THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS: "ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED"

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
I Corinthians 9:24-27

It takes both the carrot and the stick. I am picturing a mule harnessed to the wagon and a long pole extended beyond his nose with a carrot tied to it. I can see that mule pulling the wagon forward in the hopes of getting a nibble of the carrot. Do you suppose the mule might get tired at some point and just decide it was not worth it anymore? What if your wagon has not quite reached the barn yet? You just might need that stick to tap Mr. mule on the flank and encourage him to finish his day's work. Jesus Christ has taught us all we need to know about heaven and hell, to get us home with our God. The "Doctrine of Once Saved Always Saved" has taken away the fear of hell as well as the fear of God from those who believe that they were saved forever the moment they first believed. They will never make it into God's barn.

Since Calvinism has impacted and swayed the hearts and minds of so many people including many who claim not to be Calvinist, I feel compelled to expose its false doctrines or teachings. My fervent prayer is that we all develop the noble heart of the Berean brethren of Acts 17:11. These brethren had a heart of love for the Truth. Likewise, they diligently searched the Scriptures because of their love for the Truth, making sure that what the apostles were teaching was in full harmony with their message of the Gospel of Christ before they accepted them.

The purpose of this study, as with all my studies, is to push myself beyond my knowledge in search of the Truth in the light of God's Word.  Indeed, Calvinism is such a study! I hope you will find it encouraging. As I have said earlier in other studies, the love of Truth is like a treasure hidden in a field which a man finds. He goes and sells all that he has to buy that field and rejoices to take possession of that treasure. That is how I feel every time I am compelled to dig deeper into the Scriptures seeking God's treasures. I pray that you may feel the same joy.

In 2 Timothy 4:2-4, the apostle Paul clearly pointed out that there is only one revealed, sound form of doctrine that is approved of God. Unfortunately, much of what is taught in the religious world today is a mere reflection of the constant stubbornness of men, the desire to turn away from the demands of the authority of God. Today as in the days of the apostles, many in the religious world have rejected “the yoke” of our Lord and Savior (Matt. 11:28-30), going after a different Jesus, a non-biblical pattern (model, form). Why? Because they refuse to abide in God's Word, choosing to adopt other forms (patterns) of man-made, man-invented religion since they are not satisfied with the one ordained by God. Thus, loyalty and obedience to God's Word is replaced by loyalty to traditional religious practices and human doctrines. It is that simple!

Men who do not love the Truth of God but reject it find that the “narrow gate” is too narrow for them. It will be good for them to remember also that “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Nonetheless, many who claim to be followers of Christ walk the twisted, crooked path that seems right to them. This is seen in their refusal to acknowledge God's revealed Truth to which we must hold fast.

Calvinism is merely the work of John Calvin, entitled “Institutes of the Christian Religion.”  He expounded and promoted the false teachings or concepts of Martin Luther and Augustine (354-430 A.D.). Calvinism can be reduced to five major tenets, usually represented by the acronym “TULIP.” The five points express John Calvin’s view of the fall and redemption of man. Consider them:

1. Total hereditary depravity.
2. Unconditional election.
3. Limited atonement.
4. Irresistible grace and finally
5. Perseverance of the saints.

The world of Calvinism takes the sovereignty of God to extremes. Surely, we all must emphasize and exalt His sovereignty. However, Calvinism distorts that sovereignty. In what way? According to them, the true believer can never fall from grace since his salvation does not depend on himself but rather on the sovereignty of God. Thus says Calvinism, God can never fail. They insist that God's absolute sovereignty will guarantee the salvation of the believer; that is, that he will be saved by God's power. This doctrine is called “the perseverance of the saints.”

The doctrine of “the perseverance of the saints” is the fifth and final tenet of Calvinism. It is also known as the doctrine of:

• "Once saved always saved."
• "The impossibility of apostasy."
• "The security of the believer,” and 
• “Once in grace always in grace.”

This doctrine plays an essential role in the Calvinistic system of theology and does not stand alone. According to Calvinism, since man is born with a sinful nature, totally hereditarily depraved, he can do nothing on his own to receive salvation. He can only do evil. Therefore, Unconditional Election is vital to his salvation. That is to say, God must call him in an irresistible way (Irresistible Grace) to save him. And for this reason, man does not need to do anything to be saved and remain saved. Nothing he does, even the most heinous sin, will affect his salvation since that would nullify God's miraculous work of redemption (saving him).

In my study, I will be analyzing the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints as follows:

1. The perseverance of the saints as expressed by its advocates (proponents).
2. The Calvinistic doctrine of imputation: imputed righteousness.
3. The Scriptures twisted by Calvinists to support it and the Scriptures that refute it.
4. The Scriptures that explicitly teach that the faithful can depart (fall away) from the Lord and thus fall from the Grace of God.

I.   THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS, AS EXPRESSED BY ITS ADVOCATES:

• The Westminster Confession of Faith:

• Chapter XVII. Of the Perseverance of the Saints:

Section I.–They whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.

Section II.–This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; the abiding of the Spirit and of the seed of God within them; and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.

Section III.–Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalence of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their perseverance, fall into grievous sins; and for a time continue therein: whereby they incur God's displeasure, and grieve his Holy Spirit; come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts; have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded; hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.

• Sam Morris, a Baptist preacher, and famous debater, stated,

 "We take the position that a Christian's sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul....All the prayers a man may pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, all the debts he may pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform will not make his soul one whit safer; and all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger....the way a man lives has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul....The way I live has nothing whatsoever to do with the salvation of my soul" (Sam Morris, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Stamford, Texas, in a tract entitled, "Do A Christian's Sins Damn His Soul?").

Calvinism's first problem is the rejection of man's free will (free moral agency).


II.    CALVINISTIC DOCTRINE OF IMPUTATION: IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS:

If the “Tulip Acrostic” of Calvinism had six points, I would add the "Doctrine of Imputed Righteousness" as one of their man-made doctrines.  Each of their tenets leads to more error.  The false doctrine of Imputed Righteousness is another one of their biggies. In Calvinism's theological system, one error leads to more error, and the points that follow will certainly fall together.  And although many will deny that each of these errors depends on one another, it is still true.

The logic behind the injustice of rewarding disobedient believers equally with obedient believers is the doctrine of “Imputed Righteousness.” The argument is that since God counts believers righteous solely because of the obedience of Jesus, then our own personal obedience to God, neither helps nor hurts our salvation. If our faithfulness or unfaithfulness is irrelevant to our eternal reward, then once saved, a believer will always be secure no matter how heinous the sins he may commit, no matter how cowardly he may be in his faith, and no matter how indifferent he may be toward God whom he was commanded to love with all of his heart and soul.

I have devoted a special study to the argument of Imputed Righteousness on a different page.  Here is the link:

http://www.luciasblog.com/2016/04/the-calvinistic-doctrine-of-imputation.html

III. SCRIPTURES THAT ARE TWISTED TO SUPPORT THE PERSEVERANCE   DOCTRINE:

• John 3:16 and 5:24:  

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life."

Calvinists make the argument that the believer, the redeemed, has (present possession) eternal life since, according to them, the word “eternal” means “unending.” And if the Christian, the believer, is lost, he could never possess "eternal life." Wherefore, he can never lose it since he has or possesses eternal life.  Jesus never said such a ridiculous thing!  To the contrary, all of Jesus' teaching about eternal life presents it as an extreme commitment to doing exactly what Jesus wants us to do.  For example, in Mark 10:29-30.

"Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.'"

Jesus made it clear in the first chapter of the Gospel of John that “life” is the result of putting into practice His teachings.

• John 1:1-5:   

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

What light was Jesus talking about? Is it not the truths that Jesus taught the way of living that He taught? Jesus brought a message from heaven, from God, our Creator, a message such we find in the great Sermon on the Mount of Matthew 5-7 that demanded new attitudes and new behaviors. Jesus, our Lord, came to the earth with that in Him, a living example of the truths that He was teaching. He invited all men to share the life He had by living according to His teachings. That life was the Light of men, as He said in Matthew 5:16,

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

I John 5:11-13 says the opposite of their false argument regarding eternal life. Consider what this text has to say about eternal life:

“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Here we see that this passage is talking about the life we Christians now possess in Christ when we are doing the will of the Father. No one has the Son if he ignores His teachings and does not walk in the light of His teachings, that is, putting into practice the life that He commands as our King.  In 1 John 1:6-7, we read,

“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

If we walk in that path of life, its destiny is heaven, eternal bliss. That is our promised hope. For that reason, we read in Titus of the “hope of eternal life” as in Mark 10.

“In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.” (Titus 1:2)

The eternal life that we now possess as Christians would not be changed should we lose it. Why? Because life is what is eternal and not the possession of it. And even if one were to leave it behind, that still would not alter its intrinsic nature. Therefore, our possession of eternal life is conditional upon our walking in the Light as He is in the Light and according to God's will.

•  John 5:24:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

The Calvinist position is that the faithful believer can never stop believing and become an unbeliever. But there is a Scripture to refute this:  John 3:36,

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Now, if the Lord meant to say that the faithful believer can never become an unbeliever and be lost, then He also meant to say that the unbeliever can never become a faithful believer to be saved.  Jesus says that the believing person “does not come into judgment,” but for the unbelieving, disobedient person, He says that he “will not see life.” So if this were to be unconditional for the believer, then it would have to be unconditional to the unbeliever as well.  That is why this doctrine demands unconditional election.

• John 10:27-29:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

Their argument is that no one can snatch any of Christ's sheep from His Father's hand (“no one shall snatch them out of my hand”).   Therefore, no one who is saved can ever be lost. This argument is false!  Here are the reasons:

• The phrase “no one shall snatch them out of my hand,” is not talking about what the believer can do or not do, but rather what Christ can do.  Besides that, it is conditional since He says, “ My sheep hear my voice  and I know them, and they follow me.” 

• Becoming a “sheep” being placed in God's hand is conditional. It requires:

• Hearing Christ (verse 27).
• Believing Christ (verse 26) and 
• Following Him (verse 27). 

• Likewise, remaining a “sheep” is conditional. That is, that as long as the believer remains faithful to Christ, he “shall never perish” (verse 28). But the sheep can stop hearing, reject His voice, stop following Him and go astray (fall from grace). Why? Because he willfully refuses to submit to the will of God.

So whoever claims that a believer can never stop believing and following Jesus must remember Demas’ example in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 24.  Demas had been a faithful companion for Paul, but in 2 Timothy 4:10, Paul says:

“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.”

We infer from this statement that anyone, any believer, can separate himself from the hand of God by sinning.

 

"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear." (Isaiah 59:1-2)

• John 15:1-10: 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.”

Notice that in this text, the word “abide” appears ten times. We must understand Jesus' words to us, His believers, when He said,

“Abide in me, and I in you,” “ abide in me, and my words,” “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.”  

BUT, He likewise said that it is possible for us to stop abiding in Him. Notice what He commanded us to do, “Abide in me.”  Why did Jesus command His believers to abide in Him if the believers could not do otherwise but abide in Him?

Later in verse 6,  He says,

“If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”  

Moreover, verse 10 states that “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.”  Verse 10 explicitly points out that to abide in Him, we must keep His Father's commandments.

Notice what Colossians 1:21-23 has to say regarding this abiding in Him in steadfast faith, not moved away from the Gospel of Christ we have heard.

“And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, 22 yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: 23 if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.”

So it is essential that we remain or continue grounded and steadfast in our faith (the Gospel), and in our hope, and not be moved away from the Gospel of Christ, that He might abide in us and we in Him. This abiding of Christ in us is conditional. That simple!

• Romans 8:28: 

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

My question is: To whom do all things work together? Simply all those who love God. So what do all those who love God do? They keep His commandments; they surrender to His will in complete obedience.

“Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.'" (John 14:15, 23)

We must understand that all of God's blessings are dependent upon our obedience and faithfulness to Him. They are conditional. Period!

• Romans 8:33-39: 

“33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, 'For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• “33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

Calvinists like to twist verse 33 and put in the instrument of torture until it says what they want it to say, especially the word “elect.”  According to Thayer, the original word “elect” means picked out, chosen. God does not choose at random, and there is a reason why He makes this choice. God simply chooses or elects those who are willing to obey Him, regardless of race, social or financial status, etc. Indeed, no one can bring any charge against God's elect since He is the One who justifies them. It is Christ who must be Judge overall (Matt. 25:31, 46; John 5:22; Acts 17:30-31). Hence, only those whom God does not justify will be condemned.

• “35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, 'For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered... ”

The phrase, “the love of Christ,” can mean either the love Christ has for us or the love we have for Him. BUT here it is speaking clearly about the love we have for Christ, the sufferings we undergo when we are serving Him ("28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose").  

Often our sufferings and trials cause us to grow cold and even abandon Him. But when one loves Him as we should, nothing can move us; that is, none of the things mentioned will affect or destroy our love for Him, force us to depart from our first love, and cause us to go astray, Matt. 24:11-12, Rev. 2:4. Paul recognized that some might depart from their faith but was persuaded that nothing, none of the evils coming on us, could destroy our love for Christ. So when we love Christ, come what may, God's love for us meets our love for Him. Let us, please keep everything within context. I must stress this here!!  It will make everything much clearer for us.

The Calvinist position is that nothing can separate the elect from the love of God. Therefore, since they cannot be separated from the love of God, they can never be lost. Take heed that this passage is not teaching that we Christians cannot be separated from the salvation which is in Christ.

It is true, according to this Scripture, that nothing (all the things named in this text) can separate us from the love of Christ (both the Father and Son, John 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:14). Does this imply that everybody (since they are loved by both the Father and the Son) is going to be saved?  Even Calvinists do not believe this!!

• Romans 14:4: 

“4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

Take heed!  This verse does not imply that one will stand firm before God despite his sinful conduct or lawlessness (as Calvinists teach), but rather despite the unfair and unjust judgments of others, if one is faithful, one will be judged as faithful (stand) for the Lord.

• I Corinthians 3:15: 

“If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

Calvinism asserts that even if the believer's work is lost, he can still be saved. But the “work” in this verse is talking about the "work" of the one who preaches to those who have been converted to Christ (1 Cor. 9:1). It means that if these who were converted to Christ are not faithful, they will be lost. And even though they are lost, the evangelist or whoever taught them will not be lost. If he remains faithful, he will be saved, even though his “work” being tested, as through fire, is lost.

• Ephesians 1:12-13: 

“12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

Calvinists assume that if they are sealed with the Holy Spirit, they can never fall from grace. But this is not what this passage is implying since it says, “when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him.”  So can one not stop believing in Him? And if one stops believing in Him, can one be still sealed with the Holy Spirit? What do you think?

• 2 Timothy 2:18-19: 

“18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”'

Indeed, “the Lord knows those who are His” and also those “who have gone astray from the truth... and they upset the faith of some.”  My question is:

• Are those who have gone astray from the Truth still “His”(those who are accepted by God)?
• Are those who do not abstain from wickedness still "His"? 
• Are those who do not walk in the Light as He is in the Light still "His"?

Take heed!

• I Peter 1:5: 

“Who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Notice the expression “through faith.”  The faith that carries us to salvation takes advantage of the power of God, so it is not dead faith. It is the faith that obeys.

“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:17, 24) 

• I John 2:18-19: 

“18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

This is one of our Baptist friends’ favorite verses and those who teach that it is impossible to fall from grace and apostatize. They brazenly claim that those who abandon their faith were never true or genuine believers but rather shallow or superficial (hypocrites) that profess to have faith but, in reality, are not Christians. It is absurd for them to make this assumption since such teachers play the role of God, judging the heart and the motives of man. That is amazing!

So, according to I John 2:19, when “were they not of us”?  Obviously, after they had become "antichrists." Then, they went out from them (verse 18). And if it were true that they had already manifested themselves as antichrists before they were baptized, why is it that John says “now”? How then could the apostles and other Christians accept their “obedience” if indeed they did not want to confess Christ as the Son of God? Such a confession implies that Jesus is Emanuel, God with us (God and man). The antichrists did not make such a confession.

“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” (I John 4:2-3)

Calvinists cannot prove that the “antichrists,” which this passage is speaking of, had not obeyed the Gospel. The statement “they went out from us” suggests that they had been with the apostles and other Christians as well. It is impossible to leave a group of people without ever having been with them or be part of them!

My question is:

• Did they not obey the Gospel?
• Did they not confess Christ before they were baptized? 
• If they were already Christians before they were baptized, did the apostles know it and accept them though they were refusing to confess Christ? 
• Were they not baptized for the forgiveness of sins and added to the Lord's church? (Acts 2:38, 41, 46). 

Therefore, if they “went out” of the church, they must have been members of the Lord's church, Christians.  Period!

Therefore, the question at stake is: when was it that “They went out from us”? Obviously, after they had become (manifested) antichrists. We have many Scriptures that confirm plainly and distinctly that some of those who obeyed the Gospel departed from the faith.

• I John 3:6-9: 

“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.”

Calvinists argue that one who is born of God cannot sin, i.e., a Christian can't sin. Therefore, if he cannot sin, he cannot be lost. And that once he is saved, he is always saved.

The word “cannot” from the Greek “ou-dunamal” means morally unable, not that which is physically impossible. The word “cannot,” as used in the Bible, does not necessarily mean “impossible.”

Take, for example, Numbers 22:18 speaking of Balaam:

"But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, 'Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more.'"

Balaam here did not imply it was impossible for him to go beyond God's Word. He merely indicated that it is impossible to please God and go beyond the Word of God. Therefore, he acknowledged that he was forbidden to do it.

In I John 3:8-10 and 2:1-2, John never implied that it was impossible for a Christian to sin. To the contrary, he affirmed that he could sin.

• I John 5:13: 

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

The world of Calvinism based on this verse, teaches that eternal life is a current possession. But they seem to ignore what John himself stated in this same letter.

“And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.” (I John 2:25)

That is to say, before he said, “that you may know that you have eternal life.” Notice that John had already said three chapters earlier: “And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.”

John was clearly laying down the terms on which one may live and have the life that Jesus offers, and therefore know that they indeed have it. One may know what he does or does not do. For example, one may know if he loves his brother or does not (1 John 4:7).  One may know if he hears the apostles or does not (1 John 4:6).

Let us be careful to read with understanding all that the Word of God has to say without adding or taking away from the Truth on any subject that we want to study. Therefore, no one has any current or present possession of that which he hopes to have.

“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?” (Romans 8:24).

“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)

Hence, on Judgment Day, only the righteous will go into eternal life.

IV. VERSES THAT DISTINCTLY TEACH THAT THE SAVED CAN FALL FROM GRACE:

• I Corinthians 5:1: 

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.”

Notice that the fornicator that this verse is speaking of was a member of the church in Corinth. Now, in verse 5, 

“You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”

Likewise, this man was in the kingdom of Christ but as an unfaithful member who was to be delivered to Satan's domain (kingdom) of darkness (Colossians 1:13-14). Calvinists teach that the believer who is not faithful was never a Christian, but rather he was just pretending and professing to be Christian. The truth is that if he is not saved, he is already in Satan's kingdom of darkness. In verse 5, Paul explicitly says that such a member is to be delivered to Satan. So, if this member or believer had been in Satan's kingdom of darkness already, Paul would have never said, “you are to deliver this man to Satan.”

• I Corinthians 5:11: 

"but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat."

Unfortunately, many commentaries say that the verb “named” implies that he was only pretending to be a brother. But Paul was not speaking of this brother's truthfulness or the honesty of his profession, but rather his fornication. Therefore, it is wrong to teach that any believer or member who falls into sin or departs from the faith was never converted, a believer (Christian), and thus was not or is not a brother.

Furthermore, the translated word “named” is never used in the sense of  “to pretend” or be pretentious. The Greek word is “onomazo” ( ὄνομα, ατος, τό ) which means to name, to utter, to make mention of the name, give name to, one be named, to bear the name of a person or thing. This word “onomazo” is used in:

• Romans 15:20, “not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's.”
• Ephesians 1:21, “and every name that is named, not only in this."
• Ephesians 5:3, "uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as..."
• 2 Timothy 2:19, “And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart."

Therefore, it is an error to affirm that the word “named” in I Corinthians 5:11 implies a pretentious or false profession (vocation, calling) and that the fornicator under consideration was not actually a brother.

So why does it say “called” or “named” a brother? To point out that the commandment “not to keep company... with such a one no, not to eat” refers to the brethren, the members of the Lord's church, and not those outside of the Lord's church. That is why later in verse 12, Paul states,

“For what have I to do with judging outsiders?  Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?" 

I must stress that Paul is not saying “named a brother” to judge the heart of man but rather to point out that he was a brother and member of the Lord's church with whom one could not associate or keep company (“with such a one no, not to eat”) and not outsiders with whom he could eat (non-believers). Paul says, “named brother” to distinguish him from outsiders (non-believers).

Notice that the words “for what” connect verses 12 and 11 and contrasts those in the church from the “outsiders.” A Christian can indeed imitate Christ and still eat with sinners. But to save and discipline the fornicating brother (a member of the Lord's church), Paul commands the faithful to depart from him, “not to keep company” with him, and “with such a one no, not to eat.”

So, why teach error?  Why say that the word “named” implies pretext or pretentious? If the fornicator was not a true believer or true brother, but rather one who merely proclaimed to be a brother or believer, even if he was disciplined by the church, the members could indeed eat with him since he was not a brother (a member of the Lord's church). With this Calvinistic reasoning, the commandment "not to eat with such a brother" is avoided. So the whole plan of salvation taught by Paul and the apostles is canceled.

• As Christians, what do we think of those who deny the plan of salvation (hear, believe, repent, confess Christ, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins) for the lost? 
• Why accept this plan and reject the plan to save the brother who falls into sin? 
• What do you think?

Another Scripture that is very similar to I Corinthians 5 is 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, 15.

“6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us. And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.15 And yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. “

Notice that Paul calls the man who is walking disorderly “brother.” Again, in verse 15, Paul calls the one who is admonished “brother.”

So, when Paul declares in 1 Cor. 5:11, “with such a one no, not to eat." With whom are the brethren not to eat? The fornicating brother.  So if the fornicating brother of Corinth was not a real brother, a true believer (according to Calvinists), why could not the brethren still eat with him?

In any case, one could easily say, like the Calvinists, that the member of the Lord's church who falls into sin was merely pretending to be a brother, a true believer. And so although the church may “discipline” him, it should be okay to eat together and have company with him because he was not really a brother, true believer in the first place. According to this way of thinking, there is no room for the church to practice discipline. Why? Simply because Paul assumed that the brother could be saved by the discipline that the Holy Spirit ordained.

So if the church can distinguish between faithful brethren (true believers) and those (brethren) who just pretend to be faithful brothers, they are standing in the place of God who is the only One who can judge the hearts of men!

Indeed, the problem in all this is nothing more than Calvinism. Why do I say that? Because according to Calvinism, the believers or members who fall into sin or depart from the faith were never and are not faithful and true believers but rather shallow and superficial ones, hypocrites.

So to teach that the person that Paul is speaking of in I Cor. 5:11 ("with such a one no, not to eat") is not a brother is pure error and false teaching. So what is the result of this false doctrine? That obviously they refuse to obey God's command. They completely ignore God's plan to save the lost brother. How? By continuing to associate or have company with him, the fornicating brother, in this case, the one who walked disorderly, in lawlessness.

In I Corinthians 10:12, we have a very needed and powerful exhortation. Notice what it says.

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.“

Paul exhorted the brethren with this verse because the church in Corinth had many serious problems.

1. Division (I Cor. 1:10-13); 
2. Carnality (1 Cor. 3:1-3); 
3. Fornication (1 Cor. 5); 
4. Litigation (1 Cor. 6); 
5. Marital problems (1 Cor. 7); 
6. Problems with eating meat offered to idols, idolatry (1 Cor. 8,10); 
7. False teaching or erroneous doctrines regarding the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12).

Furthermore, when Paul exhorted the Corinthian brethren regarding all these serious problems within the church, he also acknowledged that he might be rejected and lose his salvation.

“But I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.” (I Cor. 9:27) 

• Galatians 1:6:

“I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel.”

To be removed from Christ means that they were in Christ.

"4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace." (Gal. 5:4)

 The language in this Scripture cannot be clearer. To reject this Scripture is to reject the Bible!

• Galatians 2:11:

"11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision."

So, was not the apostle Peter a "faithful or true believer"?

• Philippians 2:12:

"12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling."

So, if the believer's salvation is unconditional, why is it that we have such an exhortation like this one?  What do you think?

• I Timothy 4:1-4:

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude."

The "faith" this Scripture is talking about is simply the "Gospel" of Christ. Indeed, Paul declared that some were going to fall away from their faith. i.e., they were apostatizing. But the problem is that it is impossible to fall away from the faith without ever being in the faith.

• Hebrews 3:12:

"2 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

So, if it is impossible that the believer ever falls from grace, then this Scripture is useless and makes no sense. You see, the Calvinist tries, at all costs, to get out of his own dilemma by saying that "such people were never really true and genuine Christians or believers."  However, it is impossible to depart from the living God, if indeed the believer was never with Him. To be with God implies:

• Communion, 
• Fellowship with Him. 

Therefore, if it were true that this person was never really a genuine or true believer, then we can conclude that this person was an unbeliever. Thus, as an unbeliever, he was able to commune or have fellowship with God. Do you suppose that all unbelievers can have fellowship with God? This is the most absurd thing I've ever heard!! But that is what Calvinists assert.

• Hebrews 6:4-6:

"4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

1. Were the ones that this Scripture is speaking of “faithful believers?”  
2. Enlightened? 
3. Did they not taste of the heavenly gift? 
4. Where these not partakers of the Holy Spirit? 
5. Do you suppose they can be faithful believers, be enlightened, taste of the heavenly gift, and be partakers of God's divine nature and still be “superficial believers” and not real and genuine believers?

Evidently, Calvinists have it wrong! They just reject the Truth, forcing it to say what they want it to say. Amazing! I think they should imitate the Jehovah's Witnesses and publish their own “bible” even though they teach false doctrines, the doctrines of demons.

• Hebrews 6:18-19:

“18 That by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.”

This Scripture emphasizes two words, “an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast.”
But there is a problem here since there can be NO “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul" for those who “neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3), departing from their faith.

• Hebrews 10:26-29:

"26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?"

If those who have been sanctified (the saved) by the blood of Christ (verse 29) forsake the Lord and do not repent, they can only anticipate "a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries." (verse 27)

• Hebrews 12:6:

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Calvinists assert that God indeed disciplines His children but does not condemn them to hell. So, according to these false teachers, this Scripture contradicts the other passages found in Hebrews that clearly state that some “have fallen away.”

• James 5:19-20:

“19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

So, according to this passage, how can one affirm that a Christian (the true and faithful believer) can't “wander from the truth” and lose his soul?  I'd like to know if there is another answer!

• 2 Peter 1:5-11:

“5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.  10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

So what happens when a Christian (the true believer) does not give all diligence to make sure his calling and election? Simply, “he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.”

Do you suppose that such a “blind” believer forgetting that he was cleansed from his former sins may be saved at all?  What do you think?

• 2 Peter 2:20-22:

“20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

Do you think that those who are mere “superficial believers” have “escaped the defilements of the world.”?!  It is obvious that the expression “they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” is talking about their sincere conversion from lawlessness to righteousness in Christ through baptism. It is also evident from this Scripture that they went back to the world of darkness, sin.


CONCLUSION:

Once again I must say that this study has been very rewarding for me.  It has deepened my understanding of many critical issues that worry the saints today.  It is like the man who found a hidden treasure in his field, and he rejoiced to sell all that he had to buy that field.

So can a Christian fall away and be lost eternally? YES! The Word of God is crystal clear on this.

1.  A Christian can come short of the grace of God (Heb. 12:15).
2. Wander from the Truth (James 5:10-20).
3. He can stray away after Satan (1 Tim. 5:15).
4. He can be “carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability” (2 Peter 3:17).
5. He can be destroyed if he is weak (1 Cor. 8:11).
6. He can forsake the right way and go astray (2 Peter 2:14-15).
7. He can turn back from the holy commandment (2 Peter 2:21).
8. He can fall under condemnation (James 5:12).
9. He may be disqualified (1 Cor. 9:27).
10. He can be "thrown away like a branch and wither; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned” (John 15:1-6).
11. He can depart from the living God (Heb. 3:12).
12. He can come short of the promise (Heb. 4:1).
13. He can depart from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1).
14.  He can be carried away with false doctrines (Heb. 13:9).
15. He can cling to sin (Heb. 12:1).
16. He can shrink back unto perdition and not save their souls (Heb. 10:38-39) and 
17. He can fall from grace (Gal. 5:4).

Therefore, the doctrine of “once saved, always saved,” taught by Baptists, Presbyterians, and many others, is completely false and a doctrine of demons. Such a doctrine contradicts all of the Scriptures that simply affirm that any Christian (the true believer) can indeed sin and fall from grace.

The false doctrine of “once saved, always saved,” is based primarily on the Calvinist error that man is born with a sinful nature, totally depraved of all good and unable to understand and obey the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus according to them, the Holy Spirit has to intervene directly on his heart to regenerate and save him. And since God is in charge of converting and saving him, He also has to prevent or spare him from falling (falling from grace) so that he would not be lost.

The Word of God is clear in teaching that the “faithful” believer can secure his salvation only when he himself remains faithful to the will of God, thus being loyal to Christ alone till the end (2 Tim. 4:7-8). Moreover, God's Word also teaches that a child of God can willfully, by his sins, separate himself from God and His Son and be lost eternally. That is, if he remains in his sins without repentance, he will die spiritually because of the wages of his sins, though he once was in fellowship with God (Romans 6:23).

Hence, the Perseverance of the Saints, or the so-called doctrine of “once saved, always saved,” as the four tenets of Calvinism, which precede it, is merely a doctrine of demons. It is not valid and must be rejected. It is only when one applies the Truth of the Scriptures that this whole system of Calvinism will crash down to the ground. There is no other way to do it, but with the Truth of God alone!

 May the Truth prevail over this doctrine of demons, and may we all see with clarity the great dangers that may drown us in perdition. May our Lord preserve us perfect and entire until we reach our goal.

Luci

THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I!

"Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.  Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!" 

Psalm 61:1-4

Every time that we begin to feel strong and self-sufficient, we are brought to our knees by a powerful blow in our earthly life. The Lord allows us to be reminded that there is no more magnificent ROCK than the ROCK of our Lord in Whom we find refuge and strength. Let us lean upon "the ROCK that is higher than I."

O sometimes the shadows are deep,

And rough seems the path to the goal,

And sorrows, sometimes how they sweep

Like tempests down over the soul!

O then to the Rock let me fly,

To the Rock that is higher than I;

O then to the Rock let me fly

To the Rock that is higher than I!

O sometimes how long seems the day,

And sometimes how weary my feet;

But toiling in life's dusty way,

The Rock's blessed shadow, how sweet!

O near to the Rock let me keep,

If blessings or sorrow prevail;

Or climbing the mountain way steep,

Or walking the shadowy vale.

We are, at times, exhausted and overwhelmed by sorrows, valleys of sufferings, doubt, confusion, helplessness, and hopelessness.   An array of circumstances may bring us to this state of despair, and we don't know what to do.  We may feel insecure and exhausted by the loss of a loved one, or a severe illness, loss of health, financial catastrophe, enemies that seem to be stronger than we are.  God appears to wait as we struggle, reaching the limits of our ability.  We wonder if our faith can bear anymore.  Every escape route is blocked, with no way out.  Christ is our Rock during times of shadow and sorrow, for He is our rock of strength (Ps. 62:1-7).

Helpless, hopeless, and with no one to turn to for understanding, comfort, guidance, or help, some spend their lives alone. Others are surrounded by unfeeling family members, perhaps because they are not Christians and resent the believer’s convictions and lifestyle. Others have simply grown old, and all their friends and relatives have died. Whatever the cause, many know what it is like to have no one to whom they can turn for understanding.  David wrote this beautiful Psalm 61 when he was a king over all Israel.  Yet David acknowledged that he desperately needed God, for there were times he felt very alone and distressed. 

The purpose of our struggles is to teach us not to trust in ourselves but in God alone.  The good news is that God provides us a special shelter.  

• Jesus Christ is that Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4). The Rock that Moses smote was a type of Christ.
• In Deut. 32:4, 18 Jehovah is "our Rock."
• That  Rock is the "Stone cut not with hands." (Daniel 2:45)
• That Rock a symbol of God's strength, a place of shelter, and a place of defense.

In James 1:2-4, we are told that we need to appreciate trials so that we might realize how wonderful salvation, eternal life, and our relationship with Jesus is, a beautiful relationship where we are forgiven and can call upon God for help at any time.  When we feel that we are at "the end of the earth," far away from communion with God or man, it is at that point that we realize that we need the Rock that is higher and greater than we are that we might find refuge and protection.

I.   “When my heart is overwhelmed (faint)”:  (61:2)

All Christians, like David, experience times in their lives when they lack courage, motivation, or just the necessary strength.  By no means does this imply that we are failing or have done something wrong; rather, it is often a reminder that we simply need to draw nearer to our God for strength. We must always remember that being a Christian is not a charm against every threat that might discourage and frighten us. 

This Psalm reminds us that when our heart is faint, overwhelmed, or weak, we need to pray fervently to draw strength from our Rock.

II.   “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”:  (61:2)

Our Lord is a mighty Rock for us. This idea often occurs in the book of Psalms, appearing twenty times. It will occur in the 63rd Psalm, three times, and is found in Psalm 18 four times.   It is when we are suffering from despair, finding ourselves down and out, that we come to realize that our God is higher or greater than we are.  We then realize that we need God.  Sadly, when we find ourselves on top, as David was at this time (he was the king of all Israel, after all), we forget about God, believing that we can tackle any need that can arise.  But David never made this mistake. He never forgot that God was extremely higher and above him and that he needed God always.  And though Israel may have looked to David as their rock, David looked to a rock that was higher than he.

  

III.  “Lead me”:

Clearly, the Word of God, will “lead us” to this Rock (Romans 10:17).  David expressed his gratitude for difficult times, times when he felt like he was at the “end of the earth;" times that reminded him of his absolute need for God. The Old Testament overflows with examples of men (Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel), who trusted God when far from home, during times when they found themselves aliens and unsettled.  Often we find ourselves overwhelmed because of so much false religion that appears to be overly resistant to God's Truth.  But it is then that we must realize and remind ourselves that the Rock that is higher than we are is there as well.  Therefore, we must not lose heart!

IV.  “For you have been my refuge”:  (61:3)

David had experienced God's safety by walking with Him.  He likewise allowed himself to learn that God can be trusted with our security and shelter. We are safe under God's wings!

V.   “Refuge under the shelter of your wings.”

This psalm addresses a fundamental need, the need to feel “safe.” David did not make the mistake of placing his sense of security in earthly things, an earthly army, a large chariot force, or an earthly fortress. In fact, God even had forbidden the kings that would rule His people from “multiplying horses” (Deuteronomy 17:16); that is, placing their trust in a large chariot force. Sadly many feel safe putting their faith in material riches, possessions, human relationships, and so on. They soon learn that all these things are not as “safe” or “permanent” as they pretend to be. In fact, Jesus noted the extreme insecurity of all earthly things (Matthew 6:19). In another Psalm, David said, “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in Thee; And in the shadow of Thy wings I will take refuge, until destruction passes by” (Psalm 57:1).  What a beautiful picture of our God as our wings of refuge in perilous times!

VI.  The Blessings:

God says that a relationship with Him is our refuge. He is our place of safety. He provides the following benefits:

• He offers us safety, comfort, shelter, and peace rather than the torment of focusing on our problems.
• Respect and reverence for Him remove all lesser fears when we listen to His counsel.
• He helps us to see our problems with the right perspective. They are not insurmountable (hopeless and overwhelming).
• He offers us a unique relationship that removes distracting worries, energizes us, strengthens our resolve, calms our concerns, and helps us focus on what we can do at the moment (1 Corinthians 15:58).
• We are often rewarded with the ability to see the blessings of our trials (Philippians 1:12).

CONCLUSION:

Psalm 61:1-4 is a prayer that describes David's days when he was fleeing from Saul.  Verse 5:  "For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name."  This was a time when David was king and realized that God had answered all of his prayers for refuge, shelter, safety, and protection.  As a king, David also ruled over those who fear God; these were the ones he had shepherded.  David prayed that God would preserve his life (61:6) as well as watch over those that ruled in the future, a rule that would eventually result in Jesus' ruling over the faithful (2 Samuel 7:12).

God is our perfect "fort, our stronghold."  He is the only refuge where we can be protected from everything.  There are circumstances in our life because of our difficulties and hardships (Ps. 38:6) that make our days seem so long and leave us very weary (Ps. 69:1-3).  And though we're toiling in life's dusty way  (as Israel did when they were wandering in the wilderness toward Canaan), we can still eat and drink from the spiritual Rock (Christ) that followed them (1 Cor. 10:1-4).   Christ is our Rock on whom we can build our lives (Matt. 7:24-27).  Christ, our Rock, helps us when sorrows prevail (1 Pet. 5:7).  Therefore, we must seek refuge in that Rock, which is Christ.  

"O, then, to the Rock let me fly, To the Rock that is higher than I; O, then, to the Rock let me fly, To the Rock that is higher than I."  

So as we travel our journey in the desert of this life, with all its hardships, toils and sorrows, let us always look for refuge to "The Rock that Is Higher than I."

May we all come to our place of refuge, strength, and defense, in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Luci

BUT ONE THING I DO! PRESSING ONWARD

"Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may layhold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,  I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 
Philippians 3:12-14

When a cowboy mounts his horse, he does not ride off in ten directions at once.  I sometimes feel that is how we live our lives. We are all very busy working very hard for many good reasons, but what is our focus?  Let's take a moment and think about this inspiring challenge from the apostle Paul.

I have been thinking a lot about this beautiful and encouraging passage.  As I began meditating on each word, I remembered my early walk with Christ, when I acknowledged and accepted that I had to focus on just one thing: to do what was necessary to enter the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  It would in no way be an easy task.  It would require a lot of letting go, dying to self and even pain in the journey.  It was not going to be easy to crucify the old man with his sinful habits. I knew I had to consider myself dead to sin but alive to Christ, as one that was brought from death to life to become an instrument of righteousness. As in the sentiments expressed by John the Baptist, "He must increase but I must decrease." (John 3:30).

I knew well that the cost of following my Lord was going to be very high.  But I considered the high price He had paid for my sins.  This made my journey easier, my steps lighter, and brought me much joy as I walked with my Master.  YES, I knew even then, that I had to let go of the past and stretch forward to the future; living for Jesus my Lord.  I had to learn that my life is a race to be won, a course to be completed, and a life to be lived in righteousness brought to fruition.  It would require me to set heavenly goals rather than earthly ones.  It would demand lots of discipline, like the training of an athlete or soldier so that I could press on, reaching forward to win the prize, the crown of righteousness, glory, and life.  There was no room to give up and quit regardless of my circumstances. It was going to be a continual battle, but Heaven is worth it all!  There would be times for climbing mountains peaks and times for crossing deep valleys.  Periods of sweet rest, then more troubles to come. Times of discouragement as well as opportunities for revival or refreshing of my soul.

I learned early on that apart from Jesus and His principles of righteousness there is no way of salvation.  He is the only way to heaven (the ultimate prize).  So, I needed to fix my eyes only on Him and not on men.  I needed to walk with an unfeigned faith and a living hope that I might fight the good fight of faith and finish the race victoriously.  It would demand all of my life, energy, and enthusiasm. Heaven is not for quitters.  It is for winners!  But we must keep pressing on toward our goal until our last breath of life.  Victory is just around the corner!

Many people set high goals for things that are physical, forgetting the most significant ones in the spiritual realm. We can learn a lot from the apostle Paul about how to discipline ourselves in pressing on toward the right goals, those that pertain to the kingdom of Christ and His righteousness.

There was once a man who lived for things that seemed to him more praiseworthy. Notice what he declares in Philippians 3:4-6 concerning the external things that he possessed to a high degree:

“Though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.  Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.”

Indeed, Paul surpassed many of his contemporaries, Galatians 1:14.  He had a lot to boast about his flesh, his externals. However, he declared that there was no virtue whatsoever in the things of the flesh. All those things mentioned in Philippians 3:4-6 in which many of his fellow Jews still trusted. Paul acknowledged that to trust in the flesh would be to give too much importance to the list of things mentioned before. He then said in verse 7 that “what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.”  Things such as honor and distinction, illustrious ancestors, higher education, leadership among those of the strictest sect, and the great respect and honor of his contemporaries. Notice that in verse 7 Paul used the language of accounting. He put all these things under the category of “jettisoned cargo” and not under “essential to survive.”  We are all in one way or another “accountants.” The word “loss” in the Greek “zemian” is used in Acts 27:10, 21 (to save the crew, sailors, and soldiers). Many things in the ship and cargo were cast into the ocean. Significant “loss” is suffered with great joy when contemplating the lives that were saved.

We are all in one way or another “accountants.”  Every day we have to judge the worth of many things: a good education, wealth, prestige, skills or talents and so on. But are these things really “gain” or “loss”?  It all depends on how one uses them. They can indeed be great “gain” if they are employed to glorify our Lord or they can be a significant “loss” and destroy the soul. 

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”  (Matthew 16:26).

Paul learned that apart from Jesus, everything he lived for was mere rubbish. Indeed, Paul cast many things into the sea to save his spiritual ship, Hebrews 10:32-34. Paul's primary goal was to gain Christ, becoming like Him in His death and as well as His resurrection from the dead. Paul viewed his life as a race to be won, a life to be lived in righteousness and a course to be completed or brought to fruition. Although he acknowledged that he had already run a lot, fought a lot, and had won great victories for Christ, he had not yet reached the ultimate goal for the prize. He recognized that though now he was an old man who had done great things for Christ; he was not free from the dangers of sin, (I Cor. 9:27).

If Paul, who excelled in love, zeal, self-denial and complete devotion to Christ, thought it necessary to speak this way, how much more should we who have not even begun to sacrifice like he did?! Even though Paul certainly knew he was on the right path, the Way, (John 14:6; Mat. 7:13-14; Acts 24:14), he never believed that he could not fall, (I Cor. 9:27; 10:13). He has taught us that we must run our race well until the battle is over. YES, Paul, who was so faithful and endured so much for the Lord's sake, could not “rest,” how much less we!

The word “perfect” the way Paul uses it in this text, means that absolute perfection of “the spirits of the righteous made perfect.” (Heb. 12:23). This is accomplished when one finishes the race. In Philippians 3:15, the word “perfect” is used in the sense of maturity. (Philippians 3:8-11).

Consider what Paul had to do to keep pressing on toward the goal: to “gain Christ.”

I.   HE HAD TO FORGET THE PAST:

“forgetting the things which are behind.” (Phil. 3:13).

The key word here is “forgetting.”  

• Forgetting what? 
• Leaving behind what? 
• How can we leave behind all of our past failures, regrets, and disappointments?
• Those who have let us down? 
• Sins of the past? 
• Wounds, wrongdoings, and betrayals left by those who intended to hurt us? 
• How do we let go of the past's ugliness and sorrows? 
• Slandering and gossip? 
• How can we leave behind honor or recognition, material gains, or pleasures? 
• How can we prevent our past from destroying our future even as it pollutes our present?  
• How can we do that? 

Paul gives us his attitude of heart as well as the answers found in God's revealed Word. Few can rival the apostle Paul for reasons to have regrets. Remember, he had persecuted the church and had Stephen stoned to death; he dedicated all of his energy and time as well as his greatness to chasing down Christians, throwing them into jail. He tortured them and compelled them to blaspheme. In his own words, he was the “chief” of all sinners. 

Paul chose to “forget” his past and move forward. Paul did not try to dwell on all the heinous or wicked acts he had committed when he persecuted Christ and His church, (I Timothy 1:13). He could not afford to allow success to puff him up. Not the greatness of his past, nor his great achievements, or his severe sacrifices or even the surpassing greatness of the revelations he received, (2 Cor. 11:24-28; 12:7). He was resolved not to let anything distract him. Paul refused to live in the past. He focused on the future and moving forward. The highest prize was still ahead, at the goal line!

Perhaps, Paul in Philippians 3:13, is referring to all of the advantages or benefits he had in Judaism (verses 4-5); but it could well encompass anything concerning his past life that might keep him from running and finishing his race in Christ. Impediments such as discouragement, sorrow, persecutions, and success. Paul forgot about all those things he could have trusted in. He also had to forget all that could have discouraged him or distracted him.

So, Paul was forced to forget everything. If he didn't, it would have been like the Israelites who kept longing for and remembering all that they had left behind in Egypt, (Numbers 11:5-6).

We too must forget all that we have left behind, our forgiven sins, (Hebrews 8:12). God in His infinite mercy has forgiven us of our sins. Therefore, we must forgive ourselves. We must not continue afflicting ourselves all the time for having committed them. Sadly, many Christians have not stopped grieving. They don’t want to. Their memories are still very alive in the heart and mind. Their guilt and remorse prevent them from moving forward. They cannot win the spiritual race and the prize that God has set before them. We must move forward and not get stuck in the past. Let us correct what can be rectified and leave the past behind. It is not good for the salvation of our souls. Our goal must be the future. Our prize is future, and we have not yet reached it. The past is past and must be forgotten and left behind. It is the only way to heaven!

Moreover, we must forget past offenses. It is vital that we forgive others so that our Father in heaven can forgive us. A grudge does not edify the soul, nor does bitterness and anger, (Ephesians 4:31-32). We cannot forgive someone as if we were doing them a big favor. Because in doing this and having that negative attitude of heart, the forgiven person is still indebted to us. And it must not be this way among us!

In like manner, we must forget our past sufferings. Some are obsessed with them. We must not allow the memory of our suffering to dominate our thoughts and hearts. Instead, we must focus on the kingdom of righteousness where Christ is seated and ruling. Even our present suffering should not be the focal point. I have met many Christians who do not speak of anything but their sufferings, regrets, failures, disappointments, afflictions, and trials. It is a mistake to seek for sympathy and to feel sorry for oneself.  It is the desire of the flesh that does not need to be satisfied.  

I realize that each of us has his fair share of suffering, both mental and physical, but we Christians must be careful not to unload our sufferings on others all the time, apparently being obsessed with them.  Follow Paul’s example. He turned all of his sufferings, trials, and problems into opportunities when he said,

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.  And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Philippians 1:12-14).

So, why not have this attitude of heart like Paul did?!

II.   REACHING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE: 

“Stretching forward to the things which are before.” (Philippians 3:13)

Paul redirected his focus by moving forward with the work he had at hand to do. We are either moving forward, standing still or falling behind. Paul believed in moving forward, and we must use all of the forces God has given us to move on and not get stuck in the past. We must meet all the challenges that our God has for us. We must accept this challenge and make a difference. The difference must come as we live rooted and grounded in the Word of God. 

• Accept and embrace the challenge to move forward in evangelizing even if many are not open to the Gospel; 
• the challenge of leadership; 
• the challenge of obeying God's Word; 
• the challenge of praying more; 
• the challenge of rejoicing more and being content rather than being anxious and ultimately
• the challenge of moving the Lord's church forward into the future, but that involves every member. It is the only way to bring souls to the foot of the cross.  

Life is too short to get stuck in the past, not moving forward for the glory of God.  Life is too short to neglect the opportunity to move forward with joy doing good for others, enriching them spiritually as you speak to them about our Savior and His plan of redemption. Let us not get stuck in self-pity. Let us move forward and let go of whatever impedes the furthering of our souls and the church.

Paul knew he could not afford to get stuck in the past and fail to move forward. There was strenuous work to do. He did what was in front of him to accomplish as his highest goal. Getting ourselves busy helps us with so many afflictions of the flesh: depression, valleys of suffering, and problems. We must leave behind the negative conversation within our heart because it will not amount to anything and never get the job done. It dooms us and keeps us in the past. But we must get down on our knees that we might be able to press on toward the goal, “to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. “ (Acts 20:24). It is all about our journey, forgetting what lies behind and stretching forward, always pressing on toward our goal.

In this same letter, Paul speaks with a singular voice, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” There is nothing to be anxious about. Worries choke the Word, (Luke 8:14) and are incompatible with peace, (Phi. 4:7). So let us resolve our worries and anxieties, with joy and gentleness, casting all of our fears and anxieties on Him because He cares and loves us immensely. Let us be careful and grateful about our circumstances. Every suffering, affliction, and heavy burden has a Bible solution, (2 Timothy 3:16-17). And let us fix our eyes only on Jesus rather than men. Our Lord and Savior is the “goal” and nothing else. Let us not be moved from our hope. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Therefore, let us be successful athletes who play to win, (I Cor. 9:27). But strong desire and motivation are vital to reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (Phil. 3:13).

So, let us find true contentment, (Phil. 4:11-13).  Let us change how we react to all of our problems and sufferings. No tranquilizer can alleviate even one of life's problems or the anguish of heart we feel. Pills cannot change our circumstances. We must find our strength in Christ. It is all about an attitude of the heart. Paul did not become bitter, angry, anxious, or worried but chose to say, 

“To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” (1 Cor. 4:11-13).

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Oh, how I love to read these passages when my heart is overwhelmed with the heavy burdens of this world. It fills my soul with joy and hope!!

III. HAVING OUR HEARTS FIXED ON THE GOAL: 

“I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

The Greek word for “press toward” is a stronger word than the one in verse 13 translated “reaching forward.” "Reaching forward" implies the direction one is headed toward the goal. On the other hand, “pressing forward” indicates using pressure that one may advance toward that goal. Likewise, it conveys the idea of intense endeavor.

The word “goal” refers to the “target” which is the primary objective (target, goal) that is reached by the one who is running. Now, the “prize” is the reward given by the Author and Finisher of the victorious race, that is, the “crown of righteousness,” (1 Cor. 9:24; 2 Tim. 4:8); the “crown of life,” (Revelation 2:10), the “unfading crown of life,” (1 Peter 5:4).

Regarding this race, Paul exhorts us saying, 

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” (1 Cor. 9:24). 

So, what is the final goal or target?  The final meeting with our Lord Jesus, either when one dies (1:23) or at “the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13). Paul's primary focus in his life was on the future glory that was to be revealed, (Romans 8:18). Paul is our greatest example of heavenly perspective. Heaven was his primary target. He would obey God with all his might, pressing on toward his final goal of heaven. He pressed on as a faithful Christian that he might receive the crown of life. What a motivator this is for us!

Paul was not controlled by his past but rather looked with anticipation toward the future. No wonder he had so much joy! He knew his life did not depend on those things of the world, but the eternal principles of righteousness found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is vital that we concentrate on just one thing,

• "but one thing I do." (Phi. 1:13);
• “but one thing is necessary.” (Luke 10:42); 
• “One thing I do know.” (John 9:25).

Our prize cannot be obtained without both effort and focus. Remember that the runner presses on and finishes the race because he does not give up. He is focusing on the reward or keeping the prize in mind. Therefore, he is not willing to quit, even for a second, despite his pain, agony or exhaustion. That is what we must also do. Even in the midst of persecution, tragedy, pain, suffering, etc., he still keeps his faith. The winners of the contest will be rewarded! The winner will receive an imperishable crown. 

1. So, how are you running your race? 
2. Is heaven your goal? 
3. Are you motivated and dedicated enough to achieving it at any cost? 
4. If you are not putting Christ and His kingdom of righteousness first, I don't see how you can have heaven as your primary goal or target! 
5. Are you making significant sacrifices for God according to His Word? 
6. Are you pressing toward the goal, the prize, eternal life, or are you just dreaming about it, and living as you please?   

Think about it! Don't let go of your prize! 

Therefore, 

1. Let us set our “minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Col. 3:2).
2. Let us not get entangled in the affairs of this life, (2 Tim. 2:4). 
3. Let us walk like Paul and Christ, who walked faithfully, (1 Cor. 11:1). 
4. And let us walk after the pattern we see in the New Testament that we may win the race and receive the prize.

IV. THERE MUST BE A FERVENT DESIRE TO WIN THE PRIZE: 

“for that is far better.” (Phil. 1:23).

There must be:

• a “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” (Matt. 5:6); 
• a thirst for the living God, (Psalm 42:2); 
• a desire for a “better country, that is, a heavenly one.” (Heb. 11:16); 
• a desire “to strive to enter through the narrow door.” (Luke 13:24).

VI. THE HOPE OF SALVATION IS VITAL TO RUN THE RACE WELL:

We must run our race with the full confidence of winning. Otherwise, we will not reach the goal. 

“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?” (Romans 8:24). 

“But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.” (1 Thess. 5:8).

Therefore, all athletes who enroll must contend to win.  They are the ones who play with the real hope of winning. This is of great importance! Revelation 21, 22 and Matthew 25:34 must be our top motivators to victory in heaven, where we will receive our crown of righteousness, glory, and life. Our hope is so strong that we can almost taste it!

CONCLUSION:

Sometimes our past is our worst enemy. We struggle with our past (mistakes, disappointments, failures, wrongdoing, wounds, past sins, accomplishments, achievements, traditions, etc.), finding it almost impossible to forget and move forward. It is easier to remember than to forget.

The apostle Paul exhorts us through the revealed Word to forget what lies behind and to reach forward to what lies ahead. Paul was able to get beyond his own past mistakes and great accomplishments by forgetting the past and reaching forward to the future for the prize of the upward calling of Jesus our Lord. And though Paul had won many spiritual battles, extending the Gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles in Asia Minor, he did not claim to have attained spiritual maturity (the state of completion as a Christian). So he pressed on, pursuing consistently with all deliberate speed to obtain the prize that Christ had in store for him. He seized Christ just as Christ seized him (on the road to Damascus, changing his life forever). His desire was to take hold of Christ, to know and love Him as much as Jesus had taken hold of him.

In other words, Paul pursued the goal of being like Christ. He did so with the enthusiasm and perseverance of a runner like those who participated in the Greek games. He conformed to the image of Christ. He knew but one thing: “forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Indeed, Paul ran focusing on those things that matter the most, the spiritual ones and not the things of the flesh which are only temporary. He focused on his citizenship, heaven and not earth. We must be of the same mind as Paul, who kept reaching forward and pressing on toward the goal of eternal life in heaven; that is where we belong.

Sadly for many, their affections are not on heavenly things. They become distracted by this world (materialism, entertainment, recreation, lusts, pleasures, etc.). They are willing to lose their souls for earthly pursuits. Are you?  May we always seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33).

As Christians, we must move forward with the right attitude of heart about God, His Word, His church, the lost and our lives, accepting the challenges by focusing and being rooted in the Word of God. But to move forward, we must fight with tooth and claw the enemies of ignorance, unbelief, apathy, and sin. We cannot afford to lose the battle and our race. We must run well and fight that we may win our prize.

We must fix our eyes on Jesus and not man, to reach our goal. Likewise, we must have an intense hunger and thirst for righteousness, and for the living God so that we might reach the goal. We must strive to enter the narrow gate. But one thing we must do, one thing is needful, one thing I know: “reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”

The hope of salvation is vital to run and finish the race victoriously. We must run with the hope of winning the race to win the prize.

Therefore, let us not allow ourselves to become distracted by the past or be discouraged. On that final day, the faithful will be given incorruptible, glorious and heavenly bodies. They will be with the Lord for eternity.  Such hope is worth fighting for!!

May we continue to press on toward our goal, heaven where our citizenship is. May we never allow ourselves to become distracted by the things of this world and give up our heavenly citizenship. May we gain Christ for this is indeed gain. May we compete according to the rules, as real athletes, to win the prize. And finally, may we fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith and receive our award, the crown of righteousness.

Luci

THE BLESSEDNESS OF GIVING

"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive."' 

Acts 20:35

A "taker" is not necessarily a bad person.  He is just someone who expects others to give to him. He is not especially good at seeing opportunities for giving or generosity toward others. He misses the joy that comes from the love willing to sacrifice his own wants and needs for the good of others. Let us think about the Lord's promise, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."


One of the everlasting beatitudes in the Bible is:  "It is more blessed to give than to receive."  (Acts 20:35).  Is the giver happier than the receiver? How many actually believe this and put it into practice?!  Indeed, it is "more blessed to give than to receive." Indeed, it is more blessed to be a giver than a taker.  The givers seem to be happier than the takers.  It is natural to want to be blessed or happy, but how many know what it takes to be completely happy?! God, our Creator, knows and tells us how to find and pursue happiness in His Word.  Happiness does not depend on our material riches.  As material riches soar, happiness remains relatively unchanged. So the question is:  is there a connection between giving to others and increased happiness?  This is where I want to focus on my study.

But there is a problem!  Our intuitions or instincts cry out against it.  Ironically, many are unaware of the hidden key to true happiness.  Most fail to acknowledge that giving to others brings more joy than spending money to satisfy the desires of the flesh.  But Christ's followers must not think this way! Our Lord Jesus has taught us that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."  (Acts 20:35). Do we believe it and live according to our Lord's teachings?  It is God's plan for man to give.  Man has been designed to give to others, so as a matter of fact, this is what will bring him the greatest satisfaction.

As children of God, we must grasp the importance of giving to others freely since God has blessed us and given us so much beyond our comprehension.  Our desire should be to bless others because our Creator has blessed us so abundantly, both with physical and spiritual riches.  In a few words, all Christians should live to give, not to earn blessings and praises, but because we owe our God immensely (the gift of salvation).  It is the right thing to do.  It will lead us to greater joy and blessings. So, do you want to find satisfaction in life?  Then, start giving more!

Consider the following reasons why it is more blessed to give than to receive:

• God is the preeminent Giver: 

God is the one who gives to mankind life and breath, everything (Acts 17:25).  He has also given us the gift of salvation by sending His only begotten Son to die for our sins (John 3:16).  He has given us abundantly all that we need that pertains to life and godliness, (2 Peter 1:3). He gives us wisdom, (James 1:5).  He has given us peace and grace through His Son, who gave Himself as a ransom to deliver us from God's wrath, (Galatians 1:3-4).

• Everything belongs to God:  

The world and its fullness, the heaven and the heaven of heavens are His (Psalm 50:10-12; Deut. 10:14; Haggai 2:8; I Chr. 29:14; Deut. 8:18; I Tim. 6:17).

• We are stewards of God's blessings:  

We must understand that we are not "owners" of our "possessions."  Instead, everything belongs to Him alone.  We are His stewards and will have to give Him an account of how we have used all the blessings He has bestowed upon us.  Jesus emphasizes this principle in all of His parables.  Consider some of them:

• The parable of the talents:  (Matthew 25:14-30).
• The parable of the rich fool:  (Luke 12:15-21).
• The parable of the unrighteous steward:  (Luke 16:1-13).
• The parable of the ten minas, usage of money:  (Luke 19:11-27).

All Christians are God's stewards and ought to administer God's grace freely and diligently.  In the first century, the apostles would lay their hands on certain Christians to impart various spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:4-11).  And though today we don't have the same "miraculous spiritual gifts," we still have spiritual gifts that we need to manage and use well. Consider what Romans 12:6-8 has to say about the best use of God's gifts to us:  

"Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;  if  service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."

Notice that the "distribution" is a gift of God.  Therefore, we must use those gifts well according to the will of God.  "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."  (I Peter 4:10).

• It is in giving that we are doing God's will, obeying His commandment:  

Our Lord and Savior has left us a great example of giving by dying a cruel death on the cross for the remission of our sins.  Considering such a gift, our giving must be done with a cheerful heart without complaint.  The Lord expects and demands that we give freely the way He has freely given to us.  He demands that we be zealous for good works.  God's laws or commandments were given to enhance our lives as we obey them.  The giving that God commands likewise will enrich our lives, increasing our happiness.  It will bring joy!

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"  (Matthew 25:34-40).

 "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."  (Ephesians 4:28)

"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share."  (I Timothy 6:17-18).

"who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."  (Titus 2:14).

"Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work... that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.  And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful."  (Titus 3:1,8,14).

• It is in giving that we are submitting to the Lordship of Jesus:  

Every act of total obedience acknowledges and makes valid or legal the higher authority in our lives:  our Lord and Savior.  He is the head over us and, therefore, is entitled and worthy of all honor and reverence.  "Did you know our submission to God is tested in this area?"  Our selfish nature makes it difficult at times to be givers to others.  Sadly, for many of us, it is difficult to obey this order to share our riches (such as money) with others who are in more need than us.  Our wallet is the target.  It is the last citadel to fall to God's rule.  If only we had the heart to remember that Divine Lordship is not a threat to us but a place of great safety.

• Giving shows God's lovingkindness, His grace to all man:  

Lest we forget, God is the GIVER of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).  As His children, in His likeness, we are commanded to imitate Him.  That means GIVING.  God wants us to enlarge our hearts just the way He does. Remember that the wider and larger our hearts are, the better we paint a picture of His likeness, His character.  My question is:  "What do others think of God when they see our behavior regarding how we use our riches, our money?"

Jesus’ sacrifice is our measure of sacrificial giving (John 3:16).  The apostle Paul exhorts us to give more.  This is seen in his letters.  In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul pointed them to Christ, Christ's character,  "For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test whether you are obedient in all things."  (2 Corinthians 2:9).  When we give sacrificially with eagerness of heart, we abound in God's grace, love, faith, obedience... In giving to others, we are proclaiming the "good news" of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior.  There is no other way!

• The grace of giving:  

God loves a cheerful giver, "Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."   (2 Corinthians 9:7).  Giving delights God.  He is well pleased when His children enlarge their hearts, gladly providing for the needs of His children.  Through Paul, God repeatedly commends those like the Macedonian brethren, who gave beyond their monetary resources and gave of themselves to the needy saints in Jerusalem (I Cor. 16:1-3; Romans 15:26).  They enlarged their hearts to supply the needs of others.  They did not offer the Lord breadcrumbs but emptied themselves to bless others.  In doing this, they clearly removed all greed!

"Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God."   (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).   

So, how much should we give?  We find the answer in Acts 11:29: 

"And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judaea." 

In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks of the grace of God.  So, what does grace have to do with giving?  It has much to do with it.  The word "grace" means "favor."  Therefore, giving is an expression of God's favor, a blessing from God.  When we give, God is blessing us.  When we fill God's plate, He is filling ours as well.  If we only knew that there is nothing else that can make a Christian happier than knowing that he is doing the will of God.  And in doing this, our God is well pleased.  He is delighted.  Giving glorifies our God.

• Giving trusts God's provision:  

Fear is one of the biggest discouragements to many.  We fear that we will not have enough for this or that if we are abundantly generous.  We must remember and take to heart that when we give sacrificially the way God expects and demands of us, we express our faithfulness and trust to God to provide all of our daily needs.  This is walking in FAITH.  Many Christians have found out that there is joy when they cast their bread crumbs upon the waters.  They find out that the return or exchange is multiple loaves after many days, "Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days."  ( Ecclesiastes 11:1).  If only we knew how much joy and blessedness there is in giving!  It is in giving that we are fulfilling God's promises of provision.

• Giving advances or grows God's kingdom, His church:  

Many of us have contributed in one way or another to the success of a secular business.  But we must not forget that we must contribute to the Lord's work, His church.  We must give the Lord our time, ourselves, our riches, and everything.  This will help the church evangelize and meet the needs of the saints.  We must purpose in our hearts to invest spiritually for the welfare of those who are dying because of sin.  We can help and be partakers financially of what God has blessed us with in spreading the Gospel to save souls.  We can provide for the needs of a local preacher who has dedicated his life to evangelizing and changing lives damaged because of the weight of sin.  Our dollars can change homes, relationships, nations, and, most importantly, the souls of those lost.

• Giving sanctifies us:

Not only does giving promote God's works throughout His kingdom, but it also allows God to work in us for our own sanctification.  Giving teaches us self-denial and self-dying.  In giving, we are showing God's grace freely to others.  God's grace is spreading largely in our hearts.   Material possessions can leave us bankrupt, but sin can also bankrupt our souls.  And our souls are priceless!

• Giving is a demonstration of our love:

Giving proves our genuine love for God and others:  "I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.  So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men."  (2 Cor. 8:8, 24).

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."  (I John 3:17-18).

• Giving testifies of God's power:  

Although God has commanded us not to let our left hand know what our right hand does, it is evident that Christians give plentifully to the church and secular charity organizations.  Even the unbelievers notice the generosity of Christians.  They may not say it, but indeed they think it.  This generosity testifies of God's power to provide for His children so richly that they may provide for the needs of others.

• Giving praises and vindicates God's character:  

Giving cheerfully without remorse is an act of worship.  It renders a tribute of honor and praise to God.  This is how we must express our gratitude toward Him.  It reveals our faithfulness and thanksgiving to Him, the "Author" of all our blessings:  The good gifts that come from above to us.  As David sang:  "What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?" ( Psalm 116:12).

CONCLUSION:

God has blessed us bountifully.  He has generously blessed us with both physical and spiritual riches. Likewise, He has blessed us richly with a family (wife, husband, and children).  This is one of God's most special blessings toward us.  He also has blessed us with a spiritual family, the church.  As His children, we ought to imitate Him in our kindness, generosity, love, and giving (Ephesians 5:1).  And though it is God's commandment, it is the only way to find satisfaction and true happiness. With all the blessings in giving, let us be cheerful givers without regret.  Let us give with joy in our hearts.

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."  (2 Corinthians 9:8).

May we learn from Jesus, who gave Himself freely on the cross to die for our sins.  May we always remember that giving gives us joy and glorifies our God.  May we give ourselves completely to our Creator and freely extend His grace to others.



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