In the previous postings of this series we looked into the Lord’s original plan for mankind. Our “fine print” study revealed that it was His intention for man (Heb.–adam/mankind) to control all of His creation (Gen. 1:26,28). But as we often do, we ran into the Bible’s most powerful and most rejected word–IF which determines whether God’s will is or is not done in the life of mankind.

With that oft-proven Truth in mind, let us return to the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Israelite (Hebrew) converts–Judahites, nicknamed “Jews” by the King James translators. Anciently as well as today, those known as “Jews” consist of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin along with some of the priestly tribe of Levi to whom Jesus came and to whom He ministered while sending His 12 apostles to find and minister to the “… lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mat. 15:24; 24:14). His apostles (sent ones) were to find them and to tell them what He told the Jews–that their Messiah had come and would tell them how to enter the Kingdom of God. His true apostles still proclaim that message to the world.

In this teaching we will delve into a church “truth” that has been embraced by the vast majority within professing Christendom. This belief is known as the “once saved-always saved” principle. A foundational Bible Truth must be recognized at this point: NO ONE HAS BEEN SAVED OR WILL BE SAVED (BORN AGAIN) UNTIL THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST. Read Born Again. Key word–Born, which proves to Truth-seeking believers that in this life we have the HOPE of salvation, not salvation itself. With that in mind, let us return to Hebrews 1:14.

Here we are told that God’s angels aid the HEIRS OF SALVATION in their “walk” through this life. An HEIR has the PROMISE of a thing to be received later. Upon receipt of the thing, the recipient becomes the INHERITOR of that thing. For the saint, that “thing” is eternal life. Whether he inherits it depends on that pesky little IF word. In 2:1-4 Paul destroys the church’s belief in a pre-advent (before Christ’s return) salvation. In verse one he reminds us that we must “TAKE EARNEST HEED” (carefully protect) the words of the Lord and the words of those who heard Him speak (vs 3). So important were those Words (which became the New Testament) that God the Father confirmed them with “signs, wonders and miracles as well as other gifts of the Holy Spirit” (vs 4). Nothing has changed in the ministry of the unchanging God through His true apostles.

Why does the Godhead (Father and Son) repeatedly command that saints obey Their Words? Paul answers in verses one through three where he explains that the words of angels were so holy that any disobedience toward them brought on punishment. He asks, how much more important are the Words of Jesus that are also confirmed by signs, wonders and miracles? In verse one he reminds us that IF we “let them (Christ’s Words) slip (away through disobedience) we will not receive God’s “great salvation” (vs 3).

Jesus warns salvation seekers in Matthew 24:4,5 to “take heed” lest we allow man to “deceive” us, thereby robbing us of the Lord’s promised salvation. “Many” salvation seekers, He warned, would be deceived by Satan-led church leaders in the final days of this life. Read Christ’s description of the modern day, (Laodicean) church to understand why so many within her have “slipped” so far away from Him (Rev. 3:14-18). How can we “escape” punishment from the Lord if we allow Satan’s false prophets to take our CROWN (salvation)?” (Mat. 24:5) that is now in heaven. In Second Timothy 4:8 Paul removes all doubt as to when the saint’s crown of eternal life (Jam. 1:12) will be received. Here he says: “Henceforth there is laid up (stored) for me a crown of righteousness which God WILL GIVE TO ME on that (judgment) day, and not only to me, but to everyone who loves His appearing.

It is at that time that the “heirs of salvation” (Heb.1:14–God’s obedient saints beginning with Abel), will receive their promised reward (crown–salvation). In Romans 8:16,17 Paul says to the church at Rome and to us today: “The (Holy) Spirit itself bears witness with our (human) spirit that we are the children of God, and as such we are heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ IF WE SUFFER WITH HIM FOR OUR STAND FOR GOD.” The suffering we must endure involves being rejected by our friends and relatives for breaking from traditional Christianity and following the Lord Jesus Christ in obedience to the Father’s Word. In Matthew 10:22-40 Jesus warns us that He did not come to bring peace to the earth, but rather a sword (vs 34), which is His Word (Eph. 6:17). It is God’s Word which, as Matthew 10 proclaims, causes warfare between His people and those who pretend to be His people, chief among whom are the saint’s family members. He says in verse 22 that only those who endure such treatment while maintaining their holiness until the end of their lives SHALL BE SAVED. This is the “cross” that His people must bear in order to “find his/her (eternal) life” (vss 38,39). Read the series on Persecution using that word as the key.

May we all obey God’s Law and bear our cross until the end. Only those who do so will rise to meet Christ in the air upon His return, descend with Him to the Mount of Olives and follow Him into Jerusalem where He will establish the Kingdom of God. When Christ returns, both dead and living saints will rise up to meet Him in the clouds. This will be the first of three resurrections. Read The Three Resurrections and Life After Death: What, When, Where? Key words–Three and When respectively.

Contrary to the words of false prophets, we are not saved, nor is salvation guaranteed upon completing a prescribed ritual, being baptized, taking Jesus as our Savior, etc. Read Hope and Salvation. Key word–Hope. In Revelation 3:11 Jesus speaks to this Truth relative to the end times. Here He warns us to “HOLD FAST (TIGHTLY) TO THAT WHICH WE HAVE HEARD (HIS WORD) AND LET NO MAN TAKE YOUR CROWN (ETERNAL LIFE).” The men who can rob us of our crown are Satan’s false prophets who lead his converts through his wide (come as you are) gate and along his broad (all grace–no Law) way that leads to death (Mat. 7:13,14). There are three things we must do to assure that we do not lose our crown of life which the Lord has laid up for us in heaven. First, we must “Study (the Word) in order to be approved of God.” (2 TIM. 2:15). Second, we must “try (test) the spirits of those who lead us to see if they are speaking God’s commandments (1 Jn. 4:1). Three, we must obey His commandments in order to prove our love for Him (Jn. 14:15,23; 15:10). Notice: Every Word of God, by which we must live (Mat. 4:4) and by which we will be judged (Jn. 12:48), IS A COMMAND.

As was the case of Jesus of Nazareth, we can qualify to receive our promised crown (salvation) only by the power of God’s Holy Spirit and the help of His angels. We must use every source of power that God makes available if we are to join the Lord on His throne in the Kingdom of God (Rev. 3:21). Satan and his demons/devils/fallen angels work 24/7 to entice us to sin.

Being human like everyone else, Jesus was capable of sinning, which was why Satan tempted Him relentlessly. He knew that Jesus was capable of sinning, and that, if He weakened one time, He would be disqualified from being man’s Savior. It would have been so easy for Him to sin just one time which would have ended his persecutions, temptations, trials, etc. However, He loved us so much that He refused to sin even once, for which He paid the ultimate price. Because of His death we can receive the Holy Spirit which empowers us to “… overcome (Satan’s temptations) even as I (Jesus) overcame” (them) (Rev. 3:21). Those who do so will sit with Him on His throne in the Kingdom of God. May we all meet there some day. L.J.