The One Thing That Determines Salvation

 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” —John 3:36

This is a wonderful printed sermon by Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), about how to go to Heaven. This is so simple and everyone needs to read it, but first I want to say a few words of introduction. The churches (including independent Baptists) are absolutely filled today with demonic heresy. Churches are teaching the Devil's lie of “Lordship Salvation” (which says if you are still living in willful sin you have never been saved). I've actually heard several pastors refute Lordship Salvation, but then turn around and teach that you must be willing to turn from your sins to be saved. Folks, that is what Lordship Salvation is! 

Proponents of this heresy say it is not enough to receive Jesus as your personal Savior to get to Heaven; but also, they say you absolutely must make full surrender to Him as “Lord” of your life. They say things like: you MUST forsake the world, turn from your sins, commit your life to Christ, run the race, persevere in holiness, and follow Jesus no matter what the cost. That is exactly what Pastor John MacArthur heretically teaches worldwide. Dear friend, the Gospel is “Good News” to be believed, not a lifestyle to be lived. Eternal life is a free gift which comes wrapped in the wonderful package of Jesus. If you want the gift, you must receive the package of Jesus!

Without further ado, here are the beautiful words of Pastor Curtis Hutson:

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” —John 3:36

 

What is the determining factor in salvation? Exactly what does a person have to do to be saved? The Bible doesn’t leave us in the dark. The answer is found in the Word of God.

In Acts 16:30-31 the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

The jailer was asking, “What one thing is absolutely necessary for my salvation?” and the Bible answer was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In John 3:36 Jesus divides the world into two groups: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Here you have those who are believing on the Son and those who believe not on the Son. Those who are believing have everlasting life, according to the promise of God; and those who believe not shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on them.

In John 3:18, again Jesus divides the world into two groups: “He that believeth on him is not condemned [is not under sentence]: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Here again Jesus says there are two groups: those who believe and those who believe not. Those who believe have the sentence lifted. They are not condemned. And those who believe not are under the sentence of sin, which is the second death, because they are not believing on “the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Galatians 3:26 says, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” This passage plainly says that everybody who is a child of God is a child of God by faith. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Neither time nor space permits me to share with you all the verses that say believing, or faith, is the determining factor in salvation. There are at least 153 verses in the Bible that make believing the determining factor in salvation. Mark 16:16 says, “He that believeth not shall be damned.” So if the Bible is true, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the determining factor in salvation.

I’ve heard or read a number of sermons on “saving faith”; but the Bible never puts the word “saving” before faith. Faith is not the Saviour. Jesus is the Saviour. Faith is an attitude of the soul through which Jesus saves.

The Bible never tells us to believe and be saved. It is always careful to say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” or, “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” or, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” It’s the Object of faith that makes faith important. Faith in the wrong thing could result in a person’s damnation.

Now since faith is the determining factor in salvation, it is important to know what faith is.

So far as I know, there’s only one definition of faith in the Bible. It’s found in Hebrews 11:1. But while there’s only one definition, there are many illustrations of faith in the Bible. I think the best illustration of faith is found in Hebrews 12:2, where we find the expression, “Looking unto Jesus.”

I. Faith Is Not Looking At Jesus But Looking Unto Jesus

Almost everyone will admit that Jesus Christ existed, that He was a real person. Every time we date a check, we admit the existence of Christ. Faith is not looking at Jesus as a historical personage.

James 2:19 says, “The devils also believe, and tremble.” Even the demons admit the existence of Christ. In Acts 19:15 the evil spirit in the man said, “…Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” No, faith is not looking at Jesus; it’s looking unto Jesus, which is another way of saying depending on Jesus.

Suppose someone cosigned for you to borrow money, and if you didn’t pay, the authorities would put you in jail. And suppose the money came due and you had nothing with which to pay. You called your cosigner and said, “Bob, I’ve got problems. You know that note you signed for me—well, the money is due, and I can’t pay it.”

Your friend replied, “Don’t worry about it. Just look to me!” He means by that, “Just depend on me. I’ll pay it.”

Jesus Christ says that we owe a sin debt. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” To pay what we owe, we would have to die and go into Hell and stay there forever. But He says, “Don’t worry about it. You just look to Me.”

Isaiah 53:6 says, “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Two thousand years ago God took every sin you have ever committed and every one you will ever commit, and God Almighty laid those sins on Jesus Christ. While Jesus Christ was bearing your sins in His own body, God punished Him in your place to pay the debt that you owe as a sinner.

Jesus uttered seven things while He hung on the cross. Just before dying He said, “It is finished.” Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it. It’s complete!

His death on the cross made full payment for your sins. And now He says to you, “Look to Me! Believe that I did die on the cross for you. Believe that I did pay your sin debt and look to Me. Look to Me, and all is well.” Faith is not looking at Jesus; it’s looking unto Jesus, depending on Jesus, relying on Jesus, putting the matter of your salvation in His hands and trusting Him to get you to Heaven.

II. Faith Is Looking Away From Everything Else and Looking Only to Jesus

Martin Luther translated Hebrews 12:2, “Aufsehen zu Jesus,” which means “looking up to Jesus”; in other words, looking away from everything else and looking only to Jesus. It means that you look away from your works.

How long do you think you’d have to work to earn Heaven? Read the description of Heaven in Revelation 21 and 22. Why, the Bible says the street in Heaven is made of pure gold. The gold is so pure it’s like transparent glass. You can see through it. Earth has no way of refining gold that pure. If you worked ten million lifetimes, you couldn’t begin to earn Heaven. And the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

And consider this: If a man worked to stay out of Hell, the very motive would render the work ineffective. He would be working from a motive of fear. According to I Corinthians 13, all work must be motivated by love. Paul said in verse 3, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [or love], it profiteth me nothing.” So if a person worked to stay out of Hell, the motive would render the work ineffective.

A boy once asked an old preacher, “Sir, what can I do to be saved?”

The preacher replied, “Son, you’re too late.”

“What!” exclaimed the boy, “too late to be saved?”

“No,” said the preacher, “too late to do anything. You see, son, Jesus did it all two thousand years ago.”

Now wait a minute! I believe in good works, but not as an instrument of salvation. You don’t work to be saved; you work because you are saved.

I would not work my soul to save,

For that my Lord hath done,

But I would work like any slave

For love of God’s dear Son!

“Looking up to Jesus” means I look away from my righteousness and only to Jesus. I’m for living right. You ought to live as clean, as moral and as pure as you possibly can. But Titus 3:5 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Isaiah 64:6 says, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”

Now just a minute, friend. The Bible doesn’t say the worst you do is like filthy rags, but the best you do. There is no way that anyone could ever be righteous enough to go to Heaven. You would have to be perfect, and there are no perfect people.

Sam Jones, the Methodist evangelist, once asked a congregation, “Does anyone here know a perfect person?” A lady raised her hand. “Yes.”

“Do you know a perfect person?”

“Well,” answered the lady, “I’ve never met her, but my husband talks about her all the time. She was his first wife.”

The truth is, no one is perfect. Jesus said, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Faith is looking away from our righteousness and looking only to Jesus. You don’t get better to get saved. You get saved to get better, and you can’t get better until you do get saved.

A stanza from my favorite hymn says:

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

“Looking up to Jesus” means looking away from our church membership and looking only to Jesus. Everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour should join a church. But you don’t join the church to become a Christian. Being in the church won’t make a Christian out of you any more than getting into the garage will make an automobile out of you. I’m a church member, and everybody who’s saved ought to join a Bible-believing church. Acts 2:41 says, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

On the other hand, if you’re depending on the fact that you belong to the church to get you to Heaven, you’ll go to Hell through the church. In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus said, “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.”

According to the Bible, many will miss Heaven even though they were church members and worked hard, even preaching or prophesying in Jesus’ name. But they will miss Heaven because they did not totally, fully, completely trust Jesus Christ. They trusted their works.

“Looking up to Jesus” means you look away from your baptism and look only to Jesus. I’m for baptism. Every person who accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour ought to be baptized, but baptism is not an instrument of salvation. It’s an outward expression of an inward experience. It’s like putting the wedding band on the finger after you are married. It doesn’t marry you, but it shows everybody that you are married. Being baptized doesn’t save you. It’s an outward symbol telling others that you believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

The man who’s depending on his baptism to get him to Heaven will go to Hell through the baptistery. Now why do I say that? Because John 3:36 says, “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Wait a minute, friend, Jesus Christ says if you’re not depending on, believing, trusting, relying on the Son, you “shall not see life; but the wrath of God” abides on you. The man who’s trusting his church membership or his baptism or his reformation or anything else other than Jesus Christ, will not go to Heaven. John 3:18 says, “He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” There is no promise to those who partly believe on Christ and partly on something else.

Someone asked me, “But doesn’t the Bible say in Mark 16:16, ‘He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…’?”

“Yes,” I replied, “but the next expression says, ‘…he that believeth not shall be damned.’” You see, believing is the determining factor, not being baptized. That’s like saying, “He that getteth on the jet plane and sitteth down, shall fly to Jacksonville, Florida; but he that getteth not on the plane, shall not fly to Jacksonville.” It’s the getting on that gets you there, not the sitting down. But any fool knows if you get on, you ought to sit down. If you don’t sit down, you’ll wish you had sat down before you reach your final destination.

If you’ve trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour, you ought to be baptized. But you should not be baptized thinking that baptism saves you. If you do, you’re not trusting Jesus Christ; you’re trusting baptism. Faith is looking away from everything else and looking only to Jesus Christ.

III. Faith Is Not Experiencing a Feeling But Relying on a Fact

I’ve dealt with people who doubted their salvation because they did not think they had the proper feelings at the time of conversion. There is not a verse in the Bible that tells a man exactly how he has to feel in order to be saved. As a matter of fact, the Bible never says you have to feel any way to be saved. Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

I remember when I was first married. We drove back to my wife’s home, and there were some friends in the yard. When we got out of the automobile, someone asked me, “How does it feel to be married?” I said, “I feel exactly like I did a few minutes ago.” But you know something? I was just as married as the fellow who had some great feeling.

Not everyone reacts the same to the same experience. I remember one night I was driving home from a revival meeting when a car overturned in front of us. Several people were badly injured. Some who saw it cried, others ran to help, while some buried their faces in their hands. One lady fainted. Now they all saw the same thing and had the same experience but reacted differently. I’ve seen people cry when they trusted Christ as Saviour. I’ve been with others who smiled, while others laughed and some even shouted; but they all had the same experience. They all trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour. No, faith is not having some particular feeling. Faith is depending on a fact.

Now here’s the fact: Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ died for you. He bore your sins in His own body. God punished Him in your place to pay the debt that you owe. That’s a fact. Whether you ever do anything about it or not, it’s still a fact.

What you must do is believe that fact and not only believe in your head that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay your sin debt, but depend on, rely on, trust Him and what He did for your salvation.

If I were not a Christian and wanted to be, I would simply pray this prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I do believe that You died for me. And here and now I do trust You as my Saviour. From this minute on, I’m depending on You to get me to Heaven. Help me to live for You and to be a good Christian.

After praying the prayer, I would accept what God says in the Bible—that I do have everlasting life because I’m trusting Jesus Christ for my salvation: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36). I mean I’d accept what God says, whether or not I ever had any feelings.

Once you make that decision and trust Christ, perhaps there’ll be some feeling. But whether or not the feeling comes, the Word of God is still true. God cannot lie!

When you trust Him, you will have everlasting life. The determining factor in salvation is believing, trusting, depending on, relying on the Lord Jesus Christ.

F. G. Pentecost said, “Two and two is four—that’s mathematics. Hydrogen and oxygen form water—that’s chemistry. ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved’—that’s revelation.”

You ask, “How do I know?”

“Well,” he said, “the burden of proof lies with you. Put two and two together and see if you don’t have four. Put hydrogen and oxygen together and see if you don’t have water. And believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and see if you won’t be saved.”

A Christian Falls IN GRACE, Never FROM GRACE

Galatians 5:4, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

One of the most commonly misunderstood phrases in the Holy Bible is “ye are fallen from grace” in Galatians 5:4. May I share a wonderfully truth with you dear reader... a born-again believer can only fall “IN GRACE,” never “FROM GRACE.” Romans 5:20, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Whenever we have sinned as redeemed children of God, “GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND.” God's limitless grace reaches deeper than the lowest sin that a Christian can commit! There is no stain of sin so great that the precious blood of Jesus cannot wash it completely away!

My friend, if you have believed the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross, buried and bodily risen from the dead the third day, then you have no criminal record in Heaven. You may have a rap sheet a mile long here on earth, but if you are saved, you have no record in eternity! Romans 8:31-34, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

I cherish the following insightful quote from Brother Lester Roloff (1914-1982), which emphasizes the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ...

“You haven't got one thing to do down here—and that's to stay on the Bible trail—keep the Commandments! You say, but Brother Roloff: 'Do you really believe you've got to keep all Ten Commandments to go to Heaven?' I sure do, I sure do! He said: 'Fear God and keep His Commandments!' Now you're going to ask another question: 'Have you kept the Commandments yourself?' No Sir! 'Are you going to Heaven?' I really am! That'll be my next stop. 'How you gonna get there, you haven't...?' I met a man called Jesus! And I said: 'Lord, I'm a sinner, I've broken so many of the Commandments.' And He said: 'Well, I have Good News for you, I've kept 'em all, and I've swapped My keeping for your breaking! I said: 'Really?" He said: 'I really mean it!'” —Evangelist Lester Roloff (sermon quote, 'The Lost Fear Of God')

I love that! Jesus swapped (imputed) His perfection for our sinning! Jesus lived a SINLESS life. There has NEVER been a single Christian since the beginning of time who fell FROM GRACE! Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus never sinned, not once, even in thought or word. In order to be acceptable as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, Jesus had to be complete spotless and without sin or character blemish. Anyone who alleged that Jesus was a sinner in the least way is a demonic LIAR!

There have been some very wicked movies produced which portray Christ as a sinner. One ungodly film is “The Last Temptation Of Christ” (1988), produced by reprobate Hollywood director Martin Scorsese. Another ungodly film is “The Da Vinci Code” (2006), produced by reprobate Hollywood director (and former “Happy Days” star) Ron Howard. These are ungodly men, who portray the sinless Lamb of God as a fornicator with Mary Magdalene. It is blasphemy against the Son of God! Dear reader, Jesus is the perfect, sinless, spotless Lamb of God, Who died on the cross in our place, suffering the reproach and death of a criminal, so that we (you and me) sinners who knew no righteousness could be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2nd Corinthians 5:21, “For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” What a beautiful Savior, deserving of our utmost praise and worship!!! JESUS IS ALMIGHTY GOD!!!!!!!

A Christian Believer ALWAYS Falls IN GRACE, Never FROM GRACE!

Remember, a believer who sins (and we ALL do every day), only falls IN GRACE, never FROM GRACE. Romans 5:20, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” The unsaved person is still under the curse of God's LAW, condemned already. Ah, but the dear saint of God is under God's free GRACE. All of the false prophets today, like Paul Washer, Ray Comfort and John MacArthur, who require turning away from sinful behavior to receive the free gift of God, are not teaching GRACE! Anything other than grace alone is NOT grace! Romans 11:6a, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace...” The moment that anyone adds the slightest addition to the Gospel of grace, it ceases to be grace.

If you think that the life you are living on earth can affect your eternal life, then you don't get grace!!! As Jonah rightly pondered in the belly of the whale in Jonah 2:9b, “SALVATION IS OF THE LORD.” No believer can ever fall from grace, it is impossible. When we sin (and we ALL still do because we are human), we fall IN GRACE! Once a person has eternal life, which is the gift of God, they can NEVER lose it!!!

Here's a wonderful poem authored by Pastor Danny Castle about the three stages of life; It's called “NO ROOM FOR JESUS” . . .

NO ROOM FOR JESUS... 

No room for Jesus when I'm young and free, No time for the church, or a Bible for me; No room for Jesus when I'm a grown man, I'm busy making a living, doing the best I can. No room for Jesus, when I'm old and gray, I've lived good enough, I'll make it my way; Now as the time comes to die for me, only it is now I am beginning to see, When at Heaven's gates I stand and plea: What a fool I've been, they'll be no room for me.

SOURCE: Pastor Danny Castle; from the awesome sermon titled: 'Do You Have Room For Jesus?'

Dear reader, a born-again believer can only fall “IN GRACE,” never “FROM GRACE.” Romans 5:20, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Whenever we have sinned as redeemed children of God, “GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND.” God's limitless grace reaches deeper than the lowest sin that a Christian can commit! There is no stain of sin so great that the precious blood of Jesus cannot wash it completely away!

God's GRACE is freely available to the most hopeless drug addict on the street—whose body has been abused, wearied and broken with immoral sex, drug needles and puss-filled sores from infected. God loves you and offers His GRACE, through faith in the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross, buried and bodily risen the third day. The Christian believer falls IN GRACE, when we sin (and we ALL do every day), because we are eternally safe and secure with the arms of our heavenly Father underneath! Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” Eternal life is the believer's assurance of salvation! Eternal security is not a separate doctrine from eternal life, they are one and the same thing! John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

Isn't Faith Without Works is Dead?

James 2:17-22, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”

Please notice that faith cannot be dead if it doesn't already exist. Can a man's dog be dead if the dog doesn't exist? So in order for a man's faith to be dead, THERE MUST FIRST BE FAITH. In other words, this passage of Scripture is not teaching that you need works to be saved. There is faith. James is talking about a saved man.

Notice that the apostle James says “shew me” and “I will shew thee.” Clearly, James is speaking about being justified in the eyes of other men, and not God. A man can only be justified BY FAITH with God (Romans 4:3-5). Since people cannot see our heart, they can only judge by our outward appearance (1st Samuel 16:7). So with men we are justified BY WORKS. James plainly said “shew me” and “I will shew thee.” James talks about the FRUIT of the Holy Spirit, which will be present in the life of every obedient saint. This has nothing to do with the ROOT of the believer's faith, which Paul talks about in Romans.

God is telling us that our faith will not be effective reaching others for Christ if our walk doesn't coincide with our talk. This is what the Bible means in Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

The Holy Spirit Is The Earnest Of Our Inheritance, Which Is Eternal Life

2nd Corinthians 5:5, “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.”

Every believer is “sealed” with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. And again we read:

Ephesians 1:11-14, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

This “earnest” is evidence that God will do all that He has PROMISED to do. When we get saved, we do not receive all of our inheritance. Our corrupted flesh, with all it's bodily afflictions, does not change. But one day, when we receive all the benefits of salvation, we will get rid of this ole flesh, and receive a brand new glorified body fashioned like unto the Lord's awesome body. Our new body will have SUPERNATURAL POWERS, just like the Lord's resurrected body did:

Philippians 3:20-21, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

What a glorious day that will be!!!

What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see;

The one who saved me by His grace, when I look upon His face;

When He takes me by the hand, and leads me to the Promised Land,

What a day, glorious day, that will be!

HEAR SONG: WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE! 

The Holy Bible doesn't place any conditions on the believer's eternal security. If you are a born-again Christian, you are SEALED by the Holy Spirit unto the DAY OF REDEMPTION. The Bible doesn't say that we are sealed until we sin. The Bible doesn't say we are sealed until we mess up. The Bible doesn't say we are sealed until we lose our faith. No, the Bible says, we are sealed UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION!!! God sealed us with the Holy Spirit “OF PROMISE” to guarantee our inheritance. 1st Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” What a great God!!! Those who BELIEVE will never die! Once saved, always saved!!! Thank you Lord Jesus!!!!!!!

God gave each of His children the blessed indwelling Holy Spirit, as proof of His promise to finish what He has begun. If you have the Holy Spirit, you know Him! Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” I do not believe in the heretical Calvinist doctrine of the Perseverance Of The Saints; but I do agree with Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951), who believed in the Perseverance Of The Holy Spirit in every saint. 1st John 3:24, “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” If saved, always saved! 

The Holy Spirit is not given at salvation, and then retracted later because of gross immorality, and then given upon repentance from sin, and then taken back again and again every time a believer strays off the path of personal righteousness. This is the nonsense that Pentecostals teach, claiming that David in the Old Testament lost his salvation when he sinned. Dear friend, the greatest truth I could ever teach you is the distinction between between God's imputed righteousness at the time of salvation, and the personal righteousness of the believer. 

When a Christian chooses to go into sin, straying off the path of holiness, that does NOT affect or change God's imputed righteousness to the believer (Romans 4:5-6). This is a truth that the proponents of Lordship Salvation do not understand. Evangelist Ray Comfort authored a popular commentary of the Bible called: 'The Evidence Bible,' in which he totally ignores the doctrine of imputation. Very likely this was because Ray based his commentary upon 'The Amplified Version' (AMP) which completely removes the theological word “impute” from the Bible. This clearly evidences the grave danger of well-meaning scholars who tamper with the Holy Bible. In an attempt to help the lazy reader understand what imputation means, they have obliterated the entire theological concept from the reader's mind. The same is true of the beautiful theological word propitiation and other key words in the inspired Word of God.

The sealing of the saint with the Holy Spirit is solid proof of the eternal security of every believer. Beware of preachers who speak of salvation as being a lifestyle that you must live. They are preaching another gospel (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). Christianity is not a religious life to be lived, it is a new birth (regeneration) by the Holy Spirit of God. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again. Jesus taught in John 3:7b, “Ye must be born again.” Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this world! You don't get to Heaven through religion, you get to Heaven by receiving Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins.

When A Gift Is Not Really A Gift

Romans 5:17-18, “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

Kindly said, a gift is not really a gift when Bob Jones University teaches about salvation. I have listened to dozens of sermons this week, preached to the students of Bob Jones University from 'The Daily Platform.' In my humble opinion, it is a disgrace what Evangelist Steve Pettit has done to destroy Bob Jones University spiritually. I was shocked the other day when I heard Dr. Pettit teaching Lordship Salvation to 2,700 impressionable students. We've got a whole generations of devils coming up in America, who will corrupt the churches because of the Satanic influence of BJU!

I read an article this week by 'Psychology Today' titled: “The 5 Types Of Gift Givers.” Bob Jones University's false gospel would describe the third type of false gift giver—“THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING”...

“The Wolf likes gift-giving to be even-steven—especially in terms of money spent—so beware of possible posturing or pouting if he or she is disappointed.”

SOURCE: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-support/201312/the-5-types-gift-givers

Here is a heretical quote from Bob's Jones Statement of Faith:

With regard to the doctrine of Soteriology:

We believe Scripture teaches that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Eph. 2:4–10; Rom. 3:21–26; Titus 3:5) and apart from any human work of righteousness (Phil. 3:9). God offers this salvation freely to all men who are willing to repent and turn from their sins (Acts 3:19, 17:30) and place their full faith and trust in the atonement Christ made by His finished work on the Cross (Luke 24:46–48, Heb. 9:11–15, 10:10–14). [emphasis added]

SOURCE: BJU Statements of Faith

As you see, Bob Jones University are 'THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING,' who teach that God demands something in return from you for His free gift of eternal life. They say you must be willing to repent and turn from your sins!!! BJU falsely says that God requires an exchange, something in return, you must pay the price of repentance from your sins! Ladies and gentlemen, the Devil is running Bob Jones College today!

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. Would Be Ashamed Of Bob Jones College Today

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) himself taught something very different than what the college teaches today! Dr. Bob Jones Sr. taught salvation through simple faith in Jesus Christ, none of this “turn from your sins” crap that heretics' Steve Pettit, John MacArthur, Bob Jones University, Ray Comfort and Calvinists are all teaching! Dr. Jones rightly says:

“God gives you eternal life when you take Him. Eternal life is wrapped up in Christ. 'He that hath the Son hath life.' There is just one difference between a Christian and a sinner. A Christian has Christ and a sinner does not have Him. That is the only difference. All you need is Jesus. It is all in Jesus! If you will take Him, He will blot out all your sins. If you take Him, He will give you a new nature. If you take Him, He will go with you along the journey of life. He will be with you when you are tempted. He will put arms of power around you and give you the victory. 'By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” —Dr. Bob Jones Sr., “Things I Have Learned: Chapel Talks,” page 223; Bob Jones University Press, ©1945

I have read the entire book by Dr. Bob Jones Sr. titled: “THINGS I HAVE LEARNED,” and there is nothing about “turning from sins” to be saved. The last chapter of the book is titled, “HOW ARE WE SAVED?” There is no mention of “repenting of your sins” or being “willing to turn from your sins” to receive the free gift of eternal life. The foolish Bob Jones University crowd have been BEWITCHED!!! (Galatians 3:1-3). Oh foolish Bob Jonians, who hath bewitched you, that you should follow another gospel? Oh foolish Harvest Baptist Church on Guam, whom I dearly love so much, who hath bewitched you that you should believe another gospel? Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”

 
God Is A Genuine Gift Giver

Psychology Today lists, “The 5 Types Of Gift Givers.” The Lord is 'The Genuine Giver.' Psychology Today says this about 'The Genuine Giver'...

“If you are lucky enough to have one or two of these folks in your life, it’s time for rejoicing. The genuine giver has actually thought about you and what would give you pleasure.”

SOURCE: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-support/201312/the-5-types-gift-givers

What did Jesus say? John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Bob Jones University is 'The Thief.' Jesus warned us about 'The Thief' in John 10:1, “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. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” God is 'The Genuine Gift Giver,' who wants to give everyone eternal life, to give us pleasure. Bob Jones University is doing the work of Satan, falsely claiming that God is 'The Wolf In Sheep's Clothing,' who demands that you be willing to pay the price of forsaking your sinful behavior, in exchange for His gift. Do you really believe that God is a 'Wolf In Sheep's Clothing?' Do you believe that the gift of eternal life requires an exchange for your sinful bad habits?

Eternal life is a free gift, with no strings attached. There are no obligations. Dr. Steve Pettit heretically teaches that you “MUST PERSEVERE” (his exact words) in holiness, ministry and service to others to get the “award” of Heaven. That's exactly what he calls Heaven, an “award.” What a false prophet! Heaven is not an award, it is a free gift! When corrupted BJU chapel speakers talk about “grace,” they don't get grace!!! Nobody gets grace who teaches that Heaven in an “award” for those who faithfully “run the race” and “persevere” to finish it! BJU is preaching another gospel!!!

All that is required is that you come to God by faith as a needy sinner, to accept His free gift, by receiving the resurrected Savior's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins. You don't have to be willing to turn from your sins, which would be an exchange, and not really a gift! God is a genuine gift giver, and not a wolf in sheep's clothing!

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Bob Jones University Preaches Another Gospel Today

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. would be appalled, disgusted and angry if he heard Dr. Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University since 2014) teaching the students that to be saved, they “must persevere” in holiness, ministry and service to others, and faithfully “run the race” to obtain the “award” of Heaven itself. Dr. Pettit is preaching another gospel, not the Gospel of free grace once delivered unto the saints! Dr. Pettit made this blasphemous statement at Bob Jones University (BJU) to 2,700 impressionable students on January 26, 2015:

“You can't just speak about getting saved, and you accepted Christ, and then that's it! There is a justification; There is a sanctification; There's ultimately a glorification, and though there are three parts, they are all part of the whole, and you cannot separate them. In order for you to qualify for the award, you have to get into the race, you have to stay in the race, and you have to finish the race. If you want to win, you have to run to the end; and winning in the Christian life is everything, because if you lose—if you don't finish—you lose everything—you lose your SOUL. And so, the Christian race is the life of faith that begins, is run, and is finished when we cross over into Heaven!” [emphasis added] —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 11:34)

Folks, that is the exact opposite of what the founder, Dr. Bob Jones Sr., believed and taught the students at BJU. Dr. Jones would blow up the college he started with dynamite (he said so himself | MP4 | MP3) if he could today! Kindly said, Steve Pettit is a religious liberal! They actually pay him a 6-digit salary to preach a counterfeit gospel, sending those misled students to Hell. Still not convinced? Read this heretical quote from Dr. Pettit:

“So when we talk about 'The Race,' what are we talking about? We're talking about beginning and salvation, and then running the race through pursuing holiness and ministry, and service to others. But then let me say, that number three: This race HAS TO be faithfully run to the finish! You HAVE TO finish. Salvation is not just a past reality—“I GOT SAVED,” but is a future destiny! The race is not completed until you cross the finish line at death. What is this race—it is the race as we are running as we are headed toward Heaven.” —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” -  10:27)

“We run the race, we cross the finish line, and so what’s the prize? What is the award? Well, there are different viewpoints. Some would have the viewpoint that the awards are crowns in Heaven. But as I read the book of Hebrews and see the whole gist of the book and the flow of the book, I don’t believe its referring to crowns in Heaven. I think it is referring to Heaven itself.” [emphasis added] —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 22:57)

Kindly said, Dr. Pettit teaches strange doctrines. I shared with you earlier what Dr. Bob Jones Sr. taught. These two men are light-years apart in their plans of salvation! Steve Pettit teaches BJU students that if they perpetually lie, they'll go to Hell. That is another gospel!!! If you are saved, you can lie all you want and still go to Heaven (Acts 13:39; Romans 5:20). You shouldn't lie. Lying is a sin. God hates lying. However, none of that has anything to do with the free gift of God, which is eternal life (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). I am not trying to be mean. I don't get paid a single penny for my preaching. Since I began my online ministry in 2002, I've never accepted one cent! I've had people send me money, and I sent it back to them, every penny! I do what I do because I love God, truth and people!!! I have a full reward in Heaven, the greatest being all the souls saved and lives changed through my humble labors for Jesus Christ. To God alone be all the credit, praise and glory!!! Jesus said without Him we cannot do anything (John 15:5). Jesus even keeps you and me breathing (Acts 17:25). Jesus is precious!!!

Evangelist Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968)

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. Contended For Salvation By Faith

Meaningful Quotes By Evangelist Bob Jones Sr.

The Gospel In Just One Minute (by Pastor Max D. Younce)

Once Saved, Always Saved

1st John 5:11, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

The subject of eternal security is a controversial subject, but it is 100% Biblical. My friend, if you don't believe in “ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED,” you are not saved. It's that simple. The reason why is because if you're trusting Jesus, then you can't lose it. It you think your salvation can be lost, then you are relying upon human effort to keep you saved. This is why I expose the Salvation Army as heretics.

Please notice three things from our text Verse in 1st John 5:11...

1. Eternal life is a gift from God.
2. It is “eternal life,” that is, it never ends.
3. Eternal life is obtained only in Jesus Christ!

Amen! The inspired, precious, inerrant, preserved, holy, King James Bible, teaches that once a person is saved, they can NEVER lose it!!!

Many Baptists are not saved. It is sad but true. I can tell you unequivocally that if you believe you can ever forfeit your salvation, you don't have it friend. Dr. Hank Lindstrom preaches a wonderful MP3 sermon on the subject titled, “How Permanent Is Your Salvation?”

Once you are saved, you have passed from death unto life. John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” What a beautiful Scripture teaching eternal security of the believer. There are two types of people in this world: 1) those who believe; 2) those who don't believe. The Bible promises that those who believe have everlasting life. God authored the Gospel of John to convince us that Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ, and that by BELIEVING on His name we will have eternal life. John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

The Gift Of Eternal Life Is Wrapped In The Wonderful Package Of Jesus

Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

I was reading a wonderful book today by one of my favorite preachers, Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968). As I read his books and hear him preach, I see Dr. Bob Jones Sr. in Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001). It is clear to me that Brother Jones had a tremendous influence on the life and preaching of Dr. Jack Hyles. I love both of these dear men of God!

It grieves my heart to see how our nation has changed for the worse in my lifetime. What discourages me is that today's professed Christians (particularly my own camp of independent Baptists) cannot see the forest for the trees! We are changing so quickly and most Baptists are in woeful denial. Here is a beautiful quote from Evangelist Bob Jones Sr.:

“Young people, you can't buy salvation. You can't pay for it after you get it. But if you don't already have it, you can have it. Somebody is giving it away around here. His name is Jesus and He wants to give you salvation.

Before I stop I will use an illustration I have used many times here at the college.  Maybe those of you who have heard it have forgotten it.

Do you see this quarter? I want to give it to you. But I am a peculiar man. I just give away quarters one way. I put a quarter in a book, shut the book, and offer you the book. You don't want the book? Well, all right, you can't have my quarter, then. I have a right to put the quarter in any sort of package I wish. You, of course, have the privilege of rejecting the quarter.

God has something He wants to give you. It is eternal life. He wrapped it in the most wonderful package you ever heard of. He put it in Jesus. People looked at Jesus. He had no form or comeliness; there wasn't anything about Him to be desired. And they didn't realize what was wrapped up in that package. They put Jesus on a cross. They nailed Him there. They killed Him. Then He rose from the dead, and He has been scarred ever since that time. If you could see Jesus today, the glorified, risen Son of God, you would find scars on His brow and scars in His hands. If you could look at His side you would find a wound there. His feet are scarred. But, say, He has wrapped in Himself a wonderful gift. God gives you eternal life when you take Him. Eternal life is wrapped up in Christ.” —Dr. Bob Jones Sr., “Things I Have Learned: Chapel Talks,” pages 222-223; Bob Jones University Press, ©1945

Amen and amen! That was so simply, beautiful and eloquently said. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. preached the simplicity that is in Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4).