18 or 80
18 or 80
We are presenting a situation for you to ponder and really take the time to meditate on the Gospel of Christ. We would really like each person to think about “how many sins” Christ died for at Calvary. Did He die for all sin? Did He die for only the “good” sins and not the “really bad” sins? If He did not pay for all sins, which sins did He not pay for? If He dies for all sins, when does a person receive eternal life? Can every child of God be eternally secure? I believe the Gospel of Christ is logical, simple, rational, and makes complete sense and it is the simplicity of the Gospel that answers all these questions.
It is our desire that everyone has a clear understanding of the Gospel of Christ. The situation is about an individual getting saved at 80 and the next scene is the same individual getting saved at 18 which can help us understand and answer the questions above. We want everyone to think about if getting saved at 18 makes a person “more saved” or “less saved” through life based on their decisions. Also, we want everyone to think about if a person getting saved at 80 makes a person “more saved” or “less saved” through life based on life decisions. Or, in each scenario, is the person is equally secure and saved forever? Let us read.
If a person is 80 years old, and they lived a sinful life, and this person is on their deathbed with only minutes until their last fleeting breath leaves them. Can this person get saved? Yes! This person at any time can trust in Christ alone for salvation and be saved and know they are going to Heaven before their last fleeting breath escapes them. This person can believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins (past, present, and future), burial, and resurrection for them and be eternally secure and know that when they die, they are absent from the body and present with the LORD. Most individuals would not argue this point. Most individuals would agree that this person can get saved on their deathbed.
If a person is 80 years old and lived the same sinful life, however, they received Jesus Christ alone for salvation at 18 years of age. Are they saved? Yes! The very second this person trusted in Christ alone for salvation, they are saved. They believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins (past, present, and future), burial, and resurrection for them and are eternally secure and know that when they die, they are absent from the body and present with the LORD. However, many will argue this point.
What is the difference of salvation when a person gets saved at 18 or 80? There is no difference because Jesus Christ has already paid for all sin at the Cross of Calvary. When a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation: believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for ALL their sins, burial, and resurrection, they are born again, born from above, receiving a new nature, a sinless nature from God. The very second a person placed their faith in Christ alone, that person was marked as a child of God by the Holy Spirit. The ways a person “lives” or “acts” do not prove a person is “more saved” today or “less saved” today because that is a “works for salvation” message. Again, the very second a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation, their eternal destination changes and that is the POWER of the Gospel of Christ. “For I am 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” (Romans 1:16 KJV). If a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation at 18 or 80, their eternal destiny changes the second they believe in Christ alone. They are no longer going to Hell and forever going to Heaven and that is the Power of the Gospel. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14 KJV). Believers are translated from eternal darkness into eternal light the very second they believe in the Gospel of Christ. Christ shed His blood and it is through His death payment for sin that we receive the forgiveness of sins (all sins) -His death for our debt of sin.
Listen, Christ’s death on the Cross does not do anything for anyone unless it gives them eternal life the very second they believe. If a person does not get eternal life the very second they believe they will never get eternal life. The person saved at 18 has eternal life and they are forever saved. The person saved at 80 has eternal life and they are forever saved. A person is not more saved today than they were yesterday based on their lifestyle or choices they make in life. A person is not “less saved” today because of the poor decisions made yesterday. A person is not “more saved” today because of the better decisions made yesterday. This person thinks they are “keeping” their eternal life or they think they are “not keeping” their eternal life and sending themselves to Hell by their actions which is not scriptural. Again, this is “works” for salvation and not of grace. This person does not understand the clarity of the Gospel of Christ. Remember, Christ paid for all sin for all mankind. If He did not pay for all sin for all mankind, He would never have resurrected but He did resurrect from the grave showing all mankind that He paid a satisfied sacrifice (propitiation) for all sin for all mankind and that was His death for our debt of sin. When a person believes the Gospel of Christ, God knows what each person is trusting in for salvation and the very second they believe what Christ did for them (His death for their debt of sin), they receive eternal life as a gift from God. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23 KJV). A person is forever saved because this is what God promises. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28 KJV). If you have Christ as your Savior, you have this life: EVERLASTING LIFE! Anyone who doubts that God gives eternal life is calling God a liar. “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2 KJV). We do not think it would be very wise to call God a liar.
We are not saying the 18-year-old or 80-year-old should not have a strong testimony for Christ because they should have a strong testimony for Christ (Philippians 1:27 KJV). However, a person’s testimony does not prove a person is “saved” or “not saved.” If a person is saved and lives a life of sin, they are not in fellowship with their Father (I John 1:1-10 KJV), they will receive chastisement (Hebrews 12:5-11 KJV; I Corinthians 11:30-32 KJV), and they will lose out on rewards (I Corinthians 3:10-15 KJV); however, they never lose their salvation. Service (fellowship) is different from salvation. There are people out there that say: “your life has to show you are saved to be saved,” and that is a false message. This is lordship salvation, and it perverts the Gospel of Christ. It is a disgrace to grace. The Bible says: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36 KJV). “Hath” present tense, have it (everlasting life) right now!
The Gospel of Christ is the “good news” and every believer in Christ alone can KNOW they are going to Heaven and KNOW they are not going to Hell because the very second they believe, they receive eternal life. The very second a person believes in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation (apart from works), Christ’s death has been imputed to their account and their sin has been marked as PAID IN FULL! It is not “good news” if a person is saved for a day and loses it. It is not “good news” if a person is saved for a year and loses it. It is not “good news” if a person is saved for 20 years and loses it. It is only “good news” if a person is saved forever and that is exactly what the Gospel of Christ does -it saves every person who trusts in Christ alone forever because Christ paid for all their sin.
If a person is reading this article and thinking that we are arguing or trying to point out that a person “should live a life of sin” after being saved, you are wrong and missing the point (Romans 6:1-2 KJV) It is our hope that every saved individual, every child of God would have a strong testimony for Christ. It is our desire that every saved individual would read the Word of God daily, listen to their Father’s will through His Word daily, and live a life that honors their Father daily by yielding to His Word and not acting on their own selfish desires daily and share the Good News (The Gospel of Christ) with everyone in their life daily. The point of the article is that when individuals trust in Christ alone for salvation, they are eternally secure because Christ paid for all their sins. The point of the article is to be clear that individuals do not earn salvation by a church, the law, ritual, sacrament, tradition, or work of men. The point of the article is that saved individuals do nothing to be “more saved” or “less saved” today than yesterday. The point of the article is that saved individuals don’t do things to not be unsaved. When a person trusts in Christ alone as their only hope to save them from a Hell they deserve to a Heaven they do not, it is at that very second they are born again and receive eternal life. A saved person is just as saved ten years, 20 years, 50 years from when they first trusted in Christ alone. A person does not get “more saved” or “less saved” as time goes on. The reason a saved person does not get “more saved” or “less saved” from when they first trusted in Christ alone for salvation is Christ paid for all their sin. A saved person is just as saved today, as they were yesterday, as they will be tomorrow.
The point of the article is for individuals to know that salvation is apart from works. Salvation is grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). The work for salvation is already done: Christ did all the work. When individuals trust in Christ alone for salvation, they are born again. Every child of God needs to know that they are forever a child of God. If a child of God thinks they can lose their salvation, they will never grow in grace in the knowledge of Christ. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (II Peter 3:18 KJV). It is our hope and desire that every child of God know the very second they trust in Christ alone, they have eternal life. It is our hope and desire that every child of God read the Word of God and have their mind transformed by the Word of God and be not conformed to this world (Romans 12:1-2 KJV). It is our hope and desire that every child of God labor for the LORD not because they have to but because they want to please their Father in Heaven. We (believers) are saved by grace and once we are saved forever, we (believers) learn to grow by grace in the knowledge of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.
If you have never received Jesus Christ as Savior, what is stopping you right now from accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior? In your mind you can say something, “I don’t know everything; however, I know I do not want to go to Hell and I want to go to Heaven when I die. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for all my sins, buried for me, and resurrected for me.” Trust in Jesus Christ as your only hope to save you from a Hell you deserve to a Heaven you do not deserve because only the Gospel of Christ can change your eternal destiny from eternal darkness to eternal light. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14 KJV). Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior today and be born again and forever a child of God. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13 KJV). The very second you place your faith in Christ alone, you receive eternal life and you forever have eternal life because Christ paid for all your sins. When a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation, that person can “know” they are going to Heaven when they die because the Bible says they can “know.” “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (I John 5:13 KJV).
THE PLAN OF SALVATION - THE GOSPEL
The Gospel is Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins (past, present, and future), He was buried, and He resurrected the third day to show us the payment for sin is paid in full.
I Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
God loves you. Lord Savior Jesus Christ was revealed in the flesh for one reason: to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ does not come to condemn individuals. Jesus Christ comes to save us because we are all Hell doomed sinners without the Blood of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16-18: 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.
All individuals are sinners. The payment for sin is death.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ died for your sin and resurrected for you.
II Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
I Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
If you believe in Christ alone, you receive eternal life.
John 6:47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I John 5:13: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
If you could be “saved” by being water baptized, doing good works, be a good person, or following the Ten Commandments? Why did (the God from Eternity Past, the God from Eternity Future) the Ever Presence Jesus Christ reveal Himself in the flesh and die on the Cross and resurrect the third day? No church can reconcile. No sacrament can save. No work or tradition of men can redeem. Only Jesus Christ can save a person from a Hell they deserve to a Heaven they do not deserve -all by grace!
Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If you could earn salvation by doing those things, then Jesus Christ died in vain. However, Jesus Christ did not die in vain. Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Lamb of God, and only the Lamb of God can make a perfect sacrifice for sin. There is only one way to Heaven, and it is the belief in the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Philippians 3:9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Titus 3:5: 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.
The resurrection is proof God the Father accepted Jesus Christ’s death payment for sin -death payment of past, present, and future sin: ALL SIN!
People DO NOT go to Hell because they are “bad.” People go to Hell because they believe NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People trust NOT in Jesus Christ as their Savior. People believe NOT Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins, burial, and resurrection. People do NOT trust alone in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
II Thessalonians 1:8-9: 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.
Know that God is gracious to you. He has already died for all your sins (past, present, and future), He was buried for you showing all the world He died for your sins, and He was resurrected for you, showing all the world that Jesus Christ fulfilled what the Father asked Him to do: IT IS FINISHED! Your sins are paid in full. I pray you to believe in Jesus Christ right now for salvation -believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sin, burial, and resurrection. Trust alone in Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you know someone who is “not saved,” share the Gospel message with them or forward this message to them.
The Good News Voice is affiliated with The Grace Gospel Church. If you are looking for a Bible preaching, Gospel sharing, Body loving congregation, look no further. Join us in Taconite on Sundays at 9:30 am. The Grace Gospel Church is the first building on the right when you turn into Taconite. We are live on Facebook at 10AM if you are unable to join us in person. God bless, love Lance & Karla.
Pastor Lance Edminster
The Grace Gospel Church
The Good News Voice
Email: thegoodnewsvoice@gmail.com
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Once Saved, Always Saved -“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. I and my Father are one” (John 10:28-30 KJV).
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