Q&A: False Salvation Invitations

The True Salvation Equation

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations, Q&A: Salvation
The True Salvation Equation

Do you know for sure that you are going to Heaven when you die physically?

If not, then you have not heard the true Gospel of salvation from the BIBLE.

God’s Salvation Equation:

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:

– 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:

– Faith+Nothing=Salvation+No Works Required To Remain Saved.
– Faith+GoodWorks=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). It is ALL CHRIST’s WORK…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,

“3 Now YE ARE CLEAN through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 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. 5 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.

Does A Backslider and an Apostate Have The Same Meaning?

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations, Q&A: The Truth About...
Does A Backslider and an Apostate Have The Same Meaning?

We  hear about Christians who ‘backslide’ from the faith. Some say they have lost salvation. Others say that this is what an Apostate person is. However, when we look at Scripture in context these two things are not the same. A believer who backslides is not an apostate.

A Back Slid Believer

A person that has believed on Christ for salvation, apart from their works, is a born again person in the Spirit and is saved eternally from the moment of belief on Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 2 :8-9, Eph 1:13-14, John 3:14-18). Some after they are saved fall into a sin, or sins, that leads to a loss of fellowship with God. That is not to say that God has left them, nor that the Holy Spirit has left them. It could be a guilt of such a believer that keeps them from confessing their sin to God. They feel God no longer will want fellowship after committing such a sin. They may turn from God because they fear and are ashamed. Instead, we should run to God and confess the sin and ask God to help us overcome the specific sin. God knows EVERYTHING and He also foreknew what sins you and I would commit before and after our moment of salvation. We cannot hide sin from God. Run to him for help. God will help us. God already forgave all our sins on that cross of Christ (1 John 2:2). Yet, we need to improve and live right for God. We will not doing this perfectly as we still need our minds renewed (Romans 12) and our mind will not be perfectly renewed until our bodily resurrection. But in gratitude, we should be striving to avoid sinning. We will fail at times and we should not deny that fact (1 John 1:10) but we should confess our sins to God, thank Him that He forgave us through the cross of Christ and ask God to help us do better. That is a healthy prayer of truth and faith.

Backsliding can also be a result of a person who, because of life circumstances, has turned from God in their life, after salvation. Does this mean the person has lost salvation? No. Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us that from the moment a person believes on Christ, they are sealed with the indwelling Holy Spirit until the day of our bodily resurrection. At that time, we will be in Heaven already and so this means for eternity. The Holy Spirit works to restore a believer who has back slid from the truth, for them to confess their sin and come back to fellowship with God. We see this in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The son made the decision to leave the father. The father did not kick him out of the house. While in the world, away from fellow shipping with his father, it brought the son to a place of being with the pigs and finally coming to his senses. He went back home to ask to be a servant in the father’s house, as he felt unworthy to be treated like his son. He came to an end of his self in sinful living, out of fellowship with his father. He confessed to his father. But what did the father do? He seen his son coming from a distance and he ran toward him and embraced him. And then he had a celebration because his son has come back to fellowship. This is our God!

All this to state that a back slid believer is not a person who has lost salvation. For whatever reason, they lost a solid fellowship with God, they lost that close relationship for living with God. They did not lose their salvation.

An Apostate

An Apostate is not a back slid believer. The English translated word ‘APOSTATE’ in Greek is the word ‘apostasia‘.  It is defined as a ‘falling away, to forsake’. When we read this Scripture, the English translated word FORSAKE is this very same word ‘apostasia’.

“And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to G575 forsake G646 Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.” (Acts 21:21 KJV)

To forsake Moses is to not believe Moses. Apostates are not believers. It is a person who has learned the knowledge of the truth of the Gospel of Salvation, yet when he came right down to it, they decided to NOT BELIEVE. An Apostate is a person that may seem to others as if they are actually a born again believer, yet do not believe the Gospel of salvation without works required. There are some who know the Gospel so clearly that they can teach it, yet they themselves never came to true belief on Christ for their righteousness.

Judas Iscariot is a person that comes to mind in Scripture. Judas lived and travelled with Jesus during His earthly ministry. He was in the inner circle of the disciples who would become known as the Apostles. He was one of the men sent out to the house of Israel, to p reach the good news. So, he could obviously teach the Gospel and knew the Gospel. Yet, in the end he never really believed Jesus was the Son of God. In the end, he was more interested in Jesus becoming leader and tossing out the Romans. He betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

Eventually an Apostate is a person that looks and acts like a believer but the true colours will show them to not be a believer. In 1 John 2, John wrote this,

“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” (1 John 2:18-25 KJV)

They went out from us. These are not believers who lost salvation and left. They are those who, in the end, never believed even though they were among the believers and talked like them and may have even acted like them. But ACTED is the key word. They were not born again believers.

In 1 John, John is refuting the false teachings of the Gnostics, an enormous heresy in the early church. John tells believers to have NOTHING TO DO WITH APOSTATES and to stay away from them. Why? Because, THEY ARE ANTICHRIST. That means, they look like believers but they are AGAINST CHRIST. They deny that Jesus is the Son of God. They deny Jesus’ deity. We see the same Apostate teachings and religions today. People who use the name of Christ but deny His deity. People who call themselves CHRISTIANS but who deny being born again in the Spirit through belief and trust in Christ and HIS finished work on the cross alone and His rising from the dead (John 3). To them, being a Christian is all about living a Godly life, doing good deeds and being a good person. This is not the Gospel. The Gospel is not by our own efforts, nor our good works before salvation (Eph. 2:8-9), nor our good works after our moment of salvation (Eph 1:13-14, Galatians 3, 5:4-5). Salvation and a born again Spirit is only by BELIEF ON CHRIST and HIS FINISHED work on the cross and His rising from the dead.

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

Believing that our works has anything to do with how we are born again in the Spirit is called BOASTING in pride by Apostle Paul,

“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)

Having good works in love of others is a good thing, but it will never make a person righteous before God. Only AFTER a person trusts on Christ’s blood atonement sacrifice on the cross , having paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), and His rising from the dead, will our good works count FROM our new Spiritual state of righteousness that God MADE US (2 Cor,. 5:17-21). This is what Paul is stating here. Works do not save us. God’s grace through faith in the FREE GIFT Of GOD by belief on Christ saves us. As a GIFT, it is unmerited. It is unearned. We do not earn gifts, we accept or reject a gift. By believing on Christ we have accepted the free gift of salvation as Paul had just stated earlier in Eph 1:13-14. Verse 10 then explains that good works will flow from our new born again Spirit. We are HIS workmanship, CREATED in Christ, UNTO good works. But the works are not what saves us, nor makes us a righteous person. So, as believers we should have good works because we had a heart transplant. We have a new Spirit which is fully redeemed and as righteous to the Father as Christ is. Good works after salvation do not keep us saved though (Gal. 3, 5:4-5).

An enormous truth that many Christians have not known nor believe but that Apostle Paul stated,

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

Notice BE MADE. Who is doing the making? Us by our works? Paul says no in Ephesians 2:8-9 and so the answer is a resounding no! GOD MADE US! All our sins have been paid in full. Our Spirit is now the righteousness of God, because we are in Christ and Christ is in us. A perfect union which Jesus prayed for us in John 17 and that Paul explains in detail in Colossians 2. Two passages, that if you have not read, go read; SUCH A BLESSING TRUTH!

Jesus taught the same in Matthew 7 and gave a great warning to those who are not born again, but are using Jesus’ name in their false teaching. They are FALSE PROPHETS among true believers. They look like believers. Their works are good looking. They talk the talk but do not believe the Gospel. They are Apostates who are actually not believers, though they may think they are. Jesus warns them that on their judgment day, they will find themselves not at the Bema Judgment Seat of believers in Heaven, but instead they will find themselves at the Great White Throne judgment of Unbelievers to be condemned. They will have trusted in their own works and own perceived goodness by their works and rejected salvation by God’s grace through Christ Jesus on the cross. As such, they are not born again in the Spirit and they will have to pay the wages of sin (Romans 6:23) themselves. It was their choice and they chose wrong in boastful pride. Jesus stern warning,

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)

What is the ‘will of the Father’ Jesus spoke of here? I will let Jesusu answer that question for you because in John 6 Jeus was asked and He answered what the will of the Father is.

“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)

The will of the Father is to believe on Christ for salvation.

The apostates in Matthew 7 had an iniquity and it was not sins they committed. Their iniquity was their unbelief and boasting in their own works tio save themselves. They think they are good enough without belief on Christ alone! God states that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isahiah 64:6 KJV).  These are Apostates. They are UNBELIEVERS who DENY Christ as Messiah, the Son of God who paid for all the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) and rose again. Yet, they are among the believer community and may look like they are believers by their works.

We see many religions today that are Apostate. Religions teaching our works are what matter for salvation and righteousness. So many, so called ‘Christian’ Religions rising and growing stronger, while true born again believers are leaving them.

Jack Kelly (RIP) wrote something to take notice about in Revelation. It is so right on the bullseye of truth and so relevant to us living today, here in the End Times generation just before the Church Age ends. Jack wrote:

“For the Lord’s prophecy to the churches of of our times, compare the Church of Philadelphia with the Church of Laodicea in Rev. 3 About Philadelphia, a model of the evangelical Church, He said, “I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and not denied my name.” (Rev. 3:8) But when it comes to Laodicea, a model of the apostate church, it’s a different story. Here Jesus said, “You say, ‘I am rich. I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Rev. 3:17)

– Jack Kelley from https://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/the-declining-church/

Does that ever describe the declining state of Christianity today. Apostasy, a great falling away has occurred, and is still occurring increasingly, in many churches that were once teaching being born again in the Spirit by belief on Christ and not by works. And some apostates left true teaching Churches and started their own which completely deny Christ’s deity but who are still using Jesus’ name! Religions such as:

  • The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints
  • Jehovah’s Witness
  • Christian Science
  • and the list goes on.

The Church is NOT a building. The Church consists of members who believe salvation is a free gift of God, not of works, through belief in Christ and His once for all payment (Hebrews 10:10) for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) and His rising from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

 

MATTHEW 7: JESUS TALKS ABOUT TRUE SALVATION vs FALSE SALVATION

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations, Q&A: Salvation
MATTHEW 7: JESUS TALKS ABOUT TRUE SALVATION vs FALSE SALVATION
 
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)
Some are actually using these verses to state that a born again believer can lose Salvation. That is so very wrong when you look at all of Matthew 7 and the context. In Matthew 7 we see Jesus showing different roads people are believing to be saved and that only one road is the true way of salvation; BELIEF ON CHRIST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Jesus talked about TWO ROADS people are on regarding their salvation. One is by works and deeds and the other is by trusting in the finished work of Christ, the foretold Messiah. He also talked about two gates which are the strait gate and the wide gate. Jesus said,

“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 thereat: 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)

The straight gate?

Well, Jesus said few will find it. So what about the wide gate then? What is the wrong belief of those entering the false wide gate to salvation if many are on that road to that gate? Well, other then Christianity, just about every other religion teaches that a person is saved by their works and deeds and religious rituals. If a person has more good than bad deeds, then they will make it to heaven. The thing is, Jesus is telling us that that is what FALSE PROPHETS are teaching (verse 15)!
 

What Is The Narrow Way, The Straight Gate?

In John 14 Jesus proclaimed that HE IS THE WAY to salvation,

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ” (John 14:6 KJV)
You see, Jesus is the narrow straight gate! Not our self righteous works and deeds. If we think our self righteous works and deeds and that we are ‘good enough’ will save us, it becomes are comparison game with other people who sin more. In fact, Jesus said that right from the start of Matthew 7,

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1 KJV)
The truth is that,

“…we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV)
It is only by understanding this truth of how God sees the unsaved that we can find the truth about how to be saved. It is NOT by good works, deeds and religious rituals in self righteousness. When we start from this truth, we see how wretched we really are before God and that NO ONE is exempt in this regard! What we need is to now seek the truth about salvation and the good news is that next we see Jesus saying,

“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.” (Matthew 7: 7-8 KJV)
Thank God for this promise! The gate is narrow because salvation is only through Christ. But a person cannot find this unless they acknowledge their own sinfulness and how wretched they really are first. Our sense of good and bad by comparing with others who sin more, or have ‘greater’ sins is not seeking salvation. It is actually just deceiving ourselves!

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8 KJV)
 
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10 KJV)

Those On The Wide Road

:: Not Born Again Legalists:

These are those who believe they are saved and they use Jesus’ name even. They state things in the sin of PRIDE such as ‘Jesus saved me through the cross but now I have to work to keep saved.’ or even worse, ‘I have kept the commandments and no longer sin.’ These are people who are not saved but only think they are. Then they tell others that they are not saved if they think they have sin! They are judgemental towards truly saved people. This is a haughty Spirit and not a born again believer. God says ‘haughty is naughty’! (Romans 2:1-4, Luke 6:37).

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 KJV)
Some are even offended by a person saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross. They use Scripture, but they ignore the context.
 

:: Miracle Working False Prophets:

They use Jesus’ name. They believe in their works and religious rituals. They try to get God to do what they want. They may even have or seem to have done miracles. Because of this they believe they must be saved. That is not truth though. That is false doctrine. Remember that when the Antichrist comes he will perform miracles that will deceive people into thinking he is the Messiah come!

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thes. 2:9-10 KJV)
This is a person on the wide gate to condemnation. I am not saying a born again believer can not have miracles in their life. But the FALSE PROPHETS are not born again by belief and trust alone in Christ and believe they are saved because they are able to perform miracles. And some are faking miracles as false prophets as well.

:: False Works Based Belief On Salvation:

These are people that believe in God. They go to church. They follow the church religion rituals. They seem to be ‘good people’ outwardly. They may even do many good and wonderful works for others. The problem is that they believe their good works erase their sinful deeds. Or they think if they have more good deeds than bad deeds that God will somehow just forget about their sins. Yet, They fail to realize that God is an eternal being who NEVER CHANGES. This is once again the sin of PRIDE and BOASTING in self righteousness, just as the Pharisees were believing in Law of Moses following for righteousness. And it is seriously wrong! Jesus called the Pharisees things like ‘vipers’ and ‘hypocrites’, ‘looking clean outside but inside full of dead men’s bones’.

“For I am the Lord, I change not…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV)
 
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 KJV)
 
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17 KJV)
Apostle Paul put it like this,

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)
And to God the wages of sin is not good works and deeds nor religious rituals. In God’s economy of righteousness, the wages of sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23)
 

:: False Belief That They Are Good Enough A Person:

If asking people if they will make it to heaven, how often do we hear someone say, “Well, I am a good and deceit person. I try my best to help others and to live a good life.” or “Well, I believe that most religions will lead people to heaven.” This is pure false belief regarding salvation. It once again hinges on the sin of PRIDE and BOASTING in self righteousness. Believing like this, they will not seek the truth and may not find it.
The most scary thing about those on this wide road is they have no idea they are headed for condemnation! They were never born again in the manner and way Jesus said is required.

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:5-7 KJV)
So if we must be born again in the Spirit, how do we do that? First, we recognize that we have sin that we cannot eradicate by our good works. Then Jesus says this is how a person becomes born again in the Spirit,

“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 much Jesus is over emphasizing how to be born again and saved! See any ‘works’ and ‘deeds’ required? No. See any religious rituals required? No. How about tithing? No. What did Jesus say? Nicodemus asked Jesus directly and this was Jesus clear answer: BELIEVETH ON CHRIST! Nothing more. Salvation is the work of Christ and it is a GIFT to be accepted or rejected. As a GIFT it is never EARNED.
Having good works is , well, a good thing! But good works will never give a person salvation. Only belief on Christ’s finished work on the cross will give a person true salvation. After salvation a believer SHOULD have good works because God gave believers a new born again Spirit but even then, we do not do these good works to remain saved. Only Jesus keeps us saved.

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

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.

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)

 

Do Not Mix Law Following With Grace For Justification With God

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations, Q&A: Law of Moses, Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About...
Do Not Mix Law Following With Grace For Justification With God

Apostle Paul wrote,

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 KJV)

The English word ‘dominion’ here in the Greek is ‘kyrieuō‘ and is defined as ‘to rule over’. In essence, in today’s English would be the words ‘your master’.

Does that mean we will never sin as believers? No. But sinning will not be master over us. We have the Holy Spirit living within us to guide us into all truth and to CHANGE us by the renewing of our mind by the Word of God (Romans 12). It is an inward change in the MIND that happens over time and changes us on the inside, in our inner man. This change slowly works it’s way outward into our lives and affects others. We believe right by God’s Word and that expresses in our outward living because as we believe in the mind – is how we live.

What is it, according to Apostle Paul, that causes sin to not be master over us as believers anyway? Is it because we work so hard to not sin? NO , it does not say that. Is it because we obey the Law of Moses? No, it does not say that either.

Why will sin not be master over believers?

Because WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW BUT UNDER GRACE. Reading this verse backwards helps clarify what Paul is actually stating to us.

‘Under grace, we are Not Under The Law, and so sin is not our master.’

Do you see how clear this verse is? It is Law for justification with God or it is by God’s Grace through faith. It is NEVER mixing them together for righteousness.

Paul goes on to say even more about Law following verses Salvation by the Grace of God through Christ Jesus in Romans 7:

“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.” (Romans 7:8 KJV)


What is this ‘concupiscence’? It is defined in the Greek as ‘lusts and desires’. So let’s replace the word so we can see exactly what Paul is meaning in this verse.

“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of lustful desires. For without the law sin was dead.”

Paul is telling us that following the Law of Moses actually causes us to sin more! You see, that is the very purpose of the Ten Commandments; The Law. Here are other verses by Apostle Paul explaining this:

“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)

“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.”
(1 Corinthians 15:56 KJV)


Paul is clearly stating that the very STRENGTH of sinning is following the Law of Moses for justification. I ask you, does that somehow change after being saved by God’s grace? NO.

The Law and Ten Commandments as many know it by were given by God to bring the Jews to their knees in understanding that we CANNOT EVER justify ourselves nor make ourselves Holy in our own self righteous efforts. The Law is a mirror so we can see ourselves as God sees us; wretched sinners needing a Savior. The Law is meant to bring us to our knees and to cry out to God for mercy because only God can MAKE us Holy.

YES! The Ten Commandments are true and they are still valid as God’s Holy standard. Yet, Paul tells us that following them will NOT make you Holy nor give you favor or justification with God. And after Salvation, following the Law will not make you any more Holy than God has already made a believer – the very righteousness of God, in Christ by faith, complete in Him (see 1 Corinthians 5:17-21, Colossians 2).

Only by belief in the Son of God, who is God in the flesh, Jesus The Christ, who never sinned in thought nor deed, who willingly died on the cross and shed His blood to pay for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2) and then rose again; through this belief is a person justified with God. (John 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Salvation is a gift to be received or rejected. After accepting it – we are NOT KEPT SAVED by our performance or Law keeping to RETAIN righteousness. Should we not murder steal etc. Of course, we should not do these things. But our new source is the indwelling Holy Spirit who also guides us to not do such things. Our old self is DEAD and we are now a NEW SELF – a NEW Spirit if God at the very core of our being.

In Galatians, we see false teachers who crept into the church teaching that Law following was also a REQUIREMENT of justification with God. Does Paul agree? In fact, he strongly opposed this teach as false. Paul’s response to this is calling the Galatians ‘foolish’ and that such teachers are to be ‘accursed’ and that,

“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 is not somewhere we should be as believers !

Do Not Mix Law and the Gospel of God’s Grace Through Jesus Christ. Doing so, is not Gospel and no salvation at all. Instead, it is the sin of pride, being boastful. We need to be humble.

Is Lordship Salvation The Gospel?

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

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

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

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

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

A Very Deceptive Teaching

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

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

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

John says,

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

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

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

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

The repenting UNTO Salvation is the change in your mind from the world’s way of dealing with sin (by our performance, being a good person, doing more good than bad, Law following, religious rituals) and changing to God’s way of dealing with sin which is believing on Christ for Salvation apart from works of any kind (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:18).

**Stopping the practice of a particular sin is a RESULT of repenting and changing your mind. That is, it is NOT the repenting itself. This is so important to understand!

A Dangerous Teaching!

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

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

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

“Christ is become of NO EFFECT UNTO YOU, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are FALLEN FROM GRACE. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness BY FAITH.” (Galatians 5:4-5 KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Look what Jesus said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These statements made by Jesus disprove Lordship Salvation as truth.

The Main Books On Salvation

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

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

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

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

Christian teachers need to stop using the dictionary definition of the word “repent”. They are teaching a FALSE GOSPEL WHICH WILL NOT SAVE ANYONE!

And also God repents many times in Scripture. Now, think logically a moment. Does God need to turn from His sins? NO! Repent is defined as simply, ‘changing your mind’.

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

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

…is same as…

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

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

Is Water Baptism A ‘Requirement’ of Salvation?

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations, Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About..., Q&A: Water Baptism
The Holy Spirit

Baptism is not a REQUIREMENT OF SALVATION through Christ Jesus. There are pulpits that teach that WATER baptism is required for salvation. Although Water Baptism is something for a Christian to do, it is something done AFTER a person has become a believer in Christ as an OUTWARD expression of becoming saved by BELIEF ALONE in Jesus, the Christ, God in the flesh and the only atonement for sin that He provided on that cross 2000 years ago.

Let’s go through some of the Scriptures people use in stating that Water Baptism is required and see the truth.

John 3:18, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 2:8-9

Salvation Is By Belief On Christ Crucified, Died and Risen 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)

This passage of Scripture by Apostle Paul is a foundational truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and agrees with Jesus’ own words in John 3 where He defines whether a person is saved or condemned based on their belief or disbelief on Christ Jesus:

“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)

Ephesians 1:13-14 shows us that a person is SAVED from the very moment of BELIEF. Water Baptism is not required. Baptism of the SPIRIT is required. And we receive this newly created Spirit by BELIEF on Christ alone for Salvation and justification with God. Apostle Paul goes on to state that Salvation is not of ourselves nor by being a good person nor by any religious ritual.

“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)

Acts 2:36-38

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, WHAT SHALL WE DO? Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:36-38 KJV)

The Jewish people were just told by Peter that the crucified the actual foretold Messiah and savior of the world. In reply, realizing it as truth they asked WHAT SHALL WE DO? Some are taking this question and making it ‘What shall we do to be saved?’, but that is NOT what the text shows. An important distinction to observe. If a person sees this question as ‘what must we do to be saved?”, then they read into the text that water baptism is REQUIRED for Salvation but that cannot be the case because if you read further in Acts 8, it shows the Holy Spirit coming with laying on of hands BEFORE water baptism (Acts:17). And we also read this in Acts 8,

“But WHEN THEY BELIEVED Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Acts 8:12 KJV)

They first believed and then were water baptized. Yet, it says no where in this passage that the WATER baptism was a requirement of Salvation.

Acts 16:30-31

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED, and thy house.” (Acts 16:30-31 KJV)

How much clearer can it be than this? Salvation is by BELIEF on Christ alone for Salvation.

1 Corinthians 1:17

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17 KJV)

This is Apostle Paul who stated this! If Water baptism is a requirement of Salvation, wouldn’t we see Paul stating so? Instead, we see Paul stating the opposite.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

“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)

Salvation is by BELIEF on CHRIST, His atonement for our sins, His death and His rising from the dead. No water baptism is stated here by Apostle Paul.

1 Peter 3:21

“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” ( 1 Peter 3:21 KJV)

This verse is used to support the idea that water baptism is a requirement for Salvation. Yet, what is the text in parentheses all about in this verse? Look at the words closely. It starts with ‘The LIKE FIGURE…’ and in parentheses ‘NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh’. This is our SINS. Water baptism is NOT putting away our sins. What is then? Read on in parentheses and it reads next, ‘a good conscience toward God’, and how do we get that? Read on, ‘BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.’

This is all about believing on Christ alone for Salvation. It is all about the Baptism of the Spirit that happens to a person from the very moment of belief as Apostle Paul taught in Ephesians 1:13-14 (see above).

Romans 1:16

“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)

Again Apostle Paul stating clearly that Salvation is by Belief on Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5 KJV)

This is a powerful verse. Jesus paid it all and we are not saved by ANYTHING we DO, including water baptism. You must realize that not only can no other person saves us but that we cannot save ourselves neither! Belief on Jesus Christ crucified for atonement of our sins is what saves us. HE is the ONLY mediator between us humans and God the Father.

We cannot even be our own mediators!

Trying to be our own mediators is the same as following the Law to save us and following the Law of Moses saves no one. Do not misunderstand that statement. Yes, the Law of Moses (including the Ten Commandments) is Holy and true. The point is that following the Ten Commandments in our own self righteousness will never MAKE US HOLY. We are only made the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST(2 Corinthians 5:21).

Is Being Water Baptized Wrong or Unscriptural?

Water baptism is Scriptural. Stating that it is a requirement for justification with God is not. I am not saying that believers should not be water baptized. Being water baptized is an outward expression of what happened when we became saved by BELIEF ALONE in Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world.

It is also a statement, announcement and celebration of a BIRTH. A BIRTH OF THE SPIRIT in us. Our newly created spirit of God, that we BECAME from the very moment of belief on Christ. By BELIEF on Christ we were changed from being UNRIGHTEOUS (and already condemned in our sins headed for hell) to being the very RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, in Christ. (John 3:15-18, 2 Corinthians 5:21). A believer is SEALED by the Holy Spirit for all eternity from the very moment of BELIEF.

Water Baptism is not a REQUIREMENT of Salvation. BELIEF ON CHRIST and the only atonement for our sins through Jesus crucified is the only requirement.

Does That Mean What We Do, And How We Live After Salvation Does Not Matter?

Of course not. We are to do good works after we are saved. We are to help others and love others as Christ loved us. It is okay to perform a religious act that lines up with the fact that Salvation is not by works but by belief and faith in Christ’s once for all sacrifice for our sins (Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 10:10).

Good works are, well, good right? Being a good person in love for others is good right? Celebrating Christ in a religious act is also good. However, we should never make these things we DO as a requirement of our Salvation. We do them in great gratitude of experiencing God’s love for us. We do them as Christ who lives within us does good works through us.

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

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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.