HELL’S CORRIDOR: ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED? PART 2
“…you have been cut off from
Christ! You have fallen
away from God’s GRACE…”
(Galatians 5:4 NLT).
“... IN LATTER TIMES
“SOME” SHALL [CHOOSE
OR DECIDE TO] ...DEPART FROM the [CHRISTIAN] ... FAITH !!!!...” (1 Timothy 4:1-3
KJV).
“...Take heed, BRETHREN,
lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,
in departing from the living God...” (Hebrews 3:12 KJV).
“...If ye continue in the
faith ... and be not
moved away from the hope of the gospel ...” (Colossians
1:22-23 KJV).
“... I hate divorce!” says the Lord,
the God of Israel. “…” (Malachi 2:16 NLT).
“...you may be sure that your sin will find
you out...” (Numbers 32:23 NLT).
“…I HAVE
SOMEWHAT AGAINST [you] …[YOU HAVE]…LEFT [YOU]R…
FIRST LOVE (which is God, the Holy Spirit…”
(REVELATION 2:4 KJV). “… [YOU ARE DEMONSTRATING] ... an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God...”
(Hebrews 3:12 KJV).
"…Therefore REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away…” (Acts 3:19
NASB).
*
Roger had prayed the prayer of salvation
and had asked God to forgive his sins. He also made a vow to repent as he made the confession of his belief
in Jesus Christ; his death, burial, & resurrection. Further, he accepted
him as his personal Lord and Savior. Roger thought he was GOOD for heaven, after
that. The bible says: “For
Christ also died
for sins ONCE for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death
in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (1 Peter 3:18
NASB). “…He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins... ” (1 John 1:9 KJV). “…confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and … believe in
thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”
(ROMANS 10:9 KJV).
The salvation prayer to God, was
obviously, not a “ONE” time event. Roger was accepting Jesus and pledging his
life to him with the intention to choose to abide with him always. “...HE THAT “SHALL” (WILL) ENDURE UNTO THE END SHALL (WILL) BE SAVED...” (Matthew 24:13 KJV).
It was Rodger’s choice to actively trust
and depend upon, the indwelling Holy
Spirit, to keep his part of the covenant faithfulness to the relationship. “...HE THAT “SHALL”
(WILL) ENDURE UNTO THE END SHALL (WILL) BE SAVED...” (Matthew 24:13 KJV).
God had provided Roger with EVERYTHING he
needed to ABIDE and ENDURE with HIM, upon earth. Rodger had NO excuses.
God provided his FREEDOM to choose to live
righteous. “…Choose (make a decision) you this day whom ye will serve….”
(Joshua 24:15 KJV). “... It was for freedom that
Christ set us free...”
(Galatians 5:1 NASB).
God
had provided his STRENGTH to live righteous. “…I can do
ALL THINGS through Christ which strengtheneth me…”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…He will keep you strong
to the end…” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). “…When I am weak, then am I strong” (2
Corinthians 12:10 KJV). “…[God’s] strength is made perfect in weakness...” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV). “…NOW UNTO [THE WORD OF GOD]... THAT IS “ABLE” TO DO… according to the [HOLY]...
POWER that worketh in [the redeemed]…”
(Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
God had provided his POWER to live
righteous. “… [God, the Holy Spirit] grant[s]…
[the redeemed]… to
be strengthened with might by his [holy] ... Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16 KJV). “…
The God of peace … that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip[s] [the redeemed]...
with everything good for doing his will, and
…work[s] in [the redeemed]… what is pleasing to him, through Jesus
Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen…” (Hebrews 13:20-21
NIV).
God provided ALL the necessary HELP to
live righteous. “…He helps me…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). “…The Lord who made you and helps you
says: Do not be afraid …my servant …my chosen one…” (Isaiah 44:2 NLT). “… The
Sovereign Lord helps
me…” (Isaiah 50:7 NLT). “… The
Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…” (Romans 8:26 NLT). “…You
are my helper and my savior…”
(Psalms 40:17 NLT). “..Therefore
come boldly unto the throne of GRACE, that [you]… may obtain mercy, and find GRACE to help in time of need…”
(Hebrews 4:16 KJV). “….Then you will know that I
am the Lord your God…’”
(Exodus 16:12 NLT).
God, NOT ONLY, strengthens you, he
personally does the WORK of strengthening you. “…It is God
who works IN YOU …” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…the
Father that dwelleth in … [you], he doeth the works …” (John 14:10 KJV). “…God
…works in you … TO ACT (TO EMPOWER YOU) in order to fulfill his good
purpose…” (Philippians
2:13 NIV).
“…There are different kinds of service to God …but it is the same GOD WHO “DOES” THE
WORK IN AND THROUGH ... [the redeemed]... who are his… (1
Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…The
Holy Spirit “displays” God’s power THROUGH
each [redeemed person]… … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…It is the ... Holy Spirit who gives [the
redeemed]... all these gifts and powers, deciding which each one of [them]
should have… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
God provided for EVERY
NEED for living a righteous life, upon earth. “…I will supply all your NEED…”
(John 12:32 KJV). “…His DIVINE POWER
hath given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain
unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV).
God gave a command about enduring to the
end, in order, to be saved, and he ALSO provided EVERY NEED so that Roger could
have OBEYED had he chosen to. “...HE THAT “SHALL” (WILL) ENDURE UNTO THE END SHALL (WILL) BE SAVED...” (Matthew 24:13 KJV). “...He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV). “…The LORD (the indwelling Spirit) “WILL” accomplish (take care
of)…that which concerns [you]…” (John 14:31 NASB). “…God
is the one who provides …” (2
Corinthians 9:10-13 KJV). “…God will generously PROVIDE all you need…” (2
Corinthians 9:8 NLT). “…HE (the indwelling
Holy Spirit) “WILL” KEEP YOU STRONG to the end…” (1 Corinthians
1:8 NLT). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the work…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
Roger thought it was too hard to follow
God. It was too hard to follow God, in the flesh, but he could have chosen to
trust and depend upon the indwelling Holy Spirit, but he didn’t. “…The things which are impossible with men … [are] …POSSIBLE… [with God] …”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “…I am the Lord,
the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah
32:27 KJV).
Every
single day of his life, Roger SAW what God’s power could do. “…The invisible [Holy SPIRIT]…from the
creation of the world is … [his] eternal power… [and his]....divine
nature…[which are]...clearly seen (witnessed), (HOW is his power and
nature witnessed?).... being understood (being made aware of or manifested) (HOW
are they understood or manifested?)... by the
things that are MADE (his created goodnesses)
…” (Romans 1:20 KJV).
“...so that people are without excuse...”
(Romans 1:20 NLT).
Roger thought he could do Christianity HIS
WAY or FIT it into his choice of LIFESTYLE and still make it into heaven. He
had tried to change the bible to FIT the life he wanted and he had not let the
bible transform him to LIVE the life God wanted.
Once
Saved always SAVED was the biggest LIE ever told to the CHURCH. In the “ONCE SAVED; ALWAYS
SAVED” perspective, Roger thought an unrepentant mind, which is an unchanged
mind, of a professed believer, would make them LOST forever in his or her
sins, but the unrepentant, true believer, which he thought he
was, would “STILL” be SAVED regardless of their sins.
He thought as an UNREPENTENT
“TRUE” believer he would “STILL” INHERIT
eternal life, regardless of an earthly
life of SINFUL choices and practices, simply because he had been GUARANTED
eternal security?
The bible did say: “…REPENT
(change your mind) …AND BELIEVE the Gospel (choose to trust and depend upon
God’s Word)…” (Mark 1:15 KJV).
“...
if any man be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all
things are become new” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…Therefore, since
we have been justified through faith (through dependence upon God’s WORD), we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 5:1 KJV).
“…Therefore,
there is now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”
(Romans 8:1 KJV).
“…For WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL
BE SAVED…” (Romans 10:13 KJV).
Roger thought he was saved, but he had
lived like a pagan, especially in his private life, had fallen away from God,
and had had many sinful lifestyle practices. He had returned to living similar
to a non-believer. Roger was in HELL.
The WORD OF GOD secures your SALVATION by POWERFULLY uniting the HOLY SPIRIT and
the SOUL. “… [JESUS CHRIST, the WORD of GOD]… It is the power of God at work , saving (FREEING FROM SIN) everyone who
believes (trusts and DEPENDS UPON THE POWER OF HIS WORD)…”
(Romans 1:16 NLT).
“... In Him (the word of god) .., you WERE SEALED (united, bonded, became One
Spirit, etc;) ... WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.…”
(Ephesians 1 NLT). “…He
[or she]… that is joined unto the Lord is ONE SPIRIT….” (1
Corinthians 6:17). “...the Holy Spirit of God ... by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption...” (Ephesians
4:30 NASB).
The WORD OF GOD can also POWERFULLY separate the Holy Spirit and the SOUL by CUTTING
it ASUNDER. “... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing
even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).
God’s
powerful WORD has the POWER to unite the SOUL with the Holy Spirit and it has
the POWER to separate the Holy Spirit from the SOUL.
Roger
thought he was SEALED
until the DAY of REDEMPTION and NOTHING
can BREAK that SEAL that BONDS together the SOUL and the HOLY SPIRIT.
Now
he knew DIFFERENT the same thing that SEALED him to the Holy Spirit could SEPERATE him from the Holy Spirit and that was The WORD OF GOD. “... the word of
God is quick,
and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
...to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit...” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).
The
Word of God warns: “... Do not quench (extinguish) the [Holy]... Spirit...” (1 Thessalonians 5:19 NASB).
Nothing
had separated Roger from God’s love, but the continual practice of sin had separated
him from the Holy Spirit.
“... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know
that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No
one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins ... knows Him. Little
children, make sure no one deceives you;
the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil
has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to
destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of
God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not
practice righteousness is not of GOD..” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB).
“…ALL unrighteousness (big
or small) IS SIN…”
(1 John 5:17 KJV). “…ALL wicked actions ARE SIN…” (1 John 5:17
NLT). “…SIN IS the transgression of the law….”
(1 John 3:4 KJV). “... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ...No one who is born of God (IN A ONE SPIRIT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD,
THE HOLY SPIRIT) practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (REUNITED WITH GOD, THE
HOLY SPIRIT). By
this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB).
“... Everyone (no
exceptions) who practices sin also practices
lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness...” (1 John
3:7-10 NASB). “...the one who practices sin is of the devil...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB).
Breaking God’s Holy Law
SEPARATES the HOLY SPIRIT from YOU. “…Your INIQUITIES (your practicing, sinful lifestyle)… separated … you and your God…”
(Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
...to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit...” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).
Within
the covenant relationship with God, the
Holy Spirit, his GRACE is sufficient for overcoming mistakes, struggles, imperfections,
weaknesses, and failures, but a willful choice to practice sin separates the
soul from the Holy Spirit. “…It’s YOUR SINS that … [will] ...cut you off from God…”
(Isaiah 59:2 NLT). .
“…I change NOT…”
(Malachi 3:6 KJV). “…Your INIQUITIES … separated … you and your God…”
(Isaiah 59:2 KJV).
“…For thou art Not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in
thy sight: thou hatest all workers of
iniquity…”
(Psalms 5:4-5 KJV).
“…what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ (the
Word of TRUTH) with Belial (the DEVIL or Father of LIES)? Or what part hath he
that believeth (depends upon God) with an infidel (one who doesn’t depend upon
God)?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15
KJV).
“…It’s YOUR
SINS that … [will] ...cut
you off
from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). “…I change NOT…”
(Malachi 3:6 KJV). “…Your INIQUITIES … separated … you and your God…”
(Isaiah 59:2 KJV).
“…So shall [his]… WORD be that goeth forth out of [his]… mouth: it shall not return
unto [him]… void, but it shall accomplish that which [God]… please[s],
and it shall prosper in the thing
whereto [God]… sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV)
It
SHALL accomplish what God sent it to do. The WORD of GOD says: “... Do not
quench (extinguish) the [Holy]... Spirit...” (1
Thessalonians 5:19 NASB).
“... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
...to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit...” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).
“…It’s YOUR
SINS that … [will] ...cut
you off
from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). “…I
change NOT…”
(Malachi 3:6 KJV).
“...so that people are without excuse...”
(Romans 1:20 NLT).
Cynthia had witnessed to Roger, but he
chose to live the life HE WANTED. God, through Cynthia and others, tried to CORRECT
him, but he hadn’t listened. Thus, he HAD NOT inherited eternal life.
Cynthia had not wanted to lose him as a
husband. God, the Holy Spirit didn’t
want to lose him as one of HIS REDEEMED. The bible clearly says God doesn’t
want to lose anyone. “... This is the will (CHOICE, DESIRE, HEART) of
Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I (CHOOSE NOT, WILL NOT, DON’T WANT TO) lose nothing, but (I WANT TO,
WILL, OR DESIRE TO) raise it up on the last day. For
this is the WILL (CHOICE, DESIRE, HEART) of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him (trust and depends upon him) will
have eternal life, and I Myself WILL raise him up on the last day...” (John 6:39-40 NASB).
This VERSE does
not SAY anything about ALWAYS being SAVED, but it does reflect God’s WILL,
choice, and heart’s desire that NONE be lost or perish and be raised up on the
last day. “....everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him (trust and depends upon him) will have eternal life, and I Myself WILL raise him up on
the last day...” (John 6:39-40
NASB).
If someone “IS” lost, it will not be because
of HIS WILL, but theirs. God HAS no CHOICE, but to SAVE YOU, but you have A
CHOICE to be SAVED. God “….is ... NOT WILLING (CHOOSING, DESIRING) that any should perish, but
that ALL should come to repentance…” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV). “... This
is the WILL of Him who sent Me, that
of all that He has given Me “I” lose
nothing, but raise it up on the last day (JESUS’ CHOICE). For
this is the WILL of My Father, that
everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him (TRUSTS AND depends
upon him)( YOUR CHOICE) will have eternal life, and I Myself WILL raise him up on
the last day...”
(John 6:39-40 NASB).
It MAY be God’s will, his choice, and his
heart’s desire that NONE be lost or perish and that everyone be raised up on
the last, but nonetheless, MANY will be lost or perish and will not be raised
up on the last day anyway through their OWN choice. . “....everyone
who beholds the Son and believes in Him (trust and depends upon him) will have eternal life, and I Myself WILL raise him up on
the last day...” (John 6:39-40
NASB).
Why will they be lost or perish? Why will
they not be raised up on the last day? “…He that believeth on him is not condemned: but HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY,
because HE HATH
NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God (believed
in the Word of God). And THIS
IS THE CONDEMNATION, that light is come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS
RATHER THAN LIGHT, because THEIR DEEDS (sinful
practices)WERE EVIL. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved…” (John 3:18-20 KJV).
“…If
you love me, you will (not might, maybe, sometimes, when I feel like it, or occasional,
etc.) keep my commandments…”
(John 14:15). “... Jesus was saying to those Jews who had
believed Him, “If you (choose to) continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth,
and the truth will make you free...” (John 8:31-32 NASB).
“…the will
of God (his heart’s desire, his choice, what he wants, etc.), [is]…your SANCTIFICATION
…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NASB). “…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). “…be conformed to the image of his Son…”
(ROMANS 8:29 KJV). “…Choose you this day whom ye will
serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
However, “…My
people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “… The people replied, “Don’t
waste your breath. We
will continue
to live as we want to,
stubbornly following our
own evil desires…”
(JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT). “…Thus saith the Lord; ‘Cursed be the MAN (or woman) ... whose HEART departeth from the Lord…”
(Jeremiah 17:5 KJV) Thus, “…They (MY PEOPLE) broke [THEIR]
... covenant [WITH ME],
though I
loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord…”
(Jeremiah 31:32 NASB).
Was Roger
breaking God’s holy laws? Yes, he was. “... Everyone
who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God....”
(1 John 3:7-10 NLT).
Had God
taken away his sins like his promised? Yes he did. “...And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no
sin in him...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).
Did Roger
have to continue to sin. No, he could have trusted and depended upon the Holy
Spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit KNEW no SIN and could have empowered him to
live holy too.“... Anyone who continues to live in him
(ABIDE WITH HIM) will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him ... [or]...who he is...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).
Roger hadn’t
lived righteous in his private life and he had deceived himself thinking that
he could practice living contrary to God’s Word and STILL go to heaven.“...Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive
you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous,
even as Christ is righteous....” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).
What had
his private lifestyle practices REVEALED to God. It revealed that Roger didn’t belong to God. He’d
done what his flesh wanted to do. “...But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been
sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of
the devil...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).
If Roger
was STILL saved and UNITED with God’s
Holy Spirit he would not have made a PRACTICE of SIN. “...Those who have
been born into God’s family do not make
a practice of sinning, because God’s [SPIRITUAL]
... life is in them. So they can’t keep on
sinning, because they are children of God...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).
What difference
had it made that most people, upon earth, who didn’t know him privately,
thought Roger was a righteous man, if God didn’t? NONE. “...So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children
of the devil...” (1 John
3:7-10 NLT).
Roger had
not chosen to live righteous and he had not loved his wife according to God’s
word. ”..Anyone (NO
EXCEPTIONS) who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does
not belong to God...” (1 John 3:7-10 NLT).
Roger did
NOT choose to trust and depend upon God, the indwelling Holy Spirit to Go the
distance. “...HE (SHE) THAT “SHALL”
(WILL) ENDURE UNTO THE END SHALL (WILL) BE SAVED...” (Matthew 24:13
KJV).
Roger HAD NOT abided in God. “…abide in me,
and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except
it abide in the vine…”
(John 15:4 KJV). “…If a man abide NOT in me, ‘he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned…” (John 15:6 KJV).
“…EXCEPT YE
REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV). "…Therefore REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away…” (Acts 3:19
NASB).
Roger began to feel tormented as he wept
and gnashed his teeth. Jeffery Robinson
entered the line.
