Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Spiritual Strong Meat
This section is dictated to Spiritual Growth and involves deeper studies of God's Word to learn those truths that sometimes are not evident with a superficial reading of the Scriptures --- that take prayer, focused meditation and study to discover.
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Monday, June 1, 2009
CAN A CHILD OF GOD BE LOST ETERNALLY?
This question has occasioned much discussion, both in private conversation and in public debates. It, therefore, merits a careful study.
As we begin, there are a few clear-cut facts blazoned across the pages of the Bible that should make it easy to answer. Before we go into a more detailed study, let us notice these broad outlines of the subject
- First: Followers of Christ are exhorted to be faithful unto death if they are to receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10). And also, “Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21). It is essential that we overcome in order that our names not be blotted out of the book of life (Revelation 3:5)
Second: We are told that if we add the things outlined by Peter
(2 Peter 1:5-11) we “shall never fall.” This certainly teaches that one can and may fall, and that entrance into the “everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” is conditional.
Third: We have teaching and prophecies where some would fall away. (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:13)
Fourth: We are admonished to restore the fallen (Galatians 6: 1; James. 5:19-20); and we are told what to do in order to be restored back into God’s favor. (Acts 8:22; James 5:16). If one can not fall, there would be none to restore; and those who depart from the truth are certainly in a lost condition.
- (1) This is spoken to saved persons, “brethren.” Therefore, “brethren” redeemed by the blood of Christ may err from the truth.
(2) No one can err from or depart from a position he has never held, or truth he has never embraced.
(3) Those who err from the truth are lost unless they are converted from the error of their way.
- 1. A failure to consider ALL THE BIBLE REVEALS ON THE SUBJECT.
Some give undue emphasis to passages that set forth God’s love and concern for His people. With these only before them, they exclaim, “Surely God’s people can never be lost.” However, there are many passages setting forth the fact that man’s salvation is conditional upon his part. We must accept all the Bible teaches on the subject in order to ascertain the truth upon it. God loves and cares for all men. If salvation is unconditional upon man’s part, then all men will be saved. Man cannot save himself apart from Christ; neither has Christ promised to save the disobedient. (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:9).
2. Because of not understanding WHEN and WHERE one receives eternal life. Often in language the prophetic future or future present—a present tense with a future meaning is used. For instance, seven centuries before the birth of Christ, Isaiah said: “unto us a child IS BORN, unto us a son IS GIVEN “ (Isaiah 9:6). Before Gideon put the camp of the Midianites to flight, God said to him, “I have delivered it into thy hand” (Judges 7:9). One has spiritual life if he has Christ, but he must be faithful unto the end to come into actual possession of eternal life where he cannot lose it.
- a. Jesus said that they who forsake all and follow Him shall receive “in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:30).
b. Paul said God would “render to every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life.” (Romans 2:6-7); and that Christians labor “in hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2; 3:7).
c. Eternal life is something we reap AFTER sowing to the Spirit (Galatians 6:6-7).
d. “But now being made free from sin and become servants of God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification and the END ETERNAL LIFE” (Romans 6:22).
e. Paul told Timothy to “lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12) Would it be sensible to tell a man to lay hold of the plow handles, if he already had hold of them?
- (1) One may deny the faith and become worse than an infidel
(1 Timothy 5:8).
(2) Make shipwreck concerning the faith (1 Timothy 1:19-20)
(3) Depart from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1).
We are saved by grace — but we may fail or fall short of the grace of God (Hebrews 12:15), and fall from grace (Galatians 5:4)
We are saved by love — but we MUST KEEP OURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD (Jude 21). nothing can separate us from the love of God BUT OURSELVES.“For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3).
We are saved by the blood of Jesus --- but AFTER one has been saved “once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift” and “made partaker of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come”; he may count the “blood of the covenant where with he was sanctified an unholy thing” and so despite to the Spirit of grace and be lost (Hebrews 6:4-5; 10:29).
I. The Possibility Of Apostasy Is Evident From The Word “IF”
- 1. “IF that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye shall abide in the Son, and in the Father” (1 John 2:24)
2. “IF ye live after the flesh, ye shall die ... “(Romans 8:13). This cannot refer to physical death for it is appointed unto all men to die a physical death (Hebrews 9:27-28).
3. “But IF we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
4. “IF ye abide in My word, then are you truly My disciples” (John 8:31).
5. “IF we faint not— we shall reap ...” (Galatians 6:9).
6. “IF ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:8-11).
7. “IF we hold fast” — we become partakers with Christ (Hebrews 3:14).
8. “IF he shrink back, My soul hath no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38).
In reality, we could even now write, PROPOSITION PROVED!
In addition to all the “if” passages, there are many in which Christians are warned and admonished to “take heed” and “beware” lest we depart, fall away, and miss the final reward.
II. Some Parables Of Jesus Teach That The Saved Can Be Lost.
- 1. The Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:13).
“And those on the rock are they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who FOR AWHILE BELIEVE, and in time of temptation FALL AWAY”
2. The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto TEN virgins, not just five. They were all in the kingdom, had all been saved; but they failed to keep their lamps burning, and missed the feast. Many in the kingdom are going to miss heaven.
3. Parable of the Net. (Matthew 13:47-50).
As the bad were gathered out of the net, the wicked will be gathered out of the kingdom and lost “in the end of the world.”
4. The Vine and Branches. (John 15:1-8)
Here again Jesus definitely teaches that a saved person can be lost. The branches represent individuals, saved persons “in Christ.” “Every branch IN ME ...”. “ To them He said, “Already ye are clean...” But they were urged to abide in him or else they would be cut off as a branch, wither, die, and be lost.
5. Parable of the Talents. (Matthew 25:14-30).
The man called “his own servants.” The one who hid his talents was cast out as an “unprofitable servant.” A servant of the Lord lost? Yes. How could language be plainer?
6. Parable of the Unfaithful Servant. (Luke 12:41-48).
The unfaithful servant was “cut asunder” and had his portion appointed “with the unfaithful,” “the unbelievers.” What is the portion of unbelievers? It certainly is not heaven!
III. APOSTASY WAS PROPHESIED.
- 1. To Timothy, Paul wrote:
“But the Spirit saith expressly that in the latter times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).
One cannot fall away from a place he has never been, or a position he has never occupied, or a faith he has never believed. If it is impossible for one once saved by the faith of the gospel to fall away, THEN this prophecy never has been fulfilled and NEVER CAN BE FULFILLED.
2. To the Ephesian elders:
“I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you not sparing the flock: and from among yourselves shall men arises speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30).
IV. EXAMPLES OF APOSTASY PROVE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE.
1. Israelites in the wilderness an example to us. (1 Corinthians 10:1-12).
To save space, we shall not quote this passage; but ask the readers to read it, and study the chart on page 6. Certainly children of God can sin, fall, and be lost. Jesus said if one dies in his sin he will be lost forever an never go to heaven. (John 8:21).
(Continued after the chart)
(First Corinthians 10:1-12)
ISRAELITES
- 1.THEY BELIEVED
(Exodus 14:31; Psalms 106:12)
2.ALL BAPTIZED UNTO MOSES
(1 Corinthians 10:2)
3.ALL WERE SAVED
(Exodus 14:30)
4.WERE CHILDREN OF GOD
(Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:1)
5.ALL ATE SPIRITUAL FOOD
(1 Corinthians 10:3)
6.ALL DRANK SPIRITUAL DRINK
(1 Corinthians 10:4)
7.MANY COMMITTED FORNICATION, AND
FELL, (1 Corinthians 10:8)
8.SOME COMMITTED OTHER SINS AND PERISHED
(1 Corinthians 10:9-10)
9.SAVED AFTERWARD DESTROYED
(Jude 5)
CHRISTIANS
1.CHRISTIANS BELIEVE
(1 Corinthians 8:6)
2.ALL BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
(Romans 6:3, 4; Galatians 3:27)
3.ALL SAVED, SANCTIFIED
(Mark 16:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2)
4.ARE CHILDREN OF GOD
(1 John 3:1,2)
5.ALL EAT SPIRITUAL FOOD
(John 6:51; 1 Corinthians 3:2)
6.ALL DRINK SPIRITUAL DRINK (John 7:37; Revelation 22:17)
7.WE CAN COMMIT FORNICATION AND FALL
(1 Corinthians 10:8)
8.WE CAN COMMIT OTHER SINS AND BE LOST
(1 Corinthians 10:9-10)
9.SAVED, MAY BE DESTROYED
(Matthew 10:28; James 5:19, 20)
“Wherefore Let Him That Thinketh He Standeth Take Heed Lest He Fall”
(1 Corinthians 10:12)
2. Judas fell “by transgression” (Acts 1:25). Judas was not a devil from the beginning. He received his apostleship along with the other Apostles, and he also could cast out devils (Matthew 10:4-5, 8). “How can Satan cast out Satan?” (Mark 3:23). Satan entered into Judas.
“And SATAN ENTERED INTO JUDAS who was called Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve” (Luke 22:3). “And after the sop, THEN ENTERED SATAN INTO HIM” (John 13:27).
3. Ananias and Sapphira sinned and died liars and hypocrites (Acts 5:1-10). “And all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brim stone; which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
4. Simon the Sorcerer. (Acts 8:13-24).
“And Simon also himself believed . . .” It is emphasized that he had the same kind of faith, baptism, and salvation that the Samaritans had that are mentioned in v. 12. He “continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.” He later sinned by trying to buy the gift of transferring miraculous power to others as the Apostles had. (vv. 18, 19). And Peter said to him:
“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray the Lord if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:22,23)
If he did not repent and pray and was not forgiven, could he have gone to heaven in his sin, unforgiven?
5. Some of the Galatians. “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). They had obeyed the gospel of Christ, but had quickly removed from Christ to a perverted gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). They ran the Christian race well for a short time. Paul said to them:
“Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?”(Galatians 5:7).
The Greek of Galatians 5:4 is significant and forceful in sustaining the fact that children of God — can and did fall from grace. Prof. A. T. Robertson, for a long time teacher of Greek in Southern Baptist university, Louisville, Ky., says:
“Ye are severed from Christ” (katergethete apo Christou). First aorist passive of katargeo, to make null and void as in Romans 7:2,6.” (Word Pictures in the NT).
The Expositor’s Greek Testament, says:
“This verb is applied with comprehensive force to any destruction of growth and life, physical or spirituals beneficial or deleterious. Joined with APO it denotes loss of some essential element of life by the severance of previous intimate relations, e. g., annulment by death of a wife’s obligations to her husband (Romans vii.2), and emancipation from the control of the law by spiritual death (Romans vii.6). Here, in like manner, it denotes paralysis of spiritual life by severance of union with Christ.” (Vol. III, p. 184).
It cannot be successfully argued that if one falls from grace he never was saved in the first place. Note carefully the remark that this verb “Joined with apo it denotes loss of some essential element of life by severance of previous intimate relations.” How could “union with Christ” be severed UNLESS there had been such a union? On this verse, Prof. Robertson further says:
“Ye are fallen away from grace" (tes charitos exepesate). Second aorist active indicative of ekpipto (with A variable vowel of the first aorist) and followed by the ablative cage. ‘Ye did fall out of grace,’ ‘ye left the sphere of grace in Christ and took your stand in the sphere of law’ as your hope of salvation” (op. cit., p. 309).
The ablative case is the case that shows separation The verb ekpipto is made up of pipto, to fall, and ek the preposition that shows coming from within, from the inside to the outside. The Galatians could not leave the sphere of grace unless they had previously been in it. Here, as Prof. Robertson points out, they “did fall out of grace.” Yes, some with previous intimate relations with Christ, in the sphere of grace, actually FELL OUT OF GRACE; and lost their “spiritual life by severance of union with Christ.” This settles the question. We can now write, “case closed”— proposition proved!
LAST STATE WORSE THAN FIRST
Not only is the evidence conclusive that those once saved can and. some will be lost; but we are told that the last state is worse than the first.
The force of this cannot be side-stepped by saying that the sow was still a sow.
She was dirty; she was washed and made clean; and AFTERWARDS she went back to wallowing in the mire. Man is a sinner; he can be cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus in believing and obeying the gospel; and AFTERWARDS he may return to a life of sin. If and when he does, the last state is worse than the first.
This is a nauseating but graphic picture But it is no less nauseating than the “once saved, always saved” doctrine Those who so contend say that the outer man can sin and does sin, but that the inner man cannot sin, and is not responsible for what the outer man does. Take a look at this doctrine in its true light. If the alien sinner lies, steals, murders, and commits adultery, he will be lost in hell eternally if he dies in this state of sinfulness. But if a child of God lies, steals, murders, and commits adultery, he will sweep right into heaven because merely the outer man did these things and the inner man was not responsible.
No wonder we are warned against those who would turn “the grace of God into lasciviousness.” (Jude 4).
We hasten to say that we are not charging all our friends who teach “once saved, always saved” with the consequence of this doctrine. Some do not realize the logical end of it; and others would not carry it maybe so far. But the consequences and logical end should be considered. It will help those who are honestly seeking truth to give it up.
The nauseating consequences should help all who have espoused this doctrine of the impossibility of apostasy, “once saved, always saved” to renounce it.
IF it is impossible for a child of God to so sin as to be eternally lost, THEN
- 1. The many warnings against such are meaningless.
2. Words do not carry and express thoughts.
3. Men need not heed God’s warnings, or obey His commands.
4. We need not pray, “lead us not into temptation.”
5. There is no need to be watchful and beware of the devices of Satan.
6. Immorality will not send anyone to hell, we can live after the flesh and not die spiritually or be lost eternally.
To teach that God commands men not to do things that it is impossible for them to do. Children of God are commanded:
- 1. Not to lie(Colossians 3:9).
2. Not to steal (Ephesians 4:28).
3. Not to get drunk (Ephesians 5:18).
4. To flee fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18).
5. Not to call his brother a fool (Matthew 5:22).
Therefore, it is possible for them to commit it. Therefore they can lie, steal, get drunk, commit fornication, and call their brother a fool.
“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling . . . “ (Hebrews 3:1) are admonished (there is no doubt but that they were saved — they were “holy brethren, and partakers of a heavenly calling”).
(Hebrews 4:11)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Lord's Day
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10)
The term Lord’s is translated from the Greek word Kuriakos. Vine defines the word as “pertaining to a lord or master” Thayer says, “of or belonging to the Lord.” Thayer also states that in Revelation 1:10, the Lord’s day, is “the day devoted to the Lord, sacred to the memory of Christ’s resurrection.”
The same term is used in 1st. Corinthians 11:20, regarding the Lord’s supper or communion. The church at Corinth had defiled the Lord’s supper to the point that Paul in so many words says, “You should be coming together to eat the Lord’s supper, but because you have defiled it, what you are doing when you come together can not even be called the Lord’s supper.”
Most Christians have a clear understanding of the relationship between Christ and the Lord’s supper. To separate Christ from the supper would render the supper void and useless. The connection or attachment between Christ and the communion cannot be overstated.
According to the statement made by the apostle John, (Revelation 1:10)there is also and inseparable union between Christ and one of the days of the week for it is called the Lord’s day. Lord’s day, Lord’s supper --- they are equal as far as relationship to Christ is concerned. Just as the supper pertains and belongs to the Lord so does the Lord’s day pertain to and belong to the Lord.
and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat” (Amos 8:5).
At the time of this writing by Amos the prophet, Israel had a mind for rebellion and disobedience. They desired to “buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes.” They wanted to cheat in the weights and measures for selling grain and other produce. They hoped for a time when they would not be restricted against selling or doing business on the monthly feast days and on the Sabbath. So, they asked, “When will the Sabbath and the new moon be gone.” Amos tells them that the land shall tremble for this evil. He warns that great destruction will come upon the people as a penalty for their sins. However, he also answers the question, “When will the Sabbath be gone?”
When will the Sabbath be gone? When the sun goes down at noon and the earth is darkened on a clear day. Did this ever happen and if so when? The words of the prophet were fulfilled at the crucifixion of Christ.
The sixth hour, Jewish time, corresponds with our 12 o’clock noon. The ninth hour corresponds with our 3 p.m. Therefore, when Jesus was on the cross the sun went down at noon and the earth was darkened on a clear day. From that moment forward the Sabbath was no longer binding on God’s people, for Jesus took it out of the way and nailed it, along with the rest of the law of Moses, to his cross.
Feast days, refers to yearly festivals such as the Passover, Pentecost, feast of atonement, feast of tabernacles and of the trumpets (Leveticus 23). New moons refers to the monthly observances and Sabbaths refers to the weekly Sabbaths. All these the writer
says, will “cease.”
After Paul, in Colossians 2:14, explains how that Christ took the ordinances of the law of Moses out of the way and nailed them to His cross, he went on to say:
Meat and drink refers to the daily sacrifices, holiday refers to the yearly feasts, new moon the monthly feasts, and the Sabbath days to the 7th day observance.
Hosea said all these observances would cease. Paul says since Christ died on the cross, they have ceased. Since Christ nailed these ordinances to his cross no man has a right to judge a Christian because he no longer observes these old Jewish holidays.
relationship to Christ as set forth in the following points of scripture.
This passage should settle the question as to what day Jesus was raised from the dead. However, since the KJV says, “Now when Jesus was risen,” some who desire to keep the 7th day claim that Jesus was already risen when the women came to the tomb and therefore, they say, he was raised from the dead on the 7th day of the week.
Luke 24 offers absolute proof that Jesus was raised on the first day. Jesus himself stated that he would be raised on the third day following his crucifixion (Luke 24:46). While walking on the road to Eminaus, Cleopas told Christ, “today is the third day,” since Jesus was delivered, condemned to death, and crucified (Luke 24:13-21). Verse 13 declares that the journey to Emmaus was on the same day the women went to the tomb. So Jesus was raised the day the women went to the tomb, the same day Cleopas went to Emmaus which was the 3rd day since Jesus had died. What day was it? Luke 24:1, says the women went to the tomb on the first day of the week. The women did not go to the tomb on the Sabbath day nor was the Sabbath the 3rd day following the death of Jesus. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, which is our Sunday.
When the Jews heard the preaching of Peter and the other apostles on the day of Pentecost, 3000 responded in repentance and baptism and the Lord added to the church such as should be saved (Acts 2:36-47). This is the first time in the new testament that the word church is used in the existing sense. Previous to this time you will find the word church mentioned in the future tense, such as; “upon this rock I will build my church,” Matthew 16:18. Upon the obedience of the penitent Jews the church was thus started.
Pentecost was one of 5 Jewish celebrations commanded in Leviticus 23. Beginning, at a specific Sabbath, the Jews were to number 7 Sabbaths complete. Seven dines 7 equal 49 days. The day following the 7th Sabbath was the “fiftieth” day which is the exact meaning of the word Pentecost. Since Pentecost or the 50th day ‘followed a Sabbath or 7th day, the day of Pentecost always fell on the fist day of the week. The church, then had its beginning on the first day of the week.
Paul commanded a collection to be taken on the first day of the week (1st. Corinthians 16:1-3) Those who practice Sabbath keeping claim this was a special collection that would not be continued after Paul came to take it to Jerusalem. Please note the passage does not say, “that there be no more collection ever gain, after I come,” but says simply that they were to take a collection each first day so the funds would be ready when Paul or others arrived. Nothing is said to prove that they would not continue the first day collection every first day of the week after Paul departed Corinth for Jerusalem. The first day is distinguished by this act of giving in the assembly on each first day of the week.
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A Listing of Further Studies
- Becoming A Mature Christian
- The Bible Steps To Salvation
- Achieving Unity in the church belonging to Jesus Christ
- Christian Dating and Marriage
- Christian Moral Issues
- Christian’s Expoistor Journal Archieved Issues
- Have Miracles Ceased?
- Rebuking a brother or sister
- Structured Bible Study Methods
- The Church Belonging to Christ
- The Communion of Christ
- The Second Comming of Christ
- Topical Bible Studies
- Women’s Role in the Church
- Worshipping God in Spirit AND Truth