On the horizon, war is before us. Russia and China are building a nuclear arsenal the size of which has never been before. They are certainly not building for peaceful means. At the same time, the direction of our country is manipulated by a corrupt press. [ The press called the N.J Governor’s race when there was an undetermined number of votes to be counted and it was too close to call].
Common sense tells us that these daily crises of shortages are man-made. The mandates are punishing the American people, the American worker, the American soldier and, destroying our economy. Who is hurt the most? The family, the common folk, the blue-collar worker, etc. We need elected officials, and appointed judges who are not governed by greed and power.
We hear a lot about 2022 and 2024 and the hope of a political solution. I love America as you do and I will be involved in her future. Let me change gears here, all these things that are happening remind us of Bible Prophecy and I speak specifically of the Coming of the LORD for the believer. 1 Thess. 4:13-18.
There is no promise of tomorrow for us to live our physical life. We do not know there will be a 2022 or 2024 election. Let me speak about our hope for tomorrow. In these end times, we are being bombarded by different messages about the gospel and how to be saved. This is more damming than the physical crises we are facing.
Here is a quote from Ken Yates: “ In Gal 1:6-8 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. , Paul says there is only one gospel that can save a person from the lake of fire. But you would never think that was the case today. Numerous gospels are being proclaimed, even among conservative
evangelicals. Some maintain that repentance is necessary to be saved. But there are various views of what repentance means. It might mean to feel sorry for sins. It might mean to actually stop sinning. Some preachers say it means the unsaved person must only be willing to stop sinning.
Many hold that the only requirement for receiving eternal salvation is faith, but once again, there are many different opinions about what faith involves. Some say it includes good works as evidence of saving faith. Others say true faith will endure in good works until the end of one’s life. Still, others say that faith must include a commitment or a decision to obey Jesus in all He commands us to do. Many preachers say you must believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, others that we must believe in His deity. It is common to hear people say we must only believe that He died on the cross and rose from the dead.
The same thing can be said about the assurance of salvation. Some say we cannot be sure because eternal salvation can be lost. Others say we cannot be sure because we don’t know if we have been chosen by God for salvation before we were even born. Still, others say we should not even ask the question about assurance because we cannot know for certain until the end of our lives.
If there are ten theologians in a room, there will probably be ten views about what saves a person and if that person can have assurance of that salvation. But there is a strange phenomenon about this situation. One would think, in light of Paul’s statement in Gal 1:6-8, that these theologians would contend with one another over whose message is correct. After all, they differ among themselves in the most fundamental message of Christianity.
But that is not the case. In the desire for unity, theologians often take the position that these differences are no big deal. It is maintained that all of these gospels are saving messages. All these theologians see themselves as being on the same team, even though they differ on the gospel itself.”
There is only one gospel. And that message stands out. There cannot be numerous messages that save. Unity is not to be gained at the expense of the truth.
Get in the Word of God and read until you are persuaded until you are convinced you are safe and secure simply on faith in Christ. And I would get in John and 1 John, first
Eternal Life is the Gift of God, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:6-10. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
This life that we are given is eternal. Eternal security is believing in Jesus Christ for this life, John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead,[ even though you die physically] yet shall he live: 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.[you will never die spiritually] Believest thou this? Do you believe what Jesus said?
First, whoever believes has everlasting life (cf. John 3:16, 36; 4:14; 5:24; 6:47). How long is everlasting life? Everlasting. It is not temporary, but forever. If you could lose it, it would not be everlasting or eternal. The Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul both said that everlasting life and eternal salvation is “the gift of God” (John 4:10, Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: …the gift of God:).
The word in John 4:10 translated “gift” is dōrea, and in Eph 2:8, the word “gift” is the closely related Greek word dōron. Both words refer to a free gift. In Eph 2:8-9 and Rom 4:4-5, Paul makes it clear that we do not buy the gift of God. In John 4:10, John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. ,
Jesus speaks from the future: Rev 22:17, The LORD makes it clear that it is He who gives. Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Rev 22:17 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.
The word “take” is 2983 lambánō (from the primitive root, lab-, meaning to lay hold by taking initiative to (actively) accept what is available (offered). Means to take what is offered. Jesus took away the sin barrier between us a God. And Jesus is who is offered, 1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
Second, whoever believes will never perish (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. Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ).
If you could perish, as many Christians teach you can lose your salvation, then Jesus’ promise would be false. Do we think that Jesus did not know how one is saved? Or do we think He is not a man of His Word?
Third, whoever believes will not come into judgment (John 5:24). Jesus is speaking about eternal salvation here. Why won’t the believer come into judgment? Because the moment you believe, you get eternal life, so your eternal destiny has already been decided. You are eternally secure. If a person believes that his faith in Jesus means that he is saved for today but he must persevere to be saved forever that is not true. You need to rethink what you believe. If you cannot save yourself at first, then how would you propose to keep yourself saved? Paul said it this way, Gal.3:1-3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
The words eternal and everlasting are forever and therefore what He promised you is eternal and everlasting. If you need to be saved multiple times it would require Christ Jesus to die multiple times and Bible says, Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; One sacrifice once for all sin forever. “….when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” He sat down because His work of Salvation was finished forever
The gospel that saves a person from the lake of fire is this: Believing in Jesus to be saved, Joh 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. I want to point out something here: Jesus makes eternal life and everlasting life meaning the same, Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. So there is Jesus’ promise of life, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life/everlasting life
You may ask, What does it mean to believe? Let me ask you a question: Do you believe that Jesus was telling you the truth when He promised you eternal life? If the answer is yes! Then you have what He promised you. Consider the following verses, 1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
Fourth, whoever believes will never be cast out (John 6:37). How many churches imply by their teaching that you can be cast out or you were never really saved if you aren’t good and faithful? That is wrong. Jesus said it would never happen. He said I will never leave you or forsake you.
Friend, do you see that the only salvation that Jesus gives is everlasting? Dwight Pentecost once said, When God offers a man life, God offers a man only one kind of life, and that is eternal life. Eternal life is the life of God, and as God’s life could never be terminated by death, so the life of God, given to the child of God, could never be terminated (Things Which Become Sound Doctrine, p. 127).
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