Without Controversy: The Lord God Jesus was manifest in the flesh...

 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. -1st Timothy 3:16

By far this is my favorite scriptural text that proves that Jesus is in fact the Lord God Almighty. In Paul's letter to Timothy he writes the above statement that not only professes, but declares Christ's diety. Right after Paul speaks of the church being the pillar and ground of truth in the previous verse he segues into speaking of the truth that is without controversy. The Greek word used for "without controversy" is the word homologéō. HELPS Word-studies states:

3670 homologéō (from 3674 /homoú, "together" and 3004 /légō, "speak to a conclusion") – properly, to voice the same conclusion, i.e. agree ("confess"); to profess (confess) because in full agreement; to align with (endorse).

Paul is speaking of something that is without controversy, a declaration that was agreed upon in unison.  The earliest churches agreed on the following things as stated in 1st Timothy 3:16:

God was manifest in the flesh..

 The word manifest here in 1st Timothy 3:16 means to make visible. God was made visible in the flesh in the personage of Christ Jesus. This matter is made as a declaration without controversy by God. A true Christian will profess that Jesus is the Lord God who was manifested in human flesh (John 1:14). Anyone who fails to profess that this is the case has the spirit of antichrist (1st John 4:3). The word anti means against or instead of, by this the word antichrist then can literally be rendered as "against Christ." It is greatly saddening to see a world of men who erect beautiful paintings or sculptures of who they see Christ as only to deny his deity. The devil's irony here is that in worshipping their counterfeit image of Christ they deceitfully have been placed within the devil's grip.

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. -1st 1st John 4:3

All scripture is inspired and therefore  you must compare scripture with scripture to paint the complete picture.  We know from several verses that Jesus is God (Titus 2:13; John 5:18; John 8:58; John 10:30; John 10:33; John 1:1; John 1:14; John 20:28; 2nd Peter 1:1; 1st John 5:7; Matthew 1:22-23; 1st Timothy 3:16; Philippians 2:5-6; Colossians 2:9-10; 1st John 5:20). John plainly states here that those who deny Christ is God in the flesh are none of his and are in fact "against Christ." Are you in denial of Christ's deity? Take heed of the apostle John's warning my friend. Paul then asserts that Christ was...

...justified in the Spirit..

Christ fulfilled the law and lived a perfect life. He was justified in spirit, and by his blood we are justified. God states that without blood there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22).  Our past, present, and future sins are remitted by receiving and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13).  Christ offered himself up for us, and all who are set apart by believing in him are perfected forever (Hebrews 10:14). A believers faith is counted as righteousness before God (Romans 4:5). A believer's sins in this life will not be held against him, will yours be? Jesus was...

...seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 

The angels rejoiced in seeing king of kings born in Luke 2:14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." God ordered Paul to preach to the Gentiles in Acts 22:21: "And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles." Christ has been believed on in the world for the last two millennia justifying millions of lost sinners by his amazing grace. Lastly, Christ was received up in glory (Luke 24:51) and all those who place their faith in Him will be glorified in like manner as stated in Colossians 2:13: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

Of course those in religious folds who deny the deity of Christ will squeeze their view into the text.  The fact of the matter is, this verse explains fundamentally who the true Christ is. The true Christ was God in the flesh, the true Christ was justified in the spirit on our behalf, he is believed on in the world, he is preached daily to all nations, and he was received up in glory. The Bible says that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. I ask you dear reader by this standard are you perishing? Or do you have God's eternal promise resting in you?

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1st Corinthians 1:18

BREAKING: Grammar Rules that Jesus is God

 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: -2nd Peter 1:1

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; -Titus 2:13

In spite of the word trinity not being found in the Bible, the Bible nonetheless teaches the concept. The word theology is not in the Bible either, however there is in fact theology in the Bible.  In the Muslim world many furiously tout that Jesus was a created being, and that the Bible fails to teach the divinity of Christ.  Suppose I were to tell you that there is ironclad rule of sorts that illustrates that the holy text pronounces that Jesus is in fact God?

"I before E except after C!" -Mrs Paetschow (My 3rd grade teacher)

Most of us have heard of this rule right as it applies to English right?  Well it actually really isn't a rule at all but rather a guideline, as there are several exceptions.  Well there is a hard and fast rule, in the Greek language known as Granville Sharp's rule.  In 100% of the cases with zero exceptions, it applies when certain conditions are met.  I know some of you antsy types may be thinking...

"SO WHAT? What does this have to do with Jesus being God?!" -An impatient skeptic

Well, I'll get to that friend, let me just first say this.  In the first to verses I posted above, many of the critics who bolster that Jesus isn't God of eternity past will try to argue that "God and our Savior" and "great God and our Savior" refers to two separate beings, rather than to Jesus himself.  They'll proudly parrot that there will be an appearing of God and Jesus  who they deem as completely separate, and on the surface, you may think they have a case.  Unfortunately for them, the Granville Sharp rule decimates this interpretation like a wind blown on a house of toothpicks. Allow me to demonstrate.

From gotquestions.org:

"In simpler terms, the Granville Sharp Rule says that when two singular common nouns are used to describe a person, and those two nouns are joined by an additive conjunction, and the definite article precedes the first noun but not the second, then both nouns refer to the same person. This principle of semantics holds true in all languages."

Article (e.g. a/an/the) Substantive (noun, adj, or participle) + additive conjunction (in our case the word "and") + Substantive = reference to the same person

If the substantives are the same in gender, number (singular or plural), and case, it refers to the same person 100% of the time. A simple example with an English equivalent would be:

We met the captain and sailor of the ship. 

You'll notice that the definite article "the" precedes the first noun captain, followed by the additive conjunction "and" then finally the next noun "sailor".  By this rule we understand that the sailor and captain are the same person. For the sake of argument, let's look at the same sentence with two definite articles,

We met the captain and the sailor of the ship.

Notice that the additional definite article "the" in front of sailor makes the captain and sailor distinctive. 

Now let's look at Titus 2:13, "...the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ"

Let's apply the rule here, the definite article "the" precedes the first noun "God" the additive conjunction "and" joins with the noun "Saviour" without a definite article. Both nouns are singular.  In other words Jesus is referred to as the great God AND Savior, without question. In the Greek it's no different, the additive conjunction "and" is "kai" and the gender, case, and number is the same. Vested in the written laws of grammar, those who say otherwise are simply mistaken.

Jesus is God, came to us in the form of a man, to saved all who have sinned (this includes you).  As a result of his perfection, he was a worthy sacrifice to justify all men, the unblemished Lamb of God.  Peter writes he bore all our sins at the cross  (1st Peter 2:24), Paul writes he became sin who knew no sin (2nd Cor 5:21). Jesus did all the work for you (Ephesians 2:8-9), you just have to trust in him (Romans 10:9). He did so because of his great love for you (Romans 5:8). Salvation is a free gift. Christ can justify you by the power of faith in Him (Romans 4:5). In trusting Christ this means all your sins are forgiven, and Christ's righteousness is automatically charged to your account.  All your past, present, and future sin debt is cleared.  You gain entry to heaven forever with God because your sins are forgiven through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. As the scriptures saith, "for without blood, there is no remission of sin" (Hebrews 9:22).  Without Christ there is an eternal penalty for sin (Revelation 20:15; 21:8). God has made a way to save you from the judgment of your sin. Won't you trust him today?

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved -Romans 10:13

**For more on the Granville Sharp Rule -----> looky here.<------

By the Law is the Knowledge of Sin

Suppose that life tapped a man on the shoulder and said, "You need a break slim, let's go for a drive."  The man comfortably saddles himself in his vehicle, drags the safety sash across his chest and glides the belt into buckle.  Relaxed, he slowly presses on the gas pedal.  The car doesn't move.  Still hopeful he decides to press the pedal with a little more force. Sadly, the car doesn't flinch an inch. In his frustration he stomps on the pedal with both feet in rapid succession over and over, faster and faster.  He yells at the car as if it's sentient, and stubbornly refuses to put the key in the ignition first.  Due to his Fred Flintstone complex, he firmly believes in exercising feet first, instead of key first. As a result the man never could take that relaxing drive that his life wanted him to enjoy.  My friend, did you know many people do this when it comes to their salvation? Often times they make the grave mistake of placing God's sanctification before justification. Many of those types believe that following the ten commandments or other aspects of the Old Testament will make them justified in the sight of their creator. What does the scripture actually say?

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God -Galatians 3:11

How is a man justified?  Well first we must define what biblical justification is. To be justified is to be declared righteous permanently (Galatians 3:6). Growing up I was taught I needed to "exercise" my faith to be justified before God.  This unfortunately is what the man in the illustration was doing, exercising his foot against the pedal first, instead of placing the key in the ignition. Here is the key my friend, faith itself is what justifies us before God, not exercising obedience to the works of the law.  You see the law is more like a compass, it points first to our sin,

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. -Romans 3:20

The law points to the fact that we all fall short of God's perfection, for by the law is the knowledge of our sin.  We have all broken God's moral standard the 10 commandments (James 2:10; Romans 3:10).  Since we all miss the mark, we all fall short of God's glory and his perfect standard (Romans 3:23).  The law is multi-faceted as it also points to something or rather someone else,

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  -Galatians 3:24

The main focus of the law first then is to illustrate that we are all sinners. By the law is the knowledge of sin, we are able to recognize we fall short and have sinned against a holy God.  The law states not to lie in the 9th commandment, have you ever lied? Well here comes the knowledge of sin, you have fallen short of God's perfect standard and thus his glory. If God was to justify us by our own efforts to do good then Christ's death is in vain! Don't believe me?  The scripture makes it abundantly clear, 

 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. -Galatians 2:21

So we learn that exercising the law as it pertains to justification is frustrating the grace of God.  If you think that trusting in your own moral efforts will get you to heaven you are gravely mistaken.  All our trespasses were forgiven at the cross (Col 2:13), all men have the choice to receive complete justification by faith.  Not by works of righteousness we have done, but by his mercy he saved us (Titus 3:5).  The law points us first to our sin, and then the law as our schoolmaster brings us to Christ. After that faith has come we become graduates of the law, because Christ fulfilled the law perfectly (Galatians 3:25). We are therefore justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law,

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. -Galatians 2:16

You see Christ takes us how we are, and by faith we are justified (Romans 4:5), our eternal destination is already set and we are made righteous.  By faith alone God seals us with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), and by his power and might (Col 1:11) we are to able to exercise our faith AFTER we have been justified (Ephesians 2:10). If James 2 is your hang up, see my article that goes more in depth here. A true believer is a new creature (2nd Cor 5:17), and God will start a holy work through him. Sanctification follows justification.  Becoming justified is NOT leaning on God by "faith" by exercising obedience to the law. Rather when we are justified by faith, first we are positionally sanctified set apart and made holy (Acts 13:39).  Secondly, the sanctification process is a purging process that grows our faith in the Lord (2nd Peter 3:18). The Holy Spirit teaches and chastens us (John 14:26).  We are still burdened by the flesh, but are promised a comforter to assist us in the meantime. We still wrestle between the flesh and the spirit (Gal 5:17), because we have not yet been glorified.  In this middle arena of being born-again, and yet in the flesh the Holy Spirit begins a new work in us to make us more holy here and now despite the desires of our flesh. He does this by assisting our faith while battling the old man in us until we pass onto heaven (Phillipians 1:6). In our passing we will be made blameless and our sanctification complete (1st Thess 5:23), perfectly purged by the blood of the lamb. 

As a side note, it is important to answer the critic that asks, "If a man is justified by grace through faith does that make it alright for a man to continue in sin? Wouldn't our sinful life further illustrate God's grace?" God's  answer is NO! We are dead to sin and that old man is crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6).

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:1-2

While on earth a man will never be perfect, but he can be made righteous through faith in Christ.  The Holy Spirit leads and resides in a believer and will instruct him/her to follow the 10 commandments (Nehemiah 9:20), but that is because the believer is ALREADY justified and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. It's the gently leading of the spirit that grows a man's faith. 

In the religious institution I grew up in I was taught an idea that completely inverted God's truth, it went as follows,

...that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.  THIS ANSWER IS FALSE

I'd like to tweak this a bit and give it a bible-based makeover, so here it goes,

...that through faith in the finished work of Christ all mankind may be saved (fully justified) and nothing else. THIS ANSWER IS TRUE

It's not by obedience to "laws and ordinances" that determines our final resting place (see Galatians 2:16).  The handwriting of ordinances that were against us were nailed to His cross, there is nothing that we can do aside from belief (Colossians 2:14). The atonement made payment for ALL our sins and through faith in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection we are justified (Romans 10:9). We are promised a one way ticket to the one spiritual heaven that exists (John 3:16)!  Our justification is why we are reconciled to be in the very presence of God in heaven for eternity (2nd Cor 5:18)! The rejection of Christ, or trusting in your own works is a one way ticket to eternal separation from God in Hell (Proverbs 14:12; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 20:15). Why?  Because you're trusting in yourself or something other than Christ to get to heaven. Jesus said he is the only way (John 14:6). Christ is the only one who can charge perfection to your account (2nd Cor 5:21). Why? He lived a sinless life, the eternal God through whom all of creation was spawned has provided a way to justify us, the only one who could ever pay our sin debt by his precious blood (Revelation 1:5).  Christ took it all upon his shoulders so you wouldn't have to die in your sin. We are all cursed (Gal 3:10), this is why Christ had to become a curse for us and suffer for our sins at the cross (1st Peter 2:24; Deut 21:22-23).   All God has ever wanted is a loving relationship with you, and what does that kind of relationship require? Trust. Believing God is trusting in him. He will not leave you nor forsake you, just surrender everything (Hebrews 13:5). God doesn't want your religion, he wants your whole heart (Acts 8:37). 

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. -1st John 5:13

Quick Edification Series: Ephesians 5:5 and Salvation

 

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Scouring across the terrain of the internet one cannot escape vast valleys of deceit. More often than not these days, one has to work their way through the digital fog, and climb to a peak void of the noise to find the truth so often obscured.  As it is with the case of the Bible, many proponents of false positions love to take their anonymous blow horn touting their half baked opinion on scriptures such as these.  I have discovered many love to cherry pick their pet verses and build their straw hut of doctrine, that mere context could easily blow down. One of these such verses is Ephesians 5:5. So instead of the big bad wolf huffing and puffing and blowing down the poorly constructed dwellings of swine, let's allow instead the Holy Spirit's breath to melt away the misconceptions of swine like interpretation.

The misconception of this verse state that people who commit the sins that Paul mentions can: A. Lose their salvation or B. Cannot be saved.  Some expect that you have to broom sweep and squeak clean your life before God accepts you. Others that if you stumble as a believer into these sins you are at a grave risk of being voided of your grand inheritance in God's kingdom. Instead getting into a verbal tussle here, one should ask what saith the scriptures? 

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Ephesians 4:17

Throughout many of Paul's letters, he compares and contrasts what a Christian's walk should be, compared to that of the world of unbelievers. He talks of being imitators of God, and walking in his light (Ephesians 5:2). So when we get to Ephesians 5:5, Paul is saying not to walk like those in the world (Ephesians 4:17) because they have no inheritance in God's kingdom. Paul warns to stay away from these things because they are the very reasons that will cause God to pour out his wrath on sinful earth.  Notice Paul in 5:7 mentions to be not partakers with them.  Believers should not have yoke with the world (2nd Cor 6:14), and this is what Paul is talking about.  Those who live such lives void of regeneration will be judged for these things.  So Paul is not talking about losing one's salvation, but rather stating that we should all allow Christ to live through us, rather than give place to the vain spirit that plagues this world. We should not live vainly for these are the very reasons God will judge and carry out his penalty on a sinful world. After all, worldly things are temporal and will perish (Proverbs 14:12).  If you would like to see how scripture supports that a believer is eternally secure see my article: 7 Reasons All in Christ are Eternally Secure.

From Marijuana Addiction to Lasting Deliverance

Marijuana addiction. In drug circles this has been laughed off as benign for decades.  I recall as a young man that such a concept was treated as an absurdity by my peers.  "You can't get addicted to marijuana!" They'd scoff.  "It's a dependency! Not an addiction!"  I remember hearing that statement, and had trouble making sense of it as the two terms seemed synonymous. Nevertheless I figured a dependency meant it was much less serious.  I feel one of the many reasons marijuana is not taken seriously is because of the great over exaggeration of it's effects from propaganda akin to Reefer Madness.  However, in these times the opposite has seemed to occur.  With the push of it's health effects, now even grandmothers dotingly say they got a script for their "medicine" after stopping by their local  marijuana dispensary.  Marijuana is argued as harmless by many today, but in my personal experience with it for over a decade it became a ball and chain I could not sever from my heart.  I eventually got delivered from it along with alcohol, but not in the ways conventionally taught by the world. 

My friend, are you addicted to marijuana or something else?  Deep down you want to quit, but just can't seem to buck the habit?  I was in that place for years and years.  I remember I would get overwhelmingly anxious when I wasn't a puppet under it's effects.  You see as a young man, I struggled with depression and anxiety.  Marijuana would provide a fleeting escape for me, I would forget my struggles, and as soon as they'd mushroom back up, I'd go right back to it.  It became a cycle that crystallized more weight upon my shoulders and eventually became too much for me to bear.  My work performance became less than mediocre, I became impulsive and toxic.  I found myself spending less and less time with my family, and more time with vain entertainment.  I became incredibly lazy, and didn't want to spend an ounce of my schedule outside of servicing myself in my hedonistic sphere.  In the beginning, I could recall things under the spell of the drug, but as I got older my memory got worse and worse.  I would see movies on it, and completely forget what I watched the next day.  This bled into a fragmented reality where years became a blur, and I could not live a moment without being absolutely consumed by it.  I remember I wanted so desperately to escape it, I sought counselors, and read self-help literature.  Meditation seemed to help but it never lasted. I wanted a normal life, but it was the only thing that seemed to offer calmness to my mental chaos. Ironically marijuana use was making my life worse at the same time. At it's peak it lead me to a place where I was completely heartbroken. I want to share with you what I discovered to be the solution to my addiction problem, and pray you discover this wonderful treasure for yourself.

Are you heartbroken?  You may not know it and neither did I at the time, but if you are you're in a great place for deliverance.  

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. -Psalm 34:18

The good news my friend it that if your heart is in fact broken, the Bible says God is near.  If you're still in denial about your problem, or take pride in your habit, your heart is not ready. You see, our hearts are where our treasures are, is your treasure of this world?  The world only can offer you temporal treasures that will rot over time. Meditate on this fact if your pride still consumes you. The reason you seek marijuana is because your heart seeks after corruptible things that have no lasting impact.

 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth. and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: Matthew 6:19

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matt 6:21

You see, the reason we seek and build up worldly strongholds in our hearts is because of man's appetite for sin.  Sin is insatiable, meaning it can never offer lasting fulfillment.

[Those that walk after the flesh] Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin.  -2nd Peter 2:14

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. -John 3:19

My friend the reason you struggle is because the world can only offer you a temporary solution to your sin problem. Sin is the entire reason that we have a void in hearts, it's what separates man from God (Isaiah 59:2). It's what causes men to lose hope, and the world offers nothing but pleasures for a season. Just as the world offers no real solution in our time here, it offers no solution after death.

[Moses] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; -Hebrews 11:25

For the wages of sin is death;. -Romans 6:23

My friend, all of mankind's hearts are filled with a void the world simply cannot fill.  Humble your heart my fellow struggler, God is near and wants to help you.  

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. -John 4:14

Jesus will fill you with an unlimited supply of water your heart thirsts after.  Believe in Christ with your whole heart, and he will not only save you from a much grander eternal penalty but will also deliver you from your current problem of addiction.  This was the case with me, I wanted deliverance more than anything, I needed a savior. Carnal weapons have no place against spiritual strongholds so I sought Christ with my whole heart (Acts 8:37).  Not only did my addictions fall off without any effort of my own, but Christ filled me like His Word promises.  I no longer thirst for the strongholds that consumed my life, and so long as you continually seek and feed on His Word, you will no longer have an appetite for the temporal things the world has to offer.  Input the Lord Jesus and lasting fulfillment will be your output.  Believe on Him to have eternal life, cling to Him and he will protect you from the wicked desires of your heart. You will never be perfect, but he is your advocate. He will be your shepherd just allow him to lead, His power is beyond measure.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 2nd Cor 10:4-5)

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalm 23:1-13

Will You Die As A Fool? Or Live Within Refuge?

   

    It was a refreshing mid-week Autumn night, the kind where the air runs across your skin at just the right temperature.  My wife and I had just bolted from my in-laws and were in the middle of embarking to a thrift store in close proximity. "We aren't going to make hun.." I told her.  "We will, we will!" she snapped back.  I wasn't going to argue, the truth was I wanted her to be right.  My foot weighed heavy against the pedal, I was hopeful that we would get the items that we were seeking after.  After wearing the edges of my tires from some sharp turns, we found ourselves planted in front of Goodwill with seconds left.  In running to the doors much to our surprise, they weren't locked! "Yes, we made it!" I say out loud. Upon entry, I recall being met with ten sunken eyes pasted on the heads of five employees. It was safe to assume we knew the words that were coming.  "We're closed," four said in mantra-like unison. "But..but..." my wife protested.  The fifth employee was a little behind, but knew this was his opportunity to parrot what he had missed, "We're closed." he pipingly stated.  Well... needless to say, we failed to make it within the gates of refuge.  We'll I mean we made it inside, but you get my point. We were denied access.  Although I exaggerated this story a bit, this illustration is a crumb similar to the type of picture we see with Abner and Joab, in the book of 2nd Samuel.  However, the picture woven in God's Word depicts a story with weighted eternal consequences. 

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? 2nd Samuel 3:33

    Abner died like a fool, why would David say this? After all, David respected Abner greatly.  Let's take a look at the background in order to rightly divide the context of the passage. Abner was a commander, and David had considered him a great man (2nd Samuel 3:38).  David had no doubt known him for years as he was the cousin to King Saul who had proceeded him.  In spite of God anointing David to be the next king, and taking the throne of Judah after Saul's death, Abner attempted to supplant Saul's son Ish-bosheth as the ruler over all of Israel. A confrontation inevitably ensued as Joab, David's nephew and commander, met Ish-boseth's commander Abner at the battle of Gibeon.  After Abner's retreat, Joab's brother Asahel confident and quick-footed decided to pursue Abner.  Despite Abner's warnings not to pursue, Asahel stubbornly ignored them. Although initially reluctant, Abner came to a point where he had no choice but to defend himself.  Spear gripped tightly in hand, Abner struck Asahel. The piercing was well calculated, the spear penetrated just below his fifth rib, killing him in an instant.  Upon the discovery of his brother's death, Joab desired vengeance and sought after Abner. Over time and as the war of the house of Saul and David continued, Saul's army waxed weaker and weaker.  However, it wasn't until Ish-boseth falsely accused Abner of sleeping with his father's concubines, that Abner sought to join David and was accepted.  Angered by  David's new recruit, Joab sought this as an opportunity for vengeance.  After coaxing Abner to meet at the city gates, Joab succeeded in avenging his brother killing in like fashion by stabbing Abner just below the fifth rib.  Abner died just outside the city of Hebron, the city of refuge.  David immediately mourns over Abner, calling him a fool for this very reason.

The city of refuge was a place of protection for Jew or Gentile (Joshua 20:1-9).  Hebron was one of several cities that offered protection from vengeance generally for unintentional manslaughter. A trial would have to be heard before judgment could take place.  Abner, acting in his own defense, during a time of war would have met this criterion of protection.  Yet Abner, as keen as he was on the battlefield, died as a fool by Joab's deceit. Abner died just outside his city of refuge, which would have been his protector. God's Word is full of symbolic pictures, and prophetic allegorical representations.  What is the bigger picture that God is illustrating here?

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18:10

Abner had died inches away from his city of refuge by foolishly choosing to believe his deceiver.  The fact of the matter is, all unbelieving men are just outside the spiritual gates of refuge.  Unbelievers are just a few inches from believing in the God of the universe, Jesus Christ who can be their strong tower.  In Psalm 14:1, the Bible states that the fool hath said in his heart there is no God.  You would have to be a fool as David put it, to trust in a deceiver (Satan) instead of your safety (Christ). If you don't know Christ, you are just outside the safety of eternal life found within His arms. God is a spiritual refuge available to all men, and none are turned away Jew or Gentile (Romans 1:16).  If you're reading this, you still have time (2nd Corinthians 6:2).  Abner's time expired unexpectedly, and so can yours (Proverbs 27:1). All God asks is that you come unto him.  Recognize your condition as a sinner (Romans 3:23) and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-13). He will in no wise cast all who come to Him (John 6:37).  You will be forgiven of all sin past, present, and future, and will be given of place with Him in heaven for all of eternity (Colossians 2:14; John 3:16). Eternal life is just inches away, will you die as a fool as Abner did?  Or will you live unto life everlasting with the only wise God who turns none away (1st Timothy 2:4; Jude 25).

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Hebrews 6:17-18

Joab the deceiver in this instance is a type of Satan, and the gates of refuge are a picture of God's protection of all who come to Him.  Abner is a type of unbeliever, and died as a fool, just as those who die without the Lord Jesus Christ.  All God asks is that you come unto him.  Recognize your condition as a sinner, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will find yourselves safely protected from the second death (Rev 21:8) within the eternal gates of refuge. 

7 Reasons All in Christ are Eternally Secure

In spite of our sin and bad choices, God offers His grace that is beyond our understanding.  All those who choose to place their trust in Him are forgiven, this includes all sins past, present, and future.  Gotquestions.org sums up salvation nicely: 

    "A definition of the Christian doctrine of salvation would be “The deliverance, by the grace of God, from eternal punishment for sin which is granted to those who accept by faith God’s conditions of repentance* and faith in the Lord Jesus.” Salvation is available in Jesus alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) and is dependent on God alone for provision, assurance, and security."

*repentance properly defined is a change of mind

Salvation from sin only occurs once a person places their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone.  Obedience by what some call "god empowered" works, general good works, obedience to the 10 commandments, does not save someone from God's wrath.  When one recognizes their condition as a sinner and places their faith in Christ's finished work on the cross they are eternally secure.   All who place their faith in Christ will have a place in heaven with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit forever.  Some, however, think salvation can be lost.  Some think that if they backslide long enough God will revoke their place in heaven, others think salvation is earned by following church ordinances.  My friend, Christ has done all the work for us, and here are several biblically endorsed reasons that demonstrate that true Christians cannot lose their salvation and eternal inheritance.

1. The plain implications of being born-again.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. -John 3:3-8

Being born-again clearly illustrates a permanence of salvation.  All things that are born, cannot go back to becoming unborn.  We are all born of water, however, when one places their faith hope, and trust in Jesus Christ, he is born of the spirit, becomes a new creature, all old things are passed away and all things become new (2nd Corinthians 5:17).  A new creature spawned into reality does not go back to becoming uncreated, just as a newborn cannot decide somehow to shirk itself out of existence.  The condition of existence is steadfast, nowhere is it suggested in God's Word that a born-again believer can become unborn. When a believer is born of the spirit, we are no longer dead in trespasses and sins, we are made alive unto life everlasting (Eph 2:1).

2. Nobody can be plucked from the Mighty Hand of God!

But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. John 10:28-30

Even if a confused Christian sadly decided to remove himself from this world, he is still in the Father and the Son's hands.  All of God's sheep, those who believe in Him, are unable to be seized or plucked out of His almighty hand!  We cannot be removed by anything or anyone, Paul likewise affirms this also:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38-39

All in Christ Jesus are in God's hand, and nothing can harpoon a true believer away from their cemented status.

3. Sealing of the Holy Spirit:

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

The greek word for sealed is sphragízō, and it's meaning here is used to certify ownership. All those who place their belief in Jesus Christ have this special seal (Ephesians 4:30). In plainer terms, God owns a person the moment that saving faith is placed in Him. This is why Paul writes that the Holy Spirit will do a good work in us, until the day of Jesus Christ (Phillipians 1:6).

The Scofield Study Bible drives home this point:

"The Holy Spirit is Himself the seal. In the symbolism of Scripture a seal signifies (1) A finished transaction (Jer. 32:9, 10; John 17:4, 19:30), (2) Ownership (Jer. 32:11, 12; 2 Tim. 2:19), (3) Security (Esth. 8:8; Dan. 6:17; Eph. 4:30)."

4. The earnest deposit of the Holy Spirit

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. -2nd Corinthians 1:22

For thousands of years, people have placed earnest deposits known also as good faith deposits on property and/or land. This would demonstrate the buyer's seriousness and also ensured protection for the seller at the same time.  Paul states that the sealing of the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance. Such a seal demonstrates that we are not only in the Father, and The Son's hands as stated above but also the Holy Spirit's!  The Holy Spirit is a believer's guaranteed earnest deposit of their eternal inheritance cemented in promise. Since a believer is sealed with the eternal Holy Spirit of promise, his deposit is guaranteed and cannot be forfeited. Prior to the cross, the Holy Spirit would come upon and depart from individuals. Fortunately Christ promised all believers a Comforter, that they would be sealed with until the day of redemption.

5.  Sciptures asserts believers as His Body

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.-1st Corinthians 12:27

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. -Ephesians 5:23

   It's not by accident that God's Word allegorizes a believer's membership in Christ as being His body. He is the head and believers are His body.  This also implies immutability, as Christ's body would have to be amputated if even a single member were to exit.  Jesus Christ is incorruptible, and those that are in Christ are also incorruptible.  Though all present flesh will die, all believers will be raised incorruptible just as He is to ever serve and worship Him as the body forevermore. 

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. -1st Corinthians 15:22

6. Christ asserts believers as stones in His temple.

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. -Ephesians 2:23-22

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. -1st Peter 2:5

A believer is made a part of God's spirtual house, an incorruptible building with Christ being the chief cornerstone (1st Peter 2:6). Stones are built on top of each other.  One man's ministry will be built upon another, and so is the case with Christ's temple.  We are made unto his workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), and the works God uses through us are incorruptible and solidified within the temple that is made by Christ's body of believers. 

7. Believers are Bondservants

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. -1st Corinthians 7:22

The word used for servant is doulos, Strong's concordance defines this as:  (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave.  Paul and the apostles used this term for themselves, and other believers see (Rev 1:1; 2nd Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1; Rev 7:3; 2 Timothy 2:24).

Helps Word Studies sums the definition up nicely:

1401 doúlos (a masculine noun of uncertain derivation) – properly, someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own. Ironically, doúlos ("bond-slave") is used with the highest dignity in the NT – namely, of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers.

    In Exodus 21:4-6 a servant who loved his master could voluntarily become bonded to him for life.  After appearing before judges a willing servant would get a permanent piercing through their ear as a representation of the covenant made between the master and now bondservant.  This prophetic picture is a representation of all who voluntarily choose to place their faith in Jesus Christ.  When one's faith is placed in Christ we become His bondservant, and instead of the physical piercing of the ear, our permanence rests in the sealing of the Holy Spirit.  In the law, when the piercing was made on the bondservant, the nail went through the ear to the master's doorpost.  When faith is placed in Christ, we are tethered eternally to the door of Jesus Christ.

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. -John 10:9

 Many proponents out there think that God's eternal guarantee can be lost.  It logically goes to follow that if you think you can lose your salvation, then you are the one keeping it.  Place your faith in Christ and he will be the one to keep you eternally as one of His. All those who place their faith and trust in Christ Jesus become born-again, are His bondsevants, His temple, His body, and are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.  All those who place their faith in Jesus Christ are within the unblemished hands of El Shaddai, God the Almighty!  Are you lost? Place your faith in Jesus Christ, and you can know you're on your way to heaven (1st John 5:13).  You will be eternally clasped in God's hand, and nothing will take you out of them. Eternal peace and joy are found in the creator of all things. The question is do you know Him?

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. -Romans 5:1-2