Pastor E.A Adeboye, The General Overseer (RCCG)
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. This is why in
Acts 20:24, he said:
"But none of
these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto 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 have been saved, amounts to self-righteousness, which
according to them, 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 to 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 : Pst E. A ADEBOYE
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE
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