This is going to be a slightly longer post than 1 Minute, because this content is so very important for this atheist world. Many people are turned off God today because they have an automatic assumption that they need to stop doing this, or stop doing that, because that is what ‘religion’ teaches. God has made it clear in the Holy Bible that He loves us, but we are all guilty before him. He calls this sin, and Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life.
16 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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved – John 3:16-17
Did you read that rightly. Jesus came into the world not to condemn us, but to give salvation to those who would trust in Him. Salvation is a free gift that we receive through simple faith in Christ’s accomplished perfect work.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; – Hebrews 10:12
PRAISE THE LORD.
Ever noticed that the catholic mass is daily. They actually crucify Christ again and again on the cross through transubstantiation believing that it will pay for their sin, when Hebrews 10:11 makes it clear that the same daily sacrifices can never take away sins. Have they not grasped that Christ, the lamb of God, has paid for all sin on the cross? There is no such place as purgatory to pay for sin. We are all guilty. We all need the righteousness of God, and we receive that through faith in Christ. Catholicism is a religion of works that can never merit favour with God, because it rejects salvation by faith in Christ alone. Trust the word of God, not man’s traditions, even though it may sound right.
CANON 9: “If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.”
CANON 12: “If any one shall say that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in the divine mercy pardoning sins for Christ’s sake, or that it is that confidence alone by which we are justified…let him be accursed”
Canon 30: “If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him); let him be anathema.”
These are just a few of the examples of man made doctrines through the Canons of the Catholic faith. Mary is not a co-redeemer either.
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed – Luke 1:46-48
On the contrary, Paul declares that anyone who perverts the gospel of Christ is accursed.
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. – Galatians 1:6-10
Trust the Word of God, not catholic man made doctrine.
God warns us.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death – Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death – Proverbs 16:25
Have you ever mentioned “the bible” and “prayer” to someone, and they immediately say, “are you religious”?
Religion is man’s efforts to please God through human merit and Isaiah 64:6 makes it clear that our righteousnesses are as filthy rags before God. The world’s philosophies makes so much effort to clean up this world, but it can NEVER be a perfect peaceful world, because mankind is evil in the sight of God. Don’t judge me. Take it up with God, if this upsets you.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? – Matthew 7:11
Christianity is to accept God’s plan of salvation for mankind through the anointed one, Jesus Christ – Jehovah is salvation, through simple faith. Salvation is complete (John 19:30) and we need to receive this free gift of grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9) There is no other way to please God. Applying works to faith is not trusting in the accomplished work of Christ on the cross. Jesus plus nothing equals salvation.
This world has some very charming teachers, but if you look at their teachings, they either frontload the gospel with messages like you must clean up your life before you come to Christ, repent of your sin, give your life to Christ…the lists go on and on, or they backload the gospel by saying that you must show evidence of your salvation or you were never saved to begin with.
Scripture warns us of the false teachers of Satan, who have an outward appearance of righteousness, but notice that they are not saved, because they will be judged according to their works, and works cannot save. Matthew 7:22 addresses these teachers, who claim to speak for God.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works – 2 Corinthians 11-14-15
Notice that Jesus says that those who do the will of the Father will enter the Kingdom of heaven. What is the will of the Father?
And 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 6:40
Scripture tells is so simply, yet man complicates it with the additions of works works works. God wants all mankind saved.
who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth – 1 Timothy 2:4
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance – 2 Peter 3:9
Instead of encouraging you to rest in the wonderful salvation that Jesus Christ has provided, they push people into bondage and their eyes turn from Christ back onto themselves and their ‘works’. The truth is that we are all guilty in the eyes of God, and only Jesus is our hope. John 3:36 makes it clear that he who has believed on the son has everlasting life, and he who rejects Jesus is under the wrath of God. John 3:18 is a similar verse.
It’s so saddening how corrupt the gospel message has become by people who are just looking to themselves, and teaching others that they must also do works to please God. They do not rightly divide salvation (God’s work for us through His Son) from sanctification or discipleship. However, we can all receive the gift of God by putting our faith in that fact that Jesus paid for our sin, he was buried, and rose from the grace three days later. This is the simplicity of the gospel, because we have a sinful nature that can never pay for sin through good works. To go to heaven we must be perfect, and only Christ was the sinless lamb of God that took away the sin of the world. We need HIS righteousness.
We are constantly encouraged by Paul to walk in the Spirit, but we have two natures as believers. The old sinful nature does not go away, even though we now have the righteousness of God imputed to our account upon our faith in Jesus. Man has only the outward actions to ponder upon, but this is not evidence of salvation. God searches the heart. God saves whosoever trust in the only begotten son of God, Jesus (Jehovah is salvation) Christ (the messiah or anointed one).
There are a ton of religious folk ready to point the finger if you are not living right, but they have no real understanding of sin and its seriousness in the eyes of God. This is why the Word (Jesus) has to come in the flesh (John 1:14) to pay for all sin, once for all. We can never keep the law. The old testament law was given to show us our need for a saviour (Galatians 3:23). Very few churches teach salvation by grace in the world today. I certainly can’t find one in the UK. They either frontload or backload the gospel with added works, stealing the glory from off of Christ’s finished work. The agony that He went through to die for our sins, and most people just reject God’s grace and call it cheap grace or easy believism. What absolute disrespect toward our Heavenly creator. I doubt that they even know that they are preaching an accursed gospel, because churches piggyback onto the doctrines of other men, instead of the inspired Word of God, which teaches we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ. Believe or trust is a very important word in the Holy Bible, which is why Christ emphasised it 85 times in the Gospel of John.
None of us deserve eternal life, but by God’s amazing grace and love toward mankind, He provided a way of salvation through Jesus Christ. Growing in grace manifests forth the fruits spoken of in Galatians 5:22-23. Works are not a requirement for eternal life, nor do works keep a person saved after they have trusted Christ as Saviour. Good works (Ephesians 2:10) earn us rewards in heaven, but they have no part to play in salvation. God seals us by His Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13.
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 3:10-15
The greatest love is to share the good news with others that Jesus died for our sins, he was buried, and resurrected three days later. Jesus says that whosoever believeth in Him hath everlasting life – John 6:47. The Bible teaches eternal life (security) over and over.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God – 1 John 5:13
Did Paul and Silus complicate the truth of salvation when the Phillippean jailer asked “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” in Acts 16:30?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house – Acts 16:31
Why do human beings, in an effort to be ‘men of God’ disbelieve God’s amazing grace through simple faith in Christ’s finished work and introduce works on top of grace. The Holy Bible is clear.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work – Romans 11:6
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 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 3:4-8
As believers, it is up to us to defend the clear gospel from the addition of any works, and glorify Christ. Salvation is a gift of God, through faith in Christ, and service to God or discipleship is separate and will earn us rewards in the next life, but once we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to lose salvation because God seals us. Jesus told us in Matthew 7 :13-14 that the way is strait and narrow, because the only way to heaven is through Him (John 14:6).
For the gifts and callings of God are without repentance – Romans 11:29
This particular repentance translates as Greek 278, ametamelétos
Usage: not to be repented of, about which no change of mind can take place, not affected by change of mind.
Do you think that God would lie to us about eternal life? IMPOSSIBLE.
in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; – Titus 1:2
However, man is fallible and the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9) and can add to God’s plan of salvation by making it appear holy and righteous to others.
Read the Holy Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the scriptures and let God fill you with His peace.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth – 2 Timothy 2:15
We are in a day and age when preaching the plan of salvation through Christ alone can be seen as hate speech. To say that only Jesus can save mankind is offensive to those who trust in their own religion of self-trusting works, but nevertheless, this is what God says. Evolution is man’s philosophy and it is anti-christ. To trust in evolution over creation is to reject God’s amazing grace, and God calls these people fools.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good – Psalm 14:1
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good – Psalm 53:1
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God – 1 Corinthians 1:18
Man has complicated Christianity into a religion of something that we believe we need to do for God to accept us, but God has made the plan of salvation possible to everyone when we trust that Jesus Christ paid for our sin. God has made salvation so easy for a child to believe, and we receive salvation with childlike faith. In that moment of belief, we are born again with the Holy Spirit (sinless nature) and the blood of Christ atones us (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14 – notice that the NIV takes out the blood). Rest in the complete work of Christ and instead serve God out of gratitude, telling others of God’s mighty love for us in sending His son to die for our sins. In Him we are complete and no one can take salvation from us, because it is not through our works, but the finished work of Christ.
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