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Are WORKS REQUIRED to Receive ETERNAL LIFE?
That depends on how a Christian INTERPRETS the Scriptures.
Yes, it was God’s grace alone that PROVIDED salvation to every single human being.
And yes, it is God’s WILL that all men be saved. But God has an ENEMY who is BLINDING the eyes of many people in the world to the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Please read 2 Corinthians 4:3,4.
“ But if OUR gospel is hidden, it is hidden to them that are lost: (This is the Apostle Paul speaking and the “OUR Gospel” that is hidden to some people is in ONE TRUE Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You see, the Apostles of Jesus Christ were fighting against FALSE gospels.
And one of those false gospels was the Judaizing Christians who were subverting other Christians to keep the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES in order to be saved.
Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear can see this defending the TRUE faith throughout the New Testament from the Book of Acts to the Book of Revelation.
And Paul calls those to whom the TRUE Gospel is hidden as being LOST)
2 Corinthians 4:4. In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
General Christianity has several “gospels” being preached depending on what each particular church denomination teaches.
Some church denominations are what is known as “Grace ALONE” Christian churches.
But when I read the Bible I do not find ANY verses of Scripture that have the words “grace ALONE” in the same verse.
Do your own word search in a Bible concordance to see if you can find the two words “grace alone” in any verse of Scripture in the Bible.
There is no such verse in the Bible that says we are saved by grace ALONE.
In fact, do a word search with the two words “saved and grace” in the New Testament and you will only find four verses in the King James Bible that have those two words in the same verse of Scripture. Here are those four verses.
Acts 15:11.
“But we (Speaking of the very Apostles of Jesus Christ who are saying we) believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we SHALL be saved, even as they.”
Ephesians 2:5.
“Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you ARE saved;)”
Ephesians 2:8.
“For by grace ARE you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
2 Timothy 1:9.
“Who HAS saved us, AND CALLED us with a holy calling, not according to OUR works, but according to HIS own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”
I want all my grace alone Christians to think about this fact that there are only FOUR verses in the entire Bible that have the two words “saved” and “grace” in the same verse of Scripture and no verse in the entire Bible has the two words “grace ALONE” in them.
So HOW can entire church denominations preach a gospel of “GRACE ALONE”?
Could it be that the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ is being HIDDEN from them by Satan who has BLINDED their MINDS to the TRUTH?
Well, let us find out from the word of God.
The MAIN passage of Scripture that the grace alone Christians ALWAYS fall back upon is Ephesians 2:8-9. BUT most of them conveniently leave out verse 10.
Some quote verse 10 but rarely have I ever heard them EXPLAIN verse 10.
So to me, that raises a “red flag” so to speak. I mean WHY do they avoid verse 10?
Let us read Ephesians 2:8-10.
“For by GRACE are you SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that (Speaking of ALL three things, grace, having faith, and being saved are) NOT of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God:
Ephesians 2:9. NOT of WORKS, lest any man should BOAST.
Ephesians 2:10. For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God has before ORDAINED that we should walk in them.”
So right off the bat so to speak, we can see the REASON of WHY God chose to save us by His grace through His faith that He has dealt to EVERY person to GIVE us His GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS and NOT by our OWN WORKS.
And the reason is BOASTING. But the question becomes WHAT WORKS is the Apostle Paul referring to that there is BOASTING?
Now, I am sure that every Christians has their own opinion of what the word “WORKS” means but our opinions could be wrong.
So let us make sure WHAT WORKS Paul himself is referring to that men are BOASTING that saves people.
Let us allow Scripture to interpret Scripture by reading a greater CONTEXT of the famous “Grace ALONE” Ephesians 2:8,9 passage of Scripture.
First, let us back up to chapter 1 so you can see the WILL of Almighty God the Father and that Paul is speaking to NEW Gentile Christians who have now been included among the ALL Jewish churches.
Please read Ephesians 1:3-7.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Paul is talking to the new Gentile Christians that are now INCLUDED among the all Jewish church before God turned to the Gentiles)
Ephesians 1:4. According as He has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we (Speaking of BOTH the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians) should be holy and without blame before Him in love:
Ephesians 1:5. Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (In other words, God’s WILL is to first SAVE us and then for us to walk in love, to be holy, and to be without blame in this present world before Him and His Son Jesus)
Ephesians 1:6. To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us ACCEPTED in the beloved.
Ephesians 1:7. In whom we have REDEMPTION through his blood, the FORGIVENESS of sins, according to the riches of His grace;”
So then, the context of Ephesians 2:8,9 is that God chose SALVATION to be in His Son Jesus before the foundation of the world.
And that, so great a salvation, STARTS with ACCEPTANCE by us receiving REDEMPTION, that has been provided through the atonement of the shed blood of Jesus.
And that redemption is the FORGIVENESS of sins. Not just all our past sins but also any sin in the future after we first believed.
In other words, under the Old Covenant, the children of Israel had to offer their OWN WORKS of sacrifices every year to receive forgiveness of their sins wherein there was BOASTING by comparing themselves with other men.
But under the New COVENANT, the Sacrifice has already been made so all we need to do is to repent and confess any future sin we might commit.
There is no more boasting that OUR sacrifice is BETTER than another man’s sacrifice.
Let's move down to some more context.
Please read Ephesians 1:11-14.
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will:
Ephesians 1:12. That we should be to the praise of His glory, who FIRST trusted in Christ. (This is speaking of the all Jewish Church who FIRST trusted in the true Gospel of Jesus Christ before God turned to the Gentiles with the Gospel of salvation)
Ephesians 1:13. In whom YOU ALSO trusted, AFTER that you HEARD the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: (This is speaking of the Gentiles who heard the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and ALSO trusted in the word to truth to receive the REDEMPTION, the FORGIVENESS of all their past sins to be ACCEPTED of God through the shed blood of Jesus) In whom also AFTER that you BELIEVED, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, (Or you were MARKED as now being OWNED by God who purchased you with the blood of his own Son, Jesus the Christ.
In other words, every born-again Christians receive a portion of God’s Holy Spirit who comes and dwells in us to empower us to do the WILL of Almighty God the Father)
Ephesians 1:14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance UNTIL the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Now, wait a minute, UNTIL the redemption? Were we not REDEEMED when we FIRST BELIEVED?
Yes, we were forgiven of all our PAST sin to be RECONCILED to God, but that was only the START of our BEING saved through SANCTIFICATION which is a life long process UNTIL our actual RECEIVING the END of our faith which is the salvation of our SOULS at the coming of Jesus.
Please read 1 Peter 1:3-9.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively HOPE by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, (if so be that you ENDURE unto the END to be SAVED)
1 Peter 1:5. Who are KEPT by the power of God through FAITH UNTO salvation ready to be revealed in the LAST TIME.
1 Peter 1:6. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1 Peter 1:7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 1:8. Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, (And not having believed once in the past but rather CONTINUING to BELIEVE) you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (To ENDURE unto the END to be saved)
1 Peter 1:9. Receiving the END of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
Receiving the END of our faith is CONDITIONAL on us being KEPT by the POWER of God.
So let us learn the TRUE meaning of the POWER of God that KEEPS us in the true WAY of receiving eternal life in the world to come.
Please read Romans 1:16.17.
“For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL of Christ: for it (Speaking of the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ) is the POWER of God UNTO salvation (Speaking of the ETERNAL LIFE that we RECEIVE at the COMING of Jesus) to everyone that BELIEVES; (UNTO the END to actually RECEIVE the SALVATION of you SOUL) to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:17. For THEREIN (Speaking of the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
It takes faith to resist Satan unto the END of each and every temptation to not give in and sin, but rather, to overcome and walk in RIGHTEOUSNESS going from FAITH to FAITH.
The TRUE Gospel is NOT believing one time and claiming that you are eternally saved and you can never lose your salvation.
The TRUE Gospel us Jesus Christ is ENDURING unto the END to our actual RECEIVING the salvation of our souls.
Jesus said that the love of MANY will grow COLD. But he of you who have received REDEMPTION, the FORGIVENESS of all your PAST sins who ENDURE unto the END the SAME will be SAVED.
Jesus said THIS GOSPEL will be preached in all the world, and NOT the gospel of once saved always saved, that you can never lose your salvation.
Please read Matthew 24:11-14.
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall DECEIVE MANY.
Matthew 24:12. And because iniquity (Or because sin) shall abound, the LOVE of MANY shall wax COLD. (Keep in mind that Jesus is speaking PRIVATELY to his disciples.
So Jesus is talking to FOLLOWERS of him who start out walking in LOVE but because of SIN all around them many true born-again followers of Jesus grow COLD and leave their FIRST LOVE to turn back to living in sin)
Matthew 24:13. But he (Of YOU who BELIEVE) that shall ENDURE unto the END, the SAME shall be saved.
Matthew 24:14. And THIS GOSPEL the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Let us get back to the CONTEXT of Ephesians 2:8,9. We have already learned that Paul is talking to BOTH the Jewish Christians AND to the Gentile Christians.
But what you may not yet be aware of is that some of the gentile Christians are being COMPELLED by Judaizing Christians to KEEP the Law of Moses to be saved.
And Paul is REMINDING them that they are not saved by their own WORKS of keeping the Law of Moses CONTAINED in ORDINANCES.
So as you read the context that follows Ephesians 2:8,9 pay close attention to the COMPARISON between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians.
Please read Ephesians 2:10-15.
“For we are His workmanship, created in (Or BEING created in) Christ Jesus unto good WORKS, which God has before ORDAINED that we should walk in them. (So, obviously, the WORKS in verse 9 is NOT speaking of GOOD WORKS of righteousness that God ORDAINED us to walk in.
So then, WHAT WORKS is Paul referring to in verse 9 that cause BOASTING?
Keep reading, the answer is in verse 15, the WORKS of keeping the Law of Moses CONTAINED in ORDINANCES)
Ephesians 2:11. Wherefore, (Or for this reason of being made ACCEPTED to Yahweh by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus to receive REDEMPTION, the FORGIVENESS of all your PAST sins and NOT by the WORKS of the Law of Moses to offer your own animal sacrifices like the unsaved Jews or the Circumcision) remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; (REMEMBER)
Ephesians 2:12. That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Ephesians 2:13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (And NOT by the WORKS of offering animal sacrifices like the unsaved Jews that are trying to SUBVERT you to EARN your salvation by the WORKS of the Law of Moses CONTAINED in ORDINANCES)
Ephesians 2:14. For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Ephesians 2:15. Having ABOLISHED in his flesh the ENMITY, EVEN the LAW of commandments CONTAINED in ORDINANCES; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”
Now let us go back and read Ephesians 2:8-10 with this understanding that the WORKS in verse 9 is the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES which included the animal sacrifices under the Old Covenant.
My own paraphrase version of Ephesian 2:8-10.
“For BY GRACE are you SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that (Speaking of ALL three things, grace, having faith, and being saved are) NOT of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God:
Ephesians 2:9. NOT of KEEPING the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES that was abolished and nailed to the cross by Jesus, lest any man should BOAST.
Ephesians 2:10. For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God has before ORDAINED that we should walk in them.”
There is no BOASTING in doing what God has ORDAINED us to do.
But there is BOASTING in ADDING the WORKS that were ABOLISHED and NAILED to the cross and taken OUT of the WAY to try to be more PLEASING to God who has already GIVEN you His RIGHTEOUSNESS.
But WHAT is God’s gift of righteousness? Again, let us allow Scripture to interpret Scripture.
Please read Romans 3:21-28.
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (In other words, the law FOR righteousness under the Old Covenant that was ADDING because of transgression has ENDED with the coming of the Messiah to be replaced with God’s REDEMPTION that He ordained before the foundation of the world)
Romans 3:22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that BELIEVE: for there is no difference: (Again, please notice the two groups of Christians, the Jewish Christians that were once under the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES and the Gentile Christians that were never under the Old Covenant law that was ADDED UNTIL Christ)
Romans 3:23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Yes, every person over the age of accountability God has CONCLUDED to be UNDER sin and God has given us ONE name by which we MUST be saved.
And by FAITH in the name of Jesus who shed his blood for the FORGIVENESS of sin, we are)
Romans 3:24. Being justified freely by his grace through the REDEMPTION that is in Christ Jesus: (And WHAT IS the REDEMPTION that we received freely by God’s grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus?
EVEN the FORGIVENESS of sins to be ACCEPTED by God because we have TRUSTED in the TRUE Gospel to believe in the ONE sacrifice that Jesus made FOR us)
Romans 3:25. Whom God has set forth to be a PROPITIATION through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are PAST, through the forbearance of God; (This is speaking of our INITIALLY being forgiven of all our PAST sins when we first believed.
But the SAME shed blood of Jesus is still yet available to receive FORGIVENESS of each and every sin a Christian commits after they have been RECONCILED to God by their FAITH in Jesus as the ATONEMENT for their sins.
But just as our INITIALLY being forgiven of all our PAST sin was NOT AUTOMATICALLY received by every person without REPENTING and CONFESSING their sins the SAME in equally true of any and all FUTURE sins we commit after we first believed)
Romans 3:26. To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which BELIEVES in Jesus. (In other words, no more WORKS of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES to receive FORGIVENESS of sins)
Romans 3:27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Romans 3:28. Therefore, we conclude that a man is JUSTIFIED by faith WITHOUT the DEEDS of the LAW.”
Again, without WHAT DEEDS of the law or NOT by WHAT WORKS of ourselves are we JUSTIFIED is Paul referring to here in Romans 3:28?
It is the SAME works of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES here in Romans 3:28 and it is in Ephesians 2:9 and all through the New Testament under the New Covenant from the Book of Acts to the Book of Revelation.
Please read Galatians 2:15-21.
“We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, (In other words, Paul is saying that we who are natural-born Jews who have been raised and taught to NOT sin are not like Gentiles who live in a lifestyle of sin.
Even we Jews who are now saved, we have come to understand the words of Jesus and we are now)
Galatians 2:16. Knowing that a man is not JUSTIFIED (Or forgiven all our past sins) by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have BELIEVED in Jesus Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED (Or receive REDEMPTION, the FORGIVENESS of all our past sins to be ACCEPTED by Yahweh) by the faith of Christ, and NOT by the WORKS of the law: for by the WORKS of the law shall no flesh be JUSTIFIED. (Or by the works of the law of Moses CONTAINED in ORDINANCES shall no man RECEIVE REDEMPTION, the FORGIVENESS of all their past sins)
Galatians 2:17. But if, WHILE we SEEK to be JUSTIFIED by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. (In other words, if while we are walking in FAITH TRUSTING in our RECEIVING REDEMPTION, the FORGIVENESS of all our PAST sins and we also are found SINNING then does that mean Jesus is a teacher of sin permitting us to sin? God forbid!)
Galatians 2:18. For if I build again the things which I DESTROYED, I make myself a transgressor. What Paul is talking about here is that under the Old Covenant the Jews were commanded to make animal sacrifices to have their sins remitted or covered by the shed blood of animals.
But under the New Covenant that PART of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES was ABOLISHED and nailed to the cross.
And thus, the saved Jews are no longer UNDER the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES.
So, Paul is saying to ALL Christians, what happens when a Christians SINS?
Does that make Jesus a teacher of sin just because we who are saved do NOT KEEP the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES? God forbid!
For you see, If I, Paul, suffer or allow Christians to KEEP the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES which I demolished by what I have been teaching you then I MAKE MYSELF to be a transgressor of what Jesus taught to me to teach you)
Galatians 2:19. For I, through the law (Of FAITH) am dead to the law, (Of Moses contained in ORDINANCES) that I might LIVE unto God. (To obey his WILL to walk in LOVE and HOLINESS before Him and his Son Jesus)
Galatians 2:20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ LIVES in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:21. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, (Or if the REDEMPTION, the FORGIVENESS of all our past sins comes by the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES under the NEW Covenant) then Christ is dead in VAIN.”
Can you not see that Jesus died to become the ATONEMENT or the PROPITIATION, as in, the ONE and FINAL SACRIFICE for ALL the sins of the WHOLE world?
So, INSTEAD of keeping the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES, we BELIEVE and TRUST that Jesus kept and FULFILLED the commandments of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES FOR us.
Then we as Christians keep the WHOLE law of God by our keeping the law of FAITH to TRUST in the REDEMPTION that Jesus provided for the whole world which is our RECEIVING of the FORGIVENESS of all our PAST sins.
And if we sin in the future we simply repent and CONFESS our sins and BELIEVE the promise in God’s word that he is faithful and just to forgive u and CLEANSE us from ALL our sins.
And that is the SIMPLICITY of the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We ENDURE the temptations, persecutions, and the TRYING of our FAITH.
Even the trying of our faith to KEEP the Law of Moses CONTAINED in ORDINANCES thinking that this would PLEASE God to LITERALLY keep the feast days and the weekly Sabbath days.
When in TRUTH, the keeping of the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES DISPLEASES God because his Son Jesus FULFILLED that PART of the Law of Moses that was ADDED UNTIL the Messiah came.
So to keep the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES is to FALL from GRACE.
Please read Galatians 5:1-11.
“Stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the YOKE of bondage. (The YOKE of BONDAGE is NOT keeping the moral commandments of God that are fulfilled by walking in LOVE and in HOLINESS toward one another that is NOT GRIEVOUS.
The YOKE of BONDAGE is NOT the good WORKS of righteousness which God ORDAINED us to walk in.
The YOKE of bondage is the trying to keep the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES which NONE of the Jewish fathers NOR any of the Apostles of Jesus could bear. Simply read Acts 15:7-24, especially verses 10 and 24)
Galatians 5:2. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (WHY? Why does getting circumcised made with hands NOT PROFIT you or PLEASE God?
Because Jesus is your circumcision. Your faith in Jesus is the SIGN that you are ACCEPTED INTO the New Covenant.
And by keeping the law of circumcision made with hands you are showing God that you do not TRULY believe in the NEW Covenant that was established in the shep blood of his beloved Son, Jesus)
Galatians 5:3. For I testify AGAIN to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the WHOLE law. (Every Christian is a DEBTOR to all the MORAL laws of God.
But the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES was ABOLISHED, FULFILLED, and NAILED to the cross, taken OUT of the WAY forever.
Now, if you are a Jew you would REJOICE to be FREE from the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES because they are GRIEVOUS to bear every jot and title of the WHOLE law.
But we as Christians are NOT debtors to the WHOLE law. We are FREE from the part of the law called ORDINANCES which were SHADOWS, a SCHOOLMASTER pointing to Jesus.
So, in TRUTH, by FAITH trusting in Jesus, we ARE, INDEED KEEPING the TRUE SPIRITUAL meaning of WHY that part of the law was ADDED UNTIL Jesus came.
BUT if you try to keep even ONE part of the Law of Moses such as keeping the weekly Sabbath day as the Jews to be saved then you WILLFULLY SIN)
Galatians 5:4. Christ has become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Now, Paul is talking to the Gentile Christians because all Jews are already circumcised in the flesh made with hands.
So what Paul is saying is that if a Christians is SUBVERTED by FEAR of SINNING to become CIRCUMCISED, as in, to KEEP the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES lest the SIN, then they are FALLEN from Grace and unless they REPENT and come back to the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ then the atonement of Jesus has become no effect to them.
They are LOST, BLINDED by Satan to the TRUE Gospel of Salvation unless they REPENT)
Galatians 5:5. For we through the Spirit WAIT for the HOPE of righteousness by faith.
Galatians 5:6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by LOVE. (For you see, walking in LOVE is the FULFILLING of all the law that God REQUIRES of us under the New Covenant written in the New Testament)
Galatians 5:7. You did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the TRUTH? (In other words, you were doing good. You started off in FAITH. Who deceived you to start keeping the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES?)
Galatians 5:8. This persuasion comes NOT of Him that CALLS you. (You THINK you are pleasing Him that called you by the TRUE Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ but in truth, you are dishonoring Jesus and Yahweh the Father by your trying to keep the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES that Jesus ABOLISHED and NAILED to the cross)
Galatians 5:9. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Galatians 5:10. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that you will be none otherwise minded: (Or after this REBUKE I am confident that you will REPENT and confess your sin to return to the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ and never again take thought to keep the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES) but he that troubles you (Or they that subvert and compel you to keep the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCE) shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
Galatians 5:11. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, WHY do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased.”
Early on in Paul’s ministry, Paul became as a Jew to WIN the Jews.
And later Paul became like a Gentile to eat pork to WIN the Gentiles to Jesus.
It is NOT a SIN to go into a Synagogue to preach the Gospel but it is a SIN to practice the Jewish religion in FEAR lest you are displeasing to God if you do not keep the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES.
So Paul is saying that while I may SEEM like I am keeping the Law of Moses contained in ordinances to be saved I am NOT!
For you see, WHY would the Jews PERSECUTE me if so be I was keeping the Law of Moses contained in ordinances?
No! The Jews are OFFENDED at my preaching the cross of Jesus and that is why they persecute me.
The truth of the whole matter of the “Grace ALONE” teaching is that it is NOT taught in the Bible ITSELF.
They “cherry-picked” SPECIFIC Scriptures take them OUT of their context.
They do not understand the TRUE meaning of the works of the LAW and thus they assume it means the whole law of God including the MORAL laws.
The true meaning of the WORKS in Ephesians 2:9 is NOT being CORRECTLY understood by the Christians who teach and who are being taught the “Grace ALONE” gospel.
And thus, they incorrectly understand the WORKS of the law as being the Ten Commandments.
And, therefore, they wrongly see the keeping of the MORAL laws of God as being WORKS.
But yet, all through the entire New Testament Christians are WARNED over and over that breaking the MORAL laws of God is a ticket to the lake of fire on the final Day of Judgment, if so be those sins are not REPENTED of and CONFESSED to RECEIVE forgiveness.
Let us read Revelation 3:14 -22 one verse at a time.
Revelation 3:14. “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;”
Please understand that Jesus is talking directly to TRUE born-again blood wash Christians.
Revelation 3:15. “I know your WORKS, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot.”
Jesus is LOOKING at our WORKS because we will be JUDGED by our WORKS to see if we will be found WORTHY to RECEIVE eternal life in the world to come.
And in this particular church denomination, Jesus sees COMPLACENT lukewarm Christians who THINK that they are perfectly fine just the way they are.
And Jesus does NOT LIKE what he is seeing is LUKEWARM Christians.
Jesus would rather a church denomination to be either COLD or HOT because it is easier to get the COLD church to see the TRUTH that they need to REPENT and CONFESS their sins.
Jesus is perfectly fine with Christians who are HOT and DOING the WORKS that we are called to do.
Revelation 3:16.
“So then BECAUSE you are LUKEWARM and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit YOU out of my mouth.”
Why would Jesus reject LUKEWARM Christians?
It is because lukewarm Christians THINK that they are perfectly fine not realizing that they have been BLINDED to the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ.
But rather they SINCERELY believe with all their heart that they are believing the true gospel and everyone else is believing the false gospel or WORKS.
They wrongly assume that our OBEYING the COMMANDMENTS of Jesus is WORKS that EARN our REDEMPTION of being FORGIVEN of our sins.
They refuse to do any WORK, REPENTING of their sins. They try and CHANGE the TRUE meaning of REPENTANCE to simply be a changing of our minds from not needing a Savior to NEEDING a Savior.
But that is NOT what TRUE REPENTANCE means in the light of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
Revelation 3:17.
“Because you SAY, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know NOT that you are WRETCHED and miserable, and poor, and BLIND, and NAKED:”
Jesus is saying to the lukewarm Christians that he knows their WORKS which they CLAIM do not matter because they wrongly THINK that they are eternally saved and that they can never LOSE their salvation no matter what they do or do NOT do.
They are BLINDED to the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ because they have tunnel vision focusing only one Ephesians 2:8,9 being IGNORANT that the WORKS in verse 9 is the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES as explained in the very CONTEXT in verse 15.
They are NAKED because they have unrepented of sin in their life that some refuse to CONFESS and ask for forgiveness because they have been DECEIVED to wrongly believe that confessing any present and future sins would be to deny the FINISHED work of Jesus on the cross.
I have actually had a dear brother in the Lord that I converse with several times over this once save always saved false doctrine.
And his last words to me were, “I can not, I just can not repent and confess my sins because that is not true faith” He had so much FEAR drilled in him by the false teachers of eternal security that he was afraid to OBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit to REPENT of his sins and ask God to forgive him.
I tried writing to him but he never wrote back.
To me, Calvinism, eternal security, OASA, and “Grace ALONE” Christians are the Laodicean Christians in these verses of Scripture being WARNED to REPENT.
Revelation 3:18.
“I counsel YOU to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and (Buy of me) WHITE raiment, that you may be CLOTHED, and that the SHAME of NAKEDNESS does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see.”
Remember that Jesus is talking directly to true born-again blood-washed Christians who THINK that they have the truth and they do not need to listen to any other Christians warning them that they have been deceived by the false gospel of “GRACE ALONE” OSAS Christians.
They do not KNOW that they are NAKED because of the UNREPENTED SIN that they refuse to confess because they have been told that repentance and confessing their sins is a WORK and they would be trying to EARN their salvation.
And Jesus is counseling them to BUY a WHITE garment from him by REPENTING and CONFESSING their sin, the SHAME of their NAKEDNESS.
Jesus is saying ANOINT your eyes or open your eyes to the TRUE Gospel and do the WORKS that I REQUIRE of you to do.
Revelation 3:19.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and REPENT.”
That dear brother in the Lord that I shared a moment ago was being REBUKED and chastised by the Holy Spirit trying to get him to open his eyes to the TRUE Gospel to REPENT and CONFESS his sin so that he could be made WHITE and snow once again to REST and have PEACE that God has forgiven him once again.
Again, these are ALREADY true born-again blood-washed Christians who have ALREADY “CHANGED their MIND” to be saved.
So WHY why Jesus is pleading with them to REPENT if so be they can NEVER lose their salvation no matter what they do or do not do?
It is because true repentance is NOT merely changing your mind ONE time when you are INITIALLY saved.
True repentance is FORSAKING sin.
True repentance is being DEAD to sin telling Satan to talk to your “hand” because you are not going to listen to a word he says.
True repentance is COMMANDING Satan to get behind you in the NAME of Jesus.
Please read the study E-21. “TRUE BIBLICAL REPENTANCE?”
Revelation 3:20.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come into him and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Jesus is standing at the door of your heart right now BEGGING you to open up your heart and allow the TRUE Gospel to speak to you.
HEAR his voice being given to you right now from his servant, your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Open the door of your heart and Jesus will lead and guide you into all truth through the Holy Spirit dwelling in you.
Revelation 3:21.
“To him that OVERCOMES will I grant to sit with me in my throne, EVEN as I also OVERCAME, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Now, HOW did Jesus OVERCOME? Did Jesus overcome by having righteousness IMPUTED unto him?
Jesus is teaching his CHURCH that has already been overcome by FAITH in his shed blood.
And now Jesus is commanding Christians to overcome EVEN as Jesus overcame.
So, Again. HOW did Jesus OVERCOME SIN?
Please read Hebrews 9:14,15.
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who THROUGH the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Jesus OVERCAME SIN THROUGH THE POWER of the eternal Holy Spirit DWELLING in him.
And that is HOW Jesus expects us, as Christians, to OVERCOME sin as well.
But we have the GRACE that if we fall all we need to do is to OBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit to REPENT and CONFESS our sins.
We ASSUME that Jesus NEVER sinned. But the Bible simply says that Jesus was WITHOUT sin.
And we are WITHOUT sin the moment we REPENT and CONFESS our sins)
Hebrews 9:15. And for this cause, he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, FOR the REDEMPTION (The ATONEMENT) of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
But many did not receive because of their UNBELIEF to REPENT of their sins and obey the teachings of Jesus.
They remained dead in their sins but continuing in the Law of Moses contained in ORDINANCES.
Revelation 3:22.
“He that has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES.”
Are you HEARING what the Holy Spirit is saying to the “Grace ALONE” churches?
One of the biggest arguments by “grace alone” Christians is that REPENTING of sins is a WORK and since Ephesians 2:8,9 says we are NOT saved by WORKS then we do NOT have to REPENT of our sins in order to be saved.
But what did Jesus himself teach us?
Matthew 4:17.
“From that time Jesus BEGAN to PREACH, and to say, REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Mark 1:15.
“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT you, AND believe the gospel.”
Luke 13:1-5.
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
Luke 13:2. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose you that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans because they suffered such things?
Luke 13:3. I tell YOU, (My disciples) Nay: but, except YOU REPENT, YOU shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:4. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luke 13:5. I tell YOU,(Speaking of the disciples of Jesus) Nay: but, except YOU REPENT, YOU shall all likewise perish.”
And what did the disciples of Jesus PREACH?
Mark 6:12.
“And they went out, and PREACHED that men should REPENT.”
In the very first gospel message in the Book of Acts, the hearers of the Gospel asked Peter and the Apostle of Jesus WHAT shall we do. And what did Peter say?
Acts 2:37,38.
“Now when they heard this, (The TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men, and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:38. Then Peter said unto them, REPENT AND be BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 17:30.
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now COMMANDS all men everywhere to REPENT:”
Again, the “grace alone” Christians REDEFINE the word repent to simply mean a CHANGE of mind from not needing a Savior to needing a Savior.
But that is NOT what the Bible itself teaches that the word repent means.
In the following verses Jesus is WARNING true born-again blood-washed Christians to REPENT their SINS, lest their names are BLOTTED OUT of the Lambs book of life.
Revelation 2:5.
“Remember therefore from where you are FALLEN, and REPENT, and do the first WORKS; or ELSE I will come unto you quickly, and will REMOVE your candlestick out of his place, except you REPENT.”
Revelation 2:16.
“REPENT or ELSE I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Revelation 2:21,22.
“And I gave her space to REPENT of her fornication; and she REPENTED NOT.
Revelation 2:22. Behold, (Or watch and SEE) I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they REPENT of their DEEDS.”
Revelation 3:3-6.
“Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and REPENT. If therefore you shall NOT WATCH, (Or if therefore you shall NOT guard and keep your garments SPOTLESS and REPENT of your sins that have defiled your garments) I WILL come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you.
Revelation 3:4. You have a few names even in Sardis which have NOT DEFILED their garments; (Or you have a few who have NOT defiled the blood-washed garment with SIN) and THEY shall walk with me in white: for they are WORTHY.
Revelation 3:5. He that OVERCOMES, 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.
Revelation 3:6. He that has an ear, let him HEAR what the SPIRIT says unto the CHURCHES.”
2 Peter 3:14.
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
Luke 21: 24, 35-36.
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luke 21:35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luke 21:36. WATCH you, therefore, and pray always, that YOU may be accounted WORTHY to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
WHY all the WARNINGS? If so be, we can never lose our salvation no matter what?
I implore all Calvinistic Christians, all Reformed Theology Christians, all Once Saved Always Saved Christians, all Eternal Security Christians, and all Grace Alone Christians to read all the studies under the heading ** F-0. Can We LOSE ETERNAL Life? ** .
All Christians agree that if Christians take the MARK of the beast then they will be cast into the lake of fire and lose their salvation.
And Jesus said that only those true born-again blood-washed Christians who have NOT DEFILED their garments with sin will walk with him in white and he will NOT BLOT OUT their names from the Lamb’s book of life.
May God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.
For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1, In the BEGINNING!
And also read the study called D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
At the top of my homepage, there are subjects or categories which contain compiled lists of ** ALL Studies! ** I have written on that particular subject. So, if a link within a study is broken, then click on ** ALL Studies! ** to find the suggested study.
Or you can scroll down to the MORE dropdown menu list to find those studies as well.
Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! **
This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century.
So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
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Always be faithful to share, to preach, and to teach the whole gospel of Jesus Christ!
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