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Walking Away From God

By David J. Stewart

Can a man walk away from God, i.e., from Jesus Christ? This question
needs to be carefully answered from two different perspectives, i.e., saved or
unsaved?

UNSAVED PEOPLE WHO WALK AWAY FROM GOD

Romans 1:20 and 21 state, "For the
invisible things of him from the creation of
the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made,
even his eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse. Because
that, when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were
thankful; but became vain in their
imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened." Certainly, many unsaved people
who have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ
have foolishly choose to walk away in their
unbelief. In John 5:40 Jesus said, "And ye
will not come to me, that ye might have
life." Notice that Jesus didn't say "ye cannot
come." It is a personal choice. No one ever
goes to Hell except those who choose to go there. They are hellbound in their
sins and have rejected the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the
world.

Luke 8:11 and 12 state, "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh
away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." In
this parable of the seeds, Jesus said that the first group are unsaved, because
the Devil hath blinded them (2nd Corinthians 4:4). It is important to realize
that God always makes a way for people to be saved. Even though Satan is a
big liar, and a master deceiver, the truth of God's Word is undeniable for those
who have an honest heart... "But that on the good ground are they, which in
an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth
fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15). Any honest person knows that the Bible is
God's Word. Unsaved people who walk in darkness do so because they want to.
Satan provides them with all the excuses and they cling to them, like the
retarded theory of Evolution. Evolution isn't even plausible; yet the wicked
unquestioningly accept it as fact because it provides the excuse they need to
live as if there is no God.

CHRISTIAN

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A born-again believer may also walk away from the Lord Jesus Christ; but can
NEVER lose his or her salvation. The Bible is filled with numerous examples of
believers who sinned horribly, such as David and Solomon, yet there is NO
evidence to suggest that they lost salvation. Salvation is the gift of God
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9). Our part is simply to believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31; 10:43).

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if

righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in
vain.” —Galatians 2:21

There is much controversy and heresy regarding this issue of Eternal Security.
Many false prophets, such as Ray Comfort, have entered into the world,
teaching that a believer is NOT safe just because they believe on Jesus Christ
for salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone who places their
sincere trust upon Jesus, the Christ, to forgive their sins is instantly saved...
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans
10:13). Salvation CANNOT be lost. David commit adultery, impregnated the
woman and then murdered her husband to hide the sin. Although David was
chastised by God and suffered great loss as a consequence of his sin, his
salvation was safe and secure in the Lord.

Ray Comfort Errantly Says Sinful Believers are

Not “Safe” in Jesus
On page 1513 of THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, under the section “Questions &
Objections,” Ray Comfort addresses the statement: “Because Jesus died on the
cross we are forgiven of every sin.” Here’s Ray Comfort’s reply to this
statement…

“The forgiveness that is in Jesus Christ is conditional

upon ‘repentance towards God, and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ’ (Acts 20:21). It is a gift that God
offers to everyone, but individuals must receive it by
repenting and trusting in Christ, or they will remain
dead in their sins. No one has Biblical grounds to
continue in sin, assuming that they are safe just
because Jesus died on the cross. See 1 John 3:4-6.”
[Emphasis added]

SOURCE: THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, by Ray Comfort, pg. 1513; 2003,

Bridge-Logos Publishers, Orlando, Florida

Those are some very dangerous words at the end, “…assuming that they are
safe just because Jesus died on the cross.” Are not all believers “safe” in Jesus
Christ? Yes, they certainly are safe (Ephesians 1:13; Isaiah 28:16; Romans
10:11); but Ray Comfort teaches they are not. Ray Comfort is teaching heresy
to say that believers who fail to forsake their sins are not safe in their
salvation. Such reasoning places a heavy burden upon the sinner, requiring one
to depart from sinful bad habits as a prerequisite to be saved. Ray Comfort's
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teaching here beckons the question: How much sin is considered "safe"? Aren't
we all willful sinners at times? Yes indeed. Is any amount of sin "safe"? Clearly,
Mr. Comfort interprets "repentance" for salvation as ceasing from one's sins,
which is entirely wrong. Man's only part in salvation is to believe on Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43).

The major problem with Ray Comfort’s theology is his faulty understanding of
what Biblical “repentance” means. It is interesting that Ray Comfort avoids
defining the term directly; whereas the New Testament Greek does…
METANOIA, “a change of mind.” That’s it! Ray Comfort understands repentance
to mean literally forsaking one’s sinful lifestyle to get saved. He’s putting the
cart before the horse. The changed life comes AFTER a person is saved; not as
a prerequisite to be saved. This is what 1st John 3:4-6 means. A believer’s
faith should be evidenced by a changed life; BUT, you can’t mandate that
changed life, i.e., forsaking one’s sins, as part of saving faith.

Dr. Harry Ironside (former pastor of Moody Memorial Church, 1930-1948)

correctly understood repentance to mean…

"Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership — the owning

before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in
His holy Word."
SOURCE: Except Ye Repent, by Dr. Harry Ironside, chapter 3

Clearly, Ironside taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel. H.A. Ironside correctly
recognized repentance as the confession that "one is utterly without merit" and
that if one is "ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord
Jesus Christ." Salvation is without works of self-righteousness. Romans 4:5
plainly teaches that a man's faith is COUNTED for righteousness, i.e., the
righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to one's heavenly record by
faith. Repentance and faith are inseparable. The Gospel of John mentions the
word "believe" 85-times; but the word "repent" is never mentioned even once.
In genuine salvation, one who believes on Jesus Christ has repented; and one
who repents has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

In sharp contrast, Ray Comfort separates repentance from faith, thus requiring
lost sinners to cease from their sins as a prerequisite to placing their faith in
Christ for salvation (which is a false gospel).

Often Misunderstood Scriptures

Here's some popular Scriptures which are often misinterpreted in an attempt to
support losing one's salvation...

1. Hebrews 10:38-39, "Now the just shall live by faith: but IF any
man DRAW BACK, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But
we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them
that believe to the saving of the soul."

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This Scripture speaks of the Jews who heard the Gospel, but didn't have
any faith in the Lord (Hebrews 4:2).

2. Hebrews 3:6, "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are
we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto
the end."

Hebrews 3:12 clearly reveals that this passage of Scripture speaks of the
unsaved, i.e., those with "an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the
living God." There is NO reason to believe that the Scriptures are talking
about someone who decided they don't believe in Jesus anymore. If a
person claims that they used to be a Christian, but forsook Christianity,
they are a liar. What they really mean is that they once had the philosophy
of Christianity, or belonged to a religious organization; but they were
never a born-again Christian with the Lord in their heart.

3. Hebrews 3:12, "Take heed, BRETHREN, lest there be in any of you an evil
heart of unbelief, IN DEPARTING FROM THE LIVING GOD." 3:13, "But
exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." 3:14, "For we are made
partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast
UNTO THE END."

Many of the Jews were not saved. Although they were chosen to be God's
people, many of the Jews died in their sins and went to Hell because of
their evil heart of unbelief. Hebrews 4:2 says they HEARD the Gospel, but
had no faith in the Word of God. The world's churches are filled today with
religious people who have never been born-again; they are lost and
hellbound in their religious faith. Most Jews today are followers of
Judaism, a demonic religion that denies Jesus as the Christ. They worship
the Talmud, a despicable book that permits Jewish priests to have sex with
3-year old girls.

4. Hebrews 4:1, "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of

entering into his rest, any of you should seem to COME SHORT OF IT."

This is simply a warning that many people who "think" they are saved are
not. There are millions of churchgoers today in America and Canada who
have foolishly adopted the demonic teachings of Dr. John MacArthur, who
is unquestionably the leading proponent of the heresy of Lordship
Salvation. The idea that a believer who trusts upon the Lord for salvation
might "come short" of salvation because of shortcomings, sins or rebellion
in their personal life is WORKS SALVATION! It is a road to Hell. No amount
of deliberate personal sin in a believer's life can jeopardize one's salvation!
To state otherwise is to place the burden of salvation upon man's shoulder.
Jesus came to die upon the cross and shed His precious blood for our sins,
because we can do NOTHING to redeem ourselves (Ephesians 2:8,9).

5. Hebrews 4:8-11, "For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not
afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to
the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased
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from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter
into that rest, lest any man FALL after the same example of unbelief."

Again, the Scriptures are warning that no amount of self-righteous can

save a person. We need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 6:33; Romans
10:3,4; 1st Corinthians 5:21). John 6:29 reads, "Jesus answered and said
unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath
sent."

6. Hebrews 6:4-9, "For IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for those who were once

enlightened, and HAVE TASTED OF THE HEAVENLY GIFT, AND WERE MADE
PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY GHOST, And HAVE TASTED the good word of
God, and the powers of the world to come, IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY,
TO RENEW THEM AGAIN UNTO REPENTANCE; seeing they crucify to
themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the
earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth
herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto
cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded
better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus
speak."

Carefully read Hebrews 6:6... "If they shall fall away, to renew them again
unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God
afresh, and put him to an open shame." Although many people foolishly
attempt to use this Scripture to teach that salvation can be lost, it is very
clear from the phrase "they crucify to themselves the Son of God," that
they were never saved to begin with! The words "fall away" in the Greek
(parapipto) means "to apostatize." Luke 8:12 correctly interprets this
Scripture, "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the
devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should
believe and be saved." You see, they fell BY THE WAY SIDE, because
they believed the lie of Satan.

7. Hebrews 10:26-29, "For if we sin wilfully AFTER that we have received the
knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a
certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall
devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy
under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose
ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of
God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, WHEREWITH HE WAS
SANCTIFIED, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of
grace?"

This just simply means that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven. If
you reject Jesus as the Christ, then there remains no other hope for you,
you are doomed. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul meant in Galatians
5:4 when he said, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of
you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." If you refuse
to accept God's free gift of eternal life, by solely trusting upon Jesus as
the Messiah (i.e., the Christ) to forgive your sins, then you cannot go to
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Heaven. All Jews today who are following the teachings of Judaism are
headed for the Lake of Fire to burn for all eternity. This is so sad.

8. Hebrews 12:13-17, "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which
is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace
with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
LOOKING DILIGENTLY LEST ANY MAN FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD; lest
any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be
defiled; LEST THERE BE ANY FORNICATOR, OR PROFANE PERSON, AS
ESAU, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how
that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was
rejected: for HE FOUND NO PLACE OF REPENTANCE, though he sought it
carefully with tears."

This Scripture is often taken way out of context. Certainly, God would
have accepted Esau's desire for forgiveness. The Bible plainly states in
Isaiah 55:7, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy
upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." The Bible
is speaking in Hebrews 12:13-17 about Esau's BIRTHRIGHT, which he
foolishly sold to Jacob in a moment of panic. Jacob was a rat, a horrible
person and a scoundrel, who took advantage of his hardworking brother,
Esau. Some believers today are dishonest like Jacob, while there are
unsaved people who are honest and possess good character. We see this
quite often sadly. Esau sought with tears to retrieve his BIRTHRIGHT, but
could not. This had absolutely NOTHING to do with God forgiving Esau. It
was between Jacob and Esau.

Many women live to regret their abortions, and though they weep in bitter
tears of sorrow and agony, the damage is done. Though they seek to undo
their evil, it cannot be undone. This was Esau's situation. He was carnally-
minded and not too bright, and Jacob took advantage of him at an
opportune moment. There was no way to undo what he been done; but
this had nothing to do with God's willingness to forgive and accept Esau if
he repented and turned to the Lord.

9. 1st Thessalonians 3:5, "For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I
sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted
you, and our labour be in vain."

It is tragic when you spend years investing in someone spiritual and then
they go into the world and forget about God. I've seen this happen often,
sadly. A teenager the church I used to attend, who used to faithfully
desire the things of God, turned away from God and started going to
nightclubs when he turned 18. He's about 30 now and his life is
completely void of God. Our labor was in vain with him.

10. 2nd Peter 1:10, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make
your calling and election SURE: for IF ye do these things, ye shall never
FALL."

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The Apostle Peter is simply warning people to make sure they are saved.
There are many phonies in the world's churches today. If someone lacks
patience, godliness and brotherly kindness, it could be because they're not
saved at all. Of course, they may be saved and backslidden also. To use
2nd Peter 1:10 in an attempt to teach that a person can fall away and lose
their salvation is WORKS SALVATION. If we have to do "these things," i.e.,
be patient, kind, loving, godly and so forth, then salvation is conditional
upon our self-righteousness, which violates everything else the Word of
God teaches (Romans 10:3,4; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5). We are saved
by God's mercy and grace; not by our own efforts.

11. 2nd Peter 3:17, "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things
before, beware lest ye also, being LED AWAY with the error of the wicked,
FALL from your own stedfastness."

The word "fall" is frequently misinterpreted to mean "losing salvation"; but

it doesn't mean that at all. It means "to be driven out of one's course."
Jesus spoke of the "narrow way" which leadeth unto life; and the "broad
way" which leadeth to Hell (Matthew 7:13,14). Most people choose to fall
short of finding the narrow path because of their love for sin (John 3:20).
It is sad that anyone would teach that salvation is not guaranteed for
professed believers who choose to live in sin, because the Bible plainly
states in Romans 4:5... "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." I
am not condoning living in sin (Romans 3:31), I am simply saying that
salvation is the gift of God and is not in any way conditioned upon the way
we live. Call it a license to sin if you will; but salvation is of the Lord. A gift
is a gift.

12. 2nd Peter 2:20, "For if AFTER THEY HAVE ESCAPED THE POLLUTIONS OF
THE WORLD THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOUR
JESUS CHRIST, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter
end is worse with them than the beginning. 2:21, "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." 2:22, "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."

There is a correlation between living in sin and getting saved. Basically,

those who love the world refuse to come to Jesus Christ to be saved (John
3:20; John 5:40). It is not that an unrepentant man cannot come to Jesus
Christ to be saved; it is that he WON'T come to Jesus Christ. There's a big
difference. Notice that 2nd peter 2:20 speaks of the "knowledge" of the
Lord. Does knowledge save? No, of course not. This passage of Scripture
simply means that when a person has a chance to get saved, but refuses
to do so, they are headed downhill from there.

Again notice in 2nd Peter 2:21 the phrase, "Known the way of
righteousness." Does knowing the way save anyone? No, of course not.
Salvation is a matter if TRUSTING Jesus Christ. Head knowledge cannot
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save (James 2:19).

13. Colossians 1:22, "In the body of his flesh through death, to present you
holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: IF YE CONTINUE in
the faith grounded and settled, and BE NOT MOVED AWAY from the hope
of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every
creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister."

As much as this Scripture seems to teach that a believer must "continue in

the faith" to remain saved (which the Salvation Army foolishly teaches by
the way); Titus 3:5 and other irrefutable Scriptures clearly state... "Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost." If a person must "continue in the faith" to remain saved,
then it begs the question: At what point of apostasy does a believer lose
his or her salvation? Clearly this would place the burden of salvation upon
mankind's shoulders and not upon the wondrous mercy and grace of God.
The very suggestion that salvation is dependent upon man makes God
furious. The whole purpose of salvation was for God to manifest His
unconditional love for us sinners (Romans 5:8), who deserve to burn in
Hell (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8); but God made a way of escape
through His beloved only begotten Son, Jesus (John 3:16).

Colossians 1:22 simply refers to religious hypocrites in our churches who

are not saved at all. Carefully notice the phrase "be not moved away from
the hope of the Gospel." Clearly, this Scripture warns of those who have
churchianity without Christianity. Paul said in Romans 1:16 that he was
"not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the
Greek."

14. 1st John 2:24, "Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from
the beginning. IF that which ye have heard from the beginning SHALL
REMAIN IN YOU, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."

Many people HEAR the Gospel; but few OBEY it. This was the situation in
Hebrews 4:2... "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto
them [the Jews in the Wilderness]: but the word preached did not profit
them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." Only an ignorant
person would twist such Scriptures as 1st John 2:24 to teach that one
must continue having faith in order to be saved. The truth of the matter is
that a genuine believer will NEVER completely stop trusting the Lord, even
though times of discouragement and doubt may arise (such as the case
with John the Baptist while in prison).

The emphasis of the Gospel writers is that those who hear the truth of the
Gospel, i.e., the way of righteousness, ought to OBEY it and not depart
from it... "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and
from the glory of his power" (2nd Thessalonians 1:8,9). In John 3:3-7
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Jesus said that a man MUST BE BORN AGAIN to enter into Heaven. It is
absurd to think that one who has been born, whether it be physically or
spiritually, could ever be UNBORN. The spiritual birth is as irreversible as
the physical birth.

It is common sense to conclude that the same elements of hypocrisy,

apostasy and deception were at work in the early Church as we see in the
modern Church today. America's churches are saturated with unsaved
religious hypocrites, phonies "Having a form of godliness, but denying
the power thereof: from such turn away" (2nd Timothy 3:5). That
"power" is the Gospel Paul mentions in Romans 1:16. Many of America's
churches today (including churches in Australia, Canada and Europe) have
adopted the Lordship Salvation heresy, which negates the grace of God
and requires lost sinners to depart from sinful living to be saved as a
prerequisite to receiving the free gift of God. It is wickedness!

15. Romans 11:19, "Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I
might be graffed in." 11:20, "Well; because of unbelief they were broken
off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:" 11:21, "For
if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not
thee." 11:22, "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." 11:23,
"And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for
God is able to graff them in again."

This Scripture plainly evidences that it is a matter of UNBELIEF which the

Bible is addressing; and not someone who has lost their salvation. The
Bible even uses the word "unbelief."

16. 1st Corinthians 15:1, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel
which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye
stand;" 15:2, "By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I
preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain."

Those who deny the death, burial or resurrection of Jesus Christ are NOT
saved. That's all this Scripture is saying.

17. 2nd John 1:8, "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we
have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." 1:9, "Whosoever
transgresseth, and ABIDETH NOT in the doctrine of Christ, HATH NOT
GOD. HE THAT ABIDETH in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father
and the Son."

Again, carefully consider the phrase "abideth not in the doctrine of Christ."
The Bible is speaking about Christ rejecters here; not former believers
who quit on God. If a man claims that he "used to be a Christian," he is a
liar! He may have had the philosophy of Christianity, or joined some
religious organization; but he was never born-again into the family of God.
Proponents of losing one's salvation treat salvation as if it were merely a
philosophy that can be disregarded at some point in life. Genuine salvation
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involves a supernatural act of God in response to our faith in Jesus Christ,

the Lamb of God, to forgive our sins. If we are NOT saved by good works;
then how can we ever be lost by bad works?

18. Romans 2:6, "Who will render to every man according to his deeds." 2:7,
"To them who BY PATIENT CONTINUANCE IN WELL DOING seek for glory
and honour and immortality, eternal life." 2:8, "But unto them that are
contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,
indignation and wrath." 2:9, "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of
man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile." 2:10, "But
glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew
first, and also to the Gentile."

This Scripture is frequently taken way out of context. This Scriptures must
be reconciled with Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but
believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness." Continually doing well has nothing to do with salvation
and only a woefully ignorant person would claim otherwise in view of
Romans 4:5.

The very fact that Christians will have their own judgment to give account
for the BAD THINGS THEY'VE DONE is clear evidence that salvation cannot
be lost. There will be some very sinful believers in Heaven (1st Corinthians
5:5). 2nd Corinthians 5:10 states, "For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his
body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." This
speaks of the Judgment Seat of Christ ONLY for believers who die in the
Lord. The unsaved will be judged at a later time at The Great White
Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

19. Ezekiel 18:26, "When a righteous man turneth away from his
righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity
that he hath done shall he die." 18:27, "Again, when the wicked man
turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that
which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive."

If the unscholarly nitwits who corrupt the meaning of this Scripture would
simply read Ezekiel 33:13, they would stop teaching heresy... "When I
shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own
righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be
remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for
it." Clearly, the Bible is condemning self-righteousness.

Most people today are walking away from God. Ironically, those same
unbelievers are becoming more religious each and every passing day. You see,
as the church is becoming more worldly, so also is the world becoming more
churchy. This is apostasy! The United States is leading the way in apostasy and
unbelief! Americans have now voted for a Communist U.S. President. America
has been given the President it deserves! America's economic woes are just
beginning. We will eventually end up like Communist China where most of their
people live on less than one dollar per day.

https://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils in America/Apostasy/walking_away_from_god.htm 10/11

6/13/24, 5:35 AM Walking Away From God

Sadly, many folks today are walking, or in some cases, running away from God.
Jonah ran from God as a believer; but he didn't lose his salvation. Interestingly,
while in the belly of the great fish, Jonah was thinking about salvation. Jonah
knew that salvation is of the Lord. Would to God that all the naysayers,
skeptics, Lordship Salvationists, those who teach salvation can be lost, those
who teach that a person must be willing to turn from sin to be saved, and
proponents of works salvation realize as Jonah did that SALVATION IS OF
THE LORD.

Ye Must Be Born Again!

You Need HIS Righteousness!

https://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils in America/Apostasy/walking_away_from_god.htm 11/11