Scripture References: Matthew 1:21
In the world today there are a multiplied millions of people that claim to be saved, but they are totally void of what it means to be saved. To ask the average confessing Christian as to what they are saved from they will tell you they are saved from the penalty of sin as they continue right on in sin and rebellion against God. They know they still live in and commit sin and confess to it, but they think that the penalty for their sins they continue to commit has already been paid for by the death of Christ on the cross. They have been erroneously led to believe that Christ’s death on the cross automatically paid the penalty for all their sins as long as they live even as they confess to be saved and or born again. What they are totally ignorant of is that Christ’s death only paid the penalty for all sins of the past, and not the sins of the present, and the future. Listen to what the apostle Paul says about this as recorded in Romans 3:25 that says, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Paul is clearly revealing here that it’s only the sins of the past that Christ’s death paid the penalty for.
Notice that Paul reveals that God demands “his righteousness” for the remission of past sins, which means that God demands that we are not to continue on in sin after being forgiven of all our past sins. We must submit to Gods righteousness and not to continue on in sin like millions of people have been led to believe. They believe that Christ’s death paid the penalty for all sins of the past, the present, and the future, but this is not what Gods word teaches. Christ’s death only paid the penalty for sins of the past, and then we must submit to Gods righteousness and not to continue on in sin. The apostle Peter also proves this in what he tells us in I Peter 4:1-2 that says, “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” Do you not hear Peter saying we are to cease from sin and no longer live the rest of our time, or the rest of our life in the flesh to the lust of men, but to the will of God? Notice that Peter tells us that Christ suffered for us in the flesh and we too must suffer in the flesh and cease from sin. To cease from sin simply means not to continue to fulfill the lusts and desires of the flesh, but to submit to Gods righteousness. Since most confessing Christians don’t submit to Gods word and obey it, then it’s an evident fact that they either don’t want to keep his word or else they cannot keep and obey his. Nobody can obey Gods word without possessing Christ in their heart and this is why most people do not obey Gods word.
Jesus himself tells us these words as stated in John 15:5 that says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Since ninety some percent of confessing Christians do not obey and keep Gods word, then it should be clear to see that they are void of Christ and can do absolutely nothing to keep and obey his word. Most of them will of course deny this and go right on their deceived way and end up in the lake of fire to suffer the consequences of the second death. It’s truly amazing how so many people flat out deny what Gods word says and continue on in sin even as they confess to know Christ as Lord and Savior of their life. The Pharisee’s were guilty of the same thing when Jesus confronted them with the truth of Gods word. We are told these words spoken by Jesus as he confronted the Pharisees about Gods word. He said these words stated in John 8;39-44 that says, “They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
These Pharisee hypocrites claimed to be of God, but they did not believe what Jesus was telling them and certainly they would not obey him, and this is true with most confessing Christians today. They say they know him, but they deny the power of God as Paul says in II Timothy 3:5 that says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” To deny the power thereof means they were denying Gods power in their life as they were still in sin and rebellion against God even though they were claiming to be born of God. Is this not yet true today with more then ninety percent of confessing Christians today that claim to be born of God and yet live in sin and rebellion against him? They deny that born again children of God do not and further more cannot commit sin, but Gods word clearly tells us in I John 3:9 these very words saying, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” Do they accept and believe what the apostle John says here about sin? No, they do not, but yet they confess to be born again and go right on their deceived way living in open sin and rebellion against God. This is about as hypocritical as a person can get, but it does not bother them at all as they continue to deny what Gods word says> They can do this simply because their conscience has been seared with a hot iron that causes them to speak lies in hypocrisy, as Paul says in I Timothy 4:1-2 that says, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” To “depart from the faith” means to turn away from the faith that comes by hearing, believing, and obeying Gods word. They turn away their ears from the truth and they give heed to the many false and misleading doctrines of devils that are so rampant in the land today. The apostle Paul tells us this in 2 Timothy 4:1- 4 that says, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” The holy Bible is the true source of truth, but instead of people placing their faith and trust in the Bible itself, they give heed to the many preachers that claim to be ministers of God thinking they are preaching the truth of Gods word. Putting your trust in what man says causes you to put your trust in the arm of flesh instead of Gods word. The prophet Jeremiah tells us these words stated in Jeremiah 17:5 that says, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Many place their trust in the arm of flesh thinking and believing they are following Christ through their teachings, but doing this without making sure it’s truth causes them to put their trust in who they listen to and not in Gods word of the Bible. God of course chose the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe, as I Corinthians 1:21 says, but if you accept what a preacher says without knowing for sure it is Gods word, then you are placing your trust in the arm of flesh and not God.
Jesus warned us time and time again about the many false prophets that would rise and deceive many, but most has not taken this warning serious enough and end up being deceived without knowing it. Just because a man may claim to be a minister called of God, this does not prove that God has called him. This is why we hear the apostle Peter telling us these words stated in II Peter 1:10 that says, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” Most people fail to realize that Satan’s ministers are preaching false doctrines and they will deceive millions of people without them realizing it. There are two different ways that will be preached concerning Gods word. Jesus tells us these words stated in Matthew 7:13-14 that says, “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: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” The strait and narrow way will not be accepted as the truth of the matter, because this way is called the “way of holiness” and we are to be holy even as God is holy. The multiplied millions of people that claim to be born again today, as well as in times past, absolutely do not live a holy and godly life as we are commanded to do. They still confess to be sinners living in open sin and rebellion against God thinking that Gods grace covers their sin and he does not see them. They believe this, because they have been deceived into believing that Christ’s death on the cross paid the penalty for all their sins as long as they live, even as they confess to be born of God. They have been deceived by the many false prophets that Jesus said world rise as stated in Matthew 24:11 that says, “ And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Most people will accept and believe what today’s many preachers are proclaiming without knowing it’s truth or not. What about you? Did you go off to some denominational church and accepted what was being taught there without knowing for sure it was the truth of Gods word? Ninety nine percent (more or less) of confessing Christians joined some church accepting what was being taught there without knowing it was truth or not. This is why the wise preacher said these words as stated in Proverbs 14:15 that says, “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” Yes the simple carnal minded person will believe anything but truth, but the prudent looks well to their going and will not believe everything they hear and everything they see without ample proof of it being true or not. “He that has an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” Amen