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The 'Once saved
always saved'
doctrine
is a subtle explanation of false teachers. Let them believe the
lie. How a saved
man, who rapes and kills a girl, goes to heaven while the unsaved victim
goes to hell?
Many doctrines were founded using the Scripture. They can be
divided into two groups. They are, true doctrines and false doctrines. Those
which agree with the doctrine of Jesus Christ are true doctrines and those which
have
conflicts with the doctrine of Jesus Christ are false doctrines. Denominations
make doctrines. However, God inspires true doctrine and Satan inspires false
doctrines using the word of God. False workers, who are of the devil, preach false
doctrines. However, let us study this "once saved always saved."
The doctrine of Jesus Christ is more important in the scripture.
Christ says that as long a person is sinning; he is the servant of sin.
"John 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin
is the servant of sin." It is a very direct statement of the Lord Jesus
Christ. It should have superceded Christian theology. The word of God continued to
come through the apostles as apostle's doctrine. But theologians ignores them.
Listen to the statement of Apostle Paul:
"Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield
yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Gal 6:8
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting."
Listen to the statement of Apostle Peter:
"2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they
themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of
the same is he brought in bondage."
Listen to the statement of Apostle John:
"1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil;
for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God
was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." Here
we see that the work of Satan is to make the people to commit sin. God will
destroy the works of Satan, which is the sinning of his people, and will save
them from their sins. "Matt
1:21 ... his name JESUS: for he shall save
his people from their sins."
If the work of the devil in
them is not destroyed, they are not saved from sin. Yet, preachers
teach that they are saved
when they are not saved
and they say "once saved always saved."
The crux of the doctrine of salvation is the fact that as long as a person is
sinning he is a sinner. Since he/she is not saved from sinning, this person
is not saved. Let us apply that to our topic.
"Once Saved" means "Once
a person stopped sinning." "Always Saved" means "Always the
person will stay without Sinning."
Even if we give this true meaning, still the
statement "once saved always saved" is not according to the word of God.
"1Cor 10:12
... let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." But
they interpret the word of God according
to the teachings of the devil, with a twist or a spin in it.
Everybody knows the scripture that says "by grace we are saved." Let us see the
scripture verses.
"Eph 2:4
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us
together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"...
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9
Not of works, lest any man should boast." These
verses say that whoever received this epistle is saved. People may interpret
that whoever read this epistle is saved. However, the salvation is by the love
and mercy of God. It is also by the grace of God that was given
freely. These are the data we gather from these verses. One more thing that is
needed to be saved is the faith of the person. Yet, these verses miss another vital
point. That is: What it means to be "Saved?"
In
verses 2 and 3, God explains what is to be saved. God announces them as
saved in verse 5 and 8.
"Eph 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in
the children of disobedience: 3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of
our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by
nature the children of wrath, even as others."
What is it in the verses 2 and 3? Verse 2 says that
previously (in time past)
they were committing sins, (a)
walked according to the course of this world, (b)
walked according to the prince of the power of the air,
and (c) walked according to the spirit that now
worketh in the children of disobedience:. Verse 3 also says
that
previously
(in time past)
they were living
in the lusts of their flesh, fulfilling the desires of the
flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Now they do not walk that way anymore. See, they are saved by grace.
Their previous life style of sin became past history. Their new life does not
have sin. Now they are saved by grace.
This is the salvation given by God.
Even after they are free from sinning, they still have to continue in Christ to
stay saved. So, the cliché "once saved always saved" is not true.
We saw "salvation by grace" is: those who were living in sin
are no longer living in sin. In other words, Jesus saved them from their
sins.
"Matt 1:21
...call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
Those who were delivered from sin will live a righteous life.
"Romans 6:18
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
As they continue to be righteous they will become holy. "Romans
6:19 ...
even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness."
The holy life will be rewarded with the inheritance of heaven, even to be
joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.
"Rev 22:11
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy,
let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous
still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come
quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his
work shall be. 13
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Romans 8:17
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Most churches have false salvation. They teach
a form of godliness as
grace, which
will make a person religious. But this is false grace and it will
deny the power to convert a sinner to righteous and holy
living.
"2 Tim 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
With this false grace, a sinner will continue to live in sin. But he was taught to
believe that he is saved while he is sinning. But as long as he is sinning, he is not saved.
If he/she fear God to obey God, his/her name is written in the book of life. But
unless he/she overcomes Satan, world and flesh, the name will be blot out from
the book of life. If he/she overcomes he/she will inherit heaven, the
kingdom of God. If not, the righteous judge, Jesus Christ, send him to the
lake of fire. It appears cruel, but it is the truth. "Mal
3:16 Then
they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened,
and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that
feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine,
saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will
spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Rev
3:5 He
that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot
out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my
Father, and before his angels. Rev
20:13 ...
and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were
cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book
of life was cast into the lake of fire." The true grace of God will
convert a sinner to righteous living. The righteous living will be rewarded with
the inheritance in heaven, even to be joint-heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Salvation is an escape from sins.
"Matt
1:21
… call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
If
people, who were living in sin, have quit sin, then they are saved.
Once saved, always saved means that those who quit sin will never sin
again. The word of God gives no guaranty for this cliché. Let us see a few
scripture verses in order to verify this.
"Matt 24:24
... if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Jesus
Christ says that even the very elect could be deceived. So, there is no guaranty
for salvation.
"Luke 12:45
But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and
to be drunken; 46
The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and
at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint
him his portion with the unbelievers." He was the servant
of his Lord. But now Jesus Christ says that his lord will appoint him a portion in hell.
He was once saved, now is in hell.
"Luke 14:34
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour,..." Jesus
Christ says that salt may lose its savor. Once saved may become lost.
"John 15:6
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered;
and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
The person was already abiding in the vine. Now, he will be cut off and
will be burned.
"Romans 11:21
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not
thee. 22 Behold
therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but
toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise
thou also shalt be cut off." This is the warning of the Lord Jesus
Christ. He has cut off many before. If you don't continue in his goodness, he
will cut you off also. Once saved, you have to continue in salvation. Or else
you will
be cut off.
"1 Cor
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the
temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy;"
You are the temple of God. He lives in you. But, if you defile yourself
with sin, God will destroy you. It is not once saved always saved.
"1 Cor 9:27
. I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by
any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
If
Apostle Paul did not continue to keep his body in obedience, he would have been thrown away. That means
salvation is not automatically kept. But we keep it.
"1 Cor 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
If
we stand, be careful so that we may not fall. This caution shows that the
position is not guaranteed.
"1 Cor 15:2
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached
unto you, unless ye have believed in vain."
"If you keep" is conditional. If they do not
keep the memory of the preaching, they lose the position of salvation.
"Gal 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the
law; ye are fallen from grace." They were in grace and hence
they were saved. Now they fell from
grace. That is, salvation is lost. They were saved once. But now they are lost.
"2 Thess 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first,.." Few saved people that are
saved will
be deceived and fall away. So, saved is not always saved.
"1Tim 3:6
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation
of the devil. 7
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall
into reproach and the snare of the devil." A new person who is saved
is more vulnerable to fall into condemnation.
"1 Tim 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
The Holy Spirit says clearly that some saved persons will be lost and they will be with the
devils.
"1 Tim 5:12
Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith."
They were saved through faith. Then they cast off their faith and fell into damnation.
"1 Tim 5:15
For some are already turned aside after Satan." They were with God.
But
now they are with Satan. Once saved, now lost it for ever.
"Heb 3:12
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,
in departing from the living God. 13
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if
we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;" Partakers with God has
now departing from God. Sin is deceitful and will
separate you from God. Once saved, if not stedfast, will lose it.
"Heb 6:4
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted
the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them
again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God
afresh, and put him to an open shame." Those who once enjoyed the
spiritual bliss of salvation may also fall
away. They may not be allowed to come back. So, they have lost salvation permanently.
"Heb 10:38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have
no pleasure in him." People can draw back from their salvation.
"Heb 12:15
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God;" By grace
you are saved through faith. If you are not diligent you may fall from the grace of
God, and lose the salvation.
"James 5:19
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the
sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a
multitude of sins."
If a
saved person erred from the truth, it makes him a sinner who needs to be saved
again. Saved from the error is saving his soul. That is, any time you are in
error or in sin you lost your salvation.
"2 Peter 2:15
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of
Balaam." They were in the right way and now gone astray. Once saved and
now lost with Satan.
"2 Peter 2:20
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the
beginning." Those who escaped sin may also fall into sin again.
"Rev 2:5
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do
the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy
candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." They had fallen
from salvation. Jesus Christ requires them to repent and get back.
"Rev 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and
heard, and hold fast, and repent." They have received and were
holding fast, but now have to do it all over again since they lost it.
"Rev 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in
white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,.."
Once their names were in the book of life. That is they were saved.
But God will blot out their names if they do not
overcome. "Rev 20:15
And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire." They will end up in the
lake of fire. Once saved, but now lost it.
"Rev 3:16
... because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of
my mouth."
This church was living in the mouth of God. Now God will throw them out unless they
become hot for God.
"Rev 22:19
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy
city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Rev 20:15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire." God has written their name in the
book of life. But, if they reject any of his word, God will take their name out
of the book of life. Then, they will be thrown into the lake of fire. That is,
these who were once saved are now thrown into the lake of fire.
In spite of the overwhelming evidence to warn
those who are saved that they can
also
lose their salvation, there are people who will not accept the word of God above
their false doctrines.
In section one, we have seen the statements made by the Lord Jesus
Christ and his apostles that if a person is sinning he/she is a sinner. If a person
stopped sinning then this person is saved. In section two, we defined what salvation
is from the Bible. In section three, we explained the true salvation as well as
the false salvation. In section four, we quoted many Bible verses to show that
"once saved always saved" is not a true doctrine. Since false doctrines are derived
from selected
scripture verses by manipulating them, we rebuttal a few such interpretations. We do not
rebuttal all their arguments in this study. However, we are giving enough
samples to show you how to find the truth by verifying the scripture verses in
its contexts. If you have any questions or doubts of any doctrine or scripture
verses you can
e-mail me. I will send a reply as quick as possible. I assure you
that my answers will be based on the word of God.
"John 3:14
...as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of
man be lifted up:
15
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have eternal life. 16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
36 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." They
quote these verses and preach to mean the following: The
only requirement to be saved is to
believe Jesus Christ, which they all do. So, they
have everlasting life.
Those who do not believe will face the wrath of God. This will not
bother them since they all will continue to believe him.
Their logic is good.
By their logic, they got it made. But, there is one problem. What is
it to
"believe the Son" or to "believe Jesus Christ?"
Believe the Son is to believe what the Son has said. "John
8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I
say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Matt 7:21 Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
John 14:15 If
ye love me, keep my commandments. 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. 24
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings:..
Matt 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Jesus said the
above verses. If they believe what he says, then they will either obey his
commandments or they will know that they are rejected from the kingdom of God. This is truly believing Jesus Christ. But they believe
something about him that is false and think that they believe him. They
believe that Jesus Christ will take them to heaven, no matter what they do.
This is cool. But, God did not tell them to believe their own statement about
Jesus Christ for their salvation, but to believe what Jesus Christ told them for
their
salvation. If they believe what he told, then they will do what he wants
them to do for their salvation. Nobody can cheat God.
They say: the Bible makes it clear that our works has nothing whatsoever to do
with our salvation. We didn't receive it by our works. So, we don't keep
it by our works. Then they quote the following scripture verses to prove their
point.
"Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us,...
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."
These verses are mini Bible to many preachers and believers. They
emphasize
three points for salvation. (i) "according to his
mercy he saved us,
and
by grace are ye saved." (ii) We are saved "not by works of righteousness which we have
done,
it is not of yourselves
and
not of works, lest any man should boast." (iii) We are
"saved through faith;
it is the gift of God:" Let us review these
points in the light of the scriptures without manipulating the verses.
This statement is true. However, false teachers twist the meaning of these three words,
(a) saved, (b) grace and (c) mercy and give an entirely
different meaning and deceive the believers. So it is important to
study the meaning of these words.
(a). Saved:
Persons who are sinning are sinners, no matter what they
claim. Refer section 1, "Doctrine of Jesus Christ." It explains who
sinners
are. This
will help us not to consider a sinner as a saved person. Refer section 2, "What is Salvation."
It explains the true meaning of the word "saved."
Those who are converted from the past filthy unjust life to the holy
righteous life are saved. Nobody will be saved by the word of their mouth. It
should be proven by their living. If their mouth confession is not the reality of
their life, then they
are liars
but are not saved persons. Nobody can trick or
deceive God.
(b). Grace:
Most Christians think that grace is a free ticket to heaven, given to sinning
Christians, since they believe the story of Jesus.
This is not true.
Grace is a gift from God, given only to true believers, who obey God with love, sincerity
and humbleness.
"Eph 6:24
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
John 14:15 If
ye love me, keep my commandments.
James 4:6
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble.
1 Peter 5:5
... be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and
giveth grace to the humble." Grace is a spiritual gift package that contains three things.
They are
(1)
doctrine of Jesus Christ, (2) power of the Holy Spirit, and (3) the abiding of
God. They are given as grace upon grace as believers needed them.
Grace will strengthen
true
believer
to overcome the world, flesh and Satan. Believers don't have to do the
ceremonial work of circumcision or any such church ordinance or ceremony, but they
will have to use the grace of God to overcome sin for their salvation.
(c). Mercy:
The
love
and
compassion of God, which is
God's mercy, forgives the past sins of a person who overcomes sin.
Forgiveness is offered by the blood of the
Lamb of God.
"Romans 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God;" False preachers say that the blood of
Jesus forgives the past, present and future sins. This is a lie of the devil.
The forgiveness of God, which is provided by the blood of Jesus, is for the past
sins only. If they take the blood of Jesus for granted and try
to use it for the present and future sins,
severe damnation will be upon them. Reference is Heb 10: 26-31.
We are in the fast food culture. Preachers use this principle to promote their
business. They don't realize that salvation is God's business. They offer ready
made forgiveness, instant salvation, quick access to the throne, etc. Nobody can
deceive God. God forgives only those who have repented truthfully. The broken
hearted sinner will have a contrite spirit. He will accept the grace of God that
converts a sinner to a just holy person.
God forgives his past sins
after the person is justified, but not before. "Romans
3:24 Being
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God;"
Justified is to convert a person from being unjust into being just
and to testify that person is righteous. Just person is a righteous person. If a sinner starts to walk in the light as God
is in the light, then only the blood of Jesus Christ will apply to him and he will
be forgiven from the past sins. If a person keeps on sinning, it is not the
principle of God to keep on forgiving the past sins. God says that Jesus died
once and he is not dying daily.
"1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
Forgiveness is free to a converted sinner but not to a sinning
Christian.
If you are doing righteousness, you are already saved, (Refer Section 2:
What is salvation?). Jesus did not come to save the saved. Those who live in unrighteousness need salvation. God has
mercy for the unrighteous people and saves them from unrighteousness. It is a
process. After the process, if they don't
do the works of righteousness, then their salvation is
false. They are not saved,
because saved people walk in the path of righteousness. Let us study how God
changes an unrighteous person into a righteous person. Let me quote the verse.
"Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us, (a) by the washing of regeneration,
and (b) renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus
Christ our Saviour; 7
That being (c) justified by his grace,
(d) we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life. Eph 2:10 For
(e)
we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that (e)
we should walk in them."
Please follow the five (a-e) steps from the above verses.
(a)
By the washing
of regeneration:
Jesus Christ washes away the carnal body that are
dead in sins and regenerate them as spiritual body for the new creature, which
will not sin. This person will be dead to sin and will live in Christ.
(b)
Renewing of
the Holy Ghost:
The Holy Ghost makes the person totally new.
"2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new."
(c)
Justified by
his grace:
Justified means, converted from being an unjust person into a just
person. It is not calling an unjust person as righteous person, which will be a
lie. The devil will lie, but God will not. The Lord Jesus Christ, by steps 'a' and
'b', has converted an unjust
person to a righteous person.
(d)
We should be
made heirs according to the hope of eternal life: Eternal life is the reward for the works of righteousness. God will keep
those who live a holy life to be with him and to rule for him. (Please refer
Section 3: "Grace and Reward")
(e) We are his
workmanship that we should walk
in righteousness:
Let us look into one more scripture, which they often quote.
"Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
False preachers are very happy to preach verses 8 and 9. But they pretend
as verse 10 does not exist. Verses 8 and 9 say that we did not do any works and
we were bankrupt on righteousness. Verse 8 says that God gave grace and verse 10
says that God did a work on us. In response to the work of God, the person will
do the works of righteousness and walk in the life of holiness. This person is
saved. If this change did not happen in the person
then, God has not done his work, has not
given his
grace and has not saved the person, no matter what the
person professes. Yes, the saved persons may have not
done any works before, but they are doing the works of righteousness after
salvation. If God did the work of conversion, the proof is the holy and
righteous life of the person.
False preachers also admit that we must have faith
in order to be
to be saved. But, they have their own versions of faith. Among the many
versions,
they use the following statement for this context. They say Jesus Christ has
finished the work of our salvation on the cross, since he proclaimed, "it is
finished." So, faith is to make a statement that
"they are
saved by the finished work of Jesus Christ and
by his work alone." They confess it and think they are saved through faith.
Then what is true Faith?
"Heb
11:1 ...
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Here,
two
examples are given for faith, (1) the
substance of things hoped for. (2)
the evidence of things not seen.
(1) Substance of the Hope: The hope of a believer is that they
will see him on the day of his coming.
"Tit
2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" The substance of that hope is that they will purify themselves as
he was pure.
"1 John 3:2
... but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And
every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is
pure."
They will purify themselves and be pure. Faith is not making just a statement, but
faith is purifying themselves as
Jesus Christ is pure.
(2) Evidence of things not seen: (1) and
(2) are the same, since they are synonyms for faith.
The evidence that all can see is the pure life of the believer,
since he/she "purifieth
himself, even as he is pure." Things not seen are in eternity,
"it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him."
Through faith we will be saved. The vision of the coming Lord of lords and king
of kings, who is the Glorified Lord Jesus Christ, will purify the life of a
believer. This is the true faith. Mere statements without conversion are not
faith, but lies. Those who do not have this
vision of the Glorious Lord cannot have this faith. Only through this faith
believers are saved.
They say that salvation is a free gift from God. If we had to work to keep it,
then it would not be a free gift. So we don't have to do anything to keep it.
So,
they think that if we are once saved we are always saved. They have a very good logic. Then they quote
the
two following verses to support their logic.
"Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:18 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."
But, this is a deceptive way of quoting the scripture to prove what they want to
prove. The verses should be presented to bring the truth of God to light. Let us
look at the verses in their context.
The gift of God, the eternal life, is not given to a person who is keep on
sinning. But it was given to a person, who was a sinner but obeyed God and was
made free from committing sin. This person is made righteous and holy and now he
is ashamed of the sins that he had committed. As this person continues as such,
at the end Jesus Christ gives him/her the gift of eternal life.
"Romans 6:16
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to
obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or
of obedience unto righteousness? 17
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from
the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then
made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 ... now yield
your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye
were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had
ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those
things is death. 22
But now being made free from sin, and
become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the
end everlasting life. 23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord." It all summarizes in the last verse
saying, sinning people will get eternal death, others receive the gift of God,
the eternal life. Verse 23 is not an island by itself, but the summary of verses
16 to 22.
We all started as servants of sin. That means we
were all sinners. Verse 17 says "but
ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you",
that is, (1) they obeyed the commandments of Jesus Christ. Verse 18 says
"made free from sin",
that is, (2) they do not sin any more. They
"became the servants of righteousness",
that is, (3) now they are righteous and serve God. Verse 19
says, they became "servants
to righteousness unto holiness", that is, (4) they are living a holy
life. Verse 21 says that "those
things whereof ye are now ashamed", that is, (5) they are
ashamed of the past life of sin, which could have taken them to eternal
death. Verse 22 says, (6) they have "being
made free from sin, and become
servants to God", (7)
they have "your
fruit unto holiness" produced
evidence of holiness in their life, and "the
end everlasting life." These
things are the cause of eternal life. The summary of the verses 17 to 22 is
in verse 23. It says, (A) whoever is sinning will face eternal death and
(B) the gift of God is eternal life. That is, (B) the eternal life given
to the person by the above seven steps that is explained from verse 17 to
22. However, the sinning person will face eternal damnation. The saint, who was
once a sinner and is not sinning anymore, will receive eternal life as free gift
from God. But false preachers say; a sinning person gets this free gift, which
is the twist of the truth.
Let us see verse 18 also with its context.
"Romans 5:17
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.
18 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." (You may read verses 12-
21) In general the reference is the comparison of Adam to Jesus Christ. Though we do not do
exactly what Adam did, the nature of disobedience is on us. This is sin and it
will bring eternal death. Contrary to Adam,
when
Jesus Christ was a man, he received abundant grace from God and lived righteous
life, being totally obedient to God. Now, Jesus Christ gives abundant grace to the obedient
people to make them righteous and holy.
Verse 17 says,
Adam's sin nature brings eternal death to all. But those sinners, who receive
the abundant grace from Jesus Christ, will receive a righteous nature as a
gift. Because of their righteous nature, they will live a righteous life and
this life cause them to receive a reward to reign
with Jesus Christ in
eternal life. Verse 18 says: Because the nature of Adam
is on all of us, condemnation is upon all people. In the same way, because of the
righteous nature of Jesus Christ, which is available to everybody, eternal life is
also upon all people. That is, the condemnation as well as the eternal life is
upon everybody. But the eternal life will be given on one condition. The
righteousness of Jesus Christ must change them to justification. It is to make the person as a
just person, who is righteous.
"Romans 5:21
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through
righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
This verse is the summary of verses 12-20 that
concludes the chapter. It says, if a person is sinning, he will face
eternal death. But, grace will convert a person to righteous living.
Lord Jesus Christ
gives eternal life as a reward for
their
righteous life.
Jesus Christ gives his grace free, the righteous
nature free, the eternal life free, and the privilege to reign with him free. All are free to those sinners who follow
him in righteousness. The free gifts are not for sinners who still enjoy
sinning and calling themselves saved.
They convince their congregation that they are
children of God by these verses. "1 John
3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God,...
Romans 8:15 For
ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
We will study these two verses as item (i) and (ii).
After convincing that
they are the children of God, they apply their
logic that goes like this: Your children will always be your children no
matter what happens. You may have troubles and may have broken fellowship, yet
they are your children and nothing can change that. Then they say, we all are
children of God and nothing negate that. No matter what we do, we will still be
the children of God. If this logic is true, we are in big trouble, since we all
started as the children of the devil. "1 John
3:10 ... the children of the devil:
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God,
John 8:44 Ye are of
your father the devil, and the lusts of your
father ye will do." What will they say now?
Will they say, since we started as the children of the devil nothing can negate
that? Thank God, this logic is absurd and it is not true.
We all are the children of our parents. They gave
birth to us and we came from their body. We did not come from the body of God,
but God will glorify and adopts his sons/daughters. "John
1:12 But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God... 2
Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I
will receive you, 18
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my
sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Romans 8:15
...ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
However, let us look at the two verses they quoted and analyze it in
their context.
They quote
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God" from
1 John 3:2, and connect the word "beloved" to a sinner, to mean that God calls a
sinner as his son. But 1 John 2:29, tells us who
are
the sons of God. "1 John
2:29 If ye know
that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of
him." It says, whoever doing righteousness are sons of God. In other
words, those who are living a righteous life are sons of God.
"1 John 3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him
not." It says, God call us as his sons
because of his love toward us. Then it says that we have become like God to the
extent the worldly people who do not know God, do not know us either.
"1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it
doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we
shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure." Verse 3 says, even though they are
righteous, they are striving to be as pure as even Jesus of Nazareth was pure.
People with such a love and dedication are called the sons of God, in the Bible.
It is a sad distortion, when anybody call the sinners (sinning Christians), who still love
sin and living in it, as sons of God.
They quote Romans 8:15 in such a fashion to show that every sinner who believe their
version of the story of Jesus Christ has received the Spirit and they can call God as
their Father. Let us analyze the verse in its context.
"Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he
that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his
Spirit that dwelleth in you." These
people have the same Spirit as Jesus and they will be raised from the dead as the
same way Jesus was raised from the dead.
"Romans 8:12
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live
after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds
of the body, ye shall live." These verses say that those who live after the
flesh will have eternal death and those who mortify the body of sin, through the
Spirit of God, will have eternal life.
"Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the
sons of God."
Verse 13 says, those who have mortified the body of sin by the leading
of the Spirit are sons of God. Verse 15 refers the Spirit that mortified their
body of sin as the Spirit of adoption. If their body of sin is not mortified
they do not have the Spirit of adoption.
"Romans 8:15 For ye
have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the
Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." False teachers refer this verse to the
sinning Christians, who live in the flesh, and who have no Spirit.
God created the man from the dust of the earth. Adam was created as a man. Then, God sent his breath
into Adam, which is the spirit of man and made him a living soul, who
had the everlasting life. God put him in the Garden of Eden,
which is the paradise of God. "Gen
2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust
of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became
a living soul.
Rev 2:7
...the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
God and Satan preached their messages to Adam and Eve.
God told Adam that he will surely die the eternal death if they
disobey God, which is to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil. Satan told Eve
that they already have eternal life, which is the breath of God. They
are already in the Garden of Eden, which is the paradise of God.
They are already saved. "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED" So,
surely they will not die the eternal death even if they
disobey God.
"Gen 2:17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou
shalt surely die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman,
Ye shall not surely die:" Eve was convinced of Satan rather
than of God. Satan succeeded in deceiving Eve
and Adam and they ate the
forbidden
fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God punished
Satan,
Adam
and
Eve. They lost the eternal life.
Today
the workers of Satan are presenting themselves as pastors and evangelists of
Jesus Christ. They preach the word of God to mean just the opposite to what
God says.
"2 Cor 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great
thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of
righteousness;...
Matt 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." So, we have be
careful so
that we may not be deceived by these kinds of
evangelists and
pastors.
Any
true doctrine of the Bible will agree with the wholesome word of God.
It will agree with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
It will agree with the doctrine of godliness. A doctrine that contradicts
any of these three is a false doctrine and it is not of God.
"1 Tim 6:3
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
surmisings, 5 Perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that
gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." So, if a doctrine
does not consent with the wholesome words of God, teachings of Jesus Christ
and of godliness, then it is of the devil and we must reject them.
The lie of the old serpent
still goes forth through his servants. They preach to Christian sinners that
they are already saved. Then they guarantee them that sinners will not lose their
salvation, as if they got it. They say: Once Saved, Always Saved.
"2 Peter
2:19 While they
promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of
whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage."
Preachers promise eternal life to sinning Christians. While they promise
heaven, they
themselves are going to hell. The truth is, if a person is overcome by
sin, he/she is a slave to sin and not saved. Don’t trust the false preachers.
They are servants of the devil. Trust God. Believe the truth.
God Bless You
|
Again
