Verify Podcast

I have heard it preached, that if a professing Christian is caught committing fornication at the exact moment Christ returns, the person would go straight to heaven, because there are no eternal consequences when a believer commits sin. This teaching has been amplified by prominent individuals across the body of Christ, and backs the lifestyles of many professing Christians, but does it have any rooting in scripture? Please stay with me, let’s find out.

Firstly, to prove that every professing believer is saved forever, no matter what they go on to do, one would have to totally ignore many bible verses that contradict this teaching. 2 Peter 2: 20-22 is one of such. It explains that if someone is overcome with the pollutions of the world after knowing Christ, their end is worse than their beginning, and it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness in the first place. Another is Matthew 24:13, where Jesus, speaking of the end times, states clearly that it is the person that endures to the end, that will be saved.

2 Peter 1:10 shows that it is possible for a professing believer to fall away. Gal 5: 19 says that anyone following the desires of their sinful nature, will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Rom 8:6-8 says that letting your sinful nature control you, leads to death, and those under the control of the sinful nature can never please God. In Rev 3:4-5, Jesus speaks to the Church in Sardis, and commends those who have not soiled their clothes with evil, stating that He will never have their names erased from the book of life.

There are scores and scores more of these scriptures, speaking of the eternal consequences of a sinful lifestyle, for one who claims to be a believer.

Unfortunately, many have downplayed the dangers of sin, in a bid to teach about God’s mercy, ignoring the fact that God is both kind and severe (Rom 11:22)

Thankfully, we have good news, because though we are in our earthly, imperfect bodies, we have God’s grace as Apostle Paul describes in Titus 2:11-14, which empowers us to turn from sin. We also have the opportunity to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness whenever we need to (1John 1:9). There is therefore, no fear of condemnation for those who belong to Christ, and who walk according to the spirit (Rom 8:1).

More and more, may we be eager to test all that we hear, and only accept what lines up with God’s word, no matter how respected, prominent or highly placed the speaker is, in Jesus name, Amen.