Walking Away From God

By David J. Stewart

       Can a man walk away from God, i.e., from Jesus Christ? This question needs to be carefully answered from two different perspectives, i.e., saved or unsaved?

UNSAVED PEOPLE WHO WALK AWAY FROM GOD

Romans 1:20 and 21 state, "For 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. 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." Certainly, many unsaved people who have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ have foolishly choose to walk away in their unbelief. In John 5:40 Jesus said, "And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Notice that Jesus didn't say "ye cannot come." It is a personal choice. No one ever goes to Hell except those who choose to go there. They are hellbound in their sins and have rejected the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.

Luke 8:11 and 12 state, "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." In this parable of the seeds, Jesus said that the first group are unsaved, because the Devil hath blinded them (2nd Corinthians 4:4). It is important to realize that God always makes a way for people to be saved. Even though Satan is a big liar, and a master deceiver, the truth of God's Word is undeniable for those who have an honest heart... "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15). Any honest person knows that the Bible is God's Word. Unsaved people who walk in darkness do so because they want to. Satan provides them with all the excuses and they cling to them, like the retarded theory of Evolution. Evolution isn't even plausible; yet the wicked unquestioningly accept it as fact because it provides the excuse they need to live as if there is no God. 
 

CHRISTIAN

A born-again believer may also walk away from the Lord Jesus Christ; but can NEVER lose his or her salvation. The Bible is filled with numerous examples of believers who sinned horribly, such as David and Solomon, yet there is NO evidence to suggest that they lost salvation. Salvation is the gift of God (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9). Our part is simply to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31; 10:43).

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” —Galatians 2:21

There is much controversy and heresy regarding this issue of Eternal Security. Many false prophets, such as Ray Comfort, have entered into the world, teaching that a believer is NOT safe just because they believe on Jesus Christ for salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone who places their sincere trust upon Jesus, the Christ, to forgive their sins is instantly saved... “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Salvation CANNOT be lost. David commit adultery, impregnated the woman and then murdered her husband to hide the sin. Although David was chastised by God and suffered great loss as a consequence of his sin, his salvation was safe and secure in the Lord.
 

Ray Comfort Errantly Says Sinful Believers are Not “Safe” in Jesus

On page 1513 of THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, under the section “Questions & Objections,” Ray Comfort addresses the statement: “Because Jesus died on the cross we are forgiven of every sin.” Here’s Ray Comfort’s reply to this statement…

“The forgiveness that is in Jesus Christ is conditional upon ‘repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Acts 20:21). It is a gift that God offers to everyone, but individuals must receive it by repenting and trusting in Christ, or they will remain dead in their sins. No one has Biblical grounds to continue in sin, assuming that they are safe just because Jesus died on the cross. See 1 John 3:4-6.” [Emphasis added]

SOURCE: THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, by Ray Comfort, pg. 1513; 2003, Bridge-Logos Publishers, Orlando, Florida

Those are some very dangerous words at the end, “…assuming that they are safe just because Jesus died on the cross.” Are not all believers “safe” in Jesus Christ? Yes, they certainly are safe (Ephesians 1:13; Isaiah 28:16; Romans 10:11); but Ray Comfort teaches they are not. Ray Comfort is teaching heresy to say that believers who fail to forsake their sins are not safe in their salvation. Such reasoning places a heavy burden upon the sinner, requiring one to depart from sinful bad habits as a prerequisite to be saved. Ray Comfort's teaching here beckons the question: How much sin is considered "safe"? Aren't we all willful sinners at times? Yes indeed. Is any amount of sin "safe"? Clearly, Mr. Comfort interprets "repentance" for salvation as ceasing from one's sins, which is entirely wrong. Man's only part in salvation is to believe on Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43).
 
The major problem with Ray Comfort’s theology is his faulty understanding of what Biblical “repentance” means. It is interesting that Ray Comfort avoids defining the term directly; whereas the New Testament Greek does… METANOIA, “a change of mind.” That’s it! Ray Comfort understands repentance to mean literally forsaking one’s sinful lifestyle to get saved. He’s putting the cart before the horse. The changed life comes AFTER a person is saved; not as a prerequisite to be saved. This is what 1st John 3:4-6 means. A believer’s faith should be evidenced by a changed life; BUT, you can’t mandate that changed life, i.e., forsaking one’s sins, as part of saving faith.

Dr. Harry Ironside (former pastor of Moody Memorial Church, 1930-1948) correctly understood repentance to mean…

"Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership — the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word."

SOURCE: Except Ye Repent, by Dr. Harry Ironside, chapter 3

Clearly, Ironside taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel. H.A. Ironside correctly recognized repentance as the confession that "one is utterly without merit" and that if one is "ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ." Salvation is without works of self-righteousness. Romans 4:5 plainly teaches that a man's faith is COUNTED for righteousness, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to one's heavenly record by faith. Repentance and faith are inseparable. The Gospel of John mentions the word "believe" 85-times; but the word "repent" is never mentioned even once. In genuine salvation, one who believes on Jesus Christ has repented; and one who repents has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

In sharp contrast, Ray Comfort separates repentance from faith, thus requiring lost sinners to cease from their sins as a prerequisite to placing their faith in Christ for salvation (which is a false gospel).
 

Often Misunderstood Scriptures

Here's some popular Scriptures which are often misinterpreted in an attempt to support losing one's salvation...

1. Hebrews 10:38-39, "Now the just shall live by faith: but IF any man DRAW BACK, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."
   
   This Scripture speaks of the Jews who heard the Gospel, but didn't have any faith in the Lord (Hebrews 4:2).
    
2. Hebrews 3:6, "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."
   
   Hebrews 3:12 clearly reveals that this passage of Scripture speaks of the unsaved, i.e., those with "an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." There is NO reason to believe that the Scriptures are talking about someone who decided they don't believe in Jesus anymore. If a person claims that they used to be a Christian, but forsook Christianity, they are a liar. What they really mean is that they once had the philosophy of Christianity, or belonged to a religious organization; but they were never a born-again Christian with the Lord in their heart.
    
3. Hebrews 3:12, "Take heed, BRETHREN, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, IN DEPARTING FROM THE LIVING GOD." 3:13, "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." 3:14, "For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast UNTO THE END."
   
   Many of the Jews were not saved. Although they were chosen to be God's people, many of the Jews died in their sins and went to Hell because of their evil heart of unbelief. Hebrews 4:2 says they HEARD the Gospel, but had no faith in the Word of God. The world's churches are filled today with religious people who have never been born-again; they are lost and hellbound in their religious faith. Most Jews today are followers of Judaism, a demonic religion that denies Jesus as the Christ. They worship the Talmud, a despicable book that permits Jewish priests to have sex with 3-year old girls.
    
4. Hebrews 4:1, "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to COME SHORT OF IT."
   
   This is simply a warning that many people who "think" they are saved are not. There are millions of churchgoers today in America and Canada who have foolishly adopted the demonic teachings of Dr. John MacArthur, who is unquestionably the leading proponent of the heresy of Lordship Salvation. The idea that a believer who trusts upon the Lord for salvation might "come short" of salvation because of shortcomings, sins or rebellion in their personal life is WORKS SALVATION! It is a road to Hell. No amount of deliberate personal sin in a believer's life can jeopardize one's salvation! To state otherwise is to place the burden of salvation upon man's shoulder. Jesus came to die upon the cross and shed His precious blood for our sins, because we can do NOTHING to redeem ourselves (Ephesians 2:8,9).
    
5. Hebrews 4:8-11, "For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man FALL after the same example of unbelief."
   
   Again, the Scriptures are warning that no amount of self-righteous can save a person. We need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 6:33; Romans 10:3,4; 1st Corinthians 5:21). John 6:29 reads, "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
    
6. Hebrews 6:4-9, "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. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak."
   
   Carefully read Hebrews 6:6... "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." Although many people foolishly attempt to use this Scripture to teach that salvation can be lost, it is very clear from the phrase "they crucify to themselves the Son of God," that they were never saved to begin with! The words "fall away" in the Greek (parapipto) means "to apostatize." Luke 8:12 correctly interprets this Scripture, "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." You see, they fell BY THE WAY SIDE, because they believed the lie of Satan.
    
7. Hebrews 10:26-29, "For if we sin wilfully AFTER that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, WHEREWITH HE WAS SANCTIFIED, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
   
   This just simply means that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven. If you reject Jesus as the Christ, then there remains no other hope for you, you are doomed. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul meant in Galatians 5:4 when he said, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." If you refuse to accept God's free gift of eternal life, by solely trusting upon Jesus as the Messiah (i.e., the Christ) to forgive your sins, then you cannot go to Heaven. All Jews today who are following the teachings of Judaism are headed for the Lake of Fire to burn for all eternity. This is so sad.
    
8. Hebrews 12:13-17, "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 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."
   
   This Scripture is often taken way out of context. Certainly, God would have accepted Esau's desire for forgiveness. The Bible plainly states in Isaiah 55:7, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." The Bible is speaking in Hebrews 12:13-17 about Esau's BIRTHRIGHT, which he foolishly sold to Jacob in a moment of panic. Jacob was a rat, a horrible person and a scoundrel, who took advantage of his hardworking brother, Esau. Some believers today are dishonest like Jacob, while there are unsaved people who are honest and possess good character. We see this quite often sadly. Esau sought with tears to retrieve his BIRTHRIGHT, but could not. This had absolutely NOTHING to do with God forgiving Esau. It was between Jacob and Esau.
   
   Many women live to regret their abortions, and though they weep in bitter tears of sorrow and agony, the damage is done. Though they seek to undo their evil, it cannot be undone. This was Esau's situation. He was carnally-minded and not too bright, and Jacob took advantage of him at an opportune moment. There was no way to undo what he been done; but this had nothing to do with God's willingness to forgive and accept Esau if he repented and turned to the Lord.
    
9. 1st Thessalonians 3:5, "For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain."
   
   It is tragic when you spend years investing in someone spiritual and then they go into the world and forget about God. I've seen this happen often, sadly. A teenager the church I used to attend, who used to faithfully desire the things of God, turned away from God and started going to nightclubs when he turned 18. He's about 30 now and his life is completely void of God. Our labor was in vain with him.
    
10. 2nd Peter 1:10, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election SURE: for IF ye do these things, ye shall never FALL."
    
    The Apostle Peter is simply warning people to make sure they are saved. There are many phonies in the world's churches today. If someone lacks patience, godliness and brotherly kindness, it could be because they're not saved at all. Of course, they may be saved and backslidden also. To use 2nd Peter 1:10 in an attempt to teach that a person can fall away and lose their salvation is WORKS SALVATION. If we have to do "these things," i.e., be patient, kind, loving, godly and so forth, then salvation is conditional upon our self-righteousness, which violates everything else the Word of God teaches (Romans 10:3,4; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5). We are saved by God's mercy and grace; not by our own efforts.
     
11. 2nd Peter 3:17, "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being LED AWAY with the error of the wicked, FALL from your own stedfastness."
    
    The word "fall" is frequently misinterpreted to mean "losing salvation"; but it doesn't mean that at all. It means "to be driven out of one's course." Jesus spoke of the "narrow way" which leadeth unto life; and the "broad way" which leadeth to Hell (Matthew 7:13,14). Most people choose to fall short of finding the narrow path because of their love for sin (John 3:20). It is sad that anyone would teach that salvation is not guaranteed for professed believers who choose to live in sin, because the Bible plainly states in Romans 4:5... "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." I am not condoning living in sin (Romans 3:31), I am simply saying that salvation is the gift of God and is not in any way conditioned upon the way we live. Call it a license to sin if you will; but salvation is of the Lord. A gift is a gift.
     
12. 2nd Peter 2:20, "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. 2:21, "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." 2:22, "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."
    
    There is a correlation between living in sin and getting saved. Basically, those who love the world refuse to come to Jesus Christ to be saved (John 3:20; John 5:40). It is not that an unrepentant man cannot come to Jesus Christ to be saved; it is that he WON'T come to Jesus Christ. There's a big difference. Notice that 2nd peter 2:20 speaks of the "knowledge" of the Lord. Does knowledge save? No, of course not. This passage of Scripture simply means that when a person has a chance to get saved, but refuses to do so, they are headed downhill from there.
    
    Again notice in 2nd Peter 2:21 the phrase, "Known the way of righteousness." Does knowing the way save anyone? No, of course not. Salvation is a matter if TRUSTING Jesus Christ. Head knowledge cannot save (James 2:19).
     
13. Colossians 1:22, "In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: IF YE CONTINUE in the faith grounded and settled, and BE NOT MOVED AWAY from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister."
    
    As much as this Scripture seems to teach that a believer must "continue in the faith" to remain saved (which the Salvation Army foolishly teaches by the way); Titus 3:5 and other irrefutable Scriptures clearly state... "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." If a person must "continue in the faith" to remain saved, then it begs the question: At what point of apostasy does a believer lose his or her salvation? Clearly this would place the burden of salvation upon mankind's shoulders and not upon the wondrous mercy and grace of God. The very suggestion that salvation is dependent upon man makes God furious. The whole purpose of salvation was for God to manifest His unconditional love for us sinners (Romans 5:8), who deserve to burn in Hell (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8); but God made a way of escape through His beloved only begotten Son, Jesus (John 3:16).
    
    Colossians 1:22 simply refers to religious hypocrites in our churches who are not saved at all. Carefully notice the phrase "be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel." Clearly, this Scripture warns of those who have churchianity without Christianity. Paul said in Romans 1:16 that he was "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
     
14. 1st John 2:24, "Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. IF that which ye have heard from the beginning SHALL REMAIN IN YOU, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."
    
    Many people HEAR the Gospel; but few OBEY it. This was the situation in Hebrews 4:2... "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them [the Jews in the Wilderness]: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." Only an ignorant person would twist such Scriptures as 1st John 2:24 to teach that one must continue having faith in order to be saved. The truth of the matter is that a genuine believer will NEVER completely stop trusting the Lord, even though times of discouragement and doubt may arise (such as the case with John the Baptist while in prison).
    
    The emphasis of the Gospel writers is that those who hear the truth of the Gospel, i.e., the way of righteousness, ought to OBEY it and not depart from it... "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2nd Thessalonians 1:8,9). In John 3:3-7 Jesus said that a man MUST BE BORN AGAIN to enter into Heaven. It is absurd to think that one who has been born, whether it be physically or spiritually, could ever be UNBORN. The spiritual birth is as irreversible as the physical birth.
    
    It is common sense to conclude that the same elements of hypocrisy, apostasy and deception were at work in the early Church as we see in the modern Church today. America's churches are saturated with unsaved religious hypocrites, phonies "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2nd Timothy 3:5). That "power" is the Gospel Paul mentions in Romans 1:16. Many of America's churches today (including churches in Australia, Canada and Europe) have adopted the Lordship Salvation heresy, which negates the grace of God and requires lost sinners to depart from sinful living to be saved as a prerequisite to receiving the free gift of God. It is wickedness! 
     
15. Romans 11:19, "Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in." 11:20, "Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:" 11:21, "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee." 11:22, "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, IF THOU CONTINUE in his goodness: OTHERWISE THOU ALSO SHALT BE CUT OFF." 11:23, "And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again."
    
    This Scripture plainly evidences that it is a matter of UNBELIEF which the Bible is addressing; and not someone who has lost their salvation. The Bible even uses the word "unbelief."
     
16. 1st Corinthians 15:1, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;" 15:2, "By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain."
    
    Those who deny the death, burial or resurrection of Jesus Christ are NOT saved. That's all this Scripture is saying.
     
17. 2nd John 1:8, "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." 1:9, "Whosoever transgresseth, and ABIDETH NOT in the doctrine of Christ, HATH NOT GOD. HE THAT ABIDETH in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."
    
    Again, carefully consider the phrase "abideth not in the doctrine of Christ." The Bible is speaking about Christ rejecters here; not former believers who quit on God. If a man claims that he "used to be a Christian," he is a liar! He may have had the philosophy of Christianity, or joined some religious organization; but he was never born-again into the family of God. Proponents of losing one's salvation treat salvation as if it were merely a philosophy that can be disregarded at some point in life. Genuine salvation involves a supernatural act of God in response to our faith in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, to forgive our sins. If we are NOT saved by good works; then how can we ever be lost by bad works?
     
18. Romans 2:6, "Who will render to every man according to his deeds." 2:7, "To them who BY PATIENT CONTINUANCE IN WELL DOING seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." 2:8, "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath." 2:9, "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile." 2:10, "But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile."
    
    This Scripture is frequently taken way out of context. This Scriptures must be reconciled with Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Continually doing well has nothing to do with salvation and only a woefully ignorant person would claim otherwise in view of Romans 4:5.
    
    The very fact that Christians will have their own judgment to give account for the BAD THINGS THEY'VE DONE is clear evidence that salvation cannot be lost. There will be some very sinful believers in Heaven (1st Corinthians 5:5). 2nd Corinthians 5:10 states, "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." This speaks of the Judgment Seat of Christ ONLY for believers who die in the Lord. The unsaved will be judged at a later time at The Great White Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
     
19. Ezekiel 18:26, "When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die." 18:27, "Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive."
    
    If the unscholarly nitwits who corrupt the meaning of this Scripture would simply read Ezekiel 33:13, they would stop teaching heresy... "When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it." Clearly, the Bible is condemning self-righteousness.

Most people today are walking away from God. Ironically, those same unbelievers are becoming more religious each and every passing day. You see, as the church is becoming more worldly, so also is the world becoming more churchy. This is apostasy! The United States is leading the way in apostasy and unbelief! Americans have now voted for a Communist U.S. President. America has been given the President it deserves! America's economic woes are just beginning. We will eventually end up like Communist China where most of their people live on less than one dollar per day.

Sadly, many folks today are walking, or in some cases, running away from God. Jonah ran from God as a believer; but he didn't lose his salvation. Interestingly, while in the belly of the great fish, Jonah was thinking about salvation. Jonah knew that salvation is of the Lord. Would to God that all the naysayers, skeptics, Lordship Salvationists, those who teach salvation can be lost, those who teach that a person must be willing to turn from sin to be saved, and proponents of works salvation realize as Jonah did that SALVATION IS OF THE LORD.