Hebrews 4:1Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.a 3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”b
This scripture is another indictment of the 'once saved always saved' doctrine. What does the Lord say? Let us be careful? Of what? That none of us has fallen short? Why would anyone fall short? The Lord goes on to explain that..."the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith."
Again we find ourselves on this issue of faith. There are many who tell us today that a Christian does not need faith to be "saved." Really? They tell us all we need is a five second teary eyed confession and you are as sure for heaven as if you were already there! Without faith, can a person enter the gates of heaven? The promise of His rest still stands, indeed it does BUT let us BE CAREFUL that none of us be found to have fallen short of it. That is a warning, to us.
The "grace only" equation is preached by way too many people today. The "grace only" equation tells us we play no part, zero in the salvation of our souls. If men play no part in the salvation equation, why will most be lost? Didn't Jesus die for all men? Why will so many be lost? Not because of the lack of grace surely. So why will so many be lost?
FAITH
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-
The grace is surely there, and it is 100% a gift from God, AND it is THROUGH FAITH.
Why do so many remove FAITH from grace when they talk about our salvation?
Why did Jesus ask this:
| ... However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? |
Why did Jesus say this:
Heb 6:12
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
So let me ask you, if we inherit the promises through faith, what happens if a person has no faith? Can a person inherit without faith? What does the Word say? THROUGH FAITH we are saved, THROUGH FAITH we inherit. How much more clear could the Lord say it?
It is not grace or faith, it is by grace AND faith that the Lord said we are saved.
What we believe matters. If all that was required was a 5 second teary eyed confession, why aren't most people going to end up in heaven?
Matt 7:13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matt 7 actually begins with "judge not." This brother judges no man. If it were up to me all men, all of them would end up in heaven. This brother would not commit one solitary soul to the horrors of hell. I would not do it. But this brother is not the judge. What does the Lord say? What does the Word say? Does the Word say that few or many will enter the small gate that leads to life?
What else does the Lord tell us in Matt 7?
Matt 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Who will enter the kingdom of heaven? He who makes a teary eyed five second confession? No, thats not what it says. ONLY he who does the will of the Father in heaven? Do the will of the Father? What's that called? Its called obedience. So we are saved, by grace, through faith. That is a true statement from Ephesians. Also in Matt 7 we see that obedience is required to enter the kingdom of heaven. Is that or is that not what the Lord said? Is it said clearly enough for us to understand? Did the Lord use cryptic language or did He say it clearly? He said it clearly.
Understanding these things hopefully we come to a clearer understanding of the "fear of the Lord."
Is it easy to be saved? I don't know, what did the Lord say through Peter?
| And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" |
What did the Lord say through Luke?
Luke 13:23Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
He said to them, 24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
If men try to teach us doctrines that conflict with the Word of God, then those men should be shut out from our hearing. How many 'pastors' today teach the fear of the Lord? Why don't they?
How many "grace alone" teachers and preachers teach the fear of the Lord? None. Why? It shatters their doctrine into pieces. Who cares what man has to say, WHAT DOES GOD SAY?
| The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. |
| ... Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. ... |
| The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever |
Think big picture here, the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. Why forever? Because in the beginning, Satan would never had rebelled against the Lord had the fear of the Lord been in him. In eternity, those who inherit salvation would never imagine to rebel against the Lord because the fear of the Lord will remain in them.
| From the west, men will fear the name of the LORD, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory |
| And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'" |
| Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? ... |
Enough said, the Word speaks for itself. All glory and honor and wealth and power be unto our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and to our Father in heaven. Amen.
