Q&A: False Gospels

John 5:29: Good works save?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: False Gospels
John 5:29: Good works save?

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

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

Read More Of The Passage To See Proper Context

“25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, AND NOW IS, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” (John 5:25 KJV)

In verse 25 He said AND NOW IS. He’s talking about the dead who we now know were also raised at Jesus’ resurrection from Matt. 27:52-53:

“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matthew 27:52-53 KJV)

When we go back to John 5 and continue from verse 25 we read,

“26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for THE HOUR IS COMING, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

We see in verse 28 He says THE HOUR IS COMING. He’s looking forward to the resurrection of the dead in the end times when Christ returns at His Second Coming event AFTER the Tribulation Period. This is confirmed in verse 42-43.

“But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”

At this future time, after Rapture of the Church Age believers, Israel will be in the foretold Tribulation Period (Daniel’s 70th week prophecy) and they will mostly still deny Jesus is the foretold Messiah as they do today.
Instead, Israel today is claiming the Messiah is coming soon, but it is not Jesus. They will be deceived and accept the Antichrist instead,

‘…if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.’. This is what Jesus was foretelling!

In verse 29, what is ‘the good’ spoken of?

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

Our good works? No, because in Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus warned that those not born again by believing in Christ and His foretold final work paying for all sins (1 John 2:2), who instead rely on works ARE NOT SAVED. Jesus will tell them He NEVER KNEW THEM. Jesus cannot teach two opposing truths.

The truth is that no one can do GOOD unless Christ is living IN THEM. Later in John 15 Jesus said that to bear more fruit in good works for God,

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING.” (John 15:5 KJV)

Earlier in John Jesus told Nicodemus, thet ‘Ye must be born’, in the spirit by belief on Christ (John 3:14-18). So the good here, is very good. Saved by belief on Christ, not our works.

Oh and something I find interesting! Read John 5:29 (‘they that have done good’) and then read John 6:29. Both 29th verses. Compare. Wow. Coincidence both 29th verse? I think not!

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, THAT YE BELIEVE ON HIM whom he hath sent.”

The Holy Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit indeed!

Back to John 5

“30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, BUT THE WILL OF THE FATHER which hath sent me.” (John 5:30 KJV)

So what is this ‘will of the Father’? Again, when we keep reading into the very next Chapter 6 of John where Jesus again proclaims to be the foretold Messiah and Christ,

“38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the FATHER’S WILL which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should LOSE NOTHING, but should raise it up again AT THE LAST DAY.

40 And this is THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME, that every one which seeth the Son, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40 KJV)

The DO GOOD resurrected unto life eternal in John 5:29, by seeing the context in the book of John and other teachings of Christ Jesus is clearly not good deeds. It is BELIEF ON CHRIST for righteousness. It is having a BORN AGAIN SPIRIT by belief on Christ. It is those who believe on Christ for righteousness and not good works. Remember as Apostle Paul taught; the wages of sin is not good works. It is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus paid the price for our sins. He paid for all sins (1 John 2:2) and it is finished.

Believer…

You are redeemed and free indeed.

We need to use proper context and not just one line verses to see the true meaning, amen?

AMEN!!

Lordship Salvation: Is It Not About Good Works?

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Gospels, Q&A: The Truth About...
Lordship Salvation: Is It Not About Good Works?

Lordship Salvation leads people to think that works are required to remain saved. This is not the Gospel of Christ Jesus. It teaches salvation is by grace but if a person does not MAKE a person Lord of their life with evidence of good works, then, they are not “truly saved”. That statement is very conflicting in Scripture. Why? Because we do not MAKE Jesus Lord; HE IS LORD whether a person is saved or not. If we are saved, the Lord helps us in being fruitful in good works but we do have our free will to live outwardly as we choose. Of course, we should be wanting to live outwardly in good works and love towards others just as Christ loved us. But no one MAKES Jesus Lord. We accept or reject His GIFT of Salvation.

When Does Jesus Become YOUR Lord?

Scripture says Jesus IS LORD OF ALL! Not just believers. He is everyone’s Lord whether they accept Him as the foretold Messiah and savior, the only begotten Son of God, or not.

“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)” (Acts 10:36 KJV)

 

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 KJV)

Look what this is telling us in Luke 2. Jesus IS OUR SAVIOUR who is The Lord. What we are to do is to TRUST in Jesus AS OUR SAVIOUR, because He is Lord, the foretold Messiah, The Christ.

“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, EVERY KNEE shall bow to me, and EVERY TONGUE shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Rom 14:7-12 KJV)

EVERY KNEE WILL BOW

This applies to unbelievers as well at the Great White Throne Judgement where they will find themselves condemned for not accepting the free gift of salvation without works required that Jesus and Paul taught. It is not the works nor deeds condemning them. It is because they are not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life and those in that book are those who accepted the free gift of Salvation through Christ crucified died and risen. ALL their sins were paid for by Christ and by believing on Him, the only payment for sins was placed on their account. And all sins and failures we have committed are future from the cross and that includes sins and failures of the believer as well. But those who do not accept the free gift of Salvation by BELIEF ON CHRIST ALONE, and who trust in their ‘many wonderful works’ (Matthew 7:21-21) have boasted in their own efforts to save themselves. So their sins must still be paid for (Romans 6:23); they had rejected the only payment that would eradicate the wages for their sins and that is Christ crucified, died and risen. The ONCE FOR ALL blood atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

No one is saved by their works nor deeds.

Matthew 7 shows this as Jesus states that ‘many wonderful works’ will not save a person but only by trust in Him to save them. Paul stated that thinking salvation is kept by works and deeds makes Christ of “no effect unto you” in Galatians 5,

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

It is fine and good that a believer wants to do good works after being saved. We have a new Spirit after all. Good works are, well, GOOD! Helping others come to salvation as ambassadors for Christ is a good privilege indeed! But to state that if we do not have good works after salvation that we do not have salvation is boasting in PRIDE (Ephesians 2:9).

I will also say this, born again believers, even those currently saved but living carnally, magnify what Jesus DID on the cross. They trust in HIM ALONE for their salvation. That said, I am not condoning living a sin lifestyle, God forbid (Romans 6). Also, new born again believers still need their mind’s renewed by God’s Word, more and more,  to even come to understand what things they are doing are sin and which are not. It takes time. So are such new born again believers not saved because they have no good works as evidence of being saved? No, because works and deeds have NOTHING to do with salvation. And just HOW MANY good works are required to know you are saved anyway?

Anyone claiming to be born again and eternally saved who is teaching that NOW, BECAUSE I am saved, I am somehow better. NOW that I am saved I do not sin anymore. NOW because I am saved I am better than others because “I HAVE MADE Jesus Lord of my life” has got it all wrong. A person is only saved and kept saved by Jesus and His FINISHED blood atonement on that cross and rising again. Where is the bragging for a born again believer? In our own efforts, works or repentance after salvation? Or bragging on Christ and what He has done for us? This great love of God is what brings a person to repentance in the first place. Lordship Salvation is leading many to believing salvation has a “works” component to it and that is very dangerous belief.

What actually IS REPENTANCE?

Lordship Salvation teaches that repentance is ‘turning from sin’ and ‘doing good outward works’. If a person believes on Christ but never stops sinning, that they were never saved. Jesus never said such a thing. In fact, in John 3 and John 6 He emphasized BELIEF ON HIM, with nothing else required.

Repentance is just a WORD and it literally is defined by the Bible as “change your MIND”. Before salvation it is changing from our works for righteousness to belief on Christ for righteousness. After salvation it is about again ‘changing our mind’ by God’s Word (Romans 12, John 17:17) to believing the truth by God’s Word FROM SALVATION. This renewal can lead to outward good works but that does mean the good works after salvation will keep a person saved. IT IS CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK – NOT OUR WORKS that save us and keep us saved! Anything else is the sin of boasting and pride.

Lordship salvation teaches that your actions and works is how a person makes Jesus your Lord by “your works and repentance” after belief on Christ for righteousness. Find one verse of Jesus stating that, with the proper context of a verse intact. It is not there.

JESUS BECOMES A PERSON’S LORD AND SAVIOR AT THE SAME TIME

Jesus Christ becomes a person’s Lord, AND SAVIOUR AT THE SAME MOMENT OF TIME and that moment is from the very moment you believe on Christ for righteousness. Jesus was Lord before their salvation you see? We do not need to MAKE HIM our Lord after being saved. What we need is to be BELIEVE in HIM as our saviour and to trust in His finished work on the cross, which we have nothing to do with other than be thankful and accept this free gift of salvation through Christ Crucified, died and risen. Then we need to REPENT FROM OUR SALVATION which is renewing OUR MIND by God’s Word to the truth (Romans 12, John 17:17). Doing so leads to better decisions and God gives us desires to outward works in love for others.

“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)

The moment we believe on Christ, we were purchased by Christ and He owns us for ever! We are no longer slaves of unrighteousness and we became slaves of righteousness. Apostle Paul wrote,

“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness…For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” (Romans 6:18, 20 KJV)

There has been a big change! We were in the prison of unrighteousness and we could not get out by our own efforts in good works. The sin remained and needed to be paid. Believing on Christ and His finished work on the cross we were by grace (Romans 5) transferred to another prison! A prison of righteousness and nothing we do, or not do, can make us unrighteous again either! That does not mean we should just go and sin all we want and not care about how live. It is BECAUSE of this that we should want to.

Our works for Jesus before or after our MOMENT of salvation do not make Him our Lord. Belief on Christ and His blood atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world makes us saved BY THE LORD. To say that AFTER being saved a person needs to make Jesus the Lord of their life by how they live outwardly is to say salvation is BY JESUS PLUS OUR WORKS and that is false! It is confusing the Gospel of our salvation. It is leading many to believe they are saved when they may not be saved!

To bear good fruit what did Jesus tell the disciples?

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.” (John 15:4-5 KJV)

It is all about Jesus Christ in us, the hope of glory! (Colossians 1:27)

“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)

 

“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.” (Acts 16:30-31 KJV)

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN YOUR HEART.

That is it. That is all as a REQUIREMENT of being saved. Now that we have been saved BY THE LORD (not trying to make Him Lord by our works after salvation), in great gratitude and by renewal of our mind by guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we SHOULD have outward good works in love for others from our newly created Spirit of God (Ephesians 2:10). Absolutely!

The Work Of Salvation Is Already Done. It was done by Christ 2000 years ago. Our job is to believe it. Renew our mind by the truth of God’s Word and love others.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is Lordship Salvation The Gospel?

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Gospels, Q&A: False Salvation Invitations
Is Lordship Salvation The Gospel?

Lordship Salvation is one of the most widely spread false teachings about Salvation today within the Christian communities. This is serious and it is rampant false teaching within the Christian Community and being taught by pulpits. It ‘sounds right’ but that is because it appeals to our wrong old nature thinking in the mind, instead of the truth of God’s Word and our New Spirit of God that God made believers from the moment of belief on Christ for justification and Salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Lordship Salvation teachers tell us that a person must believe the gospel PLUS repent of sins a requirement of Salvation Through Christ. The very statement itself states two opposing beliefs! It is teaching that salvation is not by faith alone in Christ alone. It is PRIDE! Instead, it would be by faith PLUS the act of turning from sin as a person makes Jesus Lord Of All.

WE DO NOT MAKE JESUS LORD….HE IS LORD!

In other words, it is a belief that salvation is obtained by faith in God PLUS turning from sin–which amounts to keeping the Law. It is about our performance being required. This is very false. It is NOT the Gospel! In fact, it appeals to The Flesh.  It is really a more subtle ‘works for Salvation’ false Gospel.

A Very Deceptive Teaching

It is so subtly deceptive. It is mixing grace with self righteous works in order to be saved. It mixes Salvation with sanctification. It teaches that all believers have chosen to be disciples but not all believers have. Salvation is not by our efforts!!

It uses a wrong definition of the English word REPENT used in the Bible.

Repenting is not defined as ‘turning from sin’ in the Bible. Turning from sin may be a result, over time, as the Holy Spirit renews a believers mind. But it is not a requirement of our justification; it is a result, yet not perfectly! Not until the Rapture will we become perfect, when we become whole with bodies and minds free from the Fleshly wrong thinking in the mind. We will be in the body, and mind, just like Jesus now is. Currently, only our Spirit has been reborn but our mind and body need renewing.

John says,

“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10 KJV)

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 repentance 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 John Galatians, Ephesians, Hebrews and Romans shows that this cannot be the case.

The Greek word for the English word repent is “metanoia” and is defined as “a change of mind”. By repenting we change our mind toward Salvation by faith alone in the atonement Christ Jesus provided for us on the cross. By repenting we have turned toward God. After Salvation we repent and change our mind by God’s Word by guidance of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12); our ongoing sanctification process.

The repenting UNTO Salvation is the change in your mind from the world’s way of dealing with sin (by our performance, being a good person, doing more good than bad, Law following, religious rituals) 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. This is so important to understand!

A Dangerous Teaching!

Lordship Salvation is not only wrong. It is serious and dangerous teaching. Apostle Paul says in Galatians 3, such are ‘foolish’. He goes on and writes ,

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

In Galatians 5 Paul makes this statement about mixing our performance with God’s Grace for Salvation:

“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)

Christ of NO EFFECT to a person? Scary place to be! Believing this is that ‘other Gospel’ Paul spoke of in Galatians 1 stating that such teachers are to be ‘accursed’. Such have ‘fallen from grace’ Paul says. This is serious business my fellow believers!

Renewing our mind by God’s Word, by the guidance by the Holy Spirit, is a very good thing (Romans 12). This is REPENTING – changing our mind by God’s Word. It is what we need to do, what we should do. We live outwardly as we believe in the mind. The mind connects our Spirit with our body see? Believe right by God’s truth instead of our emotions and old nature thoughts and we start living right and sinning less!

In our Spirit, from the moment we believed on Christ alone for our justification (Ephesians 1:13-14) something miraculous happened. In foreknowledge of all who will accept the gift of Salvation by belief on Christ alone, God placed our Spirit of Man on the cross with Christ and WE DIED in the Spirit! We died WITH CHRIST and ROSE WITH HIM in the Spirit (Colossians 2, Romans 6). God imputed our sins to Christ and Christ’s righteousness to us. An exchange that saved us eternally! We were at that moment of belief in Christ MADE BY GOD the ‘righteousness of God, IN CHRIST’ (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). A Divine Exchange indeed!

This is something so many Christians have not grasped yet. They know they were forgiven. But do they know that God changed their core being, their ‘self’, their Spirit, into the very righteousness of God? Do they know they have eternal life from that very moment of belief on Christ’s atonement for our sins (John 3:18, Ephesians 1:13-14) ? Do they know they are, in the present tense, ‘Complete In Christ’, right now (Colossians 2:12)? Many believers do not know this part! They think that after accepting Christ’s GIFT of Salvation that they now have to work to retain Salvation and that is not the Gospel ! And it is easy to be deceived by this false teaching of Lordship Salvation. It appeals to our feelings of ‘guilt’ and to our fleshly thoughts. But that is in THE MIND – not the Spirit. The BODY, SOUL, MIND AND SPIRIT are not the same.

We are to walk by the New Spirit God made us (2 Cor. 5:17-21) to avoid the sins of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). A believer’s sin debt PAID IN FULL! NOT BY US! God made us the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST. By our works? By our efforts and performance to be a ‘good person’? No! By faith in Christ alone and HIS finished work. Never forget that!

After Salvation we are to ‘repent’ but it is all about mind renewing (Romans 12). Our new Spirit is of God, the seed of God, eternal, Holy and FULLY REDEEMED ALREADY as believers. Yet our MIND is not yet made perfect. It still has thinking processes and thoughts and beliefs from the now DEAD ‘old man’, the old Spirit of God that was crucified with Christ. Apostle Paul called this ‘The Flesh’. That is why Apostle Paul focused on renewing our mind by God’s truth in Romans 12.  ‘Walk in The Spirit’ is what God Paul taught. Walk by the truth of who you  really are now in the Spirit – Righteous, Holy Redeemed. Do we feel like we are these things living in this sinful world with un-renewed bodies and minds? NO. But our emotions about it are not the truth. God’s Word is the truth and we are who it says we are as believers on Christ. It is all about right believing fellow believers.

Why continue walking in the old DEAD Spirit anymore? It is GONE! Renew our mind. BUT THAT COMES AFTER WE ARE SAVED. Our good works and refusing to sin does not keep us saved. We are ALREADY ETERNALLY SAVED from the moment that we believed on Christ for our justification. We do not work to be ‘more saved’ or ‘more righteous’ or to get ‘more of the Holy Spirit’. NO friends. No. We have it ALL ALREADY in the Spirit (in our core being). Focus on renewing the mind. That is where the battle is. That is also where satan attacks. He excites the left over old Fleshly thoughts and emotions of our mind to entice us to sin. But when we renew these old beliefs with the truth of God’s Word – satan’s efforts are greatly lessened. We find ourselves sinning..LESS NOT MORE. But if you believe it is all about your performance over renewing the mind, that is the same as Law following and you are doomed to fail and sin more!Paul put it this way,

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

Paul tells us that Law following, our performance for righteousness is a ministry of CONDEMNATION! What we are to follow is the ministry of righteousness and that only comes by belief on Christ and His finished work. The same Apostle Paul stated,

“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)

Look what Jesus said,

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.  If the Son therefore shall MAKE YOU free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8: 31-36 KJV)

There are two important statements being made here by Jesus that are related to this false Lordship Salvation teaching in these last days.

First, Jesus tells His BELIEVERS (the saved) if they continue in HIS WORD they will be disciples. Not all saved people are disciples! Lordship Salvation teaches all believers MUST BE DISCIPLES. Wrong. Should we be? Well, YES! But our Salvation does not rely on that. Our Salvation is by BELIEF on Christ alone as Jesus told Nicodemus (a chief Pharisee and Law follower) in John 3:18,

“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 3:18 KJV)

Second, Who makes us free from sin? THE SON! JESUS MAKES US FREE! By our works? By our efforts in not sinning after Salvation? No. By HIS WORK on the cross alone (John 3:14-18)! Adding your own self righteous efforts and works to remain saved is the same as being a servant to sin. So are good works and not sinning a requirement of Salvation? No! Should we do good works after being saved? ABSOLUTELY YES! But it is not good works after Salvation that keep us saved. BELIEF in God’s Grace through Christ Jesus crucified (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), the once for all sacrifice for the sins of the whole world (Hebrews 10:10, 1 John 2:2) does.

These statements made by Jesus disprove Lordship Salvation as truth.

The Main Books On Salvation

In fact, if we look at the ‘Main Books’ in the Bible about Salvation it also disproves Lordship Salvation.

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. 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 known as ‘the Romans road to Salvation’. 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”.

Christian teachers 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. Now, think logically a moment. Does God need to turn from His sins? NO! Repent is defined as simply, ‘changing your mind’.

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)

Do not allow this false teaching to evade your beliefs about your Salvation. It is rampant and growing and being taught in pulpits; maybe even your own church’s pulpit. It is deceptive teaching. It is ‘slight of hand’ teaching. Those teaching this are mostly sincere but they are sincerely wrong! They may even use Matthew 7 to prove their Lordship Salvation teaching is correct – but they IGNORE the entire context of Matthew 7, which is false prophets teaching works for Salvation (see Matthew 7, verse 15).

Is Praying to Dead Catholic Saints Wrong?

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Gospels, Q&A: MYTHS, Q&A: The Truth About...
Is Praying to Dead Catholic Saints Wrong?

A family member of the Catholic faith once posted on social media that by “praying to St. Anthony for help, he will be right on it; and you will always be grateful to know him.”

By stating this, whether knowing or not, she was stating that St. Anthony was the reason why prayer will be answered. The problem with this is that this is putting faith in St. Anthony and not God as if God is refusing to hear her prayers.

The Bible truth is that GOD HEARS ALL OUR PRAYERS and ONLY GOD can answer prayers.

I know this is a prayer to St Anthony to pray for a person, as to say Anthony is dead and is present with the Lord. So He is closer to God to pray on her behalf. Raised from birth in the Roman Catholic religion, I was brought up believing this too. However, since actually reading the Bible, I never understood doing this because I cannot find doing this instructed anywhere in the Bible.

First, as a believer in Christ and the atonement for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) that He provided on the cross for us, Apostle Paul tells us that at our very moment of belief on Christ alone for Salvation, a person is SEALED by the Holy Spirit who indwells the person forever from that moment on (Ephesians 1:13-14) until our bodily resurrection. With God now residing WITHIN US, how much closer can we get to God? Why is there any need of praying to a person that is dead when God is right here WITHIN US NOW as we are experiencing troubles? (Galatians 2:16-21)

Apostle Paul wrote,

“For there is ONE God,and ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself A RANSOM for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2: 5-6 KJV).

The Bible also says that Jesus intercedes on believer’s behalf to the Father,

“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34 KJV)

If Jesus Christ HIMSELF is interceding for us, why the need to pray to a dead person? What we need is to have faith IN JESUS who is interceding for us already. He should be our only object of faith, shouldn’t he?

Jesus Himself prayed to the Father for us before His death and resurrection,

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

Do you think that prayer was answered? Absolutely! So, if a believer is one with Christ and Christ in us and we are now one with the Father. THAT IS REALLY INTIMATE AND CLOSE!!

Second is that we, as believers, have been completely forgiven for all the sins of our life (past/present/future) because Christ paid for all the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) on the cross. By belief on Christ’s finished ‘once for all sacrifice’ (Hebrews 10:10) for the payment of all sins we have been made into a NEW CREATURE (2 Corinthians 5:1) called The Spirit and are from the very moment of belief SEALED by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 4:30, 2 Corinthians 1:22) and MADE the very righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Now, Stop and read that last paragraph again. Look up the Scripture references. This is not my opinion. It is what the Word of God clearly teaches. Let that soak into your mind! It should make us want to shout out loud! Hallelujah!

That is why it states in Hebrews,

“Let us therefore COME BOLDLY unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and FIND GRACE to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV)

I am not trying to step on the toes of Catholic believers here. It is not my opinion that even matters. I was brought up believing this way too. I was taught this in Catholic High school. Priests have taught this to me.

The things is, I just cannot find it in Scripture anywhere. And NO ONE has been able to show me it is taught in the Bible anywhere either (unless context is ignored on a verse). And so, I gotta stick to what the Word of God says, the Bible. Church pulpits are not always right. I am not picking on just the RCC leadership in saying this. Most denominational Church religions each have some traditions they created without Scriptural backing. So does the Roman Catholic Church and I believe that praying to dead Saints or even Mary is one of the teachings without Scriptural backing.

Some people I know say that this prayer to St. Anthony works and has worked for them more then once. Their testimony makes me believe that it actually worked. I am not refuting that. If you experienced it… you did!

But my point is that maybe it works because they use their FAITH that GOD HEARS THE PRAYER. Maybe because God sees what is going on and wants to heal the issue anyway because He loves us and sees our heart. Maybe because Jesus is already interceding to the Father. Yet I wonder that maybe, going directly to the source of our faith (JESUS) is a better way we should pray in faith that God does hear our prayers and does answer them? In fact, the Bible definition of a SAINT is any person that accepts Christ as savior and Lord.

Another dark side could also be the reason for some such prayers to be answered. We see in Matthew 7 that Jesus is talking about false prophets (verse 15) who believe the are saved because of their works. They even cast out demons in the name of Jesus, yet Jesus will say to them at judgement day to ” I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:32 KJV).

Jesus will tell them the worst news of their lives; He never KNEW them and so they were not believers on Christ for Salvation but rather had faith in their works to save them. They thought they were ‘good enough’ by their own merit in self righteous deeds to be saved but they were wrong – seriously wrong! Jesus is warning them and us about something here.

First, Salvation is not by works but by faith and belief alone in Jesus finished work (John 3:14-18, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4..etc).

Second, we see that these unbelievers did cast out demons in Jesus name! The question is, without the indwelling Holy Spirit of a believer, HOW COULD THEY? It could be that the devil’s angels were casting fellow demons out to deceive these people to stay in their unbelief on Christ alone knowing it would in the end blind them to the true Gospel through Christ crucified.

Let this be a warning to everyone! If an unbeliever prays to the devil himself and it comes to pass, is it from God or was it fallen angels working behind the scenes making something happen in a person’s life? SCARY THOUGHT! Ephesians 6 tells us that is exactly what fallen angels are doing! It is called the ‘wiles of the devil’ and there is an importance to putting on the full armor of God to stand firm in faith in God alone and HIS MIGHT (Ephesians 6:10).

By the Word of God, I know the truth and the truth is that my prayers directly to God in faith ARE HEARD BY GOD. Answers are sometimes a YES and sometimes it is a YES with a delayed answer (as God knows the best timing) and sometimes the answer is simply a NO! We need to acknowledge that although we are struggling with something, God has a plan and purpose for everything we face in life. He has it all planned out from the very foundation of the world! Long before you and I were born. And in the end His purposes and plans are always the best.

Jesus said to encourage us,

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world YE SHALL HAVE tribulation: but BE OF GOOD CHEER; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV)

Place your trust in Him alone. Give Him all the glory in all things (the good, the bad and the down right ugly). And TRUST GOD in all things, even when we do not understand.

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

3 John 2:2. Does this teach about mainly monetary prosperity?

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Gospels, Q&A: The Truth About...
3 John 2:2. Does this teach about mainly monetary prosperity?

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 2:2 KJV)

This verse is a verse that prosperity preachers today use to pertain mostly to money and riches. But is that what John means by the word ‘prosper’?

Lets look at the original Greek to gain better understanding on this verse.

The English word ‘prosper’ is the Greek word ‘euodoō‘ and the meaning is: ‘to grant a prosperous and expeditious journey, to lead by a direct and easy way, to grant a successful issue, to cause to prosper, to prosper, be successful‘

The English words ‘all things’ in this verse is the Greek word ‘pas‘ and the meaning is: ‘ individually, each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything collectively, some of all types.‘

The English word ‘soul’ is the Greek word ‘psychē‘ and the meaning is: ‘the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.) , the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life.’

John here is talking to believers because He writes ‘beloved‘, a term known to be used for believers in Christ. So in the Greek the meaning is clearer and I will paraphrase using the Greek meanings just shown understanding that these are believers John is speaking to. And we looking back know more about the Holy Spirit who has come because we have the full word of God in our hands to understand more truth.

My own Paraphrased and expanded in English when reading this verse in Original Greek.. — Fellow believers in Christ, I pray that you will be -granted by God- an expeditious journey with good physical health and be -lead in a direct and easy way- by the Holy Spirit to cause each of you success in all things in -your life journey- with God, just as when you became saved your soul has prospered when Christ saved you and made you the righteousness of God in Christ.–

Does that sound like John is talking just about monetary riches? NO. Is monetary riches part of ‘all things’, WELL, YES. Is this talking just about being rich all the time as a saved person. WELL, NO!

John is saying in ‘all things‘. Things that pertain to your life after Salvation with God being now with you and guiding you as a son or daughter of God. Once we are saved we start a NEW CHAPTER. You have a newly created Spirit within you now and the Holy Spirit is dwelling within you and guiding you on your NEW LIFE in CHRIST.

We are eternally saved and Heaven bound from the very moment of our Salvation and are now on a NEW journey in this Earthly life and that is abiding in Christ and His words (John 15) and allowing the Holy Spirit of God to guide us, using the word as a lamp for our feet in our walk after Salvation. Jesus said Himself that ‘in this life, you will have tribulation‘ and that means troubles. But in faith knowing God is with us and guiding us in this journey of newness of life in Christ and that He will show us all truth. And one of those truths is the glorious ‘end game‘ and ‘finish line‘ of our Earthly life… Life in Heaven and the soon coming New Jerusalem!

Sure, it is good to have money. Money is NOT the root of all evil after all; the Bible says it is the –LOVE of money– that is the root of all evil. Money can help us to help others. But it is not some equation that the prosperity teachers these days are teaching where if we GIVE GIVE, then God MUST make us monetarily rich. We do not ‘wheel and deal‘ with God for our own benefit!! They use this verse COMPLETELY out of context!! That is non-sense and lie!

There are other things that make us prosper such as prospering in loving others and the fruit produced by that. God says that it is better to give than to receive, right? Yes, it is. That gives more joy and feeling of accomplishment and success than money ever could produce in our hearts! And Prospering in helping others come to Christ, what a joy to us and to the angels in Heaven rejoicing over every person that comes to Christ! And in many many other ways God will prosper us in a manner that will produce REAL JOY in our hearts and cause our soul to prosper. OUR SOUL.. OUR SPIRIT.

After your Salvation we need to be like Christ who humbled Himself even to physical death on a cross, in love. Love God and LOVE ONE ANOTHER! Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In these two things you fulfill the Law and your soul prospers and the result is amazing joy.

John felt this joy as we see in the very next couple of verses,

“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (3 John: 3-4 KJV)

May God GRANT us TRUE SOUL prosperity in our walk with Christ and that our joy be filled in this way.

Amen!