F-8. What Does IMPUTED Righteousness TRULY Mean? Is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Almighty God IMPUTED to us as BELIEVERS through Jesus Christ? In that, God's righteousness is TRANSFERRED to those who confess that they are a sinner and ask God to forgive them of their sins and TRUST in the sacrifice that Jesus made for them by dying on the cross for their sins. And then through their FAITH that Jesus died for their sins and was raised from the dead, they are now BECOME the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God and ALL that God sees from this day forward is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of his Son Jesus that he purchased for us who BELIEVE? In other words, can this IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS and ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS that can NEVER be LOST or TAKEN AWAY from us once it has been IMPUTED to us? Let me say this another way, when a person first accepts Jesus as their savior, then from that point on in their life, after accepting Jesus as their savior, from that point on, does Almighty God see ONLY the RIGHTEOUSNESS that was IMPUTED or TRANSFERRED to the believer through the FAITH of the believer in the atoning work of his Son Jesus, and does NOT see their SIN, even if they sin again after they were first forgiven of all their sins? In other words, what many of us were taught that when God looks at us all he sees is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Jesus and that God NO longer sees our SIN, but God ONLY sees the RIGHTEOUSNESS that he has IMPUTED or TRANSFERRED to us. AND does this mean that IF we sin AGAIN and WHILE we are living IN sin does God STILL just see the RIGHTEOUSNESS that was or had been IMPUTED to us when we accepted Jesus as our savior? OR does God SEE our SIN which we are committing, even though his RIGHTEOUSNESS was or had been IMPUTED to us when we first believed? Some believe that God STILL ONLY sees the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS that was imputed to us when we first believed and does NOT see our sin AFTER we become BORN AGAIN. But WHAT does the WHOLE word of God teach us? The purpose of this study is to consider all the evidence from both sides of this highly controversial subject of eternal salvation and then answer the question of “What does IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS TRULY MEAN?” So then, let us begin this study in God's word by reading all of Romans chapter 4, but I will just quote Romans 4:1-5 and then pause to share the insight that I believe God has given me from doing this study. “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found? 2. For if Abraham were JUSTIFIED by WORKS, he has whereof to glory; but not before God. 3. For what says the scripture? Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was COUNTED unto him for righteousness. 4. Now to him that WORKS is the reward not RECKONED of grace, but of debt (Where debt leaves us with the thought that we have EARNED the right to be JUSTIFIED, and therefore GRACE would not be recognized and the glory given to God for the one who CANCELED our debt of sin). 5. But to him that WORKS NOT, but BELIEVES on him that JUSTIFIES the ungodly, his FAITH is COUNTED (Or reckoned) for righteousness.” Let pause here for a moment and see what Paul is teaching us. In verse 3, we see the phrase “For what says the SCRIPTURE” and then Paul summarizes the Old Testament passage of Scripture found in Genesis 15:1-7 with the words, “Abraham BELIEVED God, and IT (The FAITH or TRUST of Abraham) was COUNTED (Or IMPUTED unto Abraham) for RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Here is what Genesis 15:1-7 says. “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am your shield and your exceeding great reward. 2. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3. And Abram said, Behold, to me you have given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be your heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be your heir. 5. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if you be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall your seed be. 6. And he BELIEVED IN the LORD; and he (Almighty God) COUNTED IT (Abraham's BELIEF and TRUST in what God PROMISED, God IMPUTED his FAITH) to him for RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7. And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.” So then, in this passage of Scripture in Romans chapter 4 that Paul quotes a verse from the Old Testament in order to show that it is BY FAITH and NOT by WORKS that man is JUSTIFIED and COUNTED as being RIGHTEOUS before God just as IF man had NEVER SINNED before is CLEARLY seen. Of this TRUTH there is no question. HOWEVER, in James 2:17-26 we ALSO learn that FAITH ALONE is NOT what JUSTIFIES a person before God. We also see that James ALSO uses the SAME illustration of Abraham and his being COUNTED as RIGHTEOUS before God because he BELIEVED God. However James goes on and further illustrates to us that the very reason or fact that Abraham BELIEVED God was ALSO what CAUSED Abraham to ACT upon his TRUST in God to OBEY what God REQUIRED of Abraham to DO, which, therefore, in turn, PROVED that Abraham TRULY BELIEVED or TRUSTED in God, because Abraham became a DOER of what he BELIEVED! And again this TRUTH can CLEARLY and PLAINLY be seen in God's word. So then, which way is it? Are one wrong and another right? Is Paul teaching the TRUTH and James teaching a LIE? Or is James teaching the TRUTH and it is Paul who is teaching the LIE? OR can BOTH be teaching the TRUTH? Now on the surface, it appears that there is, in fact, a direct CONTRADICTION between what Paul was teaching compared to what James was teaching. It appears that Paul is saying in Romans chapter 4 that we are shown to be RIGHTEOUS by FAITH ALONE and NOT of any WORKS that we have done or are doing, or can do in the future. And it also seems quite obvious that James is teaching us that SALVATION is NOT by FAITH ALONE, but that a person is saved by FAITH AND WORKS. So then again, which way is it? Do we believe Paul and REJECT the words of James, or do we believe James and REJECT the words of Paul? OR do we believe BOTH Paul and James? Why not BELIEVE them BOTH! Why not believe the WHOLE word of God, rather than SIDE with one or the other? For you see, they BOTH are teaching the GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, the RIGHTEOUSNESS that Paul is teaching in Romans chapter 4 is the RIGHTEOUSNESS or the FORGIVENESS of all our PAST SINS which we have committed BEFORE we take that first step to TRUST and BELIEVE in the SACRIFICE that Jesus made for us. This INITIAL RIGHTEOUSNESS of Almighty God is IMPUTED to us NOT based upon ANY WORKS that we have done, but RATHER it is our FAITH in the sacrifice of Jesus that RECONCILES us BACK to Almighty God and places us BACK into RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God. Our FAITH is COUNTED to us as being in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God and we are JUSTIFIED before God as being if we had NEVER SINNED. In other words, in this INITIAL step of our salvation, our own works of righteousness are NOT factored into the equation or the receiving of the salvation that Almighty God has extended to mankind by his GRACE. In fact, Almighty God deliberately eliminated the grounds of GOOD WORKS on any level as a requirement for this INITIAL step of salvation so as to ELIMINATE any BOASTING for man because boasting, in and of itself, had become displeasing in God's eyes and is considered a sin. Therefore the accuser of the brethren could accuse mankind before God IF WORKS were required to bring mankind back into the right relationship with God. Now for some of you it may seem like a big circle that is just going round and round, but I assure you that it will all become clear as we continue, so please do not simply reject what I am saying as being a false teaching, until you hear the WHOLE matter, because I believe when you hear the WHOLE word of God you will judge rightly and see that what I am teaching you is the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God. Please keep in mind that FAITH is NOT just a ONE-time confession of accepting Jesus as our savior, but rather true faith is a CONTINUAL BELIEVING in Jesus AND continually BELIEVING his WORDS or the teachings of Jesus. Remember that Jesus said if we love him we will KEEP his commandments of teachings. Let us back up a few verses in order to get more of the CONTEXT of what Paul is teaching and read Romans 3:21-31, which clearly teaches us that the RIGHTEOUSNESS that Paul is teaching us about is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God that is IMPUTED to us THROUGH Jesus Christ as we are FORGIVEN of ALL our PAST sins. Here is what Romans 3:21-31 has to say, which IMMEDIATELY precedes what Paul teaches us in Romans chapter 4 that we are studying. “But NOW the righteousness of God without the law is manifested (Or revealed to us and shown to us CLEARLY), being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22. Even the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God which is by FAITH of Jesus Christ unto ALL and upon ALL them that BELIEVE: for there is no difference: 23. For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24. Being JUSTIFIED FREELY by his GRACE THROUGH the redemption that is IN Christ Jesus: 25. Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation (Or an atonement for sins) through FAITH in his blood, to DECLARE his RIGHTEOUSNESS for the remission of sins that are PAST, through the forbearance of God; 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes 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. 29. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not ALSO of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30. Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcised through faith. 31. Do we then make VOID the LAW through FAITH? God forbid: yea, we establish the LAW.” Then Paul continues on in Romans chapter 4 with his argument of how FAITH came BEFORE the LAW to get the Jews, who were trusting in their obedience to the LAW and the mere fact that they were a JEW and NOT a mere Gentile to be saved, the get these JEWS to TRUST and BELIEVE in the new covenant that God was establishing, in order to do away with the PART of the LAW which required the offering of sacrifices from year to year for their sins to receive FORGIVENESS. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that NO way was Paul teaching us, that from this point on a believer is MADE into the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God and when a believer SINS all that God SEES is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of his Son Jesus. NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! Here in Romans 3:31, and in many other places where Paul writes to us, CLEARLY teaches us that the RIGHTEOUSNESS that Paul was teaching us about is the INITIAL RIGHTEOUSNESS that we receive when we FIRST believe in Jesus. And THEN, from that point on in our lives, we are to WALK after the Holy Spirit and NOT after the flesh lest we DIE in our SINS and LOSE our inheritance of ETERNAL LIFE that is PROMISED to us in the world to COME. The gift of eternal life is CONDITIONAL, IF SO BE that we are found to be a GOOD and FAITHFUL servant, who WALKS AFTER the SPIRIT and NOT after the FLESH, which is EXACTLY what Paul teaches us in Romans chapter 8:1-14. However some teachers of the gospel only have given us PART of the gospel and by doing so have misled some to believe that once you accept Jesus as your savior, then you are IN, you are SAVED, you HAVE eternal life and your salvation is ETERNALLY SECURE and you can NEVER EVER LOSE your salvation no matter what. They teach that you may lose a few rewards, but you yourself can NEVER be LOST once you have accepted Jesus as your savior and then they often quote the FIRST part of Romans 8:1 as there PROOF text which says. “There is therefore now NO condemnation to THEM which are in Christ Jesus...” I have seen so many times where preachers and teachers of the word of God STOP right here and try and say that ONCE you accept Jesus as your Savior, then there is THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION, therefore you are FOREVER SAVED. They go on to FALSELY teach that God does not hold your sins against you anymore ever again, so how then can you ever lose your salvation. Now while there is some truth in this statement it can also be very DECEPTIVE and MISLEADING, whereby some have erred from the TRUTH by going further and FALSELY teach that this statement of the TRUTH that THEREFORE there is NOW NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus is an ETERNAL condition and can NEVER be LOST. Now I do not find all the blame to be upon the pastors and teachers of God's word, because it may be the Bible TRANSLATIONS that they are reading from are NOT all completely HONEST in their translation of God's word. The reason I say this is because many translations have OMITTED the last part of this verse ENTIRELY and some have even placed a period after Christ Jesus to have the readers of these translations believe that this is the ENTIRE truth of God's word, when in fact they have TAKEN AWAY from the word of God by LEAVING OUT the rest of this verse that is in the original Greek. Please take a moment and view for yourself Romans 8:1 from these other translations in comparison to the authorized King James Version of the Bible, which you will read among these other translations. King James Version. “There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, WHO walk NOT after the flesh, but AFTER the Spirit.” God's Word Translation “So those who are believers in Christ Jesus can no longer be condemned.” American Standard Version “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” New International Version “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” New Living Translation “So now, there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Bible in Basic English “For this cause, those who are in Christ Jesus will not be judged as sinners.” Complete Jewish Bible “Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua.” Douay-Rheims “There is now, therefore, no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, WHO walk NOT according to the flesh.” English Standard Version “There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Good News Translation “There is no condemnation, now, for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.” Hebrew Names Version “There is, therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah Yeshua, WHO don't walk according to the flesh, but ACCORDING to the Spirit.” Holman Christian Standard “Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,” Lexham English Bible “Consequently, [there is] now no condemnation for those [who are] in Christ Jesus.” New American Standard “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” New Century Version “So now, those who are in Christ Jesus are not judged guilty.” New International Reader's Version “Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer under God's sentence.” New King James Version “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, WHO do NOT walk according to the flesh, but ACCORDING to the Spirit.” New Revised Standard “There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Revised Standard Version “There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The Darby Translation “[There is] then now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.” The Message “With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.” The Webster Bible “[There is], therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, WHO walk NOT according to the flesh, but ACCORDING to the Spirit.” Third Millennium Bible “There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, WHO walk NOT according to the flesh, but ACCORDING to the Spirit.” Today's New International Version “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Weymouth New Testament “There is, therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus;” World English Bible “There is, therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, WHO DON'T walk according to the flesh, but ACCORDING to the Spirit.” Wycliffe “Therefore, now nothing of condemnation is to them that be in Christ Jesus, which wander NOT after the flesh.” Young's Literal Translation “There is, then, now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, WHO walk NOT according to the flesh, but ACCORDING to the Spirit;” Now, with what many of these modern translations have LEFT OUT combined with the way that some pastors and teachers have INTERPRETED this verse to mean is NOT what this verse is TRULY teaching us! Please CONTINUE and read the REST of this verse and its CONTEXT. Romans 8:1-14. “There is therefore now NO condemnation to THEM which are IN Christ Jesus, WHO walk NOT after the flesh, BUT (Who walk) AFTER the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who WALK NOT after the flesh, BUT (Who walk) AFTER the Spirit. (WHY?) 5. FOR (Or because) they that are after the flesh do mind (Think about and obey) the things of the flesh; but they that are AFTER the Spirit (Mind, think about and obey) the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF SO BE that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. 12. Therefore, brethren, we are DEBTORS, NOT to the flesh, to live after the flesh (WHY? Why are we DEBTORS NOT to walk after the flesh? In other words, why are we REQUIRED or OBLIGATED by God to NOT walk after the FLESH and SIN?). 13. FOR (Or BECAUSE) IF you live AFTER the flesh, you shall DIE: but if you THROUGH the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. 14. For AS MANY AS are led by the Spirit of God, THEY (ONLY those who are LED by the Holy Spirit and who walk AFTER the SPIRIT and NOT after the flesh THEY) are the sons of God.” So with these verses in mind and many, many more like them, we can CLEARLY see that the RIGHTEOUSNESS that James is teaching us is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of DOING GOOD WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS that we as BELIEVERS MUST without fail MAINTAIN to DO from FAITH to FAITH. James is describing the RIGHTEOUSNESS of a BELIEVER that PROVES that we TRULY BELIEVE the WHOLE word of God to the point in which we OBEY what Almighty God has asked us to DO, has instructed us to DO, has told us to DO, and has COMMANDED us DO, as we move from trial to trial, and from temptation to temptation USING our FAITH to overcome sin. Almighty God has GIVEN to EVERY man all the same measure of faith to ACT upon God's WORD to OVERCOME every trial and temptation that may come our way. In other words, we all have the same ability to make CHOICES. We can CHOOSE to believe the promises in God's word that sin no longer has dominion over us. Or we can choose to not believe God's promises that empower us to overcome sin WHEN we BELIEVE those promises in God's word Please read Romans 1:16,17 that teaches us that IN the GOSPEL of Christ is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God REVEALED to us from FAITH to FAITH, for the JUST shall LIVE BY FAITH. Romans 1:16,17. “For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL of Christ: for IT (The GOSPEL) is the POWER of God UNTO salvation to everyone that BELIEVES; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17. For therein (Or IN the GOSPEL of Christ) is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God REVEALED from FAITH to FAITH: as it is written, The JUST shall LIVE by FAITH.” Think about the phrase “FROM FAITH TO FAITH”. Just HOW MANY TIMES are we expected by God to accept Jesus as our savior for the remission of our PAST sins? That's right ONLY ONE TIME. We do not use our FAITH over and over and over, again and again, to believe God for the same sacrifice of Jesus for all our PAST sins. No, absolutely not, we believe and have FAITH that ONE TIME in our life for the FORGIVENESS of all our PAST sins and then just HOLD FAST to that confession of our faith when the enemy tries to bring up our past sins. And THEN from this point on we believe God from FAITH to FAITH to be JUSTIFIED or FORGIVEN of the sins that we commit AFTER we have come to the Lord INITIALLY when we FIRST believed in the atonement of Jesus. In other words, IF we sin AFTER we come to Jesus for the remission of all our PAST sins, then we must without fail CONFESS our sins and ask for forgiveness and then we are assured by the word of God that he is FAITHFUL to FORGIVE us of all our sins. To put it another way, we have to BELIEVE we are forgiven each and every time we ask for forgiveness of our sins or more simply put, from FAITH to FAITH we overcome the enemy of our souls. Please read 1 John 1:9, which teaches us that IF we CONFESS our sins then he is FAITHFUL to FORGIVE us our sins, and cleanse us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. 1 John 1:9. “IF we CONFESS our sins, he is FAITHFUL and JUST to FORGIVE us our sins, and to CLEANSE us from all UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” Now, just a little common sense and logic should tell us that IF it were TRUE in what many of us were TAUGHT that when God looks at us and all God SEES is his Son Jesus that it does NOT mean that we will NEVER have NEED to be CLEANSED ever again from ANY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. In other words, just because the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God was IMPUTED unto us and we were MADE the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God does not mean that sin ceases to exist for Christians. IF THIS WERE TRUE, then there would be no such thing anymore that would be to us Christians as SIN. And, therefore, there would be NO need to ever have to CONFESS our sins in order to be CLEANSED because we would ALREADY and ALWAYS be the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God. NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! Can you not see dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that what some of us have been TAUGHT is FALSE and INCORRECT. Now, you may have not been taught the false doctrine of once saved always saved but most of us have been taught that we are saved by GRACE through FAITH and NOT of WORKS lest any man BOAST. Almost every Christian has been taught that WORKS follow salvation. And that is true, but it is NOT the WHOLE truth. What I mean by this is that some have taken this teaching to the extreme and make so trivial the WORKS aspect that follows salvation to the point that WORKS is insignificant. And because of that, some Christians are led to FALSELY believe that GOOD WORKS are NOT NECESSARY to obtain eternal life. Some teach that since we do NOT EARN our salvation, then there is no way that we must DO GOOD WORKS in order to MAINTAIN or KEEP our salvation. But WHAT does the WHOLE word of God teach us? The RIGHTEOUSNESS that Paul is teaching about in Romans chapter 4 is that RIGHTEOUSNESS of God which a believer is COUNTED or CONSIDERED as being RIGHTEOUS before God and JUSTIFIED as just as if they had NEVER SINNED BEFORE. This SALVATION is just the FIRST PART or the INITIAL step of our BEING saved. This new birth is just the beginning of our WALK with God. The word “SAVED” in the Greek is the word “SOZO” which also means BEING PLACED BACK INTO RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, we do NOT actually RECEIVE or OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE at this point in time of our SALVATION, because our salvation is a PROCESS that spans our entire lifetime. We do not actually RECEIVE eternal life UNTIL the world to COME. Jesus makes this quite CLEAR to us in Mark 10:30 which says. Mark 10:30. “But he shall receive a hundredfold NOW in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; AND IN the world to COME eternal life.” Then Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 24:12,13 that in the last days, SIN shall abound and that the LOVE of MANY believers would grow cold and that ONLY those believers who ENDURE unto the END and NOT give in to the temptations to SIN shall be SAVED. Matthew 24:12,13. “And because INIQUITY shall abound, the LOVE of MANY shall wax cold. 13. But he that shall ENDURE unto the END, the SAME shall be SAVED.” So UNLESS you as a believer ENDURE unto the END of your life or until Jesus comes again, do NOT let your LOVE grow cold and give in to the temptation to SIN, you shall NOT be SAVED and you shall NOT obtain ETERNAL LIFE, because the PROMISE of eternal life is to THOSE who ENDURE unto the END as we just read in Matthew 24:13,14. Jesus also WARNS us to HOLD FAST and OVERCOME the enemy and NOT let any man TAKE our CROWN of LIFE. Please read Revelation 3:11,12 which WARNS us that ONLY those of us that OVERCOME shall RECEIVE eternal life and shall ENTER the CITY of God, the New Jerusalem and have the name of God written upon us. Revelation 3:11,12. “Behold, I come quickly: HOLD that FAST which you have (WHY?), THAT (Or in order that) no man TAKE your CROWN. 12. Him that OVERCOMES will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Yes, it is true that when we first confess our sins that we are made the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God and all our PAST sins, no matter WHAT they may have been, are FORGIVEN and are NEVER again to be remembered against us. Our DEBT that we could NEVER pay is CANCELLED the very moment we accept Jesus as our savior and we are JUSTIFIED before God, we become just as if we had never sinned. And yes, at that point in time in our life when God looks at us all he sees is his RIGHTEOUSNESS. We did not EARN this first part of our salvation by any WORKS that we have done. This part of our salvation is a FREE GIFT and is by the GRACE of God and we RECEIVE this part of our salvation THROUGH FAITH. However, this does NOT mean that when we give in to the lies of the enemy, Satan, the devil, and SIN that God STILL YET SEES us as RIGHTEOUS. The TRUTH of the matter is that what Almighty God sees when we SIN, IS our SIN. And as long as we REMAIN in that SIN, then that SIN is ALL God SEES. Therefore, if a TRUE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER were to DIE while living in a lifestyle of SIN, then that SINNER shall receive the WAGES of their SIN which they have ungodly COMMITTED and which they have NOT REPENTED of and CONFESSED and asked FORGIVENESS for. The teaching of once you accept Jesus as your savior and are BORN AGAIN, then you can NEVER LOSE your SALVATION is a doctrine of the devil. The teaching of once saved always saved is a FALSE teaching. A SINNER must ALWAYS REPENT of his or her SIN in order to be FORGIVEN and placed back into the right relationship with Almighty God. And if a BELIEVER SINS, then that BELIEVER immediately becomes a SINNER once again and remains a SINNER until they REPENT of their SIN. If you doubt what I am teaching you is the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God, then I BESEECH you my dear brother or sister in the Lord to WEIGH ALL the evidence from BOTH sides of the highly controversial subject of eternal security by reading the study “DOES THE BIBLE ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED?” But for now let us continue this study in God's word and examine some more evidence from the Bible that shows us this INITIAL RIGHTEOUSNESS by GRACE THROUGH FAITH and NOT of WORKS lest any man should BOAST, but ALSO shows us that we MUST WITHOUT FAIL MAINTAIN to DO GOOD WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS in order to be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to have RIGHT to the TREE of LIFE. BOTH kinds of RIGHTEOUSNESS are IMPUTED to us, but the FIRST kind we receive ONCE at the time we first confess Jesus as our savior by FAITH which is where there are ABSOLUTELY NO WORKS involved other than receiving and believing God's word of TRUTH. And the other RIGHTEOUSNESS that is taught in God's word is the RIGHTEOUSNESS that is IMPUTED to us when we BELIEVE God's word and then ACT upon what we BELIEVE to demonstrate that we TRULY BELIEVE. But all the while we are DOING these GOOD WORKS and OBEYING the COMMANDMENTS of God, we KNOW that WE are NOT doing these GOOD WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS in our OWN STRENGTH! All the GLORY goes to Almighty God for the RIGHTEOUSNESS that is IMPUTED to us as we OBEY the Holy Spirit and the word of God. For you see, it is God working in us who is empowering us to overcome sin in our lives. Now both kinds of RIGHTEOUSNESS require a CONTINUING FAITH that ENDURES unto the END in order to be SAVED and to RECEIVE the END of our SALVATION which is ETERNAL LIFE. We must CONTINUE to believe that God has forgiven us of all our PAST sins when the devil brings them up before us. Remember that Almighty God has forgotten them and they are as far as the east is from the west, which is infinity UNTIL YOU YOURSELF TURN AROUND and bring them BACK before God. If you are going east and your sins are going west and you turn around, then you are heading the same direction as your sins. True repentance means to TURN AROUND and go the OPPOSITE way and STAY going in the WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS. Also IF we were to FALL into sin, then we must confess that sin and repent of that sin and CONTINUE to BELIEVE that that sin has been forgiven in order for the blood of Jesus to cleanses us from all UN-righteousness and for the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God to be IMPUTED to us. DO NOT BE DECEIVED that WORKS do not matter! EVERY PERSON shall be JUDGED ACCORDING to his or her WORKS! Perhaps you have heard it said that Jesus is the AUTHOR and FINISHER of your FAITH. If not then please read, Hebrews 12:1-14, which is the CONTEXT of Jesus being the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our FAITH. Please read carefully and consider the subject under discussion which is getting SIN out of our lives. Hebrews 12:1-4. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us LAY ASIDE every weight, and the SIN which does so easily beset us, and let us RUN with patience the race that is set before us, 2. Looking unto Jesus the author (Or the beginning or initiator) and finisher (Or the one who will be with us until the END) of our faith; who for the JOY that was set before HIM ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. For consider him that ENDURED such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest (Or for fear that) you be WEARIED and FAINT in your minds. 4. You have not yet RESISTED (Speaking of resisting SIN. You have NOT YET resisted SIN) unto blood, STRIVING against SIN. 5. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you art rebuked of him: 6. For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. 7. If you ENDURE chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? 8. But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons. 9. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and LIVE? 10. For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he (Or but God corrects us) for our profit, that we might be partakers of his HOLINESS. 11. Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable FRUIT of RIGHTEOUSNESS unto THEM which are exercised thereby. (Or ONLY THEM that ENDURE the CORRECTING of Almighty God through his WORD) 12. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13. And MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS for your feet, lest (Or for FEAR that) that which is lame be turned out of the way (Or reject if it is not healed); but let it rather be healed. 14. Follow peace with all men, and HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE the Lord.” Please read the study entitled “WITHOUT HOLINESS NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD” for a more in-depth study on this subject. But for now, let us look at the two parts of our salvation. How shall we ESCAPE the WRATH of Almighty God if we NEGLECT so great a SALVATION? This verse in Hebrews 2:1-3 teaches us that our salvation can be NEGLECTED to the point that we fall from God's grace and shall NOT escape the WRATH of God, because we have been OVERCOME by the enemy and have become DISOBEDIENT children of God. Hebrews 2:1-3. “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest HEED to the things which we have heard, lest (Or for FEAR that) at ANY TIME we should let them SLIP. 2. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and EVERY transgression and DISOBEDIENCE received a just recompense of reward; 3. 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;” The word “NEGLECT” here means to ignore, to make light of, to neglect, to disregard, to fail to give proper attention to, a failure to carry out through carelessness or even oversight, and lack of care or maintenance. In Hebrews 5:9 we are given this WARNING. “And being made perfect, he became the AUTHOR (Or initiator) of eternal salvation unto all THEM that OBEY him.” Therefore, our salvation or that salvation which Jesus BEGAN in us does NOT become an ETERNAL SALVATION unless we OBEY the WORDS of Jesus unto the END. We are exhorted to CONSTANTLY AFFIRM our fellow brothers and sisters to be careful to MAINTAIN GOOK WORKS. Please read Titus 3:7,8 which says. “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE. 8. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you AFFIRM CONSTANTLY, that they which have believed in God might be CAREFUL to MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Then is Titus 1:16 we see that there were some who PROFESSED that they KNEW God, HOWEVER, in the WORKS, they DENIED the Lord and therefore were considered to be ABOMINABLE, DISOBEDIENT and even REPROBATE. Titus 1:16. “They PROFESS (Or the SAY) that they know God; BUT IN WORKS they deny him, being abominable, and DISOBEDIENT, and unto every good WORK reprobate.” Be not deceived my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, be CAREFUL to MAINTAIN to DO GOOD WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS. In Titus 2:1-15 we learn what things become SOUND DOCTRINE, and some of these things is our BEHAVIOR and HOW we LIVE our LIVES as Christians. And also teaches us that the very reason for God's GRACE was to TEACH US to LIVE godly and holy lives IN this PRESENT and fallen world in which we are living in NOW. In other words, we are to be living WITHOUT SIN right NOW IN THIS PRESENT WORLD in which we live. Titus 2:1-15. “But speak you the things which become sound doctrine: 2. That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3. The aged women likewise, that they are in BEHAVIOR as becomes HOLINESS, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. 7. In all things showing yourself a pattern of GOOD WORKS: in doctrine showing incorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8. Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10. Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. 11. For the GRACE of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men (HOW? How does the GRACE of God BRING to us SALVATION or ETERNAL LIFE? BY), 12. TEACHING US that, DENYING ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should LIVE soberly, righteously, and godly, IN this PRESENT world; 13. Looking for that blessed hope (Our HOPE of OBTAINING ETERNAL LIFE), and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of GOOD WORKS. 15. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you.” In 2 Timothy 3:1-17 we are warned that in the last days there will even be brothers and sisters in the Lord that will DESPISE other brothers and sisters for teaching about DOING GOOD WORKS and even DESPISE those that are themselves DOING GOOD WORKS. 2 Timothy 3:1-7. “This KNOW also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despiser of those that are good, 4. Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5. Having a FORM of godliness, but DENYING the power thereof: from such turn away. 6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the TRUTH: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 10. But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, 11. Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12. Yea, and all that will LIVE GODLY in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and BEING deceived. 14. But CONTINUE YOU in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them; 15. And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in RIGHTEOUSNESS: 17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all GOOD WORKS.” If you, the reader, are TRULY a man or woman of God you WILL be DOING GOOD WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS and you should NOT be OPPOSED to maintaining your self to DO GOOD WORKS. NOR should you DESPISE those that TEACH HOLINESS and being a DOER of the word and NOT a hearer only DECEIVING their OWN SELVES. 1 Peter 1:1-17. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively HOPE by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5. Who are KEPT by the POWER of God THROUGH FAITH UNTO salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8. Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9. RECEIVING the END of your faith, even the SALVATION of your souls. 10. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. 12. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be YOU HOLY in all manner of conversation; 16. Because it is written, Be YOU HOLY; for I am holy. 17. And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons, judges according to every man's WORK, pass the time of your sojourning here in FEAR:” One of the things some Christians have failed to realize is that our SALVATION is in STEPS and only BEGINS when we accept Jesus as our savior, which is the FIRST PART of our BEING saved. You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, when we first accept Jesus as our savior we are FORGIVEN ALL of our PAST sins and thereby we are RESTORED in our relationship BACK to Almighty God. Please read Romans 5:10 from several translations which show us this INITIAL PART of our salvation. Romans 5:10 King James Version. “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 God's Word Translation. “If the death of his Son RESTORED our relationship with God while we were still his enemies, we are even more certain that, because of this restored relationship, the LIFE of his Son WILL save us.” American Standard Version “For since we were RESTORED to friendship with God by the DEATH of his Son while we were still his enemies, we WILL certainly be delivered from eternal punishment BY his LIFE.” Romans 5:10 Bible Basic English. “For if, when we were haters of God, the death of his Son made us at peace with him, much more, now that we are his friends, will we have salvation THROUGH his LIFE;” Romans 5:10 Good News Translation “We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the DEATH of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more WILL we BE SAVED by Christ's LIFE!” Romans 5:10 Weymouth Translation. “For if while we were hostile to God we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, it is still more certain that now that we are reconciled, we SHALL OBTAIN salvation through Christ's LIFE.” . Our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ by his DEATH has RESTORED us to a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Almighty God. And the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God is IMPUTED to us the moment we first believed. And then, THROUGH the LIFE that Jesus himself LIVED IN this PRESENT fallen world WITHOUT SIN, he lived as an EXAMPLE for us to FOLLOW. In other words, we were saved to obey. And thus we are called to overcome sin in our life. To say this another way we are called by God to overcome THROUGH the power of the Holy Spirit. And as we obey the teachings of Jesus to live our life WITHOUT SIN then at the coming of Jesus we shall BE SAVED and OBTAIN the HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE which was set before us to RUN the RACE. But only IF we finish the race and are found to be FAITHFUL to have ENDURED unto the END will we receive eternal life. It is in the world to come that we shall RECEIVE our REWARD of ETERNAL LIFE IF we OBEY the teachings of Jesus under the NEW COVENANT written it the New Testament. This is the GOSPEL that was preached unto us from the BEGINNING. Please read Matthew 3:1-10 from the New Living Translation, which says. Matthew 3:1-10. “In those days John the Baptist BEGAN preaching in the Judean wilderness. His MESSAGE was, 2. “TURN from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 3. Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: 'Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming! Make a straight road for him!’” 4. John's clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey. 5. People from Jerusalem and from every section of Judea and from all over the Jordan Valley went out to the wilderness to hear him preach. 6. And when they CONFESSED their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 7. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God's coming judgment?” 8. PROVE by the WAY you LIVE that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. 9. Don't just SAY, 'We're SAFE (Or do not just SAY that you are SAVED and are a Christian, but rather PROVE that you are truly saved by OBEYING God to DO GOOD WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS! Don't just SAY)-- we're the descendants of Abraham.' That proves NOTHING. God can change these stones here into children of Abraham. 10. Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever your roots. Yes, EVERY tree that does NOT produce GOOD FRUIT will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” I want you to read this passage of scripture found in Matthew 3:1-17 from God's Word Translation, which says it this way. “Later, John the Baptizer appeared in the desert of Judea. His MESSAGE was, 2. TURN to God and CHANGE the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near. 3. Isaiah the prophet spoke about this man when he said, “A voice cries out in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight! 4. John wore clothes made from camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. 5. Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole Jordan Valley went to him. 6. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 7. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You poisonous snakes! Who showed you how to flee from God's coming anger? 8. Do those things that PROVE you have turned to God and have CHANGED the way you think and act. 9. Don't think you can SAY, 'Abraham is our ancestor.' I can guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. 10. The ax is now ready to cut the roots of the trees. Any tree that DOESN'T PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT will be cut down and thrown into a FIRE. 11. I baptize you with water so that you will change the way you think and act. But the one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12. His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clean up his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into a barn, but he will burn the husks in a fire that can never be put out. 13. Then Jesus appeared. He came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14. But John tried to stop him and said, “I need to be baptized by you. Why are you coming to me?” 15. Jesus answered him, “This is the WAY it has to be NOW. This is the proper WAY to DO EVERYTHING that God REQUIRES of us.” Then John gave in to him. 16. After Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up from the water. Suddenly, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove to him. 17. Then a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love--my Son with whom I am pleased.” OBEDIENCE is what PLEASES ALMIGHTY GOD! The DOCTRINE or TEACHING of Jesus HIMSELF teaches us that we are to LIVE RIGHTEOUS and HOLY LIVES before Almighty God our heavenly Father! Jesus said, “I am the WAY, and NO man comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:10). But what exactly does Jesus mean by the WAY? In Acts 11:26 we read those believers or those in the WAY were FIRST CALLED Christians in Antioch. In other words, BEFORE believers were CALLED Christians, believers in Jesus Christ were CALLED the WAY. For a deeper understanding of what Jesus meant when he said, “I am the WAY”, please read the study entitled “I AM THE WAY, WHAT DID JESUS MEAN?”, but for now let us continue this study in God's word to learn the truth about the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of God through Jesus Christ and read Acts 11:26, which teaches us when believers were FIRST called Christians. Acts 11:26. “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught many people. And the disciples were CALLED Christians FIRST in Antioch.” Now, why do you suppose they were called CHRISTIANS? Could it be that they were CHRIST LIKE in that they FOLLOWED the TEACHINGS of Jesus and the EXAMPLE of Jesus' LIFE that he lived WITHOUT SIN? What did JESUS HIMSELF teach us? Please read the DOCTRINE and TEACHING of Jesus found in Matthew 7:13-29, which says. Matthew 7:13-29. “Enter you in at the STRAIGHT gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the WAY, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: 14. Because STRAIGHT is the gate, and narrow is the WAY, which LEADS unto life, and few there be that find it. 15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16. You shall KNOW them (The FALSE teachers in sheep's clothing. You shall know these false Christians) by their FRUITS. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17. Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. 18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down , and cast into the fire. 20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21. Not every one that SAYS unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOES the WILL of my Father which is in heaven. 22. MANY will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: DEPART from me, you that WORK INIQUITY. 24. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and DOES them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it FELL NOT: for it was founded upon a rock. 26. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them NOT, shall be likened unto a FOOLISH man, which built his house upon the sand: 27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it FELL: and great was the fall of it. 28. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his DOCTRINE: 29. For he TAUGHT them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Jesus goes on to teach about the WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is to DO the WILL of Almighty God the Father in Matthew 21:28-32, which says. Matthew 21:28-32. “But what think you? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go WORK today in my vineyard. 29. He answered and said, I will NOT: but AFTERWARD he REPENTED, and went (Or OBEYED his Father and went and WORKED). 30. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and SAID, I go, sir: and went NOT. 31. Whether of the two did the WILL of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32. For John came unto you in the WAY of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and you believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterward, that you might believe him.” Then we see what happened to those who MADE LIGHT of the WAY and how they were found to be NOT WORTHY of the wedding even though they were the first ones to be called to the wedding in Matthew 22:1-14, which reads as follows. Matthew 22:1-14. “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5. But they MADE LIGHT OF IT, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6. And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8. Then said he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were NOT WORTHY. 9. Go you therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11. And when the king came in to see the GUESTS, he saw there a man which had NOT on a wedding garment: 12. And he saith unto him, FRIEND, how came you in hither NOT having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14. For many are called, but few are chosen.” Have you noticed my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ that this parable is referring to the Jews who were called first to the wedding of Jesus, but they made LIGHT of it or did NOT take it SERIOUSLY and because they NEGLECTED so great a salvation they were NOT found to be WORTHY. So then, after the Jews REJECTED the gospel, then the INVITATION or the GOSPEL CALL was sent out to ALL the Gentiles both GOOD and BAD to the wedding. Now I want you to particularly pay close attention to the man who was NOT wearing a WEDDING GARMENT and WHAT happened to this man who had SIN in his life and was found to be UNWORTHY even though he was CALLED FRIEND and was INVITED to the wedding. He was CAST OUT into outer darkness, because he too made LIGHT of his CALLING and in what he was REQUIRED by God to DO in order to OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. There is a WAY in which a true believer must WALK and that WAY is the WAY of WALKING after the Holy Spirit of Almighty God in RIGHTEOUSNESS. Please read Acts 16:17, which teaches us that there is a WAY of SALVATION. “The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the WAY of salvation.” Acts 18:24-28. “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25. This man was instructed in the WAY of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the WAY of God more perfectly. 27. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote , exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28. For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ (Or that Jesus was the ANOINTED ONE of Almighty God).” Acts 19:17-23. “And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and FEAR (Or the fear of God) fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18. And many that BELIEVED came, and CONFESSED, and SHOWED their DEEDS. 19. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. 21. After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 22. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. 23. And the same time there arose no small stir about that WAY.” Acts 22:4. “And I persecuted this WAY unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” Acts 24:14. “But this I confess unto you, that after the WAY which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:” The apostle James gives us some SOUND doctrine found in James chapter 1 and chapter 2. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; 3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. 8. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10. But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower thereof falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12. BLESSED is the man that ENDURES temptation: for when he is tried, he SHALL receive the crown of life, which the Lord has PROMISED to them that LOVE him. 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. 16. Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18. Of his own will begot he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20. For the wrath of man works NOT the righteousness of God. 21. WHEREFORE (Or for this REASON) lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22. But be you DOERS of the word, and NOT hearers ONLY, DECEIVING your own selves. 23. For if any be a hearer of the word and NOT a DOER, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24. For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was. 25. But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty and CONTINUES therein, he being NOT a forgetful hearer, but a DOER of the WORK, this man shall be blessed in his DEED. 26. If any man among you SEEM to be religious, and bridles NOT his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is VAIN. 27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is THIS, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to KEEP HIMSELF UNSPOTTED from the world.” James chapter 2 teaches us some of the things that cause us to be SPOTTED with SIN, which we are to KEEP YOURSELVES FROM DOING THESE THINGS that are displeasing to Almighty God. “My brethren, have NOT the FAITH of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3. And you have respect to him that wears the gay clothing and say unto him, Sit you here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand you there, or sit here under my footstool: 4. Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that LOVE him? 6. But you have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which you are called? 8. If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself, you do well: 9. But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12. So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14. What does it profit, my brethren, though a man SAY he has faith, and have NOT WORKS? Can FAITH (Or can faith ALONE without WORKS) save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, 16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit? 17. Even so, FAITH, if it has NOT WORKS, is DEAD, being ALONE. 18. Yea, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith BY my WORKS. 19. You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. See you how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was IMPUTED unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24. You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot JUSTIFIED by works, when she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way? 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith WITHOUT WORKS is DEAD also.” Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that the DOING of GOOD WORKS is ESSENTIAL in that we are REQUIRED by Almighty God to LIVE a life of RIGHTEOUSNESS as PROOF that we truly BELIEVE his WORD of TRUTH, the GOSPEL of our salvation in ORDER to be found WORTHY and have RIGHT to OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE in the world to COME? BE NOT DECEIVED! ANYONE of US is capable of being DECEIVED by the DECEIVEABLENESS of SIN and thereby FALL from the GRACE of God and possibly DIE while we are in this FALLEN state of SIN and thereby LOSE our INHERITANCE and right to RECEIVE our REWARD of ETERNAL LIFE, because we did NOT ENDURE unto the END and were not found to be that GOOD and FAITHFUL servant that is called to ENTER into the Joy of the Lord! FAITH without WORKS is DEAD being ALONE! The RIGHTEOUSNESS that is IMPUTED to us as BELIEVERS only remains IMPUTED to us as we CONTINUE to WALK in the LIGHT even as Jesus is in the light, and THEN the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sin. In other words, ONLY he that DOES RIGHTEOUSNESS or CONTINUES in DOING GOOD WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS. Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark. RETURN TO HOMEPAGE
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