Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians: 12-13 (NKJV)
I wish that more people would read and understand this scripture. It is the very reason why people need to stop all this foolishness about “once saved always saved.” Just as the title says that is a lie from the pits of hell! It baffles me that people actually believe that because they had some “Color Purple” church experience that they have salvation. They can tremble and shake while crying crocodile tears, walk down the aisle at church and pray with the pastor in front of the congregation. This scene has been repeated in several “black movies” by the way. Lol! I know this is stereotypical, but I have to bring this up because people have this type of emotional experience but their lifestyles show no change whatsoever! I remember listening to some young lady who called into a radio show claiming to be a “believer” even though she worked as a stripper! She actually believed that because she attended church regularly and paid tithes, she had salvation. What’s really sad is that the folks who hosted the show weren’t even believers themselves, yet they were making fun of her and the faith. (It wasn’t a Christian radio show) They had more sense than she did! So even though this girl’s job was to sexually entice people she still believed that she was a “new creature?” No transformation in her life had to take place at all after professing to be a follower of Christ??? The Word says that we must be born again, according to John 3:3. How are we “born again” if we continue to do the exact same stuff with no repentance? I won’t go into the topic of repentance because that is another blog in itself. But in a nut shell, many people are being deceived into believing that mouthing a prayer will give them salvation without having to be that “living sacrifice” that Paul talks about in Romans 12:1. When we are born again, we are born of the spirit. Our lives change. We hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. We’re building a relationship with God and making the changes necessary to be pleasing to Him. It’s just that our flesh wants to do what it wants to do and we have to learn to crucify it, just as Christ was crucified on the cross. This is a part of being a “living sacrifice.” The old man dies so the new man can now live. We’re not perfect but we strive for the perfection in Christ. It’s really not that complicated.
Revelation 3:5 says “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Well, there it is… You can have salvation but lose it due to your failure to repent, meaning overcome. Your name can be blotted out! In other words, I can’t go out here and become a male gigolo and still be “saved.” Are we nuts?! Obviously I’m not overcoming sin as referenced in the above-mentioned scripture. And frankly, the Holy Spirit in me wouldn’t allow it. Otherwise, the Holy Spirit is likely not dwelling in me or I’m just blatantly ignoring conviction and its inner cries. You and I both must work out our soul salvation with fear and trembling. Jesus Christ said it Himself, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 22:7 (NKJV) Now in this case, He is speaking of those who have an appearance of godliness (like folks in church) but who never “knew” Him. They never formed a “relationship” with Him even though it appeared like it. So if we still think that there is no standard of holiness (which is outlined in the Word of God) and that salvation is reduced to a one-time prayer and water baptism, then we’re screwed… Eternally… Yes, there is a cost to salvation and being His disciple. Get over it. “Once saved always saved” is ridiculous and will only lead you astray. It is impossible to have a real relationship with God and not change. So let’s get real and start being doers of His Word.
Love you all.
spiritualhardcandy 