Online home for members of the Body of Christ for the training and promotion of the Children of God as Ambassadors for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20).
Showing posts with label Eternal Security. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eternal Security. Show all posts
Paul was directed by the Holy Spirit to write to fellow Christians, “ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). What a difference it would make in the life and behavior and service of Christians, if they would permit the Holy Spirit to teach them and constantly remind them that the LORD of Glory, Who suffered on the cross of Calvary, the eternal, omnipotent, sinless Christ, was the Creator of the heavens and the earth; and that this world belongs to Christ by right of creation AND by right of redemption. Little wonder then that God, the Father, desires that God, the Son, in all things should have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18).
We should be able to understand the meaning of Philippians 4:19 when we read Romans 8:32. Note these two verses: “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”, and, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
Surely now we can understand better Colossians 3:23 and Colossians 3:17: “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily (from the soul), as to the LORD, and not unto men.”, and, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the NAME of the LORD Jesus, giving thanks unto God the Father by Him.”
Some saved church members join with the great number of unsaved assembly members in their comment, “this is taking religion too seriously.” The great majority of saved assembly members give little heed to Colossians 3:16, “let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” There it is again, another very important ‘LET’ in Philippians 4:6-7, which it behooves every Christian to obey in these days of uncertainty, unrest, of international political, economic, and religious confusion, “Be careful (anxious, full of worry) for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, ‘LET’ your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth (is greater than, SURpasseth) all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Let us never forget the words of our LORD Jesus Christ, in John 12:26 and John 5:23, and let us, by God’s Grace and power, obey 1 Corinthians 15:58. Note the truth in these verses. Christ said, “if any man serve Me, Him will My Father honor”, “That all men should honor the Son even AS they honor the Father: he that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father Who hath sent Him.” “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always, abounding in the ‘WORK OF THE LORD’, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain ‘IN THE LORD’.”
“Be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10). “Knowing that of the LORD ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the LORD Christ.” (Colossians 3:25).
Surely as we meditate upon what we have quoted from God’s Book, the Bible, we must know that the Christian belongs to Christ; that he is not his own; that he is bought with a price, the precious shed blood of the Eternal Christ. (1 Peter 1:18-23). We should know what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, “the love of Christ constraineth us.” (2 Corinthians 5:14). Before Paul wrote this to the Corinthian Christians he wrote, in 1 Corinthians 16:22, “if any man love not the LORD Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha” (“accursed, the LORD coming”). Another apostle, John, wrote; “we love Him, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).
Remember that assembly, congregation, denomination members, (whatever you want to call them), however decent, respectable, moral, kind, gentle, religious and zealous, who DENY the eternal DEITY (that means He is GOD) and virgin birth of our LORD Jesus Christ, His perfect, sinless life, His vicarious death, His resurrection and ascension in a body, are called deceivers and antichrist (2 John 7); and they make God a liar, because they believe not the record that God hath given of His Son. (1 John 5:10).
Inasmuch as the LORD Jesus Christ, Who is now in heaven appearing in God’s presence for Christians (Hebrews 9:24 and Hebrews 7:25), is the Author and Finisher of our Faith, and wants all Christians to be Faithful Ambassadors, witnesses, and laborers, we do not want it said of us what is being said concerning so many denomination members, “they practice Christianity only when it is convenient and entails no sacrifice, hardship nor suffering.” And SHAME on the "spiritual" leaders...Pastors, Preachers, and Teachers, who have changed conviction for convenience. (John 12:43, Galatians 1:10, and Jude 16).
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
Just before the LORD Jesus closed His ministry on earth He said to His disciples, “if the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. if ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:18-19). “I have spoken unto you that ‘IN ME’ ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Then Christ said concerning His disciples, in His prayer to His Father, “THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16). Meditate on that verse for a few moments and try to grasp what the LORD is saying.
It would seem from these words of the LORD Jesus Christ that Christians would know that the term ‘worldly Christian’ seems to be paradoxical. Note how the world is described in 1 John 2:16, “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is NOT of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth Forever.” Therefore Christians are instructed, in 1 John 2:15, “love not the world, neither the things in the world: if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” “The friendship of the world is enmity with God, whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4).
The unsaved person is said to walk ‘according to the course of this world’. (Ephesians 2:2). God thus instructs the saved person: “be not conformed to this world.” (Romans 12:2).
In Colossians 3, God explains to the Christian the meaning of Christ’s words in the seventeenth chapter of John, that the Christian is ‘IN THE WORLD’; but is ‘NOT OF THE WORLD’. Every Christian should read Colossians 3 at least one thousand times, and then by God’s all-sufficient Grace and almighty power, try to obey the command, “be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only.” There is no higher spiritual truth in the entire Bible than in Colossians 3, which begins, ”if ye then be raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, NOT on things on the earth, Put to death therefore your members upon the earth”. After mentioning some of the sinful habits that are to be put away, these words of warning are added: “for which things’s sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” (Colossians 3:6).
Note in this same Epistle to the Christians, or saints, what the LORD’s spiritual leaders wished for all of the Christians, and that for which they prayed fervently: “that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12)…“that ye might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that ye might walk worthy of the LORD unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10).
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
A young man waited around recently in a meeting to talk with me. The first question I put to him was, "Are you saved?" He replied, "I hope so." I said, "Do you hope that Christ died for your sins?" He said, "I know He did." Then I asked, "Do you hope that you believe on Him?" He said, "I am sure that I do." I then read to him these words from the Word of God: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth Him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed out of death into life." John 5:24.
"Do you truly believe?" I asked the young man. "I most certainly do", was his reply. Then said I, "Are you saved?" He said, "I can only say...I hope so." I said "Forget what YOU say, but what does the Word say? Read it for yourself.""Heareth "believeth" hath everlasting life.""Does it say that if you hear and believe you have the right to hope that some day you might be saved?" "No," he said, "hath everlasting life." Then, I said, "why do you not believe it and have the assurance?" He said, "I wish I could."
Dear friends of the Lion and Lamb Ministry, dear Christians the world over, do not dishonor the LORD Jesus Christ, by doubting his Holy Word.
Satan causes many unsaved religious people to feel that they are perfectly safe and that all is well with their souls; while on the other hand he brings doubt and fear into the minds and hearts of many true believers who are really saved, but who are untaught in the Word of God. Many such believers when asked the direct question, Are you a Christian? or Are you saved? reply "I believe so" "I think I am, or, I hope to be saved when I die."
Many Christians are being taught by ignorant teachers to do all kinds of things to keep from losing their salvation. Others depend very largely for their assurance upon their feelings of their faithfulness in service. The Bible speaks of believers as those: "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, Wherein ye greatly rejoice." 1 Peter 1:5.
The sinner is saved by the power of God through The Faith; and receiving the salvation, he becomes a Christian. The Christian is kept by the same power; by the same God; through the same Faith. Let us refer to three verses in the Epistle to the Romans and emphasize the expression "much more" "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. MUCH MORE then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, MUCH MORE, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" Romans 5:8-20.
Certainly if God loved us when we were the children of wrath, when we were His enemies, out in the world in sin, serving the devil, He will not love us any less, now that we have become His children. Looking moment by moment to our Father for grace and strength and guidance, we should walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. We should seek to please Him in thought, word and deed; that is, we should act like God's children. But we are His children by Faith in Christ Jesus. By grace are ye saved. "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform (further perfect) it until the day of Jesus Christ."Philippians 1:6.
A Christian should be confident that the same sufficient grace of the same almighty Savior, that saved his soul, will keep him until the day of redemption."Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall at appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2.
Let us always remember that it is the Gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. When you believed the gospel of salvation, "Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession." Ephesians 1:13-14. And furthermore God clearly states that this sealing is "unto the day of redemption,"Ephesians 4:30. "For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."Hebrews 13:5.
Can you not rest, as the Apostle Paul did, in the gracious promises of the faithful God? Paul said, "in hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."Titus 1:2. Therefore he had always sweet and blessed assurance.
Paul was willing to rest his soul in the One who died for him, and who had taken His seat in heaven, where He ever liveth to make intercession for His saints, and who is, therefore, "able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God, by Him." Hebrews 7:25.
It was this same Christ who declared to His disciples in the John 10, that He was the Good Shepherd who would give His life for the sheep. In this chapter He said: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."John 10:28-29. Eternal life is eternal life. It is not life for a few months, for a few years. It is life that is forever. And remember Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." John 6:47. When He entered heaven once for all, He obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12.
Eternal life never depends upon our faithfulness in service; it is the gift of God to believers. Romans 6:23
Our desire always should be to be faithful in service for Him who has done so much for us, and who said, "If any man serve me, him will my Father honor.†But at the same time we should say at all times, “And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God, by faith."Philippians 3:9. We are not righteous in God's sight, because of our righteous acts, but because of the acts of Christ, the Righteous. We should live righteously because we are on the way to heaven. But we are not on the way because we live righteously, but because we are righteous by The Faith in the One who was made sin on the cross of Calvary that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor. 5:21. We are not discounting the value of good works, but want to impress upon your mind and heart that the believer is justified without works. Christians should always maintain good works.
In Exodus 12 is recorded the story of the Passover. The children of Israel were instructed to slay the lamb and sprinkle its blood above their doors and thus escape the wrath of God when He came that night in judgment upon all the firstborn males of Egypt. God said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you."
"Under the blood" was the only place of safety that dark night. No one was safe because he felt all right, or felt safe.
How many thousands of poor deluded sinners there are today on the road to perdition, to suffer forever the sorrows of the second death, who FEEL all right. They are apparently not the least disturbed about their spiritual welfare or their eternal destiny. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
The story has been told of two Hebrew boys, the firstborn sons, who were delivered that night in Egypt. Their fathers had been very careful to see that the blood was placed where God had told them. Therefore, the two boys were perfectly safe and in no danger of judgment. But, according to the story, there were two entirely different scenes in the two homes. The boy in one home went peacefully to sleep, having absolute confidence in God's promise and the assurance that he would rise to see another day. In the other home, the boy spent a sleepless and restless night and continually had to be reassured by his father as to the faithfulness of God and his own security under the blood. When the morning came he was just as much alive as the other firstborn, but he was worn in mind and body, and he was ashamed because of his lack of trust and confidence in the almighty Deliverer. Both boys were equally safe, but they were by no means equally certain and assured. So it is with Christians today. Are you not safe, sheltered under the precious blood of Christ?
It is dishonoring to God for any true believer to doubt his salvation!
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father." Romans 8:15. "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." Romans 8:16. And joint-heirs with Christ. Is it not blessed to be saved for time and eternity? Let us remember that "Jesus having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." John 13:1.
Do you doubt that God will hear and answer the prayer which Christ made for His own: "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou has given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory?" John 17:24. We believe our Savior. And because we believe Him, we are going to say with Paul: "I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."Romans 8:38-39.
If you have really surrendered to the Son of God and are trusting in His finished work, if you have thrown yourself on the Grace and merry of God for your salvation, in other words, if you have committed your way unto the LORD and you are also trusting in Him, remember that he will bring it to pass. Do not say, "I think I am saved," "I hope I am saved," "I believe I am saved:" But say, "I know I am saved." God says so. "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:" 1 John 5:13.
If you know that you believe, then you know that you are saved. Why? Because God's Word says so. And, "He, that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself." 1 John 5:10.
Now, bow and thank God for your assurance!
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
All true Christians believe in three Persons in one God‑head: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Three in One and One in Three, and the One in the middle died for me. The LORD Jesus Christ said, “Baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”Matthew 28:19
The personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, are clearly set forth in the Scriptures. Christ said, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter (or Paraclete).” John 14:16 . This is the same word translated “Advocate.” 1 John 2:2 . When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God. Acts 5:3-4 . “And the Holy Spirit said”Acts 13:2 . “The Holy Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”Romans 8:26 .
In the Old Testament Scriptures the Second and Third Persons of the God‑head were latent; in the New Testament Scriptures they are patent. Christ, beginning with the Book of Matthew is patent; The Holy Spirit, beginning with the Book of the Acts is patent.
The dispensation of the Holy Spirit was ushered in after the resurrection of the Son of God. Before the Son of God went to the cross “the Holy Spirit was not yet given” John 7:39 .
When The LORD Jesus Christ was here on earth, He said:
Therefore the Holy Spirit is a Person as truly as is God, the Father.
Now, PAY ATTENTION, It is unscriptural for any Christian to pray for, or to seek for, more of the Holy Spirit.However, It is all right to pray that the Holy Spirit may have more of the child of God.
It is likewise unscriptural to ask God to send down the Holy Spirit from Heaven. When Christ was on earth He said, “I came down from heaven.” The Bible says that the Holy Spirit has been sent down from heaven. 1 Peter 1:12 . How foolish would John have been, had he looked up to heaven and prayed for God to send down from heaven His Son, when John’s head was leaning on His bosom at the time. It is equally as foolish for a Christian with the Holy Spirit in his bosom to pray that the Third Person be sent down from heaven today.
Note: in Ephesians 1:3 and Ephesians 1:19-23 that the Christian has all blessings and power and therefore it is unscriptural to seek a second blessing called Holy Spirit baptism.
The Holy Spirit bears witness of the resurrection of the believer’s sonship. Romans 8:16 . He is the believer’s assurance of his incorruptible inheritance at the LORD’s coming. Ephesians 1:14 . Therefore he is the witness of the LORD’s return. Ephesians 4:30 .
Just as truly as there is one Father and one Son, there is one Spirit, and one Body. Ephesians 4:4 . And, just as truly as there are infidels in the congregations preaching another Jesus, there are fanatics in the congregations preaching another spirit. 2 Cor. 11:4 .
The world cannot receive the Spirit. John 14:17 . The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. John 16:8 . If the sinner under conviction yields to the Sinbearer, he is drawn by the Spirit to the Son. John 6:44 . Then he is born of the Spirit.John 3:5 .
As no one can work for salvation, which is a free gift from God, no one can work for the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit by the hearing of The Faith. Galatians 3:2 . The Holy Spirit is given unto believers. Romans 5:5 . Therefore we do not have to agonize or go through physical contortions or have others put hands on us in order to receive the Holy Spirit. I pray I am being clear on this! It’s important.
Notice the three persons of the Trinity in these verses: “Now He which establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” 2 Cor. 1:21-22 . The proof that we are in Christ, is the Spirit in our hearts. By this Spirit we are sealed when we BELIEVE. Ephesians 1:13 . “After that ye believed” in this verse is properly translated from the original, “having believed”
No Christian is ever sealed because of an interval between the time of believing and the time of sealing; but every Christian is sealed by the Holy Spirit, because he believes the Gospel of Grace of his salvation. Moreover he is sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 .
No Christian could possibly have the experience of the certain disciples whom Paul met in Ephesus. They had previously received John’s message and baptism, which have had no place in the Body of Christ since that time. Acts 19:1-5 . Paul’s question should be correctly translated, “Having believed, received ye the Holy Spirit.”Acts 19:2 . Take NOTE: The anointing which the believer receives when first he believes abides in him. 1 John 2:27 .
There is one Spirit and one baptism.Ephesians 4:4 . When an individual is born into the family of God, by the work of the Holy Spirit, he is taken into, and made a member of the Body of Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit which puts the believer into the Body of Christ is called, “Baptized in or by the Holy Spirit”1 Corinthians 12:13 .
People who call themselves Christians are doing all sorts of peculiar things today in an effort to receive the Holy Spirit baptism. Some are being taught that believers receive the Holy Spirit WITH them when saved by faith in the finished work of God, repentance and water baptism; and then they must pray and tarry and yield for a second work of grace in order to receive the Holy Spirit IN them. THIS teaching is contrary to the Word of God and has wrecked the faith and sanity of many converted people.
Some of these false teachers often quote the experience of Peter and the Eleven who were saved with Christ in the days of His flesh, and then were baptized by the Holy Spirit after His resurrection. Let us remember that they were His disciples before His death, that is, before the Holy Spirit was given. John 7:39 . They were with Him while He was under The Law, preaching the Kingdom of Heaven message to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Galatians 4:4 . Matthew 10:1-5 . Those disciples had the unique experience of living, as disciples of Jesus, before His death and resurrection in the Old Testament and also after His resurrection in the New Testament.
As it would be impossible historically to have such an experience today, it would likewise be impossible for any believer to have their experience in receiving the Holy Spirit as an act subsequent to regeneration or conversion.
Now, the Christian, who is sealed with the Holy Spirit, can grieve the Holy Spirit and can quench the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30 . 1 Thessalonians 5:19 . It is the duty of every Christian to walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 . All Christians are temples of the Holy Spirit but very few of them are walking in the Spirit in the degree that they should. When a Christian walks in the Spirit he manifests the Fruit of the Spirit, against which there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 . He fulfills the righteousness of the law.Romans 8:4 .
All true Christians have been baptized by the Holy Spirit, but how few today are obeying the Word of God in this command, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit”Ephesians 5:18 . The Christian who has the sweetest fellowship with the LORD, who experiences the greatest joy of salvation, who serves God with the greatest power, who triumphs over the world, the flesh and the devil, is the one who is filled with the Holy Spirit.
The believer is thus filled just in the proportion that he is yielded to the will and way of the LORD in worship, prayer, Bible study, testimony, and practical Christian service.
Tarrying Meetings for members of the Body of Christ to receive the Holy Spirit are unscriptural. However, Prayer Meetings for an increase of The Faith, willingness and obedience to receive the power of Ephesians 1:19-23 are altogether Scriptural. No believer receives the Holy Spirit on the installment plan. Believers filled with the Holy Spirit will exalt Christ.
During the “Acts” period, the thirty plus years from Acts 1:1 to Acts 28:31 , there were several baptisms, “Holy Spirit baptism”in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, “water baptism” and “baptism into the death of Christ”Acts 2:16-38 . Acts 19:1-7 . Romans 6:3-4 . Joel prophesied concerning the “last days” particularly concerning Israel’s kingdom age. Joel 2:28-30 , concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, will not be fulfilled during this “grace” period. Whatever we may have in mind when we speak of Holy Spirit baptism, let us never forget that the anointing of the Holy Spirit is a once‑for‑all anointing. 1 John 2:27 ; that the sealing, anointing and baptism, of, in, or by, the Holy Spirit is always a past experience with the true Child of God!
“But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified” John 7:39 .
“What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are NOT YOUR OWN? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s.”1 Corinthians 6:19-20 .
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
When the sinner becomes a Christian, he receives a new nature from God; He or she is now a NEW direct creation of God, he becomes a partaker of the Divine nature. "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name" John 1:12.Because the Christian does not lose his old sinful nature, he is soon conscious of warfare within.
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary one to the other; so that ye may not do the things that ye would." Galatians 5:17. Christians have tried all kinds of religious schemes and joined all kinds of fanatical movements to get rid of their sinful natures. Many of them have deceived themselves, but no one else, into believing that they have been successful. There are many who claim for themselves that they have reached, through a second work of grace, the state of sinless perfection. Such a doctrine and position is not only contrary to Scripture, but contrary to the experience of any and every Christian.
However, there is victory in Christ for every fully yielded believer
The Apostle Paul has well described the believer's experience in these words, "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." Romans 7:22-23. Notwithstanding this warfare, he exhorts his fellow saints in these words, "Let not sin therefore REIGN in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." Romans 6:12. It is one thing for sin to dwell in the believer; it is another thing for sin to reign in him. The believer is urged to be constantly on his guard, to be sober, vigilant, prayerful, yielding himself moment by moment to the Lord.
"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.
This does not mean that the Christian will lose his salvation, but he can fall into sin, if he does not do that which he is commanded to do, which is..."Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." Romans 6:13. He is likewise commanded, "Submit yourselves unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7.
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4. It is because of this great fact that God instructs us, "Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:11. For said Paul, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13."This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:16.
There is victory for the Christian in the Lord, and this victory comes by walking in the Spirit. All who thus walk fulfill the righteousness of the law by manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law. Romans 8:4. Galatians 5:22. "And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1."If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8.
In previous messages we have dealt with the Christian's conflict with the world and the devil, but we are here dealing with an enemy which in this life never leaves us nor forsakes us, but which will hinder, defeat and disgrace us unless we are ever and always yielded to the LORD, and can truly say, "The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and Who gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20.
When we are born of our parents we inherit a nature of sin which abides with us as long as we abide on this earth. When we are born of God we receive a Divine nature. We are born from above. With such Divine power we can put to death the deeds of the flesh. The old man came to an end at Calvary, as we see from Romans 6:3-6. Believers died with Him, this is a SUPER important point. But the believer must constantly put off the old man and put on the new. "That ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man...And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4:24.
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6:11-14.
In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
A young man waited around recently in a meeting to talk with me. The first question I put to him was, “Are you saved?” He replied, “I hope so.” I said, “Do you hope that Christ died for your sins?” He said, “I know He did.” Then I asked, “Do you hope that you believe on Him?” He said, “I am sure that I do.” I then read to him these words from the Word of God: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth Him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed out of death into life.” John 5:24.
“Do you truly believe?” I asked the young man. “I most certainly do”, was his reply. Then said I, “Are you saved?” He said, “I can only say ‘I hope so.”’ I said “Forget what YOU say, but what does the Word say? Read it for yourself.” “Heareth…believeth…hath everlasting life.”“Does it say that if you hear and believe you have the right to hope that some day you might be saved?” “No,” he said, “hath everlasting life.” Then, I said, “why do you not believe it and have the assurance?” He said, “I wish I could.” Dear friends of the Lion and Lamb Ministry, dear Christians the world over, do not dishonor the LORD Jesus Christ, by doubting his Holy Word.
Satan causes many unsaved religious people to feel that they are perfectly safe and that all is well with their souls; while on the other hand he brings doubt and fear into the minds and hearts of many true believers who are really saved, but who are untaught in the Word of God. Many such believers when asked the direct question, Are you a Christian? or Are you saved? reply…I believe so…I think I am, or, I hope to be saved when I die.
Many Christians are being taught by ignorant teachers to do all kinds of things to keep from losing their salvation. Others depend very largely for their assurance upon their feelings of their faithfulness in service. The Bible speaks of believers as those: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, Wherein ye greatly rejoice.” 1 Peter 1:5.
The sinner is saved by the power of God through The Faith; and receiving the salvation, he becomes a Christian. The Christian is kept by the same power; by the same God; through the same Faith. Let us refer to three verses in the Epistle to the Romans and emphasize the expression “much more”…“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. MUCH MORE then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, MUCH MORE, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” Romans 5:8-20.
Certainly if God loved us when we were the children of wrath, when we were His enemies, out in the world in sin, serving the devil, He will not love us any less, now that we have become His children. Looking moment by moment to our Father for grace and strength and guidance, we should walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. We should seek to please Him in thought, word and deed; that is, we should act like God’s children. But we are His children by Faith in Christ Jesus. By grace are ye saved. “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform (further perfect) it until the day of Jesus Christ.”Philippians 1:6.
A Christian should be confident that the same sufficient grace of the same almighty Savior, that saved his soul, will keep him until the day of redemption.“Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall at appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2.
Let us always remember that it is the Gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. When you believed the gospel of salvation, “Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.”Ephesians 1:13-14. And furthermore God clearly states that this sealing is “unto the day of redemption,”Ephesians 4:30. “For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”Hebrews 13:5.
Can you not rest, as the Apostle Paul did, in the gracious promises of the faithful God? Paul said, “in hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”Titus 1:2. Therefore he had always sweet and blessed assurance.
Paul was willing to rest his soul in the One who died for him, and who had taken His seat in heaven, where He ever liveth to make intercession for His saints, and who is, therefore, “able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God, by Him.” Hebrews 7:25.
It was this same Christ who declared to His disciples in the John 10, that He was the Good Shepherd who would give His life for the sheep. In this chapter He said: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”John 10:28-29. Eternal life is eternal life. It is not life for a few months, for a few years. It is life that is forever. And remember Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”John 6:47. When He entered heaven once for all, He obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12.
Eternal life never depends upon our faithfulness in service; it is the gift of God to believers. Romans 6:23
Our desire always should be to be faithful in service for Him who has done so much for us, and who said, “If any man serve me, him will my Father honor.” But at the same time we should say at all times, “And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God, by faith.”Philippians 3:9. We are not righteous in God’s sight, because of our righteous acts, but because of the acts of Christ, the Righteous. We should live righteously because we are on the way to heaven. But we are not on the way because we live righteously, but because we are righteous by The Faith in the One who was made sin on the cross of Calvary that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor. 5:21. We are not discounting the value of good works, but want to impress upon your mind and heart that the believer is justified without works. Christians should always maintain good works.
In Exodus 12 is recorded the story of the Passover. The children of Israel were instructed to slay the lamb and sprinkle its blood above their doors and thus escape the wrath of God when He came that night in judgment upon all the firstborn males of Egypt. God said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”
“Under the blood” was the only place of safety that dark night. No one was safe because he felt all right, or felt safe.
How many thousands of poor deluded sinners there are today on the road to perdition, to suffer forever the sorrows of the second death, who FEEL all right. They are apparently not the least disturbed about their spiritual welfare or their eternal destiny. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
The story has been told of two Hebrew boys, the firstborn sons, who were delivered that night in Egypt. Their fathers had been very careful to see that the blood was placed where God had told them. Therefore, the two boys were perfectly safe and in no danger of judgment. But, according to the story, there were two entirely different scenes in the two homes. The boy in one home went peacefully to sleep, having absolute confidence in God’s promise and the assurance that he would rise to see another day. In the other home, the boy spent a sleepless and restless night and continually had to be reassured by his father as to the faithfulness of God and his own security under the blood. When the morning came he was just as much alive as the other firstborn, but he was worn in mind and body, and he was ashamed because of his lack of trust and confidence in the almighty Deliverer. Both boys were equally safe, but they were by no means equally certain and assured. So it is with Christians today. Are you not safe, sheltered under the precious blood of Christ?
It is dishonoring to God for any true believer to doubt his salvation!
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father.” Romans 8:15. “The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16. And joint‑heirs with Christ. Is it not blessed to be saved for time and eternity? Let us remember that “Jesus having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.” John 13:1.
Do you doubt that God will hear and answer the prayer which Christ made for His own: “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou has given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory?” John 17:24. We believe our Savior. And because we believe Him, we are going to say with Paul: “I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Romans 8:38-39.
If you have really surrendered to the Son of God and are trusting in His finished work, if you have thrown yourself on the Grace and merry of God for your salvation, in other words, if you have committed your way unto the LORD and you are also trusting in Him, remember that he will bring it to pass. Do not say, “I think I am saved,” “I hope I am saved,” “I believe I am saved:” But say, “I know I am saved.” God says so. “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:” 1 John 5:13.
If you know that you believe, then you know that you are saved. Why? Because God’s Word says so. And, “He, that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.” 1 John 5:10.
Now, bow and thank God for your assurance!
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
Just before the LORD Jesus closed His ministry on earth He said to His disciples, “if the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. if ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:18-19). “I have spoken unto you that ‘IN ME’ ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Then Christ said concerning His disciples, in His prayer to His Father, “THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16). Meditate on that verse for a few moments and try to grasp what the LORD is saying.
It would seem from these words of the LORD Jesus Christ that Christians would know that the term ‘worldly Christian’ seems to be paradoxical. Note how the world is described in 1 John 2:16, “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is NOT of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth Forever.” Therefore Christians are instructed, in 1 John 2:15, “love not the world, neither the things in the world: if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” “The friendship of the world is enmity with God, whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4).
The unsaved person is said to walk ‘according to the course of this world’. (Ephesians 2:2). God thus instructs the saved person: “be not conformed to this world.” (Romans 12:2).
In Colossians 3, God explains to the Christian the meaning of Christ’s words in the seventeenth chapter of John, that the Christian is ‘IN THE WORLD’; but is ‘NOT OF THE WORLD’. Every Christian should read Colossians 3 at least one thousand times, and then by God’s all-sufficient Grace and almighty power, try to obey the command, “be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only.” There is no higher spiritual truth in the entire Bible than in Colossians 3, which begins, ”if ye then be raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, NOT on things on the earth, Put to death therefore your members upon the earth”. After mentioning some of the sinful habits that are to be put away, these words of warning are added: “for which things’s sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” (Colossians 3:6).
Note in this same Epistle to the Christians, or saints, what the LORD’s spiritual leaders wished for all of the Christians, and that for which they prayed fervently: “that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12)…“that ye might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that ye might walk worthy of the LORD unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10).
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
