So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the Law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.” (Romans 4:16)
This is actually one of the many verses in the book of Romans that may make some Twenty-first century believers think that their eternal salvation is permanent and unconditional. And that is because we don’t understand the context of that discussion or even appreciate the gift of salvation we have.
The verse in particular is not talking of rapture, the promise it is talking about is salvation. You really don’t know what a big deal that is. You may ask, if accepting Jesus into one’s life require a lot of explanation. Yes, it does. Those people were already loosing it. Some people were telling them that salvation can’t be that simple or cheap. The Jewish Christians were telling the Gentile Christians that they needed to do some other things particularly circumcision before they can be accepted as Christians. I hope you understand that?
The Jews were like, you have to write WAEC and have 6 credits and write JAMB with over 200 scores before getting admitted into a university because, we did the same. But Paul was saying whether they wrote the exams or not, Jesus had already given them admissions. They have been granted admission into the presence of God, into the University of Heaven unconditionally as long as they’ve accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
I have come across people who think that have committed severe unpardonable sins and after giving their lives to Christ and confessing Jesus they asked, “is that all?” They feel that it can’t be that easy. The Devil actually makes them feel that that can’t be all that is required to be forgiven. So, Paul is saying, that is actually all. And I am telling you today, that is all.
The Bible isn’t essentially referring to rapture or eternal salvation here or anywhere in most of the epistles as regards law and grace. Get the fact. But this is the good news; salvation guarantees that you will surely be raptured provided you live a holy life. Yes, your admission was certain and unconditional. Yes, your admission guarantees you a graduation but the graduation is not automatic. Your matriculation guarantees makes your convocation certain, but there is a price. You must consciously live a holy life. We know that it is not all who gained admission into a school that graduates. That is why Paul told us in Romans 12:1 to present our body as “a living and holy sacrifice.”
Most students have never thought about losing their admission or not graduating from the school. In that same way, a true Christian will not be worried about losing his salvation or eternal security (getting raptured). But there are students who need to be worried and disturbed. Why? They play truancy. They are in school this hour and out of school the next hour. They are in Christ this hour and out of Christ the next hour. If you are such and any preacher told you not to be worried and be rest assured that you will be raptured, he is deceiving you. This is not a school where lecturers can be bribed in order for you to graduate. A lecturer in this school can however assure focused students that they will graduate irrespective of their low marks in certain courses or even their failure to pass certain courses. As long as they are on track with the mind of Christ, they will not lose heaven.
“But how did his faith help him? Was he (Abraham) declared righteous only after he had been circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? The answer is that God accepted him first, and then he was circumcised later!” (Romans 4:10)
So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the Law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.” (Romans 4:16)
This is actually one of the many verses in the book of Romans that may make some Twenty-first century believers think that their eternal salvation is permanent and unconditional. And that is because we don’t understand the context of that discussion or even appreciate the gift of salvation we have.
The verse in particular is not talking of rapture, the promise it is talking about is salvation. You really don’t know what a big deal that is. You may ask, if accepting Jesus into one’s life require a lot of explanation. Yes, it does. Those people were already loosing it. Some people were telling them that salvation can’t be that simple or cheap. The Jewish Christians were telling the Gentile Christians that they needed to do some other things particularly circumcision before they can be accepted as Christians. I hope you understand that?
The Jews were like, you have to write WAEC and have 6 credits and write JAMB with over 200 scores before getting admitted into a university because, we did the same. But Paul was saying whether they wrote the exams or not, Jesus had already given them admissions. They have been granted admission into the presence of God, into the University of Heaven unconditionally as long as they’ve accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
I have come across people who think that have committed severe unpardonable sins and after giving their lives to Christ and confessing Jesus they asked, “is that all?” They feel that it can’t be that easy. The Devil actually makes them feel that that can’t be all that is required to be forgiven. So, Paul is saying, that is actually all. And I am telling you today, that is all.
The Bible isn’t essentially referring to rapture or eternal salvation here or anywhere in most of the epistles as regards law and grace. Get the fact. But this is the good news; salvation guarantees that you will surely be raptured provided you live a holy life. Yes, your admission was certain and unconditional. Yes, your admission guarantees you a graduation but the graduation is not automatic. Your matriculation guarantees makes your convocation certain, but there is a price. You must consciously live a holy life. We know that it is not all who gained admission into a school that graduates. That is why Paul told us in Romans 12:1 to present our body as “a living and holy sacrifice.”
Most students have never thought about losing their admission or not graduating from the school. In that same way, a true Christian will not be worried about losing his salvation or eternal security (getting raptured). But there are students who need to be worried and disturbed. Why? They play truancy. They are in school this hour and out of school the next hour. They are in Christ this hour and out of Christ the next hour. If you are such and any preacher told you not to be worried and be rest assured that you will be raptured, he is deceiving you. This is not a school where lecturers can be bribed in order for you to graduate. A lecturer in this school can however assure focused students that they will graduate irrespective of their low marks in certain courses or even their failure to pass certain courses. As long as they are on track with the mind of Christ, they will not lose heaven.
“But how did his faith help him? Was he (Abraham) declared righteous only after he had been circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? The answer is that God accepted him first, and then he was circumcised later!” (Romans 4:10)
Well done sir
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