"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
In today's quote, Paul gave a special warning about the actions and teachings of the Jews of his day and how those erroneous teachings would creep into Christianity.
It is evident that many of today's heretical "church" groups have adopted the very Jewish practices and beliefs Paul warned about in today's lesson. Many insist that in order to remain in the good graces of God and to maintain eternal salvation, one must live a perfect life without sin. That contention is false and in my opinion is a slap to the face of the true doctrine of Jesus Christ.
It is clearly evident, throughout the New Testament, that the physical things we do here on earth have no bearing on our eternal salvation, one way or another. Salvation comes through faith in the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ whose righteousness is imputed into us by faith; "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Romans 4:6-8)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Once a person has been saved by the blood of Christ, he/she CANNOT lose that salvation by failing to live up to the laws that were imposed upon the ancient Jews, which disobedience thereof was "sin". In other words, a saved soul is incapable of doing anything that would again stain itself with mortal sin.
It is very true that a saved person must be wholly righteous in order to attain everlasting life, but he/she does not achieve that righteousness by obedience to any law; "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.(Romans 4:4-5)
It is impossible for a saved soul to commit any sin sufficient to once again condemn that soul; "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN; FOR HIS SEED REMAINETH IN HIM: AND HE CANNOT SIN, BECAUSE HE IS BORN OF GOD."(1 John 3:4-9)
Once a lost soul has been saved, his/her name is entered into the "Lamb's book of life" and sealed therein by the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ; "grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby YE ARE SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION." (Ephesians 4:30 inpart)
Today's lesson clearly establishes that, just as Paul warned, the old Jewish heresy has been brought forward into the teachings of many of today's so-called churches and is still very much a slap to the face of the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.~
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