Forgiveness of Sins Is Not Something You Just Claim

Forgiveness of sins is not something you just claim. You need to seek it from God. It's part of the process to be reconciled to God through repentance. You receive it by faith because you cannot ask and be in doubt. And you will know also when your sins are forgiven, with unmistakable peace coming into your heart with the weight of sin being lifted from it; and you will have the joy of knowing you are no longer on God's "wrong" side, no longer under his wrath. If you truly understand the seriousness of sin, how God looks at it and the penalty that it deserves, that forgiveness you receive will be like being a criminal coming out of death row and being given the opportunity to live a different way. It's hard to maintain an ongoing relationship with sin (alongside a relationship with Jesus) with such an understanding. "I do not condemn you. Go, and sin no more" (John 8:11) should then be a word that is well understood and heeded by you, as a sinner who has received mercy instead of the condemnation deserved (e.g. 1 Timothy 1:13-16).

John 3:36
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

disobedience = unbelief
belief = obedience

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

So, you can't just put your trust in the fact that Jesus died so the sins of sinners could be forgiven in order to be forgiven yourself. He did that and provided the means for you to receive forgiveness for your own personal sins when you personally approach Him for that forgiveness and reconciliation to God.

And note that you don't go to God seeking forgiveness for sins you are premeditating to do in the future, or thinking you may possibly be open to do. That is mocking God. He forgives your past sins (Romans 3:25; 2 Peter 1:9) when you do repent, sets you free from sin (John 8:31-36) and enables you by his grace to overcome sin (Titus 2:11-14) so you don't go on sinning (Romans 6:1-2; Galatians 2:17). So, this saying that one's "past, present and future sins" are covered under Jesus' blood is just a cover-up in the circles where that lie is preached to give people false peace in the reality that their sins have not stopped after being declared "saved" and filled with the Holy Spirit. They were not brought to faith in Jesus through repentance. That is the calamity that is being masked from every side by false teaching piling upon false teaching.

Repentance then is you turning away from being disobedient and submitting yourself to be Jesus' obedient servant (if you are disobedient to Him, you are not his servant and you can't call Him your Lord).

Sin is disobedience. Hearing God's word and doing his will is what makes you obedient. And it's out of a heart that loves Him that you will obey Him (John 14:15, 1 John 5:3). So, you cannot obtain forgiveness of sins with an unrepentant (still disobedient and rebellious) heart. Your heart must be softened towards God if you are going to walk with Him in a relationship based on love. None of that happens when you just stand and claim that you are forgiven because you believe that what Jesus did on the cross is true. It's true but God requires your personal approach to Him and your personal accountability for your own sins that his light has shined on you to see. 

James 4:8-10
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

The acknowledgement of your sins before God is necessary. Then you need to be sorry if you are seeking to be reconciled to God (as much as to anyone you have hurt with your behavior). Being sorry is not something you can learn or follow like a "step" to salvation. It's either you are sorry or you are not. Either you understand how you have personally opposed God's ways and offended Him or you don't. God can't be fooled. Godly sorrow (Psalm 51:17; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11) is what will make you understand repentance as turning away from sin (offense against God) unmistakably. If you never had godly sorrow over your sins because all that you heard was a motivational message working up your emotions about what Jesus did on the cross, and nothing to convict you of your sins (make you see yourself as God sees you as a sinner who stood against Him in your ignorance), then you will remain in sin, not forgiven, and under God's wrath until you do repent as God expects it from you.

Those who want to develop methodologies to get people "saved" (according to themselves) in some uniform or ritualistic way are sure to come up with steps to lead the people away from coming to God as the Bible teaches. The approach will have to be impersonal and the message of Jesus will be diluted because of the concern to not offend anyone with God's truth. False ministers will be wanting to please men rather than to please God, being ashamed of Jesus and of his words (Mark 8:38). The truth of God's word that could let people see themselves as God sees them (James 1:21-25) will be suppressed by the wickedness of such false ministers (Romans 1:18; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15) who strengthen the hand of sinners to go on sinning.

Ezekiel 13:22-23
22 Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: 23 Therefore you shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall know that I am the LORD.

There are plenty today like these prophets of Jerusalem. They gladly accept to be called "Reverend" and people do revere them and are deceived and overcome by them (2 Peter 2:28-19, not 1 John 4:4):

(( 2 Peter 2:18-19

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.  

vs.

1 John 4:4

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. ))

Jeremiah 23:14-16
14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none does return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. 15 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. 16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.

Such will want to grow the number of people that are attached to themselves (e.g. Acts 20:30), rather than to grow the number of people they would lead out of sin and into God's kingdom. They will tell you to just put your trust in some facts, and you can then claim that you are "saved" and have a relationship with God. And once that supposed relationship grows (supposedly), it becomes at some point even too costly for many who receive a rebuke for believing false teachings to come humbly before God and ask for his forgiveness and his help to tear down what He had not built, and then build with Him on the solid foundation of his truth. 

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows thosd who are his. And, Let every one who names the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness.

Acts 20:20-21
20 [You know] how I kept back nothing that was profitable, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, (1) repentance toward God and (2) faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 26:19-20
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works consistent with repentance.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

 

See also:
Complete Surrender - video

Suffer The Cross To Overcome Addictions

The Goal of Repentance - video

Repentance According to the Bible

Faith Implies Obedience

Past Sins are Forgiven — Past, Present and Future Sins are NOT Pre-Forgiven

True Humility Is Needed to Cry Out for Salvation

Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance

Connecting with God - video playlist

 

Original publication date: 2017-09-06

True Humility Is Needed to Cry Out for Salvation

True humility will make any sincere Christian broken before God about not being perfect, making mistakes and messing up all the time. If you don't see these things as your misery, then you are all set: you love your life (G5590) the way it is. But if you see these things as your misery and you truly want it to end, because you do love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and want to please Him above all, nobody will need to tell you anything and you will cry out to God to be SAVED from that misery and to receive a new life, even eternal life (G2222).

John 12:25
He who loves his life (G5590) will lose it, and he who hates his life (G5590) in this world will keep it for eternal life (G2222).

Mark 8:34
For whoever desires to save his life (G5590) will lose it, but whoever loses his life (G5590) for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

You must die to sin and be raised from the dead in newness of life (G2222):

Romans 6:3-11
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death (cf. repent and be baptized - Acts 2:38)? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (G2222) 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (not sin), for they shall be filled.

See also:
The Goal of Repentance - video

Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance

Forgiveness of Sins Is Not Something You Just Claim

Suffer The Cross To Overcome Addictions

Complete Surrender - video

Coming as you are to God does imply a changed heart

What does "by grace are you saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) really mean?

 
See definitions and lists of passages using those different words for "life":
Strong's G2222 - zōē (eternal life):
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G2222

Strong's G5590 - psychē (this passing life):
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5590

 Image by BedexpStock from Pixabay

"God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble"

(James 4:6)

What is the Grace of God?

Original publication date: 2017-09-12
Last modified: 2020-09-14 

What does "by grace are you saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) really mean?

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

God's grace is his empowerment to live the life that He calls us to live. So, being saved "by grace" means having received that empowerment from God and actually be living the life that we can live for God because of it. It's also possible to receive the grace of God "in vain" (2 Corinthians 6:1), meaning someone's life doesn't change as a result of receiving the grace of God. For instance, the person continues to live in sin and claims God's grace is allowing that or that there is nothing to worry about because salvation is "by grace." These would be misunderstandings of what the grace of God is given for. God's grace isn't his favor for looking the other way from our sins if we're still sinning (many wrongly believe that about God's grace). But God's grace is what teaches us how to say 'No' to sin. Read Titus 2:11-14 to connect the grace of God with salvation and what it means to be saved by grace, what kind of new life actually comes from that. See also Romans 6:1-2, 12-15, 2 Peter 1:2-11. 

And "through faith" would mean that faith is what allows us to connect to God's grace and be saved. So, when a person hears God's word and believes it and acts upon it, the grace of God will be at work to bring that person to a new life in Christ (Romans 6:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17). 

yet we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, ... (Galatians 2:16)

Faith in Jesus Christ consists of obeying Him (John 3:36), doing what He says (Luke 6:46, Matthew 7:21), being a doer of the word and not a hearer only (James 1:22). And faithfulness to the end is implied (Hebrews 10:39).

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)

Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? (Luke 6:46)

 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness [that's repentance], receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word [that's faith], and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. (James 1:21-22) 

35 Therefore do not throw away your boldness, which has a great reward. 36 For you need patient endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. 37 "For in just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But the righteous will live by faith, and if he holds back, my soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:35-39)

Let it also be noted that the epistle to the Ephesians was addressed to an assembly of believers who had experienced being saved by grace through faith. So, the saying in Ephesians 2:8 was not in itself an instruction on how to get saved or born again, even possibly without having a precise understanding of what the Bible actually teaches about grace or faith or even repentance, which is necessary for salvation. But since that scripture is being used in that way and leading many to be deceived about what they think is their salvation by grace through faith, this post is intended for those who are seeking the truth. 

God be with you!

See also:
Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?

Freedom From Sin

Bible Study on Sin

Connecting with God - video playlist

Works Of Faith Are Not Works Of The Law - video

Forgiveness of Sins Is Not Something You Just Claim

True Humility Is Needed to Cry Out for Salvation

Romans 10:9 Salvation

"Am I Saved?" Why Do You Ask? 

 "Our own righteousness is as filthy rags"

What is the Grace of God?

The Meaning of Repentance and Faith

 

 

 

You Are Accountable to Repent

 

Past Sins are Forgiven — Past, Present and Future Sins are NOT Pre-Forgiven

When we repent, "present" and "future" sins aren't planned for because what we get by faith in Jesus' blood is the forgiveness of our past sins (Romans 3:25, 2 Peter 1:9). That is how we can begin a relationship with God with a blank slate. 

Pre-forgiveness of past sins would imply that repentance isn't necessary to be reconciled to God and redeemed. It would mean that a mere acknowledgement (belief) of having been forgiven at the cross is all it takes to receive that blank slate at the beginning of one's relationship with God. But what the Bible teaches is far from such presumptions.

And pre-forgiveness of any present or future sins would simply enforce in the minds of people who believe the lie (2 Thessalonians 2:11) that there is no such thing as a way a Christian is called to live (comp. 1 Peter 4:1-3). In other words, sin is not an issue, so it is neither hated nor turned away from, even at the cost of shedding one's blood (Hebrews 12:4)! And surely, it is the path of least resistance that also leads to death (Romans 6:23, James 1:13-15), the path that someone who is not striving to enter through the narrow door to eternal life would take (Luke 13:24, Matthew 7:13-14).

Whenever "present" sins are mentioned in the Bible, it's in the context that people who are living in sin need to repent (e.g. 2 Corinthians 12:21, James 4:4-10, Revelation 2:21, 9:21). 

The apostle Paul argues:

Romans 5:20-21, 6:1-2

20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

6:1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may abound?  2 Absolutely not!  How can we who died to sin still live in it? 

Note well then that sin isn't the expression of grace being at work in someone's life:

Romans 6:12-15

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? Absolutely not!

Indeed, God's grace isn't his favor for looking the other way from our sins if we're still sinning. It's what teaches us to say 'No' to sin:

Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

And one will not find anything in the Bible as a plan for "future" sins for someone who comes to God. It would be like talking about getting married and planning for unfaithfulness. It doesn't mean that there can be no forgiveness if unfaithfulness does occur, but unfaithfulness is not inevitable so as to need to be anticipated from the start. Bottom line: it's not the plan. So also, sinning isn't the plan when someone comes to God and gives his/her life to God. Doing righteousness is the plan. That is, doing God's will. And it's terrible to be called a Christian and not know that due to all that is falsely taught today (1 John 4:1, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:3-4). What righteousness means is being twisted in almost everything that is taught or preached about it. The Bible does say this, which doesn't support the idea of "present" (ongoing) sin, let alone (planned) "future" sins:

1 John 3:6-9
6 Whosoever abides in Him does not sin: whosoever sins has not seen Him, nor known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. 8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

That goes hand in hand with what Jesus says to someone He forgives: "Go, and don't sin anymore" (John 8:11).

Be encouraged to have a Bible-based understanding for anything you believe about becoming a Christian and living as a Christian. There is indeed a way to never fall:

1 Peter 1:2-11
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue: 4 By which are given to us exceedingly great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge self-control; and to self-control patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Therefore rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be provided to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Take that way. You have to do these things. They were not done and finished for you on the cross. You have to walk the walk, even as God's grace empowers you to.

See also:

Freedom From Sin

What does "by grace are you saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) really mean?

 

Jesus vs False Teachers

Is There No One Righteous (Romans 3:10)?

 

"Our own righteousness is as filthy rags"

The Salvation of the Thief Who Was on the Cross

The Great Tribulation

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Full: Waking up to the Mess (YouTube)

Once Saved Always Saved is a Lie

Once Saved Always Saved promises one-sided faithfulness to maintain a relationship. Who regards his/her spouse or marriage that way? Love goes two ways. Those who don't love that don't love God. The one-way love God has shown to us is in offering his Son to die for us while we were still sinners, his enemies (Romans 5:6-8). The purpose is to get us to respond to that love and be reconciled to Him. That is how we begin our relationship with Him. And because we love Him, we must practice his love language, which is obedience.

How to return God's love to begin with and be in a relationship with Him:
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Sinners who have their mind set on their sins they love don't love God and have not answered the call to repentance. They have not surrendered their lives to God. Such can't even be considered "once saved," so forget about "always saved," but they can believe lies and be deceived.

People who believe OSAS is true are asleep and likely cannot name one false prophet/minister/preacher in this day. They are following them and believing their lies.

John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commandments.

Jesus said that. So, some say "If you don't keep my commandments, it doesn't matter... it's optional..."

In marriage, for instance, would you say faithfulness is optional to your spouse? Do you say that for yourself? God expects faithfulness from his servants. A new creature in Christ can't be selfish in his/her relationship with Jesus, or salvation isn't understood and there is no salvation or a new creature in Christ to actually speak of.

John 15:9-10
9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.

Understand where love comes into one's faith. Then make sure you have that love for God because you shipwreck your faith if you turn to sin and think God has got you covered with an OSAS insurance policy.

Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works through love.

Here are believers, people who called Jesus "Lord" but were doing their own thing. Jesus asked them:
Luke 6:46
"Why do you call me, 'Lord! Lord!' and do not do the things which I say?"

If Jesus would ask you that (because you are not loving Him as He expects it of you), would you be ready for an answer?

No true believer can ignore this:
Mark 12:30
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment.

And again, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).

See also:

Saved From What?

Can You Lose Your Salvation?

Eternal Security - Once Saved Always Saved - Heresy
 
"Am I Saved?" Why Do You Ask?

The Mark of the Beast - No Forced Worship

Forced worship isn't true worship. And even Satan, the father of lies and the master of deception isn't interested in fake worship. He has a stake in people who are saying, in their thoughts and in their actions, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:4). Such people have nothing forced on them to be speaking like that. They bear the mark of the beast and speak like that wholeheartedly.

Revelation 13:15-17*
15 And he [the second beast] had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, except he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

*Note that the book of Revelation shows prophecy using many symbols.

If you are worshipping God, you are already not worshipping the beast nor bearing his mark. And if you don't plan on changing your heart from worshipping God, there is no (future) mark of the beast you have to worry about. That mark is a spiritual identification mark that signifies who you belong to. It's not something that's coming and that could trick you into becoming a worshiper of the beast. And it's not a question of being told to worship the beast or get killed. Those who do not worship the beast are already on the beast's hit list and they suffer in the world that hates them (John 15:19-20).

So, if you're with the beast, you have his mark. If not, you don't. But let no one be casual about having a relationship with God and be making assumptions. That's a sure way to be and to remain deceived.

God's worshipers receive a mark or seal, too:

Revelation 7:2-3
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.

2 Timothy 2:19

However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

People who are serving God already know which kingdom they belong to. They know they belong to the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ rather than the kingdom of darkness.

Colossians 1:13
For He [God] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son

1 John 5:18-19
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the power of the wicked one.

Romans 8:9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Us, we, you... Please read these scriptures in their context to know who they are talking about and avoid misappropriations.

The choice to worship God or the devil has already been put before mankind:

Joshua 24:14-15a
14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away [ALL IDOLS] the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, and in Egypt; and serve you the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve;

This speaks of those who have chosen to answer the call of the Gospel to repentance and faith in Jesus (Acts 20:20-21, Acts 26:19-20) and have turned away from idols to worship the one true God:

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
9 For they themselves show of us what manner of welcome we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.

Having been redeemed, you know that no special ceremony was needed to sell your soul to the devil when you belonged to him. Being a sinner made you the devil's asset. But because Jesus paid the price to purchase you with his blood (1 Corinthians 6:20), you can have an inheritance in God's kingdom and not perish.

Servants of God look forward to meet Jesus. They do not prepare to face the beast and his mark — and it's not because of their escape through a pre-tribulation rapture.

See also:

The Great Tribulation

The Man of Sin or Antichrist

The Gospel Is Not "Don't Take the Mark of the Beast." It's "Repent." 

Call To Repentance

The Goal of Repentance

The Jesus Train

The opportunity to get out of Sodom before fire rains down or to enter Noah's ark before the flood is passing by you today, like a long long long freight train, going slow enough for you to hop on board. But you won't recognize it or pay it any mind. Why? Because it's Jesus that you are refusing to see for who He is. You know about Jesus, that's not the issue. But you don't recognize Him as the Lamb of God who sacrificed his life for you so that He could be your Savior. You would have to believe that you need to be saved from something to begin with. And that gets us talking about your sins, something that has the potential to shatter your "good" self-image. But facing the truth is the only way for you, even being like a camel, to go through the eye of a needle, because God makes that possible when you humble yourself before Him and offer Him a heart that is ready to obey Him in all.

Matthew 7:13-14
13 Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. 14 But narrow is the gate, and narrow/constricted is the way that leads to [eternal] life and few are those who find it.

You don't like the freight train analogy for Jesus? The truth is that you are already on a luxury train to destruction, as part of the biggest slave trade that's going on in this world right now, and it has nothing to do with your ethnicity or social status. Being a slave of sin, and by proxy, a servant of Satan, doing his will for you on earth rather than God's, that's what Jesus saves you from.

John 8:31-36

31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free?’” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 A slave does not live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jesus commissioning the apostle Paul:

Acts 26:15-21

15 “I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you; 17 delivering you from the people, and from the non-Jews, to whom I send you, 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the non-Jews, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me.

The cost of following Jesus/being his disciple is your most valuable possession: your life. You have heard of giving one's life to Jesus. Well, that's it. There are phony ways of doing that too that cost you nothing, but God isn't fooled by that. So, see to it that you don't get deceived nor deceive yourself. Dig for the truth like gold, don't just sleep to the voice of a well-spoken preacher (that's not striving to enter through the narrow door).

Luke 13:24

Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.

What narrow door? Who are not able to enter? Why? How do you strive to enter since Jesus said you must do that? Be on a quest to understand these things and that will be your path to connecting essential dots and heeding God's guidance by the light of his word. Otherwise, you won't be a disciple of Jesus and you will be walking in darkness and heading to destruction by default.

John 8:12

Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

See also:
Freedom From Sin

Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?
 
Suffer The Cross To Overcome Addictions

Bible Study on Sin

The Great Tribulation

Romans 10:9 Salvation

Romans 10:9
That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

That must be read in context. But amen! That means turning away from unrighteousness (2 Timothy 2:19, James 1:21) -- that's repentance, and becoming obedient to Jesus in all (James 1:22, Luke 6:46, Matthew 7:21) -- that's faith. 

Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him

Acts 20:20-21

And [you know] how I did not hold back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

Picture by FotoRieth from Pixabay.com.

The context of that verse (Romans 10:9) refers to Deuteronomy 30 that calls to obedience to God. But when this believing in Romans 10:9 is disconnected from the call to obey God, that is a deceptive use of the scriptures. That one verse is not the gospel when it is twisted that way and believing is just a mental agreement to those facts that Jesus is the Son of God who died for the sins of the world and was raised from the dead. A person can believe all those things but not actually regard Jesus' words as commandments to obey from the heart (Romans 10:10) and never hears about nor understands the call to repentance. There won't be salvation based on Romans 10:9 in that case.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14
1 For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may HEAR it, and DO it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may HEAR it, and DO it? 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may DO it.

Here is Romans 10:5-9
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, "The one who DOES them [the works of the Law] will live by them." 6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down); 7 or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)" 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith, which we preach: 9 that if you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved (you shall live by doing these things).

So, if someone believes that Jesus is Lord, then that person will hear and obey Him (not the works of the Law). And it's the obedience of that person from the heart that proves he/she truly believes that Jesus is Lord. So, anyone who is introduced to what Romans 10:9 says should also be reminded of these words of Jesus:

Luke 6:46-49
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not DO the things which I say? 47 Everyone who comes to me, and HEARS my words, and DOES them, I will show you who he is like. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who HEARS, and DOESN'T DO, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who DOES the will of My Father who is in heaven.

John 14:15
“If you love me, keep my commandments."

John 12:48
He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

We know that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). And that hearing for those who have ears to hear then must be followed by their doing of that word (putting it into practice/obeying God's commandments). So, no one can be saved with Romans 10:9 without being a disciple of Jesus who receives his words and walks according to his words:

John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 15:10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Knowing Romans 10:9 alone then saves no one. But if a person agrees with Jesus and receives his words, then his understanding and application of Romans 10:9 will without doubt bring him to salvation in Jesus Christ.

James 1:21-22
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOUR OWN SELVES.
 
Faith Inplies Obedience (disobedience is unbelief).

This is the rest of Romans 10 that makes it amply clear that faith implies obedience:
Romans 10:8-21
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith, which we preach: 9 that if you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But THEY HAVE NOT ALL OBEYED THE GOSPEL. For Isaiah says, Lord, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? 17 So then FAITH comes by HEARING, and hearing by the WORD OF GOD. 18 But I say, HAVE THEY NOT HEARD? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses says, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Isaiah is very bold, and says, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a DISOBEDIENT and gainsaying people.

Lastly, the following is also one way Jesus' apostles knew Him and presented Him to people they preached to: a prophet whose coming was announced since Moses' time. Those who knew the scriptures made no mistake on his identity. He was a prophet whose words should be heard and obeyed, lest the people perish in their sins!

Acts 3:22-26
22  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23  AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT EVERY SOUL, WHICH WILL NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET, SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE. 24  Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25  You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 26  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

That is hardly how people regard Jesus when they are shown Romans 10:9 to get saved. Most who hear from preachers who use Romans 10:9 deceitfully and skip repentance altogether don't obey Jesus and turn from their iniquities. So, Jesus doesn't do for them what He came to do for them either because they are believing lies.

« Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. » – 2 Timothy 2:19


See also:
Faith Implies Obedience

The Salvation of the Thief Who Was on the Cross

"Coming as you are" to God does imply a changed heart   

The Goal of Repentance - video

Faith in Jesus

Free doesn't mean easy

Complete Surrender - video

The work of the Gospel