But The Righteous To Eternal Life

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Dan Corner

One of the most important points to remember about final salvation (actually entering God’s kingdom) is, eternal life is only given to the righteous. The unrighteous (or wicked) will go to a totally different place, according to Jesus:

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. (Mt 25:46)

The immediate context of Mt. 25:31-46 describes the sheep (or the righteous) as the ones who helped other Christians by giving them (in their distress) food, drink, shelter, medical help and prison visits. Other Scriptures describe the righteous a different way, which supplements those characteristics and clarifies the saved. For example, the righteous have a continuous tense faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:22) and obey Jesus (Heb. 5:9; Luke 8:21; etc.). They live HOLY.

NOTE: You can do all those merciful acts for Christians cited in Mt. 25 and yet go to hell, since certain sins will bring forth spiritual death, according to other verses (1 Cor. 6:9,10; Eph. 5:5-7; Gal. 5:19-21; Rev. 21:8; etc.). Hence, you must consider all Scriptures together to properly understand salvation. Again, general obedience to God is needed, based on Paul’s grace teaching:

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Rom 6:16)

If you aren’t of the group to go to eternal life, where will you go? Jesus said it would be eternal punishment (Mt. 25:46). The Greek word for punishment can also be translated torment. Mt. 25:41 adds to that by stating the unrighteous will go to eternal fire. Hence, one will go to eternal life or eternal torment in fire depending on him being righteous or not, from God’s holy perspective. All of that means, there categorically is no annihilation of the wicked dead (as the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach) or universal salvation for everyone. Remember also it is only the pure in heart who will see God (Mt. 5:8). Which group are you in? Do you have the saving faith in Jesus needed to have eternal life?

Posted in Christian, The Righteous To Eternal Life | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What Must I do To Inherit Eternal Life

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

inherit eternal life To answer the question, how do I inherit eternal life, we must go to the Bible. There one of the most unusual and perplexing dialogs related to salvation rises after a rich man comes running up to Jesus and asks him on his knees, What must I do to inherit eternal life?

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)

After Jesus asked if he kept various commands and he said he did, Jesus dropped the bombshell on him, which has mystified Christians:

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)

In Mk. 10:22 we learn he had great wealth. So why did Jesus tell this person something different than Nicodemus on salvation (John 3)? Here is the key! Though it is not obvious, the man was greedy and that idol needed to go. How can we be sure about his greed? Because the Lord Jesus told the greedy Pharisees the same crucial advise in Luke 11:39-41:

Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

Mark 10:21 spoken to this rich man is essentially the same as Luke 11:41 spoken to the greedy Pharisees. NOTE: Jesus never told Zacchaeus, who was also wealthy (Luke 19:2-10) that he would have to give all he had to the poor to inherit eternal life! Why? Because greed never had a grip on him, as it did on others. Please carefully read through the New Testament for yourself to learn more about saving faith and eternal life.

Posted in Saving Faith, What Must I Do To Inherit Eternal Life | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Holy Living In The End Times

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

Last Days And End Times

holy living in the end times As strange as it may seem, we have been in the last days, or end times as referred to by many, for at least the last 2,000 years! How do I know? The writer of Hebrews stated the last days were already here when he wrote that epistle:

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Heb 1:1,2)

Since that time period there have been many Christian martyrs over the centuries, but the Bible also refers to martyrs who have not died yet in the end times. To be more precise, there will be multiple tens of thousands of holy people from all parts of the world yet to die during the days of the Antichrist:

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands…. Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:9,13-17)

Though there is no direct Scriptural connection, it is highly possible that they are included among the ones who get beheaded and are mentioned here:

… And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Rev 20:4)

To be an overcomer and receive eternal life in the age to come (Mark 10:30) you must endure persecutions to the end (Heb. 3:14; Mt. 10:22; Rev. 2:10,11). If we are the last generation in these end times, will you be of that number to be beheaded because of faithfulness to Jesus and not receive the mark of the beast? Your salvation depends upon it! These are facts about holy living in the end times.

Posted in Holy Living In The End Times | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2012 and The End Times

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

According to the various reports about December 21, 2012, there is going to be massive worldwide destruction of all life, or nearly all life, primarily caused by incredible flooding. The flooding is supposed to be due to the earth’s crust destabilizing, solar flares, the earth’s core heating up, galactic alignment or something else. The forecast is always gloomy to the point of near extinction of all human life.

Other views of 2012 have a planet X or nibiru or some other massive solid object, such as a large asteroid or comet, crashing into earth or passing by and causing 300 MPH winds for 6 to 12 months after it passes by! Another prediction is a massive polar shift. Again, the forecast is basically the end!

The Mayan calendar ending on 12-21-12 is cited as the primary source for the 2012 doomsday date! Why? Because that ancient calendar ends there! But does its end on 12-21-12 mean it is predicting the end of the world on December 21, 2012? Of course not! Why then has it been exalted as almost the final word, even among professing Christians?

The all-important question for Christians is: How Biblical are these reports and rumors regarding the future of our planet ending on 12-21-2012, the rapture and the end times?

The Biblical Facts

  • 1. God promised after the Great Flood in Noah’s day never to destroy the earth by flooding again. Gen 9:15-17 says:

“Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

Therefore, it is IMPOSSIBLE that the entire earth will ever get destroyed by another flood as in Noah’s day. Each time we see a rainbow in the sky, we should be reminded of this truth. That is not to say serious trouble isn’t coming to our planet! Serious trouble is certainly coming to this planet, but it will not be by worldwide flooding with the populace being destroyed.

  • 2. At this point in time (September 2011) it is IMPOSSIBLE for December 12, 2012 to be the cataclysmic end times super event culminating with the return of the Lord Jesus, because it is too soon. At least three Scriptures clearly disprove the end of the world 2012 date. Besides Rev 11:3 and Dan 12:11, there is Rev 13:5 which says:

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.

Hence, from the start of the reign of the antichrist, which has NOT begun yet, there must be a completion date 42 months later. It is therefore impossible for 2012 to be the end of the world because there is not enough time. The aforementioned events will precede the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Mount of Olives.

At the end of the 42 months of the antichrist’s reign, he and the kings of the earth will in vain try to make war against the Lord Jesus as he returns with his called, chosen and faithful followers (Rev 19:19,20). The corrupt society of that day will desire to shoot him out of the sky! Imagine that! Remember, it is Biblically IMPOSSIBLE for 12-21-12 to be the end of the world. God bless you.

Posted in 2012 and The End Times, Antichrist, Holy Living In The End Times | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sin Is The Issue

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

sin is the issueSin is the issue and has always been the issue throughout the entire history of mankind and even before with Lucifer. This has been shown to be the case with God’s warning to Adam about eating the forbidden fruit in Eden (Gen. 2:17), to the Lord Jesus dying on the cross for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3; etc.), to present time warnings to Christians (Eph. 5:5-7; etc.), to future events (Rev. 21:8; Mt. 13:41,42; etc.)!

False Teachers Deny Sin Is The Issue

Various types of false teachers have been proclaiming that since the redemptive death of the Lord Jesus, sin is not the issue anymore! A glaring heresy of that degree should have caused a serious reaction among professing Christians, but has only seemed to make some more relaxed in their sins! The false understanding of grace being a covering for sin has destroyed the need of holy living for salvation’s sake, which is the message of the New Testament.

Jesus Proved Sin Is Still The Issue

None did a more powerful refutation to that false concept of grace and eternal security imputed righteousness than the Lord Jesus himself when he addressed the seven churches in Asia (Rev. 2 & 3). Folks, that was after his redemptive death at Calvary. He could still see their sins! He was aware of them. So sin was still the issue with him, the judge of the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1)!

Please know the prevalent and dangerous grace message in our day needs to be recognized as a demonic deception. Eternal life is especially at jeopardy until people are fully convinced that sin is the issue, even now, since the cross of Christ. Dear reader, take this warning to heart. Don’t be deceived by the lie that sin is not the issue anymore. It is! God’s amazing grace didn’t change that! Remember, under grace, sin is the issue with God, has been the issue and there are many Bible passages which support this (Mark 9:42-48; Gal. 5:19-21; Rev. 22:15; etc.)!

Posted in Sin Is The Issue | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No Murderer Has Eternal Life

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

There are various ways to Biblically test one’s profession of the Christian faith to know who is a real Christian and who is not. A negative test, disqualifying someone, is cited in 1 John 3:15:

Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

Hence, one of the most obvious ways to exclude one from the group possessing salvation is to learn about the sin of murder! It seems almost ridiculous that anyone would think a murderer could have eternal life, but not in our apostate day! If you remember the BTK serial killer, Dennis Rader, and what his Lutheran pastor said about him, then you remember he thought that serial murderer had eternal life, as well as a demon, simultaneously! This is a shocking violation to the true message of the Bible.

The kind of murder John wrote of in 1 John 3:15 is hate. That expands the definition of murder to include hate just as a different Scripture states greed is another form of idolatry (Col. 3:5). So, if a professing Christian is hateful, he is not a real possessor of eternal life at all. We can know that, based on Scripture. That person might have been a Christian at a previous point, but not anymore. As clear as that is, Rev. 21:8 confirms the same by saying a murderer will go to the lake of fire!

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (Rev 21:8)

How then can anyone, including the Calvinist, think King David retained his salvation when he turned to both adultery and murder? When King David sinned he lost his salvation, but got it back upon his repentance. Remember, no murderer has eternal life, even though he might have had it previously!

Posted in No Murderer Has Eternal Life, Once Saved Always Saved | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yeshua or Jesus

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

Sadly, there is a great controversy in Christian circles regarding the name Yeshua or Jesus. As with other false teachings, the effect on Christians is always unsettling at best.

Vicious Attacks Against The Holy Name Of Jesus

The vicious and ludicrous attacks against the holy name of Jesus need to be demolished and such becomes easy to do when the Christian realizes the Yeshua people do NOT go by the Bible! It is a fact that there are NO SCRIPTURES that ever identify the Savior as Yeshua! NONE! Furthermore, though the Holy Spirit had the New Testament written in Greek, with a few Aramaic (or Hebrew) words listed here and there, NONE of those words are Yeshua! For example, we see ephphatha (Mk. 7:34), eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani (Mat 27:46), etc.

The Final Nail In The Yeshua Coffin

Last but not least, in John 19:19,20 the final nail in the coffin is driven in deep with the fact that the sign on the cross of Christ above his head was written in three languages, including Aramaic (or Hebrew), yet the Savior’s name remains the same. When it is transliterated from Greek into English it is again J-E-S-U-S, as in all other cases. End of discussion. Dear Christian, don’t be reluctant to use the holy and precious name Jesus for the Savior. You are being Biblical to do so. Look to JESUS for salvation; He is eternal life (1 John 1:2).

Posted in Yeshua | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How Blessed Is Blessed Mary

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Dan Corner

blessed maryBlessed Mary, the mother of Jesus, made the following statement:

For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed (Luke 1:48)

Without question Mary was a blessed woman, but how blessed was she? Was she blessed more than all others in every way, which seems to be the typical view held by most Catholics? The answer comes directly from the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ himself (Mary’s firstborn – Luke 2:7), as he answered a Catholic-like woman in his day who brought up this very issue!

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:27,28)

NOTE: Publicly for all to hear, the Lord Jesus corrected that Catholic-like woman, who wrongly thought Mary was blessed merely because she gave birth to Jesus and nursed him. Again, Mary was a blessed woman, but the ones blessed in a better way are all who hear the word of God and obey it, according to Jesus. Such an issue could adversely effect one’s possession of eternal life as it does for those who look to Mary for salvation or to Jesus and Mary together. NOTE: Jesus is the all-sufficient Savior and needs no help from another to save our SOULS! That includes his natural Mother. [As a former Catholic, that important passage was a real eye-opener for me, Dan Corner.]

Posted in Catholicism, Dan Corner, Former Catholic, How Blessed Is Blessed Mary | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Joy Of Salvation

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Dan Corner

The only time the joy of salvation is cited in the word of God is at Psalm 51:12. It was mentioned in King David’s prayer after he repented and got saved again:

Joy Of Salvation Passage

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

The context of Psalm 51 is King David’s prayer for mercy and forgiveness for his sins of adultery and murder because of Bathsheba (verses 1,2). joy of salvationIt is important to remember, he had already been forgiven (2 Sam.12:13), but was now praying to God for various things, including to have the joy of his salvation restored. He wanted the inner contentment and joy in his spirit returned, which he had experienced with his walk with God before he turned to evil and died spiritually (Ezek 18:24; etc.). His sins of adultery and murder had destroyed that, along with his possession of eternal life and salvation:

If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. (Ezek 33:18)

A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead.  (Prov 21:16)

The prophet Nathan had already confronted King David over his evil behavior and declared his sins were forgiven (2 Sam. 12) and that was before the point of Psalm 51. King David’s prayer in that Psalm is the prayer of a backslider.

Restore The Joy Of Salvation

How then can a former backslider, who repented, have the joy of his salvation restored?

  • First, by praying for it to be restored as King David did, then
  • afterwards walking holy before God.

After awhile David’s inner peace and joy must have improved. According to a man I personally know who had fallen away and was later trying to get the joy of his salvation restored after repenting, he told me about 3 months after he returned to God it was getting better and around 6 months he seemed to have it back. Perhaps, it might be like that for others too who, like King David, wanted the joy of salvation restored after repentance.

Posted in Calvinism, Joy Of Salvation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eternal Life Is A Promise

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

eternal life Most professing Christians don’t understand very much about eternal life. They have heard the term mentioned and think they will always have it because of the popular false teaching of once saved always saved! The real issue is, what does the Bible say about this? Ponder this passage carefully and contrast it to today’s misinformation:

No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. (1 John 2:23-26)

Besides the mention of the promised eternal life, did you notice that remaining in the Son [Jesus] is conditional and depends on us? That totally destroys the cliche once in the Son always in the Son which is unconditional. God’s truth is, IF what we heard from the beginning remains in us, we will remain in Jesus and retain eternal life. If not, we won’t! What needs to remain in us has to refer to the real truth about Jesus being the Christ, which brought about salvation and with it a holy, radical change in behavior. The danger which John is writing about there centers around false religious teachers. Apparently, John knew they posed a very real and genuine lethal danger to the Christian that too many are not aware of, especially in our apostate sin-loving day. We must be on guard. Spiritual death for the righteous is a real possibility.

Posted in Eternal Life Is A Promise, Once Saved Always Saved | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment