♪♥ BY THY BIRTH AND BY THY TEARS
♪♥ PURE WITHIN
♪♥ BEHOLD US, LORD, A LITTLE SPACE
♪♥ DEAR SHEPHERD OF THY PEOPLE, HEAR
♪♥ GOD OF MY LIFE, TO THEE I CALL
♪♥ HEAL US, EMMANUEL, HEAR OUR PRAYER (healing)
♪♥ HEAR MY WORDS, O GRACIOUS LORD
♪♥ IN FULL ASSURANCE OF THY GRACE (from Psalm 69)
♪♥ LORD, WHEN WE BEND BEFORE THY THRONE
♪♥ MY PRAYER
♪♥COME, LORD, AND LET THY POW’R
♪♥
♪♥
♪♥
♪♥
♪♥MY SHEPHERD IS THE LORD MY GOD
Got an interesting email today Thought someone else may be interested to see:
It was the best of times? It was the worst of times?
Or Is it the END of TIMES?:
From Sorcha Faal:
Glowing Cosmic Clouds Circling the Globe: Cosmic Blasts: Global Warming: Huge Climate Changes which will cause huge virus, disease, and plague threats: Jetstream is All Messed Up (offcourse): Bird Flu Pandamic on it's way here- Septicemic Plague in NM - Utah Campground Closed Because of Bubonic Plague
♪♥Fill Me Now♪♥
♪♥Face to Face (with Christ my Saviour) ♪♥
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.Matthew Chapter 25 records JESUS's teaching about JUDGEMENT DAY.
JESUS revealed who would be accepted into HIS KINGDOM of HEAVEN and who would not.
That is what life is all about. (don't you think so, too?)
Living it to please The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY that when we stand before HIS HOLY THRONE of JUDGEMENT, we will hear HIM say to us:
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant:" !
cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
♪♥Face to Face (with Christ my Saviour) ♪♥
♪♥Fill Me Now♪♥
Bill Wilson of Metro Ministries is a Hero to many many children worldwide. He has been taking the Gospel of the LORD JESUS CHRIST and The Kingdom of Heaven to them on the streets for years...
I heard of it first when my friend's church started up a Sidewalk Sunday School Ministry which was modeled after Metro and trained by their materials.
If you have a ministry to children, you probably already have heard of Metro Ministries. Either way, I am sure this is going to be an awesome conference.
~~~Love in JESUS~~~
Cammie
 | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
♪♥BEHOLD US, LORD, A LITTLE SPACE♪♥
♪♥BEHOLD US, LORD, BEFORE THEE MET♪♥
♪♥BEHOLD WE COME, DEAR LORD, TO THEE♪♥
To view any/all these marvellous videos, just click over to Moores Chapel's Website.
Why Did Jesus Have To Die ? - Music Video
They Sing Holy - Music Video
Our Hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ - (Inspiring)
On My Cross - Music Video - (Must See !)
Excellent Easter Video
Wait For Me - Rebecca Saint James - Music Video for Youth
Baby Got Book - "Hip Hop" Christian Video
Jesus vs. Christians - A Non-Christian Perspective
Thief On The Cross - Music Video
United Methodist Youth Mission Chorale European Tour
The Prodigal Son - Lutheran
♪♥Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled my Soul♪♥
I am not into bashing others ministries*.
BUT WHEN SOMEONE BRINGS FILTH INTO MY HOME
INTICING MY FAMILY MY CHILDREN TO FOLLOW A PATH TO hell
I WILL NOT STAY SILENT!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jehovah's Witnesses <--click here to read more.
What Jehovah's Witnesses
Will NOT Tell You <-- and click here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
jehovah's witnesses are NOT other ministries leading people to heaven NO!
They are a group of people TOTALLY decieved by the enemy and are gathering many to go to hell with them.
ANATHAMAS OF watchtower's (false-jehovah's) witnesses:
*say: JESUS is not GOD.
JESUS said HE IS GOD!
*Made their own Bibles taking out and leaving in what they chose
Rev 22:18
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:Rev 22:19
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.Deuteronomy 12:32 and Revelation 22:18 & 19
*deny hell exists
JESUS taught MUCH about hell. Luke 16 clearly says there was a rich man when he died he went to hell and was tormented in flames of fire.
JESUS never sinned. JESUS never lied. If HE said there was a rich man.
THERE WAS A RICH MAN.
If HE said the rich man is burning in flames of fire in hell calling out for even just one drop of water
THE RICH MAN IS BURNING IN FLAMES OF FIRE IN hell CALLING OUT FOR JUST A DROP OF WATER!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After praying for forgiveness for having such heinous material in our home (AND BURNING THE OFFENSIVE FILTH)
see the sin of Achan who for his sin his whole family were burned to death and many in Israel died because Achan brought acursed materials into his home. (Deuteronomy 7)
I knew I had to share this with everyone here.
GOD loves HIS CHILDREN even more than I love mine.
People BEWARE of the doctrines of devils
the enemy is more heinously evil and wicked than you can imagine and his hatred for you is 100%. he hates you more than Hitler hated the Jewish people. his plans for you are h o r r e n d o u s.
GOD LOVES YOU
go to GOD in JESUS' name
and you will see GOODNESS, JOY, PEACE, HEALTH, every GOOD thing.
GOD BLESS YOU
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jehovah's Witnesses <--click here to read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written and Posted in Christian Love
BECAUSE I REALLY DO CARE IF YOU GET TO HEAVEN!
If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ
(1 Pet. 1:17-19, emphasis added).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The pastor who DIED and was resurrected 2 days later:
from Shepherdserve.org read the reports:
http://www.shepherdserve.org/special_reports/daniel1.htm
Report One of Four
The Resurrection of Pastor Daniel Ekechukwu
By David Servant 
BY ANDREW STROM & LARRY MAGNELLO. <--click to read
Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake, Maria Woodworth-Etter,
John Alexander Dowie and others, plus the
Introduction
"FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT"
The Greek words for "BE FILLED with the Holy Spirit" (Eph 5:18), should be translated, "BE BEING FILLED with the Holy Spirit". In other words, we are to be constantly seeking God so that we will become more and more full of His Holy Spirit. Some people believe that we Christians only receive one infilling of God's Spirit in our lifetime. Such people may be sincere, but they are SINCERELY WRONG. This article is about men and women of God who were not satisfied with an initial token of God's grace or presence in their lives. They were hungry for more, and in their desperation for greater and greater depths in God, they smashed through every barrier and overthrew every obstacle to experience an ever-greater measure of God's holy presence and glory,- and to gain an anointing the like of which has rarely been seen since the days of the apostles.
It was MORE OF JESUS that they were hungering after, and He did not disappoint them, though the road was often narrow and winding. It was a path that few cared to travel. But it was simply not enough to be Spirit- baptized and speaking in tongues. They had to be ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH,- baptized with the Holy Spirit AND WITH FIRE. And they had to see God glorified in their day, in the most profound way possible. They could not bear to live any longer, the way things were. Where was the power, where was the glory of apostolic days? They took it upon themselves, and were almost driven onward by God - to find out.
And so, with fastings and prayer, with agonizing travail and wrestlings such as Jacob had with God, with ridding their lives not only of their sins, but of their fleshly, soulish "WAYS" also - the ways of man's strength and man's power,- they battledon, right into the very throneroom of God. And by the time they got there they were truly broken and humbled men and women, true possessors of 'clean hands and a pure heart'. And He met them there in the most profound way. Tell me, friend, do you hunger and thirst after more of God? Is it your one desire to love Him with ALL your heart and ALL your mind and ALL your soul and ALL your strength? And do you desire to see Him glorified on the earth to the highest possible degree?
"And you shall seek me, and find me, WHEN YOU SHALL SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART"
(Jer 29:13).
♪♥BAPTIZE US ANEW ♪♥BREATH OF THE SPIRIT, THE♪♥BRETHREN, WE HAVE MET TO WORSHIP
2
Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke forth on the great sea.3
Four great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from another.4
The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I saw until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet as a man; and a man’s heart was given to it.5
Behold, another animal, a second, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh.6
After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the animal had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.7
After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the animals that were before it; and it had ten horns.8
I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.9
I saw until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat: his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.10
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.11
I saw at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I saw even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.12
As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.13
I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14
There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.15
As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.16
I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.17
These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth.18
But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.19
Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was diverse from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;20
and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.21
I saw, and the same horn made war with the holy ones, and prevailed against them;22
until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came that the holy ones possessed the kingdom.23
Thus he said, The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.24
As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shallten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.25
He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.26
But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.27
The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my face was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
Can Salvation Be Lost With One Sin?
Permission to reproduce this article is hereby granted, but only in its entirety including
ministry address at the end of the article, and without any alterations.
Over the years as I have contended for the faith against eternal security (Jude 3,4), I have met some people who say they reject eternal security, but then teach a Christian can engage in occasional acts of adultery, drunkenness, theft, etc. and remain saved. Such usually deny that David lost his salvation when in unrepentant adultery and murder. Others have said it is possible to lose your salvation, but it is very hard to do so. One even stated that you must tell God that you don't want him before you'll lose your salvation. It is the purpose of this article to examine the Biblical evidence for these claims to see if they have validity and to ascertain if Scripture states salvation can be lost with a single act of certain kinds of sin. (Please know that all sin is not of the same degree—some leads to death while others don't, 1 John 5:16,17.)
How many times must a righteous person sin in order to lose his salvation? Must it be lifestyle or continuous sinning? Does one have to practice sin before he becomes unsaved or shows himself never saved to begin with, as some would say? Let's look at God's word. The Eternal FactsA true grace teacher declared:
Adam and EveThe first act of disobedience by man in the Bible occurred in Gen. 3. God had forewarned Adam that the day he would eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would die (Gen. 2:17). That is exactly what happened with a single act of sin. It wasn't lifestyle habitual practice, but a single act of sin that brought both Adam and Eve to their spiritual death. David Became An EvildoerShockingly, even people exceedingly strong in faith can afterwards stray to the point of committing sin that leads to death. David did this. David's glaring sins were one act of adultery and one act of murder, which would exclude him from God's kingdom and place him in the lake of fire (1 Cor. 6:9,10, Rev. 21:8). For at least 9 months, he was a bible-defined adulterer and murderer because of his single acts of adultery and murder.
Nathan told David:
If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. (Ezek 33:18) Note: The strong warnings of Ezek 18:24,26; 33:13,18 were not just hypothetical, as some say, for such happened to David.
Even David knew he was an evil doer during that time and hence one who died spiritually (not physically) because of his sin:
Don't Look Back From The PlowThe Lord must have shocked the people of his day by teaching the following:
God wants us to be faithful to him and love him more than any person or thing in this world. The Lord elevated this to a salvation issue (Mt. 10:37-39; Lk. 14:26,33). James commented similarly:
False teachers that declare lifestyle sinning not only ignore or twist the above Scriptures, but also dangerously portray the possibility of a loose, wild, immoral person as being a Christian. Ponder 1 Cor. 6:9,10 and the list there. (See also Eph. 5:5-7 and Rev. 21:8.) According to such false teachers, declaring their unscriptural version of grace, if a person previously saved commits occasional acts of fornication, idolatry, adultery, being effeminate, homosexuality, theft, covetousness, being drunk, reviling and swindling all at the same time he remains saved. This is a horrible and deadly distortion of the true Christian described in the Bible. Please note that Paul didn't have to consider the lifestyle of Elymas to know he was a child of the devil (Acts 13:10). See also 1 John 3:10.
Moreover, such a teacher proclaiming lifestyle sinning is no real friend of the immoral, since he is only endangering their souls to hell by misleading them with a false security and their so-called grace and gospel message. They are not being merciful or loving by preaching their lies and tickling the ears of the backslidden. The loving and vital message the immoral need to know is they must turn from such sin for salvation's sake.
False shepherds say the righteous person who becomes an evil doer can still go to heaven, but Jesus made it crystal clear such will instead rise to be condemned and thrown into the fiery furnace:
The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mat 13:41,42) The Believer’s Conditional Security is the most powerful and complete Scriptural refutation to eternal security ever written with no close second. This 801 page volume is the book the eternal security teachers do not want you to read! If you want to help your family and friends out of the doctrinal snare of eternal security get them to read this book. Many lives have been changed by it. Bulk discounts are available. Order it now. GOD BLESS YOU. Return to Evangelical Outreach Contact Us Or Join Our Email List
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9,10, NASB).
According to the above Scripture, if any person is described there he will not inherit the kingdom of God. So how hard is it to become a bible-defined adulterer or any of the others in the list? Must a person practice adultery before he becomes a bible-defined adulterer? Must it be lifestyle? Here are the facts:
If a man commits adultery with another man's wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. (Lev 20:10)
As just shown, God's word is consistent with the definition of the word adulterer—one who commits adultery. Hence, any person who commits one or more acts of adultery is an adulterer. The same can likewise be said about the other words bolded in 1 Cor. 6:9,10. The definition is one who commits that particular act, whether it is stealing, drunkenness, idolatry, etc. It doesn't have to be 5, 16, or 113 times or the nebulous lifestyle before they become a fornicator, idolater, adulterer, effeminate, homosexual, thief, covetous, drunkard, reviler or swindler of 1 Cor. 6:9,10. This is crystal clear, as shown above, with the word adulterer. It Doesn't Have To Be Continual
or Lifestyle SinningOther Scriptures reveal the same devastating truth, refuting the idea that continual or lifestyle sinning is the only way to lose salvation (or show one was never really saved). For example:
If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. (Num 35:16)
Again, a single act of murder makes a person a murderer. (That would include suicides, who are self-murderers.) Such a single act of sin will exclude any person from God's Kingdom, unless he repents:
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (Rev 21:8)
Disowning JesusThe Lord Jesus told those already saved the following:
But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (Mat 10:33)
Later we learn that all of the original apostles, except Judas who betrayed Jesus, disowned the Lord:
Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. (Mat 26:31-35)
So how hard was it for Peter to disown Jesus and fall away? It wasn't very hard and occurred in a short period of time:
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!" After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away." Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Mat 26:69-75)
Just like Peter, a real Christian can disown Jesus (or fall away). The Apostle Peter did this by denying he was with Jesus or knew Him. He didn't have to say, I don't want you (and it didn't have to be lifestyle). What Peter said was enough to cause Jesus to disown Peter! If Jesus disowns you, then you can't be his sheep anymore, just like other unsaved people. Christians are described as God's possessions: his sheep (John 10:26,27; 21:16,16), his bride (Rev. 19:7), his body (Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:24); etc.
Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (2 Sam 12:9)
Note, David did what was evil. You might say this is no great revelation of truth. Of course adultery and murder are evil. But false teachers, some of whom say they reject eternal security, would declare David didn't lose his salvation, even though 1 Cor. 6:9,10 and Rev. 21:8 are so clear. When 2 Sam. 12:9 is coupled with this and the following, we have even more supportive evidence that David did lose his salvation at that dark time in his life: David Died Spiritually
If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done. (Ezek 33:13)
Those who do evil, like David did, die spiritually, according to the above. The following is also evidence that David lost his salvation for a time:
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die. (Ezek 18:24)
If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die. (Ezek 18:26)
Sadly, some will reject the clarity of these Scriptures and try to distort the facts to say that David didn't lose his salvation (die) after committing adultery and murder. Such a person is as bad or even worse than an eternal security teacher, even though he might outwardly deny the teaching of eternal security.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. (Psa 51:1-4)
Furthermore, some like to misuse Psa. 51 to say David only lost the joy of his salvation. They somehow miss how David humbly and sorrowfully asked God for mercy because of his sins, as just cited, which is also how Jesus said the repentant tax collector got saved (or justified):
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:13,14)
After David prayed for mercy, forgiveness (and salvation), he also asked for other things like the joy of his salvation to be restored (Psa. 51:12). Psalm 51 is the prayer of a man who had backslidden.
But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62, NASB)
Another translation says:
Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62, NIV)
There is no essential difference between these translations because those who do enter God's kingdom will serve Him there (Rev. 22:3). Not to be fit for service in the kingdom of God is not to enter the kingdom of God, but to go to the lake of fire. Either way, looking back will exclude one from the kingdom of God.
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
Christian people who chose to be friends of the world become enemies of God again as they were before their salvation. That is the same as committing spiritual adultery. Remember also Lot's wife who looked back one time and was destroyed (Gen. 19:26). Jesus mentioned her:
Remember Lot's wife. "Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." (Luke 17:32,33)
Your WordsPeople have a hard time believing that words can endanger a person to hell fire, but Jesus actually taught this:
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, "Raca," is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, "You fool!" will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Mat 5:22)
Through this single act, such extreme danger of hell fire becomes a reality, even for people previously saved. This parallels another eternal truth about words. Jesus also taught:
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Mat 12:37)
Your words can bring condemnation or the opposite which is justification. Remember, Peter disowned Jesus with his words. Eternal SinIt is also through words that a person can commit eternal sin, which will never be forgiven:
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin. He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit." (Mark 3:29,30)
Notice please that eternal sin is committed through words. It also seems from this Scripture and the historical background of the book of Hebrews, that some of the people addressed there committed eternal sin and couldn't be renewed by repentance (Heb. 6:4-6). Raging fire was awaiting them, even though they had been previously sanctified by the blood of the covenant (Heb. 10:26-29). There was no eternal security for them and there is none for us today. IdolatersPaul wrote to those already saved and knew that their spiritual identity could be changed to idolater by a single act of this sin:
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." (1 Cor 10:7)
Paul referred to the golden calf incident in Exodus 32. Hence, by that single act of idolatry they became idolaters and he knew the same could happen to these Christians he addressed. Remember, idolaters will go to the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8). The Mark of the BeastIn spite of the clear warning regarding the mark of the beast, many will take it because of the heavy pressure to do so. The saints who yield will lose their salvation with this single act of disobedience:
A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. (Rev 14:9-12)
Faithfulness to Jesus to the end of our life is needed for salvation, even though it might mean severe persecution and physical death:
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Rev 2:10,11)
In SummaryThere are various ways for a Christian to lose his salvation. Sometimes a single act of sin can do it, while at other times it won't happen as abruptly, as with being lukewarm (Rev. 3:15,16). Furthermore, one doesn't even have to sin to lose their salvation. They can lose it by believing a false gospel (1 Cor. 15:2 cf.1 John 2:24,25) or preaching a false gospel (Gal. 1:8,9). What a shock this is to those who have been deceived by those who change grace into a license for immorality by teaching David never lost his salvation or a single act of sin like adultery, suicide or drunkenness won't cause this. Jude identified all who change grace into a licence for immorality as ungodly (Jude 3,4), divisive, who don't have the Spirit (v. 19) and for whom blackest darkness is reserved forever (v. 13).
Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. (John 5:29)
Both Are Just As DeadlyThe bottom line difference between eternal security teachers, who unashamedly declare a Christian can commit the occasional acts of sin such as cited in 1 Cor. 6:9,10 and remain saved, and those who say they reject eternal security but teach the same, is non-existent! There really is no difference. Both are just as deadly and are misleading people to hell by their message. If you are a real Christian flee from such a congregation and so-called "pastor," regardless how convenient it may be to remain. Don't endanger your eternal soul and the souls of those you love by attending and supporting such a ravenous wolf in sheep's clothing. Don't share in his wicked work (2 John 10,11). [Please pass this article on to your friends who might benefit by it.]
www.evangelicaloutreach.org
"Not as the offence, so also is the free gift." Rom. 5:15.
1. How exceeding common, and how bitter, is the outcry against our first parent for the mischief which he not only brought upon himself, but entailed upon his latest posterity! It was by his wilful rebellion against God that "sin entered into the world." "By one man's disobedience," as the Apostle observes, the many, oi polloi, as many as were then in the loins of their forefather, "were made," or constituted, "sinners:" Not only deprived of the favour of God, but also of this image, of all virtue, righteousness, and true holiness; and sunk, partly into the image of the devil, -- in pride, malice, and all other diabolical tempers ; partly into the image of the brute, being fallen under the dominion of brutal passions and grovelling appetites. Hence also death entered into the world, with all his forerunners and attendants, -- pain, sickness, and a whole train of uneasy, as well as unholy passions and tempers.
2. "For all this we may thank Adam," has echoed down from generation to generation. The self-same charge has been repeated in every age and every nation, where the oracles of God are known; in which alone this grand and important event has been discovered to the children of men. Has not your heart, and probably your lips too, joined in the general charge? How few are there of those who believe the scriptural relation of the fall of man that have not entertained the same thought concerning our first parent; severely condemning him that, through wilful disobedience to the sole command of his Creator,
Brought death into the world, and all our woe!
3. Nay it were well if the charge rested here : But it is certain it does not. It cannot be denied that it frequently glances from Adam to his Creator. Have not thousands even of those that are called Christians, taken the liberty to call his mercy, if not his justice also, into question on this very account? Some, indeed, have done this a little more modestly, in an oblique and indirect manner; but others have thrown aside the mask, and asked, "Did not God foresee that Adam would abuse his liberty? And did he not know the baneful consequences which this must naturally have on all his posterity? And why, then, did he permit that disobedience? Was it not easy for the Almighty to have prevented it?" -- He certainly did foresee the whole. This cannot be denied: For "known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world;" rather, from all eternity, as the words ap aivnos properly signify. And it was undoubtedly in his power to prevent it; for he hath all power both in heaven and earth. But it was known to him, at the same time, that it was best, upon the whole, not to prevent it. He knew that "not as the transgression, so is the free gift;" that the evil resulting from the former was not as the good resulting from the latter, -- not worthy to be compared with it. He saw that to permit the fall of the first man was far best for mankind in general; that abundantly more good than evil would accrue to the posterity of Adam by his fall; that if "sin abounded" thereby over all the earth, yet grace "would much more abound;" yea, and that to every individual of the human race, unless it was his own choice.
4. It is exceeding strange that hardly anything has been written or at least published, on this subject; nay that it has been so little weighed or understood by the generality of Christians; especially considering that it is not a matter of mere curiosity, but a truth of the deepest importance; it being impossible, on any other principle,
To'assert a gracious Providence,
And justify the ways of God with men;
and considering withal how plain this important truth is to all sensible and candid inquirers. May the Lover of men open the eyes of our understanding, to perceive clearly that, by the fall of Adam, mankind in general have gained a capacity,
First, of being more holy and more happy on earth, and,
Secondly, of being more happy in heaven, than otherwise they could have been!
1. And, First, mankind in general have gained, by the fall of Adam, a capacity of attaining more holiness and happiness on earth than it would have been possible for them to attain if Adam had not fallen. For if Adam had not fallen, Christ had not died. Nothing can be more clear than this; nothing more undeniable: The more thoroughly we consider the point the more deeply shall we be convinced of it. Unless all the partakers of human nature had received that deadly wound in Adam, it would not have been needful for the Son of God to take our nature upon him. Do you not see that this was the very ground of his coming into the world? "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: And thus death passed upon all," through him in whom all men sinned. (Rom. 5:12.) Was it not to remedy this very thing that "the Word was made flesh," that "as in Adam all died, so in Christ all" might "be made alive?" Unless, then, many had been made sinners by the disobedience of one, by the obedience of one many would not have been made righteous: (Rom. 5:19:) So there would have been no room for that amazing display of the Son of God's love to mankind: There would have been no occasion for his being "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." It could not then have been said, to the astonishment of all the hosts of heaven "God so loved the world," yea, the ungodly world, which had no thought or desire of returning to him, "that he gave his Son" out of his bosom, his only-begotten Son, "to the end that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Neither could we then have said,:God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself;" or, that he "made him to be sin," that is, a sin-offering, "for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God through him." There would have been no such occasion for such "an Advocate with the Father," as "Jesus Christ the righteous;" neither for his appearing "at the right hand of God, to make intercession for us."
2. What is the necessary consequence of this? It is this: There could then have been no such thing as faith in God thus loving the world, giving his only Son for us men, and for our salvation. There could have been no such thing as faith in the Son of God, as "loving us and giving himself for us." There could have been no faith in the Spirit of God, as renewing the image of God in our hearts, as raising us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness. Indeed the whole privilege of justification by faith could have had no existence; there could have been no redemption in the blood of Christ; neither could Christ have been "made of God unto us," either "wisdom, righteousness. sanctification" or "redemption."
3. And the same grand blank which was in our faith must likewise have been in our love. We might have loved the Author of our being, the Father of angels and men as our Creator and Preserver: We might have said, "O Lord our Governor, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!" -- But we could not have loved him under the nearest and dearest relation, -- as delivering up his Son for us all. We might have loved the Son of God, as being "the brightness of his Father's glory, the express image of his person;" (although this ground seems to belong rather to the inhabitants of heaven than earth;) but we could not have loved him as "bearing our sins in his own body on the tree," and "by that one oblation of himself once offered, making a full sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world." We could not have been "made conformable to his death," nor have known "the power of his resurrection." We could not have loved the Holy Ghost, as revealing to us the Father and the Son; as opening the eyes of our understanding; bringing us out of darkness into his marvellous light; renewing the image of God in our soul, and sealing us unto the day of redemption. So that, in truth, what is now "in the sight of God, even the Father," not of fallible men, "pure religion and undefiled," would then have had no being; inasmuch as it wholly depends on those grand principles -- "By grace ye are saved through faith;" and, "Jesus Christ is of God made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption."
4. We see then, what unspeakable advantage we derive from the fall of our first parent with regard to faith; -- Faith both in God the Father, who spared not his own Son, his only Son, but "wounded him for our transgressions," and "bruised him for our iniquities:" and in God the Son, who poured out his soul for us transgressors, and washed us in his own blood. We see what advantage we derive therefrom with regard to the love of God; both of God the Father and God the Son. The chief ground of this love, as long as we remain in the body, is plainly declared by the Apostle: "We love Him, because He first loved us." But the greatest instance of his love had never been given, if Adam had not fallen.
5. And as our faith both in God the Father and the Son, receives an unspeakable increase, if not its very being. from this grand event, as does also our love both of the Father and the Son; so does the love of our neighbour also, our benevolence to all mankind, which cannot but increase in the same proportion with our faith and love of God. For who does not apprehend the force of that inference drawn by the loving Apostle: "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another?" If God SO loved us, -- observe, the stress of the argument lies on this very point: SO loved us, as to deliver up his only Son to die a cursed death for our salvation. Beloved, what manner of love is this wherewith God hath loved us; so as to give his only Son, in glory equal with the Father, in Majesty co-eternal? What manner of love is this wherewith the only-begotten Son of God hath loved us so as to empty himself, as far as possible, of his eternal Godhead; as to divest himself of that glory which he had with the Father before the world began; as to take upon him the form of a servant, being found in fashion as a man; and then, to humble himself still further, "being obedient unto death, even the death of the cross!" If God SO loved us, how ought we to love one another! But this motive to brotherly love had been totally wanting if Adam had not fallen. Consequently, we could not then have loved one another in so high a degree as we may now. Nor could there have been that height and depth in the command of our blessed Lord, "As I have loved you, So love one another."
6. Such gainers may we be by Adam's fall, with regard both to the love of God and of our neighbour. But there is another grand point, which, though little adverted to, deserves our deepest consideration. By that one act of our first parent, not only "sin entered into the world," but pain also, and was alike the justice but the unspeakable goodness of God. For how much good does he continually bring out of this evil! How much holiness and happiness out of pain!
7. How innumerable are the benefits which God conveys to the children of men through the channel of sufferings! -- so that it might well be said, "What are termed afflictions in the language of men, are in the language of God styled blessings." Indeed, had there been no suffering in the world, a considerable part of religion, yea, and, in some respects, the most excellent part, could have had no place therein; since the very existence of it depends on our suffering; so that had there been no pain, it could have had no being. Upon this foundation, even our suffering, it is evident all our passive graces are built; yea, the noblest of all Christian graces, -- love enduring all things. Here is the ground for resignation to God, enabling us to say from the heart in every trying hour, "It is the Lord: Let him do what seemeth him good:" "Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil!" And what a glorious spectacle is this! Did it not constrain even a Heathen to cry out, Ecce spectaculum Deo dignum! "See a sight worthy of God;" a good man struggling with adversity, and superior to it. Here is the ground for confidence in God, both with regard to what we feel, and with regard to what we should fear, were it not that our soul is calmly stayed on Him. What room could there be for trust in God if there was no such thing as pain or danger? Who might not say then, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" It is by sufferings that our faith is tried, and, therefore, made more acceptable to God. It is in the day of trouble that we have occasion to say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." And this is well pleasing to God, that we should own him in the face of danger: in defiance of sorrow, sickness, pain, or death.
8. Again: Had there been neither natural nor moral evil in the world, what must have become of patience, meekness, gentleness, longsuffering? It is manifest they could have had no being; seeing all these have evil for their object. If, therefore, evil had never entered into the world, neither could these have had any place in it. For who could have returned good for evil, had there been no evil-doer in the universe? How had it been possible, on that supposition, to "overcome evil with good?" Will you say, "But all these graces might have been divinely infused into the hearts of men?" Undoubtedly they might: But if they had, there would have been no use or exercise for them. Whereas in the present state of things we can never long want occasion to exercise them: And the more they are exercised, the more all our graces are strengthened and increased. And in the same proportion as our resignation, our confidence in God, our patience and fortitude, our meekness, gentleness, and longsuffering, together with our faith, and love of God and man, increase, must our happiness increase, even in the present world.
9. Yet again: As God's permission of Adam's fall gave all his posterity a thousand opportunities of suffering, and thereby of exercising all those passive graces which increase both their holiness and happiness; so it gives them opportunities of doing good in numberless instances; of exercising themselves in various good works, which otherwise could have had no being. And what exertions of benevolence, of compassion, of godlike mercy, had then been totally prevented! Who could then have said to the Lover of men, --
Thy Mind throughout my life be shown,
While listening to the wretch's cry,
The widow's or the orphan's groan,
On mercy's wings I swiftly fly,
The poor and needy to relieve;
Myself, my all for them to give?
It is the just observation of a benevolent man, --
All worldly joys are less
Than that one joy of doing kindnesses.
Surely in "keeping this commandment," if to no other, "there is great reward." "As we have time, let us do good unto all men;" good of every kind, and in every degree. Accordingly, the more good we do, (other circumstances being equal,) the happier we shall be. The more we deal our bread to the hungry, and cover the naked with garments, -- the more we relieve the stranger and visit them that are sick or in prison, -- the more kind offices we do to those that groan under the various evils of human life, -- the more comfort we receive even in the present world, the greater the recompence we have in our own bosom.
10. To sum up what has been said under this head: As the more holy we are upon earth the more happy we must be; (seeing there is an inseparable connexion between holiness and happiness;) as the more good we do to others, the more of present reward redounds into our own bosom; even as our sufferings for God lead us to rejoice in him "with joy unspeakable and full of glory;" therefore, the fall of Adam, -- First, by giving us an opportunity of being far more holy, Secondly, by giving us the occasions of doing innumerable good works, which otherwise could not have been done, and, Thirdly, by putting it into our power to suffer for God, whereby "the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon us," -- may be of such advantage to the children of men, even in the present life, as they will not thoroughly comprehend till they attain life everlasting.
11. It is then we shall be enabled fully to comprehend, not only the advantages which accrue at the present time to the sons of men by the fall of their first parent, but the infinitely greater advantages which they may reap from it in eternity. In order to form some conception of this, we may remember the observation of the Apostle: As "one star differeth from another star in glory, so also is the resurrection of the dead." The most glorious stars will undoubtedly be those who are the most holy, who bear most of that image of God wherein they were created; the next in glory to these will be those who have been most abundant in good works; and next to them, those that have suffered most, according to the will of God. But what advantages, in every one of these respects, will the children of God receive in heaven, by God's permitting the introduction of pain upon earth in consequence of sin! By occasion of this they attained many holy tempers, which other- wise could have had no being; -- resignation to God; confidence in him, in times of trouble and danger; patience, meekness, gentleness, longsuffering, and the whole train of passive virtues: And on account of this superior holiness, they will then enjoy superior happiness. Again: Every one will then "receive his own reward, according to his own labour:" Every individual will be "rewarded according to his work." But the fall gave rise to innumerable good works, which could otherwise never have existed; such as ministering to the necessities of saints; yea, relieving the distressed in every kind: And hereby innumerable stars will be added to their eternal crown. Yet again: There will be an abundant reward in heaven for suffering as well as for doing the will of God: "These light affliction, which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Therefore that event which occasioned the entrance of suffering into the world, has thereby occasioned to all the children of God an increase of glory to all eternity. For although the sufferings themselves will be at an end; although
The pain of life shall then be o'er,
The anguish and distracting care;
There sighing grief shall weep no more;
And sin shall never enter there; --
Yet the joys occasioned thereby shall never end, but flow at God's right hand for evermore.
12. There is one advantage more that we reap from Adam's fall, which is not unworthy our attention. Unless in Adam all had died, being in the loins of their first parent, every descendant of Adam, every child of man, must have personally answered for himself to God. It seems to be a necessary consequence of this, that if he had once fallen, once violated any command of God, there would have been no possibility of his rising again; there was no help, but he must have perished without remedy. For that covenant knew not to show mercy: The word was, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Now who would not rather be on the footing he is now, -- under a covenant of mercy? Who would wish to hazard a whole eternity upon one stake? Is it not infinitely more desirable to be in a state wherein, though encompassed withinfirmities, yet we do not run such a desperate risk, but if we fall, we may rise again? -- wherein we may say,
My trespass is grown up to heaven;
But far above the skies,
In Christ abundantly forgiven,
I see thy mercies rise!
13. In Christ! Let me entreat every serious person once more to fix his attention here. All that has been said, all that can be said, on these subjects, centres in this point: The fall of Adam produced the death of Christ. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! Yea,
Let earth and heaven agree,
Angels and men be join'd,
To celebrate with me
The Saviour of mankind;
To'adore the all-atoning Lamb,
And bless the sound of Jesu's name!
If God had prevented the fall of man, "the Word" had never been "made flesh;" nor had we ever "seen his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father." Those mysteries never had been displayed "which the" very "angels desire to look into." Methinks this consideration swallows up all the rest, and should never be out of our thoughts. Unless "by one man judgment had come upon all men to condemnation," neither angels nor men could ever have known "the unsearchable riches of Christ."
14. See, then, upon the whole, how little reason we have to repine at the fall of our first parent; since herefrom we may derive such unspeakable advantages, both in time and eternity. See how small pretence there is for questioning the mercy of God in permitting that event to take place; since therein mercy, by infinite degrees, rejoices over judgment. Where then is the man that presumes to blame God for not preventing Adam's sin? Should we not rather bless him from the ground of the heart, for therein laying the grand scheme of man's redemption, and making way for that glorious manifestation of his wisdom, holiness, justice, and mercy? If, indeed, God had decreed, before the foundation of the world, that millions of men should dwell in everlasting burnings, because Adam sinned hundreds or thousands of years before they had a being. I know not who could thank him for this, unless the devil and his angels: Seeing, on this supposition, all those millions of unhappy spirits would be plunged into hell by Adam's sin, without any possible advantage from it. But, blessed be God, this is not the case. Such a decree never existed. On the contrary, every one born of a woman may be an unspeakable gainer thereby: And none ever was or can be a loser but by his own choice.
15. We see here a full answer to that plausible account of the origin of evil, published to the world some years since, and supposed to be unanswerable: That it "necessarily resulted from the nature of matter, which God was not able to alter." It is very kind in this sweet-tongued orator to make an excuse for God! But there is really no occasion for it: God hath answered for himself. He made man in his own image; a spirit endued with understanding and liberty. Man, abusing that liberty, produced evil; brought sin and pain into the world. This God permitted, in order to a fuller manifestation of his wisdom, justice, and mercy, by bestowing on all who would receive it an infinitely greater happiness than they could possibly have attained if Adam had not fallen.
16. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" Although a thousand particulars of "his judgments and of his ways are unsearchable" to us, and past our finding our; yet may we discern the general scheme running through time into eternity. "According to the counsel of his own will," the plan he had laid before the foundation of the world, he created the parent of all mankind in his own image; and he permitted all men to be made sinners, by the disobedience of that one man, that, by the obedience of one, all who receive the free gift may be infinitely holier and happier to all eternity.
Edited by Bob Westfall with corrections by Ryan Danker and George Lyons for the Wesley Center for Applied Theology at Northwest Nazarene University.
Copyright © 1999 by the Wesley Center for Applied Theology. Text may be freely used for personal or scholarly purposes or mirrored on other web sites, provided this notice is left intact. Any use of this material for commercial purposes of any kind is strictly forbidden without the express permission of the Wesley Center at Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, ID 83686. Contact the webmaster for permission.
