Simon the Sorcerer and Eternal Security

There are 3 known positions taught concerning Simon the Sorcerer:

1. Simon was saved but lost his salvation.
2. Simon was never saved at any point.
3. Simon was saved but in danger of physical death for his sin.

I will be focusing primarily on certain free grace teachers out there as I have to side against them on this one. They hold to number 3 that Simon was merely a carnal Christian that had the sin of carnal ambition who was only in danger of the chastening hand of God. He was to repent of his wicked thought to be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God. My refuting number 3 will also refute number 1 as well.

I have read books and articles that have dealt with Simon and him being saved. I have to admit that I found their position to be very unconvincing as they often read words into the text nowhere stated. If we are going to accuse the Lordship Salvation advocates of adding words to a passage nowhere stated then we ought to show the same consistency by not adding words here.

Certain teachers of the free grace position believe that since Acts 8:13 says, "Simon also believed" proves irrefutably that Simon was saved. Simon was baptized too and will quote Acts 2:38 and Acts 16:31-33 for additional support. It appears that any time you have a verse that says, "believed on Him" then it must be true saving faith in every instance according to them. If that is true then those free grace teachers will have a hard time answering what Peter actually meant when he spoke harsh words to Simon. I will share how the words are actually used elsewhere and how free grace teachers will quote verses that clearly do not relate at all.

However, John 2:23-24 appears to contradict such a position that "believe" is always saving. The verses read:

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed (PISTEUO) in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

But Jesus did not commit (PISTEUO) himself unto them, because he knew all men

Some free grace teachers believe that since the words "believe in His name" were used then the people had to be saved and quote John 1:12. I do agree with many others that their belief was not in a Christ who takes away sin but only in the miracles they observed. Jesus perceiving this knowing what was in their hearts did not "commit" Himself unto them. Some versions translates the same Greek word for "believe" as trust. They write that Jesus did not "trust" them. I am not saying that these people are saved or not but that the word Jesus used casts some doubt as Jesus "PISTEUO" appears to speaking against their "PISTEUO" that was "in Him." I just don't know if they believed the message or the miracles. It seems that such miracles is what led us to John 3 and Nicodemus. He too spoke about the miracles that he and others were seeing. I will comment on that shortly.

I found one author comparing Matthew 12:48-50 to these verses here in John believing he is clarifying what Jesus meant by His response "Jesus did not commit himself unto them." Comparing Matthew 12:48-50 to John 2:23-24, the author argues that friendship with Christ is conditional and that is why Jesus would not "commit Himself unto them." I found that to be an example of reading words nowhere stated into John 2. Matthew 12 and John 2 are not even identical. You will not find similar wording either. I also do not like reading words into the context nowhere stated. If friendship with Jesus is conditional then I can read Psalm 41:9 that speaks about Judas:

Yea, mine own familiar (close) friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

(Compare to John 13:18).

Jesus called Judas "friend" when Judas betrayed Him with a kiss. Was Judas a friend because he was abiding in Christ? Reading verses from all over the place can create problems as you can make Scripture teach anything. Looking at the immediate context is critical. Comparing the same Greek words or phrases can be extremely helpful in understanding what an author meant.

I was told by another man claiming to believe in free grace:

"The believers of John 2:23-24 were not willing at that point to abide in His word, so He did not want to entrust them with further intimate knowledge."

That is a little better than the usual free grace arguments that I heard and is the position held by Dr Charles Bing and probably others. "Not willing to abide in His word" and "entrust them with further intimate knowledge" appears to be read into the verse. He comes up with his position by reading John 8:30-32 into what we read here to make it appear plausible. I don't like reading into verses because we can read John 3 into John 2:23-24. John 3:2 says:

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

We can argue again that it is possible to have faith in miracles but not necessarily Christ. The miracles itself should bring one to faith but not necessarily. It appears that in John 3 the Pharisees had discussed amongst themselves the miracles that Jesus had done when Nicodemus said, "We know that thou art a teacher come from God" but were not saved.

I'm not here to argue John 2:23-24 but only to show a similarity of what we read here to Acts 8. As we now study Acts 8 then I do hope you too will see the similarities and how Simon was never a saved man. If one wants to argue "context" then let's let Acts 8 argue for itself. If you are convinced that "believe" must always mean saving then you will be forced to read and see words nowhere stated in Acts.

I read Acts 8 but not once do I see God's wondrous grace being read concerning Simon but the passage certainly has him in focus. I see a story about a sorcerer that "bewitched the people of Samaria." Simon was a man that boasted to others that he was "some great one."

I read that Simon's followers to FIRST believe the good news concerning the kingdom. Simon had lost his followers. Verse 13 beings with "THEN Simon himself believed also" as it appears that only when Simon lost his followers then he too believed. It appears that Simon "believed" the same message of verse 12. It only says, "he believed" and nothing else. I will not argue that "himself believed" as being the same as "believed on Him" as I need to look at the context as a whole.

Verse 13 doesn't even end without us hearing how Simon "wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done" which seems to parallel to a certain extent John 2:23-24. Simon believed the miracles but we will soon see that he had a perverted understanding of a free gift. Again, Simon and not his followers is being singled out here. It still amazes me after all the faith healers that have been exposed that people are still drawn to signs and wonders. People claiming faith because some image on brick wall looks like the Virgin Mary or because of statues of Mary with tears coming down her face.

Verse 17 reads:

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

It doesn't say Simon received the Holy Spirit. Some will argue that "they" would include Simon but this passage already has been "Simon" versus "they" all along. Simon is being singled out here. It appears that his followers received the Holy Spirit because it was something Simon only "saw" in verse 18 that says:

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money

Verses 18-19 tells us that Simon offered money proving that he had a perverted understanding of a free gift. He lost his followers in verse 12 and now it appears that he found a way to still come across as "some great one" to others if he only can get his hands on this power he was observing.

Verse 20, Peter gives a very strong response to Simon's wickedness:

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Peter uses the word "perish" that literally means, "be unto destruction." Question, did Peter mean physical death or spiritual death here as both are possible? Was Peter saying, "Go die with your money"? Or, "To hell with you and your money"? This is where some free grace teachers will argue that "perish" here is physical death. They will quote Acts 5 where Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead physically over the issue of money. It would help their case if Peter used the word "perish" in Acts 5, but he doesn't.

The word "perish" can either mean physical death or spiritual death. John 3:15,16; 10:28 are some verses that clearly use the word "perish" as referring to the lost. We obviously will have to look further in this chapter to see if Peter was addressing a saved man in danger of physical death or a lost man in danger of damnation.

Verse 21 seems to give the proof that Simon was indeed a lost man. The verse reads:

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Peter said, "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter" and that sounds quite clear to me that Simon was not a saved man. However, certain free grace teachers will quote John 13:8 that says:

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

They read John 13:8 into Acts 8:21 and claim that Jesus was teaching that we must confess our sins to remain in fellowship. To have no "part or lot" simply means to them that Simon was out of fellowship and needed to repent and seek forgiveness to be restored. That is terrible exegesis on their part. The word "lot" in verse 21 is the same Greek word used when talking about the saved. To have "no lot" would mean to have no salvation. The word "lot" can be translated as "inheritance." No such words are found in John 13:8. To further prove that their reading of John 13:8 into Acts 8:21 is wrong is by looking elsewhere to see how the word is used. The exact same Greek word is used in the same book of Acts. Acts 26:18 reads:

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

That verse clearly is speaking a message to the lost and that is irrefutable. How does the lost have the inheritance among them which are sanctified? Was Simon a saved man that had "no part or lot"? How can you now read John 13:8 into Acts 8:21? Look at the same Greek word in Colossians 1:12:

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

1st Peter 5:3 has the same Greek word but translated as "heritage":

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

What Peter said seems to parallel Deuteronomy 12:12 where the Levites had no inheritance in the promised land as it was not given to them:

And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.

Deuteronomy 14:27 says:

And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.

I cannot and will not agree with certain free grace teachers that Simon only needed forgiveness to be restored to fellowship in order to escape the chastening hand of God where he would die for his sin as verse 21 clearly contradicts them. The wording here does not support John 13:8 or that Simon was only a carnal Christian needing restoration. Simon was clearly a lost man.

The second half of verse 21 is especially interesting that says:

for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Someone might argue that a believer can have a heart that is not right with God here. However, I found that specific Greek word for "right" only translated as "right" in 2 other places and it doesn't help the case for Simon ever being saved. One of those verses comes from 2nd Peter 2:15:

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Do you know that the other verse for this Greek word "right" is found only a few chapters away after Acts 8? The part that surprised me in my study is that the same word "right" is used when addressing another sorcerer who clearly was not saved. See Acts 13:8-10:

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

One might argue that this proves nothing as Greek words can certainly have more than one type of meaning. I agree, but none of these things here supports any idea that Simon was a saved man that turned carnal and only needed forgiveness to have his fellowship restored. The facts keep mounting that Simon was a lost man.

Verse 22 says:

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

The word "repent" (METANOEO) is consistently used in the book of Acts to the unsaved and not the saved. Acts 2:38:

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 3:19:

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Acts 17:30:

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Acts 26:20 uses the word "repent" and it also is the same chapter and context that I quoted earlier using the same Greek word for "lot":

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

To claim that Simon only needed to repent to be restored to fellowship CANNOT be supported by Scripture here as one can see for themselves that "repent" in the entire book of Acts does not mean what some free grace teachers so desperately want it to mean. The evidence is now overwhelming that Simon was a lost man.

Peter said in verse 22, "if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." Some free grace teachers will attempt to use this as proof that Simon was a saved man because the message of the gospel is "believe and thou shalt be saved" and not "believe and perhaps thou shalt be saved." It is verse 23 that makes it clear what Peter meant here. Some also view verse 22 that God might be reluctant to forgive Simon but that is not the case either. Verse 23 says:

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Verse 23 makes it clear that Peter believed Simon to be extremely wicked and in the bond of iniquity that he chose the word "perhaps" in verse 22. Peter appears to have strong doubts that Simon in his extreme wickedness could even repent in such a condition and we will soon see that was the case. God is not unwilling to forgive as some see the verse to mean but that Simon's condition was a very grim one. It was in verse 24 that one can see that Simon did not pray as Peter instructed but asked Peter to pray on his behalf.

Some free grace teachers argue that "gall of bitterness" does not mean the same thing as damnation, but I do not know of anyone that makes the claim that they are equivalent. They claim that a believer can be bound by iniquity. I agree that a believer can be bound by sins (lust, anger, etc), but I do not like to force our language of today into a verse. Verse 23 here is quite similar to that of the OT that speaks of apostasy. Deut. 29:18 says:

Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood

The "gall of bitterness" refers to extreme wickedness. "Bitterness" can be used for both believers and unbelievers alike (compare Romans 3:14 to Ephesians 4:31). I cannot find "bond of iniquity" as a reference to the saved, but I can't prove that it only applies to the lost either. I examined the word "bond" as to how it is used elsewhere in the NT. Does "bond of iniquity" speak to the saved or the unsaved? I never find the same word for "bond of iniquity" ever being said concerning a believer. I instead find the same word "bond" when addressing the believer as:

"the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3)

"the bond of perfectness" (Colossians 3:14)

"bands having nourishment ministered" (Col. 2:19, bands is the same Gk word).

One might argue that what I just shared proves nothing. It is my opinion that "bond of iniquity" is the opposite of how others use it to describe a believer. I find the "bond of iniquity" as addressing an unbeliever that has not yet been "freed from sin" (Romans 6:7) but is clearly a "servant of sin" (Romans 6:20).

Simon was to repent of his extreme wickedness who demonstrated clearly that he had a perverted view of grace. How can we even believe for a second that a man who offers money for God's free gift is saved man. Was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira who kept back part of the price of the land and lied about it the same as Simon that offered money for a free gift of God? Some strangely will argue they are similar and that Simon can expect the same fate if he doesn't repent. To argue that Simon was a carnal Christian who needed to be restored to fellowship only with God is to argue completely out of the book of Acts. The only way to get such reading is to run to outside passages or books that clearly do not relate or share the same words as found in Acts 8.

It is clear that the words Peter chose to use supports that Simon was NEVER saved. His thoughts were clearly wicked and perverse and obviously one should be able to see that such an understanding of a free gift of God would keep anyone from salvation. This not only refutes the position held by some free grace teachers but also those that believe you can lose your salvation. You can't be saved if you believe God's gift can be bought with money. People today believe that you have to do good works in order to get the things from God that He freely gives. Simon was so wicked that he thought he could offer some money for it.

Verse 24 says:

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Verse 24 shows that Simon was greatly concerned about the warnings Peter gave. Do you honestly believe that Simon was merely worried about losing his fellowship relationship with God? Do you honestly believe that Simon only feared the possibility of physical death by the chastening hand of God? Or, was Simon concerned because he feared perishing in the sense that it is given in the gospel? Simon had no "lot" with them. Simon was to "repent" and clearly that applies to the lost in the book of Acts. He was told by Peter to perish with his money. That is harsh language just like the apostle Paul that said in Galatians 1:8 about those that preach another gospel, "let him be accursed." What do you think concerned Simon? What would concern you most if Peter spoke these words to you?

If Simon merely was concerned about his loss of fellowship and only needed to pray to be restored then his comments in verse 24 makes absolutely no sense. He wanted Peter to pray for him instead so that "none of these things" which Peter had spoken would come upon him. The evidence is overwhelming that Simon was never saved. I read many articles and books concerning Simon as being a saved man and I have yet to see any convincing arguments to convince me otherwise.

I support free grace as taught by Scripture and never man. The danger of some free grace teachers that make the word "believed" as always and only meaning "saving faith" in such verses is that they are now put in a position where they will have to make every verse now read their way. Just like the Calvinist that teaches that Christ died only for the elect as they will now have to funnel every verse that speaks about Christ dying for all as now somehow meaning not all but some. Acts 8 is a clear example from the books I have read where free grace teachers will twist, add words or read other passages that clearly have nothing to do with Acts 8 at all. Just as it is clear that John 3:16 teaches that Christ died for all by the context, so Acts 8 teaches that Simon was never saved by the context. Again, if we are going to accuse Lordship salvation of adding words into a passage that clearly are not stated then let's not be guilty of the same. I believe some free grace teachers would do better to say that Peter was judging Simon's words and seriously questioned Simon's salvation for it. If a man told me that he like to offer money for God's free gift then I too would doubt his salvation and question him.

I do not believe that Simon was never saved because he didn't endure to the end like Lordship salvation claims but because his understanding of a free gift was perverted. Simon showed his wicked heart because he never acknowledges his wickedness. As far as I am concerned, Simon only seen himself as "some great one" and never a sinner and that is probably why Simon even in the end doesn't acknowledge his wickedness but only wanted the consequences he feared removed. Simon needed to repent of his thoughts or he would perish.

Ephesians 5:3-6 and Eternal Security

Ephesians 5:

3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Ephesians 5:3-6 is a supposed proof text where if a believer engages in such sins will lose their salvation. Even some free grace teachers believe that Paul is teaching the loss of rewards here by a believer losing their inheritance. I disagree with both.

I will say that if you are a whoremonger, an unclean person, a covetous man then you will have your place among the damned. However, their is a difference between a believer who has been forgiven of all sin and given a new identity in Christ compared to a person that has not. Verses 3-5 are not an exhaustive list because that would mean that any unbeliever that lives a pure life would have an inheritance and we know that is not true. Also, we all know that no matter how well they (unsaved) behave that they will never be called a "child of obedience."

Verse 6 is key to understanding these verses that says:

"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

The "children of disobedience" is a term to those that have never been saved. I am not arguing Lordship salvation that claims that if you "practice" those sins then it proves you were never saved to begin with as Paul clearly was not teaching that. Paul clearly was dealing with believers that were doing such sins and I will deal with that later.

When a person trusted Jesus Christ then a great exchange took place. What was true of you before is no longer true of you now. This great exchange of identity is entirely apart from any works. Look at Ephesians 5:1,2:

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience

As you can see, if you are saved then you were a child of disobedience. People focus on disobedience and immediately assume that it refers to our acts of unrighteousness and that is where people get themselves into trouble. You have unbelievers that are more morally upright and put many believers to shame. Children of disobedience is referring to us prior to being saved. There is no mention of any works here in chapter 2 that a person does that makes him anything other than a child of disobedience. All works are excluded. A child of disobedience sins because they are a child of disobedience and such wickedness is the fruit of it. Children of disobedience is referring to your nature and not behavior. Look at the verse next verse of chapter 2:

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The words, "were by nature the children of wrath" should have caught your attention. By nature and not works are you a child of wrath apart from Christ. This change of nature has nothing to do with us changing our behavior to be saved as Ephesians 2 tells us:

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

According to Ephesians 2, who will be experiencing the wrath of God? Clearly those that have not been saved by grace and who are still, "by nature the children of wrath." The children of disobedience are clearly the children of wrath. This is not something where God weighs your good works on a scale where you can graduate from a child of disobedience position to a child of obedience by your works. Grace that excludes your works is what changes your spiritual status here.

Look again at Ephesians 5:6:

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

The wrath of God comes upon???? It should be clear that the "children of disobedience" of chapter 5 is the same people in chapter 2 that are by "nature" and not behavior the children of wrath. Some define "children of disobedience" as those that have disobeyed the gospel of grace by rejecting it. It is clearly related though to nature and not works. This is why a person who holds to utmost morality should be called a "morally upright person" but that doesn't alter the fact that their nature without Christ still makes them a "child of disobedience" even though they are living a life better than some believers in many cases. If Mother Teresa was not saved and most agree with that among grace believers then she was a "child of disobedience" even though she makes most true believers look pitiful by her love for people and her total disregard for her own needs.

Look at Colossians 3:5,6:

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience

Here again, Paul is telling a believer to not live in sexual sins and idolatry, and he gives the motivation why. The wrath of God is coming upon the "children of disobedience" by nature. Paul is clearly distinguishing the believers that might be practicing those sins from the unsaved. We are no longer "children of disobedience" so let's not live the lives they do as they will only experience God's wrath. They bark because they are dogs and that lifestyle is natural to them, but believers that bark are living contrary to who they are.

Is Paul distinguishing the saved by their new nature from the nature of those that are "children of wrath" in Ephesians 5?? Absolutely! I have several books by authors that teach that you can lose your salvation and none of them mention verses 7 and 8. Verses 7 and 8 states clearly:

Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light

Paul is clearly telling these believers to not be partakers of their sins and not their fate. Paul's reason for them to not practice such things has to do with a change of nature. If you look at verse 8 then you will see that Paul argues that the change of nature is the motivation for living upright. Let's break down verse 8:

For ye were sometimes darkness (your former nature or standing with God)

but now are ye light in the Lord (your current nature or standing with God)

walk as children of light (make your walk match your standing)

Those that believe they can lose their salvation will seek only to twist what they see in verses 3-6 into a works salvation. It annoys them to no end that a believer can partake of a sinful lifestyle and still claim to be saved. This too is the problem with Lordship salvation.

Let me sidetrack to say that no free grace believer promotes a license to sin gospel. It is a shame that Lordship advocates and those that teach that a person can lose their salvation cannot see that free grace is actually the greatest motivation to do good works. Free grace has proven the test of time that it does not promote laxity or sin. I might not agree with everything Charles Stanley believes but can anyone claim that he is lazy in getting the gospel to the whole world? Does he live in sin or promote sinful living? Can anyone show a handful of free grace blogs or websites where they are promoted a "live in sin" teaching? The gospel is purely by grace alone apart from works.

I will say this too, EVERY person that I have encountered that lives like the devil and says, "Once Saved Always Saved" has yet to define to me the gospel of the grace of God. Their gospel was some prayer said on June 4th, 1985 or that some idiotic preacher told them to never doubt their salvation because of some prayer. I have yet to meet a free grace believer who was living like the devil that truly understood grace to not bow his head before me and express complete shame of how they were living. This is the difference I have experienced when dealing with others. Just because some moron shouts "I'm Once Saved Always Saved" and lives like the devil doesn't prove that eternal security wrong. It only proves that the guy saying that is an idiot and does not represent the majority of free grace advocates out there. There are plenty of free grace blogs to read and I challenge anyone to produce a handful of blogs where a free grace advocate is saying to live in sin. YOU CAN'T!!! You will find free grace pastors and teachers stressing the importance of living a holy life that truly provides a real motivation to do so that also promotes love to God and others.

I can say this too, I used to be a Wesleyan believer that argued that a person could lose his/her salvation. Do you know how I and others in the church found a way to practice sin? If we were really tempted to sin then many times we would give in to the sin with the thought in the back of our minds, "I will just confess my sins immediately after and God will wipe my slate clean again." I would basically ask God within seconds of committing my sin for that heavenly soap bar to clean me up. I would start my prayers, "Oh God, how could I have done that sin before you(I know how) so I ask you to forgive me........." Sorry, I found a "license to sin" even within the strictest type of churches that promote that a person can lose his/her salvation.

So, does the person in Ephesians 5 lose their salvation or prove they were never saved to begin with? No, Paul was teaching that it is inconsistent for us believers to live contrary to who we are in Christ. The message there is not a warning to believers that they will experience the wrath of God if they were to practice those sins but how they that becometh saints, a child of light ought to be living differently and apart from THEM. The "children of disobedience" by nature will not inherit the kingdom of Christ and of God so why live like them?

Paul says in verses 11-14:

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (implying that one can without a single warning of losing salvation), but rather reprove them.

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead (a command to the believer), and Christ shall give thee light.

Verse 14 is clearly addressed to a believer that is not bearing fruit unless you are defining "dead" as meaning spiritual death. To believe that means that an unsaved person can make himself spiritually alive then.

Verse 1 is clearly telling believers to be imitator's of God as some there were clearly practicing the sins of the world. Lordship salvation should realize that believers can live in the sins listed in verses 3-6 and stop with the foolish, "they can have carnal ways but not be carnal" bologna they insert into a passage or verse. Comparing verses 6 to 7 clearly shows that the message isn't "don't be partakers of their wrath" but that they should not be "partakers of their sin," because verse 8 says that they were "once" just like them. However, God now sees them as a child of light and that ought to affect their lifestyle. Just as Paul said in verse 1 to be imitators of God so now Paul in verse 8 tells them the logical reason why.

Verse 14 shows us that we have believers living fruitless lives. The ones that sleep are those that are in spiritual slumber just like the believers in 1st Thessalonians 5:6-10. We have believers that have fallen into a spiritual slumber that they now appear as dead. WAKE UP!!! is the message here. Quit living in darkness and start redeeming the time (verses 15,16) because the days are evil. Verse 9, many translations have that verse as reading, "for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth" and that is consistent with verse 14. Wake up and Christ will give you light.

I do believe it is important as believers to be living in the light as that often makes those believers living in darkness aware of their condition and their need to wake up. It is sad when the light goes out in a church. Have you ever been to a dead church where sports and other things takes the place of fellowship? It's sad when the light has gone out in a church as a whole.

Ephesians 5:3-6 has nothing to do with the loss of salvation but with believers to live a life consistent to who they truly are in Christ. For those that have strayed to wake up and live the remainder of their days serving Him for the days are evil.

I close with Romans 13:11-14 that parallels some of what I just stated:

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

James 2:14 Made Simple

James 2 is probably one of the most misunderstood chapters in the Bible. Martin Luther was certainly a man that struggled with the book of James as he made this comment:

“St. James Epistle is really an epistle of straw compared to [Apostle Paul], for it lacks this evangelical character.”

Luther wrote a preface to the book of James that said:

“contradicts Paul by teaching justification by works”

There were men even before Luther that had doubts concerning the authority of the book of James. The confusion still exists today but not as to whether the book of James is a part of the Bible but as to how we can understand what James is saying in relation to Paul.

The majority opinion today in most churches that profess salvation by faith alone is that James is merely saying that if your faith is genuine then works will back it up. Lordship salvation advocates make the claim that we are saved by faith alone but faith that is real will never be alone. I found a similar argument from a Roman Catholic concerning James 2 when dealing with the arguments of those that believe that faith alone apart from works is the only requirement to be saved:

“It is true that a person is not saved by his works and that salvation is completely of grace. However that does not mean that works have nothing to do with salvation.”

I doubt any Lordship advocate will argue with that statement. This is probably the reason why the Roman Catholic apologist, Robert Sungenis said concerning John MacArthur:

“MacArthur spent almost all of his 300-page work [TGAJ] exegeting passages from the Gospels, systematically going through many of the teachings of Jesus which specified that works indeed play a large part in our standing and relationship with God. This is not surprising. Catholic theology has always maintained that the Gospels deny faith alone theology most emphatically” (Robert Sungenis, Not by Faith Alone, pg. 597)."

When it comes to James 2, I have yet to find any person who doubts their salvation that fails to quote James 2:14 to me. They doubt their salvation because they feel that they serve sin more than they serve God and this somehow proves to them that their faith is not producing enough good works to prove that they are indeed saved. It is now my hope that a thorough explanation of James 2 will help some to see what James was truly teaching.

James 2:14 Made Simple:

Look at verse one:

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”

James is clearly addressing the “brethren.” Now look at the accusation that James brings against these brethren in verses 2-4:

“For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

These “brethren” were guilty of this sin of showing partiality but were still called “brethren.” James clearly puts the blame on these “brethren” in verse 6a:

“But YE HAVE despised the poor.”

I will argue shortly that verses 14-16 will still be James dealing with the “brethren” for their despising the poor and not James calling their salvation into question.

We can see from the first 6 verses that James recognized these despisers of the poor as saved brethren. Salvation or the gospel is not in the context but only the poor people among them and their despising of them. I find it interesting that nobody seems to mention this but will instead jump immediately to verse 14 with a complete disregard for the context and quote:

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”

Lordship salvation and others now places the focus on “can faith save him?” They seem to have forgotten that these were “brethren” being addressed here. We seem to have forgotten that the subject of chapter 2 is about the poor people that the “brethren” have despised. The focus is taken off of the poor and is now placed all upon our works in general where one can know whether they are saved or not according to Lordship salvation heretics. James was talking about other people, namely the poor. Lordship salvation has taken a passage that was extrospective of those around them and now made it introspective where one is now examining their salvation in light of their works. No wonder so many believers and so-called believers live in chronic doubt of their salvation.

Salvation is not in the context, but we have Lordship salvation and others that insert words and phrases into this passage that can nowhere be found. We now have these religionists that will tell you that James is talking about a “faith that isn’t saving” but nothing in the passage supports that heresy. James never questions the salvation of these “brethren” but only the nature of their faith in relation to the poor people among them. James did not change his message from the poor into a general message about how we must have works to prove that we are saved. WAKE UP!!! The poor are still in the context!! Verses 2-4 was James accusing the brethren of despising the poor and so does verses 15-16:

“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”

If salvation or the gospel is not in the context then how can religion just throw out “can such a faith save him?” as meaning from “sin and death”? Some even in the free grace camp try interpret the words “save him” as referring to the believer at the judgment seat of Christ and having works will somehow “save him” from having a heartache of living a life for only themselves before Christ. That is clearly stretching it as the judgment seat is not in focus here and “works” can also end up being burned in that day.

If saved, salvation and the gospel cannot be found in the context then what does the word “save” mean in verse 14? The word “save” should always be interpreted in light of the context. When Jesus prayed in John 12:27, “Father, save me from this hour” then we can be sure that it did not mean from His sins as He had none to be saved from. When Peter cried in Matthew 14:30 when sinking, “Lord, save me” then we can be sure that it did not mean from his sins because salvation or the gospel was not in the context. Even the disciples strong words in Matthew 8:25, “save us: we perish” had nothing to do with being saved from sin as the context is clear. If saved must mean from sin and death then females must get pregnant quickly because 1st Timothy 2:15 says, “she shall be saved in childbearing.” Even James uses the word “save” in chapter 5:15a, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,” and I have yet to find a single person translating that verse as mean from sin and death.

We can see that the word “save” can have several meanings. It can mean to preserve, help, keep, deliver and so on but clearly the context determines its meaning. Now to claim that the word, “save” in James 2:14 is talking about your salvation when salvation or the gospel is not in the context is to be way out there fishing. I proved that the context is all about the poor here so the word “save” must relate to them (the poor). We can determine whether this be true if we were to call the poor people “Bob” in these verses. We will look at verses 14-16 and now replace the word “him” with the word “Bob” and see how it reads:

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save Bob?

If a Bob be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one of you say unto Bob, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give Bob not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”

One might argue that the word “him” in verse 14 is singular and not the poor plural community in general. Yes, the word him is singular, it is the accusative singular to be exact. If you look at the word “poor” in verse 6 then it should be of no surprise to discover that that word too is accusative singular. Verse 15 says, “If a brother…” and that is what “him” (a brother) is referring to here in verse 14 as well as the poor in general. Can your faith that has no works save him (the poor man)?? The verses to follow support this and that is what “save” means here in the context. Can your faith being alone deliver or help the poor man in need?

If you notice, James begins verse 14 with “What doth is profit” and ends the same in verse 16 with “what doth it profit.” Do you really believe James is saying, “What doth it profit YOU”?? Or, “What doth it profit the poor man”?? The entire context is really pointing to the poor man there and not so much you. Look at verses 14-16 again:

“What doth it (faith) profit (the poor), my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him (the poor man)?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food (the poor),

And one of you say unto them (the poor), Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them (the poor) not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it (faith alone) profit (the poor)?”

Again, this is where Lordship Salvation and others take a passage that is extrospective and instead made it introspective. Here is how our religionists like to read those verses:

“What doth it profit YOU, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith without works save him from hell?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit YOU?”

Clearly what I just written above is a damnable heresy. Any person agreeing with what I just typed is a stranger to grace and in need of salvation. I hope that you can see that the word “profit” doesn’t have YOU there in the context but the poor man. Our Apostle Paul even used the word “profitable” when talking about our good works. Paul did not say that our good works are profitable to us (introspective) either but to those around us (extrospective). Look at Titus 3:8b:

“that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

According to Paul, our good works are profitable UNTO men. James was dealing with works that would “profit” the poor people. Paul and James are in complete agreements that a person must demonstrate “works” to be profitable to others. I do agree that believers who have works that springs from faith pleases God but that is not what is in the context here. Faith alone is useless without works but neither Paul nor James in these verses is saying that works proves that a person is saved. Only heretics make “works” to prove your salvation in this passage. Question, what do you think Paul would say in Titus 3:8 to the person that was not careful to maintain good works that would be profitable unto men? We can be sure that he would say concerning their faith, “What doth it profit?” James and Paul stress the need to demonstrate our faith by works and no free grace advocate would ever deny that.

James is clear that it’s not enough to say that we have “faith” to others without works. Our faith must be accompanied by works or it is useless. It is clearly useless to the poor in James 2 to wish by faith only blessings onto the poor without physically giving them what they need. We could compare that to praying for the salvation of your friend next door and never giving them the gospel for what does that (prayer) profit (them) being alone? James who was clearly addressing believers was pointing out “their” lack of works in relation to the poor man. If Lordship salvation would strive to be consistent, then they should argue that if your faith doesn’t help the poor by works then you probably do not have a saving faith as that is at least a step closer in the right direction. However, a man’s salvation is not anywhere questioned in the passage. This horrible act was already being committed by the “brethren.”

It is extremely surprising to hear people quote verse 19 as proof that a person can have a faith that is not saving:

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Comparing saving faith to the faith of demons would be comparing white to black and claiming they are the same thing. Demons have no hope of salvation. A demon can have all the faith in the world and all the works in the world at the same time but would still remain damned. If verse 19 is talking about saving faith then it should be logical to assume that a demon can be saved if they would only get their faith to spring into action if one wants to be consistent here. However, even verse 19 isn’t talking about salvation or the gospel. Does believing that there “is one God (monotheistic God)” bring salvation? No! The verse doesn’t say that the demons believe in the gospel of grace and tremble but only in one God. This is a clear example of how religion will seek to twist a verse to read according to their own heresy.

Lordship salvation will argue that a “dead faith” (vs. 17) is a non-saving faith. They view “dead” much the same way they view a sinner that is “dead” in their trespasses and sins. Again, salvation is not in the context and you simply cannot read words not found there. Dead does not mean “non-saving.” Only Lordship salvation and religionists add those words to keep their heresy. If believers cannot be described as having any dead components to them then a contradiction is found in Ephesians 5:14 where Paul was clearly addressing believers:

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

These believers were to “rise from the dead” themselves. Clearly if the dead in that verse meant “spiritual death” then we can be sure that no man has the power himself to resurrect his lifeless spiritual corpse from the grave. Dead doesn’t mean non-existent or non-saving as you can only go by the context. If dead means non-existent or non-saving then Romans 4:19 makes no sense that says:

"And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb"

The word "save" has to be defined by the context and so does the word "dead." James is clearly telling these “brethren” to demonstrate their faith to the poor or it’s useless and dead as such a faith profits nothing being alone. Others (poor) are the focus here and not God as He is not in the context. The believers in James 2 were being told to “show” or “demonstrate” their faith with works but nowhere does it say that if they truly had saving faith then it will automatically demonstrate itself with good works. Lordship salvation advocates will say that “you will” do good works if your faith is genuine but those words are not found here in James nor implied.

Paul too never said that a believer “will” do good works if his faith is genuine. I challenge any Lordship advocate to find one verse in Pauline Scripture or in the NT that says that a believer “will” do good works. Look at the following two verses and ask yourself if works happen automatically when a person trusts in Christ:

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” (Titus 3:8)

Here is another verse about good works:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10).

The only verse that has the word “shall not (will)” that I know of when it comes to right living is found in Galatians 5:16:

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

This verse is clear that only a believer is someone that can walk in the Spirit and it is clear that it doesn’t happen automatically either here.

Now Lordship salvation and others do not stop there in James 2, but will go on and use Abraham to further strengthen their misconception about what James was teaching. They will quote verse 21:

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?”

This verse was troublesome to Martin Luther and is still a problem to many today. I just came across a Bible version that added words to verse 21 that is nowhere implied in the Greek. I quote this to show how he perceived the verse to mean as well as many other religionists out there. He translated verse 21a:

“Wasn't our ancestor Abraham "made right with God by works" when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar?” (The Message Bible).

That is just plain wicked and now we have a direct contradiction to Paul. If the translator knew his Bible then he would have realized that Abraham was justified some 20 years earlier by faith alone. God is not in the context here nor does the Greek imply God in verse 21. James could have easily stated those words. Still, this wicked version clearly portrays how many see verse 21. This is how some teach that you must have faith and works to be saved. This is how Lordship salvation tries to rewrite this verse as only saying that if your faith is genuine then your works will prove it. To clarify that the meaning here is about having works before men only and not before God then let’s look at Paul in Romans 4:2:

“For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; BUT NOT BEFORE GOD.”

The words, “but not before God” seems to elude people. I already argued that James had “others” in mind when dealing with our works. These people show their carelessness with Scripture by disregarding Paul and the context in James 2. Verse 21 does not mention in the Greek that the justification was before God as “others” are in the context. Now insert the phrase “but not before God” from Romans 4:2 into verse 21 should help you to see the meaning clearly:

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works “but not before God”, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?”

If our works do not justify us before God then who are they justifying us before? Others! It should be clear by now that the “brethren” in chapter 2 were not demonstrating a faith with works to the poor.

An important thing to note was the fact Abraham was justified by faith some 20 years earlier. This recorded act of faith WITH works did not happen until over 20 years later. If works are supposed to validate our faith as taught by Lordship salvation then why did James quote a work of Abraham that happened 20 years later after he believed? Let’s be consistent, that would be like someone saying, “You are saved by faith alone but if your faith is genuine then in 20 years you will have some work to prove it.” If a pattern of good works proves that you are saved then why would James only mention one act that happened many years later? If Lordship salvation advocates were consistent to James 2, then they should tell their duped followers that they have 20 years to prove that their faith is genuine with only a single act.

James does mention in verse 23 a faith that is passive and now includes God in the verse. Very important, if you notice in verse 23, all works are excluded from the verse that says:

“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.”

James is speaking about a dual justification here. A man is justified before God by faith only, and man is justified before man (not before himself or God) by works and not faith only. Verse 21 is our works before others as they can see them but not our faith, and verse 23 is about God who sees our faith and justifies us by faith only apart from works. You can be sure that our justification before God never comes from our works (see Romans 3:28, 4:2; Galatians 2:16, 3:11).

James has been talking about a work for “others” to see. Look at verse 18:

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew ME thy faith without thy works, and I will shew THEE my faith by my works.”

You can show your faith to James without works that profits nothing, and James will show you his faith with works that is profitable. Just like what Paul said in 1st Timothy 4:8 that “godliness is profitable unto all things.”

James 2 is addressing our works in relation to others. It should be strikingly clear that there is no mention of the gospel, salvation or even tests to knowing whether we are saved or not anywhere in the first 22 verses. James clearly in verse 23 shared the faith that justifies us before God but spent the entire passage explaining a works that is before men and that is profitable. We are justified by works James says but not before God. The teaching is about YOU demonstrating your faith by works before others and not YOU examining your faith to see if it is made up of all the right ingredients. This passage is extrospective and never introspective.

I hope this has helped some of you out there that have been struggling with the book of James. You will find that good work loses its joy the moment conditions are placed upon your salvation. The moment you look past your works and realize that salvation has nothing to do with your obedience then you are truly free to serve. God no longer sees you in the sins you commit but only in the righteousness He imputes.

Salvation only depends upon the faithfulness of God to us, and our rewards depend only upon our faithfulness to Him.

Doubting salvation and spiritual infancy

I used to be so scared of the dark when I was a child. I would have to check my closets for monsters after watching a scary movie on TV before going to bed. I would shut off my light and run and jump into my bed so that no hand would reach out from underneath my bed and grab my leg. I often laid there with my eyes open staring towards the closet. I would wonder if monsters were under my bed, in my closet or just outside the window. I had to wait until my parents went to bed before turning on the bathroom light so I could see in my room better.

How I was as a child is how most Christians are with assurance of salvation. They live in fear of the unknown as the child does. You can tell a child that there is no such thing as ghosts, aliens and monsters, but they will still live in fear of them. You can tell these believers the truth of God's word and that He promises eternal life to all that simply trust Him and yet they persist to hold on to their fears and doubts.

A child seems relieved by having a light on but it doesn't cure the problem. The believer too is looking for some type of light that will give them assurance. They often look to their feelings and works. This is something that offers them assurance from time to time as that is what they turn to when darkness floods their soul. This was the trap I was in for many years.

Believers just like children seem to focus on 'What if?' type of thinking. What if there is a boogey man? What if a monster is under my bed? What if I didn't believe enough in Christ? What if I didn't believe the right way?

The problem with Christianity is that it is so performance oriented. Everyone is so worried about what they are doing or not doing as well as how they are feeling. Religion knows this and preys off of it. Religion will tell those that doubt their salvation to read more Bible, pray more, join a ministry and so on. The solution to a performance oriented religion for anyone that is struggling is more performance. They serve a performance oriented god that can only be appeased by your adhering to a bunch of rules.

I struggled with assurance while as a student at Bob Jones University. I had my prayer captain tell me that a possible reason for not having assurance of salvation is that I talk after light bell at school. Light bell was when the bell rang and the lights had to be off in your dorm room and your body better be in that bed or you would get demerits when the hall monitor opened the door to check on you. The rule was that a person could not listen to music, study or even talk after light bell. Somehow according to my PC that not talking after light bell would cure me of my doubts??? I sought special counseling as a student and was given a list of things to do and I did them perfectly. It never fails that I was always told that God must be testing my faith when I followed their additional rules where they did not work for me.

I tried so hard to overcome my doubts that I joined a ministry, preached in kids church, witnessed, read more Bible, fasted, prayed more, rededicated my life in those unscriptural alter calls, made confessions to people that I wronged or think I might have wronged, did the speed limit while driving, worked as hard as I could at work, had 2 hour devotions, listen to nothing but godly music, didn't drink, didn't smoke, didn't attend movies, didn't gamble, didn't play cards, didn't mix swim, wore my hair a certain length and so on and yet I still had no assurance. I was no apostle Paul, but I sure felt like him when he said:

"Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." (Phil. 3:6).

It is today that I can say just like the apostle that I consider them all but dung. I do not need the light on today to know that there is no monster in my bedroom. I simply know that no monsters are there. I also do not need feelings and my works to confirm that I am saved either. I simply know that I am saved by God's word.

If you are struggling with assurance of salvation then I can guarantee that you are looking to yourself in some way. You just can't accept free grace and are trying live a life to appease the god you serve. I'm sure that your god is an angry god that is just sick and tired of all of those mistakes you make. You have invented an imaginary god just like the imaginary monsters we invented as a child. It's time to grow up and simply take God at His word and you can only do that by looking entirely away from the law, feelings, your works and even your faith. If you doubt then it is because the attention is on yourself and it has nothing to do with what God is doing so do not try blaming Him for your doubts. We clearly did not believe our parents as a child that there is no such things as monsters, and we clearly do not believe God like a child when He tells us that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. We believers want the light on so that we can see our faith and good works so that way we can believe that God has saved us. It's sad to see so many believers scared because they cannot sense the light of God in their lives (feelings). They are so focused on the darkness that they cannot see anything else.

If you are struggling with assurance of salvation then it is time to grow up. Get your eyes off of yourself and the darkness you see and turn your eyes upon Christ believing only the testimony that God gave concerning His Son. If you still doubt then you are still focusing on the imaginary monsters under the bed (law), in the closet (feelings) or outside your window (yourself period). Quit being like a child that goes by what they feel to be true when they are in the dark and start living like an adult and simply rest in what is true as stated in God's word.

Galatians 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

These verses are often quoted to mean that either you can lose your salvation or that you were never saved to begin with, but one should be quick to see that Paul never said that. We live in a Christianity today where all the focus is upon us and what we do or do not do. This is why believers today live in frustration, defeat and doubt.

Is Paul warning the Galatians that if they were to live in the sins listed then they would not inherit the kingdom of God? My question would be as to why Paul would warn the Galatians of these sins when they were not even guilty of them?? The Corinthians clearly were guilty of such sins but not the Galatians. They were striving to be made perfect in the flesh by human efforts:

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

(Gal. 3:3).

I personally believe that the Galatians would have been well received in most churches today especially many fundamental churches and their heavy emphasis upon rules that can never curb one's appetite for sin. We would judge people as saved today simply because they were trying so hard to abstain from the sins of the flesh. It amazes me as to how no religious denomination will confess that they are guilty of Galatianism. They will simply tell you that the sin of Galatia was their adding law to salvation and that is not true as you can see in the above verse. Their sin was adding law for spiritual sanctification.

So why did Paul tell these Galatians verses 19-21? The answer is found in verse 16:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

These Galatians were adding works to their faith in attempts to keep from sin. Paul was now telling them that if you want to keep from those sins then you must walk in the Spirit and simply supplied the various sins of the flesh.

This is a verse that people have backwards today. People are trying to abstain from the sins of the flesh in order to walk in the Spirit. They believe that they cannot bear fruit if they do not abstain from sin. So instead of walking in the Spirit to keep from sin, people keep from sin to walk in the Spirit and they have it reversed.

Most churches teach that if you are saved then you will bear fruit. I can assure you that as long as you are striving to keep from sin by human effort then you will never bear fruit. You will bear the fruit of pride and self righteousness but that is about all. I read in one book by a popular author and pastor that we should mimic the fruits of the Spirit because that can help such fruits to actually become part of our lives. Where does the Holy Spirit require our help in Scripture? Walking in the Spirit is not by any effort whatsoever but is done by simple faith.

Paul said to the Galatians in 3:2-3,5:

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? He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Paul said to the Colossians in 2:6:

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him."

How does one receive Christ? By faith apart from works. Then how is one to grow? By faith apart from works. People believe that we are to live by strict rules and make strong resolves to stop sinning and that God will assist them. They basically have the attitude that the world says that "God helps those that help themselves" and this is wrong. Our growth isn't 99% faith and 1% works. There are thick books to teach you how to properly repent when you sin so that your mourning dearly over them for hours or days until you punished yourself enough will probably keep you they say from doing that sin again. Being sin and work oriented will actually keep you from spiritual victory. Our victory in the Christian walk is all by faith 100%. Christ is our victory! We are to abide in the Vine and receive all from Him by resting in Him. The victory comes by faith as we look to Christ who is our victory. 1st Corinthians 15:57 says:

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

God gives us the victory through Christ. We receive Christ through faith and not by works and we receive victory through Christ and not by human efforts or law.

The problem with "trying" not to sin is that we are resorting to our own efforts. I have seen people repeatedly rededicate their lives to Christ in walking an aisle in church. They pray harder and read more Bible. Such people are often instructed to join a ministry and witness to the lost to find the victory that they need but it never works. Placing yourself under strict rules will never keep you from the sins of the flesh and that is what Paul was teaching them in Galatians. Look at Colossians 2:20-23:

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,(Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Verse 23 ends with "not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh" and some might not understand what exactly that means. The NIV says it clearer as it translates those words as "but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." If you are trying to abstain from sins through rules and human effort then such might have an appearance of humility but such efforts "lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."

It amazes me how two individuals can see Scripture so differently. A grace oriented person does not see threatenings and wrath to us believers but only a law abiding person does. Law oriented people view Scripture as a bunch of warnings and threats where many of them do not have assurance of salvation because they fear that tomorrow they can prove to be a reprobate or unsaved as they put it. A law oriented person will see that God's law is still required not for salvation but for sanctification. A law oriented person will see even praise and thanksgiving as a requirement that they must do or God will be sorely displeased with them. A law oriented person quits sins because of possible consequences but a grace oriented person quits sins because that is what grace teaches them. A law oriented person believes that they have to make Christ number one in their lives but a grace oriented person sees Christ as their life as you cannot make Him any more than what He actually is. A law oriented person tries to be complete in Christ while the grace oriented person knows that they are complete in Him. A law oriented person sees the verse that says that those that love Him will keep His commandments and will strive to keep those commandments to hopefully prove to Christ that they love Him while the grace oriented person serves because of love. A law oriented persons service is done by forcing themselves to do right, but a grace oriented person service should be natural because of such great love the Father lavished on them. A law oriented person will see verses that says to give thanks in all things as a condition for blessings and spiritual success while the grace oriented person simply does it because it brings the believer great delight to give thanks to his heavenly Father. A law oriented person serves a strict and hard probation officer while a grace oriented person serves a God of love. A law oriented person serves a performance and behavioral oriented god, but a grace oriented person serves a God that no longer beholds them in the sins they commit but in the righteousness that God imputes. A law oriented person sees our position in Christ as relating to our walk, but a grace oriented person sees the difference between their position and their walk. A law oriented person is judgmental and critical of others. A law oriented person has no patience for those that seem careless and sinful but a grace oriented person doesn't seek to make quick judgments even though they are considered to be a friend to sinners as Jesus was by the law oriented minds in His day. Only a law oriented person will not allow for a carnal Christian while a grace oriented person believes God's word and knows that there are such people that wallow in sin that are saved but also knows that we are saved apart from any works and that includes future ones as well. A law oriented person is never satisfied and often reads many books instead of Scripture to fill the void that is in their life while a grace oriented person loves the simplicity that is in Christ. A law oriented person reads their Bible out of duty, but the grace oriented person reads their Bible to learn more about this God that loved them dearly.

Galatians is dealing with and condemning those that are law oriented. If you are not saved then you are still in the flesh. It does not matter if you are morally upright and haven't committed any of the listed sins there as that is not an exhaustive list anyways. The fact that you are in the flesh is the only reason that you will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Those that are saved are no longer viewed under condemnation. Those that are saved can only keep from the sins of the sinful nature by walking in the Spirit. We are not viewed in the sins listed simply because we have been crucified from those things. You might be practicing such sins but it is a contradiction to who you are in Christ and this is how Paul everywhere deals with believers. A proper understanding of sin and who you are now in Christ ought to motivate you to live according to who you now are. This is why Paul elsewhere said:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Verse 24 of chapter 5 says:

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

This is a positional truth and not a reference to our daily walk. You might be saved and a practicing drunk by man's standards, but God does not behold you in those sins. God is not a behavior oriented God and demanding that we get our act in gear before He will do anything for us. God is interested in changing your heart first. Let's be honest here, if Galatians 5:19-21 is teaching that those that are caught practicing sins whether saved or unsaved then it should be clear that a person is saved by works. It should be clear that if you stop practicing then the kingdom of heaven is yours. What would you do with a person that says to you, "These things I have kept from since my youth up"?? The fact is that they have yet to receive Christ and are still in the flesh. Only those that are Christ's have crucified the flesh and for them to do such things is only a contradiction of how God sees them in Christ. The saved are dead to those things and cannot be brought under the guilt of any. Only a law oriented person will be bothered thinking that he doesn't have to first do something about his life to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Why would a believer practice such sins? It would make no sense as your position is no longer those things in Christ, but we can also be sure that practicing those things has no relation to our position. A queen that has all the riches of the land would live a life contrary to who she is and all that has been given to her if she decided to live in prostitution to make money. We have been crucified to the sins of the flesh and they have no part of a believer whatsoever because God is no longer dealing with us in our sins as law oriented people think. Romans 6:3-6 says:

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Many have erroneously altered the verses above to mean water baptism when no water is mentioned in any chapter. Water was never a picture of a grave. People were buried above ground in a tomb, and I do not believe we can claim that this is a symbol of a watery grave here when water never pictured a grave ever. This verse is telling us that we have been placed into the death of Christ. Our old man died with Christ and is buried in a tomb somewhere to never be raised again. We now have been raised in the new man and now should walk in him because our old man was crucified. When our old man was crucified then you can be sure that the past tense of the word always refers to an act of God apart from man and his works.

When someone says that a saved person will bear fruit then be sure that they will not have a single verse to back that up. Paul never once said that a believer WILL bear fruit or do good works. Look at verses above again where it says, "that we SHOULD walk in newness of life" and "that henceforth we SHOULD not serve sin." If a believer cannot habitually sin then the verse should say, "that henceforth we will not serve sin." Paul would not also say, "Do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies" but if habitual sins are impossible then sin simply cannot reign period. According to Lordship Salvation Jesus must reign in your lives or you cannot be saved when no verse EVER states that, but Scripture teaches that Christ is our life when we get saved regardless of lifestyle. You can't make Christ something other than He already is. However, Scripture teaches the obvious and that is that sin can reign in your life.

Look at the following verses:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we SHOULD walk in them.

However, law oriented people read that as saying that God ordained that we will walk in them.

What does grace teach us:

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.

(Titus 2:11-13).

Will a believer bear fruit? He should and it is entirely logical, but I see nothing that says that it is automatic and guaranteed. Does Paul ever say that believers WILL and not SHOULD keep from sins if they are saved? Yes, look at Galatians 5:16 again:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye SHALL NOT fulfil the lust of the flesh.

It is clear that Paul can say the words "shall not" when it comes to our walk. The only time he says it is when a believer simply walks in the Spirit and not to those that simply are saved. Walking in the Spirit is a command to the already saved people and is not given to those that are unsaved. A believer should do good works and only the believer that walks in the Spirit "SHALL NOT" fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19-21 is not a warning to believers but a list of what the sins of the unsaved are that they practice and are by nature and verse 16 is how we can avoid such sins. Paul said that we have been past tense crucified to those things and are no longer under condemnation. Paul's point was that if we are to avoid these sins then you will not be able to do it by human efforts but only by walking in the Spirit. If you are doing it by human efforts then you are clearly doing it in flesh that God will NEVER be pleased with. Your hard attempts will get you no kudos from God. The Galatians were dealt more severely who were striving to be made perfect in the flesh than the Corinthians that were openly living in the sins of the flesh.

If you want to keep from sin then the answer is not found in efforts and law keeping. If you are refraining from sin by everything you got in you then you can be sure that it is your unpleasing to God flesh that is behind it. We grow by resting and not by law keeping. If you want victory then it is found by walking in the Spirit. You will experience transformation as you focus on who you are in Christ and this involves looking entirely away from yourself, feelings, law and so on. The Scriptures do not say, "Be ye saved and you will experience a transformation in your daily walk" but:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The same Greek word for transformed is found in 2nd Corinthians 3:18:

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

If you want to experience a fruitful walk with Christ then get your eyes on Him. Don't focus on all the sins that you want to avoid that usually leads to rule keeping but focus upon Christ and you will be changed into the very same image as Him. Don't refrain from sin to walk in the Spirit but walk in the Spirit to refrain from sin. This is done by faith and not by human efforts. The battle is in the mind and change your thinking and make it in line with what God says concerning you then it will affect your walk. Keep your eyes on Christ who is our life and victory!

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

* Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

1st John 5:12 and eternal security

I have heard a minister who had his PhD arguing his belief that one can lose his salvation. He felt that we that believe in eternal security play games with God's word. His example was 1st John 5:12 that says,

"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

He sought to prove our inconsistency where we will take a verse and simply say the first half of the clause is unconditional and yet the second half is conditional when the wording is identical in both clauses. What he means is this:

He that HATH THE SON HATH LIFE (unconditional),
and he that HATH NOT THE SON OF GOD HATH NOT LIFE (conditional).

His point was that if the first clause is unconditional then so should the second half be unconditional. However, he argues that since it is clear that the "hath" in the second half of the verse is conditional then so should be the first half. How can you have two identical type of phrases where one is conditional and the other unconditional? How can the "hath not life" be conditional and "hath life" be unconditional??

For a man with a PhD he lost my respect as we talk like that in every day life. I will use those exact words in a different sentence and tell me if the one clause implies a condition with a guaranteed result:

"If you have the surgery you shall live but if you don't have the surgery then you shall die."

It is quite clear that life is conditioned upon the surgery and one is guaranteed life after the surgery. Once the surgery has taken place then the threat of death from that illness is gone. If you have the Son then you have life. But the problem we have with those that believe you can lose your salvation is that they will only focus on what we experience in this life and will argue from that. They will see this as a disease that can return. They are the same people that will say that a free gift can be lost or given back since you can do that in the physical world even though God's Word never states that one can give Him back His gift or lose it but actually says that His gifts are irrevocable. They don't care what they argue as long as they can keep their heretical teaching that one can lose their salvation.

This PhD would like you to think in terms of what we experience in this world that the disease can return and you can die later from refusing that same surgery that saved you the first time. The question should be whether Jesus made sin and death something that has to be treated multiple times as this PhD erroneous belief would certainly imply??? Did Christ die once to sin? How many times did He rise from the dead? What does "having forgiven us of all trespasses and sins" mean?? What does "no condemnation" and "no separation" mean? How long is eternal life and when does a person possess it? What does it mean that Jesus has perfected forever those that are sanctified? Are you complete in Him? Did Jesus do a partial or complete work when He said in the Greek perfect tense, "It is finished"? Was the disease in those that have life cured or does the problem still lurk within? Does Jesus treat us like a surgeon that promises life to the initial surgery but cannot tell us whether the disease will return afterwards? Did Jesus find the absolute cure or not? Did Jesus mean that he that hath the Son hath life as unconditional or conditional? If you say conditional then where does it say it can be lost?

I find it truly amazing that God made it abundantly clear that "He that hath the Son hath life" and "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" and "sealed unto the day of redemption" and "but have everlasting life" and "and they shall never perish" (double negative in Greek) and "he shall never taste death" (double negative in Greek) as well as scores of other verses and yet God fails to provide one single verse that says, "If you stop believing then you shall be damned" or "If you stop believing then you shall lose thy salvation" and so on. It amazes me that they are so bent on proving that God meant that you can lose your salvation but do not have one clear verse to run too. It amazes me that they run to some obscure verse and will read it into a clear verse instead. It amazes me how they feel at liberty to play narrator for Paul and others and will read words into the context that cannot be found as though the biblical author must have forgotten to jot it in there. It amazes me that they will quote Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrews 10:26-29 as proof and when I ask them to tell me what the sin was there then they have no clue. So according to them some mysterious sin is going to cause you to lose your salvation when salvation is not in the context but going on to maturity is and that it is "impossible" to restore such a one to repentance which they interpret as salvation but to them it is not impossible to be restored to salvation but difficult since the word "impossible" would mean 'once lost always lost.' May they be made aware that "impossible" does not mean "difficult" as God was described in the same book as being impossible for Him to lie unless they want to view that God finds it difficult to lie??? Either they are being willfully ignorant or they lack something between the ear canals. (Please see my blog on Hebrews 6 and 10).

Salvation is always in Another. When you sin then it has no impact upon your salvation since your salvation is in Another. If you were responsible for being saved or staying saved then salvation is in you. If you have to persevere in the faith to be saved then salvation is in you. The law can't condemn you as your life is in Another. You will one day stand before God in His righteousness and not your own as your righteousness lies in Another. You have a choice, to either die for your sins or trust in Another that died already in your place. Jesus stood in our place so that today we can stand in His. The moment you look to your works or sins as to determine whether you are saved or not or whether you lose your salvation or not is to place the work of salvation upon you instead of Another. This is why I can rest assured that my salvation is secure because I know that I have no part in it. I don't work to get it and I don't work to keep it. If I can lose my salvation by being bad then I must have received it by being good. If I can lose my salvation by sinning then it is clear that salvation is by works. If I can lose my salvation by sinning then it is clear that salvation lies within myself and not Another. I'm sorry, God is not my co-pilot but pilot. He is pressing the buttons as captain and not smacking my hands to hopefully prevent me from pressing the wrong button that will crash the plane. Those that fear they can lose their salvation or doubt their salvation is still seeing salvation to be found in themselves and not Another. They are the ones in the cock pit pressing the buttons and turning the knobs supposedly listening to God saying, "Don't press that one or else" where He ends up guiding them down the runway in heaven. I have met those that think just like that and such people need the gospel as they are strangers of grace as they are blinded to their works oriented gospel that can never save.

Remember, rewards are the result of our faithfulness to Him and salvation is the result of His faithfulness to us. Remember, heaven is a gift to bad people and not a reward to good people.

Loved and Accepted!!!!!

What a joy to simply rest in Christ!

• No fear of law!
• No fear of wrath!
• No fear of condemnation!
• No fear of punishment!

· Absolutely no uncertainties!!!

People who struggle with works would do best to imagine God standing before them with His finger pointing at them saying, "If you try to do one good work in order to find Me, or to have assurance of salvation, gaining of my favor and love, then you will be eternally lost." My question would be to that person, "How many works will you now try to do in order to find acceptance before a thrice holy God?” The answer is NONE!!

We are accepted 100% in Christ. We do not have to fear that our works will alter that acceptance. We must realize that our acceptance is in Another (Jesus Christ). Therefore, how could anything we ever do affect that acceptance? God requires no works from us in order to be loved or accepted. Jesus said that there was only one work that God requires and that was to believe on Him whom He sent.

I hear so many believers push away the love of God because they feel unworthy or they cannot get their minds off of some past sin. They view God's love and acceptance as based on their performance. They see a pattern of sin in their life and question how a God can love and accept them. They must accept that God is no longer dealing with us in the sins that we commit, but only in the righteousness that He has imputed to us.

Here is the beauty of being in Christ. God, the Father, loves us as much as He loves His Son since we are in Him (John 17:23). God does not see the filth you see, but His only begotten Son doth He behold. This is why Christians tend to fail because they are very sin oriented and not Christ oriented. They still look at the law and see their reflection when they should have realized that the mirror (law) has already accomplished its purpose in leading them to Christ.

We are now to look at who we are in Christ. It is His glory in that reflection. That is what we will be transformed into (2nd Cor. 3:18). If we look at our filth, then we will experience its effects and that is depression, guilt feelings and frustration. If we look to who we are in Christ, then we will be affected with feelings of love and acceptance, forgiveness and the desire to live a holy life.

Love begets love and this is something that most believers struggle with. God wants to reveal His love to us because love is the best motivator to holiness. It is far better than fear of punishment could or would ever do. God's love caused Christ to come and die for you! Only we push away that love because we feel that we must do something in order to earn that love. If more people could only discover the freedom of realizing the infinite love of God, then such a realization would cause one to break forth in joy and will have a life that will seek to please Him. This glimpse of His love is what causes me to feel my absolute unworthiness. Yet, it never leads me to attempt to do works so that I can feel worthy of that love. Instead, I work to show my utter gratitude to a God that could love someone like me. What an awesome thought to know that the God of the Universe loves me and is jealous of me. He saved me and now I am a trophy of His grace.

Why push this love away when it is available to every person alive? You will never be worthy of such love so why try as your efforts are not only useless. They will be rejected. There is nothing in us that God will accept, so what do you think you would be able to offer to God that nobody else possesses on this earth? Do you think your goodness is better than the neighbor next door and that God would reject his works, but receive yours? Your works cannot make God love you more and your lack of works cannot make God love you less. You must realize that we experience such love, apart from works, as it is found in Jesus Christ.

Just remember, if you are not saved, then God will reject any works or efforts on your part to receive His love and acceptance. God loves you infinitely now and has done everything required for your salvation and bids you now to come to Christ and be saved. COME AS YOU ARE. God does not want you to first clean up your life to be saved nor does He require you to clean up your life afterward to stay saved. God does all the saving and you do all the believing. You, too, can experience the joy of no condemnation. You, too, can enjoy walking in His love every day. This is available to you right now!. Jesus has paid your sin debt in full and God simply wants you to believe His testimony concerning His Son. Jesus died for your forgiveness as all your sins were laid upon Him. He was raised bodily for your justification, as you have no part in this matter. You can now be saved by His life. God made Jesus who knew no sin, and to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him! The moment you believe that message is when your sins are all taken out of the way. His life and righteousness become yours. You can put your head upon your pillow tonight with full assurance that you are fully loved and accepted by a thrice holy God that had never known sin and you will never have to fear judgment again!

"Father, we thank you that we are sheltered under the umbrella of your protective love. We wake up in it, we walk in it and we go to bed with it. We stand upon Jesus Christ the eternal rock that never moves. We can stand firm upon your promises as the foundation never shakes. It is your love that never ceases, it never fails, it endureth all things and nothing shall separate us from it. Our relationship to you is based on this love. It is this love that produces a life of fruit. It is this love that helps us face even the most difficult circumstances. It is to permeate our very being and our every thought. We are commanded to walk in it and this love is to overflow to others. This is the love that can melt the hardest of hearts.

Our prayer is that of Paul who said ‘to know the love of Christ passeth all knowledge’. To know this love that would move your heart, Father, to send Your Son here to save us. To know this love that caused our Savior to lay down His life for us. To know this love that would allow our Savior to have His hair pulled, crown of thorns placed upon His head, to be spat upon, to be punched, to have His back torn apart from the beatings revealing His bone, to have the very God of Heaven mocked, to be stripped naked before all, to have His hands and feet nailed for us.

· To know this love that gives and expects nothing in return.

· To know this love that we can never work for or earn.

· To know this love that we will experience for all eternity.

Father, we often stray from your love by looking away from you and onto ourselves and what we are doing or not doing. We pray that we never lose sight of that love. Reveal again this love afresh that passeth knowledge, so that we will be filled with your fullness.

In Jesus name, Amen!"