Christian Learning Resource On The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
This may be the most impacting presentation you will ever hear/see. Paul shows us, in no uncertain terms, the state of grace in which Believers live! Or should live!! This change-your-life explanation of what took place on Calvary is doctrinal sound, yet rarely taught in churches today. What a truth release!!
Filmed at the 2010 Steeling the Mind Bible Conference
“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.
Jesus was asked these questions very directly. Let us have a look at Jesus’ own answers without adding or subtracting from the answers. Inspect the Scriptures on salvation by Jesus’ own words and the words of the Apostles as well.
1. THE CLEAR INTERPRETS THE OBSCURE: No single verse of Scripture should be interpreted if it contradicts the overall message of the Scripture passage, especially if it is about the Gospel. When we are faced with an unclear verse, we find a clear verse to help interpret it. The more direct and clear verses are the ones to understand as the foundation of the truth, not the unclear verses, especially when taken out of context to a point of contradiction on the same topic.
2. SCRIPTURE INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE: Often Scripture interprets itself. In some cases, another Biblical writer interprets another Biblical passage. Teachings on a topic of the writers cannot contradict, otherwise we are interpreting incorrectly and need to dig a bit deeper, watch the exact words more closely etc. If Jesus taught one things and then later we read a Scripture in another book of the Bible from the same writer, or reads quoting what someone taught; they cannot contradict. If we see a contradiction, we are missing the context of the verses and need to find the proper context of each to see the truth. For example, if we read that Jesus said one thing in Matthew and what seems to be an opposing saying in another, we are missing proper context. If Paul wrote one thing to the Ephesians and another to the Corinthians that seem opposing, we have missed the proper context.
3. CONTEXT INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE: No single verse(s) in a chapter should be read without understanding the surrounding verses, the chapter being read, and the Book of the Bible the verses are read within. Sometimes cultural context matters as well. The point is that reading a few verses and making assumptions without seeing the actually context will produce very wrong interpretation, sometimes even a meaning opposite to the intent of the writer. Such should never be used to make doctrine, and this is especially true regarding salvation.
4. INTENT OF WRITER INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE: All Scripture has an INTENDED MEANING. There can only be ONE correct interpretation of verses, while it may have more than one correct application.
I have found in my personal studies on Scripture that whenever I read what seems to be a contradiction it gives me a red flag to pay closer attention in greater detail to the specific words and intent of the writer or the saying of the person quoted. and the context the verse(s) are read within. Doing so has thus far helped me see the truth and even greater truths that amaze me. The Holy Spirit guides when we seek the truth of Scripture.
People take the teachings of Jesus and come up with all sorts of ways to be justified with God. They take His words like ‘pluck out your eyes’ and ‘cut off your hand’ and then conclude that our works matter in being justified in God’s eyes. Is that true or is the context of those verses not being seen correctly regarding the intent of the writer or the intent of the sayings of the one saying something?
Did Jesus teach to the Jewish people at that time that it is their behaviour and works of the Law that would justify them? Well, if He did, it would not be opposing their wrong view of the Law of Moses. All through the Gospels we see that the Jewish people at the time of Christ’s first coming had fallen away from the truth about the Law and were believing that doing the works of the Law and keeping the Law is what justified them. The Pharisees leaders thought they were more holy than anyone else because they knew the Scriptures in-depth and made themselves look clean on the outside to others by their works of the Law following. But were they? Not according to Jesus!
Because of their wrong belief regarding the Law of Moses, Jesus called them ‘VIPERS’ and ‘HYPOCRITES’ headed for damnation in hell (Matthew 23). Clearly they got it wrong about the Law and justification with God. Israel had fallen away from the truth that it was the belief in the promised coming of the Messiah who would save them by paying for our sins one day in His blood (Isaiah 53). The animal sacrifices were only a temporary covering of sins, year to year, and never paid for the people’s sins (Hebrews 10). They were a temporary covering until the promised Messiah came. The promise in Old Testament Scripture foretold that the Messiah would come and be the final sacrifice for sins. The Animal sacrifices were a reminder of how terrible sin is to God and their need for a Savior Messiah.
Not at all. The Law is 100% absolute truth. What Jesus taught is that HE IS the foretold Messiah who has come to fulfill all the Law perfectly, as a spotless Lamb brought to sacrifice, never sinning (1 John 3:5, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Isaiah 53:9), in order to be the once for all perfect blood sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) in payment for all sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Living on this side of the cross event Apostle Paul taught this very clearly as well writing,
“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)
Jesus claimed straight up that HE IS the foretold Messiah by quoting the Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah that would one day come to the Jewish people when He spoke to His fellow Jews, in the community He was brought up in by Joseph and Mary, in the synagogue in Nazareth, quoting Old Testament Scripture.
“16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, THIS DAY IS THIS SCRIPTURE FULFILLED IN YOUR EARS.” (Luke 4:16-21 KJV)
Jesus claimed this very directly to those whom He grew up with. To those who knew Him as the carpenter Joseph’s son it was hard to believe as we see in verse 22 where it reads they said to each other, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”. By claiming that this Scripture is fulfilled in Himself, Jesus was stating that He is the foretold Messiah to come and who was now among them in there own hearing! Jesus was basically calling Himself the only begotten Son of God, who is God, come to be this final sacrifice for the sins of humankind. That is why the Jews sought to stone Jesus on many occasions and kill Him claiming His teachings were blasphemy; because they would not believe the truth that He is the Messiah, the Christ. Again, this was all foretold in the Old Testament that this would be the case; and it all happened exactly as foretold so that we can all know Jesus IS that foretold Messiah.
One of the chief priests of the Pharisees was a man named Nicodemus. He had seen the teachings of Jesus when He preached to the people. He had seen all the miracles and healings and raising from the dead being spoken of. He knew that this man Jesus must be sent from God (John 3:2), but His teachings about justification, righteousness and claiming He is the Messiah come, caused great anxiety and confusion to Nicodemus. So much so, that he “came to Jesus by night” so the other Pharisees would not see him and went to Jesus to ask Him DIRECTLY what this all means. Think about that clear context for just a moment. If Jesus taught that works of the Law are required to be justified, why would Nicodemus be confused over Jesus’ teachings? I mean, following works of the Law is how the Pharisees and Jewish people at that time thought they were justified with God. See how this teaching by many today of ‘works required‘ for salvation is just not fitting here? How is a person justified with God according to Jesus’ teachings then? This is the very question Nicodemus had for Jesus.
This was a very intimate conversation with direct questions and Jesus gave direct answers. Being asked very directly and specifically like this, do you think that Jesus would only give a half answer? Certainly not and Jesus did answer Nicodemus’ questions about how a man is justified with God and no where does Jesus answer even mention doing good works of the Law. If doing works of the Law is part of how a person is saved why would Jesus leave that out of His answer to such a direct and honest question?
In John 3, we see that first Jesus answered Nicodemus that a person ‘must be born again in the Spirit’ (John 3:3-6) and then Jesus went on to tell Nicodemus HOW a person becomes born again in the Spirit,
“14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 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. 17 For God SENT NOT his Son into the world TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; but that the world THROUGH HIM might be saved. 18 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)
Now that is a direct answer! Talk about over emphasizing the word believe as the foundation of salvation! Look how Jesus repeated Himself to get the point to Nicodemus and us all today learning from this passage. Jesus starts with the event in the Exodus from Egypt that Nicodemus would have known very well as a as Chief Pharisee. This is significant to understand as Jesus starts His answer to how a person is justified with God with verse 14. Let’s take a quick look in Numbers 21 about this event,
“And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” (Numbers 21:5-8 KJV)
I ask you, did Moses say to them that they must DO THIS or DO THAT? Nope. As long as they beheld and looked upon, IN BELIEF, that looking at the risen bronze serpent on the pole would prevent death if bitten. Every word in Scripture is important and Bronze is a metal in Scripture that is associated with judgment. And that is what Christ did for us when He took the judgment for our sins upon Himself on the cross, in our place.
Jesus was telling Nicodemus what He, the Messiah, would soon do; be put up on the cross. During the Exodus, believing that looking at that bronze snake lifted on the pole; they would be saved. Do you see how significant this event is in the interpretation of John 3? YES! It was an event that God used to foreshadow what the Messiah would one day do. It was for the benefit of our reading today to see the truth about the cross event. It was their BELIEF ALONE that saved them from the deadly serpent. And today it is by our BELIEF on Christ, beholding what He did on that cross to pay for the sins of the whole world (1 John 22, Hebrews 10:10), that saves us from condemnation and from the devil’s false narratives. Interesting how the pole in Exodus had a serpent on it. Who is the serpent in Scripture? The bronze serpent on that pole represented our sin which needed to be judged. God is a God of pure judgment for sin. Looking at how much Jesus went through, we see that is how much GOD went through to redeem us which kept His character traits intact; 100% justice and judgment was paid, 100% mercy was done for us, and with 100% pure love for us. In some ways, I also look at this in a way that the cross event defeated the devil and his fallen angels who tempts us to sin.
The devil and his fallen angels are constantly trying to hide the truth from people on Earth. Using deep deception and cunning, they want us all to believe the lie that we are our own little gods that should rely on our works for salvation. Satan does not even care of people go to a church religiously as long as that Church teaches ‘work for salvation’, which is no salvation at all. To attend a church building based on a false gospel or where they use Jesus’ name but do not believe He is God. In fact, all world religions teach works for salvation or works from salvation as a requirement to be born again, except those that believe the true Gospel of grace through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only one way back to God (John 14:6). Satan wants no one to be saved! Jesus’ finished work on that cross paid for all our sins and defeated the devil and as Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 2:10-15, God made a shew of the devil and his angels by defeating them on that cross for us! He paid our sin debt COMPLETELY! Amen!
“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 2:10-15 KJV)
Wow! Look at that! The details of the cross event and how a person is saved eternally by belief on Christ! Jesus made a show of the devil and his fallen angels on that cross.
The Jewish people were relying on ‘works of the Law’ to be justified with God. Even later in John 3, we see John the Baptist state the same truth,
“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)
Keep in mind this is the Holy Spirit who told John the Baptist this truth. He was not in that private meeting between Nicodemus and Jesus! It is yet another confirmation that salvation is NOT by good works of the Law or by being a ‘good person’. Salvation is only by being born again in the Spirit by believing on Christ and His finished work on the cross, having paid for the sin of the whole world (1 John 2:2).
It was, and is today, an impossible task to keep all the Law of Moses. We cannot even keep just the Ten Commandments perfectly (James 2:10)! That is why we see Jesus saying things to the Jews such things as ‘pluck out your eye’, and ‘cut off your hand’ if it causes a person to sin (Matthew 5 & 18). That is why Jesus said to the Jews at that time, that even just looking a person with lust, is the same as breaking the commandment against committing adultery. That being in anger with a person wrongly, even not acting on that anger, is the same as committing murder in the heart, breaking the commandment to not murder (Matthew 5). Jesus then poured on the extreme truth of Law following for righteousness saying to them,
“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 5:44 KJV)
What enemies? The Romans! Imagine what they thought about that one. Love the ones persecuting them. This would show them how extreme truth of the Law will pierce a person to see the truth that we cannot keep all the Law. It will never make us righteous with God! After the cross event, God sent Paul to save the Gentiles and look what he wrote, what the risen Jesus told Him to preach,
“I do not FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is DEAD IN VAIN.” (Gal. 2:21 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.” (Galatians 5:4-5 KJV)
“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 15:56-57 KJV)
Through who? Ourselves by our good works? No! It is only THROUGH the finished work of Christ alone who died for our sins so we could be made righteous.
By seeing the direct truth of John 3, we can now see that Jesus was presenting to the Jewish people that relying on works of the Law for righteousness will end in utter failure. That their wrong belief about the Law will end in condemnation. Jesus was using the Law as intended, and showing the extreme truth of the Law. Apostle Paul wrote the same about the purpose of the Law,
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster TO BRING US UNTO CHRIST that we may be justified by faith. , BUT AFTER that faith is come, we are NO LONGER under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:24-25 KJV)
“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which NEITHER OUR FATHERS NOR WE WERE ABLE TO BEAR?“
(Acts 15:10 KJV)“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)
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians and states that The Law is a ministry of death (2 Corinthians 3:7) and a ministry of condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:7). And Paul was not only talking about the 613 Levitical ceremonial Laws as some will mention against the truth of these verses, because he mentions the Law ‘written on stones’ and so that must include the Ten Commandments as well.
Jesus was clear from the very day in the synagogue in Nazareth that He is the foretold Messiah and told Nicodemus when asked directly, to BELEIVE in Him; Jesus as Messiah, the only begotten Son of God. Everything that has been added to His answer to Nicodemus for salvation, whether it be water baptism, works required once believing on Christ as a requirement of salvation, religious rituals, do this, do that to remain saved, repent of every sin we commit or lose salvation, has all been added by man. But it is not the truth by the very context of John 3. We read earlier in the book of John,
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME:” (John 1:12 KJV)
We see the very same thing later in John 6 when Jesus was talking with those who would not believe who Jesus claimed to be. In John 6, Jesus was asked very directly what a person needs TO DO to accomplish the works of God and Jesus answer is astounding truth! It goes against what one would expect because we have a fallen sinful nature before believing on Christ.
“28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?…35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he THAT BELIEVETH ON ME shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and BELIEVE NOT. 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 6:28..35-40 KJV)
Again, see any WORKS in Jesus’ answer when asked so directly? NO. But we do read BELIEVE BELIEVE BELIEVE ON CHRIST!
“I AM THE DOOR: BY ME if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9 KJV)
Are we our own door by our works to be in a righteous standing before God? NO! It is only by the work of Christ that we can be made clean and deemed as righteous and complete in Christ in our Spirit (Colossians 2), sealed in salvation (Eph. 1:13-14, Eph. 4:30, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Romans 5). Jesus is the door and HIM ALONE! We have NO part in being justified and made righteous before God, except to believe on Him and His finished work on the cross.
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth AND BELIEVETH IN ME shall never die. BELIEVEST THOU THIS? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I BELIEVE that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” (John 11:25-27 KJV)
Again here, we see Jesus stating about a person’s salvation that it is by BELIEF ON HIM, not by our works.
“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)
“But these are written, THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and THAT BELIEVING ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31 KJV)
“And he said to the woman, THY FAITH hath saved thee; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50 KJV)
I could go on and on showing Scripture and the very words of Jesus regarding how a person is born again in the Spirit and saved and redeemed.
This is the clear and direct context from Jesus’ own words and later we see Apostle Paul stating the exact same thing. Salvation is by BELIEF ON the finished work of Christ – not by works of the Law.
“8 For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD: 9 NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should BOAST.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)
Paul is saying that believing our works have anything to do with our salvation and justification is boasting in the sin of PRIDE. A very clear passage! Paul does go on in verse 10 to state we should have good works in love for others after saved by belief on the gift of salvation by belief on Christ, but that is about our walk as a person created in Christ. it does not negate the previous verse 8-9 that works do not save us nor keep us saved.
“O FOOLISH Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not OBEY THE TRUTH, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, CRUCIFIED AMONG YOU? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing OF FAITH? 3 Are ye so FOOLISH? having begun IN THE SPIRIT, are ye now made perfect BY THE FLESH? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 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? 6 Even as Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was ACCOUNTED TO HIM for righteousness.” (Galatians 3:1-6 KJV)
Through what Spirit? Paul taught, through our born again Spirit with the Holy Spirit indwelling us and having had sealed us the moment we believed on Christ for righteousness.
“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)
Jesus’ half brother James wrote the same,
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and YET OFFEND AT ONE POINT, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.” (James 2:10 KJV)
“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham BELIEVED GOD, and it was IMPUTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:23 KJV)
Even ‘many wonderful works’ can end up in condemnation (Matthew 7:21-23) unless a person is born again in the Spirit by believing who Jesus is; THE CHRIST (John 3:14-18, John 6:37-40) who paid for the sins of the whole world on the cross (1 John 2:2), a once for all blood sacrifice in payment for our sins (Hebrews 10:10).
Once we are created in Christ with a new Born Again Spirit (Eph. 2:10) with the Holy Spirit indwelling us and we should have good works. Our core being has been completely changed! We are Heaven ready, all sins forgiven, made the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21) from the very belief on Christ for salvation and righteousness (Eph 1:13-14).
Jesus will reward us for our good works after salvation (1 Cor. 3). I think some read the Scriptures and do not see the proper context of passages regarding rewards and mixing them with salvation passages. They mix together Scriptures that are verses about our eternal UNION with Christ and our DAILY WALK with Christ after being saved. Yet, they are separate meanings based on the context.
The truth is that salvation itself is not a reward; it is an inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4) for all whosoever will believe on Christ alone for our justification and salvation. A person born physically is not a child of God, they are a creation of God. Only when a person believes on Christ alone and accepts the free gift of salvation does a person become born again in The Spirit and then become part of God’s family, which is a Spirit nature. John stated this clearly,
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:2 KJV)
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 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 5:28-29 KJV)
What is the ‘done good’ and ‘done evil’ in these two verses? Some use these two verses, ignore context, and make a doctrine of false works for salvation and that is simply not the truth of John 5.
No person is good enough for Heaven by our own self righteous efforts and good works.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately WICKED: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9 KJV)
No one has done anything good enough in God’s eyes to save ourselves. All our perceived self righteousness is as filthy rags to our perfect Holy God (Isaiah 64:6). Jesus said that ‘our many wonderful works’ will not save us (Matthew 7:15-23). Apostle Paul taught our works do not save us and thinking so is boasting in the sin of pride (Eph. 2:8-9).
The truth is that those who reject the Lord’s sacrifice as full payment of their sins (1 John 2:2), can only do evil in God’s view, regardless of how many good works they do.
The ‘those who do good’ are believers. They have been born again in the Spirit, all sins paid in full. In Spiritual union with Christ (Eph. 2:10, Eph. 1:13-14), with the Holy Spirit indwelling, it is Christ abiding in us that enables a believer to BEAR good fruit as a branch, not a vine (John 15). These are the only good works acceptable to God. This is the ‘good’.
Those that ‘do evil’ are those rejecting Christ for salvation. Their good works do not pay the wages of sin (Romans 6:23).
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 KJV)
“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 )John 3 is just before John 5. They do not and cannot contradict. Context matters.
“(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.
“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!
Paul just finished explaining what will happen at the Bema Judgment of believers after the Rapture. Works from living carnally will be burnt up. They will not gain eternal rewards. How we live after salvation matters; Or we lose salvation ? NO.
The Bema Seat Judgment by Christ for born again believers will happen after our bodily resurrection. It will occur in heaven; the New Heavenly Jerusalem. The place Jesus is preparing for us from John 14. Only the Bride of Christ can enter. So these are all in heaven, already in their eternal Holy state and in glorified bodies as Christ now has, after having been harpazo raptured.
“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED yet so as by fire.” ( 1 Cor. 3:17 KJV)
Apostle Paul is telling these babes in Christ, who are carnal in their living (saved eternally by belief on Christ but living worldly outwardly), that they need to start living in the Spirit that God made them (same as Paul told the Galatian believers in Gal. 5:16).
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)
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.
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.
Some believers who say they are Christians that Hebrews 6 tells us that a believer Can lose their Salvation – after being forgiven and saved by Christ’s atonement. Those that claim this are not trying to mislead anyone but they are misinterpreting Hebrews 6, and not looking closely at the context.
Context with Scriptures and knowing that ALL Scriptures are 100% correct with no inconsistencies or contradictions is key to full understanding of the Gospel.
Instead, some take this one Scripture in Hebrews, at verse 4-6, as meaning there is no eternal security for the believer, and seem to ignore all the other Bible Scriptures and words of Jesus Himself that tell us the opposite. Some will then add that we need works for salvation – taking the heart of the Gospel message out.
Hebrews is addressing, well, Jews. Hebrews 5 and 6 is addressing Jews who have become Christians yet have not progressed at all other than being saved by belief in the atonement of sins provided once and for all by Jesus Christ on the cross.
It is addressing the fact that these believing Jews have not progressed at all and that this needs to change. If we go back to Chapter 5 it helps us to see Chapter 6 in the proper context. Remember they did not write in chapters. Chapters were added to the Bible for the readers benefit.
“And being MADE PERFECT, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are DULL of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
(Hebrews 5:9-14 KJV)
There is nothing wrong with being a babe in the faith. That is, to be a new Christian just starting the journey of learning about God and His ways. However, here we see that it has been quite a while since they first believed and they should be at a level of understanding so they could teach others. Instead, they are still as babes and unskillful in the faith. These are the people being addressed in Hebrews Chapter 5 and 6.
If one were to read ONLY Hebrews 6:4-5 they would get the totally wrong context of these Chapters. And it could seemingly be interpreted as losing your salvation. And that is why some are telling others they can lose their salvation in Christ – which is totally false.
Such people are babes in the faith still and do not even grasp the context using the first three verse of Hebrews 6. They just hand pick the one verse which alone, out of context, fits what they believe; that a person can lose their Salvation. Here is Hebrews 6 as described in verses 1-3 which is the context of the verses to follow and is all about the peril of not progressing in the faith of Christ:
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.” (Hebrews 6:1-3 KJV)
This is all about the Hebrew believers in Christ and that they have reverted back to doing the religious works they once did under the law. They reverted to trying to work their way back to God. But salvation is NOT of works of any kind as we see in so many passages of Scripture regarding the Gospel of Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Timothy 2: 5-6, Romans 4:4-5, Galatians 2:16-21, Galatians 2:16-21 and many many more!). Instead of increasingly learning faith in Christ and living that out, they are still as babes and have even reverted back to the rituals of the Jewish faith.
Galatians tells us that this not so and that it is Christ plus nothing that MAKES us saved. Salvation is a GIFT, without works to gain it. It is the GIFT from God to all that Believe that Christ is the Lord and Savior.
These believers (yes they are still called believers, just babes in the faith) did not mature to start enjoying the freedom in the law of liberty in Christ. Jesus sets us free. What they were doing by going back to the Jewish rituals, such as slaying a lamb to atone for their sins was a VERY wrong thing to do! That was just a foreshadowing of what the Messiah would do and what Jesus Christ fulfilled in it’s entirety on the cross when He cried out “IT IS FINISHED!” Doing so, is like saying to God and Christ that His sacrifice, which is once for all, is not sufficient. And that is what some are saying by telling others a person can lose their salvation. God forbid! Stop doing that!
Hebrews states,
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV)
Verse 6 is where some believe it has a meaning of a believer who has lost Salvation forever. But that is not the meaning in proper context. To believe this is about loss of Salvation you would have to ignore many many other Scriptures stating Salvation cannot be lost.
First, this is talking about renewing them UNTO REPENTANCE, not salvation. Repentance is not salvation. It is a ‘change of mind’ and nothing more. In fact, when we look at the main writings on salvation such as John, Ephesians and Romans etc., the word repent or repentance is not even mentioned! So, this is not about losing salvation.
This passage is all about how these people need to stop “crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” The animal sacrifices under the Law of Moses never forgave sins and that is where these Jewish believers are wrong. Israel had fallen from the truth and started believing that the Works of the Law and the animal sacrifices were what made them righteous; something Jesus refuted in His Earthly ministry to the Jewish people and Pharisee leaders. In fact, we see the writer in Hebrews chapter 9 and 10 making it clear that it was the belief in the foretold coming Messiah who would pay the final price for sins that saved and that,
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4 KJV)
By performing animal rituals under the Law of Moses, they have placed themselves under the curse of the Law. This is foundational wrong belief about the Gospel and what Christ bought for us! They need to stop falling away to the old rituals of the law and at the same time saying they need the atonement for sins by faith in Christ alone. Christ fulfilled the law and replaced the law of the Ministry of death and condemnation with the Ministry of righteousness and liberty in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:7-9). They have no need to go back and get saved again. Because once saved, always saved. They are still saved eternally but continuing under the Law will cause them to SIN MORE and not less because the very “…strength of sin, is The Law.” (1 Cor. 15:56)! And this sin of going back and performing animal sacrifices is a VERY grievous sin and the only thing that will follow is severe punishment. Not loss of salvation, but very bad consequences in this life, becoming useless. This will result in judgement (not condemnation to hell) and severe discipline. And in this case, likely severe consequences, maybe even physical death. They are so far off on the Gospel message that they need to start on milk again and learn the truth of the Gospel message from the very beginning. And then hold fast to the truth. Otherwise, they risk losing rewards at the Bema seat judgement of believers after the Rapture and living a life with bad consequences and outcomes being under the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:10, Romans 7:13).
Many scriptures make it clear that salvation is eternal and that a person who accepts Christ act of atonement as a gift, has been eternally secured IN CHRIST. Yes, a person can backslide, but the Holy Spirit will always guide and correct the thinking of the person and persuade them back to right living. In fact, the Holy Spirit is constantly changing us and renewing our mind more like Christ. And this happens differently for everyone; different levels and speeds for each individual.
All the Scriptures are true — without contradiction —, though some seem to contradict each other. When that happens, it means we are missing the mark and the context. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the true meaning of such difficult passages. He will in His time.
Here are just a few other Scriptures, some the words of Jesus Himself, that tell us a believer has true assurance of salvation that cannot be lost. It is a work of God, 100%… not our fleshly efforts and works that save us. Our part is to accept and believe by our will.
“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)
Here we see the Holy Spirit is perfecting us through our living years until the day we are face to face with Jesus bodily and we become like He is.
“To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:4-5 KJV)
Jesus said…
“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.” (John 10:27-29 KJV)
“Now unto HIM that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,” (Jude 24 KJV)
Those teaching this false Gospel of losing Salvation also teach faith PLUS works is required for Salvation. It is spreading in online groups as well as in many denominational churches; those claiming you can lose your Salvation and those that teach faith in Christ “PLUS good works” is required for salvation.
Some are falling for it because they use Scriptures like this OUT OF CONTEXT. WE MUST BE DILIGENT AGAINST SUCH. The Apostle Paul was given the revelation of the Gospel of grace directly from Christ. Paul gave us 75% of the New Testament (many also believe he also wrote Hebrews)- think about that one! READ ROMANS & GALATIANS! IMPORTANT!
This very same teaching of a false Gospel crept into the Galatian churches – Paul had to address it with them.
Paul even rebuked Peter over the faith plus works issue. It is very deceptive and does away with the sacrifice of Christ, under the disguise of Biblical Scriptures out of context.
Jesus said it VERY CLEARLY…
“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)
“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.” (John 5:24 KJV hath is present tense!)
“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)
And these very same teachers of this false Gospel, teach I am teaching the false Gospel and they even use a Scripture that shows how false they teach. They do not see the truth in context. They cherry pick verses that fit their belief instead of learning the truth from the Word of God.
They even use this verse, from 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)
Here is Christ’s perfect time to answer how a person is saved. John 6 tells us the answer to this question. Does John 6 say, Faith plus works? NO!
” Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE ON HIM whom He hath sent.”” (John 6:29 KJV)
Those that trust in their WORKS and deeds and what they have done in life? Verse 22 of Matthew 7 shows…. Haven’t I done this and done that in your name etc and Jesus reply is? . “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” These are people who thought they were born again by externals but in reality were never even born again by belief n Christ alone. It is a sad reality that a vast majority of church buildings are full of such and many pulpits are teaching the false ‘works for salvation’ gospel, which is no Gospel at all.
At the Bema Seat Rewards Judgement (1 Corinthians 3) of believers by Christ Himself, you can see that believers may lose rewards and gain rewards by their good works for Christ. However, understand that this Bema Seat Judgement is similar to an athletic competition ceremony. It is not punitive against sins committed because those at this judgement are already Raptured and have new immortal bodies without the sin nature present.
In fact, the word “sin or sins” is not even found regarding this judgement of believers. Their sins on Earth were already judged on the cross in Jesus Christ. The penalty for our sins does not need to be paid for ever again. The Bema Seat is where Christ will have us give an account of our lives after salvation and is based on our MOTIVES for the works we do for God. God always looks at a persons motives. Those works that were done in the flesh (that is by us attempting to do them for the wrong human reasons) will mean a loss of reward. Those works done with the right motives for God and by the Holy Spirit through you will receive reward. That is, by what we do and why we did the works.
It most certainly is important to want to please God and be involved in His work. Yet, even a person who accepted the gift of eternal salvation by belief on Christ, with no works, will still be saved and in heaven; with little or no reward (1 Corinthians 3:13). Everyone will suffer some loss of rewards and gain of rewards. In truth, no believer is 100% perfect here on Earth and we all make some bad decisions at times because our mind is not yet renewed fully. Some may not receive a reward and feel some shame about it. But overall the feeling is like that of school graduation or an Olympic rewards ceremony. It is a positive event and all at this Bema Seat event are all in Heaven where joy abounds in ways that we cannot yet even comprehend fully right now here on Earth.
It is what the Holy Spirit does through you after salvation by FAITH. Good works will follow but it is GOD doing them THROUGH us. It is NOTHING FOR US TO BOAST ABOUT. Not works by the flesh. Works by the Holy Spirit. And ultimately, the crowns of reward that believers will receive at the Bema Judgment Seat Of Believers are something will will cast at Jesus’s feet (Revelation 4:10) because truly only He is worthy and any good works we have done, are only because Christ came and lived within us and through us.
Be diligent. Do not believe the false Gospel of ‘Works For Salvation’ or ‘Lordship Salvation’ that is spreading like wildfire in these last days.
You cannot lose your salvation if you believe in the Gospel of Christ.
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Cor. 15:1-4 KJV)