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November 2008
Rightly
Dividing the Word of Truth
(2
Timothy 2:15)
This is
good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who
desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1Timothy 2:3-4
Romans by the Book Lesson 46
Welcome
back. If you’re a new visitor, we’ve
been diligently studying the book of Romans for some time now. We’ll remain here until we accomplish our
goal of gleaning as much knowledge as possible as we travel through this
wonderful book.
This
is the major difference between reading your Bible and studying it. If people would choose to study their Bible
instead of just reading a piece of it here and there, I believe there would be
less disorder in the Body of Christ, and we would not hear words such as “contradictions”
in referencing the Bible any longer. There are no contradictions in Scripture. People distort God’s Word when they fail to “rightly
divide” the Word of Truth.
We
began our study of Romans chapter 8 in the last lesson and we didn’t get beyond
the first verse. But this is typical. The book of Romans is like a gold mine and
chapter 8 is the mother lode! Some of the God-given treasures in this chapter
are “No Duh” moments (clearly understood) and some are not. Some have to be mined or “dug out.”
This
requires a bit of effort on the part of the Bible student. Like the forty-niner of old you have to have
the resolve, and the tools to accomplish the task.
I
would like to add that we could spend months in this book and not gather in all
the treasure that lay before us. But the
entire Bible is put together this way. There’s
no book like the Bible. It truly is one
of a kind. With a regular novel you read
it once, maybe twice, and then you’re done with it. For instance, I enjoyed reading, “Killing
Lincoln” by Bill O’Reilly, but I only read it once and I have no idea where
that book is right now. Scripture is different. The Bible is referred to as “The Living Word”
and this because God speaks to us through it (Hebrews 4:12).
Each
time I visit with this book the Holy Spirit shows me something I’d not seen
before. Proving God the Spirit is ready,
willing, and able to reveal something brand new to you, if you’re willing to listen,
and learn.
For
example: I met a pastor one Sunday
morning, he was 60’ish, this gentleman said he never knew Jesus Christ is the
Creator God (Colossians 1:15-17). He’d
been preaching for more than thirty years and never knew this truth about his
Lord and Savior. But then there it was clear
as day.
Here’s
one more: a well known Baptist preacher
and author, Dr. Charles Stanley,
used to subscribe to the idea that a person could lose their salvation and this
is what he preached. But the Holy Spirit
opened his heart to the truth, so he no longer holds to this idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrhFrQJritc Furthermore,
he expounds on six doctrines of the church at stake when the Doctrine of Eternal Security is rejected in his book, “Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure?
You’re never too young, too old, or too educated to
learn something new about Jesus.
Before
I start today’s lesson I want to remind the group that it is not my intention
to use this site as a means to attack or criticize anyone. I don’t expect everyone to agree with
me. That’s their prerogative. Truth is, people have been disagreeing about
what the Bible says for centuries and I don’t expect this to change until the
Lord returns.
It
is what it is… However, this site
exists to educate people and to promote the Bible as it’s written. And in some cases to help you see what the
Bible does not say.
Please
open your Bible to Romans at chapter 8 and we’ll drop in at verse 1.
Romans 8
1: Therefore, there
is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Before
I move away from this verse I want people to understand that when God finished
the transaction of our salvation, then we are secure, in Christ Jesus.
There
are a vast amount of people in the church who do not agree with this message.
But
if you’ll also consider that many people can’t agree with the wording of “separation
of church and state” in our U.S. Constitution then you’ll begin to
understand that people are going to be “people.”
Since this trend is growing among Christians to deny that a Believer’s salvation
is secure, and this stance is
harmful to the Body, I’m going to take the time to address it using the Word.
The
growing question is, “Is it true, once saved, always saved?”
The
age-old question of whether or not a “true” Believer can lose their salvation
after becoming “justified” by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, through faith
(alone), has existed within the church almost from its beginning. You see, during the persecution of the church
in the second and third centuries many individuals who were faced with the
prospect of persecution and death renounced their faith in order to live, when
given the option.
Constantine’s
conversion to Christianity was the turning point for the early church.
In
the year 313 AD Constantine and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan legalizing Christian
worship. The Roman Empire finally tolerated Christians. Those same people who had renounced their
faith in Jesus Christ wanted to return to the church. It was from this setting that the theological
discussion arose about whether or not these folks had lost their salvation and
could return to the church after they had “denied Christ” (Matthew 10:33).
Some
of the theologians believed that these people, even though they had renounced
their faith, were still “justified”
in the sight of God, while others concluded that while they were truly saved
once, because they renounced their faith, they were no longer saved.
Let’s
focus our attention on the key word in this conversation and that is Believer.
A
true Believer
is an individual who has genuinely come to know and trust in Jesus Christ as
his/her Savior by believing in His substitionary death, burial, and
resurrection for their sins and is demonstrating a “change of heart and mind” towards God.
In
other words, Jesus Christ is the Lord of their life.
I
am not speaking of those individuals who only possess the head knowledge or who
have expressed belief in Jesus Christ but they have not produced
Spiritual fruit as evidence of their faith (Galatians 5:22-26).
Mom
always said, “The proof’s in the pudding.”
Now I never knew what that meant until I looked it up. The longer version reads: “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”
and originates from the early 14th century. It actually means, “The evidence that
demonstrates a truth,” or “the exception that proves the rule.”
It’s time to go to the book and it will produce “the
exception that proves the rule.”
John 15
1: “I am the
true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2: “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away;
and every branch that bears fruit, He
prunes it so that it may bear more
fruit…
3: “You are already clean (saved) because of the word
which I have spoken to you (and in which you believed).
4: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself
unless it abides in the vine, so neither can
you unless you abide in Me.
This
is one of the Bible passages some people have selected to refute the church
doctrine of Eternal Security or “Once
saved, always saved in Christ Jesus.
Let’s
examine it closely.
The
vine is the source of life for the branches, and the branches must abide in the
vine to live and bear fruit. You don’t
need to be a farmer or live on a farm to comprehend what Jesus is saying, “The
vine is the main thing.”
As
for the metaphor, Jesus, of course, is the Vine, and the branches are people.
While
it is obvious the fruit-bearing branches represent true Believers, the identity
of the fruitless ones is in question.
Some
say the barren branches are Christians who bear no spiritual fruit.
Others
believe they are non-Christians. But as
always, we must consider the entire Bible context for the best answer and not
just borrow a verse or two while trying to make a point.
When
you consider the entire Bible account, with special attention given to the
characters in that night's drama, the true meaning of the metaphor is really
clear.
The
12 disciples were with Jesus. He loved
them to the uttermost (John 15:13); He had comforted them with the words in
John chapter 14. God the Father was in
His thoughts, because He was thinking of the events and trials of the next day
(John 17).
But
Jesus was also aware of another; someone in close proximity - the betrayer.
Judas
had been dismissed from their fellowship when he rejected Jesus' final appeal
of love (John 13:10-31). Note: Jesus didn’t reject Judas; it was Judas who
rejected Jesus.
Jesus
saw the eleven and Judas through the eyes of unconditional love; (the evidence
that reveals the truth) Jesus washed Judas’ feet too.
All these people play a part in Jesus' metaphor. The vine is Christ; the vinedresser is the Father. The fruit-bearing branches represent the eleven and all true Believers of the church age. The fruitless branches represent Judas and all those who never were or intended to be true Believers. I call these “gamers.” They’re playing a dangerous game with God. Jesus gave His all for you! He doesn’t want a fraction of you in return…
Jesus
was aware that Judas was different then the eleven. What does the book say?
After
washing the disciples' feet, He said, "'He who has
bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are
clean, but not all of you.”
Jesus
knew Judas was His betrayer; for this reason He said, “Not
all of you are clean'" (John 13:10-11).
Once
a person is forgiven by God, he is clean and does not need the “bathing of forgiveness” again,
metaphorically speaking. All that is
necessary to cleanse Believers of the dust and dirt (sins) they accumulate
daily is the everyday “washing” of
the Word (Ephesians 5:25b-27).
But
Judas had not even been "bathed;" he was not a child of God, and
Jesus knew it (John 10: 14). That is why
He said, "Not all of you are clean." Jesus did not name him but Judas was aware
and at this moment Judas had the opportunity to be “bathed.”
Judas
appeared to be like the other disciples. They shared the same
experiences.
Judas
received the same Light (of truth and its knowledge, together with the
spiritual purity associated with it) as the eleven. Judas
had been accepted by Jesus and the others.
He was not out there on the “fringe.”
Judas had been trusted with the responsibility of keeping their money. He was their treasurer. It appeared that he was a branch in
the Vine like the others but appearances can be deceiving.
Judas
may have even “professed” belief in Jesus at one time or another, although
Scripture is silent on this aspect of his life (Matthew 16:13). However, Scripture is not silent on this
truth about Judas. He never bore real fruit.
You
see professing belief is not the same
as producing fruit. The
proof’s in the pudding!
What
is bearing fruit? It is “becoming more
and more like Jesus (sanctification).
Spiritual
fruit will show in the life of a true Believer as a change in their outlook and
in their character. As you spend more
time with the Lord Jesus Christ, getting to know Him better, His thoughts and
His ways will become yours. His purpose
will become yours.
This is “bearing
fruit.”
Some
say Judas lost his salvation. According
to the skeptics, the same could happen to any Believer who does not bear fruit.
Evidently, one hinges on the other
according to these.
But while promoting
this teaching they dismiss this statement from Jesus who said, "…and I give eternal life to them, and they will never
(never means never) perish; and no
one will snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28).
Jesus
also guaranteed the security of every child of God: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me,
and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out" (John
6:37)).
A
branch that is truly connected to the Vine is secure and will never be
removed.
That’s
what the Bible says. But one that only appears
to be connected--one that has only a superficial connection--will be removed. If it does not have the life of the Vine (the
Spirit) flowing through it, it will bear no fruit. These are the Judas-branches.
There
are people who, like Judas, appear by human observation to be one with
Christ.
I
mean to say they “hang around with Believers.”
They may attend church, they may know the right answers, and they may go
through the “religious motions;” but the truth is they are not true Believers. The reality is they have neither accepted
Jesus Christ as their Savior nor surrendered their life to Jesus Christ. In short, He is not the Lord of their
life.
Dressing
up to attend church on Sunday, saying a prayer or two when you feel the need,
and occasionally talking the talk without walking the walk does not make you a
Believer no more than sitting in a garage all day makes you a Chevrolet.
The
way these folks choose to live their lives reveals the real truth and not their
words (Matthew 7:15-20). Therefore, God
will remove them, and they will be burned (Matthew 3:12). In no way does this mean they lost their salvation. Salvation is gained through faith (alone). Can you lose something you never possessed?
I’ll
be the first to admit that I can’t tell what a person believes or if they are
saved.
I
leave the salvation business to God for only God can read a person’s heart.
But
Scripture reveals any uncertainty which you may have concerning your salvation
does not change God’s certainty of your salvation
–
Romans 8
16: The Spirit
Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
When
you chose to believe the gospel (1Corinthians 15:1-4), the Holy Spirit came to
live within you. You were sealed (and confirmed) until the day of redemption.
Unless
you have been involved in the canning processes you may not be aware, but when
you seal something it remains that way until the seal is broken. The
object(s) inside the Mason jar cannot break the seal themselves, it must be
broken by an outside source.
That source
will be the Lord Jesus Christ on the day of redemption. That
day will be the rapture event for all true Believers, when we receive our “resurrected
bodies.”
(To
be continued)
©
Copyright 2011
GJ
Heitzman’s Ministry
All
Rights Reserved
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