Dear CHRISTIAN Friends:
Greetings in the name of the ONLY wise God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This email will once again focus on an email I received. This man's email
is strange. It is unusual and I can only think of one other that I've
received similar to it.
The man cussed in his first email to me so I will exclude the perverse
words (trust me his whole message is perverse). I usually hit "delete" key
soon as I see the letter is written by a profane person but I was
compelled to respond.
*****INTRODUCTION*****
I've seen two main camps concerning the OSAS (once saved always saved)
debate. I don't belong to either one.
(1) Many believe that once a person gets saved they can never depart from
the faith--no matter what. The scriptures don't bear that out.
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, *brethren*, lest there be in any of you an evil
heart of unbelief, in *DEPARTING from the living God*.
3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of
you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, *IF* we hold the beginning of
our confidence stedfast unto the end.
Hebrews 6:15 And so, AFTER he [Abraham] had patiently endured, he
obtained the promise.
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but HE
THAT ENDURETH TO THE END SHALL BE SAVED.
No need for dispensationalists to tell me that Hebrews and Matthew are for
the Jews. All the word is for me.
(2) There are others who believe that once a person gets saved they can
lose their salvation over and over again. I had a boss one time who said
of his niece, "She needs to get saved again."
I do not belong to either of these camps.
*****WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE, TRACY?*****
When we enter into the blood covenant with Jesus Christ, we enter a
marriage. Jesus is the Bridegroom and the church is His bride. Jesus
will not leave us or forsake us, but He won't make us stay either. People
can, and do, leave their marriage partner for some whoremonger on the
side. In the Old Testament, when a woman was divorced from her husband
and married another, she could not go back to her first husband (Deu
24:1-4). This is born out in the spiritual realm also. If you taste of
the heavenly gift and reject it for the rudiments of this world, there is
no place of repentance for you (see Heb 12:15-17).
2 Peter 2:20 For if AFTER they have escaped the pollutions of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is WORSE with them than
the beginning.
2:21 For it had been BETTER for them NOT to have known the way of
righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them.
2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog
is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her
wallowing in the mire.
I do not believe that this happens often. That is why this man's email is
so strange.
*****YOUR HUSBAND IS HOLY*****
God is holy. We need to really think about that. God is holy. Anything
unholy is abominable to Him. When we get saved, God makes His abode IN
us. We twain become ONE. Hallelujah and amen. He says to us in His word,
"Be ye holy, for I am holy." That is the only way me and Jesus can
communicate good--if I am holy. Anything unholy in my life creates static
interference.
If you love the Lord, you are to be holy, not unholy. If you love unholy,
you don't love the Lord. He is ALL holy. The devil and Jesus don't mix.
God hates a mixture and too many Christians are mixing up the devil and
Jesus. Hellivision is the most glaring, pervasive example I can come up
with. Soap operas, sitcoms, movies, occultic kids cartoons, talk shows,
etc. When we have intercourse with the devil we are whoring around on our
Husband. Our HEARTS get hard through the deceitfulness of SIN (Heb 3:13).
Therefore, "Take heed, BRETHREN, lest there be IN ANY OF YOU AN EVIL HEART
of unbelief, in DEPARTING from the living God" (Heb 3:12).
In my response to the subject email, there are a number of scriptures for
your consideration on this subject.
*****MAKE IT SURE*****
We are constantly exhorted in the scriptures to make our calling and
election sure. To work out our salvation with fear and trembling. To
examine ourselves to see if we be in the faith--because if we do these
things we will never fall. We are to be steadfast, unmoveable ALWAYS
abounding in the work of the Lord.
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, GIVE DILIGENCE to make your
calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you ABUNDANTLY into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Too many professed Christians are looking to do the MINIMUM to get into
glory. Instead of living holy, they are trusting that "the sinner's
prayer" and a couple of good deeds is enough. Meanwhile never
internalizing the commandments of the Lord. This is the Matthew 7 group--
Matthew
7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but HE THAT DOETH the will of my Father which is in
heaven.
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works?
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me,
ye that work iniquity.
When people write here "doubting their salvation". The scriptures say
that your heart is assured by keeping the commandments.
1 John 3:24 And he that KEEPETH HIS COMMANDMENTS dwelleth in him, and he
in him. And HEREBY WE KNOW that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he
hath given us.
*****BUT WHAT IF I'M NOT SURE ABOUT MY SALVATION?*****
When people doubt their salvation, that is their spirit telling them "All
is NOT WELL! Danger! Problems!" I don't quench that by taking some
Bible verses out of context. Many of those that doubt ain't saved and at
a minimum are not serving the Lord in spirit and in truth. I'm not going
to tell them, "Don't worry about it." I tell them "Believe in the blood
and bring forth works meet for repentance."
Fear is like pain. Pain hurts, but it is good because it lets you know
something is WRONG. A man may have pain in the abdomen, so he goes in to
the doctor. The doctor checks him out and shouts, "Take him to the
emergency room, his appendix is about to burst!" That pain prompted that
man to go somewhere for HELP. When somebody comes to you doubting their
salvation, that pain is prompting them to go somewhere for HELP. Diagnose
the problem don't tell them "You shouldn't feel the pain, remember you
prayed the sinner's prayer." There is a PROBLEM there. Either they ain't
saved or else they ain't serving the Lord or else they got some sin they
need to get right.
PAIN and FEAR are good! It's okay for a man to be sorry or scared after a
godly sort. Godly sorrow WORKETH REPENTANCE not to be repented of, but
sorrow of the world worketh DEATH. There are people who for some medical
reason cannot feel pain. These people do not live long 'cause they can't
tell when something is wrong with them. Pain is unpleasant, but it is
good because it indicates there is a problem. This is one of the issues
we explore in the article on euthanasia (featuring serial killer Jack
Kevorkian) http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/kevork.htm
*****THE EMAIL: SUBJECT LINE, "I GIVE UP!"*****
I did EVERYTHING that he asked me to do. I witnessed to everyone around me
to the point that everyone hates my guts now. I have no friends now. I'm
all alone. You know what, Tracy? I think that the bible and Jesus are a
load of ...! I gave up everything for him and got absolutely nothing in
return. I'm disgusted with myself that I was so stupid as to believe
that... Go ahead and leave me on your mailing list though. I can print it
out and use it in the event of a toilet paper shortage. Go ahead and write
back. It'll be interesting to see what kind of....scripture you quote to
make it all better. Later.
*****MY RESPONSE*****
You obviously tried to witness as an unregenerate man. You need to be
saved.
for Jesus' sake,
tracy
--
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com
...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them,
Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them,
neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee,
and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be
dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 2:4, 6
*****EMAIL #2: SUBJECT LINE "I NEED TO BE SAVED?"*****
I followed the Biblical principles on asking the Lord to save me and
becoming born again. I gave Him my all. Don't call me unregenerate. What
do you have to base that on, because I used some naughty words? I attended
church faithfully too, until the snotty stuck up folks in the congregation
voted me out for not being like them. I have known that personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. Just like a bad marriage, it soured and I
got a divorce! So don't tell me what I am, or who I am, because you don't
know anything about me, where I've been, what I've seen, etc. etc. If
you're going to use that Bible to put me under a microscope and tell me
all the answers to questions I never asked, don't bother writing back.
*****MY RESPONSE*****
Dear Friend:
Should this email be grievous to you, you can trust I won't write to you
again.
If what you say is true, then you are in the most terrible state in the
world. I did not know that I would ever see this in my lifetime. I've
heard from thousands of unregenerates over the last few years including
witches, priests, monks, Satanists, Druids, sodomites, Mormons, etc. and I
perceive you are one of the scariest ever because you insist that you've
tasted of the gift. If that is not true you need to stop saying it.
Whatever the case, I am afraid for you and your hard, bitter heart.
I STRONGLY exhort you to tread carefully...
2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than
the beginning.
2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them.
2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog
is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her
wallowing in the mire.
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they
had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went
out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Hebrews
10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of
the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three
witnesses:
10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the
blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and
hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will
recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompence of reward.
10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of
God, ye might receive the promise.
10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will
not tarry.
10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul
shall have no pleasure in him.
10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them
that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God;
lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be
defiled;
12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for
one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the
blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he
sought it carefully with tears.
Romans
11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which
fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the
plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and
said unto them,
14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and
wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also,
he cannot be my disciple.
14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be
my disciple.
14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down
first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to
finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
14:30 Saying, *This man began to build, and was not able to finish*.
14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not
down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet
him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an
ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he
hath, he cannot be my disciple.
14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall
it be seasoned?
14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men
cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
for Jesus' sake,
tracy
--
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com
...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them,
Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them,
neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee,
and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be
dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 2:4, 6
*****CONCLUSION*****
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: AS MY FATHER
HATH SENT ME, EVEN SO SEND I YOU.
Every Christian has been sent to do some doctoring. In order to make a
proper diagnosis we must be students of the word. It is quite amazing
that all the eternal truth that we need is found in one place, one
Booke--your King James Bible, NOT New King James, King James conformable
to the edition of 1611.
We must study to shew ourselves approved unto God, workmen that needeth
not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth in the midst of an
evil and perverse generation.
for Jesus' sake,
your sister tracy
--
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com
...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them,
Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them,
neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee,
and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be
dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 2:4, 6
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