Salvation:
Here today gone tomorrow?
"How
shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken
by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him]." (Hebrews 2:3)
This
article focuses on a topic that has much argument, discussion, and dissension within
Christian circles. Perhaps one of the major problems are denominations how they twist the
Gospel to suit them! This study is about salvation. However, many articles and
writings speak of salvation with their emphasis on "how to become saved," and
that's good we need that. But this article is presupposing the readers are saved, and so
we're going to discuss the topic can we lose our salvation, or once saved always
saved—eternal security.
Whatever
the title, our main focus is this, after one has salvation in Jesus Christ can that
believer become eternally lost again? If so, what are the causes? What is the sin or sins
that would place one there? Our adversary has attempted to divert me from this article for
many years. He hated salvation from the very beginning, and still does. Salvation is very,
very, important. In fact it's why we're Christians!
Before
we begin we need to realize that God's Word the Bible is our sole rule of faith, life, and
practice. It has full authority in our lives, and is complete in every way for our
salvation. God's Word is the only source of information for us concerning
our salvation. A reminder, any other sources quoted in this article are only
backdrops/support and do not possess any authority only the Holy Scriptures do. At the
end of this article, after having reviewed all the information, we will then be able to
have a clear discernible conclusion as to this doctrine.
First,
we will look at God's Word for all of our information. Again, let me stress this is the only
source for understanding this subject. Second, we will look at what the early
Church said, the creeds, and what's being said today. Generally, there is a wide range of
interpretation of views on how one is saved. Some are as follows: Baptism, faith,
repentance, belief in Christ, good works, ones denomination, all will be saved because no
one goes to hell, one can save themselves, etc. As stated above, we want to look at the
subject of can we lose our salvation?
In
the Beginning God
When
we read the narrative of the beginning of God's creation God does not introduce Himself to
His creation; rather, He introduces His creation to Himself. This is an antecedent to
God's eternal existence—the fact that God always existed is not assumed, but
indicated and affirmed.
"In
the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)
"And
[Abraham] planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the
everlasting God." (Genesis 21:33)
Then
Comes Man
God
created man—living human beings—as part of His creative order. We know we were
created by God, and fashioned in His image and likeness.
"So
God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female
created he them." (Genesis 1:27)
"This
[is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness
of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their
name Adam, in the day when they were created." (Genesis 5:1,2)
The
principle that our origin is from God is of little doubt. Our beginnings originated from
God, and as such, our first nature was pure from any stain of evil. Man lived in harmony
with God for a time sharing His holiness and purity. However, man came to know sin and
evil bringing death and destruction of the soul. God had given them everything making only
one prohibition—keep away from "the tree of the knowledge good and evil."
"And
the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely
eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:16,17)
This
command was soon broken.
"Now
the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And
he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye
shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the
woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then
your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the
woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and
gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were
opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made
themselves aprons." (Genesis 3:1-7)
Sin
entered in and judgment followed.
"And
they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and
Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of
the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou? And he
said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I [was] naked; and I hid
myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree,
whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom
thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said
unto the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent
beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done
this, thou [art] cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy
belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put
enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy
head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy
sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire
[shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because
thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I
commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in
sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it
bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for
dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return." (Genesis 3:8-19)
From
this point sin entered in, and by man sin effected all humans from Adam onward. The Bible
is clear on this.
"If
thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the
door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." (Genesis
4:7)
"And
the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is
very grievous." (Genesis 18:20)
"And
Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may
be before your faces, that ye sin not." (Exodus 20:20)
"And
he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go
among us; for it [is] a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take
us for thine inheritance." (Exodus 34:9)
"Speak
unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to
do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty." (Numbers 5:6)
"But
if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will
find you out." (Numbers 32:23)
"The
fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to
death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin." (Deuteronomy
24:16)
"But
he slew not their children, but [did] as [it is] written in the law in the book of Moses,
where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither
shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin." (2
Chronicles 25:4)
"That
thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?" (Job 10:6)
"His
bones are full [of the sin]of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust." (Job
20:11)
"[There
is] no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither [is there any] rest in my
bones because of my sin." (Psalm 38:3)
"For
I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin." (Psalm 38:18)
"Behold,
I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5)
"Who
can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?" (Proverbs 20:9)
"The
next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)
"So
when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is
without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." (John 8:7)
"Jesus
answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of
sin." (John 8:34)
"Jesus
said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore
your sin remaineth." (John 9:41)
"What
then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and
Gentiles, that they are all under sin. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not
one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." (Romans
3:9-11)
"For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:22)
"Wherefore,
as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all
men, for that all have sinned." (Romans 5:12)
"For
the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
"The
sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law." (1 Corinthians
15:56)
"But
the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ
might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3:22)
"Then
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth death." (James 1:15)
"If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1
John 1:8)
"All
unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death." (1 John 5:17)
We
have provided ample evidence, and that from God's Word, that we're totally lost and
depraved in need of salvation. The Bible is very clear on this—our dependency on
someone or something for salvation to bring us back to that state as found with God and
Adam originally.
Understand
we have "inherited sin" passed from Adam onward.
"Wherefore,
as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all
men, for that all have sinned." (Romans 5:12)
We
must also understand that we have "actual sin" that we've committed.
"Then
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth death." (James 1:15)
In
other words, we have inherent transgression from Adam, and actual sin manifested because
of that original inherited sin. So the conclusion is, we're lost in a condition of total
depravity, filled with sin both inherent and actual, and this sin is a total block to our
communion with God.
Who
can be with the Holy God in a state of sin?
God
is a Holy and Righteous God, and we can never hope to be united with Him, or have
fellowship with Him in such a sinful corrupted state.
"And
the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now,
lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from
whence he was taken." (Genesis 3:22,23)
"Then
my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will
hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall
befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because
our God [is] not among us? And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils
which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods." (Deuteronomy
31:17,18)
"And
he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end [shall be]: for they
[are] a very froward generation, children in whom [is] no faith." (Deuteronomy
32:20)
"But
your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face
from you, that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)
"Then
shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from
them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings." (Micah
3:4)
"[Art]
thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou
hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for
correction. [Thou art] of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:
wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, [and] holdest thy tongue when
the wicked devoureth [the man that is] more righteous than he?" (Habakkuk
1:12,13)
Again,
the Bible is clear we cannot be with God, or have fellowship with him because
of our sin.
We
need cleansing and salvation to be with God
The
Bible is very clear that our sins need to be eradicated, and a new cleansed soul needs to
be imparted to us. In the Old Testament Christ was foreshadowed in the offerings and
sacrifices for sin—by the blood upon the altar. In the New Testament Jesus Christ is
that God-man savior that came to "take away the sins of the world."
"Come
now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah
1:18)
"For
thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved;
in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not." (Isaiah
30:15)
"[But]
Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed
nor confounded world without end." (Isaiah 45:17)
"Look
unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none
else." (Isaiah 45:22)
"For
if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more,
being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Romans 5:10)
"Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus 3:5)
"Thus
saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I
will also cause [you] to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded." (Ezekiel
36:33)
"And
such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)
To
summarize, before we continue, the information about salvation comes from God's Word alone!
There is a holy God who created us. We have a nature to sin—inherent and actual. This
separates us from the just, holy, and righteous God. We need cleansing and salvation for
sins, by God in Christ, to be united with Him.
It
was necessary to preface this study with those remarks. Why? Because it lays down the
foundation to understanding salvation. We can now lay aside questions about why and how we
are saved, and focus on the subject at hand—can we, once found by Christ, born anew,
cleansed from sins, and being rightly related to God, lose that salvation? It is hoped
questions like the following: what sins put us out? How many? To what degree? Can we be
recovered? Will we be punished but saved? Hope to be answered as we go through this very
important study. Let me restate the position that salvation is very, very, important for
if we are unsure of this doctrine what good is anything else?
What about salvation? Many Christians really struggle
with salvation wondering whether or not they're saved. Much of it comes from that they
don't know they're saved. Why? Because their not taught right salvation—they're
taught another Gospel. False Gospel presentation and false way of teaching people
"how to be saved." Ever heard "Now, everyone close your eyes and bow your
head and repeat after me"? A rote prayer repeating words with no heartfelt emotion
with the idea something "magical" will happen. Witchcraft! I tell you its
witchcraft!
Repeating a statement with the hope of change. It takes God and God alone to be
in it to make heart lasting change. Going through the motions with no effect because the
whole matter rests with Jesus Christ. The truth of salvation is constant never wavering.
The Bible teaches you must know you're saved. What sense does it make if you are to be
saved but can never know it? Only you and the Lord know if you're saved. Others can have
an idea by fruits you produce. The good tree produces good fruit and the bad tree produces
bad fruit or none at all.
The
Old Testament
It's
important to define what the Old Testament words for salvation are and how they're used.
The Old Testament uses several words to convey similar things. Most of the uses convey a
type of physical deliverance from external things. The following are words and definitions
of the Hebrew Old Testament.
Save
chayah—to save, alive, life, preserve life. It's used of saving
physical life alive from death (Genesis 45:7)
Save
yasha—save, deliver, help, defend, rescue, be delivered, this word is used of
defending or victory in battle by another, and again, to save the physical body
(Deuteronomy 20:4). Moreover, it's used of spiritual salvation (Job 22:29; Psalm 6:4;
55:16).
Deliverance
teshuwah—salvation, help, safety, victory, used to denote deliverance from
ones enemy (Judges 15:18) and spiritual deliverance (2 Chronicles 6:41).
Deliverance
yeshuwah—help, salvation, save, saving, used of physical (Exodus 14:13) and
of spiritual (Exodus 15:2).
Deliverance
pallet—escape. Used of escaping from ones enemy (Psalm 32:7).
Salvation
yeshua—safety, saving, rescue, deliverance. Used of spiritual (2 Samuel
22:3,36; 1 Chronicles 16:23; Psalm 18:46; 27:1).
This
gives us a good general understanding of what is meant by salvation in the Old Testament.
The theme in the Old Testament was "do good and live" as compared to the New
Testament's "by grace be saved and you will do good." One thing we must
keep in mind. No where in the Holy Scriptures does God indicate His desire or will that we
sin. In fact, do you think God would say in the Scriptures a statement such as,
"Ok, it's ok to sin." No way!
This
next section will provide you with every Old Testament Scripture on salvation. Not every
verse will be quoted, but you will be able to use those not quoted as further references.
We will allow God's Word to tell us if in the Old Testament one was capable of losing
their salvation. Some of the quotes will have commentary; however, I will try to keep this
a little as possible. We want to let the Scriptures be free to speak to us.
As
we get into this section we will draw our conclusion on two things. One, the shear number
of passages that speaks to us. And two, the "witness" we will receive as God
shows us His teaching. A word of warning! be prepared to be challenged,
shaken, and confronted with truth contrary to what you may have held in the past. Always
remember God's Word is the final authority!
But
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day
that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:17)
In
Genesis chapter three we're introduced to sin entering the human race.
And
the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now,
lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
(Genesis 3:22)
In
Genesis chapter four Cain and Abel represent the non-believer/believer. Abel is accepted
and Cain, a type of reprobate, is passed over. Abraham was called by God (Genesis 12:1,2)
for salvation without any preconditions. Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were promised the
covenant of Abraham the same as he was. The Old Testament teaches us that in salvation we
should be faithful.
Faithful
to God
"And
I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all
these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because
that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my
laws." (Genesis 26:4,5)
"Ye
shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in
them: I [am] the LORD." (Leviticus 18:5)
"And
he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father
Amaziah had done…And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD: he did
according to all that his father Uzziah had done." (2 Kings 15:3,34)
"But
if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, [And] hath not eaten upon the
mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither
hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, And hath
not oppressed any, [but] hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by
violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
He [that] hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, [that] hath
withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, Hath
walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he [is] just, he shall
surely live, saith the Lord GOD." (Ezekiel 18:5-9)
See
also: Genesis 5:24; 6:8,9; 7:1; 15:6; Exodus
1:17,20; 14:30,31 (God saved them although they sinned in Canaan they never went back over
the Red Sea to the other side) 19:4-6 (assumes we are to be faithful notice the
"if" clause in v.5) Chapter 20 (it is assumed that those that hear will follow
His ways) 32:26-28; 34:11a; Leviticus 18:5 (Old Testament
way of salvation, but God says He will do a new thing [1 Sam. 3:11] 19:37; 26:3-13; Numbers
14:24; 15:37-41; Deuteronomy 10:12,13,28; (blessings for
faithfulness) Joshua 22:5; 23:6-8,11; 24:16; 1 Samuel 2:26,35;
3:19,21; 7:4; 15:22; 18:14; 1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 18:3,5-7;
22:2; 23:25; 1 Chronicles 4:10; 2 Chronicles 14:4, 15:2a, 12,
17; 17:3,4,6, 16; 22:9; 25:2; 26:5; 27:2,6; 31:20,21; 34:2, 33; Ezra 7:10;
8:22; 9:4,8; Nehemiah 9:8; 10:29; Job 1:1; 19:25,26; 30:23; Psalm
1:1-3; 52:8,9; 119:1-4, 93, 102, 141, 153, 176; 125:1,2; 128:1; Isaiah 49:23;
56:4; Jeremiah 29:12,13; Ezekiel 18:14-18 (the contrast
between doing good and doing evil) Daniel 3:17,18,25; 6:23; Hosea 11:12;
Micah 2:7; 6:8; Malachi 4:2,3.
Wicked
People are a Reality
"Now
the sons of Eli [were] sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD." (1 Samuel 2:12)
"Ahaz
[was] twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem:
but he did not [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: For
he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in
the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the
children of Israel. He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the
hills, and under every green tree…For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king
of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD…And in
every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and
provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers." (2 Chronicles 28:1-4,19,25)
"The
righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own
wickedness." (Proverbs 11:5)
"[There
is] no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked." (Isaiah 48:22)
See
also: Genesis 6:3,12,13; 13:13; 15:16; 38:7,9,10; Exodus 5:2;
7:3-5; 22:22-24; 23:7; 32:30-35; Leviticus 20:2,3; 20:15-21; 23:29,30;
24:14-16; Numbers 9:13; 11:33; 14:2,3, 22-23 (consequences for sin) 16:5,
26-30; Deuteronomy 9:12-14; 1 Samuel 2:17; 3:14; 15:23; 2
Samuel 23:6,7; 1 Kings 14:9,15,16; 16:30-33; 18:18; 21:25; 22:52,53;
2 Kings 16:2-4; 17:7-20,22,33,41; 23:32,37; 24:4; 2 Chronicles 13:8,11;
21:6; 22:3; 25:14,16,20; 29:6; 33:2,10; 33:22,23; 36:5,9,12,15,16; Nehemiah 9:16;
Job 4:7,8; Ch.20 ((the pre-assigned state of the wicked esp. v.29) 22:15-17;
26:8-10; 31:2-4; Psalm 1:4-6; 9:17; 14:1-3; 50:16-23; 94:23; Proverbs 28:13,14;
Ecclesiastes 3:16,17; 3:8-11; 5:14; 22:11-14; 24:5; Isaiah 26:10,21;
30:1; 66:16; Jeremiah 26:2,3; 51:5; Ezekiel 8:12,16; 18:10-13;
19:20; Hosea 14:9; Haggai 2:17; Malachi 4:1.
God
Knows Those Who are Wicked and Condemned by Him
"And
Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein,
and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them
not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the
LORD." (Leviticus 10:1,2)
"The
wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking
lies." (Psalm 58:3)
"The
LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil."
(Proverbs 16:4)
"And
the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners [shall be] together, and they that
forsake the LORD shall be consumed." (Isaiah 1:28)
"[Art]
thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou
hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for
correction." (Habakkuk 1:12)
See
also: Genesis 15:16; 17:14; ch.19 (the overthrow) 38:7,9,10; Exodus
4:21; 5:2; 9:4-7,12,16, 30, 34, 35; 10:1,16,17 (a false repentance) 10:20,27; 12:22,23;
32:1,4,6; 34:7,9; Leviticus 17:4,9,10 17:4,9,10; 18:29,30; 20:2,3; Numbers
16:33,35; 24:20,24; Deuteronomy 4:26; 7:10; 8:19,20; 9:3; 9:12-14; 28:63;
32:43; Joshua 7:14-26; 1 Samuel 18:12; 2 Samuel
23:6,7; 1 Kings 16:30-33; 20:42; 21:25; 22:52,53; 2 Kings
21:14-16; 24:4; 1 Chronicles 2:3; 10:13,14; Job 31:2-4; Psalm 7:11,12;
9:5, 17; 14:1-3; 55:23a; 69:28; Proverbs 1:24, 28; 10:3, 25, 30; 11:6,20,21;
13:6; 14:32; 15:9,10; 28:18; Isaiah 1:20; 5:14,25; 48:22; 58:1; 66:16,24; Jeremiah
7:29-34; 10:25; 11:11; 12:16,17; 23:39,40; Lamentations 5:16, 19-22;
Ezekiel 8:16; 18:4; 44:9,10; Nahum 1:2,3; Habakkuk
3:13; Zechariah 1:15.
God
Passes Over Some that are Excluded for Salvation
"And
in very deed for this [cause] have I raised thee up, for to shew [in] thee my power; and
that my name may be declared throughout all the earth." (Exodus 9:16)
"But
against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or
beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and
Israel." (Exodus 11:7)
"And
it was [so], that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another
heart: and all those signs came to pass that day." (1 Samuel 10:9)
"But
the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature;
because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the
outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and
made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Then Jesse
made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Again, Jesse made
seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not
chosen these." (1 Samuel 16:7-10)
"So
Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, [even] against the
word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking [counsel] of [one that had] a
familiar spirit, to enquire [of it]; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him,
and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse." (1 Chronicles 10:13,14)
"That
the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day
of wrath." (Job 21:30)
"The
wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking
lies." (Psalm 58:3)
"Reprobate
silver shall [men] call them, because the LORD hath rejected them." (Jeremiah
6:30)
"And
I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the
covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against
me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not
enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD." (Ezekiel
20:37,38)
"Though
they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, [that there shall] not [be] a man
[left]: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!" (Hosea 9:12)
"I
have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? [Was] not Esau
Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his
mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness." (Malachi
1:2,3)
See
also: Genesis 16:12 (Ishmael not chosen) 27:27-29 (God allowed the blessing
to go to Jacob over Esau) Exodus 4:21; 8:22,23; 9:4-7 (a passing over Egypt)
9:12; Numbers 11:12; 24:20,24; Deuteronomy 1:35; 1
Samuel 18:12; 2 Samuel 6:21; 1 Kings 20:42; 2
Kings 24:4; 1 Chronicles 2:3; Job ch. 20 esp. v. 29
(the pre-assigned state of the wicked) 36:6; Psalm 69:28; 94:23; Isaiah
22:11-14; 66:24; Jeremiah 7:15,16; 18:4-10; 9:4-6; Micah
3:4,6,7.
One
Can Stay or Leave
"And
Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and
called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, [that] every one which
sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which [was] without the
camp…And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.
And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man,
departed not out of the tabernacle." (Exodus 33:7,11)
"Ye
shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in
them: I [am] the LORD." (Leviticus 18:5)
"Then
I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all
that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people. And
the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a
whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from
among his people." (Leviticus 20:5,6)
"For
I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his
judgments [were] before me: and [as for] his statutes, I did not depart from them." (2
Samuel 22:22,23)
"But
there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of
the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up." (1 Kings 21:25)
"But
they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels [and] in the
imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward…Yet they
hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse
than their fathers. Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will
not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. But
thou shalt say unto them, This [is] a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their
God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth." (Jeremiah
7:24,26-28)
"Then
all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the
women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of
Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, [As for] the word that thou hast spoken unto
us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do
whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of
heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers,
our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for
[then] had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to
burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have
wanted all [things], and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. And when we
burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we
make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our
men?" (Jeremiah 44:15-19)
See
also: Exodus 21:1-6; Leviticus 17:14-16; 18:29,30; 26:14-33
(punishment) Numbers 25:1-4; 32:23; Deuteronomy 6:12,13;
11:16,17; 17:2-5; 28:15-68; 30:17,18; 31:16-18,20,21; 32:35-37; Joshua 5:6;
23:6-8,11; Judges 6:8-10 (God's approval) 16:20; 17:6; Ruth
1:15,16 (a type of staying or leaving in the covenant) 1 Kings 2:3,4; 9:4-9
(if than statements implies possible forsaking of the covenant) 11:4-6,10,38,39; 15:26;
16:2; 2 Kings 10:31; 17:7-20; 21:2,9; 1 Chronicles 5:25,26; 2 Chronicles
30:7,8; Psalm 9:17; 119:176; Ecclesiastes 3:1,2; Jeremiah
7:13; 11:3,4,9; Hosea 14:1.
Election,
Predestination, Choosing
God
uses words like "chosen, elect, my people, etc. to describe those He chose for
Himself. God's election is by His choosing. In the line of the kings we see, for example,
one son evil, and one son good, and so on. There is no set pattern of good or evil
offspring; just those that God chooses for Himself at the time He selects.
"For
I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall
keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham
that which he hath spoken of him." (Genesis 18:19)
"Now
Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the
flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb. And
the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and
he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush [was] not consumed. And
Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of
the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I. And he said, Draw not nigh
hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy
ground. Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon
God." (Exodus 3:1-6)
"Fear
and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be [as] still as
a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, [which] thou hast
purchased." (Exodus 15:16)
"Behold,
I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place
which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not
pardon your transgressions: for my name [is] in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his
voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an
adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in
unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites,
and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off." (Exodus 23:20-23)
"And
he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the
LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on
whom I will shew mercy." (Exodus 33:19)
"And
ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD [am] holy, and have severed you from [other]
people, that ye should be mine." (Leviticus 20:26)
"
For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to
be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth.
The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number
than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you,
and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD
brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the
hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)
"For
thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a
peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that [are] upon the earth." (Deuteronomy
14:2)
"But
now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart,
and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not
kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee." (1 Samuel 13:14)
"Howbeit
the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel
for ever: for he hath chosen Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house
of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make [me] king over all
Israel: And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon
my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. And he said unto me,
Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him [to be] my
son, and I will be his father." (1 Chronicles 28:4-6)
"But
know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I
call unto him." (Psalm 4:3)
"Blessed
[is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his
own inheritance." (Psalm 33:12)
"
I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I
establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah…Then thou
spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty;
I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people." (Psalm 89:3,4,19)
"Blessed
[is] the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; That thou
mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance."
(Psalm 94:12-14)
"The
remnant shall return, [even] the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God." (Isaiah
10:21)
"Behold
my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit
upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." (Isaiah 42:1)
"But
now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel,
Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art]
mine… [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my
glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him… Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the
LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand
that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me…
The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in
the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This
people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise." (Isaiah
43:1,7,10,20,21)
"And
I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and
mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there." (Isaiah 65:9)
"For
thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I, will both search my sheep, and seek them
out." (Ezekiel 34:11)
See
also: Genesis 21:1-3; 17:1-4,5-9; 27:27-29; Exodus
2:1-3 (God chose Moses) 12:1-13; 15:13.16 (God reserves for Himself a people) 31:2,3,6;
40:15 (chosen priesthood fulfilled in Christ) Numbers 16:7; 17:5,8; Deuteronomy
4:37; 9:4-6; 10:15; 21:5; 26:18; 29:12-15; Judges 13:3,5,24,25 (chosen
beforehand) 1 Samuel 2:24,25,28; 3:4,10; 2 Samuel 6:21;
7:8,10,12-16,23; 22:20; 1 Kings 8:53; 11:32; 14:8,13 (salvation before
adulthood or infancy) 19:18; 1 Chronicles 11:3; 15:2; 16:13; 17:7,21,22;
29:1; 2 Chronicles 6:6; 21:7; 29:11; 32:31; Ezra 1:3; 2:1
(Divine calling) Nehemiah 9:7; Esther 2:2,2 (type election of
God) Psalms 22:9,10,30,31; 31:19,23; 33:15; 37:18,23,24; 47:4; 48:14; 65:4;
71:5,6, 74:2; 94:5,7-11; 105:6,26,42-45; 106:31; 135:4,12; 139:1-3 Proverbs
24:14,16; Ecclesiastes 2:10; 4:8; Isaiah (all of chapter 1
gives a call of God to come back) 13:3; 14:1; 26:2,3; 28:5; 41:8,9; 42:16; 44:1,2,21;
45:4; 48:10,11,12,15; 49:1,5,6,7,15,16; 51:2; 55:5; 65:22; Jeremiah 1:15;
31:1,3; Ezekiel 9:4-6; 20:5; 28:25,26; 34:15,30,31; 36:24; 37:26; Daniel
1:3,9; Amos 7:14,15; Jonah 1:1; Habakkuk 3:13; Haggai
2:23; Zechariah 1:17; 2:12; 3:2; Malachi 3:16,17,18.
What
God Promises He Keeps
"And
it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of
Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by
reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with
Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God
had respect unto [them]." (Exodus 2:23-25)
"Behold,
I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place
which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not
pardon your transgressions: for my name [is] in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his
voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an
adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in
unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites,
and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off." (Exodus 23:20-23)
"Then
will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my
covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. And yet for all that,
when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor
them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I [am] the LORD
their God. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I
brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their
God: I [am] the LORD." (Leviticus 26:42,44,45)
"And
the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them,
because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them,
neither cast he them from his presence as yet." (2 Kings 13:23)
"Howbeit
the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made
with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever." (2
Chronicles 21:7)
"And
hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land
flowing with milk and honey;" (Jeremiah 32:22)
See
also: Exodus 6:2-8; 23:20-23 (The Holy Spirit will do this for us) 33:1; Numbers
23:19,20; Deuteronomy 4:29-31; 7:9,11; 13:17; 29:13; 30:1-11; Joshua
5:6; 2 Samuel 23:5; 2 Chronicles 30:6; Nehemiah
1:5; 9:32; Psalms 37:23,24,25; 48:14; 77:7-9; Proverbs 1:33;
Isaiah 49:15; 56:5; Jeremiah 11:5; 12:14,15; 16:14,15; 17:16;
18:4-10; 29:10; 31:32,36,37 (Notice the "if" clause implying it wont because of
the impossibility of God's declaration of the permanent-ness of creation) 32:22; Ezekiel
16:60,62; 28:25,26; 37:26; 39:29; Haggai 2:5.
By
Faith
"Behold,
his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his
faith." (Habakkuk 2:4)
See
also: Exodus 4:30,31; 12:1-13 (to keep the Passover and believe God would
pass over them and not be destroyed) 12:27; 14:30,31; 33:7; Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy
6:25; 1 Samuel 7:6; 1 Kings 14:8; 22:43; 2 Kings 18:3,5-7;
23:25; 2 Chronicles 32:31; 10:39; Psalms 33:20-22; Micah
7:8,9.
God
Favors His People
"And
the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them,
because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them,
neither cast he them from his presence as yet." (2 Kings 13:23)
"And
refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but
hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their
bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and
of great kindness, and forsookest them not." (Nehemiah 9:17)
"I
have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his
seed begging bread…For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they
are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off." (Psalm
37:25,28)
See
also: Exodus 9:20,26; 10:23; 11:7; 14:30,31; 40:15; Numbers
20:12 (this is punishment not condemnation there is a difference from condemnation as in
16:26,31,33) Deuteronomy 4:37; 9:4-6; 13:17; 26:18; 32:43; Judges
6:11,13,14; 1 Samuel 7:3; 9:16; 2 Samuel 14:14; 1 Kings
6:12,13; 8:32; 9:3; 14:8; 15:5 2 Kings 32:31; Ezra 9:9; Nehemiah
1:5; 9:19; Esther 2:17; Job 36:7,10; Psalm 33:18,19;
37:17,18; 48:14; 49:15; 84:11,12; 85:8,9; 97:10; 105:24,42-45; 135:12; Ecclesiastes
2:4; Isaiah 19:25; 54:17; 55:31; Jeremiah 31:1; Zechariah
2:8,12; 10:6.
God
saves and Keeps
"And
Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the
sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout
your generations: it [is] most holy unto the LORD…And thou shalt take the atonement
money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of
the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD,
to make an atonement for your souls." (Exodus 30:10,16)
"For
the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make
an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the
soul." (Leviticus 17:11)
"And
the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman
shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person
be guilty; Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense
his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth [part] thereof, and
give [it] unto [him] against whom he hath trespassed. But if the man have no kinsman to
recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, [even] to the
priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him."
(Numbers 5:5-8)
"He
will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by
strength shall no man prevail." (1 Samuel 2:9)
"For
the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased
the LORD to make you his people." (1 Samuel 12:22)
"He
openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity."
(Job 36:10)
"Cast
thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous
to be moved." (Psalm 55:22)
"He
will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he
that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD [is] thy keeper: the LORD
[is] thy shade upon thy right hand." (Psalm 121:3-5)
"As
the whirlwind passeth, so [is] the wicked no [more]: but the righteous [is] an everlasting
foundation." (Proverbs 10:25)
"So
[shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] unto thy soul: when thou hast found [it], then there
shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. Lay not wait, O wicked [man],
against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: For a just [man]
falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."
(Proverbs 24:14-16)
"Can
a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her
womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon
the palms of [my] hands; thy walls [are] continually before me." (Isaiah
49:15,16)
"Nevertheless
in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you." (Jeremiah
5:18)
See
also: Leviticus 1:4; 9:7: 18:5; 23:28; Numbers 8:11,12,19;
21:8,9; Deuteronomy 21:7-9; Judges 6:1,7 (Confession to God
v.7) 6:11,13,14; 1 Samuel 2:1; 2 Samuel 22:47; 23:5; 1
Kings 15:5; 19:18; 1 Chronicles 17:21,22; 2 Chronicles
6:23; 16:9; Ezra 10:1; Job 8:20a; 13:20a; 19:25,26; 22:22-27;
33:18; 42:9; Psalm 4:3; 32:1,2; 44:26; 50:5; 53:6; 66:20; 73:24; 77:7-9;
139:10; 141:8; 145:20; 146:8,9; 132:11-8; Proverbs 1:33; 2:8,11-17; 3:25,26;
10:3,30; 11:4,6,19,20,21; 12:2; 13:2; 14:32; 18:10; Isaiah 1:9; 26:20;
28:5,13; 30:15; 32:18; 33:22; 38:16,17; 44:21; 45:22,25; 46:13; 49:6; 55:6,7; 56:5-8;
62:12; Jeremiah 3:19; 22:23; 30:11; 31:3(This phrase also appears in the
book of John) 31:11,34; Lamentations 3:25,26,31-33; Ezekiel
16:60; 36:21-29; 37:26; Hosea 12:13.
Sins
can be Forgiven
"And
he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do
with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven
them." (Leviticus 4:20)
"And
he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the
sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according
to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for
his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him." (Leviticus 4:35)
"And
he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the
fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement
for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. And if a soul
sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of
the LORD; though he wist [it] not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. And he
shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass
offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his
ignorance wherein he erred and wist [it] not, and it shall be forgiven him." (Leviticus
5:16-18)
"For
on that day shall [the priest] make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, [that] ye may be
clean from all your sins before the LORD…And he shall make an atonement for the holy
sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for
the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the
congregation. And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for
the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded
Moses." (Leviticus 16:30,33,34)
"And
whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that [is] a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and
not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put
to death, because she was not free. And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the
LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, [even] a ram for a trespass
offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass
offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done
shall be forgiven him." (Leviticus 19:20-22)
"And
David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The
LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." (2 Samuel 12:13)
"Blessed
[is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered. Blessed [is] the man
unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no guile." (Psalm
32:1,2)
"For
thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that
call upon thee." (Psalm 86:5)
"If
thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?…Let Israel hope in
the LORD: for with the LORD [there is] mercy, and with him [is] plenteous redemption. And
he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities." (Psalm 130:3,7,8)
"Behold,
for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul [delivered it] from the
pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back." (Isaiah
38:17)
"Yet
it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his
soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the
pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul,
[and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he
shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and
he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death:
and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:10-12)
"For
the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart
from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath
mercy on thee." (Isaiah 54:10)
"But
if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my
statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not
die." (Ezekiel 18:21)
See
also: Leviticus 4:2,3,13,14,22,23,26,27; 5:1-6,10,13,15; 6:1-7; 9:7; 16:6,
9-17,21,24; 17:11; Numbers 8:12,19; 14:18-20; 15:22-26,28; 16:47;
25:11,13 (vs.11,13 type Christ) 28:30; 29:5-11; 30:5,8,12; 31:50; Deuteronomy
4:29-21; Judges 16:28 (Samson type Christ) 1 Samuel 7:6; 2
Samuel 14:14; 1 Kings 8:33-36, 46-50; 2 Kings 21:20-22
(Note Manassah repented in 2 Chronicles 33:13) 22:19; 2 Chronicles
6;24,25; 6:36-39; 12:7; 29:24; 30:9,18-22; 33:12,13; Ezra 10:1; Nehemiah
9:3,31; Job 36:10; 42:9; Psalm 32:5,10; 49:15; 50:5,15; 53:6; 55:16; 79:8,9;
80:18,19; 85:1,2,13; 91:16; 103:8,11-13,17,18; 106:4-8,10; Proverbs
28:13,18; Isaiah 1:16,18,19; 6:7; 9:17,21; 26:20; 30:15; 31:7; 43:25,26;
44:22; 50:1,2; 42:3; 54:6,17; 56:5-8; 64:9; Jeremiah 4:1; 10:24; 12:14,15;
29:11-13; 31:33,34; 36:3; 39:18; Lamentations 3:22,25, 40-54,55-59; Ezekiel
3:18-21; 6:8-10; 11:19,20; 14:6,11; 18:22,25-32; 33:11, 12-16,19; Daniel
4:34 (God could have left him like that) 12:10; Hosea 1:7,10; 2:23; 3:5;
6:1-3,6; 10:12; 14:2,4; Joel 2:12,13,32; Jonah 2:4,9;
3:5,8,10; Micah 7:18,19; Zechariah 10:6; Malachi 3:3.
Condition
of Obedience
"And
as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to
all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; Then will
I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy
father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man [to be] ruler in Israel." (2
Chronicles 7:17,18)
See
also: 1 Kings 11:38,39; 15:11,14; 2 Kings 23:3; 1
Chronicles 28:7,9; 2 Chronicles 14:4; Ezra 10:8,11; Psalm
25:10; 103:77,18; 145:20; Jeremiah 3:25; 7:5; 35:1-19 (example of
obedience) Ezekiel 20:11.
Call
to Trust
"Kiss
the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a
little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him." (Psalm 2:12)
"But
I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation." (Psalm
13:5)
"The
LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." (Psalm
147:11)
See
also: Psalms 5:11,12; 7:1; 9:10; 11:1; 16:1-3; 18:2,3,30; 20:7; 22:4,5;
25:2,10,20; 26:1;31:1,6,14,17; 32:10; 37:3,5,17,40; 40:3,4,16; 55:23b; 62:8; 73:28; 84:12;
86:2; 118:8,9; 119:1-4; 141:8; Proverbs 8:17,21,32-35; 14:26,27; 15:9;
28:5,14; 29:25; Ecclesiastes 12:13,14; Isaiah 26:4; 50:10;
57:13; Jeremiah 7:23; 17:7; 39:18; Nahum 1:7; Zechariah
1:3.
Punishment
not Condemnation
"And
the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the
eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the
land which I have given them." (Numbers 20:12)
"And
[when] king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by
the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took [some] of them prisoners.
And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people
into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. And the LORD hearkened to the
voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and
their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah. And they journeyed from mount
Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was
much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses,
Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for [there is] no
bread, neither [is there any] water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD
sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel
died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken
against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents
from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery
serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten,
when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a
pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the
serpent of brass, he lived. And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.
And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which [is]
before Moab, toward the sunrising. From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of
Zared. From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which [is] in the
wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon [is] the border of
Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the
LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, And at the stream of the
brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab." (Numbers
21:1-15)
"My
son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom
the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth." (Proverbs
3:11,12)
"Because
ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed
the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies;
therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day." (Jeremiah 44:23)
"And
the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity:
because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into
the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness
and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have
mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name."
(Ezekiel 39:23-25)
See also: Numbers 16:26, 31-33; Leviticus
26:14-33; Judges 2:21-23 (the reason they never fully possessed the whole
land) 16:20; 2 Samuel 11:27; 12:7-11,14; 24:1-25; 2 Kings
18:11,12; 22:6; 1 Chronicles 5:25,26; 2 Chronicles 7:18,19; Ezra
9:13,14; Nehemiah 1:6-11; 9:27,31; Job 5:17; 8:20; Psalm
89:28-35; 103:11-13; 118:18; Jeremiah 12:7-10; 15:7; 16:13;
30:12-14; 31:18; 45:4,5; Lamentations 4:22; 5:19-22; Ezekiel 14:22,23;
Hosea 9:17.
Condemnation
"Did
not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all
the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity."
(Joshua 22:20)
"And
therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not
be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever." (1 Samuel 3:14)
"And
he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of [thy] hand a man
whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy
people for his people." (1 Kings 20:42)
"And
it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be
purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts." (Isaiah 22:14)
"But
when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and]
doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All
his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath
trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." (Ezekiel
18:24)
See
also: Joshua 7:14-26 x to 6:19 (a confession had to be induced from Achen;
he was not willing to confess) 24:19; 1 Samuel 12:23-25; 16:1; 2 Kings
24:4; 1 Chronicles 10:13,14; 28:9; Job 21:30; 36:6; 36:11,12; Psalm
9:17; 31:17b; 58:3; Isaiah 24:5; 26:10; Jeremiah 31:30; Ezekiel
3:18-21; 14:8; 28:13-19 (destruction of satan).
Forsaking
God
"For
if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye
shall destroy all this people." (Numbers 32:15)
"And
the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other
gods…If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you
hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good" (Joshua 24:16, 20)
"But
hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other
gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back."
(1 Kings 14:9)
"But
Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he
departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin." (2 Kings
10:31)
"Because
they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me
to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against
this place, and shall not be quenched." (2 Kings 22:17)
"And
he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD." (2 Chronicles
12:14)
"For
I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God."
(Psalm 18:21)
"And
the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners [shall be] together, and they
that forsake the LORD shall be consumed." (Isaiah 1:28)
"Can
a maid forget her ornaments, [or] a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days
without number." (Jeremiah 2:32)
"They
are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words;
and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah
have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers." (Jeremiah 11:10)
"Thus
saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and
whose heart departeth from the LORD." (Jeremiah 17:5)
"But
he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him
horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such [things]? or
shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?" (Ezekiel 17:18)
"But
when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and]
doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All
his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath
trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." (Ezekiel
18:24)
See
also: Exodus 30:33,38; 31:14,15; 32:1,4,6,10; Leviticus
7:20,27; 19:8; 20:2,3; Numbers 14:11 (God seeks those that will trust Him)
14:44; 15:30,31; 19:20; 21:5-7; 25:1-4; 32:13,14,23; Deuteronomy 1:32; 4:25;
6:12,13,14; 7:3,4,16; 8:19,20; 11:26-28; 12:30; 13:6-11; 17:2-5; 28:15-68; 30:17,18;
31:16,18,20,21; 32:35,37; Joshua 22:29; Judges
2:10-13,16,17,19; 3:5-7; 8:33,34; 10:6; 10:10-16 (habitual forsaking and confession to the
point of refusal based on foreknowledge) 17:6; 1 Samuel 8:6-8; 10:19; 12:10;
13:12,13 (rebellion) 15:23,26; 2 Samuel 22:22,23; 1 Kings
8:32; 11:4-6,10,15,16; 15:3,26; 16:2,13,19,25,26,30,31-33; 18:18; 21:25; 22:52,53; 2
Kings 3:2,3; 13:2,11; 14:24; 17:7-20,33,34,41; 21:2,9; 2 Chronicles
7:19,20,22; 12:1,5; 13:10,11,18; 15:2; 16:7,12; 21:10; 24:18,19-22,24; 25:27; 26:16; 29:6;
34:25; Ezra 8:22; Nehemiah 9:26; Job 13:16;
22:15-17; 31:28; Psalm 9:17; 14:1-3; 18:22; 28:4,5; 44:17,18,20,21;
50:16-23; 78:7-11, 17-22,32-39,56-72; 79:6; 106:12-15,20-23,24, 35-44; 119:102; 125:5; Proverbs
1:25; 3:1; 8:36; 12:2; 15:10; 28:4,5; Ecclesiastes 8:3; Isaiah
1:4; 5:24; 9:13; 17:9,10; 29:13; 30:1,11-13; 31:1,2; 65:11; Jeremiah 1:16;
2:13,17,19; 3:12-14,20,21,25; 5:3,7,19; 6:19; 7:9,10,12,13,24; 8:4-10; 9:3-7; 13:10,11;
15:6,7; 16:10,11,12,13; 17:13,15; 19:4; 22:8,9; 23:13,14,27; 32:33-35; 33:14,19-21,24-26;
34:10-16; 44:15-19 (refusal hard heartedness) 23; 50:6,7; Lamentations 1:18,20;
2:1,14; Ezekiel 3:7,9; 5:6,7,11; 6:9; 11:12; 14:4,5,6; 20:8,13,16,21; 22:12
(forsaking God in sins runs through the O.T.) 33:18; 44:9,10; Daniel
9:7,9,10,11,14,15; Hosea 1:2,6; 2:13; 4:6,10,12; 5:4-6,14; 7:7,10,15,16;
8:11-14; 9:17; 10:13; 11:7; 13:6,7; 14:1; Joel 2:4,6,8-11; Zephaniah
1:6; 3:2; Zechariah 7:9-14; Malachi 2:5-12,17; 3:7.
The
book of Job shows us God's mercy in bringing back His elect from pride which can lead to
sin and ultimately death. Over and over again we are constantly told to trust in God and
stay close to Him not being moved away. Proverbs teaches us to depart from evil and hold
to that which is good and right. Even if we fall into sin, as elect children, God is
willing to have us come back to Him (Isaiah 9:24; 10:4). Even though Israel went away
backslidden we see God was always extending His hand to them calling them back as He will
with us. Either by silence or by prophets God was declaring His judgment.
We
find the phrase "provoke me to anger" the reaction from God to Israel's sins
fifteen times in the Old Testament. It is very interesting to note that God says, when
speaking of those He has chosen for Himself, as "my people" in the Old Testament
He uses this term over 150 times!
"Say
unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked;
but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for
why will ye die, O house of Israel? Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of
thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his
transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day
that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his
[righteousness] in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, [that] he
shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his
righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he
shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn
from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; [If] the wicked restore the pledge,
give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity;
he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be
mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely
live." (Ezekiel 33:11-16)
The
above passage teaches us the classic instruction that God gave to His people in the Old
Testament—do good and live or do evil and die.
The
New Testament
In
the New Testament we're introduced to the Messiah—Jesus Christ the one that takes
away our sins, and does for us in our place what the law could never do. Again, it's
important to define what the New Testament words for salvation are and how they're used.
The New Testament uses a couple words to convey similar things. The following are words
and definitions of the Greek New Testament.
Sozo
– sode'-zo to save, heal, be whole, to save, keep safe and sound, to
rescue from danger or destruction, to save a suffering one (from perishing), to preserve
one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue.
Soteria
- sotayree'ah salvation, deliver, saving, that (one) be saved, deliverance,
preservation, safety, salvation, deliverance from the molestation of enemies.
Rhoumai
- rhoo'omahee deliver, Deliverer, to rescue, to deliver, the deliverer.
This
next section will attempt to provide you with every New Testament Scripture on salvation.
Not every verse will be quoted, but you will be able to use those not quoted as further
references. We will allow God's Word to tell us if in the New Testament one was capable of
losing their salvation. Some of the quotes will have commentary; however, I will try to
keep this a little as possible. We want to let the Scriptures be free to speak to us.
Wicked
Men are a Reality
"And
cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth." (Matthew 25:30)
See
also: Matthew 3:12; 5:21,22; 13:38,41,48,49; 25:32,33,46; Mark
9:42-48; 14:21; Luke 13:25-30; 22:3 (Judas was chosen to be the
betrayer—chosen to loose his life) John 1:18,36; 5:29b; 13:2; 15:2,23;
16:2,3; Romans 3:9-20; 3:23; 10:16,19,20,21; 1 Corinthians
5:1; 6:9,10; 10:20,21; 11:29; 15:50; 16:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:11,12;
Revelation 13:8.
One
Can Stay or Leave
"But
he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13)
"That
the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is]
death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is]
enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So
then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:4-9)
"For
if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee. Behold
therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee,
goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And
they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graphed in: for God is able to
grave them in again." (Romans 11:21-23)
"Be
ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Bell? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement
hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath
said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be
my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and
ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians
6:14-18)
"For
[it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly
gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto
repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an
open shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6)
See
also: Matthew 3:10; 19:16-21,29; Mark 1:17,18; 9:42-48;
10:17-27; Luke 8:8-15; 9:23-26; 11:28; 12:8-10; 12:45-48; 15:25-32 (example
of the faithful servant of Christ) 17:33; John 6:6,7,67,68; 17:12; Acts
28:24; Romans 7:13-25 (the struggle to be faithful or commit sin) 10:3;
13:2; 1 Corinthians 6:15-18; 9:27; 10:1-10; 2 Corinthians 7:1;
13:7; Galatians 5:16-25; 1 Timothy 5:24; Hebrews
2:1-3; 3:6 (notice the "if" clause) 6:7,8,9; James 1:14,15; 1
John 2:28; 3 John 11.
There
are Those that Deceive
"Ye
shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even
so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:16-20)
"Awake
to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to
your shame." (1 Corinthians 15:34)
"They
profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and
disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:16)
"But
there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers
among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought
them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious
ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." (2 Peter
2:1,2)
See
also: Matthew 24:24; John 13:2; 2 Corinthians
13:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:10,11; 1 John 1:6;
2:4; 3:6,10; Jude 1:4.
Faith
Belief in Christ
"And,
behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing
their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven
thee." (Matthew 9:2)
"And
he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." (Luke 7:50)
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