Understanding The CROSS
1 Cor 1:18 For the
preaching of the cross
is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved
it is the power of God.
This Understand The Cross message available in audio files at –
http://www.gjigt-radio.com/podcast/audio/TheCross1Radio.mp3
http://www.gjigt-radio.com/podcast/audio/TheCross2Radio.mp3
There are some things about which we can be ignorant, or misunderstand, and it will not hurt us badly. However, if we are ignorant, or wrong, about our understanding regarding the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on that Roman Cross, on that Wednesday, of Nissan 14, in 30 AD, our destiny will be the destiny we all deserve, of the eternal lake of fire, created for the devil and his angels, called HELL. Do you understand and see hell being enlarged today? I can tell you that I see very clearly why, and how, hell is being enlarged today. HELL is being enlarged by preachers even saying hell is not real, which will cause many to know hell’s reality experientially and eternally.
There is one and only one way anyone can possibly avoid that deserved destiny of hell. That way is the way of THE CROSS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Therefore, what you are about to read is NOT foolishness, but rather the most important understanding that every human being MUST correctly understand before it is too late. For it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: God said so in Hebrews 9:27.
The law of sin and death is very simple, and works every time. THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH. The soul that sinneth it shall die. Every human being, including the Virgin Mother Mary, is born a sinner, born at enmity with God. It is in our blood. It is human nature to sin. It is a sin nature inherited from Adam and Eve. Sin is the transgression of God’s royal law of love, life, and liberty, the 10 Commandments, written by the finger of God, Yeshua, Jesus, in stone for Moses, and written upon the hearts of truly born again people by His Holy Spirit. It is not the degree of sin, but the fact of sin. The offense of any sin to the holiness of God, guarantees that deserved destiny of HELL for every human being, except for the ONE AND ONLY WAY provided by God, the way of the CROSS OF MESSIAH.
Pop theology is NOT the way. The sacraments of the Church is NOT the way. Observance of the Torah is NOT the way. Doing more good than bad is NOT the way. It is like Sura 19.71 guarantees that every Muslim will end up in hell, because it is impossible for the Muslim to know the way. Islam is NOT the way. Mormonism is NOT the way. The Roman Catholic Church is NOT the way. The Baptist Church is NOT the way. The Pentecostal Church is NOT the way. Messianic Jewish Congregation is NOT the way. Harold Camping is NOT the way. Brother Stair is NOT the way. The Watchtower is NOT the way. Buddhism NO. Hinduism NO. Any religious organization is NOT the way. The ONE and ONLY WAY anyone can be saved and avoid the deserved destiny of HELL, is by the way of THE CROSS OF CHRIST.
In general, all of the 501c3 churches of sun god day, pew sitting, Laodicean, pre-trib lala land, have missed the meaning of the Cross. Why would I say that? For the only reason one can truthfully say such a thing – that the God promised every word perfect Holy Bible and History verified such reality.
Just ask a dozen professing Christians, or Messianic believers, What must one do to be saved? Here are typical answers: "accept Jesus as your personal savior", or "ask Jesus into your heart". Regardless of how the terminology may vary, the answers would almost all boil down to - all you have to do is believe, all you have to do is have faith. In other words, at the very moment the sinner puts his, or her, faith in Jesus Christ and accepts Him as savior, that person has entered into a covenant relationship with God, has received God's forgiveness of sins, and the gift of eternal life. It is certainly a fact that the Bible teaches that faith is an essential ingredient, because without faith it is impossible to please God. However, the Holy Bible NEVER EVER teaches that faith is the ONLY requirement for salvation.
As close as one could come to finding that is: Acts 16:30-31 Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. However, that is removed from its context. Just add the next verse for the MINIMUM context and you see that is NOT ALL there is - Acts 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. The Word of the Lord ALWAYS REQUIRES REPENTANCE AND FAITH, and that faith is very specifically The Faith of Abraham, that God would provide HIMSELF, a Lamb. Like the faith of John the Baptist who said, Behold THE LAMB OF GOD. That faith must be in THE SACRIFICE MADE BY THE CROSS OF MESSIAH. John the Baptist preached REPENTANCE. The first word Jesus ever preached was REPENT. Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Without Repentance, and Faith, in the sacrifice of the Cross of Christ, you do NOT have THE Gospel, but ANOTHER gospel.
Gal 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
THE Gospel is most simply expressed in 1 Cor 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
All of us should recognize THE Gospel MUST contain that sacrificial DEATH of Christ on that Roman Cross on that Wednesday of Nissan 14, in 30 AD, and His RESURRECTION three days later, on that Sabbath, Saturday, Nissan 17. Though we see that sacrificial death of Christ, do we CORRECTLY UNDERSTAND faith in the Cross of Messiah? That is the most important question for every descendant of Adam and Eve.
When someone teaches or preaches about the meaning of the Cross, over ninety percent of the time one only hears about Physical Suffering. Much detail is normally given about the terrible whipping and the crown of thorns, the nails driven through the hands and feet, how Jesus had to push himself up to get each breath of air. Indeed it was death by torture, by suffocation, when one could no longer lift up for a breath of air. Generally we hear about the Roman soldier thrusting the spear into His side and the water and blood flowing out of His side, the most positive possible proof of DEATH. Sadly however, most then say, “by this we are saved”. Does that NOT beg the question, HOW? How does that save us?
How is it possible that the physical suffering of Jesus, caused by men, somehow paid the penalty for our sins? It can not possibly work that way. How can our sins be paid for because the Romans and Jewish religious leaders rejected Jesus, and inflicted death by torture on Him?
God sent His ONLY Begotten Son, in form of human flesh, who lived a perfect life. This was according to God’s plan to defeat Satan and the host of hell, that the Son of God was rejected by men, and the Jewish religious leaders managed to get the Romans to crucify Him. Most in these last days of great apostasy, false prophets, heretic, unsaved preachers, would have been taught that God the Father looked at all Yeshua’s suffering at the hands of men and considered that to be payment for all our sins against Him. And that is HERESY. That is DAMNABLE HERESY. THAT IS A WRONG UNDERSTANDING OF THE CROSS, WHICH EFFECTIVELY BLOCKS THE ONLY WAY OF SALVATION THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED.
So what IS THE TRUE GOSPEL TEACHING OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THROUGH THE CROSS OF CHRIST to cause God to forgive us of our sins?
The first question is why was it necessary that God in the flesh come to earth and die? What would stop God from just forgiving us? In one word HOLINESS. Only by that sacrificial death of God could every defense and argument of Satan be destroyed.
Pro 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Look at that and THINK ABOUT IT. Selah. He who justifies the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.
What comes out of the infiltrated seminaries and bible schools today is generally all about God justifying the wicked. THAT IS ABOMINATION. God does NO abominations. God justified us while were still sinners, He declared us to be right before Him, and indeed we are thankful and we will forever praise God for that. Yet, the Word of the God who can NOT lie, tells us that if anyone declares the sinner to be right when he is not right, that is an abomination before Him. So if God declared you to be right when you were not right, if God simply forgives the wicked, He would become an abomination, according to His own word. He would become wicked. Imagine a judge sitting up there in his place on the bench, forgiving a murderer and letting him go free. He would NOT be a just judge. God is a just judge and God’s justice demands He throw men in the eternal fire of hell created for the devil and his angels.
Satan’s defense and last hope argument was destroyed by the Cross of Messiah. If God were to let us guilty sinners escape hell, you know the devil’s best argument. The devil would certainly say that if you forgive Jim of his sins you can not be a JUST JUDGE and keep me eternally in the torment of hell. Everyone understands that if God is a just God He cannot forgive without just reason. He must punish the wicked and that is one of the most central teachings of the entire Bible. All through the Old Testament we see animals dying a substitute sacrificial death for the sin of sinners. This is a profound symbol and type of the final and ultimate sacrifice, of the Lamb of God, to which Abraham, John Baptist, and all the prophets did witness.
I do hope that already it is becoming more clear to you why the Cross was necessary and absolutely essential. If God was going to forgive anyone, save any human being from the deserved eternal destiny of hell, God the ONLY Begotten Son, the Lamb of God, had to die.
1 Cor 2:7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
If God were to justify any wicked person and declare any sinner to be righteous, then according to His own word, God would be not only unjust, but an abomination. GOD CAN NOT SIMPLY FORGIVE BECAUSE HE IS HOLY, JUST, AND PERFECT IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. God’s law, the law of sin and death in particular, demands that the sinner has to die. God can not, and will not wink at sin and say it is OK, and we will let him off the hook this time. If God would do that, then God would not be holy, just, or righteous. If God would do that He would be unjust, acting contrary to His word, and would be a liar. When Satan rebelled against God, then God created hell for Satan and all who follow Satan in rebellion against God. If God were to simply forgive the sins of sinners, Satan would immediately be shouting and reminding God of His unfairness and injustice. And that argument would stand in truth. So now I hope you can see the problem and the amazing wisdom of God’s solution of the problem.
I do believe that by now you see that the ONLY way that God can forgive sinful men is; if God who made the law, and God who demands satisfaction and justice, would come down Himself and pay the death penalty. Behold the Lamb of God. Just as Abraham prophesied, God would provide Himself, a Lamb. The ONLY way the law of God can be satisfied is BY God.
This is what makes the doctrine of the Muslims, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Christadelphians, and other cults which would deny that Jesus IS God, who IS come in the flesh, to be so blasphemous and damnable. They all say that when the world fell, God created an innocent being and took this innocent being and put him on a cross to die and fix the problem. The Muslims do not even allow that Christ died on that Cross, let alone that He was resurrected. But that is NOT what happened. Yeshua Messiah is NOT a created being. Jesus Christ IS come in the flesh. He IS The I AM, the Eternal One born in Bethlehem, Who did come in the flesh, Who did die on that Roman Cross, and Who did raise again from the dead. Yeshua is now seated at the right hand of the Father, and ever lives to make intercession for the saints. He is God. It is blasphemy and damnable heresy to say otherwise.
If Jesus is not God, then EVERYONE is going to hell. Be a do gooder, or be a murderer, cry, weep, and howl, because IF JESUS IS NOT GOD everyone, EVERYONE, is going to hell. But, Jesus Christ IS come in the flesh, He did die on the Cross as the Lamb of God for sinners slain, was resurrected, and has ascended up to sit at the Father’s right hand, ever living to make intercession for the saints, according to the Scriptures. Still ALL Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Christadelphians, Hindus, Buddhists, Most Roman Catholics, and even Most Protestants are all going to hell unless they REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL. THE gospel is a very definite article. There is ONE True Gospel and many other gospels, just as there is One True God and many aliases of Lucifer, Satan, the devil. Among those certain to end up in hell are:
Those who think they have done more good than bad.
Those who think they are not so bad as to deserve hell.
Those who put their trust in the sacraments of the Church.
Those bound in the Mormon religion.
Those bound in the Jehovah Witness religion.
Those bound in the religion of ISLAM.
Those bound in the Hindu religion.
Those bound in the Buddhist religion.
Those bound in the pagan religions.
Those bound in the new age religions, illuminati, Satanists, Freemasons, and all occult practitioners.
AND SADLY Most Roman Catholics, and MOST Protestants.
Yes, as Jesus said, there would be FEW that will be saved.
God made the law. God has to satisfy the law. It has to be God. Only God can pay the price. God, in order to forgive the wicked and still be just, has to DIE in the place of the wicked. This is the ONLY way He can forgive anyone, and still consign Satan and all of his followers to hell, and still maintain His perfection in holiness, justice, and righteousness.
Satan motivated the princes of this world to crucify the Lord of Glory. Messiah knew no sin. The curse of the law of sin and death could not be put upon Him. That would be the greatest imaginable violation of the law of sin and death. However, to pay the price for sinners, He Who IS The Life, took the curse of death upon Himself. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
God did die on that Roman Cross. The one, who knew no sin, was made to be the sin offering for us, who would repent, believe, and go in the ONLY way provided to avoid the wrath of God. There is quite a difference between the wrath of Satan and the wrath of God. The wrath of God is the hell created for the devil and his angels. The one who IS the Life, took upon Himself the curse of the law of sin and death, to redeem us sinners. Understanding what the Lord of Glory did at that Cross for you and me, gives the best reason, and highest motivation to STOP Sinning. We want to keep His Commandments because He said, If you love Me, keep My commandments.
What is it about the Son of God’s death that leads to our forgiveness? How does His death satisfy the law?
When some one says they have been saved, the question to be asked is - Saved from what? Many people will say they were saved from sin. This is simply NOT true! SIN WAS SOMETHING WE DID. Sin is NOT going to throw you and me into hell. We have sinned, but sin is not a living being that is going to judge us and then throw us into hell. What we have been saved from IS NOT A WHAT, but IT IS A WHO. We are saved from and by the God who will cast sinners into hell. We have been saved from the WRATH OF GOD. Rom 5:9 - Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from WRATH through Him. What we are saved from is not a what, but a Who. We are saved FROM GOD BY GOD. God is the judge of all the universe. ALL have sinned and made themselves an enemy of God. So when I stand before Him, He will judge me and throw me into hell, EXCEPT FOR THE ONE AND ONLY WAY TO AVOID HIS WRATH.
Romans 5:9 states that since we have been justified by His blood (past tense), we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him (future tense). This use of past and future tense is common in the New Testament. Sadly, many Christians seem not to notice this, very dangerously, and sadly to their great peril. The New Testament sometimes says that salvation is an accomplished reality, and at other times says it is still in the future, a paradox, a seeming contradiction that is not limited to salvation alone, but can also be seen regarding redemption, justification, adoption, and glorification.
So what is the answer? Can we be assured we have salvation now, or is it something we have to strive and hope for? Have we already been adopted as sons, or are we eagerly waiting for this adoption? Are we righteous now, or is it yet a distant hope? For those who are actually interested in what the Bible says on the subject, as opposed to what parents, pastors, friends, or denominations most likely would teach, the answer to all of those question is, emphatically, BOTH.
Yes, knowing full well the risk of offending everyone, both Calvinist and Armenian persuasions, I am constrained to say BOTH.
Messiah’s substitution sacrificial death on the Cross was the first half of the process, with the second phase still in the future. Complete deliverance will not be realized until Christ puts away sin at the end of the ages, when Yeshua, The Lord Jesus, will appear, as it says in Hebrews 9:26. But now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. To properly understand that concept given in Hebrews 9:26, requires a more complete understanding of the atonement. For that understanding we must have the Old Testament foundation and insight, which it provides.
Truly the Bible does say BOTH past and future regarding salvation, as well as justification, redemption, adoption and glorification. Many Christians have tried to reconcile these statements according to their beliefs that they are already completely saved. However, the explanation must be the Word of God, by the Holy Spirit of truth, and not vain attempts to explain the otherwise unexplainable. Regarding the issue of SALVATION, justification, redemption, adoption, and glorification, uncertainty should not and cannot be tolerated. An event can not be both past and future, so we must go to the Scriptures and by the Word, and Holy Spirit, KNOW the truth on these most important issues. Lord willing, that is what we shall do in the next update. However, I do hope this gives you a clearer understanding of the Cross and why anyone who thinks the preaching of the Cross is foolishness, IS PERISHING. It is the understanding of the Cross, and just exactly Who was crucified, just exactly WHY He did die on that Cross, that marks the distinction between the simple heretic and the damnable heretic.
Now then, in understanding the Cross, and Salvation, what is the answer? Are we saved now, or not? Can we be assured we have Salvation now, or is it something we have to strive and hope for? Have we already been adopted as sons, or are we eagerly waiting for this adoption? Are we righteous now, or is it still a future hope? The Biblical answer to all of those is BOTH.
The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews, chapter nine, compared and contrasted the required sacrifice of the High Priest on Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement, before the Temple was destroyed in the first century. He compared and contrasted that sacrifice in the Temple with Christ’s redeeming sacrifice on the Cross.
This Apostle, who was a Pharisee of the Pharisees, according to the law of the rabbis, the oral tradition, blameless, former persecutor of the followers of Jesus, tells us how imperfect were the observances on Yom Kippur. They were only a picture or a shadow of the Perfect to come. The High Priest had to make the sacrifice every year, for himself AND for the sins of the people, with blood that was not his own. However, Christ had to make the sacrifice once, which obtained eternal redemption for HIS people. Christ did not enter into a Holy Place made with hands as Aaron did, but into Heaven itself, ALLELUIA. The Holy Place, in the Temple before Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, was just a pattern pointing to the real thing which God would do on that Cross of Messiah. Behold The Lamb of God.
The point we should be careful not to miss is that the sacrifices and rituals of Yom Kippur were a pattern, or a glimpse of an actual event yet to come. With that in mind, consider what the High Priest did in the Temple on the Day of Atonement. In Leviticus 16 we are told that Aaron could not offer the sacrifice for the sins of the people until his own sins had been Kippered, covered, or atoned, by blood. So before Aaron went within the veil with the blood of the goat, which was the atonement for the people, he had to first go into the Holy of Holies to make atonement there for himself. He first sacrificed a bullock then took the blood inside the veil, along with the large golden censor of burning coals and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense. As the cloud of incense covered the mercy seat, Aaron took some of the blood of the bull and sprinkled it with his finger on, and in front of the mercy seat, seven times. After this Aaron went out again, slaughtered the goat of the sin offering for the people, then brought its blood inside the veil and repeated the ritual, sprinkling the blood on the Mercy Seat and in front of the Mercy Seat. Each atonement was a two-part process, the shedding of the blood followed by the sprinkling of the blood on the Mercy Seat.
It is very apparent that just the shedding of the blood outside the Tabernacle was not an end in itself. The blood of the sacrifice had to be brought to God and offered as atonement for sin. In fact, in Leviticus 17, which prohibits the eating of blood, we are clearly told that the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Lev 17:11.
Now consider Passover. Israel had been slaves in Egypt for over 400 years. Pharaoh refused to let them go free despite plague after plague, which God brought upon the Egyptians through Moses. Israel was given very explicit instructions on the night before the final plague. That death of the firstborn, was the final plague, which caused Pharaoh to finally relent and allow Israel to be free to leave Egypt. The people of Israel were told to sacrifice a lamb, and place the blood upon their doorposts and lintel. That night the angel of God PASSED OVER the houses of the Israelites that were covered by the lamb’s blood, but caused the death of the firstborn of all families who were not covered by the blood. The point again is that sacrificing the lamb was only the first step. They had to do something with the blood before they were spared from the death, which took the lives of all of the firstborn in all of Egypt.
As we consider what was done on Yom Kippur, and what was done on Passover, the connection with Messiah as the Lamb of God is so clear. Both Passover and Yom Kippur, by the application of the blood, were given by God as a type or foreshadowing of an event yet to take place. That event was the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus on the Cross, as Messiah our Passover and Atonement. There He as the ETERNAL High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, offered the BLOOD OF GOD. Just as the blood of the goat was shed, Jesus shed His blood for the atonement of sin. YES! But that blood had to be sprinkled on the Mercy Seat, which is when the Atonement actually happens. There are two other verses in the New Testament, which speak of sprinkling with blood. 1 Pet 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
The same Greek word is used in both instances and literally means exactly, SPRINKLED. The Blood of Christ was poured out on the Cross of Calvary but when did the sprinkling, or the second part of the process happen? You can say that Yeshua’s blood on Calvary poured out, dripped out, but what about the sprinkling, the second part of the process?
The Apostle Paul makes this very clear in Hebrews chapter nine. Heb 9:11-15 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
AND Especially, Heb 9:24-26 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hopefully everyone can see here what is wrong with the picture of the Babylonian pagan Roman Catholic MASS.)
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http://www.moresureword.com/JIM SEARCY & RON WYATT.WMV
There are only two ages spoken of in Scripture, this age, and the age to come. When this age ends the other begins. This present world will be followed by the Kingdom of God, when He brings an end to this age as described in the book of Revelation. The sounding of the LAST Trump (I Cor 15:51-52), or the Seventh Trumpet of Revelation is the end of this age, AND the beginning of the age to come. Big things happen at once at the LAST Trump. At once, in the twinkling of an eye, FIRST the dead in Christ are resurrected, THEN those saints who remain alive are caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and THEN ALL descend with Him, all saints of all time, to the Mount of Olives. There He will set up the BIG Church of the Firstborn, 3600 Square Miles big, on Mount Zion. You can read about this BIG Church where saints will spend the Sabbath Millennium with the Lord in Ezekiel chapters 40 – 48.
At the sound of that LAST Trump the mystery of God is finished, as the seventh angel is about to sound. Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
The mystery of God is referred to several times in the New Testament and always points to THE Gospel. (I Cor 15:3-4 how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.) THE Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ IS come in the flesh. God did come in the flesh, to die, and be resurrected, and ascend to His position at the Father’s right hand, ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES. At the Lord’s return, at the LAST Trump, the Atonement will be complete. The Mystery of God will be finished. As the Seventh angel prepares to sound, and with the blowing of the LAST, seventh, trumpet Jesus appears before the Face of God for us, and the atonement is complete, He reaps the earth, The Resurrection, The Rapture, And The Lord’s Return, all happen immediately at that LAST Trump. Then the doors to the Kingdom are closed forever, and there will be no possibility of redemption for any that have not yet become a Disciple of the Lamb and accepted His Salvation. This LAST trumpet is followed by the final vials of wrath.
So the Bible is clearly telling us that we are saved now, and yet referring to salvation as a future event, it is a true paradox, and is not at all contradictory. We have been saved, Eph 2:8, through faith, BY God FROM God by GRACE. However, the salvation process that had its beginning at the greatest event of all history, at the Cross of Messiah, that fullness of salvation is yet to be concluded at an event in the near future, as the Seventh angel prepares to sound the Seventh LAST TRUMP, and just before the final vials of wrath are pored out. Yes, it is EXACTLY as Jesus said, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION. The Resurrection, Rapture, and Return of the Lord is IMMEDIATELY AFTER the Tribulation. Pre-trib rapture is NOT true and can NOT be found in context, rightly divided by the Holy Spirit of Truth, anywhere in Scripture.
What the Scriptures say is THE TRUTH. The Scriptures provide the only way there is to PROVE the truth. If your parents, your denomination, your pastor, or your school of theology, has told you otherwise, the Scriptures are very clear. Sadly, many will refuse to have eyes to see and ears to hear.
Complete deliverance, complete salvation, will not be realized until Christ HAS BEEN manifested to put away sin at the end of the ages. At the END when He will appear BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD FOR US. Heb 9:24 - 26 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
In English, verb tenses generally denote the TIME of action. Factors such as context, specific verb forms and modifiers like adverbs, conjunctions and phrases further determine the TIME of action as well as the beginning, duration and end of that action. In New Testament Greek, verb tenses generally denote the KIND of action.
HATH BEEN is a good example to illustrate the New Testament Greek PERFECT TENSE:
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
HATH BEEN is the perfect tense. In English, hath been, indicates the past. However in Hebrew and Greek, the perfect tense is often used when the one intends to represent a future action is just as certain as if it were already accomplished. The past is used instead of the future to emphasize the certainty of an event.
When we become Disciples of Christ, we have a full assurance that everything will happen as God promised. God can NOT lie. Heb 10:22-23 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) HOLD FAST. Eph 1:13-14 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.
We should understand that if the person receiving the earnest money fails to complete his part of the bargain, the deposit (earnest money) is refundable. If God sees that you or I fail to keep our part of the bargain, He has every right to demand and take back from us His earnest of the Holy Spirit. David expressed this truth very clearly in Psalm 51:9-11 - Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Modern version perversion bibles have greatly CHANGED what God actually did say. As a result a great many people in these last days of Babylon confusion, and strong delusion, have trusted these perverted bible translations. Most have ended up believing that Scripture actually speaks of a guarantee when, in fact, it does no such thing. There is a world of difference between guarantee and earnest.
Col 2:5 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. STEADFASTNESS, continuing in the way of repentance and faith in the Cross of Messiah.
2 Pet 3:17 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.
We all should understand that the Day of Atonement was preceded by the ten Days of Awe, diligently seeking God’s grace evidenced in REPENTANCE. Without repentance there is NO atonement for sin.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have
done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Col 1:22-23 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and
unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If, (IF, IF, 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;
1 John 1:7 But if, (IF, IF, IF), we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
We MUST CONTINUE to be STEADFAST to walk in the way of Repentance and Faith in the power of the Blood of God, knowing that propitiation and redemption price HATH BEEN paid in full By God. That is the ONE and ONLY Way that we might be saved from the wrath of God. The wrath of God ultimately is expressed by a place called Hell, created for the devil and his angels. There is ONE and ONLY ONE Way to avoid that destiny.
And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray Psalm 83 every day. Only be very strong and of good courage. Stay IN the Word.