Saved or Unsaved – Can Works and Ministry Save anyone?
The Great Denial of “Christians”? Hope?
Sadhu Sundar Singh told this regarding “great many Christians” who have “good works” but ‘are still lost’ linking it to the meaning of the Parable of the Wise Virgins (Matthew 25:1 – 13) as shown in images.
Regarding Sundar Singh’s quote of this Parable with regards to ‘Christians with good works’ but are ‘still lost’, I see a Strange similarity to Christ’s Own Words as follows:
(i) Parable of the Wise Virgins (Matthew 25:1 – 13)
Christ Mentions this during their Rejection (when He Comes to Gather His Elect, His Bride):
“Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.” (Matthew 25:11 – 12, NASB)
(ii) Entering His Kingdom when He Returns
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” (Matthew 7:21 – 23, NASB)
(iii) Similarity
Christ says “I do not know you” (Matthew 25:12) and “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23) linking these passages together toward those “virgins or those who did ministries of casting out demons, prophesying etc. in His Name” (so, Christians, right?) but WHY?
We find a reason in Matthew 7 where He quotes “Lawlessness”.
So, the ‘fruits of ministry’ (Matthew 7:15 – 20) which comes with LAWLESSNESS (Matthew 7:21 – 23) may not be acceptable to Him.
Please note that obeying His Law to avoid Lawlessness is mentioned next (in these Consecutive Verses, thus establishing context) in Matthew 7:24 – 27 where only the House Built on the Rock according to “everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them” (Matthew 7:24, NASB) will survive.
Sundar Singh’s use of the quantifier “great many” (of Christians) being “lost” despite “good works” is strikingly similar to Christ’s Great Denial of the “many” despite their ministry too for the reason of “Lawlessness”.
Hence, I would exhort any Christian to stick to the Commands of the Blessed Savior as it is given through His APOSTLES in NEW TESTAMENT VERSES (1 Corinthians 14:37, 2 Peter 3:2, Acts 1:2) to be on the safest route.
The “denial” of “many” on that Day (Matthew 7:22) proves that following the ‘majority of Christians’ (the “many”) —–> especially when they teach and do things AGAINST what is WRITTEN in New Testament VERSES claiming the ‘Verses are obsolete’ or viewing such ‘verses (to which ‘their flesh doesn’t agree with’ with contempt) whilst glorifying their works of ministry done whilst practising AGAINST it’ —-> may not be a ‘wise move’—> Further, isn’t it Disrespectful to His Holy Word to claim as such?
Perhaps this Great Denial (1 Corinthians 14:38) is in accordance to what apostle Paul Prophesied toward ‘Christians who refused his Written New Testament Commands from the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 14:37) as the Context of Consecutive Verses clearly seems to point to this WARNING:
“If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am WRITING to you is the Lord’s command. But if anyone IGNORES THIS, they will themselves be IGNORED.” – apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:37 – 38, NIV)
Why take the risk otherwise following the “many” (Christians)?
I repeat, [with a little emphasis for clarity, where His New Testament LAW vs LAWLESSNESS links these Verses together]:
“If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am WRITING to you is the LORD’S COMMAND [not Paul’s opinions or culture]. But if anyone IGNORES THIS [Written New Testament Commands], they will themselves be IGNORED [Denied].” – apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:37 – 38, NIV)
Isn’t that Scary and should be a wake-up call for us Christians to return to the New Testament Commands as it is Written?
Well, can one go to an eternal Hell for preaching and obeying these New Testament Commands?
Can the Devil teach obedience to God’s Law or does he teach CHANGES to His LAW (according to the Covenant, e. g. the New Testament Covenant’s Commands) as it is Warned also in Verse below agreeing to all these:
“he will speak out AGAINST the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will INTEND to make ALTERATIONS in times and in LAW; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.” (Daniel 7:25, NASB)
Even if some Christians are saved despite these disobedience, don’t you think the quality of our work decreases according to our errors and false teachings which we taught and practiced due to disobeying other WRITTEN Commands in the New Testament (Romans 3:3 – 4)?
So, why not make it ‘right’ in the ‘obvious’ aspects to earn a ‘prize’ which is promised to those who do His Work (Ministry) in ‘accordance to His Rules (which is obviously New Testament Verses or Commands)’ As it is Written in Verse below:
“Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.” – apostle Paul (2 Timothy 2:5, NASB)
Our Christian duty includes warning others of possible doctrinal error too but whether others listen or ignore us, we don’t judge them further beyond letting them know only (1 Corinthians 5:12). Let God have Mercy on whomever He Wills (Romans 9:15 – 16).
For example, Sundar Singh didn’t belong to any denomination and stood alone in his faith for Christ and we Christians can be likewise too.
Well, even DGS Dhinakaran wrote that he saw Sundar Singh in heaven making Sundar Singh an even more credible witness toward a ‘more accurate’ Truth of the Gospel ‘as it is Written’ in New Testament Verses.
P/S: Hope?
I sincerely hope that the Denial of the Lord (in Matthew 25:1 – 13, Matthew 7:21 – 23) is only toward them being not part of the First Resurrection.
I mean, I pray that it’s NOT an eternal denial of any such sincere Christian in “good works” (but who did ministry in Lawlessness against New Testament Verses, Commands) in hope that they may be part of the Second Resurrection of the Righteous at the End of this Last Day after the thousand years are up (Revelation 20:5 – 6) together with ‘others who did good works too’ (John 6:40, John 5:28 – 29, Daniel 12:2, John 10:16, Matthew 25:31 – 40, Revelation 20:11 – 15).
‘We need to change ourselves to obey His Word and not try to change His Word so that we can obey some Verses whilst ignoring other Verses’ – Unknown
God is not cruel toward those who refuse His WORD. In fact, by letting one to be Judged based on ‘Good Works’ (John 5:28 – 29), isn’t God giving them ‘where they put their faith in, namely in their good works?’
Conclusion
In other words, anyone who rejects His Word will be allowed a Judgment based on ‘good works’ (John 5:28 – 29) which is described in Romans 2:14 – 16 as this is ‘what they wanted too’ (namely for them to ‘show how good they are by their works’ even when they are against His Written Word). In Principle, such a Judgment agrees to the Verse below:
“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:2, NASB)
As for me, I rather believe in God Who Justifies the Ungodly as Scripture Reveals in the Totality of His Will (Romans 4:5) and believe that my Salvation is without any of my ‘good works’ (Titus 3:5, Romans 3:21) where if any good works is done according to the measure of faith Graciously given to me (James 2:26, Romans 12:3) may God have Mercy to change it to rewards as He Wills (Revelation 22:12) where I hope it is NOT done against any New Testament Verses but only according to the Commands as the Blessed Lord delivered to His Apostles as it is Written (2 Peter 3:2, 1 Corinthians 14:37, Acts 1:2).
Regarding aspects not Written in New Testament Verses (e.g. Cigarettes etc.). let each Christian decide for themselves. My point is that we should focus on NOT contradicting what is Written in New Testament Verses. No point in arguing regarding Topics which are NOT Written in New Testament Verses.
Yes, the New Testament Verses is the authority which describes how the Old Testament Verses applies to a Gentile Believer (Acts 15, Acts 21:24 – 25).
For example, a Gentile believer may eat pork as Christ cleansed all food (Mark 7:19, Acts 10:15, Acts 11:9, Colossians 2:16) and likewise CANNOT be Judged for ‘keeping or not keeping the Sabbath’ (Colossians 2:16) which is ‘based on personal choice as both the Sabbath keeper and non-Sabbath keeper is doing it for the LORD by keeping a day more sacred or viewing all days alike’ (Romans 14:5).
A Warning: NOT everything is allowed ‘either way’ but only the things mentioned in Romans 14 and Colossians 2:16.
In fact,when another New Testament Verse exists which Commands it to be gender specific or Jew vs Gentile specific, it is to be obeyed for in such cases, the ‘either way’ option is clearly NOT given in those Verses.
The Jew vs Gentile or Male vs Female distinction disappears in the afterlife (Galatians 3:28) with regards to being sons of God together (Galatians 3:26) and this is WRONGLY quoted OUT OF CONTEXT in many modern churches to IGNORE the Gender Sensitive (e.g. 1 Corinthians 11:4 – 7, 1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Corinthians 14:33) or Jew vs Gentile Sensitive Commands (e.g. Acts 21:24 – 25) which are to be OBEYED whilst on EARTH.
For example, regarding Speaking in Tongues, 1 Corinthians 14:27 – 28 mentions clearly that at most two or three (in turn) can speak in tongues in a Church gathering and MUST have an Interpreter. Quoting the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1 – 4) occurrence in that more than three of them spoke in tongues together does NOT hold since the ORDER of the CHURCH was only established LATER in 1 Corinthians 14:27 – 28 and thus it is IN FORCE even NOW (1 Corinthians 14:37, 2 Peter 3:2, Acts 1:2).
Similarly, quoting that Priscilla (a female) explained the ‘way of God to a man (Apollos)’ in Acts 18:26 does NOT nullify 1 Timothy 2:12 in that a Woman has NO authority NOR can teach a man or that the bishop and deacon positions are only for man (gender specific, 1 Timothy 3:12, 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6) is clearly IN FORCE from the time the latter Verses were Written through His APOSTLES (1 Corinthians 14:37, 2 Peter 3:2, Acts 1:2).
In other words, the Verses were Written later which clearly proves that God does NOT Will such disorder for His Church thereafter (1 Corinthians 14:33) and NEITHER does He allow ANY OTHER ALTERNATE PRACTICE against ‘what is Written’ (1 Corinthians 11:16) and our duty thus is to obey these New Testament Verses as it is Written, SPEAKING the SAME things as apostle Paul (as it is COMMANDED in 1 Corinthians 1:10 as well, 1 Corinthians 11:1 – 2 too).
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all SPEAK the SAME thing, and that there be NO DIVISIONS among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the SAME mind and in the SAME judgment.” – apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 1:10, KJV)
For the churches which did not have apostle Paul’s letter, may they be Judged accordingly (Romans 2:14 – 16) but today, all churches HAVE HIS LETTERS in their BIBLES and are thus OBLIGATED to OBEY with no ‘man-made excuses’. If these Commands are not important, our Blessed Saviour would not have requested apostle Paul to Focus on all these too.
Perhaps in analogy to Esau, “who sold his own birthright for a single meal” (Hebrews 12:16), we as men (gender – a birthright, or as a Jew or Gentile respectively – another birthright too) MUST NOT let go of God’s Commands of Leadership with regards to it. If we ‘let go of it carelessly’ (just like Esau did), in analogy (e.g. letting a female to rule over a church as a bishop OR in letting a wife rule over a husband), perhaps we ‘may not be worthy’ of the ‘leadership’ given as a ‘man’ as the analogy of the ‘birthright’ implies.
As for me, I do NOT allow any female ‘pastors’ or so called prophets (who don’t even wear a veil of covering over their heads as it is instructed clearly in 1 Corinthians 11:4 – 7) to have ANY AUTHORITY over me. Indeed, the Verse below proves that NONE of these ‘female leaders’ have ‘any authority’ over me (I claim the Scripture below in Lord Jesus’ Name instead of ‘insulting His Holy Word’ to ‘please these females to have a good regard in their eyes which I count as worthless’):
“But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” – apostle Paul (1 Timothy 2:12, NASB)
Please note that even in His Judgment apostle Paul’s letters and His Details for the Gospel will be used where one will be only approved or disapproved according to the contents in his letters (the phrase “my Gospel”, in Romans 2:16 means this). Let’s not be ASHAMED of ‘His Gospel’:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” – apostle Paul (Romans 1:16, NASB)
