Memorise:
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4
Read: 1 Timothy 1:18-20,
18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Message
When Paul embarked on his Christian race, he focused on it wholeheartedly, so that nothing would derail him from the race. That is why in Acts 20:24, he said:
“But none of these things move me, neither count I myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
The possibility of starting the Christian race and not reaching the finish line is obvious from Paul’s statement in the Scripture above. However, across the globe today, several preachers are teaching erroneous doctrines, saying all that matters is to believe in Jesus Christ, and you will be saved forever, irrespective of your conduct after you are saved. They teach that if you are saved today, you will surely make it to Heaven, even if you continue to live like the devil. Some say that any work of righteousness on your part, even after you has been saved, amounts of self-righteousness, which according to them, and cannot take you anywhere. They also teach that you are automatically made perfect once you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. They will want to tempt you by asking if you are righteous. If you sincerely say you still have some areas of your life you are working on, they will discredit you and say that you are depending on your works to make it to Heaven. Such preachers say that it is okay to sin occasionally, as long as you do not do so very often. These are all lies.
You need to know that it is possible to fall from grace, as stated in our memory verse. Do not let teachers with itching ears deceive you. They will tell you what appeals to your flesh and call it “the good news”. No! It is called deception. They mix the truth of God’s word with a bit of deception. Some will tell you that the day you were born-again, all your sins, past, present and future, have been forgiven, and so if you commit any sin afterwards, there is no need to confess it. It is all a lie! If indeed you are saved and therefore forever saved, why does the Bible instruct you to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)? Why does scripture repeatedly say that only those who endure to the end shall be saved (Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13)? Why did the lord of the unprofitable servant banish him to outer darkness in Hell (Matthew 25:30)? Take heed, lest you fall! It is possible of fall from grace. Be careful how you run the race!
Key Point
Believing that consistent, righteous works are not needed after salvation is taking the grace of God out of context.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOB 20-22, 1 TIMOTHY 1
Author: Pastor E. A. Adeboye
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