The Seriousness Of Salvation
By David J. Stewart
Ezekiel 18:24, “But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.”
The Lord has been laying upon my heart lately the reality of the Scriptures, the fear of God, and the seriousness of salvation. We are living in an evil generation who have NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES (Romans 3:18). They have no humility; but rather, are arrogant, high-minded, stiff-necked, of a proud heart, and have a mindset against the God of the Bible. They are the wicked.
Ezekiel 33:13 explains to us what the oft misinterpreted, controversial, passage of Scripture in Ezekiel 18:24 means...
Ezekiel 33:13, “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.”
Notice carefully the phrase, “if he trust to his own righteousness.” The Bible is warning against self-righteousness. The Word of God condemns self-righteousness. 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.” And again in the precious words of Romans 4:5 we are told, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Ezekiel 18:24 and Ezekiel 33:13 are very clear that the person who DIES IN THEIR SINS AND SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS—all of their good works done throughout their earthly life will be forgotten. That is how serious this matter of salvation is to God. He is not playing games with anybody!
If all you have is self-righteousness, then you cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven. This is exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Billions of wayward religious people in this world today are foolishly going about to establish their own SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is like building a house upon the sand, and the high-tide came in and the home was gone. Romans 10:3-4, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Amen! Christ is the end of the Law to him that believeth!!!
Romans 1:16, “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.” Salvation is a VERY serious matter to God, for without it you cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven and will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity (2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9).
Billions of people who are esteemed as “good people” by men in this world are wicked in the eyes of God. You're not good because someone calls you good. This is why the Bible warns in Proverb 16:5, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” This world is filled with all sorts of self glorifying boards of directors, achievement award ceremonies, honorary degrees, academic merry-go-round circles, and groups of men praising men; but the Bible says it matters not if the wicked all unite together against God, they will NOT BE UNPUNISHED.
It is interesting the way God says this. The Bible doesn't say that the wicked will be punished here; but rather, will not be unpunished. That's because the wicked think they are getting away with their sins right now. All of the Wall Street Banksters, Federal Reserve scammers, corporate whore CEO's, criminal politicians, dirty lawyers, crooked judges, bought off mainstream newsmedia, the fraudulent home lenders, lying evolution teachers, sleazy Hollywood whores, high-minded homosexuals, arrogant abortionists, you name it—they will NOT BE UNPUNISHED God promises!
So many people today take the Bible flippantly, and treat the fear of God frivolously, and are fools. Proverb 16:6, “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” What a precious truth! By the FEAR OF THE LORD MEN DEPART FROM EVIL. Instead of fearing God, today's youth are running around bragging about how “wicked cool” their sins are. Romans 3:18, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” People are becoming increasingly dishonest, haughty, sassy, malicious, vindictive, stubborn, and hateful because “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Ah, but God promises that though hand join in hand, the wicked will NOT BE UNPUNISHED forever. Judgment day is coming (Matthew 12:36). Life is short, and then the JUDGMENT (Hebrews 9:27).
Men can only destroy your body and happiness here on earth; but no man can take your soul nor eternal secure, peace, love, and joy in Jesus Christ. Luke 12:4-5, “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Do you FEAR GOD! If you are wallowing in sin like pigs in the mud then you do not. We are living in a spiritually rat-infested, rot-filled, puss-bucket, worm-hole, sewage stinking, morally toxic society today. It's not just America, but the whole sin-cursed world, just as 1st John 5:19 says. Woe unto the wicked saith the Lord.
Salvation is such a serious matter to God that He will literally ignore and forget every good thing you've ever done in your life if you die in your sins without Jesus Christ. That's what it's all about, i.e., having your sins forgiven, washed away forever by the sin-cleansing blood of Jesus (1st Peter 1:18-19)! Praise God!!! If you die in your sins as John 8:24 warns, then all the money you gave to charity as a tax write-off won't matter. Whatever good deeds were executed in your will after your demise won't matter. All of your self-glorifying moments, greatest life's achievements, recognitions, medals, honors, and praises received from wicked men WON'T MATTER!!!
My friend the only thing that matters to God the Father is that you acknowledge your sinnership and believe on the Son of God. John 3:15-17, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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.”
Proverb 28:14, “Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
Biblical Evidence of Eternal Punishment
"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." —2nd Thessalonians 1:8