Most Christians are not aware of how serious it is to add to what Jesus Christ has finished! It is the difference between whether or not a person is saved. It is the difference between heaven and hell.
The salvation that God has provided through Jesus Christ is by grace. “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).” Acts 15:11 says, “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved.” Eternal life is not received by, attained by, or kept by a person’s works, conduct or behavior. We are saved by grace through faith.
Grace by definition excludes all works. “And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work (Romans 11:6).” One work added to grace would render it no more grace. If you were to add one drop of poison to a glass of pure water, it would render it no more a glass of pure water; but a glass of poisoned water. The gospel of grace becomes poisoned when just one human work is added to the plan of salvation.
Christ plus works equals no salvation! This is a Biblical formula made clear throughout the Scripture. For example: Christ plus church membership equals no salvation; Christ plus baptism equals no salvation; Christ plus the Christian life equals no salvation; and so on. The tragedy is that those who are teaching this error and those receiving this error think that they are more secure in their salvation as a result of their works. Satan has blinded their minds (II Corinthians 4:4).
“Christ is become of no effect on you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4).” The Scripture is quite plain on this subject, yet this error of ‘Christ plus’ still persists. Notice the above verse, Galatians 5:4. To whom is it speaking? We are told within the verse that it is addressed to “…whosoever of you are justified by the law (works)…” These are the ones who had fallen from grace (not the saved for that is impossible). These are the ones for whom Christ will count nothing.
Again in Galatians 5:2 we read, “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, (keeping the law for salvation: see I Corinthians 7:19), Christ shall profit you nothing.”
“Christ is become of no effect unto you (Galatians 5:4),” and “Christ shall profit you nothing (Galatians 5:2),” are contrasted with, “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of the righteousness by faith (Galatians 5:5).”
A large crowd of those who are in the ‘Christ plus’ category will stand before Jesus at the judgment day. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works (Matthew 7:22)?” Notice these are ‘Christ plus’ persons. They brag about (1) preaching, (2) healing, and (3) many wonderful works done in Jesus’ name. This is a perfect example from Scripture of Christ plus works. What were the results? How does Christ respond? Does He let them enter heaven? Let’s see!
“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:23).” Jesus said to this ‘Christ Plus’ crowd, “I never knew you.” Not, “I once knew and I lost you,” but “I never knew you.” Also Jesus called their good works iniquity. Why? It is because they were trusting in those things to save themselves from hell in addition to faith in Christ.
How sad! This crowd thought that they knew Christ, but Jesus said He never knew them, and He told them to depart from Him.
That is why this issue is so important. Christ plus equals no salvation! Jesus only saves! What can wash away my sin? Nothing, but the blood of Jesus Christ.
There are many reasons why we should reject a ‘Christ plus’ message:
1) God gives stern warnings about adding to His Word.
Proverbs 30:6 says, “Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Revelation 22:17-19 also gives a stern warning to the one who would add or subtract from the plan of salvation.
2) To pervert the gospel message is to bring a curse upon the preacher of it.
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8).”
3) Altering the message will make it a message that will not save–the cross of Christ will be made of no effect.
I Corinthians 1:17 says that we are to “…preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
4) To tamper with God’s message of salvation is to call God a liar.
I John 5:10,11 says, “…He that believeth not God hath made him a liar: because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
5) A ‘Christ plus’ message makes man’s righteousness a part of salvation.
Man’s righteousness is filthy rags according to Isaiah 64:6 and would pollute the salvation of God. Romans 10:3 says, “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted unto the righteousness of God.”
6) The ‘Christ plus’ message causes the saved to become confused.
It robs them of their assurance and brings them into bondage thinking they must do something to stay saved. This is what happened at the churches of Galatia. “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage (Galatians 2:4).”
7) The ‘Christ plus’ message causes the lost to be blinded.
Satan doesn’t want the lost to hear the true gospel message. The perverted message hides the true message. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…(II Corinthians 4:3,4).”
8) The ‘Christ plus’ message keeps the Christian from a clear witness.
“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech (II Corinthians 3:12).”
9) The ‘Christ plus’ message makes the world think that salvation is by works.
“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money (Acts 8:20).”
10) The ‘Christ plus’ message brings persecution to those who preach grace.
Paul said that if he preached ‘Christ plus’ he would not be persecuted. Galatians 5:11 says, “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision (works), why do I yet suffer persecution: then is the offence of the cross ceased.”
Be alert! Be on guard for this perversion of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The beauty of the true message is its simplicity! Let’s continue to proclaim it loud and clear!
* Written by Dr. Hank Lindstrom
The moment you put your trust in Jesus Christ, God who can read your mind knows, saves YOU and gives you the Gift of God, eternal Life.
You do not need anyone to pray over you, or pray for you, because this is between you and God in heaven. Because of your new trust in the shed blood of Jesus Christ you are now a child of God. Before you trusted in Jesus, God was your creator but now and forevermore he will be your father.
You are saved in a moment of time, because you are trusting in the true Savior now, not working your way to heaven day by day which is not even possible.
Once saved you can never be lost, for any reason. This is because you were born spiritually the moment you put your trust in Him. Just like your physical birth which brought you into this human world, your spiritual birth gave you a new spiritual life that is permanent. You were born-again, made righteous and holy in Gods eyes. In fact you have the righteousness of God himself, your are sinless and perfect in God’s eyes now and that’s why you can enter into a perfect heaven.
My favorite saying is:
God will not save anyone who is trying to be saved, He will only save those who are trusting to be saved.
You MUST put ALL your trust in Jesus to be saved, trust in the blood that He shed on the cross, trust that He is God in the flesh, trust that He made the complete payment for your sins, not just part; He paid for ALL of your sins (past, present, and future)! Trust that He rose again from the dead after 3 days and 3 nights, and in return for this trust, He gives YOU Eternal Life. All false Christians put part of their trust in Jesus and part of their trust the Church and part of their trust in themselves. If you put 99.99% trust in Jesus and 00.01% in something else, you will go to hell. It must be 100% trust in Jesus and what He did and 0% in you or your church! This information in critical… (grace always cancels works!) You are going to hell if it’s by your works or you are going to heaven by Gods grace. It’s as simple as that.
So I guess the question comes down to who are you trusting. Are you trusting yourself to get to heaven by being a good person and giving lots of money to your church or are you trusting Jesus, the lamb of God, that was slain for the sins of the world to get you to heaven? You receive the Gift of God (Eternal Life) as soon as you stop trusting in yourself, your church, your synagogue, your mosque, your money, or any other works and put your trust in Him and Him ALONE, Jesus Christ, Yeshua, The King of Kings, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the Alpha and Omega, the Mighty God.
False religions are everywhere and they will find you, the one true God and His plan of salvation must be found.
If all this makes sense to you and you would like to trust Jesus as your personal Savior right now then tell the Mighty God in Heaven of your decision to trust Jesus Christ as your only hope of heaven. Tell Him that you are no longer putting your trust in your actions, or your church, or your church membership, or in your money, or in your Rabbi, or in your synagogue or your Mosque but that you are putting all of your trust in Him and the shed blood of the cross to pay your sin debt. Thank Him for doing it for you! Thank Him for giving you the Gift of Eternal Life that He paid for with His life. There is no greater deed than that of laying down your life for another.
Will you trust Jesus as your Savior right now, the one who shed His precious blood on the cross of Calvary to pay for all your sins?
Sinners Prayer
Lord, I admit that I’m a sinner & I don’t understand a whole lot about the bible, but I do believe that Jesus Christ died & paid for my sins in full, by His death & shed blood on the cross. I trust right now the He died for me, was buried & rose again from the dead and will live forever more. I trust Jesus Christ right now to save me, to be my savior, to forgive my sins & to give me the GIFT OF GOD Eternal Life.
Amen
By reading this sinners prayer aloud, you are putting your trust in God and His plan of salvation. You are not saved by saying this prayer, you are saved the moment your mind made the switch from trusting in yourself to putting your COMPLETE TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST. That moment may have been five paragraphs up on this page or that moment may have been on another one of our pages. You will not feel any different, but you will be changed and changed for the better forever. Once you have trusted Jesus as your savior and received his gift of eternal life, this gift can NEVER be lost. You can NEVER go to hell for ANY reason. Your past, present and future sins were paid in full the moment you put your trust in Him. You are blameless and Holy in God’s eyes now and FOREVER. If you have eternal life today what kind of life will you have in five years? ETERNAL! What kind of life will you have in ten years? ETERNAL!! What kind of life will you have in 50 years? ETERNAL!!! God does not give probationary life or temporary life, His gift is ETERNAL LIFE! Thanks be to GOD!
Why be good, now that I am assured of going to heaven? Because God’s law of sowing and reaping still applies to you and me. You will reap what you sow. You will reap more than you sow and you will reap later than you sow. If you drink alcohol like a fish, you will reap a diseased liver. If you smoke like a chimney everyday, you will reap lung cancer. If you rob, murder, and steal you will reap a life in prison. You will reap what you sow. I guarantee it! Now that you are saved, when you do good things you WILL be rewarded here on earth and in Heaven. And when you do bad things you WILL lose rewards that God had planned on giving you here on earth and in Heaven. But you will NEVER lose your guarantee of going to heaven. That can never be lost for any reason!! You have God’s word that your salvation can never be lost for any reason. You did not earn salvation and you do not work to keep salvation! Eternal Life, salvation, being born again, becoming a child of God, was, is, and always will be the GIFT OF GOD.
Remember: If your not saved forever… you are not saved!
Why is this true you might ask? Because if a person is not sure that they are saved TODAY / RIGHT NOW it means that they are still trying to be the savior! They can’t be sure they are going to heaven because they don’t know what sin’s they may commit next week, next month or next year. We who have trusted in Jesus alone, can have comfort knowing that all our sins have been paid in full on the Cross of Calvary (past, present, and future sins). Jesus has already died for my sins so I don’t need to pay for any sin I have or will commit in the future because Jesus already paid the price in full with His blood. So called Christians who say that you can lose your salvation because of suicide or murder or falling away from the church don’t have a clue what the Bible says and clearly have not trusted Jesus ALONE!
Biblical Salvation is forsaking any other means of salvation but Christ and casting ourselves fully upon Him for eternal life.
The Gift of God, Eternal Life can never be lost once possessed for any reason. John 6:39 ” And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should LOSE NOTHING, but should raise it up again at the last day.” You have God’s promise that once you put your trust in Jesus you can never be lost for ANY reason whatsoever.
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” Romans 11:29 Again, God is telling you that this Gift of God that you have just received is without repentance. He can never take His gift back for any reason, no matter how bad you get, or how bad your sins are it is not possible. God would have to cease to exist for that to happen because He cannot lie.
*** If you have put your trust in Jesus today, please send us a quick email and let us know. The email’s we receive from those led to the Lord by our website is what keeps us going thru the difficult times. ***