5 Suicides Before Jesus Went To The Cross

5 Suicides Before Jesus Went To The Cross
 

Only five people who believed in God are written of in the Bible that they committed suicide. The first asked God to let him take his enemies with him, which was granted. The second had a history of rebellion against God, and during a route of his army, out of fear of how he would be treated when captured, and his armorbearer followed his example. The fourth killed his king to become king, and the last was with Jesus, and betrayed Him just as he was predestined, and thereafter went to hang himself. Let's look further into the final folly many have chosen as an option to life's bothers...
Samson was the first believer in the one true God, and he committed suicide as a final act against the enemies of God's chosen people. "And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, 'Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.' And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, 'Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars. And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, 'Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.' Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, 'O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.' And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, 'Let me die with the Philistines.' And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years." (Judg. 16:24 - 31)   Samson had killed 1,030 Philistines prior to his capture, but when he committed suicide in their house of Dagon, he did it in a manner that allowed a greater number than this to be killed by demolishing the entire great house. And he was blind when he did it!   One might note also that Samson did not commit suicide out of spiritual despair; his last words denoted his choice of suicide would be one that simultaneously took out over 1,000 of God's enemies with him!

The second suicide of a believer in the Bible is the story of a good man gone bad.   Saul, Israel's first king, started out reknowned as a very goodly man, tall, of the smallest tribe of Israel, a Benjamite. Among his first instructions was to not act independent of Samuel, as he was used as God's mouthpiece; but he disobeyed - "And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, 'Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings.' And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, 'What hast thou done?' And Saul said, 'Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, "The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD": I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.' And Samuel said to Saul, 'Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which He commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought Him a man after His own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.'" (1 Sam. 13:8 - 14)   Furthermore, Saul justified his sinful offering rather than confessing it.   For this reason, Saul was disqualified/rejected by God.   From that time, he spoke foolish oaths, did a partial obedience to instruction, which in another view was rebellion, setting his will above God's.   It was then that God evaluated Saul's heart; "It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night." (1 Sam. 15:11).   And He found him at odds against Him.   Samuel pointed out to Saul his act of rebellion was equated as rejection of the Lord in his heart, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king." (1 Sam. 15:23)   Saul went downhill from there.   God replaced His Spirit with an evil one - "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him." (1 Sam. 16:14)   His replacement was set in front of him, and as a thorn in his ego - "And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul...And the women answered one another as they played, and said, 'Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.' And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, 'They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?'...And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually." (1 Sam. 18:1, 7 - 8, 28 - 29)   His children protected his replacement, as did Samuel, Ahimelech, and Schish.   Saul continued his rebellion, slaying the priests of the Lord - "And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, 'Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me.' But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. And the king said to Doeg, 'Turn thou, and fall upon the priests.' And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod." (1 Sam. 22:17 - 18)   After that, Saul is embarassed by his adversary by being spared twice.   Again in rebellion of God's leadership and rejection of His commands, he consults a necromancer; "Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, 'Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.' And his servants said to him, 'Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.' And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, 'I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.' And the woman said unto him, 'Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?' And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, 'As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.' Then said the woman, 'Whom shall I bring up unto thee?' And he said, 'Bring me up Samuel.' And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, 'Why hast thou deceived me? For thou art Saul.' And the king said unto her, 'Be not afraid: for what sawest thou?' And the woman said unto Saul, 'I saw gods ascending out of the earth.' And he said unto her, 'What form is he of?' And she said, 'An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle.' And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.  And Samuel said to Saul, 'Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?' And Saul answered, 'I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.' Then said Samuel, 'Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.' Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, 'Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.' But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof: And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night." (1 Sam. 28:3 - 25)   This simultaneously demonstrated hypocrisy, and his repayment for this was the announcement of his defeat by the Philistines from the mouth of the spirit of Samuel!   Saul feared to the point of no appetite, and as foretold, his battle with the Philistines went clearly in defeat.   His despair was total: spiritually, God removed from him. Strategically, his battle was hopeless. "Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, 'Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me.' But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him." (1 Sam. 31:4 - 5)   He and his armorbearer were the next two believers to commit suicide.

Zimri was the next to commit suicide, and by fire - "In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years. And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. And the people that were encamped heard say, 'Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king': wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died, for his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin." (1 Kings 16:8 - 19)   The Bible says he was king a mere week long over Israel from Tirzah.   He killed his king, Elah, while he was drunk, and his first act after taking the throne was to murder the entire house of Baasha, a dynasty of Israel.   As Omri besieged Tirzah, Zimri saw his position as without hope, and he committed suicide by burning the king's house down upon his own head! An unusual choice of method of suicide.

The last to commit suicide was Judas.   He was predestined to betray his Judge.   "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." (John 17:12) "And He answered and said, 'He that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me.' The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born.'" (Matt. 26:23 - 24) "And while He yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, 'Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast.' And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, 'Hail, master'; and kissed Him." (Matt. 26:47 - 49)   Judas apparently had a strategy that he could force Jesus' hand, perhaps perform a miracle of Roman overthrow.   "Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, 'I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.' And they said, 'What is that to us? See thou to that.' And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." (Matt. 27:3 - 5) Upon the revelation Jesus performed no miracle relieving Himself of condemnation, Judas went to commit suicide - "Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out." (Acts 1:18)   Well, apparently he was even a failure at THAT!   At least he attempted to commit suicide.   From this text, we can read Jesus' words and take it that Judas was literally born to go to hell!

PREDESTINED OR CHOICE?
 

It's a pretty good question, and many people have already set their minds one way or the other, but I thought it would be good to look at some Bible verses on the issue.
"'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' saith the LORD, 'thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.'" (Jer. 29:11) Here the Lord is saying through Jeremiah that His people will have an expected end. It means God already foreknows His people's disposition in Jeremiah's day. Doesn't this also mean they were predestined to have the end expected by God? After all, He knows everything, and He is also in control.

"The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! Good were it for that man if he had never been born." (Mark 14:21) In this verse, Jesus is speaking of Judas. But as we examine this scripture carefully, Jesus says that He goes as it is written of Him; so Jesus is asserting He was predestined to die on the cross by the betrayal to they who sought to destroy Him. But also in this verse He gives light to the predestiny of Judas, saying it would've been better that he had not been born!   Psa. 22 and Isa. 53 vividly describe in panoramic view and through Jesus' experience what all He went through, but the books of Psalms and Isaiah were written in the Old Testament, before Jesus was born.   Predestiny for Jesus, right?

"For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Rom. 8:29)   Here Paul uses the word "predestinate" in referring to all of us whom have been chosen to conform to Christ.   So here it is written that it is predestined who would be saved. God already knew, and knows even now, who will be born again!

"And the LORD said unto her, 'Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.'   And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.   And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them." (Gen. 25:23 - 26) Here's an example of multigenerational predestination. God tells Rebekah she has two nations inside her.   How many people does it take to make one nation, let alone two?   Even if Rebekah's sons have 12 sons each, a dozen people do not qualify as a nation, do they?

"'For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.'   Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, 'A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name: But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.'" (Judg. 13:5 - 7)   Before he was born, an angel told Samson's mother that he would be a Nazarite from birth to death, and that he would begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. Well, since he killed well over 2,000 Philistines in his lifetime, I'd say that was a good start to erasing the Philistine population! "And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, 'Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.'" (Judg. 13:13 - 14)

"Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb." (Isa. 48:8) Isaiah here says Judah was foreknown and predestined to be a treacherous generation in Isaiah's time. Isaiah not only asserts this specific predestination, but..."And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him, 'Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength." (Isa. 49:5)   He also says he was predestined to be God's servant!

"All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake He not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 'I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.'" (Matt. 13:34 - 35)   Jesus spoke in parables as was written of Him, but would one argue this also is not a case of predestination, or could it be said Jesus chose to fulfill that which was written of him by David? "I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:" (Psa. 78:2)

"And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:'" (Matt. 25:33 - 34)  In this scripture passage Jesus says to His predestined sheep that they were so long known that they would be born again believers, they were foreknown since the foundation of the world! This means that God knew I would be born again and heir to the kingdom since Gen. 1:1!

"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." (Luke 1:15)   Here the Bible predestines John the Baptist to be a tea totaller whose life work will make him great in the eyes of the Lord, and he will be full of the Holy Ghost from the moment of birth. He didn't choose the Holy Ghost, John was predestined to be full of Him from day 1!

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Pet. 1:18 - 21)   Peter is one more man of God saying here that we who believe were predestined since Gen. 1:1 to be ransomed from our sins by Christ's blood.   Can it be said we are predestined to freely choose to believe in Jesus? Clearly our mansion lot was founded at the beginning of creation.

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world... The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." (Rev. 13: 8, 17:8) - I conclude here that all who are going to hell and the lake of fire were born to do so, even predestined since the earth was formed. Not only Judas, but all hell-bound souls were born with that fate. When the beast comes into power, the unsaved are predestined to worship him, even if they are not yet conceived! Isn't there a cliche`, "Born to be bad"?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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." (Eph. 1:3 - 14) - This scripture passage I saved to present last, as it seems to me the best verses defining predestiny vs. choice. God clearly chose souls that He would predestine to be adopted into the family of Christ. God had the free choice, we got the predestiny; do you see that, too?

So what is predestined, and is there a choice? Apparently, God foreknows the summation of all our behavior throughout our lifetime, and predestinates our final disposition, heaven or hell, and he has made the choice since the world was formed. He knows if we will chose to be unrelentingly treacherous, wicked, and evil, deservedly being launched into hell, or if we will chose to repent in our lifetime, be born again, and have a mansion in heaven waiting for us in the afterlife. God knows if we will be a lifelong Nazarite or drunk; all our behavior He foreknows. With all this, you have to ask yourself once again. "Am I a free choice believer, or predestiny?"

Model Mother, Trophy Wife

MODEL MOTHER, TROPHY WIFE
 

Some females are terrible mothers! Queen ants and termites constantly lay eggs, but have nothing to do with their care afterward. As a matter of fact, when their eggs hatch, their young end up TAKING CARE OF THEM! Ostrich moms also lay eggs, and do nothing for their young afterwards, either! But at least these creatures don't do what many human mothers do - ABORT their babies, and call it a right and a choice as though no sin were involved!

Many Christians know that one place to find the description of a model mother is in the book of Proverbs - "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Prov. 31:10 - 31) But can we find other places in the Bible describing a mother everyone wants? And let us remember a model mother is also a "trophy wife" for the husband, and we should look at why these aspects go hand-in-hand.

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones." (Prov. 12:4). While a virtuous woman makes her husband pleased, so are her children, and for the sme reason - This aspect of her reputation will preceed her. A shameful woman is just the opposite. Who of her family will even smile at her mention?

"House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD." (Prov. 19:14) Good parents indeed will their possessions to their children, but nowadays, not all parents have much to bestow on their heirs; enter the prudent wife! Well, maybe we should define "prudent". "Exercising sound judgment in practical matters"; cautious in conduct"; "managing carefully". So a prudent mother and wife is one who acts in wisdom, including having long range planning to will some things of value to their children. After all, what will they be buried with, if their children are not willed enough money to cover funeral costs? A prudent mother and wife thinks on this and more!

"Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;" (Rom. 12:11). A good mother and wife is tenacious in conducting whatever family business need be attended to. A good mother persistently applies good sense and values to all her daily business issues, whether spanking her child for bad behavior, or breaking relations with someone she detects will make serious problems for her and her family. A good wife and mother prioritizes what needs to be done on a daily basis to keep the house running smoothly.

"I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father." (2 John 1:4) "Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, 'Gather Me the people together, and I will make them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.'" (Deut. 4:10) A good mother teaches the Bible to her children, and works to instill godly virtues in them, and fear of the Lord. If the land you live in has high crime, and corruption and perversion is rampant in your government, the mothers of them who love their crimes, corruption, and perversion likely failed to heed these Bible verses.

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." (1 Pet. 3:1-6). It happens as often as God permits, that women may become born again/saved before their husbands. While this becomes a case of unequal yoking, yet the woman is to stick out their marriage and continue living as godly as possible. While she is to be in subjection to her husband, yet she must be in subjection to God FIRST! In all her husband demands of her, so long as it is in God's guidelines, these things she must submit to doing. But if he, for example, demands she be a harlot to bring money into the house, she is in no way required to obey, because God's command trumps the command of her husband! "Thou shalt not commit adultery." (Exod. 20:14). Her persistent godly behavior should be as a light to win him to Christ, while simultaneously being an example to her children. To daughters, how to remain godly with an ungodly husband; to sons, what to look for in a godly wife.

"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." (1 Cor. 14:34 - 35). No woman can obey this rule written by Paul to the Corinthians and be a pastor. Women may teach children Bible study outside of the worship service, or at home, this is condoned. But if they have questions concerning scripture, or want to discuss scripture, Paul writes they need to speak of it at home, and he even says it is shameful for them to speak during the worship service! A mother and/or wife who demonstrates discipline in church is again a model for her children and the pleasure of her husband.

So herein we have lots of biblical reference of what constitutes a model mother and a wife to treasure. Happy is the mother and wife found to be this way!


 

WHAT ABOUT DEATH?

Many people are concerned about the prospect of their death. How many of us have mourned the deaths of loved ones throughout the years? Wouldn't it be nice to see what the Bible has to say concerning death?

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints." (Psa. 116:15) As a believer who does the will of the Father, when we die, the Father considers it an expense of sorts to Him. Why? Because as His children, we are doing His will up to that point! We are witnessing, praying, giving thanksgiving, serving others (and in effect, serving Him!), and being His tool in leading people to the Lord, if He is willing to use us! If someone has been doing some things for you, and they die, you lose their services, and their company, don't you?  You are no longer of service to Him on earth when you die!

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." (Psa. 23:4) When we pass from this life to the next, and we go through that "valley of death", like David, we can have faith that He is on the other side of this plane of existence, waiting to guide us to our mansion, just as He has our other family members who died with faith in Christ Jesus to save them from their sins.

We know from scripture that whether a person believes in God or not, they will be judged by Him. Woe to those who have lived a life unbelieving to the death, and salvation to those who have believed on Him to eternal life! None of us are free, we are all owned by God, and we will be forced to give account, like it or not! "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, 'As I live', saith the Lord, 'every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Rom. 14:7 - 12) While we are not to judge one another over debateable areas of scripture, we can differ in good conscience. After all, did not Paul reason with many from the scriptures? "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures," (Acts 17:2) And here is not the only place that says our Lord will judge us, believer and not..."And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" (Heb. 9:27) Whether to hell or heaven, after death is the judgment. No return, no place in between. We have our lifespan, and then is the judgment where God determines we will go. For us who will go with belief in Jesus, let us look forward to going! Heaven is not a bad place, so we're told, and the Bible has no lie in it!

Now I know a lot of people who have asked me questions about the body. One asked me about cremation, and is the Bible against it. I gave her the following: "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." (2 Cor. 5:1 - 11) Okay, that was a lot of meat, but basically, we are reminded about being judged again in this passage, but also we are given a chunk of information about what you might call a body swap! We are going to get rid of this corrupting body, with all its aches and pains and sags and bags and glasses and hearing aids and prostheses and surgeries, and we will get a glorious body from God, one that is incorruptible! Understand here too that Paul is saying we should look forward to being present with the Lord, because as soon as this body loses our spirit, our spirit will be present with the Lord, and the final disposition of our human body that we lived in will be a mute point. You can feed mine to the fishes if you want to, my soul will be in the presence of the Holy One, and He will give me a body that will not break down again!

Paul wrote to the Philippians about being perplexed between being dead and being alive. His life found all its meaning in Christ; he woke up every morning with what to do to further the cause of Jesus, and each going to sleep was an end to his day, having done for Christ whatever opportunity was given him. The choice of his perplexion was this: whether to continue living bringing people to Christ and serving the Lord, or to die and be in His presence, which is understandably far better than earthly life! "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:" (Phil. 1:20 - 23)

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." (2 Tim. 4:6 - 8) This is the last letter Paul wrote, and as is evident in the first verse I have put here, he is ready for his execution. But he is not unhappy, as other men would be, but rather he is looking forward to receiving his crown of righteousness, and he says not only is he to receive this crown, but also those of us anxiously anticipating, even loving the second coming of Christ!

Remember I gave a number of times here that everyone will be judged by God, Jesus Christ, did I not? Well, there's a final disposition for both the saved and unsaved after the judgment process, and the Bible clearly lays it out in this selection: "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Rev. 20:11 - 15) Now all those who were not born again, who did not accept Christ as their Savior, these experienced the second death. Our Creator had a specific formula for humanity regarding life and death. Born twice = one death; born once = two deaths. So we know the lot for the unsaved, and the saved have their lot also in this book of Revelation: "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.'" (Rev. 21:3 - 4) Absolute absence of negative stimulus in our environment; total joy in the presence of our everlasting God! How awesome!

Now when you know someone who needs consolation because a loved one passed away, I have one more piece of scripture to share with you, that you might share with them in their hour of grieving; "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words...For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." (1 Thess. 4:13 - 18, 5:9 - 10)

THE GREATEST SERVANT
 

Many will figure this out easily, but also, there will be many who don't get it right away. Shall we go over some biblical servants?
"And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, 'I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for My servant Abraham's sake." (Gen. 26:24) When God appeared to Isaac, He called his father His servant while speaking to him. Serving God is a wonderful thing; the created serving the Creator is such a right thing to do. And who else did he serve?

"My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all Mine house." (Num. 12:7) Moses served the entire Israelite nation from the first time he told Pharaoh that the Lord said let My people go - "And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, 'Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, "Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness."'" (Exod. 5:1) - to the day he relinquished authority to Joshua - "And the LORD said unto Moses, 'Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.'" (Num. 27:18 - 20) - And died in the land of Moab - "So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD." (Deut. 34:5).

David often acknowledged his servitude to God, and there are many verses saying this, such as in this selection - "Then said David, 'O LORD God of Israel, Thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.'" (1 Sam. 23:10) David served God as king over all Israel, but even so, David was not the greatest servant.

"Have respect therefore to the prayer of Thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which Thy servant prayeth before Thee:" (2 Chron. 6:19) Solomon acknowledged himself as God's servant also, and despite all his wisdom, this man who served as king of Israel in his day also does not win the greatest servant title!

"Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God." (Isa. 50:10) Isaiah declared himself a servant, and prophecied to the people of God, and while it might be disputed that he was the greatest prophet, yet he is indisputably not the greatest servant!

Paul wrote the majority of the books of the New Testament, and he, too, declared himself a servant of God. "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;" (Tit. 1:1) But it would be too hard to find him to be the greatest servant, since he was such a terror for the church before he became born again upon meeting Christ.

I will give you all a hint from the prophets - "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities." (Isa. 53:11) "Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth My Servant the BRANCH." (Zech. 3:8)  WHAT?  Our Savior a Servant?  Yes!  Jesus served all of mankind as a pure, undefiled sacrifice on the cross.  His selfless submission to being crucified for a total remission of sins in infinitum made Him the indisputable greatest Servant!  Jesus even said Himself that He was born to serve: "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:28) "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

One final thing I would like to leave for everyone is that in calling myself a "Christian" (and I come short as an example), I strive to be like Him by serving.  I have a T-shirt ministry, to serve Him as a billboard of sorts.  I publish these Bible studies I write to serve not only Him, but all who will read them, saved and unsaved alike.  I give free counsel to whosoever should ask or complain of their lot in life, and I pray for you!  Paul wrote to Timothy about serving the Lord - "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." (2 Tim. 2:24 - 26)  As Christ served us as a living sacrifice, so let us serve Him, also, through how we live! "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Rom. 12:1)

Typical Christian Behavior

TYPICAL CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR
 

Once we tell someone we're a Christian, at that moment, we put our own selves on notice. It's like announcing we are an ambassador of some country. Well, we are an ambassador when we make that statement - for Christ!  Let's look at some examples of behavior they'll be looking for in us...
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" (Eph. 6:18) We will be expected to be seen praying. People will ask us to pray for them. While we must remember not to make a practice of praying in large public gatherings to appear religious - "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." (Matt. 6:5 - 8) Nor should we be found praying the same prayers from memory and not from the heart. We will hear of someone in need of prayer, and be expected to jump on the opportunity to pray for them according to their need. I have had fellow believers ask me to pray for them, and I recently asked for prayer for my surgery, and what a wonderful response! I don't know how many churches and family in Christ prayed for me, I only know a whole lotta people gave me love with prayer!

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10:9 - 10)   Another thing we are expected as Christians to do is confess Jesus Christ as our Savior raised from the dead by God our Father, and we believe in our heart not only this, but that He will raise us to everlasting life! Every time that we profess this, we outwardly profess faith to salvation, and as we believe in our heart, it is to righteousness.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." (1 Pet. 3:15 - 16) Both believers and unbelievers alike will be asking you why you believe what you do, and they will ask how it is you believe you're going to heaven. A Christian should always be ready to answer many questions. Take my case; I have had many muslims ask hard questions and scoff, but to their frustration, they could not find a question tough enough that I couldn't answer.   As a result, I gained their respect, because I was undefeatable and highly knowledgeable about my belief and what I understood of the holy Bible.

"I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in Thy word." (Psa. 119:147)  As we who are Christians believe in Christ, as we were not born when He walked the earth, yet not only do we believe in Jesus, we also believe in the holy Bible. We hope in all it says, and that there is no error in it. If there were, our salvation would be in question! We hope in it as a guidebook for living our lives, and as a remembrance of all God's promises that we hope in!

"And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;" (Luke 18:1) "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" (Matt. 7:7 - 11) "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:19 - 20) "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matt. 21:22) "And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13 - 14) "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples...Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you." (John 15:7 - 8, 16) "And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23 - 24) "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:3) Not only are we always praying, but we believe God hears and answers. He has 3 answers every time we pray: yes, no, and wait.  It is easy for us to accept and see His "Yes", but we are typically not happy to receive His "No", or "Wait".  Not everyone asks without asking amiss, and many even ask the wrong person! As anyone can see in all these pieces of scripture, Jesus never said to pray to Mary, nor any dead saint.  He always said to ask our Father in heaven or Him.  When we ask, we also need to be prepared for Him to say "No" or "wait", because what we ask may not be good for someone involved in that which we asked for, or it may not be in His will. Some, out of ignorance, ask after the manner of men, and they truly ask amiss!

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" (Eph. 5:20)  One thing that became more pronounced in me when I became born again was the sensitivity to the fact God was doing so many things for my benefit, and that so many things I had received were by His hand. In realizing this, I came to thanking Him for even what may be considered small things! Prior to eating snacks, before each meal - even in restaurants, we gave thanks as a family. When I receive things I normally look on as bad or negative in my life, I now wait to see if that which was bad I should thank Him for, because even when bad things happen, He may allow us to see later how He meant it for good; even if the bad should come at the hands of family. "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Gen. 50:20) "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thess. 5:18)

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." (Phil. 4:4) "Rejoice evermore." (1 Thess. 5:16) Christians rejoice in the Lord, the gospel, and in others' spiritual growth. We recognize God's blessings and will so much in our lives, and for this reason we come to be known for rejoicing in the Lord. In a sense, we do practice it always, because no day goes by that a true Christian doesn't think of God, and every day, we have something to rejoice about that is connected with Him.  His promises, daily blessings, occurrences to our good - Christians rejoice in the Lord, while unbelievers don't.

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Col. 4:6) "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 1:13) "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Phil. 4:8)  True Christians tend to demonstrate patience, to speak with kindness, refrain from any obscene speaking, use wholesome language, and have diction devoid of impurity. When a person leaves unbelief, they dismiss worldly verbiage from their day-to-day speaking. No nasty jokes, impatience fades from character, foul language disappears, and we speak with care toward others, with a notable difference of expansion to more than just family and friends, but even toward strangers!

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Cor. 15:58) Christians believe in a birght future. We have faith in a resurrection to everlasting joy in heaven. We readily serve in many capacities, especially in whatever manner we know to be pleasing to God. Whosoever is rich in any kind of gift is without hesitation to serve from it to whosoever we find in need from it.

Christians are not easy to pick out in a lineup; we're known by our fruit! "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:17-20)  We are given away by what typical Christian behavior we exhibit!

Once Saved Always Saved vs. Not Until You Die

Once Saved Always Saved vs. Not Until You Die

Oh, this one will create a stink and turmoil, I guarantee it! Some Christians will see it pro, while the rest will be con, but at least here we will view both sides of the coin, and while I will land on one side, surely the rest will be stiffnecked to their view, for that is the way we Christians are, isn't it? Let's see what I have found on this hot button topic, and whoever isn't sure, they will have the opportunity to choose how they think. Me personally, I find confidence in being saved makes it easier to sleep at night.

Jesus was teaching Nicodemus about salvation, and He explained that one key element of getting your name in the book of life was being "born again" - "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 3:5 - 8) So if this "born again" experience enables a person to enter the kingdom of heaven, say, opens a door to God, can it be shut before you get there? Some believe yes, some believe no. Let's see some more factual scriptural data...

"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:37 - 40) All who are led to Jesus, who are given to Him by the Father, Jesus will not throw them away; this is what I'm getting from this verse wherein Jesus is speaking; does that look like it to you, also? He further states He will lose nothing by the will of the Father, therefore if we are truly saved, we have this promise that Jesus will not lose us. I don't see how anyone can see this with the possibility of yet becoming lost later on.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:5 - 7) The Christian who does not abide in Christ cannot do what pleases God, therefore their works will be burned at the judgment seat of Christ (see 1 Cor. 3:11 - 15) This verse concerns ‘abiding in Christ’ and refers to believers’ ‘communion’ - ‘union’ - with Him. Thus the Lord Jesus Himself speaks in verse 10 of His own abiding in the Father. The figurative language of verse 6 speaks of one who, through lack of communion with Christ, loses his testimony before men (men gather and burn, not God). Some, however, may misinterpret it as being able to lose salvation.

Jude gave a great benediction at the end of his epistle, but the meat at the front of it is the faith that Jesus will keep His own from falling and (by His sacrifice) He will be able to present us faultless. "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 1:24 - 25)

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Gal. 5:1 - 6)
While the epistle to the Romans says that sinners are saved by ‘faith plus nothing’, Galatians proves they stay saved by ‘faith plus nothing’. The irony is that many who would abhor any thought of earning salvation by works, attempt to keep their salvation by works, which theologically amounts to the same thing. One cannot keep by works the gift one received by faith (Rom 6:23). Paradoxally, if we don't exercise what gifts we have to God's glory, what works do we have? ‘Falling from grace’ in the context of Galatians, refers to those who were trying to keep the law to ‘stay saved’ and had therefore fallen away from the true teaching of salvation through grace. They had lost their understanding of true salvation (unmerited grace), not salvation itself.

"And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life." (Phil. 4:3) For those who don't believe in once saved, always saved, this should be quite an obstacle, because Paul has stated here that well over 4 people in Philippi have their names in the book of life! By what this verse says, one could say that perhaps, even if his group were small, he must be asserting that maybe 10 people had their names in the book of life! It is unknown how many people he is talking about. It could be 50, for all we know. The point here is, how can Paul say this, unless the whole lot of whom he was speaking of fell under the once saved, always saved tenet? I have another idea from the Old Testament concerning this idea of being able to be removed from the book of life; let's view that passage of scripture...

"And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, 'Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.' And the LORD said unto Moses, 'Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book.'" (Exod. 32:31 - 33) While this passage gives weight to the potential of being blotted out of the book of life, it is important to note that Moses was unable to sacrifice his place in the book of life for the people who sinned against the Lord, and let's also remember this people was far removed from the day of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, and they had not yet been given into Jesus' hand by the Father. Additionally, these people repeatedly showed a lack of faith, though God had counted them as His people from the rest of the nations. We must remember: "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;" (2 Pet. 2:4), then He certainly will not spare US! If we don't come to a saving knowledge of Christ, well, then the following passage applies -

This next passage contains the most famous verse in the world, only I always like to put the rest of the concept, because I think people are being cheated out of understanding what God is putting forth in this passage. You can choose to believe in Jesus and have eternal life, or you can choose not to, and be eternally condemned. This passage, however, doesn't address the "what if" in the matter of changing your mind or not being able to make up your mind. You either believe or you don't. "For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:16 - 21)

"Jesus answered and said unto her, 'If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, "Give Me to drink"; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.'...'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 4:10, 14) Let's study these two verses carefully; He says they will never thirst. His sheep will never thirst, and from what He told Nicodemus, they must be born again in order to be His sheep. In order to never thirst, they would have to have eternal security, wouldn't they? He didn't say anything about "unless they change their mind", or "unless they start sinning like they don't know Me anymore", did He?

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame." (Heb. 6:1 - 6) If these people were able to fall away, they were not genuine believers then, were they? Can born again believers fall away? Absolutely not! But there are they who profess to be born again, but they have not gone through the actual process. God knows who is saved from the foundation of the earth!

"And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:) Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, 'I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:' The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and His jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven." (Deut. 29:17 - 20) Now this passage is about someone who was not saved from the beginning, because if they were able to turn away from God, our omniscient God knew beforehand, and blotted them out at the moment of their apostasy. The New Testament has a passage similar in nature; "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." (Heb. 12:15 - 17)

Now those who don't believe in OSAS might present you with this passage and ask, "Why would Paul tell the Philippians they had to work out their salvation if it were already a sure thing?" But what Paul meant was that they needed to behave as ambassadors for Christ, that they needed to be careful with their witness, because they needed to appear as much like Christ as possible, because they were expected to behave as "Christians"! That takes a alot of work, don't you think? "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Phil. 2:12 - 13)

"Then said they unto Him, 'What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?' Jesus answered and said unto them, 'This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.'"..."No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, "And they shall be all taught of God." Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He which is of God, He hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:28 - 29, 44 - 51) Now we also know that the Bible has it, "So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isa. 55:11) So if a person be born again, yet somehow not always be saved, how would that not return back to God void? What I mean is, if it is as Jesus said that the Father drew we who are born again to Jesus, and we believed unto salvation, how could it be that we could later lose it, and thus the Father's sending us to the Son would come back to Him void? When Jesus says that if we eat of this bread, we will live forever, how can that mean anything else other than once saved, always saved?

When Paul was talking to the Romans in his epistle, he talked of the believers in Christ being inseperable from the love of God. If a truly saved believer is unseverable from Christ, how can one refute what Paul says in this passage which appears clear that a born again Christian has nothing to fear of losing their salvation by his words; "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, 'For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. 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." (Rom. 8:35 - 39)

"As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." (John 17:2 - 3) Here is one more passage where Jesus is speaking of His sheep, and that He has given eternal life to them. If Jesus knows His sheep, and they know Him, and this be a form of believing on Him in that they know Him (through the Bible), how can they "unknow" Him, that they may be unsaved once more before they die?

I have another passage from Paul's epistle to the Ephesians that also gives substance to the concept of OSAS, wherein he writes that after one believes, we are then sealed with the holy Spirit of promise, guaranteed into heaven. See if you can read anything different than that in this passage - "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." (Eph. 1:13 - 14)

Shall we see more pro-OSAS scripture? "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." (Acts 13:38 - 41) Justified from all things, being all the sins of a lifetime! God never reverses His justification of sinners!

"I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."..."I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd."..."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." (John 10:9, 14 - 16, 27 - 29) This is the last bit of substantiation I will produce to support OSAS; this last group of passages from the gospel of John spoken by Jesus has to be the most concrete scriptural promise of eternal security. Once we are born again, once we accept Him as Savior, once we have had our hearts circumcised, once we have believed on Him, I don't see how anyone can refute all these passages of scripture that support OSAS. For me, once we are saved, we are heaven bound!