We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error – 1st John 4:6.

One of the first religious exercises of the New Testament Church after Pentecost was persevering in the Apostle’s doctrine. Doctrinal purity was essential to a New Testament Church.

Sadly, many members of the church body have left the doctrine. Rather than the church conforming the world to the Word of God, the world is conforming the church to its actions and standards. During the Apostle’s dispensation, the local churches placed themselves under God’s authority by accepting the discipline of the Word of God.

The proclamation of the Scripture became a positive discipline, developing correct beliefs and lifestyle. The pastors lived according to what they were teaching. The majority of churches today are more concerned about the number of members and how much money is being brought in. Many pastors are teaching what they know their members want to hear rather than what they need to hear.

When an assembly of people removes itself from the authority of Scripture, that assembly ceases to be a New Testament Church. God hasn’t changed, nor has His Word. The Bible is for the believer to follow the instructions if they desire to enter heaven. Employers have mission statements, rules, and regulations; if one desires to be employed and stay employed, they have to submit to the employer’s regulations.

God has rules and regulations known as His commandments. If we want to be in fellowship and a citizen of heaven, we must abide by His commandments. If we can abide by man’s rules, what makes it so hard to abide by God’s rules?

Many professing Christians think that because they said “I believe in Jesus”, that’s all to it. The Bible states the devils believe in God (Thou believe that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble – James 2:19). Although the devils believe in God, they do not come subject to His commandments; they steal, kill, and destroy, and influence people to sin.

False doctrine like “Saved Always Saved” is not aligned with the Word of God. We can’t be friends with the world and have fellowship with God (Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God – James 4:4. We can’t be an enemy and a child of God; either we’re His child or we aren’t. If we’re enemies of God, that means we’re not saved and will not enter heaven.

Israel was committing spiritual adultery, unfaithful to God. Israel was and is God’s chosen people, but many of them did not enter the Promised Land because of their disobedience (Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached enter not in because of unbelief [disobedience] – Hebrews 4:6). This was not just for the Israelites but the body of Christ that disobey God’s Word.

Christians are on a journey to the Promised Land of Heaven, but if we don’t submit to God’s written Word, we will be like the Israelites; we will not be entering. If we’re committing spiritual adultery and are enemies of God, this lets us know we will not be entering heaven. So this means the teaching of Saved Always Saved contradicts the Scriptures.

Adam and Eve were thrown out of the Garden of Eden because of their disobedience. Christians should not practice disobeying God’s instructions. The Apostle Paul indicates in Scripture that once he preached to others and he doesn’t apply the teaching to himself, he would be a castaway (But I keep under my body and bring it into subjectioon: lest that by any means I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway – 1st Corinthians 9:27). Castaway in the Greek “Adokimos” means unapproved, rejected, reprobate. If we are any of these, we will not be entering heaven.

Every Christian is responsible for knowing the Word of God and applying its teaching to their lives. Pray, read, and study the Word of God. Conform to God’s instructions and not the world’s instructions. God is holy, and He wants His people to be holy. He doesn’t want Sunday Christians, but those who live according to Scripture daily.