ONE CHRISTIAN’S PERSPECTIVE
OF
MAN’S DILEMMA
GOD’S SOLUTION
A work offered by
Steve Lampman
Email: Stevelampman@comcast.net
Website www.stevelampman.com
Copyright 2008 by Steve Lampman
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 978-1-60647-282-8
1
About the Author
It was by the grace of God that Steve was brought to a
saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was by God’s
longsuffering that he has been sustained in that faith.
Steve became a Christian on November 17, 1961 when
as a young marine on liberty he came upon a street
meeting held by Open Air Campaigners for Christ in
the city of Los Angeles, California. For the remaining
three years of his enlistment after coming to faith,
Steve immersed himself in various books and studies
concerning his relationship with Christ.
During those three years he worshipped at Granada
Heights Friends Church in La Mirada, CA. Sunday
mornings and the Church of the Open Door in Los
Angeles, CA. Sunday evenings. Steve was discipled by
three families who were members of Granada Heights
Friends Church and nurtured his faith. To these three
families he will forever be grateful.
Those three years were a tremendous blessing to Steve,
and it was the foundation gained in those three years
that sustained him through several tumultuous years
during which he walked away from a faithful walk
with the Lord and lived as a prodigal son. But thanks
to God, Steve was still a son, and as the prodigal of
Luke 15:8-22 was never disowned by the Father. In
1985, after living a life of riotousness that almost
destroyed him, Steve surrendered to the authority of
God and has since been in service of his Lord and
Savior, Jesus, the Christ.
2
Steve readily acknowledges that it was and is only the
grace of God that allowed him to remain alive during
those years and by His love that Steve was brought
back to fellowship with Him. This grace and love,
Steve believes, is best spoken of in Romans 8:28-29:
“And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he
also called: and who he called, them he also justified:
and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
It is confirmed in this passage that each child of God is
being conformed (being changed) to the image of
Jesus Christ. First, however, God calls that person out
of the world into a loving relationship with Himself,
making him a son. He justifies that person so that they
may have fellowship one with the other and also that
justification makes it possible for him to eventually be
in the very presence of God.
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Spiritual Darkness
Chapter 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
The Depravity of Man
Chapter 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Man’s Will: Free or Otherwise?
Chapter 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
The Fallacy of an Easy Salvation
Chapter 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Faith: Choice or Gift
Chapter 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Grace or Works
Chapter 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Salvation: The Work of God
Chapter 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …77
No Other Name Under Heaven
Chapter 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …83
Born Again
Chapter 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..93
The Empty Cross
Chapter 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..100
Eternal Security
4
Chapter 1
Spiritual Darkness
A short time ago I overheard a conversation in which one
of the conversationalists spoke several words of profanity.
In the next breath, he talked about the men’s group of the
church of which he belonged. Granted, I don’t know the
man’s heart, but something didn’t seem to match up. I
wondered how a man could take the Lord’s name in vain
and yet be a true Christian. Now, I am not suggesting that
any of us is without sin. Each one of us sins every day by
commission or omission. But it seemed by this man’s
language that this was his normal way of expression, and at
best, was not respectful of the Lord, the One who suffered
so greatly for the sake of mankind.
I wondered, “Is this man so blind that he doesn’t realize that
it is an affront to the Lord whenever His name is abused in
this way? Is his heart so calloused that it doesn’t bother
him?” A calloused heart is for another consideration, but in
this work we shall look at spiritual blindness, also known
as spiritual darkness. Spiritual darkness in Scripture is used
symbolically of ignorance and/or spiritual blindness.
Certainly, man was not created this way; God Himself was
satisfied with His creation. Man represented by Adam was
created with a complete (mature) awareness of God. He
was spiritually alive. In fact, in the creation account, we
read that God endowed him with the ability to have
dominion over the earth and all its inhabitants in
accordance with God’s will. This dominion was so
complete that it reflected God’s dominion over all creation.
Consider Genesis 1:26-28: “26And God said, Let us make
man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over
5
every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So
God created man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he them.
28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be
fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue
it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth
upon the earth.”
In addition, there was communication between Adam and
God as seen in Genesis 2:8-17 and 3:8-13:
2:8-17 8
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in
Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9
And
out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree
that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of
life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of
knowledge of good and evil. 10And a river went out of Eden
to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and
became into four heads. 11The name of the first is Pison:
that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah,
where there is gold; 12And the gold of that land is good:
there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 13And the name of the
second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the
whole land of Ethiopia. 14And the name of the third river is
Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria.
And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15And the LORD God
took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress
it and to keep it.
16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of
every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of
it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die.”
6
3:8-13 “8
And they heard the voice of the LORD God
walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and
his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God
amongst the trees of the garden. 9
And the LORD God
called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art
thou? 10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I
was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11And he
said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten
of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest
not eat? 12And the man said, The woman whom thou
gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did
eat. 13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is
this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent
beguiled me, and I did eat.”
There are many points of theology contained in these two
passages, but our consideration at this time is that of the
fellowship and communication that existed between Lord
God and Adam and Eve. Certainly, in the Garden before
Adam’s disobedience, spiritual darkness (blindness) did not
exist. Adam was one with God in thought and deed. God’s
will was Adam’s will. Adam’s desire was to worship and
please God. How, then, did it become a way of life to
profane God in language and lifestyle? How did man
become blind to God’s holiness? How did he become
delusional in thinking he could say or do as he pleased
without consequence?
From Genesis, we learn that Adam disobeyed God and
suffered immediate spiritual death (figurative for spiritual
separation). Adam became so spiritually separated from
holy God that God likened it to death. Just as physical
death separates one from all that is living, so spiritual death
separates one from God. This is why Jesus, in His dialogue
with Nicodemus, said:
7
“3
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom
of God.” (John 3:3).
“5
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6
That which is born
of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. ” (John 3:5-6).
Because of sin, man is not only dead toward and separated
from God (bringing spiritual darkness), but is also alienated
from Him. The progression of sin, commenced in Adam,
was so drastic and rapid, that Adam and Eve’s first
offspring, Cain, because of jealousy and anger killed his
brother Abel (Genesis 4:1-8). Spiritual darkness rapidly
gripped the heart of Cain. He then rejected God’s provision
for the covering of sin, a sin offering that required shedding
of blood. In spiritual darkness he thought to satisfy God’s
righteousness by instituting a sacrifice that was bloodless.
Even though there was a godly line of people who
attempted to follow God through Seth, they were still
willing to give their daughters to men who were not of the
godly line, men possessed by fallen spirit beings. These
unions produced offspring that became so wicked that God
wiped all humanity off the face of the earth except the
family of Noah. “1
And it came to pass, when men began to
multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born
unto them, 2
That the sons of God saw the daughters of men
that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which
they chose. 3
And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always
strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall
be an hundred and twenty years.4
There were giants in the
earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of
God came in unto the daughters of men, and they
bare children to them, the same became mighty men
8
which were of old, men of renown. 5
And God saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every
imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually” (Genesis 6:1-5).
Oh, the depth of spiritual darkness! It resulted in spiritual
death and separation. Without this spiritual death, Adam
and Eve would not have lost the close relationship and
fellowship they enjoyed with the Lord God in the Garden,
Cain would not have killed his brother and unholy
marriages would not have occurred. Spiritual death brought
about wickedness so great that God destroyed all mankind
except Noah and his family.
From Romans 1:18-23, we read of the consequence of
spiritual death: “18For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of
men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that
which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God
hath showed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him
from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal
power and Godhead; so that they are without
excuse:
21Because that, when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but
became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart
was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible
God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to
birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”
Paul is referring in this passage, to the unregenerate
Gentile. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul wrote that the
wrath of God is toward all mankind. That all are guilty, Jew
and Gentile, before God regenerates those He has chosen to
new spiritual life. Consider; “1
And you hath he quickened,
9
who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2
Wherein in time
past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit
that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3
Among
whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of
the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as
others. 4
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us, 5
Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;) 6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”(Ephesians
2:1-6).
The natural propensity of man is to deny the very God they
know exists and worship the creature. First Corinthians
2:14 explains: “But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.” Spiritual darkness is the inability of the natural
man to understand spiritual things, including but not
limited to the truth that Jesus of Nazareth was the anointed
of God. Natural man cannot look at himself, his language,
or his lifestyle with the eyes of God. Consider Jesus’
dialogue in Matthew 15:1-20.
“1
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of
Jerusalem, saying, 2
Why do thy disciples transgress the
tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when
they eat bread. 3
But he answered and said unto them, Why
do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your
tradition? 4
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy
father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother,
let him die the death. 5
But ye say, Whosoever shall say
to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou
mightest be profited by me; 6
And honour not his father or
10
his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the
commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7
Ye
hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8
This
people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and
honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from
me.
9
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men.
10And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear,
and understand: 11Not that which goeth into the mouth
defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this
defileth a man. 12Then came his disciples, and said unto
him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after
they heard this saying? 13But he answered and said, Every
plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be
rooted up. 14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the
blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the
ditch. 15Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare
unto us this parable. 16And Jesus said, Are ye also yet
without understanding? 17Do not ye yet understand, that
whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly,
and is cast out into the draught? 18But those things which
proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and
they defile the man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil
thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false
witness, blasphemies: 20These are the things which defile a
man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”
Perhaps this explains why a person might have a religion,
but not have a heart that is inclined to worship God or does
not see anything wrong with slandering His holy name.
Perhaps some believe this is just a way of expression and
not really an act against God, but isn’t this line of thinking
in contrast to what Jesus said in the above passage or what
Paul was inspired to write in his letter to the Colossians?
11
“5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the
earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6
For
which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children
of disobedience: 7
In the which ye also walked some time,
when ye lived in them. 8
But now ye also put off all these;
anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out
of your mouth. 9
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have
put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the
new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of
him that created him” (Colossians 3:5-10 ).
The wrath of God will eventually be exacted against the
unredeemed. All acts of sinful flesh, including filthy
language, will be judged, and punishment will be exacted
according to God’s standards. Paul admonished the
Ephesian believers (and us) to: “1
Be ye therefore followers
of God, as dear children; 2
And walk in love, as Christ also
hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and
a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3
But
fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not
be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4
Neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5
For this ye know,
that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous
man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God. 6
Let no man deceive you
with vain words: for because of these things cometh the
wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7
Be not ye
therefore partakers with them. 8
For ye were sometimes
darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children
of light: 9
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and
righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable
unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12For it is a
shame even to speak of those things which are done of them
12
in secret. 13But all things that are reproved are made
manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is
light. 14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and
arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15See
then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as
wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are
evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what
the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine,
wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians
5:1-18).
To be filled with the Spirit means to be completely under
His control. What person who is under the control of the
Holy Spirit will ever take God’s name in vain or use
language that does not glorify God and edify man? A
Christian desires to honor and glorify God. The desire to
glorify God and the defamation of His name cannot coexist. A true Christian is God’s child. What son or daughter
desires to bring disgrace to his or her Father? A person who
takes the Lord’s name in vain using it in a slanderous,
disrespectful way or uses filthy language should question
his or her relationship with the Lord. Unfortunately, many
are led to believe that if they are faithful (by their own
standards) to their church and its traditions, they will be
forgiven and granted heaven. Such Scriptures as Romans
8:28-30, however, stands in sharp contrast to such belief.
They teach that he who is truly a born-again Christian is
being conformed to the image of Christ.
A person who is truly a Christian has been called, justified,
and glorified by God in order that he or she may be
conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. An image is a
likeness. One who is a Christian will think, look, act, and
talk more and more like Jesus. It cannot be otherwise. God
Himself brings about these changes.
13
John the apostle informs us that Jesus Christ was the
embodiment of divine light. “1
In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. 2
The same was in the beginning with God. 3
All
things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made. 4
In him was life; and the life
was the light of men” (John 1:1-4). And added in verses 9-
12: “9
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the
world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He
came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as
many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”.
Those who are spiritually re-born become children of God,
children according to verse 21 of chapter 3 and will
manifest the works of God. The two preceding verses,
however, explain why man, left to himself, cannot work the
works of God; consider: “19And this is the condemnation,
that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For
every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to
the light, lest his deeds should be reprove”.
The Holy Spirit regenerates each one to whom He has been
sent (John 3:1-8), and that person becomes born again.
According to Ephesians 4:17-5:7 his new spiritual birth will
always result in the following: “4:17This I say therefore,
and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other
Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18Having the
understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of
God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart: 19Who being past feeling have
given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all
14
uncleanness with greediness. 20But ye have not so learned
Christ; 21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been
taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22That ye put off
concerning the former conversation the old man, which is
corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed
in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new
man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness. 25Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man
truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of
another. 26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go
down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the
devil. 28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him
labour, working with his hands the thing which is good,
that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29Let no
corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that
which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister
grace unto the hearers. 30And grieve not the holy Spirit of
God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption. 31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and
clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath
forgiven you.
5:1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear
children; 2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,
and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to
God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3
But fornication, and all
unclean-ness, or covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becometh saints; 4
Neither filthiness, nor
foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but
rather giving of thanks. 5
For this ye know, that no
whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who
is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and of God. 6
Let no man deceive you with vain
words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God
15
upon the children of disobedience. 7
Be not ye therefore
partakers with them”.
This was Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians and to us;
what a warning! If there has been a change in one’s life,
there has been a change; this is a fact of spiritual rebirth.
The Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus to indwell the believer as
a helper, a guide, and He brings change. It must be realized,
however, being indwelt does not necessarily mean a
Christian is constantly under the complete control and
authority of the Holy Spirit. There are times when a
Christian is completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit and
other times when he quenches His authority. During these
times, he may slip into old habits, but there will always be
consequences. The in-dwelling Holy Spirit will always
convict the born-again person of sin and urge confession
and repentance. How can one (such as the person
mentioned at the beginning of this discourse) habitually use
profanity or vulgarities without becoming uncomfortable
within himself if he is truly a Christian?
Such language, habitually used or as a slip of the tongue, is
not conducive with a Christian’s nature. He cannot be at
peace with himself or with God. If he takes the Lord’s
name in vain, uses profanities or vulgarities, and does not
sense guilt, something is amiss in his life. Each person who
is enslaved by this habit (or any other habit that is contrary
to a life that reflects the Lord Jesus Christ) should take
stock of himself. Am I truly born again? Am I really a
Christian? Have I been deluding myself into believing that
what I say or do really doesn’t matter?
From the mount (Matthew 7:21-23), Jesus said: “21Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
16
Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that
day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and
in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity”.
Remember, if there has been a change, there is a change.
Each one’s measurement of himself should be: If I am truly
born again (have become a Christian), my life will not be
controlled by my old nature but by the new nature found in
Jesus Christ. However, as we shall find in the next chapter,
spiritual darkness constitutes man’s spiritual depravity.
17
CHAPTER 2
THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN
According to Webster’s Dictionary, depravity is “the state
of being depraved, i.e. marked by corruption or evil.” Much
of what man does is evil, but is man himself corrupt? Many
today would say that man is not inherently corrupt. They
believe that man is basically good, and his morality is
conditioned by influences outside himself. They who hold
this position believe man is a product of his environment;
that if his environment were good or were to improve, he
would likewise be good or improve as the given
environment improves. But what does the Bible say about
man’s morality?
Genesis 1:26-27 declares: “26And God said, Let us make
man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over
every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So
God created man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he them”.
Created in the image of God, man certainly had a good
beginning. God, who could not create anyone or anything
contrary to Himself, created man in His own image. Man
was created to rule over the earth with a morality that
mirrored God’s rule over all creation. God proclaimed that
everything He created was good, according to His
standards. However, as we shall see from our study, man
did not remain as he was created. He became something
other than when he was created. He became a fallen
creation. The question is: What was the extent of that fall?
Was it a fall of partial depravation or a fall of complete
18
depravation? To answer these questions, it will be helpful
to consider several passages in Genesis and Romans.
Genesis 2:8-9: “8
And the LORD God planted a garden
eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had
formed. 9
And out of the ground made the LORD God to
grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for
food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the
tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
Genesis 2:15-17: “16And the LORD God commanded the
man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely
eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die.’”
Genesis 3:1-8: “1
Now the serpent was more subtle than any
beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he
said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat
of every tree of the garden? 2
And the woman said unto the
serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the
garden: 3
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of
the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither
shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4
And the serpent said unto the
woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5
For God doth know that
in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened,
and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food,
and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired
to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat,
and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did
eat. 7
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they
knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves
together, and made themselves aprons. 8
And they heard
the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the
19
cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from
the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the
garden.”
Romans 5:12-14: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered
into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon
all men, for that all have sinned. 13(For until the law sin
was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no
law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of
Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to
come. ”
From these passages we learn God implemented a
prohibition, man rebelled, and the result was death. Physical death resulted from man’s rebellion (disobedience), but
more significantly, spiritual death. In other words, when
man rebelled (was disobedient) he separated himself from
the righteousness of God from which he had been created.
Adam’s sin necessitated that God also separate Himself
from man. Fellowship no longer existed. It is important to
understand that God equated this separation with death.
Just as physical death separates one from all that is living,
so spiritual death separates one from God. This truth is
affirmed by Jesus’ words to a Pharisee named to Nicodemus?
“1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a
ruler of the Jews: 2
The same came to Jesus by night, and
said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come
from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou
doest, except God be with him.
3
Jesus answered and said
unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God. 4
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born
20
when he is old? can he enter the second time into his
mother’s womb, and be born? 5
Jesus answered, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God. 6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7
Marvel not that I said
unto thee, Ye must be born again ’” (John 3:1-7).
Adam began to die physically on the day of his sin, but
immediately spiritually. From the above passage we learn
that for him or anyone to see (understand) or enter the kingdom of God, he or she must be restored to spiritual life, be
born again. Paul, in his letter to the Christians at Ephesus,
explains that this spiritual rebirth occurs while one is
separated from (dead toward) God. Consider: “1
And
you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins; 2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power
of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience: 3
Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others.
4
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us, 5
Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved)” (Ephesians 2:1-5).
In chapter 4:18-19 of this same letter Paul explains the
reason of man’s separation from God. He writes; “18Having
the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life
of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of
the blindness of their heart: 19Who being past feeling have
given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all
uncleanness with greediness.”
21
A terrible thing occurred when Adam sinned (disobeyed
God) and after reading these passages, we should have no
trouble understanding how far man has been separated from
a Holy God, but should there be someone still in doubt,
consider the following parable of Jesus found in the gospel
of Luke 16:19-31:
“19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in
purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every
day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus,
which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to
be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table:
moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it
came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the
angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and
was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in
torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his
bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have
mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of
his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented
in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that
thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art
tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there
is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from
hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would
come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore,
father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s
house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto
them, lest they also come into this place of
torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and
the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay,
father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead,
they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not
22
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one rose from the dead.” In these verses, Jesus
taught His disciples about the separation that exists
between that which is godly and that which is of the world.
The world is separated from God and dead toward Him to
the extent that people would not be persuaded to believe
God’s goodness though one should appear from the dead.
Certainly, this should answer the question about man’s
separation from God, but is there a way back for man? Is
man able to restore himself to fellowship with God?
Beyond this, does he have a desire to do so? In answer to
these questions, we return to the beginning once again and
consider Genesis 3:6-8: “6
And when the woman saw that
the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of
the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her
husband with her; and he did eat. 7
And the eyes of them
both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and
they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves
aprons.
8
And they heard the voice of the LORD God
walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and
his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God
amongst the trees of the garden.”
Two things occurred in the Garden that day concerning
man’s fellowship (represented in Adam) with God. First,
fear of God resulted from Adam’s disobedience. From that
time on, unregenerate man has tried to hide himself from
God by one means or another. Secondly, as seen in the
account of Cain and Abel, there is a denial and refusal by
man (represented in Cain) to accept God’s provision of
forgiveness and restoration to righteousness. We read from
Genesis 4:1-10: “1
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she
conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man
23
from the LORD. 2
And she again bare his brother Abel. And
Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the
ground. 3
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain
brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the
LORD. 4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his
flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto
Abel and to his offering: 5
But unto Cain and to his offering
he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his
countenance fell.
6
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and
why is thy countenance fallen? 7
If thou doest well, shalt
thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at
the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt
rule over him.8
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and
it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose
up against Abel his brother, and slew him.9
And the LORD
said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I
know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? 10And he said, What
hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto
me from the ground.”
Before expelling Adam and Eve from the Garden, God
demonstrated that He would not and could not accept
man’s attempt to satisfy His righteousness. We read that
Adam and Eve attempted to cover their physical and
spiritual nakedness with fig leaves. God, however, for
reasons revealed throughout Scripture, could not accept
their attempts, but instead slew an innocent animal and
covered them with its hide. This was a figure of the
ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for man’s sin. Ever since
the fall, man has denied the truth of God and His provision
for the atonement of sin. By offering a bloodless sacrifice,
Cain refused to sacrifice an animal (a picture of the
sacrifice of Jesus Christ) as commanded by God. Man, ever
since, has been in denial of this same thing. He has gone
about to establish his own righteousness and has refused
24
the righteousness of God. Paul writing about his own
countrymen, the Jews, said: “1
Brethren, my heart’s desire
and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be
saved. 2
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of
God, but not according to knowledge. 3
For they being
ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:1-
3).
This is not only true of Israel, but of humanity in general.
Returning once again to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians we
read: 11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past
Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by
that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by
hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and
without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:11-12).
The depravity of man can be traced back in time to the
valley of Shinar where Nimrod led the descendants of Noah
away from Holy God. We read from Genesis 11:1-9 that
even though mankind had been completely destroyed
(except 8 persons) because of their wickedness, the first
generations after the flood still refused to bow the knee to
God and thought to build an empire excluding His authority
over them.
“1
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one
speech. 2
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the
east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they
dwelt there. 3
And they said one to another, Go to, let us
make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick
for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4
And they said,
25
Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may
reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be
scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower,
which the children of men builded. 6
And the LORD said,
Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language;
and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be
restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7
Go
to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that
they may not understand one another’s speech. 8
So the
LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of
all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9
Therefore
is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there
confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did
the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the
earth” (Genesis 11:1-9).
These people, in essence, sought to form their own
government refusing to be ruled by God and live according
to their own standards of conduct. They thought to devise
their own means of reaching heaven. Man’s religion is
exposed in this passage.
Moving ahead in history, we turn to the nation of Israel.
Israel descended from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob.
God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, and in time, Israel
fathered twelve sons. These twelve each procreated
families of their own, which multiplied into tribes and
became the nation of Israel. In God’s plan, He chose and
blessed this nation above all others and through them
manifested His love, goodness, and mercy toward mankind.
God promised to bless Israel beyond measure if they would
worship and be obedient to Him.
The rest of the world was idolatrous toward God, creating
gods of their own imaginations. They refused to recognize
26
or worship Him as the only true God. As a testimony of His
righteousness and goodness, God gave Israel a land of their
own, a place flowing with milk and honey that would
provide all their needs. God gave them victory over peoples
who occupied this land and promised to protect them from
any and all attacks. As a testimony that He indeed was the
God of Israel, He gave them His love, protection, and
provision, and implemented conditions by which Israel was
to live. These conditions were meant as a guide so that
Israel could live in righteousness before God and set them
apart from the rest of mankind. The blessings that would be
granted Israel, if they were obedient, was to be His
testimony to all the world of His grace toward them,
likewise His chastisement if they were disobedient.
No matter how good God was to His people, Israel as a
nation would not honor or worship Him. Rather than
bringing other nations to their God, they worshipped the
created gods of other nations. God saw these nations as
being totally depraved and He deemed those other nations
so corrupt that He commanded Israel to utterly destroy
many of them and gave Israel victory over others. Victory
came by way of death and destruction.
When obedient, there were times when Israel experienced
the blessings of God, but often they chose to be
disobedient. No matter how many times God forgave them
of idolatry, Israel would not remain faithful to Him. They
instead turned to the gods of the other nations. Again,
man’s depravity is shown through the nation of Israel. God
eventually removed Israel as His faithful servant and chose
another people through whom He would work, for a time.
During this time of being set aside Israel murdered their
(and our) Redeemer. Even though God promised to re-
27
establish His government in their midst and give them His
anointed as Savior and King, they rejected Him. In
rejecting Him, they abandoned God’s authority and rule
over them. They wanted a king and Savior of their own
imaginations. They looked for a king who would reestablish them as the ruling kingdom of the earth but would
not subject them to His (God’s) authority. Again, man’s
depravity is demonstrated.
The other people, mentioned above, are the church of Jesus
Christ. The church is a called- out assembly of people from
all nations of earth and has been given the Holy Spirit as an
indwelling help. Yet the professing church (not the
possessing) has in many cases, compromised its faithfulness to Christ. In the end, it will degenerate into great
apostasy – so great an apostasy that Jesus Himself is no
longer inside the professed church, but according to
Revelation 3:20, is outside the church asking admittance.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me.” Again, this points to the
depravity of man.
Even after the calamities of the seven-year tribulation that
is to come at the end of this age the unredeemed of the
earth will not turn to God for mercy. We read from
Revelation 6:12-17: “12And I beheld when he had opened
the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and
the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon
became as blood; 13And the stars of heaven fell unto the
earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she
is shaken of a mighty wind. 14And the heaven departed as a
scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and
island were moved out of their places. 15And the kings of
the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the
28
chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman,
and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the
rocks of the mountains;
16And said to the mountains and
rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that
sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the
Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who
shall be able to stand?”
Rather than turn to the Lord Jesus Christ in repentance,
begging for mercy, they attempt to hide from Him. Again,
this points to the depravity of man. After all of this evidence, there cannot be any doubt about man’s depravity.
But the question remains, “To what extent is this depravity?
Is it partial, or is it total?” I think we have already answered
this question, but if doubt still remains, consider the words
of Jesus as recorded in John 3:19-21: “19And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be
reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that
his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in
God.”
Jesus’ declaration was that those who do evil refuse to
come to the light, and He added that even those who do
come to the light do so only because of what God has
wrought in their lives. He declared later in John’s testimony
44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath
sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day”
(6:44). And remember, Jesus said that a man must be born
again in order to see or enter the kingdom of God (John
3:1-8).
It was (and is) Jesus’ assessment that in himself, man is
lost. Man is not only lost and unable to save himself, but
29
has no desire to do so unless God the Father draws him (or
her) to Him for salvation. How could this be clearer?
The apostle Paul was led to write; “But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned” (1st Corinthians 2:14).
And recalling passages already utilized, we read: “1
And
you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins; 2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power
of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience: 3
Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others.
4
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us, 5
Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;) 6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7
That in the
ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his
grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8
For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9
Not of works, lest any
man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:1-10).
“11He came unto his own, and his own received him
not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave He power
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his
name:
13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God ” (John 1:11-
13).
30
Even those whom Jesus chose to be His disciples were
chosen not because of their own will, nor of their heredity
or nationality, but by the will of God.
Finally, turning once again to the writings of the apostle
Paul, we read: “1
There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit. 2
For the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death. 3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the
flesh: 4
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled
in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5
For
they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;
but they that are after the Spirit the things of the
Spirit. 6
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace. 7
Because the carnal
mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law
of God, neither indeed can be. 8
So then they that are in the
flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:1-8).
And from Romans 8:28-30; “28And we know that all things
work together for good to them that love God, to them who
are the called according to his purpose.
29For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate,
them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Because of man’s depravity his salvation is totally dependant on God’s mercy and grace. He has called those who
are saved out of spiritual darkness and regenerated in them
31
new spiritual life. Those who turn to God do so because of
what God initiates in their lives. Without this, man is lost.
We should remember we are not here for our own benefit;
God created us for His own good pleasure and to glorify
Himself. He is glorified when He redeems a person, and He
is glorified s He conforms this person to the image of the
Lord Jesus Christ. He will be glorified in the end of time
when He judges the unredeemed for their sin and refusal to
come to Him for forgiveness and mercy. All sin must be
reconciled. It is either dealt with at the cross of Jesus or it
will be dealt with at the White Throne Judgment. As one
comes to the cross, he does so crying out for forgiveness
and mercy. When a person rejects the cross, he calls God a
liar, denying that Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient to satisfy
God’s judgment against sin.
We all are approaching the inevitable. We are all approaching the death of our bodies. This is an undeniable fact. We
are going to die. One hundred per cent of people die. But
what occurs after death? If God exists, and He does, we are
subject to Him, not He to us. It is His world, and we will be
judged by His righteous, holy standards, not our own.
Some people’s bodies will not die in the normal
understanding of death. They will, however, go through an
instantaneous change. Please consider 1 Corinthians 15:50-
54: “50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption. 51Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not
all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So
32
when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and
this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory.”
Thank you, Lord Jesus; you have taken us who have been
redeemed out of spiritual darkness, placing in us your light
and have removed a heart of depravity giving us a heart
that seeks your holiness, and you have destined us to
heaven either by resurrection or rapture.
33
CHAPTER 3
MAN’S WILL: FREE OR OTHERWISE?
Today, many people claim that man has a free will, a will
that reaches even into heaven. This is the belief that man
can choose to follow God and forsake the allurements of
the world (the flesh), but is this true? Scripture affirms that
man has a will, but is he free to choose God? The answers
to these questions are not only interesting, but are of utmost
importance.
All will agree that when making a choice, there needs to be
options available. Man chooses between at least two
different alternatives. Coming to a fork in a road, he will
actually choose between four possibilities. He can go to the
right, go to the left, return in the direction from which he
came, or stay at that intersection. To get where he wants to
go, he must make a decision. In making that decision, he
has an objective; i.e. to go toward a desired destination one
he knows or suspects is there. Likewise, choices are
available when one chooses to follow one leader or another.
Whichever the scenario, choice has an intended purpose
and is not without motive. Choice has a goal, a purpose,
and is therefore not abstract. Choices are influenced by the
want or need of the goal (or purpose) and are always made
from the greater influence of the time. Man’s will, therefore is not arbitrary, but exercised toward a choice that is
made according to the greatest influence at the time of
decision.
The traveler in the illustration above will decide from
among known facts. He knows that his destination lies
either to his right or left. He knows that it is not behind
him, nor is it at his present location. If he has information
that his destination is to the right, then he will choose to go
the right. If his destination is to the left, he will choose that
34
direction. Another option is to guess, but even this has
prejudices to which he succumbs. Decision or exercise of
the will, then, is subject to the greater prejudice or
influence at the time of determination. It can never be
otherwise.
It cannot be any different in the spiritual sense, when one
makes a choice toward God; it is made from an influence
that motivates him toward his decision. The question is;
does that influence come from within him-self or, from an
outside influence? We should remember that Paul declared
the following, “1
And you hath he quickened, who were
dead in trespasses and sins; 2
Wherein in time past ye
walked according to the course of this world, according to
the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now
worketh in the children of disobedience: 3
Among whom
also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts
of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as
others. 4
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us, 5
Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved” (Ephesians 2:1-5).
According to Paul, every person is spiritually dead toward
God until he is spiritually regenerated (made spiritually
alive) by the Holy Spirit. In such a condition it is
impossible by an act of the will to choose toward a God
that he does not know, or recognize. His will is held captive
by that which he does know, his flesh, the world, or Satan.
Scripture tells us (Genesis 2:17) that God warned Adam
that by partaking of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge
of Good and Evil he and Eve would die spiritually toward
Him and that is what happened. And Romans 5:12-14 tell
us that this death was passed to all persons. We read;
35
“12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have
sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not
imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from
Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the
similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that
was to come.”
Jesus declared that for a person to be spiritually alive he
must be reborn spiritually. Consider John 3:3…3:5-8:
“I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God. …5
I tell you the truth, no one can
enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the
Spirit. 6
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth
to spirit. 7
You should not be surprised at my saying, You
must be born again. 8
The wind blows wherever it pleases.
You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from
or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the
Spirit.”
Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians wrote; “But the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1st
Corinthians 2:14). It is evident from these passages that
man cannot choose to follow God by an exercise of his will
apart from a benevolent God. It is likewise affirmed that
the things of God are seen as foolishness to the natural
man.
The apostle John wrote: “11He (Jesus) came unto his own,
and his own received him not. 12But as many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were
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born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
will of man, but of God” (John 15:16).
And referring once again to Ephesians 2:8-10 we read:
“
8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9
Not of works, lest any
man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.” Those who do
become saved (made alive toward God) are saved by the
grace (unmerited favor) of God. Even the faith necessary to
believe, according to verse eight, is a “gift of God.” The
writer of Hebrews affirms in chapter 2 verse 12 that Jesus
is the author (originator) and finisher of the Christian’s
faith.
Some hold that man may on his own, without the
efficacious influence of the Holy Spirit, choose to follow
God. They use such verses as John 3:16 in support of this
contention: “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.” However, if these
individuals would read on in chapter 3 they would discover
that Jesus added, “19And this is the condemnation, that light
is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than
light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that
doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest
his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:19-20).
Man has a heart that is set against God (John 15:18). As a
result of his nature, he will never choose or prefer the
divine and spiritual apart from a new nature imparted to
him by God. In other words, he must be born again. I
believe the Scriptures are clear; man has a free will, but it
only can and always will choose that which it knows. Since
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man in his natural state does not know God, he will always
choose that which he does know, the way of his flesh and
the way of the world.
For those readers who have been redeemed, consider your
own salvation. Was there not a time when you were
unwilling to come to Christ? Since you have come to Him,
are you prepared to give Him all the glory and join with the
writer of Psalm 115:1 and sing out: “Not unto us, O
LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy
mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.” The Christian must
acknowledge he or she came to Christ because the Holy
Spirit brought them from unwillingness to willingness.
For those who have not been redeemed (born again), please
realize that if you are being drawn to God, it is by His
volition, not yours. If you truly are seeking God, it is
because He has called you. He will not turn you away. If
you are being drawn to God, you will come and commit to
Him. Romans 8:29-30 declares any person who comes to
Him does so by His drawing and that such coming is His
finished work. Consider; “29For those God foreknew he
also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And
those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he
also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
God calls out from humanity those who become redeemed,
not in response to their will, but according to His will. He
calls them not because they have chosen Him, but because
He has chosen them. He lightens their path through the
illumination of the Holy Spirit so they may see their need
of spiritual renewal.
For any sinner to be saved, three things are indispensable:
God the Father must purpose his salvation (and He has),
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God the Son must purchase his salvation (and He has), and
the God Holy Spirit must bring it to pass (and He has).
Man’s salvation is exclusively the work of God, and this
work was concluded before the creation of the world.
Revelation 13:8 tells us that the Lamb of God was slain
from the foundation of the creation in order that those
whose names are written in the His “Book of Life”
(Revelation 17:8) could and would be redeemed.
We note, Romans 8:29-30 declares man’s calling, justification, and glorification is the work of God, and
Revelation 17:8 declares that the names of those who were
to be redeemed were written in the “Book of Life” in
eternity past, before creation. Nowhere in either passage is
man’s choice or efforts mentioned.
Some might wonder if this be true; why do people around
the world worship their concept of God and yet are not
born again? In answer, it must be remembered: When man
sinned (represented in Adam), he did not then become a
creation without a spirit (soul). Although he died in the
spiritual sense toward God, man was still a spiritual being
retaining a desire to worship an entity outside of him-self.
In affirmation of this truth we read from Romans 1:18-23
the mindset of the Gentile peoples during the years that
God reached out to mankind through the children of Israel.
“18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the
truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be
known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it
unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the
creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by
the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that,
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when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither
were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and
their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves
to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of
the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and
creeping things.”
This mindset, of course, transcends the Gentiles of that
time to all peoples whom have not yet been redeemed. All
persons before redemption worship their concept of God,
the god of their own imaginations. Romans 3:10-12 states:
“10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not
one:
11There is none that understandeth, there is none that
seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they
are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth
good, no, not one. ’”
God calls fallen man out of spiritual darkness, regenerates
his inner man to God consciousness, and creates within him
a new desire of fellowship with Him. Then, and only then,
does man call out to God. In the process, God provides the
message, the messenger, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Spirit regenerates, illuminates, convicts, and converts.
Consider Romans 10:13-15 and I Corinthians 1:18-25:
Romans 10:13-15: “13For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved. 14How then shall they call
on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall
they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they
preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and
bring glad tidings of good things!”
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First Corinthians 1:18-25: “18For the preaching of the cross
is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are
saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will
destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing
the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise?
where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world?
hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For
after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew
not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to
save them that believe. 22For the Jews require a sign, and
the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ
crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the
Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both
Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom
of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than
men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
In summary, God has purposed to save man by and through
His Word. He has called certain ones to salvation and
accomplishes this at His determined time. Someone might
ask, “If salvation is not by the choice (free will) of man but
by the calling of God, why are we to go around the world
testifying of His grace and calling people to repentance?”
The answer is this; we don’t know who are to be saved.
Only God knows and brings it about through His Word and
the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Believers are to
go forth giving out the good news found in Jesus Christ. As
the Christian shares the good news of Christ’s sacrifice on
behalf of those called, the Holy Spirit brings conviction and
conversion. In my mind (and I think this is the fact of
Scripture), God grants new life to those of His sovereign
calling. He, through the work of the Holy Spirit, opens their
understanding, creates in them an awareness of Himself
and causes a repentant heart, a commitment to Himself, and
a desire of fellowship. He reverses the consequence of sin
that had separated man from God.
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If we understand this, we have come to an appreciation of
God’s grace. Furthermore, we are prompted to engage in a
spirit of worship and are inspired toward practical godliness
and zeal in service. This appreciation of God’s grace should
comfort our hearts, strengthen our souls, and bless our
lives. On the other hand, if we hold to the belief that we
chose to come to God on our own, we diminish in our
thinking the gift of Christ’s sacrificial death and the need
for the intervention of the Holy Spirit to call us out of
spiritual darkness.
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CHAPTER 4
THE FALLACY OF AN EASY SALVATION
In his book, A Laymen’s Guide to the Lordship
Controversy, Richard P. Belcher writes,
“If one were to suggest that the time would come
when a group of evangelical Christians would be
arguing for a salvation without repentance, without a
change of behavior or lifestyle, without a real avowal
of the lordship and authority of Christ, without
perseverance, without discipleship, and a salvation
which does not necessarily result in obedience and
works, and with a regeneration which does not
necessarily change one’s life, most believers of
several decades ago would have felt such would be
an absolute impossibility. But believe it or not, the
hour has come”.
If what Mr. Belcher writes is true, and I believe it is, then
how should we evangelize our friends, our family, and
neighbors? How should we present the gospel to our
children? Certainly we should not present a deluded gospel,
yet Christians today are often cautioned not to say too
much to the lost. Certain spiritual issues are labeled taboo
when speaking to the unconverted: God’s law, Christ’s
lordship, repentance, surrender, obedience, judgment, and
hell are not to be mentioned, lest we add something to the
offer of God’s free gift. Many evangelicals have come to
wrongly apply the doctrine of “faith alone.” They make
faith the only permissible topic when speaking to nonChristians about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,
believing that this preserves the purity of the gospel. What
this has done is weaken the message of salvation. It has
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also populated the church with “converts” whose faith is
counterfeit and whose hope hangs on a bogus or false
promise. These people say they “accept Christ as Savior,”
yet brazenly reject His rightful claim as Lord. They pay lip
service, but utterly scorn Him with their hearts (Mark 7:6).
They casually affirm Him with their mouths, although they
deliberately deny Him with their deeds (Titus 1:16). They
address Him superficially as “Lord, Lord,” yet stubbornly
decline to do His bidding (Luke 6:46). Such people fit the
tragic description of the “many” in Matthew 7:23 who will
one day be stunned to hear Him (Jesus) say, “I never knew
you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
The fallacy of one choosing Jesus Christ as Savior is a
prevalent belief today in evangelism. Truly, one does
choose Christ as Savior, but this follows the work of the
Holy Spirit. Many of the evangelical persuasion have come
to believe, however, that choosing Christ originates within
man and then the Holy Spirit comes alongside to aid the
one making the decision. A “decision for Christ” is usually
signified by some physical or verbal act such as raising a
hand, walking an aisle, repeating a prayer, signing a card,
reciting a pledge, or something similar. If the sinner
performs the prescribed activity, the “moment of decision”
becomes the ground of the person’s assurance. Scripture
refutes these fallacies.
From John 3:3-6 we read: “3
Jesus answered and said unto
him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4
Nicodemus
saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?
can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and
be born? 5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God. 6
That which is born of the
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flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit.” From Paul’s letter to the Ephesians we read: “And
you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins” (2:1).
From these passages it is clear that any movement toward
God comes after the granting of newness of spiritual life.
The chicken came before the egg, and life comes before
faith. It is impossible for one who is dead either physically
or spiritually to produce anything. Life in both cases must
exist. Spiritual life produces faith and according to
Ephesians 2:8 is God’s gift: “For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God.”
The “and that” of verse 8 refers back to the entire previous
statement of salvation (2:1-7). Salvation is by grace
through faith. Because it is impossible for man to believe
on his own (1 Corinthians 2:9-14), faith must be initiated
by God. Man comes to a point of placing faith in God, but
it is not of himself. Verses 9 and 10 of Ephesians 2 affirm
this truth. Consider; “9
Not of works, lest any man should
boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.” If faith is of one’s own
device, it must be qualified as a work.
Verses 8 through 10 state clearly that faith is the work and
gift of God. Salvation is more than just simply declaring, “I
believe.” When newness of life (spiritual awakening)
occurs in a person’s life, repentance also takes place. This
cannot be otherwise because it is the result of the Holy
Spirit softening man’s heart toward God. Jesus Himself
preached, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
To believe in biblical terms always goes beyond a mere
acceptance of facts. Belief points to a commitment or
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obligation to the object of faith, in this case the gospel,
more pointedly, as in the case of salvation, to Jesus Christ.
A good example of this truth is the Philippian jailer. He and
his family were moved to the point of commitment to
Christ, a commitment that came with a cost.
The writer of Hebrews said that Christ “became the author
of eternal salvation unto all that obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9).
Paul wrote, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans
10:9).
Confession is a part of repentance. One must be in
agreement with God about his or her sin. Confession and
repentance are both components of this agreement. Even
though they are different, they are not mutually exclusive
of one another. They must both exist. At Pentecost, Peter
preached, “Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of sins; and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
There are a multitude of other Scriptures that declare that
true salvation is always accompanied with repentance and
being defined as, “the turning from sin to Christ.” For
instance, 1John 2:3-4 says: “3
And hereby we do know that
we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4
He that
saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a
liar, and the truth is not in him. ”
Are we to believe that the inspired Scripture constitutes
poorly worded theology? It should be obvious that Jesus
and the apostles certainly held that repentance was a part of
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salvation. Why should we separate the two if God’s Word
does not? If Scripture cautioned against preaching
repentance, obedience, righteousness, or judgment to unbelievers, then perhaps we would have a just cause to limit
our presentation of Christ to a mental acceptance of Him.
Scripture, however, contains no such warnings. The
opposite is true. If we want to follow the biblical model, we
cannot ignore those issues. Sin, repentance, righteousness,
and judgment are the very matters about which the Holy
Spirit convicts the unsaved. Can we omit them from the
message and still call it the gospel? Apostolic evangelism
inevitably culminated in a call for repentance (Acts 2:38;
3:19; 17:30; 26:20).
Are we to do less than they, simply telling the sinner he
must “accept Christ” and not declare his need of repentance
or turning from sin? Finally, to declare that by accepting
Christ as Savior either by the raising of a hand, walking an
aisle, or verbally accenting to that acceptance, while not
declaring the necessity of repentance, is in direct
contradiction of Ephesians 2:10, which states: “For we are
His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.”
God’s work in the Christian begins immediately upon
regeneration, conforming him or her to the image of Christ.
The Holy Spirit uniquely prepares the heart of the recipient
of salvation. The Holy Spirit sheds light on man’s sin. The
Holy Spirit calls one out of spiritual darkness. The Holy
Spirit regenerates man to spiritual life. The Holy Spirit
begins to conform one to the image of Jesus Christ at the
point of regeneration. To put it bluntly, if there is no
change in the one who claims to have accepted Christ as
Savior, he or she is still in sin. May we be found as the
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good servants of Jesus’ parable of Matthew 25:14-30 not as
the unfaithful servant; Consider: “14 The kingdom of heaven
is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his
own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And
unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to
another one; to every man according to his several ability;
and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had
received the five talents went and traded with the same, and
made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had
received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had
received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his
lord’s money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants
cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had
received five talents came and brought other five talents,
saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold,
I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said
unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou
hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler
over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He
also that had received two talents came and said, Lord,
thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained
two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him,
Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many
things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24Then he which
had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew
thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast
not sown, and gathering where thou hast not
strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in
the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord
answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful
servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and
gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest
therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then
at my coming I should have received mine own with
usury.
28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it
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unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that
hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from
him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he
hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer
darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Salvation is a free gift, but it is not a free ride.
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CHAPTER 5
FAITH: CHOICE OR GIFT
What is faith? Is it appropriated or is it bestowed?
Webster’s Dictionary describes faith as trust, having
confidence. The Bible states in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen.” In the remainder of the chapter, the writer gives
examples of how said faith played out in the lives of many
Old Testament people. Consider:
”2For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3
Through
faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the
word of God, so that things which are seen were not made
of things which do appear. 4
By faith Abel offered unto God
a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained
witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts:
and by it he being dead yet spoke. 5
By faith Enoch was
translated that he should not see death; and was not found,
because God had translated him: for before his translation
he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6
But without
faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him. 7
By faith Noah, being warned
of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared
an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he
condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith. 8
By faith Abraham, when
he was called to go out into a place, which he should after
receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not
knowing whither he went. 9
By faith he sojourned in the land
of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles
with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same
promise: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations,
whose builder and maker is God.
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11Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to
conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was
past age, because she judged him faithful who had
promised. 12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as
good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude,
and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises,
but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them,
and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers
and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things
declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly, if they
had been mindful of that country from whence they came
out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for
he hath prepared for them a city.
17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac:
and he that had received the promises offered up his only
begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy
seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise
him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received
him in a figure. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau
concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons
of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his
staff. 22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the
departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment
concerning his bones. 23By faith Moses, when he was born,
was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he
was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s
commandment. 24By faith Moses, when he was come to
years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of
God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
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treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense
of the reward. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the
wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is
invisible. 28Through faith he kept the Passover, and the
sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn
should touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red
sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do
were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were
compassed about seven days. 31By faith the harlot Rahab
perished not with them that believed not, when she had
received the spies with peace.
32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to
tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of
Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of
lions, 34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of
the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed
valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35Women received their dead raised to life again: and
others were tortured, not accepting deliver-ance; that they
might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of
cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds
and imprison-ment:
37They were stoned, they were sawn
asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they
wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38(Of whom the world was
not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains,
and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And these all, having
obtained a good report through faith, received not the
promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us,
that they without us should not be made perfect.”
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In these verses, spiritual faith is defined as believing God
even though He was not seen by those who believed. How
was this possible for them? How is it possible for those of
us in this generation? How can one believe (have
confidence, i.e., trust) in the unseen God when our physical
senses cry out for what can be proven only by what we see?
According to the Apostle Paul, it is not possible for human
beings in their natural state to possess faith in the unseen
God. Consider his words to the Corinthian church; “But the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (I
Corinthians 2:14). The term “natural man” refers to the
person who has not been born again or spiritually
regenerated. For one to believe what God says, one must be
transformed in his or her spirit. One must be transformed
from the state of spiritual death and transformed into the
state of spiritual vibrancy, spiritual life.
Because of sin, all persons are born spiritually dead toward
God and must have a spiritual renewal. Jesus explained this
to the Pharisee Nicodemus (and to us) in a conversation
with Nicodemus recorded in the gospel of John, chapter 3,
consider verse 3; “I say unto thee, Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” And verses 5-6;
“I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6
That
which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit.”
According to these verses, without a spiritual rebirth, no
one can see (understand) or enter into the Kingdom of God.
It follows that if one cannot see (understand) the spiritual
kingdom, one cannot have faith in God. Faith in God and
spiritual discernment are birthed in those who are
regenerated unto new spiritual life. The context in which
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these two verses are found give added insight: “1
There was
a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the
Jews: 2
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto
him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from
God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest,
except God be with him. 3
Jesus answered and said unto
him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4
Nicodemus
saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?
can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and
be born? 5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God. 6
That which is born of the
flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. 7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again. 8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest
the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and
whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the
Spirit” (John 3:1-8).
The first prerequisite to faith, then, is being spiritually
alive. Secondly, spiritual faith is not something that one
may conjure up or appropriate within him or herself.
According to Ephesians 2:8-10: faith is a gift of God;
“8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9
Not of works, lest any
man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.”
Verse eight identifies faith as the gift of God. And, verse
ten identifies that we are God’s workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works. Faith, therefore, is not an act
of the will as some hold, but is a gift from sovereign God.
John 1:11-13 and Romans 8:28-30 affirm this truth.
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John 1:11-13: “11He came unto his own, and his own
received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God.”
Romans 8:28-30: “28And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.
29For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate,
them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
God calls, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies all those He
calls by and through His will, not in response to man’s will.
Spiritual faith cannot be experienced by the natural man but
is a gift of God to those whom He redeems and regenerates.
On one hand, God grants the ability to believe (to have
faith). On the other hand, He works on behalf of the ones
who are to receive faith in order to bring it about. He
conveys the truth of His being and then overcomes spiritual
darkness.
In the Old Testament, He often sent “the angel of the Lord”
(deity in the flesh, a Theophany of the pre-incarnate Christ)
to convey His message. At times, God spoke directly to
certain ones as a voice from heaven. On many occasions
He sent an angel or spoke through a prophet. In New
Testament times He has spoken to us through the Lord
Jesus Christ. as Hebrews 1:1-2 affirms: “1
God, who at
sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
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the fathers by the prophets, 2
Hath in these last days spoken
unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all
things, by whom also he made the worlds .” In turn, Jesus
empowered His followers (the apostles and certain
disciples) to speak forth (proclaim) His word. This
empowerment has passed from them to every person who
becomes saved, each one in his or her own time. Hebrews
4:12 informs us of what His word is able to accomplish
when delivered in the authority (the power) of the Holy
Spirit. “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.” It brings conviction, repentance and conversion.
In summary, saving faith is a gift, not an exercise of the
will. It is brought about by the energizing power of the
Holy Spirit who utilizes that which has been written or
spoken about God and His Anointed One, the Lord Jesus
Christ. For those who might claim that God isn’t fair
because He has measured faith to some and not to others,
consider Romans 1:18-32: “18For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of
God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto
them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of
the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they
knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were
thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be
wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible
man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping
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things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness
through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their
own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth
of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.
Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile
affections: for even their women did change the natural use
into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the
men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their
lust one toward another; men with men working that which
is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense
of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not
like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over
to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full
of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity;
whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud,
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to
parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers,
without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who
knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such
things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have
pleasure in them that do them.”
Granted, in context, Paul is referring to the non-Israelite
during the time that God had called and used the children
of Israel as His witnesses to humanity, but this is applicable
to all persons before regeneration, past, present, and future.
Man is man and does not change on his own. The soul of
man is always concerned with that which he knows. In the
case of the unregenerate man, he only knows the things of
the flesh. His spirit, which gives him God-consciousness,
has been cut off from God. Man’s spirit is dead toward
God. Way back in Genesis God declared that because of sin
man became separated from Him, separated to the point of
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death. Consider Genesis 2:17: “But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
As physical death separates one from all that is living,
spiritual death separates one from God. This is affirmed by
the fact that if one is to see (understand) the kingdom of
God and be reunited with Him, he or she must be born
again. Is God fair in exercise of His sovereignty, bestowing
faith to some and not others? Those who would hold that
God is not fair must deal with John 16:6-11, which states:
“6
But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow
hath filled your heart. 7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It
is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will
send him unto you. 8
And when he is come, he will reprove
the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgment: 9
Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of
righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no
more;
11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is
judged.”
The Holy Spirit has been given to convict all men of their
sin, not only those to whom mercy is shown. All men
deserve the wages they have earned, eternal separation
from God, but He said: “I will have mercy on whom I will
have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will
have compassion” (Romans 9:15). Consider the context in
which Paul proffered these words: “14What shall we say
then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God
forbid. 15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom
I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I
will have compassion. 16So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth
mercy.
17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for
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this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show
my power in thee, and that my name might be declared
throughout all the earth. 18Therefore hath he mercy on
whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he
hardeneth. 19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet
find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20Nay but, O
man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the
thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made
me thus? 21Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the
same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another
unto dishonour? 22What if God, willing to show his wrath,
and to make his power known, endured with much
longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to
destruction: 23And that he might make known the riches of
his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore
prepared unto glory, 24Even us, whom he hath called, not
of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which
were not my people; and her beloved, which was not
beloved. 26And it shall come to pass, that in the place
where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there
shall they be called the children of the living God. 27Esaias
also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the
children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall
be saved: 28For he will finish the work, and cut it short in
righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make
upon the earth” ( Romans 9:14-28).
One must remember John 3:16-20, which states: “16For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world
to condemn the world; but that the world through him
might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not
condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned
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already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation,
that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For
every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to
the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
Christ’s blood was shed to pay the penalty of sin;
something man could not do for himself, even if he wanted
to. But because man could not and would not come on his
own to God for mercy, God reached out to man in Old
Testament times by giving prophets to Israel and reached
through Israel to the Gentiles.
In these New Testament times, He has demonstrated His
love to the world by giving us His Son, the Holy Spirit, His
Word, and the church. His reaching out to man is testimony
of His grace, yet man on his own will not turn to God.
Therefore, it pleased God to extend unmerited favor to
those whom are to be saved, to those whom he calls.
Man, according to Scripture, is totally depraved. That is,
man in his natural state has no inclination toward the one
true God. He, in essence, is spiritually dead. Remember,
Jesus explained to Nicodemus (and to us) in John 3:19-21:
“19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil
hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds
should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the
light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are
wrought in God.”
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Without the mercy (unmerited favor) of God, no one would
have faith or salvation, but thanks to His mercy and grace,
we who are His, have both. Someday, we will join our
voices with the heavenly chorus and sing; “Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing”
(Revelation 4:11).
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CHAPTER 6
GRACE OR WORKS
Grace according to the Bible is the unmerited favor of God.
Works on the one hand are defined as any activity that is
done in an attempt to earn salvation or the favor of God;
acting to appease God’s wrath. On the other hand works
can be defined as any activity done to honor God through
the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Is man saved by grace, by works, or a combination of both?
Many believe God is sovereign over everything, but add
that He cannot save man unless man allows Him to do so.
To do otherwise would violate man’s (so-called) free will.
Some say salvation is by grace (the unmerited favor of
God) yet contradict this statement by saying man must do
this or that to be saved, but is either of these the message of
the Bible?
Before looking into Scripture to see what it says about
man’s salvation, it should be understood that the Bible
stands alone. Its own claim is that it is the Word of God.
The apostle John said emphatically: “18For I testify unto
every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this
book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add
unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if
any man shall take away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of
life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are
written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
Some question what John meant by “the prophecy of this
Book.” Did he mean the entire Bible or the singular book
entitled “The Revelation?” The question is mute, because
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John also wrote the gospel of John and three epistles that
bear his name, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John. Each book
complements the others, with no variance of thought.
Nowhere in these five books does John contradict himself.
The apostle Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, his son in
the faith, wrote: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness” (2 Timothy 3.16). And the apostle Peter
testified; “12So I will always remind you of these things,
even though you know them and are firmly established in
the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your
memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14because I
know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ
has made clear to me. 15And I will make every effort to see
that after my departure you will always be able to
remember these things. 16We did not follow cleverly
invented stories when we told you about the power and
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses
of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God
the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic
Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am
well pleased.’ 18We ourselves heard this voice that came
from heaven when we were with him on the sacred
mountain. 19And we have the word of the prophets made
more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as
to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and
the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must
understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by
the prophet’s own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had
its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as
they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:12-
21).
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Peter’s testimony was that the Word of God came by holy
men of God as they were inspired and moved by the Holy
Spirit. The canon of Scripture (66 books) was completed in
the first century. Some tried to add certain writings after the
close of that century but there were falsehoods and contradictions in their writings and these writings were not
accepted. God preserved His Word. There are no falsehoods or contradictions within its pages. It must be
understood and accepted that all other writings are an
addition to those original sixty-six books. Such additions or
deletions according to John will bring God’s wrath upon
those who do. So then, in that the Bible is God’s message
to man, what does the Bible say about His grace? What
does it say about man’s works?
Ephesians 2:1-10 begins our answer; “1
And you hath he
quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins; 2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power
of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience: 3
Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others. 4
But God, who is rich
in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5
Even
when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6
And hath raised us up
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus: 7
That in the ages to come he might show the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus. 8
For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9
Not
of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.”
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Paul writes that the Ephesians (and by extension, you and I)
“were dead in trespasses and sins” before regeneration,
before being renewed spiritually toward God. Paul further
explains in verse three that “we were by nature the children
of wrath.” This means that we were at enmity (at war) with
God as we “gratified the cravings of our sinful nature.” No
“good” works could come out of a being such as this. To
believe anything else is a denial of the truth. But even while
we were in this condition; “4 God, who is rich in mercy, for
his great love wherewith he loved us, 5
Even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ”.
Our regeneration was accomplished by God and God alone,
we were dead toward Him at the time of our regeneration,
and we were regenerated (reborn spiritually) because God
is rich in mercy and because He loved us. Verse six us that;
“He raised us up together, and made us sit together in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Verses 7-10 tell us why He
did this; “7
That in the ages to come he might show the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus. “8
For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9
Not
of works, lest any man should boast. 10We are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.” Nowhere in the entire passage does it say that our
salvation, our regeneration, was the result of God’s mercy
and our works. On the contrary, we are saved because of
His riches in mercy and because we are His workmanship.
In the ages to come (throughout eternity), His love and
mercy will be on display in our salvation, not His love and
mercy and our good works. According to verse ten, we will
do good works and they will be on display in the ages to
come, but our good works are a result of His workmanship.
Paul said emphatically: “
8
For by grace are ye saved
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through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God: 9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
We are saved by grace (the unmerited favor of God) and
grace alone, not because of works. Mankind will not and
does not have an opportunity to boast of his or her
salvation. We are saved by grace, through faith, but even
our faith, according to verse eight, cannot be claimed as our
own work. Faith is the gift of God.
The prophet Isaiah 64:6, speaking of the Israelites (and
prophetically, us), wrote: “But we are all as an
unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags” (Isaiah 64:6); and Paul writing of both the Jew and
the Gentile wrote: “There is no one righteous, not even
one” Romans 3:10. This means that there is none who
qualify as being righteous before salvation. To emphasize
this further, he added; “for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God” 3:23. No one, no matter how much he (or
she) does in their natural state (1 Corinthians 2:14), can
ever glorify God by works because everyone before
salvation is unfit for His kingdom.
One should be very careful of the traditions of man, or, of
additions or deletions of the Scriptures. All writings or
traditions, of man should be measured by the Bible, not the
Bible by these writings or traditions. According to Jesus
our salvation is because of the work of the Holy Spirit, not
because of any works we may have done or will do.
Reading from the gospel of John 3:1-8, we find; “1
Now
there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a
member of the Jewish ruling council. 2
He came to Jesus at
night and said, Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has
come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous
signs you are doing if God were not with him. 3
In reply
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Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no one can see the
kingdom of God unless he is born again. 4
How can a man
be born when he is old? Nicodemus asked. Surely he
cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be
born! 5
Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, no one can enter
the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the
Spirit. 6
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth
to spirit. 7
You should not be surprised at my saying, You
must be born again. 8
The wind blows wherever it pleases.
You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from
or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the
Spirit.”
God the Father purposed our salvation, God the Son paid
the price of our salvation, and the Holy Spirit brought it
about in the lives of those He saves. He will not share His
glory with anyone else. Romans 8:28-30 is the classic text
of God’s grace: “28And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.
29For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate,
them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
God called, justified, and glorified those who are saved in
order to bring about His determination (predestination) of
conforming us to the image of His Son. This was and is all
of God; man’s works are nowhere mentioned. But,
someone might ask, “What about those persons who are in
remote parts of the earth such as jungle peoples who have
had no contact with the civilized world, those who have
had no exposure to the written or spoken Word of God?
Are they lost? How can God hold them responsible for not
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accepting or trusting in Him of whom they knew nothing
about?” The answer is that God doesn’t hold them
responsible for not accepting unrevealed truth. Men are lost
because of sin and they are separated from Holy God. More
importantly God has separated Himself from fallen (sinful)
man. When man’s representative (Adam) disobeyed God in
the Garden and took of the forbidden fruit he became
something other than he had been created. He was created
righteous, in a state of innocence, but when he sinned (disobeyed) he became unrighteous. He chose to follow his
own will, not God’s. He chose to follow a new governing
nature, a nature that was controlled by pride and self-rule.
Someone might say, “If I had been in the Garden, I would
not have sinned, as did Adam.” That is an indefensible
argument since no one will ever be in the Garden.
That this nature became the nature of all Adam’s offspring
is proven that even in the most remote part of the earth,
men break the rules (the laws) of their given society. Even
in our own societies we find people breaking the speed
limit, running red lights, parking in handicap zones, though
they are not handicapped, and so on. We must even teach
our children to be good. It is because of this nature that
men sin and they are separated from Holy God and He is
separated from sinful men. But thank God, this is not the
end of the story. He has taken the salvation of man upon
Himself. Praise God.
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CHAPTER 7
SALVATION: THE WORK OF GOD
Many have said that the salvation of the soul (or the spirit)
of man is a two-sided work. By this they mean that God
does His part for man’s salvation, and man does his. Those
who hold to this belief say that God has made available
through the sacrifice of His anointed (the Lord Jesus
Christ) new spiritual life (salvation) and that He offers it to
each person who is born into the world. They also say that
God cannot redeem man’s soul unless man allows it to
happen. By this they are implying that God must have the
permission of man for salvation to take place.
There are others who believe that new spiritual life is
bestowed by God first, followed by a positive response by
man to God. Much has been written about this from both
perspectives. I personally believe that it is impossible for a
spiritually dead person (the condition of all humanity
before spiritual life is granted) to make this positive
spiritual decision about the Creator, before he or she is
made spiritually alive. Paul, in writing to the church at
Ephesus confirms this truth; “4
But God, who is rich in
mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5
Even
when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). Paul
held that he and his readers were dead toward God until
God, Himself, made them alive. If this is true, there will be
those who ask; does God bestow new spiritual life to
everyone, if he doesn’t, why doesn’t He? And, Is God fair
by bestowing spiritual live to some and not others?
To begin with, John 3:16-17 informs us that God has given
a universal call to all, excluding none: “ 16For God so loved
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the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world
to condemn the world; but that the world through him
might be saved. .” Paul answering the Philippian jailor’s
question, “What must I do to be saved?” said: “Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30-
31). In short, God has offered salvation to all, but even
though He offered to forgive a person his sins it does not
preclude that the offer has been or will be accepted. God
does not force one to accept His offer. Neither does man
accept the offer automatically because of his natural state
and love of sin; As Jesus explained to the visitor,
Nicodemus: “17For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might
be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but
he that believeth not is condemned already, because he
hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth
evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his
deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:17-20).
God is just in that He offers salvation to all. To those who
come to Him, there is forgiveness and salvation. For those
who do not come to Him, His wrath remains on them. In
either case, God is righteous. He does not force man to
choose either way. The burden, therefore, is on man, not
God. However, as Jesus explained in verses 19-20 above,
because of his sinful nature, man does not want to give up
the appetites and so-called “pleasures of the flesh”. The
“everyone” of verse 20 includes everyone prior to
regeneration. Paul, in Romans 3:10-12 concludes this as
well: “10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not
one:
11There is none that understandeth, there is none that
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seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they
are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth
good, no, not one.”
Because God is God—just and righteous—one has to be
just and righteous to be in His presence. There is no
compatibility between righteousness and unrighteousness,
between holiness and un-holiness. Where God is,
unrighteousness is not. Where unrighteousness is, God is
not. God is the standard by which all that are in His
presence must be found.
As a creation of God, man is responsible to love, obey, and
serve God. As a sinner (unregenerate man—natural man),
he is responsible to repent and believe the Gospel.
However, one must recognize that natural man is unable to
love and serve God because as a sinner, he cannot repent
and believe. Jesus said in John 6.44, “No man can come to
me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:” The
heart of the natural man (the man who has not been reborn)
is so “desperately wicked” that if left to himself, he would
never come to Christ as Jesus explained “ye will not come
to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40). To become
acceptable to God and receive salvation through Christ, a
person must realize that he is a sinner and that without
Christ he is eternally lost. This, however, is impossible
since he is dead towards God (Ephesians 2:1 and 5).
First Corinthians 2:14 states: “But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned.” A grim picture is painted
here. However, God is also a merciful God. He gave up His
son for those who are to be redeemed. Jesus Christ (God
the Son) gave Himself as the only sacrifice acceptable of
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God. His sacrifice paid the debt of the sin for those who
have or will come to Him. Charles H. Spurgeon, in his
sermon “The Grace of God” referencing Ephesians 2:8 “By
Grace Are You Saved through Faith,” wrote:
“I think it well to turn a little to one side that I may
ask my listener to observe adoringly the fountainhead of our salvation, which is the grace of God.
‘By grace are you saved.’ Because God is gracious,
sinful men are forgiven, converted, purified, and
saved. It is not because of anything in them, or that
ever can be in them, that they are saved; but
because of the boundless love, goodness, pity, compassion, mercy, and grace of God. Tarry a moment,
then, at the wellhead. Behold the pure river of water
of life, as it proceeds out of the throne of God and
of the Lamb! What an abyss is the grace of God!
Who can measure its breadth? Who can fathom its
depth? Like all the rest of the divine attributes, it is
infinite. God is full of love, for ‘God is love.’ God
is full of goodness; the very name ‘God’ is short for
‘good.’ Unbounded goodness and love enter into the
very essence of the Godhead. It is because ‘His
mercy endures for ever’ that men are not destroyed,
because ‘His compassions fail not’ that sinners are
brought to Him and forgiven. Remember this; or
you may fall into error by fixing your minds so
much upon the faith, which is the channel of
salvation, as to forget the grace, which is the
fountain and source even of faith itself. Faith is the
work of God’s grace in us. No man can say that
Jesus is the Christ but by the Holy Ghost. ‘No man
comes unto me,’ said Jesus ‘except the Father
which has sent me draw him.’ So that faith, which is
coming to Christ, is the result of divine drawing.”
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Without the intervention of God, man is in a terrible
predicament—lost and separated from the holiness of God.
We read from Revelation 20:11-15: “11And I saw a great
white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no
place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great,
stand before God; and the books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead
were judged out of those things which were written in the
books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the
dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the
dead which were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast
into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was
cast into the lake of fire.”
Romans 8:28-30 explains that God is calling man out of
spiritual darkness unto Himself, creating in them new
spiritual life. “28And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.
29For whom he did foreknow, he
also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his
Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he
also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:
and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Note that
this entire passage is in the past tense. God first
“efficaciously called” all those He had predestined to be
conformed to image of His son. He justified and glorified
each one. No activity of man is mentioned. The question
arises, “how did God, in that efficacious call, make
unwilling man, in love with his sin, willing to turn from
that sin? And how did He make it possible for unrighteous
man to be righteous?” An answer to this begins to unfold
for us in John 3:1-8: “1
There was a man of the Pharisees,
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named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2
The same came to
Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that
thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these
miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3
Jesus
answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God. 4
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born
when he is old? can he enter the second time into his
mother’s womb, and be born? 5
Jesus answered, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God. 6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7
Marvel not that I said
unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8
The wind bloweth
where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but
canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is
every one that is born of the Spirit.”
God the Holy Spirit overcomes the spiritual darkness of the
one who is called and renews his spirit to life. This
overcoming of the Holy Spirit follows this process: 1) Man
is regenerated (made spiritually alive); 2) he recognizes that
he is a sinner; 3) He becomes repentant of his sin; 4) He
recognizes that his salvation depends on God’s provision,
the Lord Jesus Christ, and that he is completely at the
mercy of God; 5) He desires to once again have fellowship
with God, worshipping Him for who He is; 6) He is washed
clean of his sin; and 7) And, He is sealed and placed by the
Holy Spirit into the family of God. John 3:3 tells us that the
first thing to happen in this succession is that man is “born
again” made spiritually alive: Earlier the question was
asked, “How does God make it possible for unrighteous
man to be made righteous?” Jesus explains in John 3:6:
God the Holy Spirit regenerates a person to new spiritual
life making him spiritually alive again. John 3:5 tells us
that: “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is
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born of water and the Spirit” and Titus 3:5 explains the
meaning of this: “5 Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the
washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost. ”
The phrase “born of the spirit” in both John 3:3 and 3:5
means to be “born from above”. A birth caused and
effected from heaven. This was true of a Jewish proselyte
named Lydia who worshipped the God of the Hebrews in
spiritual darkness yet did not really have spiritual life:
“13And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river
side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down,
and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 14And a
certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city
of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart
the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which
were spoken of Paul. 15And when she was baptized, and
her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged
me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and
abide there. And she constrained us” (Acts 16:13-15).
We see God’s triune work in the life of Lydia, and it is the
same work exercised in all who come to faith. God the
Father has purposed the salvation of those who are
redeemed. God the Son has purchased the life of those who
are redeemed, and God the Holy Spirit has regenerated rebirthed those who are redeemed. Nowhere in Scripture do
we find God asking man’s permission to save him:
Ephesians 2:1-9 gives great insight of this: “1
And you hath
he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins; 2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power
of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience: 3
Among whom also we all had our
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conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others. 4
But God, who is rich
in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5
Even
when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6
And hath raised us up
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus: 7
That in the ages to come he might show the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus. 8
For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9
Not
of works, lest any man should boast.”
”
The passage emphatically states that we were dead toward
God (vs.1). We lived to gratify the craving of our sinful
natures (vs.3). God chose us in spite of ourselves (vs.4).
And, He gave us the faith necessary to believe (vs.8). It was
all of Him, so that we could not boast and say, “I permitted
God” (vs.9), and He did this for His glory (vs.7).
Jeremiah 31:31-34 sums up what God is doing for each
individual he calls to Himself, as well as what He will do
for Israel nationally some day in the future. God will call
Israel back to Himself; He will grant them newness of life;
He will be their God; He will put His law in their hearts
and minds and they will be His people. “31Behold, the days
come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel, and with the house of
Judah: 32Not according to the covenant that I made with
their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to
bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant
they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the
LORD: 33But this shall be the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD,
I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their
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hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my
people. 34And they shall teach no more every man his
neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the
LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them
unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive
their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’”
Thank you, Lord, for doing for us what you will do for
national Israel some day in the future; that which we could
not have done for ourselves, even if we had wanted to.
Thank you for changing our hearts of stone to hearts of
flesh, and thank you for granting us newness of life so that
we are able to enjoy fellowship with you again.
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CHAPTER 8
NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN
Man has been led to believe that if a person faithfully
believes and commits to a religion, he/she will be accepted
by God and granted salvation. While this sounds logical, it
is not what the Bible teaches, nor is it what the God of the
Bible claims. Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the way and
the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.” The apostle Peter said in Acts 4:12:
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other
name under heaven given to men by which we must be
saved.”
The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5: 12-19: “12Therefore,
just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because
all sinned—13for before the law was given, sin was in the
world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no
law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to
the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by
breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of
the one to come. 15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if
the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much
more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of
the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again,
the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin:
The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation,
but the gift followed many trespasses and brought
justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death
reigned through that one man, how much more will those
who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the
gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man,
Jesus Christ. 18Consequently, just as the result of one
trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of
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one act of righteousness was justification that brings life
for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the
one man the many were made sinners, so also through the
obedience of the one man the many will be made
righteous.”
There is a major difference between the majority of
religions and biblical Christianity. Religions are works of
man and promote the thought that salvation is earned.
Christianity, on the other hand, extends God’s grace to
fallen man. Religion often denies the saving grace of God,
and although acknowledges that God extended grace,
claims this is in response to the effort of man doing his or
her best. Paul wrote:
“1
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and
sins, 2
in which you used to live when you followed the ways
of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the
spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3
All
of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the
cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and
thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in
mercy,
5
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead
in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved”
(Ephesians 2:1-5).
Paul went on to write: “8
It is by grace you have been saved,
through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God—9
not by works, so that no one can boast” He gave the
reason of God’s grace in verse 7: “in order that in the
coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his
grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus,” and
added in verse 10: “For we are God’s workmanship,
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created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.”
A religion based on works attempts to rob God of the glory
justly due Him. This will not prevail throughout the ages to
come. Instead, His glory will be recognized by His
kindness to the redeemed, accomplished by the faithfulness
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ’s sacrifice removed God’s
wrath from those brought to salvation. For those who are
not redeemed, God’s wrath remains. Revelation 20:11-15:
tells of the consequence of that wrath: “11Then I saw a
great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and
sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for
them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing
before the throne, and books were opened. Another book
was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were
judged according to what they had done as recorded in the
books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death
and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each
person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then
death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake
of fire is the second death. 15If anyone’s name was not
found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the
lake of fire.”
Paul said of his fellow Jews: “1
Brothers, my heart’s desire
and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be
saved. 2
For I can testify about them that they are zealous
for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3
Since
they did not know the righteousness that comes from God
and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to
God’s righteousness.” (Romans 10: 1-3).
Jesus’ testimony to us through Nicodemus is: “3
No one can
see the kingdom of God unless he is born again… 5
nor can
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one enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water
and the Spirit” (John 3:3 and 5).
Returning to Paul’s letter to the Romans, we read that
salvation cannot be gained by keeping the law but through
Jesus Christ, the God/man. “5
Moses describes in this way
the righteousness that is by the law: The man who does
these things will live by them. 6
But the righteousness that is
by faith says: Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend
into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) 7
or Who will
descend into the deep? (that is, to bring Christ up from the
dead). 8
But what does it say? The word is near you; it is in
your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we
are proclaiming: 9
That if you confess with your mouth,
Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised
him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your
heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your
mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture
says, Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.
12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the
same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on
him, 13for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will
be saved.” (Romans 10:5-13).
Paul was called by God to proclaim His Word so that in
hearing it, people would be saved. Although he ministered
to the Gentiles, Paul always carried in his heart a love for
his own people, the Jews. The Jews could not be saved by
their religion, nor could any religion of the Gentiles save
them. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could accomplish this.
Paul, after many years of faithful service to the Lord, was
martyred because of his faithfulness. In fact, his own
people, the Jews, had him killed because they rejected the
truth and dogmatically held to their religion. It is very
dangerous to believe that religion can save. According to
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the Bible, salvation is only accomplished by the work of
Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: “1
The law is only a
shadow of the good things that are coming—not the
realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the
same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make
perfect those who draw near to worship. 2
If it could, would
they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers
would have been cleansed once for all, and would no
longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3
But those sacrifices
are an annual reminder of sins, 4
because it is impossible
for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you
prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased. 7
Then I said, Here I am—it is written
about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, O
God.’ 8
First he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt
offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you
pleased with them’ (although the law required them to be
made). 9
Then he said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your
will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And
by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11Day after day
every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again
and again he offers the same sacrifices which can never
take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all
time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of
God” (Hebrews 10:1-12).
Many people deny this truth and seek to satisfy Holy God
by religious works, but as Paul and Silas testified to the
Philippian jailor: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you
will be saved-you and your household” (Acts 16:31).
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Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, dear reader, for
your salvation? John 3:18 and 3:36 unequivocally state:
3:18 “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but
whoever does not believe stands condemned already
because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and
only Son.”
3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but
whosoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath
remains on Him.’
God is assuredly a God of Love. This was demonstrated by
what God the Father gave for man’s salvation (His only
begotten Son). God the Son demonstrated God’s love when
He freely gave of Himself to suffer and die on the cross to
satisfy the righteousness of God. God the Holy Spirit
continues to demonstrate God’s love as He ceaselessly
roams the earth regenerating and sealing those God the
Father calls to salvation.
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CHAPTER 9
BORN AGAIN
Many today claim to have had a born-again experience.
When asked what the term means, there are a wide range of
answers given. The Bible, however, has one definition of
being born-again; to be born from above. John 3:1-8 writes:
“1
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named
Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2
He
came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know you are a
teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform
the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with
him. 3
In reply Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no one
can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. 4
How
can a man be born when he is old? Nicodemus asked.
Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s
womb to be born! 5
Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, no
one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of
water and the Spirit. 6
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the
Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7
You should not be surprised at
my saying, You must be born again. 8
The wind blows
wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell
where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with
everyone born of the Spirit.”
Jesus told Nicodemus (and us) that for a person to
understand (see) or enter the kingdom of God, he or she
must be born-again. This is not a term to be taken lightly,
but deeply considered. Some may say there are many ways
to heaven, but Jesus said; “one must be born-again” to
enter. He further explains in verse 6; “Flesh gives birth to
flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
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A definition of terms found in verse 6 may prove helpful as
we consider His statement. The word “flesh” used in this
passage has to do with that part of man that is corporal, his
physical body. The term is also used in many passages of
Scripture as the natural man—the man of earth. The word
“Spirit” in this verse refers to the Holy Spirit (notice the
capitalization), but when used the second time, it refers to
the spirit of man. Based on these definitions, verse 6 means
that the Holy Spirit of God gives birth (in the sense of
regeneration) to the spirit of man. Being born-again is not a
new physical rebirth, but a rebirth of the inward man, a
rebirth of one’s spirit. The logical question then becomes:
How does the Holy Spirit rebirth (regenerate) the spirit of
man? To answer this question, we should first consider man
in his complexity. The following three passages will aid our
understanding.
Genesis 2:7; “And the LORD God formed man of the dust
of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of
life; and man became a living soul.”
Hebrews 4:12; “For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the
thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Genesis 2:16-17 “16And the LORD God commanded the
man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17but
you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
From these passages, we learn that man was born with a
body, soul, and spirit. The body is the instrument of the
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soul of man and his spirit is that which connects him with
his creator, with God.
When we read that man must be born-again spiritually to
see and to enter heaven the natural question arises; what
happen that requires that he be reborn spiritually? To
answer this question we must journey back to the book of
beginnings, to Genesis. There, we read of Adam, mans
ancestor and federal head. He had been created righteous
and placed in an environment that afforded him everything
desired or needed. He was to live free with one exception;
he was not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil. God knew that in the day that he partook of that fruit
he would separate himself from God. And, as importantly,
God would separate Himself from Adam, because of what
Adam would become. God told Adam what would happen,
in the day that he disobeyed Him, He said you will begin to
die physically and you will die immediately in your spirit
toward me.
Adam’s spirit gave him God consciousness; a desire to
know and fellowship with God and the ability to
communicate with Him. But if Adam were too disobeyed
he would die immediately toward God. Just as physical
death would separate him from all that was living,
disobedience and sin would separate Adam from God in the
spiritual sense. This of course is what happened, but it
wasn’t his sentence only, but upon all his descendants
(which means, everyone). For him to have fellowship and
communication with God again Adam needed to be (and all
his descendants need to be reborn (restored) spiritually. A
God consciousness, a desire for fellowship, and a desire for
communication all needed (need) to be restored (renewed).
According to Jesus in our opening passage (John 3:1-8),
this restoration of spiritual life is granted by God and He
refers to it as “being-born again.”
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In explanation of what He meant, Jesus told Nicodemus
(and us), that it wasn’t a physical rebirth that was necessary
for a man to see or enter heaven but a spiritual rebirth. He
said, “5
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom
of God. 6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5-6). And then
added “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest
the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and
whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit”
(vs.8).
The wind, Jesus said, begins and ends unhampered. In the
same way, the Holy Spirit moves among men as He
pleases, when He pleases, and where He pleases. This is
not without purpose, however. He regenerates to newness
of spiritual life those to whom He has been sent. Romans
8:28-30 tells us that God calls persons to salvation for the
purpose of conforming them into the image of the Lord
Jesus Christ. We read; “28And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.
29For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate,
them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Being born-again begins with the efficacious calling of God
so that those called will be of many brothers (verse 29),
spiritual brothers of the Jesus Himself. When one is called,
he or she is called from something to something different.
He or she is called from spiritual death to new spiritual life.
This calling results in the overwhelming of spiritual
darkness?” The Holy Spirit, God’s agent, convicts and
convinces man of his sin and births in him a new desire to
please God and a distain of his sin. This is not accom-
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plished in the abstract but in association with the word of
God, the good news of God. As with Lydia, a woman from
Thyatira (Acts 16:14-15) who came to under-stand and
believe after she heard the word of God spoken by Paul and
Silas. The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us; “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” (Hebrews 4:12). And, the apostle Peter tells us that
“we have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of
imperishable, through the living and enduring word of
God” (1 Peter 1.23).
Being born-again begins with the call of God. The Holy
Spirit then illuminates the truth about Jesus to the heart of
the one who is to be born-again as He convicts and
convinces said person of his need of redemption. It is by
the determined will of God that one is born again, mitigated
by His love and grace. Consider Ephesians 2:8: “For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God.” This passage tells us that
we are saved by the grace of God and that He gives us the
faith necessary to believe what is written, or spoken about
Jesus. Paul writes that it is “Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved
us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).
And He writes that this rebirthing takes place when we
were yet alienated (dead) toward God. Consider; “1
And
you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins; 2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power
of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
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disobedience: 3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the
desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the
children of wrath, even as others. 4
But God, who is rich in
mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5
Even
when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved) (Ephesians 2:1-6).
Being born again begins with the work of the Holy Spirit
while we are in a dead (separated) state toward God.
In summary then, being born again is the renewal of
spiritual life. Not a re-creation of man’s spirit because it
exists from time of birth, but a renewal of a recognition of
True God, a desire to please Him and a desire to serve Him.
Also, an awareness of sin is reawakened and a desire to flee
from it, bringing confession and repentance. If these things
are the makeup of one’s life, he or she has been born again.
And, spiritual rebirth is by the will of God, not the will of
man. John 1:11-13 states: “11He (Jesus) came unto his own,
and his own received him not. 12But as many as received
him, to them gave He power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
will of man, but of God.”
Be assured, being born-again brings change to one’s life.
As Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians: “1
Be ye
therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2
And walk in
love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself
for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet
smelling savour. 3
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as
becometh saints; 4
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking,
nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of
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thanks. 5
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor
unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath
any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6
Let
no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these
things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience. 7
Be not ye therefore partakers with
them. 8
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye
light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9
(For the fruit
of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord”
(Ephesians 5:1-10).
Many have been deceived into thinking that if they recite a
certain prayer, walk down an aisle and make a profession
of faith, or are baptized (by water), they are born-again.
While this may be true of those who have been born-again,
these things alone do not preclude that truly have been. A
changed life is the evidence of true rebirth. A truly born
again person will not live by the dictates of the flesh, which
are these; “19Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and such like” (Galatians 5:19-
21). If a person is truly born-again he will have crucified
the flesh with its affections and lust (Galatians 5:24) and he
will keep the Lord’s commandments. .
If a person is truly born again, there will be a change in his
life. Without a changed life, there has been no rebirth. The
apostle John assures us of this in his first letter to many of
those whom he had ministered to sometime earlier. He
wrote; “3
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we
keep his commandments. 4
He that saith, I know him, and
keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is
not in him. 5
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is
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the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in
him. 6
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so
to walk, even as he walked” (1st John 2:3-6).
And he added, we will love our Christian brothers:
Consider; “8
Again, a new commandment I write unto you,
which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness
is past, and the true light now shineth. 9
He that saith he is
in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until
now.
10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and
there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11But he that
hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness,
and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness
hath blinded his eyes” (2:8-11). Continuing with this
thought, he wrote; “
14We know that we have passed from
death to life because we love one another. Whoever does
not love abides in death. 15All who hate a brother or sister
are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have
eternal life abiding in them. 16We know love by this, that he
laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our
lives for one another. 17How does God’s love abide in
anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or
sister in need and yet refuses help? 18Little children, let us
love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19And
by this we will know that we are from the truth and will
reassure our hearts before him 20whenever our hearts
condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he
knows everything. 21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn
us, we have boldness before God” (3:14-21).
5:1-5: “1
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has
been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves
the child. 2
By this we know that we love the children of
God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3
For
the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments.
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And his commandments are not burdensome, 4
for whatever
is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory
that conquers the world, our faith. 5
Who is it that conquers
the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of
God?”
He wrote that the truly born-again person will not continue
to love the things of the world as he did before being
reborn. “
15 The love of the Father is not in those who love
the world; 16for all that is in the world—the desire of the
flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not
from the Father but from the world. 17And the world and its
desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God
live forever” (2:15-17).
And, he wrote that the truly born-again person will
acknowledge Jesus as God in the flesh. “21I write to you,
not because you do not know the truth, but because you
know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth.
22Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the
Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the
Father and the Son. 23No one who denies the Son has the
Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father
also. 24Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you.
If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then
you will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is
what he has promised us, eternal life” (2:21-25).
And finally, he wrote; the truly born-again person does not
continue in sin (does not continue in habitual sin). “
9
Those
who have been born of God do not sin, because God’s seed
abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been
born of God. 10The children of God and the children of the
devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is
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right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their
brothers and sisters” (3:9-10).
These things must be true in the life of him or her who
claims to be born-again. They are after all, God’s
workmanship affected in those who have been created
(reborn) in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). If God has truly
worked these things in one’s life, he or she is born again.
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CHAPTER 10
THE EMPTY CROSS
The cross of Jesus Christ is displayed in various ways and
is to many a reminder that He suffered and died for
mankind. Many times we see it occupied by a replica of
Christ’s body. In other displays, the cross is vacant. This
conveys God’s acceptance of His Son’s sacrifice as
payment for man’s sin. Its emptiness testifies to the belief
that His death was the beginning of man’s atonement. For
the apostle Paul, the empty cross and the empty tomb
present the risen Christ. In his letter to the Romans, he
states: “He was delivered for our offences, and was raised
again for our justification” (Romans 4:25).
Paul further affirms the absolute necessity of Christ’s
resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:12-23: “12Now if Christ be
preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among
you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there
be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not
risen: 14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching
vain, and your faith is also vain. 15Yea, and we are found
false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God
that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be
that the dead rise not. 16For if the dead rise not, then is not
Christ raised: 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is
vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they also which are
fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this life only we
have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept. 21For since by man came
death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all
be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ
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the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his
coming.”
The information the apostle John was instructed to relay in
the book of Revelation gives testimony that Jesus did not
remain in the tomb. Revelation 1:9-18: “
9
I John, who also
am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the
kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is
called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony
of Jesus Christ. 10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and
heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11Saying, I
am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou
seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches
which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and
unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and
unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12And I turned to
see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw
seven golden candlesticks; 13And in the midst of the seven
candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a
garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a
golden girdle. 14His head and his hairs were white like
wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of
fire; 15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in
a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many
waters. 16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out
of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his
countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17And
when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his
right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the
first and the last: 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and,
behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys
of hell and of death.”
In Chapters 4 and 5 John was caused to write: “4:
1
After
this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:
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and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a
trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I
will show thee things which must be hereafter. 2
And
immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was
set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3
And he that sat
was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone:
and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight
like unto an emerald. 4
And round about the throne were
four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and
twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they
had on their heads crowns of gold. 5
And out of the throne
proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:
and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the
throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6
And before the
throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the
midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four
beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7
And the first
beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and
the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth
beast was like a flying eagle.
8
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him;
and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and
night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which
was, and is, and is to come. 9
And when those beasts give
glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne,
who liveth for ever and ever, 10The four and twenty elders
fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship
him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns
before the throne, saying, 11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to
receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created
all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
“5:
1
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the
throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed
with seven seals. 2
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming
with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to
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loose the seals thereof? 3
And no man in heaven, nor in
earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book,
neither to look thereon. 4
And I wept much, because no man
was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to
look thereon. 5
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep
not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of
David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the
seven seals thereof.
6
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the
four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as
it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which
are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the
earth. 7
And he came and took the book out of the right
hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8
And when he had
taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders
fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps,
and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of
saints. 9
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy
to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou
wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of
every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And
hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall
reign on the earth. 11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of
many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the
elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten
thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12Saying with a
loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour,
and glory, and blessing. 13And every creature which is in
heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as
are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him
that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and
ever.
14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and
twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for
ever and ever.’”
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Born-again Christians see not only the empty cross, they
see the empty tomb and Jesus glorified. This is God’s
testimony that He has accepted Christ’s sacrifice for the
atonement of the sin of those He redeems. Hebrews 10:1-12
affirms this truth: “1
For the law having a shadow of good
things to come, and not the very image of the things, can
never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2
For then
would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the
worshippers once purged should have had no more
conscience of sins. 3
But in those sacrifices there is a
remembrance again made of sins every year. 4
For it is not
possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take
away sins. 5
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he
saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body
hast thou prepared me: 6
In burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is
written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8
Above when he said,
Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for
sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein;
which are offered by the law; 9
Then said he, Lo, I come to
do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may
establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for
all. 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and
offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never
take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one
sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of
God;
Because of His faithfulness, God the Father has made God
the Son Savior and Lord. This could not be true if Jesus had
remained in the tomb. Why is all this so important?
Because man, before he has been made righteous, is lost
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and eternally separated from God. He must bear the consequence of his sin unless that consequence is transferred to
another. This is what God has done. In His mercy, God has
transferred the penalty of the sin (spiritual death) of the
redeemed to Christ.
The writer of Hebrews was led by the Holy Spirit to give
the following warning in Chapter 3: “1
Wherefore, holy
brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the
Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ
Jesus; 2
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also
Moses was faithful in all his house. 3
For this man was
counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he
who hath builded the house hath more honour than the
house. 4
For every house is builded by some man; but he
that built all things is God. 5
And Moses verily was faithful
in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things
which were to be spoken after; 6
But Christ as a son over
his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the
confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
7
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear
his voice, 8
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation,
in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9
When your
fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty
years.
10Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and
said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not
known my ways. 11So I sware in my wrath, They shall not
enter into my rest.) 12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in
any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the
living God. 13But exhort one another daily, while it is
called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin. 14For we are made partakers of Christ,
if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the
end; 15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16For some,
when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that
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came out of Egypt by Moses. 17But with whom was he
grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned,
whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom
sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to
them that believed not? 19So we see that they could not
enter in because of unbelief.”
In this chapter the writer continues his thoughts from
chapters one and two. He begins by challenging his
believing Jewish brothers to consider the Apostle and High
Priest of their profession, the Lord Jesus Christ, confirming
to them His Son-ship. In verse seven, he begins to address
his earthly racial brothers (those who have not come to
faith in the Lord Jesus) and warns them not to delay in
turning to Christ as their forefathers delayed trusting God’s
leading in the wilderness. Their forefathers were not
allowed to enter the rest of God (the Promised Land). In
much the same way, the recipients of the letter of Hebrews
would not enter into the rest of redemption if they did not
turn to Christ. Not trusting Christ would end in a very sad
reality, never being able to enter the rest of heaven.
Because the cross and the tomb are both empty no one has
to remain separated from God. Jesus made it possible for
man to be brought back into fellowship with God, his
Creator.
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CHAPTER 11
ETERNAL SECURITY
Why are some Christians under the delusion that they could
lose their salvation? After all, Jesus said: “27My sheep hear
my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and
no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30I
and my Father are one” (John 10:27-30).
In examining this passage we find….
1) God the Father gave God the Son certain ones to be
His sheep.
2) Jesus gave to His sheep eternal life.
3) His sheep shall never perish.
4) God is greater than all and no one is able to pluck
(remove) a child (sheep) from His hand.
Because the passage emphatically confirms that those who
are the Lord’s (are His sheep) are kept by the authority
(power) of both Jesus (God the Son) and God the Father,
not independently, but in co-operation with one another,
one needs never fear losing his or her salvation. Perhaps it
is such passages as Hebrews 6:1-12 and Matthew 10:22-23
that cause the wavering Christian confusion and
consternation. Both passages, when misinterpreted, could
cause one great concern, but when properly understood, all
fear should be erased.
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Hebrews 6:1-12: “1
Therefore leaving the principles of the
doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying
again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and
of faith toward God, 2
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of
laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of
eternal judgment. 3
And this will we do, if God
permit. 4
For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were
made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 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. 7
For the earth
which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and
bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed,
receiveth blessing from God: 8
But that which beareth
thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing;
whose end is to be burned.
9
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and
things that accompany salvation, though we thus
speak. 10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work
and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name,
in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do
minister. 11And we desire that every one of you do show
the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the
end: 12That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who
through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
On the surface, it may appear that one could lose his or her
salvation. However, there is nothing in these verses that
speaks of a born-again person losing his or her salvation. If
salvation could be lost, it would be terrible news, for
according to the passage one could never approach
salvation again. The passage states, “It is impossible (not
improbable, but impossible) to renew them again to
repentance.” One should keep in mind, the writer of this
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letter was writing to a diverse group of people, not just
Jewish converts to Christianity. He was also addressing
Jews who had approached Christianity but after considering
the cost had backed away.
John Walvoord (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)
writes: This passage has been interpreted in four ways:
1) “That the danger of a Christian losing his or her
salvation is described, a view rejected because of
many biblical assurances that salvation is a work of
God which cannot be reversed;
2) That the warning is against mere profession of faith
short of salvation, or tasting but not really partaking
of salvation;
3) That hypothetically if a Christian could lose his or
her salvation, there is no provision for repentance;
4) That a warning is given of the danger of a Christian
moving from a position of true faith and life to the
extent of becoming disqualified for further service.”
In light of passages such as John 10:27-30 (quoted above)
and Ephesians chapters 1 and 2, etc. the phrases:
“1) Who have once been enlightened;
2) Who have tasted the heavenly gift;
3) Who have shared in the Holy Spirit;
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4) Who have tasted the goodness of the
Word of God and the powers of the
coming age; and
5) 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”
are best understood to apply to those who approached
Christianity, but backed away when they considered the
cost. The words “fall away” cannot refer to loss of eternal
life. This would be in contradiction to John 10:27-30 and
Hebrews 6:1-12. These verses emphatically declare the
inalienable possession of eternal life for those who trust
Christ. The writer of our text in Hebrews evidently has in
mind defection from the faith, that is, apostasy or
withdrawal from the Christian profession. Remember,
profession does not mean possession.
Jesus said about those who professed but did not possess:
“21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven. 22
Many will say to me in that
day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and
in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity. 24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man,
which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
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beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded
upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish
man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of
it. ” (Matthew 7:21-27).
The writer of Hebrews clearly makes a distinction between
believers and non-believers when he said; “Even though
we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better
things in your case—things that accompany salvation”(
verse 9 of Hebrews 6). In the previous verses he had been
writing of those who approached the throne of grace and
then backed away.
John MacArthur, in his commentary on the book of
Hebrews, writes: “We should notice that this passage
makes no reference at all to salvation. There is no mention
of justification, sanctification, the new birth, or
regeneration. Those who have been enlightened are not
spoken of as born again, made holy, or made righteous.
None of the normal New Testament terminology for
salvation is used. The enlightenment spoken of here has to
do with intellectual perception of spiritual, biblical truth. In
the Septuagint, the Greek word (phôtizô) several times is
translated “to give light by knowledge or teaching.” It
means to be mentally aware of something, to be instructed,
informed. It carries no connotation of response—of
acceptance or rejection, belief or disbelief.
Partakers (Greek, mĕtŏchĕs—met-okh-os) has to do with
association, not possession. These Jews had never
possessed the Holy Spirit; they simply were around when
He was around.”
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The writer of Hebrews gives a clear warning that should be
taken to heart. It is this: “There is no repentance” for
anyone if they have rejected the repentance that is given
through the Lord Jesus Christ. They were to leave the
principles of the doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity,
Consider what he writes in 6:1-2; “not laying again the
foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God, reverting back and relying on the doctrine of
baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of eternal
judgment” The author is exhorting the Hebrews to go on
unto Christ to whom all these doctrines pointed. “For it was
impossible for those who were once enlightened and had
tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of
[literally, companions with] the Holy Spirit and had tasted
the good Word of God [the message of the prophets] and
the miracles they had witnessed, if they fell away, to renew
them again unto repentance” (Hebrews 6:4-6).
If the meaning of the passage is that a person could lose his
or her salvation after it was granted, how sad that would be.
There is positively no chance of regaining salvation.
Now to the second of the problematic passages mentioned
above: Matthew 10.22-23 states: “22All men will hate you
because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be
saved. 23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to
another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going
through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
Jesus makes this same statement (he who stands firm to the
end will be saved) in Matthew 24:13 where it is clear that
He is referring to a faithful remnant of the Jews during the
Tribulation period who refuse to compromise their loyalty
to the Lord Jesus Christ. Their endurance shows they are
genuine disciples. Taken by itself, one could interpret the
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Lord’s meaning of that statement in both passages to mean
that salvation could be earned or kept by steadfast
endurance. It cannot mean this because throughout the
Scriptures, salvation is by election, and those elected are
kept by the power of God. Romans 8:28-30 for instance,
emphatically states that salvation is by the calling of God,
not of one’s works. “28And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew
he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his
Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called,
he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Each one of the underlined verbs is in the past tense and
denotes a completed action. Those who have been born
again have already been glorified in the eyes of God. In
that He cannot fail in the calling (for it is an efficacious
call), in that He cannot fail in the predestining, in that He
cannot fail in the justifying, in that He cannot fail in the
glorifying, we are seen as already with the Lord in heaven.
Who is able to prevent it or reverse it? No one, not even
one’s own self. If it could be done, God is not sovereign.
He would be subject to His creation, not His creation to
Him.
Having addressed the two passages of Scripture that are
most commonly misinterpreted when considering the
believers security, we should now look to the apostles Peter
and Paul and see what they, by inspiration of the Holy
Spirit, were convinced of. Turning to Peter’s first letter to
the strangers (the saints a.k.a. the pilgrims) who had been
scattered through-out Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,
and Bithynia, the Elect according to the foreknowledge of
God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit; we
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read: “
3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead, 4
To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you, 5
Who are kept by the power of
God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Peter encourages these believers who had been suffering
great persecution that they had an inheritance that was
“incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven, and kept by the power of God, through
faith.” We must take note of some very interesting words
employed by Peter in this passage: He wrote that their
inheritance was;
1) Incorruptible, could not be corrupted by sin.
2) Undefiled, could not be defiled by sin.
3) Could not fade away, could not disappear.
4) Kept, held by the power of God.
A Christian is (we are) kept by the power of God. This is
the divine side. Faith is the human side. Saving faith always
has the quality of permanence, as it is God’s gift
(Ephesians 2:8-9) to those who are His sheep. This faith
may be tested, but never lost. It is given from the hand of
God. Much of the confusion about eternal security would
be eliminated with a clear understanding of the meaning of
grace. Salvation is by grace through faith and not by works.
We are not saved because we are good, nor lost because we
are bad. A man who is truly born again is safe forever and
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can be as sure of heaven as if he has already been there ten
thousand years. He may fall into sin, and since the flesh
(the fallen nature) of the believer has not been changed and
is still corrupt, he may do some evil things. David, for
example, was guilty of adultery and murder even though he
had been brought into a true relationship with God. He was
forgiven for these sins and restored to God’s fellowship.
However, David suffered greatly as a result of his sins.
Every child of God will suffer as a result of the sins he
commits. Though sin must be dealt with, God’s grace is not
nullified.
If a sinning saint (one who is born again) refuses to confess
his sin, God must deal with him. 1 Corinthians chapter 5
demonstrates this principle. Here Paul speaks of a man
living in an openly sinful relationship with “his father’s
wife” (verse 1) – evidently his stepmother. By apostolic
judgment, and authority, this man was excluded from the
fellowship of the Corinthian church.
The church was “To deliver such a one unto Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the
day of the Lord Jesus” (5:5). The apostolic command was:
“Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked
person” (verse 13). It is evident from 2 Corinthians 2 that
by this drastic method, the sinning Christian came back to
repentance and confession. We learn this from Paul’s
words in 2 Corinthians 2:5- 11: “5
But if any have caused
grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not
overcharge you all. 6
Sufficient to such a man is this
punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7
So that
contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and
comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed
up with overmuch sorrow. 8
Wherefore I beseech you that
ye would confirm your love toward him. 9
For to this end
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also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether
ye be obedient in all things. 10To whom ye forgive
anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom
I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of
Christ; 11Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we
are not ignorant of his devices.”
Paul nowhere implied that the man in His first letter or
those referred to in his second letter lost their salvation.
Their sin had to be dealt with, but they themselves
remained saved.
Looking at eternal security from another angle: A long time
ago (eternity past) in a far-away place (heaven), God the
Father and God the Son put into motion those things that
would glorify the Godhead. We are given an insight into
the heart of God when we hear God the Son pray to the
Father: “You loved me before the foundation of the world”
(John 17:24). The three persons of the Godhead (God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) shared a
mutual love and fellowship in their eternal counsels.
In these counsels, the Triune God made plans for the
universe, including earth and its inhabitants, prior to the
creation. “Known unto God are all His works from the
beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18). “Being predestined
according to the purpose of Him who works all things after
the counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11).
In their counsels, they planned for a certain body of people,
persons in every age who would be redeemed, who were
“chosen in Him before the foundation of the world”
(Ephesians 1:4). Furthermore, a “book of life” was
prepared in which their names were written, although there
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would be many born “whose names were not written in that
book of life” (Revelation 17:8).
The Triune God knew that man (His premier creation)
would choose to rebel against His will. This resulted in
man being cast out of His presence and sentenced to
spiritual death, yet He (God), undertook a marvelous plan
of redemption for those who would be redeemed. It was
purposed that God the Son would become man and endure
punishment and separation from God the Father on behalf
of man. He was “foreordained before the foundation of the
world” (1 Peter 1:20) to be “the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8) for the payment
of man’s sin. On the basis of His (the Lamb’s) great
sacrifice, God could “promise eternal life, before the world
began” (Titus 1:2) to all who would come to God the Son
as they believed that promise.
It should be stressed, before moving on, that man’s
salvation and his eternal security was a purpose of the
Godhead. It was a purpose that each one of the Godhead
would glorify the other as they brought about the salvation
of those who were to be redeemed. It should also be
stressed that man was not involved in the purpose or the
carrying out of that purpose.
God cannot fail! He is God and His purpose was to save
those who would come to him in faith. In this purpose, God
called certain persons to Himself for salvation—God the
Son paid the price of that salvation by the shedding of His
blood—and God the Holy Spirit brought the good news to
those whom He was sent and regenerated them to newness
of spiritual life as He convicted them of their sin and
convinced them of their need of a Savior, and sealed them
as God’s possession. Each person of the Godhead
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accomplished His purpose, to fail would have meant that
God did not succeed in His purpose. That could not
happen; as stated, He is God. Man’s salvation and the
keeping of it is vested in God’s purpose, failure was not
possible.
The apostle John wrote of this purpose in the gospel that
bears his name. Consider; “14And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be
lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through him might be
saved” (John 3:14-17). Eternal life (vs. 15) means eternal
life. Everlasting life (vs. 16) means everlasting life.
Leaving the Gospel of John we again turn to Romans
chapter 8 and reread verses 28-30: “28And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to his purpose.
29For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did
predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called,
them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified.” God has called, efficaciously, all those He is
conforming to the image of God the Son. Those He called
He also justified. Those He justified He also glorified. This
calling, justifying, and glorifying are all written in the past
tense and was (is) accomplished in the life-time of each
person called. It was (is) a finished work and none were
(are) lost.
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Returning to the gospel of John, we read: “11I will remain
in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I
am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power
of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be
one as we are one.
12While I was with them, I protected
them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None
has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that
Scripture would be fulfilled” (John 17:11-12). And He
went on to ask; “20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for
them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I
in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may
believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21).
Before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus thanked the Father
for giving His disciples to Him. He asked that God the
Father would keep them, and all who would come to
believe in Him through their testimony, by His power
(authority). He states that none were lost except Judas
Iscariot (in fulfillment of Scripture). The Christian (we who
have been spiritually reborn) are kept, are secure in that
promise.
The question is sometimes raised, “What would happen to a
sinning Christian if he should die before being brought to
repentance and confession? First Corinthians 11:17-34
gives a great answer. Paul wrote: “17In the following
directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do
more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when
you come together as a church, there are divisions among
you, and to some extent I believe it. 19No doubt there have
to be differences among you to show which of you have
God’s approval. 20When you come together, it is not the
Lord’s Supper you eat, 21for as you eat, each of you goes
ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains
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hungry, another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have homes to eat
and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and
humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you?
Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! 23For I received
from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord
Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and
when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my
body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ 25In
the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This
cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you
drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 26For whenever you eat
this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s
death until he comes. 27Therefore, whoever eats the bread
or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will
be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the
bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and
drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and
drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you
are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
31But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under
judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being
disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the
world. 33So then, my brothers, when you come together to
eat, wait for each other. 34If anyone is hungry, he should
eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not
result in judgment. And when I come I will give further
directions.”
In the Corinthian church, many were sick, and some had
even died because they did not rightly judge and conduct
themselves respectfully toward their Christian brothers or
the Lord. Because they did not judge themselves, the Lord
brought chastisement and even death in order that they “be
not condemned with the world” (verse 32).
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In closing, perhaps there are some who lack an assurance of
their eternal security. It may be that their doubt is not in
God’s ability to sustain them, but in the assurance that they
were once truly saved. It is very probable that they question
whether they truly repented of their sins, took up their
cross, and followed Jesus because they fell back into sin.
Second Peter 2:10 warns us to “give diligence to make your
calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall
never fall.” Each of us should confirm our call and
election, as Peter exhorts his readers.
There are two facets of God’s plan of salvation. Election
refers to His sovereign pre-creation choice of individuals.
Call refers to His action in time by which the choice is
made evident. One’s election took place before the world
was made (Revelation 17:8); His or her call takes place
when he or she is converted (Acts 16:25-33).
Chronologically, election comes first, then call. In human
experience; however, one first becomes aware of his call,
then realizes he was chosen in Christ in eternity past. One
cannot make his call and election surer than God’s grace;
God’s eternal purpose can never be thwarted.
Doubt of salvation sometimes comes when one falls back
into sin. One can avoid such consternation by growing in
the likeness of Christ, which is a confirmation of salvation.
Manifesting the fruit of the Spirit is unmistakable evidence
that he or she truly belongs to Him. A holy life proves the
reality of one’s salvation. However, even as God’s
children, we all sin. First John 1:8-9 states emphatically:
“8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us. 9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.”
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But, when one commits sin, (which one will, regretfully),
he or she need not fear the loss of salvation. On the
contrary, evidence of the surety of salvation is in the truth
of the recognition of said sin and a desire of its confession
and cleansing. Returning to Peter’s testimony we read;
“3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us
again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, 4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for
you,
5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter
1:3-5). We are kept by the power of God; that is the divine
side. Faith is the human side. Saving faith always has the
quality of permanence because it is God’s gift to those who
are His sheep. Because faith is from the hand of God, it
may be tested but never lost. Praise God, we are secure. We
have this promise because God keeps us secure and
because God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit are faithful in their purpose.
Have you, dear reader, trusted in Jesus for a right standing
before God? He said: “I am the way, the truth and the life,
no one comes to the Father but by me” John 14:6. Each of
us should pause and ask ourselves: Is there evidence in my
life that I am truly a child of God? Am I truly spiritually
born again? It is imperative that one is a child of God, for if
one is not, at death, he or she will be eternally separated
from Him. Jesus warned in Matthew 25:41: “Then he will
say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are
cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels.’”
May God richly bless you! Hope to see you in heaven.
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About the Book
Many people today would list many different things as
being man’s dilemma; such things as: health problems,
unemployment, poverty, crime, war, and so on. Each, of
course, are problems found in every society, excluding
none. One could say man’s dilemma is universal and they
would be correct. However, each of the things listed above
are actually the result of man’s dilemma, not the cause. The
cause is found in man’s depravity. In that depravity, every
un-regenerated human being sets his own standard as to his
or her conduct of life. Man has rejected the absolute
standard of his creator and as a result is alienated toward
not only God, but from one another. Man has no solution
for this and therein lies the dilemma. God on the other
hand, has the solution, it is found in His provision, the Lord
Jesus Christ. In the pages of this work the author considers
man’s dilemma God’s solution from eleven different
perspectives. Each chapter is a study in itself but fits nicely
as one completed work.
May God bless His Word to the reader’s understanding as
he or she meditates on it.
Note: The reader will notice that many Bible passages have
been repeated in several chapters. The writer found this
necessary to bring out the complete message of each
chapter.
All Scripture references are transcribed from the King
James Version of the Bible.