What does Hebrews 12:14 TRULY mean?

Does this mean that a believer MUST do WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS in ORDER to OBTAIN 

ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come?

Let us begin this study in God's word by reading Hebrews 12:14, which says.

“Follow peace with all men, and HOLINESS, without which NO man shall SEE the Lord:” 

So then, the question has come before me, does this verse mean that without HOLINESS in our lives that NO man will SEE the Lord IN US? In other words, I was asked, does not this verse just simply mean that unless we walk in holiness, then no other person will ever be able to see the Lord IN US?

OR

Does this verse TRULY mean that without HOLINESS in our lives that NO man living a life WITHOUT holiness will SEE the Lord, in that, NO man will be able to ENTER into the kingdom of God nor RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE when they die or when Jesus returns IF SO BE that they are found to be UNFAITHFUL and WITHOUT HOLINESS when they die or when Jesus comes again?

To answer this question let us first take a look at the WORDS of Jesus himself found in Matthew 24:12,13, where Jesus is clearly teaching us that in the last days, SIN will ABOUND and the LOVE of MANY Christians will grow cold. And then Jesus follows up with a WARNING for all believers to ENDURE unto the END because it will be that ONLY those true born again believers who ENDURE unto the END that shall be SAVED and inherit ETERNAL LIFE in the world to COME.

Matthew 24:12,13.

“And because iniquity (Or SIN) shall abound, the LOVE of many shall wax cold (Or grow cold).

13. But he that shall ENDURE unto the end (Referring to the END of our LIFE or the END being the end of the AGE, when Jesus RETURNS to execute the WRATH of Almighty God), the SAME shall be saved (Speaking of ONLY those FAITHFUL believers who do NOT let their LOVE grow cold and fall back into SIN, but RATHER it is ONLY those true born again believers who ENDURE unto the END that shall be SAVED and RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE when Jesus comes again AT his SECOND coming).”

Then again in John 6:26 we see Jesus teaching us to LABOR or WORK for that MEAT which will endure or more precisely that meat or DOCTRINE which will cause US to ENDURE UNTO ETERNAL LIFE which Jesus SHALL give to ONLY those of us who ENDURE unto the END and are found to be that good and faithful servant at his coming in the world to COME.

John 6:26.

“LABOR (Or WORK) not for the MEAT (That natural food or things of this present world) which perishes, BUT (But WHAT? BUT rather WORK) for that MEAT (That spiritual food of God’s word and the things of God) which endures UNTO everlasting life, which the Son of man SHALL give unto you: for him has God the Father sealed.”

Now, this verse leads me to believe that IF a person is WORKING for the WRONG kind of MEAT, then that WRONG MEAT will cause that person to PERISH. But IF one WORKS for the TRUE MEAT, then this TRUE MEAT of this TRUE DOCTRINE will lead them to ENDURE UNTO RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE that Jesus will give us AT his SECOND coming IF SO BE that we CONTINUE in this word of TRUTH.

Remember what Jesus said in John 8:31,32 about us being his disciples IF and ONLY IF we CONTINUE in his WORD.

John 8:31,32.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which BELIEVED on him, IF you CONTINUE in my WORD, THEN (Or then and ONLY THEN) you are my disciples indeed;

32. And you shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall MAKE you free (Or cause you to become free or EMPOWER you to be free from sin and sickness).”

Therefore, we MUST, without fail, CONTINUE in the word of TRUTH and ENDURE unto the END in order to be SAVED and inherit ETERNAL LIFE in the world to COME. So then, in order to understand what Jesus means by LABORING or WORKING for that MEAT which will produce ETERNAL LIFE in us, then we need to know WHAT Jesus means by the word “MEAT”? Well, if we back up a couple of chapters and read John 4:32-38, then we will see that one of the meanings of the word “MEAT” means to LABOR or to WORK the WILL of Almighty God.

John 4:32-38.

“In the meanwhile, his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, EAT. 

32. But he said unto them, I have MEAT to eat that you know not of.

33. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Has any man brought him ought to eat? 

34. Jesus saith unto them, My MEAT is to DO the WILL of him that sent me and to finish his WORK.

35. Say NOT you, There are yet four months, and then comes harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

36. And he that reaps receives wages and gathers fruit UNTO life eternal: that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together.

37. And herein is that saying true, One sow, and another reaps.

38. I sent you to reap that whereon you bestowed no labor: other men labored, and you are entered into their labors.”

Then a few verses after John 6:27 where Jesus teaches us to WORK for that MEAT that produces ETERNAL LIFE Jesus goes on to tell us WHAT that MEAT is in John 6:55-63 where we see that the FLESH of Jesus is MEAT to eat and if one eats his FLESH THEN and ONLY THEN they shall LIVE by him.

John 6:55-63.

“For my flesh is MEAT indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56. He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him.

57. As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall LIVE by me.

58. This is that BREAD (Or MEAT) which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this BREAD (Or MEAT) shall LIVE FOREVER.

59. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it?

61. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offends you?

62. What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

63. It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the WORDS that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are LIFE.”

In other words, the very WORD of Almighty God is MEAT whereby we shall OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE if so be that we OBEY or LIVE by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God. Yet we also see in God's word that some are not able to bear strong MEAT until they have grown in the Lord and are no longer babes in Christ.

Please read 1 Corinthians 3:1-8 which says.

“And I, brethren, could NOT speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2. I have FED you with milk, and NOT with MEAT: for hitherto you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able. 

3. For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal and walk as men?

4. For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6. I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 

7. So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. 

8. Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man SHALL RECEIVE his own REWARD ACCORDING to his own labor.”

Let us read John 6:26 again in the New Living Translation.

“But you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy SEEKING the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God, the Father has sent me for that very purpose.”

WHY SEEK after ETERNAL LIFE if we ALREADY possess eternal life and can NEVER lose our SALVATION?

1 Corinthians 10:1-13.

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be IGNORANT (Or LACK this KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH so that you perish NOT), how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3. And did all eat the SAME SPIRITUAL MEAT;

4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5. BUT with MANY of them God was not well pleased: (WHY?) FOR (Or BECAUSE) they were OVERTHROWN (Or they were OVERCOME by the ENEMY Satan the devil) in the wilderness.

6. Now, these things were our examples, to the intent we should NOT lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 

7. Neither be you, idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. 

8. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10. Neither, murmur you, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are to come. 

12. WHEREFORE (Or for this reason) let him that THINKS he stands, take heed lest he falls. 

13. There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will NOT suffer you to be tempted ABOVE that you are ABLE; but will with the temptation ALSO make a way to escape, that you may be ABLE to bear it.”

Now please read chapter 5 of the book of Hebrews, which CLEARLY teaches us that we MUST OBEY the WORDS of Jesus in order to OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE in the world to COME when Jesus comes again.

Hebrews 5:1-14.

“For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for SINS: 

2. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4. And no man takes this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, You art my Son, today have I begotten you.

6. As he says also in another place, You art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.

7. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared;

8. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience BY the things which he suffered; 

9. And being made perfect, he became the author of ETERNAL SALVATION unto all them that OBEY him;

10. Called of God a high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing you are dull of hearing.

12. For when for the time you OUGHT to be teachers, you have a need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and NOT of STRONG MEAT.

13. For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of RIGHTEOUSNESS: for he is a babe.

14. But STRONG MEAT belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, the word of God tells us in Hebrews 2:18 that Jesus suffers not only by his suffering on the cross but ALSO BY being TEMPTED. 

Hebrews 2:18.

“For in that he (Jesus) himself has suffered BEING tempted, he is able to succor (Or aid or help) them that are tempted.”

Also please read Luke 4:4, where we see HOW Jesus OVERCAME the devil when he was TEMPTED by the devil in the desert place to turn stones into bread after Jesus had just gone through a 40 day fast and was hungry. 

Luke 4:4.

“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is WRITTEN, That man shall not LIVE by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD of God.” 

When Jesus was TEMPTED to SIN, Jesus then USED the WORD of Almighty God to OVERCOME the devil. 

Now some of you may still believe that you ALREADY have eternal life and that you can NEVER LOSE your SALVATION because you were TAUGHT that eternal life is a FREE GIFT and therefore one cannot EARN their salvation, because it is a GIFT of God, and you BELIEVE what you were TAUGHT. Now while this statement that SALVATION is a FREE GIFT has truth in it, this teaching that once a person accepts this FREE GIFT of SALVATION, then they can NEVER LOSE their SALVATION is NOT the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Please remember the word of TRUTH that you just read which says that we shall LIVE by EVERY WORD that proceeds out of the mouth of God, and NOT by a word or two here and there taken OUT of CONTEXT and viewed ALONE and APART from the WHOLE word of Almighty God. I cover this subject of once saved always saved in great detail in some of my other studies, so if you are seeking the TRUTH on this subject please read the following studies: “DOES THE ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED?”, “HOW CAN I BE SAVED?”, and “WE ARE NOT SAVED BY OUR OWN GOOD WORKS”.

But for now, let us continue this study in God's WORD to see if the words in Hebrews 12:14 TRULY mean that NO man shall see God unless they LIVE HOLY LIVES before God. I want you to read James 1:12 out of several different translations in order to SEE the TRUTH of God's word that one MUST, without fail, ENDURE temptation unto the END and NOT SIN in ORDER that we may be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to OBTAIN eternal life in the world to come. But I will only quote two translations.

Here is how James 1:12 in the Complete Jerusalem Bible reads.

“How BLESSED is the man WHO PERSEVERES THROUGH TEMPTATION! For AFTER he has PASSED the test, he WILL RECEIVE as his crown the LIFE which God has PROMISED to those who LOVE him.”

Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that it is NOT just simply going THROUGH the motions of being tried or tested that APPROVES us before God, but RATHER whether or not we PASS those times of testing WHEREBY God may then KNOW our heart. Please consider from the Scriptures an example of this, God KNOWING the heart of a man only AFTER the man went through a time of testing like Almighty God puts Abraham to the TEST in order to SEE if Abraham truly LOVES him. Read it for yourself in Genesis 22:1-12 where Almighty God puts Abraham to a TEST in order to SEE if Abraham truly fears and loves God.

Genesis 22:1-12.

“And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt (Or TRY or TEST) Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 

2. And he said, Take now thy son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of. 

3. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 

4. Then on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off.

5. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide you here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 

6. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

7. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

8. And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

9. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

11. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 

12. And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you anything unto him: for NOW I KNOW that you fear God, SEEING you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.”

Abraham PASSED the test by DOING the WILL of God, and God did not know for sure UNTIL the test was over and God SAW the OBEDIENCE of Abraham to DO his WILL. We are taught in Hebrews 10:35-39 to have PATIENCE in our trials and NOT to CAST AWAY the confidence of our faith in order that we may RECEIVE the PROMISE when the test is done.

Hebrews 10:35-39. 

“Cast NOT away, therefore, your confidence, which has a great recompense of REWARD.

36. For you have need of patience, THAT (Or so that), AFTER you have DONE the WILL of God, you might RECEIVE the promise.

37. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.    

38. Now the just shall LIVE by faith: BUT if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39. But we are not of them who draw back unto PERDITION; but of them, that believe TO the SAVING of the soul.”

Let us read verse 39 again from the Complete Jerusalem Bible and then from the Message Bible.

Hebrews 10:39 from the Complete Jerusalem Bible.

“39. However, we are not the kind who shrink back and are DESTROYED; on the contrary, we KEEP trusting and THUS preserve our lives!”

Hebrews 10:29 from the Message Bible.

“39. But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.”

Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that we MUST CONTINUE in our faith and stay with it ALL the WAY to the END in ORDER to be SAVED.

Let us read James 1:12 again, this time from the American Standard Version.

“BLESSED is the man THAT ENDURES temptation; for WHEN he has been APPROVED, he shall receive the crown of life, which [the Lord] PROMISED to them that LOVE him.”

You see, the person who the Bible says is BLESSED and RECEIVES eternal life is the person that ENDURES through the temptation and does NOT allow himself or herself to be OVERCOME by the enemy and give in to the temptation and SIN. Then WHEN this person is APPROVED of God AFTER they PASSED the test or trial and ENDURED unto the END, THEN they shall RECEIVE their crown of eternal life in the world to COME. 

Now. please understand that if so be a Christian does give into temptation and sins it is NOT game over, now kiss your salvation goodbye. Jesus is our MEDIATOR between God and US. And thus, Jesus knows what it means to be TEMPTED because he was tempted in all manner like we are tempted. And, therefore, God gives us great mercy and compassion being long-suffering toward us. So KNOW dear children of God that when you sin it is like a small child falling and the parent helps their child get back up. This is why the Bible teaches us to REPENT and ask forgiveness of our sin and to KNOW that he is always FAITHFUL to forgive us of all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thus, each time we repent of our sin we are made PERFECT again in the eyes of God just as if we had never sinned. So do NOT ever give up and always PERSEVERE unto the end.

Let us read this verse in James 1:12 from the New American Standard Version.

“Blessed is a man who PERSEVERES under trial; (WHY?) for once he has been APPROVED, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who LOVE Him.”

There are TWO kinds of persevering. The first kind is WHILE we are under TEMPTATION we are to persevere unto the END of that temptation to NOT give in to it and sin. The second kind of persevering is NOT to cast away our FAITH by falling for the LIES of the Devil, who says to us at times things like, 'You have done it this time, God will never forgive you for what you have done. You knew better and you willingly went ahead and disobey God deliberately to please your own flesh.' 

Another point that I want to bring to your attention is that this REWARD of eternal life in only promised to those who LOVE God. I want you to read this verse in James 1:12, a few more times so that this TRUTH in God's word really sinks deep down into your spirit. Here is the English Standard Version.

James 1:12.

“Blessed is the man WHO REMAINS steadfast under trial, for WHEN (Or AFTER) he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to THOSE who LOVE him.”

James 1:12 from the Weymouth Translation. 

“Blessed is he who patiently endures trials; for WHEN he has stood the test, he will GAIN the victor's crown--even the crown of Life--which the Lord has promised to those who LOVE Him.”

 James 1:12 New Century Version.

“When people are tempted and still CONTINUE strong, they should be happy. AFTER they have PROVED their faith, God will REWARD them with LIFE forever. God promised this to all those who LOVE him.”

Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, that it is ONLY AFTER we have been found to be FAITHFUL that Jesus will say unto us, Well done my GOOD and FAITHFUL servant, ENTER YOU into the JOY of the Lord.

Now I would like for you to please read Matthew 24:37-51 which teaches us that in the last days some of the SERVANTS of God will FALL AWAY and go back to living a life of SIN and these EVIL servants shall be CUT asunder or cut off from their inheritance and cast into outer darkness, because they were NOT found to be FAITHFUL when Jesus comes again.

Matthew 24:37-51.

“But as the days of Noah were (Where ONLY a few RIGHTEOUS were SAVED and all the disobedient to the gospel were destroyed), so shall ALSO the coming of the Son of man be. 

38. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

39. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42. WATCH, therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come.

43. But know this, that if the GOOD man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he (Speaking of the GOOD man, HE) would have WATCHED, and would NOT have suffered his house to be broken up.

44. THEREFORE (Or for this REASON) be YOU also READY: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.

45. WHO then is a FAITHFUL and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46. BLESSED is THAT servant, WHOM his lord when he comes shall find so DOING.

47. Verily (Or TRULY) I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48. BUT and IF that evil servant shall say in his heart, MY LORD delays his coming;

49. And shall begin to smite his FELLOW servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50. The LORD of THAT servant shall come in a day when he looks NOT for him, and in an hour that he is NOT aware of,

51. And shall cut HIM (That servant who went back into living in SIN Jesus shall cut that disobedient child) ASUNDER, and APPOINT him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Jesus goes on and continues to teach us about the UNPROFITABLE servant and his reward of being cast out into outer darkness and then how the FAITHFUL servant who walked in RIGHTEOUSNESS was welcome into the JOY of the Lord. 

Please read Matthew chapter 25, which reads as follows.

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.

7. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

8. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your OIL; for our lamps are gone out.

9. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were READY went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13. WATCH, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.

14. For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his OWN servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ABILITY; and straightway took his journey.

16. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17. And likewise, he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18. But he that had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19. After a long time, the LORD of those servants comes and reckons with them.

20. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21. His lord said unto him, Well done, you GOOD and FAITHFUL servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: ENTER you into the JOY of your lord.

22. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23. His lord said unto him, Well done, GOOD and FAITHFUL servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: ENTER you into the JOY of your lord.

24. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strawed:

25. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo, there you have that is yours.

26. HIS LORD answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful servant, you KNEW that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27. You ought, therefore, to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming, I should have received mine own with usury.

28. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents.

29. For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him, that has not, shall be TAKEN AWAY even that which he has.

30. And cast you the UNPROFITABLE servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32. And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:

33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (WHY? Why will ONLY these PROFITABLE servants INHERIT the kingdom of God. WHAT did they DO to be called PROFITABLE servants? Please keep reading)

35. For I was hungry, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in:

36. Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me.

37. Then shall the RIGHTEOUS answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you hungry, and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you drink?

38. When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? Or naked, and clothed you?

39. Or when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came unto you?

40. And the King shall answer and say unto THEM (ONLY the RIGHTEOUS), Verily I say unto you, In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (WHY? Why are these servants called CURSED or UNRIGHTEOUS servants?)

42. For (Or BECAUSE) I was hungry, and YOU gave me NO meat: I was thirsty, and YOU gave me NO drink:

43. I was a stranger, and YOU took me NOT in: naked, and YOU clothed me NOT: sick, and in prison, and YOU visited me NOT.

44. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did NOT minister unto YOU?

45. Then shall he answer THEM (Those that had the very SAME opportunity to DO the SAME GOOD WORKS as the RIGHTEOUS and FAITHFUL servants, but did NOT DO these GOOD WORKS wherein they were CALLED to DO, then to those UNPROFITABLE servants Jesus answered), saying, Verily I say unto you, In as much as you did it NOT to one of the least of these, you did it NOT to me.

46. And THESE shall go away into everlasting punishment: BUT the RIGHTEOUS (The ones who OBEYED their Lord to DO GOOD WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS which Ephesians 2:8-10 teaches us that we are created in Christ Jesus to DO and were therefore called the RIGHTEOUS, these ONLY who REMAINED RIGHTEOUS went) into LIFE ETERNAL.”

Now if you are like me and attend a church where you are TAUGHT that you are SAVED by GRACE ALONE and NOT of WORKS lest any man should BOAST, and that the WORKS we now do, after being saved, come or are produced from our being SAVED. Therefore, as some go on to TEACH, you do NOT DO WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS to EARN or even KEEP your SALVATION. 

If you have been TAUGHT this in your church where you attend, then you may struggle with the following Scriptures, until you get a TRUE understanding of WHAT being SAVED TRULY means in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God. I will explain what I mean by this a little later on in this study of God's word. But for now, let us take a CLOSE look at some of the verses that CLEARLY show the CONDITION of DOING GOOD WORKS in ORDER to OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE in the end.

Please read John 6:27-29 which says.

“Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures UNTO everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him has God the Father sealed.

28. Then said they unto him, WHAT shall we DO, that we might WORK the WORKS of God?

29. Jesus answered and said unto them, THIS is the WORK of God, that you BELIEVE on him whom he has sent.” 

Now, some stop right here as say, there you have it from Jesus HIMSELF who plainly tells us that the ONLY WORK we must do to be saved is to BELIEVE on HIM whom Almighty God the Father has sent. Case CLOSED!

But my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord I must caution you that this ONE verse is NOT the WHOLE word of Almighty God. For you see ANY verse when viewed ALONE and APART from the WHOLE word of God may SEEM to be saying something that the WHOLE word of TRUTH is NOT TRULY saying. For an extreme example, I can show you a verse from the Bible that PLAINLY says that Jesus has a devil so why hear what Jesus has to say, but this ONE verse is NOT what the WHOLE word of God TRULY teaches us.

To UNDERSTAND the TRUE meaning of this verse in John 6:29 you must understand what it means to BELIEVE in Almighty God the Father and his SON Jesus. Please read what else Jesus said in this area of BELIEVING on him and the Father.

In Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus tells us PART of what it means to BELIEVE.

“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. 

30. And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went NOT. 

31. Whether of these two did the WILL of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith 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.” 

So here we see that BELIEVING requires REPENTANCE! For a true sound Biblical understanding of what TRUE repentance is, please read the study entitled “TRUE BIBLICAL REPENTANCE”. You see, one must WORK the WORKS of God and DO the WILL of God, which is to walk in RIGHTEOUSNESS in order to OBTAIN eternal life in the world to COME. One must not ONLY SAY or CONFESS that they are a Christian, but they MUST also LIVE their life in OBEDIENCE to the word of God, the gospel, the word of TRUTH.

In Mark 1:1-5 we see the BEGINNING of the GOSPEL of Jesus being preached by John the Baptist. WHAT was the GOSPEL that John preached?

Mark 1:1-5.

“The BEGINNING of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

2. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, which shall prepare your way before you.

3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the WAY of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4. John did baptize in the wilderness and preached the baptism of REPENTANCE for the remission of sins.

5. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.”

Then after John is imprisoned Jesus continues to preach this SAME GOSPEL of REPENTANCE in Mark 1:14,15.

Mark 1:14,15.

“Now after that John was put in prison, JESUS came into Galilee, preaching the GOSPEL of the kingdom of God,

15. And SAYING, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT you, and BELIEVE the GOSPEL.”

Jesus goes on to preach and teach to us in John 12:46-48.

John 12:46-48.

“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever BELIEVES on me should NOT ABIDE (Or continue to live in) in darkness.

47. And if any man hears my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48. He that rejects me, and receives NOT my WORDS, has one that JUDGES him: the WORD that I have spoken, the SAME shall JUDGE him in the last day.”

So then, what are some of the WORDS that Jesus HIMSELF spoke to us? I want to take a CLOSE look at John 14:12-15, which asks us the question do we REALLY and TRULY BELIEVE in Jesus.

John 13:12-15.

“Verily, verily (Or Truly, truly), I say unto you, He that BELIEVES on me, the WORKS that I do shall he (Every one that BELIEVES on Jesus, the WORKS that Jesus did shall YOU) do ALSO; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

13. And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14. If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.

15. If you LOVE me, KEEP my commandments.”

Then a few verses later, in John 14:23,24, Jesus goes on to preach and teach us his GOSPEL.

John 14:23,24. 

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man LOVE me, he WILL KEEP my WORDS: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24. He that loves me NOT keeps NOT my sayings: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.”

Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that we PROVE whether or not we TRULY LOVE Almighty God the Father and his Son Jesus by not only what we SAY, but even more so by WHAT we DO. If we keep not the WORDS of Jesus we show the Lord that we do not love him. Yes, these are hard words I know, but it is because I love you that I write to you this word of TRUTH, the GOSPEL of your salvation. Therefore if you want to OBTAIN eternal life in the world to come, then you MUST PROVE your love for God by DOING the WORKS that he CALLED you to DO and one of these WORKS is to LIVE your lives WITHOUT SIN. 

Please read 1 Peter 2:21,22 which clearly teaches us that we are CALLED to FOLLOW the STEPS of Jesus who did NO SIN.

1 Peter 2:21,22.

“For EVEN HEREUNTO were you CALLED: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an EXAMPLE, that you should FOLLOW his STEPS (And WHAT were the STEPS of Jesus that he left us as an EXAMPLE to FOLLOW? The answer is in the very next verse):

22. Who did NO SIN, neither was guile found in his mouth:”

Remember the WORDS of Jesus in John chapter 14 where he plainly taught us that ANYONE who BELIEVES on him the WORKS that he DID they shall do ALSO. So then, do YOU BELIEVE on Jesus? If you TRULY BELIEVE and you TRULY LOVE Almighty God the Father and his Son Jesus, then you will FOLLOW the STEPS of Jesus and DO the WORKS that Jesus DID and you WILL LIVE your life WITHOUT SIN. For a deeper understanding of HOW to live your life WITHOUT SIN please read the study entitled “HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE FREE FROM SIN”.  Also please read the study entitled “THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER”, which will guide you to the tools that you need to EMPOWER you to be an OVERCOMER and ENDURE unto the END to be saved and obtain eternal life. Don't REJECT these WORDS of Jesus that he said would JUDGE you on the last day.

But for now, let us continue this study in God's word to learn what the WHOLE word of God has to say about WORKS being a CONDITION that MUST be met in ORDER to OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come?

Matthew 16:24-27.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and TAKE UP his CROSS, and FOLLOW me.

25. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall REWARD every man ACCORDING to his WORKS.”

In Titus 1:16 we read of the Jews that profess that they know God, but their WORKS say otherwise. The same is true with some Christians today. They SAY that they are Christians, they SAY that they LOVE God, they SAY that they are SAVED, but their WORKS deny that they serve God.

Titus 1:16.

“They PROFESS that they know God; BUT in WORKS they deny him, being abominable, and DISOBEDIENT, and unto every good work reprobate.” 

Now again, if you attend a church where the FOCUS and majority of the teaching is on SALVATION being a FREE GIFT of God that NO man can EARN by doing WORKS, then you may be thinking right now that I am a FALSE teacher that is trying to teach a WORKS based salvation and that we are SAVED by our OWN WORKS of RIGHTEOUSNESS. And IF this is my intent, then you would be correct in calling me a FALSE teacher. HOWEVER, this is NOT at all what I am teaching, but rather I am just giving you the WHOLE word of TRUTH so that you can weigh ALL the evidence for YOURSELF. Therefore, before you JUDGE for yourself whether or not I am teaching you the TRUTH, or whether or not I am a false teacher in your eyes, I implore you to hear the WHOLE matter as Proverbs 18:12,13 teaches us.

Proverbs 18:12,13.

“Before DESTRUCTION the heart of man is haughty (Or proud), and before honor is humility.

13. He that ANSWERS a matter BEFORE he HEARS it, it is folly and shame unto him.” 

Therefore, I beseech you my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ to HEAR the WHOLE MATTER before you draw your OWN conclusion. Christians who believe in once saved always saved and eternal security have incorrectly interpreted 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 to mean that Christians can lose their REWARDS but they can never lose their salvation. So I implore you to read the study “WHAT DOES 1 CORINTHIANS 3:11-15 TRULY MEAN?” But for now, let us continue this study in God's word by taking a CLOSER look at the letters to the 7 CHURCHES in the book of Revelation where Jesus HIMSELF is telling John WHAT to write to these TRUE BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS who have called upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ as their SAVIOR. I want you to pay very CLOSE attention as to how much Jesus focuses on the WORKS of a BELIEVER as you read these verses in the word of God.

Please read Revelation 2:2 which teaches us about those who SAY they are apostles or in other words, who SAY that they are Christians, but ACCORDING to their WORKS, they are FOUND to be LIARS.

Revelation 2:2.

“I know your WORKS, and your LABOR, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you hast tried them which SAY they are apostles, and are NOT, and has FOUND them LIARS:”

Now, up to this point, Jesus is praising this church for their GOOD WORKS and how they cannot bear those that are SINNERS, and even how they have exposed those that SAY that they are apostles, but in TRUTH they are NOT true representatives of Jesus Christ, but rather FALSE teachers or LIARS.

However, even though Jesus sees the GOOD WORKS he ALSO sees where they are LACKING and how they have FALLEN from the WORK that they did at the beginning or at the first when they first became believers and followers of Jesus Christ and WARNS them to REPENT. 

Let us continue with Revelation 2:3-5 which says.

“And have borne, and have patience, and for my name's sake have labored, and have not fainted.

4. NEVERTHELESS, I have somewhat against you, because you hast left your first love.

5. Remember therefore from where you are FALLEN, and REPENT, and DO the first WORKS; OR ELSE I will come unto you quickly, and will REMOVE your candlestick out of his place, except you REPENT.” 

Sometimes I think we just read right over these kinds of passages of Scripture pretending that they do NOT apply to US, the CHURCH, forgetting that they are the VERY WORDS of Jesus SPECIFICALLY written to the CHURCH. Remember what you read earlier that Jesus said, the WORDS that I speak to you, THEY, my WORDS, shall JUDGE you.

Now you can DO what you desire, but as for ME, I am going to keep reading and DOING what Jesus said to DO.

Please keep in mind that Jesus WARNS us over and over that ONLY they that OVERCOME shall RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come, and THEY who do NOT overcome will NOT receive eternal life but rather will be cast out into outer darkness.

Here is what Jesus says about OVERCOMING to the first church that is doing pretty much everything right except ONE thing, they have LEFT off their first love and have FALLEN and, therefore, have the need to REPENT.

Please read Revelation 2:7.

“He that has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES; To him that OVERCOMES will I give to eat of the tree of LIFE, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” 

Then in Revelation 2:9-11 we read again how Jesus praises this second CHURCH on their GOOD WORKS, but gives them the WARNING that ONLY those found to be FAITHFUL unto DEATH and have OVERCOME shall RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE. And THEN and ONLY then shall they be SAVED where NO man can PLUCK them OUT of the Father's hand. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord that we MUST, without fail, ENDURE unto the END in order to RECEIVE our REWARD of ETERNAL LIFE, and then AFTER we receive eternal life in the world to COME and THEN no man shall be able to pluck us out of the Fathers hand?

Revelation 2:9-11.

“I know your WORKS, and tribulation, and poverty, (But you art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which SAY they are Jews, and are NOT, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10. Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be you FAITHFUL unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.

11. He that has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES; He that OVERCOMES shall NOT be hurt of the second death.”

The word of God CLEARLY and PLAINLY teaches us that we do NOT actually RECEIVE or OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE UNTIL the world to COME and then it is only AFTER we are found to be FAITHFUL unto death or until Jesus comes again whichever may come first that we are given the RIGHT to the tree of life. 

Please read Mark 10:30 which PLAINLY shows us as to WHEN we ACTUALLY receive ETERNAL LIFE.

Mark 10:30.

“ But he shall RECEIVE a hundredfold NOW in this time (Speaking of this lifetime in this PRESENT world), houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and IN the world to COME ETERNAL LIFE.”

Now the question becomes WHO shall RECEIVE these REWARDS? Please read this verse in the CONTEXT where it is found to learn WHO the THEY are that shall RECEIVE eternal life in the world to COME. Here is Mark 10:17-30 the CONTEXT of verse 30, where a man asked Jesus WHAT must he DO in ORDER to RECEIVE eternal life and Jesus gives US the answer.

Mark 10:17-30.

“And when he (Speaking of Jesus) was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and knelt to him, and asked him, Good Master, WHAT shall I DO that I may inherit eternal life?

18. And Jesus said unto him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

19. You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother.

20. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you LACK: go your way, sell whatsoever you have and give to the poor, and you shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and FOLLOW me.

22. And he was sad at that saying and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

23. And Jesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

24. And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that TRUST in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 

27. And Jesus looking upon them said, With MEN it is impossible (In other words, in your OWN STRENGTH it is NOT possible to do ALL that God requires of us to DO), but NOT with God: for WITH God ALL things are possible (Including living your life WITHOUT SIN).

28. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed you.

29. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

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.”

Now some of you may be questioning whether or not you are truly saved. You may be ASTONISHED at these WORDS of Jesus just as the disciples of Jesus were astonished out of measure by these WORDS of Jesus. But let me assure you that IF your DESIRE is to be SAVED and receive eternal life in the world to come, then you are headed in the right direction. As I said early on in this study that I would get to WHAT it TRULY means to be SAVED and I have not forgotten that I said this. I will get to this point after we have finished looking at the book of Revelation and the WORDS of Jesus that shall JUDGE us, which speak of things concerning WORKS in relation to OBTAINING ETERNAL LIFE in the world to COME.

We have already read the WARNING that Jesus gave to the first two of the seven CHURCHES, so let us read in Revelation 2:12-17 and again pay very close attention to the WARNING that Jesus gives the third CHURCH which is in Pergamos.

Revelation 2:12-17.

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things says he which has the sharp sword with two edges;

13. I know your WORKS, and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is: and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.

14. BUT I have a few things against you because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

15. So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

16. REPENT; OR ELSE I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17. He that has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES; To him that OVERCOMES will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone, a new name is written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.”

Now in this CHURCH, we see that some Christians, who are indeed HOLDING FAST to the TRUTH, but yet there are SOME that are present IN this church or who are a part of this congregation of believers that hold NOT in the truth, but rather have the doctrines of devils. Now while Jesus may not come and fight against those who are indeed HOLDING FAST to the word of TRUTH he STILL has somewhat AGAINST them, because they ALLOW these FALSE doctrines among them. The word of God has a lot to say about us WARNING our brothers and sisters in the Lord about the deception of sin. And while we ourselves may not lose our salvation because THEY who do not hold fast, there still seems to be some accountability on our part, unless of course, we WARN them of the danger of hold to these doctrines of devils and THEY, by their own choice do NOT receive and believe the word of TRUTH. 

Perhaps we will get to this point again, but for now, let us read about the fourth CHURCH in Revelation 2:18-29.

Revelation 2:18-29.

“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things say the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

19. I know your WORKS and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your WORKS; and the last to be more than the first.

20. Notwithstanding I have a few things against you because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21. And I gave her space to REPENT of her fornication; and she repented not.

22. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their DEEDS.

23. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you ACCORDING to your WORKS.

24. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have NOT this doctrine, and which have NOT known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you no other burden.

25. But that which you have already HOLD FAST till I come.

26. And he that OVERCOMES, and KEEPS my WORKS unto the END, to him (Speaking of him that OVERCOMES and KEEPS the WORKS of Jesus) will I give power over the nations:

27. And he (The one who OVERCOMES) shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

28. And I will give him the morning star.

29. He that has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES.”

Are you starting to see a pattern here my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord? Whether or not we RECEIVE our REWARD of ETERNAL LIFE, which is PROMISED to us is based upon whether or not we OVERCOME! How many times did you dear child of God read the word “WORKS” in relation to RECEIVING what Jesus PROMISED us in just these few passages of Scripture? So HOW then can anyone say and teach that WORKS have NOTHING to do with whether a person is SAVED and shall receive ETERNAL LIFE or not, based only upon a few verses that SEEM to imply that we are NOT SAVED by WORKS, when we have all these OTHER witnesses in the word of TRUTH that CLEARLY teach us that if we do NOT KEEP the WORDS of Jesus and DO the WORKS that Jesus DID to live without sin, then we will NOT obtain eternal life in the world to COME.

Let us keep on reading these verses that clearly show the VITAL importance of DOING GOOD WORKS of RIGHTEOUS in ORDER to be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to partake of the tree of ETERNAL LIFE.

In Revelation 3:1-6, Jesus WARNS the fifth CHURCH with these WORDS.

Revelation 3:1-6.

“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things says he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your WORKS, that you have a name that you live (Or you SAY that you are a Christian), and art DEAD.

2. Be WATCHFUL, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have NOT FOUND your WORKS PERFECT before God.

3. Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and REPENT. If therefore you shall NOT WATCH, I will come on YOU (Those Christians who are NOT WATCHING and KEEPING the WORKS of Jesus) as a THIEF, and you shall NOT know what hour I will come upon you. 

4. You have a FEW names even in Sardis which have NOT defiled their garments; and THEY (Speaking of ONLY those Christians who have NOT DEFILED their garments with SIN) shall walk with me in white: for THEY (Again ONLY those Christians who are living WITHOUT SIN when they die or when Jesus comes again) are WORTHY.

5. He that OVERCOMES, the SAME shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will NOT blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6. He that has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES.”

If these WORDS of Jesus are not PLAIN and simple enough to understand, then I do not quite know how to get you to take a CLOSER look at WHAT it TRULY means to be SAVED!

Jesus said I will NOT BLOT OUT the name of those that OVERCOME, but what about those who do NOT OVERCOME and fall into SIN and DIE in their SIN, will Jesus say to them WELL DONE my GOOD and FAITHFUL servant, ENTER into the joy of your Lord, OR will he say to those who WORK INIQUITY and CRY unto him LORD, LORD, have we not DONE many mighty works in your name! And Jesus will answer them that have SIN in their life when they die or when he comes, DEPART from me you WORKERS of INIQUITY. Surely you have read these WORDS of Jesus before, that Jesus WARNS you that his words, they shall JUDGE you on the last day. If you have, then read them again, if not then read them now. Here are SOME of the WORDS of Jesus that shall JUDGE us on the last day. 

Luke 13:23-28 where Jesus says.

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there FEW that be SAVED? And he said unto them,

24. STRIVE to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall NOT be able.

25. When once the master of the house is risen up and has shut to the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence you are:

26. Then shall you begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.

27. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; DEPART from me, ALL you WORKERS of iniquity.

28. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out  (If so be that you do NOT heed these WARNINGS of Jesus to KEEP SIN OUT of your LIFE. This is NOT an OPTION, but rather a REQUIREMENT or a COMMAND of God to OBEY all the MORAL commandments in order to OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE and NOT to be CAST OUT into outer darkness).”

Please read Ecclesiastes 12:13.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the WHOLE MATTER: Fear God, and KEEP his commandments: for THIS is the whole DUTY of man.”

Know and understand that a “commandment” of God also means a TEACHING of God and not just the “TEN” commandments of God, which by the way only NINE of which are taught in the NEW Testament. Please read the study “REALLY, ONLY NINE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?” which teaches us that Jesus is our Sabbath or REST just like Jesus is our Passover Lamb. This is another study in and of itself, but I do want to take a moment here to say that there is a difference between the CEREMONIAL LAW and the MORAL LAW and Sabbath-keeping churches have not discerned this truth. But on the other end of the scale there are some grace ONLY churches who go to the extreme the other way and dogmatically demand that we are NOT saved by WORKS and neither do we MAINTAIN or keep our salvation by doing WORKS and keeping the commandment THEY claim is the WORKS of the LAW, which was nailed to the cross. In this, they do ERROR as well as the Sabbath-keeping churches that place Christians back under the LAW of Moses by their false teachings.

Perhaps this teaching you are reading is not the gospel you are used to hearing, but I assure you it is the word of TRUTH, the GOSPEL of YOUR SALVATION that will work in you ETERNAL LIFE if you FOLLOW and DO the WORDS of Jesus, rather than following the traditions and man-made doctrines of men.

Jesus goes on with further WARNING to the sixth CHURCH in Revelation 3:7-13 to HOLD FAST so that NO MAN TAKE from us OUR CROWN of ETERNAL LIFE that is promised to us.

Revelation 3:7-13.

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;

8. I know your WORKS: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it (WHY?): for (Or BECAUSE) you have a little strength, and have KEPT my WORD, and have NOT denied my name.

9. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which SAY they are Jews, and are NOT, but do LIE; behold, I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you (WHY?).

10. BECAUSE you have KEPT the WORD of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world (Speaking of the WRATH of Almighty God and NOT the time of great tribulation), to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have (WHY?), 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.

13. He that has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit saith unto the CHURCHES.”

In the light of this passage of Scripture that CLEARLY and PLAINLY WARNS us to HOLD FAST so that NO MAN TAKE our CROWN of eternal life from us along with many other passages of Scripture that WARN us about the DECEITFULNESS of SIN lest ANY one of us FALL from the grace of God, then HOW can anyone HONESTLY teach that once a person accepts Jesus as their savior, then from that moment on they can in NO way EVER LOSE their SALVATION no matter what. And then make the claim that they may lose some of their rewards, but they themselves are ETERNALLY SAVED. They cannot! Unless they are ignorant of these passages of Scripture or they choose to ignore them and try to explain them away. For those who teach these false doctrines of devils, I pray that they take a CLOSER look at the WHOLE word of God for even their very salvation depends upon OBEDIENCE to the word of TRUTH and NOT their following the traditions and doctrine of men.

Just a couple more passages of Scripture here in the book of Revelation and then I will explain to you WHAT it TRULY means to be SAVED.

Revelation 3:14-22.

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15. I know your WORKS, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot.

16. So then because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew YOU out of my mouth.

17. Because you SAY, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know NOT that you are wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18. I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see.

19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and REPENT.

20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come into him and will sup with him, and he with me.

21. To him that OVERCOMES 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.

22. He that has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit saith unto the CHURCHES.”

Revelation 14:12,13 along with Ezekiel 33: teaches us that AFTER we die we shall be JUDGED by the WORKS that we were PRESENTLY DOING WHEN WE DIED whether our LAST DEEDS were GOOD or our last WORKS were EVIL in God's eyes, we ALL shall be JUDGED ACCORDING to our WORKS.

Revelation 14:12,13.

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that KEEP the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die IN the Lord from henceforth: Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their LABORS; and their WORKS do follow them.”

Then in Ezekiel 33:1-19 we read.

“Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 

2. Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

3. If when he sees the sword come upon the land, he blows the trumpet and warns the people;

4. Then whosoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and takes not warning; if the sword comes, and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

5. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that takes warning shall deliver his soul.

6. But if the watchman sees the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword comes, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

7. So thou, O son of man, I have set you a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 

8. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die; if you dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at YOUR hand.

9. Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you hast delivered YOUR soul.

10. Therefore, O you son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus you speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? 

11. Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

12. Therefore, you son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the RIGHTEOUS shall NOT deliver him IN the DAY of his TRANSGRESSION: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall NOT fall thereby IN the DAY that he TURNS from his wickedness; neither shall the RIGHTEOUS be able to LIVE for his RIGHTEOUSNESS IN the DAY that he SINS.

13. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; BUT for his INIQUITY that he has committed, he shall die for IT (Referring to the SIN that a true born again Christian has committed and has NOT REPENTED of he or she shall DIE for that SIN should they DIE in their sin or should Jesus return while they are living in sin. In other words, even a true born again Christian who DIES physically, while they are living in SIN shall NOT inherit ETERNAL LIFE in the world to COME, but shall be cast out into outer darkness and then in the resurrection at the end of the 1000 year reign they shall be JUDGED ACCORDING to their WORKS and their NAME will be BLOTTED OUT of the book of life and they shall be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. And if so be a true born again Christians is NOT found to be that good and FAITHFUL servant WHEN Jesus returns, BECAUSE they are found LIVING in SIN, then they will be JUDGED by their LAST ACT living in SIN and therefore LOSE their right to eat of the tree of eternal life in the world to come. BE NOT DECEIVED!)

14. Again, when I say unto the wicked, You shalt surely die; IF he turns from his SIN, and DO that which is lawful and RIGHT;

15. If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, WITHOUT COMMITTING INIQUITY; he shall surely LIVE, he shall not die. 

16. NONE of his sins that he has committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. 

17. Yet the children of your people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. 

18. When the righteous TURN from his RIGHTEOUSNESS, and COMMITS INIQUITY, he shall even DIE thereby. 

19. But if the wicked TURN from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall LIVE thereby.”

In Ezekiel 18:20-32 we see this same WARNING to the RIGHTEOUS people of God to NOT SIN, because if they DIE physically while living in their SIN, then they shall surely DIE SPIRITUALLY and NOT inherit ETERNAL LIFE. BE NOT DECEIVED about this word of TRUTH my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, for it is the GOSPEL of YOUR SALVATION IF SO BE that you OBEY this word of TRUTH and ENDURE unto the END as Jesus WARNED you.

Ezekiel 18:20-32.

“The soul that SINS, it shall DIE. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 

21. But if the wicked will TURN from ALL his SINS that he has committed, and KEEP all my statutes, and DO that which is lawful and RIGHT, he shall surely LIVE, he shall not die. 

22. All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall NOT be mentioned unto him: IN his RIGHTEOUSNESS that he has DONE he shall LIVE. 

23. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Says the Lord GOD: and not that he should RETURN from his ways, and LIVE? 

24. BUT when the RIGHTEOUS (Or when the true born again Christian) TURNS AWAY from his RIGHTEOUSNESS, and COMMITS INIQUITY, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall NOT be mentioned: IN his TRESPASS that he hath trespassed, and in his SIN that he hath SINNED, IN THEM shall he DIE. 

25. Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal?

26. When a RIGHTEOUS man TURNS AWAY from his RIGHTEOUSNESS, and COMMITS INIQUITY, and DIES IN THEM; for his INIQUITY that he has DONE shall he DIE. 

27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 

28. Because he CONSIDERS and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely LIVE, he shall not die. 

29. Yet says the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? Are not your ways unequal? 

30. Therefore I will JUDGE you, O house of Israel, every one ACCORDING to his ways (Whether the person's LAST DEEDS were RIGHTEOUS, or whether a person's LAST DEEDS were WICKED, every person will be JUDGED by there LAST DEEDS that they have DONE when they DIED), says the Lord GOD. REPENT, and TURN YOURSELVES from ALL your transgressions; so iniquity shall NOT be your RUIN.

31. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, O house of Israel?

32. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, says the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and LIVE you.” 

Ezekiel 3:20,21 commands us to WARN the RIGHTEOUS man NOT to SIN. So I am WARNING you NOT to SIN and for you to learn “HOW to live your live FREE from SIN”.

Ezekiel 3:20,21.

“AGAIN, When a RIGHTEOUS man does TURN from his righteousness and COMMITS INIQUITY, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: (WHY?) BECAUSE you have NOT given him WARNING, he shall die IN his SIN, and his righteousness which he has done shall NOT be remembered; but his blood will I require at YOUR hand.

21. Nevertheless, if you WARN the RIGHTEOUS man, that the righteous SIN NOT, and he does NOT SIN, he shall surely LIVE BECAUSE he is WARNED; also you have delivered your soul.”

I have been mocked by those who say and teach that a RIGHTEOUS man CANNOT become UNRIGHTEOUS, because we have been given the GIFT of the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God. I know the passage of Scripture that SEEMS to say this, but again this is NOT the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God. To me the word of God leaves no doubt in my mind that no matter WHO you are whether a TRUE BORN AGAIN child of God or a sinner who has not yet come to the knowledge of the truth to accept Jesus as your savior, IF you SIN and you DIE IN your SIN you shall DIE and shall NOT inherit ETERNAL LIFE in the world to COME.

One of the last things spoken to us in the book of Revelation is this WARNING of Jesus in Revelation 22:11-15 which says.

Revelation 22:11-15.

“He that is UNJUST, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12. And, behold, I come quickly (In a moment and in a twinkling of an eye, like a flash of lightning, in other words, NO time to REPENT); and my REWARD is with me, to give every man ACCORDING as his WORK shall be.

13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14. Blessed are THEY that DO his commandments (WHY?), THAT (So that, or IN ORDER THAT) THEY (Referring to ONLY THOSE that are DOING the COMMANDMENTS of Almighty God when they die or when Jesus comes again) may have RIGHT to the tree of LIFE (Or might be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE because they have KEPT the commandments of God under the New Covenant written in the New Testament), and may ENTER in through the gates into the CITY.

15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whore mongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.”

With all that you have just read are you still going to maintain that you do NOT have to live a HOLY life before Almighty God in order to be saved and see God based upon a few verses that some preacher has TAUGHT you, meaning that we are NOT saved by WORKS lest any man should BOAST? If so, then what will you do with the REST of God's holy word of TRUTH? Will you simply REJECT these WORDS of Jesus? Again I say will you just blatantly ignore what you have just read and reject the WORDS of Jesus which he said will be what JUDGES you on the last day?

I have a better way. Why not take a CLOSER look at WHAT being SAVED TRULY means so that ALL the verses in the Bible will fit snugly together to give you the TRUE picture of WHAT being SAVED truly means. Because trust me when I tell you that we have only scratched the surface in this study of God's word on WHAT the WHOLE word of God teaches us that we MUST DO in order to be SAVED and OBTAIN ETERNAL LIFE in the world to COME.

Please read the study entitled “HOW CAN I BE SAVED!” for the answer to WHAT being SAVED TRULY MEANS. Some other studies that will guide you on your quest for the TRUTH are here on my web site at AMatterOfTRUTH.com. Please check the menu box to the left at to top of each study. You can also find a list of all the studies by category and subject at the top wich I call HEADINGS. For example, please read all the studies under the heading >>>CAN WE LOSE ETERNAL LIFE?<<<

Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you CONTINUE in his word of TRUTH. I highly suggest you also read the study entitled “HOW TO LIVE FREE FROM SIN!”

Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.

RETURN TO HOMEPAGE

AT

AMatterOfTruth.com