For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, who have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy – Ghost. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh, and bring put him to an open shame. (Heb. 6: 4–6)
The doctrine of eternal security is true and false. It is true in the sense of the scripture that whosoever is born of God does not sin; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself and the wicked one touches him not (1 John 5: 18). In them the Word of Christ is fulfilled when he said, I have given them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand (John 10: 28).
It is false because whosoever endures to the end, the same shall be saved. It is a false hope of an eternal security when we are claiming salvation and eternal life in Christ Jesus but are not living daily by his Word, not doing the will of God, not sowing to the spirit, not walking in the spirit while facing and walking through the wide road and the broad way and hoping to get to heaven instead of hell; this is self-deception and spiritual hallucination. If we’re professing Christ as Lord, he must be portrayed in us and through us. We must walk and do the work of God in the will or according to the will of God. Relationship with God must be maintained on God’s terms and not the other way round. Christ must be Lord indeed and in truth in our lives as we yield daily to him as servants of righteousness for the blessing and fruit of eternal life; if otherwise, Christ is going to expose our hypocritical life and rebuke our false hope of heaven before we even get there. Then Jesus will say, ‘Why do you call me Lord and do not the things which I say?’ (Luke 6: 46).
The solid unshakeable ground for the hope of eternal life is in the implicit and constant obedience to God’s Word, a sanctified life, and hearkening to his Spirit’s voice (Matt. 7: 21–27). Apostle James wrote: ‘If a man be a hearer of the word and not a doer (obedience, my sheep hear my voice. John 10: 27) he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty (the Word of God or the Bible) and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed’ (James 2: 24–25).
As we come to God through his Son and accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour, our name is instantly written in the Lamb’s book of life in heaven. We are said to be born again and heaven-bound citizens. This is regeneration and a newness of life and living.
And of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her; and the highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when he writteth up the people, that this man was born there. (Ps. 87: 5–6)
Our registration for heavenly candidacy for celestial or heavenly citizenship is conditional. The life permit to stay on earth is our countdown and probation time in our testimonies and conducts in Christ life and faithful representation and portraying of Christ in our pilgrim journey. From the moment we accept Christ and start walking with him, growth in obedience and faithfulness is required. We must be steadfast, holding on to Christ till the end in the face of whatsoever, for he has promised not to blot out our name from the book of life, but to confess it before God and his angels, provided we keep his Word, works, and faith to the end (Rev. 3: 5).
In the abuse of military power and authority, in the absence of the rule of engagement in battle or competition and in the neglect of code of conduct in an organisation, there is possibility of being discharged of duty, relieved of post, or disqualified out of race. In 1 Corinthians 9: 25–27, Apostle Paul depicted a believer’s race better than that of a worldly athletic who is very careful to avoid disqualification by following every instruction to run and to obtain a temporal corruptible crown or reward for his participation in the race. He therefore enjoins believers to run with certainty and seriousness for the race of their soul to heaven, having his body under subjection, lest that by any means, after preaching to others should he be cast away.
The flesh or the carnality in us and its ugly head must be destroyed. Every heaven-bound pilgrim must rightly pursue the interests of their soul by beating down their bodies and keep them under. They must abstain from and resist the fleshly lusts. The body must be made to serve the mind, not suffered to lord over it (1 Pet. 4: 1–3).
It is never the will of God that Christ should lose any of all that has been given to him. Nevertheless, scriptures make it clear that those once saved may also get lost at the end if care is not taken, if warnings are not heeded to, and if seriousness is not applied in our relationship with God.
Therefore we ought to give more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Heb. 2: 1–4)
Except we have the full knowledge of our salvation, value, and worth of it (the priceless unblemished sacrificial lamb and spotless blood), the great and ultimate price paid to get it done for us, and the implications of an unworthy walk in the Kingdom, we are prone to trifle with it and lose it. Diligence and dutifulness should replace carelessness and slothfulness. If the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot (Matt. 5: 13). Straight paths must be made for our feet and the lame feet must not be turned out of the way, but rather be healed. If any man draw back, my soul, says the Lord, shall have no pleasure in him (Heb. 10: 38).
Remember how the Lord, having saved the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt afterward destroyed them that believed not. We must labour and fear, lest a promise, being left us of entering into his rest, any should seem to come short of it. Many Israelites, before their sins in Exodus 32, were born again, redeemed, sanctified, converted, and were in grace, having their names written in the book of life. They had the gospel preached unto them, but many corrupted their ways and doings, so displeasing to God. They tempted God until grace was frustrated and he was weary of repenting! They were overthrown in the wilderness and could not get to the Promised Land. Beware! (1 Cor. 10.1–11; Heb. 4: 1–11). The punishments inflicted upon Israel will be inflicted upon any new covenant Christian if they backslide and sin wilfully after the manners of Israelites’ sinfulness and waywardness. If God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remained no more sacrifice for sins, but of certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Heb. 10: 26–29; Rom. 11: 21)
How do I sin wilfully? If I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor (Gal. 2: 20). Considering and comparing the book of Romans 6: 6 with this, you would understand that our old man is crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin. Sin is the transgression of the law, and being delivered wherein we were held, we ought to walk in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Failure to walk in the newness of the Spirit means that you are not mortifying (killing or destroying) your members (sinful life and activities) which are upon the earth, such as fornication, adultery, idolatry, drunkenness, smoking, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, anger, envy, jealousy, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, lying, with all other similar works of the flesh. Despising the spirit of grace is not to make the positive use of its empowerment to have grace to be redeemed from all iniquities while playing evil wisdom of applying the blood for constant cleansing and forgiveness from sins when you have no desire to change, neither to increase in the fullness and holiness of Christ.
Thus the carnal or fleshly walker is trampling under the foot the Son of God, counting the blood of the covenant wherein he was sanctified an unholy thing, despising the spirit of grace in his daily walk.
But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses. (Ps. 68: 21)
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth (going back, falling away) to his folly. (Prov. 26: 11)
Such make fools of themselves as they think to be mocking God. The Lord says he who hears the Word (teachings and doctrines of Christ gospel) but never considers walking in the ways of it is such a fool. In the end, his ruin and destruction shall be great (Matt. 7: 26–27). Thus the foolish man makes a constant mock and play at sin. It is as sport (normal and pleasurable) to a fool to do mischief (sin), but a man of understanding has wisdom (such that hears the Word and does it, who builds his house on the rock, against strong wind and rain) (Prov. 26: 11; 10: 23).
If a man falls, shall he not rise again? Yes, any can fall while he does not watch and pray. He that thinks he stands should take heed lest he fall! (1 Cor. 10: 12).
You must learn from what causes the fall, stand up and move forward. You must not walk out of the way, but seek for the right way back to live right, avoiding the repetition of the same. Remember how you fell and repent (Rev. 2: 5).
In the parable of the lost sheep (a once cleansed and forgiven sinner, backslider, wounded, and fallen in the battle) we see the heartbeat and possessive spirit of the shepherd, his unwillingness to let go of the errant sheep. The Shepherd’s love and care was further shown as he safeguarded the abiding ninety and nine gentle sheep and went for a search and rescue mission to bring the lost sheep back into the sheepfold. His joy and satisfaction for the strayed and restored sheep was so enormous above the ninety and nine abiding sheep. The shepherd had laboured so much to raise his sheep through the summer and winter, springtime, and autumn, so not without a fight and some great effort shall he let go to count the lost sheep wasted and lost. Even so it is not the will of our Father in heaven, that one of Christ’s blood-bought soul should perish (Matt. 18: 12–14).
Take an analogue from the life of a wounded soldier of an earthly nation in a battlefield. His case is better than that of a fallen-dead warrior. Amputated, an eye lost, whatever, the wounded soldier can still be treated, live, and give some meaning to his life afterward; by the way, a living dog is better than a dead lion. Some believers’ fall is prophesied in the scriptures. It is meant to refine, purge, make better, and a stronger fighter, warrior, ambassador, and witness if they shall truly learn their lesson to live and do better . . . the scriptures cannot be broken.
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now, when they shall fall, they shall be helped (the Chief Shepherd shall not abandon them; he shall leave the ninety and nine sheep aside and search till he found to rescue them) with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries (be careful that you are in the right church, under or with a pastor of a sound doctrine and undiluted Word of God). And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed (Dan. 11: 33–35).
Christ was born for the rise and fall of many. Many shall fall to rise, and the last shall be the first. Many shall rise to fall, and the first shall be last. Such improved on sin and not on Christ-likeness which were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness. Such waxed stronger in the flesh and not in the spirit, which were hoping to reap eternal life in self-deception. Such were they that began in the Spirit but were made perfect in the flesh which is to suffer in vain in the life to come, if they persist to live like ordinary men in the Lord and do not continue in the love of the spirit and of the truth that they might be saved. It could have been better not to know the way of truth than for knowing it and going back from it. Whenever you go back to some of the things you once renounced and forsook for Christ, you become like a dog that returns to his vomit and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. If you made a mistake, don’t be a failure, don’t be a dropped out; retake the examination, get corrected, and keep walking straight. If you are overtaken in a fault, learn from it as you are being helped and restored by good and loving brethren around you in the spirit of meekness.
You can’t go back to the world. The price is too high and unbearable – no turning back, no retreat and no surrendering to the enemy. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright, but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity (Prov. 10: 29).If you fall down, you should not fall out, rise and keep walking straight, steady and strong, the lame feet must not be turned out of the way, it must rather be healed (Heb. 12: 13)
If the Lord prayed for Peter to be restored while on earth before his death, he is interceding for you in heaven as your advocate before God.
Like an additional arithmetic, your salvation must by constant and implicit obedience be worked out with fear and trembling as God works in you both to will and to do according to his good pleasure. Though your salvation has been purchased and made sure by the life and blood of Jesus, you must contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints. You must strive to enter in through the straight gate and the narrow way – the crucified life. You must labour to enter into his rest, not loving your lives so much as to shrink from death. You must prefer doing his will and bid above all other things in order to preserve your life for eternity, for whosoever would love his life, the same shall lose it. You must be diligent that you might be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. You must be careful lest you be led away with the error of the wicked, falling from your own steadfastness. Girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, as obedient children, not fashioning yourself according to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as he which has called you is holy so be you holy in all manner of conversation. You must hold on to faith and good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made a shipwreck. Fight the good fight of faith and lay hold or pursue eternal life – daily. You must take heed unto yourself and the doctrine, continue in them, for in doing this shall you be saved and they that are hearing you. You must be fervent in the spirit, serving the Lord, increasing in your first love, occupying daily for Christ till he comes or till you die. Whatsoever you have must be held fast till he comes, lest another take your crown. And now little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming! (1 John 2: 28).
Extract from the book-The purposes of the cross. With your seed-gift of 100 Euros into the ministry you can have this book full of power, life and revelation in a volume of 382 pages. Write now TO apostle@glbmchurch.com or visit
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Jesus is Lord.