The word 'IF' is
one of the smallest words, but when used, can change the entire
structure of a sentence. The definition of IF means: 1) In the event
that; 2) On the condition that; or 3) Provided that. KEEP THESE
DEFINITIONS IN MIND AND APPLY THEM to the Scripture verses where IF is
used.
Knowing the meaning of IF,
let us now proceed with a few questions which
we will answer according to the Bible. 1) Eternal life is a free gift.
How can one receive this gift? 2) Can a true Christian or a born again
child of God ever lose his eternal life? 3) Will God give us a gift
and then take it away from us? 4) Won't we just lose our crown IF our
works are wood, hay and stubble?
The FIRST QUESTION: Eternal life is a free gift. How can we receive it? The rich young ruler asked Jesus in Mark 10:17, "...what shall I do that I may inherit ETERNAL LIFE?"
The answer was to leave all, take up his cross and follow Jesus. In
essence, we must believe by faith that Jesus Christ is GOD and dedicate
our entire life to His service. The rich young ruler had observed the
commandments of the Law from his youth up, but he still lacked. All his
righteousness did not grant him ETERNAL LIFE. There is nothing we can
do of ourselves to earn eternal life. Truly we are saved by faith, not
by works, yet good works, righteousness and holiness will always follow
a true salvation experience. In James 2:14-20 we are told that faith
without works is dead. The Bible also tells us that we must WALK IN THE
LIGHT as He is in the light (1 John 1:7), and John 8:31 tells us to
CONTINUE IN HIS WORD. Hebrews 3:14 states that we are to hold our
confidence steadfast UNTO THE END. AS LONG AS we OBEY His voice and
KEEP His word, our gift of ETERNAL LIFE remains secure.
The SECOND QUESTION asks whether or not a child of God can ever
lose his ETERNAL LIFE. Since we are to be judged by the Bible, let us
use it for our answer. Galations 6:7-9: "Be not deceived; God is not
mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he
that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap LIFE EVERLASTING. And
let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall REAP, IF
we faint not". We must sow to the Spirit to reap everlasting life.
This, however, is not sufficient. It states clearly here that we only
reap IF (provided that) we faint not. IF we start to sow to the Spirit
and faint, we CANNOT reap EVERLASTING LIFE.
Hebrews 3:14: "For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence STEDFAST UNTO THE END".
How are we made partakers of Christ? IF we REMAIN steadfast
(faithful; loyal; firm in belief) unto the end. IF we do not remain
faithful UNTO THE END, we CANNOT be partakers of Christ.
How can people say that sin will enter heaven? IF God could not even
look on His sinless and blameless Son as He became sin for us, how can
He look on a Christian who is willfully sinning and ignore it? Can you
honestly hear God say, "It's alright my child. Come enter into the joy
of the Lord. I couldn't look on My only begotten Son as He bore the
sins of the world, but I'll overlook your sin. After all, My Word only
said 'Be ye holy, for I am holy' (1 Peter 1:16), and 'Come out from
among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing' (II
Corinthians 6:17)." Doesn't that sound foolish, especially since His
Word teaches that we must live a pure and holy life? Hebrews 5:9 "And being made perfect, he became the author of ETERNAL SALVATION unto ALL them that OBEY Him". Only those who OBEY God will have ETERNAL SALVATION. Revelation 22:14 "Blessed
are they that DO his commandments, that they may have RIGHT to the TREE
of LIFE, and may ENTER in through the gates into the city."
Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden before they partook
of the TREE of LIFE because of their sin. Genesis 3:22-24: "...now,
lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the TREE of LIFE and eat,
and LIVE FOREVER: (Eternal Life), ...he drove out the man". Here we
see plainly that only those who OBEY Him can ENTER Heaven and have
ETERNAL LIFE. Adam and Eve had the opportunity to eat of the TREE OF
LIFE, but God drove them out before they touched this tree because of
their disobedience. As Christians, we have a RIGHT to this TREE of
LIFE IF we DO His commandments and OBEY Him. IF we do not do what His
Word teaches, we lose our RIGHT to partake of this TREE OF LIFE. IF
Adam and Eve would have partaken of this tree, they would have lived for
ever (eternal life), but SIN barred them from this privilege. IF they
were not allowed to eat of this tree because of sin, how can one who has
sin in his life be allowed to eat and receive ETERNAL LIFE? God is not
partial.
James 4:4 asks us, "...know ye not that the friendship of the world
is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a FRIEND of the WORLD
is the ENEMY of GOD". This verse speaks of spiritual adultery,
where we want to be a child of God, but we also want the things of the
world. IF we want the world, we are an ENEMY of God. How can a person
commit sin (which is considered enmity or opposition to God) and still
ENTER heaven? Remember, "...Ye cannot serve God and mammon" Matthew
6:24 and Luke 16:13.
Hebrews 10:38: "Now the just shall live by faith: but IF any man DRAW BACK, my soul shall have no pleasure in him".
How can one DRAW BACK IF he has never experienced salvation? An
unsaved person cannot draw back because all are born in sin. This
scripture has to be referring to Christians going back to sin.
Galations 2:18: "For IF I BUILD AGAIN those things which I DESTROYED, I make myself a TRANSGRESSOR".
How can one BUILD AGAIN unless he first DESTROYED something? When a
person comes to Christ, he destroys sin. IF he builds again that sin
which was destroyed by him, he becomes a TRANSGRESSOR. 1 John 3:4: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN in the transgression of the law". 1 John 5:17: "ALL unrighteousness is SIN:". James 4:17: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it NOT, to him it is SIN". Romans 6:23: "For the WAGES of SIN is DEATH;". 1 John 3:8: "He that COMMITTETH SIN is of the DEVIL;".
Hebrews 10:26: "For IF we sin wilfully after that we have received
(accepted; acquired) the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth NO MORE
SACRIFICE for sins". We are no longer covered by the Blood of Jesus IF we WILLFULLY CONTINUE IN SIN
after receiving salvation. This condition is also known as
backsliding. In this case, we must REPENT and do our "first works"
(receive salvation) again. IF we REPENT and CONFESS our sins, we have
an Advocate with the Father. IF we don't repent again, the Bible states
clearly that we have SIN in our lives and NO sin will ENTER heaven.
Verse 29 of this chapter mentions a person who had been sanctified (one
who was free from sin; purified; and filled with the Holy Spirit), and
then had trodden under foot the Son of God. This is crucifying Jesus
afresh.
The setting for Mathew 5 (see also in Luke 14:34) is Jesus talking to His disciples. In verse 13 He tells them, "Ye
are the salt of the earth: but IF the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is henceforth GOOD FOR NOTHING, but to
be CAST OUT, and to be trodden under the foot of men". The word
"savour" means taste, zest or resemblance. IF we, as the salt, lose our
resemblance of Christ (by committing sin) we are GOOD FOR NOTHING. II
Peter 2:20-22: "For IF after they have escaped the pollutions of the
world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, (born
again experience) they are AGAIN ENTANGLED THEREIN, AND OVERCOME, (are
gone back into the life of sin) the LATTER end is WORSE with them than
the BEGINNING. For it had been BETTER for them not to have known the
way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to TURN from the
holy commandment DELIVERED unto them. But it is happened unto them
according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again;
and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire". In
reality, we are that sow. We were washed and made clean in the Blood of
the Lamb, but some return to the wallowing in the mire of sin -the very
thing from which they were cleansed. The warning remains: "...the
Latter end is worse with them than the beginning". In the beginning
they deserved hell, and their latter end is worse. Does it sound like
they are going to heaven? Definitely not!
In Romans 11, Paul is talking about the Jews and the Gentiles. He
likens both Jews and Gentiles to branches. The Jews are the natural
branches (verse 21), but the Gentiles (the wild olive tree-verse 17) are
grafted (united closely or implanted) to the root (Jesus Christ). This
passage is not talking about sinners, but rather about the children of
God; for in verse 16 it says: "...and IF the root be holy, so are the branches". These holy branches (Christians) will be cut off IF they do not continue in the Lord! Verses 20-22 warn us, "...Be
not highminded, but fear: For IF God spared not the natural branches,
take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and
severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee
goodness, IF thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt
be cut off". Now IF the branch is cut off, it is No longer partaker
of the root of the tree. Remember that this is speaking about the
Christian because the branches are holy, and sinners are not holy.
John 15:2-6 also talks of the Vine and the branches, "Every branch in
Me (Christians) that beareth not fruit he taketh away: ...and men
gather them, and cast them into THE FIRE, and they are burned". However, IF after a person has gone back into sin, and he repents, Romans 11:23 says: "...God is able to graft them in again." IF a Christian cannot backslide or lose his salvation, how then can God be able to graft them in again?
In II Peter 1:5-7, The Apostle tells us what to add to our faith and then says in verse 8, "For
IF these things (items mentioned in previous verses) be in you, and
ABOUND, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ...for IF ye do these things,
ye shall never fall". Peter also admonishes us in verse 10, "...give diligence (steady application of work; constancy; continuance) to make your calling and election sure:".
He is saying here that there is a continual process involved in making
our calling and election (salvation and Eternal Life) sure, and as long
as we do those things (verses 5-7), we will not fall. Jude 24 also
tell us that Jesus "...is able to keep us from falling". IF we
cannot fall, why then does Revelation 22:19 tell us that our name can be
taken out of the book of life, and out of the holy city (heaven)?
Revelation 20: 15 tells us that our names will not be taken out IF we
overcome. Therefore, IF we do not overcome, our names will be blotted
out.
Continuing with our THIRD QUESTION we ask: Will God give us a
gift and then take it away from us? No, God will not take back our gift
of eternal life, yet we can throw it away by our actions. In the first
place, eternal life is only promised to those that follow Jesus, do His
commandments and obey His voice. The truth is that we will lose our
gift of eternal life if we choose to return to a life of sin.
However, for those who feel that the gift of eternal life is
unconditional and that they can never lose it, there is a question I
would like to ask you. Have you ever received a gift from someone for
no other reason than their love for you? I'm sure you have. When you
accepted the gift, it was yours to do with as you pleased. You had
several options. One option was to keep it and cherish it, while
another of your choices was to throw it away or give it away. Perhaps
you decided to keep the gift, but after a period of time it became
valueless to you. So you decided to sell this gift. The gift, however,
may still be very valuable to someone else. There was someone in the
Bible who did the same thing. You may read the story of Esau for
yourself in Genesis 24:29-34. He sold his inheritance or birthright (a
Christian's inheritance is eternal life -Matthew 19-29) on his own free
will for only a mess of pottage. At the point of extreme hunger, the
mess of pottage was worth more to Esau than his birthright. Likewise,
at a point of discouragement, weakness, or temptation in a Christian,
the pleasure of sin may seem to be worth more to him than his
inheritance, so he sells his inheritance for the fleshly desires of the
present.
Hebrews 12:15-17 calls Esau a FORNICATOR and a PROFANE person, "...who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright".
We, too, can sell the priceless gift of salvation and eternal life.
IF Esau was considered a profane (impure; defiled; unsanctified; and
unholy) person for selling his birthright (a rightful inheritance given
to him by birth. A Christian also has a rightful inheritance by birth
into the family of God), how much more would we be considered PROFANE
and UNHOLY for flirting with the world? What does the Bible say about a
fornicator? "...they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
(Galations 5:19-21; and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Revelation 21:8,27
tells us that these abominable people shall have their part in the LAKE
OF FIRE.
Someone said that IF we didn't have the promise of eternal life that we
would have to live in fear all the time, being afraid that we would lose
our reward. This is incorrect. As a child of God, I do not fear
losing my salvation or eternal life, as long as (provided that) I keep
His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1
John 3:23). Besides, if I am living in sin it may well be that the FEAR
OF GOD would cause me to repent.
No, God does not take back His gift, but we may dispose of it ourselves.
Remember: We are free moral agents. God has given each of us the
right to choose to serve Him or to serve sin and the devil. Once we
accept Him, we are still free moral agents. We still have the choice to
continue to follow Him, or to return to sin. I've often heard people
say, "You cannot even wiggle out of God's hand!" IF this were true,
then we would no longer have our freedom of choice. Do you feel that
God would allow us to have a choice as a sinner, but to lose all our
power of decision or choice as a Christian? This is absurd! God loves
His children. He does not make "Christian robots" out of us. We still
have our mental capacity of choice when we are Christians. With our
free will, we can decide to continue to follow Christ, or to sin and pay
the consequences.
Finally, the last question raised was: Won't we just lose our crown IF
our works are hay, wood, and stubble? People who believe in a "once
saved, always saved" doctrine tell us that we only lose our crown IF we
sin, but that we still have eternal life. Does the Bible teach this?
Paul tells us in II Timothy 4:8: "Henceforth there is laid up for me a
crown of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give
me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that love His
appearing." Not only is Paul receiving a crown, but all the others
that love Christ's appearing. What bride is there that does not love
the appearing of the bridegroom?
What do we then do with the Scripture that talks about our works being
burned but we ourselves still being saved? 1 Corinthians 3: 12-15 says,
"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for
the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the
fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work
abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any
man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall
be saved; yet so as by fire." The works referred to in this
scripture have nothing to do with the problem of Christians living in
sin. The description of one man's work as being wood, hay and stubble
does not mean that they were sinful works. There is no excuse for the
Christian who desires to continue in sin and claim eternal life. If
you choose to mock the sacrifice which Jesus made for us by continuing
in to live in sin while claiming His name, you will lose more than a
crown, you'll lose your soul forever in HELL!!
James 1:12-15: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when
he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath
promised to them that love Him. ...But every man is tempted, when he is
drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath
conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth
forth death." Notice the process of temptation; a man is tempted
through his lust; he is enticed; sin is produced; death is our wage.
Some will try to say that a "sinning Christian" will be removed by a
premature death. These verses do not say that. It tells us that sin
brings forth death, for the wages of sin is death (hell fire).
James tell us in verse 12 that IF a man endures (perseveres; holds on;
doesn't give into; remains firm under) temptation, he will receive a
crown of life. The word LIFE in the twelfth verse means eternal life
or, more specifically, a crown of eternal life.
Checking into the Greek, we find that the word death (as used in verse
15) comes from the word THANATOS (pronounced - than' at os). This word
can mean either a physical death or a spiritual death. We do know that
because of sin, we all will experience a physical death. Everyone who
has unconfessed sin in his life will also experience a spiritual death
which is Hell. The above passage refers to spiritual death, and not
just a physical or premature death. The truth is that when you choose
sin you choose death, and in choosing death you are rejecting the Life
that Jesus offers.
"And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the
garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, THOU SHALT NOT EAT OF IT: for in the day that thou eatest
thereof, thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17). the Hebrew word
for die in this verse is MUWTH (pronounced mooth). Adam was created as
a sinless person (holy), but was given an instruction to obey. God
plainly told him that IF he disobeyed and partook of the forbidden
fruit, that he would die. We know that on the day when Adam and Eve
partook of this fruit they did not die physically, for Adam lived to be
nine hundred and thirty years old. (Genesis 5:5) Yet eventhough they
did not have an immediate physical death, they died spiritually, for God
said, "...in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Here we see a holy person disobeying our holy God. They were no
longer holy, and they had to pay the consequence. This consequence was
both a physical death (which came nine hundred and thirty years later)
and a spiritual death, which took place at the moment of disobedience.
The consequence did not stop with them but has been passed on to
everyone of Adam's race. IF Adam, being holy, could sin and lose his
right to the Garden of Eden and to the Tree of Life, how much more can a
Christian today disobey God and lose his right to the Tree of Life?
For those who still choose to believe that a "sinning Christian" only
loses his crown, let's back up a little. Paul said that he was
receiving a crown of righteousness. IF a person loses his crown of
righteousness, he is then unrighteous, or unjust. 1 Corinthians 6:9
says, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" Also, "All unrighteousness is sin:" 1 John 5:17; and, "For the wages of sin is death;"
Romans 6:23. Continuing with this train of thought, it is obvious that
one who does not endure temptation will lose his crown of life. IF he
loses his eternal life, then he will receive eternal death, or HELL!!
Either way, a person with sin in his life cannot continue in sin and
still inherit eternal life. The Bible teaches that quite clearly.
There are numerous other Scriptures that verify the necessity of a
clean, pure life. This pure life is needed to enter heaven.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul is comparing a physical race to the
spiritual race. Those who strive for the masteries, (supremacy;
championship; victory) must be temperate and must strive lawfully
(according to the rules). II Timothy 2:5 tells us that IF a runner does
not strive lawfully, he is disqualified. In a physical race, a runner
starts out with hopes of making the goal. However some, after entering
the race, become discouraged, disinterested, or perhaps distracted. They
take their eyes off of the goal and drop out. Those who do not
CONTINUE in the race have NO CHANCE at all to win or reach the goal.
The spiritual race is the same way. IF we do not obey His commandments
(striving Lawfully), or IF we take our eyes off of Him (the goal), we
are disqualified from obtaining heaven and eternal life.
Some say that in this passage Paul was only afraid of losing his crown.
First of all, I can find no Scripture in the Bible saying that.
Secondly, Paul says in verse 27,
Notice carefully that he makes it personal: "I myself". Does it sound
like he means his crown? Obviously Paul feared becoming a castaway and
losing his salvation.
In closing, take the following advice: "Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life:".
(John 5:39) Don't stop with these Scriptures mentioned here, but
search for yourself, for on the day of Judgment we will not be judged by
what we have been taught by men, but rather by the Word of God. Again,
I say SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! On Judgment day you'll be glad that you did!
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