A. Saving your soul

1. Before creation

2. After creation Genesis 1:1

3. Body, soul, and spirit

4. Second life for men either heaven or hell

5. 7,000 years of earth history.  We are almost through 6,000 years and looking forward 1,000 year Christ kingdom.

6. We are going to have so called rapture when Christ will return to earth after the 7-year period will be ended or right after 3 and half tribulation period.  Then the 1,000 year Christ kingdom will begin

7. Afterwards the white throne of judgment of Christ will start.  People or the souls who died without salvation will be taken out of the hell and stand before this judgment seat to determine their final destiny either lake of fire or heaven eternally.

If one dies after being saved, he will go through rapture and meet Christ in the air.  Then he will come back to earth and live happy life in the 1,000-year Christ kingdom on earth.  If one died without salvation as a sinner still, he will be sent to hell and suffer there for 1,000 or more years before he will stand before the white throne of judgment seat of Jesus Christ to determine their final destiny either lake of fire or heaven eternally.

Now here is the sum so far, are you or is your own soul going to heaven or hell (and lake of fire) eternally after death?  You must save your own soul right now to avoid either hell or lake of fire which is real based on the Bible.  You must accept or believe Bible as GOD’S Word and true; otherwise, all we have discussed so far has no meaning at all.

1. What is evangelism about?

The word  evangelism has an idea of spreading gospel (good news of Jesus Christ) on earth and the word evangelical denotes character of a  Christian  who believes in the infallibility and ultimate authority of the Bible as GOD'S Word and salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone without any personal endeavour (Eph 2:8), that is, sinful people do not earn it by works but simply receive it as a free gift by faith from GOD.  In other words salvation is a free gift 100% to anyone who confesses his sins and is willing to receive it with thankful heart.

Evangelism is a mandate from our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ (Mat 28:18-20) in order that all born again (saved) people are supposed to spread gospel as much and often as they can.

2. How and who is doing evangelism?

Supposedly Catholic and Protestant church people in general are involved with it.   Catholic church was found  and organized very well many centuries before Protestant church was separated from it and was emerged as a different sect so to speak.  

The word proselytization is more appropriate for cults like Catholic church, Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, Muslim, Buddhism and etc.  If you spread wrong doctrine, belief, or principle and try to win people, you try to proselytize them.  The phrase 'evangelizing the world' should apply to evangelical people who spread gospel which is genuine and Biblical 100%. 

Sadly enough Protestant church is far, far behind various cults mentioned above in terms of winning lost people.  Catholic church proselytized or conquered so to speak several or many countries like Philippine, parts of Europe, south America, Mexico, and etc.  We are talking about 80% or more people in a given country becoming Catholic.  Catholic church is spread worldwide and we evangelicals should commend it for their well established organization and success to proselytize the world since many hundred or a few thousand years ago. 

At the same time we evangelicals should feel shame ourselves and sorry to Jesus Christ greatly for not carrying out HIS commandments to spread gospel effectively.  Did we evangelize even one nation like Catholics had done?  Also we are very disorganized and disunited.  Do we have a trusted leader like pope for Catholics or any leader for other cults?  

How come evangelicals are so quiet about abortion, LGBTQ, or climate change propaganda (Gen 8:22; Isa 24:1; Neh 9:6; Ecc 1:4; Psa 104:30)?  Is there an evangelical leader on earth to condemn them in public?    These three represent sin, abomination, and nonsense respectively and the degree of offence to GOD in descending order.  Abortion is the most offending sin to HIM because HE expected both beast and men to be fruitful and to multiply (Gen 1:22, 28), and children were said to be HIS heritage and reward (Psa 127:3).  

Then shall we kill unborn babies when man's law protects animals from cruelty, not to mention killing them?   The letter 'Q' in LGBTQ stands for questionable.  Did Sodom and Gomorrah manipulate a man's or a woman's identity like we are doing nowadays?  This is total nonsense and very offending right to the GOD'S face, that is, men are so perverted and ignorant of almighty GOD who created heaven and earth that they do not have any conscience of guilt whatsoever and they think they can do whatever and however they want to fall into sin.  

Would holy GOD overlook it without punishing men for it?  Why can not men recognize HIS supernatural power?  Yes, unbelievers do not know HIM and can not fear HIM so that they are drawn into this climate change nonsense (Gen 8:22; Isa 24:1; Neh 9:6; Ecc 1:4; Psa 104:30).  Read Psa 104; Job 37 and 38.  Where are the evangelicals who know HIM and Bible?  Can't they see that men can not change it?  Can we have summer weather during winter season or vice versa?    GOD said, "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Gen 8:22).  Again where are evangelicals to rebuke sinful people in public nowadays?  It is one thing that their public condemnation may not change them, and yet evangelicals not speaking out against them is worse.  Remember we evangelicals are watchmen appointed and expected by GOD to warn sinners.

Or are we afraid of Satanic retaliation from Satanic infidels if we speak out?  Do we have a substitute for Billy Graham in America?   Wake up evangelical community on earth?    

GOD appointed Ezekiel to be a watchman for sinful and rebellious people of Judah.  HE told him that their blood should be on him if he failed to warn them (Eze 3:16-18).  Right now we should be unified and appoint a good and qualified leader who can warn sinful people on earth in public just like Catholic church and other cults have their own leader.  It appears that when pope speaks out in public, people and news media pay attention to him. 

Where is next Billy Graham right now?  Where are the crusade, revival meetings nowadays, which he was used to until he was very senile and died some years ago?  Oh our heavenly Father and our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ, I think I am ready for whatever appointment or assignment thou givest me, and I will do it certainly.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.   Amen 

3. Effective evangelism

We need to convince a lost person that he is a sinner by birth since men inherited Adam's sin in the garden of Eden (Rom 5:14, 15) and explain to him where and how men started living on earth, that is, tell him about creation (very important), and there will be another life after death either into heaven (paradise) or hell (lake of fire, Rev 20:14, 15) eternally.   Quote or tell him about , For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  (Mat 16:26).

Convincing his sin nature now and what is coming after the first death is very, very critical before one can introduce to a sinner about salvation plan by the blood of Christ.  In other words, just telling a lost person to receive Christ as his personal saviour is not effective way of evangelizing him.   The key word is motivation or logic.  When a sinner is not aware of GOD or eternal life after death and does not realize immediate need to save his soul, he would not understand or get motivated to receive invisible or unheard of Christ into his heart, which is very abstract and does not have immediate benefit by doing so.

Therefore a sinner must admit his sinful nature by birth and believe in another life after death.  He must believe in creation, Bible is holy word of GOD from heaven, and most importantly he must get ride of his pride which separates men and GOD basically.   See item number 7 under the Theology menu.  Now if one tries to evangelize a lost sinner by going into salvation plan through believing in Christ prematurely without telling them first, then he would not see good results.  

4. Ecumenical movement nonsense

It is one thing to unite different Protestant church denominations so called evangelical community to condemn sinful and abominable deeds contrary to Holy Bible in one public voice but it is quite another thing for evangelicals to unite with different cults like one world religion or one world government.

There are different types of Protestant churches such as Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal, Calvary Church, and etc  which fall under the definition of evangelicals.  They have minor differences or preferences of worship style but all of them are true Bible believing, GOD loving, and born again believers (Joh 3:3) by Biblical standard more or less in order that they can be called or considered as brothers and sisters one another in Christ.  Then they can be united for common cause which is to spread gospel, to warn sinful people for sinful deeds, and others.

However evangelicals can and should not even think about uniting with cults such as RCC, JW, LDS, Muslim, and many other types of cults which are not evangelicals under this ecumenical movement nonsense.  Why?  They are not saved or born again, hence they are not part of GOD'S family.  They are very different from us in belief and value fundamentally (2Co 6:15).  Basically irreligious people are the same as cults or infidels.  All of them are bound to eternal hell after death.

5. Be aware of Satanic forces to hinder evangelism

I mentioned that Satan and evil spirits who are his followers were in constant spiritual battle or warfare against born again believers in the article #2 under Holy Spirit menu.  Hebrew chapter 12 and verse 2 reminds of it, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.   Here apostle Paul was saying that Jesus Christ went to the cross to be crucified gladly knowing the reward (joy) which shall follow afterwards, that is, to sit at the right hand of HIS Father Jehovah in heaven.

There are just two opposing forces or influences on earth, carnal and spiritual.  The former is earthly, Satanic, temporal, visible, and etc whereas the latter is heavenly, spiritual, eternal, invisible, and etc.  See article #1 under Holy Spirit menu.  Carnal minded people with devil spirt can not discern spiritual matters (1Cor 2:11).  They can not understand Bible, enjoy spiritual music, or love neighbors, that is, they are very far from any spiritually related matters on earth.  They are very selfish and limited to visible, temporal things in their understanding or mind set.  In other words they can not foresee eternal, invisible things or events after death.  They are completely unaware of invisible Satanic forces influencing men negatively all the time on earth.

However we born again believers with Holy Spirit should be able to separate between carnal and spiritual things or people when we deal with many spiritually lost sinners.  So we deal with either carnal or spiritual people accordingly.  Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

As there are many degrees of spiritual maturity among born again believers (article #7 under Home menu), there are among lost sinners likewise in terms of how receptive they will be to gospel messages or spiritual matters as Christ illustrated in the parable of sower in Matthew chapter 13.  The more a man is filled with devil spirits, the more evil he can be, and the more difficult and challenging for us to evangelize him.  The bottom line is that we born again believers become aware of Satanic force to hinder our evangelism effort, and more importantly to be aware of two opposing forces on earth, carnal and spiritual. 

6. 2Thessalonians Chapter two

I copied and pasted my exegesis on 2Th chapter two in the NT.  It is a very fascinating eschatology chapter which  every born again believer must know about clearly and correctly.   It becomes more and more relevant as we approach end time no matter how any believer looks at the events happening throughout the world these times.

The way how I wrote it is that a verse number is followed by word, phrase, or clause in that verse and then colon.  Then I explained each of them for the reader to understand them easily.

Chapter II: Paul is exhorting Thessalonian church people to know about the timing of Jesus’ second coming and rapture correctly, that is, they do not keep wondering if they are very near to happen and consequently neglect their daily routine businesses.  

This confusion among Thessalonian church people about the subject must have come around because of few people who started spreading out erroneous information about it.  More importantly he said, “cometh as a thief” in 1Th 5:2.

There shall be many rumors (Mat 24:6) in diverse places at diverse times as the end time approaches on earth.   Therefore it is utmost important for every Christian to hold on to the Bible for truth, and to discern between what is erroneous rumor and what is not regarding end time prophecy.  Knowing or having the real truth or information to ignore false ones is very important.  If we know the truth and hold on to it, then we shall be free indeed (Joh 8:32).

1. by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: that is, in regard to Christ second coming.  This was referred to as ‘the day of Christ’ in the next verse.

by our gathering together unto him: referring to rapture (1Th 4:13-18).  See Joh 12:32; Mat 24:31.  This verse clearly shows that HIS second coming right after the 3 and half years of tribulation period and rapture are concurrent or one following right after the other event.   See also 1Cor 15:20-24 and especially pay attention to the phrase ‘afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming’ in verse 23.

2. shaken in mind: So Thessalonian church people were shaken in mind that rapture would happen soon. Apostle Paul alluded to rapture in the last verse.  

Their mind was focused on rapture in which they will meet Christ in the air (1Th 4:17) more than Christ’s second coming itself.  In fact they are concurrent events, one following after another immediately.  

Many people fail to understand this verse in connection with rapture; they just assume that it was all about Jesus second coming alone when in fact Paul was talking about the timing of rapture in connection with HIS second coming.

the day of Christ: This exact phrase appears two more times elsewhere in the Bible (Php 1:10, 2:16).  All these three verses refer to HIS second coming exactly.  Another phrase ‘the day of the Lord’ (1Th 5:2; 1Cor 5:5; 2Cor 1:14; 2Pe 3:10) also means HIS second coming.  Notice the word 'Lord' in the phrase signifying Christ as opposed to 'LORD' which points to Jehovah.  The phrase ‘the day of the LORD’ with all capital letters 'LORD' specifically refers to the 3 and half years of tribulation period and appears numerous times in the OT only (Isa 13:6, 9; Jer 46:10; Eze 30:3; Joe 1:15; Zep 1:7; and etc).  See Dan 9:27; Rev 13:5; Mat 24:15, 21, 24 in regard to false christ (son of perdition).  During the second coming of Christ in the air (Act 1:9-11), HE will suddenly take up saints both in the grave and alive to heaven (1Cor 15:52-54), so called rapture (1Th 4:13-18; Mat 24:30, 31).  Compare 'gathering together unto him' in the last verse with 'gather together' in Mat 24:31.   Then this proves post tribulation rapture very decisively.  See item #4 in Theology menu.

at hand: that is, rapture is going to happen soon.  Paul used the phrase “the day of Christ” in this verse to indicate rapture more than HIS second coming; very likely this word ‘rapture’ or other appropriate vocabulary was not available back then. 

Paul explains to them in this chapter that it is yet to happen and son of perdition must emerge to the public first, so do not get disturbed by misinformation or by his first letter, especially in 1Th 4:13-18, 5:2. They probably neglected their daily businesses or duties because of it and it became a major issue or talking point among them at that time.

This verse clearly shows that HIS second coming at the conclusion of 3 and half years of tribulation period, that is the close of second half of 70th week of Daniel in Dan 9:24-27, will lead to rapture in which both live and dead saints sleeping in the grave will be caught up to heaven to meet HIM in the air and will come back to earth with HIM to live 1,000-year Christ kingdom (Rev 20:4).

by spirit: that is, devil spirit.  Satan loves to spread rumor or misinformation to make people panic unnecessarily.

by word: by mouth or media outlet.  Rumor or misinformation shall be growing more intensely as the end time approaches. 

nor by letters as from us:  Paul certified this 2nd epistle that it was come from him at 3:17.  See annotation on 3:17.

3. for that day: the day of Christ at which time born again believers alive and sleeping in the grave will be caught up in the air to meet Christ. 

except there come a falling away first: referring to apostacy, a new heresy (false religion) come out.  This is explained in the next verse what this ‘falling away’ means, that is, man of sin (son of perdition), false christ, will show himself as god.  That new heresy shall be false christ himself with signs and lying wonders (v 9).   Paul was talking about a brand new heresy, then none of present day cults can be considered as what Paul was referring as ‘falling away’ which implies very outrageous heresy with a very significant implication, that is, a super heresy unheard of since creation.  In other words nobody claimed to be christ and demanded to be worshipped by people worldwide.  There might have been minor heresies here and there throughout men’s history since creation.

Man of sin…the son of perdition: referring to the false christ (Mat 24:24; Mar 13:22) who shall reveal his identity in the middle of 7-year period (70th week of Daniel, Dan 9:27).   The beast in Rev 13:1-10 is the type of this lawless man in this verse.  He is nobody but false christ but many people call him antichrist incorrectly.   Apostle John defined the term very nicely in 1Joh 2:18, 22, 4:3; and 2Joh 1:7.   Therefore this son of perdition in this verse is not antichrist.

the son of perdition: The word ‘perdition’ means everlasting punishment in hell (lake of fire) literally, to which unsaved people go after death.   Here it might mean Satan figuratively in order that ‘the son of perdition’ refers to false christ (the beast) in Rev 13:1, 2.  He is the son of Satan (devil).  All three of them, Satan (devil), the beast (false christ), and the false prophet (13:11-18, 16:13, 19:20, 20:10), shall be cast into the lake of fire to torment them eternally (Rev 20:10).   These three are false trinity, counter parts of real Trinity, GOD the Father, Son Christ, and Holy Ghost respectively.  Judas Iscariot, one of the Jesus' twelve disciples and who betrayed HIM, was called by this description (Joh 17:12).  Both Judas Iscariot and false christ are the past and future instruments of Satan respectively.  See annotation on verse 9.

4. sitteth in the temple of God: this is not a physical temple (G2411) as many people misunderstand but it is the spiritual temple (G3485).  

In the original Greek, there are two different words for each type of temple but they are translated into the same word as temple in the English Bible.  

The physical temple in Greek is hieron (G2411, Mat 12:5, 6, 24:1) and the spiritual temple in Greek is naos (G3485, Mat 23:16, 17).

We believers are called temple (G3485, spiritual temple) of God as in 1Co 3:16.  There are many verses in the NT which translated this Greek word (G3485) to the English word, temple.  

For example, see Rev 3:12, 7:15, 11:1, 2, 16:1.  These verses and other verses with this Greek word (G3485) sound like physical temple.  Then most English readers of the NT might misinterpret the scripture very easily understanding them as physical temple when in fact they referred to spiritual temple instead.

so that he as God sitteth in the [spiritual] temple of God: referring to false christ.  He claims as if he is the spirit of god, that is, he is god and supernatural like god.

This false christ is the “prince” (Dan 9:26) and was said to cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease and abomination in the middle of the week (7-year period) (Dan 9:27).  

This may not mean literal sacrifice and oblation to be stopped but it simply means he will prohibit people to worship real GOD the Father and require them to worship him instead.

He is also the beast who will require people on earth to worship him as god (Rev 13:8) and was said to blaspheme GOD (Rev 13:4-8). 

And then there will come out another beast called the false prophet (Rev 16:13, 19:20, 20:10).  He was said to exercise all the power of the first beast (false chirst) and to cause people to worship the first beast (13:11, 12), and was said to require everybody on earth to receive a mark in order to buy or sell [food] in the future (Rev 13:16-18).

One of the four temptations with which Satan tempted Christ was that Christ worship him (Mat 4:9, 10).

Satan was a former angel who rebelled against GOD the Father and wanted to be like HIM or to be called another god.  He and other angels who followed him were cast out of heaven unto earth since GOD knows when, and they were tempting men on earth ever since (Rev 12:7-13).

that he is God: There were few or many times when somebody called himself as god before and certainly there will be more false gods in the future. 

5. I told you these things: that is, he mentioned about second coming of Christ and rapture (v 1) in the first letter to Thessalonian church people (1Th 5:2).

He did not mention about false christ (man of sin or the man of perdition, verse 3) in the first letter but he might have told them in person when he was with them in Thessalonica.

He wrote this second letter to them after he heard about their reaction to the first letter from Timothy and/or Silvanus (v 2, 1:1).

6-7 Here, Paul is addressing about 'man of sin' or ‘son of perdition’ (false christ) in verse 3.

6. what withholdeth: so something or somebody had been withholding that false christ to come out, to wield his religious authority, and to deceive many maybe more than 2,000 years ago!

7. for the mystery of iniquity: referring to the plan of Satan to reveal false christ (the beast, Rev 13:1, 8), man of sin (v 3, the son of perdition), or that Wicked (v 8) at the beginning of second half of 7-year period, that is, the beginning of 3 and half years of tribulation period.    Apostle Paul called mystery of Christ that Gentiles are fellowheirs of GOD with Jews on equal basis through the salvation work of Christ who died on the cross for both Jews and Gentiles’ sins (Eph 3:1-7).  And then we have another kind of mystery, mystery of false christ orchestrated by Satan himself.

already work: Paul said this more than 2,000 years ago!  Nevertheless the idea of false christ was conceived by Satan probably ever since Gen 3:15 or ever since the angel-turned Satan and his cohorts (angels) (Mat 25:41) were expelled from heaven to earth (Rev 12:7-9) because of his rebellion against GOD.  Now the Satan in Rev 12:9 is also called the great dragon, that old serpent, the Devil.  Then the serpent in Gen 3:1 is his representative, the only representative of Satan among all beasts created by GOD, that is, he entered into the serpent and led him to tempt Eve to eat the fruit of the tree which was in the middle of the garden (Gen 3:3), which was forbidden by GOD (Gen 2:16, 17).

only he (mystery of iniquity, Satan) who letteth (restrain, hinder), will let (restrain, hinder): Paul was referring to Satan literally, that is, Satan is looking for the right time for that false christ (mystery of false christ) also known as son of perdition or man of sin  (v 3) to come out but he is using Roman Catholic Church to restrain the man of sin (false christ).  RCC is the oldest and the most powerful and corrupt (heretic) church supported by Satan. 

until he be taken out of the way: that is, until RCC is removed from the world religious superpower so to speak (Rev 14:8, 17:5, 16, 18:2).   RCC was not present during Paul’s time.  Then It is not clear what or who was in his mind as to be taken out of the way to facilitate the false christ to emerge as a new world religion leader.   Was he thinking about orthodox Jews who opposed gospel vehemently?  Was there a religious superpower dominating world religion during his time like RCC nowadays?   Maybe he did not have any particular cult in his mind to be taken out of the way.  Instead he might have imagined or have been prescient about some future religious superpower to emerge in the foreseeable future.  Are pope and his followers in RCC aware their collapse or dissolution soon or later in the future?   But the real church of Jesus Christ shall stand forever! (Mat 16:18), that is, true Bible believing and abiding Protestant churches stand until Christ second coming and thereafter into 1,000 year Christ kingdom, and then thereafter forever without end!  

It seems very improbable for RCC to be dissolved no matter how one looks at it but it should fail completely in order for the man of sin (false christ, Rev 13:1) to emerge.   It is interesting to read Apostle John’s vision in which that false christ rise up out of the sea in Rev 13:1 as if he was coming up from the depth of sea suddenly without notice or sign.  Satan supports many cults on earth to deceive and to draw people away from the gospel of Christ, and RCC is the oldest and most powerful and influential cult on earth, which had withdrawn many people from gospel and deceived them into everlasting hell.  In other words there are millions and millions of innocent people who identify themselves as Catholic after being blindfolded by Catholic church heresy.   

They could have been witnessed by Protestant churches and consequently have been saved from eternal hell or eternal damnation into lake of fire to which all unsaved or unbelieving people shall be end up with as second death (Rev 20:14) after the first, common death.  Everybody shall die once as the first, common death regardless of whether they are saved or not.  People who got saved before the first death shall not face the second death in the lake of fire but shall go to eternal heaven after the first, common death.  So the false christ (son of perdition) will prevail and defeat RCC after all and reveal his identity.   Ten horns (kings) were said to burn the woman sitting upon the beast, which represents RCC (Rev 14:8, 17:3, 5, 16, 18:2), and this will open up the door for the false christ to come out.  RCC was very powerful and dominant world religion since its inception more than 1,000 years ago.  Then false christ will take it over to become a new world religion eventually.

8. And then shall that Wicked (false christ, man of sin, the son of perdition, v 3; Rev 13:1-8; Dan 9:27) be revealed….

and shall destroy with...coming: referring to Christ second coming (Rev 19:11-16).  So nobody on earth will be able to overcome that wicked man (false christ, man of sin) until when Christ will come back to earth and shall destroy him.

9. Even him (false christ)...Satan: Satan will be behind what everything false christ will do or is capable of doing miracles; This is very much analogous to what GOD the Father was behind or support every miracles Christ did during HIS life on earth.

after the working of Satan: referring to Satan's deceiving works through false christ to lead people away from the truth of gospel in Christ.

with  all power...wonders: Satan will empower false christ with miracle performing capabilities (Rev 13:2).

10. the love of the truth: referring to the love of trinity, that is, GOD the Father, Christ the Son, and Holy Ghost.  False christ will pervert the only truth in the Bible and will mislead many people worldwide just like his predecessor (RCC) did, which he replaced (verse 7) but his perversion shall be a lot more outlandish than RCC had done from Biblical stand point of view.

11. GOD shall send them [that perish] strong delusion: that is, GOD will make lost people hopeless by making them believe lies and deceiving wonders, selling themselves into deeper lost state without any possibility of coming back to the truth of the gospel.  See Rev 13:8.  GOD'S mercy toward men is not endless, that is, HE will cut off HIS mercy once for all at some point without recourse (Luk 13:24-30) and HE even makes reprobate and hopeless men (sinners) fall into deeper sin by believing lies (Rev 22:10, 11).  Gospel is only for those who open up their hearts and are willing to receive it gladly.  GOD would not force unwilling minded people to believe definitely but rather HE would cause  them to fall hopelessly.

12. truth: believing in Jesus Christ, true salvation.

Unrighteousness: referring to false christ so called man of sin or son of perdition in verse 3, or ‘a lie’ in the last verse.  It will be reality that people will accept or believe in false christ and reject true Christ during last day very unfortunately.  These lost people did not respond to the true gospel in Jesus Christ during peaceful time but they will embrace false christ as their saviour at the last day. 

13. through sanctification of the spirit…truth: that is, truly born again believers shall not be deceived by false christ but maintain and hold on the truth to resist him.  On the contrary lost people will believe in his lies and get lost into eternal damnation, hell or lake of fire (vv 10-12).

14. Whereunto he (Father, GOD, Jehovah) called you….

by our gospel: that is, by our preaching the word of GOD.

15. stand fast, and hold tradition: Believers are to sand fast with the truth in the Bible in order to resist temptation and deception from Satan (Eph 6:10-18).

Oh heavenly Father, we thank thee for giving us thy precious word so that we hold on the truth during the coming perilous time.  We shall be patient and our focus is to spread the gospel diligently until that glorious appearing of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, and also to love one another.  Praise the LORD and Alleluia.  Amen

7. Soteriology

The word ‘soteriology’ means the doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ.  The word ‘salvation’ means a way of protecting somebody from danger, disaster, loss, and etc in a general common language term but in theological term it means deliverance from the power and penalty of sin, that is, saving lost souls from eternal damnation into hell or lake of fire after death.  The word ‘redemption’ is closely related to it and means redeeming, saving, or buying back lost people from it. 

The two words soteriology and evangelism (see item numbers 1 and 2 above) go hand in hand, that is, evangelists spread the fundamental message or doctrine of soteriology which is nothing but salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone (Eph 2:8).  There are several or many different groups of evangelical or Protestant churches out there but they all agree on this fundamental doctrine of salvation (soteriology) more or less basically but differ on other non-essential beliefs as described in item #4  Non-essential doctrines or beliefs under the Home menu.   

All evangelical church people are saved and bound to heaven after death, and they are brothers and sisters one another in Jesus Christ regardless how they believe on non-essential doctrines.  In other words, if one calls upon HIS name, he shall be saved. 

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

What can be more important than saving one’s own soul from eternal damnation in the lake of fire after common death on earth?  

Mat 16:26, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

There are two lives and deaths for everybody on earth basically.  People live their first life and encounter first death by old age, accident, disease, or what have you on earth eventually.  After this first life and first death on earth, then there is second life or death either in heaven or in hell (lake of fire) respectfully so to speak.  If one gets saved during his first life before he will die first death on earth, he will have his second life in heaven or paradise; otherwise, he will end up with lake of fire and Bible calls it second death (Rev 20:14).

Most people nowadays are very ignorant of the second life or death unfortunately so that it is the duty of born again believers to evangelize their own community to begin with, and then go abroad to spread gospel.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  

8. Sin unto death   Rom 6:16;1Joh 5:16, 17

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Apostle Paul wrote so called a sin chapter in Romans chapter 6.  Sin separates men from GOD.  Not all sins or transgressions (Lev 6:1-7) are bad equally and lead to eternal or second death, that is, eternal separtion from GOD into hell (lake of fire) after the first or common death which everybody shall experience or go through once in a life time on earth after birth.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

There are mortal and immortal sins, that is, serious or not so serious sins.  Bible does not indicate which sins are mortal or which sins are not specifically and clearly.  

However it is certain that Christ died on the cross to cover both types of sins in order that we can be justified as clean before GOD the Father once we believe in Christ, accept HIM as our saviour, and most importantly we confess our immortal or mortal sins.

Jesus mentioned the fact that there is one sin which can not be forgiven even by HIS blood on the cross, that is, blaspheming Holy Ghost.

Mt 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Now apostle John mentioned very interesting thing that we can pray for somebody who committed a sin not unto death.  Very remarkable!  So he clearly indicated both types of sin, mortal and immortal.  See Deu 21:22, 23, 22:25-27

1Jo 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

1Jo 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

Verse 16 above is saying that a born again believer can pray for or on behalf of an unbeliever who sinned a sin not unto death, then GOD will forgive his sin because of the believer’s intercessory prayer.  

This is really fantastic privilege for born again believers.  If any born again believer commits any sin either mortal or immortal, obviously he does not need any believer’s intercessory prayer since he can confess and pray for forgiveness by himself in the name of Jesus Christ and GOD will forgive him right away.

From an unbeliever’s point of view, why would he need believer’s intercessory prayer every time he commits a sin not unto death?  He can be saved or born again very easily by calling upon HIS name (Rom 10:9, 13).

Holy Ghost will teach us to separate or to know which sin is unto death or which sin is not.  The bottom line is that we born again believers avoid both types of sins by all means.  Read Lev 6:1-7 in regard to some light sins so to speak, called trespassing.

9. Evangelism (spreading gospel message) is for those who are open to it and who want to hear it primarily.  Mat 10:11-16

It is waste of time and effort to evangelize or to introduce gospel message to reprobate minded and hard headed people who are very proud.  

Then any born again believer who wants to spread gospel message to the spiritually lost people is better to assess if he or she is worthy for evangelism.  

This does not mean that he avoids them completely as hopeless but rather he becomes “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” since GOD still loves them no matter what.  

In other words he makes a judicious decision to leave them soon after just telling them about it and seeing their negative reaction.

When Christ was sending out his disciples for a short mission trip to nearby cities and villages, HE gave the instruction as follows in Mat 10:11-16.  Read annotations on verses following.

Mt 10:11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

Mt 10:12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.

Mt 10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Mt 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Mt 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Mt 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

11. who in it is worthy: who is disposed to welcome the disciples and to show hospitality to them.  In other words, who is open to the gospel message, that is, who is willing to hear it.

Gospel message is for those who are open to it and want to hear it primarily.  It is waste of time and effort to reach out reprobate minded people for it.  See verse 14.

Till ye go thence: till you leave the town.

THENCE, adv. thens.  1. From that place

13. Jesus is instructing HIS disciples that they only minister a household that welcomes them, and this is a very important principle for all Christians who are involved with world evangelism to understand and to follow.   Salvation is only for those who open their hearts and are willing to hear and to accept the good news.  

Never are Christians supposed to go after unbelievers who are unwilling and closed their mind to the gospel.  This is waste of time and money and counter productive, or they might even come against them.  See verses 17 and 18.  Compare 7:6.

14. Shake off the dust: quite a statement which shows disciples’ total rejection with contempt of those who did not welcome them. 

In other words, minister the people who are willing to be ministered; never force or urge them to be ministered by you.  Gospel is only for those who are open to it.

15. There is another similar allusion to more tolerability in 11:22-24.  Jesus is saying basically that those Jews rejecting gospel are worse than those perverted people in Sodom and Gomorrha.

Jews heard the gospel and rejected it but they did not have a chance to hear it but perished because of their perversion.  So hearing it and not receiving it is worse than just not hearing it to begin with.

Once a man hears the gospel he is accountable and must face the severe consequence of rejecting it, that is, staying in the lake of fire (second death) eternally (Rev 20:14)

The premise here is that if anybody in Sodom and Gomorrha had had a chance to receive the preaching or to see the miracles HE performed (refer to 11:23), and then had believed and had repented of his perversion afterwards, he could not have perished.  

In the day of judgment: referring to the white throne of judgment on earth (Rev 20:11-15) after the 1,000- year Christ kingdom (Rev 20:4). 

16. sheep in the midst of wolves: This warning applies to every evangelist to be aware of danger.  It is their responsibility to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves when they reach out to strangers for gospel.  

As in verse 11 we believers preach it to those who are willing to listen to us, that is, who is worthy; we are not to strive with those unsaved people whose eyes are closed and whose ears are shut.   

It is just waste of our precious time and risk of being attacked!  This is the very advice all missionaries going abroad to a foreign mission field must remember.   See next two verses.

10. GOD would have sent Jesus Christ to earth still to save both Jews and Gentiles under NT even after Jews had not failed to keep HIS covenant with Abraham under OT.

Why did GOD send HIS only begotten Son Christ to earth to save both Jews and Gentiles 2,000 years ago?  The answer is found very easily and clearly from the famous one verse in John’s gospel in John 3:16 as displayed on top of every page in this website, that is, HE simply loved HIS own creation.

GOD approached or pre-selected Abraham (Gen 12:1) and his descendants as HIS inheritance (Deu 4:20) or peculiar people as apple of HIS eyes (Deu 32:10) on earth, and this was the beginning of Jew’s heritage.  Then HE established the covenant (agreement) with him commonly known as Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:2, 3, 15:1-7) about 1900 B.C..  This very monumental and historical agreement between them was conditional, that is, HE will bless him and his descendants after him down the road if they (Jews) keep it (Gen 17:9).

GOD foretold him that his descendants would sojourn into Egypt as slave for 400 years but HE would take them out of it afterwards (Gen 15:13, 14).  After they left Egypt they received so called Mosaic law in the mount Sinai and they were supposed to keep it faithfully to receive HIS blessing continuously but they utterly failed as described throughout the OT.

Now the question is, was this failure the reason why HE sent Christ?  In other words if Jews had not failed to keep the Abrahamic covenant, would HE have sent HIM to us still to save both Jews and Gentiles?  The answer is YES.  HE loved Jews very much as HIS chosen people under OT but HE created not only Jews but also others (Gentiles) in the beginning.  Then HE could not ignore Gentiles to go to hell so to speak since HE loved EVERYBODY on earth equally.

Nobody can be saved by obeying Mosaic law (Jas 2:10) which is based on one’s works or deeds, so HE sent Christ to die on the cross to save all humanity in order for men in general to be saved by faith in Christ alone without works (Eph 2:8, 9).  This was the very reason why HE sent Christ and why we have two testaments, OT and NT in the Bible, that is, salvation by working out (fulfilling) Mosaic law under OT but by genuine faith or belief of everybody’s heart or mind in Jesus Christ alone under NT.  

Apostle Paul called NT mystery (Eph 1:9, 3:3, 4, 9; Col 1:26, 27) that GOD had Gentiles in mind to be included into HIS family so to speak, which was not revealed in public (i.e., to Jews and Gentiles) during OT period but it came evident after Christ came, died on the cross, and then rose from the grave on the third day in victory.   

After mentioning about law and faith in Romans chapter 10 (10:5, 6), he started chapter 11 by saying that GOD did not give up on Jews [because of the covenant with Abraham] even though they failed to be right with HIM after failing to do the Mosaic law [perfectly].  In Rom 11:11, he rather attributed the inclusion of Gentiles into GOD’S family to Jews’ failure to do it.  Also Gentiles were reached out after Jews rejected and killed Christ who came to earth to save Jews first and then Gentiles (Rom 1:16; Mat 15:24).

Now apostle Paul did not address the subject in this article in his epistles, that is, GOD would have sent Christ anyway to save Gentiles also regardless whether Jews failed or not to do the Mosaic law during OT because of John 3:16, that is HE just loved everybody and did not want anybody to go to hell no matter what. 

GOD is love (1Joh 4:8, 16) and HE loves both Jews and Gentiles equally by way of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ under NT!  See item number 19 under Theology menu.

Oh our Father in heaven, we thank and praise thee to send us thy only begotten Son Christ to die on the cross in order that both Jews and Gentiles can be saved by faith alone in HIM under the equal footing.  See item number 30 under Theology menu.