Grace unto you all and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ. Some differences continue to exist in the body of Christ today concerning the true meaning of salvation. Many say salvation is by the blood of Christ and that once the believer believes in Christ, his sins are forgiven, and even if they continue in sin, God cannot impute the sins to their account because it has been forgiven once and forever. Others say all past, present, and future sins of believers are already forgiven the day they receive Christ and so all believers are saved once and forever. Some even go a step further to say that God does not see the sins of believers. That all He sees is the blood of Christ that automatically covers all sins that has been committed and will ever be committed. Now, are these things absolutely true? Can we find anywhere in the Scriptures where men that were once believers fell from grace? If a man dies and goes to hell, can other men living on earth know where he has gone? Does the Word of God reveal any man of this sort wherein was saved at one time and later was tempted by the tempter and fell from grace? If by the Word of God alone we find such men that fell from grace after being saved through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, shall we not then believe that a saved man with faith in the blood of Christ can fall from grace and be lost in the end if he gives in to the tempter and commits sin, and refuses to repent of his sins, and dies in them? If truly we believe that the word of God is the water that washes and cleanses us so that we remain holy and blameless as a church (Eph 5:26), shall we not then believe also every other thing as they are written in the word of God? Shall we take some and cast some away? Shall we make the word of God imperfect? Shall we call God a liar and His word untrue? God forbid. Let God be true and every man that denies His word a liar. Shall a liar escape the judgment of God if he refuses to repent (Rev 21:8)?
So then, what does the word of God say concerning these things? Though many men and teachers of the gospel all over the world speak of their experiences and teach on this basis, shall their experiences save them in the end if the things they speak are contrary to the written word of the living God? Shall they escape God?s judgment after they have led many into perdition? Shall God let them escape after they have made up their own doctrines based on imperfect knowledge of the word of God? And many have followed them in this manner to accommodate their own lustful passions and sinful pleasures? Shall all these people escape the justice of the living God? Surely and assuredly, they shall not escape if they do not repent. They shall not escape if they do not teach and impart the true and perfect knowledge of the word of God. If any man causes God?s people to perish and die, though these people die in sin, this man that has taught them in this manner shall answer unto God on that day when these things are enquired of him. Now, can we find men in the Scriptures who have fallen from grace after they have believed in Christ? YES. Where then is it written?
To begin with, grace came through our Lord Jesus Christ and the Law through Moses (John 1:17). It is also written in Eph 2:8 that we are saved by grace through faith; not of works lest any man should boast. By this scripture we all understand that grace is though faith. Faith in what? Faith in Christ and God, for it was impossible to have faith in Christ?s salvation without having faith in God, who is the original author of salvation (Eph 1:4-5). This is the foundation of Christianity. That grace is by faith, not by works. Many men today claim that the Old Testament is abolished, and that the New Testament is now in place. Is this absolutely true? NO. The word of God states that it was The Law of Moses that was abolished, not the Old Testament (Heb 8:7-13, 7:18-19, Eph 2:14-15, Col 2:14, Gal 3:24). The Law of Moses is the old covenant God made with Israel alone. Not with Gentiles but Jews only. This old covenant is not the same as the Old Testament. The old covenant is simply the Law of Moses. The Old Testament comprises the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Out of all these, it was only the law of Moses that our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled completely (Rom 10:4). Our Lord Himself said He came to fulfill the Law of Moses (Matt 5:17-18). The Law of Moses ended in Christ who fulfilled it by being the real sacrifice that pleased God, of which the animal sacrifices under the Law of Moses were merely typical (Heb 8:5, 10;1, Eph 2:14-15, Col 2:14-17). In Gal 3:24, Apostle Paul made it very clear that The Law was our school master to lead us to Christ; that it was added because of transgression until Christ should come (Gal 3:19-25, Rom 5:20, Heb 9:10). The Law of Moses cannot save the soul. It only condemns. It was given to the Jews to condemn men for their sins until Christ would come so that they would realize the need for salvation through a Savior which is Christ, who also is the end of the law of sacrifices, types, rituals, and outward religion which God commanded the Jews to practice. All these things foreshadowed Christ, who is the only true and perfect sacrifice. So when our Lord came, He fulfilled the Law of Moses as the perfect sacrifice unto God for man. This is the main reason why the Law of Moses was abolished. It was not abolished because it was useless; else God would not have given it. It was abolished because Christ already fulfilled them. Concerning this, we shall write to you in detail in the days to come if our Lord tarries.
Unlike the Law of Moses, all other books of the Old Testament were not completely fulfilled and thus abolished by our Lord Jesus Christ. The Prophets and the Psalms were never abolished nor completely fulfilled at any time. In fact, if these books be fulfilled, then our Lord would not return to the earth and the millennium would not come. This means the kingdom of the Father would not come, and the prayer ?let they kingdom come? which Christ our Lord commanded us to pray would be useless. And the will of God would not be done on earth. And all knees shall not bow and all tongues shall not confess before the Lord as God had sworn (Isa 45:23). God forbid that these things be. For our Lord Jesus Christ will surely return to the earth and the millennium will surely come, that the word of God may be true forever. Even the Law of Moses, which has been fulfilled by Christ should still be studied and understood by all believers today. If not, why did God not take it away from the Scriptures? Is it not written in 2 Tim 3:16 that ALL scriptures are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness? Is all not everything?
Eph 2:8 states that salvation is by grace through faith, and not of works. John 1:17 states that this grace that brought salvation to all men came through our Lord Jesus Christ and not by the Law of Moses. So then, if salvation is by grace and grace came through Christ, how come Old Testaments saints were saved when Christ had not come in those days? How come Moses, Aaron, Isaiah, David, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Micah, Zechariah, Amos, Hosea, and many others were saved in the Old Testament days? How come God called His prophets in those days holy? How can a man be holy when Christ had not already come in those days? How can this be? Moses and Abraham even saw God face to face. Who has seen God today like Moses saw Him in those days? Even if these men did not go directly to heaven when they died in those days but went to paradise beneath the earth, which was the same place Christ our Lord went after He died on the cross (Luke 23:43, Matt 12:40), it was still a place of comfort (Luke 16:25); so they did escape the torments of hell. Why then would God let His prophets escape the torments of hell when Christ had not come to die on the cross? Why would God also destroy an entire generation of Israel in the wilderness because they do always err in their hearts? Why would God save some in those days while many perished? Is it not written concerning God that He is God and He changeth not? Do you know why? You that say you understand salvation through Christ that sins of believers are forgiven once and forever, that even if they sin they are already forgiven with or without confession and forsaking: provide an answer from the written word of God if you know why this can be? Shall the word of God then be a lie that says salvation came through Christ? God forbid, for salvation truly is ONLY through our Lord Jesus Christ. Concerning the answer to this, we shall also write to you in the days to come.
As it is written, let God be true and every man a liar. In this manner we speak as the Lord gives us utterance by His Spirit. This is the deed and work The Father has given us to do and we must finish the work He gave us. According to the word of God alone, many men have fallen from grace after salvation through Christ. They believed and were saved at one time until the tempter came and overcame them because they refused to yield to the Holy Spirit to keep the commandments of God. They soon were overcome by sin without repentance. Who are these men and where are their deeds written in the word of God?
Firstly , many disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ left him and His grace and followed Him no more (John 6:66). They believed for a while (Luke 8:13) but later drew back unto perdition (Heb 10:28-39). Secondly, Judas Iscariot was once saved and was a familiar friend of Christ our Lord (Psa 41:9). He (Judas) was even a bishop of the church that Christ came to build (Acts 1:20, Psa 109:8). He was an apostle ordained by Christ Himself (Acts 1:17, 25), meaning he was one divinely called and sent to do the works of God (Luke 6:13). He even had power over unclean spirits to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sicknesses and diseases like other disciples (Matt 10:1-4). He had the Holy Spirit in him in measure like many believers today (Matt 10:19-20). He was just as successful in preaching and healing as other disciples (Mark 6:12-13, Luke 9:1, 6, 10). Yet still, Judas fell by sin from the ministry and apostleship (Acts 1:25). How could he ?fall? if he was always a sinner and always a devil when he was with Christ as some say? It is very clear from John 13:2, 27 that Satan entered into Judas sometime after he became a disciple of Christ, proving that he was not always an agent of the devil until some time during his discipleship in Christ (Luke 22:3). He therefore backslided and became a thief (John 12:6), and eventually he killed himself and was lost.
Thirdly, Ananias and Sapphira were saved and of one heart and one soul with all the church (Acts 4:32-5:1) until they agreed to lie to the Holy Ghost at which time they were killed (Acts 5:1-11). That great grace was upon all members of the church in those days is stated in Acts 4:33, 5:1. Fourthly, the Galatians who had begun in the Spirit and had received the Spirit (Gal 3:2-4), were soon removed from Christ and grace (Gal 1:6, 5:4). Fifthly, Demas, a preacher and minister in the early church and a fellow laborer of Paul ( Col 4:14, Philemon 24) went back into sin, having loved this present world (2 Tim 4:10). Is it not written that if any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him? If the love of God is not in him he cannot be saved (John 13:35, 14:15, 23, 15:9-12, 1 Corinth 16:22). He is lost if he did not come back to God (1 John 2:15-17). Sixthly, Hymenaeus and Alexander were one time in the faith, but made ship wreck of it and put away faith (1 Tim 1:19-20). Many others coveted money and erred from the faith (1 Tim 6:10, 21). Even many young widows in the church in those days waxed cold toward Christ and cast off their first faith and were damned (1 Tim 5:11-13). Much more, Hymenaeus and Philetus erred from the faith and even overthrew the faith of others (2 Tim 2:17-19). Lastly, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself in the fullness of His glory and power warned many believers in the church that were once saved of destruction and perdition if they did not repent (Rev 2:5, 10, 16, 20-23, 3:3, 11, 16). This is the very last message of Christ to His church as written in the word of God. This is our Lord Jesus Christ?s last message to His church: that His church depart from sin and live holy and righteousunto Him always, that they keep His words, even to the end by the power of the Holy Spirit which He has freely given unto us. If our Lord Jesus Christ, who is also God (John 1:1, Psa 45:6, Isa 9:6), who redeemed us all with His precious blood warned that Christians that go back to sin and refuse to repent will perish and be lost, then it is absolutely certain that any believer that habitually continue and dies in sin without repentance will not see God. He will be lost and separated from God. If any man say otherwise and continue in the ways of the world to go back and forth in sin, and refuses to repent, it shall be that if he continues in sin and refuses to repent after many warnings like this from the Lord that he shall die in his sins and be lost. The bitter truth is that when he is lost, he would not be able to come back to earth to warn others like him. Him that hath an ear let him hear.
Brethren, we put you in remembrance as we have written to you in times past that the Bible abounds with over 1,050 commands alone in the New Testament alone, and warnings of punishment for those who return to sin and refuse to repent. These make it very clear that there are no unconditional promises and covenants in Scripture. Many passages where no conditions are expressed are automatically limited by hundred of kindred verses stating conditions to be met. It is not necessary to state the conditions in every passage. When stated in some, it is clear they apply to other companion scriptures that are of the same promise type.
Therefore brethren, let us t ake heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God through the deceitfulness of sin. We put you in remembrance as it is written: For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; as it is also written: While it is said, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: although not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? Let us therefore fear , lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Is it not also written concerning Apostle Paul wherein he said: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway? Even Apostle Paul himself understood that he could be a cast away and be lost if he does not mortify his flesh by the Holy Spirit in him. All ye men that claim to know God, do you claim to know more than Apostle Paul? Do you claim to understand the mysteries of God more than this man? Yet you read the New Testament today and you claim to believe it. How can you say you believe the written word of God like the Pharisees and yet you continue to say what the Lord hath not said: that God will not impute sin to a believer that goes back to sin and refuse to repent? And you quote many scriptures written by Apostle Paul to claim some promises of God while you yet refuse to believe what he (Paul) himself said concerning the way he walked with God through faith in Christ with fear and trembling? Repent of your sins today and return to your first love while it is still day for the master of the house is at the doors. We would not have spoken these words to you but He that sent us had told us that true repentance is likened unto perfection. This the Spirit speaks expressly. And we did not fully understand for we wondered and asked Him saying: who can be saved if the standard seems this high? We enquired saying: how did the saints that have gone before us walked blamelessly in the faith? Then He did spoke to us and said: They are with me today because they repented before me. By this we finally understood: that true repentance is indeed likened unto perfection.
Let everyone therefore repent momentarily and daily when and if you do accidentally commit sin. Study the Scriptures and meditate on the words which you have read that they may abide in your hearts always. Continue in this till He comes for this is how you can remain pure and holy in Him to the end. Hate sin and unrighteousness and flee from them. Depart from all the works of the flesh, for many shall not partake of the coming of the Lord because of all these works in them. Now, the Lord our God has commanded us to sound the alarm, an alarm to call all His people unto repentance; true repentance which is unto supplication and forsaking of sin. To depart from all works of iniquity. This He has commanded us to say for His coming is now at the doors: Seek ye the LORD now while He may be found, call ye upon him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. What we say unto you we say unto all: Repent, for the coming of the Lord is at the doors. Prepare, Watch, and Be Ready, for at the very hour that you think not, the Son of Man cometh. Therefore, Watch and Be Ready. Grace be unto you all. Amen.
