Nothing especially new today, but certainly something very important

Nothing especially new today, but certainly something very important. There are just so many folks who are erroneously expecting to 'go to heaven,' or however else you want to say it, on a claim of 'salvation' that includes doing nothing at all. It's masked under the "you don't have to work your way to heaven" mindset, and on the surface it sounds kind of nice; but when you get a little further into it you find out that it's just a slothful spirit looking for a religious way to get to stay in sin, and somehow still be saved. Reminds me of a TV commercial from days gone by: "Sorry Charlie, but only the best tuna get to be Starkist." Sorry all of you soft minded 'Christians,' but my Bible, and my Jesus says that only those who are made pure in heart shall see God (Mat. 5:8). And my Bible also assures me that being made pure in heart only comes by daily laboring in prayer and literally dying to one's own will and self by overcoming sin through trials (I Jn. 3:2,3; Rom. 6:6; Jas. 1:2-4; I Pet. 4:1,2). Contrary to the 'easy salvation plan' that so many cling to, those things aren't very much fun for the flesh, and neither are they supposed to be. Death is never fun, and the flesh doesn't care much for labor either. But I'll tell you what is a lot of fun, and that is what Peter tells us will happen if we do die out to ourselves - WE CEASE FROM SIN! Oh yeah! That's where the real "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost" is at, and I can tell you that is a LOT of fun! In fact being filled with the love, and peace, and joy of the Lord is A WHOLE LOT BETTER than fun! People are trying to find every religious way possible to not have to die to sin, and all they get for their effort, or lack thereof, is the turmoil, confusion, fear, and misery of STAYING IN SIN! You simply cannot know and realize the life and peace of God in your life unless you die to yourself (Rom. 8:6,7). It really is that simple. The unwillingness to die to sin is where every erroneous teaching about this glorious Gospel comes from. That very much includes the universal 'belief' that a believer receives salvation at the beginning of their faith. Really? Something doesn't sound quite right about that, no matter HOW MANY people say it's so. I have to go back to my Bible and check that one out: "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith UNTO salvation ready to be revealed in the LAST TIME... That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, MIGHT BE found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ... Receiving the END of your faith, even the SALVATION of your souls" (I Pet. 1:4,5,7,9). OH, THAT must be why the 'salvation up front' doctrine doesn't sound so right to me.

The apostle Peter certainly didn't teach that salvation is received at the beginning of our faith, and I'm betting that the apostle Paul didn't either: "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation NEARER than when we believed" (Rom. 13:11). "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philip. 2:12). No, Paul didn't believe in 'instant salvation' either, and I'm wondering now what Jesus had to say about the issue of what it takes to truly be saved: "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another... And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure UNTO THE END, the same SHALL BE saved" (Mat. 24:10,12,13). It sounds to me like Jesus was saying that there will be some suffering for his name, and some serious persecution to endure; while maintaining a fullness of his love in our hearts, in order for us to obtain salvation. I don't know about you, but it's beginning to feel really sobering where I'm sitting. I can feel the fear of God settling into my bones as I get a little further into the truth of God's salvation here in the scriptures. It's a far cry my friend from the comfortable 'salvation' that so many today are laying false claim to. In regard to suffering for his name's sake, the scripture is crystal clear about the correlation between salvation and that suffering: "IF we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us" (II Tim. 2:12). I'll tell you very pointedly my friend, that there are a whole lot of 'Christian' folks who better decide to get real serious real fast, lest they venture out just a little further into that flesh-pleasing realm of false doctrine and fall off the religious cliff into apostasy, which is otherwise known as the blasphemy of the holy Ghost. I can tell you that the time is coming, and in fact it is right on top of us, that if you are not truly and fully committed to the reality of God's will being done fully and presently in your life, you will be swallowed up by the "strong delusion" that will overtake everyone on the planet who does not absolutely love the righteousness of God that is in his Spirit (II Thess. 2:3,8-12; Rev. 13:11-14; Rev. 14:9-12). And with that said I will leave you with the abundantly relevant admonition of the apostle Peter: "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (I Pet. 4:7). Amen.