Following are my teaching notes from a biblical teaching that I did on a LIVE broadcast.
What this is NOT:
- This is not about performance. We don’t need to EARN salvation. It is a free gift.
- We don’t need to PROVE that we are saved
The question will come up, are we really saved?
Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we can celebrate because we have conquered the enemy thru Jesus Christ and now we have eternal life in Jesus Christ.
But the question remains, is this a permanent thing or can we lose this fire escape, as some people would put it?
Let’s dive in, shall we? Those advocates that believe once saved always saved usually will point to this scripture:
John 10:28 (KJV)
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
Or the other popular verse for the pro always saved is this one:
Ephesians 1:13 (KJV)
“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,”
Now what gets most people is the word “seal.” A seal is a seal right?
Well, we have to remember that there are conditions. As beautiful a gift as eternal life is, do you think we can trample upon the cross and live a reckless life full of sin?
Let’s look at this verse:
Hebrews 3:12-14
12) “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;”
Now the condition here is, “IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” What does that mean? It means we start strong, and we should end strong. We must not lose hope. We must not let discouragement set in and then get into unbelief. This sounds a lot like the parable of the sower doesn’t it?
Okay, the other thing to look at is that in verse 13 it says, “… lest any of you be HARDENED THROUGH THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN.”
As we sin — and I’m talking about a willfully repeated sin — we can become hardened by it. Sure, the first time we are truly sorry, but if you are living in sin then after 50 times you can be like, “Oh, whatever, God knows my heart.” Yes, and that should scare you because now your heart is calloused by sin and soon you’re not gonna care anymore!
I’ve seen family members on fire, and then the cares of this world choke them out, and they return to the world just like in the parable of the sower! Here we can walk outside the will of God. We can walk outside the hand of Jesus.
Now the good news is that we do have an advocate who prays for us and whom we can turn to in time of temptation. The key here is to keep turning to God no matter what. Always include Him. Ask for his help and mercy.
Hebrews 4:14-16
14) “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16 )Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
IN ALL POINTS, TEMPTED means whatever you’re going through Jesus understands and can help you, but you must always turn to Him and be open. Your time of need is when you have fallen short. You missed the mark.
Now here’s the thing we must consider, we have free will; we have a choice. We always have a choice. Although nothing can snatch us from the loving hand of Jesus (John 10:28), we can, and some do, walk away from the faith by choice.
I remember when I was being recruited to join a cult, a cult that existed since the birth of America if not before. I wasn’t really being recruited. I overheard a conversation my neighbor was having and joined in. I’ve been told they are not really allowed to pressure you in. You have to be a willing participant. I wondered about that for awhile, and I realized that in the end you cant say, “Hey, they made me do it.” No, you have no one to blame but yourself because you volunteered. You were a willing participant into the dark cult. What almost got me was they do good things. They donate money to the needy, and their organizations are very helpful. See how twisted that is? But you need to examine the whole organization and study their history and talk to people, and you will soon find out the truth. Don’t take my word for it. I mean, the little stuff I did hear. I don’t want to repeat, and I’ve only heard a small amount! Anyway, I’m not here to bash on them right now, but do not be deceived.
A Christian will struggle and perhaps fall short, but the key here is you turn to God and you ask for help and repent.
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This is called a Christian walk. Christian doesn’t mean perfect. That’s where the blood of Jesus comes in. That’s where the washing of the Word comes in. Did you know the Word of God washes you?
John 15:3 (KJV)
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
Right now, you are taking a shower! The words that I speak from the bible are washing you right now!
Ephesians 5:26 (KJV)
“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”
Now here are some questions for you:
Once an American, are you always an American? You can renounce your American citizenship and become a Greek citizen if you want
Once married, always married? No, the person you love can turn their back on you and walk out. Each day we wake up we make a mental checkbox that yes, I want to be married, or no, I don’t want this job anymore. It applies to jobs as well.
1 John 1:7 (KJV)
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
We have to make a conscious choice and act to walk in the light. As long as we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses us.
Matthew 7:21-23
21) “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Now listen, these were Christians that Jesus was talking to for they were prophesying and casting out devils. Well, what happened?
Listen, you can fool people on this earth, but you can never fool God. There’s people that work in the church, be it pastors, deacons, priests, bishops, or ministers, who during the daytime tend to the people — the flock, the sheep — but at night you can find them at the club or any other dark place. In their minds they are getting away with it. They are living a double life. No one knows the day they’re gonna die, and so they call on the Lord and say, “Help me!” And the Lord will tell them, “I never knew you” because they were not walking in the light. They didn’t have fellowship with Him. And, yes, they kept their gifts even though they were sinning. The gifts will continue to operate even if your life ain’t right. That’s why you go by their FRUIT and not their GIFTS.
Ultimately, it comes down to choice and obedience. There’s a difference between falling in sin and willfully LIVING IN SIN — two different things. That’s why this is a narrow road. That’s why we don’t harbor unforgiveness.
Matthew 6:14 (KJV)
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:”
Here’s another condition. IF WE FORGIVE OTHERS, THEN THE HEAVENLY FATHER WILL FORGIVE US.
So it’s very important as Christians to forgive others. It’s just not worth it to risk your salvation over unforgiveness.
Love you all,
Pastor/Coach Jeno
