2 Timothy 3:1-5 warns of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ yet don’t surrender to Him to overcome their carnality and walk in the truth as His true grace empowers one to do.  These should be shunned or avoided- at least in terms of Christian fellowship and spiritual influence.  The perilous times addressed there are dealing with times where sinning and bad moral character are considered normal and acceptable in being associated with Christianity and the grace of God.  They have a semblance of Christianity though they don’t depart from iniquity and rather display ungodly character and do ungodly deeds.  When those like this are numerous and are almost everywhere, false Christianity seems to be normal Christianity.  We must detect and unflatteringly label the falsehood which is tagged as Biblical truth, label counterfeit concepts of the grace of God for what they are, and turn away from those who promote, and those who receive this falsehood, in order to navigate through this great peril and live to God in truth.

Not unrelated, the currently very popular concept of the megachurch falsely implies that the way of salvation in Christ is broad and easy.  The very concept also implies that the church can’t afford to downsize.  The same goes for ecumenical unity gatherings.  This prevalent reasoning in these prevents the whole counsel of God from being proclaimed lest the church’s numbers go way down and/or the church should lose its good reputation among other churches.  This logic goes directly against the Bible.  

The Apostle Paul rather testified in Acts 20:26-27: “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”

These times are actually so perilous that it is not just that the realm of professing Christianity is exceedingly corrupt- even the realm of evangelical Christianity today is exceedingly corrupt.

Many evangelicals twist God’s grace to oppose righteousness- especially pastors and others from the typical Bible school.  If God’s true grace were not lawful, insistent that we obey God’s commandments in order to partake of it, then a professing Christian could never even really be a hypocrite.  Think about it.  Yet we know that there are many hypocritical Christians- even most hypocrites will easily admit that fact about others.  Yet what defines a hypocrite?  

Psalm 119:29 says: “Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.”

If we want to not live a lie we have to understand and obey God’s Law.

Earlier in the same Psalm we read in Psalm 119:9-11: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?  by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Those who seek God with their whole hearts long not to wander from His commandments.

Near the end of the great Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, we also read in verse 142: “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.”

A living faith always works in line with God’s Law which is the truth.  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 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 evangelical Christianity today.

Psalm 19 gives an outline of Biblical salvation by grace through faith.  

Psalm 19:7-14: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.  Who can understand his errors?  cleanse thou me from secret faults.  Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

That sounds a lot like Romans chapter 6.  Read the whole chapter.  Many, and I mean many apparently serious church going Christians, only know the last verse of the chapter.

We also see in Psalm 19 how God’s Law has always been perfect.  Consider then the great audacity of those who claim that Jesus improved upon God’s Law and taught a higher standard in His public ministry.  The concept that Jesus in the Gospels improved upon the Law of Moses is appealing to some because embracing it makes them feel more spiritual than God.  Yet we see the implication in Psalm 19 that those who mess with the perfection of God’s Law will go into error, reap confusion, and commit transgression.

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.

Luke 19:1-10: “And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.  And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.  And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.  And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus seeks to make people true spiritual sons of Abraham through the grace He offers.  Being a natural Jew, getting baptized as an infant, going through the formality of the altar call and/or sinner’s prayer routine, or any other formality could never substitute for the type of repentance which Zaccheus exercised here.

Zaccheus repenting and bringing forth fruit fit for repentance is an example and proof that it’s truly possible for even a broken, contrite tax collector to exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees.  The Scribes and Pharisees were covetous.

Luke 16:13-14: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.”

It is common now in many circles for those who identify sin in a practical way and call on those in sin to repent like Zaccheus did to be labeled as Pharisees (it’s intended as a derogatory term and an insult).  Yet Jesus contended with the Scribes and Pharisees for their sins and their man-made traditions which they were practically using as a substitute to actually be obedient to God’s Word.

Matthew 23:1-7: “Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.”

That scathing rebuke is surely also a fitting rebuke in principle to vast multitudes of religious leaders now and throughout the ages.

An actual evil Pharisee is someone who condemns the righteous for their righteous deeds; not one who condemns the wicked for living in sin.  

The proper time to call a religious person an evil Pharisee is when they have sinned and are trying to justify it; not to justify yourself when someone has caught you sinning.

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.  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.  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).  

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.  

John 8:31-36: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Think of how the Israelites needed to keep all the Passover instructions (seen in Exodus 12:1-11), including eating the entire Passover sacrifice, in order to be delivered by the Passover blood.  They had to do something; and they couldn’t just kill the Passover and apply the blood (which is the common evangelical logic of the typical evangelical individual or church).  

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 of 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- that’s 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.”

James 2:19-24 (speaking of how man expresses confidence in God’s covenant by doing his part by walking in the truth of what He requires of man; this is not talking about keeping man-made tradition or pursuing some other idea of one’s own regarding what they think God ought to accept like Cain did): “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

The concept of justification by faith alone clearly implies you don’t have to live like a Christian to be a partaker of Christ.  James understood this implication when he wrote the Book of James and said what he said therein rebuking the lie of justification by faith alone.

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.

James 4:1-10: “From whence come wars and fightings among you?  come they not hence (from here), even of your lusts that war in your members?  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?  whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

Hebrews 12:7-16: “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards (illegitimate), and not sons.  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”

A lot of people who are influenced by Dispenationalist theology don’t see books such as Hebrews and James as being for Christians- despite the fact that they were clearly written to Christians.  The same also often don’t account that the early Christian churches were typically a mixture of ethnic Jews and ethnic gentiles.  The gentiles joined the church with the Jewish Christians after they believed in Jesus Christ.  

Many even claim that Paul preached a different Gospel to the gentiles.  That is absurd.  The Gospel is the same for both Jews and gentiles. 

The Apostle Paul himself testified in Acts 20:20-21: “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

By the way: It is also worth mentioning here how many people think that the opening verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 sum up the entire Gospel message.  Yet if you keep reading in the chapter, the train of thought from the opening verses of 1 Corinthians 15 flows into the implication that Christ’s death for our sins and resurrection was done towards the end of establishing God’s kingdom and bringing people into submission to the Father through Himself.  

The angel in Revelation is preaching the everlasting Gospel; not a new one.

Revelation 14:6-7: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

1 Corinthians 15:11 also proves that Paul preached the same Gospel as the rest of Christ’s Apostles.  This is obvious anyways, yet it refutes the claims of many- including those of Dispensationalists and of many Judaizers.

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.  

Romans 3:31 with 1 John 3:4 proves that 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 it (see Matthew 4:1-10).

1 Peter 1:14-16: “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.  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.

Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Matthew 13:40-43: “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity (“anomia” in the Greek- lawlessness); And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

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.

Proverbs 3:5-7: “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 reference point is God’s Law.  Adam and Eve failed to render the obedience of faith when they fell in the garden.

1 John 5:3-4: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (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.”

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

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 God’s Law; in which God’s throne and Law reign supreme.

Revelation 22:3 (consider this with the already quoted Revelation 22:14 given later in the same chapter): “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…”

There are many who say “we should just talk about Jesus.”  Yet Scripture’s testimony proves them to be in the category of those who honor Him with their lips but their heart is far from Him.  

James 1:22-27: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass (a mirror): For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty (remember John 8:31-36 and also see Romans chapter 8 here), and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Jesus hates false religion; not His own religion delineated in the Bible.  

Closely related to that, twisting Jesus’ statement “It is finished” to mean we don’t even have to obey His Word to partake of His atonement gives people a false license to think that they are finished with the Biblical Jesus.

Also with the previous Scripture: If God were to actually impute Christ’s personal righteousness to people, then there would be no need for anyone to be a doer of the Word.  

Look at the second and third commandments set forth in Deuteronomy 5:8-11: “Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.  Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

This rebukes the doctrine that God imputes the personal righteousness of Christ to people.  The Law is not made void by faith in Christ.  

God’s mercy was accounted for as He gave the Law.  It was available to people then because of the atonement which Jesus would eventually make.  People were not saved in a different way then.  Remember how the Apostles used Old Testament examples to illustrate salvation by grace through faith for us.  God is a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.  The Lord will really not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.

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 who otherwise turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.  

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 security for the Christian.  

The concept of unconditional acceptance and 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.  

Isaiah 1:16-18: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

This principle never changed.  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 (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 really 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 come 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.  He also wants them to think that unbelieving Jews are in God’s favor as they reject Jesus Christ -so the Christians will not learn heed the lessons from God’s wrath upon wicked Jews- and so they will even perhaps be snared more directly by supporting modern Jews in their sins (like the vast theft and murder involved in the taking, preserving, and expansion of modern Israel).  When Romans 11 warns Christians not to boast against the branches (meaning, natural Jews) it doesn’t mean to support them in their theft of land nor back off from holding them accountable for their thefts, murders, and other oppressions.  

1 Corinthians 10:1-12: “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat (food); And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play (that’s obviously a reference to sinful revelry).  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.  Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

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 before) 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.

Acts 13:37-43: “But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.  Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses (my note- through its sacrifices- we’ve seen how the Law of Moses is established by faith in Christ rather than made void).  Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.  And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.  Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.”

Those who followed Paul and Barnabas here were religious Jews who had just received the Gospel as it was brought to them- as faithful Christianity is the continuation of faithful Biblical Judaism.  This Apostolic exhortation to these to continue in the grace of God is absurd and insane if Calvinistic Irresistible Grace and unconditional eternal security are true.  It would also be absurd nonsense if these people whom they were exhorting had not just authentically believed in Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:10-11: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, 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.  This exhortation is not a joke.

Many quote John 10:27-30 and 1 Peter 1:5 to try to justify belief in unconditional security.  However, they don’t take other Bible passages such as Romans 11:22 and Hebrews 3:5-15 into account.  Let’s look at all of these Scriptures.

John 10:27-30: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (my note- the unconditional eternal security people don’t do so): And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand (like Romans 8:35-39 echoes- no external force can separate an obedient Christian who is faithfully following Jesus as their Lord from the love of God in Him).  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.  I and my Father are one.”

Now, 1 Peter 1:5: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

We can certainly make the connection from these Scriptures that hearing Jesus’ voice and following Him is an essential of faith.  We can also see how exercising faith for a time won’t keep one who is not continuing to do so in the present.  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 (speaking of natural Jews) 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 says (dealing with the same thing in principle): “And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God (that departure would be falling from faith by ceasing to heed Jesus’ voice and follow Him).  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you (you real Christian church members) be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end (they had started well yet they were so warned- the unconditional eternal security teachers sure aren’t hearing Jesus’ voice and following Him themselves); While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation (that’s a reference to Numbers 14).”

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

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 eternal security to anyone at all.

Here are a few more obvious refutations of unconditional eternal security for the Christian.  Such refutations also evidently destroy the inevitably accompanying concept that the personal righteousness of Christ is imputed to the Christian.

1 John 2:12-17: “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.  I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.  I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Jude 20-21: “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Unconditional eternal security preaching pastors aren’t likely to call their church member’s tithes “filthy rags” like they call other things prescribed by the Bible.

Why doesn’t the pastor who believes that Christians have the personal righteousness of Christ imputed to them just tell his church the obvious?  If you have the righteousness of Christ imputed to you, then there is no need to pay tithes at church- or even go to church at all.  Yet they are highly unlikely to say this, though they continue to preach the doctrines of the imputation of the personal righteousness of Christ and unconditional eternal security.

No wonder your churches are filled with liars, thieves, adulterers, drunkards, and all sorts of addicts.

However, you might say you reject unconditional eternal security yet live like it’s real.  That is no better.

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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