Christianity is a major religion of the world. It has several denominations with their own traditions, rules, rituals and doctrines. Teachings may differ from church to church, but Church goers are given the satisfaction that they are saved from the punishment for sin, which is hell, as they are sinning. As wonderful as it appears, since their doctrine is not true, they will get stuck in the lake of fire for eternity. Only then will they know that their church has preached a false gospel. Wouldn’t that be a little too late? But Jesus Christ saves only his people from sinning and hence from hell.
Most preachers use the following verses to teach that Christians are saved. "Eph 2:5 by grace ye are saved. 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 2:10 For we are his workmanship," They are saved by grace. It is not by the works they have done, but by the work of God. They sincerely believe that nobody can live without sin and they admit that they also commit sin. The verdict for committing sin is to be thrown into hell and the lake of fire. But they think that they will escape them because Jesus Christ took their punishment on himself. They call this escape from hell as their salvation. But, the above verses in its context say something different. I wish that you look in the Bible with us to see what it meant to be "saved." It is Jesus Christ saves his people from sinning.
Satan deceived Eve. Eve sinned as she disobeyed God. Eve told Adam to eat the fruit. Adam sinned as he disobeyed God to obey Eve. Bottom line is that sin is disobeying God. So, to be saved from sin is to be changed from the nature that disobeys God. "Matt 1:21 thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 1 John 3:5 he was manifested to take away our sins." God became a man to save his people from their sins or to take away their sins. Either case Jesus Christ separates sin from his people. Sin is disobeying God. So, Jesus converts a repented sinner into an obedient son. Jesus Christ forgives the past sins and gives his grace. This grace will put an end to our sinning. This is the salvation of the Lord Jesus.
God the Word was made as a mere man to die as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. "Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Jesus Christ obeyed God the Father and became the author of eternal salvation. That is, Jesus had to die in order to give us this salvation. But he gives only to them who will obey him. "Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"
If we confess and forsake our sins, that is, if we walk in the light as he is in the light, Jesus Christ will cleanse our past sins by his blood. "Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 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. Rom 3:25 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;" Most preachers teach that Jesus Christ cleanses all our sins, past, present and future sins, by his blood. It is a subtle deceptive teaching of Satan. Total forgiveness is none other than giving license to commit sins. If we live with no future sins by his grace then God forgives the past sins.
The grace of God, who is the Lord Jesus Christ himself, teaches the doctrine of God for us to obey. As we obey his doctrines, he will deliver from the addiction of sin. "Titus 2:10...that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Rom 6:17 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."
If you humble yourself and submit to God, he will give you his grace. "1 Peter 5:5 .. be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." God will not allow you to be tempted more than you can bear. "1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." If Satan becomes strong for you, the presence of God will abound in you stronger to defeat Satan. "Romans 5:20. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" Even Jesus Christ comes to you as grace. He keeps you with him. God plants his seed in you to make you his son so that you will not and cannot commit sin. "1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Your past sins are forgiven and you will not sin again. Even you cannot sin anymore. Now, you are saved by grace. You have submitted yourself to God. He has saved you from sin.
If you assume that you are saved from eternal punishment while you are yet sinning, you believe the preachers more than you believe the Bible. God removes the addiction of sins from his people so that they may quit sin.
"Eph 2:1… who were dead in trespasses and sins;" God considers those who are in sins as they are dead in a pool of trespasses and sins. "Eph 2:1 you [hath he quickened], who were dead." God took them out from the pool of trespasses and sins and gave them life. "Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)." They were drowned under sin. But now, they are lifted up from sin, given life and are seated with Christ. God has done this work on them by his grace. Now they are saved by the grace of God.
"Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." God has done this work on them so that they may do the works of righteousness. That is, if they are still doing sin instead of doing the works of righteousness, it is proof that God has not done his work in them. Then they are not the workmanship of God. That is, they are not saved by grace. They are still sinners.
Let us look at the proof of them that are saved. "Eph 2:2 … 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:" In the past they were living according to the world and according to the devil and they were disobedient to God. "Eph 2:3 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." In the past they were living a lustful life with others who were disobedient and were living under the wrath of God. It was their past. That is, their present life has no sin. That is, they have stopped sinning. "Eph 2:5 … (by grace ye are saved)." The proof of salvation here is that those who lived in sins have left the life of sin. Sin became their past. They are saved from sin. Now, they are saved by grace.
"Rom 6:17 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." They were sinners. But, they obeyed the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Their obedience delivered them from their sin. "Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." They stopped committing sin and started to do the works of righteousness, which is serving God. This will make them holy and the result is that they receive everlasting life. "Rom 6:23 the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Bottom line is, sin always bring eternal death. No escape for those who live in sin. But, eternal life is given as a gift to those who obey the doctrine of Jesus Christ by serving God in righteousness. Sin was their past. Now they are saved.
They were living in sin. "Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another." God the Word became a Man not because of their righteousness but because of their sins. "Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done…" God saved them by his mercy. God washed them by the water of the word to regenerate, which is to discard sin and to build righteousness. He made them new by the Holy Spirit. "Titus 3:5 … but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
God the Father has done this work of renewal abundantly through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. "Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;" Grace of God makes them just persons so that they became heirs of the kingdom and receive eternal life. "Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." At verse three, they were sinners. At verse five, the past sins are gone and they became new by the Holy Spirit. Here, they are saved from sin. At verse seven, as righteous people they became heirs God.
Many Christians are taught to say that they are saved. They call it as faith. If they say they are saved when they are not saved, it is not faith but it is a lie. Believing and telling a lie will not save them even from hell.
"1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." We have to admit the fact that we are all born with the nature to sin. "Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus Christ tells us to change our mind from the things of the world, of the flesh and of the devil to the kingdom of heaven. "1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 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." Repent for sins, confess it to God, forsake the sins, and walk in the light as God is in the light. Then, God will wash our sins and our unrighteousness away from us by the blood of Jesus Christ. That is, God will remove the nature of unrighteousness and the nature to sin from us so that we will not commit sin and unrighteousness anymore.
Those who follow Jesus Christ will go by the narrow way and will strive to squeeze through the tight gate. "Matt 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
As we strive, we will find that the law is good and spiritual but the nature of flesh is to sin. So, our flesh and our spirit will have fight. "Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good." Sin induces the flesh and grace gives power to the spirit. So, actually the fight is between sin and grace.
As the fight gets hard, God will give more grace and will help you to overcome sin. "Rom 5:20 --- where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 2 Pet 3:18 grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Grace, the presence of God, will destroy sin. "Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 1John 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." Jesus Christ destroys whatever works the devil has done in you. Thus the Lord Jesus Christ saves you from sin.
Most Christians considers salvation as an escape from hell and entry to heaven in spite of their sin. However, the Lord Jesus Christ says, "John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." Apostle Paul says, "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?" Apostle Peter says, "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." Apostle John says,"1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning." Whoever commit sin is a sinner and the sin will bring him to eternal death. "James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." There is no such a thing that you obtain heaven as long as you commit sin.
Christians love the Lord Jesus Christ and they sing the song "Oh how I love Jesus" from the bottom of their hearts and the top of their voice. But, they will not do the things Jesus Christ asks them to do. The would rather listen to a preacher than to the words that Jesus has preached. Jesus Christ tells them to stop singing but start obeying. "John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments." If you love Jesus Christ with all your heart, all your strength, all your soul and all your spirit, then obey him with all of you. "John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." If you obey him, his grace will manifest to you. Then, you will overcome your flesh, the world and Satan. "Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."
God bless you.