“WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED...?”
Matt.
19:16-19
Can
we, though we may have accepted Christ as our atonement and savior,
willfully
continue in sin and disobedience, with the hope of eternal salvation
at the returning of Christ?
◆ “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 have done many wonderful
works?
And then will I profess unto them, I
never knew
you:
depart
from Me, ye
that work iniquity.”
Matt. 7:22,23
It
is to Christians
that this rebuke is given! They call Christ “Lord”, and
claim to have done many
good works
in His name; but one thing they were lacking – they were
workers
of iniquity!
And because of this, they were rejected
of Christ!
Christ says “many”
will share this same fate – even of those who profess Christ
as their Lord and Savior.
Iniquity,
by definition, is sin.
“Whosoever
commiteth sin transgresseth
also the law:
for sin is
the transgression
of the law.”
1Jn. 3:4
◆ “Behold,
all souls are mine; as the soul of the Father, so also the soul of
the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall
die…The
soul that sinneth,
it shall die.
The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the
father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the
righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall
be upon him. But if the wicked will turn
from all his sins
which he hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which
is lawful
and right, he shall surely live,
he shall not die. All
transgressions
that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his
righteousness that he hath done he shall live…But when the
righteous turneth
from his righteousness, and doeth
according to all the abominations
that the wicked
man
doeth,
shall he live? All
his righteousness that he hath done shall not
be mentioned:
in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in
his sin that he hath sinned,
in them
shall he die…Therefore
I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his
ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent,
and turn
yourselves from all
your transgressions;
so iniquity
shall not be your ruin.”
Ez. 18:20-22,24,30
✹
◆ “Now the just
shall live by faith: but if
any man drawback,
my soul
shall have no pleasure in him.
But we are not of them who drawback
unto perdition;
but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Heb.
10:38,39
Does
this verse suggest, even pathetically, that we are “Once
saved, always saved”? One that has drawn back from the faith,
draws back unto destruction (perdition), and no longer has any
inheritance in salvation! He that perseveres in the faith does so to
the saving of his soul.
◆ “Fear
none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil
shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye
shall have tribulation 10 days: be
thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Rev.2: 10
We
are to be faithful to Christ even,
if need be, unto death! Then
He will give us a crown of life.
Once
saved, always saved?
✹
◆ “Behold, I
come quickly; hold
fast that
which thou hast, that
no man take
thy crown.”
Rev. 3:11
Our
crowns, yours and mine, can be taken
from us!
And
what is this crown?
“Blessed
is the man that endureth
temptation:
for when he is tried, he shall receive the CROWN OF LIFE, which the
Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” James 1:12
The
inheritance of eternal life, which is given the sinner upon
conversion, can be taken back again – as the reward for the
persons own actions!
“And,
behold, I come quickly; and My
reward is with Me,
to give
every man according as
his work shall be.”
Rev. 22:12
And
notice also, it is by enduring
temptation,
that we retain our crowns!
◆ “I
have fought
a good fight,
I have
finished
my course (race),
I have
kept
the faith:
henceforth
(because of this) there is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and
not to me only, but unto all them that love His appearing.”
2Tim. 4:7,8
Paul
was not “once saved, always saved”; for he says he
fought
a good fight, he finished
the race, he kept
the faith; and because
of this,
he says, there is laid up for him eternal life.
Why
couldn’t Paul have lived a good life in the flesh, had “fun”,
and yielded unto temptation instead of fighting and resisting it, if
he already had a crown
of life
stored up for him from his conversion on the road to Damascus?
◆ “Ye
adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friendship
with the world is enmity
with God?
Whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world
is the enemy
of God.”
James 4:4
◆ “Wherefore,
beloved, seeing
that ye look for such things,
be
diligent
that ye may be found of Him in peace, without
spot, and blameless.”
2Pet. 3:14
Why
is this command to be diligent
in the faith
given, if those that have accepted Christ can never lose their
salvation?
Notice,
he doesn’t say “Be diligent so that you’re not
taken to heaven early”, as many claim will happen if we turn
from God and the path of righteousness; he says “Be diligent
so that you’re found
of Christ
without
spot”.
He
makes a direct reference to Christ’s return; stating that it
is even to this point in earth’s history that we are to be
found without
spot and blameless –
and we are to “be diligent” in the pursuit of this goal.
◆ “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.
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing
from the living God. For we are made partakers
with Christ,
if
we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;”
Heb. 3: 6,12,14
We
see here conditional
promises; we have a part that must
be fulfilled, if we are to be partakers of these promises!
“And
you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked
works,
yet now hath He (Christ) reconciled in the body of His flesh through
death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His
sight: if
ye continue
in the faith grounded and settled, and be
not moved
away from the hope
of the gospel,
which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which
is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister:” Col.
1:21-23
Again
we see a conditional
promise: We are reconciled
unto the Father through the blood of Christ if
we continue
in the faith, and the hope of the gospel.
So
what if one does not continue in these things? Once saved, always
saved?
◆ “I
know thy (the church
of Laodicea) works, that thou
art neither cold
nor hot:
I would
that thou wert cold or hot.
So then because
thou art lukewarm,
and neither
cold nor hot,
I will
spue thee out of My mouth.”
Rev. 3:15,16
It
is to a church,
unto Christians,
that this warning is given! These “Christians”, though
they have accepted Christ as their savior, Christ Himself will
reject them, and “vomit them out of His mouth” –
because they are lukewarm!
Once
saved, always saved?
◆ “And
turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them
with an overthrow, making
them an ensample
unto those that after should live
ungodly.”
2Pet. 2:6
The
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is to act as an example for those
in this world that live ungodly
– this applies both to the Christian and the unbeliever!
“And
if the if
the RIGHTEOUS SCARCELY
BE SAVED, where shall the ungodly
and the sinner
appear?”
1Pet. 4:18
Let
no man deceive you: the righteous are but scarcely saved;
henceforth, there is no place found for the ungodly – and
sinner!
“Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin
is the transgression of the law.”
1Jn. 3:4
◆ “And
the Lord
shall deliver
me from every evil
work, and
will preserve
me unto His heavenly kingdom:
to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2Tim. 4:18
If
we are “once saved, always saved”, then why would Paul
need to be delivered
from evil, and preserved
unto God’s kingdom? With this manner of doctrine, Christians
would never need to be delivered from, or preserved unto, anything,
for they could never lose what Paul had to be preserved to keep!
If
Paul, Paul,
had to be delivered
from evil, and preserved
unto the kingdom of our Father, how much more
do we, as Christians in this present world – which is so many
times more
wicked and perverse than Paul’s day, need the same!
◆ “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;”
1Tim. 4:1
How
could any “depart from the faith”, if we are, in fact,
“Once saved, always saved”?
“Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common
salvation,
it was needful
for me to write unto you, and exhort
you that
ye should earnestly
contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3
All
can, and many will, depart from the faith; and in this, God has not
forsaken them, but they have forsaken God!
“…if
thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if
thou
forsake Him,
He will
cast thee off forever.”
1Chor. 28:9
And
take careful note, when Jude wrote of the common
salvation,
it was needful
for him to exhort us to contend
for the faith
– for these go hand-in-hand.
✹ ◆
“ 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, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of
the world to come, 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.” Heb. 6:4-6
Those
that claim the sinner once forgiven is forgiven forever, and can
never lose God’s gift of eternal life, do so against the
scriptures, and lead men into a doctrine of fables!
For it is
not possible, for those that have forsaken
the faith, to be brought again unto repentance, forgiveness, and
eternal inheritance!
“When
I shall
say to the righteous,
that he
shall surely
live; if
he trust to his own righteousness, and commit
iniquity,
all his
righteousness shall not be remembered;
but for
his iniquity that he hath committed, he
shall die for it.”
Ez. 33:13
Take
careful note that eternal life was granted unto him (“..he
shall surely live..”); and yet, he did not continue
in righteousness, but forsook it, and committed iniquity. For this,
the eternal life that was offered him, was made unavailable –
he rejected this life by his own sinfulness!
This
denies any hope for those that claim Christ their righteousness, and
yet continue in sin!
What
must I do to be saved?
◆ “And
being made perfect, He (Christ) became the
author of eternal salvation
unto all
them that obey
Him;”
Heb. 5:9
Salvation
is presented as a conditional
promise in this verse: it is on the condition of obedience
that salvation is granted. This is not to be confused with a
teaching that you need to keep God’s Ten Commandments to be
saved – for that is false. We’re told in Acts 17:30,
referring to the lawlessness by idolatry
of the people of Athens: “And the
times of this ignorance
God winked
at (overlooked);
but now commandeth all
men everywhere to repent:”
Our heavenly Father overlooks punishment on those who sin in
ignorance,
and so if
there was one who has accepted Christ as his Savior, and believed on
His name, but yet was ignorant
of the requirements of God’s law, he would still receive
eternal life at the coming of Christ. The condition that is to be
met is obedience
– on whatever level of understanding it may be found. But when
light is shed where there was darkness, and the requirements made
known, there is then no excuse – judgment
is passed, and justice
enacted.
“For
if we sin
willfully
after
that we have received
the knowledge of the truth,
there remaineth no
more
sacrifice for sins, but
a certain fearful looking for of judgment
and fiery
indignation,
which shall devour the adversaries…it
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Heb. 10:26,26,31
The
word “adversaries”, in this verse, means: “One
that is contrary
to;
that is, opposed
(Strong’s concordance.).
◆ “And,
behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing
shall I
do, that
I may have eternal
life? And
He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? There is none good but
one, that is, God: but if
thou wilt enter into life, keep
the commandments.
He saith unto Him, Which? Jesus said, Thou
shalt do no murder,
thou shalt
not commit adultery,
thou shalt
not steal,
thou shalt
not bear false witness,
honor thy
father and thy mother:
and, thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Matt. 19:16-19
Christ’s
instructions to enter into salvation were to keep
God’s Ten Commandments!
Many bring in the argument that since Christ did not mention all
of the ten, we only need to be obedient unto the ones He did
mention – this is a desperate attempt to avoid the truth, and
hide the light. Christ spoke of these persons: “And this is
the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness
rather
than light, because
their deeds were evil.
For every
one that doeth
evil
hateth
the light,
neither cometh to the light, lest
his deeds should be reproved.”
John
3:19,20
This
is an attempt made by those whose deeds are evil, and who hate the
light, to hide the truth from others – so that their own
wickedness will be seen, from the hiding of the truth, as something
righteous.
To
accept this teaching would be to consent to a religion where we
could freely and willfully worship other gods, bow before, and
worship, idols, and curse and blaspheme the name of God; and these
deeds would then be deemed good and righteous – for these
commandments are not referred to in this passage by Christ either.
No; instead, rather than naming the specific commands that are
required of us, Christ is referring to the specific law
we are
required to obey, by referring to various precepts within it. It is
to the royal law of Ten Commandments which Christ bears reference;
proclaiming obedience
to this law, the qualification for the receiving of salvation
(providing this light has been revealed).
Keeping
holy the seventh day of the week – the Sabbath – is the
fourth precept in this law!
◆
“And hereby
we do know that we know Him, if
we keep His commandments.
He that saith, “I know Him”, and keepeth
not
His commandments,
is a liar,
and the truth is not in him.”
1Jn. 2:3,4
◆ “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.” Jn. 14:21
◆ “Know
ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his
servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin
unto death,
or of obedience
unto righteousness?”
Rom. 6:16
You
cannot get any clearer than that! Sin leads unto death. Obedience
leads unto righteousness. We reap what we sow; those that perform
the work, will
reap the reward!
“And,
behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to
give every man according
as his work shall be.”
Rev. 22:12
✹
◆ “I wrote
unto you in an epistle not
to keep
company with fornicators:
Yet not
altogether with the
fornicators of this world,
or with covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must
ye needs go out of the world.
But now I
have written unto you not
to keep company, if any
man that is called
a brother
be a fornicator,
or covetous,
or an idolater,
or a railer,
or a drunkard,
or an extortioner;
with such an one no not to eat.” 1Cor. 5:11
Here
we are told that we can keep company, to a limited extant, with
sinners which
are of the world,
for if we couldn’t, we would have to “go out of the
world”; but in contrast, we are not even to eat
with one that has accepted Christ as their savior (“called a
brother”) if he is a willful sinner!
Why
then, do some consider those that do such things righteous, and
Godly, and possessing the hope of eternal life at Christ’s
return?
By
this, we know that they who do such things are false
brethren, though they claim Christ their savior, and have no
inheritance in the kingdom of our Father; for if we,
whose righteousness is but filthy rags, cannot so much as eat with
such a one, how do you suppose that such a brother could live for
eternity in
the presence of the Almighty, Whose righteousness and purity
propagates inapproachable light?
And
would you so much as dare to propose, that our heavenly Father would
bring to heaven early
such a one as that, which is represented as being worse than even an
unbeliever?
“Ye
cannot
drink the cup
of the Lord,
and
the cup of
devils:
ye cannot be partakers
of the Lord’s
table,
and
of the
table of devils.”
1Cor. 10:21
There
is no fence walking! If you are on the Lord’s side, then do
the works of our Father (righteousness: 1Jn. 3:7-10); but, if you
are on the side of the devil, then fulfill the lusts of your father
the devil (Jn. 8:34-36, 44).
◆ “He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; he
that overcometh
shall not be hurt of the second
death.”
Rev. 3:11
Only
he who overcomes
is saved
from the second death!
So
then what happens to those that do not overcome?
Once
saved always saved?
◆ “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. Let
no man deceive
you with
vain
words:
for BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS cometh
the wrath of God
upon the children of disobedience.”
Eph. 5:5,6
Fornication,
Spiritual
uncleanness,
and Covetousness
(which is Idolatry):
let no man deceive you, for BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS the wrath
of God
comes on the children
of disobedience.
◆ “He
that overcometh
shall inherit all
things; and I will be his God, and he
shall be My son.”
Rev. 21:7
In
overcoming,
we are made the children of God.
Consider
now one of the many things Christ has given us:
“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:” Jn. 1:12
It
is in overcoming that we are made the children of God, and this is
what Christ has given us the power to become – so He has given
us the power to overcome, because we need to overcome to become
God’s children.
Why
would Christ give us the power
to overcome,
if we don’t have to overcome anything?
“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”. Rev. 3:5
◆ “If
we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk
in darkness,
we lie,
and do not the truth.” 1Jn. 1:6
The
“darkness” to which this verse is speaking, is not
unbelief in Christ, for he says those who have fellowship with God
can
walk in darkness. The darkness of which this verse is speaking is
the wickedness of this world – sin
is the darkness this verse speaks of, and those that claim
fellowship with Christ, are but lying, if they are living in willful
sin!
“My
little children, these things write I unto you, that ye
sin
not.
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the Righteous.” 1Jn. 2:1
✹
◆ “And the
world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he
that doeth
the will of God
abideth
forever.”
1Jn. 2:17
All
that is of this world – the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of
the eyes, and the pride of life (1Jn. 2:16) – will pass away;
only
he who does the will of our Father has eternal life (“abides
forever”)!
He
that does not the will of the Father will
pass away!
“ Not
everyone
that sayeth unto Me, “Lord,
Lord”,
shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven;
but he
that doeth
the will of My Father
which is in heaven.”
Matt. 7:21
Take
note that these are “Christians” to whom Christ is
denying eternal life! They call Christ “Lord” showing
that they have received Him as such; and yet what is said unto these
that have not performed the will
of the Father?
v.
23 – “…DEPART
FROM Me, ye that work
iniquity.”
(!)
Once
saved, always saved?
◆ “For
ye have need of patience, that, after
ye have done the will
of God,
ye might receive
the promise.”
Heb. 10:36
And
what is the promise?
“And
this is the promise
that He hath promised us, even eternal
life.”
1Jn. 2:25
The
promise of eternal life is given unto them that perform the will of
our Father; those that take no part in the will of God, take no part
in the promise of God; even if they claim to have Christ as their
savior!
◆ “He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; to
him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the tree of life,
which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Rev. 2:7
In
this we see that those who claim Christ their savior can
lose their inheritance in His kingdom – for the right to eat
of the tree of life is given solely unto those that have overcome!
"Him
that overcometh
will I
make a pillar in the temple of My God,
and he shall go no more out: and I
will write upon him the name of My God,
and the
name of the city of My God,
which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God:
and I will
write upon Him My new name.”
Rev. 3:12
◆ “Confirming
the souls of the disciples,
and exhorting
them to continue in the faith,
and that we must
through
much tribulation
enter into the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14:22
It
is by much tribulation and hardship, through overcoming and keeping
unspotted
from the
wickedness of this world, that
we enter into life
– for the enemy of our souls, who has control of this world,
will try anything and everything to separate us from our Father,
Christ, eternal life, and Their kingdom!
“Be
sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking
whom he may devour:”
1Pet. 5:8
“Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit
the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep himself unspotted
from the world.”
Jam. 1:27
✹ ◆
“If ye know that He
is righteous, ye know that every
one that doeth
righteousness
is born of Him.”
1Jn. 2:29
Let
no man deceive you: those that do
righteousness
are those that are born of God!
And
those that perform unrighteousness
are, instead, born of the devil!
“In
this the
children
of God are
manifest, and the
children of the devil:
whosoever
doeth not
righteousness is not
of God,
neither he that loveth not his brother.” 1Jn. 3:10
Note
carefully, the topic of these verses is works;
and it is by
our works
that we are either adopted, or disowned!
“They
profess
that they know God;
but in works
they deny
Him,
being abominable,
and disobedient,
and unto every good
work
reprobate (worthless).”
Titus 1:16
“Every
tree that bringeth
not
forth good
fruit
is hewn down, and cast
into the fire.
Wherefore by
their fruits
ye shall know them.” Matt. 7:19,20
✹ ◆
“Whosoever abideth
in Him
sinneth
not:
whosoever
sinneth
hath
not seen Him,
neither
known Him.”
1Jn. 3:6
Does
anyone remember what sin is? We found out earlier – here it
is:
“Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth
also the
law:
for sin
is the transgression
of the law.”
1Jn.3:4
Those
who transgress the Ten Commandments, have not seen, nor known our
heavenly Father – regardless of the fact of them having
accepted Christ as their savior or not.
“What
then? Shall we sin
because we are not under the law, but under grace? God
forbid.”
Rom. 6:15
◆ “Little
children, let
no man deceive you:
he that DOETH righteousness
is righteous, even
as He (Christ) is righteous. HE THAT COMMITTETH SIN IS OF THE DEVIL;
for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son
of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the
devil.” 1Jn. 3:7,8
Let
me now propose a question: Is one that is of
the devil
going to be found in the kingdom of our God and His Christ?
Let
no man deceive you: he that does
righteousness is
righteous.
◆ “Whosoever
hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no
murderer hath eternal
life abiding
in him.” 1Jn. 3:15
According
to this verse, if I accept Christ as my savior, and then
become a literal murderer, or a figurative murderer through hate,
will I receive salvation at the return of Christ?
“…no
murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
Once
saved always saved?
◆ “We
know that whosoever
is born
of God sinneth
not;
but he that is begotten of God keepeth
himself,
and that
wicked one toucheth him not.”
1Jn. 5:18
◆ “Nevertheless
the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord
knoweth them that are His. And, let
everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart
from iniquity.”
2Tim. 2:19
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“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. For
without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers,
and murderers,
and idolaters,
and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
Rev. 22:14,15
Those
that have the right to eat of the tree of life, and to enter into
the kingdom of Christ and the Father, are those that keep Their
commandments!
“For this
is the love of God, that we
keep His commandments…”
In
the keeping of our heavenly Father’s commandments, our love
for Him is revealed; and yet many want to claim that “we can
never keep God’s commandments”; upon this thought, we
will finish the verse:
“…and
His
commandments are not grievous.”
1Jn. 5:3
To
them that have a pure, true, honest
love for God, rather than being a lover of pleasure (1Tim. 3:4), the
keeping of His commandments are not to be found as something
burdensome, or grievous – for it is a delight to their soul to
please the One Whom they love more than any and all.
Christ
says:
“If
ye love Me, keep
My commandments.”
Jn. 14:15
We
must remember that there are two
sets of laws found in the scriptures.
The
distinction of the two is found, among other places, in James
2:10,11: “For whosoever shall keep the whole
law
(notice he says “whole”
law), and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
For he that said, “Do not commit adultery”, said also,
“Do not kill”. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if
thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the
law.”
Notice
now how he says “whoever keeps the whole
law”, and yet he refers only to the precepts found in the Ten
Commandments; stating that he who breaks these is “become a
transgressor of the
law.”
In this verse the writer has made note of two separate and distinct
laws: He speaks only of the Ten Commandments, and yet declares these
“the whole
law”; even though there is mention made of the ceremonial
law
throughout the previous book (Hebrews).
The
Ten Commandments comprise the whole
moral law;
while the sacrifices and offerings, types and ceremonies, of the
ceremonial
law
comprise all
of it.
The
one law, the ceremonial
law,
was given solely
unto the Jews
for a representation of Christ, His Sacrifice and priestly work. By
performing this law, the people of Israel were pronouncing their
faith in the coming Messiah, and by this, they were saved by faith
in His blood. This
is the law which Christ our Savior nailed to the cross! This
is the law which He has abolished – the one that represented
what He had just fulfilled! We’re not saved by the sacrificing
of spotless lambs, for those sacrifices represented Christ, and He
has come! He is our sacrifice, and by His blood which He shed we
have salvation in Him. To follow this law in obedience would be a
denial of
His sacrifice; and would be a sure work in the refusal of the
offering of salvation.
The
other law, which is the moral
(or,
royal) law,
is the Ten Commandments. This is the law Christ was referring to in
Matt. 5:17-19 when He stated “Think not that I am come to
destroy the
law, or
the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” This
word “fulfill” in the Greek means – “To
fully
preach”
(Strong’s Concordance of the Bible, Greek section, #4137).
This translation of this word is upheld by Christ’s words
following: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass
from
the law,
till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break
one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom
of heaven: but whosoever shall do
and teach
them, the same shall be called great
in the kingdom of heaven.” And reflecting on what Christ
continues in saying (verses 21-28), we see that He is in fact “Fully
preaching” this law!
1John
3:4 tells us: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the
law: for sin
is the transgression
of the
law.”
And in 1John 3:8 this startling window on the character of Satan is
given: “He that committeth
sin
is of the devil;
for the
devil sinneth from the beginning.
For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He
might destroy the works of the devil.”
The first point I want to address regarding this passage, is that
1John 3:4, which we have read, says that sin
is the breaking
of the Ten
Commandments
(We know that this verse is in reference to the moral law because
this was written after
Christ died, so it would not be proclaimed a sin to break a law that
Christ Himself had abolished.), and 1John 3:8, which we have just
read, tells us that Satan has sinned from the beginning. Since sin
is the breaking of God’s law, it is by necessity that this law
would have to exist from the beginning – since Satan has been
sinning since then.
“(For
until the law sin was in the world: but sin
is not
imputed when there is no
law.”
Rom. 5:13
“Because
the law worketh wrath: for where
no
law
is, there is no
transgression.”
Rom. 4:15
And
so in this we see another distinction of the two laws. The moral law
has existed from the beginning, and as such has been the governing
standard by which all
in the Father’s creation have been subject to; while the
ceremonial law was instituted on the grounds of transgression
of the moral law,
for the purpose of redemption for those living before
the time of Christ’s crucifixion.
“Wherefore
then serveth the
law? It
was added
because of transgressions,
till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was
ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” Gal. 3:19
Which
law is this verse referring to? The ceremonial law! Again we see the
distinction of the two: the ceremonial law is referred to as “the
law”, and not “part of”; stating that it was added
because of
transgression.
But if you remember, there is no transgression, when there is no
law: in this again we see that the moral
law
existed
before the ceremonial,
and it was on the grounds of transgression of this law, that the
ceremonial was added.
Praise
our Father for His mercy and patience towards us, for the human race
has, by means of Satan’s control of this world, fallen short
of the heavenly precepts both of morality and of Spirituality.
The
second point to be addressed from 1John 3:8, is that for
the purpose of destroying the works of the devil,
Christ shed His precious blood. And what are the works of the devil?
1John 3:8 gave us an insight: “…the devil sinneth…”,
but the answer is found in John 8:
v.
39 – “They answered and said unto Him, Abraham is our
Father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children,
ye would do the works
of Abraham.”
v.
41 – “Ye do the deeds
of your father…”
v.
44 – “Ye are of your father the devil…,”
Christ
is speaking of their works,
and He said in v. 41 that the Pharisees did the deeds (works) of
their father (which is Satan, as is told us in v. 44); so let’s
see now what works…back to verse 44:
“…and
the lusts
of your father ye will do (A “lust” is to desire to
commit a transgression of God’s law – sin. It is a
desire to sin.). He
was a murderer
from the beginning (which means he was a transgressor of God’s
law – a sinner – from the beginning), and abode not in
the truth, because there is no truth in him (Again we see evidence
of sin
being his works – lying; which is a transgression of the 9th
commandment). When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he
is a liar,
and the father of it.”
All–in–all
we see sin
as being the works
of Satan;
and as we saw earlier “…For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that He
might destroy
the works
of the devil.”
Christ
was manifested unto us in order that He might destroy
sin –
the works of the devil. He was not
manifested unto us in order that we
might continue
in
sin.
Out
of the love for the things of this world, and in the love of
pleasure more
than the
love of God, men declare that God’s law – which has
existed from the beginning – is no longer binding upon us, and
has no bearing in the Christians life; but at this time of
desperation for the sinful nature, the ramifications of this
theology are not seen. What does this mean in its fullest sense? How
broad is its scope?
▶ Can
I have intimate relations with one woman or many, in marriage or
out, and still be pure and clean before our heavenly Father while
involved in this? Is this
what Christ shed His precious, spotless, sinless,
blood for? That sin may reign supreme in the hearts and deeds of
Christ’s “followers”? For that is the sure result,
when God’s restraints – indeed, freedoms
– of the base nature of man are removed (I say “freedoms”
because to be separated
from the
lusts, and resulting actions, of mans lower nature, is to be made
free
from them! “If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36).
▶ Instead
of worshipping only
the one true God, as directed so by the commandment, can I freely
worship as many gods as I wish, bow down to and worship any idol my
desperately wicked heart (Jer. 9:17) would desire, because Christ
has freed us from the “burdens” of the Ten Commandments?
Would this be pure
and undefiled
religion before God? Is that
what Christ died to bring us?
▶ Can
I freely and willfully murder any
I choose, and with the same hand, go and lay it on one for prayer
expecting the Father to work a healing or deliverance by His Spirit
through me? Is that
the gift we have been given?
▶ Can
I deliberately and purposefully dishonor and disobey my parents, and
still be as pleasing before our perfect heavenly Father as Christ
was? Was it for this
purpose that Christ gave His life?
▶ Can
I, at the unbridled and flighty whims of my heart, steal any and
every thing I would covet after, even from one who would place his
trust in me and consider me his friend? Is this the fruits of God’s
Spirit in this new covenant?
▶ Can
I, as my wicked heart would deem appropriate, tell any and all lies
and deceits to my fellow man, all for the advancement of my own
dishonest, selfish ends? And in the same breath, shower heaven with
praises and spiritual songs, and actually be glorifying our Father
in this? Could this freedom for
wickedness possibly be what required the death of the only begotten
Son of the Most High God?
▶ Could
I curse the name of our God and His Christ, speaking lightly or
dishonorably of the name by which men are saved, the sick are healed
and the dead are raised to life? Treating that as something common
or a thing to curse by, and receive the blessings of heaven from the
one who’s name I have blasphemed? Has the freedom to do this
required the death of the Son of God?
It
is in the recognition of this folly that we see the error of this
teaching. Only in the grossest depths of apostasy
would one declare these as legitimate rights which the “Christian”
possesses through the spotless, perfect blood of the lamb! The true
Christian, whatever his/her stand on the law of God would be, would
never
claim these laws mentioned as being abolished, and we being free to
transgress them at our every impulse.
“Here
is the patients of the saints:
here are they
that keep
the commandments
of God,
AND
the faith of Jesus.”
Rev.14:12
But
we still have one which has yet gone unmentioned…
“Remember
the Sabbath
day, to
keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But
the seventh
day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any
work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy
gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and
all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the
LORD blessed
the Sabbath,
and hallowed it.” Ex. 20:8-11
Can
we, while still being honest with ourselves and with God, claim the
fourth precept of our Father’s law as having been abolished,
while the other 9, contained in the same law, would still be
binding, and applicable in their fullest sense?
“If
ye fulfill the royal
law
according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself
(Which constitutes the keeping of the last
6 commandments
– our dealings with our fellow man), ye
do well…For
whosoever shall keep
the whole law,
and yet
offend
in one
point,
he is guilty
of all.
For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also do not kill. Now
if thou commit no
adultery,
yet if
thou kill,
thou art
become a transgressor
of the law.
So speak ye, and so do, as
they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”
James 2:8,10-12
To
keep only part
of the Ten Commandments, or only the ones that suit you, is not only
hypocrisy, but makes you just as guilty as those that willingly
break all
of them; those that do such will be judged according
to this law
as sinners – performing the works of iniquity.
“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?
And
then will I profess unto them: I
never knew you: depart
from Me, ye
that work iniquity.”
Matt. 7:22,23
“For
the
wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Rom. 6:23
To
reemphasize the binding claims of the fourth commandment, consider
the following:
“There
remaineth
therefore a rest
to the people
of God.”
Heb. 4:9
The
Greek word “rest” used here is the same word, but of
Hebrew origin, as was used in the commandment “Remember the
SABBATH…”
(!); both words have the same root meaning: “A day
of weekly
repose from secular avocations.”
(Strong’s concordance of the Bible)
And
so there remains
therefore, along with the other nine, a “…Sabbath
to the
people of God.” Heb. 4:9!
As
mentioned earlier, the ceremonial law pointed perfectly
to Christ and His sacrifice; for the purpose that those, who living
before the time of this fulfillment, by performing this typical
ceremony, could receive remission of sins, and be partakers of the
gift of salvation. Interesting enough is the fact that, since the
ceremonial law represented what Christ was going to do when He would
be manifested, if He was in fact, despite all we have seen here,
going to abolish the moral law of Ten Commandments, why was there
not any
relation to that in the ceremonial law? It showed all
of Christ’s work; both of His earthly ministry, and of His
heavenly priesthood. Yet there is not to be found a single
reference to lawlessness being a part of pure religion before God,
or of God’s Ten Commandments being abolished! All that is
found there is complete
forgiveness, through the blood of the Lamb of God, of our past
transgression of God’s Ten Commandments.
“Whom
God hath sent 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.” Rom.3:25
In closing:
“But
Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in
the sight of God to hearken
unto you more
than God,
judge ye.” Acts 4:19
“Then
Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey
God
rather
than men.” Acts 5:29
Judge
among yourselves, shall we follow after the teachings of man, or of
God?
“But
there were false
prophets also among the people, even as there
shall be false
teachers
among you,
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord
that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction…For
when they
speak great swelling words of vanity,
they allure
through the lusts of the flesh,
through much wantoness, those that were clean escaped from them who
live in error. 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
(“Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whosoever
committeth sin is
the servant of sin.”
Jn. 8:34). For if after
they have escaped the pollutions
of the world (Polluting what? Righteousness!) through
the knowledge of the Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter
end of
them is worse
than the beginning. 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.
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.” 2Pet. 2:18-22
To
place our belief, salvation, and our relationship with God, in the
wisdom of
man is
not
safe!
“And
I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on mount Sion, and with Him an
hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name
written in their foreheads…These
are they which follow
the Lamb
whithersoever He goeth. These
were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to
the Lamb.”
Rev. 14:1,4b
Let
us therefore follow what our Lord and Savior says above
any other authority!
“Therefore
to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth
it not,
to him it is sin.”
James 4:17
Consult
the scriptures for yourself, to find out whether these things are
so; there are many more verses which testify of these things then
have been shown here.
Amen
and Amen.
“Here
is the patience of the saints: here are they
that keep the commandments
of God,
and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12
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P O Box 3204
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