This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior from sin, and serve as a Chaplain or a gospel minister in a jail, prison or a follow-up ministry such as a rescue mission – in the
All Scripture quotes are usually taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When quoting a text, any deviation from the NKJV text is placed within parenthesis signs (). These usually occur as direct translations from the original languages, or as notes from the original setting to help apply the text to today’s culture.
ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are sometimes used to emphasize words in a text, or to make a comment about a biblical text, or emphasize a statement.
Recently I have been reminded of a serious error made by a certain school of thought that relates to the very gospel of salvation. I am also aware that this thinking has influenced many that serve as rescue mission chaplains and program leaders. It is a perversion of grace.
The Holy Spirit through Jude, our Lord's half-brother, said, "... for certain men have crept in (meaning into the churches and their ministries) unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, WHO TURN THE GRACE OF OUR GOD INTO LEWDNESS and deny the only Lord God* and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude verse 4, * NU text omits ‘God’).
In effect, that is what these modern teachers are doing with the gospel of salvation. This is a serious error. I want to warn you and steer you away from what this modern perversion of grace says.
The heart of their message is that God's grace does not include any repentance at all. They claim any explanation of the gospel of salvation that says a saved person will have a change of life and actual evidence of good fruit in their life is adding works to grace.
Since this teaching has gotten into Rescue Missions, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn it has also invaded some prisons and jails.
The truth about salvation is that it is always ONLY BY GRACE - THROUGH FAITH ALONE, IN CHRIST ALONE. It is by God’s grace alone that He saves any that truly believe in, or commit themselves to - Jesus Christ and all that He is and does.
What these teachers do not understand is that the faith that commits one to follow Jesus is not a human work. It cannot happen or be real on human effort alone. The faith or believing in Jesus for all that He is and has done, and will do is ALSO A GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE!
SALVATION from sin and judgment only happens because - BY FAITH GOD’S GRACE IN CHRIST, HAS BEEN RECEIVED. In addition, SALVATION WILL ALWAYS MANIFEST ITSELF BY PRODUCING REAL FRUIT IN THE LIFE THAT HAS IT!
God’s grace produces supernatural changes of good fruit when at work in an individual. According to God’s word if there is no fruit in a life that claims an attachment to Christ, that person has not been saved from eternal judgment. Simply put, Jesus said it was “Fruit or Fire.” If a professing Christian is fruitless they are headed for hell fire.
At the last supper, Jesus revealed to all his disciples that one of them was a traitor. We read that in John 13:21. After he was identified by Jesus to John, the traitor, Judas, departed to help Christ’s enemies arrest Him.
Then later that same evening after Jesus and His eleven true followers left the upper room, they headed for the
Look at what Jesus said in John 15:1-2a, 5-6:
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; ...
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
No doubt the earlier revelation by Jesus that one of His disciples would betray Him was still on these men’s minds, especially John’s. As first century Jews these men knew well the Old Testament use of "fire" as a reference to judgment, (reference Numbers 11:1, 16:35; Deut. 9:3,4; or Ps. 21:8,9). This would be especially so when connected to what Jesus had taught them earlier about men’s eternal destinies in relation to whether or not they belonged to Him. I am referring to John 5:21-29. Look at it.
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed ALL JUDGMENT TO THE SON,
23 (in order) that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24 Most assuredly (or ‘true, true’) I say to you, he who hears MY word and believes in Him who sent Me HAS EVERLASTING LIFE, and SHALL NOT COME INTO JUDGMENT, but has (been) passed from death into life (He meant spiritual death to spiritual life).
25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead (physically dead bodies) will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live (again physically). (This is further made clear by Christ in verses 28-29)
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
28 DO NOT MARVEL AT THIS; FOR THE HOUR IS COMING IN WHICH ALL WHO ARE IN THE GRAVES (physically dead bodies) WILL HEAR HIS VOICE
29 and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those that have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation (judgment).
Look again at how Jesus explained Judas the traitor to the eleven true followers that night on the way to the Garden, in John 15 -
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; ...
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, (like Judas Iscariot) he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
Judas Iscariot was not an abider. He did not remain with Christ because he was never truly a believer. If he had been a real believer, he would have been an abider and good fruit would have been produced through his life. That is what Jesus said. As a fruitless branch his eternal end will be to be burned forever in the lake of fire.
This really is the opposite of what these deceptive teachers are saying about God’s grace. Let me put it to you again even more bluntly: they are teaching people that all that is ever required for full and complete salvation is just a momentary brief statement of belief that Jesus died for your sins - and wham-o, you’re included in an eternal heaven.
They even go on to say, EVEN IF THERE IS NEVER ANY EVIDENCE OF A CHANGE OF LIFE DIRECTION AND YOU CONTINUE TO SIN AS YOU DID BEFORE, GOD HAS TO SAVE YOU ON THE BASIS OF YOUR PROFESSION OF FAITH!
Supposing themselves to be the champions of grace, they reveal they do not understand God’s grace as taught in the Bible. They apparently think grace is just a sentiment or an attitude God has towards sinners. They do not understand it includes that, BUT ALSO ACTS, AND HAS REAL POWER TO ACCOMPLISSH SOMETHING.
God’s grace received - powerfully changes people! Look no further than Titus 2:11-12
to see this is the teaching of God’s word –
11 For the GRACE of God THAT BRINGS SALVATION has appeared to all (all types of) men,
12 teaching US THAT, DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY IN THE PRESENT AGE.
You should note the context of these words from God through Paul to Titus – the preceding verses are talking about saved Christian slaves being good workers for their human masters, NOT TALKING BACK OR STEALING FROM THEM! So, among other things - in context these verses are saying the grace of God that brought those slaves salvation will also powerfully work to change their attitudes and actions toward their masters.
Grace teaches believers “to live righteously” – that’s good fruit. AGAIN, THERE IS NO SALVATION FROM GOD THAT DOESN’T ACTUALLY CHANGE THE SINNER WHILE THEY ARE STILL ON EARTH.
There has to be Holy Spirit produced fruit – or else an individual is still headed for the eternal fire of God’s judgment. Picking up on Jesus’ illustration to His true followers on the way to
Hebrews 6:4a, 6-10
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, ...
This verse begins a long parenthesis with the words “for those who were once enlightened.” This and what follows to the end of the parenthesis in verse 5, describes people who were never truly saved.
They heard the gospel message, they experienced the conviction of the Holy Spirit and saw His work in others and had a head knowledge of the truth, BUT they never truly repented and believed the gospel, so eventually verse 6 says they fell “away.”
That means they fell away from the truth of the gospel and the repentance and faith in Christ, it calls for.
Then the phrase, “to renew them again to repentance” in verse 6 goes back to what was before the parenthesis began in verse 4 “It is impossible.” Thus, it is impossible to renew them to true repentance. Look at verse 6 -
6 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.
The final phrase of verse 6 means they reject Jesus and stand as one with the crowd that screamed for His crucifixion. They are not His people. So in verses 7-8, the word of God uses a similar illustration to the one Jesus used on the way to Gethsemene.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs (fruit) useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
8 but IF IT BEARS THORNS AND BRIERS, IT IS REJECTED and near to being cursed, WHOSE END IS TO BE BURNED.
Fruitless branches are burned. This is again a reference to hell fire. The writer to the Hebrews by the breath of the Holy Spirit even uses this same language in Chapter 10 in reference to the final judgment of those lost in their sin.
Hebrews 10:26-29
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
30 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
So, in the end – it’s either FRUIT or FIRE.
With that said, the Spirit of God wants true believers to understand the real grace of God working in them and guaranteeing their eternal security. Note how the passage ends in verses 9 and 10.
9 But, beloved, we are confident of BETTER THINGS CONCERNING YOU, YES, THINGS THAT ACOMPANY SALVATION, (like real Holy Spirit produced fruit) though we speak in this manner.
10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love (produced again by His grace that they received when they truly repented and believed the gospel) which you have shown toward His name, in that you ministered to the saints, and do minister.
What a powerful God and what a wonderful, amazing grace He bestows on His true children! Preach and teach it.
Rich Hines
Minister To Chaplains
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