2nd Corinthians 5:14-19, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
There is much debate in the churches today over how works relate to salvation. Some groups (like Roman Catholics) errantly teach that you MUST do good works to be saved. Other corrupt religious groups (like the Bob Jones University and Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary camps) teach that you WILL do good works if you are saved. Neither of those mindsets are Biblical. The Bible teaches that the Christian believer (such as myself) SHOULD do good works to serve Christ.
The world is full of false religiousites who do many wonderful works (Matthew 7:21-23). You cannot impress God with you works, not before or after you are saved. If you are trying to prove to God that your faith is genuine by the works that you do, then you truly HAVE NO FAITH!!! The evidence that you are saved is the gift of the blessed indwelling Holy Spirit (1st John 3:24). You cannot prove that your faith is real by doing works!!! IT IS IMPOSSIBLE!!! Faith is faith and works is works.
That is why the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 3:2-3, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” You don't get saved by faith and then prove your faith by works!!! That is exactly the type of thinking which the Apostle is refuting in the Epistle of Galatians!!! The Galatian churches had bought into the Devil's mindset that you get saved by faith, but then keep the law to prove that your faith is real. That is the same bastardized false gospel being preached by Bob Jones University and their corrupt graduates today!!! Paul scolded the Galatian churches for having this perverse mindset, because it is another gospel which cannot produce the new birth in Jesus Christ!
If you are saved, then you SHOULD live for Christ; not MUST (that is works); not WILL (that is Calvinism, still a form of works). One day many religious people (like the accursed Bob Jones University camp) will hear the horrific words from Christ in Matthew 7:23, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” How could these devoted followers of Christ be denied by the Lord Himself? It is because you don't get saved by living to please Jesus, you get saved by obeying God the Father. Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Pastor Marty Herron (an infidel who milks a salary at the Faith Baptist Bible College & Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa) hasn't done God's will. He is one of the bewitched fools that Paul rebuked in Galatians 3:1-3 who is trying to be made perfect by the flesh. Also, Dr. Steve Pettit is trying to be made perfect in the flesh. Pettit errantly preaches that you cannot be saved by faith in an instant; but rather, you must live a sanctified life (keeping the law) faithfully until the end to know that you're going to Heaven. What do you think KEEPING THE LAW means? It refers to doing works to prove that your faith is real.
Every false prophet runs to James 2:18-21 in a lame attempt to justify their heresy. Friend, James plainly said that he was speaking about being justified in the sight of man, not God. Paul speaks of justification in the sight of God in Romans 4:1-6. The Apostle James said you “shew me” your faith without works, and I'll “shew ye” my faith by works. Since mankind cannot see our heart's faith, they must examine our works. Of course, just because a man has good works doesn't necessarily mean that he is a Christian, but it's a good place to start.
Have you ever met someone who did something kind or generous and you suspected that they might be a Christian? I sure have, oftentimes, and usually they turn out to be either saved or religious but lost. Cornelius in Acts chapter ten was a good man, but lost. Cornelius prayer, fasted, feared God and gave alms to the poor. Cornelius was a lost good man. Thankfully, God arranged for Cornelius to hear the Gospel and in Acts 10:43-44 he got saved. Praise God! The only sure way to KNOW if someone else is saved is by a direct testimony from their own mouth concerning Jesus Christ.
I love this precious quote from Pilgrim's Progress author, John Bunyan:
“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” —John Bunyan (1628-1688)
Getting saved (born-again) is a one time event. Nothing more is required or permitted. The life that we SHOULD live proves how much we love Jesus. The dear Savior said if we love Him we will keep His commandments (John 14:15). “Oh, how I love Jesus!” Remember that song we used to sing as children in Sunday School? ...
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Because He first loved me.
The manner of life that we choose to live shows others how much we love Jesus, not whether or not we have faith in Him as our personal Savior. Please beware of the deadly false religion of Calvinism, which says that you WILL persevere in holiness if you are really saved. That is not what the Bible teaches. What saith the Scripture? ...
Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
There again we find the words “WE SHOULD” live for Christ; not WILL, not MUST, but SHOULD. If you are saved YOU SHOULD do right. WE SHOULD obey Christ and fulfill the law out of love, even though we are no longer under the power or curse of the law (Romans 3:31). What a great truth! If you keep this truth in mind dear reader you will be wise. Always keep discipleship separate from sonship. Always keep sanctification separate from justification. Always keep service separate from salvation. Always keep Christ's Lordship separate from Him being our Savior. This is THE TRUTH!
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