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Many who feel saved are not!
C H Spurgeon.
Part 1
Mathew 7:22-23
The last day many, not a few, but many who called him Lord, Lord will be cast out Into Darkness. The question this sermon forces you to ask a question of eternal life or death is this, "How can you be sure that you are not one of those many"
The deadly danger this warning exposes is the possibility of eternal self-deception. It's the tragedy of living an entire life thinking you are headed for heaven, only to discover at the last moment that your destiny was always Hell,
Christ teaches us, will be full of people who were certain they were going to heaven. Charles Spurgeon, as a true pastor of souls, trembled before this truth. He did not preach to fill the pews of his church, but to empty hell and he knew that the greatest threat to the souls of his congregation was not atheism, but empty professions of faith.
He would say it is better not to profess Christ at all than to profess him with an unregenerated heart, because the knowledge of the truth without the possession of the truth only deepens one's own condemnation.
We will take Christ's warning in Matthew Chapter 7 with the seriousness it deserves not to steal your joy but to ensure that your joy is built on the solid rock of true faith and not on the shifting sand of self-deception.
To understand this warning, we must carefully examine the profile of these people who are rejected on the final day.
They are not who we expect. Jesus himself gives us their resume.
Their defense in verse 22 of Matthew Chapter 7. "Many will say to me on that day did we not prophecy in your name and in your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?
Let us analyze this profile.
See Part 2
Shall we continue? Previously, I explained Verse 1:1, and now we go to Verse 1:2.
It is in Rev. 1:2 that John explains that he wrote The Gospel According to John. Here is verse 1:2 in chiasmus form:
Who bare record of the word of God,
.....and of the testimony of Jesus Christ,
and of all things that he saw.
The verse structure reveals:
The Word of God, John 1:1-5
.....The Testimony of Jesus Christ, John 21:21-24
Everything between Verses 1:1-5 and Verses 21:21-24
The "testimony of Jesus Christ" is a phrase which is used metaphorically twice in The Book of Revelation, as I recall; once at Rev. 1:9, and secondly at Rev. 19:10. Also, the Savior's literal testimony for The Book of Revelation is stated in the last chapter at Rev. 22:7-20.
So the phrase has both the metaphorical and literal applications.
Additonally, Rev. 1:2 not only establishes the structure of The Gospel According to John, but also that of The Book of Revelation, as follows:
Chapter One shows The Word of God in the vision of the Savior at Rev. 1:12-17
.....Chapter Twenty-Two shows The Testimony of Jesus Christ in Rev. 22:7-20
And Chapters Two through Twenty-One shows all the things that John saw.
Matthew 7:19 "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."
Romans 2:13 "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."
John 5:29 "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."
Blessings
I am reading these one at a time and responding to each if that is okay.
1) Life in Christ begins when an individual accepts Jesus as their Savior. It is here that they are born again, spiritually speaking, that is.
2) From that point, the individual must either
a) continue on the quest for spiritual life in Christ or
b) fall away.
3) If they fall away from Christ with the belief that they are still along the pathway to salvation, then they are mistaken in their belief and are on the pathway to not only hell, but are in danger of being cast out with Lucifer.
4) Hell is that condition of being denied salvation from sin, whereas being cast out is that condition of living with their father Lucifer, who hates them.
5) Both "hell" and being "cast out" are for the spiritually dead in Christ. Those who will be judged.
6) Those individuals who remain loyal to Jesus and follow him have eternal life and are saved from the just judgment of God for their sins. That is, they have salvation in Christ their God, from judgment.
7) Those who remain loyal to Jesus are free from judgment, while those who do not remain loyal to Jesus will be judged to go to hell or be cast out. Such will be the case for the beast and his false prophet, who are cast out with Lucifer ( Rev. 19:20, 20:10).
8) This is the parable of the sower where Jesus is the sower and some fall while others live ( Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15).
9) Stay close to Jesus and live.
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Luke 6:46
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
John 3:5
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Matthew 24:35
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Blessings
Many who feel saved are not!
C H Spurgeon.
Part 2
Mathew 7:22-23
The first characteristic is that they were orthodox. They call Jesus Lord, Lord. They were not heretics denying His deity.
Their doctrinal confession was perfect if He had given them a theology exam, they would have received the highest grade.
This teaches us a terrifying lesson, doctrinal orthodoxy alone saves no one.
The second characteristic is that they were active and successful in ministry.
Look at their works,
They prophesied, cast out demons, performed many miracles.
They were not passive members warming a Pew in the church.
They were the leaders, the workers, the Super spiritual of their time.
In the eyes of the modern church these people would be put on a platform at a conference to teach others how to have an impactful ministry and yet they were lost because success in ministry is not proof of salvation.
The third characteristic is that they were self-assured. They approach Christ of judgment not asking for mercy but presenting their resume.
They are appealing on the basis of their own merits of what they have done for God.
Their confidence was not in God's grace but in their own works.
Spurgeon would say that the condemnation of these people was not for lack of activity, but for lack of an authentic relationship.
They were busy for God, but strangers to God.
Their religion was all outward, a great show, but their hearts had never truly surrendered to the King and that is why Jesus's response is so devastating.
He does not say your works were not good enough, he goes to the root of the problem.
He tells them I never knew you.
The problem was not the works; the problem was the relationship.
There was never a vital union, an intimate knowledge, a surrender of the heart.
See Part 3
I have to laugh because you are describing the LDS church. Their leaders seek money. In fact, to move up in the hierarchy of that church, you must have a good job that pays a lot of money. The more you pay, the higher you move up. And, the leaders are all millionaires.
Not only that, but that church boasts "no paid clergy". Since their leaders are not considered clergy then they pull down seven figures. I do not know how much, but it is in the hundreds of thousands.
That condition of making money off the Savior is called priestcraft. There are multitudes of people performing priestcraft. I know Keneth Copland has incredible wealth that he has convinced Christians to send him.
Thus, the gain of those who conduct priestcraft is their only reward since they will receive no reward of salvation from Christ. These wicked leaders plague the Savior's doctrine with wicked doctrines of their own, causing many saints to fall. Therefore, I can say with certainty that these wicked leaders will be cast out with their father Lucifer.
Thanks for responding!
You said "Stay close to Jesus and live'.
In Hebrews 13 vs 5 the Lord said "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee"
Thank God the staying power is in the hands of Jesus who also says in John 10:27-28 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Jesus is that Great Shepherd that leaves the ninety nine sheep and goes after the one lost in the wilderness illustrating God's immense love and pursuit of every individual, even when many are already safe; He prioritizes the lost one,
Jesus is that solid rock foundation!
If we built on him we will never stray!
If one final destiny is hell he built on sand and was never of the sheep fold!
He's one of those mentioned in Matthew 7 where Jesus says "I never knew you"
These postings of mine doesn't go out to any certain denomination, it goes out to the individual!
We must examine ourselves!
Salvation isn't defined or authenticated by what we know or even what we are doing on the outside!
It's what's cleaned on the inside!
It's a new birth!
It's not whether you "accepted Christ"
It's did you "RECEIVE" Christ!
If you have received Christ, "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13.
God bless.
You are drawing fine lines in the doctrine, and I appreciate that. In fact, you are supporting your position with scripture, which is evidence of the correctness of your position.
Thank you for your instructions with regard to this subject.
Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems that you are addressing a higher-level doctrine. Or perhaps it is something that I have not spent a lot of time with.
But the tendency of what you are saying goes into the realm of absolutes, lacking a better way of saying this. For example, those who support the beast were fallen from the beginning ( Rev. 13:8). It is the absolute knowledge of God pertaining to who we are. That the follower of Christ was so from the beginning.
This distinction corrects the doctrine of accepting Christ to that of receiving Christ. Thus, the action of the individual is not to accept but to receive. The implication is that we are Christ's from the beginning, and it is our part to receive him.
This appears to be an extension of the born-again doctrine where we were spiritually born of Christ, and then in mortality, we are spiritually born again. Not by accepting, as you say, but by receiving that which already exists.
I want you to send me something so I can look over it so and then I can kinda' make Shure it makes sense and then I will send it to you and you canwrite
Joseph, what interests you from "The Book of Revelation, and I will write about that to you.
Oh I almost forgot we are starting at the beginning of revelation.
1) We begin in Chapter One of The Book of Revelation, where John hears the Savior speaking from behind ( Rev. 1:10).
2) The Savior instructs John to write to the seven churches ( Rev. 1:11).
3) John turns to see the Savior but sees the seven churches ( Rev. 1:12).
4) In the midst of the seven churches is the Savior ( Rev. 1:13).
5) John describes the Savior's appearance ( Rev. 1:13-16).
6) After seeing the Savior, John fell at his feet. Then Jesus instructs John not to fear ( Rev. 1:17).
7) The Savior bestows upon John the keys of authority over hell and death ( Rev. 1:18).
8) Jesus instructs John to write things which he has seen, things which are, and things which will be hereafter ( Rev. 1:19)
9) Jesus explains two metaphors, which are the seven stars and the seven golden candlesticks ( Rev. 1:20)
10) John writes items 1 through 9, which are the "things he has seen."
11) John writes the "things which are" as the Savior speaks to the seven churches in Chapters Two and Three.
12) And John writes the "things which shall be hereafter" in Chapter Four.
From this, you can see that Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 are the introduction to The Book of Revelation in its most basic form. Additionally, Chapter Five begins the revelation.
13) The Father is on the throne and gives the revelation to Jesus ( Rev. 5:1, Rev. 5:7).
14) The Father instructs that the revelation is to be given to the servants. And Jesus instructs his angel to show the revelation to John to show to the servants ( Rev. 1:1).
15) John stipulates that he wrote The Gospel According to John ( Rev. 1:2)
16) John blesses those who can read The Book of Revelation and those who can hear. That they will keep and abide by the things written herein ( Rev. 1:3).
17) John states the greetings to the seven churches ( Rev. 1:4-7).
18) Jesus states his divine authority ( Rev. 1:8).
19) John states his location ( Rev. 1:9).
2) The Savior instructs John to write to the seven churches ( Rev. 1:11).
3) John turns to see the Savior but sees the seven churches ( Rev. 1:12).
4) In the middle of the seven churches is the Savior ( Rev. 1:13).
5) John describes the Savior's appearance ( Rev. 1:13-16).
6) After seeing the Savior, John fell at his feet. Then Jesus instructs John not to fear ( Rev. 1:17).
7) The Savior gives John the keys of authority over hell and death ( Rev. 1:18).
8) Jesus instructs John to write things which he has seen, things which are, and things which will be hereafter ( Rev. 1:19).
9) Jesus explains two metaphors, which are the seven stars and the seven golden candlesticks ( Rev. 1:20).
10) John writes items 1 through 9, which are the "things he has seen."
11) John writes the "things which are" as the Savior speaks to the seven churches in Chapters Two and Three.
12) And John writes the "things which shall be hereafter" in Chapter Four.
From this, you can see that Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 are the introduction to The Book of Revelation in its most basic form. Additionally, Chapter Five begins the revelation.
13) The Father is on the throne and gives the revelation to Jesus ( Rev. 5:1, Rev. 5:7).
14) The Father instructs that the revelation is to be given to the servants. And Jesus instructs his angel to show the revelation to John to show to the servants ( Rev. 1:1).
15) John stipulates that he wrote The Gospel According to John ( Rev. 1:2)
16) John blesses those who can read The Book of Revelation and those who can hear. That they will keep and abide by the things written herein ( Rev. 1:3).
17) John states the greetings to the seven churches ( Rev. 1:4-7).
18) Jesus states his divine authority ( Rev. 1:8).
19) John states his location ( Rev. 1:9).
Now that we have the background out of the way then we can go to the revelation. As shown in Rev. 1:1, the angel is tasked with showing the revelation to John, and this begins in Rev. 6:1.
In this verse, the angel is called a beast. The changes in names throughout the revelation, help to seal the book. So, the angel of Verse 1:1 is called the beast in Verse 6:1. This is easy to see because anytime that John is shown something, then it is the angel of Verse 1:1 who was tasked with this job.
The seals are the revelation. That is, the book having seven seals attached is the book having the revelation attached ( Rev. 5:1). The Father gave the book with the seals attached to Jesus ( Rev. 5:7). Therefore, the Father gave the book with the revelation attached to Jesus. Thus, the Father gave the revelation to Jesus ( Rev. 1:1).
In this verse, the angel is called a beast. The changes in names throughout the revelation, help to seal the book. So, the angel of Verse 1:1 is called the beast in Verse 6:1. This is easy to see because anytime that John is shown something, then it is the angel of Verse 1:1 who was given this job.
The seals are the revelation. That is, the book having seven seals attached to it is the book having the revelation attached to it ( Rev. 5:1). The Father gave the book with the seals attached to it, to Jesus ( Rev. 5:7). Therefore, the Father gave the book with the revelation attached to it, to Jesus. Thus, the Father gave the revelation to Jesus ( Rev. 1:1).
Oh I almost forgot you have to make a title for your book. ask me for some advice.
Since the angel (beast) instructs John in Rev. 6:1, and the angel (elder) instructs John in Rev. 5:2-5, then the Father of Rev. 5:1 is represented as the white horse in Rev. 6:2, and the Savior of Rev. 5:7 is represented as the rider in Rev. 6:2.
These metaphorical representations are clear in Rev. 19:11, where the rider of the white horse is Jesus, and the power that Jesus rides upon is the Father. From this position of power, the Savior goes forth to conquer ( Rev. 19:12-21).
The bow in the Savior's hand in Rev. 6:2 is the sword in Rev. 19:21. It is the weapon by which he goes forth to conquer and is stated in Rev. 19:15. This is the same weapon that John saw in the vision of the Savior in Rev. 1:16.
It follows that the vision of the Savior in Rev. 1:13-16 is a vision of the Savior prepared to go forth to conquer ( Rev. 6:2). And Rev. 19:12-21 shows the Savior conquering the beast and the false prophet.
The beast and the false prophet are called death and hell in Rev. 6:8. The Savior gave John the keys of authority over hell and death in Rev. 1:18. Since John was given authority over death and hell and the beast and false prophet are called death and hell, and they are conquered in Rev. 19:20-21, then John is the sword by which the Savior conquers also called a bow in Rev. 6:2.
Therefore, The Book of Revelation is a book about the Savior going forth to conquer the beast and false prophet. Since John was given the keys over these two individuals in Rev. 1:17, then the book that John has written is about himself in this role as the Savior's weapon against the beast and false prophet. And this is the revelation to be shared with the servants ( Rev. 1:1).
is represented as the white horse in Rev. 6:2, and the Savior of Rev. 5:7 is represented as the rider in Rev. 6:2
These metaphorical representations are clear in Rev. 19:11,
where the rider of the white horse is Jesus, and the power that Jesus rides upon is the Father. From this position of power, the Savior goes forth to conquer ( Rev. 19:12-21).
The bow in the Savior's hand in Rev. 6:2 is the sword in Rev. 19:21. It is the weapon by which he goes forth to conquer and is stated in Rev. 19:15
. This is the same weapon that John saw in the vision of the Savior in Rev. 1:16.
It follows that the vision of the Savior in Rev. 1:13-16
is a vision of the Savior prepared to go forth to conquer ( Rev. 6:2). And Rev. 19:12-21 shows the Savior conquering the beast and the false prophet.
The beast and the false prophet are called death and hell in Rev. 6:8
. The Savior gave John the keys of authority over hell and death in Rev. 1:18
. Since John was given authority over death and hell and the beast and false prophet are called death and hell, and they are conquered in Rev. 19:20-21, then John is the sword by which the Savior conquers also called a bow in Rev. 6:2.
Therefore, The Book of Revelation is a book about the Savior going forth to conquer the beast and false prophet. Since John was given the keys over these two individuals in Rev. 1:17, then the book that John has written is about himself in this role as the Savior's weapon against the beast and false prophet. And this is the revelation to be shared with the servants ( Rev. 1:1)!!!!
I failed to mention.
Receiving Chrst as savior implies a more active, heart embraced gift of Jesus as both Savior and Lord (ruler of one's life), while accepting can sometimes just mean intellectual agreement or a decision to believe.
Blessings
Great question!
No I don't mean it that way.
What I mean is in regards to our new birth.
In John 3:3 Jesus tells Nicodemus Except a man be "born again", he cannot see the kingdom of God.
In the Greek "Born again" is actually "Born from above"
We are born of God's Spirit!
This is the Holyspirit that seals and indwells the believer.
This is the light and the life that indwells the believer and by this spirit we're made alive and brings forth good fruit.
Blessings.
Let me make a correction. The grk actually says "born from the beginning ". The grk word that either means "from above" or "from the beginning" is the word "anothen". And because this word may have 2 different meanings a misunderstanding may arise.
Let me refer to some verses that this word means "from the beginning".
Luke 1:3, "It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first (the very first, in grk anothen) to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,"
Acts 26:5, "Which knew me from the beginning (anothen), if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee."
So how could we know which one of those two meanings this word had in Jesus' replying to Nicodemus?
We know because of what Nicodemus says next. If Jesus meant "from above" then Nicodemus wouldn't ask Him how it is possible to enter his mother's womb so that he would been born again since it would had been obvious that Jesus meant a birth from above that is from God . But what he asked Jesus was how is it possible a man can enter his mother's womb and be born again. Blessings
I'm aware of that and it makes since in Nicodemus response.
Though it may mean beginning or above and Nicodemus may have understood it as beginning.
I would have to lean on what did Jesus mean.
We know Jesus didn't mean what Nicodemus understood by Jesus response in verses six. (That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.)
I've interpreted it as being born anew by the Spirit of God.
I parallels that verse with 1 John 3:9. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Thanks and God bless.
(Part 1):
I would like to share my thoughts on John 3:3. Like you, I also see Jesus telling Nicodemus that a man must be born from above.
This Greek word (ANOTHEN) is found 13 times in the New Testament. As Giannis mentioned, this word can have more than one meaning. Strong's translates ANOTHEN as either from above, again, from the beginning, or the top. Thayer's defines it as from above, from a higher place, from the beginning on, from the very first. If you own a Greek Interlinear Bible, you will notice that in John 3:3 where the word ANOTHEN is used, it gives us "up place" and "anew," where up place could be the same as saying from above, and anew would be equivalent to saying again, or together, born again from above.
In John 3:3 where Jesus tells Nicodemus "Except a man be born again," I also read this as Jesus telling him a person must be born from above in order to see the kingdom of God. We know, just as Nicodemus knew, that a person cannot reenter into the womb to be born again. Jesus was not referring to physical rebirth. He was referring to a Spiritual birth that comes from heaven, or a Spiritual birth from above. When we are born-again, we are born of God's Spirit. This is a Spiritual birth that can only come from above. Whether we say born again, or born from above, both refer to a Spiritual birth that comes from above.
(Part 2):
I agree with Giannis that ANOTHEN can mean either "from above" or "from the beginning," so we have to decide which meaning to use in each of the 13 places ANOTHEN is found in the NT.
When I look at Luke 1:3 in a Greek Interlinear Bible, it translates as "from the very first," which can also read from the beginning. I see the same in Acts 26:5. Both places can be translated as "from the beginning."
However, when I take John 3:3, ANOTHEN doesn't translate as the very first or from the beginning, but rather anew (again) and up place (above). So yes, in all 13 places that ANOTHEN is found in the NT, we have to find out if it means "from above" or "from the beginning." In John 3:3, I read it as from above.
In any case, we know that Jesus was not talking about a second physical birth. He was talking about a Spiritual birth from above. A person must experience a spiritual birth to be saved. That's what it means receive Christ.
Thank you pointing out that we must receive (not accept) Christ. We hear a lot today about "accepting" the Lord but there is no place in the bible that tells us that we need to accept the Lord to be saved. To "accept" the Lord means to mentally agree with the truth about Him.
The bible does say receive Christ in John 1:12. To receive Christ means literally to receive His Spirit into our spirit to perform a spiritual birth, and we become a new person.
We become a new creation and God's Spirit is with us from that time throughout eternity. We are motivated by His Spirit, ministered to by His Spirit, protected by His Spirit, guided by His Spirit, and we are provided for by His Spirit. From that time forward, we belong to Christ!
So, being born again, there's a physical birth and then a Spiritual birth. The Spiritual birth is what it means to be born again, and that birth can only come from above!
Blessings!
I used to say accept Christ and you should me the difference a little while back.
Blessings.
Many who feel saved are not!
C H Spurgeon.
Part 3
Everything was a performance and if spectacular, works and the correct words are not the proof of salvation. What is? Jesus gives us the answer in the previous verse, and it is about the true proof of saving faith that we will speak of next. If the correct words and impressive works are not the proof of salvation, what is the true evidence of saving faith? Jesus gives us the answer just before describing those who are rejected. In Matthew Chapter 7, verse 21, It's the standard for entry into his Kingdom. Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but who does the will of my Father, who is in heaven!
Here is the true test. It is not the greatness of our gifts, nor the orthodoxy of our confession, but the direction of our life and here we must be extremely careful not to fall into another error.
Let's make this clear. Jesus is not establishing a new system of salvation by works.
He is not saying that we do the will of the Father to earn entry into heaven as we have seen in previous sermons. We are saved only by grace through faith.
What Jesus is saying is that doing the will of the Father is the inevitable evidence, the necessary fruit, the irrefutable proof of a heart that has been truly regenerated by His Spirit, works are not the root of salvation, they are the fruit that grows from a root of true faith.
Note the difference.
The rejected men boasted of their spectacular and visible works, prophesying, casting out demons, performing miracles but the test Jesus gives is that of humble and consistent obedience to God's revealed will.
The will of the Father is not necessarily that you perform miracles, but that you love your neighbor, forgive your enemy, flee from immorality, be humble and seek righteousness in your daily life.
See Part 4.
The evidence that we have salvation in Christ is that we do the works of the Father. These works are the natural consequence of following Jesus. Works that are not seen by man, as in the case of casting out demons, speaking in tongues, etc., but works of love, peace, and friendship, which naturally flow from a Christlike life.
These works are not on display to be seen by men, but are seen by the Father.
It is how we conduct ourselves in our daily walk with Christ.
Many who feel saved are not!
C H Spurgeon.
Part 4
Note the difference "continuing"
It is possible to do great things in the eyes of men while simultaneously living in rebellion against God's simple and clear commandments.
Spurgeon would say that God is not impressed by the fireworks of our ministry.
He looks at the heart, and the heart truly knows Christ is a heart that longs to obey Christ!
The question is not how great is your gift, but how surrendered is your will.
The apostle John confirms it and by this we know that we have come to know him if we keep his commandments. If the ultimate test is doing the will of the Father what then is at the core of that will?
If the test of salvation is doing the will of the Father, what is at its core that will? Is it an endless list of rules? Is it a standard of moral perfection that we must achieve on our own? Thank God no.
The Bible is clear. The first, most fundamental and most important act of obedience to the will of the Father is an act of faith.
In the Gospel of John, chapter 6, the crowd, thinking like religious people of all ages, asks Jesus, what must we do to perform the works of God?
They were looking for an A to do list.
They wanted a plan of action to earn God's favor but Jesus' answer redefines everything he says in verse 29. This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he has sent.
What an astonishing and humbling answer!
The main work God requires of us is not a work of our hands, but a work of our heart.
To believe, to trust, to surrender completely to His Son.
Spurgeon would say that the first and greatest obedience God asks of us is to stop trying to obey by our own strength.
It is the obedience of admitting our disobedience.
It is the act of abandoning all trust in our own works, even in our many wonders, and transferring all our trust to the finished work of Christ on the cross before God asks for the obedience of your hands.
See 5
I have often wished that I had blind faith like so many brothers and sisters. To simply accept the Savior with nothing but faith and belief in his instructions of salvation. How beautiful is that?
However, for most people, it is a little more complex. Living in a world of uncertainties, where each day can be a struggle.
In consequence, most people fail to yield themselves wholly to the will of Jesus. And this is what your series is about to some degree. I guess those who fail have a variety of reasons for restraining themselves from salvation. So they need a sign, such as an "A" list, so as to accomplish some perceived requirement.
But for those who follow Jesus in faith, remaining loyal and obedient to their Savior. Not by an effort of works, but by natural things which flow from the love of God. These saints will have glory in the kingdom of Salvation.
Here's part 2.
As I was saying we are resting on faith that is of God and made real to us by his Spirit.
When God asks us to believe in him, there is substance he's "causing" us to believe on!
(God's word!)
God's glory and reputation is at stake in his promises as seen in his dealings with Israel in the OT.
Ezekiel 36:20-22
"And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Thank God for his grace and mercy and his unwavering word.
Blessings.
Hebrews 10:38-39 reads, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
BUT WE ARE NOT OF THEM WHO DRAW BACK UNTO PERDITION; BUT OF THEM THAT BELIEVE TO THE SAVING OF THE SOUL.
As for blind faith, the Lord never asks us for blind faith.
Faith is not a leap in the dark.
Faith rest on real knowledge, it is substance that we have faith in. "God's word!"
Faith originates from hearing the Word of God ( Romans 10:17
Hebrews 11:1reads "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The word evidence is the Greek word "elegchos" which is a legal term meaning "evidence that is accepted for conviction.
I believe God wants a foundation under our beliefs, which is provided through supernatural signs.
True faith rests upon God's trustworthy character and His revealed Word, not on a lack of understanding or evidence.
Abraham was given covenant promises.
One of those promises is seen in
Genesis 22:18 "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Abraham was given other verbal promises including a Davidic Kingdom and he was promised a Son from his own bowels. (Issac)
This miraculous birth was not by the will of Abraham but by knowledge of the verbal promise and Abraham believed.
We're also Children of promise. Galatians 4:28.
We can trust and rest on God's word.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have eternal life.
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.
John 3:14-16.
Running out of space.
See part 2
Many who feel saved are not!
C H Spurgeon.
Part 5
God asks for the trust of your heart, all obedience that pleases God flows from this first act of surrender.
Without this faith, all other works are merely dead works like those of the men in Matthew Chapter 7.
Jesus confirms this a few verses later in John chapter 6 verse 40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:
The will of the Father is not first and foremost a code of conduct, but a person in whom we must trust the true doing. The will of the Father begins with a broken heart that surrenders and believes in the son.
But is this faith merely an intellectual act?
Is it simply deciding to believe, as we have seen? No, this saving faith, which is the will of the Father, is itself a miracle and it is the origin of this faith that we will discuss next.
If the will of the Father is that we believe in the Son, does that mean that faith is then our great work, our final contribution to salvation? Here is where the gospel delivers the coup de grasse to human pride. The answer of the Bible is a sounding no saving faith, the faith that obeys is not a product of our unregenerated will. It is in itself a sovereign gift of God, a fruit of the miracle of regeneration.
As we have seen in previous sermons, the natural heart is dead in trespasses and sins and hostile to God and incapable of pleasing Him.
A dead man cannot decide to live, and a dead heart cannot produce saving faith.
Therefore, for us to believe, God Himself must first perform a miracle in us.
He must, by the power of His Holy Spirit, give us life, give us a new heart, resurrect us from our spiritual grave. And the first beat of that new heart, the first breath of that new life, is faith.
Jesus Christ, repentance and faith are not the cause of new life.
They are the first evidence that we have received new life.
See Part 6
Thank you for indulging me in my responses to your postings.
Part 5 is easy to understand. Faith is the evidence that the individual has received a new life. In association with that faith is that the individual begins the practice of repentance.
Since the Savior is the only one who can forgive sin, and he directs us to repent and ask forgiveness of the Father, then our most important relationship is with the Savior. Because no one comes to the Father but by Jesus Christ.
So we pray to the Father as directed by Jesus. And Jesus, having all authority given to him by the Father, has paid the price for sin. Thus, he takes upon himself our sins so that we are clean before the Father. There is no other way to the Father but by Jesus.
It is through this process of perfecting our lives in Christ that we are obedient to the Father. For without Christ, we are lost with no hope. But we do have hope in the loving embrace of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Just to elaborate a little further, To present us as a chased virginity means Christ has forever wiped the slate clean as far as justification goes by the atonement of his blood.
Blessings
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 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.
Then he goes on in verses 3-4 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."
So Amen KsK, There's no other way to the father but through the Son!
Many who feel saved are not!
C H Spurgeon.
Part 6
You cannot make yourself believe any more than a corpse can make itself breathe.
Saving faith is not the last effort of your old nature. It is the first breath of a new nature given to you by the Spirit of God.
Faith is a miracle from beginning to end, so that all glory belongs solely to God.
It is the unequivocal truth of Ephesians 2:8-9. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves. It is the gift of God, not by works so that no one may boast.
What is the gift? The whole package, salvation by grace through faith. Everything is a gift!
In Philippians chapter 1, Paul says that it is granted to you because of Christ, not only to believe in Him. Believing is something that is granted to us, a privilege given by grace.
This truth changes everything. It destroys our self-reliance and makes us depend entirely on God. And what is the result of this faith that is a gift from God? It produces a life that is different. It is about that life of obedience that we will speak of next.
If faith itself is a gift from God, a miracle of the Spirit, what kind of faith is this?
It is not the dead, intellectual and sterile faith of demons that we discussed.
The faith God gives as a gift is a living, active, and transforming faith. It is not a mere ascent of the mind. It is a new disposition of the heart that inevitably produces a new direction in life.
See Part 7
Many who feel saved are not!
C H Spurgeon.
Part 7
Now here is where we return in a perfect circle to the beginning of our argument.
Jesus said that only the one who does the will of my Father will enter the Kingdom. We have seen that the father's primary will is that we believe in the Son, and now we see the full picture.
The faith that is a gift from God, born of a new heart, is a faith that by its own new nature loves and obeys the Father.
Obedience is not an appendage that we add to faith to improve it.
It is the lifeblood running through the veins of a living faith.
It is not something we add to faith to complete it.
It is the evidence that our faith is real and not a counterfeit.
Spurgeon would use the analogy of the tree and its root.
Faith is the root of the Christian life, hidden underground, invisible to human eyes.
Obedience and good works are the visible fruit on the branches.
Spurgeon would say do not talk to me about the depth of your root if I cannot see any fruit on your branches.
Speaking of a living root that produces no fruit is a botanical and theological absurdity.
Faith that does not change your life has not saved your soul.
The faith God gives always, always produces the fruit of a transformed life that seeks to do the Father's will.
It is the practical of the apostle James in chapter 2 of his letter summarized with these immortal words. "Whereas the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also"
And it is Paul's definition in Galatians chapter 5 of the faith that truly matters. It is not faith that has perfect knowledge but faith working through love, saving faith, is a faith that works, that obeys, that loves.
We have then seen the complete anatomy of genuine salvation.
See Part 8
Many who feel saved are not!
C H Spurgeon.
Part 8
Now we will place the two paths, the two lives, side by side. For a final contrast.
We have now arrived at the final summary of the two paths. The two professions of faith, The two destinies.
On one side, the dead faith of those who say Lord, Lord, but do not do the will of the Father.
On the other, the living faith of those who by God's grace do the will of the Father.
Dead faith trusts in what one does for Christ.
Living faith trusts in what Christ has done.
The first is an intellectual act of man.
The second is a supernatural gift of God.
The 1st is a confession of the lips that coexists with a rebellious heart.
The second is a confession born of a regenerated heart that produces obedience.
The one with dead faith knows everything about Christ.
The one with living faith is known by Christ.
The former presents himself before God with his resume of many wonders.
The latter presents himself before God, clinging only to the righteousness of his Savior.
Spurgeon, following the conclusion of Jesus' own Sermon on the Mount, would illustrate it with the parable of the two foundations.
The man with dead faith is the foolish builder. He hears the words of Christ. He knows them, approves them, perhaps even preaches them, but he builds the House of his hope on the sand of his own works, his gifts, his profession of faith, and his feelings. It is a House of impressive appearance, but without a real foundation.
See Part 9 of 9.