This will be similar to a message done several months back called “Setting the Record Straight on Grace, Faith, and the Unconditional Security Lie.”  However, a few things have been added, a bit has been rearranged, and there has been significant editing for conciseness as well.

A living faith always works in line with God’s Law which is the truth (see Psalm 119:142).  Consider how the follow through to the swing is part of the swing.  

Revelation 14:11-12: “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

The authentic faith of Jesus binds to God’s commandments.

Revelation 12:17: “And the dragon was wroth (angry) with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Faithful Christians are the true remnant of Israel- not the people of the modern nation in the Middle East.  Galatians 6:16 makes that absolutely clear.

The Apostle Paul used Abraham and David to illustrate salvation by faith through grace for Christians.  The writer of Hebrews exclusively used people from the Old Testament to teach Christians lessons about acceptably living by faith in the true God.  The theology of Dispensationalism has done unspeakable harm in chopping up the Bible, rendering most of its counsel as invalid to those who are influenced by it, and it is involved in a significant amount of the corruption in professing Christianity today.

True repentance is exercising a wholehearted intent to get back in line with God’s Law.  A truly repentant person cleans up their moral trash; and they look to God’s Law to define what that is (like Zaccheus in Luke chapter 19).

There is no authentic faith in Christ apart from such an exercise of repentance.  A person’s faith or unbelief in an authority figure is shown by whether they actually take heed to them and strive to do whatever they say.

It is surely no different with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus says in Luke 6:46-49: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”

The man who built on the sand somehow thought that he could mock God by living in disobedience while at the same time having a saving interest in Christ.  That is why he was foolish.

It is God’s true grace which makes it possible for God’s Law to be one’s best friend.  Those not under the Law’s condemnation are repentant and looking to Jesus’ atonement to justify them before God.   The Law was never intended to be a means of earning justification before God nor of being the remedy to atone for sin in itself (though many have wrongly sought to use it in such ways).  

Those who are truly repentant are looking at the Law of God as a guide to pleasing God and exercising true faith in Jesus Christ. 

In Romans 7:4, when the Bible speaks of Christians having become dead to the Law by the body of Christ, it is not speaking of the Law not being binding upon Christians anymore.  It is speaking rather of how those born again in Christ have died to their old man through identifying with Jesus in His death to sin and His resurrection.  Apart from that death which is involved in authentic faith in Christ, the Law’s condemnation remains.

Romans 8:7-8: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

When the Bible says “For without the law sin was dead” in Romans 7:8, it means that the Law brings a heightened awareness of sin.  This is a weight to a man in the flesh which figuratively kills him.  It is not saying that the Law itself produces sin (remember that sin is the transgression of the Law). 

Romans 7:12-13 says: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.  Was then that which is good made death unto me?  God forbid.  But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”

Those at enmity with God’s Law, including those who claim that the Law is not for Christians under grace, contend against that which is holy, just, and good.  That is why they are headed to the fire of hell for eternity if they don’t repent. 

Biblical salvation by grace means that God will not save the best of the ungodly.  It also means that He won’t save anyone who continues to be ungodly.

Ephesians 2:1-10, a broader context view of the often quoted Ephesians 2:8-9, actually proves that God’s true grace delivers people from Satan’s service.  We are all either serving the true God or the devil.  

Calling God’s grace “unmerited favor” like many do is misleading and Calvinistic.  It implies that one obtains grace which others did not obtain for absolutely no reason at all.

It is obvious in reading through the Book of Ruth that the grace which Ruth received of Boaz (an evident type of Christ) was not obtained irresistibly nor unconditionally nor completely without merit- though it was also not earned.  She obtained grace because she chose to suffer in line with truth to leave the idolatry she was raised in and worship the true God with her mother-in-law in the nation where His worship was centered at the time.  

Man has a part to fulfill in order to be in covenant with God.  The covenant has been set forth on God’s terms, and He suffered bloodshed and death in Jesus Christ in order to legalize and ratify the covenant.  One expresses their confidence in God doing His part in the covenant by diligently doing their part in the covenant.

Hebrews 10:19-31: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is (my note- not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together is not a reference to going to compromised church meetings- such would actually be a counterfeit obedience to this exhortation); but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.  And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

God gives grace to those who are subject to His Word.  This can’t be “working to earn one’s salvation” nor be grounds for anyone to boast.  The Bible is clear that sanctification must indeed accompany justification.  You cannot be washed in Christ’s blood while serving the devil.

The Apostle John tells Christians in 1 John 3:2-4: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

To contend against the Christian’s need to obey God’s Law is to endorse and advocate for sin.  

The Law must be established by faith in Christ.  Otherwise, God’s grace would be a license to sin.  

Romans 3:29-31: “Is he the God of the Jews only?  is he not also of the Gentiles?  Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.  Do we then make void the law through faith?  God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

Since sin is the transgression of God’s Law, no one can truly reckon himself dead to sin and alive to God with Christ without submitting to and embracing the demands of God’s Law.

Jesus quoting from the Law of God repeatedly when tempted by Satan in the wilderness proves that no one is too spiritual for the Law (see Matthew 4:1-10).

1 Peter 1:14-16 says: “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (conduct); Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

That is a quote from Leviticus.  Peter knew nothing of the popular concept that “the Law is not for Christians.”  

Even though we have been released from the rituals and ceremonies of the Law of Moses it remains that the principles of morality, of redemption, and of properly relating to God through the Chosen Redeemer whom the Law also testified of are one hundred percent in force.

You always hear the Christians saying.  “Do it through Jesus.”  But what is “it”?  Romans 8:4 proves that it is God’s Law.  

Romans 8:4: “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (the Spirit of God; the Holy Spirit).”

The concept of being “Led of the Spirit” is just Gnosticism when divorced from the Biblical principles revealed in the Law of God and in the entire Word of God.  

The concept of God’s grace being the remedy for sin is just a vain, misleading concept when the proper diagnosis of sin which is God’s Law isn’t consulted.  Related to that, it’s also crazy to think someone’s heart could be right who doesn’t comply with God’s rules externally.

The Law of God will be used on Judgment Day to prove whether we did, or did not, enter into and continue in a living faith in Christ.

You can’t effectively make disciples of a Master whose Law is made void.  Workers of lawlessness are not walking in a living faith in the true God and will be cast into the fire of hell (Matthew 7:13-27, Matthew 13:40-43, Revelation 22:14-15, etc).

Proverbs 3:5-7 says: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”

This shows the true battle regarding faith versus unbelief.  The proper reference point is God’s Law for acknowledging the Lord in all of one’s ways and departing from evil.

Galatians 5:6: “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

1 John 5:3-4: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (my note- that is, they’re not overbearing or a heavy burden- those with repentant hearts and properly informed minds don’t see what God requires as unreasonable nor impossible to do acceptably).  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

2 John 5-6: “And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments.  This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.”

The love which remains in God’s eternal kingdom will be love in line with His Law.

Revelation 22:3: “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him…”

Jude is an entire book of the Bible dedicated to exposing the folly of unconditional eternal security and calling for contention with those who teach this or otherwise turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.  

Jude 3-4: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation (my note- ordained or appointed in the Old Testament to condemnation- like Jude would go on to illustrate in the proceeding verses), ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Risen Jesus’ words to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are also one blatant, constant refutation of the false doctrine that the personal righteousness of Christ is imputed to the Christian; and a refutation of unconditional acceptance and unconditional security for the Christian.  

The concept of unconditional acceptance and unconditional security in Christ implies that evil is acceptable and that every rebuke of evil in the Bible is fraudulent.  Likewise, the concept of the personal righteousness of Christ being imputed to the Christian does not hold up in light of Christ’s report of His own people which He gave them and has left for us to take heed to.  

Revelation 3:1-6: “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God (my note- their works would already be perfect if they had the personal righteousness of Christ imputed to them).  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.  If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments (my note- it would not even be possible for Christians to defile their garments if their garment was Jesus’ own personal righteousness); and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life (my note- a pointless promise if their names had not already been written in the book of life), but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

The born-again Christian’s robe has been washed white in the blood of the Lamb.  It was washed white by Jesus’ blood.  The washing happened through the Christian’s authentic faith in Jesus.  Such authentic faith receives Him for all that He is- including His authority as Lord of all which establishes the Law of God.  

It surely is possible for a Christian to be willing and obedient to the Lord and receive cleansing- and yet refuse and rebel afterwards- since there is freewill after conversion to Christ as there is beforehand.  The concept that there is not stems from Calvinistic influence.  Many have received this influence despite not being admitted Calvinists and/or consistent Calvinists.

Anyone is a practical Calvinist who believes that they can be a Christian who is saved in the end without their diligent, active cooperation with the grace of God in Christ; or who thinks that it is entirely up to God to ensure that they give such cooperation (and yes, that is an oxymoron- yet that is how some think- Calvinism is illogical in a multitude of ways).

However, Calvinism’s influence is conditionally resistible.  We don’t have to be affected by it.  Yet some are so wicked that they’ve unconditionally elected God to be the author of Calvinism.

Calvinism basically, when analyzed, teaches barbaric cruelty towards the non-elect; and teaches humanism towards the elect (according to Calvinism’s errant definition of election which falsely regards election as being unconditional based on a random lottery before time began).  

It is this error which is at the roots of the concepts of the personal righteousness of Christ being imputed to the Christian; and of the Christian’s unconditional eternal security.

Calvinism is actually a weapon of Satan to deceive mankind in many ways- perhaps chiefly in causing those who came to be true elect ones (through authentically coming to faith in the true Elect One) to fall away and have their election in Jesus Christ reversed.  Satan wants true Christians to think that all who fall away from Christ were never really in Christ at all to begin with.  He doesn’t want them to think they could be the next spiritual casualty. 

The righteous are warned in Scripture that turning away and committing iniquity will destroy them just as the wicked are warned that they need to turn from iniquity in order to not be destroyed thereby.

Ezekiel 18:26-32: “When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.  Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.  Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.  Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal.  O house of Israel, are not my ways equal?  are not your ways unequal?  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God.  Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”

Those who are turned from the Lord are damned like those who have never sought Him.

Zephaniah 1:4-7: “I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham (a pagan god); And them that are turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord, nor enquired for him.  Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.”

If you eliminate guilt and fear from the Gospel message (and I mean after conversion to Christ as well as beforehand) then you eliminate God’s righteous judgment- along with every aspect of the grace of God in its proper context.

Along those lines, not dealing with known sin in a church will also make people think it’s okay to sin behind closed doors.  Many churches are corrupt due to a lack of judgment within them.

2 Timothy 2:16-19: “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  And their word will eat as doth a canker (a gangrene): of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.  And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

“Overthrow the faith of some” is proof against unconditional eternal security and against Calvinistic Irresistible Grace.  

Overthrowing a false faith would actually be a good thing.  

If that is all Hymaneus and Philetus we’re accomplishing, they were doing good through their heresy.

2 Peter 1:10-11 says: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things (the things Peter was talking about in the previous verses), ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

It’s obvious that you can’t make a calling and an election sure that is already guaranteed unconditionally.  

Hearing Jesus’ voice and obediently following Him is an essential of faith.  No one is being kept in Christ who is not continuing in authentic faith in Him by hearing his voice and following Him.  Is it guaranteed that one who genuinely begins in this will continue?  Absolutely not.

Romans 11:22: “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them (and this is speaking of natural Jews who reject Jesus Christ) which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness (Paul is writing to real Christians in a church he regarded as a faithful one here), if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”

And Hebrews 3:5-15 and many other Scriptures say the same thing in principle.

Pastors who believe in unconditional eternal security cannot be faithful shepherds of their flock.  They actually believe that anyone who is thriving in the spiritual realm is immune to being devoured by the devil.  

1 Peter 5:8-9 teaches otherwise (Christians already in the faith are thus exhorted): “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

The fact that there is no real unconditional eternal security does not mean that God broke any of His promises- because He never promised unconditional security to anyone at all.  

2 Timothy 2:11-13: “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”

The Lord will not deny Himself.  He will indeed deny those who deny Him.

Titus 1:16: “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

2 Peter 2:1-3: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (my note- subtly; but many now are not so subtle in their so-called “grace message”- and often they still get many followers anyways) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR FRONT PAGE FOR ALL THE STUDIES

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR 3RD WORLD MISSION TO THE IMPOVERISHED