CONDITIONAL SALVATION
Jesus
said, "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Matthew 24:13. What does it mean? It means that salvation is a process that may
take months, years, or decades to complete before we can be saved, depending on how long
we can persevere, how long we can live, endure,
and remains faithful. Endure to the end is a lifetime process that
ends when we die. So, do not believe anyone who says to you that once we are
saved we are saved forever, unless we are saved before we are in a state of
comatose, and remain in a state of comatose until we die. Nothing changes. God hates sin and not
the sinners. That is true. But if we choose to live in sin, God
will hate us too.Read the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5:1-11. How do we choose to live in sin? By planning and plotting to
live in sin. If we live in sin behind “closed doors”, we have chosen to live
in sin. God will hate us too. Just look at the millions or billions of souls
who perished in the big flood during Noah’s time. Only Noah and a few of his
family members who have chosen not to live in sin were saved.“But a
certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he
kept back [part] of the proceeds, his wife also being aware [of it], and
brought a certain part and laid [it] at the apostles' feet. But Peter said,
"Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and
keep back [part] of the price of the land for yourself? "While it
remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own
control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to
men but to God." Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed
his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the
young men arose and wrapped him up, carried [him] out, and buried [him]. Now it
was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had
happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for
so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." Then Peter said to her,
"How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?
Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband [are] at the door, and
they will carry you out." Then immediately she fell down at his feet and
breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying
[her] out, buried [her] by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church
and upon all who heard these things.” Acts 5:1-11. Why is salvation so
difficult? Jesus said the more wealth we have, the harder it is to go to
heaven. That’s why Jesus says, "And again I say to you, it is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24. Finally, do not choose to live in sin under grace, or plot to do unethical or bad things behind "closed doors". When we live in sin there is no grace for us other than the grace of Ananias and Sapphira, in this life, or in the next life to come.
Jesus
said, "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Matthew 24:13. What does it mean? It means that salvation is a process that may
take months, years, or decades to complete before we can be saved, depending on how long
we can persevere, how long we can live, endure,
and remains faithful. Endure to the end is a lifetime process that
ends when we die. So, do not believe anyone who says to you that once we are
saved we are saved forever, unless we are saved before we are in a state of
comatose, and remain in a state of comatose until we die. Nothing changes. God hates sin and not
the sinners. That is true. But if we choose to live in sin, God
will hate us too.
Read the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5:1-11. How do we choose to live in sin? By planning and plotting to
live in sin. If we live in sin behind “closed doors”, we have chosen to live
in sin. God will hate us too. Just look at the millions or billions of souls
who perished in the big flood during Noah’s time. Only Noah and a few of his
family members who have chosen not to live in sin were saved.
“But a
certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he
kept back [part] of the proceeds, his wife also being aware [of it], and
brought a certain part and laid [it] at the apostles' feet. But Peter said,
"Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and
keep back [part] of the price of the land for yourself? "While it
remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own
control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to
men but to God." Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed
his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the
young men arose and wrapped him up, carried [him] out, and buried [him]. Now it
was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had
happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for
so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." Then Peter said to her,
"How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?
Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband [are] at the door, and
they will carry you out." Then immediately she fell down at his feet and
breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying
[her] out, buried [her] by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church
and upon all who heard these things.” Acts 5:1-11. Why is salvation so
difficult? Jesus said the more wealth we have, the harder it is to go to
heaven. That’s why Jesus says, "And again I say to you, it is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24.
Finally, do not choose to live in sin under grace, or plot to do unethical or bad things behind "closed doors". When we live in sin there is no grace for us other than the grace of Ananias and Sapphira, in this life, or in the next life to come.
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