Chapter One

Grace Or Faith Or Christ Alone

 

True Or False Fruit? 

In the book of Matthew, Jesus speaks of false prophets and warns those listening to Him, as He gave what we know to be His Sermon on the Mount.  This is what Jesus said:

 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.  By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.  A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them.  Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.  Many will tell Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many mighty works?’  Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who work iniquity.’” (Matthew 7:15-23)

False Prophets

Fruit is the criterion by which false prophets are distinguished from true prophets. Jesus says that there will be those who will not enter Heaven, though they claim to have prophesied in His name, performed many mighty works, and cast out demons. Numerous people have quoted this Scripture and then pointed at Pentecostals and Charismatics. However, if we read this correctly, we will notice that the ones whom Jesus rejects are not those who prophesy, cast out demons, or perform mighty works in His name, but those who are workers of iniquity—lawless individuals, evildoers!

False Prophets, Priests, and Shepherds

In the Old Testament, there are a number of references not just to prophets but also to shepherds and priests who fail in their duties to teach the truth to their flocks—the people of God. For example, there are Evangelicals and Fundamentalists who use the King James Version of the Bible and talk about the burden of the Lord. They are often heard saying, “The Lord has laid a burden upon me.” Now, if these people had read their Bible and taken note of what it says, they would have found that the burden of the Lord is not something endorsed in Scripture. For in Jeremiah we find:

And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord. And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will even punish that man and his house. Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answer-ed? and, What hath the Lord spoken? And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God. Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the Lord answered thee? and, What hath the Lord spoken? But since ye say, The burden of the Lord; therefore thus saith the Lord; Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord; Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.  (Jeremiah 23:33-40 KJV).[i]

Jeremiah’s Prophecy And Contemporary Thinking  

We can say that taking Jeremiah’s prophecy out of context when discussing people today is misleading. People today who claim that the Lord has laid a burden on their heart usually mean they feel motivated to do something for God. In discussions with those who use the expression “the burden of the Lord,” those who justify its use claim that they do not mean what they are really saying. Evidently, they mean that God has given them a specific task to do or that they feel an obligation to serve the Lord. Yet, if we read what Jeremiah wrote, it is quite clear that suggesting God puts a burden on anyone is false teaching, even though this may seem like a moot point. In fact, in verse sixteen of the same chapter we read:

Yahweh of Armies says, Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh (Jer. 23:16).

Concerning False Teaching

Whether the individuals doing the teaching claim to be prophets or not is irrelevant. Anyone who teaches that the Lord places a burden on people’s hearts is guilty of false teaching. This is because we are set free from burdens if we are truly in Christ Jesus; indeed, Jesus Christ has set us free so that we do not subject ourselves to burdens anymore or to any subtle deceptions suggestive of bearing burdens. Instead of burdens, we are to participate in the blessings that have been set apart for those of us who choose to do the will of God. Unfortunately, some people believe that we need to have a burden for some reason, and thus they teach these things—not so much as a doctrine essential for obtaining salvation, but as a practice for their belief—thereby unintentionally limiting their victory and possibly preventing others from coming to salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Any doctrine is still a teaching, and those who practice iniquity teach by example. Similarly, false concepts create stumbling blocks—even if unwittingly misconstrued—because they result in deceptively dangerous activities. This is why Jesus said that we are not to practice what the hypocrites do, but what they say (Matthew 23:3); for those who relax any of the commandments and teach men so will be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:19). The implication from the following verse (Matthew 5:20) is that anyone who relaxes the teachings of the law is excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven.

When it comes to those who claim to have supernatural powers, they are primarily false teachers who do not preach Jesus Christ as Lord. These individuals are usually charlatans. They may be equated with the magicians who opposed Moses in the days of Pharaoh or similar to those who claim to be clairvoyants and can communicate with the dead, read crystal balls, tarot cards, tea leaves, and other forms of fortune-telling. These are people who learn tricks of magicians, whereby distracting a person’s attention, they are able to “pull fast ones” and give the impression that they have occult or supernatural powers. Others learn the technique of cold reading and claim to be psychics or clairvoyants capable of providing insights into a person’s future or possessing knowledge of deceased relatives. Whatever the case, these are learned skills. Sometimes, those who have learned them infiltrate churches and then proceed to deceive those who are gullible enough to believe anything without desiring the truth of the matter.

James Randi

James Randi offered a financial reward for decades to anyone who could demonstrate under controlled conditions that they possess psychic, clairvoyant, or occult powers that transcend skills that can be performed by any magician or cold reader. Until his death at 92 years of age, Randi had one million dollars up for grabs. Many tried to claim it. On the television program Larry King Live (June 5, 2001), Larry King interviewed self-acclaimed spirit medium and healer Rosemary Altea, who took live calls from viewers while James Randi listened and appraised her skills. Altea sounded convincing, but as Randi pointed out, she was employing cold reading skills and even using the cop-out strategy when she described a deceased person whom a caller could not identify. In 2009, Altea’s psychic skills as a clairvoyant were demonstrated to be bogus when her bookkeeper was convicted of stealing approximately $200,000 from her between 2001 and 2008 using checks, credit cards, and electronic transfers. None of the spirits informed her of the swindle—although comedians claim that her channeling skills are not bogus, it was just that the spirits of the dead were in on the swindle too.

About Spiritualists And Mediums

Spiritualists and mediums are not Christians, regardless of their claims. They use cold reading techniques (looking for clues), and while many may genuinely believe they are developing their psychic abilities in doing so, they become frauds if they begin charging people money for their services. Likewise, many Pentecostals and Charismatics are also guilty of employing cold reading techniques and claiming they are receiving information from the Lord. Although many of these individuals genuinely believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, the fabrication of gifts is commonplace in order to demonstrate that they have been blessed by God and have received the Holy Spirit. When I attended one church meeting, I observed a Pentecostal editor of a national magazine, who held a PhD, perform in a manner similar to the well-known psychic John Edward. He claimed to be exercising the gift of the word of knowledge and asserted that people possessed various ailments. When he got it wrong and the person disagreed (which happened on nearly every occasion), his response was, “Unless you acknowledge the condition, you will not be healed.” Nonetheless, the pastor of the church thought this was a great success and proclaimed that healings and miracles had taken place in the church that day.

Derren Brown

Derren Brown is a hypnotist, mentalist, illusionist, and trickster who has demonstrated that he can outperform psychics and clairvoyants at their own game. In fact, one psychic teacher from Sedona, Arizona, claimed that Derren Brown is the most gifted psychic he has ever seen. Brown asserts that he has no gift but has merely learned the techniques of the trade. From having watched a number of Brown’s live performances, if he were to claim that he had psychic powers or was executing words of knowledge in the name of Jesus Christ, the average person on the street would be convinced. To Brown’s credit, he explains many of the techniques he employs (but not all) and exposes other charlatans for what they are. Evidently, Brown spent some time at university attending a congregation of the Living Waters Christian Fellowship that practices faith healing. He attended their meetings to be cured of his homosexuality. However, he claims it was not for him and that faith healing is more of a fraud, even if there is some psychology and depth to some of the healing, as many do not get healed and then the victim is blamed for not believing enough.

Disturbingly, in his television special Messiah, Brown claimed he was an evangelist who could convert people to Christianity with the touch of his hand. Having convinced a pastor to allow him to demonstrate his ability by placing some ads in a newspaper that persuaded about thirty people to attend, he filmed his charade at the church. One young woman fell for Brown’s seductive techniques and began to feign that she felt some form of “touch from the Lord”—or what she called “a hug of God.” Those who were genuinely uninterested left. Of the dozen or so who remained, Brown persuaded a tall man to come to the front and comply with his expectations to be caught by him if something happened. Even though this was filmed and everything could have been set up, what Brown demonstrated in this television special is that people have an inner need to believe in something. Only Brown himself does not want to acknowledge the truth about God because he is a homosexual, and the Bible states that no homosexual has any place in the kingdom of God.

There are men and women who are undoubtedly false prophets that resort to trickery to deceive the gullible and, hopefully, acquire fame and fortune. A Pentecostal pastor I knew specialized in birthday prophecies at the beginning of each month. He would always tell people in his congregation how accurate his prophecies were when he traveled to other congregations as a guest speaker. While he was sincere, he came across as an amateur, as was evident in the case of his prophecy concerning a part-time sports journalist who wrote reports for a weekly rural paper connected to a publishing company that had published three of his books, two of which were in their second print. This congregant had suffered from a number of psychiatric episodes. He was on a disability pension and had applied to do a certificate in workplace training at a vocational college. The pastor knew this person very well. At the beginning of January, the pastor prophesied that he should understand that his academic qualifications would be restricted and should not expect to obtain a university degree. Contrary to what the pastor prophesied, within six weeks, the part-time journalist gained acceptance into a course for a Master's Degree in Creative Writing and graduated two years later. One year later, this ex-journalist was employed as a university lecturer.

While many attempt to make their Christian experience more colorful and seek some form of notoriety by making extravagant claims, there are those who oppose all genuine miracles as being works of the Devil. Surprisingly, some claim to believe in the God of Creation but do not believe He heals today or demonstrates anything of a supernatural nature. We know this attitude and belief are misguided because a spiritual birth is a supernatural event, even if people are not given indestructible, glorified physical bodies the instant they call upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

Sai Baba

In the 1970s, I read a book written by Lyall Watson entitled Supernature. Watson described Hindu holy man Sai Baba as being the modern equivalent of our Lord Jesus Christ, as he turned rocks into sweets, flowers into jewels, and produced showers of sacred ash from thin air in large quantities. Many miracles have been claimed and attributed to Sai Baba. He died in April 2011. Two years after his death, headlines such as “Unbelievable Miracles of Sai Baba” and “This Blog Changed My Life” were to be found on the internet and in publications released by his devotees. Under one of the abovementioned headlines, published on a Sai Baba website, a teenage schoolgirl claimed that Sai Baba was watching over her.

On the other hand, Robert Priddy, who did much to promote Sai Baba and was a leader of the Sai Organisation in Norway, has publicly announced that he was deluded by the man, and that the diamonds Sai Baba produced supernaturally were nothing but cheap fakes. An investigation into Sai Baba by one free-thought skeptic revealed that he was raised in a traveling circus and had never produced anything for the poor except ash; as for the wealthy, they were flattered with trinkets, thinking that they were valuable jewels. Moreover, allegations of ritual sexual abuse of men and boys by Sai Baba have also surfaced. Irrespective of this, Sai Baba was honored—but not by all—when he died, with a state funeral.

However, Prabir Ghosh has been a keen exponent of Sai Baba’s fraud and has produced documentary evidence of his trickery on film. Prabir spent many hours among the holy men of India as a child and learned magic and other tricks these so-called god-men practice. He was instrumental in establishing the Science and Rationalists’ Association of India to counter belief in the delusional supernatural. Like James Randi, Prabir Ghosh has issued a challenge to all practitioners of trickery who claim supernatural powers by offering a large sum of money to anyone who can demonstrate the validity of their claims by providing evidence of fulfilling any one of thirty criteria.

The reason for including Sai Baba in this discussion about false prophets is that the fruits of his life are such that many people are left with a bitter taste in their mouth once they have learned the truth. Sai Baba was not a Christian. Unfortunately, there are false Christians who practice the same sort of trickery and are eventually found to be frauds, although there does not appear to be any Christian practitioner who operates on the scale Sai Baba did. Many people question Benny Hinn, and although claims of healing have been disputed, he does not resort to the same magic tricks associated with Sai Baba.

Derren Brown and other non-Christians have been mentioned to point out that, through learned skills, a person can deceive people into believing anything—so much so that even valid healings by the Spirit of God that are of a psychological nature, resulting from being set free from sin, are questioned and regarded as being nothing more than autosuggestion.

Blind Belief And Reasoned Faith

Blind belief is different to reasoned faith. This is something that rationalists and non-believers in the supernatural fail to understand. One of the reasons for this is certain phenomena that has no currency at all, other than being mere trickery and delusion, is being produced as evidence of the supernatural— such as cited above. The humanists who deny the existence of God claim that blind belief is the same as faith in God. In their case, they have been blinded by the god of this world, and instead of the truth, believe a lie. This is because faith and belief are two separate things. Belief is the acceptance of some-thing to be true. This is the case, whether a person’s head is in the sand or a person is blindfolded. Even if a person believes that scientific enquiry can prove how life evolved millions of years ago, unless it can be unquestionably proven, this is a belief, not a fact. On the other hand, faith is evidenced only when action has been taken that indisputably proves the truth in the present time.

The Effect Of Sufficient Faith 

Jesus said to His disciples that, if they had sufficient faith, they would be able to cast a mountain into the sea by merely stating it to be so. Many people scoff at this. They say this is not what Jesus meant. However, if they were honest, they would say that they do not possess sufficient faith to cast a mountain into a sea; otherwise, they would.

Conceptions and the Quest for Truth

Within each person, there is a need to connect with the Source of Life. This source emanates from the very being of the Creator. The idea that the Creator God is all-powerful and capable of knowing the future brings a source of comfort for many people, because this gives them hope that there just might be something more than being born to die. Those who believe in reincarnation seek comfort in the idea of rebirth. Those who seek to know the truth require something more than being told that they are manifestations of energy travelling en route to oblivion within the Great Being through a series of incarnations, based upon the concept that works performed in the previous life determine the next manifestation of life. Atheists, on the other hand, like to dismiss the idea of an Infinite Being having more power than humans do.

The Atheist

The atheist’s position is largely based on observation of people who claim to be religious and worship beings that seem to be impotent. Atheists regard the idea of a god who demands worship and offerings as a superstition of the ignorant, foisted upon them by the charlatan priests and god-men of this world. As for the God of the Christians, for whom apologists offer arguments to establish proofs of His existence, once more they point to the lifestyles of practitioners and deride their lack of conviction and power to live up to their claims.

Sinners Saved by Grace, Not Saints Made Perfect

Christians are fond of saying, “We are sinners saved by grace, not saints that have been made perfect.” But then Christians will claim they possess the Holy Spirit, who proceeds and comes forth from God and is God. If Christians possess the Holy Spirit, then it stands to reason they should be able to live up to the standards required of them. They should be superior to those who do not possess the Holy Spirit in all that they do. Unfortunately, the evidence for those claiming to be Christians who possess the Holy Spirit is that they are often more fallible than those atheists who assert God does not exist. As far as the atheist is concerned, there just is not any fruit in Christian lives suggestive of an all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present God. The lack of fruit is the evidence atheists claim as proof of gullibility and self-deception. As far as they are concerned, God does not exist, as Christians claim, because there is no worthwhile change in behavior or a demonstration of moral excellence. To the atheist, Christians are no different from those who believe in Sai Baba. They are just as deceived.

Confused Theology

One of the difficulties for Christians who attempt to explain the wisdom and purpose of God to non-Christians (including those who are cultural Christians because of the societies into which they are born and not because they are born of God) stems from confused theology. This is evident in different views held by various denominations. However, it is most evident among the advocates of double predestination, limited atonement, and “saved by grace alone.”

The following discussion is the result of an email that I received informing me of a particular teaching which I was supposed to believe would clear up any doubts in my mind (if I had any) that I may have had about my salvation.

A Transcript by Randy Smith

On September 2, 2014, an email was delivered to me from a Bible study group that contained their video of the week. The video was entitled “Does Galatians 5:21 Teach Us That We Lose Our Salvation” and featured a Pastor Smith speaking on the subject. The following is a transcript of what he said:

Once you are saved; you are saved. God has become your Father and He will always be your Father. Once He has adopted you as His child, you will always be His child. Jesus Christ died for His people. It’s not you that did anything to achieve your salvation. It is what Jesus Christ did for you; so therefore, once you are saved, you are, of course, always saved.

But Paul makes a very interesting statement in Galatians 5:21. And it’s interesting that he puts it in [Galatians] 5:21 because he has just spent four chapters defending grace alone, faith alone, and Christ alone. But he says in [Galatians] 5:21 that if you practice these things, meaning the deeds of the flesh, that are mentioned in those three verses prior, you will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Now Paul is not contradicting himself. But what he is saying is this: that if you are truly saved there will evidence of God’s work in your life.

We are not saved by our faith. But when we have faith in Jesus Christ that faith is given in evidence in how we live our life and that is the fruit of the spirit. If we are saved and the Holy Spirit comes within us, He will bear fruit in us showing we are Christians. I mean it is always hard for me to imagine that the Holy Spirit of God is dwelling in me and in some way not leaving His fingerprints on my heart.  So what I am saying is this, that we are saved by our faith alone. But the faith that saves is never alone, it will always evidence itself in fruit. If I am an apple tree, I will bear apples. If I am a Christian, I will bear Christian fruit. That’s what Paul mentions in [chapter 5] verses 20 through to 23. So it’s not that you can lose your salvation. But if you are practicing these things, it doesn’t mean one habitual, or a one slip into a sin, its habitual sin. It’s being identified by those deeds in the flesh. If you are a man or a woman who is identified by those deeds in the flesh. You are living according to the flesh and there is no evidence of God living in you. So it’s not that you lost your salvation, but it’s evidence that the Spirit of God is not dwelling in your heart.

And I really want to add to that that it’s not our job as people to be judge of who’s in or who’s out. Scripture says that the Lord knows those who are His. But it is saying to those people who think they are saved that they need to do some self-examination and make sure as Paul says that the Spirit of God truly dwells within them.

Unpacking The Transcript

That night I had a phone call from a person informing me that the Bible study to which he had intended to go was cancelled; so he asked to come over to my place instead for a Bible study. I arranged for another person to be present, and since I had just seen this video, I thought we should discuss it. Apart from myself, one of the two individuals in attendance at the Bible study had been a Christian for over thirteen years, and the other for more than fifteen years. After viewing the short video, in which Pastor Smith speaks for just over two minutes, I asked each of the two attendees to comment.

Need to Bear Fruit

The person who had been a Christian for fifteen years commented first on the need to bear fruit and, more or less, agreed with Smith’s conclusion that we should not judge, but that the Lord knows those who are His. The Christian of thirteen years’ standing noted that those who were not saved would not bear fruit, so that the fruit was the essential criterion for determining whether a person was truly a Christian or not.

A Contradiction: Not Saved/Are Saved by Faith

We looked at the video a second time to see whether they had any other comments. One of the individuals claimed that Pastor Smith made a contradiction by saying that we are not saved by faith, and then making the claim that we are saved by faith alone.

On a Scriptural Journey

The third time we went through the video (the transcript is on pages 20–21) and noted each assertion, then looked at the Scriptures that contradicted the claims made by Pastor Smith, herein forthwith called “the Pastor.”

Argument for Salvation Through Faith in Jesus Christ

The Pastor claims the Apostle Paul in the book of Galatians is defending the idea that we are saved by grace alone; we are saved by faith alone; we are saved by Christ alone. This has to be a ruse, because there are no such claims in the book. The first time I read the book of Galatians, what stood out to me was the argument for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than relying on the works of the Law. Nothing has changed. For we read:

Yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law. (Galatians 2:16)

For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26)

 

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6)

The Faith That Saves Is Never Alone 

These three excerpts from the book of Galatians are very self-explanatory. Obviously, something is amiss, or the Pastor in question is doing what many tricksters do, who twist the truth of Scripture. For after the Pastor goes on to say that we are not saved by our faith, he claims, “So what I am saying is this, that we are saved by our faith alone. But the faith that saves is never alone, it will always evidence itself in fruit.”

This statement that “we are not saved by our faith alone” is qualified by the Pastor basically saying:

This is because if we are saved, we bear the fruits of salvation. This is how we know we are saved. However if we do not bear the fruits of salvation we are not saved but who are we to know a person's heart. Only God knows a person's heart, so we cannot judge whether a person is saved or not. 

Does what the Pastor say make sense? Is there any line drawn in the sand, or is he being wishy-washy? And if so, why is he being wishy-washy? Is it because he is trying to deceive viewers? Or is he just confused? For what this pastor presents is the confused view that is widely accepted across Evangelical and Fundamental Christendom. This view that “we are saved, but then we might not be saved, only we cannot be sure,” is found also among the many Pentecostal churches, where speaking in tongues is considered an initial sign of possessing the gift of the Holy Spirit.

One of the greatest difficulties for people coming to know Jesus Christ as Lord is the faulty logic of Christians. This illogical way of expressing matters is defended on the basis that human reasoning cannot understand the mysteries of God. That this might come across as arrogance does not enter the heads of those who think they were especially chosen before the foundation of the world to be saved, while others have not been. Either people have the truth and can demonstrate this in their lives, or they are liars deceiving others and themselves.

For many Christians, this convoluted logic of “alone” not really meaning alone (that is, unique or solitary) is fine. Even the two Christians whom I asked what they thought about the argument, when they first saw the video, did not see anything wrong with what the Pastor said. They both concentrated on the necessity to bear fruit in our lives if we are to demonstrate that we are genuine in our faith. This is what the majority of people who are Christians would tend to conclude from the argument. The argument finished on the need to bear fruit. Most Christians, like most people, recall the last words of a statement, especially one that has duration over two minutes.

The Feel-Good Message

Often when people are speaking, they will wander around aimlessly over a number of subjects, like an elderly person who meanders across the various landscapes of a continent when on a sightseeing tour, and afterwards tells people that it was a marvelous time. Many films are like this. Many books are the same. There are plots and subplots and crises, anti-climaxes, a climax, sometimes a preamble, and usually a feel-good ending—especially in a film, if not in the book upon which the film is based. Nothing must be too challenging if it is to be a success. People like to feel good at an evening’s end. They do not like going to bed at night reminded of the difficulties of life. Consequently, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and other presenters of Christian theology have learnt that the feel-good message brings more money into the coffers than a challenging confrontation that requires uncomfortable self-examination and a change in behavior. When people feel that they don’t need to examine themselves, or change their behavior, then they will stay with that church or organization. As long as people can possess a sense of self-esteem, or are informed that they are acceptable to our Heavenly Father without the need to change, then they can plausibly deny any need to do more than pay lip service to God.

Honoring God with our lips but not with our hearts is the difference between temporal satisfaction in the world of virtuality and everlasting satisfaction in the reality of eternity. If there is to be a commitment among people on Earth, the Devil ensures it deviates from the truth. Whenever a commitment is sought, everything must sound correct and make the hearers feel good, in that no behavioral change is required. Discomfort is something that we must avoid at all costs. Consequently, the Devil wins many souls without effort.

The Father Desires All To Be Saved

In saying that the Devil wins souls without effort, this is not to suggest for a minute that God created some souls for eternal damnation. The Bible tells us that God detests the death of the wicked. Our Heavenly Father would rather that all men (every person) be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). However, Jesus did say, in respect to the hypocrites of His day, the reason that He spoke in parables was so they would not understand and repent (Mark 4:10–12). Moreover, Jesus said that if they knew what awaited them, they would not go there. The story of Lazarus and the rich man exemplifies this. For in this story, we see a rich man who lives sumptuously in the comforts of this life, scorn Lazarus. Unfortunately, this resulted in much discomfort and anguish in the eternal realm. In Hades, the man who enjoyed the pleasures and comforts that this world has to offer beseeched his ancestral father (Abraham) to warn his other brothers of what awaits the wicked of this world. But if they were to hear the message of salvation and rejoice in the idea of eternal life in paradise, this would be short-lived, because, as is the case with many, a little bit of persecution or some discomfort is sufficient to prevent them from taking up their cross and walking in the footsteps of the Master—footsteps that lead to eternal life. When among Jews, even today, we will hear them say, “We have Moses, and God elected us to be privileged above the other nations.”

Concerning Special Election

This Jewish claim to special election is the same view that is found among Christians. Many Christians like to believe that when they came out of their mother’s womb, they were born into the kingdom of God. People from the Third World countries see Christians in the First World as living in paradise—especially Third World refugees who are rescued from desperate situations that have existed for years in war-torn zones and regions where famines have reigned. Many do live in paradise on Earth when compared to others. In fact, many people who claim to be Christians and are regular churchgoers despise those who are of a lower social standing than themselves. These cultural Christians love hearing the message of being saved by grace alone. Like the Jews, they like to believe that they were elected to salvation before their birth into this world. Unfortunately, one birth is insufficient for eternity. Two births are required. Otherwise, discovering the truth of being twice dead is the finality of existence. Such a concept is misunderstood, because when talking about being twice dead, this does not make sense. Likewise, being born a second time did not make much sense to Nicodemus when Jesus informed him that this was a prerequisite for eternal life.

Reviewing the Randy Smith Argument

Let us have a look at the argument regarding salvation made by the Pastor, who was presenting his case for “once saved, always saved”—that is, the impossibility of losing one’s salvation.

It might be that those who claim we can lose our salvation are the ones who are sending people to hell in a handbasket. A little analysis of the Pastor's argument will reveal whether this person is speaking the truth, or is a false prophet. Or, if not a false prophet, a false shepherd. Or, if not a false shepherd, a false teacher. Whatever the case, once a person is propagating falsehoods, that person is doing the work of the Devil and not the desires of our Heavenly Father. We need to be able to discern between the true and the false.

Discerning the Truth

Nobody can argue with the fact that bearing the fruit of the Spirit of God is the irrefutable evidence of salvation. The claim of this pastor is that we need to bear fruit to demonstrate that we are saved. If we do not bear the fruit of salvation, then we are not saved; but this pastor also asserts that if we do not bear fruit, we could be saved, as we do not really know who is saved. In many respects this is true. Yet it is deceptive.

A Fruit Bearer/Not a Fruit Bearer?

Jesus very clearly taught that false prophets are known by their fruit, which means that regardless of what they say, it is the fruit—what they do—that counts. On this basis, all we need to do is find out the fruit being produced in a person's life, and we can tell whether the person is saved.

Teaching Plays an Important Part in Salvation

Many people within Christian circles are often heard saying, doctrine is not what counts, but fruit. To this, others reply, but only true doctrine leads to good fruit. In other words, since doctrine is teaching, and false teaching is more likely to lead people away from the truth, it is unlikely for people who possess false teaching to produce the fruit of salvation. In which case, when we consider what Jesus said about the matter, we learn a hard truth. Jesus said that people travel over land and sea to get a single convert, only to make the person twice as much a child of the Devil as themselves. What this means is teaching plays an important part in salvation—whether coming to salvation, being saved, and continuing in salvation by bearing fruit.

Another Gospel, Another Destination

Actually, when we speak about coming to salvation, being saved, and continuing in salvation, this does connote the possibility that one can lose one's salvation, because the implication resident in the idea of continuing in salvation suggests it is possible not to continue in salvation. We all know that if we start on a journey, we will only reach our destination if we continue on that journey towards our original destination. If we turn away and take another route towards another destination, then we are no longer likely to reach our original destination. Of course, the key word in that last sentence was "another." This is why we read in the Bible that the Apostle Paul talks about another gospel existing other than the one he himself preached.

The Apostle Paul’s Expression of Uncertainty

Evidently, there is more than one gospel. The word "gospel" means "good news." The Apostle was saying that there are in effect different versions of the good news of salvation. This might seem comforting to us as Christians and make good sense of the oft-quoted saying, "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity,” which is attributed to Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD). Indeed, this helps justify the many different expressions of belief that exist within Christendom. However, the Apostle also said that if anyone preaches a gospel other than what he preached, that person is accursed. These are very strong words. Naturally, we all want to know the gospel that the Apostle Paul preached. The Apostle spoke about continuing to the end to complete the good race, lest he himself fail to secure his own salvation, even after having preached the message to others.

To quote Paul:

If by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect;  but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:11-12)

 

Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it. Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win. Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.  I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly.  I fight like that, as not beating the air, but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

(1 Corinthians 9:23-27)

Our initial response to the first quote from Philippians is to say that we are not all perfect and Jesus died to save sinners. But when we read what Paul said in Corinthians, we can be confident there is value in running the race. However, a warning is also included in that the Apostle himself suggests the possibility exists that even he himself could fail to attain the coveted goal of finishing the race and being saved.

Our response to such a thought of losing our salvation may be to immediately think that anybody who suggests such a thing is a false preacher. We want to believe that once we are saved, we are always saved. This is the very reason we say: “Once saved, always saved!” To this, along with the Apostle Paul, we exclaim, "Amen!" However, what if we are not sure we are saved?

From what the Apostle Paul implies, we could also form the view that he was not absolutely sure of his salvation until he had been given his reward. This is what those who say it is possible to lose our salvation make a point of noting. Their argument rests on the view that, like Paul, absolute surety of salvation requires the completion of the race; once having been approved, only then can one be sure of securing salvation. At this time alone, we can be assured that once we are saved, we are always saved. As the Pastor said, only God knows those who are genuinely saved. However, Jesus said that we will know them by their fruits. The Pastor acknowledged this when he claimed that those who are saved bring forth the fruit of salvation, only he did not want to condemn those who think they are saved but are not bearing the fruit of salvation.

What are we to think of a person who is claiming that if we are saved, we bear the fruit befitting salvation, but if we are not bearing the fruit of salvation, we cannot be judged as not being saved, because only God knows whether we are saved?

Questions are raised. Is this person having an each-way bet? Does the person know what he is talking about? Could he be confused? Is he a false teacher? Is he afraid to call out sin for what it is? Do you think this Pastor I am quoting is Joel Osteen and does not want to offend anyone? The truth: this Pastor is from a Calvinist church and he would claim he has a valid reason for stating, "We are not saved by faith."

Universalists and Calvinists

Universalists teach we are not saved by faith. They teach that every human is saved because Jesus died for all humankind. To be saved by faith suggests that this is something we do ourselves. In the book of James, we learn that faith without works is dead. If we were to exercise faith, then we have a problem, according to our Calvinist Pastor, because that would mean we are working for our salvation. Calvinists hold to the doctrine that God chose the elect and condemned everyone else to eternal damnation before He created the heavens and the earth. Those who teach this doctrine say that we are not saved through faith. Wesleyans believe that we are saved through faith. Pentecostals teach we are saved through faith.

Confusion Through the Theology of Men

Actually, Wesleyans and Pentecostals believe that Jesus died not just for His people but for the salvation of every man and woman that lived. However, not all of them are saved, because some reject their salvation. Besides Wesleyans and Pentecostals, other Christians of various persuasions individually believe that we are saved through faith. Nevertheless, our interest resides in what the Bible states about the points raised by the Pastor, not so much what is taught in various denominations and groups within Christendom; notwithstanding the fact that what the Pastor has said indicates the state of confusion that exists within the minds of those who learn the theology of humans when seeking to understand Bible truth.

The Anointing Saves Us?

The Pastor’s claim that we are saved by Christ alone is an all-embracing statement—at least this is how it appears. This means that we are saved only by Christ. The word "christ" means "anointing". In effect, this Pastor is saying the anointing alone saves us. Nevertheless, by using the word "alone," he has qualified his statement and has effectively said that we are saved by nothing else other than the anointing.

The Need to Be Specific

The Pastor probably meant that we are saved by Jesus Christ alone. The problem is, though, this is not what he said. He said, "Christ". But did the Pastor mean the body of Christ? Did he mean Lord Jesus Christ? Did he mean the anointing? Maybe he meant Christ consciousness—a nebulous state of spirituality. What we know is that he did not say, "Jesus alone," and he did not say, "Lord Jesus alone". Neither did he say, “Lord Jesus Christ alone.” He said, "We are saved by Christ alone."

Adding the Qualifiers

The word "Jesus" is a proper name and means "Savior." The Pastor could have said, "We are saved by Jesus alone," and he would have been correct, because he would have been saying we are saved by the Savior alone. However, the Pastor did not say so. Nevertheless, it still is true that Jesus “alone” saves us, except that there is still the need for some qualification, as we shall see as this discussion unfolds. Effectively, there is no other way to be saved; for we can only be saved by, through, and being in the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:26; Eph 5:20). However, the Pastor did not say this; he used the word "Christ," which is often used as a title and not a name.

The word “Christ” is used as a general term for Jesus Christ; which means: the anointed Savior—otherwise known as the Messiah, the Anointed One. As is Messiah, Christ is a title and not a proper first name. What this means is that if we call out to Christ for salvation, it is not the same as calling out to Jesus to save us. Asking Christ to save us is like asking the King to save us; for there are many kings and false christs (Mark 13:22) in the world. Jesus is also the King of Kings and the Christ. Similarly, when we say “Lord,” this is a title and not a proper name. Calling upon the Lord to save us could mean anyone who is a lord (for example, Lord Krishna). Without a proper name, we cannot call upon a person. Hence, to say Jesus is Lord is the same as giving Him the title “King” or “Christ.” Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the Lord. Jesus is the King. Even though Jesus is not called the Christ of christs, the same as He is called the King of kings or the Lord of lords, this still does not detract from the fact that “Christ” is a title in this context and not a proper name for Jesus our Lord, unless combined with the first name “Jesus” to form Jesus Christ, effectively making “Christ” the surname.[ii]

The fact that “Christ” can be construed as the surname of the Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ, appears evident from num-erous texts, such as the following Scriptures:

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.

(Matthew 1:1)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after His mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)

 

The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1)

 

This is eternal life, that they should know You, the only true God, and Him whom You sent, Jesus Christ. (John 17:3)

 

Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

 

That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)

 

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

 

Men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 15:26) 

However, when the word “Christ” is used on its own, this is a reference to the Messiah, the Anointed One. The word translated “christ” simply means “anointed one” and there are many christs anointed by the Holy Spirit, with some being false christs, who are not known by Lord Jesus Christ, even though they are able to do mighty works in His name.

False christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. (Mark 13:22)

 

He will say, “I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.” (Luke 13:27)

How false christs can receive the Holy Spirit, we will address later on; so back to what the Pastor had to say.

Not Saved By Faith, And Yet Saved By Faith Alone?

The Pastor said that we are not saved by faith, but also, not only are we saved by Christ alone, we are saved by faith alone. You have to admit there is something wrong here. This Pastor has made some very confusing statements which are a reflection of the worldview that is found within the Calvinist movement. Even the two people who viewed the video clip of his argument initially missed the confusion that exists. But then they are not really spiritual all-stars of the order of Apostle Paul—and neither does this writer claim to be of that order (even if my constant prayer is for the truth). Nevertheless, the Bible informs us, God gives us our heart’s desire. Mine happens to be for the truth. I hope yours is too. In fact, I expect it is; otherwise, you would not be reading this. One thing we can agree upon is that God is not the author of confusion. Tragically, when arguments are presented in a confused manner by those who claim to be experts, this does nothing to assist those seeking to learn about what is true and what is false. Seriously, how can a person “not be saved by faith” and still be “saved by faith alone”? Based on this alone, it is reasonable to assume that anyone making these assertions does not know the real truth about our Lord Jesus Christ.

Saved by Grace Alone?

The Pastor said that we are “saved by grace alone.” According to him, there are three things by which we are saved, and by each of those things “alone.” We are saved by the anointing alone. We are saved by faith alone. We are saved by grace alone. If we are to believe this Pastor, we can take our pick. Any one of the three will save us. We need have no fear; we will not be judged, because no one knows who is saved, only God. However, if we do not bear fruit, we know we are not saved. Only this might not necessarily be the case, because according to the Pastor, it appears everyone just might be saved, even if the person is a practicing sexual pervert, a pedophile, a liar, or someone who commits any number of unrighteous acts that break the commandments of God. We cannot tell because a person might be saved by grace alone; that is, if we believe the Pastor and the theology that is taught by his denomination, and those from within Christendom who subscribe to the theory that grace alone will save people. The problem with this theory is the Word of God contradicts it in the book of Ezekiel:

Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Israel: Is My way not equal? Aren’t your ways unequal? When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is not fair.” House of Israel, aren’t My ways fair? Aren’t your ways unfair? (Ezekiel 18:25–29).

Acceptance or Rejection of Scripture

If we are to subscribe to the theory that we are saved by the unmerited favor of God alone, whereas repentance or making our own decisions and exercising faith in Lord Jesus Christ is unnecessary, from what is written in Ezekiel, we might have a major problem on our hands—whether or not we reject the Scriptures.

Let us consider the issue of who is a child of God. Whoever has been adopted as a child of God, according to the Pastor, could not lose salvation. As for suggesting that a person could lose his or her salvation, the Pastor would contend that this is to say that God rejects His children. Many would contend that we are all God's children on the basis the Bible states that man was made in the image of God, both male and female (Genesis 1:26). In the book of James, we read that every good gift comes from the Father of lights (James 1:17), and many would claim that every newborn baby is a wonderful gift. In fact, this Pastor would no doubt quote the very verse from the Old Testament which says that we are all wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and to abort an unborn child is to commit murder. The Pastor would no doubt claim that it is a sin to abort a gift from God. In which case, if all children are gifts from God, and He makes all things, then it would be incorrect to suggest that He is not the Father of humankind. This is especially so when we learn that the word "father" means "source" or "originator." Some might think this is a flimsy argument for God being the originator of humans—the Father of us all.

Fruit Makes the Difference

However, there is a stronger argument for this, because Jesus said that we are to pray to our Heavenly Father and ask Him to forgive us our sins in the same way that we first forgive other people who have sinned against us. Indeed, in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus is saying that people who are born into sin are children of God. Now if we are sinners because we are born into sin and, as sinners, God is our Father, this would make each one of us a child of God. Universalists definitely think this makes sense. Not only Universalists, but also many other people seem to think that this makes sense. Evidently, Jesus thought so, and this is why He instructed sinners in His Sermon on the Mount to approach their Heavenly Father and ask for forgiveness for having sinned against Him. Therefore, if God is our Father when we are sinners, and if we are adopted into the family of God at a later date, we have to ask what is the difference? Jesus simply said that it was the fruit.

Good and Evil Do Not Mix

The Pastor, from a grace tabernacle congregation, at first gave the impression that he was sure about the need to bear fruit; but then he did not want to judge, just in case he was wrong. What this means is that he does not really know what he is talking about, for we cannot have good and evil mixed together and claim that it is still good. Either a thing is good or it is evil. Mix good with evil: good ceases to exist and becomes evil.

Saved By Grace But Not Alone

If a person is genuinely saved, they will bring forth fruit that befits salvation. The question is, how can a person be genuinely saved? Many people are confused about how to be saved because they do not read the Bible asking the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth. Every day, we would be wise to ask God to show us the truth in what we hear people saying and what we are reading. Many people claim that we are saved by grace alone. The Bible does not teach this. What the Apostle Paul stated was “by grace we have been saved." He did not say we are saved by grace alone. There is a major difference in the two ideas. Here is the Scripture this teaching is taken from:

Even when we were dead through our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and made us to sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. (Ephesians 2.5-9) 

Those who want to argue from the King James Version, where it says “by grace, ye are saved” need to understand, this is not stating that you are saved by grace alone. The New King James Version, actually has “by grace you have been saved”. Nevertheless, we still need the full context to arrive at truth.

Saved By Grace Through Faith

If we read this carefully, we do not find a teaching about being saved by grace alone, but that we are saved by grace through faith. There is a massive difference. Being saved by grace alone means that we can do whatever we like, since everything has been atoned for, regardless of what we say or do. This is cheap grace: an attitude of heart that spurns the blood of Jesus Christ. This is what the writer of the book of Hebrews states in respect to those who think they can come to knowledge of salvation in Jesus Christ and simply sin as if nothing mattered:

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with  which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:26-29)

Grace extends to every human being. Grace is unmerited favor which we can accept or reject. We simply receive grace from God through the fact that Jesus sacrificed His own life so that we might have the promise of eternal life. This grace is evident in the will that Jesus left for us. Once the death of Jesus was established, then His last testament and will came into effect. Jesus, having not sinned once, was able to offer His Own life as a ransom for all. The will of Jesus reads like this: By grace, I give eternal life to all who believe in Me through faith for their salvation from sin and death. The fact that this extends to every person does pose questions about those who have never heard of Jesus and who had died before His death and resurrection. Right now, these questions are not our concern. But the answers are to be found in the Bible. What matters now in this discussion about grace is we understand that grace is the unmerited favor that extends to every one of us. Jesus said that our Father in Heaven shows no partiality, and as any loving father would, He provides the sun for both the good and the evil and the rain for the just and unjust. This is the grace of God. What each one does with the benefits that come from the sun and the rain is one’s own prerogative. Each one is given free will to choose his own lifestyle: whether one wants to do what is right or not. If we choose to do what is right, this is a matter of faith.  If we choose to do what is right, we forgive others of their sins, and then ask our Heavenly Father to forgive us of our own sin towards Him. In doing this, we exercise faith towards God.

We are saved by grace through faith. We are not saved by faith alone. The grace of God extends to us all through the blood of Lord Jesus Christ, providing we accept the fact that we have been given an option. Whether we accept this option and act on it positively is a matter of faith. Consider this: we are saved through faith and not by faith. Why? Because standing by the door of faith is not the same as walking through the door of faith. We might stand by the entrance of the door to salvation, but the next step requires us to enter eternal life through the door of our salvation. This is like saying that by grace we have access to the door, but we only obtain salvation if we walk through the door. We know this makes sense; especially when we read what the Apostle John recorded:

Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what He was telling them.

Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters in by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly (John 10:6-10).Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what He was telling them.

It Is Essential To Exercise Faith For Salvation

By grace we have been saved, but only if we exercise the faith to walk through the door that leads to life. To go through something means to be surrounded by it. This is why we are baptized in water—to show that we have died to ourselves by going under the water, and we have been made alive to Jesus when coming up out of the water. However, without works, faith is dead.

Baptism: Dying to Self (Matt. 16:24)

Expressed another way, we die to ourselves in the act of baptism as we are raised from eternal damnation to be placed into the Body of Christ, or to become a member of the body of the anointed ones. Full immersion is symbolic. But if we are genuine, something else happens that is unseen by us when we are fully immersed in the waters of baptism and call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do not see the impartation that occurs unless our spiritual eyes are open to it at the time. Like the Israelites who were completely delivered from the reign of Pharaoh when they crossed the waters of the Red Sea, so are we completely delivered from the grip of Satan at the time we go through the waters of baptism. This is an act of faith. For by grace we are saved through faith.

The Sacred Writings Instruct for Salvation

In saying that we are saved by grace through faith, we need to establish the focus of our faith. When the Apostle Paul was writing to Timothy, he reminded his younger charge that he had been acquainted with the Holy Writings from when he was a child. But there was more involved than just being acquainted with the Holy Scriptures.

Importantly, Paul noted that these Old Testament writings were able to instruct him regarding salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Indeed, it may seem strange that the Apostle considered the Old Testament capable of instruction for salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but this is what the Apostle Paul wrote. However, instead of telling Timothy that he was saved by faith alone, Paul wrote that he was saved through faith in Jesus Christ. This is what he wrote:

From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15 RSV)

To clarify this a little, this actually means the Old Testament Scriptures are able to make us wise about life and the purpose of God so that we can be saved through faith in the Anointed One, Jesus, who is our Savior. However, what we should have realized by now is that we are saved not by grace alone; not by faith alone; not by Christ alone; but by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. There is a major difference in the teachings here. However, instead of confusion, once we understand the truth that salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, we know we need to be a member of the body of Christ if we are to be truly saved. This means bearing the fruits of salvation.

This does not mean that we can say we are saved because we went through the motions of saying a sinner's prayer, making a public profession, and being baptized in water. Many people do this and do not bear the fruit of salvation. Nevertheless, if we are to be saved, we will need to ask for forgiveness, we will need to confess Jesus Christ as Lord, then take the step of baptism, and walk in the light, having fellowship with other saints so the blood of Jesus can continually cleanse us from all sin. We cannot walk in darkness and say we have fellowship with the Father, for we can only have fellowship with the Father if we are cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus. If we do this, we will begin to bear fruit that befits eternal salvation. It is impossible for darkness to have fellowship with light. Likewise, it is impossible to be saved through a public profession of faith in God or Jesus Christ. We need to confess Jesus is Lord of our lives as a matter of daily routine. While a profession is similar to a confession and might be from our very lips, only a confession comes from our heart.

About Profession, Confession, and Victimhood

It is easy for people to profess matters. The same ease is not so forthcoming when it is associated with confession. Confession usually means acknowledging our deficits. Some people have a habit of confessing victimhood rather than being honest about their own ineptness. Victimhood is not a confession of inadequacy or inability; rather, it is self-justification for one’s own unwillingness to acknowledge an inherent need of God. As a victim, we might blame our impoverishment on circumstances out of our control, but only when we are honest will we acknowledge the truth about not doing our best to make the most of our situation.

We might not possess the intelligence or athleticism that we thought we had. We might have to admit that while we are competent to perform certain tasks, we lack the exceptional talent to be outstanding. We might have to confess that we wasted our time when we could have utilized our inherent aptitude for learning how to perform tasks better. This is not the same as acknowledging inabilities due to a lack of natural or inherent ability. This requires of us the honesty to admit our insufficiency to meet the desired standard is the result of our own disinterest and unwillingness to assume responsibility for our own actions.

We might profess that we are capable and that we can do what is required, but rather than demonstrate our true capabilities, we find excuses such as having a sudden bout of dizziness, fever, or headache; and if those excuses do not work, there is always the attack of food poisoning and dysentery that follows. These excuses wear thin after a while. Yet many people think that they can produce them sufficiently enough to forgo others discovering their inadequacies, inabilities, incompetence, and ineptitude.

About Fruit, Humility, Fame, and Fortune

True teachers, true shepherds, and true prophets are all known by their fruits. This is the case whether they are famous or unknown by the masses. Fame and fortune are not something a true servant of God seeks. Fruit is what the true servant of God seeks. This fruit is found in all that is good, right, and true. Those who are true teachers of God’s word, whatever their gifting or whatever their office, will be known by their fruit. One of those fruits is humility. This is not an affected humility, but a genuine humility that brings honor and glory to God.

The aim of the true servant is to see God’s will done. The true servant desires to conform to the will of God in the body of Christ, having acknowledged Jesus as Lord and Savior. Some might believe they need to defend their faith and justify the reasons why they believe certain ideas. The reality is that we as Christians need the Lord God to justify us and enable us to bear fruit for our own benefit and the glory of His name. Just as the Scriptures bear witness to Jesus—that He is the Savior of the world—so too, we need the Scriptures to bear witness to us, that we are Christians. This occurs when we bear the fruit of salvation. As Jesus said,

“My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:8)

Without the Spirit of God, There Is No Salvation

Evidently, there are those who believe that it does not really matter whether we produce fruit or not to glorify our Heavenly Father. For we have eternal salvation no matter what we do, even if we do not possess the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Smith claims, “You are living according to the flesh, and there is no evidence of God living in you. So it’s not that you lost your salvation, but it’s evidence that the Spirit of God is not dwelling in your heart.”

Now if the Spirit of God is not dwelling within our heart, we cannot possibly possess salvation. We cannot have salvation without the Holy Spirit. The very confidence that we have concerning salvation rests in the fact that the Holy Spirit dwells within our very being. This assurance is the guarantee of our salvation. The Bible is very clear that this is the case. We read:

To the end that we should be to the praise of His glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:12-14)

The reason we are able to bear fruit is because of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. The seal of the Holy Spirit is our guarantee that we have eternal life. Therefore, we can expect to bring forth the fruit of salvation in our lives. To suggest that we are saved, even though we do not possess the Holy Spirit, implies universal salvation for all, which is contrary to what the Bible teaches. Therefore, salvation today is conditional upon receiving the Holy Spirit and producing the fruit thereof, even if this is only the fruit of our lips.

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 NOTES

 [i] The reason the King James Bible is used because these people who actually talk about the burden of the Lord are King James Only believers.

[ii] Surnames were not used in the English language until the means of identifying people such as John the blacksmith were changed to John Smith or John Black. Similarly, Jack the tailor, became Jack Tailor or Jack Taylor. Jesus the Christ becomes Jesus Christ. In the King James Bible, the term “Jesus the Christ” is found once. Jesus Christ is found 189 times. Lord Jesus Christ is found 82 times. To deny “Christ” forms part of name of the Son of God requires an unwillingness to acknowledge the obvious.