SCRIPTURE’S ASSURANCE OF VICTORY

For They that “hear what the Spirit saith
unto the churches”

     Man has a major problem. Apart from our corporate sinful nature that has led to every abuse of life’s dignity throughout history, we as a race wreak of the stench of legalism and egocentric motivation. As a result, every evangelism that employs this psychology to fill the pews brings disgrace to Jesus Christ. In fact, every religion except one, The Bible-obedient Gospel of Jesus Christ, is based on salvation by works through fear of punishment or selfish reward. While man’s drive to survive has its place in our decisions for both our temporal and spiritual welfare, both of these are in the long run spiritually crippling to the soul. And those trapped in the shackles of this mindset will not be able to endure the coming trials that usher the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ. Because of this, every brother and sister “in Christ” is called to understand the cause and effect of this spiritual slavery that stifles the work of the Holy Spirit on the heart. It is only “faith which worketh by love” that will see the repentant sinner through the coming trials (Gal.5:6). The Apostle John summed it up: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” I Jn.4:18.

     The French philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau held a maxim in his personal values that is true in its application to our sinful nature. He, as an unconverted soul held the view that ‘what one does is for one’s self. No exception!’ Everything man does is self-serving by nature. But when we carry this principle to the issue of GOD’S salvation and the principle of self-sacrifice for the benefit of others, Rousseau, Voltaire, Nietzsche, and before them, Plato and Aristotle are exposed as the godless thinkers they were.

     To say that a soldier who throws his body over a grenade to save his fellow soldiers is selfish is a fundamentally immoral thought. This thinking is satanic at its core. But this is precisely how immoral thinking works its way into our society. When we compare today’s values to those of a generation ago it is as different as night is from day. In essence, one wrong step usually leads to another.

     The epitome of this self-centered philosophy is exposed when we look at the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When Christ, of His own volition went to the Cross of Calvary, this atheistic philosophy accuses Him of doing it selfishly, to satisfy His own greedy nature. Nothing more foolish could ever be associated with GOD’S efforts to save man from sin. This assertion accuses Jesus Christ of being guilty of sharing man’s sinful egocentric behavior. Nothing could be further from the truth, but this is what sin has wrought in the hearts of men. The Apostle Paul summed it up: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” I Cor.1:18.

     As this world faces increasing threats from both evil men and nature’s backlash, man’s legalism and greed are to reach their pinnacle of expression through federal legislation. We already see the tokens of tyranny in government’s overreaching its authority and we need to see the churches involvement with these spiritually crippling attributes. To the end that the saints not fall prey to this age-old snare of Satan that promises to lead virtually the whole Christian world to receive “the mark of the beast” (Rev.16:2), and thus their eternal ruin (Rev.20:15).

     Next to the second resurrection judgment, the most severe warning ever given to all men is the third angel’s message of Revelation 14:9-11: “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

     It should be noted that these words apply to the 2nd Advent of Christ and not to the 2nd resurrection judgment. Therefore these verses and others cannot be used to promote the sadistic doctrine of eternal torment for those who reject “the love of God” (I Jn.5:3). The power of Christ’s appearing in the clouds above, to raise the dead and translate the living, the church has yet to acknowledge the simplicity and clarity of these verses. In fact, the churches illiteracy of Earth’s closing scenes is so pathetically arrogant and ignorant that it is no wonder that because of their inept judgment in all things, the vast majority of church goers will not escape the condemnation of sin (I Pet.4:18). Their judgment stands as pathetic as the false assurances of politicians today.

     Of Christ’s Second Coming it is written: “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet [not a whisper as the secret rapture insists], and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds [the compass headings of north, south, east, and west], from one end of heaven to the other.” “Our GOD shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.” “The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.” “His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD,” “and every eye shall see Him.” “And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem [“they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Rev.14:12)]; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” Matt.24:37-39,30,31; Ps.50:3, 97:4,5; Na.1:5; Rev.1:7; Zech.14:12.

     The choice at the end of time for every man and woman is simple: we can either face the wrath of men in religious garb masquerading in virtue and who unbeknownst to them only serve the purpose of Satan; or we can face the wrath of GOD, which in the end will be an everlasting death: never again to live, to love—to be loved. The words of Christ should be remembered and taken to heart: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt.10:28. These words of Jesus rebuke the whole notion of man’s claim of natural immortality. Only those who stand with Jesus will be enjoined to His immortality via the fruit from “the tree of life” (Rev.2:7). All others “shall be as though they had never been.” Ob.16.

     There is only one way for the saints to come through this tumultuous time leading to the 2nd Advent of Christ: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col.1:27. Only by the Indwelling Presence of Jesus through the power of the Holy Ghost can the saints be victorious in the coming trials. In His life as “the Son of man” He experienced every nuance of man’s trials and tribulations, as it is written: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb.4:15. And because of His victory over sin in all its influence, His Presence in the soul will see the saints through man’s final display of religious tyranny leading to Armageddon where Christ comes to crush the oppressors and set the captives free. Those who have “the faith of Jesus” (His faith that dwells within) acknowledge that only He can live out the virtue of His Ten Commandment Law in and through us. Thus our victory is achieved by letting Christ live out His life, His virtue, and His obedience to the Sacred Law through our humble, willing spirit who look to Him and Him alone, thus fulfilling the prophecy when the redeemed stand before Him: “He alone shall be exalted in that day” (Isa.2:11). His Presence in the life will bring a true understanding of the character of GOD that should the saints not succeed in this final test it would bring reproach on “the LORD of glory” (I Cor.2:8).

     The key doctrine of GOD’S salvation rests on a simple principle. It is defined by Jesus when He prayed to His Father: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth…And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” Jn.17:17,19. Allegiance to the Bible’s doctrines of salvation means everything to the Christian in these closing days. Its literacy will be life to the believer. But illiteracy to Scripture’s boundaries of salvation will be fatal.

     With Christ living in the willing heart, He provides the motivation and incentive that is impervious to the temptations of evil. This is because Satan’s temptations always lead to some self-serving purpose. Because of this, Jesus educated His disciples with both the knowledge of our heavenly Father and His call to obey His influence on the heart: “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Matt.20:28; Jn.13:15.

     It was this love born-of-heaven that led the Apostles to display before the world the character of Jesus Christ that all may be drawn to the Cross, and through faith be forgiven their sins and “dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Ps.23:6). “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” “Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.” “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Gal.5:13; Phil.2:3,4; I Cor.10:24; Rom.15:1.

     This lovely character seen throughout the New Testament has its origin in the words of the LORD:

“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” Isa.58:10,11.

     What is coming will attempt to rob the saints of this love born-of-heaven. So let us always remember: Jesus didn’t obey to make sure He made it to heaven. He obeyed to make sure we made it to heaven. And when we live by this principle of serving our fellow man, to see them through to share “the glory of the Lord,” after all is said and done the saints will declare: Heaven is worth every price to pay!

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” II Cor.4:17.