Anything that robs Christ of His rightful glory is the same that robs the word of God out of its totality or whole counsel.
One example: "Let's say that I told you that I am eternally secure the moment I heard the Gospel and that I never can be lost again no matter what I do or don't do."
There's Truth in that, BUT, according to the whole counsel of God (i.e. when one takes ALL of pertinent Scriptures and examines them together) then that would be a lie (because I would be mixing together truth and error)!
In 2 Peter 1:1-7 he tells us that by adding these things he speaks of to our faith will cause us to never fall.
Therefore, that would make everything I told you here out to be a lie! Because until we ourselves take and add these things to our faith; in order to strengthen our faith and START DOING what God says, until then we are in constant danger of being deceived by foolishly wanting to believe in these lies (usually done to avoid our having to come all the way to Him and follow Him) and if we kept these lies and believed them then we would would fall away.
A second example: "Let's say that I told you just the opposite; that we can never become or know that we are eternally secure in Christ and gain absolute assurance of faith, thus we can always fall away and be lost again.
There's Truth in that as well, BUT, according to the word of God (the whole counsel of God) that too would be a lie too (again, because it would mix together truth and error)!
Scriptures as John 10:27-29, Hebrews 7:25 and others tell us that we can be eternally secure.
Another example: "Let's say that I told you that the Lord is going to come before the tribulation to rapture us off the earth."
Unlike the other teachings above, this kind of "false teaching" doesn't so much ignore what the other half of the scriptures say against its doctrine (rather it takes and incorporates it along with its own!), as much as it takes and twists what IT WANTS the scriptures to say to make them conform to its doctrine by taking them out of their context and setting, changing and replacing entire verses and chapters, and even the church, to make them all fit their false concept.
Beware of anyone using a scripture (i.e. 1 Cor.15:52, Rev.3:10, etc.) and saying how this one verse PROVES their doctrine.
THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT THERE TO "PROVE" ANYONES DOCTRINE -- THE WORD OF GOD -IS- DOCTRINE, AND THOSE WHO KEEP IT WILL OBEY IT AS IS!
Nowhere does the word say that Christ will appear (to anyone) BEFORE the tribulation. But it does clearly say that He will appear to everyone AFTER the tribulation. It does say that He is our Blessed Hope and that we should be watching and looking for Him to appear "Immediately After the tribulation of those days", just like the uncut word of God says.
So here we are dealing with a clear word of God: Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, etc., saying exactly when Christ is coming, verses an unclear pre trib premise based on the error of human reasoning that takes and changes the truth of God into a lie.
Beware of them (usually the modern day scholars) who say that some of the Scriptures are corrupted and they can't be depended upon (usually because they oppose their own invented doctrine).
Always take into account the Whole word - the whole counsel of God! Always base your doctrine on a Clear Word of God! Always compare Scripture with Scripture! Always base your faith on what the word of God says, and NEVER on what men say the word of God says.
If I were to say that then I would be saying that without taking into consideration all the scriptures that warn of just such a person who foolishly thinks that way can indeed fall away.
In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul is telling us the same thing! And there are many other scriptural proofs as well.
So again, I would be saying that without taking into consideration ALL the scriptures which say that such people as myself can indeed have and know what eternal security in Jesus Christ is like.
What is necessary is that we be of His sheep and follow Him. If we won't follow Him then we are not one of His sheep, and thus we will never know eternal security. If we value our life over His then it is likely that we will; if we haven't already, fall away!
It's better to trust no one and live unto the Truth than trust everyone and die because of the lie. Be a Berean and check out the word for yourself, comparing Scripture with Scripture!
In the story of the rich young ruler, Matt.19:16-26, we see where the fellow asked the right question (verse 16), because he really did want to be saved and have eternal life, expecting Jesus to give him the answers as to the hows.
Jesus simply told him to, "sell all he owned (give it away to the poor) then come and follow Him".
HOWEVER -
Number one: The rich young ruler wasn't really a believer in Jesus or he would have done exactly as Jesus had said!
Simply put, "he chose" NOT TO abide in Jesus' words because he didn't like the answer Jesus gave him.
By this act he showed that he loved mammon MORE than he loved God and the eternal life Jesus was offering for the asking - Matt.16:19, 29.
PROVING -
IT WAS THAT DECISION OF HIS THAT STOPPED THE RICH YOUNG MAN FROM SELLING ALL HE OWNED TO GIVE TO THE POOR AND FOLLOW JESUS. THIS WASN'T "GOD'S DOING", THIS WAS ALL OF "HIS OWN DOING" -
"NO DEAL", he said in his heart, "THAT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK OF ME", and walked away, thus he never found the awesome treasure in the field... a treasure so vast it would have blown him away!
After which Peter replied for himself and the others...
Matt 19:
AGAIN ALL of this GOES TO PROVE that entering into the Kingdom of God is a Decision we all can make, and it is a decision made with sacrifice: a giving up something in order to receive something -
therefore the one who is NOT willing to make such sacrifice (i.e. "OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD!") for that relationship is also NOT worthy of Him and the eternal life He offers to those who do love Him by coming to Him for that eternal life He is offering - Matt.10:37-38 - intent on following Him.
This all goes to PROVE that one must first take His word by faith and DO it / OBEY it, BEFORE one finds out the reality of the promise it contains for themselves.
"Believing with the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead is also OBEYING this same God who raised Jesus from the dead!"
GOD'S GRACE IS FREE!!! It's all Right There in His words! THAT is where we have to go and get it - "IN" His words!
FREE? YES! - BUT (IN ORDER TO GO GET IT AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS) THE THING STOPPING US (I.E. "UNBELIEF!") MUST FIRST BE TAKEN BY THE HORNS AND CAST ASIDE IN ORDER TO DO WHAT JESUS SAYS, GO THERE AND LAY HOLD OF THE PROMISE GIVEN TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES THUS COMES AND RECEIVES!
AND WE DO JUST THAT WHEN WE "HEAR AND OBEY" GOD'S WORD
"UNBELIEF" isn't something that belongs to the Mind alone, but to the spirit and the body and the will as well.
To claim to believe on that Person without selling all we own and give it away (i.e. "unattach ourselves from it") in order to Obey, Come to, and Kneel before that same Person who is now high and lifted up; the same One who died on that cross for us, is LUDICROUS!
THAT is NOT Faith at all - THAT is still "UNBELIEF"!
Number two: he wanted to be saved allright, but by something or some work that "he" could do to save or help save himself!
"He alone" made that choice, that decision, by loving and hanging on to his money and the kind of life and security and power it could give him MORE than he loved God and the life of sacrifice without it that He was told to make - Matt.6:24.
IT WAS HIS OWN LOVE FOR RICHES AND WHAT THEY MEANT TO HIM THAT HE JUST COULDN'T BEAR TO PART WITH THAT STOPPED HIM COLD IN HIS TRACKS FROM COMING TO JESUS!
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
because it is a decision exactly like the one that is based on a marriage relationship and wedding vows -
because it is a decision to lay down our will so that we can take up the will of another and become as ONE in it -
(Otherwise, they are just whistling dixie and singing to the tune of a "mental assent" only = "Apostates and Unbelievers"!)
It is a DECISION we can make ourselves "IF" we so chose to!
A decision based on TRUTH, one involving the whole person!!
At His coming is when that blessed hope of ours will be fulfilled...
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
And when we SEE Him, then that becomes this...
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
and this...
2 Cor 5:
THEN... We will receive new and glorified bodies like His.
So WHEN we see Him is WHAT we'll be changed to look like!
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
That's why every Christian who has this "Hope" is told to look for Jesus'appearance at the end of the age, Him being both the Author and the FINISHER of our faith.
Israel didn't return to her own land until 1948. At least "UNTIL THEN" there could have been no "Imminent return of Christ" (as pre tribulationists believed), because the Scriptures state that Israel MUST be back in their land BEFORE Christ comes (Zech.14:2, etc.). This slices up the pre trib. teaching on Imminence to pieces.
Pre tribbers and others believe that ALL prophecy that might prevent Christ from returning has been fullfilled, therefore Christ can come at any moment! Also a pre tribulationist believes that Christ will come and rapture them to take them with Him to heaven for 7 years, just prior to the start of the great tribulation.
However, Israel has been a nation for "over 50 years now" which again proves the doctrine of Imminency to be a lie. Just by the Jews being in their land totally disproves the "Imminence" theory, because Jesus plainly said that the "Great Tribulation" would not begin until AFTER the Abomination of Desolation is first set up in Jerusalem (Matt.24:15).
Also, Scriptures as Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thes.2:1-3; Rev.16:15, etc. are "thrown out" by pre tribbers, etc. as not applying to them. Yet as anyone who isn't blinded to the Truth can see, it certainly does apply to them and to the whole church in the latter days.
Paul, for another, makes it very clear that Jesus' coming and our gathering together with Him, cannot happen until first the apostacy, and the Antichrist being revealed take place (2 Thes. 2:1-3).
One final word on this shows that when Christ "Appears" that is the time we too "appear with Him" (not "disappear with Him") in glory (Col.3:4). This destroys both the "Imminency" and "The pre trib rapture" doctrines, because the time of His appearance is clearly given in Matt.24:30), and it is AFTER the great tribulation.
(and the Jews have been in their land far longer than the 7 year maximum that the pre trib teaching on "Imminency" requires.)
Many believe that "Faith" is something that we can gain on our own, something "we achieve" when we do our part. (And in part this can be true, because we do need to do something: "see and hear") But it misses the point! In and of itself, the kind of "Faith" [which enters into God's Grace] is a "Miracle"! It is the voice of "God" speaking to us (to our hearts), and us "responding" to that still wee-small inner voice.
Someone may say they are a Christian yet hate their brother. (They're not!)
TRUE Faith has one requirement - one that is PERMANENTLY BUILT INTO IT called, "LOVE: A Love for the Truth: A Willing Obedience and Reverance (Mark 12:30) in response to the Person who saved them...in Love" (1 John 4:19).
"Faith" comes by hearing/understanding: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom 10:17)
"Faith" comes by hearing God's will being personally revealed to us, AND in our "understanding and obeying it" (Matt.26:42) ...i.e. our then "wanting to do His will out of grace and love" (and not having to do His will out of law and fear).
To claim to have an inward faith in the Savior without outwardly expressing our heart-felt gratitude in obedient love firstly towards Him (and His words) who first loved us, and without showing works of mercy and kindness to others secondly, is ludicrous!
THAT is the essance of "Faith"!
The word of God involves a response by the "whole man", because it involves his mind, his heart and his will: his entire being!
Someone else may say they are a Christian yet live their life like the rest of the world does, in a life-style of adultery, hoarding money , stealing, shacking up, homosexuality, etc., and see nothing wrong with living that way. (They're not either!)
If we, in our faith, are void of LOVE; Primarily an all out Love of, to and for Him and His words, then we never really heard Jesus, and what we think we heard (Heb.6:4-6) is but a shell void of life within!
For He is The Truth, as well as The Way and The Life, and His words are the Truth! Therefore, "Faith without Love (in abiding in and honoring His words) is dead, being alone! (2 Cor.13)"
"Faith" also has substance, assurance and depth: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)
"Faith" is not just about our believing in some Savior who died on a cross. (Although in part this is true, because it is God's will that we believe on His Son.), but it is then through our believing on the Son which causes us to be "Sanctified to the Truth" that gives our faith the necessary heart and the backbone to endure to the end (2 Petrer 1:5-10).
First of all, "IF" someone that was saved were "Saved Forever"; irregardless of any desire for also being made holy and doing righteous works (by this same God), then the word of God would declare that those who are "Saved by God" but who "Remain defiant and disobedient to God's will", are also the type of people who cannot ever again become "Unsaved" or "fall away". However the word of God does not say that at all! What it does say is simply this...
1 Cor 15:
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, IF
Here we have a "Condition". The word, "IF" meets that condition. That condition by which we are "SAVED" (upon our receiving the gospel) is met only "IF" we continue to keep in memory the gospel that was preached to us.
Heb 6:
4 For it is impossible for those who were enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Again we see the warning against falling away being given against those who were ONCE enlightened, but are no more.
John 15:6 IF a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Again we see that the condition for remaining saved is a "Continual abiding in Christ". Jesus doesn't mince words here!
2 Pet 2:
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
"Remember these words" ---
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1
This means that IF you are a Christian, and IF you still have concerns about falling away, and you love and care about the Lord; even a little, then you need to STOP following the flesh, and ask Jesus to show you the victory!
Therefore... if you WERE once a Christian who has indeed Fallen Away, then it's over! You won't care about the Lord at all, you won't have a conscience against sinning, and surely you won't want prayers said to God for you or your family's eternal salvation. In fact you will HATE the Lord and curse Him! That's the difference.
So are you now or were you ever SAVED -- and KNOW this -- or not?
If you think that you've "Fallen Away" then I urge you to read, "Grace Abounding To The Chief Of Sinners", by John Bunyan. (and let me know what you found!)
Dear Roman Catholic...
Can anyone show me in the Bible where a "Transubstantiation" of mere bread and wine occured that was then turned into the actual body and blood of Christ that was broken and drained of blood 2,000 years ago"???
The reason that you "Can't prove it" is because it's NOT in there - anywhere!!! Simple enough.
(Or don't you believe the word of God?)...
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall hunger; and he that believeth on me shall thirst." John 6:35
Otherwise, my friend, there remains no way you can PROVE that what a Catholic eats and drinks at RC's "Sacrifice of the mass", became 'Changed' into the Literal, the Actual, and the Real, Life-giving and Life-saving BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST!!!
IN FACT "IF" it really were the "Actual Body and Blood of Christ" that Catholics drank and ate of at the mass,then YOU, my friend, WOULD ONLY NEED TO EAT AND DRINK OF HIM JUST "ONCE" TO RECEIVE "ETERNAL" LIFE!
(Does anyone wish to call God's word a liar here?)
THEREFORE, because "CATHOLICS" MUST receive their 'holy' communion over and over again, MANY, MANY, MANY times over throughout their lifetime only goes to "ABSOLUTELY PROVE" beyond all doubt that what they are eating and drinking IS CERTAINLY "NOT" THE CRUCIFIED AND LIVING CHRIST,...
nor do they understand that what it is they are really doing is: "crucifying Him afresh over and over again" via their "Sacrifice of the mass", PRETENDING (which they chose to call, 'faith') that the cup and the wafer they eat from actually becomes the "body and blood of Christ"!
This is but One of "Many" of the RC church's LIES AND HERESIES!!! (Take it from me, an "x-catholic")
May God bless you in your pursuit of The Truth, in the pursuit to Know, Find and to Eat of REAL and LIVING Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ, and have Eternal Life...and KNOW THAT YOU DO (John 14:27) BEYOND ANY AND ALL DOUBT...
I Jn 5:10-13
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
You can know Him beyond all doubt right now too!
In the story Of Matthew 25 Jesus tells us how the 5 wise virgins were deemed "wise" by Him for one reason only, and that was because they prepared themselves for Him "in advance" by making sure that they had a supply of oil for their lamps.
At the same time Jesus tells us that the foolish were foolish for no other reason than because they didn't bother to carry any oil for their lamps. (And this "foolishness" of theirs is going to cost them Big Time!)
This story is "extremely important to understand" because of the outcomes of the 5 wise and the 5 foolish virgins and where each one of us may fit into the picture, if we happen to be the ones who are around during the "last days" prior to Jesus' return.
Therefore, in the context of this parable, it becomes "absolutely important" to identify the "OIL" and "WHY" they needed to Trim their lamps, as well as the meaning of "The Midnight Hour", and this we shall do by following the reasons and the logic set down by Jesus...
Note that while the bridegroom tarried they all slept.
So, in other words, the virgins were "biding their time" resting until the call came that the bridegroom was coming and for them to arise and go meet Him.
In the meantime, at the midnight hour (i.e. at the latest and darkest hour) a call goes out: "He is coming, go out and meet Him" (verse 6)!
Ask yourself, WHY would they be bothering to "Trim their lamps" if the Bridegroom is opening the door?
Answer, "Because He is not opening the door! He is not coming/appearing as yet!" There is NO Rapture at this time! Instead, they have to go out and meet Him in the Darkness!
What happened next is what happens when someone finds out that they have been deceived into thinking they didn't need that oil, and so they discarded it along the way, seeing no need for it... "Oh, oh, we have no oil"!
Can you imagine their dilemna? What shall we do? We must have oil!
So they turned to the wise and said, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out" (i.e. "our singular love for the truth has grown cold". see Matt.24:12).
It was when they went OUT into the darkness to try and buy some oil (see Prov.23:23) that the Lord came and and took those who were READY - THOSE WHO WERE READY - (Ready by standing on the word of God!) (see Matt.24:40).
The sorriest words that anyone will ever hear are found right here in Jesus' reply to the foolish virgins: "Verily, verily I say unto you, I know you not!"
*** So, WHY did the virgins have to trim their wicks?...
Obviously because by this story Jesus is telling all of us that there is a "LENGTH OF TIME" between the midnight hour when the call went forth and His coming - a "time" of darkness (Matt.24:21), yet a time that must and will come to pass (Luke 21:28), a time when only those who are prepared and ready (Rev.3:3) will go in with Him.
There is no other reason for wicks to be trimmed and oil to be preciously gaurded and preserved UNLESS there's a definite reason for it!
The command to Trim their wicks therefore, stands for the "Endurance" these virgins are going to need over the long haul in order to Stand fast upon God's word to the end! But "Trimming ones wick" without having any "Oil" to see by is useless.
The 5 "Foolish virgins" were willing to trim their wicks (i.e. endure patiently in the word) as well, HOWEVER they found out too late that they had no oil for their lamps. Too little too late! They lacked having the most important thing of all: "Oil".
*** So what is this most precious "OIL" that lights the lamp?
So, if the word of God is our Lamp, and the trimmed wick represents our endurance or staying power, then the oil is the Spirit of the word in the Lamp! Lose the Lamp and you lose your light! However, lose the oil in that lamp and the entire lamp grows dark and becomes utterly useless. even though it can still be carried around. (But for what purpose?)
If those 5 Foolish Virgins would have remained in Jesus' words (see Matt.24:25) and not allowed themselves to become later deceived by false prophets, they would have had the enduring kind of faith necessary to make it through that time of coming darkness coming upon the whole world instead of allowing themselves to be robbed out of their oil beforehand.
Remember, "By making sure they had oil at all times; even when asleep, the 5 wise virgins had prepared themselves for Him well in advance simply by heeding the whole counsel of God, including their heeding of the Spirit of prophecy! When that time came; when the call finally went out, they knew what to expect ("a length of time"), and they knew what was necessary ("oil") and held on to it ("endured in the faith to the end")."
When the time came they had the only commodity necessary to endure to the end with: "Oil for their lamps" - The Oil that brought to them their "Unwavering Faith" in the events surrounding His coming based solidly upon the Truth of God's word: A faith concerning Jesus' single return AFTER the tribulation!
This was the same faith they heard and received and held fast to and kept unwavering from the moment they heard it! A faith they would not dare take and treat lightly but most highly - A precious faith they would proffess and gaurd with their very lives - A faith filled with the Love of the Truth, A Love that would cause them to endure in to the very end!
(This "sleep" is not to be confused with the world's "sleep" while in la la land, as we too did at one time. We know that we are of the Day and not the Night (see 1 Thes.5:4-8).
This is what the Church is doing today: Resting or Sleeping with one eye opened waiting for the Bridegroom to come back for them as He promised them He would.
Then all the virgins wake up and grabbed their lamps to trim them.
No one bothers to Trim a lamp EXCEPT AND UNLESS THEY NEED IT!
Well it was definitely needed because they all arose and, Jesus says, "Trimmed their lamps"!
Then the foolish upon waking up suddenly realize that they are destitute of something deemed absolutely vital by Jesus: "OIL"! They were carrying no oil for their lamps!
But the wise said: "No, or else there won't be enough oil for the both of us." (That leaves The Holy Spirit as being the Oil in this parable, out).
The wise may have well said to them: "Hey! We told you to carry oil; to love the Truth at all times but you wouldn't listen. Sorry we can't help you now, it's too late".
THAT is how important having the Oil is! It's what keeps us connected, attached to the Vine! ( see John 14:23-24, ESPECIALLY Luke 6:46-49)
In order to try and FIND this most precious commodity, the 5 foolish virgins took their empty lamps and had to GO OUT in order to find some. They had to travel in the night in the mass of chaos, confusion and false prophets that Jesus warned us about!
...
The Oil here represents the vessel and lamp that is filled with "The Truth" in the Loving, the Keeping, Preserving and doing God's word! It's the "Spirit of His word" that keeps us from drying up and whithering away, and keeps our light from going out! Light/Faith we are in need of keeping to the very end. ALL of it!
They would have gaurded their oil (i.e. their LOVE of the Truth) from being lost concerning His first coming, resurrection, and/or His second coming; which in turn gives Light to their lamp to light up their path. (see Ps.119:105)
Grace?
Calvin and others taught that God's Grace is Irresistable, meaning it's sensless to fight against Him and it.
Stop and think about that for a moment! Think about how all this "Zombyism" stands totally opposed to God's word and Him giving man a Free will. According to those who follow Calvin (and others like them) our decision means nothing when it comes to ones salvation. That "Decision" (they say) rests with God alone!
John 3:
"Whosoever" just happens to refer to everyone... therefore salvation is possible to everyone through Christ... the "Choice" is ours!
False teachers say that it is the Lord who personally chooses and picks who He wants to come to Him for salvation yet denies everyone else the same irresistable opportunity, in which case that would make Him a puppetmaster and make us "WALKING ZOMBIES" with no will, no brains, and no accountability, like Frankenstein.... "YES MASTER"!
However, being God He always knew (Foreknowledge) who would and who wouldn't come to Him through His Son. Nothing mysterious here. He knows all! And those He Foreknew (Rom.8:29) would come were those He predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom.8:30), and those He also called and justified and sanctified and will glorify at His appearing and His kingdom.
A quick look at Mark 6:6 (after all, if you're "God" why be astounded over someones unbelief, regardless of how many signs you have done to convince them otherwise? Why bother?) This is just another proof that God doesn't take and make men into "ZOMBIES" in matters of faith.
If God wants to save you then He will, and if He doesn't want to save you then He won't, and that's all there is to it - (is the way the Calvanist fable is told).
Such a belief is both heresy and blasphemy against the Love of and the word of God for and to all men, as well as against the free will of man... as if we have no "choice" in the matter.
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Read the real story behind what Calvin believed and taught
More and more these days we keep hearing more "False Witnesses" of Christ coming out of the woodwork.
A "False Witness" is anyone who will not believe the Truth concerning Jesus Christ in that He is God and pre-existed as God as the Word before He became flesh (John 1:1; 1 Tim.3:16; 1 John 1).
These "false witnesses" cannot believe in the Diety of Christ and/or in His pre-existence, and they come right out and say so, but in ways that may sound "Christian" (i.e. edible) to those gullible who lack discernment.
What does all this mean???
It means that they have not the Spirit of Christ! Therefore they are none of His. They bear false witness of Him!
Paul says it like this:
Proof that they cannot say that Jesus is the Lord (i.e. "God") is because they do not have the Holy Spirit to confess Him with!
I even had one of these "Christians" tell me that "Christ" and "the Son of God" have nothing to do with Diety!!!
I'll just let you decide that with the following...
Matt 26:
John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Need I say more?????
"CHRIST" IS GOD OUR SAVIOR - and - "SON OF GOD" IS EQUAL TO GOD!
It wasn't just a mere "man" who shed His blood -- it was "GOD" as that man who shed His blood...
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Bear false witness against Christ and you've cut your own throat... permanently!
The doctrine of Jesus Christ; knowing absolutely that He is God come in the flesh (1 Tim.3:16) and confessing Him as such: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt.16:15-19), and, "my Lord and my God" (John 20:28), is the greatest single doctrine in all of Christianity! It is an... ABSOLUTE TRUTH! one without controversy or arguments...
1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
This is because they refuse to believe the plain text of the word, and like the Gnostics that they are, they are trained to look for some twist or hidden meaning in it. In other words, They "Intellectualize" the word of God, making it MORE than what it is, and they "spiritualize" it as well, making it LESS than what it is and says. Thus they both ADD to it and SUBTRACT from to it, all the while destroying God's Son!
1 Cor 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said
: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
Exactly what is "That Hour" that we are to be kept from?
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation (i.e. "Trial" in the Greek), which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
The next verse holds the clue...
3:11 Behold, I COME QUICKLY: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
"I come quickly!" And what exactly is it which THOU HAST???
Why the word of His patience, of course!!!
Those who KEEP the word of His patience are also those who KEEP their garments from being spotted by the world...
Did you ever think that the promise of Rev 3:10 given to the church of Philadelphia may already have occured 1900 years ago? If so (as many believe) then the meaning of the "Hour of temptation" ( being perhaps a decree of worshipping Caesar or die) only applied to them who were around in those days.
All we need do is read about Jezebel (2:20), Antipas (2:13), Counterfeit Jews (3:9), and see that these were actual churches with real people in them at the time.
So, I would like to take a step back and look at what that "HOUR" means when applied to the Lord's second coming, and see if it ties in?....
Now, as far as Rev 3:10 goes, did you ever ask yourself why "temptation" KJV (Greek=peirasmos) is used instead of "tribulation" (Greek=thlipsis), "IF"; as some believe, this has to do with the "tribulation" instead of temptation or a trying of ones faith?
Did you ever ask yourself Why the world would be saying "Peace and Safety" during the great tribulation if that was the "HOUR" (i.e. The Day Of The Lord) that Rev 3:10 was refering to?...
1Thes 5:
(Did you take special note of the word THEN in verse 3 and where it is placed? And what about, "That Day" in relation to "Then" and what follows then?)
So, that "Hour" of Trial/Testing/Temptation coming to try all earth dwellers isn't the time of the great tribulation at all, instead it is the "Day Of The Lord". This is the sudden "Hour" of His judgement upon all the earth (Rev 14:7).
Matt 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
1 Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
This is HOLY Fire revealed as coming from God's own throne, and not "Unholy fire" from Satan's!
The pre tribber and others are taught to believe that "That Hour" stands for the time of the tribulation, but their Rev.3:10 "Hour theory" has nothing at all to do with escaping a 7 year tribulation event by being raptured in a secret coming, and has everything to do with the one and only DAY OF THE LORD.
THAT is the very HOUR that the Lord promises to Keep all those who are keeping the word of His patience safe from - Safe, Watching, and Ready, so they won't have to stand before Him in naked judgement like the rest of the world will. To "Protect us FROM that Hour", when He comes He will take and clothe us with power from on high: "Our New Bodies", while everyone else will stand flesh and blood naked at His sudden appearing, and beg the rocks and mountains to cover them!
There are three things that you might want to consider concerning Rev. 3:10....
#1. If these were the same as God's judgements against the king of Egypt then how were the Jews "Kept from that hour" when the 10 plagues were falling on Egypt without them hitting the Jews that were present there as well? (see Exodus 9:25-26)
#2. The promise can only be cashed in by those who were ready; those who were keeping the word of His patience!
#3. He promised to Keep us FROM having to come to that hour altogether, not just to take them out of it in a pre trib rapture before-hand or keep us Safe through it as were the Jews!
The "Patience" that the Lord is talking about here is the kind of Patient endurance necessary to endure hardships with against that which He says is coming upon the world in order to test it... just like the world and everyone in it was tested by water in Noah's day.
It is called "the word of His patience" because of our "Blessed HOPE" found in and given through His word...
James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. What gives one a "False Hope" is believing something that God did not say - such as believing in an escape from having to go through the great tribulation by some pre trib rapture.
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; THEN sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that THAT DAY (cf 2 Thes.2:1-3) should overtake you as a thief.
And like in Noah's day, only those aboard the ark remained untouched.
And like in Noah's day, only this time everything is going to be tested/tried by fire! Only those found keeping the word of His patience will not be harmed by the fire. This is how they will be Kept from having to come and face That Hour.
1 Pet 3:20 ... when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
2 Pet 2:5 And (God) spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
1 Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
II Th 1:
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Matt 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Isa 33:
10 Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Nahum 1:
5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
2 Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
1 Pet 1:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, "THOUGH IT BE TRIED WITH FIRE", might be found unto praise and honour and glory "AT THE APPEARING OF JESUS CHRIST"
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
and as for the rest who do Not keep the word of His patience?, it is written...
Isa 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Matt 24:44 ...for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Read the real story behind Revelation 3:10
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb 4:12
