The “iron-clad” humongous type of salvation we have in Christ, or, on the flip-side…
“The limits of what God will do for sinners”.
Directory for this Article (This is a long one! Sorry.)
Intro *Read it all at one sitting, or return to read each section at a later time. Enjoy!
So – why the grace?
That Lost State of NOT
Your regret for all eternity
The Remarkable State of His Amazing Grace
How to get to Heaven
How big is your God?
From a spiritual point of view
The Four “Types” of Peoples in the world
(1) Non-followers “devoid of the Spirit”
(2) Saved – Given Entrance to His Kingdom
(3) Babies in Christ
(4) Maturing Followers
FOR MORE
Intro
We love to sing Amazing Grace. Wow! What a great song. So, what is it about God’s grace that is so amazing?
What’s so great about that?
Well, for me it’s a big deal that: no grace was owed us whatsoever. God Almighty did not have to save us. Holy God loathes sin. He could have just rubbed us out of existence and walked away – way away to another part of His immense creation.
After all, Jehovah destroyed the rotten sinners in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:9; 1 Peter 3:20; Genesis 6; 7). And in Jonah’s day (Genesis 6:13; 2 Kings 14:25; ) God threatened to destroy the rotten sinners of Nineveh.
And, soon, very soon, in “the end” as Jesus called it (Matthew 24:14), Jesus is returning as promised (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Luke 21:36; Revelation 3:10-11)– to destroy all who stand against Him in Armegeddon. And He promises Hell to all who oppose Him – those who choose to refuse His grace (Deuteronomy 29:14-21).
So – why the grace?
So why did God offer His free grace to save us, all rotten sinners, in the first place? (Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 2:1-9.) It is because He is full of mercy. It is because He loved us (John 3:13-18) from before “the get go” – before His Creation, before your creation, before my creation. He knew about my needy needy soul – and wooed me to Himself.
“But God, being [so very] rich in mercy,
because of His great
and wonderful love
with which He loved us…”
saved us
(Ephesians 2:4).
God of the Ages – had His Plan of Immortality long before man actually sinned. He knew we would fail Him. Only His love and mercy could reach out to us like He did. His grace is all about His love.
Note: Paul was writing to believers here in Ephesians 2, contrasting what I love to say: “BC” (before Christ) and “AC” (after Christ).
God wants to save us all. He wants to. Through this “grace”, He offers to rescue us from His Totally Holy (Just) “God Damn”. Have you chosen to leave your ungodly sinfulness behind you? Or are you stickin’ with it? What’s at stake is gargantuanly humongous!
God’s published standards
James 2:4
have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
We should be very careful to judge ourselves (“all day long”) by God’s published standards found in the Bible, rather than “among yourselves” or with our wishful, libertarian philosophies, by works and baseless inventions (Luke 16:15). As a boy 5 feet tall looks like a giant when standing amongst pigmies – we can look pretty righteous amongst total libertarians.
That Lost State of NOT
Paul emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 that all believers were once in that lost state of NOT, not having “any share in the Kingdom of God” (v10). He writes: “And such were some of you” believers in Christ, “[before you believed]” (v11).
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived;[a]neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [by perversion], nor [b]those who participate in homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander], nor swindlers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you [before you believed]….“ – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
24 “…Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able. – Luke 13:23-24
Many fail to humble themselves before God, fail to pray, fail to seek His Face, fail to repent of their sins (“turn from”). The majority on earth fail to ask God to forgive them, and many “so-called-believers” say words… and then they fail to actually follow Jesus. They remain in “that lost state of “NOT” (Luke 13:23-24):
“the unrighteous will not
inherit or have any share in
the kingdom of God”
– Verse 9 of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
“for many, I tell you,
will try to enter
[by their own works]
and will not be able.
-Verse 24 of Luke 13:23-24
According to 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 some sinners are too full of themselves: they prize “self”, they prize “unbelief”, and they love their “oh so attractive” sins too much to give them up.
Your regret for all eternity
Many are like the rich man who Jesus told: “One thing you lack“. That describe you? If you had had Jesus at your side when you asked God to save you… would He have said the same thing to YOU?
Are you still looking for loopholes? Or are you still in that rut, doing religion and philosophizing?
…Is there one thing about you – which will be your regret for all eternity, because you denied Christ His rightful place on the throne of your heart? One thing in your heart can be like what Jesus said to the rich young ruler. We must fear God, in the sense of “respect God” so much – that we will reject our stubborn ways in order to please Him.
– Source: One thing you lack
Salvation is no puny share in earthly Wall Street. It’s a share in eternity: To be forever with God in His Kingdom. That is what His grace made possible. That is what is at stake.
________________
As sinners have done in the past, isn’t it time for you to “humble yourself in the sight of the Lord” and let Jesus get you freed from a righteous “God Damn”? There is no better time than right this moment.
I would say: Do it. Get out from under God’s Holy Wrath, and into His loving, accepting grace. It will be your happiest day ever! 1
The Remarkable State of His Amazing Grace
The amazing grace of God, “this remarkable state of grace” (Romans 5:2) is offered to everyone in the human race. But the thing about “offers” is… you’ve got to want it.
And then — you’ve got to accept it – accept that grace. Have you gotten that far in your “spiritual journey”? God wants to save you for all eternity.
Draw near to God and
He will draw near to you.”
– James 4:8
23 And someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved [from the penalties of the last judgment]?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able. – Luke 13:23-24
Sadly, “few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14 King James Version). Many just get on the wrong road to nowhere. And end up calling Hell “Home”.
See video about The Thief on the Cross
… very worth watching (and funny)
How to get to Heaven
God is Almighty, but He is all-approachable. An always approachable Almighty God! Within the extremely private inner sanctum of your soul, the Spirit communes with your spirit. He made us this way. Without a word spoken (out loud), we can communicate with God Himself. He is THAT approachable.
We can “think” our way to God in prayer. Self-talk can be prayer. He is listening to your unspoken conversation. We can accept Jesus as Savior even if our mouth is shut tight. Make Self Talk… God Talk. It goes on and on and on.
Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door….” As the Amplified version puts it, what Jesus meant was — “force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin“.
Salvation in Christ is not a willy-nilly “free for all” gift bin. You can’t just say “Okay Jesus”, “Sure thing – God”. The Gospel of Christ is not a “come one, come all” offer by God. You must be born again.
Scripture does not say “Whosoever wants to say a little prayer… may come and be saved. Oh! And then go and live however you want to.” No.
– Source: Limited Grace
How big is your God?
Is your “god” too small? Does “he” leave you fearful about your eternity?
What kind of god have you chosen? Maybe YOU are your own “god”? Who you going to call?
Suggested reading: Your God Is Too Small: A Guide for Believers and Skeptics Alike Paperback – June 1, 2004; by J.B. Phillips.
– Source: Small gods – and our great big beautiful God
Jump in and see for yourself
Do you want just your own “think”, or “God’s think“? Don’t settle for limited thinking!
Jump in and see for yourself.
– Source: Who you going to call?
From a spiritual point of view
We can say there are basically four “types” of people on the globe (and countless sub-groups), from a spiritual point of view. We were all created equal members of the One Race – created by Creator God.
But we have a choice – either to choose Creator God, or remain the same, separated from Him because of our sin.
The Four “Types”
of peoples in the world
( 1 ) Non-followers “devoid of the Spirit”
At birth we are in a lost state, “devoid of the Spirit (Jude 1:3-4; 19). We all begin life “devoid of the Spirit“, non-followers: Jude 1:3-4; 19.
From there on… we can stay the same. We can continue rejecting Him all our life, as mere puny humans. Or… we can accept Jesus as Savior, “get saved” – and follow Him.
( 2 ) Saved – Given Entrance to His Kingdom
This is where we make the decision to repent and follow Jesus. Everything changes for us at that moment in time. The Christian walk begins with “getting born again“, at which time we are granted entrance into His Kingdom. It is then that we start “eternal life” in Jesus. It is there, on our knees (or humbly in our heart), where we become A New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
( 3 ) Babies in Christ
As a brand new person in Christ – we begin our walk as baby believers. As our new life in Christ progresses, we can remain immature babies in Christ. We might stay babies, maybe even arrive in Heaven with our clothes a’ smokin’ (because we lived so close to the burning fires of Hell, so to speak). But the goal is to grow in Christ, and, little by little become more and more like Christ.
( 4 ) Maturing Followers of Christ
There is a big difference between stumbling along from sin to sin — and — living strong, with confidence. Obviously it behooves us to grow in maturity. Healthy living is always growing – growing into our natural new life in Christ. “The maturing ones” work at it… keeping a clear conscience. They are always fighting the good fight.
I want to constantly live the good life – with courage and confident hope.
Jesus is stronger…
and that is why I win in the end.
I will be living
in God’s Home Heaven
– forever wild and truly free.
– Source: Jesus is stronger
Let’s look at:
(1) Non-followers “devoid of the Spirit“: Jude 1:3-4; 19
The Bible teaches: If you do not have the Holy Spirit in you, then you are “devoid of the Spirit” (Jude 1:19), and as such, you have not yet been born again. You are merely a puny human being. Be careful here. Be careful who you follow.
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you [a]fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all [b]handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers].
19 These are the ones who are [agitators] causing divisions—worldly-minded [secular, unspiritual, carnal, merely sensual—unsaved], devoid of the Spirit.
God wants us all to be saved
Would you like to change who you are in this world, and who you will be in the next life? God is asking you to repent. He promises to completely change you into a brand new creature inside (2 Corinthians 5:17).
See: Brother Chad‘s video on
“You Can Know You Are Saved”:
https://youtu.be/PBfsPphGSeE
If you accept Jesus as Savior – then you will become “a baby in Christ”, and your citizenship is instantly changed. Now you are a citizen of Heaven (not of this world, Earth). You are given the awesome privilege of being a child of God – a true child of the King. You are of a sudden an Heir with Jesus.
Commenter Tina Ruiz posted (commented on The Antichrist AI Matrix – Live with Pete Garcia): “I would be terrified if I didn’t know Jesus! Hopefully people will make some choices before we go!”
The Fooled One
It’s easy to get swept along by swift currents during our journey. But don’t be a fooled one – that person who is fooled…
- into mere philisophies of mere men,
- into believing “another gospel“, or
- the one Jesus warned about: the “one thing you lack” type of seeker,
- or the fake “believer”.
These fools remain “devoid of the Spirit”. They remain “God damned on earth“. They may think they are saved right up to the time of the Rapture, or …right on into Hell.
They may be among the clueless ones in Hell who say, “What the Hell? Why am I here?” And Satan will smurk in glee: Welcome Home to Hell.
Don’t be one of the fooled ones!
God loves the world – all of us: the vile, the really bad big sinners, and the weak sinners, the mamby-pamby milktoast sinners – those of all stripes. The shameful, the sweet deceptor, the totally depraved, psycho, pathological, creepy, violent, nasty, ninny, stupid, mindless, clueless, ego-centric, little old lady, lost.
And He died to save this crowd. We used to be there! You still there!?
“And such were some of you [before you believed].
But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ],
you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy],
you were justified [declared free of guilt]
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God
[the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].”
– 1 Corinthians 6:11
Those who turn away from God… in Deuteronomy 29:14-21
What they are like, what they have:
* their “heart turns away… from the Lord our God” (v18)
* they… “go and serve the [false] gods of these nations” (v18)
* they have “a root [of idolatry] bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood (bitterness)” (v18)
* “he [a]imagines himself as blessed, saying, ‘I will have peace and safety even though I walk within the stubbornness of my heart [rejecting God and His law] (v19)
– Source: Turning away from God
Come on over to the other side. He wants to save you. Have you accepted His release from the condemnation of God? Been freed from His righteous “God Damn”?
God Almighty is not insincere, pretended, backhanded, double-dealing, double-faced, fake, feigned, counterfeit. God is not a mealymouthed wimp, whining “Please stop….”
No. He is not like that.
He commands us to repent:
“Therefore God …now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives]” – Acts 17:30
He commands us… because He loves all mankind (John 3:14-18; Romans 5:8). “The Lord… is not willing that any should perish.” (KJV).
“The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9
His love constrains me to want Him. His command shows me what to do to follow Him.
What is keeping you from yielding to God?
What is it about “your way” that is so appealing?
– Source: What’s your problem?
Why are you not following Christ?
Do you really want to go there, to Heaven?
Non-followers are characterized this way:
* Unbelief and disobedience. “…because of [their unbelief evidenced by] disobedience”
– Hebrews 4:6 See: Seeking and Pursuing Death and Turning away from God
* Approval of others
“for they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God.” – John 12:43
From Matthew 13:18-23:
* Does not understand and grasp it (“salvation”)
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom [regarding salvation] and does not understand and grasp it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
– (verse 19) See: Befuddled and Besmirched
* No root
“has no [substantial] root in himself, but is only temporary, and when pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles and falls away [abandoning the One who is the source of salvation].”
– (verse 21) See: Turning away from God
* Worries, Distractions, Riches – Pleasures and delights
“hears the word, but the worries and distractions of the world and the deceitfulness [the superficial pleasures and delight] of riches choke the word, and it yields no fruit.”
– (verse 22) See: Pleasure and bad behaviors we love to fall for, and, Ashamed of yourself?
(2) Saved – Given Entrance to His Kingdom
Then, there are those non-followers “devoid of the Spirit” – (in section 1)… who grow tired of their sin, they see through the deceitfulness of it all, they begin to ask probing questions, seek a better way, wonder… and draw near to God (James 4:8). They find Jesus and accept His great salvation.
Salvation is the promise of God. It’s no small thing – this promise of God. It is an “iron-clad” humongous type of salvation we have in Christ.
When you repent and accept Jesus you spiritually are granted entrance into His Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is very exclusive, very luxurious, very special. And His forgiveness is what allows you to step in.
When we get right with our Maker, that moment becomes the greatest moment in our existence. Are you there yet?
Salvation is HUGE
The salvation found in Christ is amazingly HUGE. It is remarkable. It is a “remarkable state of grace” (Romans 5:2). It is a big, big thing. When Jesus saves, He does a great work on that sinner. When God does something, HE DOES SOMETHING!
At the moment of salvation
It is truly remarkable what God does to us at the moment of salvation (according to Romans 5:2).
Have you ever wondered how it all got started – the universe, the earth, nature, animals, you and your “like”, mankind?
THE BEGINNING.
Any belief system has to start with: the start. What is it!? What happened to get all-that-is …into existence? The most logical explanation is that a very creative entity started it all.
– Source: What God did for us on planet Earth
2 Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our [a]hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. – Romans 5:2 Amplified Bible version
What is it, this salvation of God?
According to this one verse, Romans 5:2, amongst many in the Bible:
- It is through Jesus
- We access it by faith
- It is a remarkable state of grace
- In it we now stand “firmly, safely and securely”
- We rejoice in this new hope
- We rejoice in our new “confident assurance”
- We are confident of “experiencing and enjoying” God’s glory
- We are confident of what He did to us
- We begin “experiencing and enjoying” – “the manifestation of His excellence and power“
In “this remarkable state of grace” (Romans 5:2 AMP version) provided by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, “we [firmly and safely and securely] stand”.
This is no weak, small god. This is God Almighty, extreme to the nth degree, the One and Only – the Holy One, He who is Holy, Holy – and again Holy – the Lord God Almighty.
At salvation — He puts us in “this remarkable state of grace” where, even though we continue to sin, He continues to forgive. If we were truly saved – He continues to forgive all our sin.
The Moment of If
Writing about our salvation by God, the Apostle Paul brings it back to our moment of “if”. He brings it back to the moment of our salvation experience, saying “…if…”:
– Romans 6:4-7 “5 For if we have become one with Him [permanently united] in the likeness of His death, we will also certainly be [one with Him and share fully] in the likeness of His resurrection.”
– Colossians 3:1-4 NASB Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 [a]Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
He questions each of us:
* If we have become one with Him [permanently united]
* If you have been raised with Christ
The biggest question for all professing believers:
Were you truly saved?
Beyond the shadow of a doubt — THIS is the biggest question for all professing believers: Were you truly saved, actually redeemed by the blood of the Lamb? Or not.
- Did you “become one with Him [permanently united]”? (Romans 6:5)
- Were you truly saved in “that salvation moment“?
- Have you been “raised with Christ”? (Colossians 3:1)
- Have you died and now “your life is hidden with Christ in God”? (Colossians 3:3)
Only you know and God knows. Don’t fool yourself. Jesus will say to many: “You are not of My household” Matthew 7:20-24; Luke 13:22-30). The worst moment ever, that.
Paul basically is saying: There is a humongous ” if “ here. See: Romans 6:4-7.
True salvation in Christ does not require a lot of doctrine, a lot of knowledge, a lot of works, a lot of demonstrating your faith. The thief on the cross is a prime example. It was a simple verbal exchange with Jesus, and then He died.
Have you made that kind of verbal confession with Jesus? (Romans 10:9) Don’t worry: He knows your heart. He sees where you are at…. And He can give you eternal life right on the spot, no waiting, no testing you, no doubting you! Just accept the Gift, and He will give you a grace that you could never deserve.
Faith is not
a philosophy you spout about,
but rather
an allegiance you live about
day-to-day
with all your heart.
(Based on Luke 10:27)
The truth is, what you say is absolutely worthless – without all of you behind it in action. I think what God is saying here is: It’s all or nothing.
A worthless life arrives in Hell –
Life is full and fast and brief
I’ll not throw it all away – for what?
all my heart to Christ,
all my soul to Christ,
all my mind to Christ,
all my strength to Christ
all my willful, willful self,
all I am, all I want — all for Christ alone.
I’ll step on in to Heaven, complete in Him alone.
Salvation is not based on all I do and all I am.
It’s based on His free gift of grace.
But He requires my all.
– Source: It’s all or nothing.
And he replied,
“You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength,
and with all your mind;
and your neighbor as yourself.”
– Luke 10:27
Got that covered? If I’m not all “in” for Him, my faith is dead (James 2:20) and I’m not His and His alone, and I’m not bound for Heaven. So the question is:
How much is heaven worth to you?
God does the work
We come to Him – and He saves. God does the work of salvation, not the sinner. God does it. This humongous act “is not of yourselves [not through your own effort]” (Ephesians 2:8).
Salvation is a God thing. Thus it does not depend on your works. Salvation is not yours in the end because you gritted your teeth and grunted with effort to cling to His Hand – to the end. We cannot fall out of His Hand – into the fire, because He is the One holding on. (Do you fear His grip is weak? Really?! God Almighty?)
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].
2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God.
The work of Salvation
The work of salvation was done by Jesus: becoming the Godman, dying on the cross and rising from the tomb. And now HE is saving people from Hell in that very moment when they first believe.
God promises – and He delivers. He does not get angry with our sinfulness so that He takes away our salvation. Sin is forgiven – past tense. It was done for us by Him. And further sin does not “undo” that salvation that He gave us. He does not count our sins until we go past His limits, where His patience is then lost, and then He damns us all to Hell again!
our sufficiency
and qualifications
come from God”
– 2 Corinthians 3:5
God does not wait
God does not wait to really really save us after He sees how we did years later. He is not sitting up there twiddling His thumbs anxiously, wondering if we will endure to the end — and THEN really saves us if we held on good enough. But, but, but if we faltered — He THEN damns us again (unsaving us)? No. That scenario is not found in Scripture.
19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God [which He has laid] stands [sure and unshaken despite attacks], bearing this seal:
“The Lord knows those who are His,”
– Verse 19 of 2 Timothy 2:11-19
We bear His seal of approval – His Holy Spirit inside us (Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22). So, you think the Spirit will leave us if we sin too much? Do you believe that God will break His promises?
Jesus promised eternal salvation
27 My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father gave them to me, and he is greater than all others.[a] No one can snatch them from his hands, 30 and I am one with the Father.
– John 10:27-30 CEV version
If Jesus knows them (His sheep), then, what? Does He then un-know you after you falter, waiver, and sin?
How much clearer could Jesus have put it? He said here, “I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost.” When will they be lost? Never. “…They will never be lost.” Elsewhere He said this about that:
“And it is the will of him who sent me
that I should not lose any
of all those he has given me,
but that I should raise them
all to life on the last day.
– John 6:39
Good News Translation
If Jesus could “lose” you then this verse is false, because it says “I should not lose any“. When God saves you, He does not need to say, “Get a grip. Don’t want to lose you!” No way no how.
Written …so that you will know
13 These things I have written
to you who believe
in the name of the Son of God
[which represents
all that Jesus Christ is and does],
so that you will know
[with settled
and absolute knowledge]
that you [already] have eternal life.
– 1 John 5:13
If 1 John 5:13 is true, then we know (beyond the shadow of a doubt) we are going to Heaven. We know we are saved. We know we have been saved (past tense). We know we have the promised eternal life that Jesus gives.
God is not the UnSaving God
God does not change His mind. He does not “save us for all eternity” — and then turn around and “unsave us” because we sinned too much. His forgiveness is way bigger than all of our sins. He is The Saving God, and The Damning God – but He is not The UnSaving God.
He promised He would never leave us
So how do we interpret this? Interpreting Scripture requires we match it up to other same topic passages to get one meaning, because we know that God will not contradict Himself.
12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He will also deny us;
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful
[true to His word and His righteous character],
for He cannot deny Himself.
Paul puts contrasting positions in juxtaposition, in order to contrast them. Those who are truly saved – endure (v12), and will reign with Him. It’s a given. But if, at that moment of decision, we reject Jesus, then we “deny Him” (v12), and we are not saved.
Later, if we were truly saved – and yet slip into being “faithless” (v13), God does not deny us. Why? Because we are in Him (in Christ), and in our faithless moments “He remains faithful”, He remains “[true to His word and His righteous character]“. See: 2 Timothy 2:11-19.
He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us, so, though we sin, He remains in us, for He forgave our sins, ‘past, present, and future’. In Hebrews 13:5 we find:
He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” – Hebrews 13:5
Denying Christ
We deny Christ if we never put our faith in Him. Once our faith is placed in Him, He gives us eternal life. We are His forever. And He will continue forgiving our sins – right up to the Pearly Gates.
There is no sin that takes away our salvation. Only the unsaved lose the salvation of God – but that is because they never received it. They lose it as it slips away at death. There are no second chances in Hell. You lost it on earth when you refused Him.
Many say (Armenianism) you go to Hell if you fail Jesus. So the question is: how many sins does it take to lose your salvation. 490 times (!) and then you go to Hell (Matthew 18:21-22)? That is a very poor understanding of God and His grace.
All forgiven forever
It’s like God has said: (but these are my words interpreting the gist of what God has actually said to us in Scripture)
The Gist of God (about salvation)
I do not keep count (Matthew 18:21-22). I knew from the beginning that you would sin and sin, and sin again. I forgave all your sins forever. And I keep on forgiving, forgiving, and forgiving again and again.
I saw into the secret parts of your heart in that moment of decision, and I could see you were sincere and truthful with Me.
You held nothing back. You did not lack anything! I saved you forever, in that moment in time.
I will empower you moment by moment, even in tough times, and help you endure to the end.
“…you have died
and your life
is hidden with Christ
in God.”
– Colossians 3:3
If you have been “hidden with Christ in God” (which happens when you are born again), then you still are! God is not going to reveal you as an UnHidden. Not happening. God is not fickle – not fickly, sickly nor wobbly. God is steadfast, unchanging. He never stumbles, falters, nor falls. We do. He does not.
And if your faith falters, I still will not deny you (Hebrews 13:5; 2 Timothy 2:11-19), God is saying to us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful
[true to His word and His righteous character],
for He cannot deny Himself.
– Verse 13 of 2 Timothy 2:11-19
Let it go
In Matthew 18:21-22 Peter asked Jesus:
“Lord, how many times
will my brother sin against me
and I forgive him
and let it go?
Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered facetiously that he was to let it go and forgive 70 x 7, which equals: 490.
Verse 22 Jesus answered him,
“I say to you,
not up to seven times,
but seventy times seven.”
Jesus did not mean that we are to keep count and stop forgiving after 490 times! He was saying: Give it up Peter! Let it go. Forgiveness has no limits.
That is what forgiveness is all about. Jesus is implying: I forgive you of all of your sins, both of the past, of the present, and those in your future.
God is not the Father of a two year old child. He does not ever say to us,
“Okay Bucko, I’ve been counting…
and that was failure #489.
You’re only allowed 490 mistakes (7 x 70).
You are definitely cruising for a bruising.
Go ahead: do it again!
Do it one more time
and I will not forgive you.
In fact – I will disown you forever.
Careful now. Careful!
Or I’m going to damn you to Hell again.”
Damn you to Hell again
The salvation God saves us with… is not dependent on us “not sinning too much” after we get saved. That would be a “works” based forgiveness. What kind of a weak salvation would THAT be?
True forgiveness by God is a forever forgiveness, not a weak type where He could say:
“You’ve sinned too much, Bucko.
So now I’m re-condemning you
back to Hell again.”
We cannot reach the end of God’s forgiveness. His patience and His forgiveness are inexhaustible. If we deny Him in the end – then we never were truly saved and empowered by His Spirit in us.
“…He is good,
for His mercy and lovingkindness
endure forever.”
– 2 Chronicles 7:3
Another fictitious story: Blessed Mary, a born again, faithful to God, little old lady, was driving 75 miles per hour (in a 65 speed limit area) and lost control of her car in the rain. As she hydroplaned directly towards a huge tree by the side of the road, she screamed, “Oh (bad words/blankety-blank/…bad words….), hit that wall and died immediately. She sinned in her last act on earth without confessing it for forgiveness.
Did blessed Mary lose her salvation in that moment? Did God re-condemn Mary back to Hell again because she had sin in her heart as she died? Did God say, “Damn you to Hell again, Mary!”
Endure to the end
Endure to the end passages such as these, Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:9-14, do not put doubt on any born again “loosing it”:
10 At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust]…” (Verse 10 of Matthew 24:9-14).
13 But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved. – Verse 13 of Matthew 24:9-14
Verse 13 could perhaps be said this way, But the one who will be saved – is the one who was truly born again. That is the one who endures and bears up under suffering.
There is no doubt as to their salvation. It is saying that they will endure, they will “bear up” — because they were born again and they were made brand new creations back in that moment of decision when they said “Yes” to Jesus.
These “never born again” wannabees
Refer to Hebrews 6:4-8 with this, Verse 10 of Matthew 24, in order to correctly interpret about those who “fall away”.
This Matthew passage refers to the many who merely “associated” with Christ, those who became “repelled” by what Jesus actually taught, “repelled” by what Jesus actually stood for, “repelled” by what Jesus actually wanted to see in them — the wannabees, the “almost were”, the phonies, the “one thing you lack” folk …the many who never gave it up for Christ. They kept back “bits and pieces” of their will, clung to their unbiblical practices… and were never “born again”. See: Agreeing with God and
Hebrews 6:4-8 showcases these “never born again” wannabees: “…the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have [a]fallen away….” – Hebrews 6:4-8
Hebrews 6:4-8 is saying here that there are people in the church who know the Truth; by their association with church they have personally had a taste of what salvation is all about; they have even vicariously experienced the intimate movement of the Holy Spirit as He moved in others; they have seen the realities of the Word of God in Scriptures as they listened to sermons; and thus are aware of some of the prophecies of the age to come – yet have never personally given their life to God through “sincere and truthful” repentance and acknowledgment of Christ as their Lord and Savior. On That Day of Judgment, Christ will say to them, “I never knew you: depart from me….” – Adapted from: That Moment In Time
These who “fall away” – “they were not really of us” (1 John 2:19 & Hebrews 6:4-8), never actually born again:
- They perhaps knew the Truth of salvation
- They associated themselves to & represented themselves as… one of those who were actually saved
- In this association they tasted salvation
- They vicariously were thrilled by the Holy Spirit
- They liked some of the Word of God
- They were perhaps aware of biblical truths
- * 1 John 2:19 nor Hebrews 6:4-8. Neither passages say they were saved.)
“They were not really of us”…1 John 2:19
The ones who fall away “were not really of us”:
They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us. – 1 John 2:19
Big diff! Huge difference between the two: the associated and the truly born again. Which one are you?
The “not really of us” folk are: offended and repelled by what Jesus taught, by what Jesus stands for, by what Jesus thinks, by what Jesus believes… , but mostly by what Jesus wants to see in them.
Phony christians have “many conflicting philosophies and “ways to get to heaven” put forth by leaders of all stripes and colors” (Source: What Jesus thinks). They want to think they are “Christians”, but they never gave 100% of their heart to Jesus, or they are the type, as Jesus said to one, “One thing you lack.”
Usually they know what is necessary to be saved, but they want what they want. They have “outward religion but inward… everything unclean“.
You can talk like/smell like/pray like/look like/act like/dress like/preach like/give money like/claim church membership like/go to church like… but if your heart is not genuinely His, “with all your heart…”, then you are not saved. You are a God damned “believer”.
– Source: What is necessary to be saved
Be real. Come to Jesus… sincere and truthful, not “a bits and pieces” faker of faith.
Choose now to be a true follower of Jesus – not “a bits and pieces” faker of faith (choosing “this and that” [what suits you]), but a sincere and truthful believer. Stand for what Jesus stands for. Don’t be an empty suit faker – be a true follower of Christ!
He requires a heart 100% given-over to Him. Nothing less. And He promises eternal life with Him in His Heaven. That is the best deal in the universe. I’ve been saved. Will you accept Him today?
– Source: Christ secured our eternal home
The test of endurance
The test of endurance is at the moment of salvation – not at the end of your life. The test is at that moment of decision – where within the privacy of your heart you show God your sincere willingness to endure to the end.
“and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come]”) – Matthew 16:24 AMP version
At that moment of decision He knows your heart. And He knows if you are faking a “willingness to endure”. Are you really willing to “take up your cross”? He knows if your heart is not 100% given-over to Him.
You are not truly saved if you fake anything in your salvation prayer. The heart is laid bare to our omniscient Savior. He knows.
Salvation is not about your sins
Your sins? He has that covered, easily. He died for those, and thus can easily forgive them. But your heart! Salvation is about your heart: Are you genuinely repenting with sincerity and truth? It’s all in your heart. Your heart is yours. He created you free and with a free will. You must give up that will 100% to Him. He gives you choice.
The thief on the cross
As with the thief on the cross – so it is for all who accept Jesus.
Nothing religious was done by the thief. He merely
(1) confessed his sinfulness, and
(2) acknowledged Jesus as “the Christ”.
And on the basis of that alone – Jesus Himself said,
“Truly I say to you,
today
you
shall be with Me
in Paradise.” 2
In that moment in time, that thief became totally acceptable to God and was welcomed into His Kingdom. He was saved. He did not “do” anything. He confessed and acknowledged.
THIS is what happens in that moment when one accepts Christ as Lord.
17 Therefore
if anyone
is in Christ,
he is a new creature;
the old things passed away;
behold,
new things have come.
– 2 Corinthians 5:17
( 3) Babies in Christ: 1 Corinthians 3:1; Titus 2:12; James 1:14; 1 Timothy 6:20.
Babies are immature. That’s for sure. They whine and cry, can’t walk well – if at all, don’t know a lot of words, they mess up in their own crib, thoughtlessly pee and defecate whenever, vomit their milk….
Babies in Christ are often carnal, willful sinners. Babies in Christ are not spiritual, are fleshly; are often not denying ungodliness; are filled with worldly lusts; are not characterized with living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; are easily enticed, drawn away, by their own lusts, and fall easily into sin; are likely to not turn away from empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge. They love the things of the world.
Pick a Sin – Any Sin, you name it, a large number of babies in Christ struggle with it.
– Based on 1 Corinthians 3:1 | Titus 2:12 | James 1:14 | 1 Timothy 6:20.
See: Pleasure and bad behaviors we love to fall for
Babies in Christ relate to this passage:
Ezekiel 36:31 —Then you will remember [clearly] your [own] evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your sins and for your outrageous atrocities.
Babies in Christ sin again and again and again — even though they’ve been born again. They know God still forgives them. They know they are still “in Christ”. They hopefully know Scripture more and more. They should know they do not “lose their salvation”. As if the salvation of God is so wimpy that He cannot handle every sin of the world! They trust that He is greater than all of their sins.
They know God does not love them less when they sin. They know to confess and reconnect as they struggle with …things of life in this tempting Temp World.
They grow “little by little”, and sometimes progress by great giant steps. Their struggle is to be more Christ-like.
Their hope is in Christ and His strength, His Spirit in them. They’ve been saved. And they keep on believing. Jesus is their Lord and Savior, Counselor and soon Coming King. They count heavily on the truth that Jesus is their Mediator for them with Father God, all day and all night, praying every day.
They trust and pray, with faith believing that everything they pray is heard sympathetically by a God who also was human. God understands their baby steps and stumblig. He helps them in their baby misconceptions, that fleshful desire of always wanting more, lack of faith, baby disobedience and tantrums, whining and crying all the time, depression, and all the weaknesses of being human.
Babies knew what God was offering them. And they accepted His offer. Babies came to God in humbleness, repenting, believing in the Name of Jesus, and committing to follow Him – and Him alone.
Do you know what God is offering?
When we turn to Christ in repentance, He Himself declares us forgiven, forever clean in the sight of the Judge of the Universe. In that moment in time – we become His children. As we follow Him, we will sin more on this earth, but His grace covers His children. We are declared forgiven by the saving grace of God.
– Source: God’s System of Justice
This Hope we have
Babies in Christ have hope in a salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus. Their hope is…
“…that we would [be permitted to] be named
and called and counted
the children of God!
And so we are!”
– Verse 1 of 1 John 3:1-3
What this Hope does:
1 John 3:1-3
verse 3 And everyone
who has this hope
[confidently placed] in Him
purifies himself,
just as He is pure
(holy, undefiled, guiltless).
We don’t accept sinning
According to John, it is “a given” that if we genuinely have this hope within us, we will be actively cooperating with the Spirit of God to become purified “just as He is pure”.
Are you cooperating? Or are you not, really? This is one of those easy ways to easily “examine yourselves” as Paul says to do in 2 Corinthians 13:5.
– Source: This Hope we have – and what this hope does
( 4 ) Maturing Followers:
Somewhere along the journey, babies in Christ grew up and of a sudden… were babies no longer. They had become grown-ups in the faith, devout followers of The Way. They still have to quote Philippians 3:13-15. – keeping that attitude of humility: “I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet.”
Maturing followers of Christ go through hardships, sure. They are pressured in every way — but not crushed. They live through tunnels of sorrow where their faith is tested. But they fight a good fight. Through it all they live the good life with courage and confident hope.
How ’bout you? Where are you in your journey through this Temp world?
FOR MORE:
Christ offers us His “iron-clad” humongous type of salvation… or, on the flip-side, this article could be titled… “The limits of what God will do for sinners”.
___________
Entrance Granted Into the Eternal
Being a Temp in our temporary tent
What decides and settles your burning questions?
There are many evidences for faith in Jesus
There is a broad road that says Heaven but goes to Hell
About Being Apostate… following “another gospel”
Small gods, and our great big beautiful God
Why all my pain and sorrow, my sickness and worries
Hell by God …a series about Hell: Going to hell? | Hell is home | Not afraid of hell | Hell’s Quotes | and more.
There is a broad road that says Heaven but goes to Hell
Today is your last day – and Hell is home tonight
Who In Hell Do You Think You Are?
Want it – to know it… God’s message to us
On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ
Legally Damned – Legally Forgiven
Freed from a righteous “God Damn”
Welcome to the show, What’s Beyond The Door! The stakes are gargantuanly humongous!
Make Self Talk… God Talk. It goes on and on and on
Footnotes
- When a sinner repents and gets “born again” — that is the happiest day of all! Without a doubt! It is such a happy day that Heaven rejoices!
Have you been “born again”? If not – make that choice now. Chosing Jesus is the best choice you can ever make. What’s stopping you from following Jesus?
There are many evidences for faith in Jesus
In that moment in time when we truly repent and accept Jesus — we go from being a “mere human” (a horribly limiting condition!) — to being a brand new person inside (an eternally blessed condition!), destined to live in God’s Home Heaven forever.
Everything changes. THAT is as happy as “happy” can get! You just stepped into eternity! – Source: Happiest day ever.
- Understand better how the thief, and all of us, see Him “immediately” at death by reading more about “Time as it really is“.
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