The Finish Line
Most churches today are not teaching their people the truth concerning
salvation. They are taught that by simply reciting the sinner’s prayer, they
are saved, and the angels are singing in Heaven. The sinner’s prayer is a great
prayer when done in sincerity, but this alone does not save a person’s soul, it
is just the beginning. Most churches today are not teaching their people to
repent of their sins and to be born again. To be born again, a person must
become a new creation in Christ, and this means to be set apart from the world
and unto God. The Apostle Paul addressed his letters to the saints in Christ. The
word saint means, set apart one. In
Romans chapter six Paul teaches that we are not to continue in sin but we must
live for Christ. If Jesus Christ is truly the Lord of your life, then his
attributes will be apparent in your life. Christ said that any tree that does
not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Also note, that
in the following verse Paul said that we are being saved, therefore we must never
become complacent in our spiritual walk . 2 Cor 2:15 For we are to God the fragrance of
Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
In Hebrews 3:7-15, We
are admonished not to harden our hearts, as the Israelites did during the
rebellion in the wilderness. In verse 12, we are told to beware, lest any of us
have an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. We are also
told, to exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest anyone be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Verse 14 states, For we have become
partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the
end. Salvation requires much more than just faith in Christ. It requires
allowing God’s Holy Spirit to purify us, so that we can bear good fruit unto
the Lord. We are truly saved, if we hold our confidence in Christ, steadfast to
the end. There are several hundred scriptures in God’s Word concerning the
necessity of holiness within the life of the believer. However, a handful of
Paul’s writings that many take out of context, confuses people. Paul said that
we are justified by faith, not by works, lest anyone should boast. Paul was
saying that we are not justified by keeping the Law of Moses, lest we boast in
the Law. Paul explains this better in Galatians. However, we are told in James,
that faith without works is dead.
Hebrews 3: 7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
"Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the
rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested
Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that
generation, And said, 'They always go astray in their heart, And they have not
known My ways.' 11 So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'
" 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily,
while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the
beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:
"Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the
rebellion."
The Book of
Revelation, was given to the Apostle John by the angel of Jesus Christ. Within
Revelation, Christ gave warnings to the various churches that they must keep
the commandments of God or they would be cast away. In Rev 2:4 Christ told them
that they had left their first love, he told them to repent, and do their first
works over or he would remove their lampstand from it’s place. He also told the
church of Sardis to repent, because their works, were not found to be perfect before
God. Christ told the church of Laodicea that because they are lukewarm that he
would vomit them out of his mouth. As you can see, the Word of God teaches us
that it is very possible to fall from grace, due to sin, or lack of faith. It
is time for the lukewarm churches to wake up and stop leading people astray.
Paul compares this life of probation to running a race. We
run this race of life hoping to obtain the prize, which is eternal life with
God, but if we do not complete the race and cross the finish line, then all is
lost. Even Paul said that if he didn’t discipline his body to bring it into
subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified. Paul was saying that like a runner in a race keeps his body in
good physical condition, we must also keep our spiritual body in good condition
so that we might be able to cross the finish line and win our crown. 1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run
in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may
obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes
for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable
crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one
who beats the air. 27 But I discipline
my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I
myself should become disqualified. Christ said that those who endure unto the
end shall be saved, if we fail to cross the finish line in victory, then all is
lost. Matt 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who
endures to the end will be saved. Matt 24: 12 And because lawlessness will
abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be
preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end
will come.
The lukewarm church
of the end time is preaching a greasy grace message that makes people feel good,
instead of teaching them the truth. When there is no distinction between the
sinful world and the saints, the salt has lost it’s savor, and the truth has
been turned into a lie. If we live, dress, talk, as well as act, like sinners,
then we are lost as well. Christ made atonement upon the cross for sins
committed in ignorance, as well as for sins that are repented of. If we do not
repent of willful sins, then there is no forgiveness. Atonement is not
automatic, it follows repentance. No one is perfect of course, but we are
called to righteousness, and that means to live right.
Many people profess to know God but deny him by their
actions. If we know Christ then we should have the mind of Christ, as well as
bear good fruit. Christ said that if you love him then you will obey his commandments.
Titus 1: 14 not giving heed to Jewish
fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to
those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and
conscience are defiled. 16 They profess
to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and
disqualified for every good work.
Also, consider the
parable of the sower of seed. Matt 13:
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower:
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand
it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.
This is he who received seed by the wayside.
20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears
the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when
tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns
is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of
riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good
ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and
produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” In this parable, Christ
illustrates how many people fall away from the faith because they have no
strong root. The seed is the Word of God, and many people don’t understand what
they read and the wicked one (Satan) will deceive them and steal what was sown
in their heart, these have fallen by the wayside. Others, who have no root,
endure for awhile, then fall away from Christ because of hard times, or
persecution, or tribulation. These people may hold prominent positions within
the church, or may have been professing Christians for years, but they usually
blame God for some tragedy or circumstance in their life, and fall away. I have
known many people who have fallen away from Christ due to hardship. Others, the
deceitfulness of riches or the cares of the world, choke the word and they
become unfruitful. God’s Word teaches that the love of money is the root of all
evil, but many of the television evangelists, as well as mega church leaders
are into money worship and are leading the masses astray. The prosperity gospel
is the polar opposite of the teachings of Christ. Christ said, that it is
easier for a camel to pass through the eye of an needle, than for a rich man to
enter Heaven. However, he who’s seed
fell on good ground, produced fruit, thirty, sixty or one hundred fold. Not
every Christian will produce the same degree of good fruit, some may produce
only 30 fold fruit, but they are still doing their best to pursue Christ. If we
produce zero fruit then we are in serious trouble. The parable of the sower of
seed, very clearly shows us that it is possible to fall away from Christ.
Rev 2: 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have
left your first love. 5 Remember
therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I
will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you
repent.
Rev 3:1 “And to the
angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven
Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name
that you are alive, but you are dead. 2
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for
I have not found your works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and
repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and
you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
Rev 3: 14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans
write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the
Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I
know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold
or hot. 16 So then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become
wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I
counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and
white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may
not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.
Therefore be zealous and repent. 20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the
door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit
with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His
throne.