As Christians, we all fail God. I know I do. Whether I’m not thinking the right thoughts, or I act upon those thoughts and flip out and hurt others, I am utterly in bondage to my sin nature. Now, some Christians say that we are no longer under sin because of what Christ has done for us, which is true, but who in effect has turned from their sin completely? It’s just not possible. Why would Jesus have had to die if we could save ourselves by human merit? No no, Jesus came to save sinners, not the righteous who can keep the law perfectly, apparently.
When I fail God, I can confess my failures to Him, and get back up. The blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin, past present and future. When Jesus said on the cross “it is finished” He had completed what He came to earth to do – destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8)
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost – John 19:30
Because Jesus was perfect and took the debt of the sins of the entire world upon His own body, He made a way possible for sinful man to be reconciled to a Holy God. The decision we have to make is to believe what Jesus did for us, or reject Him believing that there is another way, like the false ways that Oprah Winfrey says there is. There is no other way to the Creator Father but through Jesus Christ.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me – John 14:6
For there isone God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus – 1 Timothy 2:57Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly – John 10:7-10
There are so many religions in this world today, and even our educational system is edging toward interfaith or eucumenism – where the belief is that God is the same for all religions, and this simply isn’t true. Christianity is completely different from every other works based religion, because we repent (change our mind) from trusting in our own works to merit heaven, and trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross. He is perfect, and we are not. Notice that Jesus says that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, and when churches and pastors are saying that we need to ‘turn from sin’ to get saved, they are adding works onto the simple gospel, therefore they are stealing salvation (the gift of eternal life) from others, and this is not the gospel of grace they preach.
The White Throne Judgement
Matthew 7:23 describes a judgement where Christ tells the people “I never knew you”. These were people who thought that they knew Christ because they did good works in His name. Read the scripture.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it – Matthew 7:13-14
The strait gate is Jesus Christ’s finished work. We must trust in Him and Him alone. Forget about trying to earn it. Salvation is a free gift from God. I was once beguiled into believing that this narrow way meant that I had to live a certain way, but I was caught up in works salvation and it is such a psychological mind attack. I was looking to myself, instead of what Christ had done for me. Sanctification or discipleship comes after salvation. We must come to Christ as we are. We can’t possibly turn from all sins (as some preachers teach) for salvation. It is not good news if we have to commit to work before believing on Christ.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them – Matthew 7:15-20
Have these false ‘repent of sin’ teachers completely turned away from sin? Are they looking to their own works to merit salvation, or what Christ has done for them? There is a huge difference. One forms the solid foundation, which is the rock of Christ (Matthew 7:24-25) for which we then build upon (created in Christ Jesus unto good works Ephesians 2:10), while the other is works based and a person is constantly wondering if they have done enough for Christ to merit salvation. Christ paid for all sin. The blood of Christ is the power unto eternal life, for those who believe.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Contrary to the common belief that preachers say about this scripture passage refers to those who are living in sin, notice who Christ is speaking to. These people believed in Christ, but what did they believe about Christ? Did they believe that He had died for them? They say to Christ, we have prophesied in thy name, cast out devils, and done many wonderful works, in thy name. However, Christ says that he never knew them. What can this possibly mean? They did not have the righteousness of Christ’s blood covering their sin. If they were believing in Christ plus works, then they never trusted in Christ alone and how can we please the father when do not believe His Holy Word. Christ died that horrible death for a reason, to set us free from the penalty of sin. Sin separates us all from a Holy God. Salvation is a free gift, there is absolutely nothing we can do, so rest assured that if you have believed in Christ as your saviour, you have the righteousness of Christ on your account. God no longer sees your sin. Jesus is making it very clear that the will of God is not to ‘repent of sin’, but to believe on Him, Jesus Christ. Read the Holy Bible and the will of God is made clear that a belief in Jesus Christ pleases the Father.
28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day –John 6:28-40
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance – Romans 11:29
KJV: of God [are] without repentance.
ametamelétos: not repented of
Original Word: ἀμεταμέλητος, ον
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: ametamelétos
Phonetic Spelling: (am-et-am-el’-ay-tos)
Definition: not repented of
Usage: not to be repented of, about which no change of mind can take place, not affected by change of mind.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him – John 14:21
And this is his commandment That we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment – 1 John 3:23
Believing on Christ saves us from the penalty of sin and gives us eternal life, and when we believe we get the gift of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the ability to love one another. Believe Christ and love others. These are the marks of a born again believer. Do not get beguiled by holier than thou preachers who say the will of God is for us to ‘repent’ of sin for salvation. It is God who repents the most in the Holy Bible, and I’ll write a post on this in the coming weeks. The word repent and repentance is clear in the King James Bible, but it is altered in the modern translations as there is an obvious agenda to make those translations a works-based gospel. God is not the author of confusion, but the devil surely is.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it – Matthew 7:24-27
Christ here is talking about Himself being the rock. He is salvation to those who believe the gospel, His death, burial and resurrection – his finished work on the Cross is power to eternal life for whose who believe Him. He is saying that those who hear his sayings and does them (the will of God whosoever believeth on the son may have everlasting life), is wise. These people were never trusting in their own works to merit eternal life, but trusting and placing their faith in the one who is perfect and Holy. Faith is putting our trust in someone or something that we cannot see, but we trust what they say is true, so placing our faith in Jesus Christ for something so important as getting to heaven, has huge importance and when we believe on Jesus Christ this pleases God the Father. We can rest in Christ knowing there is nothing that we can possibly do, because we are saved by grace.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them – Ephesians 2:8-10
After salvation, we are created unto good works (sanctification / discipleship) and this earns us rewards in heaven. But if we do works or don’t do works post salvation, this has no effect on salvation. The church at Corinth were babes in Christ, or carnal Christians. Paul laid the foundation to these brethren, which was Christ.
Paul describes that our works will be tested by fire.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire – 1 Corinthians 10:15
Christ is the foundation – the rock. What we build upon that rock after salvation, will reveal by fire, if our works are rewarded. The gold, silver and precious stones indicates that these were works done for Christ on earth that attained a reward, whereas the wood, hay, and stubble will easily burn. I may be incorrect in my view, but it’s worth thinking about.
So when ye fail God, get up and go to Him to confess our wrongdoing, which restores our fellowship with Him. Often we can feel too guilty to approach God, but Jesus is our mediator remember. He is our intercessor. He knows who is His. God knows our weaknesses, which is why He gave us the gift of such an Awesome Saviour in Jesus Christ – who took away every sin from everybody in this world.
