Bible Studies

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Don’t get me wrong.

Eternal security (Rom.8:1) is NOT a license to sin. There is divine discipline (Heb. 12: 6) in store here on Earth for unconfessed, unforsaken, post salvation sin that we “Christians” commit every day (1John 1: 8). Such divine discipline can come in the form of having to live with a guilty conscience, up to and including physical death (Acts 5).

Human viewpoint tells us that all one can be expected to do is to try his best to be a decent individual and to do good deeds. If this were true, an atheist and a follower of many of the world’s (false) religions (Psalms 96: 5) could earn “right--standing” with God.

“Right-standing” with God has never been earned or deserved. Right-standing with God can be secured by everyone by believing in what God has done for him/her, in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. If right-standing with God that a born-again believer has already received (John 5: 24) could be lost through the commission of post salvation sin, then someone lied to us when such verses as Rom. 8: 1 was composed.

Just as the sealing (Eph. 4: 30) and regeneration (Titus 3: 5) that took place at the moment of salvation was the irreversible Work of God the Holy Spirit, so is the retention of the unearned, undeserved, irrevocable (Rom.11:29) GIFT of eternal life, the Work of God.

“for the GIFTS and the CALLING of God are irrevocable (Rom. 11: 29 NASB2020).”

As one spiritually matures, conforming to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8: 29), in thought, speech, and overt behavior, will certainly be a challenge, but it will not be a burden. Such conformity will become both the desire and the joy of his or her life, being an expression of the love that he or she has for the Lord (John 14: 15).

Man-made religions have a plan from the cradle to the grave, promoting the concept that it is by going along with THEIR program, one EARNS right-standing with the idols (Psalms 96: 5) of their own making or imagination, and becomes the recipient of his or her blessings.

There isn’t anything new about any of this.

False religions have been around throughout all of human history after the Fall of Man. It is inevitable that Man responds to the God-given concept of eternity (Eccl. 3: 11) that God places in every heart of every soul by filling the space it creates with “something.” The exception to this principle is its total rejection, planting the seeds of atheism.

Filling this space with false religion and idols (Psalms 96: 5) is the plan of Satan, denying God the glory. It matters not (to the devil) if one becomes an atheist or a follower of one of the many false religions, as long as one does acknowledge and chooses to follow the ONE true God of the Bible.

Sad to say, that the concept of earning salvation has been sown and has taken root in many sectors of the Christian Community. The truth is, salvation is never earned and is not retained through human effort.

Unlike the cradle to the grave programs promoted by Man-made religions, the spiritual life of the Church Age does not even begin until the issue of one’s salvation has already been completely settled. It is settled the moment he or she first believed when presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message, after having reached the age or stage of moral accountability, in order to make a conscious and an informed decision. It is then and there, and not before, that one passes from being spiritually dead, to become spiritually alive, and the permanent recipient of eternal life (John 5: 24).

I believe that persons that do not reach the age or stage of moral accountability, or are not presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message, are judged by God, based on whatever accurate spiritual information they were presented with, beginning with the concept of eternity that He places in every soul that He creates (Eccl. 3: 11).

The Prophet Nathan informed David that he would suffer the loss of an infant that was the product of his adulterous affair (2Sam. 12: 14). He, fasted, wept, and pleaded with God, lying on the ground, that He would spare the life of the baby. When the baby died, David’s people were afraid to tell him in fear it would drive him to suicide.

But much to their surprise, when David perceived that the child had died, he got up, cleaned himself up, and went to the Temple to worship God. When David returned home, he was asked about the sudden turn around. David responded, “while the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, “who knows the Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live.” But now he has died’; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? (When my time comes) I am going to him (where he is), but he will not return to me (now).” - 2Sam. 12: 22,23 NASB2020 parentheses mine.

Many great lessons can be taken from this passage, but among them was David’s confidence of being reunited with his departed son.

At the moment that one IS presented with, and believes in, the unadulterated Gospel Message, God the Holy Spirit (not human clergy) sealed (marked for identification) the individual as a child of God (Eph. 4: 30) and regenerated what had been his or her dead spirit (Titus 3: 5), with which we ALL come into this world.

For the advancing disciple, discipleship is not perceived to be a burden or an obligation, but as the means of expressing his or her love for God (John 14: 15), and to express his or her appreciation for all that He has done, is doing, and will do for Fallen Man.

For the advancing disciple, time spent focused on God and or the things of God is the best part of any given day. Maintaining a 24/7 conscious awareness of the presence of God, and the primary divine purpose (Matt. 28: 19, 20) that God has in mind for you, wherever you are, be it at home, school, work, or play, will go a long way in keeping oneself on the straight and narrow way of discipleship, and being a most useful tool in the hands of God.

In summary, good deeds, good behavior, and post salvation discipleship were not the means to have become a born-again believer, and are not the means for a born again believer to retain the salvation (eternal life) that he has already received. Such things are indicators that one has been saved, but we cross the line and enter into moral degeneration when we think that it was or is by having done or by doing such things that we were saved and or retain our salvation.

End of Part 8

End of Series

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