#1679 0527 12A

            It is vital that we understand what it means to be saved, but just as necessary, or even more so, that we know how to be kept saved, by keeping our faith and trust on the Atonement Blood Jesus shed for us on the Cross.  Most ministers teach that if you attend a Christian church, read your Bible, ask God to forgive you, and then live a good moral life, you would go straight to Heaven—but that is not the entire Truth, if they do not include believing faith that will trust the living God for real life issues.

            Being saved and kept saved means far more than just attending a church, a revival meeting, a praise gathering, or a religious festival—and feeling good about this outward display of faith in God.  The Bible definition of being saved is to be delivered from Satan’s power in this life; to be healed by faith in the shed Blood of Christ; to be protected by the power of God; and to enjoy His peace by that same faith and trust in Him.

            Being saved means receiving answers to prayer for victory in our home; trusting God to control situations at work; being supplied with daily needs, and being delivered from anything Satan tries to bring upon us to disturb our peace, by keeping our trust on God and His promises.  That is the Bible definition of being saved and kept, and anything short of that is not the full Truth from God’s Word!

            Many begin by confessing their sins and asking God to forgive them.  That is a right start to make, but if they do not progress beyond that point, they would never be ready to meet Jesus, and they would never enter God’s Kingdom.  The attitude we have toward God and His Word will determine whether we are truly saved and kept by faith in Christ.

            Millions of professed Christians think that if they were once converted, and they live a morally good life, but do not accept Bible teaching on divine healing; do not follow God’s financial plan of daily trust; have not obeyed God’s Word when they are wronged because they never learned to place injustices in God’s hands—they think that they are still saved and ready for Heaven.

            If our level of faith in God never rises above that, then we are not growing spiritually, and would never be ready to meet the Lord when He returns.  Even if no one else in the world lived up to God’s standard of righteousness, we must be willing to do so, if we want salvation.  We can never set our standard of faith by the example of false Christians—but only by the standard of God’s Word.

            Jesus began His ministry by stating two conditions to meet Mark 1:15 "Repent, and believe in the gospel."  We must know what it really means to repent and believe.  Most professing Christians are not truly born again; are not filled with the Holy Spirit; and are not living up to the true Gospel.

            Very few, if any, trust God for the healing of their body, and even less trust Him in faith for finances.  Most avenge their own wrongs, and do not trust God to control family members.  If anyone lives like that, then they are not saved, and not kept by faith in the power of God—they are lost and following the unbelieving ways of the world.

            There is only one way to enter Heaven—and unless we live up to the true Gospel Jesus taught—which is the same Gospel the apostles taught, then we will not receive eternal life, but will land in the flames of Hell forever.  Anyone who passes from this life, but has never lived up to the teachings of Jesus Christ and His apostles, could not possible be anywhere but in the Lake of Fire.

            This is not judging or condemning anyone, but Ephesians 4:15 “speaking the truth in love,” so we can mature in real faith; and be emphasizing the seriousness and deadliness of denominational church faith—which is really no faith in God for anything.  Most professing Christians live like the unbelieving world, and have a million substitutes in place of God.

            A true Christian lives by faith as Jesus did.  The average church member today is living as opposite to the way Jesus did, as it is possible to live.  God is not trusted for any part of their life—they have medicine in the cabinet, and money in the bank—on which they depend.  If anyone will truly trust God in faith, they will enjoy the blessings of God, instead of the troubles of Satan.  The sooner we get away from the professing Christian’s false faith, the better.

            Anyone who passes from this life, but did not really live by faith in God, and did not conduct their life according to the full Truth of God, is in the Lake of Fire.  Believing that would bring about big changes for many, and have them be absolutely sure they were not following that same road of outward faith but with no inward trust, because false doctrines lead to eternal suffering in Hell.

            Warnings must be taken seriously, and we must walk in the light of God’s full Truth even more seriously.  1 John 2:4-5 ”He who professes to know Him, and yet does not obey His commands, is a liar, and the truth has no place in his heart.  But whoever obeys His Message, in him love for God has in very deed reached perfection.”

            Most think that if a person is sincere, and lives an outwardly good life, they will enter Heaven; but that is just an excuse for not living God’s Truth of the Bible.  There is only one standard of true salvation, and it includes every part of the Christian life—spiritual growth, physical healing, daily finances, peace in the home, employment issues, and everything else.  This true standard must be known, and definitely must be lived, in order to receive the benefits of Christ’s Atonement, and to enter God’s eternal kingdom.

            Some wonder about the fate of people who never heard the Truth, or never read a Bible.  Romans 2:12-13 ”God will punish the Gentiles when they sin, even though they never had God’s written law.  And he will punish the Jews when they sin, for they do have the law.  For it is not merely knowing the law that brings God’s approval.  Those who obey the law will be declared right in God’s sight.”  The world has the Bible, so there is no excuse for not living up to the teaching it contains.

            Even those who cannot read or have no printed alphabet can know of God—because Psalm 19:1-3 ”The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.  There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”

            Job did not have a Bible, or full Gospel teaching; but God called his attention to the stars and planets.  If God could save Job just by showing him the work of creation, God could save anyone—if they were willing to believe and trust Him.  Job had to say Job 42:5 ”I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”  Anyone can say that, and ”repent in dust and ashes,” like Job.

            We must have the “belt of truth” Ephesians 6:14 around us to defend against the lies of the devil.  A belt is something that must be complete—if it is an inch short, it is useless.  In spiritual matters, if we do not have God’s entire Truth, it will not do us any eternal good.

            Repentance is giving up no-faith ways of the carnal nature, and accepting the believing-faith ways of the divine nature.  Repentance is not just confessing a few sins, but is being willing to give up all trust in human plans—to not depend on medical help; to not take legal action against anyone; to get rid of all laid up money; and to eliminate any other false place of trust.  Anything short of that is not true repentance.

            Cornelius was Acts 10:2 “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”  God knew that Cornelius was sincere, but he needed to hear the full Truth, so He sent an angel.  If God could reach him, He could reach anyone—if they are willing to accept the light of God’s Truth—Matthew 13:12 "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance.”

            Cornelius had an open mind and a willing spirit—that is all God wants to see in anyone.  Acts 10:33 “Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."  That is a true repentance—giving up all former ways, and accepting all of God’s ways.  Acts 10:34 "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.”

            God would be just as willing to save a Gentile sinner if they would accept His Truth, as He would a Jewish person who should know His Truth—Acts 10:35 “in every nation he who is fearing Him, and is working righteousness, is acceptable to Him.”

            The apostle spoke on Acts 10:38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”  Any illness, financial difficulty, home trouble, work problem, or anything that disturbs our peace, is directly from the devil—all trouble and oppression is from Satan himself.

            The apostle said Acts 10:39 “whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him [who repents, accepts the true Gospel, and trusts God in faith] shall receive remission of sins.”

            It means giving up the former way of not trusting God in faith for anything, and accepting the new way of believing faith on the Blood of Christ for everything.  We are to believe that whatever God had against us, was taken away when Jesus took our place on the cross.  They were buried, but now our new life of faith and trust on God arose with Him—when we believed in our heart that Jesus paid for our sins.

            Through the Blood His Son, God counts every human being dead to sin, but it will not do us any good, until we do our part—and that is to believe what God says about Atonement.  We are to Romans 6:11 “count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”  We have a new nature that is alive to this new life of faith in God.  That attitude is to be taken, and maintained, at all times.  It is the only way to trust God, be saved and kept by faith.