Q&A: The Truth About…

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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Where Do Babies, Toddlers And The Mentally Handicapped Go After Death?

Don Gerrity Q&A: The Truth About...
Where Do Babies, Toddlers And The Mentally Handicapped Go After Death?

Today on a facebook group I read  this comment:
“Without baptism, no one can enter heaven even a baby,
because of ORIGINAL SIN.”

God Sends Babies To Hell? Really?

It is hard to fathom such a belief about God’s character when we look at the love of God and the Word of God used with proper context. Just think about what God has done for us. Allowing and sending one person of the Trinity of God as Jesus The Christ. The God that loved us sinners so much that He lowered Himself below a rank of an angel and became Flesh (Jesus The only begotten Son of God) and shed His blood on the cross, paying the penalty for not only the sins of those He foreknew would accept the free gift of Salvation without works required (Ephesians 2:8-9), but that Jesus actually paid for the sins OF THE UNREDEEMED as well:

“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)

Yes, those with ability to understand good and evil and the plan of Salvation by belief in Christ and His once for all Salvation (Hebrews 10:10) must BELIEVE to be saved (John 3:18). God gives us all free will to choose to accept the free gift of Salvation through Christ or to reject the gift. However, to say that babies, toddlers and the mentally handicapped without an ability to choose, and who does not discern good from evil (Deuteronomy 1:39), must believe or be condemned? I do not see that stated in Scripture. Instead, what I do see is how much Jesus loves these little ones!

“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was much DISPLEASED, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of SUCH IS the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” (Matthew 10:13-16 KJV)


Did Jesus then share the Gospel of Salvation to these little ones? No. He blessed them. They cannot understand yet. They are innocent at this age and deemed without sin to God at that age. We all must come as they do to gain Heaven because our sins are only forgiven by the Grace of God – not our efforts nor works nor religious rituals. God’s heart for us is,

“… he is able also to save them TO THE UTTERMOST that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 KJV)

Those who cannot understand Salvation, such as infants, babies and the mentally handicapped cannot make the choice of accepting or rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and of no fault of their own. Jesus paid for their sins and they are Heaven bound.

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 85:15 KJV)

 

Is The Sacrament of Penance Taught By The Roman Catholic Church Biblical?

Don Gerrity General OSAS Questions, Q&A: False Gospels, Q&A: The Truth About...
Is The Sacrament of Penance Taught By The Roman Catholic Church Biblical?

Penance is a sacrament of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). The problem with Penance is that it is based upon the word ‘repentance‘ wrongly. In fact, it bases Repentance on Penance which is because of a wrong definition use of the word ‘repent‘ in the Bible.

Although the idea of Penance is taught strongly by the RCC, the Bible no where teaches the confession of sin to a priest by means of penalties imposed for absolution. If you believe I am wrong in this statement show the Bible verses, used in proper context supporting such. When you attempt to do so though, you need to use the Bible’s own definition of the word ‘Repentance‘ and not the modern dictionary definition. They ARE NOT the same definition.

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

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

The New Testament was written in Greek. The Greek word for the English word ‘repent’ is ‘metanoia’ and is defined as “…a change of mind”. By repenting we change our mind from all thoughts on how to be saved to God’s truth toward Salvation by FAITH ALONE in the atonement the Lord Christ Jesus provided for us on the cross. By repenting we have turned toward God.

The repenting is the change in your mind from the world’s way of dealing with sin and changing to God’s way of dealing with sin which is believing on Christ for Salvation apart from works of any kind (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:18).

**Stopping the practice of a particular sin is a RESULT of repenting and changing your mind. That is, it is NOT the repenting itself.

The Main Books Of Salvation Prove This

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

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

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

The Christian religions need to stop using the dictionary definition of the word ‘repent’. They are teaching a FALSE GOSPEL WHICH WILL NOT SAVE ANYONE!

And also God repents many times in Scripture…does God need to turn from His sins? NO! Repent is defined as simply…’changing your mind‘.

The Penalty For Sin Is Not Penance

There is a penalty for sin and as taught in the Bible it is not Penance. The penalty for sin is ETERNAL DEATH in a place prepared for the devil and his evil fallen angels.

 

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

Jesus Himself tells us that,

“He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned ALREADY, because he hath NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18 KJV)

If a person believes in any way to have forgiveness for sins other than belief on Christ alone through His atonement for our sins by shedding His blood and paying for our sins, they are not forgiven their sins. Their sins remain and must still be paid for. If not paid by Christ then paid by the person. It is very serious indeed. Those who reject the FREE and UNMERITED GIFT of Salvation through Christ alone will one day here the scariest shocking words of Jesus as we see in Matthew 7:

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

Jesus is talking about FALSE PROPHETS (see verse 15). They come to you as sheep, as “Christians”. They come with various verses of Scripture, all taken out of context by the way, to tell you it is your WORKS that matters. They teach about Jesus but it is false teaching. In fact, many of them are sincere because they have not grasped what Paul taught about the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. It is these false prophets who are the verse 23 “YE THAT WORK INIQUITY”.

Jesus speaks about the false prophets, and what they are doing wrong? They are thinking and telling others that it is WHAT THEY DO that qualifies them for salvation in Jesus. Verse 22 makes it clear, “22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”

Do you See it? They are saying have not WE, and in thine name WE, WE done many WORKS. WE WE WE! They rely on their own ability to please God and by doing such think they are saved. Without belief on Christ’s blood atonement ALONE for the forgiveness of sins, a person has not believed nor accepted the free gift of Salvation. And such a person has not believed that Salvation is not of ourselves in any manner. Apostle Paul makes it clear when he wrote,

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

Such a person relying on their own human efforts and penance will end up sided with the devil and his angels in the sin of unbelief in pride. With their sins unforgiven they will end up condemned with Satan. How you believe on your Salvation is a very serious and scary thing indeed. You either rely on your own efforts to save you and keep you saved OR you rely on Christ’s atonement alone by faith and belief. it is either your work or His work and believe me our works are as FILTHY RAGS without Christ!

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV)

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41 KJV)

! The Bible is clear that no amount of penance will pay for our sins.

Now, The Good News; Christ Died To Save Us!

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ paid for our sins two thousand years ago. ALL OUR SINS! Our past sins and future sins not yet committed too because all our sins are future from the cross.

Christ died for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). All of them! Jesus did not make a partial payment for the sins of the world. When on that cross 2000 years ago Jesus, who is God in the flesh, cried out “IT IS FINISHED” and when you looked at the Greek this was penned in the Scriptures it literally means “DEBT PAID IN FULL”.  Jesus said “whosoever” believes on Him has accepted the gift of Salvation and HAS eternal life through this belief (John 3:18). Such a person has accepted the free gift of Salvation apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9) and from that very moment of belief has been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). Jesus paid it all my friends!

Peter put it this way:

“Who his own self BARE OUR SINS in his own body on the tree, that we, being DEAD TO SINS, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were HEALED.” (1 Peter 2:24 KJV)

Peter goes on to say,

“For Christ also HATH ONCE suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” ( 1 Peter 3:18 KJV)

We see the same ‘once for all’ by the writer of Hebrews where it reads,

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS:” (Hebrews 10:10-11 KJV)

Hebrews 10:10-11 above is exactly what the belief of Penance is doing and can never take away sins. NEVER.

My Personal Journey From Penance To Liberty In Christ

I was born into the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and raised on the belief of Penance. I know it is a sincere belief in wanting to be in right standing with God because we know we have so many sins. Unable to meet the perfect Holiness we see in the Ten Commandments, I went to the only church religion I knew and Penance was their answer.

Yet, when I started studying the Bible myself and not listening to the pulpit or priests alone, the Sacrament of Penance is not found for Salvation. As believers, yes,  we should call out to God in sorrow for sins we commit. Yes, we should avoid sinning after Salvation. Yes, we should do good works after Salvation in gratitude for our Salvation! I am in no way saying that the Grace of God is a license to sin. NO. NO. NO. What I am saying is that according to the Bible, our sin after our moment of belief on Christ for Salvation will not mean we lose Salvation. Those sins were also paid for in full by Christ on the cross.

The Sacrament of Penance taught by the RCC will not absolve anyone of their sins. Belief on the ONLY atonement for our sins, provided by Jesus The Christ, The begotten Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, who is God in the flesh, and who lived a perfectly sinless life, and then willingly died on the cross to receive the punishment for the sins of everyone in the whole world, and who raised from the dead and ascended to the Father … this belief is true Biblical Salvation.

If you do not want to believe me, then believe Jesus’ own words to the Pharisee and one leader of the Jews, Nicodemus, when he was asking Jesus how a person can be saved. Jesus answer mentions nothing about penance but what we find in His answer is BELIEVE, BELIEVE, BELIEVE on Christ alone.

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:15-18 KJV)

By studying the Bible, the true source, Penance was not found as the answer to my sins. What I did find was true freedom in Christ. Redemption, righteousness and peace.

I pray the same for you.

God Bless

-Don

What Does It Mean To Rest In Christ?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: The Truth About...
What Does It Mean To Rest In Christ?

I have heard from various pulpits and Bible teachers that what we do after Salvation is important to keep our Salvation and not lose it. They seem to think that after we believe on Christ, that is not enough. We also must work to help the Holy Spirit sanctify us as if we are all to climb a scale of righteousness and reach higher and higher levels. What a small view of the grace of God!

As believers we do not have an certain amount of righteousness. We do not have a scale of righteousness that relies on how we live and what we do or do not do. From the very moment of our belief on Christ to save us through His redemptive work on the cross we have 100% righteousness according to the Bible. IN fact, God MADE US through imputation of God, the VERY RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, IN CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). Our feelings about this fact are irrelevant.

The devil wants us to live on a scale with levels of righteousness. He is okay with you thinking your righteousness depends on how Holy you LIVE with your behavior. Are you constantly thinking, “I have to reach that higher level on the scale of being righteousness.”  or “If I strive more I will eventually reach the level of Holiness God wants me to be at.”  If so, you are making the grace of God to be very very tint when the truth is is is super abounding enormous!

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did MUCH MORE abound:” (Romans 5:20 KJV)

DO This. DON’T DO That. All To Keep & Raise Our Level Of Righteousness With God?

HOGWASH! Friends, that is all a bunch of ‘DOO DOO’ the devil is giving you! Paul even states it exactly that way,

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them –BUT DUNG-, that I may win Christ,“
(Philippians 3:8 KJV)

Jesus Christ our Lord said Himself,

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”   (Matthew 11:27-30 KJV)

As a believer on Christ alone for our Salvation, the truth is God MADE US the very RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, IN CHRIST. We did make ourselves righteous nor do we keep ourselves righteous. God declares us righteous through our belief on Christ’s atonement for us!

“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 5:21 KJV)

We do not make ourselves more Holy and righteous by how we live. No, GOD MADE us the righteousness of God, in Christ. If you received Christ’s gift of Salvation apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9) then you are saved ETERNALLY. It does not rely on you!

“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……. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:17-18, 36 KJV)

If you believe that Christ is God in the flesh, died on the cross and paid for all sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), you have been saved and have eternal life.

Grab a hold of this truth!!!! The devil hates it.

Too many pulpits are teaching condemnation to believers.

Yes, teach unbelievers that they are condemned already and they need a savior. Yet, teaching to BELIEVERS condemnation due to their sin is so very very wrong. That somehow because of their sins they can lose there Salvation and be condemned to hell. What a tiny pathetic view of God’s grace that is when Jesus paid in His own blood to save us! Oh my, Jesus paid it all brothers and sisters. PAID IT ALL. IN FULL!!! Jesus did not make a partial payment for our sins.

“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.” (2 Colossians 13-14 KJV)

IT IS FINISHED.
CHRIST’S SACRIFICE WAS A FULL PAYMENT FOR ALL SINS.
GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT AND ABOUND MUCH MORE.

REST IN CHRIST.

 

John 14:15 : What Commandments Was Jesus Referring To? The Ten Commandments?

Don Gerrity John | 1 John, Q&A: Difficult Passages, Q&A: The Truth About...
John 14:15 : What Commandments Was Jesus Referring To? The Ten Commandments?

Jesus said,
“15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 KJV)


#1: Jesus Was Not Referring To The Ten Commandments


Watching the context closely in John, it is clear that Jesus was NOT referring to The Ten Commandments, nor the whole Law of Moses. Jesus was most definitely not referring to the Law of Moses because He has already FULFILLED those as we see in the next chapter. Remember that chapters were not part of the original writings. They were added for our referencing later. It is to be read as one continuous writing and we see in John 15:

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10 KJV)

Notice the words Jesus uses here. He is showing TWO DIFFERENT sets of commandments. We are to abide in JESUS’ COMMANDMENTS. During Jesus’ life, under the Old Covenant, Jesus had to be sinless and that meant that HE had to keep ALL THE LAW OF MOSES, a feat no human has ever done without fail. He had to keep them all so that He could be the ONCE FOR ALL sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2). Jesus kept His Father’s Commandments (The Law) perfectly.

Now once Jesus died on the cross, the New Covenant REPLACED the Old Covenant. Jesus’ >NEW< commandments under the New Covenant is found a chapter before in John 13:34-35 KJV:

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

The context of a chapter earlier makes it clear that these are the commandments Jesus’ is speaking about HIS NEW COMMANDMENTS. Jesus says this because if we love each other, not as the world loves, but as Jesus loves us, then we too fulfill the law through love. Our NEW SOURCE is the Holy Spirit within. Walking by the newly created Spirit in us after Salvation,
will we want to murder?, Will we want to covet, steal etc.?

Look at this Scripture in Romans 13:10 KJV:

“10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

#2 This Scripture Should Not Be Taken As A Threat Of Loss Of Salvation

Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 KJV)

Notice that Jesus did NOT say, ‘You must keep my commandments if you love me.’ Nor did Jesus say, ‘You must keep my commandments to remain saved’.  Yet, I see some believers stating that is what this verse means. TO make this statement o Jesus to mean either of these is to ignore proper context. This is actually very important. Jesus was very clear when He spoke and how He spoke matters. We need to watch how He states things very closely.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, Apostle Paul made it clear that Salvation is not of ourselves nor our works. Our Salvation does not rely on our self righteous efforts in being a good person nor by not sinning. Yes, we should avoid sinning. Of course! But is being legalistic and Law keeping the way to not sin? Absolutely NOT! Using Law keeping to make you saved and keep you saved is a belief headed for complete failure. Thinking this statement by Jesus, in John 14:15, is a threat of loss of Salvation is to hear these words in a very legalistic way, based on our own efforts to keep us saved. It is no different than relying on keeping the Law of Moses to justify us before God and Apostle Paul is clear that the truth is the opposite!

“Knowing this, that the law is NOT MADE FOR A RIGHTEOUS MAN, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,” (1 Timothy 1:9 KJV)

 

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

 

“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)

What does Jesus mean by this then? If one only reads this one verse, yet ignores the rest of the book of John they can be very wrong in their interpretation. If you read just Chapter 13 and 14, then this verse in John 14:15 become much clearer.

Earlier in John 13:34 we see Jesus state this,

“A new commandment I give unto you, ++ That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”  (John 13:34 KJV)

And if you continue reading into Chapter 14, just before He states verse 15, you see Jesus say this,

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

 

Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

 

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Two key commands Jesus gave in John 13 and 14 and these are precisely the commands Jesus is referring to in John 14:15.


#3 KEEP VS OBEY : NIV Translation Has It Wrong.

Corrupt new modern Bible versions have added to the confusion regarding John 14:15 because they mistranslated.

John 14 New International Version (NIV):

“23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will OBEY my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

John 14 KJV/NASB:

“23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will KEEP my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him”

John 14:23 New American Standard Bible (NASB):

“23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will KEEP My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

The NIV has it wrong. The word is KEEP….NOT OBEY! And no, it is not the same meaning. How do we know that? Look at the Greek:

The word TO KEEP in both Hebrew and Greek does NOT mean “to obey” or “do”.

The Hebrew word for KEEP IS ‘Shamar’ in the KJV, NKJV, and NASB Bible translations and means ‘to keep, to observe, to take heed to, to preserve, to be a watchman, and to regard.’

The Greek word for KEEP is ‘teereo’ and means ‘to keep, to guard, to watch, to preserve, to reserve, to take care of, to keep watch over, and to hold fast.’

“Consult all the Greek Lexicons you wish. Take a good look at Moulton and Milligan, Thayer’s, Vines, Liddell and Scott or the Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich Greek lexicons. They all list the meanings of this Greek word teereo as “to keep, to preserve, to observe, to give heed to, to guard, to hold, to not lose, to protect, to hold firmly” but not one of them lists “to obey” or “to do” as being one of the definitions of this Greek word. ”
(Quoted from Will Kinney at http://brandplucked.webs.com/tokeepvstoobey.htm)

 

 

 

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)

Did We Receive One New Nature At Our Salvation or Do We Have Two Natures After Our Moment Of Salvation?

Don Gerrity Q&A: The Truth About...
Colossains 1:27 Christ In Your. The Hope of Glory.

The Apostle Paul is who God chose to give the Gospel Of Grace to the gentiles (us today) and he also taught the doctrine of the Two Natures At War 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 of us is the Adam, our OLD NATURE before our moment of Salvation which Paul calls The Flesh. Our old nature always wanted to sin. Whatever feels right was right with no thought given to sin against God. The Flesh is like a disease since our physical birth.

And then there is the New Created Spirit we received at our conversion and belief in the Gospel Of Grace that our Apostle Paul taught.

The Spirit is now the real us and has become our ONE very nature; though we may not act perfectly living in The Flesh body.

The problem is The Newly Created Spirit is residing in The Flesh still and will until our bodily resurrection. Our minds have not yet been renewed completely and so our thinking is not perfect yet.

Paul tells us to renew our mind by the Word of God because it is no longer The Flesh that is our nature as believers. We are now actually the New Created Spirit. That is our identity now, in Christ. 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. Instead, as believers, it is this disease we have called the The Flesh. (our older nature before our belief on Christ)

The Newly Created Spirit we received and have become, 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 Flesh Sin bent, 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 Apostle 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 a sin nature and sin debt against God. The problem is we cannot stop sinning perfectly while living in this Flesh. That is why we need Christ! Paul admonishes that regarding the doctrine of  the Two Natures At War 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  on the cross 100%. 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? Jesus paid for ALL THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2). He did not give us a partial payment on our sin debt! Jesus cried out on the cross, IT IS FINISHED! In the Greek this was penned is an accounting term meaning a ‘debt paid in full’. 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)

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 (John 17). We should be striving to walk in the Spirit and not by the lusts of The Flesh (The old Sin Nature we were before our moment of Salvation).

“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. Shake! Shake off the ‘old man’…The Flesh because as a believer on Christ for Salvation you are now a NEW CREATION called The Spirit and it is HOLY, REDEEMED and the very righteousness of God, in Christ! (2 Cor. 5:17-21)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFNHENrNke0]

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.

Galatians 2: Are Good Works & Religious Rituals A REQUIREMENT Of Salvation?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About...
Galatians 2: Are Good Works & Religious Rituals A REQUIREMENT Of Salvation?

I remember my younger years in Catholic high school religion class that we were taught to follow the Ten Commandments. That not doing so would bring God’s judgment on us. My oh my, looking back now knowing the true word of God it upsets me. The fact there were other Jewish laws was never taught neither. We did know that circumcision at birth was a Jewish thing to do. No proper context was taught and frankly a works based false gospel was being taught in that religion course where there was no guarantee of Salvation based on your deeds and works. God was either happy with you and loved you or God was waiting with a big bat to hit you over the head whenever you failed to meet one of the Ten Commandments.

So many years living with this up/down belief that I am saved and then not saved and then saved and then not saved, takes a toll on a person. FEAR and not love becomes the norm in a relationship with God. Not the ‘Fear of the Lord’ out of respect but a fear that is meant to keep you from the truth. A fear that was purposefully put into place and instilled in young minds. A fear meant to keep people coming to church and to ‘make sure you go to the confessional’ to tell the priest your sins or God will not forgive your sinful short comings. Now I am not picking on just the Catholic church here.

I only mention the Roman Catholic church because that was my personal experience growing up in my younger days. The truth is there are MANY so called ‘Christian’ religious organizations and churches teaching the very same deceptive thing. It is called RELIGION and if an organization is not teaching the true Gospel of Salvation by faith in what Christ accomplished for us on that cross then it is FALSE. Whether it is a non Christian organization and belief system or a self proclaimed Christian religion, they all teach the same thing; we save ourselves through our works and by what we do and also by religious rituals and activities to ‘appease’ God.

False non-Biblical messages are today found in not the minority of Christian organizations but in the MAJORITY such as…

…Repetitive religious man made rituals being required to gain God’s favor.
…If your good deeds are more than your bad deeds then God will justify you.
…Being a good person and better than those other sinners will gain you favor with God.
…Follow the Ten Commandments or you will lose your Salvation.
…Sinning will disqualify you from Heaven after you accept Christ.
…Water Baptism is a requirement of Salvation and is what saves you.
…You must confess your sins to a priest to be forgiven.
…You must attend church ceremonies to be saved.
…You must follow the Sacraments.
…If you do not confess a sin, then the penalty for that sin remains.
…the list goes on and on and on!

Absolutely NONE of these are found in the Bible! Does that shock you? If it does, it is because you either are not reading your Bible in proper context, or you are not reading your Bible at all and are instead just believing what a pastor or priest is telling you without checking to see if it is the truth in the Word of God.

Jesus warned us about this and said,

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15 KJV)

 

Jesus also said that in the days before He bodily returns to Earth that “…many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:11 KJV)

And what do we see today? It is here folks and it is all around us. It is in the media and it is in the majority (not all but the vast majority!) of Christian religious organizations too! Satan has infiltrated these organizations and is spreading lies of the false gospel right from pulpits of these so called ‘Christian’ organizations. Even seminaries are pushing the NIV Bible – a modern Bible version that is not teaching the true Gospel! (read this)

These false teachers are so exposed in the New Testament that it is hard to believe a Christian can believe the lies. Yet with so many not reading or studying the true word of God it is happening on an explosive manner around the world. It is even rampant in the Western nations. Oh how we have fallen from the truth!

In his day, the Apostle Paul fought very hard against the false prophets spreading their false gospel message in the early days of the churches. One would have to be completely blind in not seeing this in Paul’s writings. Ephesians and Galatians (Hebrews too though we are not sure Paul wrote it – I think he did) really bring this to light and it is exactly what Jesus was warning us about when He said,

“And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.” (Luke 21:8 KJV)

The true Gospel is believing on Christ alone for your Salvation. No amount of good works nor any religious ritual will save a person. Only belief in the atonement for the sins of the world accomplished by the only begotten Son of God, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived by the Spirit of God, became flesh through the Virgin Mary and was not born into sin as we all were. He lived a perfectly sinless life in His deeds and mind and died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice (The Lamb of God) by taking upon Himself the punishment for the sins of the whole world. He died and rose again on the third day and ascended to Heaven to prepare a place for all whosoever believe. By believing this, even without a prayer, a person has REPENTED and become saved eternally. It is NOT of any of our efforts in not sinning, being a good person nor religious rituals. It is 100% a free gift of God to be received.

“That whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that BELIEVETH on him is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:15-18 KJV)

 

“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)

GALATIANS

The Galatian church members at first believed the true Gospel of Jesus Christ which is Salvation by the GRACE of God (an unmerited favor) through faith (belief) in the atonement for our sins through the ONLY begotten Son of God, Jesus the Christ, taking the punishment for the sins of the whole world on the cross. This is the work of God, not man.

We see in Galatians 2 that soon after establishing the Galatian church some people crept into the church and started teaching others that belief in the atonement for sins through Christ was NOT ENOUGH. They taught that the religious rituals of the Law of Moses were also required. When Paul heard this he addressed the Galatian church to show them just how serious and how false a teaching that is when he wrote,

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.” (Galatians 2:6-8 KJV)

Later in Galatians 5, Paul continues showing how reverting to following the Law of Moses, a works based system, as a requirement of Salvation is not the true Gospel of Christ. He uses a rule of the Law of Moses that males are to be circumcised as an example to explain. The Liberty Paul speaks of is the Law of Liberty we have in Christ where all our sins have been completely forgiven to those that believe in the atonement of Christ.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1 KJV)

The English word ‘liberty’ in Greek is ‘liberty to do or to omit things having NO RELATIONSHIP TO SALVATION’ (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1657&t=KJV)

“Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you NOTHING. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a DEBTOR to do the WHOLE LAW. 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 5:2-5 KJV)

Adding the Law of Moses to the Gospel of Salvation by faith in Christ is putting a person back into bondage of the Law. What Paul is saying is that trying to keep one of the Laws of Moses, such as males being circumcised, such a person is now in bondage to keep the ENTIRE LAW OF MOSES, the Ten Commandments and all the rest of the laws. This is the very reason Christ came and was crucified for our sins; no person can keep all of the Law of Moses! Every person has sin! It is impossible!

Paul goes on to say that those teaching this false gospel should be CUT OFF, that is kick them out of the church because they are not true believers but are false prophets twisting the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul puts it this way in verse 9, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” This is serious business. Better they be cut off than others be deceived by them.

“I would they were even cut off which trouble you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Galatians 5:12-14 KJV)

This is clear. Once you accept the free gift of Salvation through Christ’s atonement do not revert to thinking you that you must add good works nor religious rituals as REQUIREMENTS to be saved. DO NOT BELIEVE THAT LIE! Yes, do good works and help others in Love because it is right to serve others as Christ served us and, well, good works are a good thing right? But NEVER think good works or religious rituals are REQUIRED for Salvation. THAT is the point.

Our Salvation was accomplished 100% by God, a free gift to be received, and our belief is our accepting this wonderful gift of the grace of God. Our Service after Salvation is about the works we do, or do not do and will be judged at the Bema judgement seat of Christ when believers are judged according to their works for gain of rewards or loss of rewards. Yet, even those with no good works are still in Heaven eternally. In fact the word ‘sin’ is never mentioned regarding the judgement of believers in Christ’s atonement. Why? Because they were already fully dealt with and paid in full on the cross!

The problem is some read Paul’s words on service and try to jam that into Salvation as a requirement and that is very wrong. Salvation was achieved by Christ..not by our own self righteous efforts. Believing on good works or religious rituals for your Salvation in ANY MANNER is called BONDAGE by Paul. Instead, focus on the Law of Liberty in Christ which is, all our sins have been forgiven (past/present/future sins). Love God and Love your neighbour as yourself. Love God and love others in both word and in deeds. Not that the good deeds save you nor justify you before God but God loved us and gave His only Son to save us, and the Holy Spirit now resides within us as believers. Walk in the spirit, not the flesh and now let God’s love shine through you with gratitude.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 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. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

 

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16-25 KJV)

When a person accepts the pardon of Christ for their sins and receives the free gift of Salvation the Holy Spirit indwells that person from that moment and for all eternity. It is our belief in the Gospel that redeems us by what Christ did on the cross.

“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)

At the moment of belief in the atonement Christ provided on the cross, we were changed positionally. Positionally we are now 100% righteous before God because all the sins we committed, or will commit after Salvation, were ALL penalty paid on the cross in Jesus. When Christ cried out on the cross “it is finished” the Greek that the New Testament was written in says it meant “PAID IN FULL”. And now this is what God says about those who believe on the atonement of sins through what Christ did on the cross,

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12 KJV)

That is the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We are saved 100% by the GRACE of God. Salvation is NOT based on our good works in ANY MANNER, neither before or after Salvation. Paul repeatedly wrote to not mix The Law (10 Commandments) with Grace. It is a false Gospel.

The person who believes on Christ alone for their Salvation actually becomes the very righteousness of God, IN CHRIST.

“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 5:21 KJV)

In the same way, we are in Christ as well. As Paul said, we actually LIVE IN THE SPIRIT and so we should also walk in the spirit. Love God and love others as yourself. Read the Word of God for the Renewing of your mind by the Holy Spirit within. In this you are pleasing God after becoming a child of God through Christ.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen!