FROM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND STARTS
SINNING HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
WILL BE FORGOTTEN? Ezekiel 3:20
“When a
righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity,
he shall die in his sin, and his
righteousness which he hath done shall not be
remembered.”
Only the reasoning powers of the mind of
Christ can unravel the mystery of our godliness, so come let us reason together
with Christ’s reasoning. (Eph. 3:3-4)
The truth of the matter is that there is only one righteous man, “Jesus
Christ the righteous!” (1 John 2:1) This
is why the Scriptures refer to Jesus as “the Lord our righteousness.”
(Jeremiah 23:6, 1 Cor. 1:30) Other than
he:
“There
is none righteous no not one.” (Rom. 3:10)
For:
“There
is not a just man upon the earth who doeth good
and sinneth not.” (Eccl. 7:20)
Therefore, people are not made righteous by the
content of their character before or
after salvation. At salvation, the Lord becomes our righteousness for he is the
only righteousness any believer has, and he is the only one who cannot sin and
thus turn from his righteousness. (1 John 3:9, 1 Cor. 1:30)
This Scriptures further states: “his righteousness which he hath done shall
not
be remembered.” First of all, God help the man who
wants the Lord to remember the works of “righteousness which he hath done.” For
we are saved:
“not
by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” (Titus
3:5)
For:
“ALL
of our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags.” (Isa. 64:6)
Therefore, pity the man whose righteousness the Lord
does remember, because the Lord esteems it as filth, in comparison! (Isa.
64:6) Since the Lord is our
righteousness, believers should know that our righteousness is forever! (Isa.
51:6)
Isaiah wrote that none of us
are righteous. Therefore, the only way
the born again could possibly lose their salvation would be if Jesus Christ,
our righteousness, turned from his righteousness and committed a sin. Only then would our righteousness, which is Christ,
be forgotten. This cannot happen since
“he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9) As believers, our faith in Christ is counted
for righteousness, and Jesus finishes our faith for the salvation of our souls. He becomes “the Lord our righteousness.” (Heb. 12:2, 1 Cor. 1:30) Jehovah Tsidkenu in the Old Testament is revealed as Christ
“our righteousness” in the New, and he went on record stating, “ I will never
leave thee nor forsake thee.” (Jeremiah 23:6, 1 Cor. 1:30) Hence, there is no chance our righteousness
will be forgotten, because it is Jesus Christ the rightousness of God himself.
(Jer. 33:16) The topic Scripture applied
to Old Testament saints, not New Testament believers whose righteousness is the
Lord himself, righteousness that cannot be abolished, according to Isaiah
51:6. The righteousness of God is only
obtained by faith in Jesus Christ. It is not supported or aborted by human
effort: otherwise, we could and would lose our salvation. (
89 THERE IS NOTHING RIGHTEOUS ABOUT
CHRISTIANS EXCEPT CHRIST IN
THEM, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS CANNOT BE
REMOVED. Rom. 3:10
“There is none righteous, no, not one.”
Show me a man
who believes born again believers can lose their salvation, and I will show you
a man who believes salvation is by
works. Although Christians should strive
to achieve high moral character, our character is not counted for righteousness.
(Rom. 4:5) Nevertheless, many born again
Christians adopt the attitude:
“Stand not near me for I am
holier than thou.” (Isa. 65:5)
Jesus rebuked those who “trusted to themselves that
they were righteous and despised others.” (Luke 18:9) In our present generation, many Christians
have forgotten that according to Scripture, we are counted righteous based on
our faith, not our character. (2 Pet. 1:9, Rom. 4:3) The Galatian and Corinthian saints forgot
this and Paul called them absolute fools for boasting (glorying) in the
nobleness of their human efforts. (2 Cor. 11:18-19) For “the flesh profits nothing.” (John
6:63) God considers the righteousness
of our flesh equivalent to filth as it relates to the gift
of salvation. (Isa. 64:6, James 1:21) The born again who try to show they are
righteous by their sturdy character, sunny disposition, and winning ways are either misinformed or
classic hypocrites, because none of these things contribute in any way to their salvation or
righteousness. (Isa. 64:6, Rom. 4:5)
In
Paul’s day, there were Christians who “desired to make a fair show in the
flesh” so people would think they achieved righteousness by the way they
lived, and they could glory (boast) in
their flesh by feeling holier than others. (Gal. 6:12) Today, many believers
resort to this same hypocrisy, based on a tradition that says Christians are righteous because we adhere to a strict moral code to refrain from
sin. Many Christians have accepted this
as a condition of salvation because the natural mind refuses to endure the
sound doctrine that, although we are to be as good as we can be, only
"faith is counted for righteousness.” Behavior doesn’t count! (Rom.
4:5) Mohandas Gandhi’s behavior and
conduct was far superior to most Christians today. Yet, if he did not accept Christ as his
savior he is as lost as any non- believer.
Legalists
have a severe misconception that righteousness and sin are behaviors, when they
are not. Righteousness and sin are natures, not behaviors. Righteousness is God’s divine nature born in you at the new birth in the form of the
hidden new man “Christ in you.”
However, sin is Adam’s human
nature, dwelling in you since your birth into this world. Human nature is the nature of sin, the old
man. The law was given to reveal to you
that your human nature, the nature of sin, is “exceedingly sinful” and
condemned to death. Our human nature
forever remains a servant of sin, as Jesus stated, “that which is born of the
flesh is flesh.” This is true even after Christ is born in you at the second
birth.
Therefore, praise God for
Jehovah-Tsidkenu which means “the Lord our
righteousness,” for without him, none of us are righteous, “no not one!”
(Jer. 23:6, Rom. 3:10) The only way a believer could possibly lose his or her
salvation is for “Jesus Christ the righteous” to lose his righteousness. For he is Jehovah-Tsidkenu “THE LORD OUR
RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jer. 23:6)
90
THE BORN AGAIN REMAIN PERMANENTLY HOLY BECAUSE THEIR FIRSTFRUIT IS
PERMANENTLY HOLY. Rom. 11:16
“For if the firstfruit be holy, the
lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so
are the branches.”
Adam was the firstfruit of mankind, and he was not holy. For it was by Adam’s
“disobedience
that many were made sinners.” (Rom. 5:19) Adam’s dietary sin was the “little
leaven that leavened the whole lump” of the human race which made us all
unholy. (1 Cor. 5:6-7) Only by the new
birth are we placed in “a new lump,” better known as the body of Christ. Jesus became the firstfruit of the redeemed
by his resurrection. For:
“now is Christ risen from
the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept… For as in Adam
all
die, even so in Christ shall
all be made alive… But
every man in his own
order. Christ the firstfruit,
then them that are Christ’s
at his coming.” (1 Cor.
15:20-23)
Since our “firstfruit” is holy, we, the redeemed,
are also holy. For:
“If the firstfruit (Christ)
be holy, then the lump (the
body of Christ) is also
holy: and if the root be holy,
so are the branches.” (Rom
11:16)
Jesus declared
the born again are “the branches,” but is he the root? (John 15:5) Yes.
In the Revelation, Jesus announced:
“I am the root… and if the root
be holy, so are the branches.” (Rev. 22:16, Rom. 11:16)
Jesus is “a root out of dry ground,” and we are
“partakers of his holiness.” (Heb.
12:10, Isa. 53:2) Our holiness is based on our “firstfruit,” Jesus Christ, and
not on our human efforts that are counted as rags of filth. (Ps. 39:5, Isa.
64:6) Christians cannot manufacture
holiness and there is no true holiness apart from what Christ supplies. (Eph.
4:24) Paul wrote that it’s only through
the new birth that:
“You have your fruit unto holiness, and
the end everlasting life.” (Rom. 6:22)
Christ alone is “your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life.” (Rom. 6:22) Jesus is the only true holiness a Christian possesses. He is Christ in you, the hope of glory “without which no man can see the Lord.” (Eph. 4:24, Heb. 12:14)
Note: Although behavior does not
make us holy, we are instructed to “be in behavior as becometh holiness.” This is a strict instruction in
righteousness, to which believers are to
adhere, but is not a condition by which
we attain salvation or maintain our salvation. (Rom. 10:9-10) If being holy (sinless) was a condition of
salvation, then you would have had to be holy before being saved! In the sight of God, the new man of Christ
in us is our “righteousness and true
holiness,” not our behavior. (Eph. 4:24)
For “every man at his best state is altogether vanity walking in a vain
show.” (Ps. 39:5-6) Without Jesus “no man can see the Lord” because he is our “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.” (Ex 39:30)
Born again Christians are to order their behavior as becometh holiness, “for it
is good and profitable unto men,” not unto salvation. (Titus 2:3, 8) Our holiness is ascribed to us by the new man
born in us at the new birth, “created in righteousness and true holiness.”
(Eph. 4:24) Order the audio supplement: Without
Holiness No Man Can See God. Are You Holy?
TO
DOUBT THE SALVATION OF THE BORN AGAIN WHO HAVE NOT. Rom. 12:2
“be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”
Many Christians adamantly deny the
salvation of those who are born again, yet their earthly lives show no sign of
being transformed (changed). These people hold the notion that transformation
takes place at salvation, when it does not. (Rom. 12:1-2) If the new birth automatically transformed
our lifestyles, then Paul would not have written endless lists of sins for the
born again believer to “put off.” Paul constantly instructed born again
Christians to stop indulging in
deeds such as fornication (premarital-sex), uncleanness, inordinate affection
(perversity), and evil concupiscence (sexual lust). (Col. 3:5) Yet scores of Christians believe anyone who
engages in such practices was not saved in the first place. Unfortunately,
such scoffers have not learned the
difference between being born again and being transformed! The average
believer thinks being transformed is the acid test of whether someone is truly
born again, and this is an all too common misconception. Paul was not addressing hard-core sinners,
but blood-washed, born again believers who were not transformed (changed) by
the renewing of their minds. (Rom. 12:2)
If the new birth automatically transformed lifestyles, then Paul would
have told these people to get born again, again!
The
Apostle Paul had no illusions concerning the existence of non-transformed
Christians. This is why he cautioned
Timothy, his minister in training, not to ordain Christians into the ministry
who were “given to wine” (alcohol addiction) or “greedy of filthy lucre”
(money-grubbing). Young Timothy was also instructed not to ordain saints who
were brawlers (people who love to fight) or those who had poor reputations
among those outside Christ. (1 Tim. 3:3-7)
Paul understood that the birth of Christ in someone did not eliminate
that person’s hang-ups or shortcomings. Only being “transformed by the renewing of
the mind” improves one’s character, whereas being redeemed does not! (Rom.
12:2) Unfortunately, many born again
believers have not been transformed. Titus was another minister counseled by
Paul not to admit Christians into the ministry who were “soon angry” (hot
tempered), self-willed, (contentious) riotous, unruly, and disobedient to the
“instructions in righteousness.” (Titus 1:7)
Notice the born again have the propensity for all of the above. It's a matter of record that Paul commanded
Christians at the Church of Corinth to stop fornicating! (1 Cor. 5:1)
Not once did Paul ever doubt their salvation. He, now, desired their transformation. (Rom.
12:2) Order the audio supplement: The Difference Between Being Born Again and
after Being Born Again Growing in Grace.
Peter was another Apostle who understood
that unless the born again were transformed through growth in grace, they would
be susceptible to evil influences (In 2
Pet. 1:5-7, James 3:16) This is why
Peter warned believers, whose lifestyle had not progressed “according to
godliness” to:
an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” (1 Peter 4:15)
Peter was not talking to hardened criminals, but to the redeemed! In the event a Christian was caught up in such unsavory works, the Apostle Paul outlined specific instructions detailing how to deal with “such an one.” Paul cautioned the saints not to count the person as an enemy, writing:
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company
with
fornicators: I have written unto you not to
keep
company, if any man that is called a brother
be a
fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
railer,
or a drunkard, or an extortioner with such an
one no
not to eat.
Put away from among yourselves that
wicked
person. If any man obey not our word
by
this epistle, note that man and have no
company
with him that he may be ashamed. Yet count him
not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother.
(1 Cor. 5:9-13, 2 Thes. 3:13-14)
Is this indicating that born again believers can be steeped in wickedness? Yes! Remember God’s words:
“If my people which are called by my name ….
turn from their wicked ways….” (2 Chron. 7:14)
Unfortunately, according to our Maker, many Christians have various “wicked ways” because they have not been transformed by the renewal of their minds. Salvation does not renew the mind. Salvation redeems the soul unto God while its mind is yet conformed to the world in its thinking. (1 Cor. 3:3-4, Rom. 12:1-3) It is only when you “apply your heart unto wisdom” will you come to “the beginning of wisdom,” that being the fear of the Lord that causes you to depart from evil. (Prov. 1:7, 16:6) This wisdom transforms the character, whereas accepting Christ as our savior does not. If a believer engages in ungodly activities, we are forbidden to tell him that he is no longer saved. For that would be to count him as an enemy. (2 Thes. 3:15) Our responsibility is to warn him as a brother in order to restore him to the will of God and the fellowship of the saints. Our brotherhood remains intact with him because of birth – the new birth of Christ in him as well as in us, and we have his promise that he will never leave or forsake us.
Many of our weak brothers who are not
transformed are being told they are no longer saved, causing many people to think they have lost their
salvation and are no longer redeemed. (Heb. 9:12) Unlike many Christians today, Peter, James,
and Paul had no illusions that a sinful lifestyle is automatically transformed
at conversion. Our new birth is only the
starting gate. A transformed lifestyle
is accomplished only by adhering to the doctrine, reproof, and the correction
and instruction in Scripture by one’s purposeful pursuit of growth in
grace. According to Scripture, the grace of God:
“teaches
us that denying ungodliness and worldly
lust, we should live soberly, righteously; and
godly,
in this present world.”
(Titus 2:12)
Without growth in grace, the character remains conformed to the world, in ungodlyness and worldly lust. Peter understood that godliness does not automatically accompany salvation, so he wrote that godliness must be added to the character of the born again. Peter instructs born again believers to:
“add to your
faith, virtue, and to virtue knowledge:
and to knowledge temperance; and to
temperance
patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness
brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness,
charity.”
(2 Peter
1:5-7)
Many Christians deny the salvation of those who believe the gospel, but have not been transformed, into the type of people we ought to be in all holiness and godly conduct. (2 Pet. 3:11)
Not one Christian has ever
received permission or authority, much
less the right to declare another believer no longer saved. God has sworn on himself that he would not do
this, so why would you? To deny the
salvation of a believer who has not been transformed by the renewing of the
mind is not Scriptural. For “the Lord knoweth those that are his;” we
don't, and are foolish to presume we do.
(2 Tim. 2:19)
Note: It’s a great paradox that although you may be
born again, your character may not be
godly, just as being born an
American does not make you patriotic.
(2 Chron. 7:14) Godliness must be added to the character of the born again
and it is outlined as level six on the pathway of growth in grace in 2 Peter
1:5-7. Sadly, many believers consciously
avoid pressing toward this mark. For
“all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Tim.
3:12) As you press toward the mark, godliness is a growing pain you must
endure. No pain, no gain!
92
IF YOU CAN LOSE YOUR SALVATION, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING THAT’S SO GREAT THAT IT IS CAUSING YOU TO KEEP IT? Eccl. 7:20
"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth
good, and sinneth not."
Preachers who proclaim the redeemed can lose their salvation
believe salvation is by works. Multitudes
of Christians believe good works plus
God's grace equal salvation. However,
the Word of God discloses that if salvation:
be of works; then it is no longer of grace,
and if it be of
grace, then it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is
no more grace. (Rom. 11:6)
The Bible is unmistakably
clear that salvation must be either all grace or all works. There is no mixing the two, and the Bible
decidedly sides with grace.
If you believe you can retain your salvation on the merits
of your natural life, please tell God, the world, and myself what you are doing
that is so great that it’s causing you to keep it. Inquiring minds want to
know! Better yet, since Solomon wrote:
“There is not a just man upon the earth that doeth good and sinneth not."
What have you stopped doing
that allows you to keep “so great salvation”?
Answer: Absolutely nothing! So,
"Let God be true," and every man who says salvation is partially by
human effort "a liar." (Rom.
3:4)
We are, as legalists love to say, truly born again:
"Not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his own mercy and grace he saved
us by
the washing....” (Titus. 3:5)
Legalists are like Naaman,
who wanted to do some great thing to assist God in cleansing himself, rather
than obey God's appointed washing instructions.
That was just too easy for
Naaman to believe! (2 Kings
5:13) At first Naaman scorned God’s easy
way, just as legalists mock the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith as
cheap and easy − spitefully calling it Easy Believism. “Verily, they have their reward.” Had Naaman tried to save his life by doing
some great thing other than obeying God’s washing instructions, he would have
died from his leprosy. Like Naaman,
legalists yearn to be cleansed by way of works, not by route of washing. (Rev.
1:5) They believe their salvation is
based on works of righteousness which they have done, like moral decency or
living a holy life the best they can.
Although these things are commendable among men and expected of
believers in their quest for discipleship after salvation, they cut no ice with
God for salvation. (Titus 3:8) FOR NO
ONE, I REPEAT, NO ONE WILL GO TO HEAVEN BASED ON THE LIFE THEY LIVED ON
EARTH! For:
“Every
man at his best state is altogether
vanity walking in a vain show.” (Ps. 39:5)
This means your best is not
good enough. It takes heaven’s best to
make you righteous, because no human righteousness, character, ministerial
works, or right living can be exchanged
for eternal life! (Matt. 7:22, Titus 3:5)
Faith in Christ’s work alone is the only currency God recognizes that
can "save a soul from hell and hide a multitude of sin." Nothing else
will do. (Rom. 10:9-10)
Jesus proclaimed his way was easy, but many ministers have
the spirit of Naaman and despise God’s easy way. They want to do some hard thing, like keep
the Law of Commandments to be cleansed.
(Rom. 3:20) The faith that saves
us must be faith in what Jesus did for us, and not in what we can do for
him. The human mind, like Naaman’s,
spurns the simplicity of the gospel of Christ as too easy, calling it easy
believism. Like Naaman, human nature
yearns to do some great thing to save its soul.
Therefore, Christ warned that whosoever tries to save his life shall
lose it. (Mark 8:35) Leave off the way
of Naaman with those who lust to do some great work to merit their
salvation. For the greatest thing you can
do is recognize your soul is lost, and believe Jesus Christ died for your sins
and rose again to provide you with the free gift of his eternal life. (Titus
3:7) It’s that easy!
Lucifer’s ministers preach that salvation comes through
obeying the Law of Commandments, and the itching ears of legalists love to hear
this most deceitful of false doctrines.
(2 Cor. 11:14-15, 2 Tim. 4:3)
Jesus wants you to beware of these ministers of Satan by adhering to the
basics of the KISS principle:
Keep It
Simple Saints.
For no born again believer's self-produced righteousness can serve as a ticket to heaven. Nor will our righteousness serve as the provider, protector, or defender of our souls salvation. Therefore, regarding eternal salvation, do not rely on your works but upon God’s Word. William Shakespeare, humanity's most celebrated pen, wrote his greatest prose when he penned his last will and testament presented here in today’s English:
"In
the name of God, Amen. I William Shakespeare, of
God be praised, do make and ordain this my
last will and
testament in manner and form following. That is to say,
first, I commend my soul into the hands of God
my creator,
hoping and assuredly believing that only
through the merits
of Jesus Christ, my savior, to be made
partaker of life everlasting,
and my body to the earth from whence it was made."
Note: Since “there is not a just man upon the earth
that doeth good and sinneth not,”
God provided you with the new man born of God that “sinneth not.” (Eccl.
7:20, 1 John 5:18) Without him “no man
can see the Lord.” He is Christ in you, your only “true holiness” before God.
(Eph. 4:24)