Q&A: Salvation

Acts 16:31: Is All My Family Saved If I Am Saved?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About...
Acts 16:31: Is All My Family Saved If I Am Saved?

” And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

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.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” (Acts 16:26-34 KJV)

Here is Apostle Paul and Silas locked up in a very harsh jail cell, locked in chains. Not a great place to be and  a situation that would cause most of us, even as believers, great fear and anxiety. Yet, what are they doing in this jail cell? Singing! Praising God! WOW! Look at their faith! Amazing right? An Earthquake happens and all the jail doors and shackles on their body are all removed. The jailer who had fallen asleep in his boring job wakes up in a panic to find all jail doors open. FEAR strikes him to his very core! If a prisoner escaped, the Roman authority who have him killed and tortured. So he decides it is better to kill himself and he takes out his sword to do just that!

But where is Paul and Silas? Did they take the opportunity to escape? NO!  I must admit, if I was facing death in this prison, I probably would have ran until I could run no more. But not Paul. Not Silas. What BOLD FAITH! Paul was once a persecutor of Christians. He imprisoned believers once and he knew the rules for that jail keeper. So they scream out to the jail keeper to not kill himself, because they are right where they should be. They tell him not to kill himself. Look at the grace and love Paul and Silas gave this jail keeper! This is the love Christ has shown toward us and that we should show toward even our enemies.

The jailer sees this grace given and is very moved by it. You see, it is the love and grace of God that leads a person to repentance and Salvation. We need to remember this brothers and sisters in Christ! The jailer asks them, what does he need to do to be saved? He wanted the same grace. He heard their songs and praise of God, while sitting in that jail cell. But he did not know exactly what was the conditions to be saved.

Paul answers him with only ONE THING! Not a list of things that WE must DO. Paul did not list anything but ONE THING and here it is,

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.“

BELIEVE on Jesus as the Lord and the Christ. That is it. Believe what? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ! Believe that Jesus is God who died on the cross for our sins and rose again. This jailer certainly knows who Jesus is. Jesus’ followers are being imprisoned for believing in Jesus. It is the Romans who crucified Jesus. This jailer knew who Jesus is as a person but not how to be saved because of Jesus. Notice there is no long list of what this jailer needed TO DO to be saved. No water baptism as a requirement. No confessing every individual sin the jailer ever committed. No. Just ONE THING; believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the very same reply Jesus answered whenever he was asked the same question! In John 3, Nicodemus, a chief ruler of the Pharisees, asked Jesus this question and His answer is to BELIEVE ON CHRIST with nothing else mentioned (John 3:14-18). Others asked Jesus this question about how do we do the works of God and the will of God in John 6:37-40 and Jesus’ reply is only one answer.. BELIEVE ON CHRIST. I mean these questions were asked to Jesus directly for an answer. The jailer asked Paul and Silas directly for the answer. And the answer is just one thing; believe on the Lord Jesus. If any other requirements had to be met, wouldn’t Jesus and Paul and Silas list them? Yet, they do not. This is clear truth about Salvation.

Does This Mean That If I Am Saved That My Whole Family Is Automatically Saved?

Not at all. Paul is just saying that anyone, including the jailers whole family who would be the first to hear the truth from the jailer, can be saved by belief on Christ and His finished work on the cross, having paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). And if we continue reading in Acts 16, we see that this message was first preached to the jailers family and they accepted the free gift of Salvation by belief on the Lord Jesus. To be saved and born again in the Spirit, a person must believe the Jesus is God who came and never sinned, died on the cross, paid for the sins of the whole world and rose again. Just as Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians,

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV)

BUT! WAIT! Paul said to believe in THE LORD Jesus Christ. Doesn’t That Mean Lordship Salvation Is Correct?

Not at all. We cannot take the TITLE of Jesus as Lord and make works after salvation a requirement of Salvation. Jesus is LORD whether a person believes it or not! Jesus nor Paul replied to the question about how to be saved by adding works as a requirement of salvation. Good works can come from our salvation but not for our salvation.

Lordship Salvation is one of the most widely spread false teachings 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, 2 Cor. 5:17-21).

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, Lordship Salvation  is a belief that salvation is obtained by faith in God PLUS turning from sin as a requirement of being saved – which amounts to keeping the Law. It is about our performance being required. Jesus did not teach it. Paul and Silas did not tell the jailer this either. Paul used the word LORD as a TITLE. In other words, a person must BELIEVE that Jesus IS GOD.

Was Noah Saved By God’s Grace Or His Obedience?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Grace Of God, Q&A: Salvation
Was Noah Saved By God’s Grace Or His Obedience?

 

There is a teaching going around stating that Noah and his family were not saved by grace but by obedience to build the ark. They even go so far as to quote Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith” but the rest of the verse seems to be missing. The entire verse is,

“For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast. For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:9-10 KJV)

Wow. Look all that they left out in stating that Noah was not saved by grace but by obedience. Now let us look at the English translated word FAITH in this verse in the Greek for a moment.

The Greek of the English translated word faith in this verse is not a verb; it is a noun. It is not an action word but is instead a person, place or thing. So in this context it is a thing. The Greek word for faith in this verse is ‘πίστις pístis, pis’-this’ from Strongs Concordance G3982 and it is defined simply as ‘assurance, belief, believe’. The word faith here is a noun and that is very important to understand!

It is not about what a person DOES, it is about what a person BELIEVES. So it is the same as saying “ For by grace are ye saved through BELIEF”. If our salvation rests on our obedience then we are EARNING our Salvation. And Apostle Paul is telling us that believing that is boasting. He goes on in  verse 10 to show that we are ‘His workmanship, created in Christ’ which is an inward change in our Spirit that happens when we believe on Christ and HIS finished work on the cross. We see this inward change and how our Spirit is reborn by the very words of Jesus in John 3:5-6, 14-18, John 6:37-40. We also see Paul teaching this all over His writings such as in Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2 and 3, Romans 5 and 6 as just some examples.

If it is our obedience that saves us and makes us a righteous person, then we are boasting in our on efforts and that is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ Crucified. There is a fine line here between grace and obedience and if we do not see the truth a person can be deceived by someone teaching that Noah was saved by obedience and not grace. Why? Because it appeals to our Flesh.

The first time the word grace appears in the Bible is in the story of Noah in Genesis 6:8,

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. ” (Genesis 6:8 KJV)

The number 5 throughout the Bible signifies this grace. In fact, this is the 5th time Noah’s name is mentioned in the Bible. That is no coincidence! That is because it is all about God’s Grace. Noah surely had some major evidence of his belief and trust in God’s Grace though didn’t he! He believed the flood was coming because God told him directly and specifically when it would come. He was given exact dimensions and plans by God in how to create the Ark as well. Noah believed and so his obedience is evidence in how much he believed God. The obedience is not what saved Noah though. God’s grace saved Noah! It is something we can look at today as believers so we can trust that our efforts in helping others come to Christ for Salvation by telling others of the Gospel, are not in vain as well. Noah was mocked by those he told about the coming flood. Yet, he pressed forward in the warning to them. Can you imagine the people back them gossiping about this guy building a huge boat on dry land? “Crazy old fart” is what they would say. But he knew the truth by God’s Grace. And he pressed forward warning them and preaching to them as he built the Ark. And one day, a day appointed by God, Noah and his family went in the Ark and it is not Noah who closed and sealed them inside safe and sound. It was God who shut and sealed that door.

“And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and
THE LORD SHUT HIM IN.”
(Genesis 7:16 KJV)

God shut and sealed them safe inside that Ark. What a picture of our Salvation by God’s grace through faith/belief in Christ Jesus. Apostle Paul is clear so many times in his teachings which he received directly from the risen Christ. If obedience is required for Salvation what do we do with this verse?

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19 KJV)

By one man’s disobedience many were MADE sinners. Why do we sin? Do we sin and therefore have a sinful nature? Or were we born with a sinful nature and therefore we sin? This verse answers that question right? The one man that first sinned was Adam and since Adman this thing, this noun called sin has been passed down to all of humankind. And by belief on Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, who is God, who paid for the sins of the whole world on that cross (1 John 2:2), we are born again in the Spirit, in our core nature and MADE RIGHTEOUS. It is not that we made ourselves righteous through obedience. In 2 Corinthians 5 we see a truth that should make us shout the good news. In verse 17-21 we read,

“17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW…21 For he hath made him TO BE SIN FOR US, who knew no sin; that we might BE MADE the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 and 21 KJV)

Let’s unfold this extremely powerful truth Apostle Paul is giving us to unpack. Let’s look at this in the Greek to see the real truth and meaning. The English translated word new is ‘καινός kainós, kahee-nos’ (Strong’s G2537) and is defined as ‘of uncertain affinity; new, especially in freshness’ . The English translated word creature is in the Greek, ‘ktisis ‘ and has a meaning of a word in English we use called ‘creation’. So Paul is telling us that when a person believe on Christ for righteousness they become a NEW CREATION in the Spirit.  This is just as Jesus told Nicodemus about the need to be born again in the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God in John 3.

As we continue to verse 21 we see the truth that saves us. It is not by obedience but by belief in Christ and His finished work that we are saved. A divine exchange takes place for all who believe on Christ for righteousness. For all who lay down their outward dead works and instead have God recreate them in the Spirit; our core being. By imputation God placed all the sins of the whole world (includes your and mine!) onto Christ who had NO SIN and Jesus literally became sin for us and died on the cross and paid the penalty for our sins in His shed blood as our substitute. Most Christians understand this. But the next part, is something many believers have not yet grasped. God also MADE US by imputation, the righteousness of God in Christ. When Jesus took our sin, He also gave us HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS which is perfect because He NEVER SINNED. This great exchange is seen in more detail in Colossians 2 where Apostle Paul tells us that all the Spirit Of Adam Sin Natures, of all who believe on Christ, were placed on the cross WITH Christ, died WITH Christ, were buried WITH Christ and already (past tense for us) ROSE again WITH Christ as the new Spirit of God which is IN CHRIST. Colossians 2, what an amazing truth it reveals along with 2 Corinthians 5!

Now I ask you, were we saved by obedience or did we come to God as sinners asking for mercy because there is no way to pay for our sins by our works and good deeds? Jesus paid it all! It is all by grace and belief in Christ. What a completely different picture this is than those falsely teaching that GRACE did not save Noah but obedience did.

Am I saying that obedience is not important?

No. Obedience to the truth is important. Living Godly lives and loving others as God loves us is very important. But what saved Noah and his family? Grace or obedience or both? The Grace of God! Just as in James 2, works do matter but they do not save nor keep us saved. James is talking about how a person is living outwardly since being changed in our Spirit. He is talking about the fact that we have been born again and so how are we living outwardly?  Are we helping others or just living in carnality? Such a faith is DEAD, meaning useless in Greek, because it does not help others does it? Obedience does matter. Yes of course it does. Once we are changed in the Spirit, we should be ‘walking in the Spirit’ (Galatians 5) and loving others as Christ has loved us. By this love we share, by this ‘little light of mine’, which God MADE us, we become witnesses to others by our living and by our words.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. “ (Matthew 5:16 KJV)

Learn from Noah. Saved by grace and working for God, as Paul did as well, as ambassadors for God and Christ. You have been given much in your Salvation. Eternal life. And so many riches we do not even yet comprehend my sisters and brothers in Christ. Now, we need to go and tell others the GOOD NEWS of The Gospel of Grace Through Jesus Christ Crucified, Died And Risen.

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:
we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
(2 Corinthians 5: 20 KJV)

False Gospels Running Rampant In The End Time Generation

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times, Q&A: False Salvation Invitations

So many false gospels being taught by so many pulpits these days (not all of course). False gospels such as Works For Salvation, Works required after salvation gospel, Prosperity gospel, social gospel, entertainment gospel, social justice gospel, new age spirituality gospel, and so many more.

FAITH is BELIEF that Jesus is the foretold Messiah, the Christ, The only begotten Son of God, who is God come as human through the Virgin birth. Not born in sin, and who lived a sinless life and died on the cross paying for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) and who rose again. FAITH IN HIS FINISHED WORK.

WRONG SALVATION EQUATIONS:

– Good Works=Salvation

– Faith+Good Works=Salvation

– Salvation Is Conditional On How We Live After Belief On Christ

***SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

John 3:14-17, John 6:36-40, Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2, Ephesians 2:8-9 , Acts13:38-39, Romans 3:20, Romans 3:28, Romans 4:4-5. Romans 5:15-19, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:2, Philippians 3:9, Matthew 7:22-23, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 4:3., Galatians 1:6-8, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 3:1-12, Galatians 5:4-5 etc.

CORRECT SALVATION EQUATION:

– Faith+Nothing=Salvation+No Works Required To Remain Saved.

– Faith+Good Works=Salvation +Rewards For Good Works

***ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

Ephesians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 1 Corinthians 9:24, etc.

CONCLUSION:

Salvation is a GIFT OF GOD, not a REWARD EARNED by our good works. By belief on Christ’s finished work on the cross our old sinful Spirit of Adam, Spirit of man, DIED on the cross with Christ and God, BY IMPUTATION, recreated us in The Spirit to The Spirit of God and forgave any sin in our entire life (past/present/future), and God MADE US the righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2, Romans 6).

SALVATION IS ALL CHRIST’S WORK AND NOT NOT OURS

After Salvation, that is FROM Salvation, good works flow outwardly FROM our new Spirit being UNTO good works (Romans 2:10), not to remain saved, but from our NEW BORN AGAIN ETERNALLY saved Spirit (John 3).

Without Christ abiding in us, our works will not matter for the Gospel. Jesus said,”Now YE ARE CLEAN through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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: 3-5 KJV)

Do not take this as my opinion. Read the Scripture references.

Many Pulpits Today Are Lieing. They teach ‘BEING GOOD’ when the Bible teaches NONE ARE GOOD!

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations, Q&A: Salvation
Many Pulpits Today Are Lieing. They teach ‘BEING GOOD’ when the Bible teaches NONE ARE GOOD!

We live in the Biblical End Times. We ALL have to make the most important decision of our life. Pride or Being Humble? Which you chose will decide your eternal fate.

“But not as the offence, so also is the -FREE GIFT-. For if through the offence of one many be dead, -MUCH MORE- THE GRACE OF GOD, and -THE GIFT- BY GRACE, WHICH IS BY ONE MAN, Jesus Christ, hath ABOUNDED unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is -THE GIFT-: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the -FREE GIFT- is of many offences UNTO justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; -MUCH MORE- they which receive ABUNDANCE OF GRACE and of -THE GIFT- of righteousness shall reign in life BY ONE, Jesus Christ.)
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness -OF ONE- the -FREE GIFT- came upon all men unto justification of life.  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience OF ONE shall many be made righteous.  Moreover the law entered, that the offence -MIGHT ABOUND-. But where sin abounded, GRACE DID -MUCH MORE- ABOUND:  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might -GRACE REIGN- through righteousness UNTO eternal life BY Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5 KJV)

Watch the words carefully as I have highlighted in Apostle Paul’s writing on Salvation in Romans 5. So do you believe that your good works are required to be saved as many pulpits teach? That you need more good deeds than bad deeds to be accepted by God? Do you believe that after you believe on Christ and His atonement for our sins that you still need to work to remain saved? It’s a lie from the majority of pulpits today and NOT BIBLICAL SALVATION.

Salvation is a FREE GIFT, to be ACCEPTED or REJECTED. Not to be worked for to obtain or keep.Jesus on how to 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 3:18 KJV)

“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)

THAT IS THE TRUE GOSPEL OF THE BIBLE

It actually does not line up with MOST church pulpits! Why? Because, we are living in the End Times which Jesus called The Last Days. The Last Days of what? All life ending as some believe? No. The end of the age of God’s Grace. Bible Prophecy tells us what is going to happen in this time period we live in and the soon coming 7 Year Tribulation Period. It is right now just starting to play out before our eyes, yet the majority of people, including many Christians, have no idea.

Just as in the days when Christ first came in that manager, the Jewish people, who knew the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah, rejected Christ. These words of Jesus are very prevalent for today!

“He (Jesus) answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:2-3 KJV)

Was Jesus being harsh here. No. He said this to the Pharisees and Sadducees, known as the most religious leaders of Israel who studied the Torah very much. They of all people should have known that Jesus is the Messiah come because he fulfilled so many Torah (Old Testament) prophecies. Instead they came to Jesus asking for a sign so that they would know He is the Messiah foretold to come.

And what does Jesus say about the Last Days in which we live? Unfortunately, much the same.

“…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 KJV)

Faith. Faith In What?

Faith that Jesus paid for the sin of the whole world on that cross (1 John 2:2) as the FINAL ONCE FOR ALL sacrifice for all our sins. And that,

“…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV)

“For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

‘Good works’ is not the wages for our sins. That is not what God requires for us to be saved. The wages of our sins is DEATH, eternal Spiritual death, and the only way to escape this eternal payment is by belief on Christ alone and His finished work on the cross.

“For the WAGES OF SIN is death; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 KJV)

This Is Not Religious Hokey Pokey!

I know lots of you have listened to the hypocrisy from many denominations and pulpits. But have you read the Bible to see what it ACTUALLY TEACHES? You may be shocked that it does not line up with most pulpit teaching!

>> So what’s it going to be? <<

You need to decide. Pride in our own self righteous efforts to be a ‘good person’ or admit we have sinned against God and no amount of ‘good works’ or ‘good deeds’ can erase our huge debt of sins and that God sent His only begotten Son to pay for OUR SIN DEBT?

Admit it. Be humble. Believe in Christ and BE SAVED.

A Bible Study Of Matthew 7

Don Gerrity Q&A: Salvation
A Bible Study Of Matthew 7

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-2 KJV)

This is how Mathew 7 starts and it is important that we see the truth of this. Matthew 7 is mostly all about people who claim they are saved believers, but they are not. This runs through the entire chapter as we will see by context.

These first couple of verses are showing people who think they are some how better than others who have more sins, or worse sins, than they have. The truth is we all have sin and it only takes one sin to be disqualified as righteous. An unbelievers very best righteous acts and good deeds are as ‘are as filthy rags’ before our most Holy God almighty (Isaiah 64:6).

It is clear that this group of people Jesus is talking about are relying on their own good WORKS and deeds for Salvation which will not save them but may give them a false sense of hope for salvation and being righteous before God.

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matthew 7:3-6 KJV)

In verses 3 to 6, Jesus is passing judgment on followers of Christ who are also looking down on others because of their sins, while believers also have sins they are contending with. You know believers also have a huge amount of sins they have committed in life, just as an unbeliever. That goes for you and I as well. The difference is that the sins of the whole world were paid for by Christ (1 John 2:2). For believers today, we have all been forgiven all our sins BY BELIEF on Christ crucified (1 John 2:2, John 3:14-18) and His righteousness was placed to our account by imputation of God (2 Cor. 5:17-21). It is ONLY the finished work of Christ that saves believers from the penalty for sins which is eternal death (Romans 6:23).

We see many believers doing this to unbelievers today in a rampant fashion. They really believe that by bashing unbelievers because of THEIR sins, as if saved believers are so much better than they regarding sins, that God will somehow commend them for it. Well, here in Matthew 7, Jesus says the opposite of this! Jesus is telling them that it is very wrong. First, thinking that doing so will make an unbeliever change their ways is ridiculous. Only once the Holy Spirit INDWELLS a person is that even possible. And the truth is, judging others really hurts the witness of believers to the lost because doing so makes all believers look like hypocrites! And isn’t it so clear when Jesus is calling such believers hypocrites? Passing severe judgment and criticism on an unbeliever who is committing a sin and thinking that beating them over the head about their sin will bring them to Christ? It will not work and will hurt the witness of the truth of the Gospel instead!

There is a big difference between warning and condemning.

Warning someone that they need forgiveness and that Christ can help them overcome sin is one thing. Talking down to an unbeliever about their sins as if you have none, is condemning and not a good thing to do. Do not do that! God frowns on that! Instead, preach the Gospel regarding the very core nature of a person in their Spirit, up until they become born again by belief on Christ where they receive a NEW creation in their Spirit, which is the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Christ is the judge not us believers!

In Romans 2:4 we see the true way to lead others to Christ,

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 KJV)

It is the ‘goodness of God’ that leads people to Salvation and that is all about the love of God. As believers we need to be tender hearted to the lost in love.

“For God sent NOT his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ” (John 3:17 KJV)

If God did not send Jesus to condemn the world, then why should believers be doing that?! Jesus again states this clearly saying,

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35 KJV)

Jesus now explains the REAL WAY of Salvation which is not about our outward self righteous works and deeds, nor judging each other but by belief on Christ alone.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7: 7-12 KJV)

This is a very powerful message of HOPE Jesus is giving in these verses! Let’s unpack this great hope!

First, we need to ask God for Salvation, knowing we are sinners and unable to save ourselves by our works and deeds. If you seek God with this correct truth and attitude, you will not be acknowledging and judging the sins of others but will instead have already acknowledged your own sin debt against our Holy God. And if you seek God in this way, you WILL find the truth! And when you do, and you knock on God’s door and ask Him for mercy to forgive you and save you, God will OPEN THAT DOOR my brothers and sisters! What a hope!

Jesus goes on and mentions how much more God will give these who seek Him in this manner good GIFTS. Interesting word, GIFT! In Ephesians 2:8-9, we see that Salvation is not about ourselves nor our works and good deeds but it is a GRACE GIFT from God. And as a GIFT , it can be received or rejected. A GIFT is not earned. We receive the gift by BELIEF on Christ as Jesus said Himself in John 3:14-18.

Jesus also mentions a ‘stone’ and a ‘fish’. A stone has no life. A fish is alive. But Jesus also mentions a ‘serpent’. What could Jesus be talking about here? Is there something more to the usage of these words stone, fish, serpent?

  • STONE: A stone is DEAD. It has no life at all. So if we ask God for forgiveness and to show us how to obtain salvation, will God give us our deserved DEATH instead? God is love and He loves you more than any being existing, even while you are drenched in sin! This is the very reason Christ came and died on the cross shedding His blood to save us.
  • FISH: The Fish is Jesus. It has LIFE and gives life to all who believe on and ask for salvation of Christ. Ever see a bumper sticker of a fish on a car? This actually became a symbol used by early day believers.
  • SERPENT: This is an easy one right? It is talking about Satan and what he is falsely deceiving unbelievers with. He is all about works and good deeds and spreading lies so the truth will not be seen. The Pharisee leaders were under this false lie. Their teaching was all about Law following in self righteousness. Jesus described them with some very strong words indeed. “Ye SERPENT, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:3 KJV) Believe me, the people listening to Jesus in Matthew 7 knew exactly what HE meant by serpent and WHO Jesus was talking about!

Jesus says clearly that believers should do unto others as they want done to them. Today we know this as the ‘Golden Rule’ right? I mean, I was taught this in Elementary school without knowing anything about true Salvation by belief on Christ’s work on the cross. And Jesus mentions ‘the Law and the Prophets’ here and that is the entirety of the Old Testament. This Golden rule applied in Old Testament times and also here in New Covenant times as well.

Be truthful about who we really are as sinners (Isaiah 64:6) and act with respect to others from this truth. Jesus paid a high price for our salvation and forgiveness of our sins against God! In His great suffering and blood shed! What amazing love God has for us while we were His enemies even!

Just because we are saved by belief on Christ, does not mean we are somehow “better” than unbelievers who have sins! We still have the Flesh in our minds we contend and fight with every day (Romans 7). Do not judge them with condemnation. Instead show them the love Christ has bestowed on us as believers. Only this love of God will lead a person to repentance and salvation. Yes, the Ten Commandments have their part in helping a person come to salvation; to show them that they do in fact have sin. But it should go no further than that from a believer to an unbeliever. Show how much God loves them!

Jesus is telling us thus far that,

1. Unbelievers need to stop thing to judge others in condemnation. This was what the Pharisees religious leaders were doing.

2. Believers should not being condemning unbelievers of their specific sins as if we are any better because we are saved. That is being a hypocrite.

3. The real way to be saved is acknowledging our OWN sins and asking God and seeking the truth and it is not about works, but asking for the GIFT of Salvation and receiving God’s grace and unconditional love by belief on Christ ans His once for all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) paying ALL the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

4. Treat others as God treated us when we were still His enemies. While we were His enemies (Romans 5:10) He sent Jesus to die on that cross and save us! Apostle Paul to the Ephesians wrote, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED;)” (Ephesians 2:5 KJV)

The Truth About The Straight and Narrow Gate

Jesus continues in Matthew 7 saying,

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 KJV)

Many believe that the WIDE meaning is good WORKS of a person. And that NARROW must be GOOD WORKS because it is hard to maintain good works in the light that God is PERFECT in every way. But is that the truth of Matthew 7:13-14?

Context matters and so if we look at other passages of Jesus, do we see that meaning conveyed for how to become RIGHTEOUS before God? The answer is a resounding “NO”.

Jesus is clear that Salvation is by one thing and that is ‘changing our mind’ (the Bible definition of the word REPENT) and BELIEF ON Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God. Look at John 3 where Jesus told Nicodemus how a person becomes RIGHTEOUS. It is by being ‘BORN AGAIN’ – not by our works. Jesus goes on to tell us how to be born again in The Spirit in verse 14-17 and it is all about BELIEF ON CHRIST with NOTHING ELSE MENTIONED. And then Jesus makes this very clear statement,

“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)

And when we look more into other words of Jesus we also see Him say,

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take MY YOKE upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST unto your souls. For my YOKE IS EASY, and my burden IS LIGHT.” (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

A Light Yoke? A Light Burden?

If we are to believe that it is our WORKS that save us and keep us saved, how does that fit Jesus’ words? The Jewish people in that day were under the religious leaders called the Pharisees and they gave the people a hard burden to keep themselves righteous by their deeds and good works and Law following. One of the punishments for failing, for example, was being stoned to death! Jesus states the opposite of this.

Given this is Jesus words as well, we need to look closer at Matthew 7:13-14 for proper context, because Jesus NEVER contradicts Himself and in fact, Apostle Paul does not either. Apostle Paul states clearly that this cannot be about works 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.” (Eph. 2:8-9 KJV)

Just before Jesus’ statement in verses 13 and 14, Jesus was clear that belief on HIM and seeking HIM is the way to be saved and not by works and good deeds. So what is the straight and narrow gate? It is JESUS CHRIST, not our self righteous efforts! Did not Jesus say this,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV)

You know, ALL the world’s non-Christian religions teach ‘works for salvation’. And all the false religions calling themselves Christians by their works and deeds are just as unsaved. That is what Jesus is warning them about in Matthew 7. That is what Apostle Paul warns about in Galatians 3 calling those believing in grace plus works ‘foolish’ and warning in Galatians 5:4 that “Christ is of NONE EFFECT TO YOU” believing this way.

Is Jesus Teaching Loss Of A Believer’s Salvation?

Okay, now we turn to the real meat of this chapter and it is where many believers are reading and ignoring the previous context. I have seen the words of Jesus in Matthew 7 to teach that,

  1. That Matthew 7 shows that a believer can lose Salvation.
  2. That a person with good fruit is saved and a person with bad fruit is not saved.

Both of these teachings are WRONG by the very context found within Matthew 7. If you have been taught these, please stop telling others this as truth and I am showing you why in this article. It is the very reason for this article.

These two wrong teachings about Matthew 7 are running very rampant in Christian communities. Many pulpits are also stating these very wrong teachings about Matthew 7. We must watch the CONTEXT very closely! Otherwise, as a believer you will be condemning others in harsh judgement, when Jesus has clearly taught against doing such!

Let’s look closely at this passage of Scripture with proper context to see the true meaning of Jesus.

“15 Beware of FALSE PROPHETS, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them BY THEIR FRUITS. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every GOOD TREE bringeth forth good fruit; but a CIRRUOT TREE bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore BY THEIR FRUITS ye shall know them.
21 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.
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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:15-23 KJV)

This is a very power packed passage of truth to decipher and so let’s do just that.

The real context starts at verse 15.  Jesus is talking about FALSE PROPHETS. This is the context of this passage. 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.

It is these false prophets who are the verse 23 “YE THAT WORK INIQUITY”. Jesus speaks about the false prophets, and what are they doing wrong? What is their iniquity?

They are thinking and telling others that it is WHAT THEY DO that qualifies them for salvation in Jesus. They are combining grace with works for righteousness and mixing Law following with Grace through Christ. We need to take this very seriously! Jesus gives us a stern warning here.

In Matthew 7:22 Jesus makes it clear,

 “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.

To them Jesus gives stern warning in verse 23 that on Judgement day for them (The Great White Throne Judgement of the unsaved),

“And then will I profess unto THEM, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23 KJV)

Notice this one verse does not say they were believers who lost salvation. Not at all. It says that Jesus NEVER knew them. This is definitely about those who think they are saved by their works. They are being judged and condemned to eternal separation from God at the future Great White Throne judgement of unbelievers and in defending themselves, they show nothing but self righteous pride! They will not even mention that Jesus paid for their sins. Instead, they will try and stand as righteous because of their works. That my friends is the devil’s BIGGEST LIE. Satan’s biggest deception to the whole world is deceiving people into believing this.

What About Fruit Inspecting?

“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:16-20 KJV)

These verses have confused many when not seen in the proper context of Matthew 7. Some believers today are mistaking these “fruits” with the “fruit bearing” of John 15 which is about being a disciple bearing good fruit. However,that is NOT the context here in Matthew 7. It simply cannot be so because Jesus had just previously said that the FALSE PROPHETS come in “sheep’s clothing”. They look like they have good works and people would assume that because such a person has good works that they must be a born again believer. That is actually a completely FALSE STATEMENT! Our works have NOTHING to do with how we are justified in salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). These false prophets are teaching externals, even while using Jesus’ name in doing so. They have missed the Gospel message entirely which is not about good works for righteousness but only faith and belief on Christ alone.

What Is The Fruit In Matthew 7 by Context?

So the ‘fruit’ in Matthew 7 is not a person’s WORKS. It is the WORDS these false prophets are teaching! As soon as a teacher is preaching good works for salvation or good works required to remain saved, they are the false teachers being spoken of here by Jesus. They are relying on their works for righteousness or accepting God’s grace but thinking they then need to work to remain saved. These two are actually UNBELIEF. Either a person is BELIEVING and trusting in Christ and HIS FINISHED work paying for all sins of the world (1 John 2:2) or they are in UNBELIEF and UNSAVED. Take notice that I am not saying good works after salvation are wrong. NO! Good works after salvation are ‘UNTO GOOD WORKS’ but they only come from our NEW SPIRIT and the indwelling Holy Spirit moving outward in our lives in love towards others (Ephesians 2:10). But the works NEVER SAVE ANYONE! Only belief on Christ saves (John 3:14-18, John 6:37-40, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 2:8-9, Eph. 1:13-14 etc).

Jesus talks about two groups of people as TREES; the saved by faith verse the unsaved by works.  What a great analogy! In John 15, Jesus teaches this too and states that HE is the vine and WE, as saved believers, are BRANCHES! Where does a branch life come from? The sap, which comes from the ROOT of a tree. Jesus is the VINE of a believer. He is our Root.

An unbeliever has at their core being, as the root, a Spirit of Adam, a sin nature at their very core. They sin because they have a sin nature at their core. They know they have sinned against God. That is the truth. But they think that they can gain God’s favor by their outward living in good works. They fail to realize that this is not the wages for our sins! In God’s economy the wages for sin is not works. The wages of sin is DEATH, eternal death and separation from God (Romans 6:23). Failing to realize this truth, they remain lost in their debt of sins. To them it is all about works and good deeds. And so, how do they live outwardly, in love or condemnation and judging of others?

A person who instead realizes they are a sinner and that they CANNOT work off their sins with good deeds, turns to God and seeks Him for MERCY, just as Jesus states earlier in Matthew 7 as the right way to be saved. Their tree root has been changed and made RIGHTEOUS in the Spirit. Being saved by God’s grace they know God’s love and how He gave His own begotten Son to save us by His death on the cross. The greatest act of love in all of history.

Having received this GRACE, their Spirit inside was REBORN (John 3) and RECREATED (2 Cor. 5:17-21) and have become COMPLETE IN CHRIST (Colossians 2). With this new Spirit, we now work from our new inward Spirit (our tree root), outward into our lives with good works by God’s love through us. It is God’s grace that we have received as believers that encourages us to live outwardly in love to others. Apostle Paul says that we should walk ‘in the Spirit to avoid the lusts of the flesh’ and not by the Law, in the book of Galatians. Saved believers are right now RIGHTEOUS at our core being and this works outward into good works in our lives.

That is what Jesus means in context when He says,

“A GOOD TREE cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a CORRUPT TREE bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:18-20 KJV)

Remember, this whole passage is about false prophets speaking (starting at verse 15). Yet, these are the same works based false salvation teachers today that use Matthew 7, verse 22 and 23 to claim that works are required for salvation and that believers can lose salvation. They are very wrong! If they would only read the previous verses in context. The fruit here in Matthew 7 is the WORDS of the FALSE PROPHETS teaching false ‘works for salvation’. This false teaching is not only here in our time in history, it is RAMPANT in these End Times!

What Is The Will Of The Father From Matthew 7?

What is the ‘will of the Father’ Jesus is talking about in Matthew 7:21 then? Is this statement by Jesus about our works and good deeds or Law following? Not at all. Jesus is not saying one thing and then another in the same passage of teaching! Look at Jesus’ words to see the truth.

Jesus tells us this in John 6,

“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)”

 

39 And this is the FATHERS’s WILL which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this IS THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME, that every one which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH ON HIM, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” ( John 6:39-40 KJV)

Today we see many false gospels in so called, ‘christian religions’. False gospels such as, ‘works for salvation’, ‘grace plus works’, ‘social gospel’, ‘prosperity gospel’, ‘Lordship Salvation’, and ‘Word of faith, name it to claim it’; all of which are not the Biblical Gospel of our Salvation.

We need to heed Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 7.

Is Sanctification A Life Long Process?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About...
Is Sanctification A Life Long Process?

To understand the truth about a person being sanctified we need to first understand what the word ‘HOLY’ is defined as. What does the Bible mean when it uses the English translated word ‘HOLY’. This is a matter of great importance in interpreting passages about a believer and how they are SANCTIFIED. Is sanctification a life long process, where we are moment by moment becoming more and more Holy? Or does a believer’s sanctification happen in an instant, from the very moment that they believe on Christ and His finished work on the cross, having in the past, PAID the just penalty for all our sins?

When we look up the English translated word SANCTIFY in the New Testament in the Greek , what do we find as the definition of the word? What we find is Strongs G37:

G37: ἁγιάζω hagiázō, hag-ee-ad’-zo; from G40; to make holy.
( Strongs Concordance)

So, the word Sanctify literally means to MAKE HOLY. So we see that how we define the English translated word HOLY matters much in seeing the truth about being sanctified as believers. So, when we further look into this in Greek, we are pushed to look into the word ‘Holy’ which is, as G37 tells us, G40:

G40: ἅγιος hágios, hag’-ee-os; from ἅγος hágos (an awful thing) (compare G53, G2282); sacred (physically, pure, MORALLY BLAMELESS or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), SAINT.
(Strongs Concordance)

In essence, the meaning is ‘most holy thing, a saint’.

Let us first look at this word Holy as it is used whenever the ‘Holy Spirit’ or ‘Holy Ghost’ is mentioned.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the HOLY Ghost.”
(Matthew 1:18 KJV)

The Holy Ghost is GOD right? So how Holy and set apart is God from all of His creation? Hugely set apart! He is the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end. The one and only God of all that exists! So when the word HOLY in ‘Holy Spirit’ is used in the Bible, it is basically saying that God is completely SET APART from all of His creation. He is the almighty God who always existed and always will. Now, THAT is definitely a set apart being! Yes? The word HOLY in the name ‘Holy Spirit’ is Strongs G40 in Greek.

You see this word HOLY is used by many in so many different ways by believers today that it has become a pivotal part of how they believe about Salvation and justification with God. This is something we must get right! To be Holy is basically to be PERFECT and SET APART. Understanding this as the proper definition of the English translated word for HOLY, we now return to the word SANCTIFY (G37) in the New Testament because it references the very same word ‘HOLY” in the ‘Holy Spirit’, which is G40.

Apostle Paul used this word SANCTIFY many times in his ministry such as,

“That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY GHOST.” (Romans 15:16 KJV)

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but YE ARE SANCTIFIED, but YE ARE JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the SPIRIT OF OUR GOD.” (1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV)

This last quoted Scripture from 1 Cor. 6 is a real eye opener. Sanctified by what? It states by the SPIRIT OF OUR GOD and when you look that phrase up in the Greek, it literally means the HOLY SPIRIT.

The word ‘sanctified’ is G37 and again, it is not defined as believers striving to become more sanctified by living more holy lives, as if we can even do that in our own efforts. Yes, of course a believer is to live right outwardly in love towards others and in good works. But regarding this word SANCTIFY that is not we see as the meaning. The word Sanctify literally means ‘TO MAKE HOLY’. Does that mean we have to make ourselves Holy to be sanctified by God? Not according to Scripture!

“And THE VERY GOD OF PEACE SANCTIFY YOU WHOLLY; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be PRESERVED BLAMELESS unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV)

In this verse, it is GOD who is making the believer HOLY. And it is God who keeps us in this state of being called ‘HOLY’. It is not our work; it is God’s work to make a person HOLY! That is in fact how we are saved is it not? Apostle Paul taught so,

“For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.  For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN Christ Jesus UNTO good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:9-10 KJV)

The writer of Hebrews also states so,

“Wherefore Jesus also, THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY the people WITH HIS OWN BLOOD, suffered without the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12 KJV)

Do we read, in any of these verses, that a person is sanctified by our works and right living? NO! A person is sanctified by God through belief in Jesus the Christ (God in the flesh, who is God!)

“But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, BECAUSE GOD HATH from the beginning chosen you to salvation THROUGH SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT and belief of the truth:” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV)

Again, we see that it is GOD who is setting a believer apart and making them Holy, which is the very definition of the word sanctification (G37), ‘TO MAKE HOLY’.

“But of him ARE YE IN CHRIST JESUS, who of God IS MADE UNTO US wisdom, and righteousness, and SANCTIFICATION, and redemption:”
(1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV)

Small but powerful verse! In 1 Corinthians 1, we see that many were kinda arguing who is greater among them,

“Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.” (1 Cor. 1:12-15 KJV)

Even though Paul had been given such wisdom by God to preach the good news of the grace of God through Christ crucified, Paul in no way wanted to be known like this! Paul tells that not to do this. In fact, Paul lists his weakness and boasts of that instead, stating in verse 27, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” and in verse 29 that “no flesh should glory” in God’s presence. Paul is telling them, we are weak, but then we are strong because it is the Lord God that sanctifies us and sets us apart as a HOLY being. That is why Paul says “But of him are YE IN CHRIST” in verse 30. He is telling these believers that they may be saved because of Paul’s preaching but that he was only a conduit chosen by Christ to preach and that it is ALL GOD’s work making us saved , set apart and HOLY beings by belief in Christ crucified, died and risen, having paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) !

Today we see churches actually calling their church ‘The Corinthians’, such as “Corinthian Baptist Church” as only an example name. Now I use this only as an example of many many church names that use the word ‘Corinthian’ in their name. Yet, in the Bible the Corinthians were one of the worst examples of a group of believers in how they were living outwardly! So much so, that Paul says they have even exceeded the sins of unbelieving Gentiles!

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.” (1 Corinthians 5 KJV)

So wicked, that Paul mentions fornication, where a son had sex with his father’s wife, and yet the church has done nothing about it! And mentions there are more sins that he cannot mention that are not even seen by gentile unbelievers!

Paul’s writings to the church at Corinth is actually a REBUKE to the way this body of BELIEVERS is living! Notice that Paul writes to them from the beginning and addresses them as eternally saved believers, even though they were committing such wickedness.

“Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that ARE SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who SHALL also confirm you UNTO THE END, that YE MAY BE BLAMELESS in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. GOD IS FAITHFUL, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:1-9 KJV)

Paul says that these Corinthian church members, ARE SANCTIFIED, as in are ALREADY sanctified. Not that, after Paul tells them to stop living outwardly so wrong that THEN they will be sanctified. NO. They are ALREADY sanctified, “in Crist Jesus”. And there is no one in IN CHRIST who has not been saved by BELIEF on Christ and HIS finished work on the cross. When a person accepts the GIFT of Salvation by God’s grace, Jesus Christ crucified, their Spirit of Man DIED with Christ on the cross, was buried with Christ and rose again WITH CHRIST in the Spirit. Many believing Christians, do not know that in the Spirit, they are ALREADY RISEN WITH CHRIST and IN CHRIST, right now, COMPLETE IN CHRIST! Read Colossians 2 and it will surely bless you my fellow believers in Christ!

Sanctification is not a lifelong pursuit. It is not us working to be more Holy. The truth is by Scripture that at the very moment of belief on Christ, WE WERE SANCTIFIED, WE WERE completely forgiven all our sins in our life (future sins too), WE WERE MADE BY GOD the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST.

You, my brother or sister in Christ, have been COMPLETELY and UTTERLY changed at the CORE of your being, in your Spirit, and made a NEW CREATION. A complete change in our core being from an UNRIGHTEOUS nature to a RIGHTEOUS nature.

There has been a change in you! Your feelings about it have NOTHING to do with this truth either!

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

There WAS (past tense) a HUGE EXCHANGE made when a person believes on Christ and His blood sacrifice for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) All believers from all of time, were placed on that cross with Christ and the “wages of sin”, which is DEATH (Romans 6:23), happened. The full penalty for sin was PAID IN FULL, a debt we could not repay. BUT ALSO, and this is what many believers today may not know, when Jesus paid for our sins, He also gave us HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS! Jesus knew no sin and yet God imputed our sins to Christ and then imputed Christ’s righteousness to us!

NOW THAT IS SANCTIFICATION! THAT IS GOD SETTING US APART FOR HIMSELF!

Salvation Myths About How A Person Is Forgiven Their Sins?

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations, Q&A: MYTHS
Christian Memes

HOW DO WE GAIN FORGIVENESS OF SINS WITH GOD?

By being a good person and doing good works? NO!

Read Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:23, and Isaiah 46:6.

By Asking God for forgiveness? By confessing sins to God? NO!

“God Forgive me” is not in any verse related to Salvation. Actually, it is not even found in the New Testament! The unsaved person is not asked to confess his sins to get forgiven nor saved. the fact is, that we couldn’t remember all our sins anyway! No salvation passage requests either of these. Some say what about 1 John 1:9? Yet by context, that passage is about a believer RENEWING FELLOWSHIP and not about an unsaved person.

By going to confession with a priest? NO!

A priest is just a man and cannot forgive sins. In fact, the word ‘confess’ in the New Testament is defined in the Greek as ‘ to agree’, or ‘profess’ in relation to belief on Christ and His finished work on the cross. (Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8, John 1:20, John 9:22, Romans 10:9 and so many many more!)

By going to church? NO!

No where in the New Testament does it say to be saved one must attend a formal religious organization nor church building.

By forgiving others. NO!

Some will state Matthew 18 but in Matthew 18 Jesus is addressing the Jews and Pharisees who believed it was their Law of Moses following and good works that saves. Jesus then goes on to show them the extremes of the Law so that they are actually found guilty of breaking the Law. Jesus was preparing them for the soon coming New Covenant which He would bring forth from the event of the Passion of Christ and the Cross, paying for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

By giving all your money to the poor. By Helping others? By being good? NO!

It is good to give to the poor and those in need. It is good to live right before God. Yes. But doing so does not erase any of your sins. This would be work you EARNED but salvation is not of ourselves nor our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). And even verse 10 states UNTO good works. So that is AFTER salvation and not about how one gets saved.

Apostle Paul wrote,

“Now to the one who WORKS, his wage is NOT RECKONED on the basis of GRACE, but as what is DUE. But to the one who DOES NOT WORK, but BELIEVES in Him (Jesus) WHO JUSTIFIES the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Romans 4:4-5 KJV)

By giving your heart to Christ? NO!

We do not give our heart to Christ. By belief on Christ God imputes our sin to Jesus on the cross and God imputes Christ’s righteousness to us (2 Cor. 5:17-21). God gives us a new heart. A new creation in the Spirit. We are already risen WITH CHRIST in the Spirit, COMPLETE IN HIM (Colossians 2). This is not done by any of our effort. It happens only by belief on Christ’s finished work paying for the sins of the world. In John 3:3, Jesus is clear that to be forgiven sins and saved, “…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus then goes on to tell us HOW to be saved in verses 14-18 and it is all about BELIEF on Christ alone. Nothing else is mentioned.

We also read in Scripture how the “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9 KJV).

Some will say ‘but what about Romans 10:10?’ It does say with the heart a man believes on Christ unto righteousness but that is not an unbeliever giving his heart to Christ. It is just that they have come to an end of themselves trying to work to be righteous before God and to obtain salvation and they are crying out to God in belief to save them. This happens at the moment of belief and actually right after a person gains the knowledge of the Gospel of grace and believes it.

By just saying a prayer to God. NO!

No where does the Bible state that a person must pray to God to be saved. It only states to BELIEVE ON CHRIST. Yes, you can pray to God in this belief; absolutely. But going to an alter call and just saying a prayer saves no one and forgives no one. Only by BELIEF on Christ, as God in the flesh, having paid for your sins is a person saved.

By changing our life from sinful deeds to good deeds? NO!

Many believe this because they use the modern dictionary definition of the word REPENT and not the Bible’s definition of the word repent. Repent in the Greek is defined simply as ‘change your mind’. So when Scripture states REPENT, replace that word with ‘change your mind’ and you will see the intended true meaning. REPENT is NOT defined as TURN FROM SIN. IN fact, Scripture shows GOD REPENTING many times. I ask you; Does God Have Any Sin To Repent About? NO! Of course , we should turn from sin, but that does not save us you see. Nor will it forgive us our sins. The desire for outward right living comes from the inside NEW Spirit we were given as believers.

By making God Lord of your life? NO!

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:11 KJV) Notice how? ‘THROUGH’ Jesus Christ our Lord. This just states that Christ is the Lord and whether we believe it or not it is true. Romans 6:11 is all about a believer and their dedication to Christ. It is not about Salvation and forgiveness of sins. A person who is not yet saved by belief on Christ, cannot make Jesus Lord of their life. By belief on Christ as God and His finished work are we saved. Nothing else is required.

See my article about how the teaching of Lordship Salvation is not Biblically correct.

By surrendering your life to Christ? NO!

The unsaved person giving everything to the Lord when everything is already the Lord’s will not save a person. Isaiah 64:6 states, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; “ to God. We cannot save ourselves! Nothing we DO can erase any sins we have committed! Belief on Christ’s finished work on the cross and His resurrection is what saves a person and makes them righteous having all their sins PAID FOR BY CHRIST.


HOW DOES THE BIBLE SAY WE ARE FORGIVEN OUR SINS THEN?

Belief in the blood shed by Christ (Eph. 1:7) and belief on Christ and HIS FINISHED work (John 3:14-18, John 6:37-40, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Colossians 2, Romans 5 and 6) on the cross having paid in full the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) as the ONCE FOR ALL FINAL sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). And by belief on the resurrection of Jesus. And ‘…whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16)

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9 KJV)

 

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19 KJV)

Again, the word ‘Repent’ simply means ‘change your mind’ – not turn from your sins.

 

“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)

 

“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)

Who do you say Jesus is? Will you believe that He paid for your sins on the cross 2000 years ago? If so, you are saved eternally from the very moment of this belief and are SEALED by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is not about feelings. It is not about our good deeds nor works, or even our self! It is about BELIEF ON CHRIST ALONE.

“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)

 

Matthew 22 The Parable Of The Wedding Feast. Who are the called? Who are the chosen?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Parables Of Jesus, Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About...

“2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:2-14 KJV)

Trying to enter Heaven without actually being saved means not having the garment. God chose the nation Israel as His chosen people from the beginning. God announces to them that there will be a Messiah to come that will pay for the sins as the final sacrifice to replace the sacrificial system of the Law. The Pharisees knew this, that is why they sought to kill Jesus for blasphemy stating He is the Messiah foretold.Even after all the miracles and all the prophecies Jesus was fulfilling that identified Him as this very Messiah they believed would one day come, they just refused to believe it was Jesus.

Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees who believed because they were Jewish, and they relied on the fact that God gave Moses the Law, and that believed on their self righteous works to save them. But Jesus comes and starts telling them WRONG. Salvation is not by good works nor because they are Jewish. Jesus tells them He is the Messiah that was to come.We Jesus do this from the very beginning of His ministry at the Synagogue in His home town of Nazareth. Everyone knew Jesus as ‘the Carpenters son’. They sought to stone Him for reading the prophesy about Messiah in the Synagogue and then proclaiming HE WAS THIS MESSIAH NOW COME! (Luke 4:16-21)

The mistreated slaves in the parable in Matthew 22 are the disciples who would one day become Apostles. The very people God chose, the Jews, from the beginning rejected Jesus as Messiah and started persecuting Christians and the Disciples. Christ came and preached to who? The nation Israel – the Jews. In essence, God sent Jesus and prepared a marriage to all those who will believe in Him for righteousness. He was sent to God’s chosen people first, the Jews. What did they do? They mostly rejected Christ. In unbelief the unbelieving Jews did not receive the garment of Salvation through BELIEF ON CHRIST ALONE (John 3:14-18, 6:37-40). In unbelief, the Jews crucified Jesus, The Christ, their own Messiah. God was angered and so he set their cities on fire. That happened in 70 AD after Christ was crucified.

And then God now sends out the marriage invitation to the GENTILES. Non Jews. Now no longer just to the Jews.. but to the MAIN HIGHWAYS.. to EVERYONE. And Gentiles are all of us today. We see later , after Christ is ascended that He sent Apostle Paul to preach the New Covenant of Grace which until then was a mystery. And many of them will come (and still are coming to Christ today) to belief and attend the marriage celebration which will happen after the Rapture of the church, the Bride of Christ.

But anyone that comes to God by any means other than through belief on Christ, will not be allowed. Good works does not give them the wedding garment. They are not saved. They have no GARMENT of Salvation.This person could not even explain WHY he has no garment nor how to get one.

Who are the CHOSEN? All who have accepted and belief on Christ for Salvation. They are the chosen. They have been given the garment of eternal life, in Christ.

Related:

https://seekknockfind.org/2018/05/05/zechariah-31-4-robes-of-righteousness/

What Is The Confusion About ‘Good Works’ and Salvation?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Salvation
What Is The Confusion About ‘Good Works’ and Salvation?

Good works are, well, good right? An unsaved person can help a person and it is a good work; a good thing. Does an unbeliever have NO GOOD WORKS? Yes, of course they do! And this is where confusion begins.

But does an unbeliever’s good works save him from the sins he has committed? No, NEVER! This is the part some find hard to understand. Then they go to church because they seek God and forgiveness and they hear from a pulpit that good works are ‘REQUIRED ‘ for Salvation through Christ. That it is Christ PLUS good works that save. You must do more good works than bad works or you might just not be saved at all.

Friends, I am telling you by God’s Word (not my opinion); THAT IS SUPER FALSE GOSPEL! It is a doctrine straight from the devil, who is orchestrating this subtle LIE to deceive people so they do not actually get saved by Christ’s atonement ! To stop people from hearing the GOOD NEWS; The Gospel Of Grace Through Jesus Christ.

And when a true Gospel believer teaches others that Works are not required for salvation and that if you sin after being saved, that your sins will not mean loss of your salvation, immediately the flesh in their minds shouts that it is heresy. Yet, this is exactly what the Bible teaches!

It is not that it means, go and sin all you want because the grace of God is abounding (Romans 6:1-2) but it is truth. Apostle Paul is clear. What many believers miss, (and it is because of false gospel teachers!) is that there is a difference between a believer’s NEW SPIRIT and a persons MIND. They are not the same.

The Spirit is redeemed but the MIND – needs renewing (Romans 12)! The problem is there is a fine line when sharing the Gospel because many teach works are REQUIRED to be saved and not just belief in Christ – and that is actually FALSE GOSPEL (Galatians 5:4. Eph 2:8-9, John 3:18, John 6:37-40). Apostle Paul says that such false teachers are to be ACCURSED as we read in Galatians 1:8. That is Serious stuff! Paul goes on to state this dire warning,

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4 KJV)

NO EFFECT UNTO YOU! That is not a good place to be. That is relying on our works and not Jesus’ finished work on the cross, paying for the sins OF THE WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2). Believing that works are a REQUIREMENT of Salvation may mean, you did not understand the Gospel of your salvation in the first place. VERY Scary thought! Jesus warned the same in Matthew 7:23. It is God’s GRACE ALONE that saves us through belief on Christ. Do not add ANYTHING to that! Doing so, is the sin of PRIDE. The very sin the devil himself committed. We need to be humble.

The truth is a believer is SEALED in Salvation from the moment of belief in Christ for righteousness (John 3:14-18, John 6:37-40, Ephesians 1:12-14, ) and we are MADE BY GOD the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST (2 Cor., 5:17-21) and are COMPLETE IN CHRIST (Colossians 2) It is by the OPERATION OF GOD that He changes our Spirit, our heart. But Salvation is NOT by our works , nor kept by our works neither! This NEW SPIRIT we have been given as an UNMERITED GIFT from God through belief on Christ alone, by the indwelling Holy Spirit and the Word of God in the Bible, starts to renew our mind (Romans 12).

Our Spirit is PERFECT, redeemed and COMPLETE IN CHRIST and is SEATED WITH CHRIST – right now in the present tense as Paul wrote.  But our MIND still has the old DEAD spirit thoughts and beliefs which need to be renewed by who we now are – the righteousness of God, in Christ. This all happens the moment we BELIEVE ON CHRIST. SAVED ETERNALLY!!

This is NOT my opinion. In fact, go read the Bible yourself and see the truth!

Jesus said it very simply and clearly 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)

As we renew our wrong beliefs and thoughts in the mind, and we find them replaced by God’s truth, we almost effortlessly make RIGHT DECISIONS in our mind which work outwardly to good works. Perfectly, without ever sinning? No. Our mind has the corrupt FLESH in it still and will until we are bodily resurrected. But we should see good works in our life in an increasing way. Not that our Salvation relies on it; it is just outward evidence of our salvation just like the book of James teaches. That is what Apostle Paul was explaining in Ephesians 2. He wrote the words “UNTO GOOD WORKS”.

Salvation and justification with God is ONLY by belief in Christ but because we start changing over time (each of us at different paces), God’s good works start shining outwardly. It is God working THROUGH US! Amazing yes?

GOOD WORKS FLOW FROM THE SOURCE!

Holy Spirit >> The SPIRIT of GOD >> MIND RENEWING >> DECISIONS >> Good works or sin outwardly in the Body.

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“Now to him that worketh is the reward NOT reckoned of grace, but OF DEBT. But to him that worketh NOT, but BELIEVETH ON HIM (Jesus) that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Romans 4:4-5 KJV)

–

“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 KJV)

 

GET THIS RIGHT:
IT IS ONLY GOD WHO CHANGES US and KEEPS US SAVED

Yes, GOOD WORKS FOLLOW after our moment of Salvation and conversion in the Spirit. Yet it is not self righteous forced works to ‘remain saved’. We are saved ETERNALLY (John 3:16-18) from the very moment of belief on Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). Instead, it is God’s Works THROUGH US by RIGHT BELIEVING from our redeemed Spirit.

“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. 10 For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we SHOULD walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

Jesus Is God. Salvation Is By Belief In Him For Our Righteousness. Believers Have Been Set Free!

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Salvation
Jesus Is God. Salvation Is By Belief In Him For Our Righteousness. Believers Have Been Set Free!

The question for saved believers is not ‘how holy do I need to be to keep myself saved’. The right question is to ask ‘how holy is Jesus to keep me saved’ because believers are in Christ right now!

When God looks at a believer, He sees Jesus! Our sin debt problem is finished! Believers, God is not mad at you! The wages for sin in God’s economy is DEATH. This wage has been paid in full by Christ on The cross 2000 years ago.

+ JESUS IS THE CHRIST.
+ JESUS IS GOD IN THE FLESH.
+ SALVATION IS ONLY BY BELIEF IN HIM.

Jesus is clear that He is God. He became flesh in the person of Jesus as the Christ, who lived as human without committing any sin, and that by belief that He is God come to pay for our sins, we are justified BY GOD – NOT BY OUR DEEDS (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Our sins paid and forgiven, He gave ‘WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM’ eternal life (John 3:14-18). He took our spirit of man (full of sin) to the cross where it DIED WITH CHRIST, was buried WITH CHRIST, and ROSE WITH CHRIST (Romans 6, Colossians 2), our sin debt paid in full as a NEW CREATION of God that HE MADE US , which is the very RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, IN CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV).

All accomplished by His GIFT OF GRACE without works required but UNTO good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).

“And WITHOUT CONTROVERSARY great is the mystery of godliness:
GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

“And the Word as MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of GRACE AND TRUTH.” (John 1:14 KJV)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS GOD.” (John 1:1 KJV)

Notice a capital W in Word. That because it is a NAME!

“Ye are my witnesses, SAITH THE LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and BELIEVE me, and understand that I AM HE: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, EVEN I, AM THE LORD; and
beside ME there is no saviour” (Isaiah 43:10-11 KJV)

‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of MY RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Isaiah 41:10 KJV)

Believers are held by God’ hand and God’s righteousness. Not by ours!

Whenever Jesus repeats Himself in a passage, He wants us to UNDERSTAND THIS! Here is Jesus with more repetition… UNDERSTAND THIS!

“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)

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for IF YE BELIEVE NOT , that I AM HE,
ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24 KJV)

Justification in Salvation is by BELIEF ALONE that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah, the Christ, who is God, who came as foretold to live a sinless life, and with grace and truth had our sins imputed onto Him and paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), as the final once for all blood sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:10).

What About Following His commandments?

1. FOR UNBELIEVERS:

For unbelievers, who are believing there is no God or that they rely on being a good person and their good works or relying on religious rituals, to be justified with God; God’s will for them is to believe Jesus is the Christ. To understand that self righteous works will not save them! Law following will not pay for sins!

Jesus answered clearly when asked by unbelievers how they can do the ‘will of God’ ,

“…this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME, that every one which seeth the Son, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM, may have EVERLASTING LIFE: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40 KJV)

2. FOR SAVED BELIEVERS ON CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK :

Jesus gave eternally saved believers two commandments:

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 KJV)

1. Love the Lord thy God with all our heart, soul, and our mind.

2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

To keep ourselves saved? No. He never said that to BELIEVERS. Jesus constantly states and repeats that our justification is only by BELIEF ON HIM.

These two commands are not a conditional statement like the Law. They are the morals of the Law which is living right and in great gratitude for God’s unconditional love for us. For His GRACE!

Our newly created Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) and the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) guide and help believers to renew and CHANGE THEIR MIND (the Biblical definition of repentance).

Believers , overtime, start replacing our left over old Spirit of man beliefs (The Flesh) with the truth of God’s Word. Right believing in THE MIND leads and allows our new Spirit of God to make decisions that result in outward good works. This is what Apostle Paul means by ‘walking in the Spirit’ in his writings. Our REAL SELF, our core being is our Spirit and so why walk by our now DEAD OLD SPIRIT OF SIN by our wrong fleshly sinful beliefs in our mind. Renew our mind instead! It is all GOD’S GRACE.

BELIEVER: FEAR NOT!

If you, as a believer in Christ, have sin consciouness and your feelings are deceiving to fear loss of Salvation, stop. God says to believers,

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE.” (Hebrews 10:16 KJV)

Believers have one thing mentioned to fear and it is not loss of Salvation….

 

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

Believers…. REST IN CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK TO SAVE YOU.

Jesus said on that cross,

IT IS FINISHED!

(John 19:30)