The Christian 'religion' teaches such doctrine very well.
My only issue is that the canon of Scripture does not teach it that way.
So many are stuck on their initial deliverance from bondage to sin; and they are still wandering in the wilderness thinking they have already obtained the promises of God. That I find heartbreaking.
Tell me, sir... why didn't the Apostle Paul rest comfortably in his "salvation"? If he taught anything close to an easy salvation in which filthy vile sinners are justified and on their way to heaven because they simply recited a prayer... why did he know that he had to do so much more?
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you."
- Phil 3:12-15
Are you, or any of us, truly pressing in as the Apostle, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Phil 3:10-11).
I bring up this passage often with those who believe in the false doctrines of 'OSAS' or 'Faith alone' or the rapture fable. All these non-Biblical teachings serve only one purpose... to keep those God has called from repenting that He may "choose" them. And behind such false, "ear-tickling" preachment's are those "principalities and dark rulers in the heavenlies" that hate the Lord of Glory.
Sorry man, but this is what the Bible says. Very clearly. And so that is what I teach. Again, most will not receive it, just as most did not receive the Apostles who taught the very same thing. But God will always have His remnant. And these saints who overcome will be those who receive the promise -
"He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son." - Rev 21:7
Let us see what Paul is saying in Philippians 3:8-21
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him,
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own,
because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Notice that in this passage, Paul is going out of his way to show you that he, Paul, cannot secure his own salvation by his own works. No.
Paul continually shows us that God will secure Paul's salvation and has already secured Paul's salvation.
Paul also states that some, who tried to save themselves have fallen away, much to Paul's sadness. These people had YOUR theology that they were responsible to save themselves. They failed and thus left the fellowship. They were never really adopted children of the King of Kings. Never chosen. Never in fellowship with God...even though they had fellowship with other Christians in the church. Unlike Paul, they did not have the faith, which God gifts to His children.
Notice what Paul tells us:
"not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,"
That alone destroys your teaching.
"because Christ Jesus has made me his own."
Notice what God does. When God makes us His own, can we somehow thwart His will? No, we cannot.
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Here is the promise of God to the elect. Notice what God will do for us. It is this promise that we hold onto.
Yet, you deny that promise through your man-centered, self-righteous means of attaining salvation. Michael, your teaching is anathema to God and His holy word. How I wish those whom you teach would see the peril they are under if they follow your graceless teaching. May your teaching be anathema by God's direct ordination so that no other person's walk your path of self-righteousness.
