Saved by Grace Only?

It is with a heavy heart that I am led to write this post. A heavy but hopeful heart. There is sadly much backbiting and confusion regarding our blessed salvation through Jesus Christ.

God’s Word cannot contradict itself so how does one reconcile the Book of James with the Pauline epistles? James writes that faith without works is dead while Paul writes that salvation is by faith alone:

What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? - James 2:14 KJV

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. - James 2:17 KJV

OR

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: - Ephesians 2:8 KJV

Not of works, lest any man should boast. - Ephesians 2:9 KJV

The entire Bible is for our learning; HOWEVER—and that’s a big HOWEVER—it is not all written specifically to the ekklēsia or called out of God.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. - Romans 15:4 KJV

This is the case with the Book of James.

Just as the Pauline epistles are letters that were written to a specific audience, so is the Book of James. Who was James writing to?

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. - James 1:1 KJV

It is important to realize that this letter written by James was:

1—Written to Israel’s twelve tribes

2—Written before the Great Mystery of Grace was revealed

Scott Clarke recently posted a video that clearly explains this: The Great Paul & James Debate | Rightly Divided. 

You see, James wrote to the twelve tribes who were scattered. Why were they scattered?

It was due to the persecution that arose at the time of Stephen’s stoning in the Book of Acts:

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And devout men carried Stephen [to his burial], and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed [them] to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. - Acts 8:1-4 KJV

This proves the Book of James was written before the Mystery of the Age of Grace (the Church Age) was revealed through Paul, because at this time he was Saul “consenting unto his [Stephen’s] death”!

Saul Becomes Paul

Saul came to believe on Jesus as Yahshuah Ha Moshiach in Acts 9 on the road to Damascus.

As I read this account for the umpteenth time, the Holy Spirit hit me with this realization—Saul’s blindness represented the blindness that had come upon Israel!

Saul became Paul on the road to Damascus. So too will Israel’s eyes be opened during the time of Jacob’s Trouble soon after the annihilation of that city (Isaiah 17:1):

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. - Romans 11:8 KJV

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. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: - Romans 11:25-26 KJV

The prophetic analogy goes further:

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. - Acts 9:9 KJV

Saul was blind for three days. The Wedding of the Church Bride occurs upon completion of the third day and Israel’s blindness will end. Sandy Armstrong brought this to my attention in his video 2017 The 3rd Day Wedding.

There is probably even more significance to this account, but let’s move on.

How to Get Saved

Sometime after Paul’s conversion and years in the desert, the Great Mystery was revealed to him:

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:-Ephesians 3:1-6 KJV

It was also revealed to Paul what were the riches of this mystery:

To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: - Colossians 1:27 KJV

CHRIST IN YOU! OUR BLESSED HOPE! Because the Spirit of Christ is sealed within us until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), HE is our Blessed Hope!

The mystery and its riches defines the Age of Grace. Therefore, the correct books of the Bible to go to regarding how to get saved are Paul’s books:

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. - Romans 10:9 KJV

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. - Romans 10:10 KJV

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: - Ephesians 2:8 KJV

Not of works, lest any man should boast. - Ephesians 2:9 KJV

Borrowing from Tim Henderson, “We are not saved by works, but because we are saved, we do good works!”

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10 KJV 

Pained Over Division

It was significant that Scottie dedicated this particular video to Paul Skotarski, better known for his Youtube Channel Zeuss Mossbender, who recently died. As Brad of Rev12daily Blogspot wrote in a tribute to this Brother in Christ, Paul was “pained over division in the watchmen community”.

My prayer is that understanding regarding salvation can come to not only the watchmen community, but to any who are unsaved. If you wish to live eternally with the God Who is Love, call on His Son Jesus Christ by making Him the Lord of your life and believe God raised Him from the dead. As a bonus, you will also escape the coming time of Jacob's Trouble!

7/23/19 Update: After finally getting around to reading Gary's article at Unsealed.org, I wanted to attach the link here for it is an excellent source related to this subject:
The Hebrew Roots Movement

Is the Rapture Earned?

More on Michael and the Man Child

So many of us have expressed how very ready we are for our Lord to snatch us away! This too is analogous to pregnancy as many know by experience. Those who have carried a child to full term just want that baby to be born! But do we realize what that means in terms of Eternity? Are we a Bride that is in love with the idea of her extravagant wedding day or in love with her Bridegroom? More on that later.

God has been so gracious to warn the world and to show indicators to those of us who are looking for His Son’s appearing. The timing and naming of Hurricane Michael is no coincidence. In fact, HOW Michael came in so quickly and powerfully stunned many. This is how the enemy will feel on that Day when the mighty Archangel swoops in with the heavenly host and cleanses the Second Heaven of the Prince of the Power of the Air and his fallen ones.

It is also how those in the world will feel:

Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. - Luke 21:26 KJV

As I’ve shared before this spiritual activity will manifest in the physical with the appearance of demonic ‘alien’ aircraft in our skies (see Be Expectant). Then, almost simultaneously, will come the Resurrection/Rapture of the Overcoming Church. These spiritual events may cause an EMP-like effect on the world’s electrical grid and the earth will go dark.  I do not know if this will be the cause for certain, but I do believe electricity will be unavailable for a duration of time whatever the cause—the rapture, nuclear war, or cosmic events.

  

The effects of Hurricane Michael signals this coming darkness for as ABC News reported Hurricane Michael leaves more than 1 million without power—WITHOUT POWER so in the DARK! Also notice that on the screen behind the ABC reporter in this video reads, “Hurricane War Zone”.

The Big Squeeze & Time of Great Trouble

Another prophetic news video was issued by CBS on October 2, 2018--Americans to receive cellphone alert from president in 1st national test—wherein it was reported that this alert system “will let any President issue a warning about a crisis. That could include a missile launched by another country at the U.S. or a tsunami.”

This know also, that in the last days perilous [fierce] times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. . .

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. - 2 Timothy 3:1-2, 5 KJV

Though the corporate birth or Rapture of the Overcoming Church occurs before The Tribulation—before travail or labor begins—we are prophetically experiencing “the big squeeze” much like a baby’s head experiences as the uterus contracts and pushes the baby down the birth canal.

How much trouble we will see prior to Daniel’s 70^th Week, no one knows except as the Holy Spirit reveals to us. As a woman of God who happens to live in America, I have been called to be a watchman and to sound any warnings He shows me.

This calling manifested back in the 90’s when my family and I lived in the heart of Shenandoah Valley. The Lord poured into me an intercessory burden for our nation. He did not show me specifics, but I wept and prayed for I knew in my heart a time of great trouble was to rock this land.

Just before leaving that basket of mountains in Virginia, the Spirit of the Lord moved on me to speak to a group of brethren. At first I fought Him for I had already prophesied earlier during the church meeting, but the pastor plunked himself down on a chair near me and announced to the congregation, “I’m not going to speak anymore today. God told me to sit down and be quiet.”

This was my cue, so I stood up and with my body trembling all over due to the Spirit infilling me I prophesied, “A time of great trouble is coming and if you are not close with the Lord you're not going to make it.” The urgency of the Lord pressed on me and I spoke the message a second time adding at the end, “Do not forget this day!”

We moved to a city further south and about eight years later we were led to move yet again. Just before we did, though, the Spirit of the Lord had me speak the same prophecy to that congregation. This time I took up a shekere (a shell-covered gourd instrument) and shook it violently as I announced, “A time of great trouble is coming! Everything that can be shaken will be shaken! Come to Him in your prayer closets faithfully and do not be afraid.”

Israel Agrees to Dividing Jerusalem?

Today I came across a video wherein a sister in Christ shared articles from The Jerusalem Post one of which claims that Israel not only has agreed to a two-state solution, but also to dividing Jerusalem—the apple of God’s eye (Zechariah 2:8)! IF THIS IS TRUE, the peace agreement could be announced ANY DAY NOW!

“Why did you not make this the title of your article?” you may very well shout.

The very nearness of our Lord’s appearing plus warnings not just to the unsaved but to the brethren leads me to ask—"Are you and I truly Rapture ready?”

Rapture—Reward or by Grace?

THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DEBATE as to whether “once saved always saved” is true or not. Right up front I want to tell you that I am in the camp that believes once a person has confessed and believed Romans 10:9 from their heart, they are saved and sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (also see Who are the Tribulation Saints? ). But is salvation the only qualification for being worthy to escape The Tribulation?

Some teach, such as Perry Stone (Accounted Worthy to Escape by Perry Stone), that the Rapture is a reward only for those who are faithful. Sandy Armstrong has shared that he does not believe "once saved always saved". Jaco Prinsloo posted a riveting video on October 12 that included Ken Peters’ 2015 prophecy part of which Ken mentions he does not believe “once saved always saved”.  I was both blessed with tears of joy at parts of Ken Peters’ prophetic word AND spurred on to understand whether the Rapture was a reward or given to us as an act of grace.

I believe it comes down to one verse:

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV

Paul writes that those who are “in Christ” will be caught up or raptured. Is being “in Christ” something we earned or was it given to us by grace?

The answer can be found in Romans Chapter 8:

And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. - Romans 8:10-11 KJV

It is the Spirit of God within that seals and quickens us the day Jesus comes for His Bride.

Therefore, those who are born again of incorruptible seed are “in Christ”. It is by faith by an act of grace (Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8), not by works. The rapture is NOT an earned reward; it is given to us by grace. We are not worthy to escape by our works, but we are made worthy “in Christ” (again I refer you to Who are the Tribulation Saints? ).

What About the 10 Virgins Parable?

I agree with those who point to the fact that Jesus was addressing Israel when He spoke of the 10 virgins in Matthew Chapter 25.

First, let’s keep in mind that the Holy Spirit could only be upon God’s people before the Acts 2 day of Pentecost. Some teach this segment of Scripture and say that the foolish virgins did have some oil in their lamps to begin with. I am not going to argue one way or the other on this, but if they did have some oil, could this represent the Spirit upon them? Then the wise virgins who, according to these teachers, took extra oil would represent those of Israel who went on to accept Christ as their Lord and were filled with the Holy Spirit.

The foolish virgins outwardly looked righteous—they did bring their lamps after all. This is comparable to those today, whether Jew or Gentile, who attend church services but have never made Christ the Lord of their life!  Only those who are filled with the Holy Spirit will be able to go with the Bridegroom.

ALL WORKS are Judged

Even though I do believe “once saved always saved”, I am not going to be critical of the brethren who are warning born again Christians who are not living a holy lifestyle. Most of us forget that this life reflects on us in eternity! OUR SALVATION WILL NOT BE JUDGED, BUT OUR WORKS WILL BE JUDGED.

We ALL appear before Him at one point or another:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. . .

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. . .

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. - 2 Corinthians 5:10, 14, 15, 20 KJV

To better understand this, I went to a Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET:

receive--His reward of grace proportioned to "the things done," &c. ( 2Cr 9:6-92Jo 1:8 ). Though salvation be of grace purely, independent of works, the saved may have a greater or less reward, according as he lives to, and labors for, Christ more or less. Hence there is scope for the holy "ambition" (see on JF & B for 2Co 5:9; Hbr 6:10 ). . . There shall be a searching judgment which shall sever the bad from the good, according to their respective, deeds, the motive of the deeds being taken into account. . .

be ye reconciled to God--English Version here inserts "ye," which is not in the original, and which gives the wrong impression, as if it were emphatic. . .let this reconciliation then have its designed effect. Be reconciled to God, that is, let God reconcile you to Himself ( 2Cr 5:18, 19 ).

[Excerpts from  blb]

We see this separation of what we have done whether good or bad in 1 Corinthians:

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 KJV

It is a person’s works that pass through the fire—not the person themselves. If the works are not of the Holy Spirit, they burn; but the person does not pass through fire:

As a builder whose building, not the foundation, is consumed by fire, escapes, but with the loss of his work [ALFORD] [Excerpt from blb commentary]

The motives of a person, even with the Holy Spirit residing within them, will be a determining factor regarding rewards but not their salvation.

“Not everyone who says Lord, Lord”

What about Matthew 7:21-23?

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. 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?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. - Matthew 7:21-23 KJV

There will be those who say they did wonderful works in His name. It is possible to perform miracles by your own faith and not through faith in Jesus Christ--Chris Blackeby does an excellent teaching on this.

John Fenn relates that when Jesus replies, “I never knew you”, it means He NEVER knew them [I would add He never knew them experientially or intimately in any relationship]. They were NEVER born again.

I humbly submit this study and welcome any Scriptural correction. My goal was to bless those of you who are earnestly longing for His appearing and awaken those who have not made Christ the Lord of their lives; but ultimately my desire in writing this was to please My God and King!

Even so, come Christ Jesus, come!

2/24/20 NOTE:

Just read an informative article by Gary of Unsealed.org related to the subject of the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Here's an excerpt for your consideration:

While the question of what the oil in the parable represents is certainly meaningful, it may be a less practical pursuit then who the virgins are.  What we immediately find in Psalm 45 is that the bride and her virgin companions are separate entities.  The bride has already met the bridegroom before her companions do.  This would add weight to the position of the late Jack Kelley, who makes a clear case that the virgins have nothing to do with the rapture and everything to do with the Second Advent—those tasked with being faithful as they await Christ's physical return to earth. [From The Prophetic Pre-Trib Psalm of the Church: Parable of the Virgins]

The Red, White and Blues

Blessed is the nation whose God is Yehovah; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Psalm 33:12

 

This past Fourth of July was a disaster instead of a celebration. My husband and I ended up shop-vacuuming several inches of water out of our basement. This went on for TWO AND A HALF DAYS. We could hear the fireworks being shot overhead even through the din of the shop vac, but the skies were so overcast we could not see one speck of light from them.

I couldn't help but think of it as a picture of where we as a nation are at. It was another national birthday hullabaloo complete with family gatherings, barbeques (where it was not raining), and pyrotechnics but the birthday girl was drowning. The U.S. is not only drowning in debt, unemployment, and division--it is drowning in national sin.

Recently I came across a Youtube video [Link] where a man shares not only how he came to Christ but how the Lord gave him visions pertaining to our nation and our President. As I watched it, I remembered how Christian friends of ours promoted Barack Obama for the 2008 Presidential Election and how the Lord dropped a prophetic word in me to share with them. I told them that Barack Obama would indeed become the next President of the United States but that this was not a blessing but a consequence to the U.S. for national sin.






Our basement did finally dry out due to our tireless efforts but mostly due to God's grace for the sun finally dissipated all the dark clouds. So too will we as a nation recover IF we turn our hearts to Father God and allow the SON to enlighten our thinking and shine through us. That is my prayer for the United States--that she will shine once more for the true and living God.

I am honored to pray for you and our nation~

2011~His Grace Is Enough

Sometimes while in the secret place, the Lord speaks to me about the spiritual season we are in.

Lately, what is impressed within me is that it is going to be “the best of times and the worst of times”. By this I believe the Holy Spirit is saying that we will see God move mightily in what will be tremulous times in the world. In the midst of great trouble we will witness the greatest harvest of souls for the Lord Jesus Christ that any human has ever seen along with signs, miracles, and wonders.

If indeed my impressions are accurate and we are entering or have already entered a time of great trouble in the world, we must—WE MUST—have confidence in our great God!

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. Hebrews 3:6 and 10:35 KJV

It is tempting to forget who we are in Christ when calamity befalls us. Those are the times that ‘make us or break us’.

Around the time that God gave me those gold fillings in my teeth (see my blog October 21, 2010, Open Thy Mouth Wide), my husband Tom and I were honored to minister to several people who were miraculously healed. Not long after this, I went through a physical attack in my body. A friend who I confided in said, “Perhaps you are being humbled.”

This reminded me of the account in 2 Corinthians where Paul shares: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV

And that brings me to what I believe the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the Church for 2011.

As I worshipped on New Year’s Eve, I was inspired to play Matt Maher’s song, Your Grace Is Enough. God’s presence came over me in such a way that I knew there was specific relevance to what was being sung. The Lord is reminding His people of what He said in answer to Paul~~

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 KJV

I share this not to worry you but actually to encourage you! We, the Body of Christ who are alive in this day, were created for such a time as this! This is to be our finest hour IF we stand firm in our faith--the faith of Jesus Christ.

Let me exhort you to seek Him with your whole heart. Seek Him daily. He will reveal unknown things to you (Jeremiah 33:3).

If God be for us, who can be against us!