EternalSecurity

Dr.PeterS.RuckmanPresident,PensacolaBibleInstitute

B.A.,B.D.,M.A.,Th.M.,Ph.D.

COPYRIGHT©1980byPeterS.RuckmanAllRightsReserved

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EternalSecurity

IamwritingthisbookonthedoctrineofEternalSecurity,andItrustthatwhereveritgoesitwillbeusedofGodforwhateverpurposesHeintendsittobeusedfor.

BeforeIgetfullyintothesepassages—andIwilltrytocovereverymajorpassageinthe New Testament that deals with the subject—it will be necessary to make a fewpreliminaryremarksaboutGod’sdealingwithmenatdifferentperiodsoftime.

Now, this will give this message the flavor of “dispensationalism,” anddispensationalism (as fundamentalism) is a dirtyword in some circles, but not quite asdirty aword as “Bible believer.” “Fundamentalists” get offmuch better these days andcomeoutsmellingmorelikearose.Biblebelieversdon’t.Firstofall,Iamasavedsinner,savedbythegraceofGod,andthenIamaBible-believingChristian.Thismayormaynotbe acceptable in the eyesof “Fundamentalists.”Fundamentalists arepeoplewho live inthepastofnearlyfiftyyearsago,whentherewasagreatcontroversyragingbetweenW.B.Riley,MordecaiHam,Haldeman(of theFirstBaptistChurchofNewYork),and theliberals in theNationalCouncil and the FederalCouncil ofChurches.At this time, theFundamentalist controversy was going on which reached back to the highly toutedcourtroom trial (theMonkeyTrial inDayton,Tennessee)betweenClarenceDarrowandWilliamJenningsBryan.Asaconsequence,manyChristianeducatorstodayhavegottenstuckinthemudbacktherefiftytoninetyyearsagoandremainstuckthere,andtheystillinsistthattheissueisthe“Fundamentals.”

Now,ofcourse,that’snolongertheissue.Nobody’sworriedabouttheFundamentalsany more at all. There are Southern Baptists who don’t believe half of them, and theFundamentalists are split into premillennial, postmillennial, and amillennial camps.Theissue now is plainly Authority. That is plainly the issue; yet we can’t discuss theseproblemsofEternalSecuritywithoutcomingupagainstthematterofdispensationalism,forassurelyastheBibleisthewordofGod,Godhasnotdealtwithmenthesamewayineverykindofsituation.

Now, this is perfectly apparent to anymanwho tries to teach anyBible at all. Forexample,Idon’tcareifyou’reanatheist,aJew,oraCatholic—youknowthat there’sadifferencebetweentheOldTestamentandtheNewTestament.Thereisnosuchthingasan intelligentmanwho is not some kind of a dispensationalist. I don’t care if he’s anintelligentatheistoranintelligentevolutionist;anyfoolcanseethatLeviticus11doesn’tmatchlTimothy4.Anyfoolcanseethat—blindorotherwise—youcangetitwithbraille.AnybodywhoreadstheBiblecanseethatthere’sadifferenceinGod’sdealingswithmenbeforeMosesandaftertheAscensionofChrist.Thesethingsareveryclear.

Abrahamwasnottoldtogetbaptizedbyanybody.ThereweresomeJewstoldtogetbaptizedinActs2.Yousay,“TheywereJews.”Well,sowerethetwelvetribesofJacob,buttheywerebaptizeduntoMoses,andtheydidn’tget“thegiftoftheHolyGhost”whenthey were baptized unto Moses. In plainer words, an intelligent Bible student willrecognizeimmediatelycertaindifferences in theScripture.IfamanthinksthegospelofMatthew10(readit)andthegospelofActs22(readit)andthegospelofActs16(readit)

andthegospelofRevelation14isthesamepassage,thenheisanidiot—byallthelawsofrational,reasonable,intelligent,Christian,Biblical,spiritualknowledge.

IsaythisbecausethemainpassageintheBibleforstudyingtheBiblesays,“StudytoshewthyselfapproveduntoGod,aworkmanthatneedethnottobeashamed,rightlydividingthewordoftruth”(2Tim.2:15).AnytypeofBiblestudywhichdoesnotdividethe“wordoftruth,”letalonerightlydividethe“wordoftruth,”isincoherentnonsense.God deals withmen differently at different times. Now, we need to get that down patbeforewestartbecausetimeandtimeandtimeagainwhenwestudythismatterofEternalSecurity, we find ourselves dealing with different ways of handling things in differentsituations.

Amansaid,“Well,He’stheLordGod.Hechangesnot,therefore,yesonsofJacobarenot consumed.” Yes, that’s true; and “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, andforever”—yes, that’s true;but it is also true that the restof theBible is true.Youdon’tproducefourversestomakealiaroutofGod.Itiswrittenagain,“Godisnotaman,thatheshouldlie;neitherthesonofman,thatheshouldrepent:hathhesaid,andshallhenotdoit?orhathhespoken,andshallhenotmakeitgood?”(Num.23:19).YoucannotgotofourversesofGod’sBooktomakealiaroutofGod,andwearenotgoingtodothat.Forexample:We’renotgoingtotakefourversesonEternalSecuritytoprovethattherestoftheBibleteachesthesamethingwhenitdoesn’t.Bythesametoken,we’renotgoing to takefourverses thatprove theChristiancan lose it,when therestof theBiblesayshecan’t.

All right now,we are going to take up passages that dealwith Eternal Security, orconversely,theteachingthatabelievercanlosehissalvationinthisage.WhenIsay“inthis age,” I am referring to an age that has progressed now for more than nineteencenturies. There can’t be any doubt about the context of my remarks. I will not bespeakingofEternalSecurityduring theGreatTribulation, because it hasn’t comeyet. Iwill not bemaking remarks about theEternal Security of the believer in theThousandYearReignofChrist,becauseHe’snotlandedyet.IwillnotbemakingremarksabouttheEternalSecurityofthebelieverundertheLaw,becausethatispast,and“thelawandtheprophetswereuntilJohn”accordingtotheLordJesusChrist,who,Iamsure,isamuchbetterauthoritythananybodywhotaughtyouoryourteacher.

This brings me to the second thing I want to say before we get into these verses.BaptistteachersandscholarshaveabadhabitofmakingalltheBibleknuckledowntoafewthings that theyknow tobe so, andby that Imeannearlyevery facultymember inevery“Fundamental”schoolintheUnitedStates(ifIfailedtomakeapplication,Imakeitthere).Inclearerwords,onceasavedBaptistfindsthatyoushouldbeimmersedinwater,hehasapeculiartendencytomakethewholeBibleteachimmersioninwater.Bythesametoken,iftheBibledoesn’tplainlysayimmersion,hewillbegintocorrectit.YouseewhatImean?

Along this line, Baptists believe in the doctrine of Eternal Security like thePresbyterians believe in it.Well, the Lutherans,Methodists, Episcopalians, Glossolalia,Charismatics, Holiness, Pentecostals, Church of Christ, Campbellites, Jehovah’sWitnesses,RomanCatholics,andotherhereticsdon’tbelieveinit,althoughtheybelieveinthe“Fundamentals.”

Thereisno“historicFundamentalist”positiononEternalSecurity.

Doyouseewhereweareheading?Itisnotenoughtobea“Fundamentalist”;youhadbetterbeaBiblebeliever,andifyoufindoneortwothingsintheBibleyouknowareso(liketheFundamentals),youbetternotmakethemistakeofmakingthewholeBiblelineupwithwhatyoufindthatistrue.Myfriend,youmaynothavefoundallthetruth.

Soattheverystart,letusmakeourselvesclear.IamtalkingtoBibleteacherswhoaresaved—asmuch to Fundamentalists and Christian scholars as I am talking to anybodywhobelievesyoucan loseyoursalvation.The fact thatyoubelieveyoucan’t loseyoursalvationisn’tagreatdealtoyourcredittostartwith.ItwouldbealotmoretoyourcreditifyoubelievedwhatGodsaid,asHesaidit,whereHesaidit.Thenyouwouldn’tmakethemistakeofmakingalltheBibleteachEternalSecuritywhenitdoesn’t.

Theegghitthefanthattime!Whenwegetintotheverses,wearegoingtofindthatBaptistswhobelieveinEternalSecurityhaveoftenattackedandalteredandchangedthewordofGodtosuittheirfancies—tomakesomeversesteachEternalSecuritywheretheydon’t.

Allrightnow,let’sstartatMatthewandgothrough,andwewilltaketheversesthatseemto teach thataborn-again,Bible-believingChristiancan losehissalvation.Now,Iamgoingto insistonthat terminology.Iamgoingto insistonthe terminology“aborn-again,Bible-believingChristian.”Iwantthatclear.IamtalkingabouttheEternalSecurityofasinnerwhohasbeenbornagainandbelieveswhatGodsaid,whenHesaidit,andisbornagainbyputtinghisfaithandtrustintheshedbloodofthefinishedbloodatonementof Jesus Christ and has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. I am talking about thatperson.

Anyremarkyoumaymakeoutsideofthatcontexthasnothingtodowiththisbook,because Iam talkinghereaboutaborn-again, regenerated, savedsinner in JesusChrist,placed in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit in the circumcision made without hands inColossians 2:8–14. Born again, bone of Christ’s bone, flesh of His flesh—Ephesianschapter5.SavedbygracethroughfaithintheshedbloodofJesusChrist.BornagainbybelievingonJesusChristandreceivingthegiftofGodwhichiseternallife.Iamtalkingabout that sinner’s Eternal Security. I am making reference to a born-again, Bible-believing, saved sinner in theBody of JesusChrist, bought byHis blood, bone ofHisbone, flesh of His flesh. Can he ever go to Hell? That ismy subjectmatter. I am notinterested in anyotherdiscussion,because that isnotwhat this sermon is about. Ifyouknowaboutsomeholinessfellowwhotalkedin tonguesandlosthissalvation,Iamnottalkingabouthim.Ifyouaretalkingaboutsomebodywhowentdowntothealtarandgotagreatfeelingandthenhadthebaptismofthe“holyghost”andwentoutandshotpool,Iamnotmakinganyreferencetohim.Ifyouaretalkingaboutsomebodywhorepentedandtookthesacramentsandbelieved in thechurchandwasbaptizedandwentoutandshotsomebody,Iamnot interested in itonewayor theother. Iamtalkingabout theEternalSecurityoftheregenerated,born-again,savedsinnerintheBodyoftheLordJesusChrist.ThatiswhatIamtalkingabout.

All right, let’s lookatMatthew7:23,“AndthenwillIprofessuntothem,Ineverknewyou:depart fromme,ye thatwork iniquity.”Thebunch thisverse isaimedat

calledHim,“Lord,Lord,”verses21and22,“Noteveryonethatsaithuntome,Lord,Lord,shallenterintothekingdomofheaven;buthethatdoeththewillofmyFatherwhich is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we notprophesiedinthyname?andinthynamehavecastoutdevils?andinthynamedonemany wonderful works?” The sinners who did that prophesied in His name, cast outdevils, and did wonderful works “in His name.” Not one place in the near or remotecontext does it say they were born-again, regenerated, Bible-believing Christians. NotonceinthecontextofMatthew5–7doestheword“Christian”occur,directlyorindirectly.As a matter of fact, there is no such word in the whole gospel ofMatthew. You say,“But….”Shutupaminute.

You say, “Well, the Phariseeswere literalists too and stuck to the letter….”Not asmuchasJesusChristdid.JesusChristsaid,“Onejotoronetittleshallinnowisepassfromthelaw,tillallbefulfilled”(Matt.5:18).HewouldputaPhariseeoutofbusinesswhenitcametoliteralbeliefinthewordsofGod.WhatyouaretryingtosayisthatthePhariseeshadjusttheoutershell.Wearenottakingtheoutershell,IambelievingwhatGodsaid.ThereisnotonewordinMatthewchapter7aboutaborn-again,BiblebelievergoingtoHell.

Yousay,“Well,itsaysinverse21….”Besaved?No.GettoHeaven?No.Youbetterreaditagain.Yousay,“But….”Justshutup!Yousee,thatisyourproblem.YourproblemisyoualreadydeterminedwhatyouaregoingtobelievebeforeyoupickedupthatBook,and you are bound and determined to believe that if a Christian does God’s will, he’sgoingtogettoHeaven,andifhedoesn’tdoGod’swill,hewon’tgettoHeaven.Isn’tthataboutit?

Youdidn’tgetitfromMatthew7.Yousay,“Well,overin….”Well,holdyourhorses;don’tbeinsucharush;settledown;we’llgetthere.Butbeforewegetthere,let’scorrectyou once and for all, finally and forever. There is nothing in Matthew chapter 7 foranybody I am talking to right now—unless you are trying to get into the Kingdom ofHeavenasacircumcisedJew.

Didyounoticehow thispassage started?Matthewchapter5 says thatHisdisciplescametoHim.Matthewchapters5–7,readit,andthencontrastthediscipleswithGentiles.There isn’t aGentile disciplewithin hearing range ofMatthew 5–7.You say, “BrotherRuckman,‘AllscriptureisgivenbyinspirationofGod,andisprofitablefordoctrine,forreproof, forcorrection, for instruction inrighteousness’ (2Tim.3:16).”Sure,weknow that,weknow that.Weknow it’sprofitable fordoctrine, so let’sgetourdoctrinestraight.

Paulsaidin1Timothytohonortheeldersthatlaborinthewordanddoctrine.SounddoctrinetellsyouthatthepassageinMatthew7isaimedatJewishdisciplesunderthelawwho are trying to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Now, if that is you, lose your“salvation”andgo toHellon theverse. Imean, ifyouareboundanddetermined,whyshouldweweepandgetupsetaboutit?Ifyouwanttobeablankfoolallyourlife,that’syourproblemandyourprivilege;it’safreecountry.

There isn’t one word in Matthew chapter 7 about a born-again Christian losinganything.Asamatteroffact,therearenoChristiansinthechapter.Totellthetruthabout

it,therearenoChristiansinthewholeSermonontheMount.Totellthewholetruthaboutit, the term“Christian”doesn’t even appear in theBible untilActs chapter 11; but youdidn’tknowthat,orifyoudidknowthat,youdidn’tpayanyattentiontoit.

Lookatitagain:Matthewchapter7.Notonewordinthatpassagedealswithaborn-again, Bible-believing Christian going to Hell about anything. As amatter of fact, thepassageisnotevenaimedatthem,andsoitiswithmanypassagesintheBible.Here’sagoodexamplespokenbythesameTeachertothissamebunchofJewishdisciplesunderthelaw.ThesameOnesaysinMatthew5:22,“ButIsayuntoyou,Thatwhosoeverisangry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: andwhosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: butwhosoever shall say,Thou fool, shall be indangerofhell fire.”You say, “All right,whatifaChristiancallssomebodyafool?”Well,numberone:theversewasn’taimedataChristian.Numbertwo:theversesays“Raca”—youdon’tevenknowwhatitmeans,andifyoudid,youwouldn’tuseit.Numberthree:Paulsaidin1Corinthians15:35–36,“Butsomemanwillsay,Howarethedeadraisedup?andwithwhatbodydotheycome?Thoufool, thatwhich thousowest isnotquickened,except itdie.”Paul called themfools;doyouthinkhewasworriedaboutgoingtoHell?Yousay,“Well,hewasindangerofhellfire.”Really?Thenwhydidhesayin2Timothyl:12,“ForthewhichcauseIalsosufferthesethings:neverthelessIamnotashamed:forIknowwhomIhavebelieved,andampersuadedthatheisabletokeepthatwhichIhavecommitteduntohimagainstthatday.”Thenhesaid,“Henceforththereislaidupformeacrownofrighteousness,whichtheLord,therighteousjudge,shallgivemeatthatday:andnottomeonly,butuntoallthemalsothatlovehisappearing”(2Tim.4:8).Thenhesaidagain,“Beingconfident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you willperformituntilthedayofJesusChrist.”(Phil.1:6).HesaidyetagaininlThessalonians5:9,“ForGodhathnotappointedus towrath, but to obtain salvation by ourLordJesusChrist.”Now, doyou thinkPaulwas in danger of going toHell?You say, “ButJesussaid….”Thatwasn’tJesus’problem,itwasyours.Jesusdidn’thaveanytheologicalordoctrinalproblems.NeitherdidMatthew:theproblemsareyours.TheproblemisyougoingtoMatthewchapter5toprovethataborn-againchildofGodcangotoHellifhecalls someonea fool, andyouare suchabig foolyoucan’t even readyourownBible,“thoufool.”Doyou thinkwhen I say fool I amworried aboutgoing toHell? I amnomoreworriedaboutitthanJesuswaswhenHesaiditinLuke24:25:“Thenhesaiduntothem,Ofools,andslowofhearttobelieveallthattheprophetshavespoken.”

Now,doyouseehowfolksgetscrewedup?Yousay,“ButIdon’tbelieveyoucantearupyourBible.”Nobody is tearingup theirBible;youare tearingupyourmind. If yourightlydividethewordoftruth,youwillkeepyourbrainsaboutyou,butifyougohelterskelterthroughtherestompingalloverthatBookandstealingthreatsgiventosomebodyelse and applying promises that don’t belong to you, then you reallywill tear up yourmind.

Allright,here’sagoodexamplefromtheSermonontheMount.Afellowsaid,“Well,IfoundanotherversethereintheSermonontheMountthatlookslikeyoucanloseit.”HefoundMatthew7:13.“Enteryeinatthestraitgate:forwideisthegate,andbroadistheway,thatleadethtodestruction,andmanytherebewhichgointhereat.”Sothefellowsays,“NowtheGreeksayshere….”Nowheisgoingtolie.Imean,anythingthat

clearyoucan’tmissanyway,sowhygototheGreektoprovesomethingthatisn’tso?

Now,thesameOnewhosaidMatthew7:13saidalittlebitlater,“Iamtheway,thetruth,andthelife.”ThesameOnesaid,“Iamthedoor:bymeifanymanenterin,heshallbesaved.”ThesameOnesaid,“Comeuntome,allyethatlabourandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest.”Thereisnodoubtwhothe“way”is.The“way”isJesusChrist.You say, “Strive to enter in at thegate….” I amalready through it.You say, “Ibelieveyou’vegot togothrough….”Iamalreadythroughit,man!AndIhavegot thedoorandthehingesandtheboltandthelockandthetransomandthethresholdandtheportalandthelintelandthesidepostsandthewholecottonpickin’works.TheBiblesaysoftheborn-againchildofGod,Colossians2:9–10,“Forinhimdwellethallthefulnessof the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of allprincipality and power.” It says in Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would makeknownwhat is therichesof thegloryof thismysteryamongtheGentiles;which isChristinyou,thehopeofglory.”

At the timeofMatthew5–7, thebloodatonementhadn’tevenbeenmade. Itwasn’tevencompleted.Asamatteroffact,at that time,theNewTestamenthadnotevenbeeninstituted. In Matthew chapter 26, the Lord Jesus Christ institutes the New TestamentwhenHesaysinverse28,“Forthisismybloodofthenewtestament,whichisshedformanyfortheremissionofsins.”ButtheNewTestamentdidn’tactuallyhaveanyeffect,eveninMatthew26.Itwasn’teffectiveuntilMatthew27.Yousay,“Wheredoyougetthatfrom?”Frombelieving what He said, whereHe said it, and by carefully avoiding anyreferenceto“theoriginalGreek.”

Now listen, you couldn’t find proof that a Christian could lose his salvation fromMatthew5,6,or7unlessyoustayedupallnight,half-blindandhalf-drunk.TherearenoChristians inMatthew5–7.Nobody is “inChrist” inMatthew5, 6, or 7.There are noGentilespresentinMatthew5–7.Christhasn’trisenfromthedeadinMatthew5–7.ThepromiseoftheHolySpirithasn’tbeengiveninMatthew5–7.Youwouldbethemaddestof themad tosuppose thatanyverse in there isdealingwithaborn-againchildofGodlosingEternalSecurity.Youneed tohaveyourhead lookedat (andprobablyyourheartbeforeyourhead).Thatgoesforthemanthattaughtyouthattoo.

LookatMatthew8:11–12.“AndIsayuntoyou,Thatmanyshallcomefromtheeast and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in thekingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outerdarkness: there shall beweeping andgnashing of teeth.”A fellow says, “See there,theywere children of the kingdom, and they got cast into outer darkness.” They did!?“Childrenofthekingdom?”Kingdomofwhat?KingdomofHeaven,verse11.What’shetalking about?“And I sayunto you,Thatmany shall come from the east andwest[there are your Gentiles!] and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob[thereareyourJews]inthekingdomofheaven.Butthechildrenofthekingdom….”TheyarenotGentiles.TheyarenotChristians.Whoarethey?Well,theyareobviouslytheChrist-rejecting descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who didn’t accept theMessiah. That’s perfectly plain from everything in the context within the context ofMatthewchapter8oreightchapterseitherway.

TheyuseMatthew12:32forexample:“Andwhosoeverspeakethawordagainstthe

Sonofman,itshallbeforgivenhim:butwhosoeverspeakethagainsttheHolyGhost,it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”That’s why you find these Glossolalia, Charismatic, Holiness, Pentecostal flapdoodlesalwaysworrying about the unpardonable sin.Knowwhy theyworry about it?Becausethey always put the emphasis on theHolyGhost instead of the Lord JesusChrist. TheLordJesusChrist said inJohn14–16 thatwhen theHolySpiritwouldcome,Hewouldtestify ofHim (JesusChrist),Hewould talk ofHim (JesusChrist) andHis things, andshowthemthethingstocome.

TheHolySpirit’sworkistomagnifyJesusChrist,andifthereistheslightestdoubtinyourmindaboutit,youwillfindthattheservantofAbraham(atypeoftheHolySpirit,Gen.24)isnotevennamed.HisnameisgivenearlierinGenesis15,buttheHolySpiritcallsattentiontoGod’sSon;sothe“servant”ofGenesis24doesn’ttellhisname,andhisnameisnotmentionedinthechapter.

This “unpardonable sin” is clearly defined in Mark’s gospel, chapter 3, and Markdefines it in no uncertain terms, where you couldn’t possiblymiss it, when he said in3:29–30,“ButhethatshallblasphemeagainsttheHolyGhosthathneverforgiveness,butisindangerofeternaldamnation:Becausetheysaid,Hehathanuncleanspirit.”“Becausetheysaid,He(HeisJesusChrist)hathanuncleanspirit.”Haveyoueversaidthat?Ifyoudid,whatwoulditmean?TheSonofManisnotheretoday.AndwhereHeis,HisHolySpiritisdownhereinthebodyofthebeliever.Nowyouseethemessfolksgetintowhen they refuse tobelievewhatGod said, asHe said it,whereHe said it, and towhom it was said? That thing that Jesus Christ said there is aimed at Christ-rejecting,unsaved JewishPhariseesunder the law.Matthew12:24 is the context:“Butwhen thePhariseesheardit,theysaid,Thisfellowdothnotcastoutdevils,butbyBeelzebubtheprinceofthedevils.”Rightaboveitinverse21itsaid,“AndinhisnameshalltheGentiles trust.”“Inhisname”Christ’sname,“shall theGentiles trust.” Now, if youwanttocommittheunpardonablesinandloseyourEternalSecurity,Icantellyouhowtodoit.

NumberOne:GobackundertheJewishlawandcountontheTenCommandmentstosaveyou.

NumberTwo:BecomeaChrist-rejectingPhariseeinJerusaleminthefirstcentury.

NumberThree:MeetJesusChristonEarthastheSonofManandtellHimHehasanuncleanspirit,andyoucanmakeittoHell.

Ifyouarethatanxioustoproveaheresy,goonandtry.WhyshouldIcare?SomeofyoupeoplecarenothingaboutwhatGodsaid,sowhyshouldIcareanythingaboutwhatyousay?Ifyouaresaved,youhaveEternalSecurity,butifyoudon’tknowit,that’syourbusiness.Imean,ifyouwanttobestupid,Paulsaid,“beyestupid.”Hesaid,“Butifanymanbeignorant,lethimbeignorant”(1Cor.14:38).Ifyouwanttogetangryaboutit,that’syourright,buttheBibleisright.I’vegotmyordersfromtheHolySpirit;yougetyoursfromwhereveryouwant togetyours.Yousee, there isnosense inweepingtearsandhavingacompassionateburdenoverthese“poor,erringbrothers”inChrist,whentheyhavealreadymadeuptheirmindstorejectwhatGodsaidandsubstituteforittheirowneducation.

“TheUnpardonableSin”isnotaimedatanyChristiananywherethissideofthecrossanywhereintheNewTestamentasfarasyoucantellfromanythingintheNewTestamentanywhereyoupickitup.Let’stakeanothercase.Imean,they’realwaystryingtogetyoutoloseitsomeway.Matthew13:21,“Yethathhenotrootinhimself,butdurethforawhile:forwhentribulationorpersecutionarisethbecauseoftheword,byandbyheisoffended.”Now,thisistheParableoftheSowerandtheSeed.Inthesecondcaseyouare told that apersoncan receive theword,believeonChrist, and thenduring timesofpersecution,fallaway.ThisiscoupledbytheCharismaticsandCatholicswithaversethatsays,“fallfromgrace.”(We’regoingtogettoit;we’regoingtogettoit;justholdyourhorses!)

YouneedtolearnalittleBiblebeforeyourunaroundquotingtheonlytenversesyouknow.After all, if all you know is ten verses, you don’t know anyBible anyway—thedevilknowsmorethanthat.Sohesays,“Well,he’soffendedandfallsaway.”NoticeverycarefullypleaseinMatthewchapter13whereitoccurs.Seeinverse6andagaininverse21,thismanhasnoroot.Noroot!Noroot!It’sveryimportanttonoticethatword.Asamatterof fact, that’s thedifferencebetween falsedoctrineand sounddoctrine; theLordJesusChrist is called“therootandoffspringofDavid,and thebrightandmorningstar,”inRevelationchapter22;andagain,theLordJesusChristisreferredtoasthe“rootoutofadryground”(Isa.53:2).ThecontentofIsaiah53:2isthebloodatonement—thebloodatonementoftheLordJesusChrist.ThemanintheparabledidnotbelieveonChristanddidnothaveChrist.

On and on and onwe go. InMatthew24, you’ll find these birds atwork again. InMatthewchapter24,theypickitupagainandsay,“Lookatverse13.”“Buthethatshallendure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” So they say, “It follows, as garbagefollowsameal,thatifyoudon’tenduretilltheend,youwon’tbesaved.”See?Allright,once again. Instead of believingwhat somenut taught you that thought he lost his andthoughtyoucouldloseyours(ornevergotsavedinthefirstplace),whydon’tyoureadMatthew24?Didyoueverreadit?Yousay,“Westudythe….”Nevermindthat;Idon’tbuythatbit.DidyoureadMatthew24?DidyounoticethatthewholepassageistalkingaboutJudeanJews?Yousay,“Well,itsaysoverhereabouttheworld….”Lookatverse15.“Whenyethereforeshallseetheabominationofdesolation,spokenofbyDanieltheprophet,standintheholyplace,(whosoreadeth,lethimunderstand.)”Yousay,“Butverse14says….”“Andthisgospelof thekingdomshallbepreached inall theworldforawitnessuntoallnations;andthenshalltheendcome.”“Andthenshalltheendcome.”Youreadthat,didyou?Doyouknowwhatyoudid?Youreadverse13andapplied it toaborn-againbeliever; and thenwhenyougot to the endofverse14,“andthenshalltheendcome,”youjustdidn’tquoteit,becauseyouknewperfectlywellthat“theend” inverse14matchedaperiodof time. Ifyou read itback toverse13, itwouldhaveimpliedthatamanthatenduredtotheendofaperiodoftimewouldbesaved,andthereferencehadnothingtodowiththeindividual’slifeatall!

Asamatteroffact,thecontextoftheend,whereitoccurseveryplaceinthepassage,is the end of a period of timewhich theOldTestament calls theGreatTribulation, the“TimeofJacob’sTrouble”inJeremiah,or“TimeofTrouble”inDanielchapter12.Thisisasubjectofprophecycalled“Daniel’sSeventiethWeek.”IfyouareaJehovah’sWitnessoraSeventh-dayAdventistreadingthisbook,thereisn’tanychanceatallyouwillever

getitstraight;becauseyouweretaughtfromtheverybeginningbytwoofthebiggestliarsthat ever lived (Ellen G.White and Pastor Russell) that the Great Tribulation was notfuture,butthatyouwereinitandwerenow“enduringtotheend.”AbiggerliewasneverhatchedoutofHell.

Matthew24isplainlytalkingaboutaperiodoftimeprecedingtheAdvent,verse30,“AndthenshallappearthesignoftheSonofmaninheaven:andthenshallallthetribesoftheearthmourn,andtheyshallseetheSonofmancominginthecloudsofheaven with power and great glory.” Then, verse 29, “Immediately after thetribulationofthosedays….”plainlytellingyoutheeventsaretalkingaboutaperiodoftimecalled theTribulationafterwhich theLordwillappear,and theadmonitionsare tothose inJerusalem, verse15,“theholyplace,” verse 16, “Judaea.”Did you get that?Given to whom? Jewish disciples, verse 3, “The disciples came unto him privately,saying,Tellus,whenshallthesethingsbe?”Thereforeitisblasphemy(notagainsttheHolySpirit,butagainsttheLordJesusChristandtheBible)totellanypoorsinnerthatifhe doesn’t “endure to the end” he can’t be saved on the basis ofMatthew 24:13whennobodyinMatthewhasbeenbornagain.NobodyinMatthew24isaChristian.NobodyinMatthew24isintheBodyofChrist.NobodyinMatthew24hasbeenregenerated.Inthecontext,it’stalkingabouttheendofaperiodoftheworld’shistoryandnottheendofaman’slife.

Stillwithit?Well,herecomesaCampbelliteorMethodistwhosays,“Butdoesn’titsayover there inRevelation2:10,‘bethoufaithfuluntodeath,andIwillgivetheeacrownoflife.’”Yes,that’swhatitsays,butyoudidn’treadthateither,didyou?NowgobackandlookatRevelation2:10,“Fearnoneofthosethingswhichthoushaltsuffer:behold,thedevilshallcastsomeofyouintoprison,thatyemaybetried;andyeshallhavetribulationtendays:bethoufaithfuluntodeath,andIwillgivetheeacrownoflife.”Don’tgetmadatme;don’t loseyour temperatme.TakeyourBibleandturnthatthingopenandreadit.Revelation2:10.Itdidn’tsaybefaithfuluntodeathandI’llgiveyoueternallife.Yousay,“What’sthedifference?”Whythedifferenceisinthewords.Doyounoticethewordsaredifferent?Yousay,“Butwhat….”Shutup,youheretic,andreadit—readit!

AChristian’sjobistobelievewhathereads.YourjobisnottotrytoargueandfinagleandfiguresomewayofgettingaroundtheBibletomakeitprovewhatyouthinkitmeans.Your job is believingwhat God said, as He said it, where He said it.When He said“crownoflife,”Hedidn’tmean“eternallife,”andwhereHesaid“eternallife,”Hedidn’tmean“crownoflife,”becauseHesayswhatHemeansandHemeanswhatHesays;andifyouoryourchurchdon’t likeit,youcanlumpit.Andthatgoesforyourpastor,yourteacher, yourwife, your children, yourmother, yourbishop, yourpriest, yourpope, theUnitedNations,andthelast thirty-fivepresidents.WebelievetheBook.TheBooksaid,“crownoflife.” Itdidn’tsay“eternal life,”andif itsaid“crownoflife,”doyouknowwhatitmeant?Itmeant“crownoflife.”Doyouknowwhatthatdoesn’tmean?Itdoesn’tmeananythingelse.MydearBrother,“loverejoicesinthetruth.”Thetruthis,crownoflifeisnoteternallife,andeternallifeisnotthecrownoflife;andifyouareachildofGodwhoreadthatandbelievedit,you’drejoiceinit.Youwouldnottrytoprovethatthetwowerethesameinordertoprovethatyoucouldloseit,orthatifyouweren’t“faithfuluntodeath”youcouldn’tgeteternallife.

Let’s try Matthew 24. A great passage, Matthew 24:48–51, “But and if that evilservantshallsayinhisheart,Mylorddelayethhiscoming;Andshallbegintosmitehisfellowservants,andtoeatanddrinkwiththedrunken;Thelordofthatservantshallcomeinadaywhenhelookethnotforhim,andinanhourthatheisnotawareof,Andshallcuthimasunder,andappointhimhisportionwiththehypocrites:thereshallbeweepingandgnashingof teeth.”A fellowsays, “There, see,he lost it.”Wholost it?Thetextsaysaservant.Yousay,“Aren’twetheLord’sservants?”Yeah,butseethere,you’rediddlingwithitagain,aren’tyou?Thismessageistalkingabouttheeternalsecurityoftheborn-again,Bible-believing,regeneratedsinnerwhohasbeenmadeboneofChrist’sbonebygracethroughfaithinthefinishedbloodatonement.Now,let’syoujustfindthatinMatthew24withaflashlightandalaserbeam.Let’sseeyoufinditwithapairofbinocularsandatelescope.

There isn’t one born-again, regenerated child of God anywhere in that chapter.Furthermore, theGospelmentionedthereisnot theGospelof theGraceofGod; it’s theGospeloftheKingdom,verse14,“Andthisgospelofthekingdomshallbepreachedinall theworldforawitnessuntoallnations;andthenshall theendcome.”Yousay,“But….”Thereyougoagainshootingoffyourbigmouth;youjustneedtoshutupandlearn some Bible. You see, you need to quit trying to insert over it the privateinterpretationssomebodygaveyou—bytwistingitlikeyouaretryingtotwistit.

Imean,ifyouarenotjustadirty,low-downbum,yououghttobelievewhatGodsaid.Idon’tmeanit’syourbusinesstotrytofigurethatthingoutandmakeitlineupwithwhatyouknowtobeso;IamtellingyouthetruthwhenItellyouthatthemaninthispassageisa servant, not a born-again child of God. He is an “evil servant,” verse 48, not aconsecratedChristian.He’sjustbeforetheAdvent,verse37,notintheChurchAge.Inthecontextinwhichheisfound,heisappointedhisportionwithhypocritesbecause heisnotabornagainchildofGod;he’snotintheBodyofChrist;he’snotregenerated;he’snotcalledaChristian.Youcouldn’tfindtheword“Christian”withinthirty-fivepagesofwhatIjustreadineitherdirection.Nowwhatdoyouthinkaboutthat?

Letmetellyousomething.Whenyoufindpeoplegoingtopassageslikethistotrytoconvinceyou thatyoucan lose salvation,you’reeitherdealingwithunsavedpeople,oryou’redealingwithChristianswhohavesosearedandviolatedtheirconscienceswitharedhotironthattheycannolongerreadproperly—letaloneteachproperly.TherearenoChristians in Matthew 24. They’re not mentioned directly or indirectly. It’s an “evilservant”—not a child of God. It’s a servant who is here before the Advent—not theRapture.It’saservantwhoislookingforhisLordtocome.TheLordofthatservantisnotthe“SonofGod”(vs.37,“Sonofman”;vs.27,“Sonofman”;vs.30,“Sonofman”;vs.39,“Sonofman”).We’relookingfortheSonofGodfromHeaven,andtheterm“Sonofman”doesnotoccuronetimeinthePaulineepistles.

Yousay,“Whydoyoukeepmakingsomuchofthat?”Becauseit’sso!Yousay,“Whydoyoumake somuchof these nonessentials?”What are you talking about,man?Thatterm“Sonofman”ismentionedmoretimesinyourBiblethantheword“church”ortheword“baptism”ortheterm“newbirth.”NowdoyouseewhatI’mtalkingabout?AreyousayingtheyareessentialsandtheSonofmanistobeoverlooked?

CatholicsandCampbellitesalwaysuseverses toprovewhat theywant tobelieve to

startwith.Theborn-again,regeneratedsinnerwhoispartoftheBodyofChrist—boneofHisboneandfleshofHisflesh(Eph.5)bythespiritualcircumcisionmadewithouthands(Col. 2)—nomore has to worry aboutMatthew 24 than he has to worry about a sickbutterfly.InMatthew24,thebloodhasnotyetbeenshedandtheHolySpirithasnotyetbeengiven,sodon’ttrytoputonairs.

Atthispointitmightbeappropriatetoaskourselvesthequestion,“Towhat,then,dotheseversesrefer?”Imean,youseesofarI’vejustbeengoingthroughtheforestcuttingdown the treeswithouthauling themoff anywhereordoinganythingwith them.That’swhatisnecessaryfirst.Youarenotgoingtobuildanythingtillyoutearsomethingdown.Youdon’tgrowagardenwithoutplowing.Youdon’tputupahousewithoutlevelingthegroundunder it.Unlessyouclear the forest of thesehybrid timberswhodonotbelongthere,you’renotgoingtogrowanything.

A man says, “Well now, Brother Ruckman, you’ve cut down this verse here inMatthewandthatverseinMatthewandthisverseinMatthew,andyou’retearingupyourBible:youaredenyingtheWordofGod.”NoIamnot!I’msimplyshowingyouwhattheHolySpiritwouldhaveshownyouanywayifyouhadhadanysense.Theseversescouldnothaveappliedtoaborn-againbelieverintheBodyofChrist.Yousay,“Thenwheredotheyapply?”Wewillcometothatnow.

Now, I have said very little about the direct application of these verses until now,becauseI’vebeenloathetogetintothisproblemofdispensationsduetothedeepbigotedprejudicesomeofyouhaveagainst“rightlydividingthewordoftruth.”Thisprejudiceis so deep and bitter that the new “bibles” do not translate 2Timothy 2:15 as“rightlydividing,” but they translate it everyway in theworldexcept“rightlydividing.” As amatteroffact,youcan’tfindonenewtranslationonthemarketrecommendedbyanybody(especially John R. Rice, Bob Jones, III, or the faculty at Lynchburg, Moody, Fuller,Midwestern,orTennesseeTemple) thatdoesnotalter the readingof2Timothy2:15sothattheChristianwhostudieshisBiblecannotlearnhowtostudyit.Thewayyoustudyitis“rightlydividingthewordoftruth.”ThatistheopinionoftheHolySpiritofGod,notyouropinionormine.

The“wordof truth” hasproperdivisions, and to ignore thosedivisions is to courtdoctrinaldisaster.Now,we’renotwhatyoucall“hyper”or“ultra-dispensationalists.”Forexample,IwouldnotbeonetosaythatyoucouldnotfindspiritualapplicationorspiritualinstructioninMatthew.Idon’tsaythat.WhatwearetalkingabouthereisthedoctrineoftheEternalSecurityoftheBeliever.IbelieveImadethatabundantlyclearinthefirsttenminutesofthismessage,andyetbynow,someofyouprejudicedhereticshaveforgottenthe subject.Youareoff on anotherpossum trail—another rabbit track. I never saidonetime that every verse in that Bible wasn’t inspired; I never said one time it wasn’tprofitableforreproof,instructioninrighteousness,orcorrection.Butwearetalkinghereaboutadoctrine,andyou’dbettergetyourdoctrinestraightfirst,becausetheHolySpiritcommandedyouto!

“All scripture is given by inspiration ofGod, and is profitable fordoctrine” (2Tim. 3:16) first. Some of these harsh and hard remarks I ammaking are not nearly asharshandhardaswhatyou’regoingtomeetwhenyouhit theJudgmentSeatofChrist.TheHolySpiritsaid that thewayyoustudyit isby“rightlydividing” it,and theHoly

Spiritsaidthefirstthingyouhadbettergetstraightisyourdoctrine.Nowthat’swhattheHolySpiritsaid.Youareentitledtoyourownopinion,butafterall,what’syoursalongsideofGod’s?Fromnowon,IamgoingtobegintocallyourattentiontothefactthateverysingleverseIhavequotedsofarisaimedeitheratsomebodybeforethecrucifixion,death,burial,andresurrectionofJesusChrist,orsomebodyaftertheLordhastakenthechurchoutinaperiodoftimecalledtheGreatTribulation.

Here’s a perfect example now coming up inMatthew 25, which has been used byCatholics, Campbellites, Charismatics, and Glossolalia. (That’s the fancy name forHolinessPentecostals.)Thispassagehasbeenusedbythesepeoplefromtimeimmemorialto teach thataChristiancanrunoutof theHolySpirit, lose theHolySpirit,andnotbereadywhenJesusChristcomes.ThepassagehasalwaysbeenusedinconjunctionwithapassageinthebookofHebrews,whichIshallquotealongsidethispassagesoyoucanseethemismatchandhowthesepeoplewresttheScripturestotheirowndestruction.

ThefirstpassageusedisMatthew25:1–13,“Thenshallthekingdomofheavenbelikened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet thebridegroom.Andfiveofthemwerewise,andfivewerefoolish.Theythatwerefoolishtooktheirlamps,andtooknooilwiththem:Butthewisetookoilintheirvesselswiththeir lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And atmidnighttherewasacrymade,Behold, thebridegroomcometh;goyeout tomeethim.Thenallthosevirginsarose,andtrimmedtheirlamps.Andthefoolishsaiduntothewise,Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But thewise answered,saying,Notso;lesttherebenotenoughforusandyou:butgoyerathertothemthatsell,andbuyforyourselves.Andwhiletheywenttobuy,thebridegroomcame;andthey that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But heansweredand said,Verily I sayuntoyou, Iknowyounot.Watch therefore, foryeknowneitherthedaynorthehourwhereintheSonofmancometh.”

The passage is used alongside Matthew 25 to prove that a Christian can lose hissalvationandtherewillbeapartialraptureinsteadofafullraptureinHebrews9:28,“SoChristwasonceofferedtobearthesinsofmany;anduntothemthat lookforhimshallheappearthesecondtimewithoutsinuntosalvation.”Thisisalsocoveredinapassage in Hebrews chapter 12 where He says, “Follow peace with all men, andholiness,withoutwhichnomanshallseetheLord.”Now,bytakingthesetwopassagesoutofabookcalledHEBREWS,whichwasnotaddressedtotheBodyofChristortotheSaints—as you will find the openings to First and Second Corinthians, Ephesians,Philippians,Colossians, andRomans—by taking these twopassages inHebrews,“untothemthat look forhim,”and“holiness,withoutwhichnomanshall see theLord,”andthen“combobolating”themwithMatthew25,wewillgetthiswildsituation.

IamgoingtoreaditasaHolinesspreacherwouldreaditifhetoldthetruth:“Thenshallheaven[Althoughthetextsayskingdomofheaven.]belikeuntotenvirginswhichtook their lampsandwent forth tomarry thebridegroom….” (Nowofcourse,noBiblesays that, but the fact no Bible says that ever bothers these people who teach that aChristiancan losehissalvation. Ithasneverbothered themtopervert thewordofGod,andtheyhaveneverhadanyconscienceaboutit).Theversesaidthatthevirginswentto

MEET the bridegroom. You say, “What’s the difference between that and gettingmarried?”Thespelling.Yousay,“IntheGreek….”Well,iftheGreeksaysotherwise,justcorrecttheGreekwiththeEnglish;it’salwayswise.Thewordfor“meet”andthewordfor“marry” in theGreek areNOT the sameword. It isn’t the same in Pig Latin or PidginEnglishorWasambi,sowhywouldyouthinkitwasthesameinEnglish?TheversesaidtheywenttoMEEThim,notmarryhim.“Andfiveofthemweresaved,andthefivethatwere savedhadgoodsense.And they thatdidn’thavegoodsense took their lampsandtooknoHolySpiritwiththem.ThewisetookHolySpiritintheirvesselsfortheirlamps.While thebridegroomtarried, theyallslumberedandslept,andatmidnight therewasacry, ‘Behold, thebridegroomcometh,goout andmarryhim’.” (Ofcourse, itdidn’t saythat. But that never bothers Catholics, Campbellites, and these Charismatic Glossolaliapeople.Theynevergaveablankety-blankwhatGodhadtosayifitdidn’tmatchtheirownexperience.)“Thenallthosevirginsaroseandtrimmedtheirlamps.Andthefoolishonessaid,GiveusoftheHolySpirit,fortheHolySpirithasleftus;butthewisesaid,Notso,lesttherenotbeenoughHolySpiritforusandyou,butgotothemthatselltheHolySpiritand buy the Holy Spirit for yourself. While they went to buy the Holy Spirit, thebridegroomcame,andthemthatwerereadywentwithhimintothemarriageandthedoorwas shut.Thenafterwards the foolish cameand said,Open tous, andhe said,Verily, Iknowyounot….”

Now,thatpassagehasbeenusedeversincethedaysofOrigentoprovethataborn-againchildofGodcanlosehissalvationand“runout”oftheHolySpirit.Matthew25hasbeenusedinconjunctionwiththetwopassagesinHebrews,andinbothofthosepassagesthereareremarksaboutnobodyseeingtheLordunlesstheyhaveholiness.Thatisn’twhatit says, but that never bothered that bunch. “Unto them that look for him shall heappear….”Itlookslikeatoughone,doesn’tit?

Now,forthoseofuswhobelieveourBibles,abouteightorninefactsareverysalientfromthepassages.BythatImeantheyareveryclear.

Numberone:The church is never referred to as ten virgins. TheBody ofChrist isneverreferredtoasfivevirgins.Asamatteroffact,theHolySpiritHimselfhasoverruledtheteachingofeverymanthatevertaughtthatthepassagedealswithlosingsalvationbytelling you the Body of Christ, the bride of Christ, is one chaste virgin, 2 Corinthians11:1–2,“Would toGodyecouldbearwithmea little inmy folly:and indeedbearwithme.ForIamjealousoveryouwithgodlyjealousy:forIhaveespousedyoutoonehusband,thatImaypresentyouasachastevirgintoChrist.”“She is theonlyoneofhermother,sheisthechoiceONEofherthatbareher,”accordingtotheSongof Solomon 2, 4, and 6. TheBride ofChrist isNEVER referred to as “virgins” in theplural.

Numbertwo:ThereisagroupofpeoplewhoAREcalled“virgins”intheBible,soyouhadbetter findoutwho theyarebeforeyoushootoffyourmouthabout things thatyouknownothingabout.TherearesomepeopleinthatBookwhoarecalledvirginsandnotasingleoneofthemisintheBodyofChrist.Yousay,“Wherearethey?”Lookitup.ThereisabunchinRevelation14,andtheyareHebrews.ThereisabunchinRevelation7,andtheyareHebrews.

Number three:Theverseswhichspeakabout lookingforChristandseeingHimare

writtenintheepistletotheHebrews.Howdoyouaccountforthat?

InourexpositionofMatthewchapter25,wehavelearned,firstofall,thattheChurchwasneverreferredtoas“virgins”intheBible,butasONEchastevirgin,whichinitselfshouldbesignificanttoanyperverterofthewordofGodwhosaysaChristiancanlosehissalvation. Also, there is a group of people in the Bible called virgins; they are inRevelationchapters7and14,andtheyareliteral,flesh-and-bloodpeoplefromthetwelvetribesofIsraelcalled“Hebrews.”Theyareliteral,physicalHebrewsfromliteral,physicaltribes,numberingtwelvethousandeachaccordingtotwelvetribes.TheyarenotspiritualHebrews“intheSpirit”oranyothercock-and-bullstorythatGarnerTedArmstrongmadeup to convince you thatGod is all throughwith Jewish Israel.Right in that passage inRomans where he speaks about being a real Jew, spiritual and circumcised, and thecircumcision being made inward “in the heart” and in the spirit, “not the flesh,” Paulspeaks of a literal, visible, physical Jew in a literal, physical, visible tribe towhomaregiventheliteral,physical,visiblewrittenwordsofGod.

Finally:The“virgins”calledHebrewsare found in thebookofHebrews,where thewriter,aHebrew, told theHebrews“untothemthat lookforhimshallheappearthesecond time” (Heb. 9:28). Now did you get that? When was the first time that Heappearedtothem?Well, itwasn’tat theRaptureofthechurch.Thefirst timewaswhentheLordJesusChristshoweduponthisearthatthefirstAdvent.Thus,theHolySpirithastoldanybeliever,inthebookofHebrews,thatthosethatlookforHimthesecondtimearethosewhowill be here at the SecondAdvent of Jesus Christ whenHe comes back toIsrael.“Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time.”Do you seethat?Now,youlistentome.ThefirsttimeHecame,Hecameunto“hisown,”theJews.HecameasKingoftheJews.Hecameonce,andthefirsttimeHecame,Hecametobearsins, and when He bore the sins, the inscription over His head said, “This is Jesus ofNazareth, theKingof the Jews.”Thenext timeHe comes,He comesback to saveHisnation and to sit down on the throne ofDavid (Luke 1). The reasonwhy some of you“partial rapturists” believe aChristian can lose his salvation is because you have nevergottenthatpartoftheBiblerighteither.I’lltellyousomethingelse.Youarenotabouttogetitright.

If you are aCatholic or aChurch ofChristmember, a Seventh-dayAdventist or aJehovah’sWitness, there is part of theBible that is sealed to you, and itwill never beopened to you until it’s opened in the Lake of Fire. There is not one Seventh-dayAdventistorJehovah’sWitnessorChurchofChristorRomanCatholicpriestonthefaceofthisearthwhobelievesLuke1:30–33,andIsaiah11andIsaiah2literally.Notone.Nowonderthesepassagesareobscuretoyou!NowonderyoualwaysruntoHebrewstotrytogettheborn-againchildofGodintheBodyofChristtotrytolosehissalvation.Youdon’tknowwheretheHebrewsfitintoGod’splan,doyou?

That isn’t all:Thesevirgins inMatthew25 thatwe are discussingdonot goout tomarrythebridegroom;theygoouttomeethim.Now,theBrideofChristisHiswife(Eph.5).That isn’tall. InMatthew25:12,Jesussaidunto these foolishvirgins,“VerilyIsayuntoyou, Iknowyounot.”Didyouconsider that?“Iknowyounot!”Don’tyou seehow thatmatched that passageback there inMatthew7,whenhe said, “I neverknewyou:departfromme.”Well,whatdoyoumakeofthis?

Look at John 10:27–28, “My sheep hearmy voice, and I know them, and theyfollowme:AndIgiveuntothemeternallife;andtheyshallneverperish,neithershallanymanpluckthemoutofmyhand.”Now,howinGod’snameareyougoingtoputfivefoolishHebrewvirgins(whoranoutofoil)intheTribulationintoJohn10?Youwhohaveeternal life,whomChristknows,whenHesaidtothefoolishvirgins,“Iknowyounot?”DoyouthinktheLordisaliar?Heknowsme.IknowHim.

That isn’t all. When the Apostle to the Gentiles wrote to the Gentiles (not to theHebrews),andwhen theApostle to theGentileswrote tosavedGentiles in theBodyofChrist(nottheTribulation),hesaidthisaboutthesesavedGentiles:“Butnow,afterthatyehaveknownGod,orratherareknownofGod,howturnyeagaintotheweakandbeggarlyelements,whereuntoyedesireagaintobeinbondage?”(Gal.4:9).AreyoutellingmethatafterGodknowsme(andsaysHeknowsme)andstatesthatHeknowsme,Hewouldturnaroundandsay,“Iknowyounot”?Haveyougotrocksforbrains?

Thesepeoplewhoteachthatyoucanloseyoursalvationhavetwothingswrongwiththem:Theytendto thinkGodisa liar;andnumber two, theyhavebeenledastraybyafalseteacherandbelievedhim.Theyaresoself-righteousthattheyarecountingontheirworkstosavethem,becausetheyfoundplacesintheBiblewheresomebody’sworksdidsavethem.We’lltalkmoreaboutthatlater.

Let’scontinueinMatthew25.Speakingofworks,lookatthis,“AndtheKingshallanswerandsayuntothem,VerilyIsayuntoyou,Inasmuchasyehavedone ituntooneoftheleastofthesemybrethren,yehavedoneituntome.Thenshallhesayalsounto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,preparedforthedevilandhisangels”(Matt.25:40–41).“Thenshallheanswerthem,saying,VerilyIsayuntoyou,Inasmuchasyediditnottooneoftheleastofthese,yedid it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but therighteousintolifeeternal”(Matt.25:45–46).Now,there’sabeautifulpassageifyoueversaw one. Notice in that passage, no faith, no belief—pure works from start to finish.Noticethepeoplewhogetintothekingdombytheirworksaresaidtoberighteous.YouneverfindPaulcallingaborn-againchildofGodrighteous,doyou?Paulsays,aboutthechildofGod,thatChristishisrighteousness(Rom.10:1–5).Yousay,“Iwishyouwouldquit liningPaulupagainstChrist.”Thatbothersyou,doesn’t it?Well, itwillbother thereligiousliberaltoo.TheliberalalwayslikestogobytheredlettersintheBibleon“whatJesussaid”andgetridofthePaulinedoctrinesontheDeityofChristandthenewbirth.The Liberal always did object to Paul’s conversion experience, because he was neverconverted himself. This kind of person who always tries to “stick to the Gospels”(preferablywithaslittleofJohnaspossible)wascalledanEbioniteinthefirstcenturyofChristianity. If you put it over the plate waist high, they refuse to believe the PaulineEpistles.TheybelievethatbyimitatingthelifeofChristasinnercanbecomeChrist-like.

About righteousness,Paul saysabout thechildofGod—there’snodoubtabout it—that Jesus Christ in the Christian is made righteousness, wisdom, sanctification, andredemption.TheLordJesusChristismadethesethingstotheChristianin1Corinthians1:30,“But of himare ye inChrist Jesus,whoofGod ismadeuntouswisdom, andrighteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” Now you say, “Why are you soparticular about this thing?” I’ll tell youwhy: because you should be sick and tired of

these idiots andnuts trying to talknewChristiansoutof their salvation simplybecausethey’reledbytheDevil.That’swhyIamsoexactaboutthesematters.

LookatthesetruthsinMatthew25again.Noticeverse34,“ThenshalltheKingsayunto themonhis right hand,Come, ye blessed ofmyFather, inherit the kingdompreparedforyoufromthefoundationoftheworld.”Again,verse31,“WhentheSonofmanshallcomeinhisglory,andalltheholyangelswithhim,thenshallhesituponthethroneofhisglory.”Thereitis,SecondAdvent!“Thenshallhesituponthethroneofhisglory.”There it is!There’s the throneofDavid—Matthew19:28;Luke1:30–33;andActs2—whereSimonPetersaidthatDavidprophesiedofChristthatGodwouldraiseupChrist tositonDavid’sthrone.NotGod’sthrone;David’s throne (Acts2:30–32,34).But you peoplewho believe you can lose your salvation never did get Israel right, didyou?YouneverdidgettheJewintherightplace.Ifyoucan’tplacetheHebrews(theJewsin Israel), thendon’texpect togetyourdoctrinesonsalvation right;youcan’tget themright!Thereisnotawayinthisworld,brother,noway,noway!ThecontextofMatthew25 throughout is the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. It matches exactly thepassage inHebrewswhich said, “And holiness, withoutwhich noman shall see theLord.”Didyoueverstoptothinkaboutthatstatement?ImeaninsteadofjustbelievingwhattheseHoliness,Charismatic,Glossolaliaclaptrapssayaboutit,didyoueveractuallyprayaboutthatverse?“Andholiness,withoutwhichnomanshallseetheLord.”

Now,justbeforesomeofyouloseyourtemperinyourfanaticalignoranceandmakeafool out of yourselves, think about that seriously for a couple of minutes, will you?Hebrews12:14,“Followpeacewithallmen,andholiness,withoutwhichnomanshallseetheLord.”Nowthinkabout thataminute.Whatdoes thatmean?Yousay,“Well, itmeans thatwithoutholiness, nomancan see theLord.” Is that right?Why they all seeHimattheWhiteThroneJudgment,don’tthey?Don’tthey?“Everykneeshouldbow…every tongue should confess.”“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand beforeGod.”Doyouthinktheyhaveholiness?I’llgiveyouonemorechance.“Andholiness,withoutwhichnomanshallseetheLord.”AlllostpeopleseeHimattheWhiteThroneJudgmentwithoutholiness,don’tthey?Yousay,“Well,Godisholy.”Thatisn’twhattheversemeanswhentheyquoteit.Thereisn’taHolinesspreacherintheworldwhodoesn’tpreachthatyoudon’tseetheLordwithoutholiness.Ifyou’renotholywhenHecomes,youhaveasplitRapture.Theyknowthat;youknowthat;Iknowthat;youknowIknowit;andIknowthatyouknowthatIknowit.

Thatisn’tall.DidyouseeinRevelation1:7,“Behold,hecomethwithclouds;andeveryeyeshallseehim,andtheyalsowhichpiercedhim:andallkindredsoftheearthshallwailbecauseofhim.Evenso,Amen.”Whatareyougoing todowith that?Yousay,“Well,BrotherRuckman,I’mjustgoingtobeakind,sweetChristianandnotbelikeyou. I amgoing tobekindand sweet and lovingand justget alongwith thebrethren.”Okay,okay,allright,thenyouhittheJudgmentSeatofChristlikeaclodandhaveChristholdyouaccountableforHisstatementthat“Manshallnotlivebybreadalone,butbyeveryWORD thatproceedethoutof themouthofGod.”“Ifaman lovemehewillKEEPMYWORDS.”“Heavenandearthshallpassaway,butmyWORDSshallnotpassaway.”Nowwearedownheretotherootofthetrouble.

TherootofthetroubleaboutthesepeoplewhothinkaChristiancanlosehissalvation

goesagreatdealdeeperthanjustbeingconfusedondoctrine.Atthebottomandbaseofthisthingisaself-righteouspersonwhowantshisworkstobepartofhissalvation,amanwhoalsohascompletedisregard forwhatGodsaid,asHesaid it,whenwhatGodsaidcrosseshisopinion.Thesepeoplearecalled“ignorant”and“wiseintheirownconceits”inRomans11,andyoucanalwaysspottheminanyagebecausenoneofthembelieveintheliteral,physicalthousandyearreignofJesusChrist.Thosewhoprofesstobelieveinthis—andrecentlydownSouthsomeof theJesus freaksandchildrenofGodandChristianbusinessmen have adopted the premillennial position to kind of placate some of thebrethren they’rehaving fellowshipwith—willnot abandon the teaching that aChristiancan lose it, because theyarebasically self-righteous.So, theproblem isverydeep.Theproblemwith thechildofGodwhocomes to thisBookandbegins topreach thatheorsomebodyelsecanloseitis:

NumberOne:Self-righteousness.

NumberTwo:Worldliness.

Number Three: Ignorance. If you can think of a better combination for a carnalapostate, I’veneverheardof it.That’sallweneed in the lastcentury—abunchof self-righteous,worldly,ignorantChristians.That’lldothejob,won’tit?

Now, let us notice carefully. InMatthew 25, it is aKing.Notice it is aKing on athroneon this earth.Notice it has nothing to dowith theWhite Throne Judgment liketheseCampbellitesteach,becauseinthepassageinMatthew25,theLordisonthethroneofHisglory,not theWhiteThrone. In thepassage inMatthew25, it is the judgmentofnations,notthejudgmentoftheunsaveddead.InMatthew25,thecriteriaishowChrist’sbrethren were treated. In Revelation 20, the criteria is the Book of Life. Here in thepassagewe are reading, the passage says plainly that thosewho are saved “inherit thekingdom”prepared for them from the foundation of theworld, and theKingdomas aninheritance is always spoken of as a literal, physical piece of land given to Abraham,Isaac,andJacob—readGenesis.

Thespiritual inheritanceofaheavenlykingdomorheavenlystate ismentioned in1Peterchapter1,Ephesians,andColossians,andthecontextistheborn-againchildofGodintheKingdomofGod.ButtheparableswearereadinghereareplainlydealingwiththeKingdomofHeaven(Matt.25:1,14),andaKingisonthegroundinthepassage—notaSaviourinheaven.ThepassageisdealingwithhownationstreatedChrist’sbrethrenandhasnothingatalltodowiththebeliever’swalkinChristbyfaithinthisage.Thatis,youcouldnotpossiblyuseoneverse inMatthew25 to teach that aChristiancould losehissalvation,unlessyouwerejustanatural,deceived,worldly,ignorant,self-righteous,Bibleperverter.

You say, “What about that servant inMatthew 25, verses 25 to 29?” “And I wasafraid,andwentandhidthytalentintheearth:lo,therethouhastthatisthine.Hislordansweredandsaiduntohim,Thouwickedand slothful servant, thouknewestthatIreapwhereIsowednot,andgatherwhereIhavenotstrawed:Thououghtestthereforetohaveputmymoneytotheexchangers,andthenatmycomingIshouldhavereceivedmineownwithusury.Takethereforethetalentfromhim,andgiveituntohimwhichhathtentalents.Foruntoeveryonethathathshallbegiven,andhe

shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even thatwhichhehath.Andcastyetheunprofitableservantintoouterdarkness:thereshallbeweepingandgnashingofteeth.”Wehavehereexactlythesituationwejustdiscussed(Matt.24:50–51).WehaveacaseheredealingwithChrist’sAdventandChrist’sreturn.ItistheKingdomofHeaven(vs.14),nottheKingdomofGod;andifyouruntoLuke19totrytoproveitistheKingdomofGod(vs.12),you’dsurerunintoamess,becauseinLuke19theunfaithfulservantdoesnotgotoHell(vss.23–26).HedoesinMatthewchapter25.Therefore,bewareofanyfalseteacherorprophetwhotellsyoutheKingdomofHeavenandtheKingdomofGodarethesame,THEYARENOTTHESAME.

TheunprofitableservantinLuke19doesnotgointoouterdarkness,forheisintheKingdomofGod.TheunprofitableservantintheKingdomofHeaveninMatthew25:25–30ispassedintoouterdarknesswherethere“shallbeweepingandgnashingofteeth.”ThusweseeonceagainhowtheHolySpiritwasseriousandindeadearnestwhenHesaiduntous,“StudytoshewthyselfapproveduntoGod,aworkmanthatneedethnottobeashamed,RIGHTLYDIVIDINGthewordoftruth”(2Tim.2:15).

NoGreektextshedsANYlightoneitherpassage.

WehavehadafairsamplingfromthebookofMatthewofpassageswhichteachthatyou“canloseyoursalvation.”Judasisanotherprimeexample.You’llhearthesefellowstalkaboutJudas,youknow,fallingfromgrace,fallingfromhisapostleship,andgoing“tohisownplace.”Theysay,“Well,Judaslostit,soyoucanloseit.”TheprooftextforthisisoverhereinActschapter1,wherewereadinverse25,“Thathemaytakepartofthisministryandapostleship,fromwhichJudasbytransgressionfell,thathemightgotohisownplace.”Incredibleasses(notsheeporrockymountaincanaries)—theseincredibleasseshavegoneupanddownthiscountryfortwoorthreecenturiesnowtellingthechildof God that because Judas lost his salvation and that he was an apostle, you can loseyours!

Now,didyoueverstopandthinkjusthowfantasticandhowabsolutelyincrediblethisbusinessis?DidyoueverreadwhattheLordJesusChristHimselfsaidaboutJudas?John6:70,“Jesusansweredthem,HavenotIchosenyoutwelve,andoneofyouisadevil?”Yousay,“HewasfilledwiththeDevil.”No,don’tmakealiaroutofGod;readtheBook!Christsaid,“HavenotIchosenyoutwelve,andoneofyouisadevil.”Yousay,“ButtheGreeksays….”Youaremad,man!You’renotabouttocorrecttheLordJesusChrist!JesusChristsaid,“HavenotIchosenyoutwelve,andoneofyouisAdevil.”Yousay,“Well,hewasfilled….”No,youarefilledwiththeDevil,that’stheproblem.YouaresofulloftheDevilthatyoucan’tstanditwhentheScripturesspeakoftheDevil.There’snoreferenceheretotheDevil.TheBooksays,“HavenotIchosenyoutwelve,andoneofyouisAdevil.”Yousay,“Well,hewasfilled….”GetoutofJohn13andreadJohn6.Youarestillinthewrongchapter.

Now,doyouseehowthesecrackpotsoperate?TheyjustsimplywillnotbelievewhatGodsaid,asHesaidit,whereHesaidit.Theysay,“Buthowcouldhebeadevilandnotbe the Devil and be filled and blah, blah, blah, blah.” Now listen. God doesn’t carewhetheryougetitornot.Yourjobistobelieveit.TheLorddidn’tsay“understandthatpassage.”Youaretoreaditandbelieveit.

Yousay,“Well,Ibelievewhattheseotherfellowsreadintheseotherpassages.”Yeah,buttheykindofpickedthemoutofthecontext,didn’tthey?ThecontextofJohn6isnottheDevilenteringJudasIscariot.TheDevildoesn’tenterhimuntilJohn13.Youdidreadit,didn’tyou?Youseethereistheproblemagain.You’vegotthesefellowswhoquoteoneversehereandoneversethere,andyoubelievethembecauseyouwanttobelievethem.They’re self-righteous;you’re self-righteous.They’re ignorant;you’re ignorant.They’reworldly;you’reworldly.Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.

DoyouknowwhatJudaswas?Hewasadevil.Whosaidso?JesusChrist.Youknowwhatyouropinionisalongsideofthat?It’sablank!Here’samanstandingupandsaying,“Judaslosthissalvation.”Helosthissalvation!?Youmeanhewasasaveddevil?Yousay,“Well, I still think….” But you see, that’s your trouble—toomuchmouth, not enoughsense.“Ifanyofyoulackwisdom,lethimaskofGod,thatgivethtoallmenliberally,andupbraidethnot;anditshallbegivenhim”(James1:5).“HavenotIchosenyoutwelve, and one of you is a devil?” (John 6:70). The very idea of Judas “losing hissalvation.”My,my,my!Yououghttobeashamedofyourself!

Now, there is a fair sampling from the gospels. You may be able to find similarpassages in Luke andMark. There may be a few passages somewhat similar in John,althoughJohnwritesaboutChristas theSonofGodandnot theSonofman.Johnwilloccasionally use the term “Son of man” in his gospel, but more likely “Son of God.”However,diditeveroccurtoyouasratherstrangethatinallthisdiscussionsofar,howcomplicatedthesepassageshavebeenthatwe’vediscussed?

Tellme something,mydearbrother, if youwerea simple,honestmanwithagoodheart,wouldn’tyoubelievesomethingplainerfirstbeforeyoudragouttheseverseswe’vebeentalkingabout?Anotherquestion,mygoodbrother.Whatspiritcouldhavepossiblyled you to adopt these proof texts I’ve been talking about as your Magna Carta forChristianitywhilesidesteppingahundredversesthatareperfectlyplainandclear?

For example:“ForGod so loved theworld, thathe gavehis onlybegottenSon,thatwhosoeverbelieveth inhim shouldnotperish,buthave everlasting life” (John3:16).“Butasmanyasreceivedhim, to themgavehepowertobecomethesonsofGod,eventothemthatbelieveonhisname” (John1:12).“He thatbelievethon theSonhatheverlastinglife:andhethatbelievethnottheSonshallnotseelife;butthewrathofGodabidethonhim”(John3:36).“AndasMoseslifteduptheserpentinthewilderness, evensomust theSonofmanbe liftedup:Thatwhosoeverbelieveth inhimshouldnotperish,buthaveeternallife”(John3:14–15).“Verily,verily,Isayuntothee,Except amanbe born again, he cannot see the kingdomofGod” (John3:3).“Neitheristheresalvationinanyother:forthereisnoneothernameunderheavengivenamongmen,wherebywemustbe saved” (Acts4:12).“ButGodcommendethhislovetowardus,inthat,whilewewereyetsinners,Christdiedforus”(Rom.5:8).“Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,Hethathearethmyword,andbelievethonhimthatsentme,hatheverlasting life,andshallnotcome intocondemnation;but ispassedfromdeathuntolife”(John5:24).“Andbyhimallthatbelievearejustifiedfromallthings,fromwhichyecouldnotbejustifiedbythelawofMoses”(Acts13:39).“Forwhenwewereyetwithoutstrength,induetimeChristdiedfortheungodly”(Rom.5:6).“Muchmore then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from

wraththroughhim”(Rom.5:9).“Forbygraceareyesavedthroughfaith;andthatnotofyourselves:itisthegiftofGod:Notofworks,lestanymanshouldboast.Forwearehisworkmanship,createdinChristJesusuntogoodworks,whichGodhathbefore ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:8–10). “But to him thatworkethnot,butbelievethonhimthatjustifieththeungodly,hisfaithiscountedforrighteousness”(Rom.4:5).“Sothatyecomebehindinnogift;waitingforthecomingofourLordJesusChrist:Whoshallalsoconfirmyouuntotheend,thatyemaybeblameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye werecalled unto the fellowship of his Son JesusChrist ourLord” (1Cor. 1:7–9). “Nowuntohimthatisabletokeepyoufromfalling,andtopresentyoufaultlessbeforethepresence of his glory with exeeding joy” (Jude 24). “And the very God of peacesanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body bepreserved blameless unto the coming of ourLord JesusChrist. Faithful is he thatcallethyou,whoalsowilldoit”(1Thess.5:23–24).

Andagain,let’shaveonemoreshot;onemoretimewithfeeling.“FortometoliveisChrist, and todie isgain” (Phil. 1:21). “For I am ina straitbetwixt two,havingadesire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Phil. 1:23). “Beingconfident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you willperformituntilthedayofJesusChrist”(Phil.1:6).“AndgrievenottheholySpiritofGod,whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).“And I giveuntothemeternallife;andtheyshallneverperish,neithershallanymanpluckthemoutofmyhand.MyFather,whichgavethemme,isgreaterthanall;andnomanisable to pluck them out ofmy Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29).“For whom he didforeknow,healsodidpredestinatetobeconformedtotheimageofhisSon,thathemight be the firstborn amongmany brethren” (Rom. 8:29).“For I am persuaded,that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor thingspresent,northingstocome,Norheight,nordepth,noranyothercreature,shallbeabletoseparateusfromtheloveofGod,whichis inChristJesusourLord”(Rom.8:38–39).

Now, my Bible-perverting heretic, what are you doing running over to James,Hebrews,Matthew, andActs to find obscure verses to overthrow these clear passages,writtentoasaved,born-againchildofGod?WhatareyoudoingrunningtoJameschapter2, saying, “You see, a man is justified by works, not by faith only,” when you knowperfectlywellJameswaswritingtothetwelvetribesofIsrael,James1:1?Again,whatareyoudoingrunningtoHebrewschapter6andHebrewschapter10and2Peterchapter2(apassagedealingwithfalseprophetsandHebrewsinthetribulation)totrytooverthrowthedefinite,pointed,clear,exact,plainstatementswrittenandgivenasauthoritative,absolute,infallibletruthbytheinfallibleHolySpiritofGod?

Someof you have another problembesidesworldliness and self-righteousness.Youareathief!Youhavebeenstealingversesthatdon’tbelongtoyouand“besureyoursinswillfindyouout.”Nowitcomesdownalittleclearer,doesn’tit?

Listen:noman,nosavedman,noborn-againchildofGodwithanhonestandgoodheart would think of going to Hebrews 6, Hebrews 10, and James 2 to contradict andoverthrow the verses just listed. That is the problem we had at the beginning of the

message.Yousay,“ButtheBiblesaysthis!”Yes,butitalsosaystherestofthoseversestoo.Wedon’tquotefiveversestooverthrowahundred.Letmetellyousomething.Thereis no such thing as a born-again child of God trying to explain James 2, Hebrews 6,Hebrews10,and2Peter2,whenhehasn’tmasteredJohn3:16andJohn5:24.ThereisnosuchthingassomewaterdogstandinginthepulpittryingtounravelActs2:38—asermonpreached by aHebrew toHebrewswho are still circumcised, pork-abstaining, Sabbath-observing,temple-worshippingJews—whohasnotmasteredEphesians2andColossians2.There isn’t any such animal, and if youhear one of thesemodern, twentieth-centuryBibleperverts inActs2,wheneverheopenshismouthand the foolcannot intelligentlyexpositRomans10,youknowyouaredealingwith anunsaved,godless reprobate, andyouhadbetterleavehimalone.

You don’t build a house on a celetex foundation. There isn’t any such thing in theworld.The foundationof theEmpireStateBuilding isnotmadeoutof lightbulbs.TheEmpireStateBuildingmighthavesomelightbulbsinit,butnotinthefoundation.Nowdo you understand what I am saying? Those of us who are born-again, regeneratedchildrenofGodwhobelievetheBible,wedon’tdoubtforaminutethateverythinginthatBibleispartoftheBible,butwouldn’twebeblankidiotstobeginwithActs2:38?Imean,whataplacetostart!

Why,doyourealizeinActschapter2whenSimonPeterpreachesthere,allhe’sgotinhishandisGenesistoMalachi?DoyourealizethatMatthew,Mark,Luke,andJohnhavenotevenputanythingonpaperwhenPeterpreachedinActs2?Andyouaregoingtostartthere?Youaregoingtostarttherewhenyouhaveacompletedrevelationinyourhand!?Youaregoingtostart inActs2:38whenthesameapostlewhopreachedActs2:38latersaidhebelievedamanissavedbygrace,Acts15:11,“ButwebelievethatthroughthegraceoftheLordJesusChristweshallbesaved,evenasthey.”WhenthesamemanwassayingperfectlywellthatsalvationwasnotdependentonwaterbaptisminActs10:47,areyouthengoingtogobacktoActs2:38?Doyouknowwhatyouare?Youarealegendaryanimalthathasnoexistenceexceptasamythologicalfigmentofsomebody’simagination.

Thereisnosuchthingonthisearth(norhasthereeverbeennorwillthereeverbe)asacaptainofariflecompanywhohasnevertouchedtheboltofarifle,andifthereiseversuchathingonthefaceof thisearth, thatriflecompanyisdoomedtoannihilation.Youmarkitdown.Ifyouhavegotapreacherorateacheroraprofessororapastorwhocannotexposit Colossians 2; Ephesians 2; John 3; andRomans 10 intelligently and the nut istrying to teach you Acts 2 and Hebrews 6 and Hebrews 10, your outfit is doomed tooblivion; you have had it! “And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into theditch”(Matt.15:14).

NowthatwehavefinallygottentothesubjectmatterofHebrews6andHebrews10,wewillturntothesepassages.Bynowthereadermayhaveobservedsomething.HemayobservethatalthoughtheremaybeafewisolatedinstancesintheGospelofJohnandthePaulineEpistleswhereamanmightconfoundthetruthandthinkhewasgoingto“loseit,”thegreatestplacesto“loseyoursalvation”areMatthew,Acts,Hebrews,andJames.Haveyouevernoticedthat?

Who among us doesn’t know that you canmake the Scriptures prove anything? Isthereanybodywhodoesn’tknow that?Youknow theBiblesays there isa time tokill?

(Eccl.3:3).Don’tyouknowtheBiblesays,“Thetabernaclesofrobbersprosper,andthey that provokeGod are secure”? (Job 12:6).Don’t you know that theBible says,“Youshallnotsurelydie”?Don’tyouknowtheBiblesays,“Hangallthelawandtheprophets”? Why, of course, you do. Anybody knows you can make the Bible teachanything,butyoucan’tunlessyouputwordsinthataren’tthereortakewordsoutthatarethereortakewordsoutoftheircontext.Sothecontextofthesedo-gooderswhorejectthewordofGod isnearlyalwayspassages inMatthew,Acts,Hebrews,andJames.Haven’tyouevernoticedthat?

Allright,let’sgotoHebrews.Notice,firstofall,thenameofthebook.Afellowsays,“Well,Romans isnamedRomans,butyoucouldn’tconfine it to theRomans.”Yes,butstill the Romans are only one class of Gentile. Hebrews covers one of the majordistinctionsinthewordofGod.Asamatteroffact,intheNewTestamenttheHolySpiritclearly divides people into three groups: the Jew, the Church, and the Gentile. Now,Gentiles might include Ephesians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Philippians, Corinthians,andRomans;but“Hebrews”aresomethingelse.

All right, now here is a book calledHebrews. Let’s look at it. Hebrews 3:6, “ButChrist as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast theconfidenceandtherejoicingofthehopefirmuntotheend.”Nowsupposeyoudon’tholdfasttheconfidenceuntotheend?Doyouseehowthesebirdswork?Again,lookatHebrews3:14,“ForwearemadepartakersofChrist,ifweholdthebeginningofourconfidencestedfastuntotheend.”Supposeyoudon’t?Seehowitworks?Yousimplytakethesetwoversesoutandyousay,“Lookhere,ifyoudon’tholdfast,youarenotmadeapartakerofChrist,andyouwillgotoHell.”Seehowit’sdone?

Butnowwaitaminute;weren’twejustreadinginMatthew24,anddidn’twefindthissametopicpoppingup?“Buthethatshallenduretotheend,thesameshallbesaved”(Matt. 24:13). What did “the end” refer to that time? Did it refer to the end of theindividual’slife?No!Lookatthenextverse.LookalsoatHebrews3whereyoufind“theend” defined and located Hebrews 3:6–9 states, “But Christ as a son over his ownhouse;whosehouse arewe, ifwehold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of thehopefirmuntotheend.Wherefore(astheHolyGhostsaith,Todayifyewillhearhisvoice,Hardennotyourhearts,asintheprovocation,inthedayoftemptationinthewilderness: When you fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works fortyyears.”Why,hewastalkingaboutaperiodoftime!Noticeagain,verses14–17,“Forwearemade partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfastuntotheend;Whileitissaid,Todayifyewillhearhisvoice,hardennotyourhearts,asintheprovocation.Forsome,whentheyhadheard,didprovoke:howbeitnotallthat came out ofEgypt byMoses.Butwithwhom was he grieved….”Whowas it?Verse 19, and into chapter 4, “So we see that they could not enter in because ofunbelief.Letusthereforefear, lest,apromisebeingleftusofenteringintohisrest,anyofyoushouldseemtocomeshortofit.Foruntouswasthegospelpreached,aswellasuntothem:butthewordpreacheddidnotprofitthem,notbeingmixedwithfaithinthemthatheardit.”

Now,havingread that,howcouldanyonebefoolishenoughto think that theverseswejustreadinchapter3(verse14andverse6)hadreferencetoaborn-againbelieverwho

had believed theGospel and had exercised faith in theGospel and became part of theBodyofChristandregeneratedbytheHolySpirit,whenthepassageIjustreadwasfortheHebrews?Are you a Hebrew? “But Christ as a son over his own house; whosehousearewe,[Hebrews]ifwe[Hebrews]holdfasttheconfidenceandtherejoicingofthehopefirmuntotheend…Forwe [Hebrews]aremadepartakersofChrist, ifwe[Hebrews]hold thebeginningofourconfidencestedfastunto theend…Foruntouswasthegospelpreached,aswellasuntothem:butthewordpreacheddidnotprofitthem,notbeingmixedwithfaithinthemthatheardit.”Nowlookatthat!NoticehowveryclearthosepassagesareintheAVtext.See,everyplaceIjustreadhewaswritingtoHebrews,notChristians.Whoeverwrote this thingwasaHebrew. It isprettysure fromotherpassagesinthetextofthebookthatheisasavedHebrew.However, inwritingtoHebrews,he iswritingtosavedandlostHebrews.This isperfectlyapparentfromsomeotherpassages.Forexample,noticetheApostlePauldoesthesamethingin1Corinthians15. Inwriting to theCorinthianshesays in15:1,“Moreover,brethren,IdeclareuntoyouthegospelwhichIpreacheduntoyou,whichalsoyehavereceived,andwhereinyestand;Bywhichalsoyearesaved,ifyekeepinmemorywhatIpreacheduntoyou,unlessyehavebelievedinvain.”

ThepassageswejustreadshowthatsometimesPauladdressessavedandlostpeopleat thesametime. Inwriting to theHebrews, theHebrewwriter to theHebrewshas toldthoseHebrewsifyouwanttobemadeapartakerofChrist,thenyouhadbetterholdfasttheconfidenceinwhatIhavetoldyou,andwhatIhavetoldyouhadbetterbereceivedwithfaith,andyouhadbetterbelieveit.Noticehowveryclearthatpassageis.Eachtimewhenhesays“theend,”heislikeningittotheendofaperiodoftime,andthatisn’tall.Ifyoulookatthecontextagain,chapter3verses9–18,youwillfindthereisn’tonesinglereferenceintheentirechaptertoanybodygoingtoHell.Now,someofyourCampbellitefriendsandHolinessfriendswilltrapyouintothinkingthatwhentheyquotedthatverse,youmightloseyoursalvation.TheyforgottotellyouthatsalvationinthatcasehadtodowithenteringthelandofCanaan.Therewasn’tareferencetoHellanywhereintheentirechapter.Readthechapter—Hebrews3:1–19.Thewholepassagehastodowithaspiritualapplication of Israel, the people of God, entering Canaan, the promised land. You say,“But isn’t this a type of….”Yeah, but look out for your doctrine. Don’t forget how 2Timothy3:16 started. It started,“All scripture is givenby inspirationofGod,and isprofitable forDOCTRINE.” Now we know the Scripture has spiritual lessons to begainedfromthispassage,whichisquiteapparentbyhowPaulhimselfusesthepassages.When writing to the Corinthians, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:11, “Now all thesethings,”referringtothechildrenofIsraelinthewildernessfortyyears,“happeneduntothemforensamples:andtheyarewrittenforouradmonition,uponwhomtheendsoftheworld are come.” So you canmakeSPIRITUAL application. But notice when thewriterofHebrewsmakesspiritualapplicationinHebrews3,heisverycarefultotellyouthatithasnothingtodowithbeingsaved,beingregenerated,orgoingtoHeaven.

Asamatteroffact,whenPaulgivesthepassage,1Corinthians10:4–12,hemakesitveryclearthattheonesthatsinnedinthewildernessthroughunbeliefwerekilled.Therewasn’tonecaseofanyofthosepeoplegoingtoHellexcepttheisolatedinstanceofKorah,Dathan,andAbiramwhosoughttooverthrowthepriesthood.Yousay,“Well,whataboutthem?”Verysimple, theywereOldTestamentJewsunder the law.Areyou?Theywere

comingupoutoftheliterallandofEgypt.Areyou?TheywerecommandedtokeeptheSabbath. (You weren’t! In Rom. 13, you won’t find the sabbath given in the TenCommandments.) They were all circumcised. Are you? They were all abstaining fromporkandlobsterandrabbitmeatandcatfish.Doyou?Nowyouseethemesstheseidiotsgetyou into?Theyarealways trying to takesomething thatdoesn’tbelong to themandcramitdownyourthroatandtrytomakeyouthinkyoucanloseyoursalvationandfallfromChrist,becausetheydon’thaveChrist.That’stherealproblem.

AlloftheirScripturequotingamountstoabsolutelynothing.Thereisn’tonepassageinHebrews3 as it stands thatwould ever indicate foronemoment that anyborn-againbelieverintheBodyofJesusChrist,regeneratedbytheHolySpirit,wouldevergotoHellor thathecouldlosesalvation.Thecontext is talkingaboutunsavedHebrewsbecomingpartakersofChristonlyiftheymaintaintheirconfidenceandhopefirmuntiltheendofaperiodoftime.ThecontextistheliteralinheritanceinthevisiblelandofPalestine.Nowifyour preacher or priest or teacher or professor or elder doesn’t teach that, one of twothingsiswrong.He’seitherasavedsinnerwhoispervertingtheBibletomakealivingoffofyourcredulity;orelsehe’sanunsavedmanonthewaytoHell,andyouhadbettergetoutofhiscompanyasfastasyoucangetout.

Nowlet’stryanotherverse.Hebrews6:1–6states,“ThereforeleavingtheprinciplesofthedoctineofChrist,letusgoonuntoperfection;notlayingagainthefoundationof repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine ofbaptisms,andoflayingonofhands,andofresurrectionofthedead,andofeternaljudgment.Andthiswillwedo,ifGodpermit.Foritisimpossibleforthosewhowereonceenlightened,andhavetastedoftheheavenlygift,andweremadepartakersoftheHolyGhost,AndhavetastedthegoodwordofGod,andthepowersoftheworldto come, If they shall fall away, to renew themagainunto repentance; seeing theycrucify to themselves theSonofGodafresh,andputhimtoanopenshame.”Thatpassagehasbeenusedfromtimeimmemorialtoprovethataborn-againchildofGodintheBodyofChristcanlosehissalvation.

Before we step in here with the same arrogant, blind, prejudiced, ignorance that aCampbelliteelderwouldoranelderintheJehovah’sWitnesschurch,theKingdomHall,or some other blind leader of the blind, shall we read the passage? Notice: “For it isimpossibleforthose….”Who?Nowlookatverse9,“But,beloved,wearepersuadedbetter thingsof you, and things that accompany salvation, thoughwe thus speak.”That’sanastyturnofevents,isn’tit?Thatisn’tall.Ifverse4teachesyoucanloseyoursalvation,youcouldn’tget it back ifyou tried.Yet there is always somedumbpunk (awater dog) running up and down this country saying, Mark 16:16, “believe and bebaptized”andActs2:38,“repentandbebaptized.”Thatfoolbaptizersaysyoucanloseit,but you can get it back.You can’t inHebrews 6, honey.Hebrews 6, verse 4 says it is“impossible.”IsthathowyourBiblereads?Ifthat’snothowyourBiblereads,you’vegotaman-madeBible,manufacturedbymentomakemoneyoffofmen.Itis“impossible,”isthatclear?Itis“impossible,”soforthandsoon,“iftheyshallfallawaytorenewthemagaintorepentance.”“Iftheyshallfallaway,”whatdoesthatmean?

Nowyou’rereallyintrouble.Here’sathingwrittentoHebrews,andthisthingsaystothese Hebrews that they’ve settled the matters of the doctrine of Christ, laying on of

hands,repentance,faith,resurrectionofthedead,eternaljudgment,andyetthey’retoldtogoon.Togooninwhatsense?Lookatverses10and11,“ForGodisnotunrighteoustoforgetyourworkandlabouroflove,whichyehaveshewedtowardhisname,inthatyehaveministeredtothesaints,anddominister.Andwedesirethateveryoneofyoudoshewthesamediligencetothefullassuranceofhopeuntotheend.”ShowthesamediligencetothefullassuranceofhopeuntotheE-N-D—“end”—andthereitisagain,isn’tit?We’rerightbackinHebrews3:6;Hebrews3:14;andMatthew24:13.Nothingchouldbemoreclearandplaintoanhonestman.Now,ifyouhaveanhonestandgoodheartandyou believe theword ofGod,why don’t you believewhat you read?Matthewwas thegospelwritten to present JesusChrist as theKing of the Jews. Everybody knows that.Hebrewswaswritten toHebrewsandbears that title.Everybodyknows that. Inall fourcontexts that I read from,Matthew24:13;Hebrews3:6;Hebrews3:14;Hebrews6:1–5,thecontext is somebodyholdingout to theendofaPERIODOFTIME, andworksarealsoconnectedwithit.NoGreekscholar in1,000yearsofchurchhistory,workingwithANYGreektext,couldputANYlightononeverseinthewholeseries.

DoyourememberinMatthew25,“Inasmuchasyehavedoneuntooneoftheleastofthesemybrethren,yehavedoneituntome”?DidyounoticethatinthischapterthatallHe talkedaboutwasworks?YounoticedwhenHegot into thatpassage inMatthewaboutthewiseandfoolishvirgins,hewastalkingaboutgoingandbuyingandselling?DidyounoticeineverycontextIhavegottenintosofar(andwhenwegetintoJameswewillreallyhitthem)thatHe’stalkingaboutworks,andeverytimeHeistalkingaboutworks,Heistalkingaboutaperiodoftimethatends,notwiththeRapturebutwiththeAdventoftheLordJesusChrist?Didyounoticethat?NoGreekscholarin1,000yearsofChristianeducationcouldanymorefigureitoutthanhecouldplayaChinesebanjo.

Did you notice the hundred and forty-four thousand virgins that we studied hadnothing to dowith theBride ofChrist, as you clearly learn by studying the passage inMatthew25?Didyounoticeinthatpassagehowworksareinvolved?InRevelation7andinRevelation14,theirworksarementionedaspartoftheirsalvation.DidyounoticeagainwhenyoureadJameschapter5andsawthepassagesinthereabout“hewhichconverteththe sinner fromtheerrorofhiswayshall savea soul fromdeath,andshallhideamultitudeofsins”?That the contextwas the endof theTribulation, and the bookwaswritten “to the twelve tribes,” and the endhadan application to theSecondComingofJesusChrist?Didyounoticeallthat?

If you didn’t notice that, what’s the matter with you? What’s the matter with theschoolandthefacultymemberswhoareteachingyouBible?Howdotheykeeponfoolingyou and tricking you and getting you into thesemesses and getting you to doubt yoursalvationandreject theotherclearstatements in thewordofGodbyfoolingwith thesepassagestheyknownothingabout?Forexample,it’sthefashionthesedaystoteachthatthe church goes through theTribulation. I’ve got bad news for you. If the church goesthroughtheTribulation,thepassagesI’vejustreadyouDOapplytoaborn-againbelieverintheBodyofChrist.IfthechurchdoesgothroughtheTribulation,thenthepassagesI’vejustreadyouinMatthew,Acts,Hebrews,andJamesapplytotheBodyofChrist,andyoucanlose it! Imagineafacultymember thatbelieves inEternalSecurityandthenteachesthechurchgoesthroughtheTribulation.

“WhentheSonofmancometh,shallhefindfaithontheearth?”Nowthat’sthemess“Fundamentalists”getinto.TheygetIsraelinthewrongplace,andtheywon’tseetheGreatTribulationandDaniel’sSeventiethWeek;andwhen theydon’t, theywill runthe church right into it.When you run the church right into it, you appropriate for theBody of Christ verses aimed at people in that period of time. That’s a sickdispensationalism.That’sstealingpromisesthatbelongtoIsraelandstealingthreatsaimedatsomebodyelseandaimingthemattheChristian’shead,causinghimtocowerbeneaththebarrelofadouble-barreledshotgunwhenGodneverintendedhimtocowerunderit.

TheotherversesIshowedyouwereclear.Whatwasdifficultabout1John5:12?“HethathaththeSonhathlife;andhethathathnottheSonofGodhathnotlife.”Isthatsodifficult?What’ssodifficultaboutJohn5:24?“Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,Hethathearethmyword,andbelievethonhimthatsentme,hatheverlastinglife,andshallnotcomeintocondemnation;butispassedfromdeathuntolife.”What’sdifficultaboutRomans8:38–39?“ForIampersuaded, thatneitherdeath,nor life,norangels,norprincipalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,Nor height, nordepth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,which is inChristJesusourLord.”What’sdifficult aboutPhilippians3:20–21?“Forourconversation is inheaven; fromwhencealsowe look for theSaviour, theLordJesusChrist:Whoshallchangeourvilebody,thatitmaybefashionedlikeuntohisgloriousbody,accordingtotheworkingwherebyheisableeventosubdueallthingsuntohimself.”What’sdifficultabout,1John3:2,14?“Beloved,nowarewethesonsofGod,anditdothnotyetappearwhatweshallbe:butweknowthat,whenheshallappear,we shall be like him; forwe shall see him as he is.We know that we havepassed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not hisbrotherabidethindeath.”Or,1John4:13?“Herebyknowwethatwedwellinhim,andhe in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” And, Philippians 1:6? “Beingconfident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you willperformituntilthedayofJesusChrist.”

Now,what are youdoing foolingwith“It is impossible for thosewhowere onceenlightened,”whenyouhaven’tanyideawhatitisyouaretalkingaboutatall?AndwhatareabunchofBible-rejectingGreekteachersonthefacultyatTennesseeTempleandBobJonesdoingtryingtoalter theEnglish text(AV1611) tomeet thedemandsof theirownignorance?Now, letmetellyousomething,son.Ifyoucan’tmixabatchofmortarandpickupa trowel,whatareyoudoing talkingaboutbuildinga threemilliondollarbrickauditorium?You’renotgoingtobuildit.You’renotable tobuildit. Ifyoucan’thandlethatwhichisleast,howcanyouhandlethatwhichismuch?Didn’tyoureadthewarningright before Hebrews 6, that evidently your “elder” did not read? Did you read thatwarning?Hebrews5:12–14,“Forwhenforthetimeyeoughttobeteachers,yehaveneedthatoneteachyouagainwhichbethefirstprinciplesoftheoraclesofGod;andarebecome suchashaveneedofmilk,andnotof strongmeat.Foreveryone thatusethmilkisunskilfulinthewordofrighteousness:forheisababe.Butstrongmeatbelongeth to them that areof full age, even thosewhoby reasonofusehave theirsensesexercisedtodiscernbothgoodandevil.”

Didn’t you read the writer of Hebrews’ warning about Christians who occupiedthemselveswith strongmeatwhen they couldn’t digestmilk yet?Didn’t you read that

warning?Youdidread thatwarning,didn’tyou?Didn’tyouread inHebrews13:9,“Benotcarriedaboutwithdiversandstrangedoctrines.For it isagoodthingthat theheartbeestablishedwithgrace;notwithmeats,whichhavenotprofitedthemthathavebeenoccupiedtherein.”Thereisawarningaboutnovicesmessingwiththeversesin the very same book you are trying to go to Hell on. Why did you reject thecommandment of God and resist the Holy Spirit and go back to the strong meat inHebrews6totrytotalkyourselfoutofyoursalvationbygrace?Nowthat’swhatwe’retalkingabout—amanwhocan’thandlegraceinJohn3andcan’thandleRomans10andcan’thandleIJohn5hasnomorebusinessfoolingwithHebrewschapter6andHebrewschapter10thanathreeyearoldEskimohasfoolingwithanacetylenetorch.

Well,let’stryanotherone—Hebrewschapter10.Imean,ifyouwanttogotoHell,thebestbooksareMatthew,Acts,andHebrews.Idon’tknowofbetteronestogototheLakeofFireonthanthose.YoualwayscanfindagoodreasontogotoHell,andtheDevilwillgiveyouasmuchScriptureasyouneed.Hebrewschapter10,verses26and27state,“Forif we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, thereremainethnomore sacrifice for sins,Butacertain fearful looking forof judgmentandfieryindignation,whichshalldevourtheadversaries.”Now,isn’tthatsomething?Ifyou“sinwilfully”afteryougetsaved,youloseit,don’tyou?Haven’tyouevertalkedtoany of these poor, deceived Holiness people? They are dumb enough to follow theseHoliness preachers. They say, “Well, I believe if you sin knowingly, but I didn’t sinknowingly.”Hasn’tthateverstuckyouasbeingrathertwo-faced?WhathonestmanI’mtalkingtorightnow—whathonestChristian—doesn’tknowwhenhesins?Comeonnow,1John5:17,says,“Allunrighteousnessissin:andthereisasinnotuntodeath.”“Allunrighteousness is sin.” Do youmean to tellme you don’t knowwhen you don’t doright?DoyouknowwhyaHolinessdoesn’tdareadmit thathehassinnedafterhegetseradicatedandsanctifiedandgetsthebaptismofthe“holyghost”?Becausehe’safraidthataccordingtoHebrews10,hewillgotoHell.So,hedoesoneoftwothings.Hesays,“Ican’tliveit”and“losesit,”orelsethepoorsimpletongoesonprofessingtobeeradicatedandsanctifiedinspiteofwhatJohnsaid(1John1:8),“Ifwesaythatwehavenosin,wedeceiveourselves,andthetruthisnotinus.”

I am talking to peoplewhoprofess to beChristians. Iwouldn’t talk thisway to anunsavedmanforanythinginthisworld, ifIknewhewasunsaved.Imeanat least ifhedoesn’tprofess tobeanexperton theBible.Thesesilly,deludedCampbelliteeldersgoaroundprofessingtohave“gospel”meetingsand“Biblestudies.”Iwouldn’tchangemytoneofvoiceforthem,andthat’sthecrowdIamaimingat.Butapoor,unsavedmanonhiswaytoHell,Iwouldn’ttalkthiswaytohim.Godfeelssorryforthosefolks,butdon’tyou thinkGod has any patiencewith aBible-twisting, Bible-denying,Bible-perverting,Bible-quotingreprobatewhorejectsHiswordonthegroundsofHisword!

InourpreviousstudyyoumayhavenoticedthetimewespentdiscussingthepassagesinMatthew5–7;Matthew20, 22, and 25; andHebrews 3, 6, and 10.Discussing thosepassages, youmayhavenoticed that every single timeweweredealingwithapassageaboutwhichtherewasaquestionaboutwhereitapplieddoctrinally.Thisistheheretic’smeat. There hasn’t been a false apostle or aminister of theDevilwho ever livedwhodidn’tquoteScriptureandstudytheScripture,buthealwayschoosesthequestionableordoubtfulportions.

Twothings,however,wentwrong.What2Timothy3,saysaboutthesepeopleisthattheyare“everlearning,andneverabletocometotheknowledgeofthetruth.”SimonPetersaysinhissecondepistlechapter3,“Theythatareunlearnedandunstablewrest,astheydoalsotheotherscriptures,untotheirowndestruction.”Yousay,“Well,howcanIbesureofthesethingsifyouhavetobebrilliant?”Youdon’t.Yousay,“HowcanIbesureofthesethingsifI’mnotaverygoodstudent?”Youdon’t.Asamatteroffact,nomancanbedeceivedbythesethingsunlessheisadishonestman.There’sanoldsayingthatyoucan’tconamanifheishonest.Theonlymanyoucanconisacrookedman.Ifyou will give very careful attention to Ezekiel chapter 14 verses 1 to 11 and 2Thessalonianschapter2,verses1to13,youwillunderstandthattheamountofbrainsyouhaveortheamountoftimeyouspendstudyingGreekorHebrewisasecondarymattertotheheartconditionwithwhichyouapproachtheBibleandtheheartconditionwithwhichyoufaceGod.

Aswe’ve already seen in our study,we have found at least six passages that teachsomebodycanlosetheirsalvation.It isaveryobviousfact.NowtheBaptistswon’tbuythat.ManytimestheBaptistsarejustaspig-headedandinfidelicintheirBiblestudiesassomeoftheseotherhereticalgroups,butthat’snoskinoffmynose.IbelievetheBookASITSTANDS.AsIsaidbefore,Iamfirstaman,secondasavedsinner,andthirdaBible-believingChristian.Afterthat,IamapremillennialBaptist.Idon’thaveanymisgivingsaboutmycalling,butIprofesstohavemoresensethantothinkthatamanwhomakeshisbasicfoundationtheteachingsofMatthew,Acts,andHebrewsisanhonestman.Honestpeoplewouldn’tdothat.There’snosuchthingasamature,intelligent,Christian,rootedandgroundedintheword,whohasnotfirstmasteredRomans4;Romans10;Colossians2;Ephesians3;Ephesians4;Philippians4;lCorinthians1;andGalatians3–5.Thereisn’tany such thing.When you hear theseCampbellites occasionally pull a reference out ofGalatians and Romans, it’s an occasional pullout to subject Galatians and Romans toMatthew, Acts, and Hebrews. As I said before, you don’t use celetex tape for thefoundation of a house. You don’t use light bulbs for siding. You don’t use bricks forventilatedwindows.Youmaybelieveeverything in thehouse is thehouse,but there’saproperplace tostartandaproperplace to finish.Youdonotputshingleson thediningroomtable;youputthemontheroof.

Allright,withthisorientationnowwehavesettledonedoctrinalmatterconclusively.First,everypassagesofarfoundinMatthew,Acts,andHebrewswhichseemstoindicatethataChristiancanlosehissalvationisinacontextwheretheword“Christian”doesnotappear,thewords“newbirth”donotappear,theword“regenerated”doesnotappear,andnobody is “in Christ.” Second, we have established the fact that there certainly arepassages in the Bible that would indicate that somebody can lose salvation. A goodexampleof this is inRevelation22:14,“Blessedaretheythatdohiscommandments,thattheymayhaverighttothetreeoflife,andmayenterinthroughthegatesintothecity.” JohnR.Ricehas thrown thisoutofhismythological “Bible”on thegroundsthat itdoesnotagreewithBaptistdoctrine.So,sinceJohnR.RiceisagoodBaptist,hejust simply throwsoutanypartof theBible thatdoesnotagreewithwhatBaptists say.Thisisanexampleofradicalfanaticism.WeconservativeBiblebelieversdon’tfoolwiththisstuffaminute;wedon’ttoleratesuchfoolishness.WebelievewhattheBooksaysisso,andifitdoesn’tmatchBaptistdoctrine,thenBaptistdoctrinecanchaseitself.

Again,lookatit,Revelation22:14,“Blessedaretheythatdohiscommandments,thattheymayhaverighttothetreeoflife….”Theobviousintimationis(accordingtoSeventh-dayAdventists andEllenG.White) “If you don’t doHis commandments, youwon’t have a right to the tree of life.”Wewill allow for that intimation and allow thesupposition which follows. Now, having faced the text and left it where it is, tell mesomething,mygoodbrother, ifyouhaveeternal life inJesusChrist,whatwouldyoubefoolingwithatreeforinthefirstplace?Yousee,folksjustdon’tthink.So,whenJohnR.RiceandotherradicalfanaticsgoarounddestroyingthewordofGod,makingthemselvestheir own authority, and accusing everybody else of trying to be an author, they say itshould be “washed their robes.” That doesn’t do anything, FOR THE CHRISTIANDIDN’TWASHROBES! Not by a sight. The ChristianWASWASHEDHIMSELF. Thepassage that speaksofaborn-againbeliever (Johnbeingoneof them inJohn1) speaksaboutsomeonewho“lovedus,andwashedusfromoursins inhisownblood” (Rev.1:5). The peoplewhowashed robes andmade themwhite in the blood of theLamb isplainlyanothersetofpeoplealtogether.ThisisveryclearfromRevelation7:14,“AndIsaiduntohim,Sir,thouknowest.Andhesaidtome,Thesearetheywhichcameoutofgreattribulation,andhavewashedtheirrobes,andmadethemwhiteinthebloodoftheLamb.” Read it, read it, READ IT! Instead of going by the eight verses someFundamentalisttaughtyou,readyourBible.Revelationchapter7hasnothingtodowithaborn-againbeliever inChrist. It said those folks cameoutofgreat tribulation, and theycameoutwithahundredandforty-fourthousandJewswhoweremarked.Thatisn’tall.Ifyou study your Bible at all, how can you fail to notice there wasn’t any church inRevelation7?YoudoreadyourBible,don’tyou?YoudonoticetherewasnochurchinRevelation5,don’tyou?DoyounoticethattherewasnochurchinRevelation6?

Nowtherewehaveabeautifulproblem.Theproblemissimplythis—anyministeroftheDevilcanreachfor theBibleat randomandpulloutanything toproveanything,aslongashechangesitlikeJohnR.RicechangedRevelation22:14oraslongasheaddstoit or subtracts from it like any Campbellite does 1 Peter 3:21 or if he takes it out ofcontext.Now,thepeoplewhohavewashedtheirrobesareNOTthesavedpeople in theBody ofChrist—at least they aren’twithin two chapters eitherway fromwhere itwasquoted.Therefore,Rice’sattempt to lineupRevelation22:14withBaptistdoctrine is, ifyouwillpardon theexpression,hogwash, forsomebody therehaswashedtheirrobesinthewrongmaterial.

ThechildofGodhashimselfbeenwashedintheblood:NOTHISROBES.Thatisn’tall.ThechildofGodhasreceivedeternallifefromaSaviourthathungonthecursedtree.Forit iswritten,“Christhathredeemedusfromthecurseofthelaw,beingmadeacurseforus:foritiswritten,Cursediseveryonethathangethonatree”(Gal.3:13).ThenwhyinthenameofHeavenwouldyougotoRevelation22:14andworryaboutkeepingornotkeepingthecommandmentstogettoatreeoflife,unlessyouwerealostmantryingtogettoHeavenbyyourworks?Now,that’swhatwerunintoallthetime.Thepeoplewhoarguethemostabouteternalsecurityaretheunsavedpeoplewhoknownothingaboutit.Thepeoplewhoarguethemostaboutfallingfromgracehaveneverhadanytofallfrom!Revelation22:14hasnomoreapplicationtoanybodyIamtalkingtorightnowthanitdoestoaterroristintheIRA.

So John R. Rice has a first-rate problem: fidelity to the word of God. There are

certainlyversesintheBiblethatteachsomebodycanloseit.I’llshowyouanotheroneoutofthesamebook,Revelation.Thisonehereisfoundbackinthechapterwherethechurchismentioned.Forexample,IwillcomeacrossbackhereandgetintheChurchAgeanddealwithapassagethatoccursinacontextwhereyoucanfindtheword“church.”Thispassageheresays that ifamankeepshisworksunto theend, theLordwillnotblothisnameoutofthebookoflifehereinRevelation3:5:“Hethatovercometh,thesameshallbeclothedinwhiteraiment;andIwillnotblotouthisnameoutofthebookoflife,butI will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” The obviousimplicationisthatifamandoesnotovercome,hisnamewillbeblottedoutofthebookoflife.Soafellowsays,“Seethere,ifyoudon’tovercome,youwillgetblottedout.”Soundslikeatoughcase,doesn’tit?Read1John4:4,“YeareofGod,littlechildren,andhaveovercomethem:becausegreaterishethatisinyou,thanhethatisintheworld,”and1John5:4–5,“ForwhatsoeverisbornofGodovercomeththeworld:andthisisthevictory that overcometh the world, even our faith.Who is he that overcometh theworld,buthethatbelieveththatJesusistheSonofGod?”Now,isn’tthatsomething?There’s a man who says, “What if you don’t overcome?” The children of God haveALREADYovercome.Theyarenotwaitingtoovercome.Wesavedpeople,wedon’thavetogoupanddownthestreetthrowingupCommunistsalutes—pretendingtheyareblackpower salutes and putting up Papal two fingers—pretending they are peace signs andsinging“WeShallOvercome.”WEALREADYOVERCAME!Nowmaybeyouhaven’t,butthatdoesn’tmeanyoucantearupourBibleandgoaroundpervertingthatwordofGodtosuityourfancyortrytodamnsomebodyelsewhileyouaredamningyourself.Ifyouwanttobedamned,it’safreecountry,brother.IfyouwanttogotoHell,nobodycanmakeyougetsaved,butdon’tkiduswhileyou’requotingScripturetogotoHell.IimaginewhenyougetdowntoHell,youwillfindouttheDevilhasthatBiblememorized.

Somebodycanloseit,butit’snottheborn-again,regeneratedbelieverintheBodyofChrist.That’sacinch.Thepassageonthispersonhereisveryclear.

Forjustabreathernow,for justamoment, let’sgothroughthePaulineEpistlesandnoticethedifferenceintheclear,plain,flat,bedrock,root,ground,foundationstatementsaimedatthechildofGod,andtheplaceswherewehavebeenpryingaroundinRevelation(abookonprophecy),Hebrews(writtentoHebrews),James(writtentothetwelvetribesof Israel), and Matthew (of which the first twenty-six chapters occur before the NewTestamentisineffect).Nownoticethedifference.

Let’s start inRomans. I amhere reading inanEpistlewrittenby theApostle to theGentiles who had a specific commission. This specific Gentile ministry given to thisspecific apostlewas given by the revelation ofGod,Galatians chapter 1, for a specificpurpose,andnoticenowclearlyhewrites,“Buttohimthatworkethnot,butbelievethonhimthatjustifieththeungodly,hisfaithiscountedforrighteousness”(Rom.4:5).“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Rom. 4:8). “Beingjustified freelybyhisgrace through theredemption that is inChristJesus:WhomGod hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare hisrighteousnessfortheremissionofsinsthatarepast,throughtheforbearanceofGod;To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and thejustifierofhimwhichbelievethinJesus.Whereisboastingthen?Itisexcluded.Bywhatlaw?ofworks?Nay:butbythelawoffaith”(Rom.3:24–27).Doesn’tthatsounda

sightdifferentfromtheSermonontheMount?Isn’titacontrasttoMatthew25,Hebrews6,Hebrews10,andalloftheotherstrong,heavy,dispensationalchunksofmeatthatyouaregettingsickatyourbellytryingtounderstand,withanunsavedmanteachingyouwhodoesn’tknowasmuchaboutthemasyoudo?

You knowwhat Paul said about some of you people who always spend your timetrying to damn yourself and get people to listen to you? You who are trying to talkChristiansoutoftheirsalvation?DoyouknowwhattheLordsaidtoyou,andsaidit toyouinnouncertainterms?HesaidinHebrews13:9,“Benotcarriedaboutwithdiversandstrangedoctrines.Foritisagoodthingthattheheartbeestablishedwithgrace;not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”There!WhenyoustartfoolingaroundwithJewishEpistles,writtentoJewsunderthelaw—like the Sermon on theMount in the book ofMatthew and to scattered Jews of thedispersionintheTribulation—likethebookofJamesandtoHebrewsonthethresholdofsalvationduringtheActsoftheApostles—likeinthebookofHebrewsortheTribulation—likeinthebookofHebrews,youknowwhatyouaredoing?Youaretryingtopretendthatyouareaprofessor,abigboy.

LookoutforthesepeoplecomingaroundtoyourhouseandalwaystryingtogetyouintoMatthew24;Hebrews6,Hebrews10;andActs2—whentheythemselvesdon’tknowthe first, simple, fundamental, base, rudimentary things that they ought to know: that amanissavedbygracethroughfaithandisjustifiedFREELYbythegiftofGod,whichiseternallifethroughJesusChristourLord.Now,Iwilltellyouwhatyoudo.Yougetthatonemastered,thengoworkontherest,okay?Untilyoudo,don’tprofesstoknowwhatyouaretalkingaboutwhendiscussingEternalLife.

NoticethecontrastagaininPaul’sEpistleswrittentosavedpeople.Romanschapter5verse1,“Thereforebeingjustifiedbyfaith,wehavepeacewithGodthroughourLordJesusChrist.”“Thereforebeingjustifiedbyfaith (notworks like inJames),wehavepeace….”We are notworrying about losing it.WEHAVEPEACE.Why?Verses 6–9,“Forwhenwewereyetwithoutstrength,induetimeChristdiedfortheungodly.Forscarcely for a righteousmanwill one die: yet peradventure for a goodman somewouldevendaretodie.ButGodcommendethhis lovetowardus, inthat,whilewewere yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by hisblood….”Justifiedbyhisblood.JustifiedbyHISBLOOD!“…weshallbesavedfromwraththroughhim.”Now, if someofyouareasdumbas theCampbellitewaterdogswhothrowwaterallovertheplace,doyouknowwhatyouwilldo?Likeacrazyassyouwillruntooneplacethatsays“justifiedbyfaith”(likevs.1),thentoanotherplacethatsays“justifiedbyhisblood”(whereIjustreadvs.9),andthen,sohelpmeHannah,youwillgotoanEpistlewrittento“thetwelvetribeswhicharescatteredabroad”(James1:1)andadd“justifiedbyworks,”won’tyou?Won’tyou?Yes,youwill!YouaresosetongettingtoHell,youwillbustyournecktogetthere—andyoumightevenmakeit.

Whatman inhis rightmind—after readingclear statements like the two I just read,aimed atGentiles (like you)who are saved (like you), if you are saved, andwhoweresavedbyacceptingthefreegiftofGod(likeyou)—wouldgotoJames2andtakeanOldTestament illustrationofAbrahamofferingup Isaacanduse it asanexampleofeternalsalvation?Why, Abrahamwas saved by grace through faith longbefore he offered up

Isaac.LookatRomans4:3,“Forwhatsaiththescripture?AbrahambelievedGod,anditwascounteduntohimforrighteousness.”Nowlisten,AbrahambelievedGod,anditwas counted unto him for righteousness in Genesis 15. He didn’t offer up Isaac untilGenesis 22.What are you doing,man, going to James chapter 2,written to the twelvetribesandquotingverse24?“Yeseethenhowthatbyworksamanisjustified,andnotby faith only.” Oops! Then you quote verse 21which says, “Was notAbraham ourfather justified by works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” Why,offeringupIsaachadnothingtodowithAbraham’seternalsalvation.Abraham’ssalvationwasbytheimputedrighteousnessofGodinGenesis15beforeIsaacwasborn,man!

NowyouseewhatImeanby“studyingandeverlearning,andneverabletocometoaknowledgeofthetruth?”NoGreekteacherexpositingANYGreektextcouldimproveonthatrevelationofthetruth.NomanwithanhonestheartcouldpossiblymissseeingwhatIjustshowedyouthereaboutGenesis15andGenesis22andJames.Youcouldn’tmissit.Youcouldn’tpossiblymissit—unlessyouwereadishonestmanandwantedtomissit.

Yousay,“BrotherRuckman,areyoutryingtosaythatall thosepeoplemakingtheirliving by teaching a Christian that he can lose his salvation are dishonest?” Yes, as amatteroffact,thatisexactlywhatIamsaying.TheBibledoesn’tsaythatinthelastdaytherearegoingtobeafewofthem.TheBiblesaysinthelastdaystherearegoingtobemanyofthem.

Let’s get our bearings here.When you get in these Pauline Epistleswritten by theApostlePaultotheGentiles,youreadthingsthatareplainlydifferentfromthethingsthatyouhavebeenreadinginJamesandHebrews.Atleast,theyaredifferentdoctrinally.Forexample, Romans 5:18, which is a very plain, clear passage, “Therefore as by theoffence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by therighteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”Afellowsays,“Youcangetthisgiftbyworkingforit.”Noyoucan’t!Itisafreegift.TheLordknewperfectlywellwhenhesaidthe“gift”ofGodwaseternallife,thatsomeofyounutswouldsayyouhadtodosomethingtogetit.TheLordknewthat,sohesaid“FREEGIFT.”Doyousee that thing?Doyousee thatbusiness?Yousay,“But it is in italics.”Well, it’snot in italics inverse16!Romans5:16says,“Andnotas itwasbyonethatsinned,soisthegift:forthejudgmentwasbyonetocondemnation,butthefreegiftisofmanyoffencesuntojustification.”Yousay,“ButwhataboutthatotherScripture?”Well,whydon’tyougetastraightjacketforyourself?Yousay,“Whataboutthatversethatsays….”Look,ifyouwanttogotoHell,goon,butdon’ttrytotakemewithyou.Somefellowsays,“Butdoesn’titsayoverthereagain….”Yes,itsaysalotofthings.Youcouldtwistittosay,“Maryhadalittlelamb”—whatofit?

That’s the problemwe always have to dealwith.We have always got to dealwiththese people who are interested in either using the Bible as a tool to build up theirdenomination(preachersandteachers)orhopping,skipping,andjumpingfromoneversetoanothertoprovethey’reright(dishonest,deceivedlaymen)insteadoffacingthetruthwithanhonestheartandanopenmind.

Romanschapter8,verse1says,“Thereisthereforenownocondemnationtothemwhich are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Nocondemnation!You say, “Butwhat if youwalk after the flesh?”Verse 13—we’reway

aheadofyou.“Forifyeliveaftertheflesh,yeshalldie:butifyethroughtheSpiritdomortifythedeedsofthebody,yeshalllive.”See,that’sthetroublewithyoupeople,youdidn’twantthetruthanyway.Yougiveafellowaverselikethatandhesays,“Well,ifyoudon’twalkaftertheSpiritbutwalkaftertheflesh,thereiscondemnation.”Surethereis,verse13,wecanread.You’vegottheproblem,notus.Godsaysinverse13thatHewillkill theChristian thatwalks after the flesh, butwhat about his soul?Verses 38 and39,“ForIampersuaded,thatneitherdeath,norlife,norangels,norprincipalities,norpowers,northingspresent,northingstocome,Norheight,nordepth,noranyothercreature,shallbeabletoseparateusfromtheloveofGod,whichisinChristJesusour Lord.” That was in the same chapter, written by the same Apostle, to the samebelievers, inwhomdwelt theHolySpirit. Is thatverseclear?Doyouhave troublewiththat?

Theproblemiswhenyouputitovertheplatewaisthighwhereanyhonestmancanget it, theyduckitanddodge itandbegin torunbecause theyareCROOKS!Now,youcouldn’tmissverses38and39inRomans8ifyoucouldn’thittheinsideofabathtubwithabowlingball!Thevery ideaofyourunningfromthat tosomeotherverse—whenthatthingwassoclearandsoinclusive.I’mgoingtogothroughitagain—Romans8:38–39—and just in case you say, “But that passage talks about unsaved people whom Christloved,” let’s look at verse 37 first: “Nay, in all these things we are more thanconquerorsthroughhimthatlovedus.”Yousay,“No,that’stounsavedpeople.”Itis?Look at verse 29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to beconformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among manybrethren.”We knowwhereof we speak; we are not merely talking. Listen, we Bible-believingpeopledon’tmemorizetenversesandthentrytomakethewholeBiblelineupwith them. The context is talking about a savedman.Now, let’s go. Romans 8:38–39,“ForIampersuaded,thatneitherdeath[ifyoudie,youwon’tloseit],norlife[ifyougo on living, you won’t lose it], nor angels [they won’t take it from you], norprincipalities[mayors,governors,princes, theycan’tgetitawayfromyou],norpowers[kings,theycan’tgetitfromyou],northingspresent[nothinggoingonrightnow],northings to come [nothing going on tomorrow or next week or next year],Nor height[nothing up above you], nor depth [nothing down below your feet], nor any othercreature….”Overandaboveallthethingsmentionedsofar,justincasethatisn’tenough,Hesaid,“NORANYOTHERCREATURE.”Now,howmuchmoreconclusivecanHebe?Soyousay,“Butwhat if…?”Well, thengo toHell ifyouwant to. Ifyouhavegotyourmindmadeuptogo,justgoonandshutup.Godgetssickandtiredofhearingyoutrying to talk other people into being lost just because you are lost. We’ve got ourpromises.Thatchapter8wearereadingsaysinverse28,“AndweknowthatallthingsworktogetherforgoodtothemthatloveGod,tothemwhoarethecalledaccordingtohispurpose.”

Youknowwhymany of these folks have somuch troublewith these clear, simple,plain passages I have quoted?Do you knowwhat their problem iswith them? Imean,really?Theyareabouthalfnuts; that’s theproblem!Howcouldyoumiss this,Romans10:11,“For the scripture saith,Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”Let’slookatRomans10:13,“ForwhosoevershallcalluponthenameoftheLordshallbesaved.”“Shallbesaved.”Isthatclear?Doyougetthat?Yousay,“Oh,that’sfuture.”

Itisfuture,isit?Itisreallyfuture?WhatdoesitmeanthenwhenitsaysinRomans8:2,3,4,“ForthelawoftheSpiritoflifeinChristJesushathmademefreefromthelawofsin and death.” “Hath made me free.” There—that’s PAST TENSE! It has alreadyhappened!“Forwhatthelawcouldnotdo,inthatitwasweakthroughtheflesh,GodsendinghisownSoninthelikenessofsinfulflesh,andforsin,condemnedsinintheflesh.” “Sending his own Son,” past tense. “Condemned sin,” past tense. They arealreadydone,finished,accomplished,over,complete.“Thattherighteousnessofthelawmightbefulfilledinus,whowalknotaftertheflesh,butaftertheSpirit.”

Yousay,“Whatifyouwalkaftertheflesh?”Romans8:13,Godwillkillyou!“Forifyeliveaftertheflesh,yeshalldie:butifyethroughtheSpiritdomortifythedeedsofthebody,yeshalllive.”Rememberthat?Verse10,“AndifChristbeinyou,thebodyisdeadbecauseofsin;buttheSpirit is lifebecauseofrighteousness.”Nowthere’sthetrouble. Most of these people getting verses out of the Bible to prove they can losesalvation don’t have two natures. If you don’t have two natures, you can’t understandRomans6,7,and8.Romans6,7,and8isbuiltforsomebodywithtwonatures.

Now,howdoyouunderstandthesespiritualthingsifyoudon’thavethetwonatures?“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they arefoolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spirituallydiscerned.”Well,theanswer,mydearfellow,is—youcan’t.It’sjustnonsenseformetotalktoyouaboutafleshynaturethatgoesontothegravewhenthechildofGodissaved;whilethenewman(thespiritnature)issinlessandcouldn’t“fallfromgrace”ifhehadto.Thepassageyouquotedtoprovethat—inGalatianschapter5—istalkingaboutsomebodywhoiscountingonthelawtojustifythem.Readit.“Christisbecomeofnoeffectuntoyou,whosoeverofyouarejustifiedbythelaw;yearefallenfromgrace.”Theversesays,“Christisbecomeofnoeffectuntoyou,(comma,toclarify)whosoeverofyouarejustifed by the law; ye are fallen fromgrace.” Seventh-dayAdventists can fall fromgrace;they’recountingonthelawtojustifythem.Youcouldn’tgetaborn-againchildofGodtofallfromgracewithafallingmachine,becausewe’renotcountingonthe law tojustifyus.WearecountingonHisblood.“Ourhopeisbuiltonnothingless,thanJesus’bloodandrighteousness.OnChristthesolidrockwestand,allotherground”—includingScripturesmisquotedormisplaced—“issinkingsand.”

Forjustawhilewe’regoingtopretendthatweunderstandtheScriptures,andjustfora joke we are going to do this: We are going to say that a blood-washed believer iscircumcised by a spiritual application not made with hands (Col. 2) and placed in theBodyofChrist(Eph.5)bytheHolySpiritasafreegift(Rom.6)byreceivingJesusChrist(John1).WearegoingtosaythatasboneofChrist’sboneandfleshofHisflesh, thereisn’tanychanceatall thathecangotoHellwhatsoever,but thereisachancehemightlosehis joy, testimony,character, reputation,health,and life.Wewillgrant that,butnotthathecouldlosehissalvation.Then,wearegoingtobelievethatshortlyaftertheBodyofChrististakenoffofthisearthintheRapture(1Thess.4;1Cor.15;Psa.50;Isa.26;SongofSol.2;Job37.Don’tasktheCampbellitewheretheyare,hedoesn’tknow.),therewillcomeatimeonthisearthwhenworkswillhavetobecoupledwithfaith,andamanwill have to have a combination of faith andworks to be saved.Having supposed thissituation to be true—supposing after theBodyofChrist leaves andDaniel’s SeventiethWeektakesplaceinwhichGodrenewsHisdealingwithIsrael(Dan.12)—wearegoingto

assume for a minute that during the Tribulation, the time of Jacob’s Trouble (not thechurch’stroubles), inDaniel’sSeventiethWeekdealingwiththeJewsandtheAntichrist(notthechurchage),thatacombinationoffaithandworksisnecessarytobesaved.

Uponmaking that presumption,we shall nowgoback and read thepassages in thebooks ofMatthew, James,Hebrews, and Peter and see if there is a difference betweenChristiandoctrine foraJew in theTribulationandChristiandoctrine foraborn-againchild of God in the Body of Christ, where there is neither Jew nor Gentile. Beforeplungingintothismatter,let’sgobacktothatbookofRevelationattheendofyourBiblethatdealswithtimesthatwilltakeplaceonthisearthafterthechurchiscalledout,whichis perfectly evidenced by the fact that the word “church” doesn’t appear anywhere inchapters4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12orinchapters13,14,15,16,17,18,19,or20.Noticealso that in this Book are some very definite statements that indicate that somebody’ssalvation is conditioned on faith andworks. TheBaptists can holler until they are red,white,andblue in the face,butyoucannotalter thestatements in thesepassagesunlessyouareusingtheBibleinsteadofbelievingthewordofGodlikeyoushould.Revelation12:17,“Andthedragonwaswrothwiththewoman,andwenttomakewarwiththeremnantofherseed,which….”What?Numberone:thisremnantoftheseed,“keepthecommandments of God, and….” Number two: this remnant of the seed, “have thetestimonyofJesusChrist.”

Now,Idon’tcarewhatyoudowiththatverse,thereisn’tanorthodox,Bible-believingpreacherintheworldwhodoesn’tknowwhothatwomanis.Thatwomaninverses1and2isdefinedinGenesis37asbeingIsrael,withtheScripturesinterpretingthemselves.TheprivateinterpretationoftheCatholicChurchthatmakesthewomanthechurchorMaryis,ofcourse,obviouslywrong,whichcanbeprovedbyreadingthenextfourverses.IfyouwillreadRevelation12:1–6,youwillfindthiswomanfleestothewildernessandisfedthreeandahalfyearsbyGod.ThefactremainsthatthiswomanissaidtohaveaseedandthattheDevilintheTribulationgoestomakewarwithherseed.Herseedisnotsavedbygracethroughfaith;herseedisnotsaidtoberegeneratedandbornagain;herseedissaidto,“keepthecommandmentsofGod,andthetestimonyofJesusChrist.”ThetestimonyofJesus Christ is clearly defined in the same book, so we don’t have to worry aboutinterpretation. In Revelation chapter 19, you are told in verse 10 that the testimony ofJesus“isthespiritofprophecy.”Now,thisbunchofpeoplehavethetestimonyofJesusChrist,butthatisn’tall.InRevelationchapter14,lookatthesecondtimethisexpressionoccurs.Revelation14:12states,“Hereisthepatienceofthesaints:herearetheythatkeepthecommandmentsofGod,andthefaithofJesus.”Now,herearesomepeopleagain who have the faith of Jesus, the testimony of Jesus, and they keep thecommandments of God. That isn’t all. Whoever these people are, they are said to beconnectedwithadragonoradevilorabeastwhoputsoutamark(Rev.14:9),andinthepassageyouarereading(Rev.14:1),theyaresaidtobeahundredandforty-fourthousandJews—exactlyasyoufindthemlistedbytheirtribesinRevelation7,verses4to8.(Now,if you are a Jehovah’s Witness, you can’t get it, so don’t try. You didn’t begin withsalvation by the free gift ofGod; you beganwith aBible study inMatt. 24which youknew nothing about, then you perverted the hundred and forty-four thousand Jews andmadethemSpiritualJews,whichtheyarenot.SowhenyouwenttoRev.14,youcouldn’tpossiblyhaveknownyourtopfromyourbottominthepassage,andthereisnousetrying

toarguewithyouaboutit.)

The verse says those people have the “faith of Jesus Christ and keep thecommandmentsofGod,”and thesamebunchwefoundinchapter12areIsraelites,andthe same bunchwe found in chapter 7 are given as twelve tribes. They are not called“SpiritualJews”(likeRom.2);theyarenotcalledtheIsraelofGod(likeGal.6).We’vegotalltenofyourversesmemorized,andtheotherthirtyversesthatexplainwhyyougotthemwrong.

In the tribulation somebody has faith, and they are also keeping commandments.Nothing could be clearer than this from the passage in Revelation 22:14 that said,“Blessedaretheythatdohiscommandments,thattheymayhaverighttothetreeoflife,andmayenterinthroughthegatesintothecity.”Well,obviouslythisissomebodyfromsomeotherdispensation.DoyouthinkIgiveaflipaboutenteringintothegatesintothecity?Iampartofthecity.Didn’tyoureadinyourBiblethatthatcityisthe“Lamb’swife”?Didn’tyoureadthereinRevelation21:2whentheholycitycamedownfromGod,that it camedown fromGodas theLamb’swife,Revelation21:9, “thebride”?DoyouthinkI’mworriedaboutgoinginthroughthegates?Iownthecity,man!DoyouthinkIamworriedaboutthetreeoflife?I’vegottheOnewhogavemeeternallifefromthetreeofdeath.

Do you see howwe’re coming up on this thing? That Book said, “Study to shewthyselfapproveduntoGod,aworkmanthatneedethnottobeashamed,RIGHTLYDIVIDINGthewordoftruth”(2Tim.2:15).AssureassomeofyoufolksIamtalkingtoaregoingtoHelljustlikeabullet,youcouldn’texplainthatBibleorteachitorlearnitifyousatupallnight—becauseyourheartisbad.TheBibleoughttoopenthesethingstoyou,forthesethingsareclearandsimpletoanopenheart.ThepassagesinRevelation7,12,14,and21thatIjusttoldyouaboutspeakofthesamething,inthecontextsinwhichtheyappear,aimedatacertainclassofpeople.YouwillnoticeinsummingupthingsinRevelation22,notonlyisaninvitationgiventothesepeopleintheTribulation,verse14,butalsotheChurchAge,verse17,“AndtheSpiritandthebridesay,Come.Andlethimthathearethsay,Come.Andlethimthatisathirstcome.Andwhosoeverwill,lethimtakethewaterof lifefreely.”Now, that’ssomethingelse.Whenyoubegin to talkabouttheWaterofLife,youaretalkingaboutsomethingelse.YoutalkaboutthetreeofLife,that’sonething,andcommandmentshavetodowiththat,butwhenyoubegintotalkabouttheWaterofLife,youaregettingonothergrounds,brother.Christsaid,“Iamthewateroflife.”Hesaid,“Hethatbelievethonme,asthescripturehathsaid,outofhisbellyshallflowriversoflivingwater”(John7:38).Heplainly toldawomanatawellonetimethatifshedrankofthatwatershewouldthirst,butHesaidtothewomaninthediscussion,John4:10,“IfthouknewesttheGIFTOFGOD,”—thereisthatfreegiftyoutangledwithbackinRomans;here itcomesagain—“andwhoit isthatsaiethtothee,Givemetodrink; thouwouldesthaveaskedofhim,andhewouldhavegiventheelivingwater.” Verse 13, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: Butwhosoeverdrinkethof thewater thatI shallGIVEHIM (GIVEHIM!“Ask,andI’llgiveittoyou.”GiveHim!)shallneverthirst;butthewaterthatIshallgivehimshallbeinhimawellofwaterspringingupintoeverlastinglife.”

Doyouseeityet?!Isthereanychanceyouwillevergetit?YouseehowthatBookis

puttogether?Ithasproperdivisions.WhenyouaretalkingaboutcommandmentsofGod,thefaithofJesusChrist,andtheTribulationJews,youaretalkingaboutsomebodywhoisgoingtogettheireternallifeoffofthetreeoflife.Whenyoutalkabout“whosoeverwill,lethimtakethewateroflifefreely,”youaretalkingaboutthebridegivinganinvitationtosinnerstocomeandgetthemadrink.Didyoueverdrink?

Notice how all those passages deal with salvation through faith andworks. Noticehow very often this appears in the book ofRevelation. For example, inRevelation 14,notice that the gospel that is being preached is not the good news that Christ died forsinners.Lookhere,Revelation 14:6–7,“And I saw another angel fly in themidst ofheaven,having theeverlastinggospel topreachunto themthatdwellon theearth,andtoeverynation,andkindred,andtongue,andpeople,Sayingwithaloudvoice,FearGod,andgiveglorytohim;forthehourofhisjudgmentiscome:andworshiphimthat made heaven, and earth, and the sea and the fountains of waters.” Is that theGospel?It’snottheGospelPaulpreached.Paulsaid,“IfanymanpreachanyothergospelthanwhatIpreach,letGodcursehim.”Asamatteroffact,Paulsaid,“Thoughwe,oranangel fromheaven,preachanyothergospel.”Well, inRevelation14,verses6and7,thereisanangelpreachinganotherone!(Boy,youknowifyouwereaninfidel,youwouldhaveprettygoodgroundsforthrowingtheBookoutofthewindow,wouldn’tyou?Butforthoseofuswho“studytoshowourselvesapproveduntoGod,”wecan“rightlydivide”it.)If we know there is a difference between the angel preaching the Everlasting GospelduringtheTribulationandtheApostletotheGentilespreachingthegospelofthegraceofGodinthisage,whatdoweknow?Thepeoplewhobelieveundertheangel’sgospelarenotonlysavedbyfaith,buttheyhadbetterwatchtheirstep.Lookatverses9–11,“Andthethirdangelfollowedthem,sayingwithaloudvoice,Ifanymanworshipthebeastandhisimage,andreceivehismarkinhisforehead,orinhishand,ThesameshalldrinkofthewineofthewrathofGod,whichispouredoutwithoutmixtureintothecup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in thepresenceoftheholyangels,andinthepresenceoftheLamb:Andthesmokeoftheirtormentascendethupforeverandever:andtheyhavenorestdaynornight,whoworshipthebeastandhisimage,andwhosoeverreceiveththemarkofhisname.”Soyousee,thereissomebodywhoisgoingtobelieveadifferentgospelthanwhatwehave.TheyaresavedbyfaithANDworks—likeyouarenot—andtheyareinaperiodoftimethatyouarenotin.OfthesepeopleMatthewsaid(andnowwe’rebacktoMatthew),“Buthethatshallendureuntotheend,thesameshallbesaved”(Matt.24:13).

Bynowyououghttohaveyoureyesopenedtoagreattruth.ThisgreattruthisthatthisgreatBookwasnot allwritten for abunchofpeople in the twentiethcentury.ThisBook was written for people from Adam to the end of the Millennium;God did notconfineHisremarkstotheChurchAge.Wearereadingversesherethatdealwithsomeoneelseinadifferenttime,inadifferentsituation,inadifferentlocality,andifthatweren’tenough,theyareofadifferentrace.Theyweregiventhecommandments.SoifyouareaSeventh-dayAdventist, amongother things, you are a thief—trying toget savedby thecommandments—tryingtogetsavedbythelawbypervertingthewordofGod!

Forexample,Revelation22:14(whichyoutiedupwith1John2),andthenMatthew,yes,Matthewblesshisheart,goodoldMatthew,and thenyoukickedyourselfandyourcongregationtoHellwithyourscripturalfoolishness.That’swhySimonPetersaid,“They

thatareunlearnedandunstablewrest,astheydoalsotheotherscriptures,untotheirown destruction” (2 Pet. 3:16).“If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into theditch”(Matt.15:14).Youwon’trejectthefreegraceofGodandcomeoutunharmed.Youwillcomeoutsmoking.Idon’tcarehowmuchScriptureyouquote.

We now have our footing. Let’s get back with those hard verses. Matthew 5:19,“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments (therewe go),and shall teachmen so, he shall be called the least in thekingdomof heaven: butwhosoevershalldoandteachthem,thesameshallbecalledgreatinthekingdomofheaven.”There’syourprooftextforgoingtoHell.DoyouwanttogotoHellonit?Jumponitandride,brother.YoucangotoHellonthatone;that’sagoodone.Youcanjustsay,“Well,youcan’tkeepthemall,soifIcan’tkeepthemall,I’lljustloseitandgotoHell.”SeewhatImean?I’lltellyousomething.IfthesetribulationJewsdon’tkeepthem,theywillgotoHell.YouhadbetterlookoutforthatSabbathintheTribulation.Doyouknowwhy?BecauseinMatthew24,inthesameTribulationcontextyoureadinverse20,“Butprayyethatyourflightbenotinthewinter,neitheronthesabbathday.”WhatdidPaulsayabouttheSabbathtotheborn-againbelieverintheBodyofChrist?Romans13:9states,“Forthis,Thoushaltnotcommitadultery,Thoushaltnotkill,Thoushaltnotsteal, Thou shalt not bear falsewitness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be anyothercommandment, it isbrieflycomprehended in this saying,namely,Thoushaltlovethyneighborasthyself.”TheApostlePaulthrewtheSabbathout!Folkssay,“Theywouldbeleast in thekingdomofheaven.”Paulmusthavebeenleast in thekingdomofheaven; Paul wouldn’t teach the Sabbath. Romans 13:9 gives the commandments andpurposelyleavesoutandomitstheSabbath.

Thatisn’tall.TheApostlePaul,writingtothesavedbelievers(bornintotheBodyofChrist),purposelytellsyoutheTenCommandmentsweredoneawaywithasameansofsalvation.Nodoubtaboutit,theyarepassedaway,theirglorydoneawaywith(2Cor.3),and the commandmentshe is talkingabout are the commandmentsgravenon stone.Sodon’t let someblasphemousSeventh-dayAdventist comearound toyourhouseand tellyouChristjustgotridofthemorallawbutdidn’tgetridoftheTenCommandments,whentheTenCommandmentswerepartofthelawHediedfor.Yousay,“Well,whatabouttheChristianthatdoesn’tkeepthem,anddoyoumeantotellmethatyoushouldn’t….”Yousee, you still won’t face the Scripture.You are still trying to find away out.You say,“Well, if you say the TenCommandments are done awaywith, then it’s all right for aChristian to commit adultery and kill and steal.”We are not talking about that.We aretalking about sound doctrine.Youwill find the other commandments given inRomans13:9,ifyouwillgobackandreadtheverse.Yousee,youareintoomuchofahurry.TheonethatwasomittedwasasigntoIsrael,theSabbath.

That isn’t all. This sign to Israel was said to be a “sign,” because Paul said in 1Corinthians1that“theJewsrequireasign.”That’swhytheHolySpiritsaid,waybackthereinEzekiel20wherenobodycouldmissit,thattheSabbathwasasignbetweentheLordandIsraelthattheymightknowthathewastheLordGodthatsanctifiedthem(Ezek.20:12,20:20).Youcouldn’t jam that thingdownonaChristian fromMatthew5unlessyou were a Hell-bound sinner, counting on the law to justify you, and in that case,accordingtoGalatians,youhavefallenfromgrace.Don’ttrytoteachus,we’llteachyou.But theystillgoonwith it.Allover thiscountry,hundredsandthousandsofpeopleare

followingthiskindofteaching.TheyareNOTzealousforthetruth.TheyareNOTzealousfor theword.Theywant to heap to themselves “teachers having itching ears after theirownlusts.”Theyare“turningawayfromthetruthandbeingturneduntofables”(2Tim.4:4). The commandments you found in every one of these passages are aimed right atIsrael.Youcouldn’tpossiblymissit.

Israelsolvesmanyaproblem.Forexample,rememberthosevirginsinMatthew25?Rememberover there inMatthew25when theywerewaiting for theLord tocome? InMatthew25,thosevirginsweresaid tobevirgins,plural; theyweren’twaiting tomarrythat bridegroom; theywerewaiting tomeet him. Theywent into amarriagewhere thebridegroomwasalreadymarryinganotherbride.Matthew25:10,“Andwhiletheywentto buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to themarriage:andthedoorwasshut.”Theywentintothemarriage.Theywerevirginsasyoufind the word virgins in Revelation 14:1–4. They were Jewish Tribulation saints, in aconditionwheretheywouldNOTbereadyfortheLordtocomeandtheywouldhavetogooutandworkfortheirsalvation.Now,everypassagefallsintotheproperplace,andnoknowledgeofGreekisneededtounderstandanyofit.

Forexample, speakingof theworks toget theoil:didyounoticehowtheverses inHebrews on the so-called split rapture now come into the right context? You read,“Holiness,withoutwhichnomanshallseetheLord.”When?At theSecondAdvent.There’s your split rapture.There’s a rapture at the endof theTribulation that IS a splitrapture.“SoChristwas once offered tobear the sins ofmany; andunto them thatlookforhimshallheappearthesecondtimewithoutsinuntosalvation”(Heb.9:28).If you are not looking forHim,Hewill not appear to you in the Tribulation.He onlyappearstothemthatlookforHim,and“withoutholiness,nomanshallseeHim.”Let’sgorightbacktoMatthew24andwatchitdovetailinagain.InMatthew24,speakingofthesesameTribulationsaints,wefindaTribulationrapture.Matthew24:29–31,“Immediatelyafterthetribulationofthosedays…AndthenshallappearthesignoftheSonofmaninheaven…Andheshallsendhisangelswithagreatsoundofatrumpet,andtheyshallgathertogetherhiselectfromthefourwinds,fromoneendofheaventotheother.”

Itallcametogetherwithoutonehitch.NotoneGreekteacherwasneededtoteachanyofit.HereareJewstowhomaJewishMessiahspokeinaJewishcontext(underthelaw,beforethecrucifixion).Hespoketothemaboutcommandmentsandworksinconnectionwiththeirsalvation,referringtoa timewhenHewasgoingtocomeagaininasituationwhen theywould have to haveworks and keep the commandments ofGod to get theirsalvation.Among thesecommandmentswas theSabbath,which theyhadbeenkeeping.Theywere to pray their flightwould not be on theSabbath in theTribulation, becausewhen He came back in the Tribulation, at the end, there would be a Post-Tribulationrapturefor theTribulationsaints.TheseTribulationsaintswouldhave tobereadywhenHecame,orthedoorwouldhavetobeshutupuponthem.Also,HewouldsayHedidn’tknowthem,andtheywouldhaveto“workouttheirsalvation”and“enduretotheend”tobesaved,ortheycouldnotgetthrough,“forwithoutholinessnomancouldseetheLord.”

Everyverseisleftexactlyasitshouldbeinthecontextinwhichitappears—exactlyasit stands in a King James 1611, Authorized Version—without twisting, rendering,perverting, wresting, garbling, destroying, or changing ONE SINGLEWORD, of one

singleverse,inonesinglecontext,inwhichANYofthemappear.Whenthatprocedureisfollowed,youhavethetruth,thewholetruth,andnothingbutthetruth.NoGreekteacherinathousandyearsofchurchhistoryhaseverfoundtherevelationasitstandsintheAVof1611.

Lookout foranyBaptistwhomakes thoseversessayanything theydon’t say to fitBaptistdoctrine—justlikeyouwouldlookoutforanyfellowwhothinksyoucanloseittomaketheversesfitthechurchage,whichTHEYDON’T!It’sallfoundthroughout.NoticeinMatthew25:30, thatunprofitableservantdid lose itandwascast intoouterdarkness.NoticeinMatthew25:44–46,theylostitbecause,intheTribulation,theydidn’thavetheworks.YoutakethemarkofthebeastinthatTribulation,brother,andyou’vehadit!

Thatbringsusback to thevery interestingpassage inHebrewschapter6,whichwewill now read just right, as long as we know where to place it. It is talking aboutsomebodywho,iftheyfallaway,cannotbe“renewedagaintorepentance.”AlltheycandoiswaitfortheburninginHebrews6:8.Nowitbeginstomakesense.Gobacknowandpick up that passage inHebrews 3:6 and 3:14 and notice that “holding the confidencesteadfastuntotheend”isplainlyareferencetotheendofaperiodoftimeinwhichGodisdealingwith theHebrews, sowe find itwritten in the book ofHebrews; and since thebookofJamesiswrittentothe“twelvetribes”ofIsraelinJames1:1,JamessaysbyJames2:24thatamanisjustifiedbyworksandnotbyfaithonly—faithandworks—“ThefaithofJesusChristandthecommandmentsofGod.”

Now this is what wemeanwhenwe say, “Study to shew thyself approved untoGod,aworkmanthatneedethnottobeashamed,RIGHTLYDIVIDINGthewordoftruth.” The Baptists who make every verse in the Bible teach eternal security foreverybody in every dispensation are just as far off as the Methodists, Episcopalians,Jehovah’sWitnesses,RomanCatholics,Holiness,andChurchofChristelderswhowilltrytotalkaChristianintolosinghissalvation,whenhecannomoreloseitthanhecanskatetoJupiter.Yousay,“Butwhataboutthoseotherpassages?”Theywillallfitintheirproperplace.Theproblemisfindingtheproperplace.Itisn’tamatterofuschangingaverseorgettingridofitbecausewedon’tunderstandit,yousee?That’swhatthesestupidGreekteacherswilldo. It is simplyamatterofbelieving thatGodmeantwhatHesaid,asHesaidit.Ifitdoesn’tfitintoonesituation,ithastofitintoanother.“LetGodbetrue,buteverymana liar” (Rom. 3:4).We’re not going to cram and jam it in on somebody itdoesn’tbelong to—likeaCampbellite jamsActs2:38 to theChristian.Wearegoing tobelievewhatGodsaid,asHesaidit,whereHesaidit.

GobacktotheclassicpassageofActs2:38whereCatholicsandCampbellitestellusthatreceivingtheHolyGhostisconditionaluponwaterbaptism.“ThenPetersaiduntothem,Repent,andbebaptizedeveryoneofyouinthenameofJesusChristfortheremissionofsins,andyeshallreceivethegiftoftheHolyGhost.”Now,beforewegetintothisgreatlypervertedpassage,let’slayalittlebackground.YoumayhavenoticedbynowthenumberoftimesthatwehavehadaJewishreference(orareferencetoIsrael)indealingwith thesepassagesaboutsomebodygettingsavedby faithandworks.Someofour Baptist brethren fly off the handle and insist thatmen have always been saved bygrace,andthenprovethisbypointingoutAbrahambeforethelaw.ButthisisanotherfoulballifyoustopandthinkforaminuteaboutthreecharactersintheOldTestamentunder

the law—Samson, Saul, and David. Did you ever give those characters closeconsideration?Hasn’titstruckyouasratheroddthatSaulturnedintoanothermanwhentheSpiritofGodcameuponhim,andthentheSpiritofGodleftandNEVERcameback?Samson had the Spirit ofGod on him, and the Spirit ofGod left him and thenCAMEBACK.DavidhadtheSpiritofGodonhimandprayed,“TakeNOTthyHolySpiritfromme,”Psalm51,andtheLorddidn’t!Doesn’tthatstrikeyouasratheroddinviewofthefact that theNewTestamentsaysabout theHolySpirit to theborn-againbeliever in theBodyofChrist,“Grievenot theholySpiritofGod,wherebyyouaresealeduntothedayofredemption”(Eph.4:30)?WhenJesusChristspokeabouttheHolySpirit,Hesaid,“Hedwellethwithyou,andshallbe inyou.”Hesaidwhen theHolySpiritcame, John14:16,“AndIwillpraytheFather,andheshallgiveyouanotherComforter,thathemayabidewithyouforever.”Hewouldabidewithyou“forever.”

Now, how does one explain thesematters?He didn’t abidewith Saul for ever. Hedidn’tabidewithSamsonforever.Hecameandleft.HeabodewithDavidforever,butHecouldhaveleft.Davidrecognizedthisperfectlyinhisprayer.Hasn’titgottenthroughyour thick head yet that there is a difference between God’s dealing with Israel as anation, andGod’s dealing with the individual, born-again child of God in the Body ofChrist?Hasn’tthatgottenthroughtoyousomewhere?Wellifithas,maybeyouwillcomethroughHebrews,James,andMatthewalittleslowerthenexttimeyousitdowntostudyyourBible.

InsteadofstealingeverythingfromtheJewthatdoesn’tbelongtoyou,itmightdoyougoodtorecollectthattheBibleisaJewishbook.Withoutaproperunderstandingof theplaceoftheJewinGod’sprogram,thereisn’tanychancethatyouwillbeanythingbutaBible blockhead. Into that classification go about 90 percent of the professing Bibleteachersandeldersandso-called“apostles”oftoday.

Nowhere’saperfect case.Acts2:38 states,“ThenPeter saidunto them,Repent,andbebaptized everyoneof you in thenameof JesusChrist for the remissionofsins,andyeshallreceivethegiftoftheHolyGhost.”Thereisabeautyifyoueversawone.ThereneverwasamanwhocountedonActs2:38togetsavedwhoeverknewthathehadeternallifeorwaseverassuredofeternallife.Thereisn’toneCampbelliteorCatholiconthefaceoftheEarththatclaimsActs2:38whodoesn’tthinkaChristiancanlosehissalvation.SincethewholepassagedealswithIsrael,wouldn’tthisbejusttheplacefortheDevil to start if he wanted to damn you into Hell as a “Christian.” Simon Peter, anorthodox,circumcised,pork-abstaining,Sabbath-observing,temple-worshippingJewwithnoNewTestamentwritten is speaking: “ThenPeter said unto them,Repent, and bebaptizedeveryoneofyouinthenameofJesusChristfortheremissionofsins,andyeshallreceivethegiftoftheHolyGhost.Forthepromiseisuntoyou,andtoyourchildren,andtoallthatareafaroff,evenasmanyastheLordourGodshallcall.”TheLord OUR God. “TheLordOURGod shall call!!” Now, haven’t some of you heardsomedepravedidiot tellyouthat that’s theplanofsalvation?Aren’tyourairwaysfilledwiththesedeludednutsravingandscreamingaboutbeing“buptized”inthenameofJesusfortheremissionofsins?Aren’tyourairwaysfilledwiththesenutswhohavenevergottenoutofActs1–3(aJewishfeastday—Pentecost—whichwasgiventoOldTestamentJewsunder the law,Lev.23)?Haven’t they justdoggedyourears todeathwith thisbusinesswithout telling you that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were not written when these

eventstookplace?DoyourealizethatatthetimethatSimonPeterspeaksthesewordsinActs2,hedoesn’thaveanythinginhishandbutGenesistoMalachi?

Somebodysaid,“Butwhathesaidwasstillthetruth.”Whylisten,whatSolomonsaidwasthetruthbackinthebookofEcclesiastes,butyouknowmoreaboutitnow.Youcan’tget ridofprogressive revelation.Youcan’tgetborn and live anddie inActs2withoutpassingontoActs10and15.InActs15,thesamePeter,thesameSimonPeter,thesameJewstandinguptopreachandinformthecouncilthereinJerusalem,doesn’tsayonewordaboutanyGentilesgettingbaptizedinanywatertogetsaved.ThesameSimonPeter,notfifteenchapterslater,saysinActs15:11,“ButwebelievethatthroughthegraceoftheLordJesusChristwe shallbe saved, evenas they.”WhendidPeter changehis tune?Well,regardlessofthat,I’lltellyousomething:ifhechangedit,youhadbetterflatchangeyourswithhim.Ifhewas inspired inActs2,hewas justas inspired inActs15.If theydon’tmatch,Peterhaslearnedsomething.Godhasshownhimsomething,andwhatcouldbe any clearer than that, if youhad readGalatians 2.Butwho readsGalatians 2?As amatteroffact,whowouldfollowmydiscoursetothispointanyway?Imean,afterall,thereal issue was not the word of God to start with, was it? Wasn’t it family trouble?Enrollment?Jobtrouble?Income?In-lawtrouble?Attendance?Yousee,ifyoudon’tfoolme,youarenotgoingtofooltheLord,that’sforcertain.I’vetalkedbytheyeartothesepeoplewhoquotethislineofScriptureandprofesstobeauthoritiesonit,andIfindthatifyoupinthemrightdowntothematorgetthemintothecorner,thereisn’toneoutoffiftyofthemwhohasanyregardforwhatGodsaidatall,excepttousethisBookasatooltoteachwhattheywanttobelieve.

BacktoActs2.WhenPetersays“untothem”whocouldhebetalkingto?Acts2:38,“ThenPetersaiduntothem.”Isthatclear?Ishetalkingtoyou?Ishetalkingtoanyofyourkinfolk?Whoarethe“them”?Atextwithoutacontextisapretext.Acts2:5,“Andthere were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation underheaven.”Acts2:14,“ButPeter,standingupwiththeeleven, lifteduphisvoice,andsaiduntothem,YemenofJudaea,andallyethatdwellatJerusalem,bethisknownuntoyou,andhearkentomywords.”Tryagain,verse22,“YemenofIsrael,hearthesewords.”Onemoretimewithfeeling:verse36,“Thereforeletall thehouseofIsrael.”Andincaseyouareblindasabat:verse38,“ThenPetersaiduntothem.”Doyouwanttogo toHell?ClaimActs2:38.That’s justaboutasquickasyoucanget therewithoutusing theSermonon theMount.Acts2wasaPentecostalmessagepreachedbyanOldTestamentorthodoxJewtoOldTestamentorthodoxJewswhocametoafeastdayunderthe Levitical law, under the ceremonial law of Old Testament Israel. There wasn’t aGentileinthegroupthatwasn’taproselytetoorthodoxJudaism.Nobodyinthechapterevenaskedwhattodotogetsaved.ThequestionaskedofSimonPeterinthechapterinverse37was,“Menandbrethren,whatshallwedo?”Notonewordaboutthenewbirth;not oneword about the blood atonement for sinners; not oneword about the Body ofChrist;notonewordaboutspiritualcircumcision—andyou let somefeatherdusterofadeceivedpreachertalkyouintoActs2:38asScriptureforyou,whenthepoor,deceived,deluded jackass hasn’t any more idea what he is saying than a three-year-old Ubangidiscoursingonnuclearphysics.Yououghttobeashamedofyourself!

Yousay,“ButBrotherRuckman,godlymenanddedicatedand….”Iknow,we’vegota lot of idiots running around in this country these days that think they are “godly”

because theydon’tdosomeof the things thatyoudo.That’sgotnothing todowith thetruthorthewholetruthornothingbutthetruth.WhenSimonPeterpreachesandsaysthepromiseistothem(aimedatIsraelinthecontext)andtotheirchildren(aimedatIsraelinthecontext),he ismerelyquotingDaniel9:7,“OLord,righteousnessbelongethuntothee,butuntousconfusionoffaces,asatthisday;tothemenofJudah,andtotheinhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off,through all the countrieswhither thou hast driven them, because of their trespassthattheyhavetrespassedagainstthee.”Inplainerwords,ifanymantellsyouthatActs2:38 is the plan of salvation, he’s an unsaved man who has privately interpreted theScripturewithout any regard forwhatGod said at all. SimonPeter, in that promise, isaddressing thehouseof Israel,giving themapromiseaimedat those inDaniel9:7;andDaniel9:7interpretsActs2:39whereyoucouldn’tmissitifyoucouldn’thitthebroadsideofabarnwithabunchofbananas.

TheclearstatementsofScripturewheretheyare,astheystand,showyouthatSimonPeter inActs 2, preaching to theHouseof Israel, is giving themwhatGodhas to givethematthattimebeforetheNewTestamentiscompleted;andatthattimetheyweretobebaptizedtoshowtheyweresorryforcrucifyingtheirMessiah.

WhenGodcallstheApostleoftheGentilesout(Paul)andgiveshimtherevelationofthegospel of thegraceofGod, he communicates it toSimonPeter inGalatians 2, andSimonPetergivesitinActs15.ThefinalsummationofopinioninActs15andActs13:39andActs 10:43 is that aman is saved by grace through faith plus nothing, and that hereceivestheHolySpiritbeforehe’sbaptizedinwater.LookatthelastfourversesofActs10andreadthem.ThenexttimeyougobacktoActs2afterGodshowingyouthat,Godisgoingtoputyouontheshelf.DoyouhearwhatIsaid?Spiritually,youareonthe junkpileifyourunrightbacktoActs2,afterGodshowsyouwhatHewillshowyouinActs13:39andActs10,thelastfourverses,andActschapter15.Woebetothemanthatleadsyoubackunderthelawafteryouhavegonethatfar,“youhavefallenfromgrace.”That’sexactlywhatPaulwastalkingabout.IfyoureadthebookofHebrewsoverandoveragain,youwillfindthatbeingbroughtout.ThatJewistoldtocontinue,andhangon,andholdoutandkeepon,goinguntilheperceivesthetruthofthegraceofGod,andnottogobackunderthelawandcountonittojustifyhim.Thethemegoesonoverandoveragain.

Now, thereareafewplaces in thePaulineEpistleswhere ifa fellowwanted to talkhimselfoutofsalvationandgotoHell,hecoulddoit.Oneoftheseisin1Corinthians15;oneoftheseisin2Corinthians13.In2Corinthians13,anunsavedmanwhotriestoteachtheBiblebylying,teachesthatverse5showsthatachildofGodcanbeachildofGodandthenareprobate.“Examineyourselves,whetheryebeinthefaith;proveyourownselves.Knowyenotyourownselves,how thatJesusChrist is inyou, exceptyebereprobates?”Ofcoursetheversesaidnothingofthekind;theversesays,“Knowyenotyourownselves,howthatJesusChristisinyou,exceptyebereprobates?”Well,that’sprettyapparentwhatthatis.It’sprettyapparentfromthatpassagethatunlessamanisareprobate,heought toknowthatChrist is inhim. Ifhe isareprobate,hecan’tknowit.Seehowtheygetscrewedup?

Thenlookat1Corinthians15:2,“Bywhichalsoyearesaved,ifyekeepinmemorywhatIpreacheduntoyou….”Theysay,“Well,whatifyoudon’t?”Well,ifyoudon’t,

youwereneversavedtostartwith.Theysay,“Wheredoyougetthatfrom?”Igetitbyfinishingtheverse.Yousee,Ifooledyouagain.Ionlyquotedyouhalfofit—youdidn’tlookitup.Whoareyoutryingtokid?Youneverlookedupanything;youareafraidthatBible is going to cross every fond opinion you have if you look it up. Paul said in 1Corinthians15:2,“Unlessyehavebelievedinvain.”Therearemanypeoplewhohavebelievedinvainbecausetheyhaveonlybelievedintheirheads.Theyfollowedthefool-proof—Campbellite—formulafordamnation:repented,asJudasdid;believed,likeSimontheSorcererdid;confessed,likePharaohdid;andwerebaptized,likeJudas;andthenwenttoHellwiththem.Yousee,exercisingfaithinthegospelandobeyingthegospelhastodowith heart belief. Notice how clear this is brought out in Acts 8 where the Ethiopianeunuch is about tobebaptized, andPhilip says tohim inActs8:37,“If thoubelievestwith all thine HEART, thou mayest.” Notice how this is reinforced in the PaulineEpistlesinRomans6whenPaulistalkingtothesavedpeoplethere,hesaysinverse17,“God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from theHEARTthatformofdoctrinewhichwasdeliveredyou,”andagaininRomans10:10,“WiththeHEARTmanbelievethuntorighteousness.”

Nowwearegettingnearertheroot,aren’twe?Therootofthematterisveryevident.An unsaved man cannot understand that Book. If he were to memorize that Book, hecouldn’tunderstand it.For“thenaturalmanreceivethnot thethingsof theSpiritofGod:fortheyarefoolishnessuntohim:neithercanheknowthem,becausetheyarespiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).When you hear aman get in the pulpit and talkaboutaborn-againbelieverinthisageintheBodyofChristlosinghissalvation,youaredealingwithamanwhoisspirituallyblind.That’swhyGodkeepssaying,“Son,givemethyheart.”“Keepthyheartwithalldiligence;foroutofitaretheissuesoflife.”Itispossibletobelieveinvain.Thedemon-possessedmanoverthereinActs19whojumpedonthesevensonsofScevasaid,“JesusIknow,andPaulIknow;butwhoareye?”Thedemon-possessedman inMark 1 said, “I know theewho thou art, theHolyOne ofGod.”TheunsavedpeopleinMatthew7thatcameupandsaid,“Lord,Lord,havewenotprophesiedinthyname?andinthynamehavecastoutdevils,”werelost.Thus,wecometoanothergreattruth.ItispossibletoknowChrist,believeaboutChrist,repent,confess,getbaptized,castoutdevils,domiracles,haveapostolicsignsandwonders,andgotoHelljustlikeabullet.I’lltellyouajoke.Thereisn’tamanwhodoubtstheeternalsecurityofthebelieverwhowouldn’tsayyestowhatIjustsaid,butthepoordeludedfoolmakes themistakeof saying that according to everything Ihave just said, themanwassaved.Hewasn’t.You’vegottobebornagain,fellow.“MarvelnotthatIsaiduntothee,Yemustbebornagain.”

Youcan’tsaybyfollowingaritualistic,legalisticform—one,two,three,four,five—thatyou’vebeenbornagain.Listen!youcantalkintonguesandpretendthat’stheinitialevidenceofthebaptism.YoucangetdunkedaccordingtoActs2:38andpretendyougottheholyghost,whenyoudidn’t.OryoucanquoteScripturetillyouareblack,blue,deaf,dumb,andblindandstillfallintoHellsoquickyouwillmakeaholeitwilltaketheDevilsixmonthstopatchup.

Thoseofuswhoaresavedandbornagain,“Weknowwhomwehavebelieved,andare persuadedHe is able to keep thatwhichwe have committed unto him against thatday.”“HethathasbegunagoodworkinuswillperformituntilthedayofJesusChrist.”

“Weare sealedby theHolySpiritofGodunto thedayof redemption.”“Whereneitherdeath,norlife,norangels,norprincipalities,norpowers,northingspresent,northingstocome,norheight,nordepth,noranyothercreatureshallbeabletoseparateusfromtheloveofGod,whichisinChristJesus.”“Forweknowwhomwehavebelieved.”“Weshallnot come into judgment, butwe have passed, (already) fromdeath unto life.”WehavereceivedthefreegiftofGod,whichiseternallifebythegraceofGod,andwearefreelyjustifiedbyhisgrace, becauseHe shedHisbloodas apropitiation forour sins.Wearecovered, redeemed, sanctified, separated, justified, saved, born again, and seated inheavenlyplaceswithChristJesus;WEAREALREADYTHERE!Wedon’thavetoworryabout going; we’ve already received the salvation of our souls, 1 Peter 1. We are inheavenlyplaceswithChrist,Ephesianschapter2,seatedattherighthandofGod,anditisonlyamatteroftimebeforeourbodiesmakethetrip.

Yousay,“Whatif?”Well,inthatcase,I’llbeupthere,andyouwillbedownhere.Aslongasyouliveon“whatif,”youhaven’tlearnedthefirstthingaboutthewordofGodthatyououghttolearn.Thereisno“whatif”toit.AllthepromisesofGodinJesusChristare“yeaandamentothegloryofGod.”“We’remorethanconquerorsthroughHimthatlovedus.”“ThanksbeuntoGodwhohathgivenusthevictoryinJesusChrist.”“Ifweliveaftertheflesh,weshalldie.”Ifwedon’tjudgeourselves,weshallbesickandsleepyandloserewardsandget ill.Ifwedon’t livefortheLord,Godwillchastenus,“ForwhomtheLord lovethhe chasteneth, and scourgeth every sonwhomhe receiveth” (Heb.12:6).Ifwecrossoverthelinetoofar,theLordwillkillusandjustdropusdeadinourtracks.“Thereisasinuntodeath,Isaynotthattheyshallprayforit.”Butwearenomoreworriedabout losingGod’ssalvationandwindingup inHell thanweareworriedaboutRapBrownstealingallthesnowinIcelandorGreenland.

TheBiblesays,“Herein isour lovemadeperfect, thatwemayhaveboldness inthedayof judgment:becauseashe is, soarewe in thisworld.There isno fear inlove;butperfectlovecastethoutfear:becausefearhathtorment.Hethatfearethisnotmadeperfectinlove”(1John4:17–18).Doyouknowwhatthatmeans?Well,ifyouareunsaved,youwouldn’t.Butthat’sastatementthatasChristisupthere,soareweinthisworld;ourstanding inJesusChrist isoneofsinlessperfection.Ourstatemayvaryfromtimetotime,asdidthestateofIsraelinthewildernesswhenGodhadtodealwiththemandwhip themandchastise them(read1Cor.10:1–13),butourstanding inJesusChrist is according to Paul,“accepted in the beloved.” Accepted. I’ve been accepted.Yousay,“Butaverseheresays….”Gosoakyourheadinabucketofwaterthreetimesandpull itout twice.Youdon’t reallybelieve thatanyway.Youare just trying toprovesomething.Theverseyouweregoingtopullouthadtodowiththeministry,didn’tit?TheverseyouwronglydividedhadtodowiththeOldTestamentortheJewintheTribulation.Wedon’thavetofoolwithyoufiveminutes.Weknowwhereyouaregoingbeforeyouget there. Youmark it down as sure as you live and breathe, whenever any Jehovah’sWitness, Seventh-day Adventist, Church of Christ, Mormon, Glossolalia, Pentecostal,Charismatic,HolinessThingamabobtriestoscareaChristianintothinkinghecanlosehissalvation,he’llbequotingoutofanOldTestamentpassageoraTribulationpassageeverytimehequotes.Ifhedoesn’t,he’llbequotingapassagedealingwithanunsavedmaninthisageorquotingapassagethatdealswiththelossofatestimonyoraministry—insteadofthelossofeternalsalvation.

“This isafaithfulsayingandworthyofallacceptation,”andwhenyouread“hethateatethanddrinkethdamnationtohimself,”inCorinthians,or“hethatdoubtethisdamnedifheeats,”Romans14,or“havingdamnation,becausetheyhavecastofftheirfirstfaith,”1Timothy—everytimeyoucomeatus,weknowexactlywhatyouaretalkingaboutandwhereyoucomefrom.

There are only threeways to lie about thewordofGod to a child ofGod: quote averse that deals with the Old Testament, before the finished blood atonement; quote aversethatdealswithsomebodyintheTribulationunderafaithandworkssituation;quoteaverseintheNewTestamentthatdealswiththelossofaministryoratestimonyoralife.Since none of these three things have anything to do with the finished, completedatonementofJesusChristandobtainingafreeeternalsalvationforasinnerbythegraceofGod,wedon’tpayanymoreattentiontotheminthecontextofoursalvationthanwewouldablindgnatonabeach.

IhaveactuallyheardaCampbelliteeldergotoRomans6toprovewaterbaptismwasessential to salvation,whenPaul doesn’tmentionwater baptism one time in thewholeEpistle—sixteenchapters. IheardsomeotherstupidCampbellitequotingGalatians3:27totrytoprovewaterbaptism,whentheword“water”doesn’toccuronetimethroughtheentire Epistle. I heard one time a Campbellite going to Ephesians 4 to prove waterbaptism,whentheword“water”doesn’toccuronetimeinEphesians1,2,3,4,5,or6;buttheseblindguidesthatleadtheblindareincurable.ThereisnocureknownbyGodormanfor them. Ifanything isclear inRomans, it isclear thataman issavedand justifiedbygracethroughfaithPLUSNOTHING.IfthereisanyonethingclearinGalatians,itisthatamaniskeptsafelybygracethroughfaithPLUSNOTHING,andhisjustificationhingesonChrist’sfinishedwork.Yet,eveninthesetwograceEpistleswrittenbytheApostletotheGentiles,youwillstillfindthesevultureslurkingreadytopecktheeyesoutofadeadcorpse.

Youask theBiblebeliever to respect thesemen?Wehaveabsolutelyno respect forthematall. Iwouldn’t jail them;IamnotaRomanCatholic. (RomanCatholicsdo thatkind of thing inNorth Ireland.) Iwouldn’t shoot at them; I am not aRomanCatholic.(That’sthekindofthingtheIrishpeopledoinNorthIrelandandBelfast.)Iwouldn’tclosedowntheirchurches; that’swhat theCatholicsdoinSpain to theProtestants. Icertainlywouldn’tbeatthemuporgetthepoliceonthemliketheCatholicsdidtotheBuddhistsinVietnam. Fines, litigations, and court orders are the Catholic way of doing things; weborn-again,Bible-believingpeopledon’tbelieveinthatkindofcarnalnonsense.Whatwecan’taccomplishthroughthepreachedwordandourmouthsandprayers,weleavealone.If thissermonhasn’tconvertedyoutotheplacewhereyouknowyouaresavedandarecertainofit, thenhelpyourself;gotoHell;it’safreecountry.Ihaven’tgottimetofoolwithyou;I’msuretheLorddoesn’t.

Youhavehadenough truth toknockdownanelephant.You’vehadenough truth tocloseeverybarndooraround,andyoucouldn’tgetoutofthehayloftifyoutried.Ifyouwanttosettheplaceonfiretoprovethatyouareright;goon,beanut;seewhereitgetsyou.Thepromisesareclear.“Thewagesofsinisdeath;butthegiftofGodiseternallifethroughJesusChristourLord.”That’saclearone.Thatisn’tlikeActs2:38.“HethathaththeSonhathlife;andhethathathnottheSonofGodhathnotlife.”That’s

aclearone,unlikeHebrews6.“Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,hethathearethmyword,and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come intocondemnation;but ispassedfromdeathunto life.”That’smuchbetter thanHebrews10.“ForGodsolovedtheworld,thathegavehisonlybegottenSon,thatwhosoeverbelievethinhimshouldnotperish,buthaveeverlastinglife.”That’llputJames2intheshade,andthatisn’tmyopinion.Thatisbuiltonthebasic,fundamental,primarypremiseknowntoeverymaturepersononthefaceofthisEarth,savedorlost.Youdonotbecomeaforest rangerbeforeyouhaveever lookedata leafona tree.Youdonot swim in theOlympicsbeforeyoulearnhowtoholdyourbreathunderwater.Ifyoudifferfromthosepropositions,yourproblemisnottheBible,anditisnotspiritual;yourproblemismental.If Iwere you, Iwould go tomy nearest health clinic and let themput the pieces backtogether.Youhavegotproblems—butdon’tweall?

Now,Imayhavespokentodaytosomepoor lostsinnerwhowants tobesavedandhave eternal life, and every time you try to get it, some Campbellite elder, Jehovah’sWitness, Charismatic, Glossolalia, Blubberblabber, tongues-speaking healer has got inyourwayanddropkickedyou intoHell. Iwant tosay this toyoubefore Iclose. Ifyouthinkforaminute thatGodwouldmakesalvationashardas thesenutssay thatHehasmadeit,youdon’thaveaveryhighopinionofyourCreator.Inthisdayandagewherethejustshalllivebyfaith,allGodhasaskedyoutodoistoplaceyourfaithinthefinishedworkofHisSon,theLordJesusChrist,wholovedyouenoughtocomedownhereanddieforyouonthecross.HerequirednothingofyoubutforyoutofeelyourneedofHim.Idon’tcareifthefirstforty-fiveBibleteachersinyourcommunitydumpeduponyoueveryversefrom“GenerationtoResolution”inordertokeepyoufromseeingthat—it’sstillthetruth. “Whosoever will, let him come.” “Come unto me, all ye that labour and areheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest”(Matt.11:28).

Goddoesn’tmakeithardforanunsavedman.GodmakesithardforaCampbelliteElderwhoistryingtogettoHeavenwithallthatcrap.GodmakesithardforaCatholicPriestwhoistryingtoworkhiswaytoHeavenandgetridoftheBiblewhileheisdoingit.GodmakesithardonaPentecostalwhohasonefeelingonedayandanotherthenextday and looks to his feelings and experience instead of the absolute authority.God hasalwaysmadeittoughonpeoplewhorejectHisauthority,butHewon’tmakeittoughonyou.

Listen,ifyoudon’twanttogotoHell,youdon’thavetogo.Ifyouwanteternallife,youcangetit.InsteadofmessingaroundwiththatBibleandcuttingthatBookupfromcover tocover to try toprovesomething that isn’tsoand thenaccusesomebodyelseofcuttingitupbecausetheycallittoyourattentionthatyoudon’tknowhowtocutit,whydon’tyoujustgetdownonyourkneesandsay,“Lord,I’masinner.IbelieveChristdiedformeandbythegraceofGod,IamgoingtotrustHimasmySaviour.”ThentrustHim.

Whydon’tyoutryit?Theversesays,“Hecameuntohisown,andhisownreceivedhimnot.Butasmanyasreceivedhim,tothemgavehepowertobecomethesonsofGod, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:11–12). You weren’t told toreceive a teaching; you were told to receive a Person. You weren’t told to receive adoctrine like we’ve been discussing in this book. You were told to receive a Person.Thousandsofmenwhoare teachingdoctrinesandtryingtowinpeople todoctrinesand

churcheshaveneverevenreceivedthatPerson.“HethathaththeSonhathlife;andhethathathnottheSonofGodhathnotlife.”HaveyoureceivedHim?Ididn’tsayonewordaboutHisteachings.Ididn’tbreatheonewordaboutbaptism.Youcangetasmanyviewsonthatasyouhavenutsandbolts inanautomobile. IamtalkingaboutHIM.Hesaid,“Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,hethathearethmyword,andbelievethonhimthat sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but ispassedfromdeathuntolife.”

Wehaveit!IHAVEeternallife.I’mnotworryingaboutlosingit.I’llneverloseit. Itisn’t mine to lose; it’s His. He gave it to me. “For the gifts and calling of God arewithout repentance” (Rom. 11:29). There isn’t one case anywhere in the NewTestamentwhereGodtooketernallifefromaborn-againchildofGodinthebodyofJesus Christ. Any Scripture quoted to prove otherwise has been wrested to thedestructionofthecriticthatlookeditupinordertodamnhisownsoulortodamnyours. You had better stay out of his way.May the Lord bless you and give youwisdomandunderstandinginHiswordforJesus’sake.Amen.