Dynamic Salvation and the Tragedy of Lost Believers

By John Lewis

The narrow path that leads from bondage in the kingdom of darkness to freedom in the light of God's glorious Son is illuminated in Dynamic Salvation and The Tragedy of Lost Believers. The Holy Spirit is leading the way, but many believers are deceived. Complacent and self-assured, they are not following, placing themselves in danger of a tragic outcome. Standing and walking in the faith that expresses itself through divine love is the only safe path which leads to a deeper, richer experience with the Lord Jesus Christ, and eternal life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645159643

John Lewis

JOHN ROBERT LEWIS (1940-2020) was a politician and civil rights activist who served in the United States House of Representatives for Georgia's 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death in 2020. He was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee from 1963 to 1966.

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Dynamic Salvation and the Tragedy of Lost Believers

Dr. John M. Lewis

Copyright © 2019 by Dr. John M. Lewis

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Preface

Much more emphasis is placed on the beginning of the journey with Jesus called salvation. Not much attention is being paid to the middle and end of the path that leads to eternal life, and it is in this segment of the journey that the enemy has set his most deceitful traps to steal, kill, and destroy. Many believers in Jesus are unknowingly being directed to the broad path that leads to destruction.

Many believers sense that something is missing, something just does not add up. Why is there lack of growth and progress spiritually? Could it be that the sense of conviction that is felt is not harassment from the enemy, but in fact admonishment from the Father who is urging a closer walk with Jesus on the narrow path that leads to life?

There are answers for those who will seek them, but many will be deceived and will remain asleep spiritually until the very end. Discussions in the text on Lost Believers and Faith that Works have been included and are meant to be provocative without doing harm to the traditional doctrines of salvation by grace through faith and the eternal security of the (true) believer. The spiritual connection between faith and works will be made clear.

The aim is for believers to avoid being deceived by making certain that they are standing in the faith that God will accept for salvation. This writing should serve as a catalyst to stimulate a more diligent search of the scriptures than ever before, and consequently a stronger, truly-saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Introduction

Behold, the storm of the Lord has gone forth in wrath, even a whirling tempest; It will swirl down on the head of the wicked. The anger of the Lord will not turn back until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart; In the last days you will clearly understand it. (Jeremiah 23:19–20.)

The judgment of the Lord will be more terrifying than most believers in Jesus imagine. Even if we are not in the last days now, it cannot be denied that each day brings the judgment of God one day closer.

Jesus said he will return at an unexpected time, and amazingly, just as in the days of Noah, most of the inhabitants of the world will not be prepared for that day despite the clear warnings in the word of God to be ready. Even more amazing is the fact that many believers in Jesus will not be ready.

Jesus warned his disciples.

Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come upon you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of the earth. (Luke 21:34–35)

Not all of the Lord’s servants will heed this warning, and tragically, rather than only losing a few rewards due to works that are wood, hay, and stubble, they lose it all.

But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:48–51)

This is a sobering warning because today there is a spirit of complacency and self-assurance as never before. Carnal Christianity, if there is such a thing, abounds with an attitude that I am safe; no harm will come upon me. The warnings in the Bible are meant for others, not for me. And there is disbelief that a believer, one who professes faith in Jesus, could fall away and be lost.

It would not be scriptural to say the saved could fall away and be lost because obviously by definition the saved are saved. But the point is not all who say they are believers are saved, and the Bible clearly teaches this. We are so conditioned to say that anyone who makes a profession of faith in Jesus is saved, that the concept of lost believers seems like an impossibility. But the truth is no human being can certify that another human being is saved. Only the Lord knows the motives and intentions of the heart, and only the Lord can make the pronouncements you are saved or you are lost.

A believer hopes he will be saved, by faith, which is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; For who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. (Romans 8:24–25)

So if we can understand that all who are saved are believers, but not all believers are saved, then we can begin to explore the phenomenon of lost believers. Remember, the demons also believe. (James 2:19)

Many believers have a false sense of security but are spiritually asleep and unprepared to stand before the Lord. There is a tendency to rely only upon scriptures which justify our present spiritual condition, which may not yet be what Jesus wants it to be. For instance, it is much easier to claim, I am seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I have been adopted into the family of God. I have passed from death to life. I have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and once saved always saved, than it is to repent of sin, walk in love as Jesus did, and live a life dedicated to advancing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The above blessings may not necessarily apply to every person who reads them in the Bible and then claims them.

Scripture says that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, but not everybody in the world will be saved. Just reading about it doesn’t necessarily make Jesus’s death for sin apply. There are conditions that must be met such as faith and repentance. Rather than choosing only favorable scriptures to justify ourselves, we must be determined to live by every word of God. Each scripture is amplified and qualified by the next, and by neglecting the whole counsel of God, a believer becomes vulnerable to deception and the risk of falling