On the morrow he is observing Jesus coming towards him, and is saying, "Lo! The Lamb of God which is taking away the sin of the world!"
Johns Account 1: 29, Concordant New Testament Translation
What did John the baptizer know that we don't? Good question, huh? Well, being related through family to Jesus, he KNEW Jesus personally. But that wasn't the question here. What did John know that we have never heard spoken from the pulpits of the mainstream church? That Jesus is the "Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world!" {Johns Account 1:29}. Sure, those within the church might recite this passage every now and then, but they refuse to acknowledge it for what it is. That Jesus has indeed taken away the sin of this world. So, why is it that those within the church continue to preach that sin still holds a place of importance in our lives? Why do a few of my dogmatic friends continue to warn me of the dangers of hell? Why? Because the church has told them so, that's why. It isn't the Father Who has declared that sin remains. Far from it. For it has always been the desire of God that "ALL mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth" {Paul to Timothy (1) 2:4}. Wait, God desires that all will be saved? What about the wicked in the world? Is there not a special place in hell for those scoundrels of the earth? Not according to He Who determines who it is that shall be saved. After all, despite all which the church will pontificate, it has always been the Father who determines those who will be saved. But in my time in the church, I never once heard this spoken from the pulpit, that all shall be saved. Does not God have that right? Think of all those worried Christians out there who wring their hands wondering if they are indeed good enough to make the cut and get into heaven. I used to be among that crowd. I was told that I needed to work hard to punch my ticket into heaven. In fact, it is those in the church who have taught us that heaven is a reward which we must work for. In his evangel, the apostle Paul has warned us about this false belief that we ourselves work our way into the Lord's heaven. In his letter to those in Ephesus, Paul speaks that it is through the grace of the Father that we're saved. That this salvation is a gift to us from God {Paul to the Ephesians 2:8}. Not only that, but Paul leaves us with the warning that there will be those who, as we've seen today, who will declare that they themselves have achieved their goal of eternity in heaven. For this salvation of ours is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting {Paul to the Ephesians 2:9}. I'm thinking that Paul knew that there would be those who would proclaim that their efforts got them into that gift given by to us by God.
It has been some time since I've stepped into a church service, yet I am no less confident in my heart that my salvation has been sealed within the Father. In fact, I would suggest that I am better off NOT hearing each and every Sunday morning how it is that I could fall out of the graces of God and lose that gift which He has given unto me. A good friend asked me some time ago, is God an Indian giver? Does He intend to wave the promise of salvation in front of us like some carrot on a stick, only to yank it away at some future point? No! To think that God would offer a gift only to revoke it is ludicrous. Yet this is a common belief among those within the Christian religious community. This is exactly what Paul was warning us of in Ephesians, that there would be those who believe that their own efforts achieved that which Gad has already given as a gift to all mankind. Not only that, but that these so called believers would be bragging about their status. I've witnessed this first hand. In fact, I have friends who are believers who proudly declare that they are glad that they "Got into" heaven. My friends, it's never been you who had anything to do with that. Contrary to what your pastor has told you, it is God Who has provided for your salvation. To believe otherwise is false teaching. In fact, I consider this to be on the list as one of the lies spoken by the mainstream church. I know that I will get some backlash to this, and I welcome any comments to that effect. But I feel that the scriptures are clear that our salvation in the Lord is the gift which we have received. Not only that, but I believe in my heart that our salvation is not tied to a physical destination, but to Christ Jesus Himself. Paul's words to young Timothy speak to this truth. That it is God Who wills that ALL mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth {Paul to Timothy (1) 2:4}. What is that truth? That Jesus IS our salvation. Knowing this, how is it at all possible to lose He Whom God has given us? Again, this is the message continually preached from the pulpits of the church. That man is a sinner and in constant danger of the fires of hell. That's a good story if you can sell it, and the church has been selling it for thousands of years. What the church has never told you is that His gift of love which He has given you is yours forever.
For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting
Paul to the Ephesians 2: 8-9, Concordant New Testament Translation
~Scott~
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