1<!DOCTYPE html> 2<html> 3<head> 4<title>Saved ? - Am I really by Russ Pickett ?</title> 5<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset = UTF-8"> 6<meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="en"> 7<meta http-equiv="Copyright" content="All content is copyrighted by Pastor Russ Pickett"> 8<meta http-equiv="Cache-Control" content="no-cache"> 9<meta name="keywords" content="Russ Pickett, Saved, Bible, Am I Really Saved, Fundamental"> 10<meta name="description" content="On this page you will find the document titled " Am I Really Saved " based a a fundamental biblical perspective by Pastor Russ Pickett."> 11<meta name="generator" CONTENT="CoffeeCup HTML Editor 12.7"> 12<meta name="language" content="English"> 13<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> 14<meta name="revised" content="02/28/2025"> 15<meta name="author" content="Russ Pickett"> 16<meta name="rating" content="safe for kids"> 17<meta name="revisit-after" content="7 days"> 18<meta name="abstract" content="Saved ? - Am I really ?"> 19<meta name="copyright" content="Russ Pickett"> 20<meta name="distribution" content="global"> 21<meta name="rating" content="safe for kids"> 22<style type="text/css"> 23body {scrollbar-arrow-color: #000000; 24scrollbar-base-color: #eac576; 25scrollbar-dark-shadow-color: #ffffcc; 26scrollbar-track-color: #ffffcc;} 27</style> 28<STYLE type=text/css>.noline {COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; a: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,Sans Serif} 29A:hover {COLOR: #990000} 30</STYLE> 31<style fprolloverstyle>A:hover {color: #cc9900; font-weight: bold} 32</style> 33</HEAD> 34<BODY aLink=#ff0000 bgColor=#ffffcc link=#0000ee text=#000000 vLink=#551a8b> 35<font face=arial size=4> 36<CENTER> 37<table width="100%" border="0"> 38<tr><td> 39<center><IMG src="graphics/pagetopl.gif" alt="Faith Mountain"> 40<br><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"> 41<p><IMG src="airs.png" alt="Am I Really Saved?"> 42<p><IMG src="aigth.png" alt="Am I Going To Heaven?"> 43 44<!-- TOP OF ALL ARTICLES --> 45 46<br><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="bottom"> 47<table border=0> 48<tr> 49<td><A class=noline HREF="teacher.htm" target="_blank"><IMG src="whatteach.png" alt="Bible Teacher Russ Pickett" ALIGN="TOP"></a></td> 50<td><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> <IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> <IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"></td> 51<td><A class=noline HREF="teacher.htm" target="_blank"><IMG src="fmpastor.png" alt="Bible Teacher Russ Pickett" ALIGN="TOP"></td> 52<td><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> <IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> <IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"></td> 53<td><A class=noline HREF="mybio2.htm" target="_blank"><IMG src="whoruss.png" alt="Bible Teacher Russ Pickett" ALIGN="TOP"></a></td> 54</tr></table> 55<br> 56<FONT face=arial size=4> 57<img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="FM Break Line"> 58 59<!-- END OF TOP OF ALL ARTICLES --> 60 61<br> 62<font face=arial size=4><b> 63<br>Words of Jesus Christ are in <font color=red><i>" <u>Red</u> "</i></font> ~ Other scripture verses are in <font color=990000><i>" <u>Maroon</u> "</i></font> 64<p>Koine Greek words are in <font color=5E099E><i>" <u>Purple</u> "</i></font> ~ Text in <font color=000099><i>" <u>Dark Blue</u> "</i></font> are highlighted points 65<p><font size=4><i>All scripture verses in this document are from the original 1611</i> 66 67<p><IMG src="kjb.png" alt="Revelations"> 68 69<br><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="bottom"></font></center> 70<blockquote> 71<P><font size=5 face=times><u>Romans 12:2</u> :</font> 72<p><font color=990000 face=times size=5>And be <u>not conformed</u> to <u>this world</u>; but be ye <u>transformed</u> by the renewing of your <u>mind</u>, that ye may prove what <i>is</i> that good, and acceptable, and perfect, <u>will of God</u> .</font> 73</blockquote> 74 75<br><center><IMG src="prayhs.png" alt="Revelations"> 76 77<br><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 78 79<font size=4 face=arial> 80<blockquote> 81 82<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="save01.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 83 84<p><font size=5 face=times> And within it's pages we can not only learn about who God is, but we can also learn the answers to <font color=000099><i>" every basic question "</i></font> we could possibly have about <font color=000099><i>" ourselves "</i></font> and <font color=000099><i>" the world around us ! "</i></font> Such as: 85 86<ul> 87<font size=4 face=arial> 88<i> 89<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> How the stars, universe, and the very world we live on was created ! 90<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> How, and why, we were created ! 91<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> How, and why, God instilled in us all equally His very existence at our births ! 92<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif">
92How, after our creation, we became many different races ! 93<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> How, and why, God felt it necessary to send His Son to us to be an example of how we were to live ! 94<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> How, and why, God felt it necessary to sent His Son to become a " Saviour for us all " ! 95<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> How we can " know ", that only due to the love of God The Father, the " Salvation that God wants us to have ! " 96<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> " And any other question we may have ! "</i> 97</ul></font> 98 99<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="save02.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 100 101<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 102 103<p><br>Now ..... most professing Christians these days say that they are <font color=000099><i>" Born Again ! "</i></font></center> 104 105<p> <font color=000099><i>" But based on the Bible are they really ? - And based on the Bible are you really ? "</i></font> Many believe that in order to go to heaven <font color=000099>" <i><u>ALL</u></i> "</font> that you have to do is ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart ... and then you are heaven bound ! 106<p><center><IMG SRC="bible1.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 107 108 109 110<p> There is <font color=000099><i>" <u>so much</u> "</i></font> confusion concerning salvation through Jesus Christ in our world today !</center> 111 112<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="save03.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 113 114<p> 115<ul> 116<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> I really did something bad and now I really wonder if I'm saved or not ? 117<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior I didn't have any feelings like so many others did ? Am I still saved ? 118<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> I don't really feel that I'm saved and will go to heaven even though I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour ! 119<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> I haven't been to church for years and now I wonder if I'm still saved ! 120<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> If I'm saved why do I still have the thoughts that I shouldn't have ? 121<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> I know others who say they are "Born Again" but they still just go about living life as they always did and I now wonder if they are saved and even wonder about myself ! 122<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> My church said that if I accept Jesus as my saviour then I could always be assured that I was going to go to heavean. But isn't there more to it than that ? I did accept Him as my Saviour but I really don't feel that I'm saved. How can I <u>know</u> that I'm saved ?</i> 123</ul></font> 124<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 125 126<p><IMG SRC="bible0.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 127 128<p><font size=5 face=times>I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior .... 129<br><i><u>but I don't feel saved</u> !</i> 130<p>Do you know why I feel that way ...... how can I <font color=000099><i>" <u>know</u> "</i></font> that I'm saved ? 131 132<p><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 133 134<p><IMG SRC="bible01.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 135 136 137<p><i>Yes I can answer that question for you 138<br>based on the Bible ! 139<p>You may be truly surprised that 140<Br>according to the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ :</i> 141<p><IMG SRC="bible03.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 142 143 144<p><i><font color=0B0B75 size=5>And " <u><i>who</i></u> " you asked for Salvation is also important</i> .....</i></font> 145 146<p><br><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"> 147 148<FONT size=4 face=arial> 149 150<p><p><IMG SRC="bible2x.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 151 152 153<font size=5 face=times> 154<p> So ..... Lets understand a few thing right off the bat concerning the Bible ..... If you are a <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>TRUE Fundamentalist</u> "</i></font>, as I am, you know that there are two important things concerning the Bible : 155 156<blockquote> 157<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 158<p><p><IMG SRC="bible2.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 159<p> That is, one verse always compliments another. Way to many well intentioned pastors, preachers, and teachers like to pull verses <font color=0B0B75><i>
159" <u>Out Of Context</u> "</i></font> to use in their messages. This is not only <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>Wrong</u> "</i></font> but also causes division amoung the people of God and is the main reason for Christians having <font color=0B0B75><i>" way to many "</i></font> different denominations when there should be only one Church. 160<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 161<center> 162 163<p><p><IMG SRC="bible3.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 164 165<p> Information contained in the Bible, such as the creation of man and Noah's flood, etc., are not fairy tales <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>BUT</u> "</i></font> instead are factual information from a Holy God to His creation ! 166<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 167</blockquote> 168 169<p><br> So ..... if you <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>don't believe</u> ! "</i></font> either of the above statements then realize this: <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>You are not a Christian Fundamentalist</u> ! "</i></font> A Christian Fundamentalist believes the Bible <font color=0B0B75><i>" in it's entirety "</i></font> and does not pick and choose <font color=0B0B75><i>" what parts they want to believe and what parts they don't ..... "</i></font> 170 171<p><center><p><IMG SRC="bible3x.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 172 173<!-- 174<p>If you consider yourself a Christian but don't beli 175 176<p><br><center><font size=4 color=0000bb>My fundamental belief,<br>and the knowledge that one verse compliments another within the Bible is the driving force,<br>not only of this article, but it is in all my articles! 177</font></center> 178--> 179 180<p><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 181 182 183<font size=5 face=times> 184<p> The question, <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>Am I really saved ?</u> "</i></font> is the number one question on <font color=0B0B75><i>" so many hearts "</i></font> of those that proclaim to be Christians from around the world ! Many have been given a <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>false idea and faith</u> "</i></font> as to what it means not only to be <font color=0B0B75>" <u>saved</u> "</font> but also <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>how to know that you are</u> "</i></font> ! The answer is basically <font color=0B0B75>" <u>SO SIMPLE</u> "</font> but not the answer that most "Professing Christians" want to hear .... 185 186<p>And unlike many articles that you will find on the web:</font> 187 188<p><center><img src="bible4x.png"></center> 189 190 191<p> That is ..... I'm not going to <font color=000099><i>" build up to a climax "</i></font> so that you have to scroll down to find the answer like so many other <font color=000099><i>" Teachers, Preachers, or Pastors do "</i></font> ..... Then I'll go about <font color=000099><i>" providing scriptures "</i></font> to show that it is indeed what the Bible tells us ..... 192 193<p><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 194 195 196 197 198<p><center><img src="bible4.png" alt="How?"></center> 199 200<p>There are three things we must do: 201<blockquote> 202<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> <font color=000099><i>Believe in God The Father, Jesus The Son, and the Holy Spirit ..... 203<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> Accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour ... and from that point on ..... 204<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif"> " Keep the commandments and words of our Lord Jesus Christ ! "</i></font> 205</blockquote> 206 207<p><center><img src="1john1.png"> 208<p><img src="no.png"> 209 210 211<p><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 212<!-- 213 214<p><br>The "biggest" lie that Satan tells in this day and age is this: 215<dir><dir><font size=5 color=blue>If you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior ....<p>That is all that you have to do and you'll go to heaven!</font> 216</dir></dir> 217 218--> 219 220<p><br><font size=5 face=times>I know what many of you are thinking ( because it's the same way I use to think many years ago ) .... 221<p><font color=0B0B75><i>
221 " I've always been told that if I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior that the bible says that is " <u>ALL</u> " that I have to do and then I'll go to heaven. Even my pastor has told me that. What you are saying goes against everything I've been told ! "</i></font> 222 223<p> Well I do understand that is what many of you have been told. And if we are to <font color=0B0B75>" Keep the commandments and words of our Lord Jesus Christ "</font> that sounds like works doesn't it ? 224 225<p>After all .... we all know, or have heard, these verses: 226 227<blockquote> 228<P><u>Ephesians 2:8-9</u>:</font> 229<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 8 ] </sup></font><font color=990000> For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: <i>it is</i> the gift of God:</font> 230<br><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 9 ] </sup></font><font color=990000> Not of works, lest any man should boast.</font> 231<P><font size=5 face=times><u>John 1:12</u>:</font> 232<p><font color=990000>But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, <i>even</i> to them that believe on his name:</font> 233<P><font size=5 face=times><u>Romans 10:9</u>:</font> 234<p><font color=990000>That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.</font> 235</blockquote> 236 237<p><center><p><img src="read.png"></center> 238 239<p><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 240 241<p><br> The first question that comes up is, <font color=0B0B75><i>" How did you receive Jesus as your Saviour ? "</i></font> 242<p> Many people are told, <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>in error</u> "</i></font>, to pray to Jesus and say to Him that they accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. But what does the Bible say about that ? Note this about our Lord Jesus Christ: 243 244<p><center><p><img src="jnever1.png"> 245<p><img src="every1.png"> 246<p><img src="only.png"></center> 247 248<!-- 249<blockquote> 250<P><u>John 16:16</u> ~ Jesus tells His disciples that he is leaving ..... 251<p><font size=2><b><sup> [ 16 ]</sup></b></font><font color=red> A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.</font> 252</blockquote> 253--> 254 255<blockquote> 256<P><u>John 16:23</u> ~ Jesus tells His disciples how to pray once he is gone ..... 257<p><font color=ff0000>And in that day <u>ye shall ask me nothing</u>. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever <u>ye shall ask the Father</u> in my name, He will give it you</u>.</font> 258</blockquote> 259 260<blockquote> 261<P><u>Matthew 6:6</u> 262<p><font color=ff0000>But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, <u>pray to thy Father</u> which is in secret; and <u>thy Father</u> which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.</font> 263</blockquote> 264 265<blockquote> 266<P><u>Matthew 6:9</u> 267<p><font color=ff0000>After this manner therefore pray ye: <u>Our Father</u> which art in heaven, Hallowed be they name .....</font> 268</blockquote> 269 270<p><br><font size=5 face=arial>You might ask:</font> 271<p> <font color=0B0B75><i>" Isn't this idea basically just merely a play on words ? So what if I asked Jesus to save me instead of God the Father ? Aren't they basically one and the same anyway ? "</font></i> 272 273<p> It is true that Jesus said <font color=red>" I and my Father are one. "</font> <font size=3 face=arial>[ John 10:30 ]</font>. And we know that the <i>" trinity "</i> of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one .....
273But still what did Jesus say in Matthew 6:6: <font color=red><u>pray to thy Father which is in secret</u></font> and then in John 16:23: <font color=red><u>ye shall ask me nothing</u></font>. 274<p> So we do see that Jesus must have thought that once he was <font color=0B0B75><i>" gone "</i></font> the disciples might try to pray to him which he apparently <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>didn't</u> "</i></font> want them to do ...... 275 276<p>Consider the following story: 277 278<blockquote> 279<p> I'm out sitting on my back porch one summer afternoon. A young man, not seeing me, pulls up in a pickup truck and proceeds to go over to my lawn mower sitting in my yard. He wheels the lawn mower over to his truck and starts to load it. I approach him and ask "What do you think you are doing?" Well, he says with a smile, "Your son said I could use it." "Sorry," I say, "but I don't know you and its not my son's to lend out so please put it back." Which he does ....</i> 280</blockquote> 281 282<p>Now consider these verses prayed by our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father: 283 284<blockquote> 285<P><u>John 17:9-12</u> 286<p><font size=4 face=arial> <sup>[ 9 ]</sup></font><font color=ff0000> I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them <u>which thou hast given me</u>; <u>for they are thine</u>.</font> 287<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 10 ]</sup></font><font color=ff0000> And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.</font> 288 289<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 11 ]</sup></font><font color=ff0000> And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name <u>those whom thou hast given me</u>, that they may be one, as we <i>are</i>.</font> 290 291<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 12 ]</sup></font><font color=ff0000> While I was with them in the world, I kept them <u>in thy name</u>: <u>those that thou gavest me</u> I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.</font> 292</blockquote> 293 294<p> Just as the lawn mower was mine, and not my son's to lend out, so salvation is from God the Father since as Jesus said in verse 9 above, <font color=ff0000>" but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. "</font> And in verse 11, <font color=ff0000>" those whom thou hast given me. "</font> And finally in verse 12, <font color=ff0000>" I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me.... "</font> 295 296<p><i> Listen ..... God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ down to live with us to show us, by Jesus' example, how to live and also to be a ransom for many. God the Father provided us a way to escape being dead in our sins. 297<p><font color=000099><center>Who should we thank, praise, bless, pray too,<br>and ask for salvation for our sins by accepting His Son Jesus Christ as our Saviour ?<p>The answer is:</font> 298 299<p><IMG src="gtf.png" alt="God The Father"></center> 300 301<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center></i> 302 303<p> There are <font color=0B0B75><i>" so many "</i></font> denominations out there that centralize there worship on <font color=0B0B75><i>" Jesus Christ Only "</i></font> ..... They tell you to pray to Him, be baptised only in His name, etc. Then in the other spectrum there are those that say to worship God the Father only and they basically leave Jesus out of it. Both views are cults ..... and not true Christianity because they do not follow the Bible !</i> 304 305<p>Jesus Himself told us this: 306 307<blockquote> 308<P><u>John 5:23-24</u> 309<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 23 ]</sup></font><font color=ff0000> That all <i>men</i> should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father <u>which hath sent him</u>.</font> 310<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 24 ]</sup></font><font color=ff0000> Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and <u>believeth on him that sent me</u>, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.</font> 311</blockquote> 312 313<p> We could also take the above verse <font color=0B0B75><i>
313" out of context "</i></font> which could leave you to believe that if we honor the Son and the Father, and believe in them both ..... we would be <font color=0B0B75><i>" Born Again "</i></font> into life eternal. But as I previously noted, we aren't taking verses out of context. 314 315<p><br> <font color=0B0B75><i>So at this point we have learned that when it comes to being</i> " <u>Saved</u> "<i> that we must ask God the Father for salvation that was given to us by Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ.</i></font> 316 317<p><br>Now on that note ..... Let's move on to the second area we are studying: 318 319<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 320 321<p><center><img src="bible5.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 322 323 324<p><font size=5 face=times> Do you remember when you first accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior ? If it was anything like my experience, and I find that the majority had the same experience, you may remember that either before doing so, or shortly after doing so you came up with the question or thought: 325 326<p><center><img src="bible6.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 327 328 329 330<p> You might have asked a pastor or someone else close to you why you felt that way. You were more than likely told to just have <font color=0B0B75><i>" faith "</i></font> that you were saved. They told you: 331 332<p> <font color=0B0B75><i>" Don't worry about whether or not you feel saved. There are a lot of bible verses that tell you that you are now saved. You just have to have faith that you are. "</i></font> 333 334<p><center><font size=5>But wait a minute ..... is that really true ..... does the Bible really say:</font> 335 336 337<p><img src="bible13.png" alt="How?"> 338 339 340 341<p><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 342 343<p><br>Let's start by considering these verses written by the Apostle Paul:</center> 344 345<blockquote> 346<p><font size=5><u>I Timothy 4:1</u>:</font> 347<p><font color=990000> Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the <u>latter times some shall depart from the faith</u>, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;</font> 348</blockquote> 349 350<p><center>Reading this verse you might want to ask: 351 352<p><font color=0B0B75>Wait a minute Paul ..... what do you mean some shall " </i><font color=990000>depart from the faith</font><i> " in the " </i><font color=990000>latter times</font> " ?</i></center> 353 354<p> I was told that once I truly accepted Jesus Christ as my <font color=0B0B75>" Lord and Savior "</font> that that was all I had to do and that I was <font color=0000bb>" <u>saved</u> "</font> ! What does it mean that </i><font color=990000>" some shall depart from the faith"</font> ? How can people be part of the faith and then " </i><font color=990000><u>depart</u></font> " or leave that faith ?</i></font> 355 356<blockquote> 357<p><br><u>II Thessalonians 2:1-4</u>:</font> 358<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 1 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,</font> 359 360<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 2 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, <u>as that the day of Christ is at hand</u>.</font> 361 362<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 3 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a <u>falling away first</u><br><font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ apostasia ]</i></font>, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;</font> 363<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 4 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.</font> 364</blockquote> 365 366<p><center>Reading this verse you might want to ask: 367<p><font color=090999>Okay Paul .... for the second time you've said ..... 368<p>before the last days people shall basically</i> " <font color=990000>depart from the faith</font> "<i>
368 in the " </i><font color=990000>latter times</font> " ?</font></center> 369 370<br> As a note the greek word used for " <font color=990000>falling away first</font> " is <font color=5E099E><i>" apostasia "</i></font> which is where we get the english word <font color=0000bb>" Apostasy "</font> ! Apostasy literally means, <font color=5E099E><i>" to defect, or to forsake the faith "</i></font>. So once again you might ask what does " <font color=990000>falling away first</font> " mean ? How can people be part of the faith and then " <font color=990000>depart or fall away</font> " or leave that faith as these two scriptures tell us ? 371 372<p><center>Keep reading ..... It will all come to light soon .... and be based on our Bible !</center> 373 374 375 376<!-- 377<p>( You are going to find out that " Faith " is indeed part of " Salvation " but that " Faith " can stand alone ..... )</center> 378--> 379 380<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 381 382<p><center>We are going to start our journey now in a book of the Bible that many avoid like the plague ... 383 384 385<p><IMG src="revel.png" alt="Revelations"></center> 386 387<p> This book, and the study thereof, is avoided by not only everyday Christians .... but by <font color=000099><i>" many pastors and teachers "</i></font> <i>( and I use to be one of them )</i> of the word of God. Why is this book avoided by so many and why aren't there more people reading and teaching from Revelations ? 388 389<p> Basically because John used so much <font color=000099><i>" symbolism "</i></font> within it that its hard to understand at times. However, is that truly a good reason not to study it more ? Do you realize that Revelations is the <font color=0C0CB0><i>" <u>ONLY</u> "</i></font> book of the bible that blesses those that read it and curses those that try to change it ? 390 391<blockquote> 392<P><u>Revelation 1:3</u>: 393<p><font color=990000>Blessed <i>is</i> he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: For the time <i>is</i> at hand.</font> 394 395<P><u>Revelation 22:18-19</u>: 396<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 18 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this <u>book</u>,</font><font size=3 face=arial> ( The Book Of Revelations )</font><font color=990000> If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this <u>book</u>:</font> 397 398<p><font size=4 face=arial>[ 19 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and <i>from</i> the things which are written in this <u>book</u>.</font> 399</blockquote> 400<p> Many people believe that <font color=0C0CB0><i>" <u>the book</u> "</i></font> that John is talking about in the above verses is the <font color=0C0CB0><i>" <u>Entire Bible</u> "</i></font> .... But in fact he is talking about the <font color=0C0CB0><i>" The Book Of Revelations "</i></font>. It's the last book in the Bible for two reasons. First it explains the end times and second is because it was the last book written by an Apostle. 401 402<center><IMG src="revela.png" alt="Revelations"></center> 403 404<font size=5 face=times> 405 406<p><center>Now, many believe that Revelations only reveals the end times ... Which indeed it does. 407<p><font color=0C0CB0>" But did you also know that it reveals three other things as well ? "</i></font> 408<p>And they are:</center> 409<ul> 410<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif" align="middle"> <IMG src="revel01.png" align="middle"> 411<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif" align="middle"> <IMG src="revel02.png" align="middle"> 412<p><IMG SRC="graphics/blubul01.gif" align="middle"> <IMG src="revel03.png" align="middle"> 413</ul> 414 415<p><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"> 416<p><IMG src="revel04.png" alt="Revelations"></center> 417 418 419<font size=5 face=times> 420<p> If John wrote 5 books in the New Testament <font size=3 face=arial>( Gospel of John, I John, II John, III John, and Revelations )</font> and he wrote the Book of Revelations last ..... would it not stand to reason that <font color=0C0CB0><i>" whatever "</i></font> he wrote in Revelations <font color=0C0CB0><i>" <u>
420would not</u> conflict in any way with his previous books ? "</i></font> 421 422<p>Remember the quote from the 1st chapter of John above: 423 424<blockquote> 425<P><u>John 1:12</u>:</font> 426<p><font color=990000>But as many as received him, to them gave he the <u>power</u> <font color=5E099E size=3 face=arial>[ exousiazo ]</font> to become the sons of God, <i><u>even</u></i> to them that believe on his name:</font></font> 427</blockquote> 428 429<p> So that would mean that whatever he says in Revelations would <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>INDEED</u> "</i></font> agree with what he wrote in the above verse. Now most people read the above last part of the verse to mean that <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>ALL</u> "</i></font> you have to do is <font color=990000>" believe on his name "</font> to become a son of God and go to heaven. 430 431<p><center><IMG src="revel05.png" alt="Revelations"></center> 432 433<p> Remember this ..... Whenever you see a word in italics in the bible, such as the word <font color=990000>" <u><i>even</i></u> "</font> in the above verse ... <font color=0B0B75>" you must realize that it is not in the original greek text "</i></font>. That is, it was added by the translators to <font color=0B0B75><i>" HOPEFULLY "</i></font> make the verse more clear. 434<p> So without the word <font color=990000>" <u><i>even</i></u> "</font> how does this verse read: 435 436<blockquote> 437<P><font size=5 face=times><u>John 1:12</u>:</font> 438<p><font color=990000>But as many as received him, to them gave he the power <font color=5E099E size=3 face=arial>[ exousiazo ]</font> to become the sons of God, to them that believe on his name:</font></font> 439</blockquote> 440 441<p><br> <font size=5 face=times>If we look at the actual, word for word, Greek language translation of this verse it would be interpreted this way: 442<blockquote> 443<P><font size=5 face=times><u>John 1:12</u>:</font> 444<p><font color=990000>But <u>as many as received him</u> he gave to them <u>authority</u> <font color=5E099E size=3 face=arial>[ exousiazo ]</font> <u>children of God to be</u>, to those that <u>believe on name his</u>.</font> 445</blockquote> 446 447<p><center><IMG src="revel06.png"> 448<br><IMG src="revel07.png"></center> 449 450 451 452<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 453 454<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="bible7.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 455 456 457 458<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center></center> 459 460<p> Now we also note in the above Greek translation that the word <font color=990000><i>" authority "</i></font>, instead of <font color=990000><i>" power "</i></font> <font size=3 face=arial>( used in the KJV )</font> is used. Basically both words do mean the same thing. However I think that the word <font color=990000>"authority"</font> is much clearer. The Greek word used for <font color=990000><i>" authority "</i></font> is <font color=5E099E>" exousiazo " {ex-oo-see-ad'-zo}</font> which basically means <i>" to have power or authority, or the <u>ability to use the power</u> "</i>. So what is the verse actually telling us? Basically this: 461 462<blockquote> 463<p><br><font color=000099>Those that come to realize that Jesus Christ was " exactly " who He said he was - <font color=990000>( " believe on His name " )</font> 464 465 466<p>and have prayed to God the Father asking to receive Jesus Christ as their saviour - <font color=990000">( " as many as received him " )</font> 467 468<p>they now have the <font color=990000>" authority "</font> ( or ability ) to become <font color=990000>" children of God to be "</font>.</font></i> 469</blockquote> 470 471<p><center>And in today's english, 472<br>as I was told by a very trusted greek friend and devoted Christian, 473<br>the greek text would read like this:</center> 474 475<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="bible8.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 476 477<p> Please note that is <font color=0B0B75><i>
477" does not "</i></font> say <font size=3 face=arial>( as many have been taught )</font> that you <font color=0B0B75><i>" become a Child of God "</i></font> and therefore are <font color=0B0B75>" Saved " ! </font> .... It says that you now have the <font color=0B0B75>" authority or ability "</font> to be <font color=0B0B75>" Saved "</font> and become a Child of God. <font color=0B0B75>The ability to be saved <font size=4 face=arial>( and go to heaven )</font> is another thing all together !</font> 478<p><font size=5 face=times>Consider this story: 479<blockquote> 480 You work as a clerk in an office at a plant of some type. In the office is a security box that includes all the keys that unlock " everything " in the entire plant. Some of those keys open areas that are " highly " secured to which few people have access due to a high risk of personal danger. Your supervisor gives you a key to open that security box and tells you that it is just incase you should ever need them. Basically your supervisor has given you the " authority " to access and open any door in the entire plant! Whether or not you use that " authority " is basically up to him and you ...</i> 481</blockquote> 482 483<p> So, using the above story, when we <font color=0B0B75>" believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God "</font>, and when we pray to the Father and <font color=0B0B75>" receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour "</font>, we now have the <font color=0B0B75>" authority "</font> to become the Children of God ! 484 485<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="revel08.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 486 487 488<p><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 489 490 491<p><br> Now the Apostle John, <i>who was transported into heavan</i>, in the book of Revelation wrote two verses that have to make you think ..... The first is about the Christians and/or Saints he saw in heaven ..... and the second is about <font color=0B0B75><i>" who has the right to get into heaven "</i></font>. They are: 492 493<p> 494<blockquote> 495<P><u>Revelations 14:12</u>: 496<p><font color=990000>Here is the patience of the saints: <u>here <i>are</i> they that keep the commandments of God</u>, <u>and the faith of Jesus</u>.</font> 497 498 499<P><u>Revelations 22:14</u>: 500<p><font color=990000>Blessed <i>are</i> they that <u>do his commandments</u>, that they may have " right " to the tree of life, and <u>may enter in through the gates</u> into the city.</font> 501</blockquote> 502 503 504<p>First we notice in Rev. 14:12 that those that John saw in heaven ( <font color=990000>here are they</font> ) had two qualities, for the lack of a better way to put it: 505<p> 1. - <font color=990000>" they keep the commandments of God "</font> and, 506<p> 2. - had <font color=990000>" the faith of Jesus "</font> <font size=4 face=arial><i>( or excepted Jesus by faith )</i></font>. 507 508<p><CENTER>So .... who did he see in heaven ?</font> 509 510 511<p><img src="bible9.png" alt="Break Line"> 512<p><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 513 514 515<p><center><font color=0B0B75 size=5>And we notice in Rev. 22:14</font> 516<p><font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>WHO</u> " John said had the right to the tree of life, 517<Br>or who had the right to enter into the gates of the city ( <u>HEAVEN</u> ), 518<br>and what quality they had that gave them that right:</i></font> 519 520<p><center><img src="bible10.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 521 522<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 523 524<p><center>Now .... let's look at other verses 525<p><font color=0B0B75><i>" through out "</i></font> the New Testament 526<p>that back up what John said in Revelations about getting to Heaven ! 527<p> 528 529<!-- 530<p>Are you still thinking about the little word " <font color=990000>works</font> " ? That is coming up soon .... 531--> 532 533<p><font size=5 color=0000bb>But let me first ask you this .....</font> 534 535 536<p><IMG SRC="lovehim.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center></center> 537 538<p>If so ..... Jesus told us how to prove that we do ! 539 540<blockquote> 541<P><u>John 14: 15</u>: 542<p><font color=ff0000> If ye love me, <i><u>keep my commandments</u></i>.</font> 543</blockquote> 544 545<p>And John backed up what he said in Revelations and also about loving, or knowing, Jesus ! 546 547<blockquote> 548<P><u>I John 2: 4-6</u>: 549<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 4 ] </sup></font><font color=990000> He that saith, I know him, and <u>keepeth not his commandments</u>, <u>IS A LIAR</u>, and the truth <u>is not</u> in him.</font> 550 551<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 5 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. </font> 552 553<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 6 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> He that says he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.<
553/font> 554</blockquote> 555 556<p><center><img src="bible11.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 557 558<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 559 560 561<p><center><img src="theworks.png"></center> 562 563 564<p><br> And it isn't only Jesus and John that talk about this. In James chapter 4, in the King James version of our Bible we read this : 565 566<center>Notice below the two different greek words used for <font color=990000>" works "</font> !</center> 567 568<p><blockquote> 569<u>James 2:14-19</u> : 570<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 14 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> What <i>doth it</i> profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not <u>works</u> <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ erga - physical labor ]</font> ? Can faith save him ?</font> 571<br> ( the expected answer here is <font color=0B0B75><i>" No, faith alone cannot save him. "</i></font> )</font>. 572 573<font size=5 face=times> 574<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 15 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,</font> 575<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 16 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be <i>ye</i> warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what <i>doth it</i> profit ?</font> 576 577<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 17 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Even so faith, <u>if it hath not works</u> <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ erga - physical labor ]</font>, is dead, being alone. </font><font size=3><sup></font> 578 579<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 18 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have <u>works</u> <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ erga - physical labor ]</font>: shew me thy faith without thy <u>works</u> <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ epywv - more like a thought - not physical labor ]</font>, and I will shew thee my faith by my <u>works</u> <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ epywv - more like a thought - not physical labor ]</font></font> 580 581<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 19 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ kalwv poieiv ]</font> : <u>the devils also believe, and tremble</u>.</font> 582</blockquote> 583 584<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 585 586 587 588<font size=5 face=times> 589<p> The above section of James, and the below section on James 2:20-26, has troubled local and famous Pastors, Preachers, Evangelists, and Teachers and the vast majority of them avoid talking about it if at all possible. The hundreds that I've tried to talk to about it immediately become <font color=000099><i>" uncomfortable "</i></font> and start to <font color=000099><i>" squirm in their seats "</i></font> and it is all due to the greek word <font color=990000>" works "</font>. And I have to admit that at one time is also made me <font color=000099><i>" uncomfortable "</i></font> to talk about. 590 591<p> The reason for the <font color=000099><i>" uncomfortable "</i></font> feeling is because so many pastors have used <font color=990000><i>" John 3:16 "</i></font> and <font color=990000><i>" Ephesians 2:8-9 "</i></font> <font size=4 face=arial>( shown below )</font>, together to prove to folks <font color=000099><i>" that all you have to do to be saved and go to heaven "</i></font> is accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and as <font color=990000><i>" Ephesians 2:8-9 "</i></font> notes <font color=990000>it is the gift of God: Not of <u>works</u> "</font> ..... so therefore you only have to accept Jesus as your savior and you are heaven bound without doing anything else at all ! 592 593 594 595 596 597<p> If we look at Ephesians below we see the greek word <font color=990000>" works "</font> is in fact used correctly as it should be ..... and that is for <i>" physical labor "</i>. However we can't take them out of context and must see how they apply to the rest of the Bible. 598 599 600 601 602 603<blockquote> 604 605<P><font size=5 face=times><u>John 3:16</u>:</font> 606<p><font color=ff0000>For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.</font> 607 608 609<P><font size=5 face=times><u>Ephesians 2:8-9</u>:</font> 610<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 8 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: <i>it is</i> the gift of God:</font> 611<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 9 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Not of <u>works</u> <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ erga - physical labor ]</font>, lest any man should boast.</font> 612</blockquote> 613 614<p><center><img src="outbib.png"></center> 615 616 617 618<p><center><img src="outcontext.png"></center> 619 620 621<p> Notice the change in the greek word <font color=990000>" works "</font>
621 here shown above in verses 14, 17 and the first two times in 18 from <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ erga ]</font> to the last part of verse 18 when he switches to <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ epywv - more like a thought ]</i></font> ..... James is starting to change his focus from <i>" physical work "</i> ( <font color=990000>helping those who are naked and destitute of daily food</font> ) to something very different .... 622 623<p>And then along comes <font color=990000><i>" James "</i></font> ..... 624 625<p><center>The New Testament was written, as you may or may not know, in what was known as: 626 627<p><img src="koinegreek.png"></center> 628 629 630<p> In the mid-1970's I attended, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, a bible study with a group of men who, for the most part, were all old enough to be my dad. The group included about ten men: a Catholic, a Methodist, three preachers <font size=4 face=arial>( one Pentecostal, one Baptist, and the other from an indepentant fundamentalist church )</font>, but one man in particular was a member of the Greek Orthodox church named <font color=000099><i>" Lou "</i></font>. I learned more about Christianity from this group of men then I have anywhere else in my lifetime ..... <font color=000099><i>" this group, you could say, were the foundation of my christianity ! "</i></font> 631 632 633 634<p> Now <font color=000099><i>" Lou "</i></font> became a very trusted christian friend and we always sat next to each other during these bible studies. He was from Greece and he read and spoke not only <font color=000099><i>" Greek "</i></font> but also <font color=000099><i>" Koine Greek "</i></font> fluently. When I first asked him, in the mid-1970's, to read James 2:2-26 in <font color=000099><i>" Koine Greek "</i></font> but to read them very slowly translating them into english for me ... he basically said <font color=000099><i>" I've read them before and they are basically what is shown in the King James Bible. "</i></font> 635 636<p> He humored me and read them again ... When he got to <font color=990000>" James 2:18 "</font> he paused after reading it and said, <font color=000099><i>" Something is different here . The first word for <font color=990000>" works "</font> denote physical labor but the second and third <font color=990000>" works "</font> actually is different and it seems as if he is talking about working through a thought ..... using his mind to work on or at something ..... or working mentally at something instead of purely physical labor. That is he's thinking through something.</i></font> He then said, <i>" Let me read all of James Chapter 2 again ..... "</i> 637 638<p> After him reading it all very slowly .... and then, as we started discussing it together, we came to the same conclusion that the second and third word <font color=990000>" works "</font> that was conveyed in <font color=990000>" James 2:18 "</font> was actually the word: 639 640<br><center><img src="obedience.png"></center> 641 642 643<p> We both were <i>" extremely excited "</i> about it and went on a further study to seek out this new idea for this word for <font color=990000>" works "</font> could be found through out the Bible. And yes we found it in other places within the Bible. But since that was in the mid-1970's there wasn't an internet to use as a resource ... but we started talking to many local pastor's and started looking in every commentary and study books we could find ... without any results. But we knew this word <font color=990000>" works "</font> in James meant <font color=990000><i>" obedience "</i></font>. 644 645<p> Now years have gone by since my old friend has passed away and the internet is available .... and yes <font color=000099><i>" we weren't the only ones to discover and find this answers "</i></font>. These two different words, that were both originally translated into English as <font color=990000>" works "</font>
645, actually have two <font color=0B0B75><i>" very different meanings "</i></font> and it changes <font color=0B0B75><i>" everything and makes it much clearer "</i></font> as we see in James 2:20-26 below : 646 647<!-- 648 649<p><br><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 650 651<p><table width="100%" border="0" align="center"> 652<tr> 653<td><center><img src="bible14.png" alt="Break Line"></td> 654<td><center><img src="bible15.png" alt="Break Line"></td> 655</tr></table> 656 657 658 659 660<p><br><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 661 662--> 663 664<p><blockquote> 665<u>James 2:20-26</u> 666<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 20 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ epywv - obedience ]</font> is dead ?</font> 667 668<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 21 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Was not Abraham our father justified by works <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ epywv - obedience ]</font>, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar ?</font> 669 670<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 22 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Seest thou how faith wrought with his works <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ erga - Physical labor ]</font>, and by works <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ epywv - obedience ]</font> was faith made perfect ?</font> 671 672<blockquote> 673The actual greek to english wording of verse 22 is clearer: 674<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 22 ]</sup></font><font color=000099> Can you see how his faith along with his physical labor, together with his obedience made his faith perfect ?</font> 675</blockquote> 676 677<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 23 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.</font> 678<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 24 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Ye see then how that by works <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ epywv - obedience ]</font> a man is justified, and not by faith only.</font> 679 680<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 25 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ epywv - obedience ]</font>, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way ?</font> 681 682<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 26 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ epywv - obedience ]</font> is dead also.</font> 683</blockquote> 684 685<p> Now whenever you see a commentary, or discussion, of Abraham and his willingness to sacrafice his son Issac ... and when you also see commentary on Ruth receiving the messengers .... it is always noted that they were basically being one thing: 686<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 687 688<p><center><img src="bible12.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 689 690<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 691 692 693 694<p> So in <u>James 2:14-18</u> he is talking about doing "physical work" ( helping your brothers and sisters in Christ ) and then in the last part of verse 18 he is talking about being " obedient to God". So James 2:18 should read this way: 695 696<p><blockquote> 697<u>James 2:18</u> 698<p><font color=000099>Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have physically works: shew me thy faith without obedience, and I will shew thee my faith by my obedience.</font> 699</blockquote> 700 701<p> And in our Ephesians verse noted in the beginning of this article we see " <font color=990000>works</font> " is " <font color=purple>epya</font> ". So we are saved by " <font color=990000>grace</font> " and not by something we can physically do or accomplish. 702 703<p><blockquote> 704<P><font size=5 face=times><u>Ephesians 2:8-9</u>:</font> 705<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 8 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> For by <u>grace</u> are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: <i>it is</i> the gift of God:</font> 706 707<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 9 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Not of works <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ epya ~ physical works ]</font>, lest any man should boast.</font> 708</blockquote> 709 710<!-- 711<p><br> The Greek word used for <font color=990000>"works"</font> in the above scripture from James Chapter 2, however, is <font color=purple>"erga"</font> which again basically means <font color=purple>"anything accomplished by the mind or through thought "</font>. Even though it is "tap danced" around by many Christians ... basically it means: 712 713<p><center><font size=6 color=0000bb>" <u>Obedience</u> ! "</font></center> 714--> 715 716<p> So if we change the words " <font color=990000>works</font> " in <u>James 2:20-26</u> to its intended interpretation <font color=0B0B75><i>
716" <u>obedience</u> "</i></font> we see that it would change how the verses are read <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>drastically</u> "</i></font> and it would correctly read like this in english: 717 718 719<p><blockquote> 720<u>James 2:20-26</u> 721<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 20 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without <font color=0B0B75><i><u>obedience</u></i></font> is dead?</font> 722 723<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 21 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Was not Abraham our father justified by <font color=0B0B75><i><u>obedience</u></i></font>, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?</font> 724 725<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 22 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Then seeth that faith was working with his <font color=0B0B75><i><u>physical labor</u></i></font>, and by <font color=0B0B75><i><u>obedience</u></i></font> faith was perfected.</font> 726 727<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 23 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.</font> 728 729<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 24 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Ye see then how that by <font color=0B0B75><i><u>obedience</u></i></font> a man is justified, and not by faith only.</font> 730 731<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 25 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by <font color=0B0B75><i><u>obedience</u></i></font>, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?</font> 732 733<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 26 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without <font color=0B0B75><i><u>obedience</u></i></font> is dead also.</font> 734</blockquote> 735 736 737 738 739<!-- 740 741<blockquote> 742<P><br><u>James 2:19</u> 743<p><font size=3><sup> [ 19 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Thou believest that there is one God; thou <u>doest well</u> <font color=purple size=3>[ kalwv poieiv ]</font>: <u>the devils also believe, and tremble</u>.</font> 744</blockquote> 745 746<p><br> So now we see that James is basically asking two questions in verse 14. The first question is <font color=990000>"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not <u>obedience</u>?"</font> ... The expected answer is <font color=0000bb><i>"<u>It doesn't profit him anything</u> to say he has faith if he has no <u>obedience</u>"</i></font> ! And the second question is <font color=990000>"Can faith save him?"</font> ... The expected answer is <font color=0000bb><i>"No, faith without <u>obedience</u> cannot save him"</i></font>! 747 748--> 749 750<p><br> Also .... backing up a little .... do you see that statement <font color=990000>"doest well"</font> in the last part of verse 19? ( see below) That puts a "cap" on what James is trying to say. The Greek words used for <font color=990000>"doest well"</font> is <font color=5E099E><i>" kalwv poieiv "</i></font> which basically means <i>" doing well, as far as that goes "</i>. 751 752 753<p> 754 755<blockquote> 756<P><br><u>James 2: 19</u> 757<p><font color=990000>Thou believest that there is one God; thou <u>doest well</u> <font color=5E099E size=4 face=arial>[ kalwv poieiv ]</font> : <u>the devils also believe, and tremble</u>.</font> 758</blockquote> 759 760<p><br>What is James saying in a nut shell ? Basically this: 761<p><blockquote> 762<p><font color=0B0B75> You say that you believe that there is one God. And as far as that goes you are doing well. However remember this, the devils also believe that there is one God just like you do. And the devils tremble at the thought. <i><u>Merely saying that you believe that there is one God is not enough</u></i>. You must also have <i>" <u>obedience</u> "</i> because simply having faith is not enough!</font> 763</blockquote> 764 765 766<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 767 768<p><br>Now some of you still might be thinking: 769<p><center><font color=0B0B75 size=5 face=times>Wait a minute</font> .... 770<p><font color=0B0B75 size=5 face=times>Paul says in Romans that we are " justified " by our faith .... 771<p>if we are " justified " by our faith alone why do we need obedience ?</i></font></center> 772 773<blockquote> 774<P><br><u>Romans 5: 1</u> 775<p><font color=990000>Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:</font> 776</blockquote> 777 778<!-- 779 780<p><br>Remember .... let's not read verses <font color=0B0B75 size=4><i>" <u>out of context</u> "</i></font> since Paul also cleared that one up in Verse 20 with this: 781 782<p><blockquote> 783<P><br><u>James 2: 24</u> 784<p><font color=990000>Ye see then how that by works <font color=5E099E size=3><i>[ epywv - Obedience ]</i></font> a man is justified, and not by faith only.</font> 785</blockquote> 786 787<p><br>Which when correctly translated would say this: 788 789<p><blockquote> 790<P><br><u>James 2: 24</u> 791<p><font color=990000>Ye see then how that by <u>obedience</u> a man is justified, <u>and not by faith only</u>.</font> 792</blockquote> 793 794--> 795 796<p><center><img src="revel09.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 797 798<p><br>Paul later states in Chapter 6: 799 800<p><blockquote> 801<P><u>Romans 6:14-16</u> 802<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 14 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.</font> 803 804<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 15 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> What then ? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace ? <u>God forbid</u>.</font> 805 806<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 16 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to <u>obey</u>, his servants ye are to whom ye <u>obey</u>; whether of sin unto death, or of <u>obedience</u>
806 unto righteousness ?</font> 807</blockquote> 808 809<p><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 810 811<p><center><img src="revel11.png" alt="Break Line"> 812 813<p>Which was brought to the forefront and taught by <font color=000099><i>" <u>Martin Luther</u> that most don't know : "</i></font></center></font> 814 815<p><br> Martin Luther, <i>who was once a Catholic Priest and Monk</i>, was responsible for the translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Koine Greek into the German Language. It was during this translation that Luther found the section in the book of Romans concering <font color=0B0B75><i>" Justification By Faith "</i></font> as told by the Apostle Paul. 816 817<p> The Catholic Church, at that time, taught that an individual could actually <font color=0B0B75><i>" purchase "</i></font> freedom from God's punishment's for all of their sins through what the church called <font color=0B0B75><i>" Indulgence "</i></font>. Basically the individual would give the Church money to be free from their sin's and punishment. 818 819<p> After coming upon <font color=0B0B75><i>" Justification By Faith "</i></font> in Romans Luther decided, without further investigation concerning Justification, that the Catholic Church was wrong and that the <font color=0B0B75><i>" Indulgence "</i></font> was a false teaching <font size=4 face=arial>( which it indeed was and still is )</font>. Luther also decided that if an individual had <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>faith only</u> "</i></font> in Jesus Christ that they needed <font color=0B0B75><i>" nothing else in order to go to heaven "</i></font>. 820 821<p> That is Martin Luther taught nothing about <font color=0B0B75><i>" accepting "</i></font> or <font color=0B0B75><i>" receiving "</i></font> Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, or for that matter about being <font color=0B0B75><i>" Born Again "</i>.</font> 822 823 824<p> Luther was <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>so addiment</u> "</i></font> about salvation being <font color=0B0B75><i>" Justification by Faith Alone "</i></font> that in his first printed version of the Bible, <font color=0B0B75><i>" to prove his point "</i></font>, he <font color=0B0B75><i>" personally "</i></font> added the word <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>alone</u> "</i></font> in Romans 3:28 so that it would read: 825 826<blockquote> 827<P><u>Romans 3:28</u> 828<p><font color=990000>Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith</font> <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>alone</u> "</i></font> <font color=990000>without the deeds of the law.</font> 829</blockquote> 830 831 832<p><center><img src="bible16.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 833 834 835 836<p> His addition of the word was later stricken from all future bibles printed. However Luther was also <font color=0B0B75><i>" very strongly "</i></font> against having the New Testament books of <font color=0B0B75><i>" Hebrews, James, Jude, and the Revelation of John "</i></font> being in the Bible at all. ( Hmmmm .... two of these books disprove Martin Luther's theory of being <font color=0B0B75><i>" justified by faith alone "</i></font> ). 837 838<p><center><img src="bible17.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 839 840<CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 841 842 843<!-- 844<p>However due to the teaching's of Martin Luther ..... 845 846<p><font size=5><center><font color=0B0B75><i>" Justification by Faith Alone "</i></font> 847<p>has recently become the battle cry, so to speak, 848<p>of so many in the current church that say that you only have to 849<p><font color=0B0B75><i>" Receive Jesus Christ as your savior "</i></font> and <font color=0B0B75>" <u>nothing else</u> "</font>. 850</center></font> 851 852<p><center>( Note: See the article titled: ) 853<p><font color=0000bb><i>Why does the current church teach<br>" Once Saved Always Saved</i> ? "</font> 854<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/graphics/comings.png" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center></center> 855<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></center> 856 857--> 858 859<p><center>It was from the <font color=000099><i>" <u>FALSE</u> "</i></font> teachings of Martin Luther, 860<br>plus some other verses used <font color=000099><i>" <u>out of context</u> "</i></font>, 861<br>that the current church started the <font color=000099><i>" <u>FALSE</u> "</i></font> teaching of :</center> 862 863<p><center><img src="revel12.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 864 865<p> The idea of being simply <font color=0B0B75><i>
865" Born Again "</i></font> after accepting Jesus Christ as our saviour <font size=4 face=arial>( <font color=0B0B75><i>which is true, "We Must Be Born Again"</i></font> )</font> not only comes from Martin Luther's idea but also comes from many verses in the Bible used <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>out of context</u> "</i></font>, such as: 866 867<blockquote> 868<P><u>John 3:3</u> 869<p><font color=990000> Jesus answered and said unto him,</font> <font color=red>Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.</font> 870<P><u>I Peter 1:23</u> 871<p><font color=990000> Being born again, not of corruptable seed, but of incorruptable, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.</font> 872</blockquote> 873 874<p><br>Or the ones we have already discussed: 875 876<blockquote> 877<P><br><font size=5 face=times><u>Ephesians 2:8-9</u>:</font> 878<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 8 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: <i>it is</i> the gift of God:</font> 879 880<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 9 ]</sup></font><font color=990000> Not of works <font color=purple size=4 face=arial>[ epya ~ physical works ]</font>, lest any man should boast.</font> 881 882<P><br><font size=5 face=times><u>John 1:12</u>:</font> 883<p><font color=990000>But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, <i>even</i> to them that believe on his name:</font></font> 884 885<P><br><font size=5 face=times><u>Romans 10:9</u>: 886<p><font color=990000>That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.</font> 887</blockquote> 888 889<p><center><img src="bible18.png" alt="Break Line"> 890 891<p><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 892 893<p><br><font size=5 color=0B0B75>Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book 894<Br>" The Cost Of Discipleship " 895<br>called this type of teaching:</font> 896 897 898<p><img src="bible19.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 899 900<p>Have you ever read or heard this: 901 902<blockquote> 903<p><center><font color=0B0B75 size=5>If a pig goes to the altar and prays for salvation and after returning is still a pig, 904<br>then this is not a believer in Jesus Christ but a deluded lost soul. 905<p>But if a pig goes to the altar and prays and after returning is a lamb of God, 906<br>then the conversion was true toward salvation ! 907<p><img src="bible20.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 908</blockquote> 909 910<p><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"> 911 912<p><img src="bible21.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 913<p><font color=black>Now we come to a point that is so very clear in the bible and it concerns being <font color=0B0B75><i>" Born Again and / or Saved "</i></font>. 914 915<p>And this verse from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is <font color=0B0B75><i>" <u>Crystal Clear</u> "</i></font> and is the main point expressed in this article, <font color=0B0B75><i>" Am I Really Saved ! "</i></font> 916 917<p>What did <font color=0B0B75><i>" Jesus "</i></font> have to say about Obedience?: 918 919<p><blockquote> 920<P><u>Matthew 7:21-23</u> 921<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 21 ]</sup></font><font color=ff0000> <u>Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,</u> <font color=0B0B75 size=4 face=arial>[ faith only ]</font> shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; <u>but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven</u> <font color=0B0B75 size=4 face=arial>[ obedience ]</font>. </font> 922 923<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 22 ]</sup></font><font color=ff0000> 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 ?</font> 924 925<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup> [ 23 ]</sup></font><font color=ff0000> And then will I profess unto them, <u>I never knew you</u>: <u>depart from me, ye that work iniquity</u>.</i></font></center> 926</blockquote> 927 928<p><center><img src="jcwords.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 929 930 931 932<p> In John Chapter 5 we have the story of Jesus healing a man that was waiting b
932y the pool of Bethesda. Our Lord, after the healing, found the man once again in the temple in Jerusalem and said to him: 933 934<p><blockquote> 935<P><u>John 5:14</u> 936<p><font color=990000>Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him,</font> <font color=red>Behold, thou art made whole: <u>sin no more</u>, <font size=4 face=arial color=0B0B75>[ obedience ]</font> <u>lest a worse thing come unto thee</u>.</font> 937</blockquote> 938 939<p><br>In John Chapter 8 we have Jesus talking with the woman caught in adultery: 940 941<blockquote> 942<P><u>John 8:10 - 11</u> 943<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 10 ]</sup></font> <font color=990000> When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her,</font><font color=red> Woman, where are those thine accusers ? hath no man condemned thee ?</font> 944 945<p><font size=4 face=arial><sup>[ 11 ]</sup></font> <font color=990000> She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her,</font><font color=red> Neither do I condemn thee: go, and <u>sin no more</u>.</font> <font size=4 face=arial color=0B0B75>[ obedience ]</font> 946</blockquote> 947 948<p><br>In John Chapter 8 we have Jesus talking to a group of non-believing Jews: 949 950<blockquote> 951<P><u>John 8:51</u> 952<p><font color=red>Verily, verily, I say unto you, <u>if a man keep my saying</u>, <font size=4 face=arial color=0B0B75>[ obedience ]</font> he shall never see death.</font> 953</blockquote> 954 955<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 956 957<p><br>So, back to the original question posed for this article: 958 959<p><center><img src="bible22.png" alt="Break Line"> 960 961<p><CENTER><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 962 963<p><img src="bible23.png" alt="Break Line"> 964 965 966<p><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 967 968<p><img src="bible24.png" alt="Break Line"> 969 970<p><img src="bible25.png" alt="Break Line"> 971<p><font size=5 color=0000bb>( You must believe and have faith in all three ! )</font> 972 973 974<p><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 975 976<p><img src="bible26.png" alt="Break Line"> 977<p><font size=5 color=0000bb>( Receive Jesus as your Saviour! )</font> 978 979<p><IMG SRC="history/bluelin.gif" ALIGN="BOTTOM"> 980 981<p><img src="bible27.png" alt="Break Line"> 982<p><font size=5 color=0000bb>( Faith without obedience is dead ! )</font></center> 983 984 985 986<p><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 987 988<p><br> As I have hopefully <font size=5 color=0B0B75><i>" Clearly Shown "</i></font> the Bible tells us that 989<p><font size=5 color=0B0B75><i>" Faith without Obedience is dead !"</i></font> 990<p>It may not be what you wanted to here .... 991<p><font size=5 color=0B0B75><i>" but I'm not the one telling you about this ..... "</i></font> 992 993 994<p><center><img src="bible28.png" alt="Break Line"></center> 995 996 997 998 999<!-- 1000 1001 1002 1003<p>xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027<p><br> <font size=4 color=0000bb>The number one reason that people get the feeling that they "<u>aren't saved</u>" is because they been led, wrongly, to believe that salvation is a two step process:</font> 1028<ol> 1029<li>Believing in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and 1030<p><li>Accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour. 1031</ol> 1032<p><font size=4 color=0000bb>When in fact the Bible plainly tells us that there is a "<u>Third Part</u>":</font> 1033<p><br><center><font size=6 color=0000bb>" <u>Obedience</u> ! "</font></center> 1034<p><br><blockquote> 1035<P><u>James 2:18-19</u><font size=1><sup> [18] </sup></font><font color=990000>Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have <u>obedience</u>: shew me thy faith without thy <u>obedience</u>, and I will shew thee my faith by my <u>obedience</u>.</font><font size=1><sup> [19] </sup></font><font color=990000>Thou believest that there is one God; thou <u>doest well</u> <font color=purple size=2>[ kalwv poieiv ]</font> : <u>the devils also believe, and tremble</u>.</font> 1036</blockquote> 1037<blockquote> 1038<P><u>John 15:4-5a</u> <font size=1><sup>[4] </sup></font><font color=red>Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine;
1038no more can ye, except ye abide in me.</font> <font size=1><sup>[5a] </sup></font><font color=red>I am the vine, ye <i>are</i> the branches...</font> 1039</blockquote> 1040<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064<p><br><br><br><br>X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 1065 1066 1067<p><br><br><br><br><font size=5>So the answer to the question:</font> 1068 1069<blockquote> 1070<p><font color=0000bb size=4>" I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior .... but I don't feel saved. Do you know why I feel that way ...... how can I know that I'm saved ? "</font> 1071</blockquote> 1072 1073<p><br><font size=5>Is simply this:</font> 1074 1075<blockquote> 1076<p><font color=0000bb>" You don't feel saved because you aren't being " <u>obedient</u> " ! "</font> 1077</blockquote> 1078 1079<p><br><font size=5>But the bigger question to you is this:</font> 1080 1081 1082<p><br><center><font color=0000bb size=5>Have you accepted "Jesus Christ" as your savior and are you trying your best to be " obedient " ! 1083<p>If not ..... Why not ?</center></font> 1084 1085 1086 1087<p><br>No ..... you don't have to perfect and none of us can be, but we must try our best to be " obedient ". And when we aren't: 1088 1089<p><blockquote> 1090<P><u>I John 1: 9</u> 1091<p><font size=2><sup> [ 24 ] </sup></font><font color=990000> If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.</font> 1092</blockquote> 1093 1094<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1095 1096 1097 1098<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1099<p><br><center><font size=5 color=0000bb>What did Jesus Say 1100<br>about those that live by "<u>Faith Only</u>" 1101<br>without "<u>Obedience</u>"?</font></center> 1102<p><br> Now we come to a point that is so very clear in the bible and it concerns being "Born Again and/or Saved". And this verse from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is "crystal clear" and is the main point expressed in this article, "Am I Really Saved!" 1103<p>What did "Jesus" have to say about Obedience?: 1104<p><blockquote> 1105<P><u>Matthew 7:21-23</u><font size=1><sup> [21] </sup></font><font color=red><u>Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,</u> <font size=2 color=0000bb>[ faith only ]</font> shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; <u>but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven</u> <font size=2 color=0000bb>[ obedience ]</font>.</font><font size=1><sup> [22] </sup></font><font color=red>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?</font><font size=1><sup> [23] </sup></font><font color=red>And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.</font> 1106</blockquote> 1107 1108<p><center><font size=5 color=0000bb>What about these words from Jesus?</font></center> 1109 1110<p><blockquote> 1111<P><u>John 5:14</u><font size=1><sup> [51] </sup></font><font color=red>Behold, thou art made whole: <u>sin no more</u>, <font size=2 color=0000bb>[ obedience ]</font> lest a worse thing come unto thee.</font> 1112 1113<P><u>John 8:51</u><font size=1><sup> [51] </sup></font><font color=red>Verily, verily, I say unto you, <u>if a man keep my saying</u>, <font size=2 color=0000bb>[ obedience ]</font> he shall never see death.</font> 1114 1115</blockquote> 1116 1117<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1118<p><br>So, back to the original question posed for this article: 1119<p><br><center><font size=5 color=0000bb>" <u>Am I Really Saved and Heaven bound ?</u> "</font></center> 1120<p><br> To be Saved and Heaven bound based on the Bible basically takes three steps which I believe I have shown you in this article. If you don't "<u>feel saved</u>" it may well be that you have left one of these steps out. 1121<ol> 1122<font size=4> 1123<li>First you must believe and come to the understand that God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit are real ! 1124<br><font size=2 color=0000bb>( Believe on His Name! )</font> 1125<p><li>Second, you must pray to God the Father and accept the salvation that he provided through the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ !<br><font size=2 color=0000bb>( Receive Him as your Saviour! )</font> 1126<p><li>Third, once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you must show that you are serious about your salvation by living a life of obedience !<br><font size=2 color=0000bb>( Faith without obedience is dead ! )</font> 1127</font> 1128</ol> 1129<p><br> <font size=4 color=0000bb>The number one reason that people get the feeling that they "<u>aren't saved</u>" is because they been led, wrongly, to believe that salvation is a two step process:</font> 1130<ol> 1131<li>Believing in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and 1132<p><li>Accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour. 1133</ol> 1134<p><font size=4 color=0000bb>When in fact the Bible plainly tells us that there is a "<u>Third Part</u>":</font> 1135<p><br><center><font size=6 color=0000bb>" <u>Obedience</u> ! "</font></center> 1136<p><br><blockquote> 1137<P><u>James 2:18-19</u><font size=1><sup> [18] </sup></font><font color=990000>Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have <u>obedience</u>: shew me thy faith without thy <u>obedience</u>, and I will shew thee my faith by my <u>obedience</u>.</font><font size=1><sup> [19] </sup></font><font color=990000>Thou believest that there is one God; thou <u>doest well</u> <font color=purple size=2>[ kalwv poieiv ]</font> : <u>the devils also believe, and tremble</u>.</font> 1138</blockquote> 1139<blockquote> 1140<P><u>John 15:4-5a</u> <font size=1><sup>[4] </sup></font><font color=red>Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine;
1140no more can ye, except ye abide in me.</font> <font size=1><sup>[5a] </sup></font><font color=red>I am the vine, ye <i>are</i> the branches...</font> 1141</blockquote> 1142<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1143 1144 1145 1146X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167 1168 1169 1170 1171 1172 1173 1174 1175 1176 1177<p> Now if you are one of those that "believe" that in order to go to heaven<p><font color=blue> "all you have to do is accept Jesus Christ as your saviour"</font><br> and then you can continue on with your life as before ... Sorry but that isn't what the scriptures say "ANY WHERE" at all .... unless you take a verse "out of context"! 1178 1179 1180 1181 1182 1183 1184 1185<p><br><br> 1186 1187<br>James--A.D. 44-49 1188<br>Galatians--A.D. 49-50 1189<br>Matthew--A.D. 50-60 1190<br>Mark--A.D. 50-60 1191<br>1 Thessalonians--A.D. 51 1192<br>2 Thessalonians--A.D. 51-52 1193<br>1 Corinthians--A.D. 55 1194<br>2 Corinthians--A.D. 55-56 1195<br>Romans-- A.D. 56 1196<br>Luke--A.D. 60-61 1197<br>Ephesians--A.D. 60-62 1198<br>Philippians--A.D. 60-62 1199<br>Philemon--A.D. 60-62 1200<br>Colossians--A.D. 60-62 1201<br>Acts--A.D. 62 1202<br>1 Timothy--A.D. 62-64 1203<br>Titus--A.D. 62-64 1204<br>1 Peter--A.D. 64-65 1205<br>2 Timothy--A.D. 66-67 1206<br>2 Peter--A.D. 67-68 1207<br>Hebrews--A.D. 67-69 1208<br>Jude--A.D. 68-70 1209<br>John--A.D. 80-90 1210<br>1 John--A.D. 90-95 1211<br>2 John--A.D. 90-95 1212<br>3 John--A.D. 90-95 1213<br>Revelation--A.D. 94-96 1214 1215 1216<p><br> This question, "<u>Am I really saved?</u>" is the number one question on "so many" hearts of those that proclaim to be Christians from around the world! Many have been given a "false idea and faith" as to what it means not only to be "<u>saved</u>" but also "<u>how to know that you are</u>"! The answer is basically "so simple" but not the answer that most "Professing Christians" want to hear .... 1217<p><CENTER><font color=0000bb><b>This article will not only answer the question "<u>Am I really saved?</u>", 1218<p>but it will be answered from the BIBLE so that you can "<u>know</u>" that you are !</font></CENTER></b> 1219<p> Lets understand something right off concerning the Bible .... If you are a fundamentalist, as I am, you know that the Bible never contradicts itself ! That is, one verse always compliments another. Way to many well intentioned pastors, preachers, and teachers like to pull verses "Out Of Context" to use in their messages. This is not only "WRONG" but also causes division amoung the people of God and is the main reason for Christians having way to many different denominations when there should be only one Church. 1220<p> My fundamental belief and the knowledge that one verse compliments another within the Bible is the driving force of this article as it is in all my articles. 1221<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1222<p><br> First off, most professing Christians say that they are "Born Again" ! But are they really? People have been told that if they "simply" believe that Jesus Christ is who He said He was <font size=2>( the Son of God )</font> and ask to be "Born Again" that they will be and that they are now "going to heaven". 1223<p><center><font color=0000bb size=4><b><u>But that is not what the Bible says!</u></font></center></b> 1224<p> There is more to it than simply that. Don't get me wrong .... we each need to "receive" Jesus Christ as our Saviour but that is just the first part of the journey! The idea of simply being "Born Again or Saved" and then going to heaven comes from the teaching of so many churches, pastors, and even other Christians. 1225 1226<p> Such as the declaration of Martin Luther who noted that we are <font color=0000bb>"Justified by Faith Alone"</font> through grace. Luther came to understand justification as entirely the work of God in 1525 (which it is indeed, but who is justified?). Justification by Faith has become the battle cry, so to speak, of so many that say that you only have to "Receive Jesus Christ as your savior" and n
1226othing else. However we will discuss this area more later. 1227 1228 1229<p> Also the idea of being simply "Born Again" after accepting Jesus Christ as our saviour <font size=2>( which is true, "We Must Be Born Again" )</font> not only comes from Martin Luther's idea but also comes from many verse in the Bible such as: 1230<blockquote> 1231<P><u>John 3:3</u><font size=1><sup> [3] </sup></font><font color=990000>Jesus answered and said unto him,</font> <font color=red>Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.</font> 1232<P><u>I Peter 1:23</u><font size=1><sup> [23] </sup></font><font color=990000>Being born again, not of corruptable seed, but of incorruptable, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.</font> 1233</blockquote> 1234<p> But not telling someone that there is more to it than just "asking" causes people to feel like they are not "saved", or causes them to ask the question" "Am I really saved?". Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book "The Cost Of Discipleship" called this type of teaching "Cheap Grace!" Have you ever read this: 1235<blockquote> 1236<p><center><font color=0000bb size=3>If a pig goes to the altar and prays for salvation and after returning is still a pig, 1237<br>then this is not a believer in Jesus Christ but a deluded lost soul. 1238<p>But if a pig goes to the altar and prays and after returning is a lamb of God, 1239<br> then the conversion was true toward salvation. 1240<p><u>Joining a Church or walking down the aisle Saves No One ...</u> 1241<p>Only true conversion of the Heart will do that!</font></center> 1242</blockquote> 1243<p><br><font size=3><u>I hear these kind of statements and questions from so many professing Christians</u>:</font> 1244<ul><li>I really did something bad and now I really wonder if I'm saved or not ? 1245<p><li>When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior I didn't have any feelings like so many others did? Am I still saved? 1246<p><li>I don't really feel that I'm saved and will go to heaven even though I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour ! 1247<p><li>I haven't been to church for years and now I wonder if I'm still saved ! 1248<p><li>If I'm saved why do I still have the thoughts that I shouldn't have ? 1249<p><li>I know others who say they are "Born Again" but they still just go about living life as they always did and I now wonder if they are saved and even wonder about myself ? 1250<p><li>My church said that if I accept Jesus as my saviour then I could always be assured that I was going to go to heavean. But isn't there more to it ? I did accept Him as my Saviour but I really don't feel that I'm saved. How can I <u>know</u> that I'm saved ? 1251</ul> 1252<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1253<p><br> The answer to the last question basically sums up, and includes, all the other questions. So many have been told, <font color=0000bb>in error according to the scripture</font>, that all they have to do is ask Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour and that by simple asking they will go to heaven. But does the Bible really say that there is nothing more to it? That you only have to ask? 1254<p><center><font size=5 color=0000bb>" Absolutely Not ! "</font></center> 1255<p><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1256<p><br> There are two major verses typically used by many when trying to prove that <font color=0000bb>"all you have to do is ask"</font> to be "Saved" and/or "Born Again" and they are in the book of John and the book of Romans. These verses state this: 1257<blockquote> 1258<P><u>John 1:12</u><font size=1><sup> [12] </sup></font><font color=990000>But as many as received him, to them gave he the power <font color=purple size=2>[ exousiazo ]</font> to become the sons of God, <i><u>even</u></i> to them that believe on his name:</font> 1259<font size=3> 1260<P><u>Romans 10:9</u><font size=1><sup> [9] </sup></font><font color=990000>That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.</font> 1261</blockquote> 1262<p> But, you ask, <font color=0000bb>"Don't both of those verses say that those that merely believe in his name can become saved?"</font> Well ... yes they do appear to say that ... if you take them out of context and read them alone without the rest of books. 1263<p> But when you don't "take them out of context", read the entire book, and even look at the original Greek words used you will discover a different answer. 1264<p><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1265<p><font size=4>First, lets look at John Chapter 1 verse 12:</font> 1266<p> That little word <font color=990000><i>"even"</i></font> in the above verse would make you think that <font color=0000bb>"even those that believe on the name of Jesus Christ"</font> will become <font color=990000>"sons of God"</font> and therefore will be "saved"! But let's look at this verse more closely and see what it really says. 1267<p> First off, whenever you see a word in italics, such as the word <font color=990000><i>"even"</i></font> in the above verse ... you must realize that it is not in the original greek text. That is, it was added to hopefully make the verse more clear. So without it, how does the verse read: 1268<blockquote> 1269<font size=3> 1270<P><u>John 1:12</u><font size=1><sup> [12] </sup></font><font color=990000>
1270But as many as received him, to them gave he the power <font color=purple size=2>[ exousiazo ]</font> to become the sons of God, to them that believe on his name:</font> 1271</font> 1272</blockquote> 1273<p>So in today's english it would read something like this: 1274<blockquote> 1275<font size=3> 1276<P><u>John 1:12</u><font size=1><sup> [12] </sup></font>To those that believed on his name and received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God. 1277</font> 1278</blockquote> 1279<p> So we see from our bible verse that first we must <font color=0000bb>"believe"</font> that Jesus is exactly who He said he was, that is "The Son Of God". Then we must <font color=0000bb>"receive"</font> Him ! You may, at this point say, "I've already done that ... so is that all there is to being <font color=0000bb>"saved"</font>? 1280<p><center><font size=4 color=0000bb><b>" No ... there is more to it than just that ! "</font></center></b> 1281 1282 1283 1284 1285 1286 1287 1288 1289 1290 1291 1292 1293<p> The first question that comes up is, <font color=0000bb>"How did you receive Him?"</font> Many people, in error, pray to Jesus and say to Him that they accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. But what does the Bible say about that? Note this about our Lord Jesus Christ: 1294 1295 1296 1297xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1298 1299 1300 1301 1302 1303 1304 1305 1306 1307 1308 1309 1310 1311 1312 1313 1314 1315 1316 1317 1318<p><center><font size=4 color=0000bb><b>" Jesus never once in the Scriptures said to Pray to Him ! "</font></center></b> 1319<p> "Every Time", thats right, <font color=0000bb>"Every Time"</font> that Jesus talked about prayer and how to pray in the scriptures He always said to pray to the Father! "In fact, we are to pray to no one else"! 1320<blockquote> 1321<P><u>Matthew 6:6</u><font size=1><sup> [6] </sup></font><font color=red>But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, <u>pray to thy Father which is in secret</u>; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.</font> 1322</blockquote> 1323<blockquote> 1324<P><u>Matthew 6:9</u><font size=1><sup> [9] </sup></font><font color=red>After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be they name.</font> 1325</blockquote> 1326<p> You might ask, <i>"Isn't this merely a play on words? So what if I asked Jesus to save me instead of God the Father? Aren't they basically one and the same?"</i> 1327<p> It is true that Jesus said <font color=red>"I and my Father are one."</font> <font size=2>(John 10:30)</font>. And we know that the "trinity" of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one .... however I'm not going to discuss the trinity here. But consider the following story: 1328<blockquote> 1329<p> I'm out sitting on my back porch one summer afternoon. A young man, not seeing me, pulls up in a pickup truck and proceeds to go over to my lawn mower sitting in my yard. He wheels the lawn mower over to his truck and starts to load it. I approach him and ask "What do you think you are doing?" Well, he says with a smile, "Your son said I could use it." "Sorry," I say, "but I don't know you and its not my son's to lend out so please put it back." Which he does.... 1330</blockquote> 1331<p>Now consider these verses prayed by our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father: 1332<blockquote> 1333<P><u>John 17:9-12</u><font size=1><sup> [9] </sup></font><font color=red>I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them <u>which thou hast given me</u>; <u>for they are thine</u>.</font><font size=1><sup> [10] </sup></font><font color=red>And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.</font><font size=1><sup> [11] </sup></font><font color=red>And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name <u>those whom thou hast given me</u>, that they may be one, as we <i>are</i>.</font><font size=1><sup> [12] </sup></font><font color=red>While I was with them in the world, I kept them <u>in thy name</u>: <u>those that thou gavest me</u> I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.</font> 1334</blockquote> 1335<p>
1335Just as the lawn mower was mine, and not my son's to lend out, so salvation is from God the Father since as Jesus said in verse 9 above, <font color=red>"but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.</font> And in verse 11, <font color=red>those whom thou hast given me.</font> And finally in verse 12, <font color=red>I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me....</font> 1336<p> Listen ... God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ down to live with us to show us, by Jesus' example, how to live and also to be a ransom for many. God the Father provided us a way to escape being dead in our sins. Who should we thank, praise, bless, pray too, and ask for salvation for our sins by accepting His Son Jesus Christ as our Saviour? The answer is: 1337<p><center><font size=5 color=0000bb>" God The Father ! "</font></center> 1338<p> There are "so many" denominations out there that centralize there worship on "Jesus Christ Only" ... They tell you to pray to Him, be baptised only in His name, etc. Then in the other spectrum there are those that say to worship God the Father only and they basically leave Jesus out of it. Both views are cults...and not true Christianity! 1339<p>Jesus Himself told us this: 1340<blockquote> 1341<P><u>John 5:23-24</u><font size=1><sup> [23] </sup></font><font color=red>That all <i>men</i> should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father <u>which hath sent him</u>.</font><font size=1><sup> [24] </sup></font><font color=red>Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and <u>believeth on him that sent me</u>, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.</font> 1342</blockquote> 1343<p> We could also take the above verse "out of context" which could leave you to believe that if we honor the Son and the Father, and believe in them both ... we would be "Born Again" into life eternal. But as I previously note, we aren't taking verses out of context. 1344<p> <font color=0000bb>So at this point we have learned that when it comes to being " <u>Saved</u> " that we must ask God the Father for salvation, that was given to us by Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ.</font> 1345 1346 1347 1348 1349 1350 1351 1352<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1353<p>Now, back to our verse in John: 1354<p>If we look at the actual, word for word, Greek language translation of this verse it would be interpreted this way: 1355<blockquote> 1356<P><u>John 1:12</u><font size=1><sup> [12] </sup></font><font color=990000>But <u>as many as received him</u> he gave to them <u>authority</u> <font color=purple size=2>[ exousiazo ]</font> <u>children of God to be</u>, to those that <u>believe on name his</u>.</font> 1357</blockquote> 1358 1359 1360 1361 1362 1363 1364 1365 1366<p> We note in the above Greek translation that the word <font color=990000>"authority"</font>, instead of <font color=990000>"power"</font> <font size=2>( used in the KJV )</font> is used. Basically both words do mean the same thing. However I think that the word <font color=990000>"authority"</font> is much clearer. The Greek word used for <font color=990000>"authority"</font> is <font color=purple>exousiazo {ex-oo-see-ad'-zo}</font> which basically means <font color=purple>"to have power or authority, or the <u>ability to use the power</u>"</font>. So what is the verse actually telling us? Basically this: 1367<blockquote> 1368<font color=0000bb> Those that come to realize that Jesus Chris was "exactly" who He said he was <font color=990000>( "believe on His name" )</font> .... and have prayed to God the Father asking to receive Jesus Christ as their saviour <font color=990000">( "as many as received him" )</font> ... now have the <font color=990000>"authority"</font> ( or ability ) to become <font color=990000>"children of God to be"</font>.</font> 1369</blockquote> 1370<p> Please note that is does not say <font size=2>( as many have been told )</font> that you "become a Child of God" and therefore are <font color=0000bb>"Saved" !</font> .... It says that you now have the <font color=0000bb>"authority or ability"</font> to be <font color=0000bb>"Saved"</font> and become a Child of God. <font color=0000bb>The ability to be saved <font size=2>( and go to heaven )</font> is another thing all together!</font> 1371<p>Consider this story: 1372<blockquote> 1373 You work as a clerk in an office at a plant of some type. In the office is a security box that includes all the keys that unlock "everything" in the entire plant. Some of those keys open areas that are "highly" secured to which few people have access. Your supervisor gives you a key to open that security box and tells you that it is just incase you should ever need them. Basically your supervisor has given you the "authority" to access and open any door in the entire plant! Whether or not you use that "authority" is basically up to you ... 1374</blockquote> 1375<p> So, using the above story, when we <font color=0000bb>"believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God"</font>, and when we pray to the Father and <font color=0000bb>"receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour"</font>, we now have the <font color=990000>"authority"</font> to become the Children of God ! Note that we do not <font color=0000bb>"become the Children of God"</font>, we merely now have that Authority ! 1376 1377 1378 1379 1380 1381 1382 1383<p>So, you ask, <font color=0000bb>"Does the Bible tell us how to get this authority?"</font> 1384<p><br><center><font size=5 color=0000bb>" <u>Absolutely</u> ! "</font></center> 1385<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1386<p><br> Even though it is mentioned "a lot of place" within the Bible ... let's look in the Book of James for the answer. James here is addressing those that have <font color=0000bb>"faith only"</font> <font size=2>( sound familiar? )</font> and basically that is all that they have .... He is addressing those that believe that <font color=0000bb>"merely asking, and/or having faith that Jesus Christ is the Son Of God"</font> is a sign of salvation and letting them know that there is more to it then <font color=0000bb>"faith only"</font> ! 1387<p><blockquote> 1388<P><u>James 2:14-19</u><font size=1><sup> [14] </sup></font><font color=990000>What <i>
1388doth it</i> profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works <font color=purple size=2>[ ergon ]</font>? Can faith save him?</font><font size=1><sup> [15] </sup></font><font color=990000>If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,</font><font size=1><sup> [16] </sup></font><font color=990000>And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be <i>ye</i> warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what <i>doth it</i> profit?</font><font size=1><sup> [17] </sup></font><font color=990000>Even so faith, if it hath not <u>works</u> <font color=purple size=2>[ ergon ]</font>, is dead, being alone.</font><font size=1><sup> [18] </sup></font><font color=990000>Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have <u>works</u> <font color=purple size=2>[ ergon ]</font>: shew me thy faith without thy works <font color=purple size=2>[ ergon ]</font>, and I will shew thee my faith by my <u>works</u> <font color=purple size=2>[ ergon ]</font>.</font><font size=1><sup> [19] </sup></font><font color=990000>Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well <font color=purple size=2>[ kalwv poieiv ]</font> : <u>the devils also believe, and tremble</u>.</font> 1389</blockquote> 1390<p> The Greek word used for <font color=990000>"works"</font> in the above scripture <font size=2>( and many places throughout the Bible )</font> is <font color=purple>"ergon"</font> which basically means <font color=purple>"any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, "<u>or mind</u>""</font>. Even though it is "tap danced" around by many Christians ... basically it means: 1391<p><center><font size=5 color=0000bb>" <u>Obedience</u> ! "</font></center> 1392<p><br>So if we change the word "works" to "obedience" in James' verse it would read like this: 1393<p><blockquote> 1394<P><u>James 2:14-19</u><font size=1><sup> [14] </sup></font><font color=990000>What <i>doth it</i> profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not <u>obedience</u>? Can faith save him?</font><font size=1><sup> [15] </sup></font><font color=990000>If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,</font><font size=1><sup> [16] </sup></font><font color=990000>And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be <i>ye</i> warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what <i>doth it</i> profit?</font><font size=1><sup> [17] </sup></font><font color=990000>Even so faith, if it hath not <u>obedience</u>, is dead, being alone.</font><font size=1><sup> [18] </sup></font><font color=990000>Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have <u>obedience</u>: shew me thy faith without thy <u>obedience</u>, and I will shew thee my faith by my <u>obedience</u>.</font><font size=1><sup> [19] </sup></font><font color=990000>Thou believest that there is one God; thou <u>doest well</u> <font color=purple size=2>[ kalwv poieiv ]</font> : <u>the devils also believe, and tremble</u>.</font> 1395</blockquote> 1396<p> James is asking two questions in verse 14. The first question is <font color=990000>"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not <u>obedience</u>?"</font> ... The expected answer is "<u>It doesn't profit him anything</u> to say he has faith if he has no <u>obedience</u>"! And the second question is <font color=990000>"Can faith save him?"</font> ... The expected answer is <font color=0000bb>"No, faith without <u>obedience</u> cannot save him"</font>! 1397<p> Also .... do you see that statement <font color=990000>"doest well"</font> in the last part of verse 19? That puts a "cap" on what he is trying to say. The Greek words used for <font color=990000>"doest well"</font> is <font color=purple>"kalwv poieiv"</font> which basically means <font color=purple>"doing well, as far as that goes"</font>. 1398<p>James states in verse 19: 1399<p><blockquote> 1400<P><u>James 2:14-19</u><font size=1><sup> [19] </sup></font><font color=990000>Thou believest that there is one God; thou <u>doest well</u> <font color=purple size=2>[ kalwv poieiv ]</font> : <u>the devils also believe, and tremble</u>.</font> 1401</blockquote> 1402<p>What is James saying in a nut shell? Basically this: 1403<p><blockquote> 1404<p><font color=0000bb> You say that you believe that there is one God. And as far as that goes you are doing well. However remember this, the devils also believe that there is one God just like you do. And the devils tremble at the thought. Merely saying that you believe that there is one God is not enough. You must also have obedience because simply having faith is not enough!</font> 1405</blockquote> 1406<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1407 1408<p><br> What about Martin Luther's idea concerning "Justification By Faith"?
1408This idea is so very prevalent in so many Baptist and Fundamentalist style Churches today .... and has been for centuries. But does "Justification By Faith" in someway mean that we are Justified and going to heaven? Concerning "Justification By Faith" Paul had this to say in Romans 3:23-28: 1409 1410<blockquote> 1411<P><u>Romans 3:23-28</u><font size=1><sup> [23] </sup></font><font color=990000>For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;</font><font size=1><sup> [24] </sup></font><font color=990000>Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:</font><font size=1><sup> [25] </sup></font><font color=990000>Whom God has set forth <i>to be</i> a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness <u>for the remission of sins that are passed</u>, through the forebearance of God;</font><font size=1><sup> [26] </sup></font><font color=990000>To declare, <i>I say</i>, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.</font><font size=1><sup> [27] </sup></font><font color=990000>Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.</font><font size=1><sup> [28] </sup></font><font color=990000>Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.</font> 1412</blockquote> 1413 1414<p> So we are <font color=990000><u>justified by faith without the deeds of the law</u></font>. There is no arguing that point! We are justified by our faith .... there is nothing that we can do to become justified. There is nothing we can do to earn our way to heaven. 1415 1416<p> But let's not miss one important point. Way to many miss something very important when discussing "Justification By Faith" which is shown above. The part that they miss in this very important message is in verse 25 which says: <font color=990000><u>for the remission of sins that are passed</u></font> .... That is, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are Justified at that moment and "ALL" our sins of the passed are forgiven. They are as far as the east is from the west! 1417 1418<p>But prior to having this discussion Paul had already noted this: 1419 1420<blockquote> 1421<P><u>Romans 2:13</u><font size=1><sup> [13] </sup></font><font color=990000>For not the hearers of the law are just before God, <u>but the doers of the law shall be justified</u>.</font> 1422</blockquote> 1423 1424<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1425 1426<p><br> Do you remember our Book of Romans text from the beginning of this article that also seemed to say that <font color=0000bb>"all you have to do is ask"</font> to be "Saved" and/or "Born Again"? What about that one .... surely that is what it means? 1427<blockquote> 1428<P><u>Romans 10:9</u><font size=1><sup> [9] </sup></font><font color=990000>That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.</font> 1429</blockquote> 1430<p> Sorry, that is not what it means ... another verse pulled "out of context" ... Before Paul made this statement in Chapter 10 he had built what else is necessary for salvation by giving us this verse: 1431<blockquote> 1432<P><u>Romans 1:5</u><font size=1><sup> [9] </sup></font><font color=990000>By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for <u>obedience</u> to the faith among all nations, for his name.</font> 1433</blockquote> 1434<p>And he ended Romans with this: 1435<blockquote> 1436<P><u>Romans 16:25-26</u><font size=1><sup> [25] </sup></font><font color=990000>Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,</font><font size=1><sup> [26] </sup></font><font color=990000>But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the <u>obedience</u> of faith:</font> 1437</blockquote> 1438<p> So we can see clearly that Paul "full well knew", having been one that accepted Jesus Christ as his
1438saviour, that proof of his faith in Jesus Christ included "<u>obedience</u>"! ( <font color=990000>"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not obedience? Can faith save him?"</font> - James 2:14 ) 1439 1440 1441 1442 1443 1444 1445 1446 1447 1448<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1449<p><br><center><font size=5 color=0000bb>What did Jesus Say 1450<br>about those that live by "<u>Faith Only</u>" 1451<br>without "<u>Obedience</u>"?</font></center> 1452<p><br> Now we come to a point that is so very clear in the bible and it concerns being "Born Again and/or Saved". And this verse from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is "crystal clear" and is the main point expressed in this article, "Am I Really Saved!" 1453<p>What did "Jesus" have to say about Obedience?: 1454<p><blockquote> 1455<P><u>Matthew 7:21-23</u><font size=1><sup> [21] </sup></font><font color=red><u>Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,</u> <font size=2 color=0000bb>[ faith only ]</font> shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; <u>but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven</u> <font size=2 color=0000bb>[ obedience ]</font>.</font><font size=1><sup> [22] </sup></font><font color=red>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?</font><font size=1><sup> [23] </sup></font><font color=red>And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.</font> 1456</blockquote> 1457 1458<p><center><font size=5 color=0000bb>What about these words from Jesus?</font></center> 1459 1460<p><blockquote> 1461<P><u>John 5:14</u><font size=1><sup> [51] </sup></font><font color=red>Behold, thou art made whole: <u>sin no more</u>, <font size=2 color=0000bb>[ obedience ]</font> lest a worse thing come unto thee.</font> 1462 1463<P><u>John 8:51</u><font size=1><sup> [51] </sup></font><font color=red>Verily, verily, I say unto you, <u>if a man keep my saying</u>, <font size=2 color=0000bb>[ obedience ]</font> he shall never see death.</font> 1464 1465</blockquote> 1466 1467<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1468<p><br>So, back to the original question posed for this article: 1469<p><br><center><font size=5 color=0000bb>" <u>Am I Really Saved and Heaven bound ?</u> "</font></center> 1470<p><br> To be Saved and Heaven bound based on the Bible basically takes three steps which I believe I have shown you in this article. If you don't "<u>feel saved</u>" it may well be that you have left one of these steps out. 1471<ol> 1472<font size=4> 1473<li>First you must believe and come to the understand that God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit are real ! 1474<br><font size=2 color=0000bb>( Believe on His Name! )</font> 1475<p><li>Second, you must pray to God the Father and accept the salvation that he provided through the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ !<br><font size=2 color=0000bb>( Receive Him as your Saviour! )</font> 1476<p><li>Third, once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you must show that you are serious about your salvation by living a life of obedience !<br><font size=2 color=0000bb>( Faith without obedience is dead ! )</font> 1477</font> 1478</ol> 1479<p><br> <font size=4 color=0000bb>The number one reason that people get the feeling that they "<u>aren't saved</u>" is because they been led, wrongly, to believe that salvation is a two step process:</font> 1480<ol> 1481<li>Believing in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and 1482<p><li>Accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour. 1483</ol> 1484<p><font size=4 color=0000bb>When in fact the Bible plainly tells us that there is a "<u>Third Part</u>":</font> 1485<p><br><center><font size=6 color=0000bb>" <u>Obedience</u> ! "</font></center> 1486<p><br><blockquote> 1487<P><u>James 2:18-19</u><font size=1><sup> [18] </sup></font><font color=990000>Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have <u>obedience</u>: shew me thy faith without thy <u>obedience</u>, and I will shew thee my faith by my <u>obedience</u>.</font><font size=1><sup> [19] </sup></font><font color=990000>Thou believest that there is one God; thou <u>doest well</u> <font color=purple size=2>[ kalwv poieiv ]</font> : <u>the devils also believe, and tremble</u>.</font> 1488</blockquote> 1489<blockquote> 1490<P><u>John 15:4-5a</u> <font size=1><sup>[4] </sup></font><font color=red>Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine;
1490no more can ye, except ye abide in me.</font> <font size=1><sup>[5a] </sup></font><font color=red>I am the vine, ye <i>are</i> the branches...</font> 1491</blockquote> 1492<p><br><center><img src="graphics/bline2.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1493<p><br><center><IMG src="graphics/blessyou.gif" alt="May God Bless You" border=0"></center> 1494<p><br><center>For more on "Obedience" please see my article: 1495<p><center><!a class=noline href="publicdom\obedient.htm" target="_blank"><font size=4>" Being Obedient To God ! "</font></a> 1496<br><font size=2> by <!a class=noline href="publicdom\amabide00.htm" target="_blank"><font size=2>"Clicking Here"</font></a>! <font color=990000 size=3><u>Coming Soon</u> !</font></font></center> 1497<p><br>For more on following our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on a daily basis 1498<br>please read Andrew Murray's 31 part series: 1499<p><center><a class=noline href="publicdom\amabide00.htm" target="_blank"><font size=4>" Abide In Christ ! "</font></a> 1500<br><font size=2> by <a class=noline href="publicdom\amabide00.htm" target="_blank"><font size=2>"Clicking Here"</font></a>!</center> 1501<p><center><img src=graphics/bline2.gif border=0></center> 1502<p> <font size=2><center>If you have not already done so, please consider trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 1503<p>For more information on Salvation <a class=noline href="why3.htm" target="_blank"><font size=2>" Click Here "</font></a> to view <a class=noline href="why3.htm" target="_blank"><font size=2>" How can I get to Heaven? "</a></font></font> 1504 1505 1506--> 1507 1508</blockquote> 1509 1510 1511<p><center> 1512<img src=graphics/bline1.gif border=0> 1513<p> 1514<a href="fmindex.htm"><img src=backfm.png></a> 1515<hr width=50% size=2 color=000099> 1516<br><a href="recipe/index.htm"><img src=backfr.png></a> <a href="index.htm"><img src=backrsp.png></a> 1517<br> 1518<p><font face=arial> 1519<center> 1520<hr width=75% size=8 color=lightblue> 1521<NOBR><img src=graphics/stick.gif align="top"> <!A class=noline HREF="index.htm"><font size=4>Basic Training</font></a> <img src=graphics/stick.gif align="top"></NOBR> 1522<NOBR><!A class=noline HREF="../system/index.htm"><font size=4>Systematic Theology</font></a> <img src=graphics/stick.gif align="top"></NOBR> 1523<NOBR><A class=noline HREF="statment.htm" target="_blank"><font size=4>Statement of Faith</font></A> <img src=graphics/stick.gif align="top"></NOBR> 1524<NOBR><!A class=noline HREF="../mission.htm"><font size=4>Our Mission</font></A> <img src=graphics/stick.gif align="top"></NOBR> 1525<NOBR><!A class=noline HREF="why3.htm" target="_blank"><font size=4>Heaven ?</A> <img src=graphics/stick.gif align="top"></NOBR> 1526<hr width=75% size=8 color=lightblue> 1527<br> 1528<font size=3>Send E-mail to Pastor Russ: 1529<br><A class=noline href="mailto:[email protected]?Subject=FM-Saved"><font size=3><b>webslave for Christ</b></font></A> 1530<p>" or " 1531<p>( <!A class=noline href="mailto:[email protected]?Subject=FM-Saved"><font size=3>[email protected]</font></a> ) 1532<br>with questions or comments about this web site and it's content. 1533<p>This Article Last modified: 1534<p><font color=990000><i>" Sunday, January 2, 2022 "</i></FONT> 1535<p><center><img src="graphics/bline1.gif" alt="Break Line"></center> 1536<p> 1537</td></tr></table> 1538</BODY> 1539</HTML>
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