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BIBLE VERSIONS AND MANUSCRIPTS, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS, Why can I not get anything out of the Bible?, Why can I not get anything out of the Bible?

Why can I not get anything out of the Bible?

WHY CAN I NOT GET ANYTHING OUT OF THE BIBLE WHEN I READ IT?

by Shawn Brasseaux

I try to read the Bible, but I get little to nothing out of what I read. What is the problem?

My heart truly goes out to people who are confused and burdened regarding Bible study. Friend, you are not alone—millions upon millions upon millions of people have experienced what you are undergoing, and millions upon millions upon millions are still experiencing it. I have been there, I know your distress, I have found the answers that you seek, and I would enjoy providing you with the three keys to Bible clarity. Dear reader, there is certainly hope for you and everyone else confused regarding the Holy Scriptures. We want to help you understand and enjoy the Holy Bible; in this study, we will discuss the three top reasons why people do not understand the Bible. This is a rather extensive and intensive study, but well worth considering.

 

1. DO YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

We read in 2 Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God….”

The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:19-21: “[19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

God the Holy Ghost wrote the Holy Scriptures. If we are to understand the Book that the Holy Ghost wrote, it is only logical that we must have the indwelling Holy Ghost. Many people who attempt to study the Bible are lost, they are not saved unto eternal life and they do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thus, the Bible is “foolishness” to them; God’s Word never makes sense without the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. This is why easier-to-read translations are so popular; they are an attempt to bypass the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry. We need more than the spirit of man if we are to understand the Bible. To understand Scripture, we need more than scientific investigation, we need more than religious tradition, and we need more than human intuition.

Consider 1 Corinthians 2:9-14: “[9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. [11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] 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.”

How do we get the indwelling Holy Spirit? Ephesians 1:12-13 tells us: “[12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. [13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise….” We must trust Jesus Christ—rely exclusively on His death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins. This is the Gospel of the Grace of God, Paul’s Gospel, of 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

If you have just trusted Jesus Christ alone as your personal Saviour, or you have trusted Him sometime in the past, you are indeed saved unto eternal life, and thus you may proceed to our second section.

 

2. DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT BIBLE?

Just as every book in the world is not the Book that God has written, every “Bible” is not the book that God has written; in this day and age, the average church member—or even average priest or pastor—cannot identify what is the Bible and what is not. The aforementioned people who did not have the Holy Spirit, they produced perverted Bible manuscripts, translated them, and produced even more corrupt translations (albeit operating under the impression that those manuscripts were more reliable and their translations were easier-to-read and therefore trustworthy). Even in Bible days, there were people counterfeiting the Word of God. Satan is the master counterfeiter, so may we always be on guard against counterfeit Bible versions—even more so 20 centuries later!

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:17: “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” We find in 2 Thessalonians 2:2 a reference to a counterfeit Bible manuscript, one that appeared to be from the Apostle Paul and his ministry coworkers. This false manuscript with false doctrine had troubled the minds of the Christians in Thessalonica: “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” The Apostle Peter warned that some individuals were “unlearned and unstable” and that they would “wrest… the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). They would not only twist Paul’s epistles, but all of God’s Word, and distort the verses to make them say what they wanted them to say. (Does that sound familiar or what?)

Even in the Prophet Jeremiah’s day, some 600 years before Christ, we read about false prophets twisting God’s Word, preaching lies in JEHOVAH’S name to Israel: “And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God” (Jeremiah 23:36). This entire chapter is an eye-opening warning about counterfeit “Bible prophets” and “ministers.”

The Apostle Peter summarized a warning that is true regardless of the dispensational setting. Just as there are people from the Lord Jesus Christ spreading His Word, there are counterfeit Christians spreading a damnable message: “[1:19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [1:20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [1:21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. [2:1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2:2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [2:3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 1:19–2:3).

As an English-speaking person, God’s preserved Word for you is the Authorized Version King James Bible. Use it, and use it alone, in your personal Bible study. The 400-year-old King James Bible—not the New King James Version—proves itself to be authoritative and trustworthy. The modern versions, however, demonstrate themselves to be unreliable; we should not use any book we cannot trust. They have varying degrees of interpretation built right into the translated text, and hundreds if not thousands of cross-references have been lost because of such shoddy Bible-handling. They have been produced by ecumenical bodies, groups of scholars from various denominations, scholars who are still cooperating to advance denominational doctrine instead of the unadulterated Word. In this day and age of itching ears and much false doctrine, we would be insane to believe that the new “bible” versions are dependable!

If you are using a King James Bible at this point, then a faulty Bible translation is not your problem. Please proceed to our third section.

 

3. DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT STUDY SYSTEM?

A. LITERAL (UNLESS CONTEXT INDICATES OTHERWISE)

Concerning Bible study, the following makes sense: “When the literal sense makes sense, seek no other sense.” You should let the Bible text tell you whether a passage/verse/word is literal or figurative. If the context says that it is a parable, then it is a parable. If the context says that it is an allegory, then it is an allegory. Some Bible verses contain sarcasm. Some verses contain figures of speech. These non-literal exceptions are most often apparent. Even when the Bible uses symbolic language—metaphor, simile, allegory, parable, et cetera—there is a literal truth associated with it. Nothing in the Bible is there to take up space; every word is important (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4). The normal sense of the Bible is literal. To spiritualize a passage is to tell spiritual lies because you do not have spiritual eyes; the Bible says what it means and it means what it says. The Bible is not hard to understand; it is hard to believe!

The Lord Jesus Christ believed the Bible literally. He taught a literal, physical, visible Adam and Eve who were literally, physically, and visibly created and married by God (Mark 10:6-8; cf. Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:18,21-25). Jesus literally believed He was a descendant of King David, implying David was a real man who had an actual bloodline (Matthew 22:41-46). The Lord believed in a literal interpretation of Daniel’s prophecy (Matthew 24:15ff.; Mark 13:14ff.; Daniel 9:26-27; Daniel 11:31). The Lord Jesus believed in a literal Great Flood of Noah’s day (Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27; cf. Genesis chapters 6–8). The Lord Jesus believed in a literal man named Lot, Lot’s literal wife, and God’s literal destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah with literal fire and brimstone (Luke 17:28-29,32; cf. Genesis 19:24-25). Jesus believed there was a literal man named David who ate the shewbread with his men (Matthew 12:3-4; Luke 6:3-4; cf. 1 Samuel 21:1-6). Jesus believed in literal, physical, visible men such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Matthew 22:32)—He believed God literally appeared to Moses in the burning bush too (Exodus 3:6). He believed there was a real man named Abel who was actually killed by his evil, unbelieving brother Cain (Matthew 23:35; Genesis 4:8,11). He believed that there was a literal man, “Zacharias son of Barachias,” who was actually murdered in the Temple complex as the Old Testament teaches (Matthew 23:35; cf. 2 Chronicles 24:21). Jesus cried, “I thirst,” so He could literally fulfill Psalm 69:21 (John 19:28). He affirmed that Satan literally fell from heaven (Luke 10:18), exactly what Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28:11-19 teach. Jesus said He came to literally fulfill Isaiah 61:1-2 (cf. Luke 4:16-21). The Lord Jesus really believed that actual bread fell from heaven for Israel to physically eat under Moses’ leadership (John 6:49; cf. Exodus 16:14-36).

The Apostle Paul believed the Bible literally. He understood a literal, physical, visible Adam and Eve were married by God (Ephesians 5:29-33; cf. Genesis 2:18,21-25). He believed in a literal woman named Eve who Satan actually deceived, and a physical man (Adam) whom Satan did not deceive (2 Corinthians 11:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; cf. Genesis 3:1-24). Paul believed there was a literal curse placed on creation in response to man’s fall into sin (Romans 5:12; Romans 8:18-25; Genesis 3:16-19). The Apostle believed that Adam was literally created from the dust of the earth (1 Corinthians 15:47; cf. Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:19). Paul believed in a literal man named Moses whom God used to ordain a most strict religious system using tables of physical stone (2 Corinthians 3:7-14; cf. Exodus chapters 32-34). He believed that there was a literal Adam (“one blood”) from whom all nations of people descended (Acts 17:26), exactly what Genesis 1:28 said when God commanded Adam and Eve to literally reproduce. Paul believed that God allotted the literal, real-estate boundaries of nations (Acts 17:26), implying a literal interpretation of Genesis chapters 10 and 11 when God scattered the idolaters from the Tower of Babel. Paul believed in a literal, physical, visible Ishmael persecuting a literal, physical, visible Isaac (Genesis 21:9), pointing out that literal, physical, visible unbelievers attack literal, physical, visible believers today (Galatians 4:29). Paul believed in literal, physical people such as Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau whose descendants are the Jews (Romans 9:7-13)—these individuals are referenced throughout the book of Genesis. Paul believed in a literal Pharaoh who literally held Israel captive as slaves in literal Egypt (Romans 9:17; cf. Exodus 9:16). Paul interpreted Israel’s future restoration as literal (Romans 11:26-27; cf. Isaiah 59:20-21; Jeremiah 31:31-34). Paul understood everyone standing before God in judgment (Isaiah 45:23) is a literal fact to be accomplished one day (Romans 14:11-12).

The Apostle Peter believed the Bible literally. He referred to the Great Flood of Noah’s day as though it were a literal, historical fact (1 Peter 3:19-21; 2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 3:3-6; cf. Genesis chapters 6-8)—Peter argued that similar judgment from God (although fire) will come on the world in the future. Peter believed in an historical man named Lot, a man who literally escaped God’s literal wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:6-9). Peter believed the Word of God would literally exist forever (1 Peter 1:25; cf. Isaiah 40:6-8). The Apostle believed Sodom and Gomorrah were literally overthrown with fire and brimstone as recorded in Genesis chapter 19 (2 Peter 2:6). Peter referred to Abraham and Sarah as literal, physical people who were husband and wife (1 Peter 3:5-6; cf. Genesis 18:12). The Apostle believed “Balaam the son of Bosor” was a literal, physical person (2 Peter 2:15; cf. Numbers chapters 22-24).

The Apostle John believed the Bible literally. While he does not refer to but one historical Old Testament account in his writings, he does admit that he believed there were literal figures Cain and Abel, Cain physically and visibly killing his brother Abel, just as Moses recorded in Genesis (1 John 3:12-13; cf. Genesis 4:8-11). John argued that unbelievers would kill believers because of the never-ending conflict between God’s people and Satan’s people.

The Apostle James believed the Bible literally. He believed the book of Genesis literally when it says that Abraham offered Isaac his son on the altar (James 2:21-23; cf. Genesis chapter 22). James indicated that Rahab the harlot was an historical character, who actually hid the Jewish spies in Jericho, just as the book of Joshua depicts (James 2:25; cf. Joshua chapter 2). He referenced Job as though he were an historical character (James 5:11), whose literal sufferings portray Israel’s future dire physical circumstances. James believed that the Prophet Elias (Elijah) prayed to JEHOVAH and literally caused rain to cease in Israel for three-and-one-half years, just as 1 Kings says (James 5:17; 1 Kings 17:1-2).

The writer of the book of Hebrews believed the Bible literally. It is unknown whom God used to pen the book of Hebrews. Regardless, this individual believed the Old Testament characters were literal, physical, visible, historical individuals—not mere characters in nonfiction works, fairytales, or the like. Hebrews chapter 11 makes references to Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Joseph, Moses, Israelites who left Egypt, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel, the prophets, and others. These were all historical people who endured physical persecution for believing and following the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, the God of creation.

B. DISPENSATIONAL

There are many methods and systems of Bible interpretation (also known as, “Bible hermeneutics”). For example, systematic theology studies Bible topics in a topical fashion: theology (the study of God), angelology (the study of angels), eschatology (the study of the end times / prophecy), ecclesiology (the study of the church), anthropology (the study of man), soteriology (the study of salvation), et cetera. This is all well and good, but this is not how the Bible presents these doctrines (the contexts of these verses are ignored, and they are all blended).

Rather than following the system of Dr. Strong, Dr. Scofield, Dr. Ryrie, or any other theologian, seminary professor, or Bible “scholar,” we simply allow the Holy Spirit—the Author of the Bible—to show us how He has designed it. When we stand before God in judgment one day, He will use His standard of Bible interpretation; in Heaven, God Almighty will not refer to man-made religious systems and theological books in order to gauge what teaching is right and what teaching is wrong. Confusion arises when we pick and choose a man-made system to follow, for every man-made system of Bible study is different from every other. However, much of the confusion will disappear if we simply use the method of Bible study that God Himself has ordained and laid out in His Word. We would all be using one and the same system for Bible study, and this would avoid the formation of factions, denominations, schisms, cults, et cetera.

The only verse in the Bible that tells us to “study” the Bible also tells us how to study it. We read in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We are seeking God’s approval—not a church’s approval, a seminarian’s approval, a minister’s approval, a family member’s approval, a friend’s approval, or anyone else’s approval. If our Christian lives are to be pleasing in God’s sight, we must “study… rightly dividing the word of truth.” But, what exactly does this mean? We need to search Paul’s epistles to discover the answer.

Ephesians 2:11-13 sheds light on 2 Timothy 2:15: “[11] Wherefore 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; [12] That 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: [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

We see two references to time in the above passage: “time past” and “but now.” At one time, we Gentiles were “without Christ,” we were “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,” we were “strangers from the covenants of promise,” we had “no hope,” and we were “without God in the world.” God dealt with the nation Israel, and if a non-Jew (Gentile) ancestor of ours wanted a relationship with the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, that Gentile had to approach God through Israel. Jesus Christ’s ministry was confined to the nation Israel (Matthew 10:5-7; Matthew 15:24; John 4:22; Acts 2:22; Romans 15:8)—this is why Scripture says we Gentiles were “without Christ” (Ephesians 2:12; cf. Romans 9:4-5).

Ephesians 2:13 is a contrary thought, the opposite of what we read in the previous two verses. “In Christ Jesus,” we who were (past tense) “far off” from God are now (present tense) made near to Him “by the blood of Christ.” What a complete change in the way God deals with mankind, and we have to want to miss it not to see that dispensational change! As God Himself declared first by and through the Apostle Paul, through Jesus Christ’s shed blood (His finished crosswork at Calvary), we Gentiles can now approach God the Father, without the nation Israel. In fact, Israel is fallen, and without Israel and her earthly kingdom, God is reaching and saving Gentiles.

The Holy Spirit tells us in Romans 11:11-13: “[11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.”

Why God wanted to save Gentiles through Israel and her program, and why God is now saving Gentiles without Israel and her program, is a fascinating story we must take time here to briefly summarize for you.

The first verse in the Bible is very clear that God deals with creation on the basis of two realms: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Notice how the Holy Spirit was very specific in the wording. Rather than saying, “God created the universe,” the Scriptures say, “God created the heaven and the earth.” The two-fold division in God’s Word is already apparent… we learn about right division in the very first verse of the Bible!

Regarding God’s original purpose in the creation of the heaven and the earth, we learn in Ephesians 1:9-10: “[9] [God the Father] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: [10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.”

Before creation ever was, God the Father wanted to unite all of the governmental offices of heaven and earth (see Colossians 1:16-20) under the headship, the leadership, of His Son Jesus Christ. Even today, God the Father wants all of creation to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. To bring about this purpose, Father God has one program—one system of operation—for heaven, and another completely different program—another system of operation—for earth. Both programs operate in their respective realms to accomplish the overall goal: make Jesus Christ head of all of the governments in heaven and earth, to give Him preeminence in both realms of creation. But, these two programs must be rightly divided if they are to make sense (to combine God’s purpose and plan for heaven and His purpose and plan for earth, is to bring unanswerable confusion, is to bring about the sad state of affairs in Christendom today).

PROPHECY. The program that God uses to magnify His Son in the earth is called the prophetic program, for it contains information/doctrine that was prophesied, or spoken about, since He placed man (Adam) on earth. Notice what the Apostle Peter preached: “[Jesus Christ] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). From the beginning of creation, God revealed to mankind a plan to have Jesus Christ reign on planet earth. This information is found in the Bible books of Genesis through Malachi, Matthew through John, Acts chapters 1-8, and Hebrews through Revelation. The agency (group of believers) whom God will use to magnify His Son forever in the earth is the nation Israel (Exodus 19:5-6; Psalm 37:11; Matthew 5:5; Luke 22:29-30; Revelation 5:10). Law is the operating system for the prophetic program (Matthew 5:17-19). The Apostle Peter and the other 11 apostles of Israel are the divinely-ordained human leaders in this program (Matthew 16:16-19; Matthew 19:27-28; Luke 22:30; Galatians 2:7,9).

MYSTERY. The program that God uses to magnify His Son in the heavens is called the mystery program, for it contains information/doctrine that was kept secret, or not spoken about, since He placed man (Adam) on earth. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote: “Now to him [God the Father] that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [26] But now is made manifest…” (Romans 16:25-26). From the beginning of creation, God kept secret (kept it a mystery) a plan to have Jesus Christ reign in the heavenly places. This information is found in the Bible books known as “Paul’s epistles,” Romans through Philemon. The agency (group of believers) whom God will use to magnify His Son forever in the heavens is the Church the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 2:6-7; Philippians 3:20; 2 Timothy 4:18). Grace is the operating system for the mystery program (Romans 6:14-15). The Apostle Paul is the divinely-ordained human leader in this program (Romans 11:13; Romans 15:16; Galatians 2:7,9; 1 Timothy 1:15-16).

 

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach us His Word. We read verses in the King James Bible and compare them with other verses in the King James Bible, and the verses will interpret one another. Unless the context says otherwise, the verse/passage is literal. We use the Bible dispensationally, understanding that God says different things to different people in His Word at different time periods. Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, describe what God is doing today, so this is God’s Word to and about you. Study all of the Bible, Genesis through Revelation, for it is all for your learning (Romans 15:4), but remember that not all of the Bible is to or about you.

When studying a particular Bible passage, you first need to establish the following, in this order:

  1. who is writing/speaking,
  2. to whom are they writing, and
  3. what are they writing.

Oftentimes, people ignore #1 and #2 and just focus on #3. We cannot grab just any Bible verse and apply it to us. Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, are written to us Gentiles and about us Gentiles. If you follow these simple keys to Bible understanding, you will understand the Bible.

Just as the Lord Jesus Christ “opened… their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45), and “expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (verse 27), so He will explain the Scriptures to you if you allow Him. If you have the indwelling Holy Spirit, if you have the King James Bible, and you use dispensational Bible study, the Bible will literally become an “open book.” You will enjoy it, cherish it, esteem it, love it, more and more each day. To the believer, Paul wrote the following:

Ephesians 3:4: “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)”

Ephesians 3:16: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

2 Timothy 2:7: “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.”

When we Christians read God’s Word (King James Bible), and pay particular attention to what God says through Paul (Ephesians 3:4; 2 Timothy 2:7), God the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16) will strengthen us inside, in our soul and spirit. He will then use that doctrine that we believe to work in us: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8).

Also see:
» I am new to the Bible, so where should I begin? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Does doctrine really matter? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Does God intervene in my life? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)

Must I say the “sinner’s prayer?”, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

Must I say the “sinner’s prayer?”

IS THE “SINNER’S PRAYER” REALLY NECESSARY?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Is repeating the “sinner’s prayer” the way to soul salvation unto eternal life? What exactly is the “sinner’s prayer” anyway? To the Scriptures we go without delay, to see what Almighty God has to say!

There are many dear, sincere Christian souls who use the so-called “sinner’s prayer” to share the Gospel with lost people. Actually, there was a time when I used it when witnessing to others. Since I have come to understand God’s Word, God’s way—dispensational Bible study, or right division—I better understand the matter of the “sinner’s prayer” and its doctrinal deficiency. Beloved, it is my great hope and fervent prayer that we can here use the Holy Scriptures to educate lost and saved alike regarding this most important topic. After all, soul salvation unto eternal life is the most critical issue you will ever face. We need not confuse a clear grace message by introducing a works-religion message.

Every “sinner’s prayer” has different words in it and each one highlights different concepts. Here are some sample prayers to give you an idea of what the “sinner’s prayer” is all about:

  • “Jesus, thank You for dying for me, save me from my sins, come into my heart, and fill me with Your Spirit. Amen.”
  • “Lord, be merciful to me. I am sorry for all the bad things I have done, I turn from (or “repent of”) my sins, and I give my life to You. Amen.”
  • “God, I confess all of my sins and I ask for Your forgiveness. Please take me to heaven when I die. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
  • “Lord Jesus, I surrender everything to You. Come into my heart and make me new, and I promise to serve You all the days of my life. Amen.”

Beloved, these are nice-sounding prayers and they involve many emotions, but they are not a clear presentation of the Gospel of the Grace of God. Usually, people do not understand the dispensational layout of Scripture, how God’s good news varies from group to group throughout history and throughout His dealings with man. Rather than focusing exclusively on God’s current plan of salvation, Christians (whether ignorantly or deliberately) usually “copy” other Gospel messages in the Bible, and “paste” them into the current plan of the salvation. They take 2 Chronicles 7:14, Proverbs 23:26, Psalm 51:1-11, Mark 1:15, Luke 14:27, Revelation 3:20, Acts 2:38, Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 24:13, Luke 18:13, et cetera, and mix them with Romans 4:1-5, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 3:19-28, Ephesians 2:8-9, et cetera. All of these passages teach different matters, so to conflate them is to burden the sinner who wants to be saved. This amalgamation only makes the Gospel less clear to a person already confused in religion and sin.

Remember, our primary task as Christians is to present the Gospel of the Grace of God ever so clearly, ever so plainly. Satan wants them blinded from our gospel, that they not understand that their works play no role in a right standing before God, justification unto eternal life, forgiveness, a home in heaven, etc. We should be careful not to mix works with faith when sharing the message of God’s grace with them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4); works done to become a Christian and a Christian doing good works are two separate issues that must be clearly distinguished. The Bible says, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The plan of salvation is so simple even a child can comprehend it—even if seminary preachers and theologians cannot!

The Holy Bible is very clear that we are saved by grace through faith without works:

  • Romans 3:28: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
  • Romans 4:1-5: “[1] What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? [2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. [3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
  • Galatians 2:16: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
  • Ephesians 2:8-9: “[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.”
  • Titus 3:5: “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 Bible says that, unlike faith (Romans 4:5), prayer is a work; faith is not a work, but prayer is a work. Notice Colossians 4:12: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” Prayer is something believers do; prayer is what Christians do, not lost people. Never in the Bible, particularly Paul’s epistles, do we read about someone praying in order to be saved. Again, in the Bible, prayer is not something lost people do in order to be saved. The Holy Spirit through Paul said that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork without our works. Prayer is a work and our works cannot and do not save us. Thus, no “sinner’s prayer” can save us.

According to Romans 1:16 (“the gospel of Christ … is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth”), Romans 3:22 (“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe”), Romans 3:26 (“To declare, I say, at this time [God’s] righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus”), and 1 Corinthians 1:21 (“it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe”), there is nothing about people saying a sinner’s prayer to be saved. Paul did not say, “Say the sinner’s prayer, and thou shalt be saved.” He preached to a lost man in Philippi, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). The Bible is ever so clear if we have an ear to hear, an eye to see, and a heart to believe. If we have a denominational agenda to push, it is then that we ignore these simple verses and follow up with objections.

At this point, someone may interject to say, “What about….” They proceed to flee to passages such as Psalm 51, Luke 18:13, Romans 10:9-10, and Revelation 3:20. At this point we would be glad to answer these precious people’s objections using the Bible! Provided that they are being asked in faith, Bible questions are very enjoyable to answer.

OBJECTION #1: WHAT ABOUT PSALM 51?

Psalm 51 is a passage that is sometimes used when evangelizing people. Often called “David’s prayer of repentance,” it should be noted that King David is not a lost person. David is a believer, a saint who acknowledges his sins (he has just committed adultery with Bathsheba, and he has conspired to murder her husband in battle; see 2 Samuel chapter 11). The LORD sent the Prophet Nathan to rebuke David in chapter 12.

After meeting with Nathan, David prayed in Psalm 51: “[1] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [3] For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. [4] Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. [7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. [9] Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. [11] Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”

Again, David was a believer, for he prayed in verse 11 that God’s presence not leave him and that His Holy Spirit not leave him. But, again, David lived under entirely different circumstances. He lived under the Mosaic Law, of which we have no part in this the Dispensation of Grace (Romans 6:14-15). David lived approximately 1,000 years before Calvary’s crosswork, and we live on this side of the cross almost 2,000 years. Beloved, David is not our pattern. Would you as a believer want to pray Psalm 51:11, begging God not to leave you, that He not take His Holy Spirit from you? That would be awful, that would be heresy. The Bible says we are secure in Christ, and that we cannot lose the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; 2 Timothy 1:12).

OBJECTION #2: WHAT ABOUT LUKE 18:13?

Someone might be asking about Luke 18:13, which we now analyze: “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” This verse is occasionally inserted into “sinner’s prayers,” “Gospel invitations,” and Gospel tracts. However, it must be remembered here that this publican approached God on the basis of the shed animal blood on the Mercy Seat in the Temple in Jerusalem (see Leviticus chapter 16). This tax collector was under totally different circumstances than where we are today on this side of Calvary. We now approach God the Father on the basis of Jesus Christ’s shed blood. We do not have to ask God for mercy; He is already offering His mercy, His compassion and fellowship that we do not deserve, through Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. We need God’s mercy, compassion, and fellowship applied to us by us trusting Jesus Christ and Him alone!

OBJECTION #3: WHAT ABOUT ROMANS 10:9-10?

There are some who are probably wondering about Romans 10:9-10, verses that appear on nearly every Gospel tract in the world today, verses that are quoted in probably every Evangelical Gospel sermon: “[9] 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. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

While the Bible is clear about what it says in these verses, these verses have a context that must be faced head-on. Dear friend, before you stumble over verses 9 and 10, please notice verses 1-3: “[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.” Whose salvation is being discussed in Romans chapter 10? Our salvation? No, verse 1 says this is Israel’s salvation. There were two issues that unbelieving Jews did not want to accept as true during the Acts period—Jesus’ Messiahship and His resurrection (hence the language of Romans 10:9).

Today, some groups teach that, in order to be saved, a lost person must audibly confess Jesus as Lord of his or her life, and that they must then believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. Romans 10:9-10 is not our plan of salvation—this was how unbelieving Israel was saved in the Acts period under Paul’s ministry. Paul wrote the book of Romans during the book of Acts, and Romans chapter 10 is what Paul preached in the synagogues to evangelize Jews during the book of Acts. He never mentioned Romans 10:9-10 in any remaining epistles; it was unique to the Acts transition period. For more information, see the link at the bottom of this study, for our article on Romans 10:9-10 and the often-confused doctrine of confessing Jesus as Lord.

OBJECTION #4: WHAT ABOUT REVELATION 3:20?

It is commonly taught that Jesus is knocking on the door of a lost person’s heart, and that person must let Him inside in order to be saved from their sins. Dearly beloved, this is good denominational doctrine but it is poor Bible doctrine. Revelation 3:20 teaches no such concept. Before we repeat something that we have heard all of our lives in missions meetings and revival services, we need to read Revelation 3:20 within its context: “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.” Verse 14 says that this is Jesus Christ’s message to the church of the Laodiceans. Revelation 3:20 is written to Jewish believers, not lost people! Verse 20 is God warning Jewish believers that there is impending chastisement when Jesus Christ returns at His Second Coming (cf. James 5:8-9), and the Bible says that God chastises believing Jews, not lost Jews (see Hebrews 12:5-10). For more information about Revelation 3:20, see the link at the bottom of this study, for our study on Revelation 3:20 and the often-confused doctrine of Jesus knocking on the hearts of lost people.

CONCLUSION

The Bible says, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth” (Luke 9:31). God hears Christians, not lost people (the context of this verse is Jesus healing a blind man, and the Jews know that God does not heal anyone on the basis of a lost person begging for healing on their behalf). What God wants from lost people is not for them to pray to be saved, to work to be saved, but for them to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” to be saved, to rest entirely on His Son Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for their sins (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The Bible is not difficult to understand once we toss out denominational interpretations.

Please re-read Romans 4:5: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Faith is the only thing that you can do without doing anything. Faith is just believing/trusting what Jesus Christ already did for you at Calvary’s cross. You are not doing anything but relying on what someone else did. If you want righteousness, a right standing before God, you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, relying exclusively on His death, bloodshed, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for your sins. That is what the Bible says. Either you believe it or you do not.

Prayer is a work that believers do, and after salvation unto justification (forgiveness of sins and imputed righteousness), Christians can and should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). However, no one becomes a Christian by reciting a man-made formula, a so-called “sinner’s prayer.” Salvation from sins unto eternal life is totally based on Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. It has nothing to do with a work on our part (a confession, a profession, a prayer, an aisle-walking, a water baptism, a monetary donation, an emotional upheaval, an “altar”-kneeling, et cetera). Let us read Romans 4:5 again: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Also see:
» What is “Lordship Salvation?” (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Must I audibly confess “Jesus is Lord” in order to be saved? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Is “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock” really a Gospel invitation?

GRACE (CHRISTIAN) LIVING, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS, We are saved by faith but are we blessed by works?

We are saved by faith, but are we blessed by works?

WE ARE SAVED BY FAITH, BUT ARE WE BLESSED BY WORKS?

by Shawn Brasseaux

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork alone, and not by our works. So, some proceed to ask afterward: “After we are saved and on our way to heaven, will God bless us Christians when we do good works?” As always, we allow the Spirit of God to teach us through His written Word, the Holy Scriptures.

Every serious Bible student understands (or at least should understand) that God’s plan of salvation today and His truth that relates to us today, can be found in Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, alone. The doctrine, duty, walk, and destiny of the Church the Body of Christ is taught alone in the Pauline epistles. What Father God wants us to believe for salvation, what He wants us to do in our Christian lives, where He will take us when we leave this earth, and what He will do with us in the ages to come, all of these issues are fully dealt with in Paul’s epistles. We do not have to go around wondering what God is doing and what He wants us to do—all too often, this describes the majority of professing Christians!

Please understand that we study all of the Bible, for all 66 books of the Bible are God’s Word, but we also recognize that God in His Word is not always talking to us. All Scripture is for us, but not all Scripture is to us or about us. For instance, when a passage says that God is addressing the nation Israel, then we need to believe the context and not apply the passage to us because the passage says that it is not talking to or about us. Regarding our current topic, the various conflicts and confusions regarding good works and Christian living are because of a failure to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), a failure to separate the varied instructions that God has given to different groups of people throughout the ages.

Dear readers, let us proceed to demonstrate how right division is the key to understanding how God relates to us today in the Dispensation of Grace, and how He dealt with the nation Israel in time past.

HOW GOD DEALT WITH ISRAEL IN HER PROGRAM

JEHOVAH God promised to Abram/Abraham many physical and spiritual blessings. We read about them in Genesis chapters 12, 15, and 17, among other places. Abraham simply had to believe what God said and God would take care of the rest. When God brought Abraham’s descendants—the nation Israel—out of Egyptian bondage over 400 years later, Israel preferred works-religion. They did not want God’s grace, everything that God would give to them freely; they wanted JEHOVAH to bless them on the basis of their works. Their sinful, deceitful hearts had caused them to believe that they could really do everything a holy, righteous God demanded. How wrong they were!

Let us read Exodus chapter 19, where God offered to make that Covenant of Law with the nation Israel: “[5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. [7] And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. [8] And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD” (Exodus 19:5-8).

Immediately after JEHOVAH delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery, He proved to the Jews that He would take care of them, meeting all of their physical and spiritual needs according to His grace. Study His miraculous provisions for Israel delineated in Exodus chapters 14-17—His parting the mighty Red Sea for Israel to be delivered from Pharaoh and his armies, His providing Israel with potable water and quail and manna/bread from heaven, His furnishing Israel with potable water a second time, and His giving Israel military victory over her enemies. Yet, the Israelites were so ungrateful towards JEHOVAH’S provisions. Exodus 19:8 demonstrates that the Jews believed they really could please God, and they wanted Him to bless them according to their works—they rejected the free-for-nothing Abrahamic Covenant. At Mount Sinai, Israel entered into a contract whereby she could only be God’s people IF she obeyed Him (refer back to Exodus 19:5 above); otherwise, she would be cursed of God, and under sin and Satan’s control. This system is what we call legalism.

Read Deuteronomy 28:1-2: “[1] And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: [2] And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.” JEHOVAH then listed the various blessings—great harvests of crops, large families, large herds of cattle and other livestock, military victories, plentiful rain, and so on. Verse 15 continues: “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:….” JEHOVAH then delineated the curses—sicknesses, wars, famines and other economic hardships, pestilences, and so on. Unfortunately, as history testifies, Israel “enjoyed” more of the curses than the blessings!

Although we must stop here concerning Israel’s program for sake of brevity, suffice it to say that the New Covenant will be JEHOVAH’S solution to Israel’s Covenant-of-Law dilemma. It will be by Jesus Christ’s shed blood that God will ratify the New Covenant, thereby forgiving and cleansing Israel so they may be His people (see Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 11:25-32; Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 10:15-17). This is yet future.

HOW GOD DEALS WITH US IN THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE

NOTE: While much of this section is review, it is needed in order to answer the question at hand.

The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, spent five whole chapters—the first five chapters of the book of Romans—to settle the issue of soul salvation unto eternal life by faith alone in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins. When we trust God’s Son, and Him alone, for a right standing before God, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that we are instantaneously and permanently justified before God, that we are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). In short, what God commanded Israel to do in her own strength (Mosaic Law), He has done for us through Jesus Christ at Calvary. In Jesus Christ, because of His perfect sacrifice at Calvary, He has dealt with our sin problem. Again, this parallels the Abrahamic Covenant, where God offered to give Abraham righteousness as a free gift without his works (see Romans 4:1-25). Here are the highlights of Romans chapters 3-5:

  • Romans 3:19-20: “[19] Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. [20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
  • Romans 3:28: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
  • Romans 4:16: “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”
  • Romans 4:21-25: “[21] And [Abraham] being fully persuaded that, what he [God] had promised, he was able also to perform. [22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. [23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; [24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; [25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
  • Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Okay, again (we repeat for emphasis), how were justified, made right in God’s sight? How were we blessed of God regarding soul salvation unto eternal life? Did we have to strive and do various religious works so God would be pleased with us? That is, did God give us eternal life after we did everything we possibly could? Absolutely not! Once we read Romans chapters 1-5 and believe those verses, we conclude that our works do not save us. Our works had absolutely nothing to do with us receiving “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). No water baptism, no tithe, no speaking in tongues, no keeping commandments, no walking an aisle, no prayer recitation, no giving to the poor, no confession of sins, no church membership, no quitting bad habits and initiating good ones, nothing, nothing, nothing we did. “[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” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Nothing we did in the flesh gets us into heaven. Nothing. This cannot be stressed enough because religious tradition constantly robs James chapter 2 of its context and then cheats its church members of the clarity of salvation by grace through faith without works. Religion is 100 percent wrong when they put you on a treadmill and cause you to “work your spiritual fingers to the bone” so that you can hopefully merit favor before God. God pity the ministers who make their congregations work their way to heaven, for they too will enter the same gates of hell their congregants passed—to enjoy much hotter parts! We would hate to be in those ministers’ shoes when they stand before a holy, righteous God and have Him accuse them of misleading people to everlasting hellfire using His Son’s precious name! Oh, may these people turn away from such error and trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone, before it is eternally too late for them all!

A Christian doing good works and someone doing good works to become a Christian are two totally separate matters. The first is acceptable before God while the latter is an absolute abomination before Him. When we say that doing good works saves us, that we can become a Christian by doing good deeds, we are pushing aside Jesus Christ’s perfect sacrifice of Himself and exalting our own deeds. Which would God accept—something defiled by sinful hands and hearts, or something that His perfect Son did? Would we dare to compare ourselves to Jesus Christ, who always did His Father’s will (John 8:29)? Then we had better not attempt to substitute His righteousness with ours.

With Jesus Christ’s merits at Calvary applied to our account by faith alone, we have been given an abundance of spiritual wealth. Are we going to be like Israel and ignore God’s grace, or are we going to accept God’s grace and enjoy what He has already given us in Jesus Christ? Yes, some want to live like spiritual paupers, and some Christians do live like spiritual paupers, but we do not have to live like spiritual paupers!

OUR SPIRITUAL WEALTH IN CHRIST

In Jesus Christ, God the Father has given us everything that He could possibly give us. Every spiritual blessing is ours in Jesus Christ, from the moment we trust Him alone until forever and ever. Notice:

  • Romans 8:32: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
  • 1 Corinthians 1:30-31: “[30] But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [31] That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
  • 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
  • Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
  • Philippians 4:19: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
  • Colossians 2:10: “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

God has “freely” given (without cost to us) “all things” with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:32). Again, when God gave us His Son, He gave everything to us that He could ever give. God the Father has given us spiritual wisdom, a right standing before Him, He has set us apart for His purposes, He has bought us out of the slave-market of sin with Jesus Christ’s shed blood (1 Corinthians 1:30)—that is our identity in Christ. Father God has given us every possible spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. The Spirit of God has given us immaterial riches (2 Corinthians 8:9) such as fellowship with God, His righteousness, His love, His mercy, His grace, His forgiveness, His life, His peace, His joy, His power, on and on and on (Ephesians 1:3). These are all the things we really need in life (Philippians 4:19). We Christians are “in Christ,” and we lack nothing in Him (Colossians 2:10). Everything that God wants to give us is in Him, and we are in Him, so we have everything God wants to give us.

We say all this to ask, Why return to the “weak and beggarly” law system (Galatians 4:9) of do good to get God’s blessings, when Jesus Christ has done all that work perfectly at Calvary, and Father God has given us everything upfront when we trusted His dear Son? Why go back to a system that will only condemn us? Why abandon God’s grace to us and try to merit something He already proved we cannot merit? Why try to gain something Jesus Christ offers to us freely? It makes no sense.

To the Galatians who were already saved but trying to “enhance” their Christian lives with their performance in religion, the Holy Spirit through Paul wrote: “[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? [2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3). The entire book of Galatians deals with the issue of mixing law and grace—it will not work, and law will only wreck your Christian life. May we not give place to Satan, causing him to use the Scriptural Mosaic Law to pollute our minds from “the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4; Galatians 5:1-10).

WHAT ABOUT MATERIAL WEALTH IN CHRIST?

In this day and age of prosperity theology and social gospels, Christendom is being deluged by such catchphrases as, “God wants you healthy and wealthy. Christians are promised an easy life, so come to Christ and get it.” These false teachers allege that material poverty is a “sin” and that bodily illness is a “sin.” They overlook many Bible verses that demonstrate the Apostle Paul, indwelt and led by the Holy Spirit, was materially poor on numerous occasions (1 Corinthians 4:9-13; 2 Corinthians 11:22-27)—he and his ministry companions did not always have enough food to eat, drink to drink, clothes to wear, shelter to find refuge in, and so on (see Philippians 4:11-13). Among other discouraging conditions, Paul suffered various bodily illnesses (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Galatians 4:13-14). Timothy, another man of God, was sick with his stomach (1 Timothy 5:23). Paul was also unable to heal another sick Christian, Trophimus (2 Timothy 4:20). We read about the poor Macedonian saints who gave, despite their deep poverty, to Paul’s ministry (2 Corinthians 8:1-4). Although God has given us spiritual wealth in Christ, these Scriptures confirm that He has not promised us material wealth and perfect health. He does, however, give us the grace to endure all circumstances, good and bad (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Philippians 4:11-13).

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul penned in 1 Timothy 6:5-8: “[5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” The Bible says we should be content with just food and clothing. If we want abundant material wealth, the Bible says that we need to get a job and provide that income for ourselves (2 Thessalonians 3:6-17). This is how God prospers us materially.

The Bible is often used to prove that if one gives money to “God’s ministry,” He will bless that individual’s finances. Malachi 3:8-11 is the primary passage used in such a regard: “Give your tithes and God will bless you, because He will curse you if you give too little or not at all!” Beloved, this is not only extortion, but religious tomfoolery as well; I know Christian people who give money regularly to ministries and these faithful and sincere givers are not millionaires. Furthermore, we are not under the tithe today. We give cheerfully (happily), not because someone forces us to give (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

CONCLUSION

The Law system can be summed up with the phrase, “Do good and you will receive blessings; do bad and you will receive curses.” We cannot take the first part and ignore the second; we cannot take the second part and ignore the first. Neither the first nor the second part applies to us. We are under grace not law (Romans 6:14-15). God has given us everything in Jesus Christ because of His grace, His unmerited favor, apart from our works.

When you first trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you realized that you did not and could not measure up to God’s righteous standards. Despite the “best” you could do, you were still unable to save yourself. The Law could not save you, your works could not save you and make yourself accepted of God. Likewise, your performance will not make you right in God’s sight. It will always be Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork at Calvary. It is His resurrection power that causes you to be raised again to have a life pleasing in His sight, a lifestyle that matches the identity you have in His Son.

According to Colossians 2:6-7, “[6] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: [7] Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” The Bible says that our Christian lives in this the Dispensation of Grace operate just as they began: “AS” we were saved, “SO” will be our daily living. In other words, both our initial sanctification (salvation in Christ, salvation from the penalty of sin in hell) and our practical sanctification (salvation in Christ, salvation from sin’s power over our lives) operate on the same principle. According to the Bible, how we are saved from hell is the answer to how we are saved from sin having dominion over us on a daily basis (practical Christian living).

The Apostle Paul prayed for the Philippians: “[9] And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; [10] That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; [11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11). Every believer is to be “filled with the fruits of righteousness” indeed, but notice, the Bible’s clarification “which are by Jesus Christ.” Just as our salvation from hell (eternal salvation) depends on Jesus Christ’s performance, not our efforts, so our salvation from sin’s dominion over us (daily living) also depends on Jesus Christ’s performance, not our efforts (remember what we read in Colossians 2:6-7 earlier). Remember, technically, the Christian life is not us doing good deeds in order to make God happy with us (that is religion and legalism/Law-keeping); the Christian life is really Jesus Christ doing the work in and through us, living in and through us, because God is happy with us in Christ (that is grace living)! Beloved, this is why we must study God’s Word rightly divided, that He may work in us using those Scriptures.

Also see:
» Does God chasten us when we sin?
» What about hindered and/or unanswered prayer?
» Must I confess my sins?

CHRISTIANITY & WORLD RELIGIONS, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS, What about those who have not heard about Jesus Christ?, What about those who have not heard about Jesus Christ?

What about those who have not heard?

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT JESUS CHRIST?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Whenever the Christian teaches that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, invariably, the question is posed, “What about those who have never heard of Jesus Christ?” While this question is usually asked in a captious (entrapping) manner in order to intimidate the Christian to retreat to silence, the Christian soldier needs to have handy verses that address that matter. So, what does the Bible say about those who “have not heard the name of Jesus?” Let us search the Scriptures and see!

In his 30-plus-year ministry, the Apostle Paul met many heathens, people who had never heard a single word about Jesus Christ, who literally knew nothing about the one true God, JEHOVAH, the God of the nation Israel. These Gentiles literally had no knowledge of the Bible whatsoever (even of the Old Testament Scriptures, which was the only “Bible” during the first half of Paul’s ministry).

Ephesians 4:17-19 says about these people: “[17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, [18] Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: [19] Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Ephesians 2:11-12 explains why the Gentiles were spiritually blind and ignorant: “[11] Wherefore 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; [12] That 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.” Those Gentiles did not have the God of the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ, so they lived apart from His life, His values, and His plan!

That Gentile ignorance began to diminish with Paul’s ministry, as the Apostle himself describes in Acts 26 (referring back to events in Acts 9, about 30 years earlier): “[15] And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. [16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; [17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, [18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

In Acts 17, Paul is in Athens (verse 16). While standing on Mars’ Hill, he speaks to all Athenians, but especially to its Greek philosophers (verses 18ff.). These Greeks are very religious, as evidenced by their altars and devotions, but they do not know the God of the Bible, the Creator of heaven and earth: Paul notes their altar that reads, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD” (verse 23). Paul preached to teach in verses 29-31: “[29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. [30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: [31] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” God had sent Paul to these ignorant Gentiles to stop them from thinking vain thoughts, to quit reducing the Creator to some manmade idol, and to realize that Jesus Christ had come to save them from such foolishness!

Years after his salvation and the beginning of his ministry, Paul wrote in Colossians 1:23-24: “ [23] If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; [24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:” If we take verse 23—“the gospel… was preached to every creature which is under heaven”—very literally, every single person had heard the Gospel of the Grace of God in Paul’s day. Despite such limited and slow communication in that period of history, the Bible affirms that the whole then-known world had heard about Jesus Christ (this was through Paul’s ministry; Romans 1:5; Romans 16:26; Ephesians 3:9).

Colossians 1:5-6 says, “[5] For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; [6] Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:” Surely, if the whole then-known world had heard of Jesus Christ, today’s “advanced” communication methods could certainly prove it to be true even now in the 21st century.

It should be pointed out that we do not know just how much those who (allegedly) “do not know” know. We do not know how much they know. The Christian should point this out and emphasize it when asked, “What about those who have not heard about Jesus Christ?”

Read Romans 1:18-20: “[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. [20] For 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:”

In the above passage, the Bible does say that, because of the existence of the natural creation, every single person knows that there is a Creator God, Someone who is powerful and Someone who is a righteous Judge. They know there is a God (they may not know His name, but they do know that He exists). They are “without excuse.”

Every person, no matter where he or she lives in the world, has a conscience, something “which may be known of God [that] is manifest in them” (Romans 1:19). Romans 2:13-16 explains: “[13] (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. [14] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15] Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; ) [16] In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

God will eventually judge “the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to [Paul’s] gospel.” Every person who has lived in this the Dispensation of Grace, will be held accountable to God regarding what he or she did with the Gospel of the Grace of God. God could only be just in doing this if they all had a chance to hear it, and evidently, they all will have had a chance.

Throughout the world are God’s written Word, the Holy Bible, and His people, Christians, who teach and preach the Holy Bible. Through these two means, God makes Himself known to the world’s lost people. If any person in the world wants to know JEHOVAH, “the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9), he or she can know Him. God is not hiding from anyone. In fact, Paul, in the context of Acts 17, says “…all nations of men… that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” (Acts 17:26,27).

As English-speaking people, we can come to know God through the King James Bible. First, we must be willing to listen to what He has to say in it!

Also see:
» What does 2 Corinthians 5:19 mean? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» I am basically a good person, but not a Christian. Will I still go to heaven? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)
» Will everyone eventually make it to heaven? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, Is “Behold I stand at the door and knock” really a Gospel invitation?, Is “Behold I stand at the door and knock” really a Gospel invitation?, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

Is “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock” really a Gospel invitation?

WHAT IS THE REAL MEANING OF REVELATION 3:20?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Revelation 3:20 is often quoted during “Gospel invitations.” Lost people are told that Jesus is knocking on their heart’s door, and they are urged to open the door and let Him come into their hearts and save them. Is that really what Revelation 3:20 is teaching? We will let the Bible be our final authority in that regard, and not promote denominational doctrine as though it were true.

“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” (Revelation 3:20). As always, we look at the context so that we can understand a verse, lest we make the verse say something that it does not say. We will read from Revelation 3:

“[14] And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; [15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. [17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. [19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] 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. [21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. [22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

Revelation 3:20 has a context, and that verse is written to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, Jewish believers who will endure the future seven-year Tribulation (verse 14). These Laodiceans are “lukewarm,” “neither cold nor hot” (verse 15,16): they are materialistic and their works displease God (verses 17,18). They are “straddling the fence,” so to speak; therefore, the Lord through the Apostle John admonishes these them, “be zealous therefore, and repent [change your thinking!]” (verse 19).

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock” is best understood when compared to James 5:8,9 (also written to Jews during the Tribulation): “[8] Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. [9] Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” In the context of Revelation 3:20, Jesus Christ’s Second Coming is near, and God is warning these believing Jews to “get their act together” so they can be ready to accept their Messiah-King, and so their deeds and hearts (attitudes) are acceptable to Him (Matthew 23:42-51; Luke 19:12-27; Revelation 22:11-12; et cetera).

Return to the context of Revelation 3:20: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (verse 21). This refers to believing Jews entering their earthly kingdom (which Christ will establish at His Second Coming). How plain! Revelation 3:20 belongs to Israel, not us.

So, Revelation 3:20 has nothing to do with salvation from sins and hell. It has nothing to do with “Jesus knocking at the door of a lost person’s heart” or “asking Jesus into your heart.” Contrariwise, it actually entails judgment!

Dispensational Bible study helps us understand Revelation 3:20 is not even talking to or about us anyway. First, John is its author (Revelation 1:4). John is not writing to us in the Dispensation of Grace; he is an apostle of Israel, writing to Jews in their kingdom program (Galatians 2:9). We need to leave Revelation 3:20 where it is in the Bible, and not rip it out of its context so that it promotes our denominational doctrine.

 

Also see:
» Must I walk an aisle to show I am saved?
» Must I confess my sins?
» Must I audibly confess “Jesus is Lord” in order to be saved? (LINK TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE)

SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS, Was Judas forgiven?

Was Judas forgiven?

DID JUDAS HAVE ETERNAL LIFE? DID HE DIE A SAVED MAN?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Was Judas Iscariot forgiven of betraying Jesus Christ? That is, did Judas die as a saved individual? The final moments of Judas’ life are recorded in Matthew 27:3-10 and Acts 1:16-20, and we need to look at those passages in order to answer these questions.

In Matthew 27:3-10, we read: “[3] Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, [4] Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. [5] And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. [6] And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. [7] And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. [8] Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. [9] Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; [10] And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.”

Verses 3 and 4 say, “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” Based on these verses, it would seem like Judas became a saved man, a Messianic Jew, after Jesus’ arrest, would it not? After all, Judas did confess, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” Judas admitted Jesus was the only innocent Man who ever existed, and he returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. When they refused the money, Judas threw it down in the Temple, and then went out and hanged himself. However, the Bible is silent about Judas approaching any of the other apostles, or even Jesus, seeking forgiveness. The Bible does not say Judas prayed for forgiveness. Furthermore, if Judas was forgiven, I do not think he would have committed suicide.

In Acts 1:16-20, we read about Judas’ final moments as told by the Apostle Peter: “[16] Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. [17] For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. [18] Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. [19] And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. [20] For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.”

As a side-note, the apparent contradiction between Peter and Matthew’s account can be reconciled in the following manner: after Judas hung himself (Matthew 27:5), Jesus died and then there was an earthquake (verse 51), and this earthquake caused Judas’ corpse (which was still hanging evidently) to violently fall headfirst to the ground, and his body was so badly mangled that his insides spilled out. Again, if Judas was a man forgiven of that sin of betraying Jesus, I do not think he would have hanged himself.

Peter continues in Acts 1:25, referring to Judas’ replacement, “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” This verse says that Judas went to “his own place” after he died, which does not sound good. Personally, I believe Jesus Christ, in John 17, identified this place.

Just moments before He was betrayed by Judas and arrested, the Lord Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). Obviously, Jesus is referring to Judas Iscariot, whom He calls “the son of perdition [damnation].” The Apostle Paul referred to the antichrist, the coming satanic world ruler, as “the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). According to the Bible, Judas and the antichrist are the two individuals who are most profitable in furthering Satan’s policy of evil, than any two other people in history. It does not sound Judas was a saved individual.

Jesus Christ could have certainly forgiven Judas, even of that betrayal of Him, since He forgave the Apostle Peter of denying Him three times (John 21:15-17). However, it does not seem like Judas was interested in being forgiven (the Bible does not say he prayed for forgiveness, or that he approached Jesus or the apostles hoping to make things right, et cetera). On the basis of these verses and facts, it does not seem like Judas died with a right standing before God, it does not seem like Judas had eternal life, and it is more than likely that Judas is still consigned to everlasting hellfire today.

Also see:
» Is not hell only reserved for “bad” people?
» Why does Israel have 12 apostles?
» Exactly what is Satan’s “policy of evil?”

GRACE (CHRISTIAN) LIVING, Must I walk an aisle to show I am saved?, Must I walk an aisle to show I am saved?, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

Must I walk an aisle to show I am saved?

DO I NEED TO MAKE A “PROFESSION OF FAITH?” MUST I WALK A CHURCH AISLE OR SHAKE A PREACHER’S HAND TO DEMONSTRATE MY SALVATION?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Is it true? Do you have to walk up an aisle and shake a preacher’s hand in order to show that you are saved, that you have trusted Jesus Christ alone as your personal Saviour? Must you go before a local church assembly and “make a profession of faith?” Let us see what the Bible has to say, and let us not blindly believe something simply because we have heard it all of our lives.

It is quite clear what Jesus said: “[32] Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. [33] But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). But, before we grab this passage and follow it, to whom and about whom was Jesus speaking? (This is the context and it makes all the difference in the world, but, unfortunately, religion usually ignores the context because it has an agenda other than what God has!).

Matthew 10:32-33 is often used to force (intimidate) people to stand before a congregation so they can publicly claim to have recently trusted Christ as their personal Saviour. Some may even go so far as to deny your salvation if you refuse to get up and give that testimony! However, the context demonstrates that this is unnecessary: these verses refer to people living during the Tribulation period (Matthew chapter 10 is actually Jesus Christ commissioning Israel’s 12 apostles). And, they are not giving a “testimony” before saved people; they give their “testimony” before lost people!

Read Jesus’ comments made just before He uttered Matthew 10:32-33: “[16] Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. [17] But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; [18] And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. [19] But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. [20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”

What Jesus meant in Matthew 10:32-33 was that those Jews during the seven-year Tribulation who will confess Him before men will do so by publicly rejecting the mark of the antichrist (Revelation 12:11; Revelation 20:4). Those Jews during the seven-year Tribulation who will deny Jesus Christ before men will do so by publicly accepting the mark of the antichrist (Revelation 14:9-10). Israel’s believing remnant will be brought before crowds of lost people and persecuted, humiliated, and even killed; this is what Jesus meant in Matthew 10:32-33. Jesus Christ is testing these Jews whether they will be true to Him or not! Again, they are not giving a “testimony” before saved people; they will give their “testimony” before lost people! Why these verses are used today to make saved people give their testimony before saved people, makes no sense, since these verses teach the opposite.

“Walking the aisle” is nothing more than a work of the flesh, a denominational invention, designed to praise the “goodness” of a man when he performs a religious duty. It is a mishandling of Matthew 10:32-33, and God’s Word is not being treated with respect. Aisle-walking invites people to hang their soul salvation on something they did, and walking an aisle does not keep anyone out of hellfire! Furthermore, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul condemned works of the flesh performed in religion in order to boast in people’s performance: “[12] As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. [13] For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh” (Galatians 6:12-13). Our performance is not the issue; if you must boast in something, boast not in making your profession of faith by walking an aisle, but boast in what Jesus Christ did at Calvary’s cross to keep you from going to hell! “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).

While we should tell other Christians when we trust Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit through Paul never instructs us to make a “profession of faith” before a local church assembly. Again, our performance is not the issue. What matters is what Jesus Christ did to secure our salvation, not what we do to prove our salvation. We are not required to join a local church, but if we do find a sound grace church, we can become a member if we so desire. The main thing to remember is that church membership is not salvation, it will not bring us any “closer to God,” and it will not result in “greater blessings from God.” We are “complete in [Christ]” (Colossians 2:10). We lack nothing in Christ! We need to do nothing to “enhance” or “complete” our Christian life. Jesus Christ did it all, and we rest in what He did!

Also see:
» Must I be water baptized to show that I am saved?
» Must I confess my sins?
» What is repentance?

SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS, What about repentance?

What about repentance?

WHAT ABOUT REPENTANCE? WHAT IS IT? IS IT NECESSARY FOR SALVATION?

by Shawn Brasseaux

What is “repentance?” Is it necessary for salvation? Repentance is a rather difficult topic to discuss because the Bible has a definition for “repentance,” and religion has a definition for “repentance.” The Roman Catholic Church has invented “penance” (suffering for your sins, such as flagellation, or beating yourself with a strap) whereas Protestants have a doctrine called “penitence” (feeling guilt or sorry for your sins). Neither of these religious doctrines is in the Bible. Unfortunately, people have confused Biblical repentance with religion’s penitence and penance. My intention here is to sort out this mess by using the Bible to determine what repentance is and what repentance is not!

Biblical repentance is not “turning from one’s sins” and it is not “feeling sorry for one’s sins.” These are religious definitions, and we are unconcerned regarding church tradition and denominationalism. We need the Bible’s definition of “repentance,” not some religious authority’s opinion. After all, God’s Word carries the most weight in eternity!

In Genesis chapter 6, God beholds a wicked world filled with murder and other violence. Here, some 1600 years since Adam’s fall, and humanity is further declining, both morally and spiritually. Genesis 6:6 says, “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” Did God repent of sin? Was God turning from His sin? Did God feel guilty because of sin? God is GOD, and He has no sin, so obviously “repentance” does not refer to turning from sin or feeling sorry for sins. When God had repentance, He had a change in thinking, a change in mind. God began to think about man differently, now that man had become worse and worse in his rebellion against Him. Biblical repentance is simply a change in the way you think about something: you view it a different way than you previously did. Let us look at other examples in the Bible.

Turn to Exodus 13:17: “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:” Notice that word “repent.” Had the Jews saw the war in the land of the Philistines, they would have changed their mind, and wanted to return to Egypt. Again, it had nothing to do with feeling sorry for sins or turning from sins.

Exodus 32:14: “And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” Again, the LORD was not repenting of sin; He was going to chastise Israel, but then He decided not to do so. Again, it was a change in thinking.

John the Baptist’s message to Israel in Matthew 3:2 is: “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Israel had been murdering God’s prophets for centuries, so now John the Baptist is saying, “You better start thinking differently about God. Start obeying Him and listen to the message I am preaching! Quit being rebellious, and have a change in your thinking, because your Messiah-King is coming!”

By the way, it is interesting to note that the Greek word for “repent” (metanoeo)—which is used throughout the New Testament—literally means, “a change in mind; a reconsideration.” You can see the prefix “meta-,” which means, “change” (such as in our English word “metamorphosis”).

Or, take for example, in one of the Lord Jesus’ parables, the son refused to work in the vineyard. Then, the Bible says in Matthew 21:29 that he “repented;” he changed his mind and went work in the vineyard. Are you beginning to see the Bible’s definition of repentance? Can you see that religion has totally misconstrued what repentance is and what it is not?

In Acts 2:36-38, the Apostle Peter is urging Israel on the day of Pentecost: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” They could not undo the crucifixion, but they could change the way they thought about Jesus of Nazareth. Peter was telling them that they should now embrace Jesus as their Messiah/Christ, the same Jesus they refused and murdered 50 days before because they thought He was an imposter (Acts 2:23,36).

Now, turn to Acts chapter 17, where the Apostle Paul is confronting Athenian philosophers on Mars’ Hill. In verses 22-28, Paul notices these pagans have an altar with an inscription that reads, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” Paul tells them “we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device [thought]” (Acts 17:29). In verse 30, Paul says that God now “commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” Did you notice the word “think” in verse 29? “Repent” in verse 30 correlates with “think” in verse 29. These philosophers had to change their way of thinking—stop thinking of God dwelling in a manmade temple and stop thinking about the Godhead as if it were a dumb idol. Change your thinking!

In Romans 11:29, the Bible says: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” God will fulfill His promises to Israel one day; once God promises something, He will not repent (He will not go back on His word and break the promise; He will not change His mind). Again, repentance in the Bible has nothing to do with suffering for sin or feeling guilty for sin.

Turn to 2 Timothy 2:25 and read: “…if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” A change in thinking will result in you coming to the truth: in the context, this is Christians and lost people coming to the understanding “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), or learning how to study and understand the Bible dispensationally and learning how to be saved from their sins, respectively. You do not come to the truth by feeling sorry for your sins or turning from your sins. You repent (have a change in thinking), and then you respond positively according to the doctrine in the rightly divided Word of God.

Okay, we will look at one more reference. The church at Corinth had a wealth of problems (attested by the fact that Paul had to write a 16-chapter epistle we now know as “First Corinthians”). His follow-up letter is Second Corinthians, writing to commend and encourage the Corinthians for straightening out that long list of problems that existed a year earlier.

Please pay close attention to what 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 says: “[8] For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. [9] Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. [10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. [11] For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

After chiding the Corinthians in his first letter, Paul admits that he felt “repentance” (verse 8). Paul, after sending the letter of First Corinthians, had second thoughts about sending it. But, when Paul saw it had its positive affect on the Corinthians, he no longer had second thoughts (“I do not repent, though I did repent”). In verses 9 and 10, the Corinthians “SORROWED TO REPENTANCE.” Notice verse 10 says “godly sorrow worketh repentance.”

Notice what the Bible said. Godly sorrow is not repentance; it brings about repentance (a change in mind). Worldly sorrow, feeling sorry for your sins or feeling guilty, “worketh death” (verse 10). In contrast, godly sorrow addresses the situation, brings you to repentance (a change in mind), and that in turn brings about a change in lifestyle. So, because of godly sorrow, the Corinthians repented (had a change in thinking); this change in mind brought about the change in their lifestyle. Let me clarify this too: the change in lifestyle is not repentance. Repentance is the change in mind that brings about the change in lifestyle.

In conclusion, repentance is changing your thinking, your thought processes, having a renewed mind brought on by the indwelling Holy Spirit as your read and study and believe the Bible rightly divided (Romans 12:1,2; Ephesians 4:23; Colossians 3:10). Repentance will cause you to think differently, and the change in lifestyle will follow. Remember that Biblical repentance is not “turning from your sins” and Biblical repentance is not related to penance or penitence. Repentance was necessary for salvation for Israel in time past, but it is not necessary for salvation today (it is a result of salvation). Hopefully, you have a better understanding of repentance as the Bible defines it. We all need to change our thinking—throw away the denominational definitions we have been taught for so long, and rely on God’s definitions that will last all eternity!

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SUPPLEMENT:

“Is repentance necessary for salvation today in this Dispensation of Grace?” And the answer is NO! NO! NO! So what about Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized…?” As we discussed earlier, that was spoken to Jews, the entire nation Israel, not us Gentiles (Acts 2:14,22,36). Furthermore, Acts chapter 2 was in the Dispensation of Law, separate from our current Dispensation of Grace. Before Jews could be saved in Christ’s earthly ministry, they needed repentance (Matthew 3:3; Luke 13:3-5; Acts 2:38; et al.). Today, repentance is a result of salvation. When Paul told the Philippian jailor how to be saved, Paul said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:31). Paul did not say, “Repent and believe,” but merely “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Read Romans 3:26: “To declare, I say, at this time Christ’s righteousness: that He might be just [fair], and the justifier of him who believeth [trusts] in Jesus.” Notice, you did not see “he who believes and repents, or he who is baptized, or he who has joined the church, given money, walked the aisle, etc….” Repentance is not necessary for salvation today: it is a result of salvation. Repentance will cause you to have a change in thinking because you will become a new creature in Christ, and you now have the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1,2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:23; Titus 2:11,12)!

In fact, here is how repentance relates to us today as members of the Church the Body of Christ. Look at what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:23: “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” This, beloved, is Biblical repentance. Our Apostle, Paul, also writes in Romans 12:1-2 (take special notice of Biblical repentance in verse 2): “[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Also see:
» What is penance? (UPCOMING)
» What is the sin of presumption? (UPCOMING)
» What is lordship salvation? (UPCOMING)

BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS / CONFUSING VERSES SIMPLIFIED, Can a Christian lose his or her salvation?, Can a Christian lose his or her salvation?, Can Christians lose their salvation?, GRACE (CHRISTIAN) LIVING, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

Can Christians lose their salvation?

ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED? CAN I LOSE MY SALVATION? HOW CAN I HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Can Christians lose their salvation? Must we do good works to maintain (keep) our salvation? Is salvation instantaneous (once for all) or progressive (throughout your lifetime)? Let us look at the Bible verses people often use to refute and reject the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” (the eternal security of the believer). The confusion would disappear if people would “study… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Read Galatians 5:4: “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” Does the expression “fallen from grace” mean that some of the Galatians lost their salvation? Of course not, because Paul calls these Galatians “brethren” nine times (Galatians 1:11, 3:15, 4:12, 4:28, 4:30, 5:11, 5:13, 6:1, 6:18)!

Galatia was being pummeled with false teaching and works-religion (Judaism). Some of these poor believers had been deceived to the point where they were now laboring under the Mosaic Law to receive salvation… salvation they had already received by grace through faith without works (Galatians 3:2,3). “Fallen from grace” simply means that some of the Galatians gave up on the grace system—being rewarded on the basis of Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork on Calvary—because they preferred legalism—being rewarded on the basis of their works/performance (cf. Romans 4:1-8; Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Galatians 2:16-21; Titus 3:5).

For those who are unfamiliar with dispensational Bible study (mid-Acts dispensationalism / Pauline dispensationalism), Hebrews 6:4-6 can be quite confusing. Let us look at that passage: “[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.”

The goal of dispensational Bible study and right division is to determine the audience of the particular Bible passage. In this case, obviously, the writer is addressing Jews—after all, it is the epistle to the Hebrews. The people being addressed in the above passage are the nation Israel.

All of Israel saw Jesus Christ’s miracles. They saw the supernatural events on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. If the miracles, signs, and wonders of Christ’s earthly ministry and Acts chapter 2 were not enough proof to win the Jews to salvation, there was nothing else to convince them. Jesus told Israel, “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe” (John 4:48). These Jews saw the power of the Holy Spirit, but they rejected God in unbelief. Consider Hebrews 2:3,4: “[3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; [4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

Again, the “we” is the nation Israel—it was the Jews, not us. We see the reference to Christ’s miracles and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom during His earthly ministry (“the great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord;” Matthew 4:17). Obviously, the “gifts of the Holy Spirit” is a reference to Pentecost and Acts chapter 2, the power of the Holy Spirit being manifested (see Luke 24:49). Recall that we examined Hebrews 6:4-6, which mentioned “the powers of the world to come.” When Jesus Christ and His apostles performed miracles, they were demonstrating the power that was coming in the kingdom: when Christ will establish His kingdom on the earth, the curse would be lifted from creation and there would be no more sickness or unclean spirits (devils (Isaiah 35:1-10; Zechariah 13:1-2; et al.).

Acts chapter 2, Hebrews chapter 2, and Hebrews chapter 6 have nothing to do with anyone reading this. These passages describe Israel’s program, which is not the program that God is operating today. Period. At this point, we will look a related matter that many people have confused. Do you ever wonder if you are guilty of committing the “unpardonable sin” of Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30, and Luke 12:10, the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? Let me assure you that this has nothing do with us today; this special sin of blaspheming against the Holy Ghost relates to the nation Israel (see our study “Have I blasphemed against the Holy Ghost?”).

Can we be “more saved” one day, and “less saved” another day? Do good works somehow “enhance” our salvation? Philippians 3:12-15 has been wrested and twisted to promote this absurd teaching. First, here is the passage: “[12] Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. [13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

This has absolutely nothing to do with us working for our salvation. The Apostle Paul is talking about spiritual maturity/spiritual growth (notice “perfect;” verses 12 and 15). Once we gain a better understanding of God’s Word, we should put forth an effort to seek more sound doctrine, and desire to allow that sound doctrine to mature us in the inner man. Paul admits in verse 13 that he has not yet reached the level of spiritual maturity that he needs to, but that he is putting forth the effort in allowing God’s Word to work effectually in him, as he believes it.

Philippians 2:12 is another one false teachers like to twist, but notice what the verse actually says in the King James Bible: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Again, there is no working for salvation here: the verse does not say “work for your own salvation,” the verse says “work out your own salvation.” This is talking about your lifestyle and testimony—if you claim to be saved, then act like it (do not fall prey to pride, which is the context)! (Another verse often misunderstood in this regard is 1 Corinthians 9:27.)

The next verse (Philippians 2:13) says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” This means that you, as a Christian, should be yielding yourself to the Lord’s will so that He can do His work in you, so that your life will reflect God’s working in you (cf. Galatians 5:1-26). Recall that Paul forbade the Galatians from working for salvation (cf. Romans 4:1-5; Ephesians 2:8,9).

You will often hear of “he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” That phrase appears in the Bible three times: Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13, and Mark 13:13. Do not let someone (mis)quoting these verses make you doubt your salvation. The context of each of these verses is the seven-year Tribulation, Daniel’s 70th week. See for yourself; do not take my word for it. These verses are Israel’s program, and they have no relation to us today in this the Dispensation of Grace. (The Church the Body of Christ will be absent from earth during the Tribulation anyway!) This salvation is actually a physical salvation; “and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:22).

In Old Testament Israel, it can be quite difficult to establish how salvation worked. We do know that it was always by faith in what God said. Still, there was no permanent indwelling Holy Spirit, and He sometimes came to and went from people. In fact, King David writes in Psalm 51:11: “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” (Another verse people twist today to promote loss of salvation.) In light of 2 Samuel 7:15, we do not know if King Saul was saved or if he went to hellfire. Or, we know all of Israel was delivered out of Egypt, yet some Jews died in unbelief in the wilderness before they reached the Promised Land (Jude 5). But, remember, there was no permanent indwelling Holy Spirit back then. What we do know is that those Old Testament saints in Hebrews chapter 11 were saved.

None of those verses I just mentioned have anything to do with us—this is Israel’s program. We are under a new dispensation (grace) under a new apostleship (Paul), in a new program (mystery), and in a new agency (the Church the Body of Christ). We will discuss this more fully in a moment.

Okay, let us look at one final passage. Read 2 Peter 2:20-21: “[20] For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. [21] For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”

The context is false teachers. It relates to what discussed earlier in Hebrews chapters 2 and 6. Peter is referring to those who saw all the miracles of Acts chapters 2, but opposed God’s working and used false teaching to encourage other Jews to rebel against God’s purpose and program for Israel. Let me also say that anyone who fully understands the Gospel of Grace and how to be saved, and they reject it in unbelief, then yes, they are not saved. But they never had salvation to lose, so this is not loss of salvation!

Today, in this the Dispensation of the Grace of God, the Bible says that God accepts those who are “in the beloved,” in His Son Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:6). How do we get “in Christ?” Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for your sins: see Paul’s Gospel of Grace in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day for our justification.” Salvation from sins and hell and salvation unto justification (right standing before God) is instantaneous, not a lifelong process. If a true believer in Christ ever lost his/her salvation, that would mean God rejected His Son! You would have to throw away all the verses that Paul says confirms the believer’s salvation forever (Romans 5:1,2; Romans 8:29-39; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Ephesians 1:13,14; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12).

The Corinthians were the least spiritual and the most immature believers in Scripture. Yet, the Apostle Paul wrote that God would confirm (preserve) them unto the end so that they would be blameless at the rapture (1 Corinthians 1:7-8). Verse 9 tells us why—“God is faithful.” Believers in Christ make mistakes, but “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Colossians 1:14 says that “we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

We have been forgiven of all trespasses and sins for Christ’s sake (Ephesians 4:32). Our salvation is not gained by our efforts, so our salvation cannot be maintained by our efforts (see Romans 11:6; Galatians 3:3; Colossians 2:6,7). How can sinful people go to heaven? When a person believes the Gospel of Grace, the blood of Jesus Christ and His righteousness are imputed (applied) to them (Romans 4:1-5). When a believer in Christ sins today, God does not see the sin, He only sees the blood of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Once we have salvation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit until the rapture (Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30). God does not want you as a believer in Christ doubt your salvation. Our salvation does not depend on our performance or our faithfulness; the salvation we enjoy today as believers is solely dependent upon what Christ did for us already at Calvary!

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SUPPLEMENT

By the way, you should be aware of the heresy in modern English Bibles—NIV, NASB, NKJV, et al. promote progressive salvation!! In 1 Corinthians 1:18 and 2 Corinthians 2:15, does your Bible say “are being saved” rather than the ’s “are saved?” In 1 Peter 2:2, does your Bible say you can you “grow into salvation” rather than the ’s “grow [in maturity]?” Indeed, if you do not have God’s Word, you can promote false teaching. The Bible versions debate is a serious matter, so I suggest you get a King James Bible… it is the only solid ground in regards to God’s Word in English!

Also see:
» What is lordship salvation? (UPCOMING)
» Are we saved by faith alone, or by faith and works? (UPCOMING)
» What is the sin of presumption? (UPCOMING)