Eternal Salvation - Once Saved, Always Saved?

Chapter one

Eternal Salvation. Does this mean once saved always saved? I have come across this belief many times during my ministry. This is a very serious issue. If we believe, we are saved. But, the walk we are walking does not reflect that of a Christian, then something is wrong.

Some would say these would be the ones that were never saved to begin with. In many cases I believe this is true.

Many times I’ve witnessed men come forward to a salvation call and recite a repeat after me prayer. including Rom. 10:9,10. The next service there they were again, repeating the same prayer. I believe we need to repent each and every time we fall short and sin, but first of all we need to ACCEPT Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Rom. 10:10 says; For with the heart man Believeth unto righteousness and with the Mouth Confession is made into Salva­tion.

We speak out of our mouth what we have Accepted in our hearts, that we are sorry for our sins, and we do Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died and shed His Blood to cover our sin; that we no longer are under sin because we have been washed clean by the Blood of Jesus Christ. A new creature in Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away and behold all things have become new. Psalm 103:12: As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

We are a newborn babe in Christ upon Acceptance of Jesus Christ.

Then in 1 Peter 2:2: As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby.

Unfortunately, many new converts do not continue to get into the Word of God. So many times we sit back and listen to a preacher without going to the Word of God for ourselves. 1 Peter 2:2 says Desire the sincere milk of the Word to GROW thereby. You may ask, Why am I saying this?

Because the Word of God is our Meat. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have also received the Holy Spirit with us to lead us closer and closer and closer revealing the Word of God to us, opening our understanding to receive the Truth from God, revealed by the Spirit of God. For all things are by the Spirit of God.

Zechariah 4:6 Latter part says, Not by Might, nor by Power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.

The Word of God proclaims in John 6:44 that we cannot come to Jesus unless the Father draws us.

How does God draw us? By His Spirit. So therefore while we are in sin the Spirit of God speaks to our inner man, spirit.

Gen. 2:7 says God breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life; and man became a living Soul. The Spirit of God speaks to our soul and says Come! Come! Come to Me and have Rest, and Life Everlasting.

The Spirit reveals John 3:16 to us. For God so Loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that Whosoever Believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting Life.

So we step forward lead by the Spirit of God and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord. Not by works of any kind; by the Grace of God are we saved.

We could not have been saved if we would not have listened to the Spirit of God and come and repented of our sin, Here is obedience required for salvation. After Hearing; obeying. Are we paying in some way for our salvation by obeying the Spirit of God, and stepping out in Faith and accepting Jesus Christ? No, this is not by works, this is by faith. Rom. 10:17: So then Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

  You might say, well, this is talking about reading the Bible. Yes, I agree it is, or hearing. Now, let's look at II Cor. 3:6: The letter killeth, but the Spirit gives life. Also Eph. 6:17, the latter part: And the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. While we are reading the bible, listening to a preacher, teacher or evangelist, we hear what is being said with our ears and mind and then we go about our' business of the day or night. But, when the letter is accompanied by the Spirit of God, then the Word of God is alive for us to receive in our hearts, our soul and our spirit has understanding. At that point we are growing closer, as long as we are wanting to grow, for the Word clearly states in Mat. 5:6: Blessed are they which do Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness: for they Shall be Filled..

For there is a Teacher' we must listen to!  I repeat, we must listen to the Teacher! Who is that Teacher? The Spirit of God is that Teacher.

Jesus says in John 14:16: And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Jesus is speaking of the Spirit of God.. This is our Teacher, Guide, our Comforter, and our Counselor.

In John 17, Jesus prays for Himself to the Father and then for the disciples and then for all of us. In verse 20: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their Word; that they All may be One: As Thou, Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be One in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me, And the Glory which Thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be One, even as We are One: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in One: and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me,and hast Loved them, as Thou hast Loved Me. This should be our desire as a Christian. To be One in God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost and us in the midst.

In John 17, the Word clearly states that this is our Lord's desire for us. How can this be done? By the leading of the Spirit of God, we must learn to Yield to the Spirit by prayer, praying and more praying, reading the Word of God; this is our Food. With His Spirit with us leading us closer and closer. A continual coming is a must to receive the fullness of God. Many scriptures bear this out, such as Luke 11:9: And I say unto you, Ask, and it Shall be given you; Seek, and ye Shall find; Knock, and it Shall be opened unto you. Verse 13 says: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?

The Holy Ghost is given for all of us to be filled with. As the Bible states in Acts 2:38,39: the latter half of verse 38: Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. THAT'S EVERYBODY.

Some of you might say, at this point; Boy, has he got off the track; this is supposed to be about eternal salvation. Well, I haven’t gotten off track. In Rom. 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. So, if  we are not being led by the Spirit of God, we must be headed for trouble. And if we reject the Spirit of God totally, we are definitely headed down hill.

  Some people preach that we do not need to be filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. They even say that this was only for the apostleistic age, and not for us.

Let’s talk a little bit about speaking in tongues. There are different types of tongues. A Spirit filled person speaking through the Spirit to God in the unknown tongue: This is for edification; a prayer from the Holy Spirit within you to God, for you.. Also, when laying hands on someone to pray for them, and it is not known by you what to pray, we therefore, let the Spirit make intercession through us for them.

Then, there is the gift of tongues. During the church service, the  Holy Spirit can move on someone to speak in tongues. After this utterance is given, then an interpretation of what was said is given, or should be given.

Let's look at I Cor. 14:18-21 : I thank my God I speak with tongues more than ye all: yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the Law it is written: with men of other tongues and with other lips will I Speak unto this people: and yet for all that will they not hear me saith the Lord.

I Cor. 14:39: Wherefore, Brethren, covet to Prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.

Great emphasis has to be put on the importance of receiving the Holy Ghost and Fire. If He was not important to our Salvation walk, why did Jesus tell the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until you be endued with Power from upon High?

Luke 24:29 and Acts 1:4,5_ It says in Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive Power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. Then also in Mark 16:15-20: These signs shall follow them that believe…

So many scriptures bring out the need to receive the fullness of Lord.

1 John 5:5-8 : Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is Truth. For there are three who bear record in Heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: And there are three are one. And there are three who bear witness in earth: The Spirit, the Water and the Blood: and these three agree in One.

  Mat. 28:19 : Go ye therefore and Teach all nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

  Mat. 3:11 – 17: I indeed baptize you with water unto Repentance: But He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and Fire.

Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner: but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be Baptized of him, but John forbade Him, saying; I have need to be Baptized of Thee and comest Thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now; For thus it becometh us to Fulfill all Righteousness.. Then he suffered Him.. And Jesus, when He was Baptized, went straightway out of the Water: and lo the Heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from Heaven saying, this is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.          

Here in Mat. 28:15, Jesus said, suffer it to be so to fulfill all righteousness, and 1 John 5:8. it said the Spirit, the Water and the Blood, and these Three agree in One..

First of all, we must be washed in the Blood of the Lamb. Mat. 9:17: Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put New Wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

So the Spirit of God cannot fill you until you are clean and new, having received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Acts 8:14-17 : Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as of yet He had was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

  Verse 14 states: The people of Samaria had received the Word of God. Verse 16 states: They had already accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and was baptized in water, but as of yet, they had not received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then in verse 17, Peter and John prayed and layed hands on them that they might receive, and they received. Also in Corinth in Acts 19:2, He said unto them: Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him: We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

In verse 6: By the laying on of hands they received the Holy Ghost after receiving Jesus as Lord.

Do we have to have the laying on of hands? Jesus is the one that baptizes us in the Holy Ghost.

Many people will testify that they were alone praying and seeking God when they were filled. Others were filled singing in the choir, or in bed waking up speaking in tongues others down at the altar in church through many tears. I personally sought for two years before I received; some longer periods; some received the same night they were saved.

Some say they don’t need to be filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues because they received the Holy Spirit upon salvation. Well, as we just read in Acts 8:14-17, it clearly states that they had accepted Jesus, but they had not been filled with the Spirit yet.

Let’s look at Mat. 12:43-45: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places seeking rest and findeth none, Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out: and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that men is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation, .

Then, after listening to the Spirit and responding, we come forward to accept Jesus. 1 Cor. 12:13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

So, we are drawn by the Spirit, we are baptized in the Blood, Spiritually, inwardly by the Spirit, and then led by the Spirit into all Truth, into that place where the Spirit of God can enter in and dwell with-in us.

In John 14:23, Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love Me, he will keep My Words: and My Father will Love him, and We will come unto him, and make our Abode with him.

John 14:17-20: Latter part of verse 7 says: For He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you, I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you, Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more: but ye see Me: because I leave, ye shall live also.

At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.

At that day. At what day? When we are filled with the Spirit of God.  

How do I receive? By believing that He is for you, He makes Jesus real to us.

John 16:13: Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all Truth: For He shall not speak of Himself: but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things o come, He shall Glorify Me: For He shall receive of Mine and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: Therefore said I, that He shall take of mine, and shew it unto you, But, how do I receive? By coming to God with all of our Heart, by yielding ourselves into total surrendering to Jesus. Just say, I love you, Jesus over and over. Then start praising the Lord, giving praise to His Glorious Name.

Then when He begins to move on us, we yield to Him and let Him Speak through us when He tries when our Heart is right, He will come. When He tries to Speak through us, we yield to him and let Him Speak through us. When He tries to Speak, don’t hold back, SPEAK and He will take control. It’s a Glorious experience" This is That" This is That which was spoken by the Prophet Joel:

Acts 2:16-18: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall Prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on My handmaidens I WILL pour out in those days of My Spirit: And they shall Prophesy:

There was one man that stood up in front of me and said very loudly, that he did not need the Baptism in the Holy Ghost to go to Heaven.

You may agree with this statement. I believe that a person that has been Saved and is seeking to be Filled with the Holy Spirit will not be left behind, I don't know if, right before the Rapture, each one will be Filled, or how that will take place, but I do know that our God is a Just, and a Loving God. He wants to put His spirit in us, more that we can understand.

In 2 Cor. 6:16: For ye are the Temple of the Living God: As God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

As God walked in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day, He had that Communion with Adam and Eve, for they had a Relationship one with the other, until sin entered the picture. This relationship of this close Communion is reinstated through Christ Jesus. Jesus, the Living Son of God has paid the debt that we could never pay. God gave all for us, Jesus gave His all for us" The Holy Spirit of God is here NOW" Ready to Fill us up, but before He can, we have to give all of us to God, not some of us, but ALL of us, Before Jesus can Fill us, we have to be totally surrendered to Him.

I did not say we had to have our lives in perfect shape, with no addictions. This is one of the biggest mistakes that is made. It's not by getting good enough. None of us would ever qualify. We come to Jesus with all of our troubles, but, with those troubles, a Heart that wants the Infilling of His Spirit more than anything else in the whole world, when we get to THAT stage, that's when He will come in.

Let's look at Deut. 11:13-14: And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my Commandments which I command you this day, to Love the Lord your God, and to serve Him with All your Heart and with All your Soul, that I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

  Let's now look at Deut. 29:12-15: That thou shouldest enter into Covenant with the Lord thy God, and into His oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day: That He may establish thee today for a people unto Himself, and that He may be unto thee a God, as He hath said unto thee, and as He hath sworn unto thy Fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

  Neither with you only do I make this Covenant and this oath: but with Him that standeth here with us this day before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day.

  Now let's look at Jer. 32:38-41: And they shall be My people and I will be their God: And I will give them one Heart and. one way that they may fear Me for ever, For the good of them, and of their children after them:

And I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me.

Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant in this land assuredly with My Whole Heart and with My Whole Soul.

God has done His all for us. We need to and must give our all to Him.

CHAPTER TWO

Let’s look at Romans 11:16-23. For if the first fruit be Holy, the lump is also Holy: and if the root be Holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But, if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.. Thou wilt say then, the branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

Well; because of unbelief, they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which  fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness. If thou continue in His goodness; otherwise thou also shall be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

There is definitely a walk to walk for the Christian. Let’s look at the word Saved. In the Webster’s New Collegiate dictionary it says: To deliver from sin. This is a Greek word: Sozo- save, keep safe, preserve, rescue, make well. We often tell others we are saved. We use the word saved. We are saying we are the children of God, purified by the Blood of Jesus, brought out of the captivity of sin, delivered from sin, freed from sin, saved from sin.

Is this the end? No, it is the beginning. Let’s look at Acts 27:31. Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.  This verse tells the truth of our walk with Jesus.

In Exodus chapter 12 tells about the Passover. Let’s look at Exodus 12: 22-24. And ye shall take e a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the Blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the Blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He seeth the Blood upon the lintel, and upon the two side posts, the Lord wi11 pass over the door, and wi11 not suffer the Destroyer to come in unto your house to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever.

Here the Blood of the Lamb that was without Blemish was applied; As the Blood of Jesus is applied to us this day, that cleansing, purifying flow washes away all sin that was present before. Now we are Clean, Renewed, Forgiven and Accepted by God, as one of His. For He doesn't look at us, He sees the Blood of Jesus that has been applied; that we've accepted through Faith. Was this the end? Is this the end? A lot of people say that this point is the end. We are a new babe in Christ Jesus at this point. Now it is the time to start growing.

The Blood of the Lamb has been applied, now let's start partaking of that Lamb. All of that Lamb, to not let any go to waste, but take within us all that we can hold, All the Word of God, All the Spirit of God to be completely filled Up, with the Spirit of Christ.

It says in 1 Cor. 11:24: Take, eat: This is my Body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. Read John 6:26-68.

Now let's look at John 7:37-39. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying: if any man thirst, let him cone unto Me, and Drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

In John chapter 4; Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman, and asked her to give Him some of the water she had drawn and the woman said; How is it that thou, being a Jew askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, and in verse 10, Jesus answered and said unto her: If thou knewest: the gift of God, and who it is that sayeth to thee, give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee Living Water. In verse 13 Jesus answered and said unto her: Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the Water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Many scriptures bear out many names for the same Spirit, Mighty Holy Ghost Power of God.

so ignorant? Because of unbelief. You might say that this talk is too rough. In Acts 7:51 Stephen told the truth: Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did, so do ye. Now this is a hard and true statement. The most dangerous person that I can see is one that does not believe in the Power of God, and teaching that the Holy Ghost does not speak through Spirit filled' Christians, and even go as far to say that it is of the devil.

This is a dangerous person, but it doesn't stop there. They even say that by laying on of hands to receive healing is not for today. What does Mark 16:15-20 and John 14:12 and James 5:14,15 say? Plus, many other scriptures, but still they are refused as truth.

Matt. 7:15 says that there will be wolves in sheep’s clothing. Beware! Jesus said.

The experience of Acts 2:4.is alive today because we serve a living God, a living Son of God: Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and He, the living "Power", The mighty Spirit of God, that is still manifesting the Glory of Almighty God through those that come with all of their heart, believing the Living Word of God.

CHAPTER THREE

Once again let's address the question, once saved always saved. Lets turn to Rev. chap. 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him' hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. "to him that overcometh".

Lets look at Rev. chap. 3:3-6 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast, and "Repent", if therefore thou, shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt' not know what hour I will come upon thee. ­

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

He that "overcometh", the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, But I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angles. Then it goes on and says in verse 6 he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Who are the churches? We are the churches. in Rev.3:5 it reads and I will not blot out his name out of the book of Life, "THEY THAT OVERCOMETH".

How do we have our names written in the Lambs book of Life?

By asking Jesus in our Heart, becoming a Christian. Once _becoming a Christian our name is written in the Lambs book of Life. We are clean, ready to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

So did God send His Son to Die on the Cross and shed His Blood f or us, to just cast us away when we come to Him? "No, of course not. When the Spirit of God touched our hearts and souls to let us know that we need a Saviour, and that Saviour is Christ Jesus, and we listened to the Spirit, and stepped forward by faith and accepted Jesus the living Son of God in our hearts, and made a commitment to live for Him. The Spirit of God is drawing us, strengthening us, and giving us that mighty "HUNGER" to have more of Him, that "DRIVE TO OVERCOME" temptations that Satan hurls at us, trying to tell us: we are not forgiven, never was forgiven, But we get in the Word of God, and stand on the WORD, like Rom. 10:9,10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved, for with the heart man believeth unto Righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.

So when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour we are clean as clean can be. Then we start the walk of a Christian toward the prize set before us. 1 Cor. 9:24 know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

We run the race in "Faith" Standing on the word of God. Being led by the Spirit of God. Having done all to stand as Eph. 6:11-19 states. Putting on the whole armour of God.

Sometimes its as though we are going through a desert, Our prayers seems to bounce off some kind of wall or barrier that has been put between us and God, but we walk by Faith, not by sight, not by feeling, but standing upon the promises of God. Jesus said, I will never leave you or forsake you. God hears our prayers, we may not receive the blessings every time like we have felt so many times in the past, but we hang in there and the blessings will return.

Lets look at Heb. 12:1-10 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed bout with so great a cloud of witness, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doeth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Ye have not yet resisted unto Blood, striving against sin.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation, which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you, as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave to them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of Spirits, and Live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His Holiness.

Lets look at Rev. 3:11,12 Behold, I come quickly; Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

We have a very special place waiting for us; the Lord is preparing for- us. In John 14:1-3, Let not your heart be troubled: Ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am there ye may be also. There is a wonderful old gospel hymn called Mansion over the Hilltop.

Giving our Heart to Jesus and living for Him we've got the promise of life eternal with our Lord and Saviour.

Now lets look at Gal. 4:1-9 Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be Lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the Father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the Fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of Sons. And because ye are Sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a Son; and if a Son, then an Heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto him which by nature are no gods. But now after that ye have known God, or rather known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

As a child, we are automatically born with the nature of sin, because of what Adam did. As we get older and are sent to school, and are taught the things of this world, we receive the knowledge of this world by seeing and hearing the television, newspaper, and radio, as a child playing with other children the games of this world are played, the communication is of this world, we go to work and all we hear are the things of this world, the games" the, politics, the greed, the lust, the drive to succeed in this world. All things being based on science, and the human knowledge. Then one day we hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God opens our eyes, that were only in this world for a short time, now our eyes are being opened for the first time to the real truth, that no matter what we do, if we do not accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are lost. So we step out on that unknown ground and ask Jesus Christ in our hearts, just like Peter when he stepped out of that boat on the water when Jesus said, "COME".

Now we have hold of the hand of Jesus, being led to that closer walk. No longer those things that once drew interest, interest us no longer, we are led to the Bible, the Word of God, and our eyes are seeing the true Word of God, for the first time. We are like a new babe, not knowing the Word of God, but having a HUNGER to know everything there is to know, because we are no longer a child of this world, but a child of God Almighty and we have an older Brother that loves us, so much, if anybody or anything comes at us we just call on His Name, "Jesus, Jesus" help me, and He is there, anytime we call, He is there.

Sometimes it seems to be a very lonely walk, because the world does not understand what has really 'happened to us. They know about religion, but what we have received is NOT religion, but Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

A personal walk with Jesus, not some letter out of a book, but a real personal "touch", "We know, Him", and we are known of Him, because Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, When we pray, Jesus is interceding, on our behalf, the Holy Spirit of God is here, showing us how to live through the Bible, and in our hearts helping us to pray as we should, humbling our hearts, to be in full reverence when we pray, that our prayers will be heard and answered," We have a lot of help, and don’t really realize it. We must humble ourselves, to put the want and desire of this world down, that we can, and will experience, a closer relationship with God, in our new Family.

It takes perseverance, a made up mind, sold out completely to God, we cannot walk halfway with God.

Lets look again at Rev.3:12

Him that over cometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God. And Rev. 3: 15-22: I know thy works, that thou art neither 'cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of my Gold tried in the Fire, that thou mayest be rich: and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; And anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: Be zealous therefore, and repent.

Behold I stand at the door, and knock; If any man hear my voice, at the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

To him that overcometh will I grant to set with Me in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His Throne.

He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

1 Cor. 6:19 What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and you are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your Spirit, which are Gods.

1 Cor. 3:9 For we are labourers together with God; Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's Building.

1 Cor. 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God Dwelleth in you? If any man defile the Temple of God, Him shall God Destroy; For the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple ye are.

Heb. 5:9 And being made perfect, He (Jesus) became the Author of Eternal Salvation unto All them-THAT OBEY HIM.

1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; But he that DOETH THE WILL OF GOD abideth forever.

2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. They are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them.

But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the son that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

I know some preach and teach a true Christian cannot backslide. This is a good message for someone that does not want to make a commitment to serve the Lord. Because if a commitment is made there will have to be a change in life style.

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