Bible Study

A New Look at Predestination and Once Saved Always Saved

On Judgment day, can a person who at one point became a Christian go to Hell?

A Biblical Research Report by Myron Horst

Note: I had never had a real interest in theological positions or discussions about Salvation. One day the Lord impressed upon me that I needed to study the subject of Salvation for myself so that I would know for sure what was truth, Calvinism or Arminianism. I reluctantly dove into this study thinking it would be dry and boring. What I found was the exact opposite. God opened a whole new bigger picture for me about Salvation. This study is not exhaustive, nor can it ever be here on earth. There is more for you to discover and share with the rest of us.

You can click on the following Puzzle piece links to open an individual section. You may copy it or print it out for further Bible study.

Puzzle Piece #1 Salvation is a Two-Part Process

Puzzle Piece #2 A Christian Cannot Lose Their Salvation. The Eternal Security of the Believer

Puzzle Piece #3 It is Possible for a Christian to Backslide and go to Hell

Puzzle Piece #4 The Marriage of Christ and the Church

Puzzle Piece #5 We are Saved by Faith Not Works

Puzzle Piece #6 The Necessity of Keeping Christ’s Commands

Puzzle Piece #7 The Role of Grace

Puzzle Piece #8 Predestination and Election

Puzzle Piece #9 Repentance

Puzzle Piece #10 Unpardonable Sin

Puzzle Piece #11 Hell

Puzzle Piece #12 Heaven

Puzzle Piece #13 Judgment Day

Puzzle Piece #14 The Fear of God

 

Salvation is a very important subject to understand correctly. A person's view and understanding of salvation, affects their understanding of every other aspect of the Christian life. It influences how a person interprets Scripture. The view and understanding of salvation shapes the beliefs and practices of the individual congregation and of church denominations. The understanding of what is right and what is wrong for a Christian to do is shaped by a person's understanding of salvation. Many of the "controversial issues" in the church are controversial because those on the opposing sides of the issue have different views or understandings of salvation.

The reason the subject of salvation is so important for us to understand correctly is that it directly affects every thing we as Christians do. If it is not possible for a Christian to go to Hell once they become a Christian, then there is really no right or wrong actions for a Christian. A Christian would be "free" to divorce and remarry at will, commit adultery, commit incest, commit acts of abuse, commit acts of homosexuality, lie, steal, kill, cheat, use foul language, get drunk, get high, break the government’s laws, etc. This is the direction that the Church is currently moving. The beliefs and actions of Christians are little different from non-Christians. However, if it is possible for a Christian to go to Hell because of sin that is committed after they become a Christian, then subjects such as divorce and remarriage, homosexuality, women in church leadership, lying, incest, pornography, false theology, etc. take on a whole new significance. It would mean eternity in Hell if a person found out they were on the wrong side of right and wrong on Judgment Day.

The subject of salvation is like a puzzle with a number of pieces. The picture is not complete without all of the pieces. One of the reasons that there are different theological positions on salvation is because men pick up some of the salvation puzzle pieces and put them together without using all the pieces. They then complete the picture in their mind and the result is a particular theological position. Others use a different set of pieces and put them together. Again the picture is not complete so they complete the picture using reasoning and they have a different theological position to argue. We need to look at everything that the Bible says and evaluate it as a whole. God made His Word Grand and Glorious so that we have to have a deep desire to know what He says, and search through all His Word to find all the puzzle pieces in order to correctly understand it.

It is amazing how much that is written and believed about salvation is based upon theology rather than the Bible. I have scanned over article after article that explained a person’s understanding of this subject, but in looking for the Scriptural basis for what they were saying, there were often few Scripture passages quoted. Many times, only a few references were given, and many of the articles were long articles. The educated mind has been taught to look at the subject of salvation from the perspective of theology and the reasonings of the human mind, rather than study the entire Bible to find out what it says. As a result of the seminary focus on theology, we have adherents to the theological positions of men, such as Calvinism, Arminianism, and various shades of these positions. Theological positions of men, churches, and denominations become stumbling blocks to understanding the Scriptures because it shapes our interpretation of Scripture with preconceived conclusions. If we can be convinced that a certain premise is true it affects the way we interpret everything else. There is a tendency to believe that our theological position is right before we study the Bible, and the Bible is then interpreted through our theological filter. We need to be careful that we follow the Bible and not be followers of men and their theological positions.

There is an old fable by John Godfrey Saxe about six blind men of Indostan who went to see the elephant. This fable describes well what is happening in the different theological camps on Salvation: The first blind man found the side of the elephant and declared that the elephant was like a wall. The second blind man felt the tusk and cried that it is clear that an elephant is very much like a spear. The third blind man happened to take the squirming trunk in his hands. He boldly declared that the elephant is very much like a snake. The fourth blind man reached out and found the knee and said, it is clear enough the elephant is like a tree. The fifth blind man touched the ear and declared that an elephant is very much like a fan. The sixth blind man grasped the tail and said that the elephant is very much like a rope. The last two verses of the fable go like this:

"And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right
And all were in the wrong!

Moral
"So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!"

p.122,123 Childcraft, Storytelling and Other Poems, 1961 edition. Field Enterprises Educational Corp. Chicago, Ill.

I had heard this fable as a boy, but never realized that it was directly addressing theological disputes. It seems that many in the Church (including those in Sunday school classes) have the opinion that Scripture needs to be argued, each person arguing their viewpoint and asserting themselves, rather than humbly looking at Scripture together to determine what is truth. I desire that this paper would stimulate you to look afresh at the subject of salvation, so that together we might all come to a unity of the faith in the understanding of salvation.

In each of the following Puzzle Piece sections, the passages of Scripture are listed in chronological order, rather than putting the "most important" ones first. The verses for each puzzle piece were compiled from the writings of a number of different positions, plus cross-references that I found. Too often, people quote the passages of Scripture first that best prove their bias, and sweep other verses under a rug, or discredit them. They end up misunderstanding the mind of God. It is important to look at all the passages for each "Puzzle Piece" as a whole, rather than at a few of the passages that seem to be most important.

 

This puzzle piece is key in understanding the full picture of salvation. Many view the entire salvation process as the point at which a person receives Christ as their Savior, and that view then affects everything else that they believe about salvation. The Scriptures in this puzzle piece show that view to be incomplete. When a person receives Christ as his or her Savior, that is the first step in the salvation process, not the final step. What has brought confusion to this subject is that the Bible uses the terms "saved" and "salvation" to refer to when a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Being saved and receiving our full salvation are then viewed as synonymous, and systems of theology are built on the misunderstanding.

Salvation is a two-part process.

1. Conversion – when we repent of our sin, accept Jesus as our Savior, and the Holy Spirit dwells in our heart. The Bible states that at this point a person is saved. No amount of good works or keeping the Old Testament Law, can convert a person. It is only available by grace through faith in Jesus alone.
2. Our full Salvation and redemption – We receive our full Salvation on Judgment Day when the sheep are separated from the goats, and Jesus says that we may enter into Heaven. We are saved from eternal punishment in Hell for our sins.

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

• Our full salvation comes at the end – Judgment Day
• Our commitment to Christ will be tested, and if we endure to the end of life, we will be saved.

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

• The redemption of the Christian is yet to come.

Romans 5:8-11 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

• Notice the tenses – "now justified" "shall be saved". Saved is in the future tense not present tense. "Were reconciled" is past tense, and "we shall be saved" is future tense.
• Now we are justified, reconciled to God, and received the atonement. In the future we will be saved from Hell, from wrath.

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

• Believing on Jesus and our salvation are two separate events.
• Salvation is a future event and each day brings us nearer to that day.

2Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

• Once a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior they are espoused to Christ. They are engaged.
• The marriage of Christ and the Church is in the future. It has not yet occurred.

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.

• Salvation is yet to come. The believer has not yet received it.
• Each believer is personally responsible to live in obedience to Christ’s commands.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

• Salvation is in the future. It is something that the Christian has not yet received but is hoping for.

1Timothy 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 was written to Timothy, who was already a believer. Salvation for the Christian is in the future.

Titus 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; (2) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

• Hope is for something that we have not yet received. Eternal life is something that we have not yet received

Titus 3:1-14 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, (2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. (3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, (5) 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; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (9) But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (10) A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject; (11) Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. (12) When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. (13) Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. (14) And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

• Works of righteousness do not save a person. However, both oars, faith and works, are necessary in living the Christian life (v.1, v.8, v.14)
• Eternal life is in the future – "the hope of eternal life" v.7
• Eternal life is not eternal life if we can lose it. But we have not yet received eternal life.

Hebrews 1:13-14 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? (14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

• "Who shall be heirs of salvation" is future tense.

Hebrews 4:8-11 For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. (9) There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (11) Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

• Our salvation is yet to come, and it is still possible for a believer to lose their future salvation.

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

• Salvation is when Jesus comes the second time.

1 John 2:24-25 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life,

• Eternal life is promised. We have not yet received eternal life.

1Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (6) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (7) 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 honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

• We have a lively hope of salvation. v.3
• Our inheritance is reserved in heaven for us, but we have not yet received it. V.4
• Salvation is to be revealed in the last time. V.5
• The salvation of our souls is in the future. v.9

Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

• This is when our final salvation occurs.

Romans 8:23-25 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (24) For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (25) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

• We have received the firstfruits of the Spirit.
• Verse 23 states that we have been saved, we have received the Holy Spirit, but we are waiting for the redemption of our body, the final part of salvation.
• Verses 24, 25 Our full salvation is something that we have not yet received. If we had already received it we would not still hope for it.

2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

• Earnest — a pledge, that is, part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest: - earnest. Strong's Greek Dictionary
• The Holy Spirit is God’s pledge, security deposit of our future salvation.

2 Corinthians 5:1-7 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

• Earnest — a pledge, that is, part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest: - earnest. Strong's Greek Dictionary

Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

• Earnest — a pledge, that is, part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest: - earnest. Strong's Greek Dictionary
• The Holy Spirit is God’s seal, His pledge, the reminder of His promise of our inheritance in Heaven.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

• A Christian is at the present sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwelling in the believer is God’s conformation that the believer will receive redemption.
• Redemption is in the future.

The two step process of salvation can be illustrated by the following drawing that was first printed in the Sword and Trumpet magazine in April 1930. Conversion is the point at which we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and we get into the boat to go to heaven. Salvation is when we have rowed to the other side with both oars faith and works (obedience to Christ’s commands), and reach the end of life, and enter Heaven.

This is an important puzzle piece. One of the great blessings for us as Christians is eternal security and eternal life with Jesus in Heaven. It is clear from the passages of Scripture in this section that a Christian cannot lose their salvation, that there is eternal security. However, when does a person receive eternal security? Does a person receive eternal security when they are converted or on Judgment Day?

This puzzle piece must be viewed in context with all the other puzzle pieces. Many of the following passages of Scripture are the ones that are used by those who hold the theological position of the present eternal security of the believer – once saved always saved. For some of the passages, I included the larger context. The context of a number of these passages actually shows the opposite of the "once saved, always saved" position.

Much of the misunderstanding about the present eternal security of the believer comes from not realizing that there are two parts of salvation – when a person becomes a Christian, and when we receive our final Salvation and eternal security on Judgment Day. In looking at all of Scripture, it is not until the Judgment Day that we receive eternal security that can never be lost.

John 3:14-17 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

• The purpose of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins is that we might have eternal life in Heaven for all eternity.
• Everlasting life in which we never perish is eternal security.
• The gift of eternal life is contingent upon a person believing on Jesus, not only on predestination.
• Eternal life and eternal security is available to everyone in the whole world, to those who believe on Jesus.
• This passage of Scripture tells us that the starting point of eternal life is when a person becomes a Christian.

John 5:24-30 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (25) Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (26) For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; (27) And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. (28) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (30) I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

• In this passage we see that everlasting life, the eternal security of the believer is something we receive in the future on Judgment Day v.29
• Verse 24 states clearly that when a person becomes a Christian that they are no longer under condemnation and that they have eternal life. If we take this verse by itself we would come to the conclusion that once a person is saved, they will always be saved and can never go to hell. However the context, verse 29, does not support that interpretation, and neither do many other passages of Scripture. But it is true that the starting point for a person’s eternal life is when they become a Christian.
• Eternal life is dependent upon several things:
• • Hearing what Jesus said. (v.24)
  • Believing on Jesus (v. 24)
  • Keeping Christ’s commands. (v.29) Doing good and not evil.
• Jesus, Who will be our Judge (v.30), states clearly the criteria we will be judged by in order to have eternal security. We will be judged by what we have done, not merely whether or not we became Christians. If we continue to sin and do not repent of the sin, we will not enter into eternal life.

John 6:37-40 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) 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.

• Everlasting life is something we receive when we are raised up at the last day — on Judgment Day.
• There is also present security in Jesus.

John 6:44-51 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

• A person who believes on Jesus has everlasting life.

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

• Eternal life is a gift. For all eternity we will never go to hell.
• No one can cause us to lose our salvation. Our spirit is secure from other people taking away our salvation. We have a present security, a protection from others causing us to lose our salvation.
• Matthew 10:28 explains this verse further: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell".
• Notice that in these verses Jesus did not say that a person cannot change their mind and reject their salvation. Jesus did not say that if a person sins and does not repent they will still go to Heaven.

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

• Jesus kept all His disciples safe except Judas who chose, all by himself, to reject Jesus and to betray Him. No other person caused Judas to reject Jesus.
• This passage is not addressing eternal security. When the Jews came to arrest Jesus, and Judas betrayed Him, only Jesus was arrested and killed. All of the disciples were let go free. None were lost (that is, none died) except Judas. This is explained in John 18:6-9 "As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none."

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

• Notice how the "once saved, always saved" theory does not line up with this verse. There is a qualification to a Christian not having condemnation: if he walks (lives) not after the flesh but after the Spirit. It does matter what we do and how we live.

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• No other person, persecution, death, or problem can separate us from Christ.
• Our salvation cannot be stolen, taken away by the government, taken away by Satan or any other angel, taken away by any other person, lost through some unavoidable circumstance, or lost because we die. That is security! No other possession that we have has that kind of security.
• Note, however, that this passage does not state that sin cannot separate us from Christ or that we cannot make a choice ourselves to separate from Christ after we become a Christian.

1 Corinthians 1:8-9 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

• We do not walk the Christian life alone or on our own strength. God enables us to live the Christian life in His power and strength, that we might be blameless in the day of Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

• God does not prevent us from sinning or yielding to the temptation.
• After we become Christians, God does prevent us from being tempted beyond what we are able to resist. God always makes a way for us to escape from going into sin.

Galatians 4:5-11 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (8) Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. (9) But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (10) Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (11) I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.

• This is a passage, that if we did not take the context, we would conclude from verse 7 that since you become God’s son when you become a Christian, then you can never lose your salvation.
• Verses 9, and 10 state that a Christian still has the freedom or choice to return to their former way of life. If that happens, the one who helped them become a Christian wasted their time teaching and witnessing to them.
• If a Christian in their lifetime leads many to Christ, but only a few remain faithful and the rest return to their former way of life, the majority of that Christian’s life and evangelistic efforts were in vain and wasted.
• Discipleship must follow conversion in order for people to have eternal security.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

1Thessalonians 5:22-24 Abstain from all appearance of evil. (23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Titus 3:1-14 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, (2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. (3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, (5) 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; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (9) But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (10) A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject; (11) Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. (12) When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. (13) Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. (14) And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

• "The hope of eternal life" (v.7) indicates that we have not yet received eternal life, but live in hope of receiving it.

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

• Jesus is able to save to the uttermost everyone that comes to Him. There is no person that He is only able to partially save.
• Jesus’ death only had to occur one time to save us from our sins, unlike the O.T. sacrifices which had to be performed each year.

1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

• Eternal security is dependent upon us doing God’s will after we become Christians.
• The Christian who does God’s will has everlasting life.

This puzzle piece needs to be understood correctly. Don’t jump to conclusions before reading all the Scriptures.

In order for a person to lose their salvation they would have to have received it first. Since we have not yet received our full salvation, it is technically incorrect terminology to talk about a person losing their salvation here on earth. And it is not possible to lose one’s salvation once we get to Heaven. It would, however, be correct to state that a person can lose their future salvation.

The following passages need to be viewed as a whole. While some of the following passages could be argued to mean something different, when we look at all the passages together, we see that it is possible for a Christian to go to Hell. Many of the passages are very clear about it. The concept of the possibility of a Christian going to Hell does not fit into some people’s theology. It is interesting evaluating what some people say about some of these verses. They deny that a person, who at one point became a Christian, can go to Hell; and they "make" or twist the verse to say the opposite of what it says. They are right in stating that a person can’t lose their full salvation, but the fundamental error in their theology is the understanding of when a person receives their full salvation. Once a person receives their full salvation on Judgment Day they can never lose it.

The following passages show that it is possible for Christian can backslide and go to Hell. These passages span the entire New Testament from one end to the other.

Matthew 5:13 (KJS) 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.

• Jesus likens Christians to salt. But we have a choice in the matter of whether we will be salt or worthless "salt".
• A person who has lost his spiritual influence is good for nothing in Christ’s Kingdom. Jesus will cast him out. Those who are not being a witness for Christ will be cast out of the Kingdom.
• In this context, to try to interpret "to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men" as meaning God's discipline of a Christian to make him salty again, does not make sense, because once a person throws salt on a dirt path and it is walked on, the salt cannot be recovered and used again as salt. Jesus indicated that nothing could make the salt "salty" again.

Matthew 7:19-23 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (21) 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. (22) 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? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

• This passage is talking about Christians, not non-Christians, who do not bring forth good fruit. It is the fruit of the person’s life that determines whether one ends up in hell.
• Not everyone who thinks they are a Christian will go to heaven. Not everyone who calls Jesus "Lord", in other words, makes a commitment to Christ and attends church regularly will go to Heaven.
• It is not just the presence of good works but also the absence of iniquity in one’s life.
• A person can’t do good works to be saved, but if they do not do the will of God once they are saved they will not go to heaven.
• Iniquity is defined in this passage as work in the church, doing wonderful work that is not following the direction (will) of the Father in Heaven. Therefore not doing God’s will in the church is iniquity, even if it is prophesying in Jesus’ name, casting out evil spirits in Jesus name, and doing many wonderful works in Jesus’ name. Jesus will tell such persons to depart from Him.
• A person who becomes a Christian must learn to hear God speak so that he can follow God’s leading, and do God’s will. If he does not get his direction from the Father and follow God’s will, he will go to Hell on Judgment Day.
• This passage is very sobering because Jesus tells us that there are many things in the church that appear to be doing the will of the Father because they are done in the name of Jesus, but they are iniquity and many will be barred from Heaven. Therefore, discernment of God’s will is very important, no, it is essential for every believer.

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

• A person that does not endure to the end will not be saved. A Christian can go to hell if they are not committed to Christ to the very end of their life.
• A true believer will be hated because of Jesus and will be persecuted. That persecution is a testing to see if a person’s commitment is steadfast, or if they will turn their back on Jesus. We need to endure persecution and not turn our back on the Lord or we will not be saved.

Matthew 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

• A Christian who denies Christ will not go to Heaven.

Matthew 12:31 (KJS) Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.

• Christians are not exempt from the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. It does not say that this does not apply to Christians.

Matthew 13:41-43 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; (42) And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

• Jesus will gather out of His Kingdom, the church, those who sin and shall cast them into hell.
• Right now we are a part of the Kingdom of God, but we have not received inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven. Not all who are part of the Kingdom of God on earth will receive inheritance in Heaven.

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

• A Christian that does not endure, in his Christian life, to the end will not be saved.
• A Christian can go to hell by not enduring to the end of his life.

Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. (2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: (4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. (9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

• All 10 virgins were ready at the beginning, and their lamps were burning. The analogy is that all ten were Christians. But five did not endure and did not enter Heaven.
• What would be the need be to watch and be ready for Christ’s return if we already had eternal security? We would be ready regardless of whether we watched or not and regardless of what sin we committed.

Matthew 25:14-46 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. (16) Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. (17) And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. (18) But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. (19) After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. (20) And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. (21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (22) He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. (23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (24) Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: (25) And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. (26) His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: (27) Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. (28) Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. (29) For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. (30) And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (31) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (32) And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: (33) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: (36) Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? (38) When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? (39) Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (42) For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: (43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. (44) Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? (45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (46) And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

• This parable is about the kingdom of Heaven. One of the "Christians", the servant who received one talent, was cast into Hell.
• Jesus, the Judge who will judge us on Judgment Day, tells us what criteria He will judge us by. Note that our Judge does not say that those who are covered by His blood are righteous and will, regardless of what they do or not do, will enter into eternal life, but those who have done certain things, feeding those without food and water, hospitality to strangers, giving to the poor, and visiting the sick and those in prison. James 2:14-17,19
• Jesus will judge Christians based on their works. Notice that those who enter into Heaven did not do those works to earn their salvation because of their response to Jesus. They will ask when did we do these things for you? We do these things because of our love for Christ.

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

• A person who becomes a Christian, and then longingly looks back at the old life of sin will not go to Heaven. We have the example in the Old Testament of Lot’s wife who died because she looked back after she was saved from Sodom.

Luke 12:8-12 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

• The context of this passage is the persecution of Christians. Jesus says that anyone who denies Him while being persecuted, or because of fear of persecution, will not receive his or her salvation.
• If a Christian blasphemes the Holy Spirit, he will go to Hell.

John 15:6 (KJS) 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.

• "Our Lord in the plainest manner intimates that a person may as truly be united to him as the branch is to the tree that produces it, and yet be afterwards cut off and cast into the fire; because he has not brought forth fruit to the glory of his God. No man can cut off a branch from a tree to which that branch was never united: it is absurd, and contrary to the letter and spirit of the metaphor, to talk of being seemingly in Christ - because this means nothing. If there was only a seeming union, there could be only a seeming excision: so the matter is just where it began; nothing is done on either side, and nothing said to any purpose." Adam Clarke’s Commentary
• We have a choice in whether we remain Christians or not. If we choose to sin, and not remain, we will be cast into Hell.

Romans 11:20-23 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (21) For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. (22) Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (23) And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

• "If God did not refrain from rejecting the Jews who became unbelievers, assuredly he will not refrain from rejecting you in the same circumstances. It may be supposed that he will be quite as ready to reject the engrafted branches, as to cast off those which belonged to the parent stock. The situation of the Gentiles is not such as to give them any security over the condition of the rejected Jew." Barnes' Commentary
• "If He, in his infinite justice and holiness, could not tolerate sin in the people whom he foreknew, whom he had so long loved, cherished, miraculously preserved and blessed; take heed lest he also spare not thee. Be convinced that the same righteous principle in him will cause him to act towards you as he has acted towards them, if you sin after the similitude of their transgression; and to this, self-sufficiency and self-confidence will soon lead you." Adam Clarke’s Commentary
• We do not have unconditional eternal security once we are saved if we continue to sin.
• The fear of the Lord is realizing that God can cut us off from a relationship with Him and from eternity in Heaven if we do not continue in Him. v.20
• Again, a branch cannot be cut off unless it was already a part of the tree. A person cannot be cut off from Christ unless he was already a Christian.
• Even the book of Romans teaches us that it is possible for a person who was once a Christian to backslide and be cast into Hell.

1 Corinthians 6:6-11 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

• We are not to be deceived that a Christian who does these sins will inherit the Kingdom of God. They will not receive their salvation unless they repent of the sin. V.9
• The context of verses 9 and 10 is addressing Christians. God repeats "Shall not inherit the kingdom of God" twice for emphasis.
• This passage of Scripture needs to be interpreted in the context of all of Scripture and in light of the rest of the verses in this section. The next verse says "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." A person could build a man-made theology on this verse that a Christian can commit whatever sin they want to, "all things are lawful for me", and still be saved. However, God does not contradict Himself and say something bars one from Heaven and then turn around and state that it does not bar a person from Heaven.
• Note that verse 11 states that "such were some of you." It is stated as past tense not present tense, "such are some of you." If it was stated in the present tense then it would be understood that a Christian could continue to commit the sins listed and still inherit the kingdom of God. But being stated in the past tense, we cannot state that a Christian can do these sins and enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Galatians 4:5-11 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (8) Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. (9) But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (10) Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (11) I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.

• Galatians 5:1-4 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
• Once a person is saved, it is possible for us to go back and try to earn our salvation by observing the Old Testament Law and fall from our salvation. When a person looks to keeping the Old Testament Law in addition to Christ in order to be saved, they in effect reject Christ as being sufficient. "Christ will profit you nothing." Gal. 5:2
• Paul’s labor would not have been in vain if those who observed days and months and times, and years – the Old Testament Law – were still Christians. If they were still Christians his labor might not have been as successful, but not in vain.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

• God does not give an exemption that Christians who do these things will inherit the kingdom of God.
• These sins will bar a Christian from Heaven and their final salvation.

Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

• Reap in verse 9 is defined in verse 8 as reaping life everlasting.
• We will not receive everlasting life in Heaven if we faint in our Christian life and get tired of being a Christian or if we follow the desires of our flesh.
• God warns us in this passage not to deceive others or ourselves. We need to realize that God will not be mocked by a Christian living in sin. That Christian will receive the punishment for their sin and go to Hell.

Ephesians 5:3-7 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

• God does not give an exception for Christians who commit these sins to go to Heaven. We are instead commanded "Be not ye therefore partakers with them."
• A Christian who commits these sins and does not repent will go to Hell.
• God warns us not to be deceived by the vain words of those who say that once a person is saved they are saved regardless of what sins they commit.
• A Christian can go to Hell, "just" by coveting and making the coveted thing(s), the coveted position, etc. their goal in life!

Colossians 3:23-25 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ. (25) But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons.

• God makes it clear that Christians are not given special treatment or an exemption if they sin. There is no respect of persons.
• A Christian who does not repent of sin receives the same punishment as a non-Christian.

1Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.

• This verse indicates that a Christian can be barred from Heaven by yielding to temptation.
• Again as in Galatians 4:11, Paul’s labor would not have been in vain if they were still Christians. If they were still Christians his labor might not have been as successful, but not in vain.

1 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; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (3) 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.

• A Christian can depart from the faith and go to Hell, and there are Christians who do depart from the faith.
• A person cannot depart from THE faith if they never were a Christian as some people teach in their theology. In order to depart from the faith, they first have to be a Christian.

1 Timothy 5:11-15 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; (12) Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. (13) And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. (14) I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. (15) For some are already turned aside after Satan.

• A Christian can cast off their faith in Christ and go to Hell.
• A Christian can reject Christ and turn aside after Satan.

Hebrews 3:6-14 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. (7) Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, (8) Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (9) When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. (10) Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. (11) So I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. (12) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;

• A Christian has to remain faithful to Christ until the end of life to receive eternal life. (v.6,14)
• "Brethren" is addressing Christians. God tells us here that a Christian can develop an unbelieving heart and depart from Christ and not receive their salvation.
• God uses the analogy in this passage of the Children of Israel who died in the wilderness and did not receive an inheritance in the promise land because of their unbelief. That is likened to the Christian life, that we will not receive our inheritance in Heaven if we have a heart of unbelief or are not faithful to Christ to the end.
• God, two times in this passage, states that we as Christians will only be partakers of Christ if we are faithful to the end. God is serious about this fact and wants Christians to realize how serious sin is in our lives.

Hebrews 4:8-11 For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. (9) There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (11) Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

• The rest is still future for us as Christians also.
• Verse 11 states that a Christian can fall through unbelief and not enter into Heaven.
• "Labor therefore to enter into that rest" indicates that there is more than merely resting in God’s grace to enter Heaven. We must also keep Christ’s commands.

Hebrews 6:1-8 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 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, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 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. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

• It is possible for a Christian to back slide.
• This is a difficult passage because it states that it is impossible for a person to return to Christ once they fall away. There are other passages that indicate that it is possible for a person to return to Christ who had fallen into sin. The purpose of Church discipline is to restore a person to Christ who has fallen into sin.

Hebrews 10:26-31 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 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? 30 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. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

• A Christian who willfully sins will receive God’s judgment and punishment in Hell. Sin can not to have any place in a Christian’s life.

Hebrews 12:15 (KJS) Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

• God does not owe us grace regardless of what sin we commit. God makes it clear that if we are not diligent in our Christian walk, and live in sin, we will fail of His grace in receiving eternal life.
• It is possible for one sin to bar a person from Heaven. The example given is Esau.

James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; (20) 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.

• Sin will cause a Christian to go to Hell.
• If we help a fellow Christian who has fallen into an error of the truth to reject the error of what he is doing, we save his soul from Hell.

2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.

• In persecution if we do not endure, but deny Christ, Jesus will deny that He knows us on Judgment Day.

2Peter 2:18-22 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. (19) While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (20) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (21) 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. (22) 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.

• It is possible for a Christian to return to his old life of sin and go to Hell.
• God tells us that the punishment in Hell is worse for a person who was once a Christian and went back into sin, than for a person who never became a Christian.
• Evangelism can be worse than no evangelism at all if the new Christian is not taught to observe all the Christ commanded. Evangelism may be merely increasing people’s punishment in hell. This is sobering because today less than 5% of people who make a profession for Christ continue living for Him. In eternity, It would be better for them to have never known the way of salvation than to make a profession to follow Christ and then turn their back on Him!

2Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

• It is possible for a Christian to be led away from the truth into error and fall from the steadfastness of their Christian life. It is possible for a person who was once a Christian to go into sin and not go to Heaven.

2John 1:6-9 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. (7) For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. (9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

• A Christian who does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. Therefore they will not go to heaven.

Revelation 3:4-5 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (5) He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

• It is implied that there are those in the church who defiled their garments, who did not overcome, and whom Jesus blotted out their name from the book of life.

Revelation 3:14-21 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. (19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

• There are Christians who are lukewarm. Those Jesus says He will spew out of His mouth. If a person is spewed out of Jesus’ mouth, then that person has no part in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Revelation 21:6-8 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (7) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (8) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

• It is only those who overcome who will inherit eternal life in Heaven.
• According to verse 8, any Christian who is covetous (an idolater), who tells a lie, and does not repent, will be cast into Hell.

Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

• Any Christian that takes words, verses, or commands from the book of Revelation will lose his reward in Heaven.

Note: A theology that states that a Christian cannot backslide and go to Hell has the same error as the Catholic doctrine of baptizing infants in an attempt to make them lifetime Christians. Instead of baptism, the Church today attempts to use the method of having people say certain words to become a Christian and then state that a person is a Christian and is eternally saved regardless of how they live. Today there are many in the Church and many who do not attend church who have said the right words to be saved, but who have not departed from a life of sin. Their lives and philosophy are no different from non-Christians. They are lost and have been deceived into thinking they are saved and will receive an inheritance in Heaven.

The puzzle piece of the marriage of Christ and the Church is fascinating and provides insight into the eternal security of the believer and the question of whether a person can lose their salvation. There are some aspects of the marriage of Christ and the Church that many of us have overlooked. It has resulted in us misunderstanding some of the parts of salvation.

The marriage of Christ and the Church has not yet occurred. The Church is still only in the engagement period with Christ. There are some interesting passages of Scripture that point this out. In II Corinthians 11:2 it says that we are Christ’s fiancée, that the marriage is yet to come: "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." In Ephesians 5:22-33 human marriage is given as a type or foreshadowing of the marriage of Christ and the Church. I had always viewed this passage as if the Church was already married to Christ. However, in verse 27, it indicates that the marriage is yet to come by using the future tense. It is not the past tense: "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

The marriage of Christ and the Church occurs after the whole Church is gathered together in Heaven at the end of the world. God gives us a glimpse of this in Rev. 19-7-9: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."

The fact that the Church is not yet married has some very interesting implications. It has opened up some new insights that I had never seen before.

• There must be death first from Satan, sin, and self so that we can be remarried to Christ, a divorce is not sufficient. Death is the only thing that can end a marriage and free a person to marry another. This is true in human marriage as well as in marriage in the spiritual sense to Christ. In Romans 7 where God states that death frees a person from the first marriage so that they are free to marry another person, He also says in verse 7: "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." This death occurs in the spiritual sense so that we can be espoused to Christ. However, it also seems that there may need to be a physical death and the destruction of the world and the "death" of Satan (bound and put in hell) before the marriage of Christ and the Church.
• Human marriage is a type of Christ and the Church. We are told marriage is a type in Ephesians 5. As a type, human marriage cannot violate what it is a type of. Therefore, if Christ would have been allowing divorce and remarriage in the "exception clause" in Matthew 19:9, He would have destroyed the type. Human marriage would no longer have been the illustration of the marriage of Christ and the Church. If Jesus had stated that divorce would free a person in a human marriage to marry again, it would not illustrate the eternal security of the believer in which there cannot be, and will not be any separation from Christ.
• The marriage of Christ and the Church is like the Jewish wedding in New Testament times. In the Jewish betrothal period the man and woman are called husband and wife even though they are not married. In the same way, as Christians on earth we are called saved even though the marriage of Christ and the Church has not occurred and we have not received our full salvation.
• The "exception clause" in Matthew 19:9 allows divorce from the engagement due to fornication with another during the engagement period. Any other interpretation of the "exception clause" does not line up with the marriage of Christ and the Church. Because the time on earth is the engagement period of Christ and the Church, it is possible for a Christian to backslide in this life and go to Hell.
• The marriage of Christ and the Church will never, ever end. There cannot, and never will be, a divorce of Christ and the Church once marriage occurs. We will have eternal security!
• Marriage, where the only thing that can end the marriage is death, is an illustration of absolute eternal security. In Heaven there will be no more death. Therefore, there can never be a divorce, annulment or ending of the marriage of Christ and the Church.

 

This is an important puzzle piece also. We are saved by faith in Jesus, not by any good works on our part. We cannot do enough good deeds, service, disciplines, or pay money to cancel out our sins.

In Romans, many of the passages that state that works do not save us further identify works as keeping the Old Testament Law. God makes it very clear that we are not saved (converted) by keeping the Old Testament law. This was a point that God drives home over and over in the New Testament. A person does not have to become a Jew in order to become a Christian. The Jewish Christians in the early Church had a difficult time coming to grips with this puzzle piece.

Romans 3:21-31 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (29) Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: (30) Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. (31) Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

• We are not justified by keeping the Old Testament law.
• We are justified by faith in Jesus.
• We cannot boast that we are more holy or righteous than others.

Romans 4:2-16 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. (3) For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (4) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (6) Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (9) Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. (10) How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. (11) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: (12) And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (13) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (14) For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: (15) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.

• Even in Old Testament times, God says that a person was justified by faith and not by the works of keeping the law. The Old Testament is consistent with the New Testament in that a person was justified by faith and not by keeping the Law. The Jews/Pharisees misunderstood the purpose of the Old Testament law. They thought that righteousness was the result of keeping the Law. The Law became a stumbling stone. (See Romans 9:32).
• If God counts a person righteous because of keeping the Law, then righteousness is not of faith but of works. Our reward would then be a debt that God owed us. (V.4)
• In the New Testament the Jews continued to stumble at the stumbling stone of the Law, and thought that the Gentiles had to become Jews and keep the Old Testament Law in order to be saved.

Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.)

• The illustration is given of God choosing Jacob before he was born rather than Esau.

Romans 9:30-32 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. (31) But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (32) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

• Again this passage states that keeping the Law did not make the Jews in the Old Testament righteous. Their righteousness came by faith just as it does today for us as Christians.
• We see that God did not change from the Old Testament to the New Testament on what makes a person righteous – it is faith, not keeping the Law.
• This sheds light on the purpose of the Old Testament law for the Jews and now for the Christian, the New Testament commands that God has given us. The New Testament commands do not make a person righteous. Righteousness only comes by faith. The New Testament commands are a stumbling stone for those who try to obtain righteousness through keeping them. More on this in the next puzzle piece.

Romans 11:5-7 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (6) And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (7) What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

• We are saved by grace and not by works.
• If works saved us then God’s grace is not necessary.

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

• We are saved by God’s grace not our works.

Titus 3:5 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… 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men… 14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

• Doing good works does not save us. However, after we are saved, doing good works is part of living the Christian life. This is stated clearly in verses 8 and 14.

 

When the Bible talks about the Christian not being under law, it is referring to the Old Testament Law. If it meant all law, we would not have to obey civil law or Christ's commands in the New Testament.

Keeping Christ's commands is an essential part of salvation. Teaching others to keep Christ's commands is the second half of the Great Commission and is just as important as the first part to be evangelistic and share the gospel. Keeping Christ’s commands is something that much of the Church has ignored as being important. In looking at the passages of Scripture in this section, we will see how important keeping Christ's commands really are. If a Christian does not keep God's commands, their punishment in hell will be greater then if they had never accepted Christ as their Savior! (2 Peter 2:20-21 "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 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.") A Christian's final salvation is fully dependent upon whether they keep Christ's commands or not.

Christ's commands define what is sin and what is obedience to God. God defines loving Him as keeping His commands. A person who does not keep His commands does not love God. We show our love to God, not by what we say but by what we do – by keeping His commands.

Whenever keeping Christ's commands are mentioned, there are those who immediately think "legalism". Legalism is not a Biblical term. It is not found in the Bible. It is man's term and has various shades of meaning depending on one's theology. Legalism is often used to refer to the doctrine of salvation by good works, or by keeping the Old Testament law. Legalism is often used of a person trying to earn their salvation by doing the right things. Legalism usually refers to the motive of a person's heart. One person can do something that is right with a legalistic attitude, and another do the very same thing with a totally different motive or reason and not be legalistic.

Regardless of what one’s opinion of legalism is, it is not sin for a Christian to keep the commands that Jesus has commanded us to do. Obedience to God is never sin. It is always sin to not do what God has commanded us to do. It is also sin to add to or remove from the commands that Christ has given us.

The following verses show the importance of keeping Christ’s commands:

Matthew 7:21-27 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. 22 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

• Not everyone who thinks that they are a Christian will receive their salvation. Only those who live according to the will of God. Many professing Christians who thought they were saved will go to hell because they did not keep Christ's commands.
• Exhibiting gifts of the Spirit, tongues, prophecy, miracles, etc., is not proof or an indicator that a person is a Christian because many who do those things will go to Hell because they are also doing iniquity. They are not keeping Christ's commands.
• The story about the wise man and the foolish man is about keeping Christ’s commands. A Christian who hears Christ’s commands and does not do them is building his life on sand. One day his life will fall and Jesus will tell them, "Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." v.23.
• God defines iniquity in this passage as doing the will of someone other then God and not doing God‘s will. Iniquity might be one’s own will or the will of one’s pastor, church, or denomination. It can appear to be doing God‘s will, but is not and is iniquity. V.22.
• It is only those who do God’s will that will go to Heaven.
• Only the Christians who keep Christ’s commands will go to heaven.
• A person can become a Christian, but unless they keep Christ’s commands they will not go to Heaven.

Matthew 25:31-46 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (32) And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: (33) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: (36) Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? (38) When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? (39) Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (42) For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: (43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. (44) Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? (45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (46) And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

• In this passage the criteria that Jesus says will be used on Judgment Day in determining whether a person goes to heaven or hell is their works, not whether they said the right words and accepted Him as their Savior. In other words, once a person is saved, they are not guaranteed their final salvation if they have not kept Christ’s commands.
• Jesus will be the Judge on Judgment Day and He has told us what we will be judged by. This passage is not the words of a man, or the opinion of a theological position, or the speculation of a lawyer. These words are from THE Judge Himself.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

• Those who are truly part of the family of God are those who hear what the Bible says, and do what it says. There are many professing Christians who are not ready to hear and to do all that God tells them to do. Like the Pharisees, they use human reasoning to explain away why they do not need to do what God says.

Luke 11:27-28 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

• Jesus tells us that there is a blessing for hearing and keeping the Word of God.
• There is a greater blessing for those who keep Christ's commands than there is for Mary. That shows how important keeping Christ's commands is.

John 14:21-24 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

• Only those who keep Christ’s commands love Him. A person who does not keep Christ’s commands does not truly love Jesus. Loving Christ is more than a feeling or developing a relationship with Christ. Loving Jesus is keeping His commands.
• Keeping means to obey, but it is more than obedience. Keeping also means to treasure, to value, to safe guard from loss, to protect.
• Keeping Christ's commands is necessary to receive greater spiritual understanding and to grow in spiritual maturity- "will manifest myself to him." Therefore, a person who choses not to obey Jesus in one area will not receive spiritual understanding of why obedience in that area and other areas is important to Christ. They will begin a downward spiral away from Christ all the while using human reasoning to make up for their lack of true spiritual understanding.

John 15:10-14 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

• Keeping Christ's commands is necessary for abiding in Christ.
• Jesus has given us commands so that His joy might remain in us and our joy might be full. v.6,11 His commands are not a burden or a cross we have to endure. His commands bring us the most joy possible for us to have in this life. Therefore if we as Christians are lacking joy, we need to look at Jesus' commands and see what command we are not keeping.
• Our continuing friendship with Christ is dependent upon our keeping His commands. v.14

Act 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

• The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Christ’s commands. This verse ties in with John 14:15-16 "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;"

Romans 2:2-13 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. (3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? (4) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (5) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (6) Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (7) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: (8) But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (9) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; (10) But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: (11) For there is no respect of persons with God. (12) For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (13) (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (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 passage is important to help us get the concept of keeping Christ's commands in proper perspective. Keeping Christ’s commands does not save us. God makes that very clear, once we are saved, we are to walk in obedience to Christ, and do what He tells us to do.
• God predestined that we should do good works.

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.

• Obedience to Christ’s commands is necessary for us to receive our final salvation. The fear of God is realizing that our disobedience will bar us from Heaven.

1 Corinthians 7:18-19 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

• Keeping Christ's commands is very important. In other words, the Old Testament law is not important for a Christian. We do not have to become a Jew to be saved. However, it is important that a Christian keep God's commands in the New Testament.

1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

• The commands that are given in the New Testament are not the commands of Paul, Peter, John, etc., but are the commands of God.
• We frequently hear preachers say "Paul said", "the writer of Hebrews said", etc. As a result, the Church has come to the belief that some of the Bible is the commands of men and some of it is the commands of God. There is much explaining away of God's commands as being commands that that particular writer was giving to the first recipients of that letter, to deal with a problem they had.
• We must recognize that all Scripture is inspired by God and the commands were also inspired by God and come from God, not a human writer. Those commands apply to us today.

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

• Professing to know Christ and to being a Christian is not enough to continue in the Christian life. A person will not receive their final salvation if they walk in disobedience to Christ's commands.
• A Christian must do good works and walk in obedience to Christ's commands.
• Those who deny Jesus by what they do will go to Hell, Matthew 10:33 "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

Titus 3:1-14 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, (2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. (3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, (5) 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; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (9) But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (10) A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject; (11) Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. (12) When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. (13) Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. (14) And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

• This passage again puts keeping Christ's commands in perspective. A person is not saved or converted by obedience to Christ's commands (v.5).
• Once a person is saved, they keep Christ’s commands and do good works because they want to please Christ. v.8,14

Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

• Keeping Christ’s commands is essential for us to receive eternal salvation.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

• A Christian must keep Christ's commands and not merely read the Bible. One of the problems in the Christian education system in the church today is that people hear the Word, they talk about it, but they are not moved to keep it. The result is that the more spiritually educated a person becomes the more they can deceive themselves. They think that because they have spiritual knowledge and know more than another person, they have spiritual maturity. They do not realize that spiritual maturity does not come from knowledge of the Bible, but from keeping Christ's commands. This is a significant error in the philosophy of Sunday school and seminary education today.

James 2:14-26 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (22) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (23) And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (25) Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

• Many have misunderstood the importance of works and obedience to Jesus in the Christian's life, because they thought that when a person is saved, that person has received their full salvation. But the conversion experience is merely the getting into the boat to go to heaven. If one only has faith, they will go in circles and will be lost. If one only has works, they will go in circles in the opposite direction and also be lost. We cannot reach Heaven without both faith and obedience to Christ's commands.

2 Peter 2:20-21 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 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.

• God tells us plainly the importance of keeping His commands. For a Christian to turn their back on keeping God's commands, their punishment will be eternity in hell with a worse punishment then if they had never heard the Gospel and gone to hell. That is serious.
• It is very important that the Christians are taught to keep Christ's commands and warned of the consequences of not keeping them.
• People need to be taught to fear the Lord, not the preacher or the church.
• Commands that the church adds in addition to keeping Christ’s commands take the focus off of keeping Christ's commands. People quickly recognize that they are commands of men and not of God. The result is that young people in the church, discard the commands of men because they are not required in the Bible, and also discard the command of God because it is tied to and identified with the command of men. The end result for many young people in the Church is eternity in hell with worse punishment then if they had never gone to church.

1John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

• A person who thinks that they are a Christian and does not keep Christ’s commands is a liar and will go to hell.
• If a person is a Christian, they will keep Christ’s commands.

1 John 3:19-24 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

• The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our life is dependent upon us keeping Christ’s commands.

1 John 5:1-3 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

• God's commands are not difficult or burdensome.
• Loving God is keeping His commands. Loving other Christians is only possible when we keep God’s commands

Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

• Obedience to God’s commands is essential.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

• We will be judged by whether we have kept the commands of God.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

• A Christian is one who keeps the commands of God.

Revelation 20:12-15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

• We will be judged by what we do, not only by whether or not we have accepted Jesus as our Savior.
• The sins we have committed, the disobedience to God's commands, are written down in God's book. On Judgment Day we will have nothing to argue with, the evidence is in writing.
• Jesus is the Judge and He tells us plainly how He will judge us. It does not line up with what many preachers are telling us about "once saved, always saved". Who do you think is right, Jesus or those preachers?

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

• Eternal life is only for those Christians who do God's commandments. They are the only ones who will enter through the gates into the city.

 

The role of Grace in salvation is another important puzzle piece. The church has frequently misapplied the term grace to mean a catch all license that is given to a person that allows them to acknowledge something is not God's ideal, but if it is difficult or inconvenient to follow God's way in that area, to disregard it (do what is right in their own eyes). This wrong application of the term grace is used in many areas of the Christian life. This philosophy has been very harmful to the church. Statistics show the beliefs and practices of many Christians are basically the same as those of non-Christians. The Church does not have God given authority to grant grace to a person in an area of sin and grant them permission/freedom to continue to sin.

To understand grace better, I did an in-depth study of grace in the Bible. I found some interesting facts. The main fact is that grace is from God. Most of the verses in the New Testament that use the word grace also state that it is from God or Jesus. Nowhere is there any verse that the church or a local congregation has any authority to grant a person grace for their sins. We can bless another with God’s grace, but not from us. When the church grants another person grace in a sin area so that the sin is no longer viewed as sin, the church is setting itself up as God and making the church equal with God. This line of thinking has occurred before in Jeremiah 7:9,10: "Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; (10) And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?" They thought they had received grace to continue in their sins but they had not.

Grace is not an allowance to sin a little more than what the Bible says. Grace is not a license from God or the church for one to continue in sin as many would lead us to believe. Grace is not God overlooking our sin as we continue to sin after we know better. Romans 6:1-2 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Romans 6:15 "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." There is no grace for those who willfully continue to sin and don't want to stop or change because it would be "too difficult", such as separate from a divorce and remarriage situation. Hebrews 10:26-31 "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 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? 30 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. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." God's grace is not a license to do what is right in one's