Welcome to the Power Hour
I will be continuing on with "once saved, always saved". This is part 2.
I Corinth 1:18
In the book of Acts, Paul exhorts them to continue in the faith.
Why would Paul say,
"18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
Jesus will never go to the cross again, it is a completed work
Acts 14:22
"Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."
What if they don't?
Jesus desires to present us- holy, unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight IF we continue in the faith.
LET'S READ IT.
Col 1:22,23
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 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;
What if we DON'T continue in the faith?
If the word taught all Christians keep the faith, no matter what, then WHY DID Paul SAY "I have KEPT the FAITH" IF that is an absolute, a sure thing? To keep the faith, that is? If he couldn't throw it away or walk away or whatever else THEN WHY is he talking about himself keeping the faith.
I John 1:9
9. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
WHAT IF WE DON'T CONFESS OUR SINS?
In another teaching I talked about "Our Part To Do" on my web site under "Danny Bunn's Teachings".
1 Tim 6:6-19
"6. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14.That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15. Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
17. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
You "lay hold on eternal life" by walking in it and that is by and through faith in Jesus Christ.
John 17:3
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Abraham's faith in God was counted for righteousness just as David said in...
Romans 4:5-9
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that FAITH WAS RECKONED to Abraham for RIGHTEOUSNESS. (All caps emphasis mine!)
Rom. 14:23 shows that "...whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
II Cor. 1:24 says, "...by faith ye stand."
Gal. 5:5 also shows, "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."
Cf. Heb 11:6
Faith pleases God and you CAN'T please God without it.
I Peter 1:3-5-9
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9. Receiving the END of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Gal. 5:6
Some who departed from the faith.
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; BUT FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE."
Faith is what avails (benefits, profits) or works through love.
I Tim. 4:1
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
Those who listen to the wrong voices.
I Tim. 5:8
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
Those who won't or don't provide for their own household.
I Tim. 5:11,12
"11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
"12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith."
Wanton---promiscuous, immoral, immodest, indecent, shameless, unchaste,fast, loose, impure, abandoned, lustful
Those who live in sexual pleasure against Christ.
I Tim. 6:10
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
The love of money caused some to turn from the faith.
We need to fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.
(Cf. I Tim. 6:12)
"12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
You lay hold on eternal life by walking in the faith once delived ot the saints. Jesus said eternal life is knowing him, we are to labor to enter into that rest. Keep in mind Heb 11:6 that says clearly that we cannot please God without faith.