 DARK LIGHT SERIES
ONE
FALSE SALVATION – IS IT POSSIBLE?
“Enter ye in at the STRAIT GATE: for WIDE IS THE GATE,
AND BROAD IS THE WAY, that leadeth to DESTRUCTION,
and MANY THERE BE which go in thereat:
BECAUSE STRAIT IS THE GATE, AND NARROW
IS THE WAY,
WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE,
and FEW there be that find it.”
(Matthew 7:13-14)
MANY will say to me in that day, LORD, LORD, have we not
PROPHESIED IN THY NAME?
AND IN THY NAME HAVE CAST OUT DEVILS?
AND IN THY NAME DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS?
and THEN will I profess unto them,
I NEVER KNEW YOU:
DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.”
(Matthew 7:21-23)
We must find out WHY these souls were rejected, WHO they really were, and WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE to prevent it. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF THESE COMMENTS FROM THE LIPS OF CHRIST. These souls face eternal ruin, TO BE CAST OUT FOREVER WITH NO RECOURSE, NO MERCY, NO CLEMENCY.
THE CONTEXT in which we find these comments appears in Matthew Chapters five, six, and seven, which comprise the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is addressed first of all to believers ONLY, DISCIPLES ONLY.
“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set,
HIS DISCIPLES CAME UNTO HIM:
And he opened his mouth, and TAUGHT THEM, saying…”
(Matthew 5:1-2)
The word “disciple” is ‘mathetes’ and it simply means LEARNER, PUPIL, FOLLOWER. It was to the disciples, the followers, to those that BELIEVED upon Him that He taught. The ‘them’ refers back to the DISCIPLES, which by then had grown to a great number of people. Matthew Chapter four shows that Jesus had called His chosen ones and was also teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, and healing all manner of sickness (Matthew 4:23). His fame grew, and so more and more people came to hear Him, to be healed, to find out what His message for them was. Many BELIEVED in Him, for they saw His healings, His ability to cast out devils and the displays of great power.
There are many within the Church that contend that the four Gospels and especially the Sermon on the Mount was given to Israel, and have nothing to do with the Church. It belongs totally to the dispensation of Law. They argue that Pentecost had not come, and this sermon then cannot be applied to the Church in any way, shape or manner. Upon the correctness of this argument lay the destiny of millions of souls, for IF THIS THEOLOGICAL POSITION IS WRONG, AND YOU EMBRACED IT, YOU HAVE DAMNED YOURSELF FOR ALL ETERNITY.
The Sermon on the Mount is a discourse of the PARAMETERS ON HOW YOU ENTER INTO THE ‘NEW HEART’ aspects of the ‘NEW COVENANT’ (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26-27; Hebrews 8:8; 8:13 and 12:24). The word “covenant” is ‘beriyth’, which means COMPACT, LEAGUE, AGREEMENT OR CONTRACT. In the New Testament, the word is ‘diatheke’, which means CONTRACT, TESTAMENT, A LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT. This aspect of the New Covenant is the PRIMARY CONCERN IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. As there is no other way to enter in, and the subject of the Sermon is ENTERING THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (Jesus mentions the Kingdom of Heaven 27 times in Matthew alone, and 5 times in the Sermon on the Mount), then THIS MUST BE A DISCOURSE ON HOW WE ENTER IN TO THE NEW COVENANT!
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I WILL MAKE
A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL,
AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH:
But this shall be THE COVENANT
THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL;
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAITH THE LORD,
I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR INWARD PARTS,
AND WRITE IT IN THEIR HEARTS;
and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
(Jeremiah 31:31, 33)
Here we find a reference to the NEW COVENANT and it is tied DIRECTLY TO A NEW HEART. God says He will TAKE THE LAW AND WRITE IT IN THEIR INWARD PARTS. Scripture proves the Law in reality is nothing more than a reflection of AGAPE LOVE. The Law was given to prove to man HE DID NOT HAVE TRUE AGAPE LOVE. God will take this OUTER FORM OF THE LAW, AND PUT IT INTO THE HUMAN HEART. Thus what we have is a COVENANT OF A NEW HEART, OF A NEW BIRTH, OF REGENERATION PERFORMED BY AGAPE LOVE PLACED WITHIN. The word “covenant” is ‘beriyth’ and it means COMPACT, LEAGUE OR AGREEMENT. It is a binding CONTRACT. When Christ says, “enter ye in”, He is referring to this NEW COVENANT.
“CAST AWAY FROM YOU ALL YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS, WHEREBY YE HAVE
TRANSGRESSED;
AND MAKE YOU A NEW HEART
AND A NEW SPIRIT:
for why will ye die, O house of ISRAEL?
For I have NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF HIM THAT DIETH,
SAITH THE LORD GOD: WHEREFORE TURN YOURSELVES,
AND LIVE YE.”
(Ezekiel 18:31-32)
God is pleading to the house of Israel to CAST AWAY THEIR SINS AND THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS. How are they to do it? VIA A GODLY REPENTANCE THAT LEADS ONE TO A NEW HEART, A NEW SPIRIT. GOD SAYS “TURN YOURSELVES”. IT IS SOMETHING THE INDIVIDUAL MUST DO; IT IS NOT SOMETHING GOD DOES. God asks “WHY WILL YE DIE, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL?” Just because they are the house of Israel does not exempt them in any way from the requirements of RIGHTEOUSNESS. They will die in their sins if they do not obtain thisNEW HEART, THIS NEW SPIRIT.
“A NEW HEART also WILL I GIVE YOU, and a
NEW SPIRIT WILL I PUT WITHIN YOU:
and I will TAKE AWAY THE STONY HEART
OUT OF YOUR FLESH, AND I WILL GIVE YOU AN HEART OF FLESH.
AND I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU,
and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments,
AND DO THEM.
(Ezekiel 36:26-27)
Hebrews Chapter Eight is attempting to show to the Jews that a NEW COVENANT HAS BEEN CREATED VIA THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST. This New Covenant is not entered into via WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OR LAW KEEPING, but via A NEW HEART! We will explore this new heart in complete detail later. One cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless he is BORN AGAIN (John 3:3-5). The subject of the Sermon on the Mount is how we enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and Jesus said in John we must be born again, TO ENTER THE KINGDOM! Jesus is obviously telling us HOW TO BE BORN AGAIN IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT! In other words, the PARAMETERS OF HOW ONE OBTAINS THIS NEW HEART WILL BE FOUND IN MATTHEW FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN!
God says that HE HIMSELF is going to give His people a new heart, and a new spirit. It is supernatural, not of man whatsoever. It also says that PRIOR TO THE GRANTING OF THIS NEW HEART AND SPIRIT, MAN IS WITHOUT IT. You need not be given something if you already possess it. Therefore the New Covenant concerns itself with the supernatural bestowment of God’s spirit (My Spirit within you). It is this NEW SPIRIT and NEW HEART that allows us entrance into the Kingdom. What is this New Spirit and New Heart? IT IS THE BESTOWMENT OF A NEW TYPE OF LOVE IN THE HUMAN HEART: A RADICAL ALTERATION OF THE HEART, A LOVE CHANGE, FROM NATURAL HUMAN LOVE TO A WHOLE NEW LOVE, A DIVINE LOVE, CALLED IN THE GREEK, “AGAPE/AGAPAO”.
“Behold, WHAT MANNER OF (AGAPE) LOVE
the FATHER HATH BESTOWED UPON US
THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD…”
(1 John 3:1)
Here we find total confirmation that God the Father puts His AGAPE love into the AUTHENTIC BELIEVER. Notice who grants the gift of AGAPE love that makes one a TRUE SON OF GOD: GOD HIMSELF! Is that not what Ezekiel said? Did not Jesus Himself say:
“…VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO THEE, EXCEPT A MAN
BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”
Jesus answered, VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO THEE,
EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT,
HE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Marvel not that I said unto thee,
YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.”
(John 3:3, 5, 7)
The word “again” comes from the word ‘anothen’ which comes from ‘ano’ and it means FROM ABOVE, FROM THE TOP, FROM THE BEGINNING, OR FROM THE SPIRIT. It means in effect BORN FROM AN ACT OF GOD, BORN OF GOD, BORN FROM GOD HIMSELF. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is speaking about HOW WE ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. What Jesus is doing is laying down the PARAMETERS, THE GUIDELINES ON WHAT WE MUST DO TO ENTER HIS KINGDOM. He is telling us how we obtain a new heart of agape love, which is also called “LIFE”:
“We KNOW that we have passed from death UNTO LIFE,
BECAUSE
WE (AGAPE) LOVE THE BRETHREN.
HE THAT (AGAPE) LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER
ABIDETH IN DEATH.”
(1 John 3:14)
Agape love bestowment IS what passes us from DEATH UNTO LIFE. To say otherwise would be to stand in opposition to a host of Scripture. Agape love bestowment IS THE REBIRTH EXPERIENCEOF THE REAL BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN. Agape love brings life, for agape love IS LIFE. It will be proven that the very essence of God IS AGAPE LOVE. Without it, all human souls remain in what God calls DEATH. The subject of this DARK LIGHT series is AGAPE LOVE. With it, you have ‘life’ and you will enter heaven’s gate. Without it, you abide in death, and you will never see heaven at all.
Jesus is explaining by what method man MUST ENTER IN, and if a soul refuses for whatever reason, HE WILL NOT ENTER IN, BUT FACE ETERNAL RUIN. The New Covenant is a New Heart Covenant. A new heart brings with it a NEW LIFE. The New Covenant requires a new heart and a new divine spirit because THE BELIEVER MUST BE ADJUSTED BACK TO THE STANDARD OF GOD. GOD’S STANDARD IS PURE AGAPE. The love within man from natural birth is opposed in principle to the agape love of God. Therefore man MUST undergo a radical LOVE CHANGE FROM NATURAL TO DIVINE, or he cannot enter the NEW COVENANT.
“ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to DESTRUCTION,
and MANY there be that go in thereat:
BECAUSE
STRAIT IS THE GATE, AND NARROW IS THE WAY,
THAT LEADETH UNTO LIFE
(THE NEW COVENANT OF AGAPE LOVE),
and FEW THERE BE that FIND IT.”
(Matthew 7:13, 14)
Notice the word life. Life sits at the END of the narrow way. It does not sit at the beginning or the middle. The destination of the narrow way is LIFE, FOR THE NARROW WAY LEADS TO IT. We will come back to this aspect later in this series. For now CROSS COMPARE these verses and you will see Matthew Five, Six and Seven concern themselves with THE NEW BIRTH.
Jesus is making a valid presentation to Israel of the New Covenant, which contains other aspects as well, including the Millennial Reign, the rule of the nation Israel with great prosperity, etc. Because Israel REFUSED JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT, THEY REJECTED THE NEW HEART ASPECT. They refused to enter in via the method Jesus gave to them, and THEY WERE EXCLUDED. Likewise will any believer in Jesus Christ be EXCLUDED IF THEY REFUSE TO ADHERE TO THE PARAMETERS GIVEN BY JESUS CHRIST TO ENTER IN.
The Lord is not a respecter of people. If Israel, the real olive tree, God’s own chosen people, are utterly excluded for refusing THE METHOD GOD ORDAINED, then why would any Christian, who is a wild olive branch, think he would not be excluded as well IF HE REFUSES THE METHOD GOD HAS ORDAINED?
EITHER ONE ENTERS THE STRAIT GATE AND WALKS THE NARROW WAY OR HE/SHE WILL PERISH FOREVER. Jesus only gave us this ONE WAY. Because Israel rejected the new heart aspects of the New Covenant, THEIR ENTIRE PORTION OF THE NEW COVENANT WAS DELAYED (Romans 11:25-27; until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled), and the NEW HEART ASPECTS WERE GIVEN TO THE CHURCH (another nation) to provoke Israel to jealousy (Romans 10:19).
The presentation to Israel was valid. Israel had the right and the duty to enter in. That is why Jesus said that John the Baptist WAS ‘Elias’ IF Israel would receive it. Had Israel received Christ, the New Covenant would have been brought in, and the Millennial Reign of Christ would have begun! God foreknew they would reject Christ, but that does not negate the authenticity of the offer made.
Israel was looking for a political Messiah, one that would lead them into a worldwide dominion. They did not understand nor desire to know the spiritual side of the Kingdom. Their Kingdom of God was upon earth, a physical kingdom, and their promises were for this life upon earth. They wanted to bring heaven down to earth, which is exactly what antichrist attempts to do. Jesus brought a message Israel did not want to hear. He also gave them all of the signs written in the Old Testament to PROVE WHO HE WAS. They were without any excuse, and likewise the believer in Christ is without any excuse if he refuses to comply with the parameters Jesus laid down to enter in. The dispensation of Law Keeping was over, and Christ ushered in a whole new concept, a whole New Covenant, a brand new program. The law, which had been EXTERNAL, was now going to be made INTERNAL, and written on the ‘inward parts’ or their innermost center of being, their HIDDEN INNER “HEART”.
The law itself remains unchanged (Matthew 5:17-19). Jesus is the END OF THE LAW FOR THEM WHICH BELIEVE ONLY, AND THAT WORD BELIEVE IS WELL QUALIFIED. For all others it is still in full force and effect, in spite of theology to the contrary. Jesus insisted the LAW WOULD REMAIN RIGHT THROUGH TO THE END. It is via the Law that all unbelievers and many believers who thought they were saved will be condemned to eternal ruin. What saves the human soul is that via the NEW HEART AND NEW SPIRIT, the EXTERNAL LAW, which is nothing but a reflection of AGAPE LOVE, is WRITTEN INTO THE CENTER OF MAN; THE HEART! The Law goes from EXTERNAL RULES TO AGAPE LOVE WITHIN! If a person AGAPE LOVES, which cannot be done EXCEPT AND UNLESS AUTHENTIC REGENERATION HAS OCCURRED, he fulfills all the LAW (Romans 13:8-10). The word love in those verses is A REFERENCE TO DIVINE AGAPE. Paul is blunt: AGAPE LOVE FULFILLS ALL THE LAW.
Jesus is attempting to explain to Israel how to find and appropriate this new law: the law of AGAPE LOVE WITHIN, the covenant of a new heart within, a supernaturally changed human heart, a heart that allows us to fulfill all the law via AGAPE LOVE WITHIN. It is this LOVE CHANGE that brings LIFE, and this LOVE CHANGE that allows us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ is the ONLY MEDIATOR of the New Covenant (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24). There is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED.
The world hates that message for it EXCLUDES all other religions, all other names, and all other concepts of mankind. God the Father anointed Jesus Christ as the ONLY ONE who has the KEYS TO DEATH, HELL AND HEAVEN. Jesus is the MEDIATOR. If Jesus is the mediator, then ought we not pay attention to what He said to us? Israel REJECTED CHRIST (Matthew 12:24-50). They killed Him (Acts 4:10). Because Israel refused, Christ began to build the foundation of the Church. Israel insisted upon keeping the Law (Roman 9:31-32; 10:1-4), and the Church comes into the New Covenant (Romans 11), as the WILD OLIVE BRANCH grafted into the house of Israel. The Church then has the right to enter the kingdom of Heaven via the new birth, which is part of the new covenant. When we undergo AUTHENTIC REGENERATION we become true heirs to the promise (Romans 4; Galatians 4:1-7), by the dynamics of TRUE faith. The Sermon on the Mount outlines the conditions by which we are to enter in to find LIFE. It deals wholly with how to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and the entire mission of the Church IS TO ENTER INTO HEAVEN, THEN HOW COULD ANYONE SUGGEST THAT THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT DOES NOT APPLY TO US NOW? Only apostasy could bring about such terrible and damnable heresies.
Did not Jesus say “ENTER YE IN?” Into what? The New Covenant, the New Birth! Jesus is telling you there are two ways, two gates, two methods by which HIS BELIEVERS, HIS DISCIPLES, HIS PEOPLE, THE “CHRISTIANS” are going to ATTEMPT to enter this NEW COVENANT. One way is via a very wide gate and a broad way which has a sign over it that says ‘HEAVEN THIS WAY, ALL BELIEVERS IN JESUS, ENTER HERE.” Satan and his FALSE CHRISTIAN PROPHETS painted that sign to deceive believers. It is a FABRICATION, A DECEPTION that appears right, sounds right, feel right, and even checks out correctly in Scripture, UNLESS ONE DIGS DEEP ENOUGH TO UNCOVER THE DECEPTION.
There is ANOTHER GATE, and another WAY, which Jesus termed STRAIT AND NARROW. Jesus said that only a few of HIS PEOPLE, HIS BELIEVERS, WOULD ENTER INTO THIS STRAIT GATE AND WALK THIS NARROW WAY. The vast majority of Christians would REJECT IT; they would build up a theology that would offer an alternative, but attractive method of obtaining a new heart. This new alternative way would fabricate a NEW JESUS, A NEW GOSPEL. But this new Jesus would be a master counterfeit, a look alike, with a gospel so close to the original that the MANY WOULD NOT DETECT THE FATAL FLAW IN THEIR THEOLOGY. It would be embraced by the VAST MAJORITY of the Body of Christ as authentic, as correct. That is why the MANY CHRISTIAN LEADERS STAND BEFORE CHRIST CONDEMNED. Peter, through the Holy Spirit said their multitude of followers LIKEWISE IS CONDEMNED. Their theology was incorrect and they suffer eternal loss.
Therefore in reality there is only ONE GATE and ONE WAY by which we may enter into the Kingdom of God, into the New Covenant. That ONE WAY leads to LIFE, WHICH IS AGAPE LOVE BESTOWMENT. The other leads to eternal loss and ruin, but it APPEARS as BEING THE CORRECT WAY! IT WILL CLAIM A NEW HEART AND IT WILL CLAIM WITH TOTAL AUTHORITY THAT HEAVEN IS THE DESTINATION. IT WILL CLAIM A TRUE AND AUTHENTIC UNION WITH JESUS CHRIST. IT WILL SEIZE THE EARTHLY AND PRESENT PART OF THE PROMISE. THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS WILL CLAIM TO BE SONS OF GOD, BUT THEY WILL BE IN TRUTH BASTARDS SONS, LAWLESS, FOR THEY REFUSED TO OBEY THE PARAMETERS CHRIST GAVE THEM. As a result of their false theology, they are sent away.
LET HIM WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR.
The Sermon on the Mount is a sermon on HOW TO GET SAVED. It applies totally to the Church and the entire church age. The people Jesus addresses are HIS FOLLOWERS, HIS BELIEVERS. In spite of what you may have been taught, the Scriptures are not written to unbelievers. Rarely are unbelievers even mentioned. The Scripture is OPEN TO THEM AND THEY MAY RESPOND CORRECTLY TO THEM FOR IT IS NOT THE WILL OF GOD THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL COME TO REPENTANCE (2 Peter 3:9). If a person rejects the Scripture, they condemn themselves. If they respond PROPERLY, AND UNDERGO TRUE CONVERSIONS they become believers, and if they ARE OBEDIENT to the commands of Christ, they will LATER (after they have entered the STRAIT GATE AND WALKED THE NARROW WAY), obtain REGENERATION, WHICH IS LIFE AND SALVATION. Jesus did not even PRAY FOR UNBELIEVERS. HE DID NOT PRAY FOR THE WORLD AT ALL:
“I pray for THEM (the apostles, the real believers):
I pray NOT FOR THE WORLD,
BUT FOR THEM WHICH THOU HAST GIVEN ME;
FOR THEY ARE THINE.”
(John 17:9)
The importance of this prayer is found in WHO JESUS IS PRAYING FOR. It was NOT the Christ rejecting world. He is very specific: He prays only FOR HIS OWN. ALL OTHERS ARE REJECTED, ALL OTHERS ARE ENEMIES AND THEREFORE CONDEMNED.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but
FOR THEM ALSO WHICH SHALL BELIEVE ON ME
THROUGH THEIR WORD;
THAT THEY
ALL MAY BE ONE; AS THOU, FATHER,
ART IN ME, AND I IN THEE,
THAT THEY ALSO
MAY BE
ONE IN US:
THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU HAST SENT ME.”
(John 17:20-21)
Jesus extends His prayers here to include ALL BELIEVERS THAT CLAIM THEY ARE CHRISTIANS. He is not excluding mere professors; He includes ALL THOSE WHO NAME THE NAME OF JESUS. But notice how He words it, and pay close attention to it: He first prays for all those that “believe on me”. It means all professors of Christ throughout the entire church age, which means all those who have put faith and trust in the name of Jesus as Messiah. Now comes something very important: OF THIS WHOLE GROUP, HE PRAYS THAT THESE PEOPLE MAY COME INTO AUTHENTIC UNION WITH HIM, IF THEY ARE OBEDIENT AND DO AS HE COMMANDED. He wants them all to become one! He wants them to come to something:
“And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it:
that the (AGAPE) love wherewith thou hast (AGAPE) loved me
MAY BE IN THEM, AND I IN THEM.”
(John 17:26)
Scripture proves that simply becoming a Christian, and claiming the name of Jesus does not mean that one has AGAPE love within! The prayer of Jesus is that ALL BELIEVERS WOULD COME INTO UNION WITH HIM. That they might come to the BESTOWMENT OF AGAPE LOVE AND THEREBY ENTER INTO TRUE UNION. The prayer then has an ultimate goal: THE UNION WITH CHRIST OF ALL PROFESSING CHRISTIANS, VIA AUTHENTIC REGENERATION. It will be proven that the vast majority of believers NEVER enter into TRUE UNION with Christ. They embrace a false theology that actually PREVENTS IT!
WHEAT & CHAFF
Jesus divides the world into TWO CAMPS, believers and unbelievers. He then makes another division that is far more important: believers and followers who are OBEDIENT, and who will come into GENUINE UNION with Christ and actually enter in to the New Covenant via AUTHENTIC REGENERATION/REBIRTH. The next groups are believers and followers that are DISOBEDIENT, who will not enter into GENUINE UNION with Christ, in spite of all their belief, faith and profession of faith. They somehow miss the KEY TO HEAVEN.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER
which is in heaven.”
(Matthew 7:21)
The word “will” is ‘thelema’ and it means a DETERMINATION, A PURPOSE, A DECREE. The word “doeth” is ‘poieo’ and it means to PERFORM OR CARRY OUT, TO DO SOMETHING. Closely associated with it is the word ‘prasso’ which means to PERFORM REPEATEDLY, TO EXECUTE, TO ACCOMPLISH. In short, it means to be OBEDIENT TO GOD, THAT IS, TO PERFORM OR EXECUTE, TO CARRY OUT THAT WHICH GOD DEMANDS. If you are obedient, you will do it. If you are disobedient, you will not do it.
“Therefore whosoever HEARETH these sayings of mine,
AND DOETH THEM,
I will liken him unto a WISE MAN, which built his house upon a ROCK:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house; and it FELL NOT: FOR IT WAS FOUNDED UPON A ROCK.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine,
AND DOETH THEM NOT,
shall be likened unto a FOOLISH MAN, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
AND IT FELL:
AND GREAT WAS THE FALL OF IT.”
(Matthew 7:24-27)
Either you are obedient or you perish. Either you do as you are told, or you perish. It is NOT OPTIONAL. It is a command from God. You do not pick and choose that which you may comply with. Theological arguments that bypass obvious commands from God lead you to certain ruin.
“And being made perfect, he (Jesus) became
THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION UNTO ALL
THEM THAT OBEY HIM.”
(Hebrews 5:9)
Notice that HUGE CONDITIONAL WORD ‘OBEY’. The word “obey” here is ‘hupakouo’, which simply means to CARRY OUT THE COMMANDS OF AUTHORITY, TO HEED, TO CONFORM. As we are dealing with HOW TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, WE MUST BE OBEDIENT TO THE PARAMETERS GIVEN IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT! In other words, SALVATION IS CONDITIONAL UPON YOUR OBEDIENCE! IF YOU REFUSE, FOR WHATEVER FOOLISH REASON YOU HAVE, YOU BURN:
“In FLAMING FIRE taking vengeance on them
that KNOW NOT GOD,
AND THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST…”
(2 Thessalonians 1:8)
These people are not just unbelievers; they are also BELIEVERS WHO REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST. The concept that grace now replaces the commands of obedience is a doctrine right out of hell itself, a fabrication of the false prophets, which Christ, Paul, Peter and Jude warned us about. It is a perversion of grace. The commands to obedience are not new to the Lord’s Word (Exodus 19:5; Deut. 11:27,28; 13:4; 28:62; 30:20; 1 Sam. 12:15; 5:22; Job 36:11-12; Jer. 7:23; 11:4; 11:7; 12:17; Dan. 9:11). These are but a few examples. The New Testament is filled with references by all the writers that ONLY THOSE WHO OBEY THE LORD WILL BE SAVED. If you refuse to enter the strait gate, and walk the narrow way, because you think it is some form of ‘works’ or ‘legalism’ you will perish in your sins for you NEITHER KNOW GOD, AGAPE LOVE, NOR CHRIST. One can claim all they want that they do, but the truth is what determines your destiny, not your opinions! DOES JESUS KNOW YOU?
The word “obey” in the above Scripture is also ‘hupakouo’, which means TO HEED THE COMMANDS OF ONE IN AUTHORITY, TO HEARKEN UNTO THEM, TO PERFORM AS REQUIRED. What are we to obey? THE GOSPEL. What is the Gospel? The word “gospel” is ‘euaggelion’ and it means MESSAGE, DECLARATION OF GOOD NEWS. What is the message? CHRIST HAS REDEEMED MANKIND. How will Christ redeem? Via the NEW COVENANT. How do we enter into the New Covenant? CHRIST TOLD US HOW IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT! Who has Christ redeemed? THOSE THAT KEEP HIS SAYINGS, THOSE THAT “DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER”, THOSE THAT OBEY THE COMMANDS:
“ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE…”
“NARROW IS THE WAY, WHICH LEADED UNTO LIFE…”
“STRIVE TO ENTER THE STRAIT GATE…”
Read the parameters, read the written declaration. Read every word, and then obey the sayings of Jesus and do the will of the Father. Obedience is the key to the entire Gospel and salvation itself. Faith at its root essence is OBEDIENCE OVER THE LONG HAUL, or we could say a FAITH THAT IS TRIED IN THE FIRES OF TRIAL AND TESTING. OUR FAITH WILL BE TRIED TO SEE IF IT IS AS THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST. Jesus exclaimed:
“And WHY CALL YE ME, Lord, Lord,
AND DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH I SAY?”
(Luke 6:46)
The Bible is very blunt: it calls all those that refuse to obey the counsel of the Lord FOOLISH AND SIMPLE. It does not matter how many theological degrees you hang after your name, nor how many millions of followers you may claim. All of that is vanity, all of that is carnal. What matters is simple obedience.
“He that REJECTETH ME, and RECEIVETH NOT
MY WORDS (ALL SCRIPTURE),
hath one that judgeth him:
THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN (SCRIPTURE),
the same shall judge him in the last day.”
(John 12:48)
Jesus makes it clear that there are two types of BELIEVERS: Those that hear the word and do it, and those that hear the word, but refuse to comply. We are back to obedience and disobedience. It then becomes clear that Jesus is CONTRASTING THE TWO TYPES OF BELIEVERS, FOLLOWERS AND DISCIPLES, in the Sermon on the Mount. THE REAL AUTHENTIC ONES WHO DO AS COMMANDED, AND THE FALSE ONES THAT DO NOT!
“ENTER YE IN (TO THE NARROW WAY) at the STRAIT GATE:
for WIDE IS THE GATE, and BROAD
IS THE WAY,
THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY
there be which go in thereat:
BECAUSE
STRAIT IS THE GATE,
AND NARROW IS THE WAY,
which LEADETH UNTO LIFE,
and FEW there be that find it.”
(Matthew 7:13-14)
It is a tragic error of modern Christian theology to attempt to claim that the wide gate and broad way are comprised of all unbelievers, and that every Christian has entered the strait gate and walked the narrow way, or is walking it. According to Scripture, THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS ARE ON THE BROAD WAY. We will prove this out in this series. What Jesus is telling us is this: there are two types of believers, followers and disciples. The obedient ones enter the STRAIT GATE, TAKE THE NARROW WAY, MEET CHRIST, HAVE AGAPE LOVE BESTOWED AND ENTER INTO AUTHENTIC REGENERATION AND UNION. They are the WHEAT. The disobedient refuse the strait gate, refuse the narrow way, by claiming it is a “work”, a form of “legalism”, a perversion of grace, BUT CLAIM THEY ARE CHRISTIANS. They never meet Christ; they do not know or have AGAPE LOVE, in spite of their claims to the contrary, they are never REGENERATED, and they are called BASTARD SONS, and THEY ARE CHAFF. The wheat is taken into the barn, while the chaff is burned in the fire.
Were the “many” rejected by Jesus Christ under GRACE? If so, why are they not saved? Why doesn’t Jesus merely “wink” at their sins? They WERE under grace, but they DID NOT AVAIL THEMSELVES OF IT, BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO DO WHAT GOD AND CHRIST COMMANDED THEM TO DO! THEY FRUSTRATED THE GRACE OF GOD, THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT GRACE WAS, AND THEY PERVERTED ITS REAL MEANING.
To prove that there is a broad way for Christians, let’s turn to John 10:1 and read it carefully:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you,
he that ENTERETH NOT BY THE DOOR
INTO THE SHEEPFOLD, BUT CLIMBETH UP
SOME OTHER WAY,
THE SAME IS A THIEF AND A ROBBER.”
(John 10:1)
“BROAD IS THE WAY” = SOME OTHER WAY
Jesus says there are TWO WAYS into the sheepfold. The SHEEPFOLD is THE BODY OF CHRIST. You can come into the sheepfold (Body of Christ) by THE DOOR (1), or SOME OTHER WAY (2). The important thing to notice is that Jesus INCLUDES THEM BOTH AS ENTERING THE SHEEPFOLD. All Christians no matter their true status before Christ are considered to be in the Body of Christ, or part of HIS CHURCH. It will be shown later that SOME OTHER WAY ISCONVERSION, and via the DOOR IS REGENERATION. In spite of modern theology, conversionIS NOT regeneration.
Jesus says He is THE DOOR (John 10:8). The door to what? A door is an entry point to something. What are we COMMANDED TO DO? TO ENTER THE NEW COVENANT AND JESUS IS THE ONLY MEDIATOR OF THAT COVENANT. WE THEREFORE MUST ENTER IN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. If Jesus is the DOOR, then THE DOOR IS OUR ENTRY POINT INTO THE NEW COVENANT! Where is Jesus in relation to the NARROW WAY? AT THE END OF THE NARROW WAY! NOT AT THE BEGINNING, NOT AT THE MIDDLE, BUT AT THE END! Scripture proves that the destination of the narrow way is ALSO JESUS. This is true because LIFE IS AT THE ENDOF THE NARROW WAY:
“He that HATH THE SON
HATH LIFE;
AND HE THAT HATH NOT THE SON OF GOD
HATH NOT LIFE.”
(1 John 5:12)
If Jesus is the only one who has LIFE, and the NARROW WAY LEADETH UNTO LIFE, THEN IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO YOU THAT JESUS IS STANDING AND WAITING FOR US AT THE END OF THE NARROW WAY! Do you understand this? It means WE DO NOT FIND THE LIVING CHRIST AT THE STRAIT GATE, OR ANYWHERE ALONG THE NARROW WAY, BUT ONLY AT THE END OF THE NARROW WAY. If you refuse the strait gate, and the narrow way that leads to THE DOOR, then you have come into the sheepfold SOME OTHER WAY. There is only one other way listed: THE WIDE GATE AND BROAD WAY. These people claim to be Christians. They are in deception. They have come into the body of Christ in a way Christ REJECTS.
Jesus said that MANY believers travel the broad way. The word “many” is ‘polus’ and it meansMUCH, LARGELY, ABUNDANT, MOSTLY, PLENTEOUS, MAJORITY OR VAST MAJORITY. Notice that Jesus said the vast majority of His followers travel the BROAD WAY to DESTRUCTION. The word used for destruction is ‘apoleia’, and it means ETERNAL RUIN OR LOSS. The many make a very serious mistake in their theology and beliefs. It is this group, who comprise the many, who stand before Jesus REJECTED.
‘MANY there be which go in thereat’
‘MANY will say to me in that day’
=
SOME OTHER WAY into the sheepfold
Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus contrasts these two types of believers, and how they will respond to Him and His commands. There are TWO GATES, TWO WAYS, TWO DESTINATIONS. There are TWO TYPES OF TREES, TWO TYPES OF FRUITS, AND TWO TYPES OF HOUSES. There are TWO WAYS TO ENTER THE SHEEPFOLD, THE DOOR OR SOME OTHER WAY. Could it be that ALL CHRISTIANS enter the WIDE GATE and begin their journey on the broad way? That within this sheepfold of Christianity there are but a few who discover there is a strait gate and who enter in and travel the narrow way to find the LIVING CHRIST? Could this be the answer to ‘MANY are called, but FEW are chosen’? That Jesus Christ considers all who profess Him as followers, as disciples, but only THE FEW as ‘disciples indeed’ (John 8:31)?
The Sermon on the Mount was designed to show those who were followers HOW TO APPROACH THE KING. There is a proper protocol that must be observed, and if it is not, you WILL go into eternal ruin. Jesus told us the correct way to lay down our petitions for mercy before the Lord of the Universe. He showed us how to enter in to the New Covenant of Agape love bestowment, which is the new heart.
Would you walk into the President of the United State’s Oval office without an appointment? Do you simply rush in without proper protocol being observed? If you attempt to ‘enter in’ in such a manner, you would be instantly stopped, and if you refused, you would be killed. THERE IS A RIGHT WAY AND A WRONG WAY TO APPROACH THE PRESIDENT. One way gets you in; the other way gets you killed. The nations of the world, and their presidents, are but dust in the hands of the Lord. They are counted as NOTHING. If this be true, then how much more should we observe the commands of Christ to approach GOD? Jesus is telling us: “Look, you are approaching the God of this Universe, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. These are the ground rules to approach my Father. These ARE THE CONDITIONS for entering into the New Covenant. These parameters must be adhered to. If you will do it, YOU SHALL LIVE. If you refuse, YOU SHALL PERISH FOREVER.
“Because I have called, and YE REFUSED; I have stretched out my hand, and NO MAN
REGARDED;
But ye have SET AT NOUGHT ALL MY COUNSEL,
AND WOULD NONE OF MY REPROOF:
I also will laugh at your CALAMITY; I will mock when your FEAR COMETH; when your fear cometh as desolation,
and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when
distress and anguish cometh upon you.
THEN SHALL THEY CALL UPON ME,
BUT I WILL NOT ANSWER;
THEY SHALL SEEK ME EARLY,
BUT THEY SHALL NOT FIND ME:
FOR THAT THEY HATED KNOWLEDGE,
AND DID NOT CHOOSE THE FEAR OF THE LORD.”
(Proverbs 1:24-29)
There are three things here: they refused KNOWLEDGE, they refused HIS COUNSEL, and they refused the FEAR OF THE LORD. They perish and go into eternal ruin. The same thing happens to the ‘MANY’.
WHO ARE THE MANY?
We have now shown you the context of the Sermon on the Mount, and that the many who enter into the wide gate and remain on the broad way are in fact BELIEVERS. We know that the word ‘many’ means VAST MAJORITY. We must therefore find out why THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS WHO LIVED DURING THE ENTIRE CHURCH AGE ARE REJECTED BY CHRIST. To accomplish that we must examine this and other Scripture carefully. When we do that, we will unlock the mystery of why it happened, and thus we ourselves can hope to avoid it.
“MANY WILL SAY to me in that day, LORD, LORD,
HAVE WE NOT
PROPHESIED IN THY NAME?
AND IN THY NAME HAVE CAST OUT DEVILS?
AND IN THY NAME DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS?”
(Matthew 7:22)
We know the word ‘many’ means the VAST MAJORITY of CHRISTIANS. Could we prove they were SINCERE CHRISTIANS? Is sincerity the issue here, or is deception the issue? Can we find out who these people really are?
1. THEY CALL JESUS LORD. Only a believer, a disciple, a follower calls Jesus Christ Lord. Obviously they knew who Jesus was and knew His position of authority and power, for they used His name and His power upon earth to perform their works. The word for “Lord” is ‘kurios’ and it meansSUPREME AUTHORITY, SUPREME RULER.
2. THEY PROPHESIED IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Only Christians take the name of Jesus: only Christians profess Christ and become MESSENGERS FOR CHRIST. THEY ARE HIS AGENTS AND AMBASSADORS. They are working under HIS AUTHORITY. Clearly they are MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH, AND ACCEPTED MEMBERS BY THE BRETHREN.
Christ does not argue with them about their works in HIS NAME. He does not refute it, which substantiates it. He does not answer them on that basis, for it is a TRUTH. This is why they argue with Christ, and are in ABSOLUTE SHOCK AND DISBELIEF AT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM. They now present their side: DID WE NOT DO ALL OF THESE WORKS IN YOUR NAME UNDER YOUR AUTHORITY? Were we not operating under your Lordship and power? Were we not your agents, your ambassadors? Everything we did, we did in your name! LORD, LORD HAVE MERCY!
There is no question that all of these poor souls THOUGHT they were FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION OF MATTHEW 28:19-20. The word “prophesied” is ‘propheteuo’; and it means TO PREACH, TO TEACH, TO EVANGELIZE, TO GIVE REAL PROPHECY ALL UNDER THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. That word has roots that cover the broad spectrum of offices in the Church: some apostles, some pastors, some teachers, some evangelists. We can then deduce something from this remark: THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE OBEDIENT CHRISTIANS, DOING THE WORK OF CHRIST AS HE COMMANDED.
THEY WERE WRONG; DEAD WRONG.
Christ does not DENY THEIR WORK ANYWHERE. HE DOES NOT DENY THEY HAD THE HOLY SPIRIT. By the absence of such a denial, He implies that they did it all in His name, and by all implications under His authority and by the Holy Spirit.
These people ARE CHRISTIAN LEADERS. They took the Gospel to the four corners of the world, fulfilling the great commission. They thought they were obedient; they never once questioned it. Now they stand before their Lord and find themselves UTTERLY CAST OUT. THEY STAND BEFORE CHRIST STUNNED TO THE VERY CORE OF THEIR BEING. They only NOW RECOGNIZE they are LOST SOULS, DESTINED FOR THE HELL THEY PREACHED AGAINST.
Christ did not deny their positions as leaders either. The very word they used PROVES THEY WERE LEADERS. Christ did not base His answer to them on this basis; THEY WERE IN THE SHEEPFOLD. THEY WERE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST AS EVANGELISTS, TEACHERS, PREACHERS WITHIN THE MAINSTREAM CHURCH.
3. THEY CAST OUT DEMONS IN THE NAME OF JESUS. This is a very important key to proving that these people were not just nominal believers, but were on the front lines of the battle between God and Satan. The word “devils” is ‘daimonion’ and it means a DEMONIC BEING, A SUPERNATURAL SPIRIT OF EVIL.
“And THESE SIGNS shall follow
THEM THAT BELIEVE;
IN MY NAME shall they CAST OUT DEVILS;
they shall speak with NEW TONGUES;
They shall take up serpents;
and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, and they shall recover.”
(Mark 16:17-18)
Jesus says that THEY WHO BELIEVE in Him shall be able to do all of these things in HIS NAME. That is exactly what the MANY DYNAMIC CHRISTIANS SAID. Obviously they BELIEVED. They also must have known about Satan and demons, for they were involved in the casting out of demons. This being true, then they knew about heaven and hell. They must have known about the great battle between Christ and Satan. They must have preached the Gospel of salvation from hell and hellfire around the world! They knew about the Holy Spirit, for they had Holy Spirit power! They used it in the mighty name of Jesus!
Let me ask you a very serious question: if these people KNEW ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL, ABOUT CHRIST AND SATAN, ABOUT ETERNAL TORMENT AND SUFFERING, AND ABOUT DEMONS:
WOULD THEY KNOWINGLY PICK HELL AS THEIR DESTINATION?
If you answer yes, WHY WOULD THEY? There is a not a soul on earth that would pick hell as their eternal destination. NO ONE. Given all of their knowledge (they were teachers, preachers, evangelists) would they DELIBERATELY MOCK CHRIST AND CHOOSE ETERNAL RUIN? The question itself is absurd! OF COURSE NOT!
If they would not pick this destination by choice, then how did they end up there? The answer is simple: DECEPTION ON A MASSIVE SCALE. They were under rank deception, FOR LACK OF SEARCHING FOR THE REAL TRUTH. The only way you can go under a deception as this is via BUILDING A THEOLOGY THAT IS INCORRECT, AND THEN EMBRACING THAT THEOLOGY AS TRUTH. In short, it means REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH THE COMMANDS OF JESUS CHRIST AND BUILDING A THEOLOGY THAT GETS AROUND IT! It was their own theology that took them to hell. Peter warned that Satan would infiltrate the Church and build a complete NEW THEOLOGY that looked 100% correct, but it would lead to the VAST MAJORITY GOING INTO ETERNAL RUIN (2 Peter 2:1-3).
4. THEY DID MANY WONDERFUL WORKS. The word “wonderful” is ‘dunamis’ and it means TO HAVE MIRACULOUS POWER, MIGHTY WORKS, MIRACLE WORKING ABILITY. These folks were into healing, tongues, and a whole host of supernatural signs and wonders. THEY HAD IT ALL. They did it all in the name of Jesus. Now from all of this we can deduce many things, and will prove it out totally by Scripture, which is the final judge in such matters. Think about each item listed, and you will see that the deductions that we can make are valid, and when cross referenced to other Scripture, prove to be totally true and accurate.
A) Christ does not CONTRADICT THEM.
B) Christ does not say they did not BELIEVE.
C) Christ does not say they had no FAITH.
D) Christ does not deny it was done in His NAME.
E) Christ does not deny the WORKS DONE.
F) Christ does not deny they UPHELD HIS NAME.
G) Christ does not deny THAT THEY WERE FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION.
H) Christ does not deny they were CHRISTIANS.
I) Christ does not deny they were PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.
In point of fact, Christ does not even claim they spoke evil of His name. You will not find one word of denial in the answer of Christ. He does not deny it, for their claims are totally true. Christ is not going to deny TRUTH. But His answer is devastating in its simplicity and beauty. His answer proves they missed
THE ENTIRE POINT OF THE SCRIPTURE.
They missed the key central issue between man and God. Because they missed the key to salvation in Christ, their works were branded as INIQUITY.
Albert Barnes was a Christian scholar who wrote a commentary now called Barnes’ Notes. What he says about these people helps us to understand in part what happened to these people:
“Many would plead that they had done miracles, and preached and prophesied much, and on the ground of THAT they would demand entrance into heaven. The power of working miracles HAS NO NECESSARY CONNECTION TO PIETY. God may as well, if He chooses, give THE POWER of raising the dead to a wicked man, as the skill of healing to a wicked physician. A MIRACLE IS A DISPLAY OF HIS (GOD’S) POWER THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF ANOTHER. The act of healing the sick is also a DISPLAY OF HIS (GOD’S) POWER THROUGH THE AGENCY OF ANOTHER. In neither of these cases is there any necessary connection to moral character. So of preaching and prophesying. God may use the agency of a man of talents, though not pious, to carry forward his purposes…” Volume 9, page 79.
This goes far deeper than that. These men KNEW THEY HAD TO BE BORN AGAIN. There is no way they could NOT HAVE KNOWN IT. This is a deception in theology. However, I want you to notice how Barnes contrasts POWER WITH PIETY. In this case he is using REGENERATIVE PIETY, OR THE PIETY THAT COMES FROM BEING BORN AGAIN. Power does not prove anything. We dare not confuse power with inner essence of the soul. Power is power, and you could heal someone and not have any love in your soul. It could be done for aggrandizement, pride, greed or to gain a position of power.
It is vital to realize that working power has nothing whatever to do with the state of the heart in the regenerative sense of the world. We can prove that because Satan can and does duplicate every single gift of the Holy Spirit! That is one of his methods of deception. Power is manifested by OUTWARD AND VISIBLE SIGNS AND WONDERS, SUCH AS TONGUES, HEALINGS, SLAYINGS OF THE SPIRIT, ETC.
The occult has long known and recognized that Satan can and does heal, answer prayer, causes people to speak in tongues, and slayings in the spirit, can prophecy, etc. Is the essence of Satan the same as the Holy Spirit? IS THE COMMAND OF SCRIPTURE TO ‘TEST THE SPIRITS’ THERE FOR A REASON? That is why the Scripture does not base salvation upon any of these things whatsoever, for anyone, including believers could be deceived by the enemy. Salvation is based upon something that Satan cannot duplicate.
It might be argued that these people were into WORKS, OR A FORM OF LEGALISM. The implication of Scripture is that they were utterly UNAWARE that they were legalists. Scripture proves that you can THINK YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING BY FAITH AND GRACE AND STILL BE UNDER THE LAW. This will be explored fully. These people displayed all the power and might of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, and they fully believed in salvation by grace through faith. The issue goes far deeper than WORKS vs. FAITH AND GRACE. What we are dealing with here is a DECEPTION IN THEOLOGY so subtle and so clever that they never realized their danger. The other argument presented is that they did not have Holy Spirit power, but instead had satanic power. This is even worse, for they were UNABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE. They asked God for bread, and He gave them a STONE. That is not the character of God or Christ. It goes much deeper than any of this, and it rests upon one thing: THEIR THEOLOGY WAS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH JESUS CHRIST, ALTHOUGH IT LOOKED LIKE IT AGREED TOTALLY WITH IT!!!
These people were sincere, dedicated Christian workers. They had been duped by a CLEVER DECEPTION. It is the purpose of this series to UNMASK THAT DECEPTION. Christ did not question whatever their FAITH, BELIEF OR SINCERITY. That was not the issue. We can, however, prove the following to be true:
1. They underwent a CONVERSION to Christ.
These people were at one time UNBELIEVERS. They at one time or another heard the gospel and underwent a conversion to Christ. He does not deny that they were Christians. The word conversion means to change directions, to have a MIND CHANGE, TO CHANGE YOUR MIND, TO THINK DIFFERENTLY, TO TURN AROUND. These people walked in the world, heard the gospel call and responded to it in a positive way. They turned from the ways of the world, and began to follow Christ.
2. They BELIEVED in the name of Jesus.
All of these people were believers. Without belief it is impossible to obtain the power of the Holy Spirit, for it is predicated upon belief and faith. They had great belief, enough to perform miracles.
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FALSE SALVATION : IS IT POSSIBLE?
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