Tag Archives: Salvation

Christian

Can You Lose Your Salvation?

Can you lose your salvation?

YES!

Romans 6:23 KJV tells us, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Additionally, Hebrews 10:26-27 KJV says, For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

While no one can remove us from the Father’s hand (John 10:27-29), we can willingly let go and walk away from Him by continuing in sin. Jesus states in John 8:34 . . . Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. He also said in Matthew 6:24 KJV, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Finally, if salvation is a gift, like any other gift it can be refused, rejected, and even despised. If you accept and respect Christ’s sacrifice, you will strive to walk in the light by living righteously and eschewing (shunning) sin.

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Christian

Counting Crowns

I have seen several television personalities wrongly divide the word of God. They see in the Holy Bible separate judgments for salvation and rewards for works.

I have read the entire Bible several times and see only one judgment. It’s the only one that truly matters. Are you saved? Or will you be damned?

You can count your chickens before they’re hatched or you can work out you own salvation with fear and trembling.

Even if I’m wrong about no separate judgments for believers and unbelievers, there is one thing you should keep in mind: if you’re not saved you don’t have to worry about rewards at the Bema Seat. If you are saved, blessings and rewards are at the right hand of God forevermore.

The only crown that matters is the Crown of Life given to the saved.

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Christian

Love in Action

I previously defined Charity as love in action. That could easily be the same definition for Salvation. Salvation is God’s love in action. It is also our love in action.

In my preceding post, In the Mix,  I compiled a list of actions demanded of us in God’s plan of salvation. For sake of convenience and issues of readability, I did not offer scripture to back up those actions. The following should remedy that situation.

Jesus died teaching us how to follow the Father. John 8:28, John 14:9. Although he is the ultimate sacrifice for our sin (Romans 5:8-11), salvation does require effort on our part (James 1:22, Ecclesiastes 12:13). We have to accept Jesus as Messiah. Acts 8:36-37  We have to repent and be baptized by immersion in water by another in Jesus name (Acts 2:38) or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). Acts 22:16, Mark 16:16. We have to strive to not sin. Hebrews 10:26-27. We have to confess future sins after baptism and forsake them. Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:9. We have to confess Jesus (Matthew 10:32-33) and teach others the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). We have to remain faithful until death. Revelation 2:10 Finally, as we are blessed, do it all with love. 1 Corinthians 13.

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Christian, Inspirational

In The Mix

Give me the Bible
Holy message shining,
Thy light shall guide me
In the narrow way.
Precept and promise,
Law and love combining,
‘Til night shall vanish
In eternal day.

So what does the Bible so beautifully reveal to us that the above song clearly commemorates? Jesus combined the law and love, teaching us by his example how to live out the law with love. Likewise, the promise of salvation carries with it certain precepts. Salvation is a mix of you and God. It’s not Jesus’s sacrifice alone. Philippians 2:12 KJV says, … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And James 1:22 KJV adds, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jesus died teaching us how to follow the Father. Although he is the ultimate sacrifice for our sin, salvation does require effort on our part. We have to accept Jesus as Messiah. We have to repent and be baptized by immersion in water by another in Jesus name or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We have to strive to not sin. We have to confess future sins after baptism and forsake them. We have to confess Jesus and teach others the Gospel. We have to remain faithful until death. And finally, as we are blessed, do it all with love.

That may sound like a long list of works. Jesus never said we could do nothing and go to Heaven, he did promise us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

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Christian, Inspirational

A Way of Escape

Despite the fact that many Christians hope to escape judgment day and some even claim that all that is left is a dispensation of rewards, the Bible says in Revelation 20:13 KJV … and they were judged every man according to their works.

Matt Crouch, owner of TBN has said several times, “It’s not about what I have or have not done, it’s what He did. ” I do not doubt he heard this in time of distress as he claims, I do doubt it was the voice of God. There will be a judgment day. And all mankind will be judged according to their works (how each man and woman lived their life, what they did or did not do).

There is no magic loophole to be found in the Bible to escape judgment.

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV tells us, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

If you hope to have a home in Heaven, Believe in Jesus Christ, Be Baptized, Confess your Wrongs, Don’t Sin, and if you are so blessed, live life with an abundance of Love.

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Christian

In That Day

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

This isn’t referring to some special judgment where saved Christians receive different eternal rewards based on works. It is referring to the ONE Judgment Day. Are you saved or will you be damned?

1 Peter 4:17-18 KJV For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? [18] And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Grace, mercy, and belief are all needed for salvation, but our actions(deeds and/or works) matter.

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Believe and Behave

I recently came across this post on X:

“If the person who offers you Salvation is the same person who threatens you with punishment and “eternal damnation” that is not Salvation.

That’s extortion!”

I thought about it. I couldn’t come up with a strong argument against it. However, the response that did come to mind was – is it wrong for one person or entity to wield both the carrot and the stick. I think the answer to that is, it depends. It depends on the purpose?

So what is God purpose? What does God expect from men? 

To believe and behave.

That’s a simple and straightforward purpose. Believe in love and act in love. It will make both you and the world a better place.

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Christian

Meritorious

Can we have righteousness of our own?

With faith in Christ can we merit salvation?

The answer to both is YES.

I recently responded to a post on X. The author said Jesus was not our friend and God was our enemy. My response was Jesus is our friend. John 15:14-15. Also, if we stay away from sin, God will be our father not our enemy. 2 Cor. 6:17-18

Did you notice both of these conditional promises are merit based? If you do whatsoever I command, you are my friend. If you touch not the unclean thing, you will be my son or daughter.

Jesus said in Luke 21:36 KJV Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

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By Works

The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, 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.

This has been interpreted to mean various things: There is nothing you can do for your salvation other than believe in Jesus the Messiah, his crucifixion, and resurrection. Jesus did it all, there is nothing we have to do. There is nothing you can do to make God love you any more or any less. We are saved by grace alone or we have no righteousness of our own.

The fact is we will be judged on how we lived our lives. Romans 2:6-10, Revelation 20:12-13

We often hear the phrase salvation does not come by works alone. Too many forget to add the alone qualifier. Salvation is a result of the combination of belief in Christ and following his law. Ecclesiastes 12:13. We can also look at it from an opposing view – not salvation by works, but damnation by works.

If we continue in sin, Hebrews 10:26-27 KJV tells us, For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

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A Gift

Salvation is a gift of God.

Romans 6:23 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Like any other gift it matters how you receive it and if you decide to keep it.

When a gift is offered you have to receive it. This is known as acceptance. Do you accept Jesus as the Son of God? Do you accept his sacrifice on the cross as an offering for your salvation? John 3:16, John 3:18, Hebrews 7:26-27, Hebrews 9:14

Have you been baptized in water for the remission of sins in the name of Jesus Christ?

Acts 22:16 KJV
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. See also Acts 2:38.

Have you decided to keep your salvation?

1 John 1:7-9 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. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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