Depending On Christ

Depending On Christ






“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:29

This is a strange verse to start a blog with but I want to bring something out in this verse that is more than just the basic truth. First, the basic truth is that avoiding hell is so important that if a part of one’s body causes them to stumble, they should cut it off. That is very extreme and I am in no wise advocating that you do that but Jesus is trying to express the point that to avoid hell and make heaven is the most important thing we can do, even more important that trying to preserve our flesh. But that’s not all.

Look who he is talking to. “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,” His whole discourse begins in the next verse, or verse 3 and continues all the way through until the end of Matthew 7. So, see how he is talking to – his disciples as “his disciples came unto him:” After they came to him, “And he opened his mouth, and taught them…” So, if a soul cannot parish after once being saved, why would he tell his disciples to go to great lengths to avoid Hell. If one can never be lost after being a a disciple or a child of God, there would be no reason for him to say that.

The truth of the matter that the doctrine of unconditional security has sent more souls to hell then just about any other false doctrine in the church because it teaches that once someone prays, there is no way they can be lost. Their reasoning’s are such as this:

“Christ is able to keep me.” Yes, he is if we are willing to be kept.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 ¶ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.” James 1: 12

“No man can pluck me out of his hand” True, but there is a condition.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27 (underline mine)

“Nothing will separate me from the love of God” ….but sin.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8: 35-39

Finally, “My name is there in God’s book forever.” Take a look at the scripture.

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5 A name cannot be blotted out unless it was there in the first place.

Yet, we do have confidence in Christ if we are willing to follow him as he will be our help if we depend upon him for strength and guidance.

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,” Jude 1:24

The bottom line is that we must depend on him and not just some man’s doctrine of “I hope so” salvation. We can overcome by “the blood of the lamb” and by the word of our testimony. Revelation 12:11