Having noticed that some believe in the “full gospel,” I have noticed that many who adhere to such a gospel do not even believe in “full salvation.” I have, in recent previous posts, been expounding upon the meaning of “full salvation.” Philip Paul Bliss caught a glimpse of full salvation when he wrote:
‘Tis the promise of God,
Full salvation to give
Unto him who on Jesus,
His Son will believe.
Hallelujah, ‘tis done!
I believe on the Son;
I am saved by the blood
Of the crucified One!
Philip Bliss’ writings concerning full salvation are not limited to the above lines. It was Philip Bliss who also wrote:
Come, sing the gospel’s joyful sound,
Salvation full and free;
Proclaim to all the world around,
The year of jubilee!
Salvation, salvation,
The grace of God doth bring;
Salvation, salvation,
Thro’ Christ our Lord and King.
Full salvation is a complete salvation, a justified salvation, and a sanctified salvation. But, there is yet more.
Full Salvation is a Secure Salvation
A good percentage of professing Christians today have a shaky salvation, ready to topple at the commission of one evil work, or at the omission of one good work. I would say, based upon my travels throughout this country, that in the United States, there are very few people who know positively, absolutely, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that they are saved by the grace of God with a secure salvation that hinges solely upon Jesus Christ and His finished work upon the cross. Many well-meaning church members are “striving to make heaven their home.” This phrase, “striving to make heaven my home,” is not found in the Bible anywhere. Yet, so many are attempting to perform this unattainable, unscriptural task. Long ago, I ceased to work for heaven. When the Lord saved me by His marvellous grace, I entered into His rest. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” How do you know if you have entered into rest? The apostle gives us the answer:
Hebrews 4:10 – “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.”
The evidence that you have entered into rest is that you have ceased to work! Now, I understand that the man who is genuinely saved will work for God. There is no denying that. However, when you enter into rest, you are resting solely upon Christ’s work for your salvation, and consequently, you cease from your own works in attempt to gain salvation. Furthermore, resting in Christ gives a full salvation, consisting of security. Yes, I said, “security.” I’m amazed at how many promoters of the “full gospel” preach little or no security for the one who is saved by the grace of God.
“FULL SALVATION” NEVER EXPIRES
In my previous post, I wrote extensively concerning our sanctification. I explained, using the Word of God, how a person is sanctified the moment he trusts Christ to save Him. If you have not read my previous post, it would benefit the reader to do so before continuing this post.
The Bible clearly teaches that we obtain salvation “through sanctification of the Spirit.” This means simply that you cannot be saved without being sanctified. It is the saving, atoning blood of Jesus Christ that sanctifies the moment we trust Christ to save us. Notice:
Hebrews 10:10 – “By the which will [the will of God, see verse 9] we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Plainly, the scripture reads this way – “...we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ.” “The offering of the body of Jesus Christ” refers to the act of Jesus Christ offering His own body upon the altar that we call “the cross.” The Old Testament lambs were OFFERED, being slain upon the Old Testament altars. But Christ was OFFERED, upon the old, rugged cross. The split second we trust Christ to save us, the same blood that saves us also sanctifies us! We are NOT sanctified through “giving up things.” We “give up things” because He sanctified us by His blood. We are NOT sanctified by “changing the way we live.” We “change the way we live” because He sanctified us by His blood. Let’s get it straight – we are sanctified BY HIS BLOOD – the offering of Christ’s body upon the cross – and we receive it the moment we are saved by the grace of God. We will certainly grow in our sanctification; but we receive it when we receive Christ. The sanctification we receive instantly at the time of salvation will GRADUALLY conform us to the image of Christ – no doubt about that. But we are partakers of this sanctification upon receiving Christ.
Why am I saying all of this? I showed you Hebrews 10:10, which states clearly that we are sanctified through Christ’s offering of His body upon the cross. Now, let us look at verse 14 of the same chapter:
Hebrews 10:14 – “For by one offering He hath perfected FOR EVER them that are sanctified.”
This verse needs no explanation to honest students of the Bible. The context is the “offering of the body of Jesus Christ,” that is, Christ’s death upon the cross. In verse 10, the writer states that we are sanctified by Christ’s ONE OFFERING, and that offering would be offered ONCE FOR ALL. Then, in verse 14, the writer goes on to say what Christ does for them who have been sanctified by Christ’s blood – “…He hath perfected FOR EVER” them that are sanctified! I hear a lot of the “full gospel” advocates quoting Matthew 5:48 – “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” They’ll use this verse to preach that our works must be absolutely perfect to obtain salvation. Listen carefully, friend. No one’s works ever made anyone perfect! There’s only one way for sinful men to become perfect. You must be born again! When you place your faith in the blood of Jesus Christ to save and cleanse you (Romans 3:25), He immediately sanctifies you by that blood (Hebrews 10:10), and perfects you FOR EVER (Hebrews 10:14)! We are perfect because Christ paid off our sins completely – all of them! Then, Christ places His righteousness upon us. The moment we are saved, the Father only sees Christ when He looks at me! That’s the only way sinners can be made perfect!
Our salvation is secure because it is an eternal, never expiring work. I didn’t write it, but look with me at the fifth chapter of Hebrews, which speaks of Christ:
Hebrews 5:9 – “And being made perfect, he became the author of ETERNAL SALVATION unto all them that obey him.”
When a man obeys Jesus Christ, he receives eternal salvation. Now, some interpret this to mean that you must obey every commandment in the Bible. At the end of your life, if you have obeyed every law and commandment in the Bible, then you will receive eternal salvation at that time. NOT SO! Laws and commandments do not give life of any kind, let alone eternal life!
Galatians 3:21 – “…if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”
Laws do not give life of any kind, my friend. Which command of Christ must we obey to obtain salvation?
I Thessalonians 1:8 – “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I Peter 4:17 – “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL of God?”
The above verses make it clear – judgment is coming to those who OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL! Hebrews 5:9 makes it clear that Jesus is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY Him. And the commandment in which we are to obey is – the gospel!
How do you obey the gospel? The gospel, according to I Corinthians 15, is the message of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. How do you obey that message? You do not obey the gospel by keeping laws and commandments; you do not obey the gospel by sacraments and baptism. There’s only one way to obey the gospel. You obey the gospel by BELIEVING THE GOSPEL. That’s the command of Christ that brings salvation.
Mark 1:15 – “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.”
At least six times in the book of John, Jesus associates the act of believing with everlasting, or eternal life. Let me ask you a question. How long does everlasting life last? The word, “everlasting” means “LASTING for EVER.” Some claim to believe the “full gospel,” and their salvation lasts only until the next time they sin. What they need to catch a glimpse of full salvation!
STILL NOT DONE…
