Once You're Saved, You're Always Saved!

21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV






 In this fallen world, there is not much that we can say is a guarantee. People let us down. The Stock Market can go up or down. The weather may change from sunny to rainy. However, there is one constant we can rely on, our Good Father God. That is the truth and integrity of His Word and the work of redemption, the Finished Work of Christ Jesus.

 Jesus' perfect work on the Cross guarantees that anyone who places their trust in Him alone will have eternal life. In this life, there aren't many guarantees. It is such good news to know that God isn't fickle like mankind usually is. What He declares is absolute truth. What He accomplished in the Finished Work is complete. It is done.

 In many quarters of the Body of Christ, it seems our salvation is on shaky ground. That it's not a guarantee that after you believe you will see Heaven when you pass on. Oh, they'll say it's a guarantee if you initially trust in Christ that you're saved, however after this momentary trust, your salvation now depends on your performance, your faithfulness, your achievements and accomplishments and ability to remain sinless. 

Paul shows us otherwise;
5 Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise]. 2 Corinthians 5:5 AMP

 The Apostle Paul more than likely wouldn't be welcomed in most churches today. He spoke in tongues, believed in the Gifts of the Spirit as currently active, and he also believed in healing. He is the vessel God used to bring us this truth of the Gospel of Grace and the eternal security of the believer. Basically, Paul goes against the grain of the religious traditions of most churches.

 Checklist/rule-keeping Christianity seems to be the norm in most congregations. Now, this doesn't mean God doesn't love the Church. The Church is the Body and Bride of Christ. It's just that the Body has some wrong thinking within birthed from fearful traditions and those seeking to control others. 

 Traditions have turned what is guaranteed into what is now questionable by many believers. This is just the work of the enemy. The enemy likes to put a question mark where God puts a period. Traditional religion does the same. 

 God declared once you're saved it's guaranteed eternal life. Yet tradition says otherwise. One reason is they don't realize eternal life is something you possess the moment you believe. Eternal life isn't something you receive when you die. No, it's the believer's current, present possession. 

 If you've believed you have eternal life right now. Paul declared this guarantee is a seal. A seal is on the outside of the envelope. It secures the contents until the seal is opened by the recipient. 

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 NLT

 Our salvation is a guarantee. It is not a promise resting on an unsteady foundation. That is the faulty ground of our performance or promise to remain faithful or sinless. No! Our eternal salvation rests in the perfect redemptive work of Jesus Christ. When we put our trust in Him alone, He gave us the down payment of the Spirit within our hearts. The Holy Ghost within is all the proof we need that we possess eternal life now and forever. 

 God is a Good God! He is faithful to His Word and the ratification of the Finished Work. He fully accepted, approved and confirmed the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Because of this finished work we who believe are made Righteous, sanctified, and forgiven once for all time. Because of this new creation, we are also guaranteed eternal life in Christ. An eternally secure salvation is part and parcel of the Finished Work of Christ the Lord!

 When we place clauses, addendums, stipulations on God's Word and the Finished Work we dishonor God. When ministries or churches fashion traditions that create fear, uncertainty, and remove the security of the believer, know they are discrediting the work of Jesus. Any traditional religious idea that diminishes the full work of redemption is a subtle scheme of the enemy attempting to get believers to believe the lies of the enemy. 

 In summation, God has declared us eternally saved. The Finished Work procured our eternal redemption. The enemy using/creating religious ideas is attempting to dissuade us from believing all God has done for us. Guard your thinking and focus on the Finished Work and what Jesus has done and reject the lies of the enemy and walk in the fullness of what Grace purchased.

Image by yorkshireman from Pixabay

Once You're Saved...

6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. But if it is by works, then is it no longer by grace; otherwise work would no longer be work. Romans 11:6 MEV

6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. 


 Have you responded to the Good News Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you heard of His Goodness and eternal, never failing Love for you? Have you've seen His hand of Goodness and Mercy poured out upon your life in some form or fashion? Since you've seen this Jesus in all His fullness have you received Him, that is putting your trust in Him alone for your eternal salvation?

 It's great news when we hear someone has responded to the Good News Gospel. It's a wonderfully glorious moment when one comes to Christ and receives a new life in Him. Jesus says all of Heaven rejoices. We rejoice along with all of Heaven.

 Now that you're saved, what's next? This next phase of Christian growth and development is a crucial time for the new believer. How you see God and yourself and the relationship you will have with Him depends on receiving the truth of the Gospel not just for initial salvation but for your entire Christian life.

 When new converts emerge, something else also is quick to converge. The checklist/rule book led leader/believer.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 Once you're saved it's time for you to get busy proving your worth. You need to get busy knowing all the rules and straightening up your act. You'll be needing to get it together before next Sunday or there will be repercussions.

Remember the truth is it's about Grace from start to finish. However, the checklist believer has forgotten this truth. They are much focused on other's behavior and conduct, never mind their own love walk. They need to ensure these new converts are really saved.

 Once you're saved...be perfectly holy by next week! That is, you need to quit smoking. Stop cussing. Put away those bad habits right now. Don't go to the movies anymore. Get your behavior in line.

 Though it is true that Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust and immorality, this process doesn't happen overnight. In my past, I've seen believers go to a church meeting on Sunday but on Monday they were smoking a cigarette. Being this was before Grace renewal, I condemned that person. 

 "Why are they even going to church? They're a sinner. Look at them smoking!" I am certain Jesus did a facepalm. Didn't I ever read where He said the sick need a physician not the well? Truth is none of us have it all together and that's why we always need Grace and our Savior Jesus.

Once you're saved...never miss a meeting or gathering!

 True, it's good to gather together with other believers. It's beneficial to bring our supply of the Spirit and encourage each other. However, it's also true that attendance isn't some legal obligation we need to fulfill to prove our salvation.

 Once you're saved...you better be praying and reading your Bible!

 Of course, we should read and study God's Word. The Scriptures are where we see Jesus. They bring us comfort. However, daily devotion and study times, aren't some kind of chore we need to drudge through. 

Once you're saved...learn the rules from our denomination and remember all others are false and wrong and we're the only ones right!

 The rule/checklist believer wants to ensure the new convert lives up to the denominational traditions as soon as possible. They must also be quick to condemn other churches and ministries that are outside their church. Grace, on the other hand, reveals God's Love for all the Body of Christ. 

 God wants us to grow in His Love, not in the rules and traditions of the various denominations. Receiving His Love and sharing it with others is what God desires. God sees one Body, not divisions.

Where's the Grace?

 Years ago there was a fast-food campaign that used a similar slogan about hamburger meat. They were comparing the size of their company's burgers with other rival companies. This is a good question to ask churches and ministries. Where's the Grace? 

 Instead of focusing on getting believers to follow the rules, why not get them focused on Jesus? Focusing on Jesus and His Grace is what brings true transformation. He changes us from the inside out.

 The true purpose of ministry and devotion is to get the focus off ourselves and onto Jesus. On who He is, and what He has accomplished on our behalf. Rule book/checklist minded Christianity takes the focus off Grace and Jesus and makes it about us. It shifts the focus off the Finished Work and focuses on our personal obligation, obedience, commitment, and perseverance.

 What we need to be continually reminded of is that it's about Grace from start to finish. We were unworthy in and of ourselves. We were undeserving of mercy and goodness yet He poured His Love out upon us in abundance. When we focus on Jesus we find true transformation and real sincere growth in Him, and in His Love and Goodness.

 In summation, always keep Grace in the forefront. Rejoice when New Life in Christ has been received by those trusting in Him. Remember to keep giving these new converts Grace. Get their focus on Him and never on themselves. Remind them of how loved and valued they are in Him. True growth will always be the result.

Image courtesy of iosphere at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You are Loved!

10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10 NLT
We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 MEV


  Much of this year we've been studying who God really is, despite the maligning of His character by the religious traditions of men. We've been learning how to receive all He provided for us. And learning how to walk in the freedom Christ procured for us. This is the life of Grace. That is, walking in all God has for us, not by our own achievements, but by what Christ perfectly accomplished on our behalf in the Finished Work. 

 Today, I sensed the leading to bring to remembrance a vital truth we need in order to walk in the fullness of the freedom Christ provided. This truth is something we need to continually be reminded of. That is the vital truth that we are loved by God. We are loved!

 This love from God is not based on our emotions, our response, or even our behavior or conduct. This perfect love from God our Father is rooted in who He is and not what we do. Through wrong thinking, some get the idea that God loves us, even more, the better we behave, the more we accomplish, and how much we achieve. 

 Nothing could be more erroneous. God's love is based on His perfect goodness and perfect mercy and who He is. God is love. He doesn't just have love, He is love. He is agape love, that is unearned, undeserved, unconditional love. 

 God's love has no limits, no barriers, and nothing will restrain it. There are no hinderances or blockages to this amazing love. So there is nothing you aren't doing enough of, or anything you could do or continue to do that will cause God to decrease His love for you, or stop loving you altogether. 

 God's love is eternal and never-ending. Doing more things for God isn't going to make Him love you more. Committing sins or living in immorality isn't going to cause Him to stop loving you. Certainly, doing good works, spending time in devotion and worship, going to church, reading and studying the Word, sharing your Faith is good and profitable. However, these good things won't make God love you more. 

 In order to walk in freedom, we must also know that no matter how many times we fail, falter, foul-up, or more frankly sin, God still loves us. His love doesn't wane each time we fail. His love is unmoved by our behavior. Why is this so important to know and remember?

 Look at Peter. He denied Christ three times. Surely, he felt like a failure. That he didn't measure up. He made grandiose claims that he'd never leave or forsake Jesus. Real trouble showed up and Peter was quick to say I don't know the man. 

 The way traditional religion represents God, you'd think God's response would be to reject Peter. He would say "You forsook me so I forsake you!" Yet that's not the message God had for Peter. 

6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” Mark 16:6-7 NKJV

 God had angels herald the Good News that Jesus is alive, He is risen from the dead. There message? They said go tell the disciples and Peter. God specifically mentions Peter. No matter how Peter felt, God declared Him a disciple still. That is the Love of God! That's the restorative Love of God!

 So you see, even if you take the next toke on your joint, or the next drag off the tobacco cigarette, watch another X rated film from the video rental store, or get on the internet and view pornographic material, if you commit the same sin again and again, know God STILL loves you! God may not be pleased with the action and it doesn't honor the Finished Work, but His love for you is ever-present and unchanging. 

 His love is everlasting and eternal. Knowing how much we are loved propels us to freedom. Saturating ourselves in this love is key in changing our desires inwardly. God's Love changes us from the inside out. It's His timetable, not any man's. Embrace this Love and walk in freedom.

 In summation, God's love is everlasting and eternal. It is unearned and unconditional. We can't make Him love us more or less. Again, embrace this perfect love. This love within compels us to see life differently. We begin to look at people the way Jesus does. Instead of cursing your enemies, pray for them. Pray God's goodness overtake them. Remember His Goodness causes men to change not hardships. Receive a fresh revelation of His great love for you and bask in this love. Boast of His love for you not your love for Him. mage by DreamPixer from Pixabay