We are not saved by works, we are saved by faith through the grace of God. However, once we are saved or born anew, works become a part of our new lives. These are works God prepared beforehand that we should do. Before Christ, we walked in sin and lawlessness; in Christ, we walk in righteousness because He is righteous, and we do righteous deeds because it is no longer we who live, but Jesus who lives in us.
The church in Ephesus had persevered and had endured for the Lord’s sake. They had tested some who called themselves apostles and found them to be false. They had endured and not grown weary. It appears they were very diligent in their pursuit of spiritual things, and that in their pursuit they had left their first love, that is, Jesus. They had strayed from Jesus while doing what they thought was right. They were most likely using His name and not abiding in Him. They had left their first love.
They were like many today who have turned the word of God into a do-it-yourself book. They depend on their knowledge of the word of God to do what they want when they want. Rather than loving Jesus and abiding in Him, they turn from Him and use His name to prove themselves to be spiritual.
In other words, instead of learning obedience from the things that they suffer, they take it upon themselves to make the promises come true. They teach and preach authority and power. They lie to themselves and others daily. They see themselves as having all authority and submit to no one. They are lawless.
Jesus gave the Ephesians a chance to submit once again to Him and I am confident He is giving people who have left their first love today a chance to repent also. But He will not tarry forever; today is the day of salvation.
One more thing — Jesus is not someone we can use for our own desires; He is not a magic wand to be swung around as these people appear to believe. I have been blessed to have seen Him several times and I tell you now He is the epiphany of humility, the heart-beat of love, and the fulness of the Deity. He deserves to be treated with reverent respect and His name should not be used in anything other than the will of God. He is the veil in the Temple that was torn in two when He died on the cross, giving us access to the Father.
Hebrews 10:19-20,
‘Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh…’
So it is through faith in His name that we have access to the Father. Considering what He has done for us and all mankind, I believe He deserves our respect. I also believe those who will say to Him, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” are hypocrites who claim to be of Him, ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing, using His name to feel important and powerful, or to make money. They are accountable to no one; they are lawless. Thus, ‘And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS,”’ Matthew 7:15-23.
I realize what I am saying is pretty harsh, but I don’t think we have a clue as to how widespread this is. It’s not only on TV; it’s in pulpits across the world.
Take care of what you believe and be aware that sound doctrine and common sense are akin in the spiritual realm. I’m referring to common sense in the mind of Christ, which we have. As an example, consider claiming a promise of God. The word of God says that all promises of God are yes in Jesus, 2 Corinthians 1:20. Jesus said if we abide in Him and His words abide in us, we will receive whatever we ask, John 15:7. So if we will receive whatever we ask and if the answer is always yes in Jesus, it doesn’t make sense to claim a promise.
God is the giver of good gifts. Who in their right mind would lay claim to a gift from God? Jesus sets people free from the Law and places them into the perfect law, the law of liberty as James 1:25 says, ‘But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.’ So why would we who have been set free from the legality of the Law use a legalistic term to demand God give us what He promised?
The word ‘claim’ is a legal term. It means to demand, ask for, or take as one’s own or one’s due, to ask for, especially as a right, to take as the rightful owner, to assert to be rightfully one’s own, a demand for something due or believed to be due, a right to something, etc.
Having been set free from legalistic constraints, some are now using legalistic tactics to get what they want. How does their conscience let them get away with this? It appears they have no conscience, or if they do, they pay no attention to it. We must beware of who we listen to and test the spirits at all times.
In addition to the legal touters, others have been misguided by their inability or their lack of desire to trust God and pretend to have the authority God gave Jesus. Yes, pretend; in the beginning, they know they might be lying to themselves and others. However, they are so desperate they ignore their conscience and refuse to submit to sound doctrine. The longer they continue ignoring their conscience, the sooner it will be degraded to the point they will actually believe their own lies.
Matthew 24:11-13,
11 “And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.
12 “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
13 “But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.”
Again, we must beware of who we listen to and test the spirits at all times.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
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