Revelation 3:21 KJV To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 5:1-10 KJV And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. (2) And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? (3) And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. (4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. (5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (6) And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. (8) And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (9) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
I want to use this passage as a picture of what actually saves a soul and gets them prepared for Heaven. I want you to ask yourself what you believe will take you to Heaven. I read several statements by apostolics who wrote about what they feel gets us to heaven. Here is the list:
I found most of these are wrong, and a small minority hit upon the truth. And that concerned me greatly! Church, the Bible teaches: Titus 3:5 KJV 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; Romans 3:26-28 KJV To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Galatians 2:16 KJV Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Someone then replied, “We have certain expectations placed upon us we grow closer to Jesus and are strengthened in our walks with Him. He left us intstructions and parables to show us how to live and what He expects of His people. We are to sow seed. To use our talents. Help the needy. Spread the gospel. Be obedient and submissive. We know our salvation is not based on works. As ambassadors of the most High, the infilling of the Holy Ghost is the first step...and after that good works are supposed to be a part of our life. We should be like Jesus. Jesus did good and taught and was kind to all. We can't receive redemption and say "well I got the HG and bless God I am going to heaven now"." OH YES WE CAN!! They continued, "Unless you are hit by a train immediately after. We are talking about the attributes of a saint. We are God's representatives in this world...what would Jesus have us to do?? Some of us do not want to be unprofitable servants. We know salvation is a gift from God and we have His blood applied to us when we have obeyed the new birth- when we are born again of the water and the Spirit.” The fact is we are all unprofitable servants Luke 17:7-10 KJV But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? (8) And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? (9) Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. (10) So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. We are what we are by God’s grace!
It is so important we understand salvation because the way we look at what does and does not prepare us for Heaven will affect our whole Christian lives.
The bible is full of commandments from God to do good and even the New testament has many, many commandments from the apostles and Jesus concerning how to live.
God’s answer was to give NEW LIFE. And this INSTINCT has unconsciously caused us to take the commandments in the New Testament and categorize them under a heading of WHAT WILL MAKE US READY FOR HEAVEN. The fact is none of these GOOD DEEDS listed in the Bible will get us ready for Heaven. NONE OF THEM.
GET OURSELVES INTO A POSITION SO GOD CAN DO THE THINGS WE NEED DONE TO GET TO HEAVEN, and then do things that KEEP US IN THIS STATE OF BEING READY FOR HEAVEN.. Acts 2:37-38 KJV Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. These people wanted to know what to do once they understood they crucified the Lord of Glory.
This brings up another question.
Picture yourself in a house that is doomed to burn.
Moses told Israel God took them out of Egypt to bring them into Canaan. Repentance and baptism REMIT SINS.
GIFTS from God get us to heaven. Romans 5:17 KJV For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Romans 10:1-3 KJV Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (2) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Righteousness is what people need to go to heaven.
YOU SUBMIT TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Romans 6:3-4 KJV Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. We are baptized into Jesus Christ's death.
Righteousness is what takes a person to Heaven. Many things are commanded of us, as I listed from other people who think these things make us go to Heaven.
We cannot steal, lie, commit adultery, nor homosexuality, nor cheating, nor drinking, nor smoking, nor dressing lustfully, nor gambling, and so on.
1 Corinthians 15:22 KJV For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Just belonging to Adam's race will send people to hell.
Romans 5:19 KJV For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Sinners go to a devil's hell, and Adam did the only action that made us sinners.
We are not sinners because WE DISOBEYED.
If we obeyed Acts 2:38, and God took us in that position and made us new creatures, then the commandments to do good will KEEP US SAVED, but they do not cause it. God took us out of sinful existence and He does not want His efforts wasted to go back into it again.
1 Peter 2:9 KJV But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Only God can put us into his marvelous light. Jude 1:21 KJV Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Colossians 1:28 KJV Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Then read... Colossians 2:8-10 KJV Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: JUST STAY THERE. LEGALISM is taking the things that KEEP US SAVED, and presenting them as though THEY ACTUALLY SAVE.
Romans 4:6 KJV Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, GOD made us what is required for us to go to heaven. Ephesians 5:25 KJV Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; This speaks of HIS DEATH.
Ephesians 5:26 KJV That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, His death is then involved in the next verse.
Mark 16:16 KJV He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. BY THE WORD means our faith what the word says about our baptism into his death, causes God to work a miracle. Romans 6:3 KJV Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? We have a certain goal to reach. Romans 6:4 KJV Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.
What got us into this mess of sin?
Baptism into Jesus' death removes us from ADAM'S FAMILY. It kills us in God's eyes.
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. GOD reconciles us to himself.
2 Corinthians 5:18 KJV And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; IT IS ALL OF GOD.
2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. He takes us to himself in Jesus Christ and does not impute our trespasses against us! 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 KJV Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 6:1 KJV We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. IT IS GOD'S GRACE. What work can we do to put ourselves in another RACE?
Imagine changing families.
What benefits us? Galatians 6:15 KJV For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Nothing but being a NEW CREATURE, and we cannot accomplish that. Then we simply WALK LIKE THAT. Galatians 6:16 KJV And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Luke 15:21-23 KJV And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. (22) But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (23) And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: HIS BIRTH MADE HIM SON, not worthiness. Revelation 5:1-4 KJV And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. (2) And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? (3) And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. (4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. No one is worthy! And this regards redeeming us because we later read: Revelation 5:9 KJV And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; WORTHY and REDEEMING US is involved. So no one was worthy to redeem us, let alone ourselves. Something had ot be accomplished to REDEEM us. Revelation 5:6 KJV And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. DEATH was that something. That death caused his blood to be shed. Now, what is interesting is that before this scene we read this: Revelation 4:6 KJV And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And after we read: Revelation 7:9 KJV After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; What happened in between that made the difference was what we read in Rev 5. And the people who said they were redeemed DID NOT HAVE ONE WORD SAID ABOUT ANYTHING THEY DID. What action WAS done that redeemed them? Revelation 5:5-6 KJV And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (6) And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. So get the picture: 1) John wept because no one was worthy to take the book and redeem man. 2) He's told to not weep because the lamb prevailed to open the book. 3) If you had to be worthy to open the book and the lamb prevailed to open the book, then being worthy is PREVAILING OVER SOMETHING. 4) And since we read the lamb stood as it was slain, then he prevailed over DEATH. 5) And saints are made kings and priests as a result, and suddenly fill the area where no one could formerly go. |