of what God has done in us as believers is a life changing event! I leave this article with Colossians 3, now understanding this truth, with the missing puzzle pieces now filled in.

“1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

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

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” (Colossians 3 KJV)

John 5:29: Good works save?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: False Gospels December 28, 2021

“And shall come forth; they that HAVE DONE GOOD, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:29 KJV)

Some use this one verse and teach a person is saved by good works. Is that really the truth of the verse though? Only if read out of context.

1 Corinthians 3:17: Is this about a believer losing salvation if they commit suicide?

Don Gerrity Corinthians, General OSAS Questions, Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Eternal Security (OSAS) December 23, 2021July 19, 2023

“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” ( 1 Cor. 3:17 KJV)

I have heard this one line verse so misused out of context. Some even to say, from pulpits, it is about loss of salvation if committing suicide. Leaving families in fear that their saved loved ones, who got saved, and ended up in hell. Horribly wrong!

Context matters right?

Paul just finished explaining what will happen at the Bema Judgment of believers after the Rapture. Works from living carnally will be burnt up. They will not gain eternal rewards. How we live after salvation matters; Or we lose salvation ? NO.

The Bema Seat Judgment by Christ for born again believers will happen after our bodily resurrection. It will occur in heaven; the New Heavenly Jerusalem. The place Jesus is preparing for us from John 14. Only the Bride of Christ can enter. So these are all in heaven, already in their eternal Holy state and in glorified bodies as Christ now has, after having been harpazo raptured.

“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED yet so as by fire.” ( 1 Cor. 3:17 KJV)

Apostle Paul is telling these babes in Christ, who are carnal in their living (saved eternally by belief on Christ but living worldly outwardly), that they need to start living in the Spirit that God made them (same as Paul told the Galatian believers in Gal. 5:16).

Why are they living carnally?

Paul wrote the context from verse 1…

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

They should have progressed into the Spiritual truths but are saved people still acting as born again babes in the faith. Living as worldly unsaved people, even though they are saved people.

Paul is teaching to them to understand that they should live morally right, even under persecution. How we live outwardly as believers is directly related to how much we are walking in the Spirit, which is already perfected (Hebrews 10:14, Colossians 2, 2 Cor. 5:17-21 etc). Do not get saved, born again in the Spirit, and live carnally. Renew our mind by the truth; God’s Word (Romans 12, John 17:17). As we do, we are less deceived and start living right because we know the truth more and more. We live right as we believe right in the mind. This is the way to true repentance after salvation (change your mind), growing in the knowledge of the truth as born again believers. Growing in good works that are not worldly but are because of walking by the Spirit God has made us at our core being. Works starting inwardly and Spiritual moving outward to good works in love for others. Paul explained it this way in Ephesians,

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV)

Suicide Is Not God’s Plan For You

It is the devil and his fallen angels putting pressure on a person, pressures hard to bare, and whispering in their ears to end there own life. Look at what happened to Job when the devil pressed his life from all directions. He lost everything. His wealth and even all 7 of his kids. All gone in a flash. Did God do this? Did Job blame God or did he act righteously?

“And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” (Job 1:22 KJV)

Job did not blame God for this. Satan got angered because Job kept his trust in God, and to make matters worse Job got these horrible painful boils all over his body. Who was it that caused this?

“So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” (Job 2:7 KJV)

Things were so bad for Job in his life that even his own wife told Job,

“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” (Job 2:9 KJV)

Look how Satan was doing everything possible to get Job to curse God. The point I am making is to realize WHO is causing strife, pain and problems to bring a person to the point where they consider taking their own life. Job was in great grief, in a very dark place in life indeed. His friends came and they “…sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.” (Job 2:13 KJV)

Reading on into Job 3, we see just how deep his despair was. He cursed the day he was born. If we get to a place of great despair and a very dark time in our life, consider how Job responded. He grieved like anyone would! It was so much to bare!

“What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?” (Job 6:11 KJV)

In the end Job, though struggled with all this, trusted God instead of taking his wife’s advice.

“But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10 KJV)

Job’s attitude even living through these very horrible life events was , if God brought me to it, he will see me through it. No matter what happens in life, we must keep God’s perfect character in view. It helped Job sustain through the crisis’ of his life, even when his own friends were telling him that God must be cursing Job for wrongdoing. This was not the case.

“I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.” (Job 16:2 KJV)

He could not even get any comfort from his friends on what was happening in his life. What God allowed to happen for His purposes. God was not the one doing this to Job, it was satan. That said, God allowed it for His own purposes. Later God restored more back to Job than he had before the dark times hit his life.

LATER ON…

That is the words we need to keep in mind when dark times hit. God will be with us through all of life’s dark times. The devil wants to destroy us who trust in God. Suicide is not the way in such dark times. It robs the person of what God may have planned for allowing the dark time to happen. It robs family and friends to be left dealing with overwhelming grief.

Some just live in darkness quietly, telling no one. (if this is you, talk to someone. Even if it is a suicide hot line counsellor. Seek help!) And they are so overwhelmed by their experience in life that they give up and commit suicide. Some who are terminally ill are in so much pain without hope of survival that they decide to end their own life. Dark times are not the same for everyone.

And then some fellow believers tell those left living to deal with grief over their loved ones suicide, that such who commit the act are going to hell, and even as believers have lost their salvation. Not only is that a horrible thing to say, it is also not Biblically sound. A person who believed on Christ for righteousness and His death and rising again are eternally saved from the very moment they believed (Eph .1:13-14). Any sin committed after that moment of salvation was already paid for on the cross (Colossians 2). A believer who commits suicide may lose eternal rewards, but they are still heaven bound (1 Corinthians 3:15).

That is not to condone the sin of suicide, but it is Scriptural sound. Any sin after salvation will not mean loss of salvation. Any sin. All a believer’s sins were already judged and paid in full by Christ on that cross 2000 years ago as they died WITH CHRIST and ROSE AGAIN with Christ (Colossians 2).

Any person left living after a close friend or relative has committed suicide can take some comfort in this, if the person was a born again believer on Christ for salvation.

Romans 4: The Gospel Of Grace Through Christ Jesus, The Lord

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Salvation December 8, 2021

Verse By Verse, Romans 4 With Commentary

Stop trying to work your way to righteousness with God. Stop trying to work in order to keep your salvation. That is NOT THE GOSPEL! I will use Romans 4 as well as other passages so you can clearly see the truth. The truth that most pulpits are not even teaching in these last days.

“1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture?

Here Paul is writing about Abraham. Abraham, the one called ‘the FATHER OF OUR FAITH’ by so many. Abraham who believed God’s promises so much that he went up the mountain to sacrifice his only son. Do you know what happened before Abraham and his son went up that mountain? Let us have a quick look.

In Genesis we see what Abraham says when he decides on going to the place God told him to go to Sacrifice his son Issac,

“And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. ” (Genesis 22:5 KJV)

What stands out in this verse? It is some VERY important words ‘I AND THE LAD ‘, in essence ‘WE’. You see God had taught Abraham who He really is. Abraham had complete trust in God to always be good and do the just thing. Over the years, he learned that God is faithful and can be trusted. He did have a son as promised by God, even though his wife Sarah was in her older years and baron. It was not as Abraham expected the promise to be fulfilled by God, but it was fulfilled. It increased his faith in God.

Abraham tells his young helpers that ‘we will come back to you ’ . He did not say ‘I will come back to you’. Abraham is showing his faith! That is his complete faith that God would never allow him to actually murder his son unrighteously. And even if he did, he knew that God would have to raise him from the dead because God had already promised Abraham that it is through Issac’s bloodline, ‘I will make you a great nation’. Later we see Issac asking his father Abraham,

“And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” (Genesis 22:7-8 KJV)

Again we see Abraham exercising his full faith and assurance that God would provide a Lamb in place of his son for the sacrifice. Abraham knew this must be a test of his faith and trust in God. God has never shown him to be like this. He moved forward with full faith in God and the attributes of God.

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

We see this same exact truth in the book of James. A book many use to teach falsely that works are a requirement of salvation. We read in James 2,

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and
it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the
Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by
faith only.” (James 2:23-24 KJV)“

You see, righteousness cannot be worked for to achieve! Righteousness is by BELIEF and not behaviour. Righteousness must be IMPUTED by God. That means that our perfectly Holy God, who is perfect in every way, must have a perfectly righteous and perfectly just foundation to be able to do so. That foundation is Christ Jesus on the cross, who by HIS once for all blood atoning sacrifice paid for ALL SINS of the whole world.

^”Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, either hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:8-10 KJV)

“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 is the truth of The Gospel of Grace of Grace Through Christ Crucified. This is the GOOD NEWS that all people need to hear and believe. Today we hear mostly that salvation is by being a good person and by having good works. And the Lordship Salvation heresy is rampant as well. Once we believe on Christ, good works are not required to remain being saved either. This is false by Scripture.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

When we work for our employers, we EARN our wages. We work for those hard earned wages. But when someone presents you with a GIFT, you have two options only; accept the gift or reject the gift. We do not earn salvation and we do not work to keep salvation either. Salvation is by God’s GRACE and this English translated word GRACE in the Greek has a meaning of ‘favour’. A gift is an unmerited favour. If we have to work to accept a gift, then it is no longer a gift and is something we earn through our own works.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Apostle Paul shows us that righteousness comes by BELIEVING and not BEHAVIOUR. Verse 5 here is very powerful truth because it shows that we are all UNGODLY to some extent. It only takes one sin and we are guilty. We see in this verse something that is very opposite to many pulpits in ‘christian’ church buildings in these End Times. Most pulpits are teaching are teaching the exact opposite of this verse! Paul tells us that those working for salvation is not counted as righteousness with God. Why? Because ALL HAVE SINNED and come short of the glory and righteousness of our perfect God Almighty as Paul taught in the previous chapter 3 of Romans,

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just,
and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
(Romans 3:23-26 KJV)

We also see in Romans 4:5 that God justifies THE UNGODLY! So to qualify for salvation we must be ungodly people and we all are, whether we admit it or not. Jesus Himself said that if we are anger at someone without cause, we have broken the commandment to not kill. If we even look at someone with lust, even though not taking action on it, that we have broken the commandment of adultery in our hearts. Jesus took the Law of Moses and Ten Commandments to the next level. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and Jews that were relying on their Law keeping for righteousness, which is an impossibility! Here we see that God justifies the UNGODLY! Now that is the best news ever. It certainly is what we would expect is it? We are all sinners who have sinned against God. We do not deserve salvation or God’s righteousness bestowed upon us. That is why salvation is said to be by God’s Grace. A FREE GIFT of UNMERITED FAVOUR from God. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul calls relying on our self righteous works being ‘boastful’. That is the very sin that caused all this mess. The sin of Satan; the sin of PRIDE. We also see Paul teaching against the belief of modern day Lordship Salvation which back loads salvation with works required in Galatians 5,

“ Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law;
ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
(Galatians 5:4-5 KJV)

Paul even sternly warned against backing loading salvation with works required because it is the same sin of pride but subtly entices our fleshly thoughts and guilt of sin. The devil always uses our senses to deceive us because he cannot do anything to ‘unsave us’ or to affect our Spirit. The devil cannot touch our new born again Spirit which is the righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21) and so he tries to influence our wrong beliefs in OUR MIND. The battle for an already born again believer is in the mind (Romans 12, John 17:17) and not the Spirit. For this reason also be on guard against false ‘Deliverance for believer’ teachings. The devil cannot touch our new born gain Spirit of God! God is not ever going to share this space with the devil nor his fallen angels. The Bible says that our Spirit has been perfected (Hebrews 10:14, Colossians 2:10) and that is written in the present tense based on what Christ already accomlished on the cross in the past, 2000 years ago.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Here we see Paul going back to David. David was way ahead of his time in the Gospel of Grace and the power of a believer’s righteousness. God called David man after His own heart. Wait a minute now, didn’t David have sin? Yes, David had sin. Did he ever! He had an affair with a married woman, got her pregnant and then killed her husband to cover it up. Now do not judge his behaviour without being truthful about ourselves because we too have many sins committed, even as believers. The Gnostics during the time of Jesus first coming and shortly after ward taught wrongly that a believer has no sin and John refutes this false teaching.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
(1 John 1:8-10 KJV)

John wrote ‘HIS WORD IS NOT IN US”. The same John that lived with Jesus during His Earthly ministry. The same John that seen all the miracles and heard Jesus’s teachings. So, Jesus also taught this. Jesus also taught against ‘works for salvation’ in Matthew 7:15-23 mentioning the false fruit of words coming from false prophets teaching that good works save a person. Jesus gave stern warning against this wrong belief because many will find themselves at the Great White Throne Judgment of the unsaved, who thought they would make it to heaven by their works, but will not, and to whom will hear Jesus state,

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

But David knew the truth about God’s GRACE and unmerited favour. We have consequences for our sins; absolutely. Yet, look what David believed and wrote as Paul quotes him above. BLESSED is the person whom God imputes righteousness without the person’s works to somehow erase a sin. Instead, BLESSED is the person whose sins are covered. Blessed is the person the Lord will not impute sin upon.

9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

And this wonderful amazing GIFT of Salvation by the amazing Grace of God is not just for the Jewish people as some are teaching these days. No my brothers and sisters in Christ! All that is required is for a person to believe regardless of their heritage or blood line.

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

There you have it. Plainly stated. Clearly stated. Salvation is not by being a ‘good person’, nor by having ‘many wonderful good works’. Salvation is definitely not by keeping the Law of Moses, or even the Ten Commandments. Salvation is through the righteousness of faith! Faith in what? Faith in Jesus, the Christ, who is God in the flesh (John 1) crucified, died and risen (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), having paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Paul wrote ‘where no Law is’ and he is talking about us today because Jesus paid for all transgression committed against the Law.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Salvation is of faith in Christ by God’s Grace. How much clearer can Apostle Paul be? Salvation is for all peoples, not just the Jewish peoples. Salvation is fully available to any person that will accept the FREE GIFT of salvation. If you move on and read the next chapter of Romans, chapter 5, you will learn that God’s free gift of grace washes over every sin we commit as believers! Christ’ sacrifice was fully sufficient as payment for our sins, though they be small sin, large sins, horrendous sins! All were paid in full by Christ.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Abraham BELIEVED GOD’S PROMISE to him! He was promised to have a son and that son would be the father of many nations. So did God give his son when he was still younger? When Abrahams’s wife Sarah was young? No. God chose to show His power and His promise to Abraham and his son was born when Sarah was older and barren! Yet, the power of God showed up and she conceived and bore a son. A complete miracle for all to see. Now Abraham had his son and God instructs hi to sacrifice his only son on the mountain alter. Yet, Abraham believed God would not allow it and it was his BELIEF that showed his faith in God.

Have you ever gone through hard times that make you shake your head and ask God ‘why?’, ‘what did I do?’. God’s got a plan brothers and sisters. Believe and trust God in ever circumstance in life and He will show up when you least expect it and then you will think to yourself ‘OH! That is why!’ That is true faith in God.

“23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification”

Verse 23 is a summary of salvation by Gods GRACE through faith (belief) in Christ Crucified died and risen. Continue reading into Romans 5 and you will see how God’s Grace wins over ever sin we commit, like waves rolling over the sands on the ocean. His grace is stronger than any sin because HE paid for all sins. He paid the full wages for our sins (Romans 6:23).

Does That Mean Our Good Works Do Not Matter?

Not at all. We have a new born again Spirit and the Holy Spirit indwells a believer in Christ. It is an inward change that moves outward in MIND RENEWING. We live outwardly as we believe in our mind. Right believing leads to right living outwardly in love for others.

“For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we SHOULD walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV)

Apostle Paul wrote to ‘walk in the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:16) and to ‘renew our mind by God’s word’ (Romans 12) which will lead to right outward living. Perfectly? Not until our bodily resurrection, but most certainly increasingly if we do so. This is not about salvation which was accomplished the moment a person believes (Eph. 1:13-14, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, John 6:37-40, John 3:18, Colossians 2). This is about how we live AFTER we are born again in the Spirit and saved. The very same thing James taught in James 2.

Performing Good Works Is Good. Yet, Will Not Save Anyone Eternally.

Don Gerrity Q&A: Salvation October 24, 2021

As a Born Again Believer, good works come from our new Spirit and move outwardly to good works with guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to change OUR MIND, and RENEW OUR MIND by the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17, Romans 12, Ephesians 2:8-10).

Right believing of TRUTH leads to good works in love for others. This is ‘walking in the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:16).

Good works are… well, good! YES! As born again believers, Christ can work through us. YES!

Yet, we should not look at good works as a REQUIREMENT NOR PROOF that a person is a born again believer having eternal life.

Both saved and unsaved have good works. Will our good works pay for any of our sins?

ABSOLUTELY -NOT-!!

Jesus warned about not believing that lie from FALSE PROPHETS. Having ‘many wonderful works’ will not pay for our sins (Matthew 7:15-23).

In God’s economy of PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS, the only way to enter Heaven (The heavenly New Jerusalem) is be righteous as Christ. Not by OUR WORKS. BY CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK, offered to us as A GIFT. As a GIFT, salvation IS NOT EARNED. (Ephesian 2:8-9). Yet, most pulpits are teaching a false works based gospel, which is no gospel (Galatians 3, 5:4-5). The foretold falling away is here..now. Works for salvation is the very ‘Doctrine of Demons’, Paul warned Timothy about. Today, it is known as ‘Lordship Salvation’. One of the biggest heresies of the End Times generation.

Salvation and righteousness is either accepted in belief on Christ and HIS FINISHED WORK on the cross, having PAID for all sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) as an ONCE FOR ALL PAYMENT EVENT (Hebrews 10:10). BELIEF ON CHRIST SAVES US ALONE, apart from good works! (John 3:14-18, 6:37-40, 1 Cor. 15:1-4) Salvation is either an accepted gift or rejected in UNBELIEF.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 KJV)

Believer.. yes, do good works in love of others. But do so with the right motive. Not to ‘remain saved’. Only Christ keeps us sealed in salvation (Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30). Only Christ MADE US RIGHTEOUS (2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2).

Do we deserve God’s GRACE? NO, that is why salvation is by belief on Christ and HIS finished work on the cross. We cannot ‘save ourselves’ by performing good works. Otherwise, grace is no longer an UNMERITED FAVOUR (Romans 2:8, Romans 5).

Let God’s GRACE motivate us to good works in great gratitude, as already eternally saved people.

“Let us therefore FEAR, lest, a promise being left us of ENTERING INTO HIS REST, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto US was the gospel preached, as well as UNTO THEM: but the word preached did not profit THEM, not being mixed WITH FAITH in them that heard it.” (Hebrews 4:1-2 KJV)

REST IN CHRIST believers! And good works of God will flow thru us.

DOES GOD’S GRACE GIVE US A LICENSE TO SIN?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Uncategorized List September 24, 2021

Common question right?

The Complete Sufficiency Of Christ’s Atonement for sin is more powerful than anything I know.

Who needs a license to sin?

We are fine without a license and sin regardless right? And ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23 KJV)

In regards to salvation and works to ‘remain saved‘, Paul called that idea boasting in pride and foolish.

” 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?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal. 3 KJV)

Salvation is based on BELIEF, NOT BEHAVIOUR. Rewards and loss of eternal rewards is based on a believer’s works. Scripture is clear on that. But our salvation can never be lost by our failures in sin after the moment of our salvation.

So our works and how we live after the moment of salvation DO MATTER, for sure (Eph. 2:10).

Ultimately, it comes from within and moves outwardly from our new Spirit. God changes our minds and hearts and gives every believer desires.

Many quote Romans 6, but what about Romans 5 for context ? Look at the focus Paul gave on “FREE GIFT” and “MUCH MORE“. Grace abounds over our lives as born again believers.

What believer really thinks he can just go on sinning without real negative consequences? For that matter, what believer feels no remorse over failures in sin? The indwelling Holy Spirit guides. When we fail and sin, we feel the indwelling Holy Spirit pulling us toward confession do we not? God is not surprised when we fail in sin. He foreknew every sin we will commit in our lives from the foundation of the world, yet Christ still died for us in great love to save us.

What we do have is the security of knowing that when we do sin (and until our bodily resurrection, we will) we are not risking the loss of our salvation. All our sins are all paid in full by christ (1 John 2:2).

Jesus knew every sin of our life, and carried them ALL to the cross where He died for them in our place, 2000 years ago. At that very moment our forgiveness was assured in His foreknowledge (Colossians 2:13-15).

All we have to do is believe to accept THE FREE GIFT of eternal salvation through true belief on Christ . (Eph. 2:8-9, Romans 5)

Writing to believers, John wrote that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from —ALL– unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Christ paid for all sins of the whole world as a FREE GIFT, not just believer’s sins.

“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)

As a FREE GIFT, it can be accepted in belief on Christ or rejected (John 3:18), but never worked for nor earned (Eph. 2:8-10, Gal. 3, 5:4-5). Only Christ accomplished that for us.

Christ died for all sins, past and future. I ask you… DID IT WORK? YES, IT MOST CERTAINLY DID! AMEN.

“Nevertheless, whereto we have ALREADY ATTAINED, let us WALK BY the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” (Phil. 3:16 KJV)

Just saying a prayer or going to an alter call ; not sure if you are saved. The belief in Christ saves, not words, and the belief must be REAL BELIEF and trust on Christ.

We fail and sin as believers, but we need to know WHO GOD MADE US IN CHRIST, something many saved believers still have not learned. The Truth sets us free indeed.

In Jesus prayer for us He said,

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

Oh yes. Not all born again saved believers are disciples (which is defined as a learner).

That said, we all should be!

As believers, our focus is getting THE TRUTH IN US from God’s Word. And we will find ourselves sinning less. We live outwardly as we believe in the mind.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12 KJV)

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Author: Don Gerrity