Thousands, perhaps millions of times the following statement, or something similar, has been spoken relative to the effect of the Lord’s crucifixion: “We are saved by Christ’s death,” or “Christ’s blood saves the repentant sinner.” However, that is not what the Almighty instructed His New Testament writers to record in the Holy Bible. As a result of universal, God-condemned ministerial editing (translation, interpretation, correction, wishful thinking, substitution, etc.), parishioners have been led to believe that the Lord’s death and shed blood on the cross saves those who believe in Him and take Him as their personal Savior. That supposed “Bible Truth” is neither Biblical nor Truth. This series is extremely important in that it exposes one of Satan’s numerous, deadly lies by which he has captured the hearts (minds) of billions of salvation seekers.

Before delving into the focus of this series I will recommend that you read about “justification” using that word as the key to downloading the series. Because it is central to understanding what Christ’s blood did for mankind, I will introduce the reader to the subject because it is not what church people have been led to believe. Justification is “job one” relative to receiving eternal life. It is the FIRST action on a journey of many acts that must be taken in order to be saved. Justification is the removal of all PAST SINS (Rom. 3:25), thereby rendering the cleansed believer RIGHEOUS (without sin). Justification is NOT the same as salvation, as so many believe when reading the Apostle Paul’s writings. In Romans chapters 3 through 5 the apostle Paul uses the word “justification” 31 times. Not once does he use the Word “salvation.” Yet billions of people believe that he is referring to salvation because their leaders equate salvation with justification. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROME CHURCH CONCERNS JUSTIFICATION AS IT RELATES TO THE PEOPLE’S POSSABLE SALVATION. Justification is a necessary part of the believer’s lifestyle that CAN result in eternal life, but only If the believer obeys God’s Law and thereby retains his justification through obedience. He tells us that it is not those who hear (and read) about the Law that are justified. Only the “doers of the” Law to the end “SHALL” be saved upon Christ’s return (Rom. 2:13). Until then we have the HOPE of salvation. Whether we are then saved or not depends on our obedience to the Law–retaining out justification/righteousness. Jesus warns about ministers who will “take your crown” (Rev. 3:11) through deception relative to the Law and salvation.

Satan has convinced the church that justification and salvation are one and the same. However, the Holy Scriptures clearly prove that justification is the first of many steps on one’s way to receiving eternal life. The Scriptures also reveal that the free gift of justification does not GUARANTEE the recipient’s future salvation. Salvation is not an “event” that takes place upon fulfilling a prescribed ritual and a “repeat after me” prayer. Rather, it is a “process” that continues to play out for the remainder of the convert’s life. Read about the Process of Salvation. Key word–Process. Justification “opens the door” to the path that, if followed as commanded by the Lord, will lead to salvation upon the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. As Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13,14, only a few choose to enter His very narrow (strait-difficult) door and walk His very narrow (restrictive, no options) path leading to eternal life. Jesus also tells us that many salvation seekers are called to enter His door and walk His path, but few choose to do so (Mat. 22:14). The vast majority, He warns, choose to enter Satan’s wide (come as you are) door and walk his broad (stay as you are–remember to repent) path to eternal death. These are the approximately 2.5 billion church members on earth today. God’s church numbers only a few thousand globally.

With that groundwork laid, we will now turn to Romans 5:l and begin our study. Notice in that chapter that the word “justification” is mentioned 12 times while “salvation” is not mentioned at all. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT JUSTIFICATION AND SALVATION ARE NOT THE SAME. JUSTIFICATION TAKES PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES WHILE SALVATION COMES AT THE END OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES–IF WE RETAIN OUR JUSTIFICATION UNTIL THE END. JUSTIFICATION IS NOT AWARDED FOR OBEYING THE LAW. IT IS A GIFT BASED ON GOD’S GRACE AND MAN’S FAITH. However, once justified, one must obey God’s Ten Commandment Law in order to retain one’s justification until the end of life in order to receive salvation upon Christ’s return.

The vast majority of all self-professed “Christians” HAVE NEVER BEEN JUSTIFIED BECAUSE THEY REJECT GOD’S DEFINITION OF SIN. The Lord defines sin thusly: “To transgress (break) the Law is sin, for sin is the transgression of the Law” (1 Jn. 3:4). The church has been told that the Law was “nailed to the cross” of Jesus Christ and therefore plays no part in the life of a Christian. This in spite of the fact that Jesus said that HE DID NOT COME TO DESTROY THE LAW or the writings of the Old Testament prophets), but to fulfill them (live them to the fullest). It was prophesied of Him that He would come to earth to “MAGNIFY THE LAW AND MAKE IT HONORABLE (AGAIN)–Isa. 42:21. Salvation seekers have never asked forgiveness for breaking God’s Law (sinning), have therefore never been forgiven of their sins and therefore have never been justified. Without justification the believer is still guilty of every sin he/she has ever committed. Paul says of such people that they “treasure (save) up” their sins until the Day of Judgment” (Rom. 2:5).

We will begin this series with Romans 5:1 and will, with a few exceptions, study the verses as they appear in the chapter. Do not lose sight of the fact that this book was written by the Apostle Paul whose manner of speaking and writing are, as the Apostle Peter said, “… HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD.” I totally agree. I will admit (again) that I once became so frustrated while studying the Book of Romans that I ripped my Bible apart and threw it away. I praise the Lord that He understood my misplaced zeal and forgave me. Since totally submitting to Him He has graciously given me the ability–through the Holy Spirit–to understand Paul’s writings. When teaching Paul’s messages I try to keep things simple because God allows me, a simple man, to understand them. I am sure you already know that Paul’s writings are anything BUT simple.

In 5:1,2 Paul begins by reminding us that JUSTIFICATION (having all of our PAST sins forgiven, thereby rendering us RIGHTEOUS–sinless), is a free gift based on His grace and our faith. However, in order to attain salvation we must remain justified/righteous until our death or the return of Jesus Christ, whichever comes first. Through Christ we have access to God’s GRACE (undeserved favor) which gives the OBEDIENT believer the HOPE of salvation. By obeying God’s Law we have the HOPE of salvation which is promised to those who obey God’s Law until the end of life and are persecuted by the false church for doing so (Mat. 10:22). Relative to the HOPE OF SALVATION, Paul tells us that we are SAVED BY HOPE. He asks those who believe they are already saved: “WHY DO YOU HOPE FOR WHAT YOU (SUPPOSEDLY) ALREADY HAVE? (Rom. 8:24,25). In Titus 1:2 and 3:7 Paul reminds his fellow apostle that true saints are justified by God’s grace and therefore have the “HOPE of eternal life.” Read Hope and Salvation and Born Again. Key words–Hope and Born respectively. Understand this: Grace, hope and faith combined will not save the soul. Salvation is a process, not a “happening.” ONE IS NEITHER SAVED NOR BORN AGAIN IN THIS LIFE. Read Born Again. Key word–Born if you want to know the Bible Truth about the subject. If not, go to church.

In 5:8,9 Paul notes that before our justification we WERE SINNERS for whom Jesus died. He also notes that His blood JUSTIFIED us so that we “SHALL BE (LATER) SAVED—IF we “do (obey) the righteousness found in the Law” (Phil. 3:6). Read First John 3:7,10. Jesus speaks to the necessity of obedience in John 15:13,14 where He is addressing His 12 disciples. Here He is saying to them: “Greater love has no man than He lay down His life for His friends. You (disciples–then and now) are My friends IF YOU DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU TO DO.” Let that sink in. Those 12 men had been with Him 24-7 for over three years. They had heard Him speak and watched Him perform miracles. They themselves had preached the Gospel, healed the sick, cast out demons, etc. They were dedicated to Him and His Kingdom of God message. BUT THAT WOULD NOT SAVE THEM. Remember Judas. Regardless of our level of religiousness, if we do not obey His Law then we are as Judas was–His enemies which means that His death and resurrection will in no way affect our eternity. Read James 2:10. Then answer these two questions: On what day of the week do you observe God’s Sabbath? What do you do on God’s Sabbath? Then study the fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8-11. Notice how much more God says about His Sabbath than about any other commandment. Why? Because He knew that Satan would use that commandment to lure billions of salvation seekers to himself. For this reason He created a special covenant with those who believe and obey Him–His true saints. Read Exodus 31:12-17. If one commandment (#4) can be rejected, then all commandments can be rejected. Read Luke 10:16.

Paul noted that God’s true saints–His Very Elect–“WERE” sinners (5:8) prior to their justification and conversion. Those who, though having supposedly been “saved” and “born again,” continue to sin are counterfeit Christians. Having been one of them for many decades, I know what I am talking about. They faked their justification in that they had no intention of living the righteous life. Why? Because their religious leaders told them that 1) Adam made sin a part of their “nature,” which cannot be changed, and 2) the fix was in for them in that Jesus died so that they could sin and get away with it. Jesus did not command them to continue to sin. Those who are led by God’s spirit are His children (Rom. 8:14). The Holy Spirit does not lead them to sin. Therefore, church people are not Christ’s friends. They are, in fact, His enemies (Phil. 3:18/ Rom. 8:5-8). Again, having walked where they are now walking, I know what I am talking about. Church people, claiming to be God’s friends, are in reality God’s enemies who walk after the flesh and not after the Holy Spirit. Only those who are led by God’s Spirit are His true children. The Institutional Church is led by the spirit of antichrist (2 Jn. 2:18), of which there are many (1 Jn. 2:18). Here John is writing to his disciples, warning them about the antichrists (demons) that were inhabiting and controlling many church people at that time. The apostasy (falling away from God) going on now proves that they have taken over and control most of professing Christendom existent now at the end of the world. For Christ’s description of the end-time (Laodicean Era) church, read Revelation 3:14-20.

Paul makes a statement in Romans 5:8-10 that the vast majority of church people have either overlooked or have summarily rejected. We will pick up there in part 2 of this series. I suggest that you read the remainder of the chapter carefully in preparation for the next teaching. L.J.