"Grace", Satan's Secret Weapon

One of the devil’s most efficient deceptions is his trapping people in sin under the guise of being under “Grace”. He does this by deceiving people into believing it is no longer a part of Christianity to follow some of what is ordained in the Word of God.

If any should speak against this lie, his deceived victims accuse that person of being “under the law”, “trapped in bondage”, “relying on works” or some other similar falsehood in their attempt to justify their own rebellion against God.

Some enemies of sound doctrine even teach that salvation can be guaranteed by a single prayer, or by simply claiming you have given your life to Christ. Then by their false claims concerning “Grace”, the person may not abide in the Word of God beyond declaring Christ their Lord and Savior and be convinced their salvation is sealed.

However, the scriptures tell a different message. The Word of God teaches us to live a life of ongoing repentance and that we can lose our salvation if we do not remain solidly grounded in the Truth.

To illustrate this let us examine what the Lord said to the seven Churches in the Book of Revelations. Remembering that what is different between these Churches and those claiming the title today is that these have the scriptures confirming, beyond doubt, they are in fact Churches.

Today’s gatherings may make the claim, they may collect the tithes, they may have recognition from their secular government, but how many have the Word of God testifying to their authenticity. If any can truly claim they are under “Grace” by being in Jesus Christ, then it is these of whom Jesus Christ Himself states that they are, yet from His own Words we can read that even these who are under “Grace”, can lose their salvation.

To the Church of Ephesus,

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelations 2:5

Here we read Jesus telling this Church that unless they repent and return to the first works He will remove their “candlestick”, clearly symbolizing the Light, being Himself, so we must ask what are the “first works”.

“Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.” 1 John 2:24

The opponents of the Truth may chose to debate this point saying the verse means the passion and good works a person may have done in the zealousness they had when they first turned to God and this may well be true, but it also reduces the “Grace” of God to our own actions, thereby exposing the hypocrisy of their own words.

To the Church of Smyrna

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelations 2:10

Here we read the Lord edifying the Church by saying that even in times of persecution and sorrow, stay “faithful”, and they shall receive the “crown of life”. However, is the faith of which Christ speaks that which He delivered through His apostles or a different faith, one that may appear similar, but has been corrupted by man?

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Matthew 7:24

“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

To the Church of Pergamos

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Revelations 2:17

Again we read that to “him that overcometh” will receive the “hidden manna” and a “new name”, thus we must overcome to receive these things Justas those of the Church of Pergamos had to. “Grace” did not give them a license to sin or turn from what God instructs, “Grace” promises that if we do fall, we have the opportunity to repent and turn to Him and He will support us.

“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:15

“If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” John 14:15

To the Church of Thyatira

“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” Revelations 2:25

Here Christ instructs the Church to “hold fast” that, which they had “already”, not some variation in the faith that may come many years in the future. A question that could be asked of those that preach a different doctrine of faith to that held by the Church of Thyatira, and in fact, all the early Church, as at that time there was only one common faith is what spirit inspires your faith if it varies or contradicts that of God Himself. This could also be asked in regards to all their practices if any should deviate from the original doctrines and practices as delivered through the apostles.

“Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” 1 Corinthians 11:2

To the Church of Sardis

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelations 3:3

Through Christ’s words to the Church of Sardis, we are again told to “hold fast” that which they had “received” and “repent” if they wished to “overcome” and not be blotted out of the “Book of life”.

This gives us two essential messages. Firstly, it reinforces to remain in the original faith, not a counterfeit and secondly, to have one’s name blotted out of the Book of life the name must have first been there. This confirms beyond any reasonable doubt that salvation can be taken away, thus the need for repentance if we should fall.

This then is the true meaning of “Grace”, the loving and merciful willingness of God to forgive us if we are willing to accept Him as our Lord and accept the faith as He first delivered it through His apostles. But, not simply in name as many declare, but in obedient works due to our love and appreciation of Him, for without such works our faith is dead.

“This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.” 2 John 6

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” James 2:17-18

To the Church of Philadelphia

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Revelations 3:10

Again and again the same message, hold fast that which these Churches had and that is the faith as it was then as the faith then was what they had. This message repeats itself repeatedly, yet today there are too many variations to count.

What then can we learn from this if we today want to be a “pillar” in the “temple of God”, if we want a “crown”, if we want to have God’s name written upon us. “Overcome” the lies that we have been taught and repent, and accept the faith along with all the practices and doctrinal teachings as was first held by the Church.

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15

We must be of one mind with the Body of Christ, one faith with the Body of Christ, one Spirit with the Body of Christ and in doing so be the Body of Christ.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

To the Church of Laodicea

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelations 3:15

Here the Lord gives this Church a firm warning saying He will spew them out if they remain as they are.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelations 3:19

He then edifies them by saying it is out of His love that He rebukes them and if they will open their hearts and “overcome”, He will forgive them and grant them to sit with Him on His throne.

However the Church of Laodicea, although they had the same “Grace” as we do today, did not listen and now it is no more.

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:26

So do we today accept the same “form of doctrine” which was first delivered to the original and true Church, be freed from our sins, obeying God from a sincere heart, giving thanks as it says in Romans 6:17

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” Romans 6:17

Do we accept that Jesus Christ sent His apostles out teaching and baptizing and by doing so acknowledge that this included teaching us to “observe” all His commandments delivered to us through them?

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18

Alternatively, do we place our trust in those that teach in contradiction to the original doctrines of faith, those that tell us that we are under “grace” and no longer must abide all the “ordinances” and “commandments” given us by the apostles who were acting under the authority of Jesus Christ?

Do we risk our salvation, our candlestick, our crown, our hidden manna, our new name, our power over nations, our white raiment? Do we have our name blotted out of the Book of life and not be a pillar in the temple of God or be seated on the throne of Christ all because we refuse to accept the original faith of the early Church and trust in the teachings of those that preach a different gospel and of whom the scriptures say are accursed.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galations 1:8

If any preach anything contrary to the original doctrines and practices of the apostolic faith, regardless of what title they hold or what supposed Church they belong, flee from them. Especially if they teach it is acceptable before God to ignore what the apostles ordained in the name of Jesus Christ, simply because you are under “Grace”.

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:3

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” 2 Thessalonians 1:8

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