Salvation is of the Lord

Salvation is of the Lord

By David J. Stewart

“Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly… Salvation is of the LORD.” —Jonah 2:9

I was reading the Old Testament Book of Jonah the other day and stumbled across a truth that I never saw before. We often hear the Biblical story about Jonah and the Whale; but I’ve never heard anyone address the prayer which Jonah cried out from the whale’s belly.

Some critics of the King James Bible has quarreled over the word “whale” in the Bible. Matthew 12:40 in the New King James Version (NKJV) and the New International Version (NIV) errantly change “whale” to “fish”. The Greek word used in Matthew 12:40 is ketos. The scientific study of whales just happens to be – CETOLOGY – from the Greek ketos for whale and logos for study! The scientific name for whales just happens to be – CETACEANS – from the Greek ketos for whale! So “whale” is the correct translation, which the King James translators faithfully preserved.

Jonah’s Desperate Prayer from the Whale’s Belly

Here is what Jonah prayed to God from the inside of the whale’s belly:

“Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” —Jonah 2:1-10

Jonah said something remarkable in his prayer to God. Jonah stated that people who trust in “lying vanities” for their salvation literally “forsake their own mercy”. That is to say, they forfeit the free gift of eternal life which God in His loving mercy has made available to all mankind through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. This would be equivalent to the Apostle Paul’s statement in Galatians 5:4 “Ye are fallen from grace.” There is ONLY one way to Heaven and that is through the precious redeeming blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (1st Peter 1:18,19). Anyone who tries to merit Heaven some “other way” has fallen from the saving grace of God, and has forsaken the mercy which God has bestowed upon them through the gift of eternal life found only in Christ Jesus (Acts 4:10-12; John 10:1,9).

God’s Merciful Gift of Eternal Life Versus the Lying Vanities of a False Gospel

As I read Jonah’s plea to God, I couldn’t help but immediately think of all the religious people in the world today who trust in “lying vanities” to get them to Heaven. They have forsaken the very mercy that God has bestowed upon them through His precious Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, the wrath of God abideth upon them (John 3:36).

Jonah knew that “SALVATION IS OF THE LORD” and pondered over it in the whale’s belly. I find it very interesting that Jonah was thinking about the merciful gift of God, and of those who trust in “lying vanities” which lead to Hellfire. You see, when Jonah was fleeing from God he was only thinking about himself; but now that Jonah is in woe and desperation, he is thinking about what is important to God—SOULWINNING!!! I believe Jonah was thinking about the unsaved inhabitants of Nineveh (where God had told him to go preach the Gospel). Jonah promised God to obey His will if his life was spared. God caused the whale to spew Jonah forth on dry ground. Interestingly, Jonah made a 3-day journey in just ONE DAY. Jonah ran all the way to Nineveh after God delivered him from being entangled in weeds in the whale’s belly in the depths of the sea. That’s quite a testimony.

Many religious people today have a false sense of peace, like the calm in the eye of a hurricane, because they’ve been lied to by some unholy priest or arrogant minister. Death and destruction await them after the calm is gone, i.e., when they enter into eternity in their sins without the Lord. The most dangerous thing you’ll ever do it trust what men say. You’d better do what Jesus commanded in John 5:39 “SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!!” You’ll never go wrong listening to the Word of God.

The Bible is filled with warnings about listening to people:

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” —Psalm 118:8

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” —Proverb 16:25

“Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.” —Jeremiah 7:8

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” —Jeremiah 17:5

“God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” —Romans 3:4

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” —Matthew 15:8,9

Jonah knew that SALVATION IS OF THE LORD, and that those who trust in “lying vanities” are traveling on a highway to Hell. Phooey on what El Papa over in Rome says. Phooey on what your priest says (who’s saturated with sins himself). Phooey on that Lutheran minister who arrogantly and falsely claims to have power to forgive your sins—NO HE DOESN’T. The only One Who can forgive anyone’s sins has nail-scared hands and feet—Jesus Christ. Believe on Him!!!

What Will It Take?

Jonah was your typical person who forgets about God until tragedy strikes. It’s sad, but true, that most of us don’t think about what pleases God until we’re in the back of an ambulance or in a dangerous situation. Whereas Jonah was stubbornly fleeing from the will of God before; now he is in the morbid belly of a whale facing imminent death, crying out in repentance for God to deliver him. Whereas Jonah wasn’t concerned about fulfilling the will of God just days earlier; now he is desperately desiring to do God’s will and preach the Gospel to lost sinners who trust in “lying vanities.”

What will it take for us to surrender our lives to do God’s will? Why does God always have to send a whale to devour us, fiery serpents to bite us (Numbers 21:6), an evil spirit to afflict us (1st Samuel 16:14) or a thorn in the flesh to humble us (2nd Corinthians 12:7). Mankind is sinfully proud and stubborn. Deuteronomy 6:12 warns, “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” It is so easy to become ungrateful for all the wonderful things that God has done for us. So often as believers we forget about the very God Who brought us forth out of darkness (bondage to sin) and gave to us new life in Jesus Christ.

Trust Upon the Lord Jesus Christ and Simply Say, “Thank You.”

Jonah said that he would sacrifice unto the Lord with “a voice of thanksgiving.” Mankind has no part in salvation other than to receive it through faith in Christ Jesus and say, “Thank you.” Salvation is receiving; not giving. We have zero righteousness of our own. Even our own self-perceived goodness is “filthy rags” in the sight of Almighty God (Isaiah 64:6). The very reason why God sent His Son to pay the price at Calvary for our sins is because we cannot save ourselves. If there are any sins at all on our eternal record, no amount of good can expunge them. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse our sins away forever (1st John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 7:14).

Jonah had a spirit of thanksgiving because he knew that salvation is based upon GOD’S MERCY and not upon man’s own self-righteousness or any other “lying vanities.” Salvation is of the Lord Jesus Christ. We just receive it and say, “Thank you.”

What Is the Gospel?

What Is the Gospel?
By Dr. Harry Ironside

“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” (1st Corinthians 15:1-4).

It might seem almost a work of supererogation to answer a question like this. We hear the word “Gospel” used so many times. People talk of this and of that as being “as true as the Gospel“, and I often wonder what they really mean by it.

First I should like to indicate what it is not.

THE GOSPEL IS…
Not The Bible

In the first place, the Gospel is not the Bible. Often when I inquire, “What do you think the Gospel is?” people reply, “Why, it is the Bible, and the Bible is the Word of God.” Undoubtedly the Bible is the Word of God, but there is a great deal in that Book that is not Gospel.

“The wicked shall be turned into Hell with all the nations that forget God.” That is in the Bible, and it is terribly true; but it is not Gospel.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” That is in the Bible, but it is not the Gospel.

Our English word, “gospel” just means the “good spell,” and the word “spell,” is the old Anglo-Saxon word for, “tidings”, the good tidings, the good news. The original word translated. “Gospel,” which we have taken over into the English with little alteration is the word, “evangel,” and it has the same meaning, the good news. The Gospel is God’s good news for sinners. The Bible contains the Gospel, but there is a great deal in the Bible which is not Gospel.

Not The Commandments

The Gospel is not just any message from God telling man how he should behave. “What is the Gospel?” I asked a man this question some time ago, and he answered, “Why I should say it is the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, and I think if a man lives up to them he is all right.” Well, I fancy he would be; but did you ever know anybody who lived up to them? The Sermon on the Mount demands a righteousness which no unregenerate man has been able to produce. The law is not the Gospel; it is the very antitheses of the Gospel. In fact, the law was given by God to show men their need of the Gospel .

“The law,” says the Apostle Paul, speaking as a Jewish convert, “was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. But after that Christ is come we are no longer under the schoolmaster.”

Not Repentance

The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past.

Not Giving Up The World

Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.

THERE ARE SEVEN DESIGNATIONS OF THE GOSPEL in the New Testament, but over and above all these, let me draw your attention to the fact that when this blessed message is mentioned, it is invariably accompanied by the definite article. Over and over and over again in the New Testament we read of the Gospel. It is the Gospel not a Gospel. People tell us there are a great many different Gospels; but there is only ONE. When certain teachers came to the Galatians and tried to turn them away from the simplicity that was in Christ Jesus by teaching “another Gospel, “the apostle said that it was a different gospel, but not another; for there is none other than the Gospel. It is downright exclusive; it is God’s revelation to sinful man.

Not Comparative Religion

The scholars of this world talk of the Science of Comparative Religions, and it is very popular now-a-days to say, “We cannot any longer go to heathen nations and preach to them as in the days gone by, because we are learning that their religions are just as good as ours, and the thing to do now is to share with them, to study the different religions, take the good out of them all, and in this way lead the world into a sense of brotherhood and unity.”

So in our great universities and colleges men study this Science of Comparative Religions, and they compare all these different religious systems one with another. There is a Science of Comparative Religions, but the Gospel is not one of them. All the different religions in the world may well be studied comparatively, for at rock bottom they are all alike; they all set men at trying to earn his own salvation. They may be called by different names, and the things that men are called to do maybe different in each case, but they all set men trying to save their own souls and earn their way into the favor of God. In this they stand in vivid contrast with the Gospel, for the Gospel is that glorious message that tells us what God has done for us in order that guilty sinners maybe saved.

THE SEVEN DESIGNATIONS OF THIS GOSPEL are called…

1. The Gospel Of The Kingdom,

and when I use that term I am not thinking particularly of any dispensational application, but of this blessed truth that it is only through believing the Gospel that men are born into the Kingdom of God; We sing: “A ruler once came to Jesus by night, To ask Him the way of salvation and light; The Master made answer in words true and plain, ‘ye must be born again.’ ” But neither Nicodemus , nor you, nor I, could ever bring this about ourselves. We had nothing to with our first birth, and can have nothing to do with our second birth. It must be the work of God, and it is wrought through the Gospel. That is why the Gospel is called the Gospel of the Kingdom, for, “Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3,7). “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. . . And this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you” (1 Peter 1:23-25. Every where that Paul and his companion apostles went they preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and they showed that the only way to get into that Kingdom was by a second birth, and that the only way whereby the second birth could be brought about was through believing the Gospel. It is the Gospel of the Kingdom. It also called

2. The Gospel Of God,

because God is the source of it, and it is altogether of Himself. No man ever thought of a Gospel like this. The very fact that all the religions of the world set man to try to work for his own salvation indicates the fact that no man would ever have dreamed of such a Gospel as that which is revealed in this Book. It came from the heart of God; it was God who “so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He first loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9,10). And because it is the Gospel of God, God is very jealous of it. He wants it kept pure. He does not want it mixed with any of man’s theories or laws; He does not want it mixed up with religious ordinances or anything of that kind. The Gospel is God’s own pure message to sinful man. God grant that you and I may receive it as in very truth the Gospel of God. And then it is called

3. The Gospel Of His Son,

Not merely because the Son went everywhere preaching the Gospel, but because He is the theme of it. “When it pleased God,” says the apostle, “who called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me that I might preach Him among the nations; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood” (Gal. 1:15,16). “We preach Christ crucified . . . the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:23,24). No man preaches the Gospel who is not exalting the Lord Jesus. It is God’s wonderful message about His Son. How often I have gone to meetings where they told me I would hear the Gospel, and instead of that I have heard some bewildered preacher talk to a bewildered audience about everything and anything, but the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel has to do with nothing else but Christ. It is the Gospel of God’s Son. And so, linked with this it is called

4. The Gospel Of Christ,

The Apostle Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost of the risen Savior, says, “God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” And He speaks of Him as the anointed One, exalted at God’s right hand. The Gospel is the Gospel of the Risen Christ. There would be no Gospel for sinners if Christ had not been raised. So the apostle says, “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). A great New York preacher, great in his impertinence, at least, said some years ago, preaching a so-called Easter sermon, “The body of Jesus still sleeps in a Syrian tomb, but His soul goes marching on.: That is not the Gospel of Christ. We are not preaching the Gospel of a dead Christ, but of a living Christ who sits exalted at the Father’s right hand, and is living to save all who put their trust in Him. That is why those of us who really know the Gospel never have any crucifixes around our churches or in our homes. The crucifix represents a dead Christ hanging languid on a cross of shame. But we are not pointing men to a dead Christ; we are preaching a living Christ. He lives exalted at God’s right had, and He “saves to the uttermost all who come to God by Him.” The Gospel is also called

5. The Gospel Of The Grace Of God,

because it leaves no room whatever for human merit. It just brushes away all man’s pretension to any goodness, to any desert excepting judgment. It is the Gospel of grace, and grace is God’s free unmerited favor to those who have merited the very opposite. It is as opposite to works as oil is to water.” If by grace,” says the Spirit of God, “then it is no more works. . . but if it be of works, then is it no more grace” (Rom.11:6). People say, :But you must have both.” I have heard it put like this: there was a boatman and two theologians in a boat, and one was arguing that salvation was by faith and the other by works. The boatman listened, and then said, “Let me tell you how it looks to me. Suppose I call this oar Faith and this one Works. If I pull on this one, the boat goes around; if I pull on this other one, it goes around the other way, but if I pull on both oars, I get you across the river.” I have heard many preachers use that illustration to prove that we are saved by faith and works. That might do if we were going to Heaven in a rowboat, but we are not. We are carried on the shoulders of the Shepherd, who came seeking lost sheep When He finds them He carries them home on His shoulders. But there are some other names used. It is called

6. The Gospel Of The Glory Of God,

I love that name. It is the Gospel of the Glory of God because it comes from the place where our Lord Jesus has entered. The veil has been rent, and now the glory shines out; and whenever this Gospel is proclaimed, it tells of a way into the glory for sinful man, a way to come before the Mercy Seat purged from every stain. It is the Gospel of the Glory of God, because, until Christ had entered into the Glory, it could not be preached in its fullness, but, after the glory received Him, then the message went out to a lost world.

It is also called…

7. The Everlasting Gospel,

because it will never be superseded by another. No other ever went before it, and no other shall ever come after it. One of the professors of the University of Chicago wrote a book a few years ago in which he tried to point out that some of these days Jesus would be superseded by a greater teacher; then He and the Gospel that He taught would have to give way to a message which would be more suited to the intelligence of the cultivated men of the later centuries. No, no, were it possible for this world to go on a million years, it would never need any other Gospel than this preached by the Apostle Paul and confirmed with signs following; the Gospel which, throughout the centuries has been saving guilty sinners.

THE GOSPEL DECLARED

What then is the content of this Gospel? We are told right here, “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.” There is such a thing as merely believing with the intelligence and crediting some doctrine with the mind when the heart has not been reached. But wherever men believe this Gospel in real faith, they are saved through the message. What is it that brings this wonderful result? It is a simple story, and yet how rich, how full. “I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received.” I think his heart must have been stirred as he wrote those words, for he went back in memory to nearly thirty years before, and thought of that day when hurrying down the Damascus turnpike, with his heart filled with hatred toward the Lord Jesus Christ and His people, he was thrown to the ground, and a light shone, and he heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” And he cried, “Who art thou Lord?” And the voice said, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” And that day Saul learned the Gospel; he learned that He who died on the Cross had been raised from the dead, and that He was living in the Glory. At that moment his soul was saved, and Saul of Tarsus was changed to Paul the Apostle. And now he says, “I am going to tell you what I have received; it is a real thing with me, and I know it will work the same wonderful change in you. If you will believe it. “First of all, “That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” Then, “that He was buried.” Then, “that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

The Gospel was no new thing in God’s mind. It had been predicted throughout the Old Testament times. Every time the coming Savior was mentioned, there was proclamation of the Gospel. It began in Eden when the Lord said, “The seed of the woman shall bruise thy head.” It was typified in every sacrifice that was offered. It was portrayed in the wonderful Tabernacle, and later in the Temple. We have it in the proclamation of Isaiah, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him: and with His stripes we are healed.” It was preached by Jeremiah when he said, “This is His Name whereby He shall be called, the Lord our Righteousness” (Jer.23:6). It was declared by Zechariah when he exclaimed, “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones: (Zech.13:7) All through those Old Testament dispensations, the Gospel was predicted, and when Jesus came, the Gospel came with Him. When He died, when He was buried, and when He rose again, the Gospel could be fully told out to a poor lost world. Observe, it says, “that Christ died for our sins.” No man preaches the Gospel, no matter what nice things he may say about Jesus, if he leaves out His vicarious death on Calvary’s cross.

CHRIST’S DEATH – NOT HIS LIFE

I was preaching in a church in Virginia, and a minister prayed, “Lord, grant Thy blessing as the Word is preached tonight. May it be the means of causing people to fall in love with the Christ-life, that they may begin to live the Christ-life.” I felt like saying, “Brother, sit down; don’t insult God like that;” but then I felt I had to be courteous, and I knew that my turn would come, when I could get up and give them the truth. The Gospel is not asking men to live the Christ-life. If your salvation depends upon your doing that, your are just as good as checked for Hell, for you never can live it in yourself. It is utterly impossible. But the very first message of the Gospel is the story of the vicarious atonement of Christ. He did not come to tell men how to live in order that they might save themselves; He did not come to save men by living His beautiful life. That, apart from His death, would never have saved one poor sinner. He came to die; He “was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.” Christ Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all. When He instituted the Lord’s Supper He said, “Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. . . This cup is the new covenant in My Blood” (1 Cor. 11:24,25) There is no Gospel if the vicarious death of Jesus is left out, and there is no other way whereby you can be saved than through the death of the blessed spotless Son of God.

Someone says, “But I do not understand it.” That is a terrible confession to make, for “If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (2 Cor. 4:3). If you do not see that there is no other way of salvation for you, save through the death of the Lord Jesus, then that just tells the sad story that you are among the lost. You are not merely in danger of being lost in the Day of Judgment; but you are lost now. But, thank God, “the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,” and seeking the lost He went to the cross. “None of the ransomed ever know How deep were the waters crossed; Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through, Ere He found the sheep that was lost.”

THE NECESSITY OF DEATH

HE HAD TO DIE, to go down into the dark waters of death, that you might be saved. Can you think of any ingratitude more base than that of a man or woman who passes by the life offered by the Savior who died on the Cross for them? Jesus died for you, and can it be that you have never even trusted Him, never even come to Him and told Him you were a poor, lost, ruined, guilty sinner; but since He died for you, you would take Him as your Savior? HIS DEATH WAS REAL. He was buried three days in the tomb. He died, He was buried, and that was God’s witness that it was not a merely pretended death, but He, the Lord of life, had to go down into death. He was held by the bars of death for those three days and nights, until God’s appointed time had come. Then, “Death could not keep its prey, He tore the bars away.” And so the third point of the Gospel is this, “He was raised again the third day according to the Scriptures. “That is the Gospel, and nothing can be added to that. Some people say, “Well, but must I repent?” Yes, you may well repent, but that is not the Gospel. “Must I not be baptized?” If you are a Christian, you ought to be baptized, but baptism is not the Gospel. Paul said, “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel” (1 Cor. !:17) He did baptize people, but he did not consider that was the Gospel, and the Gospel was the great message that he was sent to carry to the world. This is all there is to it. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

THE GOSPEL ACCEPTED

Look at the result of believing the Gospel. Go back to verse two, “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” That is, if you believe the Gospel, you are saved; if you believe that Christ died for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again, God says you are saved. Do you believe it? No man ever believed that except by the Holy Ghost. It is the Spirit of God that overcomes the natural unbelief of the human heart and enables a man to put his trust in that message. And this is not mere intellectual credence, but it is that one comes to the place where he is ready to stake his whole eternity on the fact that Christ died, and was buried, and rose again. When Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED” the work of salvation was completed. A dear saint was dying, and looking up he said, “It is finished; on that I can cast my eternity.” Upon a life I did not live, Upon a death I did not die; Another’s life, another’s death, Is take my whole eternity.” Can you say that, and say it in faith?

THE GOSPEL REJECTED

What about the man who does not believe the Gospel? The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15,16). He that believeth not shall be devoted to judgment, condemned, lost. So you see, God has shut us up to the Gospel. Have you believed it? Have you put your trust in it; is it the confidence of your soul? Or have you been trusting in something else? If you have been resting in anything short of the Christ who died, who was buried, who rose again, I plead with you, turn from every other fancied refuge, and flee to Christ today. Repent ye, and believe the Gospel.

“O, do not let the word depart, And close thine eyes against the light; Poor sinner, harden not thy heart, Be saved, O tonight.”

***Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951), a godly Fundamentalist author and teacher for many years, served as pastor of Chicago’s Moody Memorial Church from 1930-1948.***

Does the Bible Teach “Once Saved, Always Saved”?

Does the Bible Teach “One Saved, Always Saved”?
By David J. Stewart

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 10:43; Romans 10:13)

Yes, and I will prove it from the Bible!!!

A man recently wrote to me, attacking me, saying that I am a false prophet, on my way to Hell, and am sinfully proud for teaching “Once saved, Always Saved” i.e. the eternal security of believers. He provided a list of numerous Scriptures as alleged evidence that salvation can be lost. I would like to examine each of the Scriptures he provided, and honestly consider what they really mean.

1st Corinthians 15:1-2

“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.”

Please look down a few verses at 1st Corinthians 15:12-14

“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”

It is clear from verses 12-14 that the Apostle Paul is warning about unsaved religious people in the church in verses 1 and 2; not true believers in danger of losing their salvation. Paul is simply warning the churchgoers at Corinth that they had better examine their faith (see 2nd Corinthians 13:5), because some of them were denying the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Obviously, such a person would not be saved. There are many professed “Christians” today who deny the deity of Jesus Christ, the Godhead and the Virgin Birth. They are unsaved modernist imposters.

Once again, we clearly see how critics of eternal security pervert the Scriptures to their own destruction.

Hebrews 3:6 and 3:14

“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”

Proponents of losing one’s salvation are guilty once again of taking Scripture out of context. Please consider Hebrews 3:14-19

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

Carefully notice in verses 18 and 19 the words “believed not” and “unbelief”. Clearly, these Scriptures are speaking about false Christians who were never saved to begin with; not about believers losing eternal life. America’s churches are filled with phonies, who act religious, talk with spiritual lingo, and think they are saved; but they are on their way to hell in unbelief.

Many of the Jews in the wilderness died in unbelief and went to Hell.

“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Hebrews 4:2).

So what does Hebrews 3:6 exactly mean? It means that a truly born-again person can never be unborn, a change has taken place that is irreversible, and one’s continued faith in the Lord is evidence of it. A true believer won’t deny the Lord at some later time in life. Continuing faith is evidence of salvation; not a means to maintaining it. One who denies Jesus Christ, claiming that they “used to believe”, is a liar. No one ever lost their salvation. Certainly, many people who once possessed the philosophy of Christianity, or the organization of religion, or the culture of Christianity, may turn away from it and deny the faith. They simply gave up their churchianity; but they never had Christianity. Most religious people today do NOT have the Truth of God’s Word; but rather, the traditions and philosophies of sinful men.

Hebrews chapter 3 is speaking about unsaved Jews who went to Hell, because they heard Moses preach the Gospel, but had no faith (Hebrews 4:2). This has nothing to do with Christians.

Hebrews 10:19-31, 38-39

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Carefully notice Hebrews 10:38,39

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

The issue here is faith. These Scriptures plainly speak about unbelievers, i.e. fake Christians who go back into the world because they never had faith in Jesus Christ in the first place. Our churches are filled with such hypocrites today. Hebrews 10:29 mentions those who have “trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing.” No true Christian would do that. Believers trust Jesus Christ. This is all the writer of Hebrews is saying. One who departs from the Christian faith never had faith to begin with, and is hellbound to perdition in the Lake of Fire. No Christian can ever face perdition. Eternal life is the free gift of God (Romans 5:15; 6:23). Salvation is without works (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8,9).

Hebrews 10:26 states:

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation.”

This verse speaks of the person who has heard the Gospel and rejected it. If, as those who teach you can lose salvation claim, Hebrews 10:26 applies to Christians, then we’re all in serious trouble. If there “remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” for the believer, then we’re all going to Hell. There’s no such thing as a believer who doesn’t sin. In fact, the Bible defines a “just man” as one who sins repeatedly; but keeps getting back up to live for God.

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Proverb 26:16).

Wicked people don’t even try to live for God, because they have not the Holy Spirit of God (Romans 8:9). Christians, at best, are horrible sinners trying to live right, falling and getting up, falling and getting up, till the Lord returns or takes us home to glory (Romans 7:15-24). All Christians sin every day. This is the great folly of those who claim that salvation can be lost. If living in sin causes a person to lose salvation, then we’re all going to Hell, because we are all dirty, rotten, lousy sinners.

Hebrews 6:4-6

“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, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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.”

These Scriptures are speaking about unbelievers, who have heard the Gospel, have experienced the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, and have had the opportunity to get saved; but have deliberately rejected Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

It is ridiculous to claim that these Scriptures apply to believers, because the Bible uses the word “impossible” in Hebrews 6:4. Is it impossible for believers to repent of their sins and get right with God? Did not Peter repent after denying and cursing the name of Jesus? Yes, he did. Did not king David repent after impregnating Bathsheba in an adulterous affair and murdering her husband, Uriah? Yes, he did. 1st John 1:9 promises that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So, clearly, Hebrews 6:4-6 is speaking about the unsaved. A person who rejects the Saviour is hellbound, and there is no other hope for them apart from Christ.

James 5:19-20

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 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.”

James 1:1 reveals that the Apostle was writing to his Jewish brethren.

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”

As is the case today, there were many unsaved people amongst the saved. Most of the Scriptures that the proponents of losing salvation claim are Scriptures speaking about unsaved religious people in the church. It is a grave mistake to interpret any Scripture without taking into consideration the truth that eternal life is a free gift.

Ephesians 2:8,9 state:

“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.”

Ironically, proponents of losing salvation profess to believe in the gift of God; yet they contradict themselves horribly when they simultaneously teach that salvation can be lost through sin. By every definition of the term “gift“, it is something freely given, requiring nothing in return.

To say that salvation can be lost is to call God a liar. Repeatedly, in hundreds of Scriptures, the Word of God tells us that one who believes on Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins SHALL BE SAVED (Romans 10:13; John 3:16).

John 15:2,6

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit… 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.”

I’ve heard some preachers say this Scripture refers to premature death; however, I know plenty of believers who don’t go soulwinning, and don’t seem to care, and are living selfish lives. They should all be dead if that’s what John 15:2 and 6 mean; but they’re not. Clearly, the Scriptures mean something different, otherwise Christians would be nearly extinct.

Notice that John 15:6 says “as a branch“. Jesus was likening a fruitless believers to a fruitless tree. Most believer’s today are unproductive. Jesus told the parable of the seeds in Luke 8:5-15. There is no mention of premature death for believers who fail to go soulwinning. Jesus spoke of selfish believers who are choked by the cares and riches of this life (Luke 8:14), and never win anybody to Christ. Others are immature, having no roots, and are easily discouraged and quit. 1st Corinthians 3:15 teaches that some believers will receive nothing at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

2nd Corinthians 5:10 states:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

There is nothing to indicate that John 15:1-7 are speaking about losing salvation. Clearly, these Scriptures are speaking about believers who fail to abide in Christ, and are thus rendered useless for God. The key to the Christian life is abiding in Christ by abiding in the Word of God. Believers with an honest and good heart will obey the Scriptures by sharing the Gospel with the lost. Carnal believers who do not will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:12).

1st John 3:6 and 9

“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him… 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.”

This Scripture speaks of walking in the Spirit:

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

It has nothing to do with salvation, or losing salvation. Salvation cannot be lost. Only a believer has the Holy Spirit indwelling them (Romans 8:9; 1st Corinthians 3:16). The unsaved walk in the flesh continually, because they have not the Spirit of God in them. That’s all 1st John 3:6 and 9 are talking about. It is impossible for any Christian to go even a day without sinning. Only a self-righteous hypocrite would claim otherwise.

Luke 12:42-46

“And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 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; 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.”

These Scriptures warn of coming judgment upon the religious wicked, who know not Christ. We see this plainly taught in Matthew 7:21-23

“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.”

No Christian will ever lose their salvation, nor be cast into Hell. If a believer commits adultery and murder, they will still go to Heaven. King David is an evidence of this Biblical fact. Certainly, no believer has God’s permission to sin, and the Lord will chastise His own (Hebrews 12:8). It is tragic that so many ignorant people are tampering with the Bible, wrongly dividing the Word of Truth. The important rule is to never interpret a single Scripture by itself, without taking into consideration the entire spectrum of Scriptures contained in the Bible. If your interpretation agrees with all other Scriptures, then you have found the correct interpretation.

Eternal life is a free gift, not conditioned upon the lifestyle we choose to live. Certainly, something is very wrong with a man who professes to be saved, but is still living a sinful life without Holy Spirit conviction. He is likely not saved; but Scriptures are filled with such examples of carnal believers who ARE saved, such as when Peter cursed and denied the name of Jesus publicly.

For anyone to teach that unfaithful believers will lose their salvation and burn in Hell goes contrary to other Scriptures in the Bible. Ephesians 2:8,9 plainly state that we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. Salvation is not of works, lest any man show boast. It is the gift of God. If living a faithful life is required to keep salvation, then we DO have grounds to boast, because we are working hard to make God happy and stay saved. The Bible condemns such thinking and tells us that salvation is a gift, freely received by faith alone in Jesus Christ.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

How absurd that anyone would teach that believers must remain faithful, work hard for God, and walk the narrow path if they want to go to Heaven. False prophets like Paul Washer teach this kind of garbage. Paul Washer corrupts the Meaning of Matthew 7:14

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Mr. Washer differentiates between the words “gate” and “way” in Matthew 7:14, claiming that Jesus is the gate (which is correct), but the “way” refers to a continued life of holy living. This is heresy! Washer’s teaching completely ignores the plain truth of Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.“ Could the Word of God be any clearer? A sinner’s faith is counted for righteousness! It is Jesus who justifieth the UNGODLY by faith; NOT by works! A man’s faith in Jesus is equivalent to a life of righteousness. If Paul Washer is correct, i.e. that Jesus was teaching that salvation requires walking a strait “way” of continued obedience to God, then salvation is a PROCESS.

Luke 8:11-15

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Ray Comfort, amongst others, foolishly claim that the second group, i.e. the seeds which gladly received the Word at first but then fell away, represent the unsaved who believe on Christ but fail to repent. This is wrong. Luke 8:13 is speaking about saved people, because the Bible says they “receive the word with joy“. The unrepentant wicked don’t receive God’s Word with joy. The seed sprouted and began to grow, so there was a new life. The problem is that the roots didn’t have time to grow. A new believer needs to be mentored, which is what Jesus taught in Matthew 28:19,20. 1st Peter 2:2 teaches that new believers, as newborn babes, must feed on the milk of the Word in order to GROW.

Galatians 5:3-4

“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.”

It is silly for anyone to quote this Scripture in an attempt to prove that salvation can be lost, because Galatians 5:4 clearly reveals that the issue at hand is works salvation. Anyone who attempts to enter Heaven by keeping the Law is bound for Hellfire. Again, salvation is of God, a free gift, which simply needs to be received on the basis that we are guilty sinners (Romans 3:19) in need of Jesus’ cleansing blood which washes our sins away (Revelation 1:5).

Romans 8:12-13

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 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.”

This Scripture is speaking about the spiritual life of the believer. 1st Timothy 5:6 states, “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” A believer who goes into sin, i.e. walks in the flesh, cannot please God. Romans 8:10 reads, “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Our carnal, sinful flesh and the Spirit of God are diametrically opposed to each other. There is no fellowship between them. A believer who lives in sin is running from God, out of God will, just like Jonah in the Old Testament.

Romans 8:12-13 does not in any way indicate that salvation can be lost. A believer can walk in the flesh, which in effect kills the Spirit; but the Spirit of God is still there indwelling the believer.

In Hebrews 13:5 God promises:

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Proponents of the heresy that salvation can be lost are calling God a liar. God has promised never to leave nor to forsake His own. The heresies of Lordship Salvation and Losing Salvation are inseparably linked. Those who believe that salvation can be lost, out of necessity also believe that an effort must be made to remain in God’s saving grace. This is unbiblical. All that God requires is a childlike faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to forgive our sins (Acts 10:43).

2nd Peter 2:20-22

“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. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

Obviously, this Scripture taken by itself can be interpreted to mean multiple things. The only safe method to interpret this Scripture is by cross-referencing it with other Scriptures. This is why Jesus commanded us to “SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES” in John 5:39. I believe the context is clearly speaking about a person who has heard the Gospel, attended a church, played the religious game for awhile; but then went back into the sinful world.

If 2nd Peter 2:20-22 are speaking about believers, then it wouldn’t make any sense, because it require that a born-again believer go through the process of being “UNBORN”. That is impossible. Jesus NEVER said anything about being born again and again and again. No, rather, the spiritual birth occurs once, just as the physical birth occurs only once.

Again, if these Scriptures apply to the saved, then where does the gift of God come into play? If one can lose their salvation by going back into a life of sin, then salvation is NOT a gift, because we must live right to keep it. The big irony of all this is that even the best of Christians, who faithfully attend church, and sing in a choir, and tithe, and go soulwinning, are just as much dirty, rotten sinners as the believer who went to a whore house last night. That’s exactly what James 2;:10 teaches:

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Whether it be a saint who faithfully attends church or a pimp who’s out on the street corner, “the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him” (Romans 10:12). If that harelips every dog in the county, I don’t care, the Bible teaches that a man’s faith is COUNTED for righteousness (Romans 4:5,22). I am not condoning sin, not at all. Believers who sin WILL be dealt with accordingly at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:10). I’m simply saying that we are all sinners, and just because our sins aren’t as bad in our own minds as the sins of others, doesn’t mean that they’re lost their salvation.

Another perplexing question for proponents of losing salvation is: If salvation can be lost, then how much sin musts a person commit to lose it? … a little? … a lot? … murder? … adultery? … two murders? … cursing Jesus like Peter did? How ridiculous and unbiblical is the idea that salvation can be lost. Salvation is of God; not man (John 1:10-12). How can we lose that which wasn’t ours to give in the first place? If we’re not saved by good works; then how can we be lost by bad works? We cannot! The man in 1st Corinthians 3:15 escaped the fires of Hell; but all his works were burned by fire and he had nothing to show for his wasted earthly life. Yet, he went to Heaven to be with His Saviour. Also see 1st Corinthians 5:1-5.

1st Timothy 4:16

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

This Scripture says “save thyself“. Consider Paul’s words in Philippians 2:12

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Carefully notice that the Bible doesn’t say to work out God’s salvation; but rather, “your own salvation“. This simply means that we are responsible for the life we live, whether we yield to the Holy Spirit or choose to follow our own selfish will. God has given mankind a freewill to decide for himself whether to live for God, or to live for the Devil and self.

In 1st Timothy 4:16, Paul is instructing Timothy in doctrinal matters. 1st Timothy 4:1 states:

“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“

Paul is telling Timothy how to be saved from the errors of false doctrine, by taking heed and upholding Biblical doctrine. This clearly has nothing to do with salvation.

1st Timothy 4:1-3

“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; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

These Scriptures speak of the unsaved, i.e. those who have departed from the faith. They teach false doctrines, like the Catholics, such as abstaining from meats and practicing celibacy. These are doctrines of devils. The masses of society today are departing from the faith, from genuine Christianity, from the Word of God, from morality, from prayer and Bible reading in the public schools,…etc. It is called APOSTASY!

This Scripture is no way indicates that born-again believers would quit their faith and lose their salvation. Such teaching is absurd. Once saved, Always Saved! We could also say, “Lost Now, Lost Then!” Or, “Saved Now, Saved Then!” You’re either saved today and will be saved eternally, or else you need to get saved. Salvation cannot be lost. Most of the Scriptures dishonestly twisted, in an attempt to propagate the heresy that salvation can be lost, are actually speaking about the wicked, many of whom have attended church and heard the Gospel preached, but have never been saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:21-23

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”

Carefully notice what Colossians 1:20 says

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Clearly, it is the precious blood of Jesus Christ that brings peace with God. In typical fashion, proponents of the heresy that salvation can be lost fail to take into consideration all Scriptures as a whole. They pervert the Scriptures. Romans 6:23 plainly teaches that “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. This Scripture must be reconciled with all others. Ephesians 2:8,9 plainly teaches that mankind has nothing to do with salvation. It is of God.

Salvation is without works (Romans 4:5), and cannot be lost for any reason by those who believe on Jesus Christ (Acts 10:43). How can we lose something that wasn’t ours to give in the first place? Salvation is receiving; not giving. Once saved, always saved! The spiritual birth is as irreversible as is the physical birth.

Biblical Scholar, Kenneth S. Wuest, offers this accurate translation of Colossians 1:23

“Assuming indeed, that you are adhering to your faith, having been placed upon a foundation with the present result that you are on that foundation, firmly established, and that you are not continually being shifted away from your hope held out by the gospel which you heard, that gospel which was proclaimed in all creation, which is under heaven, of which I, Paul, became one who ministers.”

SOURCE: Wuest, K. S. Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos

Wuest also has an excellent note on Colossians 1:23, adding that

“The word “if” here is not ean, an unfulfilled, hypothetical condition used with the subjunctive mode, presenting the possibility of a future realization, but ei with the indicative, having here the idea of “assuming that you continue in the faith.” That is, continuance in the gospel as it was preached by Paul would show that the person was saved and thus would be presented holy, without blemish, and unchargeable before God. That is, Paul was here addressing truly born-again Colossians, not unsaved professors of Christianity who would follow the Colossian heresy. Heretics would not so be presented, only true believers. It is not the retention of salvation that is in the apostle’s mind, but the possession of it that would be shown by their continuance in the gospel.”

SOURCE: Wuest, K. S. Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos

Pastor J. Vernon McGee states the following concerning Colossians 1:23

“Paul’s point is that we have been reconciled—it is an accomplished fact. So if you are a child of God today, you will continue in the faith grounded and settled. You will not be moved away from the hope of the gospel which you have heard.”

SOURCE: J. Vernon McGee: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos

Clearly, from studying the original Greek, it is evident that the Apostle Paul WASN’T warning Christians that they would lose their salvation if they failed to continue in the faith. Tragically, the internet is saturated with ignorant people who know nothing of the Greek, and are corrupting the Word of God shamelessly “As also in all his [Paul’s] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2nd Peter 3:9).

2nd Timothy 2:12-13

“Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”

The context of these Scriptures plainly reveal that the issue at hand is belief: “If we believe not“. Clearly, this has nothing to do with losing salvation; but rather, the unsaved. This passage of Scripture speaks of those who have rejected Jesus Christ. Peter denied Jesus 3-times, but he didn’t lose his salvation. The issue is not losing salvation; but rather, have you been saved at all?

Matthew 5:13

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

There is nothing in this Scripture to indicate that salvation can be lost. It just means that a believer who hides his candle under a bushel is displeasing to the Lord.

Ezekiel 18:24 and Ezekiel 33:12-13

“But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.”

The best way to interpret the Bible is with the Bible! I’ve read so much heresy surrounding Ezekiel 18:24. As an example, the Congregational Holiness Church, the Wesleyan Holiness Movement, and the Charismatic Movement all misinterpret Ezekiel 18:24 to teach that a Christian can lose their salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth! Oral Roberts and his family came from the Holiness Movement out of Oklahoma. He was a product that came from the Latter Rain Pentecostal Movement of the late 1940’s, and was a well known demonic faith healer. Taken by itself, out of context, Ezekiel 18:24 does appear to support the doctrine that a man can fall away from salvation. However, as you will see from other Scriptures in Ezekiel, this is NOT the case at all.

Ezekiel 33:12-13 state:

“Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.”

Did you read that: “If he trust in his OWN righteousness“? This is the heart of the matter here. God is simply condemning self-righteousness. The New Testament states in Romans 10:3-4

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

To claim that a person who commits sin can lose their salvation is to totally ignore such powerful Scriptures as Genesis 15:6 concerning Abraham, “And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” The Apostle Paul plainly stated in Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” These Scriptures clearly eliminate “works” as a necessity to one’s eternal salvation. The damnable heresy that a believer can lose salvation is nothing less than a subtle form of Lordship Salvation. Whereas the Lordship Salvation crowd teaches that a person must forsake their sins to be saved; the eternal insecurity crowd teaches that committing sin will cause a person to lose salvation. Both heresies are based upon self-righteousness. Ephesians 2:8-9 is clear on the matter of salvation “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.” Again, carefully read Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.“

Conclusion

Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15), paid for by Jesus’ precious blood (1st Peter 1:18,19). We are saved by Jesus’ righteousness, and not by our own efforts. Our faith is counted for righteousness (Romans 4:5). This is the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans 4:22).

Having said that, I just don’t understand how anyone could teach that a person must forsake personal sins in their life, or be willing to do so, in order to be saved. Certainly, genuine repentance should bring about a changed life (2nd Corinthians 5:17); but 1st Peter 2:2 speaks about being weaned as newborn babes on the milk of the Word that one may “grow”. It requires time for a new believer to grow in the Lord, some faster than others. It is rare that a new believer is willing to consecrate his/her life to the Lord right away, as in the uncommon case of Paul. The Bible says that “among the chief rulers also many believed on him“, but secretly so, for fear of being persecuted (John 12:42). All of Jesus’ disciples forsook Him prior to the cross.

It is hypocritical for self-righteous religious people today to condemn those who maintain the simplicity of the Biblical Gospel, i.e. we are guilty sinners and Jesus is the Saviour. Those who believe on Jesus to have their sins forgiven are saved! There is no other Gospel. Lordship Salvation and the heresy that salvation can be lost are wicked, rotten and straight out of the pits of Hell.

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” — Acts 10:43

Good Works Verses Grace

Good Works Verses Grace

By David J. Stewart

Salvation Cannot Be by Works and God’s Grace

NOT BY WORKS of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). This Bible makes it plain and simple that good works will not save anyone. Listen to the message of Ephesians 2:8-9, “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.” How many Scriptures does God need to put in front of our face before we get the idea—salvation is not by merit. “Knowing that a man is NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and NOT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW: for BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW SHALL NO FLESH BE JUSITIFIED” (Galatians 2:16). The road to hell is paved with good intentions!!! The plain teaching of the Inspired Word of God is that salvation is NOT BY WORKS. You just read it for yourself.

Salvation is of God, NOT Dependent Upon Man’s Works

Over and over the Bible proclaims that good deeds CANNOT merit us salvation. Someone needs to tell this to the Pope! He preaches a message of kindness and love but never mentions the name of Jesus Christ. You’ll never hear the Pope speak of the torments of hell. I’ve never heard him speak of being born-again. All the love and kindness in the world will NOT get you into Heaven. Catholicism teaches that a person must practice the “seven sacraments” to obtain Heaven. This of course is a lie of the devil! You do NOT need to be baptized to go to Heaven! You do NOT need to confess your sins to a priest in order to be forgiven. No priest can forgive anyone’s sins!!! You do NOT need to go to confirmation to be saved, no sir! These are lies of the devil. I once witnessed to a Catholic man concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. He said that he believed in “faith AND works.” Though I believe he was sincere, he does NOT understand the Bible very well. Romans 11:6 clarifies this matter, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But IF IT BE OF WORKS, THEN IT IS NO MORE GRACE: otherwise work is no more work.” If salvation comes by works, then it is NOT by God’s grace anymore. The whole reason that Jesus died on the cross, folks, is because we could not perform enough good works to get saved. There is NO amount of good deeds that can reconcile us to God. Only through Jesus Christ can anyone be saved. If it were possible for us to get to Heaven by living a good and upright life, then Jesus died for nothing. “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN” (Galatians 2:21).

Jesus Christ Paid a Sin Debt that We Could Not Pay

Jesus paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. That’s God’s grace! Like it or not, you are just too sinful and wicked to save yourself—you CANNOT earn your way into Heaven. This is the very reason why God had to provide a way of escape for humanity. This way of escape has been provided through the sacrifice and blood atonement of Jesus Christ. God did this because He loves us very much, more than we can possibly comprehend. Don’t make the mistake of creating God in your own image, you were created in God’s own image. You are the object of the Heavenly Father’s love—so much so that He created you in His very own likeness.

Most Rich People Spit On God’s Grace by Rejecting Christ

God wanted you to be like Him. Someday, if you’ll let Him, He wants to give you everything. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?” (Romans 8:32). If God was willing to give His own earthly life in sacrifice for us, don’t you think that He will also give us everything else? Yes, that is exactly true. God wants us to have the kingdom of Heaven, the earth, everything. God says, what’s mine is yours! Of course, this does not include sinful things because sin belongs to Satan and man—not God. Everything that is righteous and Holy will be ours when we get to Heaven to be with Jesus. Perhaps you ask, “then why doesn’t God make me rich now?” Because that would likely be the worst thing that ever happened to you my friend. Great and many are the sins of the rich and famous. You are rich if you have Christ in your heart. There are two ways to be rich: Have all you want OR want all you have! The greatest things in life can NOT be bought by money. I’m satisfied with what God has blessed me with—things that money can’t buy. Money CANNOT buy anyone into Heaven.

Ted Turner is filthy rich! He owns more land than anyone else in this nation, second to the US government. It was Mr. Turner who said that “Christians are losers.” I heard him say that he is “looking forward to going to hell.” As an unbeliever, he will get his wish soon enough. I can tell you my friend, Christians are anything but losers. Bill Gates is undecided whether or not there is a God. Warren Buffet doesn’t believe in God at all. These are some of the richest men in the world, yet they are poorer than poor without Jesus Christ as Saviour. I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes for all the money in the world. They give away billions of dollars to charity each year but that doesn’t merit them one iota with God. Their good deeds CANNOT save them. The ONLY way to be saved is to crawl to the feet of Jesus Christ as a hell-deserving sinner. There aren’t many rich people who are willing to crawl on their spiritual knees to the mighty throne of God—it’s beyond their “dignity” to admit they deserve to burn in hell. Let me tell you whoever you may be, you are a hell-deserving sinner! Yes you are! Your good works mean nothing to God concerning your salvation, “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 64:60). Your money, kindness, sincerity, positive efforts, generosity and commitment mean nothing to God if you are trying to impress Him by your own self-righteousness. If you are trusting in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (realizing that you have no righteousness of your own), then all the good things you do as a Child of God are well pleasing unto the Lord.

The Apostle Paul Relied Upon God’s Grace, Nothing Else

But by THE GRACE OF GOD I am what I am” (1st Corinthians 15:10). The Apostle Paul knew where his bread and butter came from. He knew Who had given him the wisdom and ability to write to the churches. Paul didn’t take anything for granted but gave God the benefit of the doubt for everything good in his life. God’s grace is God’s goodness, He did for us what we certainly don’t deserve. We deserve to go straight to hell, but God has given us the gift of life and the opportunity to be saved—this is God’s grace. God’s grace is everything that God has ever done, is doing, or ever will do for us. We deserve nothing! When someone arrogantly claims that they are trying to impress God with their good works, they are unknowingly admitting that they know nothing concerning the grace of God. Salvation cannot be of grace and works as we have already learned from Romans 11:6. The grace of God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, if we could save ourselves we wouldn’t need the grace of God.

God’s Throne of Grace

The grace of God is available to help us through every trial and problem in life because we can’t make it on our own. It is our duty to claim the grace of God in times of trouble, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find GRACE TO HELP in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

The Sin Question / Son Question

The Sin Question / Son Question

by David J. Stewart

Never before in the history of the world has there been so many damnable heresies, deceptions, and lies of Satan. Everywhere we turn nowadays, we are faced with lies and Satanic deceptions. False religions abound everywhere, such as the damnable Catholicism and the Hellbound Health, Wealth, and Prosperity gospel. Modernist imposters, such as Oprah Winfrey, have infested the TV (drawing 20,000,000 watchers daily). Other, less subtle deceptions, such as Lutheranism and the Seventh-Day Adventism, are just as damnable in their devilish doctrines. Salvation is simple, as we are cautioned not to forget, in 2nd Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” It’s as simple as the Sin Question / Son Question.

It’s as simple as this: We are all sinners, and salvation is found in the Son of God. That’s it! Many people only address one of the questions; but, not both. Many people join a church for one reason or another; but, they only find religion, and not Christ. Perhaps they seek balance and stability in their lives. Or perhaps they want a better environment for their children. And these are certainly good things. However, salvation is not found in any religion. Tragically, most people have churchianity without Christianity.

The Sin Question

Many people are led to make a commitment to Christ at a crusade meeting, or to join a church to find happiness. Unfortunately, they’ve never addressed the sin question. What about your sins? Many people today have been religious for most of their lives; but, they have never truly found forgiveness in Christ. The world’s churches are filled with religious relics, more resembling a museum or a morgue than the house of God. Going to church, keeping the sacraments, making a commitment to Christ, getting baptized, financially supporting the church…etc–these things do NOT address the sin question. There are many people who foolishly think that infant baptism removes their original sin. No it doesn’t! You can’t show me anything in the Word of God teaching infant baptism, or that baptism forgives one’s sins. In the entire book of John, Jesus never told anyone to get baptized. Yet Jesus said in John 3:16, “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.” John 3:18 is clear “He that believeth on him is not condemned…” Baptism is NOT required for salvation; but, is rather an act of obedience for the new convert.

The sin question must be addressed! The very reason for which Christ came to die upon the cross, was to take away our SINS. Therefore, no one can find salvation who does not first address the sin question. Do you realize that you are a Hell-deserving sinner? The Scriptures are abundantly clear that the wages of our sin is death (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8). We are all sinners (Romans 3:10,23). A woman wrote me the other day. She told me off in the letter and then ended it with the following statement: “By the way, I am not a sinner.” I sent her back 1st John 1:8-10, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” Do you see yourself as a Hell-deserving sinner? If not, then you evidently don’t need a Saviour, and you are calling God a liar. God says that we are all sinful beings, deserving of eternal Hell-fire. The SIN question must be dealt with. Do you recognize your need for Christ because of your sins?

The Son Question

Many people do recognize their sins, and they’ve turned over a new leaf to do better; BUT, they’ve never addressed the SON question. People in churches around the world have made decisions to do better, have made new year’s resolutions, have decided to do the best they can to please God; BUT, tragically, they have never come to the feet of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Turning over a new leaf will not get you into Heaven. Doing better is nothing more than self-righteousness. God says that our self-righteousness is as filthy rags in his sight (Isaiah 64:6). The SON question must be addressed! You can’t just decide to do better. All over the world, people are gullibly led to believe that some rehabilitation program will set their lives straight. Organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are no better than the Satanic Freemasons, who teach their members to follow the god of their choice. Their god is undefined, a one size fits all god. The Biblical teaching that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 14:6) is vehemently rejected. You can make yourself as clean as you possibly can; BUT, you are still a dirty-rotten sinner who deserves to burn in Hell. And so am I. Only through the precious blood of Jesus Christ can our sins be taken away forever. 1st Peter 1:18-19 declares, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ…“

The SON question must be dealt with. You can’t just turn over a new leaf and try to do better. Billions of people throughout history have gone straight to Hell when they died, because they were trusting upon their own self-righteousness, instead of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We read in Romans 10:3-4, “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” You need Christ friend, nothing else. Salvation is so simple, and God purposely made it that way. Oh how men complicate everything. Religion is so complicated, laying heavy burdens upon mean’s shoulders which are grievous to be borne, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat … For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders…” (Matthew 23:2,4). But Jesus so wonderfully said in Matthew 11:29-30, “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.” Jesus requires nothing of us to be saved except to rest upon Him alone. All you need to realize is that you are a Hell-deserving sinner, and then turn to the blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood shall cleanse away your sins as white as snow “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Jesus Is Precious!

Jesus Is Precious!

by David J. Stewart

“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious…” -1st Peter 2:7

What is precious to you? Something which is “precious” is something of value (high worth or cost). In this modern world of materialism and wickedness, fewer and fewer people recognize the things of God as precious. Very few people place any real value upon the Bible these days. Very few people recognize the name of “Jesus” as precious. In fact, many people even express contempt at the mention of the name of Jesus. The Apostle Peter knew that the Lord Jesus Christ is very Precious to the believers.

“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.” -1st Peter 2:7

Jesus is Precious to me because He loves me for who I am, a rotten sinner deserving of hell.

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:7-8

Jesus did for us what no one else would have done, He gave His life for our sinful souls. I can’t think of anyone that cares about me enough to die for me, but that’s exactly what Jesus did for me. Jesus sacrificed His life upon the cross for my sins because He loves me. Jesus is precious to me because He loves me and proved it by suffering to atone for my sins. What a Precious Saviour!

The Apostle Peter also recognized his problems and hardships as precious.

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” -1st Peter 1:7

Peter realized that unshakable faith only comes from having your faith shaken. Few Christians comprehend this truth. Few believers realize that the road to a stronger faith is a road of trials and tribulations. The way to stronger muscles is not lying around relaxing. No, the road to stronger muscles is a road of painful muscle tearing and rebuilding. The lactic acid burns! I remember joining a health club after not exercising for over ten years. I had a trainer help me through all the exercise equipment. In the days to follow, I could hardly walk up any stairs. I hurt from head to toe. I hadn’t felt that sore in many years. After continuing with the new exercise program for several months, the pain was minimal and I saw the muscle definition form. I felt good about myself and was able to lift large amounts of weights that I never thought I could lift. You see, no pain – no gain. Or as some say, no pain absorbed – no pain relieved!

If you ask God to increase your faith, then you are really asking God to send problems and hardships to your way, because that is the only way to achieve stronger faith. Peter realized this truth and esteemed the trials of his faith as being precious.

The Apostle Peter also recognized the promises of God’s Word as precious.

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” -2nd Peter 1:4

It is through the promises of God’s Word that we can partake of the “divine nature“. This simply means that God’s power and blessings are obtained through His promises. God keeps His promises. The rainbow is more than just a remainder to us that God will never destroy the earth again by flooding, it is a constant reminder to all humanity that God keeps ALL His promises. Titus 1:2 declares that God cannot lie. There are thousands of promises in the Bible which God has made to us. For example: God has promised to save anyone who calls (trusts, relies) upon the Lord “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” -Romans 10:13. That’s a promise from God. If we simply call (trust) upon the name of Jesus, then we will be saved. Acts 4:12 declares that there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved other than by Jesus Christ. If you want to see God’s hand of power and blessing operating in your life, then you need to learn the promises of God. Some promises are condition, others are unconditional. The promise of eternal life is conditional, you MUST believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ or you will not obtain it (John 3:36). God’s promise to never destroy the world again with flooding is unconditional, it will never happen again.

The Apostle Peter also recognized the blood of Jesus Christ as being precious.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” -1st Peter 1:18-19

Indeed, Jesus blood is wonderfully precious to the believer. Heretics such as John MacArthur are imposters, denying the atoning blood of Christ. No true believer would ever deny the importance and necessity of the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ blood is the central theme of the entire Word of God, from the blood of Abel’s slain lamb to the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) in Revelation 7:14. Hebrews 9:22 declares that there is NO remission of sins without the shedding of Christ’s blood. The blood of Jesus Christ on the cross is the ONLY way for our sins to be forgiven.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” -Colossians 1:14

Thank God for the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God!

What is precious to you? Is Jesus precious to you? Do you cherish the atoning blood of Jesus Christ? Do you recognize the hardships in your life as the means to a stronger faith? Do you value the promises of God and lean upon them to get you though day-by-day? Most of the people in today’s world mock and laugh at the teachings of God’s Word. Most people in the world today have the same wicked cynical attitude as the unbelievers who viewed Christ upon the cross.

“And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.” -Matthew 27:39-44

Notice the word “if” mentioned three times in the preceding Scriptures. The unbelievers continually mocked Christ by challenging His authority, power, and deity while ignorantly blind to their own desperate condition which will end up in Hellfire for eternity. Oh how wicked and deceitful are the sinful hearts of mankind.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” -Jeremiah 17:9

Do you think for one moment that those unbelieving religious leaders would have accepted Jesus if He had come down off the cross? Not for a moment. They hated God unconditionally. No matter what Jesus did, the wicked religious leaders never would have accepted Him because Jesus himself is Almighty God whom they already rejected in their hearts “…this people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…” -Mark 7:6. A man once said to me: “When God Himself hands me that Bible, then I’ll believe it.” Is this exactly what the heathens said to Jesus: “If you come down off the cross to save yourself, only then we will believe you“? The wicked are always placing God on trials to cover their own rejection of God.

To the believing, no explanation is necessary; to the unbelieving, no explanation is possible.

The heathens of this world will never accept Jesus Christ, just as they will never accept His believers. The things that are precious to us as believers are meaningless and foolishness to the unsaved heathens. Even the Gospel of Jesus Christ itself is foolishness to the unbelieving.

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” -1st Corinthians 1:18

What is precious to you, my friend? Do you have God? Have you come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, would you like to be saved now?

Does A Lost Person Have to Pray A Sinner’s Prayer to Be Saved?

Does A Lost Person Have to Pray A Sinner’s Prayer to Be Saved?

by David J. Stewart

I recently received a letter from a gentleman who asked where the Bible teaches that a lost sinner must pray the sinner’s prayer to be saved. That’s a good question. Here is a Biblical response.

A person does NOT have to pray a sinner’s prayer to be saved; but, they do need to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ in their hearts. However, most people do pray some types of prayer when they believe upon Christ. The publican in Luke 18:13 prayed “God be merciful to me a sinner.” The thief on the cross said to Jesus “Remember me today when Thou enterest into Thine Kingdom.” It was the man’s belief that prompted him to pray, asking for salvation. Of course, the man didn’t need to say anything to Jesus, he could have simply believed in his heart. Many of the chief rulers of Israel believed upon Christ; but never made it public for fear “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (John 12:42). As you can see, fear of audibly confessing Christ does NOT prevent a person from getting saved. Salvation is of the HEART; NOT the mouth. So whether a person prays a sinner’s pray or not is irrelevant to their salvation–what matters is what is going on in the heart.

Salvation is of the Heart

The sinner’s prayer is actually after the fact. A person prays because he/she has already believed in his/her heart. When a person leaves his/her pew in church, and walks down the isle in response to a salvation invitation, that person is already saved. Isaiah 65:24 declares “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” People walk down to the front of the church, to the alter, to find out what they did. At the alter, a soulwinner shows them from the Bible how to be saved. It was the lost sinner’s faith that caused him or her to step out of their pew and go forward. It was David’s faith that prompted him to fight Goliath. Had David lost the battle, his faith would have been no less great. It wasn’t David slewing Goliath that made his faith great, it was David’s great faith that caused him to go out to fight Goliath in the first place. Noah’s great faith prompted him to set out to build the ark, and carried him through ’til the end. Likewise, it is one’s faith in Jesus Christ that prompts him to pray the sinner’s prayer. The sinner’s prayer is a natural response for a human heart that needs to cry out to God for forgiveness. Notice that 1st John 1:9 states that if we “confess” our sins to God, God will forgive us. It doesn’t say, if we “ask for forgiveness“. Hence, God forgives us before we even get to the point of asking for forgiveness. God beats us to the punch! While we’re confessing, God has already forgiven us. That’s how much God wants to forgive us and make things right. Of course, 1st John 1:9 was written to believers; but the same merciful and loving God is willing to forgive all who come to Him through Christ Jesus “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” -Isaiah 1:18 It’s up to you. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, all your sins can be taken away forever.

Faith is all that is required by God for man’s salvation

So a person doesn’t need to pray a sinner’s prayer to be saved; but it is certainly appropriate and welcome. Incidentally, I don’t like the public invitation. I think public invitations often add a step to salvation which God does NOT require. No doubt, many people have not been saved because they were afraid to walk down an isle. God can save lost sinners right in their pews, without them stepping forward. All God asks is that we believe upon His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Saviour. Jesus Christ came to this world as God Almighty in the flesh. The Godhead became incarnate (Colossians 2:9; 1st Timothy 3:16). Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the Godhead to mankind. God asks us to believe upon Christ, and receive Him as the Son of God, as our personal Saviour. The sinful world rejects Christ, mocking Him, and continually questioning His legitimacy. We’ve seen a plethora of books and movies, such as The Da Vinci Code, The Jesus Papers, and The Gospel of Judas…etc all mocking, attacking, and blaspheming the deity of our precious Lord Jesus Christ.

It is certainly appropriate to lead people to ask Jesus to forgive them of their sins; but we would be wise to also inform them that prayer does not save a person–it is the faith in one’s heart that brings salvation. Romans 10:13 declares, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The word “call” in the Greek means “to rely upon, to trust.” It does NOT necessarily mean to audibly call upon the Lord, although people may audibly call upon the Lord Jesus as part of their hearts’ belief. Salvation is of the heart, as we read in Romans 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” It is clear from Matthew 7:21 that praying in and of itself is insufficient to bring salvation, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” So what is the will of the Father? Glad you asked, John 6:40 proclaims “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” The will of God is to believe upon Jesus Christ. John 3:16 states, in no uncertain terms, “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.” I don’t see anything about baptism in there, or speaking in tongues, or making a commitment to Christ, or the seven-sacraments, or good works, or church membership, or turning over a new leaf, or becoming religious or pray a prayer…etc–all that God requires of a person to be saved is to BELIEVE UPON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Acts 16:30,31 states “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…“

Titus 3:5 states, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” Faith in good works is a sure road to Hell. Jesus paid our sin debt because we cannot. The Sabbath was a picture of Jesus, who is our Sabbath today. Man ceased from his own 6-days of work, and rested upon the 7th day (a picture of Jesus). Hence, we cease from our own human efforts and trust solely upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

Passive Belief verses Dynamic Belief

Notice that James 2:19 condemns a passive belief that only acknowledges Jesus’ existence; but doesn’t actually trust upon Him, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Saving belief involves a DYNAMIC faith, a faith that trusts 100% upon Jesus Christ ALONE for salvation. Many people claim to believe in Jesus; but they’ve never actually made the decision to solely rest upon Christ’s finished work of redemption. Some foolish people today have twisted the Bible to claim that good works are necessary for salvation; BUT, they are not. The only thing that is required for salvation is to believe upon Jesus Christ alone. You’ve probably noticed that I use the word “upon” often when speaking of salvation. I don’t like to say “believe in” Jesus, because of what James 2:19 teaches. Many people believe “in” Jesus; but, they DON’T believe “upon” Jesus. Do you believe upon Jesus? Have you placed all your trust for eternal life upon the finished work of Christ, upon His blood sacrifice for your sins? Jesus shed His blood for our sins, and applied that blood to the Mercy Seat in Heaven before the Father, so we could be forgiven and saved from Hell.

As an example: I can say that I believe a stepladder will support my weight if I stand upon it. I can say that all day long if I want to. However, that is only OPTIMISM; NOT faith. Faith is actually standing upon the ladder! No amount of optimism that a ladder can hold me up, can replace faith. Let me apply this to salvation. Many people speak highly of Christ (represented by the ladder). They claim to believe that Jesus can save them, and that Jesus is good, and that Jesus is strong; but, they’ve never actually placed their weight, their complete trust, upon the Saviour. I meet people all the time who tell me how wonderful Jesus is; but then tell me that they’re trusting upon baptism, church membership, good works, religion, the seven-sacraments, the Virgin Mary, the priest, and all sorts of other religious mumbo-jumbo to save them!!! To trust upon ANYTHING other than Jesus Christ ALONE is the same as holding onto a big rope while standing upon a ladder (just in case the ladder fails). So you’re NOT truly trusting the ladder if you have to hang onto a safety rope. This is where MOST people are at today in religions. Most people today who claim to believe in Jesus are also trusting upon all sorts of religious gimmicks, ceremonialism, formalism, and superstition to save them. The Bible is clear that you either trust Jesus Christ ALONE, or you go straight to Hell when you die. There are NO exception! Ephesians 2:8-9 state, “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.” A “gift” cannot be earned; but only received.

I spoke with a Catholic man yesterday who said he believes in Jesus; but he is unsaved. He said he used to be a Baptist, but converted over to Roman Catholicism to make his wife happy. He said to me, “All I know is that I believe in Jesus.” He is sincere; but lost. He has never rested solely upon the Saviour; therefore, he sees nothing wrong with adding works and religion to one’s faith in God. It is important for a sinner to come to the realization that he MUST personally trust upon the Saviour ALONE, who shed His blood for all sinners’ sins. Again, it is NOT enough just to acknowledge the Lord’s existence (James 2:19). So if we just tell people to believe in Christ, it might lead some people (like the Catholic above) to think they’re already saved. We, as Christians, have a duty to warn the wicked that ADDING anything to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a sure road to Hell. There are all kinds of TV evangelists who preach a shabby, watered-down Gospel; but, they won’t talk about how ADDING WORKS corrupts the Gospel. They are eerily silent for fear of offeding religious people out there.

Conclusion

The sinner’s prayer is Biblical; but not necessary for salvation. Some people pray, others don’t. I think the important thing for us (as believers) is to make sure to present a CLEAR Gospel presentation to lost sinners. We are NOT saved by praying a prayer; but, one who believes upon Christ may certainly pray a prayer in the process. To lead someone in a sinner’s prayer is to lead them to believe upon Christ, for no unbelievers would suddenly ask Jesus to forgive their sins and take them to Heaven when they die. Some soulwinners may prefer not to use a sinner’s prayer. However, in such cases the soulwinner must be diligent to explain to the person that mere belief (acknowledgment) IN a Saviour is not the same thing as a saving belief (trust) UPON the Saviour. And likewise, the soulwinner who leads a person in a sinner’s prayer should be diligent to explain to the person that prayer alone cannot save anyone. There MUST be faith in the heart, otherwise you simply have vain religion. I’ve literally heard people tell me that they became a Christian by praying. No, a person becomes a Christian by trusting upon the Lord Jesus Christ ALONE to forgive their sins. The issue is our SINS. They must be dealt with. Jesus died to take away our SINS. Don’t trust a prayer, or merely acknowledging the existence of Jesus, to save you. Rather, TRUST upon the precious Savior, Jesus, and the precious blood He shed to take away our sins. You trust Jesus by placing 100% of your faith upon Him, and His shed blood on the cross. Trust nothing or no one else–just Jesus Christ ALONE!

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ…” -1st Peter 1:18,19

What If You’re Wrong?

What If You’re Wrong?

By David J. Stewart

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” —2nd Thessalonians 1:8,9

I would rather live my life as if the Bible is true, and die to find out It isn’t; than live my life as if It isn’t, and die to find out It is.

2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9 WARNS that everyone who disobeys the Gospel, by refusing to come to the Father by way of the Son of God, will burn in Hellfire. In John 14:6 Jesus proclaimed: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” It’s Jesus Christ or Hell my friend.

Are you willing to risk all eternity on the worldly assumption that the Bible was written by men merely as a mean to control the masses? If that were true, then why did those men make the Bible so offensive to read? The Bible is the most offensive Book on the planet, because it shows us our sinfulness and gives us a brutal dose of reality. If men could write the Bible, they wouldn’t; and if they would, they couldn’t. Archeological discoveries have proven that the Bible was written by dozens of various writers spanning a period of 1500 years! Amazingly, most of these men never met each other, yet the 66 books of the Bible perfectly cross-references in agreement.

Interestingly, there is not one shred of evidence in support of the theory of Evolution; yet many people blindly accept it as fact. Walt Disney’s, History Channel, teaches Evolution as if it were a fact, confidently claiming that the earth is billions of years old and evolved from a speck smaller than a single atom. Then there was a mysterious Big Bang! Yet, they have no evidence of these claims. In sharp contrast, the Bible has much historical and archeological evidence to support it’s claims; yet most people blindly reject and deny the Bible as being the Words of Almighty God.

Humanism Verses the Bible

Tragically, 99% of the people in this world have not believed on Jesus Christ for their salvation. Most of the people in this world are foolishly trusting in religion to save them; others have become their own god and are daily disobeying the Gospel (John 3:36).

• An estimated one billion people in this world are Catholic, relying upon the Catholic Church to save them. Catholicism is a prisonhouse of religion, that teaches people man-made traditions instead of the Word of God. Jesus plainly exposed this evil in Mark 7:6-13. Jesus commanded us in John 5:39 to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!!
• Islam boasts of having nearly one billion followers, who all deny that Jesus ever died on a cross. The Qur’an plainly states that Jesus is not the Son of God, and that someone else died on the cross instead of Jesus.
• Buddhism and Hinduism are two of the biggest false religions in the world, claiming over one billion followers. Yet, these two false religions deny that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven as the Bible teaches.
• Humanism is very popular nowadays, which basically teaches that man is his own god and doesn’t need any divine guidance or salvation. In Humanism, there is no concept of sin, i.e. of man violating the Laws of a Holy God. This is why modern psychology is so flawed and dangerous (it tries to solve man’s problems without addressing the issue of sin). Atheists and Agnostics fall into this category of Humanism.

Just in consideration of Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Humanism — it is clearly evident that most of this world is going to Hell according to the Word of God. There are also thousands of other false religions and demonic cults in this world that blind people from the truth of God’s Word.

What Is Truth?

It is not difficult to know what the truth is if you have a sincere desire to know the truth. Pilate made an interesting statement to Jesus in John 18:38 “What is truth?” In verse 37 Jesus said, “…Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” It is amazing that Pilate was speaking to Jesus Christ, Who is The Truth (John 14:6), and yet Pilate couldn’t see the truth. Oh, how this is so common today! So many people today speak about truth; but they are willingly blinded fools. You see, when a person willingly rejects the Word of God as Truth, then they open themselves up to all sorts of demonic influences and Satanic brainwashing. The first step to wisdom is to accept the Bible as being THE WORD OF GOD! 1st peter 1:23 tells us that we are born again by the Word of God “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” There can be NO salvation without the Word of God, for the Gospel itself is contained in the Bible (Romans 1:16; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4).

Believing in God is Not Enough!

Again, it is tragic that 99% of the people in this world have not believed on Jesus Christ for their salvation. Most of the people in this world are trusting in religion to save them. Ironically, most of these same unsaved people profess faith in a Divine God. As we learn from James 2:19, merely believing in God is insufficient to get a person to Heaven “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Salvation is relying on Jesus Christ as the Son of God to forgive our sins, who paid for them with His own precious literal blood (1st Peter 1:18,19).

You need to have the correct God! The Godhead was manifest to mankind in the physical Person of the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:9). Literally, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were embodied within the flesh of Jesus Christ. The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst men (John 1:1-3,14; 1st Timothy 3:16; Revelation 19:13 — King James Bible). Jesus Christ himself is Almighty God!

Jesus Came to Save Us from Sin

Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners (1st Timothy 1:15; Matthew 18:11). What a wonderful truth it is to know that the sole purpose of Jesus coming into this world was to rescue us from the condemnation of sin, the penalty of sin, the stronghold of sin, and the guilt of sin.

Are you still in your sins without Christ? Are you following some false religions instead of the Bible? What if you’re wrong friend? What if the Bible is God’s Word? What if salvation truly is ONLY through Jesus Christ? You don’t have to go to Hellfire. 2nd Peter 3:9 says that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Salvation is a free gift. The only sin you have to forsake to be saved is the sin of unbelief. If you realize that you are condemned under God’s Law because of your sins, and you admit your GUILT (Romans 3:19), then you simply need to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved (Acts 16:31).

We are sinners and Jesus is the Savior! One trillion years won’t even be the beginning of eternity! Are you really willing to take the ultimate risk, making the most foolish gamble in the universe, with your eternal destiny? Not me! I am so glad that I’ve been born-again in Christ Jesus! This temporal life will soon be over, and then we will spend all eternity in either the splendors of Heaven with the Lord, or suffering in the lonely torments of Hellfire. The worst thing about Hell won’t be the flames that burn you 24/7, it will be KNOWING that eternal life was a “free gift” that you could have freely received by faith in Jesus Christ; but you didn’t because of your sinful pride and love for sin (John 3:20). You could have went to Heaven simply by the taking; but you went to Hell because of your sinful unbelief and contempt for the Lord Jesus Christ. You don’t need religion or church to get to Heaven — you need Jesus Christ!!!

I would rather live my life as if the Bible is true, and die to find out It isn’t; than live my life as if It isn’t, and die to find out It is.

“Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” —Hebrews 10:29

A Gift from God – Eternal Life

A Gift from God — Eternal Life

By David J. Stewart

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

Eternal life is a FREE GIFT, paid for by Jesus’ literal, physical, precious blood (1^st Peter 1:18,19; Hebrews 9:12). The Bible warns all believers that Satan is a liar of liars, who relentlessly attempts to deceive people concerning THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST.

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” —2^nd Corinthians 11:3,4

Satan has succeeded in corrupting the simplicity of the Gospel in many of today’s religious circles. There is a popular teaching nowadays called Lordship Salvation that requires lost sinners to be willing to turn from their sins as a prerequisite to salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth of God’s Word. How can anything be a “gift” if one must be willing to do anything to get it?

“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

There is no plainer truth taught in the Word of God than that salvation is a “free gift” (Romans 5:15,18). If I were to offer you a Christmas present, but with the stipulation that you must be willing to take a bath, it would not be a gift. Why? Because I have clearly implied that I expect you to take a bath to get the present. A gift is defined as something given voluntarily without any payment in return. John 3:16 proclaims:

“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.” —John 3:16

God in His wondrous unconditional love (Romans 5:8) sent Jesus Christ into the world to die and bleed for our sins. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe; because we owed a debt we could not pay (2^nd Corinthians 5:21). That’s why eternal life is a gift—because Jesus paid for it. What a precious Savior!

Beware of False Prophets!

There are multitudes of false prophets today, who have bought into the lie of Satan concerning Lordship Salvation. A few such imposters are: John MacArthur, Ray Comfort, Jack Chick, Don Piper, Paul Washer, and countless of others.

On the back cover of every one of Jack Chick’s cartoon tracts are the words “Be willing to turn from sin (repent).” This is step number two in “his plan” of salvation. It is a false plan, not taught in the Scriptures. If a sinner is required to “be willing to turn from sin” to be saved, then it is no longer a free gift. Only God knows how many people have been steered AWAY from Jesus Christ by Jack Chick, because they sincerely weren’t “willing” to forsake certain sins in their life.

In sharp contrast, the Bible declares in Romans 4:5

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

The only type of person who has ever been justified by Jesus Christ is an UNGODLY person (i.e. a sinner):

“…for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” —Matthew 9:13

No self-righteous person can (or ever will) be justified in God’s eyes (Romans 3:20; Isaiah 64:6). This is the lethal danger of Lordship Salvation. Satan has beguiled millions of people around the world today, who think that placing one’s faith in Jesus Christ is insufficient to save them. Instead, they believe that some amount of personal efforts are required—i.e. a willingness to clean up one’s life of sin, a surrendering of one’s will to Christ as Lord,…etc. Such people are going straight to Hell. Why? Because they have been DECEIVED by the Devil to follow after “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9) which is based upon self-righteousness. Lordship Salvation is diametrically opposed to the Gift of God. A genuine gift is free, with no strings attached.

Proponents of Lordship Salvation claim to believe that eternal life is a gift; yet they completely contradict themselves when they teach that a sinner must be willing to surrender to Christ’s will and forsake sin to be saved. It is clear from 1^st Corinthians 3:1 that the “carnal” believers at the church of Corinth weren’t surrendered to Christ at all. They were suing each other, allowing fornication in the church, eating meats offered to idols and showing up drunk at the Lord’s Supper. I’d say they had some serious issues. Yet, the Apostle Paul called them “babes in Christ” (1^st Corinthians 3:1). This irrefutably proves that Lordship Salvation is utterly unbiblical.

What About James 2:19?

Proponents of Lordship Salvation often quote James 2:19, which states: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Carefully notice that James 2:19 doesn’t say they believed on Christ. No, rather, the Bible says they believed in God. Most people believe in God like Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Muslims, Jews, Agnostics…etc; but few receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. This is all James 2:19 means. Anyone who refuses to come to the Father by way of the Son is not going to Heaven “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The Bible is intolerant of any other gospel.

Most people today have religion without truth; they have churchianity without Christianity. Nearly everyone professes some sort of faith in a Divine God. Albert Pike, a known worshiper of Lucifer and irrefutable father of Freemasonry, believed in the God of the Bible; yet he chose to worship Lucifer instead. Mere belief in God is not enough to get to Heaven; one must personally trust upon the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). It’s a very simple yet powerful truth.

Conclusion

Please don’t become a victim of Lordship Salvation. If you’ve already bought into the lie, then I plead with you to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES as Jesus commanded in John 5:39. I realize that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of different gospels floating around on the internet nowadays. However, there is only ONE genuine Gospel message presented in the Scriptures, and it is a message of God’s unconditional love for us undeserving sinners, Who sent His only begotten Son into the world to pay for our sins, so He could freely offer us THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE in Christ Jesus (Revelation 22:17).

You don’t have to be willing to do anything to be saved. All that is required for salvation is that you come as a guilty sinner (Romans 3:19) and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive your sins (Acts 16:30,31). You don’t have to surrender your life to Christ to be saved. In Romans 12:1-3 we find the Apostle Paul begging the believers at Rome to surrender their lives to Christ:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” —Romans 12:1

Obviously, surrendering to Christ’s will wasn’t something that was required as a prerequisite for salvation. The believers at Rome hadn’t yet surrendered their lives to God (just as most believers today haven’t); but they were still saved.

Lordship Salvation is a Satanic doctrine, a demonic weapon in our churches today that is leading multitudes into Hellfire. Satan is a master deceiver, a skillful trickster, and the father of all liars (John 8:44).

The best illustration in the world of salvation is just a simple gift. When you give someone a gift, what do you do? Do you attach any stipulations, requirements, or tell the person that they need to surrender to your will to get it? Of course not, that would be absurd! A gift is a gift, period. The Bible proclaims that eternal life is a gift from God (John 4:10). There are no strings attached, no requirements, no works to do, nothing to surrender to — only BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.