The Apostle Peter wrote to the church about God’s expressed qualifications for receiving and retaining His Holy Spirit: “For the time has come that judgment must begin in the house of God, and if it first begin with us (true saints), what shall be the end of those (false saints) who do not obey the gospel of God. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner” (1 Pet. 4:17,18)? Peter was not wondering what would happen to the sinners outside of God’s church–that matter was and remains settled. He was writing about the future of sinners in the church who, like the five foolish virgins, the tares and the bad fish, are Christians in name only.

The lesson God teaches through Paul and Peter is abundantly clear: JESUS CHRIST WILL NOT ABIDE WHERE SIN IS PRESENT, NEITHER IN THE CHURCH IN GENERAL, NOR IN INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE CHURCH. This fact is graphically brought out in Revelation 3:14-17,20 where God tells the church at Laodicea–symbolic of the end-time church of today–that because they are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked,” He will not enter into their midst, saying instead, “I stand at the door and knock.” And IF anyone inside the church hears His voice (separates it from the voice of false prophets) and opens the door (embraces His Words), He will welcome him/her.”

Returning to 2 Corinthians, in verse 7:1 we find Paul telling the church then and now that in order to receive the promises of God–“Christ in you” being one of them–“let us cleanse ourselves of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Note that all of God’s promises, including salvation, rebirth, are contingent upon our meeting God’s instructions which are consists of cleansing ourselves of sin and becoming holy, both of which are possible only by believing and obeying God’s Word. Last of all we must become like Him by obeying Him while fearing Him. This is what is meant by the command to “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).

False prophets have one commission from Satan–lead God-seekers through the wide gate and along the broad way of Catholicism/Protestantism. The are instructed to belittle and dismiss as heresy the Holy Scriptures that lead one through the strait gate and along the narrow way of God (Mat. 7:13,14). Their job is to direct God-seekers to whichever church doctrine scratches their ears, then to provide hundreds of ear-scratching churches from which to choose. The buffet of offerings provided by Satan has managed to lure billions of seekers off of God’s track leading to His kingdom and onto the track headed for the Lake of Fire. See Bait And Switch. L.J.