Bible Studies

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One of the reasons that people listening to the unadulterated Gospel Message, is because they been told by legalists that they will have to give up many of the things that had become a part of their lifestyle, if they want to “get right” with God.

Having never experienced the neither the indwelling presence (1Cor. 3: 16) or the enabling power of God (John 15: 5), these religious requirements seem to be more than what they could handle, even if they wanted to do so. They are still experiencing the fleeting pleasures (Heb. 12: 25) that some sin can provide the fallen nature within us (Rom. 7). They have no genuine desire to give them up, and resist anyone or anything that suggests they do.

Total freedom is an illusion. If one hasn’t learned already, we will find that to whatever or to whomever we submit ourselves, we become its slave (Rom. 6:16), and that the ”freedom” to do what we want can come with a hefty price tag.

With the haunting prospect of spending an eternity in Hell, even the most hardened and rebellious soul can come to the realization and cloclude that they have no choice but to face the issue of where they are going before their time of departure comes.

We are all free to choose to either believe or disbelieve after being presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message of John 3: 16, 18, and then reap the blessings or the consequences of that decision.

But we are not free from having to make that choice!

Once presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message, by any means, one is without any valid excuse in the Court of Heaven.

Not knowing when this departure will come increases the urgency to get the matter settled. Sometimes God will use such things as the sudden and unexpected death of a loved one that brings the question of one’s own inevitable departure to mind.

Wandering souls will take comfort in knowing that WHERE he or she WILL spend all of eternity future can be settled by making a one-time decision to believe, when presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message, encapsulated in John 3: 16, 18. They may never embrace the type of post salvation spiritual life of discipleship outlined in Scripture. They remained saved, but as a result, live on to regret that choice when they suffer the loss of the reward (1Cor. 3: 14, 15) and eternal privileges (Rev. 2/Rev. 3) that they could have received, in addition to enjoying the undeserved, unearned, general environment of Heaven that will be the experience of all born-again believers (Rom.8: 1).

Those who have ring-side seats and those who are up in the standing room only section at the outskirts of a large facility, are “both there,” but do not share the same experience!

Self-centered souls are happy to know that at least they have the Rom. 8: 1 assurance of where they are going when the time of their earthly departure comes, but Christ-centered, advancing disciples are never satisfied with this “good enough” attitude.

I had a conversation with a health professional one day, in the presence of his medical assistant, who stated he believed that he had gone too far to ever be saved. As I explained to him that no living person who has an open ear ( of the soul) to the inaudible voice of God calling, is beyond redemption, his medical assistant appeared to be equally interested in the conversation. I don’t know what the end result of our conversation was, but I felt the presence and the power of God the Holy Spirit in that room.

Another time, I had just finished a round of golf when I was approached in the parking lot as I was putting my golf bag away in my car. At that time, I used to have a decal on my car door with the image of Bible and an inscription that read, “One Message waiting …”, that had apparently caught the attention of a man in the area that day. The man identified himself as a “Brother” who taught at nearby private academy that promoted a religious curriculum. The subject of the “religious life” soon the religious life came into the picture. He was impressed how I said it (the religious life) was all for nothing if one is not born again, as in all of his experience and teaching, he had never heard it put that way.

As an ordained pastor teacher, I spend hours in solitude on a daily basis researching, composing, and publishing articles such as this one, but God also provides me with occasional opportunities that were unexpected with people whom I interact.

God will use all born-again believers, who choose to become advancing disciples, in the same way as they go about their daily activities. This is what gives spiritual purpose and meaning to what would otherwise be just another day, here in the devil’s world.

The golf course incident reminded me of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a very religious man, and a respected teacher among his own people, but needed to hear of the born-again necessity (John 3: 5), if his religious life was going to be of any spiritual significance.

While such things as good deeds, good behavior, and what most would label “religious” activity are a major part in the lives of many who call themselves “Christians,” such things can come under the umbrella of moral degeneracy, if and when they are believed and or are promoted as being the means to obtain or retain salvation.

It is at this point that, many of the good things that are held in high esteem by Man can become “detestable” in the eyes of God (Luke 16: 15).

While there will be changes required if a born-again believer is to become a disciple and move forward along the road to spiritual maturity, these changes have got nothing to do with salvation.

One can do a great disservice telling people they have to repent of “ALL” their sins to be “saved,” since it is not until one spends some time in post salvation Biblical discipleship that most born-again believers BEGIN to be aware of the more than 300 ways (documented in New Testament Scripture) that one can sin, through acts of commission or omission.

Consider the wide-spread disobedience to such commands (not options) requiring “Christians” to do ALL things without grumbling and complaining, not to gossip, not to judge, to forgive as God forgives, and to do good for those who use and abuse them, just to name a few! If repenting from such things were a requirement to be saved, most “Christians” that I know have cause to doubt the integrity of their salvation.

Now add to that, that according to James 2: 10, if we break just ONE of God’s ( 300+) laws, listed in the New Testament alone, we stand as guilty as the one who breaks them ALL!

The type of “repentance” (change of mind) required for salvation calls for changing one’s mind, in order to see the need (John 3: 5, 7) and means (John 3: 16) to be born again. Sad to say, but because of their chosen pulpit or means of edification, there are many who consider themselves to be “Christians” who fill the pews on a regular basis that have never been properly taught about the necessity and the permanency of being born again, or how to go about it.

The type of repentance required for the successful execution of the post (after) salvation spiritual life involves an ongoing, never-ending, process, as one continues to be more conformed to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8: 29). Religion puts the cart ahead of the horse, promoting its religious programs as the means through which one earns salvation and the blessings of God.

This is the religious foundation on which moral degeneration is built and flourishes. End of Part 7

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