Once saved always saved? Part 4
Those who don’t love others have no eternal life
The great commandments that Jesus gave us was to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love one another as He has loved us. Jesus was very serious when He gave us this commandment, and it is repeated throughout scripture.
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:36-40
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:34
Jesus didn’t stop there. He gave a serious warning against those who refuse to walk in these commands:
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 25:41-46
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets… 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.
Matthew 7:12, 21
The Bible even tells us that those who fail to love their brother is a murderer and has no eternal life abiding in him:
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:14-15
Our faith in Christ, needs to work itself out through love for one another.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 5:6
What if our faith does not worketh by love? Then it is dead and worthless.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:26
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.
1 Thessalonians 1:3
We are expected to bear fruit
What kind of fruit? Fruit unto maturity in Christ. We are not to stay babes in Christ, but to grow and mature into their relationship with Christ:
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection [maturity]. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke 8:11-15
Now before you fall into condemnation, let me point out that fruit does not mature instantly, but it’s a growing process. We will not become perfect overnight, but we are to grow and seek maturity in our relationship with Christ.
What happens to those who do not produce fruit or mature in the kingdom? They are cut down, removed, and cast into the fire:
He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Luke 13:6-9
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman [gardener]. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit… If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15:1-2,6
Yes, we are supposed to produce fruit. If our faith and trust in Christ is genuine, our lives will begin to reflect our faith and produce a lifestyle of righteousness and good deeds. It is not by good deeds that we are saved, but if our faith is genuine, then righteousness will be a fruit or result of our faith in Christ.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:17-26
Our faith in Christ needs to yield fruit of maturity and a righteous (Godly) lifestyle. The Holy Spirit has been speaking to me lately on living a holy and Godly life. God’s Word tells us that without holiness, no man shall see the Lord:
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14
For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.
Ephesians 5:9
Forgiveness of sins & salvation
Jesus made it very clear that it is not a good thing to die in your sins. The whole idea of coming to Jesus and receiving eternal life is so that our sins can be forgiven. The wages of our sin is death, which is why we must have our sins forgiven before we leave this earth. In other words, I believe it is very important that we do not die without our sins being forgiven.
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 8:24
The Bible is clear that the purpose of Christ shedding His blood for the remission of our sins, is so that we might be saved and enjoy eternal life with Him. We could never pay the price for our sin, as it carries the death penalty (see Romans 6:32). If a person dies without their sins forgiven, and still goes to heaven, then I guess their sins didn’t carry the death penalty; that simply does not line up with scripture! Would we dare say that if somebody lived a really godly lifestyle, that they could go to heaven because they didn’t do anything worthy of death? Absolutely not! Then why do we think that once we’re saved, that our sins are no longer bad enough to be worthy of death? That doesn’t make any sense. The Bible is clear that the wages of sin is death, or eternal separation from God, and Christ was sent to forgive us that debt so that we could be saved:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.
Luke 1:77
Is it possible for a follower of Christ to not have their sins forgiven? Yes, there is. Whenever we fail to forgive another person who has wronged us, we put up a blockage which prevents God from forgiving our own sins.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15
There is a really dynamic book entitled Bait of Satan by John Bevere, and in it he tells of how this one man died, went to heaven, looked over into hell and saw his mother in law; the man ran up to Jesus and asked what she was doing in hell, as she was a beautiful church-going woman who loved the Lord and has accepted Jesus as her Lord and savior! Jesus replied that she held unforgiveness in her heart and it kept Him from forgiving her sins. Friends, this is serious! If you are not free from unforgiveness, then you have no eternal life abiding in you. The Bible comes right out and states this crystal clear:
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:14-15
What does that passage say? There is no eternal life abiding in the man who fails to love and forgive those who wrong him.
God’s Word is clear that love and forgiveness are in the same family. Those who love others will be forgiving as Christ has been forgiving towards us.
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Proverbs 10:12
You need to be forgiven of your sins!
If you die without your sins forgiven, then you will be left to pay the wages or punishment for yours sin, which is death. If you are unforgiving towards others, then you’re going to stand before the Lord and your sins will still be upon you; you’ll be faced with having to pay for the wages of sin yourself.
The good news is that if we walk in the light (which includes loving / forgiving one another), as the scripture says, then the Blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from our sins, therefore giving us grace to grow in Christ without constant fear of loss of salvation. Consider this powerful passage in scripture:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
I don’t see why there would be any need to fear loss of salvation, unless we are holding something in our heart against somebody. I believe that God wants us to be confident in our salvation, and rejoice in the joy of His salvation!
Where do we find that the wages for our “unforgiven sins” (as a result of our unforgiveness) is any less than death? That would practically undermine the whole point of Jesus DYING so that our sins could be paid for! Is it possible that we are discounting the seriousness of sin? Adam never murdered anybody, but rather took a bite out of a piece of fruit that God told him not to eat of, and the effect it had on mankind has been devastating. It is through sin that spiritual death entered the world, and it is by the forgiveness of sin that our relationship with God (eternal life) is restored!
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Romans 5:17-18
The Bible is clear that it is through the forgiveness of sins that we obtain salvation:
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.
Luke 1:77
If sin comes with a price tag of death (see Romans 6:23), then somehow it has to be paid for. Either it is paid for by the Blood of Christ, or the person them-self pays for it eternally. Sin does not enter heaven, nor does the Bible say that we have an opportunity to “make it right” or “earn our forgiveness” after we die.
The road to life is strait and narrow
The Holy Spirit showed me who makes the way difficult, and it is definitely not God! It is the devil and all his lies, deception, temptations, lure of pride, strongholds, and unclean spirits that are constantly trying to pull us away from the path to life!
A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke 8:5-15
If we continue reading through verse 21, it goes on to tell us that he who bears fruit comes to the light and are those who hear the Word of God and do it:
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Luke 8:15-21
I believe that the souls of millions are slipping right into hell because they are not being taught the importance of loving others. I would far rather warn the body of Christ about this and be wrong, than to not warn them and be right. I cannot bear to see souls in hell because they were never told the importance of forgiving. The person in John Bevere’s book who witnessed somebody being in hell because of unforgiveness is a wakeup call to me. Either it was a complete made up story (which I highly doubt, coming from John Bevere), or else the body of Christ needs to seriously wake up. Jesus warned us sternly that many are called but only FEW are chosen. Jesus referred to the path to eternal life as a narrow, which in the Greek means difficult.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow [difficult] is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:14
I don’t think that was referring to simply saying the sinners prayer and accepting Jesus into our hearts, because that isn’t difficult. What is difficult is what Jesus just got done telling us in the previous verses…
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 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 [difficult] is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:12-14
An undertaker once told my dad that most of the bodies that he’s worked with died with horror on their face (as if they saw hell on their way out), while only a few of them had a peaceful and relaxed face when they died. I believe this is a serious warning as to the percentage of people who are actually making it to heaven. I know that a high percentage of the American population claim to be Christians, but Jesus made it clear that many will try but few will actually enter.
For many are called, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:14
This is a multi-part teaching
- OSAS Part 1
– Introduction
– The OSAS arguments considered - OSAS Part 2
– Some hard facts against once-saved theology - OSAS Part 3
– Jesus’ own words on the matter
– Be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer!
– Obedience is the fruit of faith - OSAS Part 4
– Those who don’t love others have no eternal life
– We are expected to bear fruit
– Forgiveness of sins & salvation
– You need to be forgiven of your sins!
– The road to life is strait and narrow - OSAS Part 5
– Being sure of your salvation
– Fear of losing salvation
– Walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh
– The grace of God
– “But once-saved gives security & confidence!”
– Some closing thoughts
Those who don’t love others have no eternal life
The great commandments that Jesus gave us was to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love one another as He has loved us. Jesus was very serious when He gave us this commandment, and it is repeated throughout scripture.
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:36-40
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:34
Jesus didn’t stop there. He gave a serious warning against those who refuse to walk in these commands:
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 25:41-46
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets… 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.
Matthew 7:12, 21
The Bible even tells us that those who fail to love their brother is a murderer and has no eternal life abiding in him:
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:14-15
Our faith in Christ, needs to work itself out through love for one another.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 5:6
What if our faith does not worketh by love? Then it is dead and worthless.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:26
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.
1 Thessalonians 1:3
We are expected to bear fruit
What kind of fruit? Fruit unto maturity in Christ. We are not to stay babes in Christ, but to grow and mature into their relationship with Christ:
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection [maturity]. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke 8:11-15
Now before you fall into condemnation, let me point out that fruit does not mature instantly, but it’s a growing process. We will not become perfect overnight, but we are to grow and seek maturity in our relationship with Christ.
What happens to those who do not produce fruit or mature in the kingdom? They are cut down, removed, and cast into the fire:
He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Luke 13:6-9
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman [gardener]. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit… If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15:1-2,6
Yes, we are supposed to produce fruit. If our faith and trust in Christ is genuine, our lives will begin to reflect our faith and produce a lifestyle of righteousness and good deeds. It is not by good deeds that we are saved, but if our faith is genuine, then righteousness will be a fruit or result of our faith in Christ.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:17-26
Our faith in Christ needs to yield fruit of maturity and a righteous (Godly) lifestyle. The Holy Spirit has been speaking to me lately on living a holy and Godly life. God’s Word tells us that without holiness, no man shall see the Lord:
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14
For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.
Ephesians 5:9
Forgiveness of sins & salvation
Jesus made it very clear that it is not a good thing to die in your sins. The whole idea of coming to Jesus and receiving eternal life is so that our sins can be forgiven. The wages of our sin is death, which is why we must have our sins forgiven before we leave this earth. In other words, I believe it is very important that we do not die without our sins being forgiven.
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 8:24
The Bible is clear that the purpose of Christ shedding His blood for the remission of our sins, is so that we might be saved and enjoy eternal life with Him. We could never pay the price for our sin, as it carries the death penalty (see Romans 6:32). If a person dies without their sins forgiven, and still goes to heaven, then I guess their sins didn’t carry the death penalty; that simply does not line up with scripture! Would we dare say that if somebody lived a really godly lifestyle, that they could go to heaven because they didn’t do anything worthy of death? Absolutely not! Then why do we think that once we’re saved, that our sins are no longer bad enough to be worthy of death? That doesn’t make any sense. The Bible is clear that the wages of sin is death, or eternal separation from God, and Christ was sent to forgive us that debt so that we could be saved:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.
Luke 1:77
Is it possible for a follower of Christ to not have their sins forgiven? Yes, there is. Whenever we fail to forgive another person who has wronged us, we put up a blockage which prevents God from forgiving our own sins.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15
There is a really dynamic book entitled Bait of Satan by John Bevere, and in it he tells of how this one man died, went to heaven, looked over into hell and saw his mother in law; the man ran up to Jesus and asked what she was doing in hell, as she was a beautiful church-going woman who loved the Lord and has accepted Jesus as her Lord and savior! Jesus replied that she held unforgiveness in her heart and it kept Him from forgiving her sins. Friends, this is serious! If you are not free from unforgiveness, then you have no eternal life abiding in you. The Bible comes right out and states this crystal clear:
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:14-15
What does that passage say? There is no eternal life abiding in the man who fails to love and forgive those who wrong him.
God’s Word is clear that love and forgiveness are in the same family. Those who love others will be forgiving as Christ has been forgiving towards us.
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Proverbs 10:12
You need to be forgiven of your sins!
If you die without your sins forgiven, then you will be left to pay the wages or punishment for yours sin, which is death. If you are unforgiving towards others, then you’re going to stand before the Lord and your sins will still be upon you; you’ll be faced with having to pay for the wages of sin yourself.
The good news is that if we walk in the light (which includes loving / forgiving one another), as the scripture says, then the Blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from our sins, therefore giving us grace to grow in Christ without constant fear of loss of salvation. Consider this powerful passage in scripture:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
I don’t see why there would be any need to fear loss of salvation, unless we are holding something in our heart against somebody. I believe that God wants us to be confident in our salvation, and rejoice in the joy of His salvation!
Where do we find that the wages for our “unforgiven sins” (as a result of our unforgiveness) is any less than death? That would practically undermine the whole point of Jesus DYING so that our sins could be paid for! Is it possible that we are discounting the seriousness of sin? Adam never murdered anybody, but rather took a bite out of a piece of fruit that God told him not to eat of, and the effect it had on mankind has been devastating. It is through sin that spiritual death entered the world, and it is by the forgiveness of sin that our relationship with God (eternal life) is restored!
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Romans 5:17-18
The Bible is clear that it is through the forgiveness of sins that we obtain salvation:
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.
Luke 1:77
If sin comes with a price tag of death (see Romans 6:23), then somehow it has to be paid for. Either it is paid for by the Blood of Christ, or the person them-self pays for it eternally. Sin does not enter heaven, nor does the Bible say that we have an opportunity to “make it right” or “earn our forgiveness” after we die.
The road to life is strait and narrow
The Holy Spirit showed me who makes the way difficult, and it is definitely not God! It is the devil and all his lies, deception, temptations, lure of pride, strongholds, and unclean spirits that are constantly trying to pull us away from the path to life!
A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke 8:5-15
If we continue reading through verse 21, it goes on to tell us that he who bears fruit comes to the light and are those who hear the Word of God and do it:
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Luke 8:15-21
I believe that the souls of millions are slipping right into hell because they are not being taught the importance of loving others. I would far rather warn the body of Christ about this and be wrong, than to not warn them and be right. I cannot bear to see souls in hell because they were never told the importance of forgiving. The person in John Bevere’s book who witnessed somebody being in hell because of unforgiveness is a wakeup call to me. Either it was a complete made up story (which I highly doubt, coming from John Bevere), or else the body of Christ needs to seriously wake up. Jesus warned us sternly that many are called but only FEW are chosen. Jesus referred to the path to eternal life as a narrow, which in the Greek means difficult.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow [difficult] is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:14
I don’t think that was referring to simply saying the sinners prayer and accepting Jesus into our hearts, because that isn’t difficult. What is difficult is what Jesus just got done telling us in the previous verses…
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 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 [difficult] is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:12-14
An undertaker once told my dad that most of the bodies that he’s worked with died with horror on their face (as if they saw hell on their way out), while only a few of them had a peaceful and relaxed face when they died. I believe this is a serious warning as to the percentage of people who are actually making it to heaven. I know that a high percentage of the American population claim to be Christians, but Jesus made it clear that many will try but few will actually enter.
For many are called, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:14
This is a multi-part teaching
- OSAS Part 1
– Introduction
– The OSAS arguments considered - OSAS Part 2
– Some hard facts against once-saved theology - OSAS Part 3
– Jesus’ own words on the matter
– Be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer!
– Obedience is the fruit of faith - OSAS Part 4
– Those who don’t love others have no eternal life
– We are expected to bear fruit
– Forgiveness of sins & salvation
– You need to be forgiven of your sins!
– The road to life is strait and narrow - OSAS Part 5
– Being sure of your salvation
– Fear of losing salvation
– Walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh
– The grace of God
– “But once-saved gives security & confidence!”
– Some closing thoughts