"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - Mark 16 vs 15 - 16 {King James Version}

  • he that believeth not shall be damned

These are clear words, the Lord clearly stated that unbelief is what will send a man into eternal damnation. Pay attention!

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3 vs 18 {KJV}

  • he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God

Again, these are the words of the Lord Jesus, He is clear on this matter: unbelief is what will send a man into eternal damnation, and not singular sins. Unbelief itself is a sin, and it's this sin of unbelief that sends a man to hell!

"And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." - Romans 14 vs 23 {KJV}

  • for whatsoever is not of faith is sin

This verse helps us understand that unbelief is sin, and the words of the Lord Jesus makes it clear that it's the sin of unbelief that sends men to hell, and not singular acts of sin. - Think about this.

But Man of God, what about Ephesians 5 vs 3 - 7? Let's take a look at it:

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 
Be not ye therefore partakers with them." - Ephesians 5 vs 3 - 7 {King James Version}

Pay attention to verse 6:

  • Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience

Question: Why is the wrath of God coming upon men because of these acts of sin? Because they did not believe the Gospel; they did not receive the justification that is in Christ Jesus by faith! Hence, their sins are exposed, and they will  be judged for them! So if you look at it from an oversight perspective, you'll understand that the foundational reason why the wrath of God is coming on them is because of their unbelief, and not basically because of their sinful deeds. Think slowly on this. What's Paul aiming to achieve here? He simply cites the fact that the unbeliever's sinful deeds will expose him to the wrath of God, by that he's making the brethren see that sin is a displeasure to God, hence they should keep themselves from it. Paul is not in anyway implying that a Believer's shortcomings will bring the wrath of God on him! Paul could never have said that. The Bible must be thoroughly read contextually to truly understand it! The same Paul taught us this:

"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." - Romans 8 vs 33 - 34 {King James Version}

Here, Paul is making it clear that nobody can accuse or condemn us to God, the one who can do that died for us! That's Jesus. How can the One who died for us to save us from eternal damnation be the very one casting us out? Think about it. See what the Lord Jesus said in John 6 vs 37:

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." - John 6 vs 37 {KJV}

  • him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out

Very clear! So, if you once came to Jesus, be rest assured that He's never gonna cast you out! Your sins cannot make the Lord change His words—your sins are not that powerful! Think about it. Hallelujah!

My friend, you must live with this consciousness everyday of your life, the consciousness that you are eternally accepted by God in Christ irrespective of your short comings. John the Apostle tells us something beautiful, let's take a look at it:

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." - 1 John 2 vs 1 - 2 {King James Version}

He said, if we sin, we have an advocate with the Father! Meaning, our case is not hopeless! God is not preparing us for hell! C'mmon! Rather he says, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Hallelujah! This shows to us how secured our salvation is in Christ. So my friend, don't let the devil lie to you that you're going to hell because of this and that which you're presently struggling with. The devil is a liar, and he thrives where there is ignorance! Live in peace and joy everyday irrespective of your moral failures, knowing that your salvation has been eternally insured and secured in Christ. Hallelujah!

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." - Revelation 21 vs 8 {KJV}

If you understood what I have taught so far in this article, then you can easily know that these words were not addressing Believers, but unbelievers. The unbeliever is the one who is addressed here as: fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars. This can't be the Believer, even if the Believer struggles with any of them! If God will still judge a Believer who has put his faith in Jesus by his works, then what was the essence of giving to the Believer the gift of righteousness in the first place? Why were we not just instructed to fight to be righteous by our own selves? Why are we told that Salvation is a work of grace, and not a work of our own efforts? Look at it:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" - Romans 5 vs 17 {KJV}

  • they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness

Why will you give me the gift of righteousness and still judge me by my works? Think friend! God is not unjust!

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast." - Ephesians 2 vs 8 - 9 {King James Version}

  • For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

If my salvation is a gift from God, why am I judged on the basis of my performance? Remember, God is not the author of confusion!

My dear friend, your sin or sins will never send you to hell! And this is not even a license for any Christian to start sinning deliberately. The truth is, you cannot love Jesus and not desire to live right. It's impossible. So, quit the struggle to be righteous! Instead, live in the joy of the grace of God! Live in the joy of the security of salvation which you have in Christ; that joy will gloriously guide your path in the way of the Lord. And if you fail, satan got nothing on you! If you fail, acknowledge your shortcoming, acknowledge your sin to God, and also acknowledge that you have the forgiveness of sins in Christ. Finish! Get up and keep moving gloriously with joy and great peace. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Jenning Uweye
Teacher,
Global Bible Study Community

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