Brothers and Sisters in Christ who study the Word of God, we are under attack by the world, the flesh, and the Devil like no other time in Church history. Yes, even worse than the time of Nero (37AD to 68AD) and Domitian (51AD to 96AD).
I believe we are witnessing and experiencing the “lukewarm” part of the Church age (Revelation 3:14-22). In the “lukewarm” Church, there is no such thing as “that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (Matthew 18:16). It based on feeling, emotion, and tradition instead of “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Rightly dividing the Word of truth is scripture upon scripture, in context, to the right group of people, and to the right time-period. Many do not do this. They read a scripture and give their opinion or take the verse(s) out of context. It then becomes their word instead of God’s Word.
God’s Word interprets itself. The Word of God is of no private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). Many spiritualize the Bible. Some say a day in Genesis 1 does not mean a literal 24-hour period. A 1,000 years does not mean a literal 1,000 years in Revelation 20. So, I guess “not of works” in Ephesians 2 regarding salvation does not mean “not of works”? You who are Calvinists, I guess “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” means only a select few, not “whosoever.” That has to be one of the most demonic teachings in Church history.
Christ died for ALL. It is God’s will that ALL should come to repentance and not perish in a literal hell. Yes, hell and the lake of fire are literal. Your soul will not be annihilated in the lake of fire. It is eternal.
The greatest threat to any soul is false doctrine regarding salvation or justification by faith. The following refutes the biggest false doctrine of the last 2,000 years. Justification by faith and works.
False Doctrine I – Justification by faith and works
Many falsely teach that in order to be saved or justified before a Holy God, you must believe in Jesus and perform some works. The work involved is usually water baptism, which is NOT part of the gospel. How do I know this? Here is scriptural proof. In 1st Corinthians 1:17 the Apostle Paul states,
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
If you add or take away from the Cross, you make the Cross of Christ of “none effect” (1 Corinthians 1:17).
Water baptism is not part of the gospel. The saved are commanded to be water baptized after they are born again, saved, or justified.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian Church, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).
If someone is teaching you or your family works for salvation, such as circumcision, water baptism, speaking in tongues, keeping the commandments, communion, infant baptism, etc., then there is a curse on that person. Please leave. Your soul is in eternal jeopardy.
The Holy Spirit revealed the true Gospel to the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15:1-4, which states:
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
The real Gospel is Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. You mean all I have to do is trust or believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to be saved. Yes!!! Jesus did it all for you. That is why it is called GRACE, which is unmerited favor. Grace is not a license to sin. It is the power to be saved and the power to live a holy life.
James 2:14 is not the Gospel. Who is speaking? The verse states, “What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?” You see it is a man that claims he has saving faith. The remainder of the verses in James 2 are based on this verse.
In Romans 4:1- 5, the Apostle Paul states, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”
James 2 and Romans 4 are both referring to Abraham. But James is not speaking of the act of being justified by God. The Apostle Paul was given the correct meaning of justification by God. The Apostle Paul is clearly teaching in no uncertain terms that salvation is by faith alone in Jesus. Jesus is the New Covenant.
Ephesians 2:8-10 states, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
We are saved UNTO good works and not by works.
James is speaking of someone who says they are justified but refuse to do the works of a Christian that produce the fruit of the Spirit. The question is are they really saved? Jesus states in Matthew 5:16,
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Your light is the Holy Spirit. Your works are Spirit-led which produce fruit. Witnessing your faith in Christ is one of those works. Most Christians do not do this.
Paul is speaking of someone who is lost and needs the Savior. He or she recognizes they are a sinner, which is the definition of repentance. They cry out to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (Psalms 51:17). The hearing of the correct Gospel (Romans 10:17), the conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), the admitting that one is a sinner (Luke 23:41), and confession of Jesus as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10) are the ingredients of salvation or justification.
Jesus did it all on the Cross, and you cannot do enough works to be right with a Holy God. Holiness and imputed righteousness are the direct result of our faith in Christ and the Cross. ALL humans have a sin or Adamic nature, which cannot produce righteousness. Our righteousness is as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) before a Holy and righteous God.
The bottom line is salvation is not by works. It is not of yourselves. But a man, woman, or child will produce the works with the help of the Holy Spirit after they are saved. If you were taught and believed in faith and works for salvation, then you are still lost. You may think you are doing the works of a Christian, but Jesus will say to you at the great white throne judgment or when you take your last breath, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”
Salvation is a gift; Grace cannot be merited. John 3:16 states,
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Do you see works in this popular scripture verse, which was spoken by Christ Himself? He freely went to the Cross for you. Please, do not try to add to the finished work of Christ. God will not accept your works.
The following is a summary of scriptures that show salvation is by faith alone in the finished work of Christ.
Luke 23:39-43:39 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Mark 16:16 “…he that believeth not shall be damned.”
John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name.”
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 5:24 “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.”
Acts 2:21 “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts 13:38-39 “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [Jesus] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Acts 16:30-31 “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Titus 3:4-7 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Please trust the blood of Christ for salvation and not in your effort. After you are saved, the Holy Spirit will produce the fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) the Father is seeking. The Holy Spirit produces the fruit. Please share the above scriptures with your lost loved ones or those in so-called Christian organizations that are leading millions to an eternal hell.
God bless,
John M.