In the same way that the word “man” is often used in the Holy Bible to refer to the whole of mankind–, both male and female–the word “son” is normally used to refer to both sexes, the title of this series being an excellent example. In the first chapter of the Book of Romans the Apostle Paul has much to say about what a “son (child) of God” means in the everyday walk of those who have their hearts set on spending eternity in the Kingdom of God. Read about this incredible place using the key word–Kingdom. Then read what else the sons of God will have access to by using the key word–Caretakers. However, as is the case with everything God promises, there are caveats (conditions) which must be satisfied in order for those promises to come to fruition. I just watched a famous preacher lie to the world about that Truth with his 30 second “only believe” pitch with is the same Satanic regardless of which “salvation Santa” we happen to hear. What he said, and what all other “heaven hucksters” say are exposed by this ministry, and, to a small degree, by this series. This ministry exists for one reason–TO EXPOSE TO THOSE WITHIN PROFESSING CHRISTENDOM THAT THEY HAVE ENTERED THE CHURCH THROUGH THE WIDE DOOR AND ARE WALKING DOWN THE BROAD PATH TWHICH WILL LEAD THEM TO TOTAL DESTRUCTION (MAT. 7:13,14; 22:14). THEY, LIKE ADAM AND EVE FOLLOWING THE FALL, ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD AND ON THEIR WAY TO PHYSICAL AND ETERNAL DEATH. ONLY A TOTAL REVERSAL OF LIFE’S WALK CAN SAVE THEM. We will turn now to Paul’s letter to the Gentile church located in Rome where we will continue this Truth-dispensing process.

In the first three verses of Paul’s letter to the Roman Church he introduces himself as a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Let it be understood that every true saint of God is a bondservant of Jesus Christ Who, as God’s Son, IS ONE WITH HIM IN EVERY WAY EXCEPT NUMERICALLY. They are of one mind and share one Spirit which is Their power by which They do everything They do. The message of this series, and the Bible itself is that true believers (obeyers) are as one with God and Christ as They (God and Christ–the Godhead) are one with each other. This relationship characterizes what it means for us to be “in Christ” and for Christ to be “in us.” In First John 3:24 we are told that those who obey God’s Commandments (including #4) are “in Christ.” Accordingly, in Colossians 1:27 we find the words: “Christ in you, the hope of glory (salvation).” Notice that salvation is what we HOPE for during this life. Read Hope and Salvation, key word–Hope. In order for that hope to materialized in the granting of eternal life upon Christ’s return, we must prove our “bondservanthoodness” (my word) by doing the WORKS HE COMMANDS OF US.. Read Friends of Jesus and Who are Christ’s Brethren? key words–Friends and Brethren respectively.

In verse three Paul proclaims an important Truth relative to becoming and remaining a friend/spiritual brother to Jesus. Paul explains that Jesus must be the true saint’s LORD, NOT SAVIOR in this life. Unless Jesus is our Lord in this world He will not become our Savior at the end of it. A lord must be obeyed, else he is not one’s lord. Jesus is no different. If we do not obey Him He is not our Lord and we are deceiving ourselves (Jam. 1:22). Jesus tells us that “Satan has deceived the whole world,” including the church world (Rev. 129).

In verse four Paul tells us that Jesus was declared to be the Son of God by BEING RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. the true convert is symbolically raised from the dead spiritually upon being baptized as he/she comes up out of the water, thereby leaving behind all sins, having been washed clean through JUSTIFICATION–the removal of all PAST sins (Rom. 3:25). Here is where the vast majority of salvation seekers take their first step away from the Lord. That step involves the future “walk” (lifestyle–words, thoughts and deeds) determined by the believer. The Apostle James tells us in chapter two of his epistle that FAITH WITHOUT WORKS (OBEDIENCE) IS DEAD FAITH. Read James 2:10,14,17,18,20,22,24,26. Only a minutely few people know that God commands that the believer be led by the Holy Spirit which, if the conversion is real, lives in the believer’s heart. Recall that God said that in the last days HE WOULD WRITE HIS LAW IN THE HEARTS OF TRUE BELIEVERS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH WOULD RESIDE IN THEM, LEAD THEM AND EMPOWER THEM TO OBEY THAT LAW. Few converts have ever heard the information found in Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:8-12 and Joel 2:28. As a result, people by the millions have been supposedly “saved” and told that, because of Adam’s sin, they cannot obey God’s Law. Knowing this, Jesus obeyed it for them. This Satanic lie is exposed in the series titled “It Is Finished,” key word–Finished.

Because of the truths written above, billions of people believe that, following the completion of a prescribed ritual, they are heaven bound upon their deaths. They have been told that, due to Adam’s failure, sin is part of their nature which cannot be changed. For this reason they have no intention of obeying God, even if they could, which, they are assured, they cannot. This results in a false conversion which results in a false “Christian walk” through this life. Due to the Lord’s incredible grace, such people will be given another chance for salvation following the Second Resurrection. Read The Three Resurrections, key word–Resurrections. Note resurrection #2 relative to the second chance due to the lack of godly spiritual leadership during their church lives.

Thousands of false prophets have repeatedly assured millions of church people for hundreds of years that the removal of all of their past sins at baptism means that all they need to do from that point on is to believe in Jesus as their Savior and sin-forgiver. They are assured that He has taken care of all of their inevitable future sins, that they need only to repent and the sin is instantly forgiven. This is one of Satan’s most popular lies. Read about this deception using the key word–Granted.

As I have stated before, the Finished series is probably the most important lesson I have ever taught. The Granted series is in the top five. As is the case with everything I have ever done in the Lord’s ministry, it is the Holy Spirit that does everything. Without God’s power living in and working through me I can do nothing. Praise God I am in good company. Jesus said that He could do nothing by His own power, that the Holy Spirit did the works through Him. Recall that Jesus, at age 28, had never preached a sermon or performed a miracle until the Holy Spirit came upon Him and entered His heart at the time of His baptism. Only then did He have the spiritual power necessary to conduct His ministry. Only then did that ministry begin.

Returning to Romans chapter one relative to Christ’s resurrection and, by association, man’s water baptism, notice that the power in both cases is called the “SPIRIT OF HOLINESS.” Upon true repentance and the believer’s determination to sin no more, the Holy Spirit that takes up residence in the believer’s heart (mind) and directs his “walk” for the remainder of his/her life. Recall that Jesus told the man and woman that they must “SIN NO MORE” (Jn. 5:14;8:11). Only those who maintain that relationship will be saved at Christ’s return (Mat. 10:22). Only those who are led by the Holy Spirit are true sons of God (Rom. 8:14). Many times we are told in the Holy Scriptures that in order to be a child of God we must “WALK IN THE SPIRIT, NOT IN THE FLESH.” What does it mean to walk in the Holy Spirit? Simply stated, it means to be led by the Spirit of God. THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES NOT LEAD ONE TO SIN. Therefore, so-called “sinners saved by grace” are neither saved nor will they ever be as long as they continue to sin. I will end this segment with an experience I had many years ago that explains why people believe that, because they are supposedly saved and born again in this life, they have no need to obey God, even if they could, which, they are assured, they can’t. This is what happened: I was led by the Lord to leave where I was studying His Word and walk past my living room where my mother-in-law was watching a t.v. preacher on Sunday morning. At exactly the right moment (God has such great timing) I walked past the door and heard this popular false prophet say to his local and t.v. audience:: “DON’T EVEN TRY TO BE RIGHTEOUS; YOU’LL JUST MAKE YOURSELF SICK. YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A SOCIETY OF SINNERS.” This is exactly what billions of church people hear every sun god day. Maybe not in those words, but the message is the same–“ONLY BELIEVE; GUARANTEED FORGIVENESS IS JUST A PRAYER AWAY.” I will once again bore you with the little ditty I made up that should be the theme song for the Catholic/Protestant Religious System that calls itself, “The Church:” “Sin and grin, my friend, for in the end, you still will. Pie in the sky, sin till you die, for in the sweet bye and bye, you’ll still get to fly.” And Satan smiles. L.J.