General OSAS Questions

Did Christ Pay For ALL Our Sins?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: Uncategorized List
Did Christ Pay For ALL Our Sins?

Sins committed by a believer of Christ for Salvation will not result in loss of Salvation. That stated, should we just sin all we want so that God’s grace abounds? No. We still have consequences for our sins and they are not good at all.

Damnation in hell is not a consequence of sin for a believer on Christ’s atonement but we should be transformed during our life as a believer. We renew our mind by the Word of God, guided by the Holy Spirit.

》》 First… confessing sins and asking for forgiveness for sins are not the same thing.

Confessing is agreeing with God that we sinned. All a person’s sins were forgiven on that cross because Jesus did not make a partial payment for just the sins of those who would believe; He paid for all sins of every person!

“2 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 ‘once for all’ payment of all sins (Hebrews 10:10) is given to us all as a GIFT of God’s grace and can be accepted or rejected because God gives us free will to decide. He asks us… ‘Here is a free unmerited GIFT. It is complete forgiveness of your life sins and makes you the righteousness of God, in Christ.’

….If the gift is rejected, the payment is not placed on the account of a person’s sin debt and they will one day pay for their sin debt themselves in a place called hell.

….If they accept the gift payment by belief on Christ and His once for all sacrifice for our sins on the cross (John 3:14-18, Hebrews 10:10) then they are freed of the debt ENTIRELY. All sins we commit are future from the cross, sins we comit after Salvation as well and all were paid for by Jesus’ ONCE FOR ALL payment , if we accept the GIFT of Salvation.

Jesus paid for ALL SINS FROM ALL TIME..past/present/future.

On that cross Jesus cried out.. IT IS FINISHED. In the Greek that was penned it is an accounting term meaning A DEBT PAID IN FULL.

Salvation is a gift to be received (Eph 2:8-9) by BELIEF ON CHRIST (John 3:14-18, 1 Cor. 15:1-4) not something we work to achieve nor keep. By believing on Christ….any sins comitted both before and after the moment of Salvation are already judged and paid in full.

From the moment of belief on Christ we are SEALED by the Holy Spirit:

” 13 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, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:13-14 KJV)

Notice it is past tense and a believer was sealed from the moment of belief. That does not mean we have no consequences for sinning!!! There could be severe consequences such as physical death even and loss of eternal rewards. But damnation in hell for sins Christ already paid for in our place? Not for the believer.

“4 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:” (Ephesians 1:4 KJV)

God knew every sin we would commit from the foundation of the world..yet He willing became flesh and paid for our sins anyway. Amazing love. Abounding grace!!

What and Where Are Believers In Relation To Christ and The Father?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: Salvation
What and Where Are Believers In Relation To Christ and The Father?

Where is our position with the Father and Jesus? Yes, we are forgiven all our sins because Jesus paid for our sins and we accepted the gift of Salvation by belief on Christ. Yet Christ did more than just forgive us! As a believer on Christ and His once for all sacrifice for the sins of the whole world (Hebrews 10:10, 1 John 2:2) there has been a very big change in our position with God. We are not only forgiven our sins.

BELIEVERS ARE NOW PRESENTLY… SAVED ETERNALLY FROM THE MOMENT WE BELIEVE, IN CHRIST

Jesus said,

“15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:15-16 KJV)

Apostle Paul wrote,

“13 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, 14 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)

DEEMED BY GOD AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD

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

Those who reject Christ are NOT children of God. Only believers are. We are in the family! Never to not be family.

MADE INTO A NEW CREATION CALLED THE SPIRIT

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” ( 2 Cor. 5:17 KJV)

We are an actual literal new creation of God called ‘The Spirit’. The Holy Spirit indwells us and is right here with us. From the very moment of belief on Christ we are SEALED by the Holy Spirit from now until Heaven and beyond. (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV)

MADE BY GOD THE VERY RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, IN CHRIST!

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might BE MADE the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21 KJV)

Many believers fail to understand how we are deemed righteous BY GOD – not by ourselves or what we do after Salvation! An amazing truth to let sink into our belief!

DEEMED COMPLETE IN CHRIST, IN THE PRESENT

“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;” (Colossians 2: 9-14 KJV)

We need to believe and enter God’s REST in our Salvation! Does that mean sit back and be lazy, unloving, not helping others come to the knowledge of Salvation or just go and sin all we want? No! These truths of who we now are as believers should drive us to live more for God as we recognize that we have been changed at the core of our being.

In Hebrews we see a comparison being made to the Hebrews being sent to the promised land. Did they laze around going there? No. It was hard actually. They murmured against God, complaining. They lived by fear, even after seeing the parting of the Red Sea, walking across on dry land, taking Pharaoh’s riches with them, given manna food from heaven to sustain them, etc. Instead God wants us to live by faith and not fear.

Faith that what He says He has deemed you to be is who YOU ARE! Want something to fear? Comparing the Moses Exodus and how the majority of them DID NOT enter the land of promise, the writer of Hebrews wrote what we should fear,

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us OF ENTERING INTO HIS REST, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (Hebrews 4:1 KJV)

If we use FAITH and BELIEVE that we are, as redeemed Christians, what God says we are in the Word of God; that is REAL REST. And if  you REST in God, just watch God move in our life to help others come to the knowledge of Salvation in Christ! There is work to be done by God through you because we are ONE with The father IN CHRIST. But we must believe who we now are, IN CHRIST. Jesus prayed for you and me…

“20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:23 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.” ( John 17: 20-23 KJV)

Do you think the Father is answering Jesus’ prayer for us? We better believe He is! Amen!!

Myth: Unrepentant sin causes loss of Salvation and a destination of hell for a believer.

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: MYTHS, Q&A: Salvation
Myth: Unrepentant sin causes loss of Salvation and a destination of hell for a believer.

For those teaching that unrepentant sin means loss of Salvation, it is high time that believers believing this understand that not only are they wrong, they are denying that Jesus’ Sacrifice for us was completely sufficient with the Father. I am not in any way saying to just go live carnally and sin all we want. Absolutely not. We should be striving to live right because of the grace God has given to us to even be eternally saved. If you believe that you can get saved and then just live carnally, because God’s grace abounds (Romans 5), you may need to reconsider that belief.

“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 KJV)

After explaining to us in Romans 5 that grace much more covers our sins, some thought that meant we can just live our lives after salvation as we always have, since Christ paid for our sins. But that is the wrong attitude. Apostle Paul also rebuked the Corinthian believers as a very bad example of a group of believers living very carnally and doing things that believers definitely should not be doing. Sexual relations within families not by marriage even.  Yet, the church ignored their grievous sins. Were they still saved believers? Yes and Paul addressed them as such while rebuking them. It seems they had the wrong attitude described in Romans 6; Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Did Jesus pay for just believers sins or ALL SINS from ALL TIME?

Jesus paid for the sins OF THE WHOLE WORLD on the cross. ALL SINS (past/present/future). (1 John 2:2).

Did Jesus make a partial payment for the sins of the whole world or did He pay for all sins completely and utterly?

On the cross Jesus cried out IT IS FINISHED. In the Greek that was penned it literally is an accounting phrase meaning a DEBT PAID IN FULL. Jesus did NOT make a a partial payment for the sins if the world; it was a full payment. His shed blood was SUFFICIENT to the Father! COMPLETELY SUFFICIENT!

How do we receive the forgiveness that the payment for all sins by Christ crucified died and risen provides? How does Jesus answer this question?

Was Jesusu answer to this direct question doing more good works? No. His answer was “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God..” (John 3:3). And how does Jesus tell us that we become born again in the SPIRIT? Jesus tells us CLEARLY and REPETITIVELY for importance,

“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)

Salvation hinges on BELIEF that Jesus as the Son of God, who is God in the flesh (John 1), born of the Virgin Mary (not born in sin) never sinned in thought nor deed, willingly shed His blood and paid in full for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD so that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM and ON HIM alone is UTTERLY and COMPLETELY FORGIVEN.

BUT THERE IS MORE THAN THAT!!

From that very moment of belief on Christ a person is IMMEDIATELY SEALED by the Holy Spirit and has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30, Colossians 2). They have become a NEW CREATURE which is called THE SPIRIT.  This new SPIRIT is now the REAL US. It is Holy, Righteous and redeemed COMPLETELY (2 Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 2:10).  Our bodies are still corrupt (1 Corinthians 15:50) and not yet fully redeemed as we await our bodily resurrection at The Rapture Event  prophesied by Apostle Paul.

DO believers still sin? DO YOU? Be Honest!

Yes we do. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8 KJV, where John was encouraging believers to not fall prey to the false teachings of the Gnostics heresies). Our body and MIND is still corrupt with this THING called sin. In Romans when Paul uses the word SIN, it is used as a noun and not a verb. It is not an action word. It is a THING. Our Spirit is already heaven ready and fully redeemed by belief on Christ. But Apostle Paul taught that we still need to RENEW OUR MIND (which is how we repent after our moment of salvation) by God’s Word and by help of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

“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.  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.  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12: 1-3 KJV)

Jesus also prayed for us to the Father before heading to the events leading up to the cross stating the same thing. We need to renew our mind.

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

 

Are the sins we commit after our moment of Salvation forgiven?

Yes. They were forgiven in the ONCE FOR ALL SACRIFICE of Jesus on that cross (Hebrews 10:10-11). From the very FOUNDATION of the world God foreknew all sins that we would commit and yet He still sent Jesus to die and pay for them all (Ephesians 1:4)! Sins of believers are future from the cross as any sins are for unbelievers today and so they too are FORGIVEN.

But why do believers still have sin in our lives?

ANSWER: THE FLESH.  We still have this corrupt body that is bent on sinning. That is why when a believer dies physically, their Spirit goes to be with the Lord but their body goes to the grave. Our Spirit is perfect and the very righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21), without sin and can enter Heaven. But as Apostle Paul states, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” (1 Corinthians 15:50 KJV)

Apostle Paul in Romans 7 shows the conflict of a believer internally as The Spirit (the new us God MADE US in an instant of our belief on Christ) and The Flesh (which has a disease called SIN). The two are at WAR with one another but make no mistake; we are not the Flesh as believers. WE ARE THE SPIRIT still residing in this BODY OF DEATH. Apostle Paul makes this very clear in Romans 7 but one can skip over and miss verse 17 and 20,

“14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, SOLD UNDER SIN.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is NO MORE I THAT DO IT, BUT SIN THAT DWELLETH IN ME.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I FIND NOT.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is NO MORE I THAT DO IT, BUT SIN THAT DWELLETH IN ME.” (Romans 7: 14-20 KJV)

Reading Verse 17 and then again in verse 20 is the truth that so many Christians have not grasped. Paul is saying very clearly that inside of us is the Adam, our OLD NATURE before our moment of Salvation which Paul calls THE FLESH. Our old nature always wants to sin. Whatever feels right was right with no thought given to sin against God. The Flesh is like a disease since our physical birth.

And then there is the NEW CREATED SPIRIT (2. Cor. 5:17-21) we received at our conversion and belief in the Gospel Of Grace that  Apostle Paul taught.

The Spirit is now the real us and has become our very nature; though we may not act perfectly living in The Corrupt Flesh body.

The problem is The Newly Created Spirit is residing in The Flesh still and will until our bodily resurrection. Our minds have not yet been renewed completely and so our thinking is not perfect yet. We should strive in the renewing of our mind as it leads to be less deceived by the devil and his angels who scheme against us as believers. Right believing leads to better outward living.

Does the grace of God mean we have a license to sin?

Why is it that whenever the Grace of God through Jesus Christ and eternal Security of the Believer is taught it is assumed that means go and sin all you like? As if by believing the Eternal Security of a Believer that it somehow equates to us wanting to just go and sin all we want? DO YOU FORGET that we, as believers were not just forgiven.. we WERE MADE THE RIGHTEOUS OF GOD, IN CHRIST! (2 Cor. 5:21)

Believers STRUGGLE with our sins and no believer likes their sin! They may commit a sin, and even have repetitive sins, but they will feel very BAD about it. They will later have remorse. Guilt. They tell God and CONFESS the sin and agree with God that they blew it and sinned. Why can’t I stop this sinning God? Why does sin continue to happen in my life when I am now deemed to have DIED with Christ and Risen with Him (Colossians 2, Romans 6:4)? I do not want to sin! Yet, it still happens in my life. Why? BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS FLESH not yet resurrected. We struggle as Apostle Paul did.

Should we turn from our sins believing in the Eternal Security of a Believer?

YES! Paul says to the question of should we sin more with “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2 KJV). Yes, turn from your sins and when you blow it and do sin, CONFESS IT TO GOD.  HIM to help you overcome the sin. Yet, know this; you will struggle with THE FLESH until you receive new glorified bodies at your bodily resurrection when we will finally shed this disease of sin. Yes, TURN FROM YOUR SINS . Isn’t that what we want as believers? YES! But never because we need to in order to remain saved. Our sins were PAID IN FULL 2000 years ago!

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

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

And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power:

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

BURIED WITH HIM in baptism, wherein also ye are RISEN WITH HIM THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD, who hath raised him from the dead.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision OF YOUR FLESH, hath he quickened together with him, having FORGIVEN YOU ALL trespasses;

BLOTTING OUT the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2:8-14 KJV)

ONCE SAVED. ALWAYS SAVED!

Believers are secure IN CHRIST. The penalty for our sins was PAID IN FULL by Christ friends!

ENTER INTO HIS REST!

Hebrews 3:18 KJV: “And to whom sware he that they should not ENTER INTO HIS REST, but to them that BELIEVED NOT?”

Hebrews 4:1 KJV: “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of ENTERING INTO HIS REST, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

Hebrews 4:10: “For he that is ENTERED INTO HIS REST, he also hath CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, as God did from his.”

You no longer have to make sacrifice for your sins. JESUS FINISHED all that on the cross! Strive to not sin. Confess your sins. Renew your mind by the Word of God. Walk in the Spirit to avoid the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Be Godly. Forgive others. YES! Yet, understand that to God,

Hebrews 10:10-11: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, WHICH CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS:“

 

Zechariah 3:1-4: Robes of Righteousness

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

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

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

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

Here is Linda’s commentary…

Robes of Righteousness!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Romans 3:21-26 reads,

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

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

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

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

Revelation 7:15-17:

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

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

Can a Believer Renounce His Faith In Christ And Then Be Unsaved?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions
Can a Believer Renounce His Faith In Christ And Then Be Unsaved?

Salvation happens at a moment in time and a person is translated from being identified as unrighteous, to having the very righteousness of God, in Christ.

“For he hath MADE him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be MADE the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV)

The believer’s identity is no longer an UNRIGHTEOUS person. He has been MADE a RIGHTEOUS person by God.

Salvation Is About A Change Of Position Before God

A Change of position from an unrighteous nature to a righteous nature.

If an unbeliever renounces his identity as an unrighteous sinner, he can never be righteous even if he renounces his sinner identity. The Bible is clear that all have sinned and fallen short of the Holiness of God. It matters not if a person renounces being a sinner. Their sins will one day need to be paid for. This is a true statement yes?

And now, after a person believes on Christ, they become a NEW CREATED SPIRIT. A direct creation of God, fully righteous and redeemed. Is this by our own efforts? No. Apostle Paul wrote,

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

And earlier in Ephesians Paul writes,

“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)


Now SEALED for eternity by the Holy Spirit this person has passed from death to life (John 5:24). Salvation is ETERNAL (John 3).

Now this believer has become a Son of God which is a term used in the Bible only for directly created beings such as Angels and Adam, as oposed to how we are born through pro-creation of our species.  The born again believer has had a new BIRTH. Jesus described this to Nicodemus in John 3 as we are born physically through birth from our mother’s womb but our Spirit must have a birth and this birth is a birth into the family of God, who is Spirit. The believer has one new nature now which is The Spirit of God. Yet, our mind nor body is not yet redeemed and it has the old thoughts and beliefs of our old nature still which Apostle Paul called, The Flesh which is Sin bent.  Our core being is not our body. Our core being is our Spirit. This Spirit is now the new eternal and POSITIONALLY RIGHTEOUS SELF, as we were translated to the identity of being righteous by God. (Romans 6 & 7, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Colossians 2)

Here is a great debate in the Christian community of believers today. Some believe a person can renounce their salvation and lose it as an act of the person’s free will. Others believe that if an believer renounces his identity as an righteous person, he can never be unrighteous even if he renounces his righteousness of God (in Christ) identity.  The question is, which is correct by Scripture?


The Righteous And The Unrighteous Or Wicked. The Redeemed And The Unredeemed.

The Bible clearly shows that there are two main types of people. The saved (The Righteous & Redeemed) and the unsaved (The Wicked, The Unrighteous, The Unredeemed). The question is how is a person in one camp or the other? s believers,  we did nothing in our own effort to be part of the righteous camp. We are not righteous because of our efforts according to Paul in many passages. It was Christ’s atonement and our belief in this grace gift of God that translated us instantly at the moment of belief to being positionally righteous and redeemed which is clearly seen in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in 1:13-14 and 2:8-10.

God’s love is so vast for us unconditionally. This unconditional love is not something we have earned through our own merit. It si simply the love of God. It is who He is. God is love.  He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son to die for us to pay for the sins of the whole world so that we could, by belief on Him, become the Sons and daughters of God; born into His family.  Jesus’ ONCE FOR ALL sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) is so powerful and binding it is just hard to believe. A God that loves us unconditionally.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 KJV)

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:10 KJV)

“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to THE WILL OF GOD and our Father:” (Galatians 1:14 KJV)

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, NOT WILLING that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV)

God’s love toward us is an unconditional love and yet we humans want to put conditions on to God’s Love.  We think we need to add our own works to gain His favor. Good works are good, yes, but we gain God’s favor by believing on His Son, The Christ, and becoming born again in The Spirit. It is hard to grasp God’s unconditional love at times while living in this dark world, with sin abounding all around us. Yet, as believers we have been given a New Spirit which is the righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21) in our core being and we should be walking in newness of  life. God’s grace and unmerited favor moves and washes over the believer in a constant way, always exceeding our failures in sin. It is like a wave on a beach, it keeps rolling in and covers the sand just as God’s grace is constantly covering our failures and sin.

“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.)  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 MOE ABOUND:  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might GRACE REIGN THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:17-21 KJV)

Once God makes a person a New Creation in the Spirit and a son/daughter in the family of God, that person is there forever. They cannot be UNBORN anymore than we can go back in our mother;s womb and be unborn.

If a person TRULY believes in salvation through Christ and not or own works they are eternally saved from the very moment of their belief (Ephesians 1:13-14). The belief must be REAL belief though and not some external religious effort. John wrote,

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (1 John 2:19 KJV)

Just like Judas Iscariot, he was with Jesus and the other disciples during Christ’s Earthly ministry. Yet, in the end he betrayed Jesus and showed his true colors and that he did not actually believe Jesus is the true Messiah.

A true believer, will have a change in their life. A progressive change to Godly living. It does not happen overnight and so may not be self evident to others at first. But as time passes, their mind gets renewed by guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God (Romans 12, John 17:17). Their Spirit was MADE BY GOD a new creature which is the very righteousness of God, IN CHRIST.

“ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV)

There are those who may claim they truly believed in Christ and then renounce him but that does not mean they truly believed. The belief must be REAL and when i is real, that person is instantly changed to the Spirit of God through imputation of God; Jesus took upon Himself OUR SINS and through belief on Him, God placed the righteousness of Christ on us! A truth that even many people who say they are believers know nothing about. Why?  Because they may go to church and do good deeds to others and may talk about God or even Jesus, yet they have never believed the Gospel of Grace and believed on Christ alone in trust. They have never accepted the free gift of salvation through Christ crucified died , rose again.  They were never truly born again.

It is true that even a believer can fail horribly and sin. They can even find themselves in a sinful lifestyle. Yet a believer will feel the guilt from the Holy Spirit guiding them back to right outward living. The Holy Spirit will always guide them to ‘change their mind’, that is to repent and confess (agree with God) that they have sinned. To ask God to help them overcome the evil thoughts in their mind and their wrong living having  given in to temptations. But their belief is TRUE and they are eternally saved.

God keeps His word – even if we do not.

Is The Sacrament of Penance Taught By The Roman Catholic Church Biblical?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: False Gospels, Q&A: The Truth About...
Is The Sacrament of Penance Taught By The Roman Catholic Church Biblical?

Penance is a sacrament of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). The problem with Penance is that it is based upon the word ‘repentance‘ wrongly. In fact, it bases Repentance on Penance which is because of a wrong definition use of the word ‘repent‘ in the Bible.

Although the idea of Penance is taught strongly by the RCC, the Bible no where teaches the confession of sin to a priest by means of penalties imposed for absolution. If you believe I am wrong in this statement show the Bible verses, used in proper context supporting such. When you attempt to do so though, you need to use the Bible’s own definition of the word ‘Repentance‘ and not the modern dictionary definition. They ARE NOT the same definition.

The modern day dictionary defines the word ‘repent’ as “to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one’s life for the better; be penitent.”

If this were the definition for ‘repent’ in the Bible then the entire Gospel and Salvation in Christ becomes a false Gospel based on works and our own human effort. A read through the book of Galatians, Ephesians, Hebrews and Romans shows that this cannot be the case.

The New Testament was written in Greek. The Greek word for the English word ‘repent’ is ‘metanoia’ and is defined as “…a change of mind”. By repenting we change our mind from all thoughts on how to be saved to God’s truth toward Salvation by FAITH ALONE in the atonement the Lord Christ Jesus provided for us on the cross. By repenting we have turned toward God.

The repenting is the change in your mind from the world’s way of dealing with sin and changing to God’s way of dealing with sin which is believing on Christ for Salvation apart from works of any kind (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:18).

**Stopping the practice of a particular sin is a RESULT of repenting and changing your mind. That is, it is NOT the repenting itself.

The Main Books Of Salvation Prove This

The book of John is all about how to be saved. Do you know that the word ‘repent’ nor ‘repentance’ does not even appear once! But the word ‘believe’ on Christ is seen all over the book many times!

The book of Galatians. This is the book fighting against the false Gospel based on works for Salvation right? Again, the word ‘repent’ is not found once in this book contending for the true Gospel! However the word ‘faith’ in Jesus Christ is found all through the book!

The book of Romans. Paul tells us again and again that Salvation is NOT OF WORKS IN ANY MANNER! And where the word ‘repent’ is found, it is not the same Greek word. It does not mean ‘turning from your sin’.

The Christian religions need to stop using the dictionary definition of the word ‘repent’. They are teaching a FALSE GOSPEL WHICH WILL NOT SAVE ANYONE!

And also God repents many times in Scripture…does God need to turn from His sins? NO! Repent is defined as simply…’changing your mind‘.

The Penalty For Sin Is Not Penance

There is a penalty for sin and as taught in the Bible it is not Penance. The penalty for sin is ETERNAL DEATH in a place prepared for the devil and his evil fallen angels.

 

“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 Himself tells us that,

“He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned ALREADY, because he hath NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18 KJV)

If a person believes in any way to have forgiveness for sins other than belief on Christ alone through His atonement for our sins by shedding His blood and paying for our sins, they are not forgiven their sins. Their sins remain and must still be paid for. If not paid by Christ then paid by the person. It is very serious indeed. Those who reject the FREE and UNMERITED GIFT of Salvation through Christ alone will one day here the scariest shocking words of Jesus as we see in Matthew 7:

“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)

Jesus is talking about FALSE PROPHETS (see verse 15). They come to you as sheep, as “Christians”. They come with various verses of Scripture, all taken out of context by the way, to tell you it is your WORKS that matters. They teach about Jesus but it is false teaching. In fact, many of them are sincere because they have not grasped what Paul taught about the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. It is these false prophets who are the verse 23 “YE THAT WORK INIQUITY”.

Jesus speaks about the false prophets, and what they are doing wrong? They are thinking and telling others that it is WHAT THEY DO that qualifies them for salvation in Jesus. Verse 22 makes it clear, “22 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?”

Do you See it? They are saying have not WE, and in thine name WE, WE done many WORKS. WE WE WE! They rely on their own ability to please God and by doing such think they are saved. Without belief on Christ’s blood atonement ALONE for the forgiveness of sins, a person has not believed nor accepted the free gift of Salvation. And such a person has not believed that Salvation is not of ourselves in any manner. Apostle Paul makes it clear when he wrote,

“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)

Such a person relying on their own human efforts and penance will end up sided with the devil and his angels in the sin of unbelief in pride. With their sins unforgiven they will end up condemned with Satan. How you believe on your Salvation is a very serious and scary thing indeed. You either rely on your own efforts to save you and keep you saved OR you rely on Christ’s atonement alone by faith and belief. it is either your work or His work and believe me our works are as FILTHY RAGS without Christ!

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV)

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41 KJV)

! The Bible is clear that no amount of penance will pay for our sins.

Now, The Good News; Christ Died To Save Us!

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ paid for our sins two thousand years ago. ALL OUR SINS! Our past sins and future sins not yet committed too because all our sins are future from the cross.

Christ died for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). All of them! Jesus did not make a partial payment for the sins of the world. When on that cross 2000 years ago Jesus, who is God in the flesh, cried out “IT IS FINISHED” and when you looked at the Greek this was penned in the Scriptures it literally means “DEBT PAID IN FULL”.  Jesus said “whosoever” believes on Him has accepted the gift of Salvation and HAS eternal life through this belief (John 3:18). Such a person has accepted the free gift of Salvation apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9) and from that very moment of belief has been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). Jesus paid it all my friends!

Peter put it this way:

“Who his own self BARE OUR SINS in his own body on the tree, that we, being DEAD TO SINS, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were HEALED.” (1 Peter 2:24 KJV)

Peter goes on to say,

“For Christ also HATH ONCE suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” ( 1 Peter 3:18 KJV)

We see the same ‘once for all’ by the writer of Hebrews where it reads,

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS:” (Hebrews 10:10-11 KJV)

Hebrews 10:10-11 above is exactly what the belief of Penance is doing and can never take away sins. NEVER.

My Personal Journey From Penance To Liberty In Christ

I was born into the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and raised on the belief of Penance. I know it is a sincere belief in wanting to be in right standing with God because we know we have so many sins. Unable to meet the perfect Holiness we see in the Ten Commandments, I went to the only church religion I knew and Penance was their answer.

Yet, when I started studying the Bible myself and not listening to the pulpit or priests alone, the Sacrament of Penance is not found for Salvation. As believers, yes,  we should call out to God in sorrow for sins we commit. Yes, we should avoid sinning after Salvation. Yes, we should do good works after Salvation in gratitude for our Salvation! I am in no way saying that the Grace of God is a license to sin. NO. NO. NO. What I am saying is that according to the Bible, our sin after our moment of belief on Christ for Salvation will not mean we lose Salvation. Those sins were also paid for in full by Christ on the cross.

The Sacrament of Penance taught by the RCC will not absolve anyone of their sins. Belief on the ONLY atonement for our sins, provided by Jesus The Christ, The begotten Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, who is God in the flesh, and who lived a perfectly sinless life, and then willingly died on the cross to receive the punishment for the sins of everyone in the whole world, and who raised from the dead and ascended to the Father … this belief is true Biblical Salvation.

If you do not want to believe me, then believe Jesus’ own words to the Pharisee and one leader of the Jews, Nicodemus, when he was asking Jesus how a person can be saved. Jesus answer mentions nothing about penance but what we find in His answer is BELIEVE, BELIEVE, BELIEVE on Christ alone.

“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 3:15-18 KJV)

By studying the Bible, the true source, Penance was not found as the answer to my sins. What I did find was true freedom in Christ. Redemption, righteousness and peace.

I pray the same for you.

God Bless

-Don

Do We Repent and Then Believe For Salvation? Or Do We Believe For Salvation And Then Repent To Keep Salvation?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: Repentance, Q&A: Salvation
Do We Repent and Then Believe For Salvation? Or Do We Believe For Salvation And Then Repent To Keep Salvation?

So many pulpits are teaching falsely what the word REPENT actually means in the Bible.

Repentance GOES BEFORE WE BELIEVE for Salvation. Salvation is not of our self righteous works. Do not confuse the free gift of Salvation with our sanctification and works after Salvation.

REPENT as a word simply means ‘change your mind’. The Greek word for the English word ‘repent’ is ‘metanoia’. It is not defined as ‘turn from your sin’. Should we be turning from sin?… of course! YES! But that is not what the word repent is defined as in the Bible and it is so important to understand this! Turning from your sins is a RESULT of repenting; it is not the repenting itself.

You can change any Scripture that says ‘repent’ with ‘change your mind’ and then see the real meaning of the passage based on the context of the passage.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15 KJV)

is same as….

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: CHANGE YOUR MIND ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15 KJV)

The free gift of Salvation is about BELIEF and not good works for our justification.

“For by GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

Using the word ‘unto’ means AFTER our Salvation good works will flow out of us from within, by the Holy Spirit through us. But it is not something we should boast about! Why? Because it is the work of CHRIST CRUCIFIED that has redeemed us and not our own works in any manner! And certainly not our own self righteous forced works.

Jesus Himself is very clear on our Salvation and how to be saved. The simplicity of the Gospel is mind boggling to some who just cannot believe they do not have to work their way to justification. But believing your works are required is the sin of Pride. Yes, the same sin the devil deceived Adam and Eve with.  The same sin that had Lucifer, closest to God’s throne, turned into Satan, the adversary of God and man.

Jesus is so clear in John 3 that all other Salvation Scriptures need to agree with it to see the proper interpretations.

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

(Don: This is referring to the Exodus of Moses’ day. The people had snakes biting and killing them. All they had to do was BELIEVE that looking upon the serpent raised up that the snakes bites would not kill them. This belief saved them. This is Jesus showing us an analogy that Salvation is by belief on His finished work alone and nothing else.)

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 no where in John 3 states that good works not never sinning again is a requirement of our justification and Salvation. Why add it then? This is JESUS talking here!

BELIEVE, BELIEVE, BELIEVE.

Not just believe Christ existed. Believe the Gospel. Believe Jesus is the Christ, God in the flesh, the foretold prophesied Messiah who never sinned and willingly died on the cross as punishment for OUR sins. Whosoever believes this is now ETERNALLY SAVED and SEALED by the Holy Spirit.

“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 (in Greek means ‘guaranteed down payment’) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (until our bodily resurrection), unto the praise of his glory. ” (Ephesians 1:13-14 bracket comments added by mean for further clarification)

BELIEVE!

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, BELIEVE ON the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Act 16:30-31 KJV)

When Do Believers In Christ’s Atonement For Sins Become Righteous?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: Grace Of God, Q&A: Salvation
When Do Believers In Christ’s Atonement For Sins Become Righteous?

Believers Are One With The Father In Christ, Right Now!

Our Salvation is through belief in the only atonement for our sins, by God become flesh, the only begotten Son of God, Jesus The Christ, who never sinned, and who died on the cross taking the full penalty for our sins.

If you believe that then you have been forgiven any sins of the past/present/future. You are Heaven bound.

But we are given more than that! Heaven is a perfect place and only perfect people can go there. But we are not perfect right? We still have sin after our Salvation, though we strive to not sin. Before the moment of our Salvation, it is true that we just are not perfect enough with our sin nature to make it to Heaven based on our own merit and good deeds. As John stated clearly, before receiving the free gift of Salvation without good works (Ephesians 2:8-9), we stood condemned to hell.

“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)

The good news is that all BELIEVERS in Christ have been MADE the very RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, IN CHRIST! Did you know that? So amazing grace God has bestowed on every believer!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he HATH MADE him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV)

We have, right now, the very perfect righteousness of God in our newly created Spirit. This new creation (our Spirit) is the real us now. We also have our fleshly sinful body side. Our fleshly minds need to be renewed by the Word of God by the Holy Spirit and that takes time. A believer has two natures (Romans 7) until our resurrection when we will shed the sin nature, which is described as The Flesh. In the flesh we sin because it is our physical nature. With our Spirit, it never sins and is the perfect righteousness of God (1 John 3:9).

In John 17, Jesus prayed for us an amazing prayer. Read it all!

In this prayer it reads,

“11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are….

…20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE ONE IN US: that the world may BELIEVE that thou hast sent me.”

As saved believers through Christ, we are one with the Father, IN CHRIST. Yes, RIGHT NOW.

Because we still have a sin nature we do not always feel like it is true. But it is true. And once our bodily resurrection takes place, the sin nature in us now will be gone forevermore!

“Beloved, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2 KJV)

THINK HOW AWESOME THAT IS!!

Knowing this, set your goal to walking by the new you. Renew your mind by the Word Of God and watch how God will work in your life to help others come to the knowledge of the truth.

Is The Doctrine Of Sinless Perfection Biblical?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: Salvation
Is The Doctrine Of Sinless Perfection Biblical?

There are some Christians that are believing the false doctrine of Sinless Perfection as a requirement to keep Salvation. This false doctrine states that a believer must attain a state of sinlessness after Salvation, otherwise losing Salvation. And when we do sin that every sin we commit must be repented (which they believe wrongly to mean ask forgiveness for in sorrow as if their sins were not all paid for on the cross by Christ).

If this were Biblical truth, and it is not, then are we not in the same circumstance as we were before receiving Christ? Where is the assurance of our Eternal Salvation in that belief? Some would say we cannot know if we are saved until the day of our judgement by God. Many Christian religious organizations teach this unbiblical belief. Is that Biblical truth though? No, it is not.

The book of John says otherwise:

“These things have I written unto you THAT BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God; THAT YE MAY KNOW that YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, and that ye may BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13 KJV)

Two things about this verse should be jumping out at you right now:

1. We CAN KNOW if we are saved ETERNALLY.
2. Salvation is through BELIEF on Christ alone.

Now this next point is not a personal opinion of mine, and so, do not shoot the messenger okay?

“And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you,that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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: 4-10 KJV)

John writes this so that our joy may be full. Because once you know the truth of your assurance of eternal Salvation, our joy should be full! We see in this passage of Scripture that if we believe we are without sin that we make Jesus to be a liar! I would say that is pretty serious. What a slap in the face for Christ who paid such a high price for our Salvation!

It reads that God is light because He does not lie and He is PERFECT in every way. God shed His light upon all people and those that BELIEVE the Gospel Of Grace are walking in the light of truth. We are to walk in that same light of perfection but it is not something we can accomplish perfectly as God through our own self righteous efforts; that is by our fleshly Adam Sin Nature.

Without believing and receiving the free gift of Salvation through the only atonement for sins by Christ crucified we have the shadow of darkness that we walk under.

If we say we walk in the light but we have unbelief toward how we are saved by the Gospel Of Grace through Christ’s atonement for sin, then the truth is not in us and we are still walking in darkness.

The truth here being the Holy Spirit of God. Once we receive the free gift of Salvation through Christ we have the Newly Created Spirit within us and were MADE HOLY, RIGHTEOUS and REDEEMED in our new spiritual selves. Salvation is never by our own efforts in self righteousness. Salvation is not by deeds nor religious activities nor by the false doctrine of sinless perfection. By this belief on Christ alone and acknowledging that we do commit sin, Jesus cleanses us of our sins as He paid for the penalty of our sins on the cross.

To this such a person would answer that, after Salvation, God now gives us the power to not sin and so we have to maintain a sinless perfection. I ask you if you believe this, “Are You Without Sin?” I mean have you never had an evil thought? Because an evil thought is enough to say you have not attained sinless perfection. But they would reply, “only willful sins done in the flesh” that we act upon matter. Is that really true though? No, it is not true because Jesus Himself tells us so.

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
(Matthew 5:27-28 KJV)

The problem we all have since our physical birth is that we all have this disease within us Paul calls SIN in Romans and the word sin is used as a NOUN, not a verb;  A Sin Bent Nature. I am telling you friends that we all have sin in our lives before and after Salvation. After Salvation should we strive to live Holy lives to the best of our ability? Yes! However, we must acknowledge the truth in this passage that we will fail many times and still sin. We have sin everyday friends. If you do not think you have sins then you are lying to yourself. Sinless perfection is NOT possible folks, and if you think it is, it is the Bible that says you are a liar, deceiving yourself. When the Bible talks about sinless perfection such as in 1 John 3:9, it speaks of the Newly Created Spirit within which we received at our moment of belief on Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2), which is reborn as the Spirit of God. Until our resurrection of the body, at the Rapture Event when we receive new physical bodies without the Sin Nature, we are still in this sinful body which Paul calls a “…body of death”.

After our belief in the Gospel Of Grace, we still have the old “Adam” nature thoughts and beliefs in the MIND; wroing beliefs that is a sin bent which the Apostle Paul calls ‘ The Old Man’ and ‘The Flesh’. After Salvation, we have a NEWLY created Spirit which the Bible says cannot sin and will never sin. But our mind needs renewing by God’s truth (Romans 12).

This should put to rest the idea that we are to maintain a sinless perfection after we accept the FREE GIFT of Eternal Life, try as we should. The Apostle Paul taught the doctrine of The Two Natures In The MIND Of A Believer in Galatians 5 and Romans 7, yet so many miss it or ignore it and instead decide to believe pastors or religion organization churches instead of the Word Of God.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that YE CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT YE WOULD.” (Galatians 5:17 KJV)

Notice it reads, ye would and not ye should. This is because our newly created Spirit always wants to do the right thing and never sin because our Spirit never sins. That is we WOULD. We strive to not sin as believers because that is what our New Spirit after Salvation wants. That is we SHOULD. This new Spirit is the new us now! And so Paul says that we should ‘walk by the Spirit’. This is how we avoid sinning more and we sin less. Perfectly without sin? NO. But we can avoid the lust of the flesh this way. As we renew wrong beliefs, we make better decisions in the MIND and that works outwardly into sinning less and doing good works because right believing in the MIND, leads to right living outwardly. Our new Spirit and the indwelling Holy Spirit is continuously renewing or minds with truth.

Because of the Adam nature in our mind (old thoughts and beliefs left over when our old Spirit of Man DIED with Christ on the cross : Colossians 2, Romans 6) fighting to sin, we will still fail and sin. This is exactly where the devil attacks. He does not attack our new Spirit because it is eternal and Holy. In fact, our new Spirit is the very righteousness of God, IN CHRIST (2 Cor. 5:17-21). So the devil attacks these old left over beliefs in our MIND, called the Flesh and excites them to tempt us to sin. The battle is in the mind but we are SEALED in Salvation in our Spirit; already complete  and risen WITH CHRIST (Colossians 2).

The false doctrine of sinless perfection some are believing is wrong. Very wrong.

Paul also taught the doctrine of the Two Natures In The Mind Of A Believer in Romans 7 where we read,

“14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” (Romans 7: 14-20 KJV)

Reading Verse 17 and then again in verse 20 is the truth that so many Christians have not grasped. Paul is saying very clearly that inside our mind is the old Adam, flesh nature thoughts, beliefs and processes which always wants to sin. It is like a disease since our physical birth. And then there is the New Created Spirit we received at our conversion and belief of the Gospel Of Christ, The Gospel Of Grace that Paul taught. And that when we fail and sin, and believe me we ALL DO! (1 John 1:10), it is not the REAL US that does it. It is this disease we have called the SIN. The Newly Created Spirit within is PERFECT (1 John 3:9) and without sin. It is of the seed of the Spirit Of God and is perfectly Holy.

This is why the Apostle Paul tells us that our present body, with this Sin Nature, will never inherit the Kingdom of God.

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
(1 Corinthians 15:50 KJV)

It is also the reason why we need a bodily resurrection in our future as Paul continues,

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
( 1 Corinthians 15: 51-57 KJV)

Heaven is a perfect place and there is no sin there. No one can enter Heaven with the Spirit of Man and a sin debt against God. But we cannot stop sinning perfectly! That is why we need Christ! Paul admonishes that regarding the doctrine of the Two Natures In The Mind Of A Believer in the last verse of Romans 7:

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
(Romans 7:24-25 KJV)

Christ paid for all of our lifetime of sins in the flesh on the cross 100%.

“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)

Jesus Paid for ALL the sins of the whole world! Even the future sins we may commit were PAID IN FULL by Christ on that cross because -ALL- of our sins were future to the cross right? He did not give us a partial payment on our fleshly sin debt! Jesus cried out on the cross, IT IS FINISHED! Salvation is eternal and the word eternal means… well… ETERNAL and FOREVER!

We do not keep our Salvation intact by our own efforts. It is Christ alone that keeps us saved. Jesus tells us this very clearly:

“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 10:27-20 KJV)

“Christ is become of NO EFFECT UNTO YOU, whosoever of you are justified BY THE LAW; ye are FALLEN FROM GRACE.” (Galatians 5:4 KJV)

In God’s sovereignty, He foreknew everything you and I would do in our life and the sins we would commit and yet He still decided to give every person the opportunity to accept Salvation as a FREE GIFT without self righteous works or deeds required. God still came in the flesh and died on that cross for us so that we would be forgiven and saved eternally. What a great gift! (Ephesians 2:8-9) And whosoever believes on Christ alone in faith, He gives them eternal life and keeps them saved forever.

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

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.” (Psalms 37:23-28 KJV)

The Grace of God is not a license to sin. There are still consequences for sinning in this life after the moment of our Salvation (steal/jail) and loss of rewards at the judgement seat of Christ for believers after the Rapture. The Loss of Salvation is not a consequence though.

We as believers have the Holy Spirit within to guide us into all truth. We should be reading the Word Of God to renew our minds (Romans 12, John 17). We should be striving to walk in the Spirit and not by the lusts of The Flesh (The Sin Nature).

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

Focus on that.

TRUTH ABOUT: Willfully Sinning After Salvation.

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About...
TRUTH ABOUT: Willfully Sinning After Salvation.

The truth is Jesus Christ forgave ALL our sins. In fact, Jesus paid for the sins of not just the believers but for the whole world.

“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) 

Remember that all our sins are future to Christ on the cross when He paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world. And so, even the sins we have not yet committed but will commit in our future were also PAID IN FULL on the cross. When Jesus said, IT IS FINISHED, the Greek meaning is PAID IN FULL. Jesus did not provide a partial penalty payment!

We know that after Salvation we should try our best not to sin. Grace is not a license to sin. We hear that all the time. But that does not mean after Salvation that a believer wants to and loves to sin. NO! If a person feels that way.. they need to question their belief and Salvation through Christ.

A believer will hate it when they do sin! Yes believers sin! The Holy Spirit will discipline a believer when they do. What I mean is, when a believer sins we feel horrible and guilty about it. We go to God and confess to God that we blew it…again, and to help us not repeat the sin. However, we should be confident that all our sins will never again keep us from heaven. It can affect our fellowship with God. But our Salvation is eternal and never to be lost.

Here is an analogy. A father says to his child, do not play in the street. It is a rule. DO NOT play in the street! Why does a father or mother restrict like that? Because he/her loves his children and does not want them to get hurt by oncoming cars right?

Now one day, the child played in the street and a car hit the child. The child received a broken arm. What does the father do now? Run out and tell the child they are kicked out of the family and banished from home?? Of course not!

Question… is this person still a child of the parents? Well, yes of course! The Father is grieved because the child disobeyed and is not hurt by their wrongful action even though they were told a command not to play in the street. So as a grieved father what does he do? He holds the child, tells them I told you! But then the father hugs the child and supports the child until they are better because the father loves his child. The Father is always wanting to help his children.

This is what is meant when the Bible says,

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.:” (Ephesians 4:30 KJV)

You notice that in this verse it mentions not to grieve the Holy Spirit but it ALSO mentions we are SEALED unto the day of redemption. We do not lose Salvation based on our sins. It grieves God? YES. Does God kick you out of the family of God because of sin? NO.

The penalty for sins was ALREADY PAID IN FULL on the cross.