The admonition that “no sacrifice is left for sins if we keep on sinning deliberately” (Hebrews 10:26-27) is repeated in multiple places in Scripture as a warning to the church. Thus, we are given no excuse by which to claim that such severe scriptural admonitions are only meant for Jewish Christians or the nation of Israel.
In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul listed the deeds of the flesh and warned the church that “I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”. The Greek word translated kingdom, i.e, basileia, does not just mean royal power or authority but also the territory or place subject to to the rule of a king. It also refers to the reign of the Messiah, Jesus. The Greek word translated inherit, i.e., kleronomeo, also means to become partaker of, to obtain, to be an heir, or to receive the portion assigned to you. Thus, to be excluded from inheriting the kingdom of God is simply to be excluded from entering heaven, the place of God’s abode (cf. Isaiah 66:1, Matthew 6:9) as well as the new heaven and earth, where the Father and Son will reign eternally (Revelation chapters 21 and 22). This simply means to have your eternal destination in hell and the lake of fire. Interestingly, this was a warning given to the church so that we will refrain from the practice of sin. It’s the same truth contained in Hebrews 10:25-27, obviously to the church, not just to Jews.
Paul did not invent this warning. What he said in Galatians 5:19-21 is a repetition of what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” We read in Scripture that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). However, in the words of Jesus, calling or saying to Him “Lord, Lord”, is not what guarantees your entry into the kingdom of heaven but doing God’s will. To buttress this truth, He gave us a prophecy of what will happen on the judgment day. There will be those who have performed miracles, prophesied and cast out demons in His name, i.e., those who have walked in His anointing and authority since satan does not cast out satan (Mark 3:23-24). Yet, they will be denied entry into the kingdom of heaven and will end up in the lake of fire, not because they lied about prophesying and doing miracles in Jesus’ name/authority, but because they practised lawlessness. It’s the same warning Paul repeated to the church (Galatians 5:19-21).
Jesus iterated this truth to the church in Sardis as well. He told them, “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5). This text says that it is those who overcome, whose names will not be erased from the book of life. This directly means that those who do not overcome will have their names erased from the book of life. For anyone’s name to be erased from the book of life, it must have first been written there. In this way, Jesus Himself makes us aware that even Christians who are saved can have their names erased from the book of life if they stain their garment (Revelation 3:4-5) i.e., if they make a practice of sin; continually and deliberately sin without repenting (Galatians 5:19-21, Matthew 7:21-23, Hebrews 10:225-31). And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15, NASB 1995). These were written to the church.
Jesus also gave this same admonition to the church in Smyrna: “He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death’(Revelation 2:11). This directly says that the one who does not overcome will be hurt by the second death, and this was a warning given to the church, not just Jewish Christians nor the nation of Israel. What is the second death? Revelation 20:14 says “The lake of fire is the second death”. With these, Jesus Himself totally refutes the doctrine of once saved forever saved, i.e., once you get saved, there is nothing that can make you end up in hell or the lake of fire. In the words of Jesus, it is those who endure to the end, who will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
Beloved, let us not be deceived by the false and perverted grace message, which promises eternal security for Christians no matter how they choose to live. Once saved forever saved if you stay saved. This is not a warning for Jews only, but for the entire church. The key to staying saved is to refrain from the practice of sin; wilfully continuing in sin.
To be continued.
Dr. Kwadwo Omari
January 16, 2025
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be taught and trained to grow in the ways of God.