Jesus makes it very clear that when you are in His Kingdom, no man can step between you and God and take you out of God’s hand.
There is no one else that can tamper with your salvation. Your salvation is between you and God alone and no one else can interfere with that.
Romans 8:33-39 NKJV Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written: “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.” (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul says there is no one that can come between you and the Lord and affect God’s love for you.
However, there are a number of Scriptures that talk about believers who fall away.
The two most prominent places in the Word that discuss this are referring to a very mature believer who falls away NOT someone who just recently received Jesus or the brand-new Christian.
There is a huge difference between someone who is struggling who does not have a lot of knowledge of God, has not been taught the Word of God and is new in their faith and someone who ought to know better.
Hebrews 6:1 NKJV Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 6:1 ERV So we should be finished with the beginning lessons about Christ. We should not have to keep going back to where we started. We began our new life by turning away from the evil we did in the past and by believing in God. That’s when we were taught about baptisms, laying hands on people, the resurrection of those who have died, and the final judgment. Now we need to go forward to more mature teaching.
The whole idea of walking with Christ is to grow towards perfection and to rise above sin and not to stay where you are in your walk with the Lord.
Hebrews 6:1-3 NKJV Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (2) of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this we will do if God permits.
There is nowhere in the Bible that teaches us that if you sin as a believer, you lose your salvation.
There is a difference between fellowship and relationship. Your fellowship may be broken because of sin but your relationship is not broken.
Have you ever had an argument with your spouse or maybe your kid has done something to disobey you as the parent? Your fellowship may be broken at that moment, but your relationship is not.
Naturally speaking, if you stay out of fellowship for a long period of time, you will eventually destroy the relationship.
Hebrews 6:4-5 NKJV For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
These are people who are Born Again, partook of the Holy Spirit, have walked in God’s Word and have even experienced the power of God for you and through you.
Hebrews 6:6 NKJV if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
When these people fall away from God, there is no coming back because they don’t want to come back. They would not repent even if they could.
Why did God cast out the third of the angels that rebelled with Lucifer? Why does that seem harsh? It is because they don’t want to repent and come back. Even if God were to hold His hand out in mercy, they don’t care.
The people that have committed the unpardonable sin don’t care and are not the least bit interested in coming back to God. So if you are thinking that you have gone too far and you are afraid that you have committed the unpardonable sin and are eternally lost, that is a good sign that you have not; simply because you are bothered about it. That is a sign that there is a lot of hope for you.
If a person is troubled about where they are in their relationship with God, it is a good sign that they are not in as bad shape as they think they are.
What are the things that lead to a Christian to walk away from their faith?
Romans 1:20-22 AMPC For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], [Psa 19:1-4] (21) Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. (22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].
- People begin to fall when they quit giving God glory.
- People begin to fall when they are no longer thankful.
- People begin to fall when they become vain in their imaginations.
- People begin to fall when they become full of pride.
- People begin to fall when they profess themselves to be wise.
The thing to remember in all of this is that this is a PROCESS and does not happen OVERNIGHT.
Five things that you can do to keep yourself from falling:
- Do not forsake coming to church and being an active part.
Usually when people fall, it is because they are isolated and disconnected from their local church.
- Have a regular time of devotion and prayer and spending time in the Word of God.
- Continually recall God’s goodness and give Him thanks for His goodness in your life.
- Examine yourself before God and make corrections as He brings things to your attention.
There is a difference between self-examination and self-condemnation.
Self-examination is to keep you of trouble. When you hear that you are sorry and no good is condemnation.
- Don’t let pride in your life.
Proverbs 16:18 NKJV Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
When you refuse to become prideful, you will always remain sensitive.
At some point in our Christian lives, and the earlier the better, you must decide that you believe that the Word of God is the truth and you choose to believe it over anything else.
Question:
What is hell like and where is it located?
Contrary to some teaching today, hell is a literal place that was originally created for Satan and his angels.
Luke 16:19-31 NKJV (19) “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. (20) But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, (21) desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (22) So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (24) “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ (25) But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. (26) And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ (27) “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, (28) for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ (29) Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ (30) And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ (31) But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ “
Hell is a place of unimaginable torments. It is a place where there is fire that burns constantly but it does not consume anything.
It was so bad the rich man was willing to let Lazarus dip his finger in the water and touch his tongue.
Where is hell located?
2 Peter 2:4 NKJV (4) For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
Acts 2:22-27 NKJV (22) “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know– (23) Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; (24) whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. (25) For David says concerning Him: ‘I FORESAW THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE MY FACE, FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN. (26) THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL REST IN HOPE. (27) FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.
Matthew 12:38-40 NKJV (38) Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” (39) But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. (40) For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
It was never God’s will that any human being spend eternity in hell. It was not created for men.
Matthew 25:41 NKJV (41) “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
God does not send anyone to hell. People go because of the decisions that they made in this life.
1 Timothy 2:1-5 NKJV (1) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (5) For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
Question:
What is Heaven like and where is it located?
There are some glimpses of Heaven in the Bible that describe what it is like in all of its beauty and splendor.
Revelation 21:10-27 NLT (10) So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. (11) It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone–like jasper as clear as crystal. (12) The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. (13) There were three gates on each side–east, north, south, and west. (14) The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (15) The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. (16) When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. (17) Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). (18) The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. (19) The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, (20) the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. (21) The twelve gates were made of pearls–each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. (22) I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (23) And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. (24) The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. (25) Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. (26) And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. (27) Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty–but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
We know that Heaven is 1400 miles wide, 1400 miles deep and 1400 miles high.
We know that the scriptures tell us that there are streets made of gold, jewels in the walls, and pearls make up the gates.
We know there is music and singing in Heaven.
Revelation 5:9 NKJV (9) And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV (17) The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
We know that there is absolute peace in Heaven.
Matthew 6:10 NKJV (10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Isaiah 11:6-9 NKJV (6) “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. (7) The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. (8) The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. (9) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.
We know that we will eat in Heaven but we will not need to eat to live.
Revelation 19:9 NKJV (9) Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
How will you find your loved ones when we get to Heaven, especially ones that died long ago? Will they look like they did on earth?
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV (1) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
I believe that our loved ones will pursue locating us when we get there because they have been somewhat aware of what has been going on in our lives spiritually here on the earth.
I believe that we will be able to recognize our loved ones that we knew by natural means but also we will recognize each other by supernatural means.
Luke 16:23-24 NKJV (23) And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (24) “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’
Matthew 17:1-5 NKJV (1) Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; (2) and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. (3) And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. (4) Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (5) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
One thing to remember is that once you step over into eternity, a sense of time stops. The Bible says that there is no sun in Heaven but that it is lit by the light that comes out of the face of God. Therefore, we do not need our daily cycles of time.