“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: SIN NO MORE, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” (John 5:14 KJV)
There is no doubt that believers should strive to not sin. Sin has bad consequences. God still hates sin. However, read in context. Some are thinking if we sin the same sin again that we lose salvation because of this verse. We must remember context. In context of the Book of John, John 5:14 does not teach loss of salvation. Jesus said here “…SIN NO MORE, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” He did not say anything about losing salvation.
Also, what about what the other statements of Jesus that we read in the book of John? Jesus never contradicts Himself.
Earlier we read John 3,
“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)
What about these statements as well?
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24 KJV)
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:28-29 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)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30 KJV)
The lesson of John 5:1-15 is that the crippled man believed an angel stirring the water would heal him. It is misplaced faith. We are not to give worship to angels but to God only. In context, this was the sin of this man Jesus says look…I healed you. No angel!! Do not do worship anyone but God. It is just like today where even pulpits preach religious rituals or traditions. It is misplaced faith and can result in the devils schemes for evil against the man.
We should not attribute the work of God to anyone other than Him alone. Apostle Paul warned that,
“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 1:8 KJV)
An angel may be an evil fallen angel of Satan ready to deceive you see? And he will scheme evil against you. We are not to worship angels as if they are God. This is the sin that Jesus was telling the man to stop doing. Otherwise something worse will happen. Satan will use it against him.
The lesson for us? Worship God. Trust only God to heal and for everything and every circumstance.
“(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”
(Romans 2:13 KJV)
Those refuting the Eternal Security of the Believer will point o his one verse to state a doctrine that salvation is not by belief alone on Christ crucified and His rising from the dead. They use this one verse taken completely out of the context to somehow ‘prove’ that Once Saved Always Saved is false and that works are required to be and remain saved.
But read the entire chapter 2 in Romans and continue reading the book of Romans and we clearly see how false this belief on the one verse is and how it is taken completely out of the context Paul wrote it.
Paul was showing the Jewish people at that time how wrong they are in judging the gentiles for not keeping God’s Holy standard when they themselves could not keep the standard of The Law they proclaimed they kept! The Jewish people and Pharisees were being hypocrites, just as Jesus called them out to be hypocrites in Matthew 23,
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Matthew 23:25-28 KJV).
James wrote,
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10 KJV)
Apostle Paul taught,
“Knowing that a man is NOT JUSTIFIED by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and NOT BY the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall NO FLESH be justified.” (Galatians 2:16 KJV)
Now go back to Romans 2:12-13 (wrote also by Apostle Paul) and we see a more clear context of verse 13,
“For as many as have sinned WITHOUT LAW shall also perish WITHOUT LAW: and as many as have sinned IN THE LAW shall be judged BY THE LAW; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the DOERS of the law shall be justified. (Romans 2:12-13 KJV)
Paul is just making the point that the Jews under the Law would have to keep ALL THE LAW to be justified if they trusted in their belief that keeping he Law made a person righteous. But the truth is, they could not keep all the Law. In fact, NO ONE EVER HAS except Christ Jesus.
Paul goes on in the very next chapter to push again this point; we are justified by faith APART FROM the works of the Law.
“26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith WITHOUT THE DEEDS Of THE LAW.” (Romans 3:26-28 KJV)
No one is able to keep the Law. If you fail even once, then you become guilty of it all.
The King James Bible translation to English reads as,
“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being UNPERFECT; and in thy book all my MEMBERS were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalms 139:6 KJV)
This verse uses the word MEMBERS. Yet, new English translated Bibles use a different English phrase instead and I believe that it changes the intentional meaning of the verse, especially in light of the content of the surrounding verses in Psalms 139.
Here are some of the modern Bible translations of the same verse to show you what I mean:
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” (Pslams 139:16 NKJV)
“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalms 139:16 NLT)
“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalms 139:16 ESV)
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalms 139:16 NIV)
Very different translations right? And when I see this happening, I always rely most on the King James Bible Translation. So what does this verse mean? Does it mean God has created some for heaven and others to hell? That it is God who sets everything we do in our life? Or does it mean that God knew everything that we, by free will, would do during our life?
In this Psalm 139, it is all about David’s physical body that was forming, while hidden in his mother’s womb. The modern translations got it wrong. Even the NKJV translation, which many claim is closest of the new translations to the KJV Bible got this verse wrong. Changing the word MEMBERS in the KJV, or removing it and using phrases instead that seem to be showing a Calvinistic view. The King James translators favoured the word as referring to THE MEMBERS. Many modern translations favour a PRE-PLANNING OF DAYS and some take this to believe that everything we do is not by chance and that we have no decision in what we do during our life. This is a very Calvinistic way of looking at this and again one reason why I stick to the KJV for such discrepancies with newer English translations.
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 DECLARING the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV)
In verse 10 we read DECLARING the end from the beginning. This seems to be more to the truth. God created time and lives outside of time. God also created us all with a free will. He wants real relationships with His creation. If only looking at this one verse, the new Bible translations for Psalms 139:16, seem to all be teaching that God planned our entire life, as if some were created to not believe. John 3:18 clearly shows that each person must make a FREE WILL DECISION to believe in acceptance of the free gift of salvation. Believing on Christ for righteousness is what the actually will of the Father is (John 6:37-40) for every person God created. Yet, He leaves the decision up to us to live in boastful pride of our works as Paul stated in Ephesians 2:8-9. (as if it can make us righteous or keep us righteous) OR to believe on Christ for righteousness with God.
“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)
This shows a clear decision of our free will. Ephesians 1 tells us that God FOREKNEW who would accept the free gift of salvation through Christ crucified died , buried and risen, at a MOMENT IN TIME in the life of a person (Eph 1:1-14). And that to those who do accept the free gift of salvation by belief on Christ, they became SEALED in salvation until our bodily resurrection; and so that means for eternity.
“11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel OF HIS OWN WILL: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” (Eph 1:11-12 KJV)
Is this WILL of God to create some for hell and others for Heaven? No. It is just that God FOREKNEW who will accept the gift of salvation by belief on Christ. Jesus said what this WILL OF THE FATHER actually is in John 6 and again it is based on a person BELIEVING ON CHRIST, an act of our own free will decision.
“37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME. 39 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. 40 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)
GOD FOREKNEW from the foundation of the Earth who will accept Christ for righteousness. And all who DO accept the free gift (Romans 5) of salvation by belief on Christ as Messiah, His death and His rising again (1 Cor. 15:1-4) are PREDESTINATED to receive all the promises that God gave us as believers (Eph. 1). Believers become the sons and daughters in God’s family (Gal. 3:26), that are in Spirit UNION with Christ forever (2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2, John 17), forgiven all sins, and who have become ‘made by the operation of God’ (Colossians 2:12) Heaven bound.
It is by grace we are saved and not our works (Eph. 2:8-9), and once born again have been created IN CHRIST, UNTO good works because we , as believers , have been made a new Spirit which is the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST (Eph 2:10, 2 Cor. 5:17-21).
In Psalms 139, David is just amazed and sharing the truth that before God ever made us HE KNEW US and HE KNEW everything we will do in life. Good news for those who come to belief in Christ because, God also knows the bad stuff in our future, the enemy attacks in our future as well. It gives us great assurance even through the tough times in life that God is right here within us at all times and in all things.
“And we know that allthingswork together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ” (Romans 8:28 KJV)
What a promise for believers! God foreknew all that will happen in our lives. As believers, it should give us hope. David is stating here that God even knew us as He formed us in our Mother’s womb! Even every hair on our heads is known by God showing His great detail and concern for us.
“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7 KJV)
Yet, even though we all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and all our righteousness works are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), in regards to our righteousness position before our Holy God, Christ still came and died for us so we could be 100% forgiven and MADE BY the operation of God the righteousness of Christ to be able to be with Him in eternity.
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:
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.
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.
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)
“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.
Read More Of The Passage To See Proper Context
“25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, AND NOW IS, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” (John 5:25 KJV)
In verse 25 He said AND NOW IS. He’s talking about the dead who we now know were also raised at Jesus’ resurrection from Matt. 27:52-53:
“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matthew 27:52-53 KJV)
When we go back to John 5 and continue from verse 25 we read,
“26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for THE HOUR IS COMING, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 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.”
We see in verse 28 He says THE HOUR IS COMING. He’s looking forward to the resurrection of the dead in the end times when Christ returns at His Second Coming event AFTER the Tribulation Period. This is confirmed in verse 42-43.
“But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”
At this future time, after Rapture of the Church Age believers, Israel will be in the foretold Tribulation Period (Daniel’s 70th week prophecy) and they will mostly still deny Jesus is the foretold Messiah as they do today.
Instead, Israel today is claiming the Messiah is coming soon, but it is not Jesus. They will be deceived and accept the Antichrist instead,
‘…if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.’. This is what Jesus was foretelling!
In verse 29, what is ‘the good’ spoken of?
“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)
Our good works? No, because in Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus warned that those not born again by believing in Christ and His foretold final work paying for all sins (1 John 2:2), who instead rely on works ARE NOT SAVED. Jesus will tell them He NEVER KNEW THEM. Jesus cannot teach two opposing truths.
The truth is that no one can do GOOD unless Christ is living IN THEM. Later in John 15 Jesus said that to bear more fruit in good works for God,
“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)
Earlier in John Jesus told Nicodemus, thet ‘Ye must be born’, in the spirit by belief on Christ (John 3:14-18). So the good here, is very good. Saved by belief on Christ, not our works.
Oh and something I find interesting! Read John 5:29 (‘they that have done good’) and then read John 6:29. Both 29th verses. Compare. Wow. Coincidence both 29th verse? I think not!
“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, THAT YE BELIEVE ON HIM whom he hath sent.”
The Holy Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit indeed!
Back to John 5
“30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, BUT THE WILL OF THE FATHER which hath sent me.” (John 5:30 KJV)
So what is this ‘will of the Father’? Again, when we keep reading into the very next Chapter 6 of John where Jesus again proclaims to be the foretold Messiah and Christ,
“38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 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.
40 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)
The DO GOOD resurrected unto life eternal in John 5:29, by seeing the context in the book of John and other teachings of Christ Jesus is clearly not good deeds. It is BELIEF ON CHRIST for righteousness. It is having a BORN AGAIN SPIRIT by belief on Christ. It is those who believe on Christ for righteousness and not good works. Remember as Apostle Paul taught; the wages of sin is not good works. It is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus paid the price for our sins. He paid for all sins (1 John 2:2) and it is finished.
Believer…
You are redeemed and free indeed.
We need to use proper context and not just one line verses to see the true meaning, amen?
“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 inheaven; 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.
“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)
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.
This is how I see the answer in Scripture and I will use an analogy and then show Scriptures in support.
A loving parent buys a ticket for an airplane trip and 3 week vacation in the sunny Caribbean for a newly married couple as a wedding gift. If the couple does not have those tickets for that vacation, they cannot get on the plane. Not even an offer to clean the floors in the airport, will allow them to be on that flight. We cannot work our way to get on the plane. The tickets were a gift the couple received and accepted. They can not use monopoly to get a ticket either. Only real currency will be accepted.
Likewise, a person who tries to work their way to being righteous by God, by their own efforts have not accepted the GIFT of salvation. The wages of sin, is not good works, nor being a good person. The wages of sin is DEATH (Romans 6 :23). That is what God requires for the sins we have. A blood sacrifice is required for remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus made that payment for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) as a gift to be received/accepted or to be rejected.
Now the ticket holders are able to board that plane and because they have a ticket, they are predestined to all that the travel package includes; the sun, the huge swimming, the shows etc. Jesus paid for all sins of the whole world and for all those who believe on Him, they have accepted the free gift of Salvation by His payment for their sins on that cross. We get sealed by the Holy Spirit, not by works, but by belief on Christ’s payment.
Now let’s look at all of Romans 6:23:
“For the wages of sin is death; BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23 KJV)
Jesus gave us a ticket for that plane as a GIFT, just as a parent gives a trip, as a gift, to their son or daughter for their honeymoon. As a gift, it can be accepted or rejected right? It was a FREE GIFT. An unearned favor. But it must be accepted, and usually is with great gratitude! And that free gift of a plane ticket gives them full access to everything predestined and included in the vacation plan being sold.
In the same way, a believer is given the free gift of Salvation to be accepted or rejected. If accepted than the person becomes saved and has full access to everything that God predestined for those that will believe on Christ and His final, once for all blood sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus, in John 3, uses the word ‘whosoever’ multiple times. That clearly indicates a choice we need to make.
” That WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3 KJV)
God created time and space so He exists outside of time and space as well. What name did God tell Moses to say to the Hebrew slaves as to who sent him?
“I AM THAT I AM”
Our God lives in the forever present. By that I mean that God sees our past, present and future all at the same time. Hard for us to comprehend because we are IN TIME. God knew before he created you and me, who would accept Christ and who would reject Christ.
God Gave Us All A Free will To Choose
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HATH BLESSED US with all spiritual blessings in HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having PREDESTINATED us unto the adoption of children BY Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will, To the praise of the glory of HIS GRACE, wherein he hath MADE US accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6 KJV)
God is sovereign. Absolutely!
God is all knowing. Absolutely!
Yet it is clear that God also gave us all FREE WILL to choose. He used Judas Iscariot to fulfill prophecy but Judas had free will to betray Christ.
That is how I see predestination in Scripture anyway.
Do not believe in the Eternal Security Of A Believer?
A person’s Salvation starts with two important DEATHS.
God imputed our sin to Christ who knew no sin and shed His blood on cross and died. But believers also died in the Spirit! God imputed Christ’s righteousness to believers.
Our Old Spirit of Man Died WITH CHRIST and ROSE WITH CHRIST reborn in the Spirit (Romans 6, Colossians 2) and are SEATED WITH CHRIST in the Spirit, right now. MADE the righteousness of God, in Christ by faith in Christ’s once for all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).
This is a believer. It is who God made us (2 Cor. 5:17-21) from the moment we believed on Christ alone for our righteousness (Eph. 1:13-14). It is the good news. All our sins are forgiven; future sins included. We are Christ’s workmanship. We were PURCHASED by Christ. Redeemed forever. This is God’s Grace; an unmerited favor.
Now saved, does it mean we just go on sinning? No. Our new Spirit does not want this but our mind needs renewing by the Word of God (Romans 12). It still has old spirit thinking and thought processes (The Flesh).
But our WILL, nor our sins, do not ‘unsave us‘. Nor does our ‘feelings‘ or even ‘belief‘ after Salvation.
Before being saved by belief on Christ, could doing good works save us by our free will? Could willing to be righteous by our WILL save us? No. Why? Because our Spirit was corrupt with SIN.
We were trapped in a prison called SIN. A prison called the UNRIGHTEOUS. With a debt of sins we could not pay for. Headed for condemnation.
How did Jesus become sin to pay for the sins of the whole world? By sinning Himself? No. God IMPUTED our sin to Him.
Christ paid our sin debt, IN FULL. By belief on this, this payment is credited to our account and we are given eternal life (John 3:14-18, John 6:40, 1 Cor. 15:1-4). The wages of sin is Spiritual death (Romans 6:23). We died with Christ in The Spirit of man (Romans 6, Colossians 2). The penalty paid IN FULL. Purchased by Christ.
Now, how did we become RIGHTEOUS? By our efforts? No. By belief in the FINISHED work of Christ, God IMPUTED Christ’s righteousness to us. Salvation is not of works nor ourselves. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Believers had a prison transfer from the prison of unrighteousness to the prison of righteousness.
Just as our WILL good works and self effort could not get us out of the prison of unrighteousness, a redeemed person’s WILL, nor sin, will have us escape nor lose Salvation. We are IN CHRIST. Where He is, so we are in the Spirit. ETERNALLY.
Jesus said,
“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.” (John 6:39 KJV)
