Bible Doctrine

THE ONLY PEOPLE MAD AT YOU FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH ARE THOSE WHO ARE LIVING A LIE!

SPEAK THE TRUTH THOUGH YOUR LISTENER WEEPS, RATHER THAN TELLING A LIE TO MAKE HIM SMILE!

IF YOU WANT TO ASTONISH THE WHOLE WORLD, TELL THE SIMPLE TRUTH!

NEVER BE AFRAID TO RAISE YOUR VOICE FOR HONESTY AND TRUTH!

THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY ACT ONE CAN ENGAGE IN IS TO TELL THE TRUTH!

I WOULD RATHER BE SCORNED FOR TELLING THE TRUTH THAN EXALTED FOR PERPETUATING ERROR!

WHEN CHRISTIANITY FINDS OUT HOW MUCH ERROR THEY HAVE EMBRACED THEY WILL FIND IT HARD TO EVEN BREATHE!

One of the best known, most often quoted scriptures in the entire Bible is Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Now, on the face of it, taken alone and all by itself without considering any other statement of holy scripture, that verse seems to say that in order to be saved and granted eternal life, there is only ONE THING a person must do – just have faith, or believe. That’s all! But what, or WHO, is it we are to have faith in? Jesus Christ, of course! And what is it we are to believe? Merely believe that He died for our sins PERIOD? That’s it? That’s all God expects or requires of us? Now go about your life whistling “Amazing Grace” and looking forward to spending eternity walking down golden avenues and boulevards?? But what does it really mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? Does it mean we merely believe He lived, died, and rose from the dead? Or does it mean believe that much AND MORE, that we believe what He said and taught and ACT ON or DO what He said?

When Paul says our salvation is “not of works,” does he mean there are no works whatsoever involved in our salvation, or does he mean a certain TYPE of works are not required or necessary? Let’s look at the context by reading the next two verses in the passage quoted above. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God has before ordained (decreed) that we should walk in them (maintain as a matter of daily life). Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision (aliens) by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands (the Jews)…” (Ephesians 2:10-11). Note: All comments in parentheses, single words and phrases, are those of the author.

Notice that Paul here mentions a work performed “by hands.” A work of the flesh, circumcision. This was, of course, performed as a religious ritual by the Jews, and “Christian” Jews – at least some of them from Judea – “taught the brethren, and said, ‘Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, YOU CANNOT BE SAVED” (See Acts 15:1). And this is the type of works to which Paul refers in Ephesians 2:8-9 when he writes that our salvation is NOT of works.

But what about repentance? Jesus said, “Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish” (See Luke 13:3,5). Jesus taught that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among ALL nations” (See Luke 24:47). Notice how remission of sins is linked with repentance. And this is a work, a work we must do over and beyond just believing Jesus died for us and rose again. The basic Greek word translated by the English word repentance is metanoia (pronounced met-AN’-oy-ah), and means “to regret, to reform, to reverse direction.” But what do we repent of? What do we stop doing and reverse direction? Sin, of course! We repent of sin. Jesus said, “Go, and sin no more” (See John 8:11 and John 5:14). Paul wrote, “Henceforth (after repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior AND LORD) WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN” (See Romans 6:6). And what IS sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law” (See I John 3:4).

So, if we are to repent of sin, to stop sinning, and sin is the transgression of the law (God’s commandments), that would mean we are obligated to start keeping God’s commandments! The apostle John was very clear about the matter, writing, “He that says, ‘I know Him (claiming to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ), and keeps not His commandments, IS A LIAR, and the truth is not in him” (See I John 2:4). Note that John says the truth is not in the person who breaks God’s commandments. John had earlier written how Jesus had said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (See John 14:6). Thus, Jesus is not IN the commandment breaker, the sinner, the one who continues to break God’s commandments, regardless of what that person might believe. John wrote, “He that commits sin (continues to sin) is of the devil” (See I John 3:6). The Greek word translated “commits” (or “committeth” in the King James English) in that verse is the exact same Greek word translated “continue” in James 4:13 and Revelation 13:5, so that I John 3:6 actually says, “He who continues to sin is of the devil!”

Although many, if not most, believers will fall into an occasion of sin from time to time, knowingly and wittingly doing something they know good and well God disapproves of or some scripture injunction forbids, no believer led by the Spirit of God will habitually practice sin in their daily lives. Such behavior would swiftly quench the Spirit and return such a person back into the world of the unbelievers and unredeemed!

Paul urged the carnal believers at Corinth, “Examine yourselves (give yourselves a spiritual “check-up”), whether you be in the faith (try to determine whether you’re truly converted), prove (put to the test) your own selves (stop worrying about the other guy’s spirituality), how that Jesus Christ is IN you, except you be reprobates (false Christians, not really converted at all)” (See 2 Corinthians 13:5). Notice, Paul says if you are truly converted Jesus Christ is IN you by extension of the Holy Spirit. He is expressing Himself in and through you. That is WHY truly converted believers are called the BODY of Christ! (See Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:30-32; I Corinthians 12:12-27).

When Paul told the Ephesians we are “saved through faith…not of works” the context in which he said that showed he meant works of the flesh, ritualistic religious acts, such as circumcision, ritual washings and cleansings, drink offerings, etc. He did NOT mean there are no works accompanying our faith. The works of God MUST accompany our faith. The only time “faith alone” is found in the scriptures it says a man is not justified by faith alone.

James wrote, “Even so faith, if it has not works, IS DEAD, being alone” (See James 2:17). James was not in conflict with Paul. They were just speaking of two different kinds of works! There are works of the flesh, forbidden, and works of the Spirit – COMMANDED! Notice the type of works James speaks of in his letter: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). Pure religion, that is true religion, undefiled by false concepts, has accompanying good works. Now notice how Paul fully agrees with James when he writes, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works (of fleshly religious rituals), lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship (Jesus is working IN us), created (a new person) in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them” (See Ephesians 2:8-10).

The Greek word that is translated “walk” in that 10th verse is peripateo (pronounced per-ee-pat-EH’-o), and literally means “to tread all around, to be occupied with.” It means we are constantly occupied with performing good works. We live a life of good works. It should be said of us, as it was said of our Lord, that we were one of those “who went about doing good” (See Acts 10:38). Compare Philippians 2:12-16.

The good works James describes are practical acts of real helpfulness and kindness: the assisting and helping of widows and orphans (James 1:27), clothing of the naked and feeding of the hungry (James 2:15-17), and obeying God explicitly and without question. (See James 2:20-23). And faith without these works is DEAD, and will not save you. “Ye see then how that by (such) works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). And then James concludes his remarks in this matter by saying, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Friends, a dead faith cannot save you. Faith without obedience to God’s word is an imperfect, or faulty faith. It is only when faith is accompanied with works is it perfected and complete; “See how faith wrought (co-operated, accompanied) with his (Abraham’s) works, and by works was faith made perfect (complete)” (See James 2:22).

In Revelation 14, when we see Jesus Christ standing on Mt. Zion with His faithful followers, we read of them, “Here is the patience (Greek, “endurance”) of the saints: Here are they THAT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and the faith of Jesus” (verse 12). The two cannot be separated. They go hand-in-hand. True living faith imparted to you by Jesus Christ as a gracious gift will quickly lead you into a lifestyle of keeping God’s commandments. If it doesn’t, you possess imperfect, humanly-generated faith. And I tell you, on the authority of God’s word, you are still in your sins – unsaved!

Satan promised Mother Eve life in disobedience. (See Genesis 3:1-5). He, through his deceived spokesmen (see 2 Corinthians 11:13-15), will do the same for you. He will whisper in your ear and shout it from the pulpit, “All you need do to be saved and granted eternal life is believe –nothing else is required of you.” And NOWHERE does the Bible say any such thing. Jesus Christ “became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY Him” (See Hebrews 5:9). In Acts 5:32 we are told that God gives His Holy Spirit “to them that OBEY Him.”

When the Philippian Jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” they replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. AND THEY (THEN) SPOKE UNTO HIM THE WORD OF THE LORD, and to all that were in his house” (See Acts 16:30-32). To “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” is to BELIEVE WHAT HE SAID AND TO ACT ON WHAT HE SAID. That is why that thirty-second verse says they then spoke unto him, and his household, the word of the Lord. And, after hearing what the Lord required, “He…was baptized, he and all his, straightway (immediately)” (See verse 33).

Many who quote from the above text quote only the 31st verse, “And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…’” They then say that Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailer that all he had to do to be saved was believe Jesus died for him! But that’s NOT what the text says. They said “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” and they then “spoke unto him the word of the Lord,” telling him what Jesus taught and required of sinful humans if we are to have our sins forgiven and be granted eternal life.

It was the apostle Paul who wrote to the believers at Rome, “that if you shall confess with the mouth THE LORD Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (See Romans 10:9). Note well that Paul says one must confess Jesus Christ as LORD in order to be saved. And He doesn’t mean mere lip service, that we call Him Lord but then live life as we please. To truly confess Jesus Christ as LORD means to agree that He IS the LORD of your life and that you will DO what He says, obeying Him and allowing Him to guide, direct and lead in your life. THAT is confessing with your mouth Jesus as LORD. Anything less than that is mock, or pretend faith, and that kind of faith will save no one.

Jesus said you are a fool if you merely believe on Him without obeying Him: “Not every one that says unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven” and then went on to say, “Every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man!” (See Matthew 7:21, 26). Reader, are you a fool???

Saving faith is not the act of a single moment in time. Saving faith is one’s absolute committal to God, a delivering up of self to God: “He that finds his life (maintains personal control over his life) shall lose it (will miss out on eternal life), and he that loses his life for my sake (a total, irrevocable delivering up of one’s self to God) shall find it” (See Matthew 10:39). THIS, and more, is what Paul and Silas would have told the Philippian jailer when it says in Acts 16 that they spoke unto him and all that were in the house the word of the Lord! THAT is rightly dividing the Word of God. Something few preachers do it seems.

There is not a single Bible reference urging anyone to “ask Jesus to come into your heart” for salvation. Salvation is not conditioned upon our “accepting Christ,” but on the obedience of living faith. (See Acts 6:7). We are not saved by the works of the flesh (See Titus 3:4-7 and Ephesians 2:8-9), but by the works commanded by God. (See James 2:14-24). Belief is a work commanded by God (See John 6:27-29). Baptism is NOT a work of human righteousness, but a work commanded by God. (See Mark 16:16; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 9:6, 17-18; Acts 10:6,47-48; Acts 16:15,32-33; Acts 18:8 and Acts 22:16). Our works commanded by God are belief, repentance, confession, baptism and total, continual obedience to God and His commandments – all commanded by the scriptures of any who would receive salvation as a gift of God.

The blind man spoken of in John Chapter 9 was healed entirely by grace, but still he had to DO exactly what Jesus told him to do in order to receive his sight. Jesus, after anointing the eyes of the blind man with clay, told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam in order to receive his sight. The blind man did so and was healed. Had the blind man thought, “Wait. I am standing in the temple area. The pool of Siloam is a long distance from where I stand, and there are many water pots for purification purposes all around me here. I’ll just wash off the clay in one of those.” Do you think he would have then received his sight? No, he would not have. He received his sight entirely by grace, but still he had to do exactly what Jesus said in order to be healed. So do we, friend.

Read 2 Kings Chapter 5. Naaman, the Syrian, was healed of his leprosy entirely by the grace of God after being told to wash in the Jordan River seven times by the prophet Elisha. At first this command of Elisha was rejected as foolish by Naaman. He thought, “Damascus has two rivers better than all the rivers of Israel! May I not wash in them and be clean?” But his servants reasoned with him that had Elisha told him to do some great thing in order to be healed he probably would have done so. Why not wash in the Jordan? He did so “and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” He was healed of his leprosy entirely by grace. Still, had he not done what was commanded of him by God through His prophet Elisha, he would not have been made whole.

Perhaps you understand more fully now just WHY Jesus said, “Narrow Is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it” (See Matthew 7:14). The way is narrower than many “believers” think or even imagine.

Faith without works of obedience is not the genuine article. Saving faith is LIVING faith, a faith so vital it must find expression through good works and instant obedience to God. Paul described it as “a faith which works by love” – love to God and love to our fellow man. (See Galatians 5:6). Do YOU possess living faith?

The same man who wrote Ephesians 2:8-9 also wrote Romans 8:12-13, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh (we no longer have to give in to our fleshly lusts), for if you (do) live after the flesh, YOU SHALL DIE (the second death, as we ALL die the first death however we might live), but if you through the Spirit (the only way possible) do mortify (put to death, cease) the deeds of the body (giving in to fleshly passions and lusts), you shall (then) live.”

Paul also wrote 2 Corinthians 6:16-18: “And what agreement has the temple of God with Belial (“worthlessness,” an epithet used for satan), or what part has he who believes with an infidel (an unbeliever)? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, ‘I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.’ (Is God quite obviously dwelling in YOU?) Wherefore, ‘Come out from among them (the people of this world), and be you separate,’ says the Lord, ‘and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” That goes somewhat beyond just believing, doesn’t it? Does one become a son or daughter of God by merely believing Jesus died for them? Not according to those words penned by the apostle Paul. Read the entirety of Ephesians Chapter 2 and look at the context. He speaks of children of disobedience, who are still dead in their trespasses and sins, who walk and live according to the course of this world, and who fulfill the lusts of the flesh and the mind. Just believing Jesus Christ died for them does NOT make them children of obedience and, thus, children of God. One would remain a child of wrath. True living faith energizes one spiritually, giving them spiritual life, uniting one to God and bringing that repentant believer into the household of God and thereby making that individual “an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

I close with some further words from the pen of the apostle Paul written to the believers in Galatia: “Be not deceived. God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing (obeying God), for in due season we shall reap (life everlasting) if we faint not” (Galatians 6:7-9).

I fear there are going to be a lot of surprised believers at the judgment, men and women who truly believed they were in Christ, converted, at peace with God, who will find too late that they were merely religious, believing a few undeniable facts and truths of the scripture but not “believing unto righteousness” (See Romans 10:10). One can believe Jesus died for them and not be justified, not be granted God’s Holy Spirit – the power to lead and guide them into living a righteous lifestyle as commanded by God and scripture! I, myself, was of that number for many, many years.

Paul had just written about those who “being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (See verse 3, Romans 10). Blinded by Satan from seeing that God’s righteousness is attained by submitting to Jesus Christ in toto, allowing Him to serve as our LORD, they have established their own righteousness in thinking they need only believe Jesus died for them. God’s righteousness is applied in lieu of our guilty past ONLY when we confess with our mouths Jesus is our LORD. God’s righteousness is only worked out in our present and future when we allow Jesus Christ to maintain HIS control over our lives as our LORD! Anything short of that leads to false conversion.

Jesus Christ Himself asked, “Why call ye me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not the things which I say? (See Luke 6:46). He then went on to say that all those who merely call Him Lord without actually allowing Him to BE the LORD of their lives have built a house without a foundation, a house that will eventually fall into ruin. (See verses 47-49, same chapter).

Yes, it IS by grace that we are saved by faith – but it is LIVING faith that is the gift from God, a vital, life-changing faith, a faith that guides and orders our daily life and existence. Such faith no man can boast of having worked up or produced. It is the kind of faith that gets results. The believers at Rome and in Thessalonica exhibited such faith, causing Paul to write that their faith was spoken of throughout the whole Roman world. It was a faith that changed them, making them truly sons and daughters of God.

Reader, if you are without such faith, you are without Christ. You have no Savior. By the way, do you know how many times Jesus Christ is called “Savior” in the New Testament? Twenty-four times. Do you know how many times He is called “LORD” in the New Testament alone? SEVEN HUNDRED AND THREE TIMES! Do you see where the Holy Spirit placed the emphasis when inspiring the New Testament writers to write what they did? God help you to understand is my prayer.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

“It is impossible but that offenses will come.”  Jesus said that.  Do you know why He said that?  Because he had just said, “If they (religious types who claim the Bible is their authority for their beliefs) hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded (into accepting actual Bible truth and doctrine) though one rose from the dead” (See Luke 17:1 and Luke 16:31).  One’s grandmother could rise up from her casket and say what is absolutely true regarding some doctrine taught and supported by inspired scripture and those blinded by Satan into believing a lie would still hold to their falsehoods and errors!  That’s what Jesus was clearly saying.

Those who will not hear or believe what God has said through Moses and the prophets are locked-in to error.  Time after time I have heard some preacher or supposed Bible teacher say, “I don’t get my doctrine out of the Old Testament!”  Of course they are actually saying, “I don’t hear Moses and the prophets,” placing themselves in the category of those Jesus Himself said could not be persuaded to accept the truth even if the Lord resurrected one from the dead in order to persuade them of their errors!!!

The apostle Paul plainly and clearly declared that “ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, for reproof, or correction, for instruction in righteousness” (See 2 Timothy 3:16).  The Hebrew scriptures will reprove and correct us concerning our false beliefs and assumptions.  Those same scriptures will instruct us in what God considers righteous conduct, including our speech and thoughts.  We will not be confused and mystified by statements we find in Paul’s letters that seem to contradict the words penned by Moses and the Hebrew prophets.  The light of God’s truth will shine into the deepest recesses of our minds and thinking, making everything clear.

But there is one other clearly stated truth of God we must come to believe and accept if we are ever to know the truth: All sin must be shunned and avoided.  Peter says we are kept from sin by the power of God THROUGH FAITH!” (See I Peter 1:5).  The preacher who tells his congregation they cannot stop sinning is unwittingly doing the devil’s work.  Those who accept his words have no faith to trust in the power of God to keep them from sin for even one day – much less a lifetime.  Why pray, “Deliver us from temptation if we do not believe God has the power or will to do so?”

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

The apostles had no idea over twenty centuries would pass (and maybe even more) before the Lord would return. Early on, they thought the Lord’s return was imminent. And they thought that due to the intense persecution brought against the Christians by both Jews and pagan Rome. Over and over again in his first epistle Peter speaks of the suffering of Christians and how they were looked upon as evil doers. (See I Peter 1:6-7; 2:12, 19-23; 3:14-17; 4:1-4). And then, in light of this continued persecution of believers, Peter writes “But the end of all things is at hand Be you, therefore, sober, and watch unto prayer!” (See I Peter 4:7). Christians were not being spared these fiery trials, suffering and persecution, and it was such continued treatment that prompted Peter to say, “the end of all things is at hand!” He could not be faulted for believing that as the Lord had plainly stated there would be a great persecution of believers prior to His return!

When Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus, “What shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world (or age)…Jesus answered and said….Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and you shall be hated of all nations (America, Britain, Italy, Sweden, etc.) for my name’s sake (because you are Christians)…and then shall the end come” (See Matthew 24:3-14). These were the words that were ringing in Peter’s ear as he saw the growing persecution of Christians, prompting him to write “the end of all things is at hand!”

Peter then writes, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” (I Peter 4:12). It seems most believers would think it mighty strange if they began to be persecuted and even put to death! Yet Peter firmly believed such treatment was a sure sign of the Lord’s near return.

Peter goes on to write, “But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed (following this unparalleled suffering of Christians), you may be glad also with exceeding joy. If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified” (See I Peter 4:13-14). Peter then says, “Wherefore let them that suffer ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (verse 19, I Peter 4).

Nor was Peter alone in his belief that the intense persecution and killing of Christians everywhere and in every place signaled Jesus Christ’s return was near at hand. The apostle Paul believed the same thing, writing, “the time is short” (I Corinthians 7:29) in light of “the present distress” (I Corinthians 7:26), the persecution of Christians by Rome. James also agreed with these apostles, writing “the coming of the Lord draws near” (James 5:8).

Jesus tells us plainly when to expect His return and that is when Christians are being delivered up to be afflicted and killed and hated by all nations for their Christian faith. He said when believers see “ALL these things” spoken of in Matthew Chapter 24, verses 5 through 24, THEN, and only then should they lift up their heads and look up as His return was then imminent. (See Luke 21:28). Scripture cannot be broken. It says what it means and means what it says. (See John 10:35). God help you to understand.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

(The following article was first written Sept. 27, 2016 when Barack Obama still occupied the White House).

Even the sins of a nation have a payday someday. Our chickens are coming home to roost. The Bible speaks of God withholding judgment on a nation because their iniquities, or sins, were not yet full. In his sermon “Payday Someday,” R.G. Lee spoke of how the wheels of God’s judgment grind slowly but they grind exceeding fine. Men can mock and belittle the righteous within their nation, but it is the presence of the righteous in a nation that withholds God’s heavy hand of judgment, for when He judges a nation the righteous suffer right along with the ungodly in some respects.

Though having gone to bed late, I awoke quite early deeply troubled by what I know lies ahead for this country. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then will l hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). But our president has publicly proclaimed that America is not a Christian nation. When he uttered those words, I thought, “Our days are now numbered.” And our nation has not turned from its wicked ways. Instead we pass more and more laws that make our gross sins legal.

The atheists and agnostics among us are going to see quite well that there definitely is a God in heaven that rules over the affairs of men. And they are not going to like what they will see. It is dark outside right now both literally and figuratively. Literally the sun will shine in another couple of hours. Daylight will spread across this wonderful nation and we will hear the singing of the birds. Figuratively it may never shine again but only grow darker, and darker, and darker. The birds will cease their singing save for the mourning doves. Their sad refrain will fill the air and break our hearts.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

“And He said, ‘That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man, for from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.'” (Mark 7:20-23). This one small passage alone convinces me that the Lord both desires and commands that His followers live sanctified lives and that such is possible, even to be expected.

Are we to believe that God’s sons and daughters must be defiled every day they live, that they thereby, as it were, wallow in defilement. When the command is given to “Be you therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,” are we to believe we have no power or ability, even with God’s help, to obey such a command? (See Matthew 5:49). There, of course, must be a concerted, conscious decision to walk that pathway of moral perfection, to exercise the will to say, “NO” to every temptation of the flesh and spirit. It should not be assumed that this walk is indeed an easy one, but we are warned that “the way of transgressors is hard.” (See Proverbs 13:15). Of the two pathways, the way of holiness or the way of transgression, the easier of the two is the walk of holiness in that it is less fraught with dangers and inexorable penalties. It is, of course, often easier to give in to the pulls of the flesh when first the temptation arises, but we will find that a continued resistance will in but a short space of time cause the temptation to lessen its attraction and pull until before too long the temptation is no longer felt at all. Of course, Satan will always seek a more convenient time and manner to move again, but, as the old hymn says, “each victory will help us some other to win.” Think on these things.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

John Calvin, author of the book Institutes of the Christian Religion, and on whose teachings the Presbyterian Church was built upon, taught that God pre-ordained certain humans to be saved, leaving all others – billions and billions – to live and die cut off from Him and, hence, forever lost.  He taught that those pre-ordained to be saved would eventually come to Christ and remain submitted to Christ and His teachings throughout their entire lives.  (I do not know what Calvin’s thoughts on Demas defection might have been.  See 2 Timothy 4:10)).  This was his teaching on election and predestination.  Both he, and the church founded on his beliefs, are in gross error regarding this subject.

Election and predestination has nothing to do with whether one will be saved or lost, whether they will go to heaven or hell.  Election and predestination concerns WHEN one will have their minds opened to divine truth, whether this will occur in this lifetime or in the world to come. Paul and Silas were attempting to venture into Asia Minor to preach the gospel but “were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia (Minor).”  They then endeavored “to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not.” (See Acts 16:6-7).  No explanation is given as to how the Holy Spirit accomplished this.  Was it due to the weather or some act of nature?  We just do not know. Looking down through the corridor of time God saw the members of the human family who would live at a time and in a place that would be conducive to having their minds opened to divine truth and His reality.  He then pre-ordained certain members of the human family, so living at a time and in a place conducive to their responding to His overtures, to hear the gospel and understand the mission of Jesus Christ.  Still, in His great mercy, He declared that “whosoever will may come” to Christ and be saved.  The elect, those elected and predestinated from the very beginning of time, will definitely come to Christ.  All the rest of the human family will yet be given a full, free, expansive summons to join the great universe-ruling family of God after Christ returns to earth and sets up His eternal kingdom.

Following our Lord’s one thousand year rule over all the kingdoms and governments of the world, the masses of mankind will be resurrected from the dead to mortal, physical existence and granted a lengthy lifespan and then they, too, will be summoned to join the family of God.  Human life spans will again be lengthened to several centuries as in the time when the first humans inhabited the earth,  “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days, for the child shall die a hundred years old, but the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed” (Isaiah 65:20).  No one will die in early childhood.  Everyone will live to a great age, God giving them ample time to accept and walk in the truth.  Those dying at the mere age of a hundred will be considered to have died in their childhood.  Those still living sinful lives at a hundred years old will be cursed by God for God will have already granted them a hundred years to get it right. 

Among the Jewish people only a small remnant have been chosen to hear and have their minds opened to receiving the gospel message in this present age.    The vast majority of Jews have temporarily been cut off from God and the truth.  (Read all of Acts chapter 11).  “For God has concluded them all in unbelief that He might have mercy on all: (See Acts 11:32).  When Jesus Christ returns and sets up His kingdom “In that day there shall be a fountain (of Christ’s shed blood) opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1).  “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.  In that day there shall be one Lord, and His name one” (Zechariah 14:9).  “They (the Jewish people) will be as though I had not cast them off” (See Zechariah 10:6).  “And many nations (Saudi Arabia, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, etc.) shall be joined to the Lord (thus, converted and redeemed) in that day, and shall be my people.  And I will dwell in the midst of you…” (See Zechariah 2:11), Here salvation is being offered to the Jews and the Gentiles AFTER Jesus Christ’s second coming.  This does NOT constitute a “second chance” as these people never had a first chance to be enlightened and saved!  “And it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said onto them, you are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living God” (Romans 9:26).  “According as it is written, God has given them (temporarily) the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day” (Romans 11:8). All humans who already have had their minds opened to the truth regarding Jesus Christ’s identity yet who rejected the Lord will have no “second chance” to be saved but will be counted among the spiritually lost and judged as such.

NONE born human will ever have just cause to stand before God and honestly declare, “I never had a chance at being saved and granted eternal life.  I never heard the gospel or any divine truth.”  No Aztec or Inca Indian will be able to raise that argument.  No Egyptian slave, no Chinese peasant who lived a thousand years before Jesus’ birth – NO ONE!  The goodness and mercy and love of God toward the human family – yes, toward each and every one of us without exception – is truly mind-boggling when rightly understood.

A gross misunderstanding of Romans 1 has convinced millions that all the people of the world have already been granted the opportunity to be saved and sanctified by the Lord.  Romans 2:17 identifies who Paul was speaking of in Romans 1.  God help you to understand is my prayer.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Some seem to get bent all out of shape if they even think someone would believe God would give some humans a second chance at being redeemed and granted eternal life. “The Babylonians and Apaches already had their chance and blew it,” they argue. Most who raise that mindless argument assume Romans Chapter One teaches that mankind is without excuse for rejecting salvation through Jesus Christ – the ONLY name given among mankind whereby men can be saved. They fail to see the context of Romans 1:20, “they are without excuse,” clearly reveals Paul is making reference to the Jews – those who had the oracles of God, who abandoned the truth for a lie, who broke covenant with God, etc. Read the entire chapter and forget the chapter break and continue reading through the 17th verse of chapter 2 in order to see the context clearly. At any rate, how many chances does God give the average person before they finally surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ???

The apostle Paul realized that it doesn’t take a genius to figure out “how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (See Romans 10:14). Paul went on to say, “So then faith (in Jesus Christ) comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God” (See Romans 10:17). And without faith it is impossible to please God! (See Hebrews 11:6). It is a shame more preachers don’t think as deeply as the apostle Paul thought.

It is “whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins” (See Acts 10:43). The “witness of nature” cannot provide this! The Inca Indian, the Assyrian soldier, the ancient Chinese peasant might conclude creation demands the existence of a Creator but nature and creation cannot identify that Creator or suggest to the creationist that the Creator desires a relationship with them and would like to impart eternal life to them!! How absurd to even think so! “Neither is there salvation in any other (other person, method, avenue, etc.), for there is none other name (or method) under heaven given among men (of any nation, generation or era), whereby we must be saved” (See Acts 4:12).  

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

One last note before retiring.  I  was such a great sinner for so long only divine intervention can even begin to explain what I am today – an honest man who works tirelessly six days a week at the most menial tasks (first posted Friday, May 11, 2018 when I was 74 years old) and a man of faith and absolute trust in God.  Even when a physician and oncologist informed me that I had cancer and needed to have surgery immediately or submit to chemotherapy or radiation therapy within a matter of days because my biopsy revealed some of the cancer cells were highly likely to metastasize and spread cancer to other organs of my body, without any hesitation whatsoever I told the doctor, “I’ll trust myself to the Lord to heal me.”  By that statement and that act I was trusting my very life to the intervention of Jesus Christ.  I could do so without hesitation as I had submitted myself to total obedience to the Lord several years before and had previously been healed of COPD, bronchitis and gastric reflux.  I also was well acquainted with the many promises made to the faithful in God’s sacred word.

God would have been perfectly just and fair had He ended my life decades ago – even in my twenties, thirties or forties or beyond.  Time and time again He moved to preserve my life when I was in imminent jeopardy of dying in various situations.  I have no doubt that it was divine intervention that saved me each time – and I am talking about on a dozen or more occasions.

The apostle Paul writes that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance – that is God never changes His mind in such matters.  We can disqualify ourselves from service to the Most High, but even then God can pour out His grace and mercy, His power and Spirit and turn us around, lifting us up from the cesspools of degradation in which we have fallen, cleanse us, forgive us, and send us forth in a new field of service.  And that is what He did for me.

I see that my website (an old website now discontinued) was recently visited by someone in Lagos, Nigeria.  They viewed my article “A Man Called Gideon.”  This posting seems to be a favorite of some.  It tells of how God can win battles even an army cannot win and He can win them with just a handful of men.  And God can do with one lone individual what ten thousand cannot do.  Do not limit God.  It is one of the greatest mistakes a human being can ever make.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley