“He whom God has sent speaks the words of God!” (John 3:34). And God says, “You will seek me, and you will find me when you search for me with ALL YOUR HEART!” (See Jeremiah 29:13). The preacher who says, “All you gotta do is believe,” or “Just receive Jesus as your Savior” isn’t speaking the words of God. God never said any such thing – not through one of His prophets, not through one of Christ’s apostles, and not through the lips of Jesus Christ Himself. THIS is what He said through Moses, “If…thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, IF thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (See Deuteronomy 4:29). Wise King Solomon said, “Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keeps covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee WITH ALL THEIR HEART” (See I Kings 8:23). God knows nothing of any half-hearted commitment. Such a mindset was insufficient to have fellowship with God under the Old Covenant and such a mindset is likewise insufficient to have fellowship with God under the New Covenant. “Jesus said…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (See Matthew 22:37). That does not mean those who do not measure up to that high standard lose out on eternal life, but it does cost them many benefits and blessings in this life and can grossly diminish their eternal rewards. (See I Corinthians 3:11-15).
Multitudes have taken out of context a statement made by Paul and Silas when asked by the Philippian jailer, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Their answer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house, AND THEY SPOKE UNTO HIM THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND TO ALL THAT WERE IN HIS HOUSE” (See Acts 16:27-32). And what was the word of the Lord Himself as to how to be saved and granted eternal life? “Repent” and “Keep the commandments of God!” Get a red letter Bible, a Bible that prints all the statements of Jesus Christ in red in the four gospels. Read HIS words. Believe HIM. One must repent in order to be justified and granted God’s Holy Spirit. And what does one repent of? Sin! And what IS sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law!” (I John 3:4). Whose law? God’s law!
Many argue, “Oh, that’s legalism. That’s working for your salvation. That’s trying to earn something God wants to give you as a gift.” They don’t realize they are arguing against Jesus’ own teaching. If Jesus didn’t know how one enters into eternal life, no one does.
Haven’t you ever noticed how the Bible ends? “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 (of God)” (See Revelation 22:14). To DO God’s commandments is to KEEP or OBEY God’s commandments. Those who do not do so are trying to climb up into God’s holy city some other way!
And again, “Here is the patience (endurance) of the saints; here are they that KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND THE FAITH OF JESUS” yes, the two go hand-in-hand. (See Revelation 14:12). Multitudes believe in that “other Jesus” spoken of by Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:4. And that is all that “other Jesus” requires – just belief, no obedience.
“And the dragon (Satan) was angry with the woman (those few believers yet surviving at the end of the church age), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed (the truly converted at the very close of the church age), WHICH KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (as that was the testimony of Jesus Christ: “I have kept my Father’s commandments.”) See Revelation 12:17 and John 15:10). And what are some of the closing words of sacred scripture? “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 (holy) city” (See Revelation 22:14). If a mighty angel with flaming sword stands at the gate of that city could you boldly approach him, knowing he will step aside and grant you entry? Would your belief that Jesus died for you be sufficient if that angel knew you continued to break God’s commandments throughout the remainder of your life?
Something to think about, folks. Something to think about long and hard. I’M ONLY SAYING WHAT HE SAID!
Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12)
Donald Wiley