Brought Back Into The Grace of God
By Dan H.
July 7, 1998
If you are in a similar state to what I was in, you may be feeling reluctant to read this testimony. Please take the time to read of my experience. If it means nothing to you, then you will have lost nothing, but if God is convicting you that your relationship with Him has become estranged, then these words may enable you to keep the most precious gift you have -- your only hope of salvation!
As you read this testimony you might begin to believe that I was never saved to begin with. However, I personally know that this was not the case. I also know that repeatedly ignoring the Holy Spirit's warnings left me in a spiritually compromised position. God had, for sometime, convicted me that if I had died before my relationship with Him had become reconciled I would have spent eternity in hell.
I want to let you know that this testimony was written through the Lord's direction and spiritual discernment after prayerful consideration. I refrained from writing it at one setting to ensure that what was said was derived of the Holy Spirit. There were plenty of deterrents, but thanks to the Lord I was able to complete it. Before each session, I prayed for the Lord's guidance.
There were no political or personal gains to be attained from sharing this truth with you. I also want to be up front and let you know that I was not coerced, seduced or rewarded into sharing this with you. Whatever the outcome, I want the Lord to be glorified through this process.
Regardless of what anyone might tell you, there is only one way into heaven, and that it is attained by: 1. Accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal saviour, 2. Repenting of your sins, and 3 Continuing in the faith, persevering and being diligent in your walk. Nothing else will suffice. Anything else is not God's way.
Yes, you can lose your salvation, if you submit to the seduction of the sin nature within you (Romans 6) or let the enemy take control of your life again. I had allowed my will to become the slave of sin and Satan, but God stirred within me. Even though I had allowed this to happen out of ignorance, He searched me and raised within me a growing sense of disquiet. I knew something was wrong, but did not know the simple truth of His word. These truths I have now found. At the end of this testimony I have listed the passages where these truths can be read in God's word. I hope they will help you understand the position you may be in.
I hope that you come to the conclusion that your salvation is not something to be taken casually, but very seriously. The enemy does!
May the Lord bless you,
Dan H.
My father worked in a chocolate factory while my mother stayed at home as a home maker. Both of my parents were raised on farms in the heartland of Pennsylvania. Their ethnic upbringing played a significant role in shaping my life. The underlying message was to work hard, take pride in what you do, and to not trust anyone. As you'll find out later on in my testimony, the enemy used each of these traits to paralyze my spiritual walk through my pride and ego.
My mother's family was Yugoslavian. My mother was raised in a large family. Her family was a Godless family, burdened by the presence of an alcoholic father and belligerent mother. My mother seldom went to church and consequently grew up with mixed values. What values she did learn were instilled in her by her grandfather who saw to it that the grandchildren went to church as often as possible. My mother was a not a trusting individual who had few friends. The few friendships she did have were developed over a long period of time. I never remember seeing my mother opening up to anyone.
My father's family were German. It was the exact opposite to my Mother's. They were reformed evangelicals who professed to trust in Jesus as their saviour. My father's family was also large. It was a God centered family. I often heard my father talk about Christian maturity. I learned the concepts of German work ethic and pride from him. Through observance of my father, I also learned to conceal my expressions of happiness and joy around others.
My parent's marriage got off to a rocky start due to vast differences in spiritual values. Although they would go to church, I don't believe my mother or father were saved at that point in their lives. The unexpected death of my six year old brother suddenly changed their lives forever. This led to them both making a profession of faith, five years before my birth.
As a child I was taken to church and raised with the understanding that a person could lose their salvation. This originated from my father who was raised under this doctrine. My family changed churches when my father became discouraged with the worldly teaching at the church we were attending. My family began attending a Mennonite church where according to my father, God's truth was being taught.
When I was fifteen years old, I remember making a profession of faith by asking forgiveness for my sins and asking Jesus to be my personal saviour. I remember the love and joy I experienced after making this decision. This experience was quickly dampened by criticism from my peers at school. With the lack of spiritual guidance and support of other Christians at my church, I never developed any real depth of understanding in God's word. I slowly began to drift from the Lord over the next two years. My initial thoughts as a new Christian, were that God had made me perfect and that I wouldn't sin. I was quickly disappointed, thinking the conversion was not real after sinning. You might think that I was not saved at that time, however, I know in my heart that I was saved.
During this five year period in my life, I focused my energies on partying and completing my college education. During this time I met my good friend John who was also a Born Again Christian. John and I became close friends after I began tutoring him in one of the math courses at the college we both attended. John shared his testimony with me, but by this time I was fed up with Christianity. I had about enough of the whole thing, however, I never told John. It is amazing how the Lord continually sought to convict me of my sin and to draw me to Him, but do you think I would listen. This was the first time he tried to bring me back to him.
At the age of 22, I met my wife, Diana, a Catholic from Puerto Rico. During our first year of marriage, I never talked to Diana about my situation. At this time, Diana was not saved. The birth of our first child, Dan, was extremely traumatic. During the birth, our son almost died, and to this day is severely learning disabled from what had happened. Shortly after this my wife began searching for the Lord. Diana was eventually led to the Lord through the Evangelism Explosion ministry at the bible church my friend John was attending. This was another wakeup call for me.
Eventually I decided to go to church and began attending services. This time I noticed something different. My attitude towards God was apathetic and I couldn't recapture the peace and joy I once experienced because of my unrepentant attitude. The message preached was the message of "Once Saved Always Saved." Although this initially went against what I was taught, I gradually began accepting it since I was too lazy to search God's word for myself. This message seemed to accommodate the lifestyle and attitude I had grown comfortable with. I began to change my habits and to adapt to my new lifestyle, but none of it was from relying on God's strength.
Initially, when I would read God's word I would become confused when it contradicted what I was being taught about eternal security. During this time I thought my interpretation must be wrong since the message taught by the church, and that presented in the bible commentary and books I was reading, differed with what the Holy Spirit was revealing to me. Besides, it was a nice compromise when compared to my past experiences. My wife was saved, and I was too. At this point I felt my walk was an improvement over what it had been. At this point all that mattered to me was that I was back in the church. In the back of my mind I felt the confusion and uncertainty about the teaching I was receiving would eventually straighten itself out. Complacency quickly set in.
I thought my walk with God must be okay because of the doctrine that was taught. My slide continued to get worse and worse. I made sure I got my family to church every Sunday, participating as much as possible in different church activities. I served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. I even "grew" to the point where I was a regular tither. During the week, however, no one could tell the difference between me and any other worldly person. My understanding was that this was the way it was because of the flesh. As time went on I noticed the Spirit convicting me less and less. I never truly felt like I was saved.
It was obvious to me that there was something seriously wrong since I never felt comfortable sharing the gospel with anyone. Another indicator was that when asked about my testimony, I never felt comfortable telling anyone about my situation out of fear of ridicule. During alter calls at church, I would often doubt my salvation and silently pray to accept the Lord as my saviour out of guilt about my personal situation. Fearing anyone would see, I would always do this in the privacy of my heart. As usual, there was no change afterwards leaving me completely frustrated.
This viscous cycle continued for 15 years. To fill the emptiness in my life, I eventually devoted all of my energies and skills in pursuit of my career and education. My pride and ideology of work ethic was quickly fueled by these new goals. Now that I look back on it, what I was really doing was trying to fill the void in my life by taking away the guilt I was feeling. In a sense, this was working since most of my time was spent studying and working on my own personal goals. There was little time to deal with the salvation issue at hand, and what God was trying to tell me. Participating in my church seemed to be enough at the time. As far as I was concerned there was no need to be alarmed. I asked Jesus to save me more than once. It must have worked. Anyway, I thought, we're saved by grace, and we're living in the flesh, which meant an ongoing struggle with problems of faith.
To compensate for the emptiness in my spiritual life I attended many churches looking for a church home where I would be "taught the truth." Somehow I was trying to return to an earlier time in my life when I became saved. This was my way of filling the empty void in my spiritual life. Ironically, I ended up attending churches where the sermons consisted primarily of stories, jokes, and quotes with little emphasis on biblical teaching.
As time progressed, I had no concern for the Lord. Even the concept of living a sinful life no longer had any affect on my conscience. During this time, music played a significant role in fueling my sinful imagination, taking me to unmentionable depths of sin. During idle times in my car I would scan the radio for local pop and rock stations for songs to feed my sinful thought life.
My prayers also became vain repetitious mumblings and covetous requests to God. I would half heartedly ask God for the forgiveness of my sins, soon becoming entangled again in my sin after justifying it through other Christians' sinful actions. I thought if another Christian is acting this way, it must be acceptable, after all we live in the weakness of the flesh. The hideous part of all of it, looking back, was that I knew the Christian vocabulary and was successful at fooling everyone about my situation except the Lord.
My job at the government soon turned out to be another disappointment. Soon after starting, I learned of layoffs in the department, and changes in the salary advancement program. After taking a salary cut to join, I felt very discouraged, wondering what had I done with my life. All I had done with my career had been for nothing, not to mention all the problems I was experiencing in my personal life. To alleviate the pain and prevent me from returning too soon to my former job, the Lord provided me with a Christian car pool companion within two days after I started work. Had this not happened I probably would have returned to my prior job sooner. I had the pleasure of sharing the next six months with Ji Cheng, a Born Again Christian, from China. For six months I spent two and a half hours a day with this individual. Many of our conversations consisted of Christian small talk which I had become quite accustomed to. As we traveled together I noticed something different about his Christian walk. This was someone who was definitely walking with the Lord. Towards the end of our time together, I had the opportunity of attending a prayer meeting at his church. There was a noticeable difference between what I experienced at his church and the churches I attended. It was something I had not seen in over 20 years. I noticed the Holy Spirit's presence at this meeting, yet I was not at liberty to share my situation with him for fear of being discovered. During our six months together, I never shared my personal situation with him. As far as Ji Cheng knew, everything was in order in my Christian life.
After being at the government job for 7 months, the Lord opened up an opportunity for me to go back to my previous company. Upon returning I was placed on an 2.7M dollar automation project which was responsible for automation of the NASA 26M satellite tracking network in Tidbinbilla, Australia, Madrid, Spain, and Goldstone, California. I looked forward to the opportunity since I would get the chance to visit Australia and Spain, two places I had always looked forward to traveling to. Had I never left this company for the government position, I would not have been involved in this project. Little did I know that this opportunity would be the turning point in my life.
I began spending more time trying to achieve happiness through my job, spending long hours at my job. Upon my return I began working with Kent, an individual on the project who was also a Christian. Again I noticed something different about this individual's walk, but was unwilling to open up and share my situation with him. Why should I bother, I thought, it wasn't worth the effort. Approximately four months into the effort, Kent was pulled off of the project to begin work on a different one. I was forced to pick up his efforts on the project which included the systems engineering responsibilities for the automation aspect of the task. Little did I know that this would result in my meeting an individual from Australia who would share God's truth about salvation.
During the meetings, Michael was using my office to retrieve e-mail messages. Eaves dropping revealed several messages related to Christian topics. I didn't say anything partly because I didn't want to begin another superficial Christian conversation and partly because I didn't want to be viewed as a snoop. That evening our working group had dinner at a local restaurant. At dinner I had the opportunity to observe the peace and tranquillity this individual possessed. I noticed something significantly different about his personality, but was unwilling to approach him about the possibility of his being a Christian.
During the second week of our meetings, the lap top computer my friend was using mysteriously stopped working, forcing us to move from the conference room we were using to my office where I had a spare computer. While Michael was using my office, I noticed a church bulletin in his travel bag. I didn't say anything. I thought about it that night and remembered praying vaguely about an opportunity to ask him about his beliefs. The next day my friend stayed later after I went home. After arriving early the next morning I found the church bulletin again, only this time lying on top of the computer he was using. I knew I had to ask him about his beliefs. It was mainly for small talk to impress him with the fact that I too was a Christian. As usual, I had no intention of sharing anything personal.
I started my small talk routine speaking the Christian language and quickly found myself in a very uncomfortable position. After talking briefly, I mentioned that my walk with the Lord was not right. This individual was truly a man of God who cut quickly to the point about my spiritual condition. There was no compromise presented about living in the flesh as an excuse for my condition. I was confronted in a loving way about my sin condition being the result of my will and that if I did not repent I was in danger of losing my salvation. Harsh words I hadn't heard for many years. All I had to do was ask God for his forgiveness and I would be cleansed. Not taking advantage of this situation could lead to serious consequences. I was convicted by the Holy Spirit. My friend pointed out to me that this may have been God's final warning about my situation. In my heart I knew he was right. I prayed a silent prayer to myself and felt this overwhelming love I had not experienced since I was fifteen.
Looking back on all of the events which led up to that meeting still continue to amaze me how much God loved me and knew my predicament. The fact that I was unable and afraid to open up to those close to me worked as one the enemy's snares in keeping me a servant to sin and in a lost position. The Lord knew it would have to be someone not exposed to my hypocritical front and that the individual would require enough discernment and boldness to confront me with the truth.
The Lord also knew I would never have done this had the seriousness of my situation not be presented to me in such a direct manner. The Lord knew exactly who and what it would take to convince me of my dire situation. It required someone from the other side of the world who would share God's truths with me. I had become so trapped in my spiritual condition, that I can honestly say that there is no way I would have trusted anyone remotely connected with me enough to share the truth about what was happening in my life.
The truth I learned through those years of rebellion was that sin was both the Enemy's means of drawing me away from God and the cause of my heart's hardness toward Him. What turned me back to God was the power of His word, the simple truths of His love and forgiveness. Believing the lies of man brought confusion, separation and defeat (Proverbs 11:14; Hosea 4:6). Accepting the truth of God brought freedom and peace. If your heart is hardened toward God please listen to the truth: you are placing your salvation in jeopardy. Ask God for His forgiveness and to draw you to Him.
The new testament is full of statements regarding the doctrine of conditional salvation. I have included several verses pertaining specifically to this doctrine. The following verses are divided into two sections, for those who never made a profession of faith, and those whose hearts have become hardened through sin and ignorance.
Please pray for the Lord's discernment as you read through them. I provided a small commentary in the section for those never saved. I purposefully did not add any commentary in the last section. I trust the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read. Please take your salvation seriously. I am convinced that the Enemy does.
2 Peter 1:10
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Step 1: Recognize we're sinners, there's a solution and, that it's free -- all we have to do is accept itFor Those who Never Trusted in Jesus as their Saviour
Three simple steps to salvation. Recognize, Believe and Continue (RBC)
Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ephesians 2:8,9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Step 2: Confess and Believe.
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Notice what the Strong's Concordance says about the following words.
confess <3670> -- to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of
believe, believeth <4100> -- commit unto, be committed unto
commit (American Heritage Dictionary) -- to do, perform, perpetrate, to carry out
heart <2588> -- the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, pasisons, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours
saved <4982> -- keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
ashamed <2617> - dishonour, disgrace
call upon <1941> -- appeal
appeal (American Heritage Dictionary) -- to make an earnest request as for help
Simple enough, yes it is, but look at what the word believe and believeth means. It means commitment. How many of you have had or have a car payment or house payement. You know what commitment means. Our salavation is not earned, but we must remain committed to him in order to be saved.
Step 3: Continue in the faith
There's a whole section after this pertaining to this topic. Remember the commitment. It's something we have to strive for. It is very important. Don't be deceived.
Colossians 1:21-23
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
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;
2 Peter 1:10
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5,9,10
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1 John 2:26,27
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
2 Timothy 4:3,4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Matt 7:21-27
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
James 1:22-24
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
James 2:17-20
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
1 John 2:24,25
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
James 1:13-16
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 5:19,20
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Colossians 1:21-23
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
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;
2 Timothy 2:3,4
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Acts 14:21,22
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
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.
1 Timothy 4:15,16
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2 Corinthians 13:4,5
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
1 Timothy 1:18-20:
18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Hebrews 3:12-15
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Hebrews 6:4-8
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
2 Peter 3:14-18
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Galations 5:7-10
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 15:58
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
If we fall into sin, we must repent (DO NOT TRIVIALIZE IT)
1 John 1:8-10
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Ephesians 1:6-8
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Luke 13:6-9
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Romans 6:6-16
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 11:13,14,19-25
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
John 15:1-6
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Matthew 10:20-22
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 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.
Corinthians 2:11
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 11:3,4
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
1 Peter 5:8,9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
John 1:7-11
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
1 Timothy 6:9-12
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.
2 Timithoy 2:24-26
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Galatians 5:7-9
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:1-4
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Ephesians 4:14,15
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ
Colossians 2:4-8
4 ¶ And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:18
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
1 Corinthians 3:18-20
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Romans 16:17-19
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Ephesians 4:30
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Matthew 12:31,32
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Matthew 4:4
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
1 Peter 2:1,2
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Timothy 2:14-17
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
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