Making Your Election Sure

Who do you think will enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Will it be the faithful, who honored the Lord God and His Word in all they do, say and think? Those who are obedient, even to the point of death?

Those who did not deny the Lord Jesus Christ? Who stayed the course mapped out for us in His Living and sharp Word and who continually abide in Christ to the very end?

Or will it be those who treated the Lord with contempt, who lived for self and are rebellious against His will, plan, purpose and call to the end? Who dishonored the Word of God and perverted grace, by living contrary to it? Will it be those who live like the devil? The obvious answer is, “God forbid!”

Abiding in Jesus Christ is another key in keeping Salvation! We must “abide” or in other translations “remain” in Jesus Christ our Lord. Commit and be committed to Jesus Christ from the heart. And if we don’t, than He will cut us off and be thrown into the fires of Hell (John 15:1-6).

Like wise, the Holy Spirit reminds us through the Apostle Paul in the same thing in:

Romans 11:17-22 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you (Christians), though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches.

If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root (Judeo-Christianity through Jesus Christ,) supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

Here is the warning of judgment to all Christians

For if God did not spare the natural branches (referring to the Jews of the Old Testament), He will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

That’s the important key, “continue,” through obedience, through faith. Continuing in the relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ. Continuing in the faith, in Jesus Christ is the key phrase for keeping Salvation. To continually abide or remain in Him.

Continually to be committed to Him, for salvation in essence, is a marriage covenant between Humanity and God; The Father, His only begotten Son; Lord Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit. As the Word of God describes us, His church of those who are saved as His bride in:

Ephesians 5:22-33 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

This is truly an illustration of our marriage covenant to Jesus Christ, and He to us. I love How John Hagee puts it, “If you feel like you are dying to self in your marriage, then you get the point.”

The Word of God expounds on this, especially in a marriage covenant. What He expects of us, between a husband and wife in every marriage, and He with us.

In God, there is no difference. What He expects marriage, between a husband and wife, is the same He expects between us and Him. That’s why God deals strictly with idolatry, which is “spiritual adultery.”

He does not want to be shared with idols of any sort. He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:2-6). Just like you or I would not want to share a wife to another man, or a woman to share her husband to another woman.

Same example with God and us. This marriage covenant with the Lord God through His Son, Jesus Christ, calls for unwavering faith, intentional living and commitment. We are His bride and we are to be pure and holy in His sight, Amen.

One Scripture comes to mind, that if we want to follow the Lord Jesus, we must commit to Him and deny ourselves. To be crucified with Him,

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

And Mark 8:34-38 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

What does it mean to deny yourself, take up the cross and follow Jesus Christ? In order to follow Jesus Christ you must be crucified with Christ and raised into a new life (Romans 6:1-4)

That’s what the cross is all about, to mortify the deeds of the sinful flesh (Colossians 3:1-10) in order to go forward in Jesus Christ as His ambassador’s.

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

This is a fact and concurs with what He teaches next in verse 38. Anyone who is about to face death because you are a Christian, remember this: if you deny Jesus Christ you will die and Jesus Christ will deny you before His Father in Heaven (Matthew 10:32-33).

Which means you can lose your Salvation this way. If you choose to die for the cause of Christ, you will die because of Jesus Christ, yet, you shall receive eternal life. This is what He meant here.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed, of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

Continually abide, continually keeping the faith in Jesus Christ, and crucifying the flesh daily ensures the assurance of salvation. Any preacher who says and teaches: “you cannot fall from grace no matter what,” is a liar and the truth is not in them!

And I will also say this boldly, the backslider can backslide into Hell if they persist in that state of denial of Christ, and continually living in sins according to the Holy Bible. You can fall from grace! Lets take a parables Jesus Christ Himself taught for starters:

Matthew 25:14-23 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.

So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Just as a side note: Outer darkness is on the outside of Heaven since God dwells in Heaven and God is light,

Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city (the new Jerusalem).

But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Jesus is not teaching here that salvation belongs to those who accumulates worldly wealth. The “Talents” are just a figure of speech, a metaphor for ability God gives, to bring souls to Christ. The focal point here is the laziness of the servant.

That servant did nothing for the kingdom of God, nor for God Himself. Which shows us that the lazy servant had no faith and a backslider of sorts. He has fallen from grace, therefore his judgment in the end was eternal damnation because He continued in His backslidden condition until the Lord returned.

Or how about this example that you can fall from grace, Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place—unless you repent.

Jesus Christ here, is warning about the judgment to come on the loveless church that has fallen from grace, if they do not repent. This is the church who walked away from the relationship of God. Even though they were doing the works of God, they neglected the importance of relationship to God, with God and in God.

There works has become their idol. Their works became more important than God Himself. Which brings us to this next point about the importance of having a real close relationship with God, through His Son, Lord Jesus Christ

Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Which is telling us many things in this one little passage of Scripture:

# 1). Just because you call Him Lord doesn’t mean you placed Him Lord of your life. For to place God as Lord of your life, is to do the will of the Father as mentions Verse 21, As it is written:

Matthew 15:7-9 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.“

# 2). A backslider will still have the ability to do the work of God and still get powerful results, Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. What does this mean? God will not take back any spiritual gift or call of His ministry.

And just because you are doing the work of God doesn’t mean you are saved, as this Scripture here is also reflecting, as also illustrated in (Revelation 2:4-5).

Even though works result from faith, you could therefore be in danger of legalism. Putting your faith in works to earn your way to heaven, instead of knowing Jesus Christ in fellowship and in communion. You must abide in Jesus Christ, having the balance of faith resulting in works. Not just having one or the other.

He said: ‘I never knew you.’ If you have a relationship with someone, as an example, you begin to know that person, and that person gets to know you, progressively, right? This includes continually have a nurturing close bond. Doing things together, talking to one another through out an active friendship.

That’s the same thing with our relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord, there is no difference. Without a relationship with the Lord, you will not make Heaven, and you absolutely have nothing.

# 3). A believer of Jesus Christ can also shipwreck their own faith.

1 Timothy 1:18-19 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,”

Which is a Christian who continues to make poor decisions, reject truth and Biblical convictions, and continually sin. That’s one of the works sin does, the destroys faith.

What is shipwreck? When a ship is shipwrecked, it is rendered inoperable, powerless, destroyed and unrepairable. And without faith, you truly have no salvation. For you must have faith in Jesus Christ in order to enter the kingdom of God. And that’s usually what the devil attacks first, your faith.

The Narrow Road

And lastly, in order to keep salvation, you not only need persistent and continual faith in Jesus Christ, and a continual relationship with Him. But you also need to stay on that path of righteousness at all cost. For the way to eternal life, (salvation) is on the narrow road through the strait gate

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Notice He mentions the word, “gate.” For a very good reason. He deliberately said this on purpose referring to

John 10:1-11 I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the Gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the Gate is the Shepherd of His sheep.

The watchman opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.

But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.

Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what He was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the Gate for the sheep. All who ever came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

I am the Gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture (rest). The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

No one can be reconciled to the Father without Jesus Christ. The broad road that leads to destruction are the worlds ways of conduct which is sin, unrighteous, and unholy acts of rebellion against God in every way obviously.

There’s no new trail you can carve on your own to get to Heaven. For there is only one way, one narrow road which leads through the strait gate to Heaven, and that is only through Jesus Christ and by His conditions. Staying the coarse of godliness, holiness and of righteousness to the end.

Obeying Him and His commands. Abide in His Word, Abide in Him continuously keeps you on that narrow way. What’s so hard about that! Make your election sure, by not only hearing the word of God, but also doing what the Lord commands. Make your election sure!

2 Peter 2:3-11 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.

For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The only salvation that is eternally secure, is salvation followed by repentance from sinning according to the standards of the Holy Bible and abiding in Jesus Christ continually to the end.

We have a desire from our new regenerated nature, who are born again, to strive for perfection through the cleansing of His Word, through the process of sanctification.

As long as we submit ourselves unto God Almighty the Father, through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, in this life long process of sanctification, and not fall away from the faith, lose heart, nor compromise. Then we, the true bride of Jesus Christ cannot lose.