NAVIGATIONAL CONTROLS

The Power of Receiving the Gospel unto Salvation
and the Power of Rejecting the Gospel unto Damnation

The Mathematician Pascal said that in everyone there “was a God-shaped vacuum that only God can fill.”, and he was very correct. God has put in us this need for God that man many times messes up by trying to satisfy with the things of the world that cannot satisfy.

The truth is that man is a sinner. And there is but one penalty for sin. And that is death. If you have ever violated the laws of God, then the penalty is death. Being cast into the Lake of Fire is the Second Death, and without the blood of Jesus Christ in our lives, then we will spiritually die.

BACKGROUND TO this version of the lesson taken from the study, “Path of Apostasy” by James Dale Coldiron.

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL IS:

1. The Power of God unto Salvation – the gospel is POWER and it is the ONLY means by which you can be saved or delivered from sin, Hell, and the Second Death and the bondage that goes with that, when we believe it and walk in that faith.

2. It brings righteousness, or right living… doing the right thing through the power of God. It brings God’s righteousness that comes through us.

3. It is revealed from faith to faith, or begun by faith and continued by faith. It is not just a one-time thing, but a continuing condition of being saved. THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF FAITH !!!

4. WE live by FAITH… and are justified in God’s sight. This is the walk in the Spirit.

5. It is the means by which we are delivered from the wrath of God!

THERE IS POWER IN WALKING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE! There is the power of God to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, which is the nature of Jesus Christ in the believer. We have it by faith and by submitting to God in prayer… and it becomes a daily walk empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Power is the Greek word dunamis, from which we derive dynamic and dynamo and dynamite. This is not just some person trying to read the Bible and turn over a new leaf. There is power in the gospel when mixed with faith to transform a person and bring abundant life and power to live righteously.

Understand this: the preaching of the gospel (and that is under the unction of the Holy Spirit to bring it alive) has within it the dynamic power to bring the new birth and transform lives and break the bondages of darkness. The preaching of the gospel must be understood to be primary in the ministry of the church and individual. This is where the power of God is released to bring abundant life!

There is no power to live righteously outside of the power of God that moves in us that we have received through the preaching of the gospel.

As we walk in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed in and through us from faith to faith. As our walk in faith increases, so does the righteousness of God in us. This kind of faith brings a walking or doing of the Word.

James 1:22-23 (KJV) “ 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: “

Romans 10:17 (KJV) “ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. “

John 4:23-24 (KJV) “ 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. “

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (KJV) “17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. “

The Word of God is preached with the anointing (the Spirit) blended with it, and it brings the power of God to become and walk as the children of God! Faith is increased by the Word, and as that faith is applied to the Word of God, then the works of God comes forth from God out of the believer. This is a growing process… from salvation from faith to faith, from glory to glory into the image of Jesus Christ!

1 Peter 1:23 (KJV) “ Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. “

I have to depart somewhat from the commentary in this, the text emphasizes not only those who hear the gospel and reject it, but specifically the process in which people go from having a saving faith in Christ and become apostates or fallen away from the faith.

BUT THERE IS A DANGER if a believer in rebellion who is being chastens goes too far… and rebels to the point of turning away from Jesus Christ. There is a danger of holding the truth in unrighteousness and going past chastening, and pulling the actual judgment of God upon your head.

Romans 1:18-20 “ 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: “

Romans 1:18 (Recovery Edition) “ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold down the truth in unrighteousness.”

Romans 1:18 (Analytical Literal Version) ‘ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all impiety [or, ungodliness] and unrighteousness of people, [upon] the ones suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. “

It continues on to say that even nature teaches of a holy God and there is no excuse for anyone really. But those who have heard the gospel, or even started in the gospel and then abandoned Jesus from their lives are in far greater danger of judgment.

COMMENTARY: “Manford George Gutzke observes, ‘Whether you look at the earth or the sky, trees or animals, you know there must be a Creator. When you see a machine, you know there is a mechanic. If you see a picture, you know there is an artist…’

These are fundamental realities. Paul says enough is known by such things to guide a man in right ways. If a person goes wrong, it is his own fault; he is without excuse. “

If you HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS… in other words, you know the truth (and suppress it) and you MAKE THE DECISION to THUMB YOUR NOSE AT GOD AND LIVE YOUR OWN WAY… you will KNOW HIS WRATH!

Understand that this is not only to the ungodly and unsaved, but we are living in an age of apostasy where people who have known God and held the truth, and knew the truth have now turned from the truth following seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. There are so many that are now clinging to “another gospel” that preaches “another Christ”, and have literally become apostates and fallen from the truth. THE BIBLE DECLARES THAT THERE WILL BE A GREAT FALLING AWAY AT THE END.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NASB) “ Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, “

The falling away or apostasy is the Greek apostasia, which means to forsake or defect to the other side. It is the Greek feminine form of the word apostasion, which means a bill of divorcement.

To fall away or apostate is to get a spiritual divorce from God and to reject Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (KJV) “ 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”

2 Peter 2:20-21 (KJV) “ 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. “

Hebrews 6:4-6 (KJV) “4 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, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 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.”

Revelation 3:1 (KJV) And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. “

Revelation 3:5 (KJV) He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. “

The rest of Romans 1 goes on and talks about how people become reprobates, or in the case of those who have known the truth of God, apostates where their names have been blotted out of the book of life, and their idolatry has opened up the door for more and more gross, unnatural sin.

Romans 1:21-22 (KJV) “ 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”

These are people who knew God remember. But they quit living their lives to please Him! They started living it their own way! They lost interest in the very God who had saved them and given them life and started seeking out after their own carnal pleasures and living their way.

They have heard and known the gospel and not only rejected and suppressed its truth, but they also reject God the source of the gospel. You cannot reject the gospel without rejecting God, the one who by His grace has given you your life and breath and strength and every good thing in your life.

They quit worshiping God. They lost interest in doing the things in worship and dedication that they once had for God and replaced them with something worldly. They did not take the time.

They suppress God’s worship and thanksgiving, and refuse to acknowledge God and His goodness in their lives. They in their pride decide not to honor God, but to ignore or reject Him.

Their thinking became “vain” or useless and unprofitable to God or man. The mind is the realm of the Spirit, and thoughts are spiritual, which is why 2 Corinthians 10 tells us to put every thought under the submission of Christ before they create evil imaginations and strongholds.

Romans 8:6-8 (KJV) “ 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. “

Their foolish hearts were darkened. The foolishness of going their own way opened the door for sin which darkened their hearts and choked out all of the good and God’s presence in their lives.

Romans 1:21 (AMP) “ Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. “

By rejecting Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, they became filled with spiritual darkness and futile or useless in their lives. Their lives became WASTED and USELESS as they became filled with darkness.

Jesus said that the foolish virgins in Matthew 25 would not go when the Midnight Cry is given to come to the Marriage Supper before the Tribulation. We are told again and again by Jesus and Paul and others in the New Testament to not be foolish, but be wise and walk in the will of God.

Ephesians 5:15-20 (KJV) “15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; “

They profess themselves to be wise, but they became fools. They thought that they were getting away from it and swallowed the lie so long that they started to believe the lie. They know the truth, and hold it in unrighteousness and live like God is not really there. It is a lie.

They will hate the truth when they fall like this, and God and God’s people will annoy them greatly. They will hunt for teachers to support their position and have them tickle their ears.

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (KJV) “ 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. “

They claim to have the illuminating light of truth, but they are full of lies and foolishness and have rejected the true light of the universe, GOD. They started by rejecting the gospel and in doing that, they rejected GOD HIMSELF.

Romans 1:23 “ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. “

We are made to worship something. Bob Dillon used to sing a song that said, “You’ve got to serve somebody, it might be the devil or it might be the Lord, but you’ve got to serve somebody…” It is true. And if we decide to reject the gospel and the True and Living God, then we will wind up worshiping something that is created instead of the Creator.

We will make false gods in our own images and in our own weaknesses such as the idols of old, or the new idols of today. Even New Age perversions of Christianity that teach another gospel and another Christ that does not bear that much resemblance to the Jesus of the Bible are doing exactly what verse 23 is saying. It is the reason that men fall to false worship of idols, and it is a mixture of the foolishness that comes from rejecting the Light of God, and usually the deception of demons.

Romans 1:24-27 (KJV) “ 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. “

You see here a connection between sexual perversion and the worshiping the creature more than the Creator.

Not only is the gospel rejected and the truth of God that gives hope, but even natural understanding that God has given to all creation is rejected and the lie is believed and the truth is rejected. This goes to the point of giving yourselves over to demonic spirits and rejecting what is natural to you to the point of rejecting nature and becoming sexual immoral.

Romans 1:28-32 (KJV) “ 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. “

Romans 1:28, 32 (AMP) “ 28 And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome,

32 Though they are fully aware of God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them. “

This is the description of our society today in these Last Days… it is becoming as it was in the Days of Noah and the Days of Lot (Sodom and Gomorrah) and the judgment of God is at hand. Evil is being embraced and good is rejected.

When people reject the gospel and refuse to receive salvation, then they start a path that opens themselves up to more and more evil and greater and greater seduction. Evil becomes normal to them and one evil leads to another and greater one until they are led toward apostasy and the judgment of God.

Sin degrades people physically, mentally, and spiritually. Human beings sometimes wind up doing things that animals have better sense to get into. You see from the 1 Timothy reference that the conscience gets seared… as having your spiritual nerves burned away where you cannot tell right from wrong. Seducing spirits (demons) pull people into greater and greater evil and error and makes them feel right when they do it.

We are in those last days or latter times and evil has become the politically correct thing to embrace, and God and the gospel has become evil because the spirit of Antichrist is in control of this world system.