DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY: PASTOR PAUL RIKA: INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide

TOPIC: ETERNAL LIFE IS CONDITIONAL ON CONTINUED OBEDIENCE

DATE: THURSDAY 7, JANUARY 2021

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

KEY VERSE: Revelation 3:11 ‘Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.’

Once-saved-forever-saved is a doctrine commonly preached in some churches. It was a doctrine Satan introduced to encourage sin in the church and damn souls to hell. The true position of scripture is that salvation can be lost. The name that enters into the book of life today can be blotted out tomorrow. Bible tells us that when Moses was praying to God to forgive the children of Israel or else blot out his name from His book, the Lord said, “No, whosoever has sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book.” In the book of Revelation Jesus also talked about those who will practice righteousness: “if you do that which is right, your name shall not be blotted out of the book of life.” These scriptures are telling us that names can be blotted out of the book of life, hence, we must serve God sensitively. Although we got salvation by faith and not by works, we know that salvation will be established by works. You must do works of righteousness to justify that you have faith. James wrote and said “is a man saved by faith only and not by works? Did not Rehab obey the instruction given to her to be saved after she believed in the Lord, the God of Israel when she laid the red cloth behind her window as she was instructed? Was laying of that red cloth not the work that showed that she has faith?” Faith must go with works otherwise, faith is dead.
Today’s devotional text reveals Paul’s understanding of the truth that God does not give absolute guarantee of heaven to anybody. (God told Moses, “Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of My book”). “Whosoever” means anybody, which includes the bishop, the General Overseer, the Evangelist or whoever has sinned against Him. God is no respecter of persons. David was a man after His heart, but he did not take his salvation for granted. He says in Psalm 101:2, “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way … I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” Even though God recognized Job as blameless, Job did not relent but continued to work out his salvation with fear and trembling. Paul testified of the holy life of himself and other apostles thus: Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:10

Thought for the day: Don’t be careless with your salvation. You can lose it.

Song for the day: Jesus keep me near the cross
​
Bible reading for the day: Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6