Q&A: Salvation

Did Jesus Die For Our Sins So That Us Bad People Could Become Good People?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Salvation
Did Jesus Die For Our Sins So That Us Bad People Could Become Good People?

The Scriptures are very clear that this is actually not the case. Instead what we see is that the Bible is always reading in terms of us being ‘dead’ or ‘alive’. This is an important point to consider about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, otherwise we can be caught up in wrong teaching about Salvation and placing our ongoing sanctification after our moment of Salvation back in as a requirement of our justification with God through Christ.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells us of the story of the Prodigal Son who returned home. He had taken His Father’s inheritance early and went away doing all sorts of wrong living until the money ran out and he found himself in a pig’s pen eating as the pigs did. It is then he came to his senses and knowing he was very wrong in what he did he went back to his Father’s house to tell him that he was not worthy to be his son and ask if he could live as one of his servants. Yet as he approached the estate he seen his Father a long way off running toward him who then embraced him lovingly, without even hear what had happened to the son. We see what happens when his brother who never left his Father’s side all this time sees this and gets upset.

“21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son WAS DEAD, and is ALIVE AGAIN; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother WAS DEAD, and is ALIVE AGAIN; and was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15: 21-32 KJV)

In verse 24 and 32, one might expect it to say something along the lines of  ‘the son had gone BAD and now has become GOOD’ but that is not what the text reads. Instead Jesus uses the contrast of one who is DEAD who has become ALIVE. This is the theme we start seeing throughout the Scriptures in regards to our Salvation and Justification with our loving God.

We see this again in this passage of Scripture:

“And you, being DEAD IN YOUR SINS and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you ALL TRESPASSES; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:13-18 KJV)

And in this wonderful passage of good news for believers the word ‘ALL’ in the Greek is  Strongs # G3956: πᾶς pâs, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—all (manner of, means), alway s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.

This word ‘ALL’ is telling us ALL our sins committed in the past, present and also in our future have all be paid for by Christ on the cross. ALL MEANS ALL.

If our Salvation had a requirement that we are changing from a bad person to a good person through our own efforts, even if done in gratitude for what Christ has done for us, that is a false teaching because it is Christ who paid for our sins – not us after our Salvation. We cannot be the mediator between man and God. That position is reserved for Jesus Christ alone.

“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)

I love the Book of Hebrews and in Hebrews 10:14 is a very clear statement regarding our Salvation through faith in Christ alone:

“For by ONE OFFERING he hath PERFECTED FOR EVER them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 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;” (Hebrews 10:14-16 KJV)

I ask you, who gave this ONE OFFERING? Was it you or me? No it was Jesus Christ on the cross. Being a ONE offering that perfected us for ever, do we then make being a good person after our Salvation a requirement of staying saved? I am making a point here because it is so important to understand. Christ paid it all my friends!

On the cross Jesus cried out “IT IS FINISHED”. And of you look at the Greek it literally means ‘DEBT PAID IN FULL’. What debt? Our debt of sins against God. Jesus did not make a partial payment on that cross! He made a FULL and COMPLETE payment for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD and as we read Jesus’ own words,

“…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)

Apostle Paul tells us the very same thing stating very clearly that “…he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be MADE the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV) You see, we are MADE the righteousness of God in Christ; not that we work our way to being a good person in hopes of becoming nor staying righteous positionally before God. That is a very big difference!

“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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)

The word JUSTIFIED as used in the Scriptures is an interesting word. In Greek it means ‘to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous’. So this is God declaring a person is justified and righteous once they believe on Christ alone for their Salvation.

Salvation and Justification with God are only by BELIEF and FAITH in the only atonement available for our sins which is Christ crucified. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, who is God in the flesh who was born of the Virgin Mary, who, as God, lived a sinless life in thought and deed and then willingly gave His life on the cross as a sacrificial payment for the sins of the whole world. All who believe this can have full assurance of their eternal Salvation and the Scriptures I mention above (plus so many others in the Word of God!) make this clear.

When Did You Die?

If you are reading this you are probably acknowledging that you are NOT DEAD YET! Right? Yet, if you believe on Christ as your Savior you are actually now dead! You already died when Christ died o the cross 2000 years ago.

Apostle Paul makes this amazing statement,

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 KJV)

When Jesus died on that cross, He took our ‘old self’, our ‘old man’, and nailed it to the cross with Him and paid for our sins in our place. And so, when Jesus rose from the dead, so did we rise to newness of life. A believer’s eternal life does not start at our physical death. No. The above verse shows us that it starts from our very moment of Salvation and belief on Christ!

Christ truly does live within us now through the comforter; The Holy Spirit. From our very moment of belief on Christ we are SEALED and given an ‘earnest’ (which means ‘guaranteed down payment’) that one day we will receive our new resurrected bodies, free from the sin nature we struggle with right now.

“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)

Apostle Paul tells us this same thing and adds that once we recognize this truth, it should encourage us to start living as our NEW SELF, our NEW MAN. The ‘old self’ has died with Christ on the cross and our newly created Spirit has become the REAL US now. This is the Doctrine of the Two Natures of a Believer as Paul taught in Romans 7. We are a newly created spirit yet we have The Flesh, our sinful flesh body not yet resurrected and it causes a struggle between the new us, that is our ‘new self’, and the sin nature of the body with it’s lusts.

Paul show this in a beautiful way in Romans 6,

“For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:7-11 KJV)

Summarize:

1. Our ‘old man’, our ‘old self’ DIED on the cross as believers.

2. We should be living our lives in the light that God has MADE US the very righteousness of God , IN CHRIST. Our ‘new self’. BELIEVE THAT!

3. We are FREED from the penalty of our sin because all our sins, even future ones, were all nailed to the cross and paid for in full by Jesus The Christ.

4. We are called UNTO good works and right living after our Salvation because we are now in Christ and He is living through us in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Yet, these good works and deeds and right living are not requirements of our justification with God. Apostle Paul tells us to walk in the spirit to avoid the lusts of the flesh. We are to focus on our ‘new self’ and move forward with good works in gratitude for such a great Salvation we have been given.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

is same as….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned ALREADY, because he hath not BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:14-18 KJV)

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

BELIEVE, BELIEVE, BELIEVE.

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

“In whom ye also trusted, AFTER that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER that YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the EARNEST (in Greek means ‘guaranteed down payment’) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (until our bodily resurrection), unto the praise of his glory. ” (Ephesians 1:13-14 bracket comments added by mean for further clarification)

BELIEVE!

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

Romans 5: Isn’t There Too Much Talk And Teaching About God’s Grace?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Grace Of God, Q&A: Salvation, Romans
Romans 5: Isn’t There Too Much Talk And Teaching About God’s Grace?

ROMANS 5

Salvation is God’s Grace FREE GIFT to us. Unmerited.
A Gift not to be worked for but to be received.

“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.” (Romans 5:15-19 KJV)

How are we made righteous then? Is it by us doing good works? By not sinning (even though we should not)? By religious rituals? By attending a church building? By helping the poor? These are all things we should do after Salvation but NOT as a requirement of our justification and righteousness. No, instead out of great gratitude and love for what God did for us. For GOD’S GREAT love for us is so higher than any love that we can bestow on others, that HE became flesh (Jesus The Christ) and died horribly on the cross so that we might be saved and with Him for all eternity. No greater love is there than what God has done for us, even when we were once His enemies.

Some believers are teaching and telling believers… ‘there is too much talk about grace, Salvation is not eternal, you must add to what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. Add good works. Add religious rituals. Add doing good. Add not sinning again.’ The list goes on and on.. Yet what we really need is to realize God’s GRACE is ABOUNDING TOWARD US CONSTANTLY.

Believe it. Accept it. Walk in it. Walk in the Law of Liberty we have in Christ! He shed His blood so that we could have this GREAT GRACE.

From this truth will flow out of us good works. Not forced good works to keep us saved! No! Good works with the right motive and that motive is showing grace to others and sharing what God has done for us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth NOT is condemned ALREADY, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18 KJV)

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

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

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

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

In this prayer it reads,

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

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

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

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

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

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

THINK HOW AWESOME THAT IS!!

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

Does The Gospel Teach Perseverance or Preservation Of A Believer?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About...
Does The Gospel Teach Perseverance or Preservation Of A Believer?

The Bible teaches PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS (believers on Christ’s atonement for our sin on the cross and making us righteous by BELIEF Jesus is God in the flesh.) AND NOT as many pulpits and false prophets are teaching PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS (through self righteous works and human effort for justification)

“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. FAITHFUL IS HE THAT CALLETH YOU, WHO ALSO WILL DO IT” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 KJV)

“Being confident of this very thing, that HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU will PERFORM IT until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6 KJV)

“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)

We Cannot Even Be Our Own Mediator With God

“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)

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3:9 KJV)

“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)

Repent (change your mind) And Believe (Jesus is God in the flesh who took the deserved punishment for your sins)

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

Will You Make Your commitment To Christ To Be Saved? Is This A Salvation Invitation? NO!

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations
Will You Make Your commitment To Christ To Be Saved? Is This A Salvation Invitation? NO!

Salvation by the Gospel Of Grace that the Apostle Paul taught is a Salvation with no good works or religious rituals required. It is not our self righteous good deeds that will make us acceptable to God for our justification. Following The Law of Moses will not save a person neither and that includes God’s Ten Commandments, an absolute truth from God of what is Holy and acceptable. The problem is we cannot keep the Ten Commandments perfectly as God does.

“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)

This verse by the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians and to everyone is very clear.

The problem with a Salvation invitation asking for a commitment to Christ is implying to a person that it is their own works that will save them. They need to DO something in order to be justified and kept saved. That however, is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ we find in the Bible.

A commitment to Christ could imply many things such as obeying, being a good person, making a better effort to do good to others and the list goes on and on. Are those things bad to do? No, they are good to do and after our Salvation we should be walking in good deeds and helping others and working on being a better person as a believer.

However, to a person that is not yet saved none of these things MAKE a person righteous. None of these things justify a person with God. None of these things erase the debt of sins we have committed against others and against God.

You see friends, the Bible does not tell us that the wages of sin is good works. The Bible does not tell us that the wages of sin is religious rituals. The wages of sin is not being a good person nor treating others right. The Bible states very clear that God says that the wages of sin is DEATH. An eternal death in a place called hell.

“For the wages of sin is death;…” (Romans 6:23 KJV)

In our own efforts we have no hope and we are already lost and headed for eternal death in a place called hell.

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18 KJV)

Yet, God loved us so much that the second part to this verse in Romans 6 tells us how to be saved. Here is the full verse:

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 KJV)

Salvation is a GIFT from God to be received and is a gift of God’s amazing grace. It is a gift of God’s Grace. The word gift in this verse in the Greek it was penned is the Greek word ‘charisma‘ and is defined as ‘a favor with which one receives without any merit of his own, an unmerited favor’.

This is a gift we do nothing to earn. A GIFT is not something we work for. It is something we can decide to accept or reject.

How Do We Accept And Receive This Gift Of Eternal Life?

  • Going to church does NOT make you a Christian.
  • Doing good works and being good to others alone does NOT make you a Christian.
  • Being a “good person” does NOT make you a Christian.
  • Being born into a family of a certain denomination does NOT make you a Christian.
  • Being baptized as a baby does NOT make you a Christian.
  • Being baptized with water alone does not make you a Christian.
  • Speaking in ‘tongues’ does NOT make you a Christian.
  • Asking a priest in a confessional booth to absolve your sins does not make you a Christian.
  • Doing penance does not make you a Christian.
  • Following Sacraments does not make you Christian.
  • Being a good person does not make you a Christian.

There is NOTHING we can DO to become a Christian except one; BELIEVE that Jesus was the Son of God, God in the flesh, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life and took upon Himself the punishment we deserve for our sins on the cross, and rose again. If you BELIEVE this then you are saved. You do not even need a prayer; although it is okay to pray about it with God!

Salvation is by BELIEF in Christ’s work of atonement for our sins, without works as a requirement. It is a FREE GIFT to forgive your sins and wash you 100% clean. And to MAKE you 100% righteous in your Newly Created Spirit.

God is a Perfectly Just being and He MUST punish the sins we committed. But God also loves us perfectly and is Perfect in His Mercy towards us. By sending Himself in the human person of Jesus Christ, living a completely sinless life and taking the punishment that we deserve, God has paid the penalty for our sins. But have you accepted His FREE GIFT of forgiveness? Do you believe?

Believing in the atonement of Christ is the only thing that can save us. Here are many Scriptures about how to be saved. You will notice good works nor self righteous deeds nor religious rituals are not even mentioned. These have been added by mankind at pulpits leading many astray from the true Gospel Of Grace that Apostle Paul taught. These things are not found as the way to receive Salvation and justification with God; but the word “BELIEVE” and “FAITH’ 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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

 

“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 1:13-16 KJV)

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that BELIEVETH on him is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned already, because he hath not BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV)

 

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the FAITH of Jesus Christ, even we have BELIEVED in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the FAITH of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16 KJV)

 

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the FAITH of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by FAITH:” (Philippians 3:9 KJV)

 

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:28-29 KJV)

 

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that BELIEVETH on me shall never thirst.But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and BELIEVE NOT. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:35-40 KJV)

 

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and BELIEVETH on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24 KJV)

 

“And he BELIEVED in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6 KJV)

 

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that BELIEVETH; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV)

 

“Even the righteousness of God which is by FAITH of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that BELIEVE: for there is no difference:” (Romans 3:22 KJV)

 

“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which BELIEVETH in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26 KJV)

 

“But to him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5 KJV)

 

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:23 KJV)

 

“Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5 KJV)

 

“These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13 KJV)

 

…. and the list of Scriptures proving this goes on and on and on.

 

Is The Doctrine Of Sinless Perfection Biblical?

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

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

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

The book of John says otherwise:

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

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

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

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

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

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
(1 John 1: 4-10 KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2 KJV)

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

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

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-20 KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Focus on that.

Is Praying The Sinners Prayer Required To Be Saved? Is An Altar Call Required?

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations
Is Praying The Sinners Prayer Required To Be Saved? Is An Altar Call Required?

There is not a verse in the Bible that I have found that uses a prayer as the way for a person to be saved. There are lots of prayers for a person or people to receive Salvation. There may have been those who prayed confessing that we are sinful and/or thanking God for what He did on the cross 2000 years ago for us. But never have I read that the first thing required is a prayer of any kind.

The Bible is clear and consistent that Salvation and Justification with God is by faith and belief in Christ alone. No good works nor deeds are a requirement of Salvation (although we should have good works AFTER Salvation). No religious rituals are a requirement of Salvation (although water Baptism AFTER  Salvation is an outward expression). In fact, an altar call to a pulpit is not even required. These actions are not required for Salvation and justification with God.

The Bible is clear that Salvation is by BELIEVING on the only atonement for sin provided by the only begotten Son of God, Jesus The Christ, who was conceived by the virgin Mary. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, who lived a sinless life in mind and deed and who died on the cross paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world. On the third day after His death He rose again and later ascended to the right hand of the Father. And whosoever believes this is saved from the very moment of belief and sealed by the Holy Spirit.  This is the Gospel Of Grace that the Apostle Paul taught us.

Is it okay to pray a sinner’s prayer in gratitude and belief in the true way to be saved? Yes. However, the important point here is that it is not the prayer that saves you. It is your belief in the Gospel Of Grace that the Apostle Paul taught that saves you. Just saying a prayer nor going to an altar call does not save anyone without understanding the Gospel Of Grace. There must be belief in the one and only way God tells us to be saved. We must be careful about this because the sinners prayers (and not all are the same!) are written by humans and some could be in great error and causing wrong belief! And that means a person can think they are saved when they still are not saved. This is a real danger today when there are so many false gospels being preached from TV evangelists, word of faith movement preachers, prosperity gospel preachers and the rampant works for Salvation false gospel.

Here are many Scriptures about how to be saved. You will notice a prayer is not found as the first step but the word “BELIEVE” and “FAITH’ 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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

 

“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 1:13-16 KJV)

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that BELIEVETH on him is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned already, because he hath not BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV)

 

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the FAITH of Jesus Christ, even we have BELIEVED in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the FAITH of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16 KJV)

 

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the FAITH of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by FAITH:” (Philippians 3:9 KJV)

 

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:28-29 KJV)

 

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that BELIEVETH on me shall never thirst.But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and BELIEVE NOT. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:35-40 KJV)

 

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and BELIEVETH on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24 KJV)

 

“And he BELIEVED in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6 KJV)

 

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that BELIEVETH; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV)

 

“Even the righteousness of God which is by FAITH of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that BELIEVE: for there is no difference:” (Romans 3:22 KJV)

 

“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which BELIEVETH in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26 KJV)

 

“But to him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5 KJV)

 

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:23 KJV)

 

“Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5 KJV)

 

“These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13 KJV)

 

….and the list of Scriptures proving this goes on and on and on.

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GOD HATES RELIGION! SHOCKED?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Salvation
GOD HATES RELIGION! SHOCKED?

This statement is very true according to the Bible. The most religious people of Jesus’ times on Earth were the Pharisees and what does Jesus say to them?

“O generation of VIPERS, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12: 34-36 KJV)

He called them VIPERS out for the kill. Coveting for money and instilling fear to accomplish this. And then we see Jesus get quite upset at these religious leaders in Matthew 23:

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23: 29-39 KJV)

Look at those TOUGH TOUGH words of Jesus! We see here clearly just how much God hates religion! Religion is man working their way through self righteous deeds to be justified with God. But that is the sin of PRIDE, the same sin that caused Lucifer (the shining angel closet to Gods thrown) to become Satan (our adversary and hater of God and humans). And more than that, the leaders in these religions that are coveting for money and power are even worse. Just as Jesus warned Israel, in 70 AD, the Jewish people were dispersed into other nations and have been until recently when in May of 1948, when the main prophecy triggering the End Times Generation was fulfilled, Israel once again became a nation and the Jewish people in other nations have been returning.

Many people believe that the Bible is not true and that Jesus is not God. Many who do not believe though are simply seeing the irony, hypocrisy and corruption in Christian religious organizations and denominations. They see Christians in general as ‘pious’ pointing their noses down at unbelievers and people who ‘think they are better’ and they attribute that with the Word of God. But is that the truth? No, it is not. It is the Christian RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS pushing the negativity. Telling others to BE GOOD or GOD WILL GET YOU! Yet, all the while we hear of child molestation in the church, preachers caught with hookers and worse. Do not get me wrong. I am not talking about ALL priests and pastors who are truly serving God. GOD BLESS THEM!! But to the unsaved people out there, this is all they hear on the news. It is all they see and it makes them angry. Heck, it makes ME ANGRY!

The real problem here is that the vast majority of Christian religious organizations and denominations are not teaching the Biblical Gospel of Grace that Apostle Paul taught. Most of these organizations teach false gospel messages such as the rampant prosperity gospel (God wants to make you rich) of TV evangelists, the extreme coveting of works based salvation gospel (It is what you DO that matters. Do more good than bad and then MAYBE you will make it to heaven), the word of faith movement false gospel (just say the right words with ENOUGH faith) and the list goes on and on.

Why is it that so many are being deceived? The reason is no one is reading their Bible anymore! Most people have a Bible but it just collects dust. And so, many pulpits can take any verses they want. Standing alone with a verse taken out of context of the whole chapter or book of the Bible can make it say anything they like because no one is checking if what they are teaching is actually Biblical or not!

I can tell you I was shocked when I started reading the Word of God and how the religion I was in was completely teaching against the Gospel of Grace that God gave us gentiles through the Apostle Paul. SHOCKED!

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 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.”
(Romans 5:10-16 KJV)

You see Salvation is not something we can accomplish by our own self righteous efforts nor by following a set of religious rituals. Salvation and JUSTIFICATION with God is a FREE GIFT!

“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)

“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)

“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.. But if, while we seek to be justified BY CHRIST, we ourselves also are FOUND SINNERS, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make MYSELF a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for IF RIGHTEOUSNESS COME BY THE LAW, THEN CHRIST DIED IN VAIN.” (Galatians 2:16-21 KJV)

The very definition of GRACE is an UNMERITED FAVOR. The definition of a GIFT is, well a free gift to be RECEIVED. And the definition of ETERNAL LIFE is… ETERNAL LIFE!

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3 KJV)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30 KJV)

“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21 KJV)

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified BY HIS GRACE, we should be made HEIRS according to the hope of ETERNAL LIFE. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings ABOUT THE LAW; for they are UNPROFITABLE AND VAIN.” (Titus 3:5-9 KJV)

The Law spoken of here is the Law of Moses. Many know of this to be The Ten Commandments but it also includes hundreds of other rules that the Jewish people aspired to uphold, yet in vain. You see The Law of Moses and Ten Commandments are HOLY and RIGHT. However, the Bible is clear that trying to do the Law perfectly is impossible and will not MAKE a person Holy.

In fact, the Bible tells us that “Moreover the law entered, that the offence MIGHT ABOUND. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20)

“The sting of death is sin; and the STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory THROUGH our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57 KJV)

I can tell you that the first time I read that I was floored! God gave us the Ten Commandments so that wrong doing would abound and increase? What?! All those years being taught to follow the Ten Commandments and not commit a “mortal sin” to finally read the Bible myself and find that the Apostle Paul told us that ‘The STRENGTH of SIN.. IS THE LAW?’ The Ten Commandments even? I never heard that one in a church service!

The truth is, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we may be justified BY FAITH. BUT AFTER that faith is come, we are NO LONGER under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:24-25 KJV)

God gave us the Law so we would stop comparing our “goodness” with ‘other bad people’ and instead compare our goodness with Holy God Almighty. And I can tell you WE ALL FAIL MISERABLY trying to attain righteousness through our own self righteous efforts in good works, deeds and religious rituals in an organized religion.

“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become EXCEEDING SINFUL. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Romans 7:12-14 KJV)

The Ten Commandments ARE HOLY but cannot MAKE YOU HOLY! They actually show us just ow sinful we are. Heaven is a perfect place and to go to heaven we must be PERFECT. But we are NOT perfected by doing good works. The Bible says that the “wages of sin is death” not “good works and religious rituals”. DEATH and the Greek for the word DEATH here is ETERNAL DEATH. The good works we do will not erase any sin that we have committed. NEVER! Is your church pulpit teaching otherwise? If so, just read the Bible for yourself and discover the truth!

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED in his sight: for by the law is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.” (Romans 3:20 KJV)

In John 6:28-29 Jesus makes this clear when asked “…`What can we do in order to do what God wants us to do? Jesus answered, `What God wants you to do is to believe in the one He sent.” (John 6:28-29 KJV)

The Apostle Paul is VERY clear that Salvation and justification with God is not by ANY of our own efforts. It is all by faith through the grace of God through Jesus The Christ crucified.

“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)

Jesus Himself also said clearly the way to attain Salvation in John 3:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH in him should NOT perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that BELIEVETH on him is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned ALREADY, because he hath not BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:14-18 KJV)

Look how many times the word BELIEVE is used in this very direct message of how to be saved and ‘born again’. Believe in what? What is the object of our faith that we should believe in? ‘Whosoever believes in CHRIST’, God in the flesh, and the only atonement for the sins of the world that He provided for us on the cross. The fact is, you do not even need to say a prayer to be saved. The Bible never tells us that we need a sinners prayer. Yes, it is okay to pray the sinners prayer. Do not write me angry letters now. I am just making a point here and it is that the Bible tells us that all that is required for Salvation and justification with God is to BELIEVE by faith what Christ accomplished on the cross for us as God in the flesh. He paid the penalty for our sins so that we did not have to. And then He MADE US the very righteousness of God, in CHRIST. The liberty I felt once I knew the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was like a weight coming off my sinful back. The best word to describe the moment when the lights came on in my mind by the Word of God is FREEDOM!!

I mean before being saved and even now, I am a pretty decent guy. But even so, I still have sin. Don’t you? The Bible says it only takes ONE sin to disqualify us fro Heaven. That means ALL Of US until we accept Salvation as a gift. Doing so is actually giving up on trying to appease an angry God. I felt freedom from trying to work my way into God’s favor. I am now highly favored and accepted by God. I am DEEMED BY GOD to be HOLY RIGHTEOUS and REDEEMED, even when I fail. Even when I fall into a sin. Christ eradicated my sin debt. THANK GOD!! I could NEVER do it myself!

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6 KJV)

Are you attending a church that is NOT teaching this? If so, LEAVE that dead church! Experience the freedom provided by the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the Word of God, not from men using Scriptures out of context to covet for money and church membership by instilling FEAR into the members without giving the assurance of eternal life. FEAR is the opposite of FAITH.

As 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)

You see it? If the SON (Jesus The Christ) shall MAKE YOU FREE. The key word here is MAKE. We do not make ourselves Holy and justified with God through our own efforts. NO! By believing on the atonement for sin provided by Christ Jesus on that cross, Jesus MADE US FREE from the bondage of sin. He paid our entire life of sinful deeds, even our future sins not yet committed (all sins are future to the cross right?)

We do not have to FEAR God once we believe in Christ. We have been MADE RIGHTEOUS and are Heaven bound! Those preaching FEAR and saying we cannot know if we will be good enough to make it to Heaven are so VERY WRONG! Thinking and believing that way; I can guarantee that you will NOT make it to Heaven. We CAN KNOW if we are saved and John makes this clear to us:

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

Do not take my words in this article on my own merit. NO! Go read the Word of God! Go read 1 John 5. Go read John 3. It is the Word of God that has the very words of eternal life and justification with God through the Salvation provided by the Son of God, Jesus The Christ (the anointed one and God in the flesh).

TRUTH ABOUT: Willfully Sinning After Salvation.

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

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

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and NOT FOR OURS ONLY, but also for the sins OF THE WHOLE WORLD.” (1 John 2:2 KJV) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is what is meant when the Bible says,

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

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

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