Galations 6:8 Eternal Life

On July 26, 2009, a pastor I have high regard for gave a message on Galations 6:9 entitled “In Due Season”.  While this pastor's teaching style is from what I refer to as the “Old School”, his messages are always well organized and give me much to consider in my heart.  This message fulfilled what I believe to be this pastor's purpose in motivating believers to keep on doing the work of the Lord without ceasing, resulting in unbelievers coming to Christ.  However, like the overwhelming teachers of today, he did not get into the true consequences of the conditional statement Paul makes in Galations 6:8. 
 This is a crucial verse since it has been misinterpreted for several centuries by the Reformed and Armanian theologians, not to mention Roman Catholicism.  The conditional statement is that, if we sow to the flesh (fail to follow Christ) we will reap corruption but if we sow to the Spirit (Do good works in Christ – persevere) we will reap eternal life.
What Bob and others did was skip the eternal life issue altogether and teach that we must continue doing good to see fruit from the Spirit.  However, the Reformed and Armanian’s equate the condition in Galations 6:8 with going to heaven or hell.  That is a crucial point, and it is wrong.
The eternal life presented here is “Abundant Life”, not salvation from hell.  He is talking to regenerate Christians about the consequences they will face at the Judgment Seat of Christ at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom if they fail to persevere in their walk with Christ.  The eternal life (abundant life) referred to here is close fellowship with Christ in His Kingdom, inheriting the right to rule with Christ in His Kingdom, and receiving crowns and praise at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
The corruption presented in this verse means loss of fellowship with Christ in the Millennial Kingdom, loss of inheritance and the right to rule with Christ in the Kingdom, and shame and loss of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  It does not mean, nor does it make any reference to, a believer going to hell as a consequence of sowing to the flesh.
He is actually concluding his teaching on the battle between the flesh and the Spirit discussed in Galations 5:16 – 26.  Again, in 5:19 – 21, Paul makes a conditional statement where the negative consequence is to not inherit the kingdom.  Again, there is no reference to a believer going to hell.  It is specifically referring to the Millennial Kingdom.
It is important to distinguish between “obtaining eternal life (salvation from hell)” and “the consequences to the Christian who fails to follow Christ”.  These are two distinct events and must be separated.  And to say that a true Christian must not act or think a certain way or they will lose their salvation or that they never had it in the first place because their faith was not genuine is absolutely wrong and there is nothing in the entire Word of God to support such thinking without taking the verses or passages out of context. 
In fact, if it were not possible for true, regenerate believers to fall away from Christ then   why does Paul warn them not to do the things of the flesh and encourage them to sow to the Spirit?  It is obvious that Paul is writing to Christians and encouraging them to follow Christ while warning them of the great opportunities they will lose in the Kingdom Life if they do not follow Christ.
In conclusion, if you believe (are convinced) that Jesus is Lord and will raise you from the dead then you have eternal life and, since it is eternal, it cannot be taken away from you.  You can never lose it!  However, you also now have an obligation to follow Christ and keep His commandments.  If you fail to persevere in that goal then you may not inherit the kingdom (be involved in Christ’s government on earth during His Millennial Kingdom), may lose close fellowship with Christ, may suffer shame and loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ, may not be welcome at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.  However, while all these things may happen (during a moment or period in time) as a consequence, you will not go to hell.
In closing, consider Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then?  Are we to continue to sin that grace might increase?  May it never be!  How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”

Can I Lose My Salvation and Go to Hell?

First we must establish when eternal life begins.  John 3:16 says that if we believe then we will not perish, but have everlasting life.  Every time we see this throughout the Book of John it implies that eternal life begins the moment you believe.  In Romans 6:4 it states that we who believe in Him “have been buried with Him through baptism into death in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”  Also, Romans 6:11 states, “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus”.  2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold new things have come.”   Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”  And Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Looking back at each of these passages, it is obvious that we could not have a change, receive a new creation, etc. without receiving eternal life.  Therefore, eternal life begins at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ.

Second, we must establish how long eternal life lasts.  Webster’s dictionary defines “everlasting” as enduring forever, eternal.  It defines “eternal” as ceaseless, everlasting, perpetual, never ending.  Therefore, according to John 3:16 and other similar passages, we can never lose eternal life.  So, once you receive it, you cannot lose it.  Anyone who states otherwise simply does not understand the Word of God or is too stubborn to believe that we cannot lose eternal life no matter what we do.

Now that we have established that eternal life begins the moment a person believes in Jesus Christ to raise him from the dead and that, by its very nature, eternal life never ends, the only logical conclusion is that we can never lose our salvation from hell.  Eternal life is eternal, it never ends.  It is not dependent on what we do or don’t do.  It is dependent upon God who gives it.  If you believe in Jesus Christ to raise you from the dead you will be saved from hell (receive eternal life).  While some critics may not agree with this it is the truth of God.  It has nothing to do with our works.  That is an entirely different matter that has to do with our fellowship with God and rewards or rebukes we will receive in His kingdom.  It has nothing to do with our salvation from hell or entering into heaven.

How Long Does Eternal Life Last?

Webster’s dictionary defines “everlasting” as enduring forever, eternal.  It defines “eternal” as ceaseless, everlasting, perpetual, never ending.  Therefore, according to John 3:16 and other similar passages, we can never lose eternal life.  So, once you receive it, you cannot lose it.  Anyone who states otherwise simply does not understand the Word of God or is too stubborn to believe that we cannot lose eternal life no matter what we do.

Faith Alone In Christ Alone!

Faith Alone In Christ Alone!

     Faith alone in Christ alone?   There are many people who consider themselves to be Christians, yet they often call this easy believism.  I recently read a publication on the Internet that used those very words, easy believism, to describe faith alone in Christ alone.  My response to that is...you bet it is!!!
     Salvation is by grace. This means that it results from unmerited favor, that it is not earned or deserved in any way.
     Salvation is accessed by faith, by believing in Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on the cross for our sins.   God the Father poured the sins of the whole world on to His Son, Jesus Christ, and punished Jesus for what we have done.
     Salvation through faith is not of yourselves.  There is nothing that you or I can do to work for it or to add to it.
     Salvation is a gift from God.  A gift is simply received, and by making it a gift, God shows us His fairness.  He makes it available to everyone, regardless of their abilities, because anyone can accept a gift.  A gift depends on the work, merits, love, and generosity of the giver.  All you or I can do when offered such a gift is to refuse it or take it.
     Salvation is not as result of works.  It costs us nothing to be saved.  If we had to earn it or add to it, Jesus Christ's work on the cross would not be complete and sufficient.
     Salvation by faith alone means that no one should boast.  God gets all of the glory because God does all of the work. Whether or not some believers will admit it, the primary reason for adding any kind of works to the gospel is pride, and that can be mental or actual verbal "boasting". They may not actually say it, but it gives them credit for a part of their salvation. They did something that an unsaved person has not done.
     All of the above facts about salvation are taught in two simple verses:

Ephesians 2:8-9:

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

     These are two of the clearest verses in God's word.  You don't need to be a Bible scholar to understand the apostle Paul's words in these verses.  Nevertheless, many believers deny such teachings.  Apparently, they can't deal with the idea that someone whom they believe has been a "great sinner" or "carnal believer", can still go to heaven through a simple decision to believe in Jesus Christ.
     Well I say, that's their problem, but don't let such people make it yours.  No matter what kind of tricks these legalistic religious types play with other verses in the Bible, don't fall for it! Don't let them bully you into working for your salvation (of course, what they consider to be working), and don't even argue with them (did you ever see a Christian change their mind about anything in the Bible because you argued with them about it?).
     Stand firm on Ephesians 2:8-9. Quote it over and over again.  Believe these verses.  Salvation is a free gift from God to all who choose to accept it.
     The greatest Biblical example that proves this doctrine is the criminal crucified next to Jesus, who placed his faith in Christ and was saved. This man who Christians often call the "good thief" asked Jesus to "remember me when you enter your kingdom". Jesus responded by promising him that he would be in Paradise that very day (Luke 23:32-33, 39-43).  Had Jesus not responded verbally to the thief's request, many Christians today would tell you that there is "no way" that man was saved.
     The "good thief" lived his life as a criminal, finally being sentenced to death for it.  In the end, he made an "easy death-bed" confession of faith, doing nothing more than believing in Jesus:

·         He didn't walk an aisle to "publicly proclaim his decision" or to "seal his commitment";

·         He was never baptized;

·         He never made restitution for what he had done;

·         He  never showed fruit or a changed life, or any other "evidence" of repentance;

·         He never spoke in tongues;

·         He didn't "make Jesus Lord";

·         He didn't "invite Jesus into his heart";

·         He didn't recite the sinner's prayer;

·         He never joined or became active in a church;

·         He never received "the second blessing" nor was he ever "slain in the spirit";

·         He never "shed tears of repentance";

·         He never sang "Do Lord", threw a twig on a fire, or committed his life to full-time service;

·         God didn't heal him, rescue him, or bless him with material assets or good health;

·         And "worse" of all, he never tithed, made a pledge, "planted a seed", or gave one penny of his money.

     The "good thief" simply placed his faith totally in Jesus Christ. He believed in a situation where he had "nothing to lose" by doing so, on a "death-bed" when it couldn't have been more "convenient", where it didn't cost him a thing. Today's "fruit inspectors" would have this man burning in hell had Jesus not told us different.
     In fact, such legalistic people who add works to the gospel are in danger of hell-fire themselves, because they may not have fully trusted in the work of Jesus Christ for their own salvation.  If you add your own works to salvation, then you are not putting your faith solely in the work of Jesus Christ. One day, these religious types who work to make Jesus their "Lord" (when, in fact, He already is Lord) may hear those dreaded words, "I never knew you", from Jesus Himself on Judgment Day.
     Salvation is easy for us, because Jesus did all of the work.  Don't confuse salvation with discipleship.  People who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation but then never grow in their faith, never abide in God's word, will still go to heaven.  However, the believer who chooses to live in carnality after salvation, will not have a life here that is easy:

·         God will discipline His children who disobey Him;

·         Carnal believers will not enjoy God's maximum blessings in their life here on earth;

·         They will not earn rewards for eternity.

     Salvation is a one-time decision to trust Jesus Christ.  Being a disciple (student) of Jesus is a series of day-to-day decisions to learn and obey God's Word, the Bible, to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
     Don't let another person steal away your assurance of salvation by making you "carry the cross", "pay the cost", or "make Jesus Lord" to get it.
     No person ever did less to be saved than the "good thief" on the cross. In fact, no person ever did more to be saved either.

Salvation = Faith in Jesus Christ + NOTHING!