The Way of Salvation is Loving Obedience to Jesus by Dependant Faith in Him

The Apostolic Doctrine of the
1st and 2nd Century

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
— Jeremiah 6:16

Over the past 2 years I have been studying the 1st and 2nd century church fathers, reading their writings and comparing modern doctrines to their primitive truths.  Let me share with you this ancient path taught by the disciples of the disciples, for it is the narrow way that leads to life, and few there be that find it. Humble your heart and sit at their feet and learn. Do not judge their doctrine by your own 21st century beliefs, rather let them judge your beliefs, for they, not you, were the hearers of the apostolic preaching.  I have distilled what I understand their basic teaching to be. It's this raw apostolic Christianity that I follow wholeheartedly. 

During the final judgement our shortcomings will be met with mercy if we maintain our faith and our journey aligns with His way…

…nevertheless, unrepentant hypocrisy won't find pardon.

Salvation is inseparably connected to loving obedience to Jesus.  The transformative power of His Holy Spirit empowers us to live actual loving, righteous and obedient lives in this world.  There is coming a final judgement based on how we lived, and our faith in Jesus doesn't exempt us from this, rather it motivates us to be moulded into His likeness in this present age.  During the judgement our shortcomings will be met with mercy if our journey aligns with His way and we maintain our trust in Him until the end.  Christ's teachings are the way. They explain the path of divine love, a path that can only be walked with supernatural power from God by His Spirit.  Nevertheless, unrepentant hypocrisy won't find pardon, for both hypocritical Christians and unbelievers will share the same fate of God's wrath against unrepentant sin. 

“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
- Jesus (Matthew 7:14)

This is why faith is the root of salvation. Not only for the forgiveness of our sin by trusting in Christs atoning death for us (the gate of salvation), but also the basis for our practical obedience, depending daily on His Spirit to work in and through us (this is the narrow way to life). For we can’t walk on the way without His Spirit, for if we try we will fail and return to the broad road of sin, hypocrisy and death. We cant walk through the gate of faith in Jesus, then turn around back to the broad road of sin and expect to be saved. We are saved from our sin not in our sin.

“Salvation is lived out in our lives, not simply worked out in our heads, nor mere knowledge assented to.”

Index

  • The Way

  • Salvation Is the Free Gift of God - Received by a True and Full Faith. Not a Half Faith as Often Taught.

  • 3 Modern Deceptions Regarding Christians – Sin Inevitable, Obedience Impossible & Salvation in wilful sin

  • The Traditions of Men Make Void the Word of God and Lead Many to Destruction

  • Death Makes Christ's Path Easy, Though Those Who Live for This World Stumble Over It.

  • True Faith Depends on the Truth. Seeing Things as They Really Are, Not as Tradition or Dogma Asserts.

  • Israel – an Example and Warning for Those Who Doubt Gods Power and Don’t Believe

  • Consistent Loving Obedience By the Spirit Was the Expectation of Early Christians – They Taught and Walked The Way

  • Conclusion

  • A Call to Action

The Way

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him

Hebrews 5:8-9
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him

Loving obedience to Jesus Christ is the only path to eternal life. This path is entered by faith (for justification i.e. reconciliation with God) and walked by faith (sanctification i.e. immediately being set apart unto God for service to Him, receiving His Spirit and continuing to grow in virtue as we walk with Him). For it is written "the righteous shall live by faith" (Rom 1:17).

“Godliness alone leads to immortality.”

- Irenaeus (130 AD - 200 AD)
Hearer of Polycarp who was a disciple of the apostle John

It was the apostle John who said "whoever does the will of God abides forever"(1 John 2:17b). This isn't a unique idea, it's literally how all of the 1st and 2nd century writers explained salvation - a path to walk, not merely a belief to hold. So what changed? The original message of salvation in the judgment by forgiveness and radical transformation of our lives in this life through faith in Jesus degenerated into exclusion from the judgement by faith alone in Jesus. One seeks salvation from the penalty and presence of sin in this life, the other only seeks escape from the penalty of sin. Which doctrine do you think accords with godliness?

1 Timothy 6:3-4
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.

Why did the ancient Christians, the disciples of the disciples, speak this way? Because there is an impartial judgement coming of all our works (Rom 2). Nothing will be hidden, all will be exposed before Him. This is a fearful concept and it's hard to hear but it's true. At this point many would prefer their ears tickled and run back to the safety of their traditions but tradition won't save you in the judgement. Most would say this is a works salvation citing Ephesians 2:8-9 yet Polycarp (a disciple of the apostle John) interprets this very passage and comes to a very different conclusion than what is often said by modern minds (see Polycarp's letter to the Philippians below).

Polycarp - Letter to the Philippians (Chapter 1)
"...into which joy many desire to enter, knowing that “by grace ye are saved, not of works,” (Ephesians 2:8-9) but by the will of God through Jesus Christ."

His emphasis is on the divine grace behind salvation. That God isn't saving us because we did something to earn His favour first. No, He loved us first and died for us granting us great promises to be received by faith alone! However, Polycarp is not saying we don't need to practically do anything to be finally saved. In the very next chapter, literally sentences later He says that we need to walk in Christs commands if we even expect to be saved.

Polycarp - Letter to the Philippians (Chapter 2)
..."He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him. But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; “not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing,” or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: “Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;” and once more, “Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.”"

Both Polycarp and Irenaeus taught exactly what Paul says in Romans 2:13 "it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous but the doers of the law that will be justified" (i.e. saved at the judgement). Romans 6:22 says the same " But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." Jesus said in John 8:51 "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

Clement (disciple of Peter and Paul) - 1 Clement - Chapter 48
Let us therefore, with all haste, put an end to this state of things; and let us fall down before the Lord, and beseech Him with tears, that He would mercifully be reconciled to us, and restore us to our former seemly and holy practice of brotherly love. For such conduct is the gate of righteousness, which is set open for the attainment of life, as it is written, “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go in by them, and will praise the Lord: this is the gate of the Lord: the righteous shall enter in by it.”

Although, therefore, many gates have been set open, yet this gate of righteousness is that gate in Christ by which blessed are all they that have entered in and have directed their way in holiness and righteousness, doing all things without disorder. Let a man be faithful: let him be powerful in the utterance of knowledge; let him be wise in judging of words; let him be pure in all his deeds; yet the more he seems to be superior to others in these respects, the more humble-minded ought he to be, and to seek the common good of all, and not merely his own advantage.

We will be saved if we walk in The Way. But if we profess to walk in The Way but walk the path of sin and darkness what hope is there? "If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." 1 John 1:6

Hebrews 10:26-31
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Salvation Is the Free Gift of God - Received by a True and Full Faith. Not a Half Faith as Often Taught.

What then of faith, grace and free justification apart from our good works? How is this a gift in any way if we must do anything? Is this not merit?

The point of justification is our reconciliation to God. Romans 3-4 explains the mechanism of this reconciliation, faith in God's promise and work on the cross in Jesus. We are counted (treated as if we are) righteous, despite our life's record of sin. Our sin won't be counted against us at the judgement because we trust His promise, just like Abraham did (Rom 4). The penalty of our sin was paid for by Christ at the cross and this forgiveness is to be received by faith alone.

Romans 5 explains the result of our justification i.e. our reconciliation. From a human perspective this justification isn't "eternal", nor is it impossible to forsake. Our eternal and final justification occurs at the final judgement. Our present justification can be walked away from through denying Christ in apostasy or it can be denied by our actions - wilful unrepentant sin. Paul warned of many professed Christians in His day who named the name but didn't walk in obedience to Jesus, hear what he says of their end:

Philippians 3:18-19
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Titus 1:16a
16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.

Once reconciled (justified) by our trust in Jesus (by faith alone apart from anything we have done), we receive the promised Spirit of God who is the very power of God in us to overcome all wilful sin and walk in Christ's teachings of love. Dying to the flesh (Rom 6), world (1 John 2), mosaic law in totality (Rom 7). Christians are to live in the newness of the Holy Spirit with his law inscribed on our heart and Spirit quickening our conscience, not the oldness of the written letter (Rom 7-8). Being a slave of Christ doing all that he taught us in His new instruction (which being new, is also old i.e. love - 1 John 2:7).

Christ's teaching is far superior to the law of Moses, though it is not contrary to it, that if kept, we do actually fulfil the righteous requirement of God (Romans 8 and 2).

Romans 8:3-4
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For they that truly love God are far from all sin (Paul, John, Polycarp, Irenaeus) and the mosaic law was given for sinners not the righteous (1 Tim 1:9). The mosaic laws use was to draw men to faith in Christ showing us we can't justify ourselves by our works (Rom 3:19-20), nor obey the law in our own power independent of Gods Spirit as our flesh (selfish desires) are too strong (Rom 7). God remedied this by the sending of the Spirit into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father and truly love (Rom 8), no longer being enslaved to the flesh (selfish desires) nor the mosaic law (Rom 6-8), we are now free sons of God (Gal 4:21-31). The Spirit experientially bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Rom 8:16), for all that are led by the Holy Spirit are God's children (Rom 8:14). The Spirit never leads one to sin but is contrary to the selfish desires originating in the flesh (self) (Gal 5). Those that love and walk in the Spirit are far from sin.

Without believing in the final judgement according to works, people become lax in holiness thinking how we live has no bearing on final salvation. Romans 2 paints a very different picture of an impartial judge, who doesn't play favourites, giving to everyone impartially according to their deeds and warning against hypocrisy. This accords with the earliest writings of Polycarp, Irenaeus, Athanasius, Barnabas, Ignatius, Mathetes to Diognetus and the Didache. The path we walk on matters. There are only two paths - one to life and one to death. They are opposite paths and go in different directions. You can't walk the path of darkness and light simultaneously (1 John 1:6-7).

1 John 1:6-7
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Irenaeus - A Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching - Chp 1
For one is the way leading upwards for all who see, lightened with heavenly light: but many and dark and contrary are the ways of them that see not. This way leads to the kingdom of heaven, uniting man to God: but those ways bring down to death, separating man from God.

People don't seriously strive for or seek holiness, as they don't see the necessity (or possibility) of holiness in this life, nor view it as a foundational component of salvation. It's salvifically important! Sin is truly something to fear. And thus, many centuries of man made sophistry, dogma and tradition have taken away the key of knowledge and made void the simple word of God. Many who loved virtue and God's way have been blinded regarding what God is actually seeking in us. People have substituted - faith resulting in loving obedience for "faith only" as if salvation was a matter of education rather than transformation. Many teach all that we do in our lives as Christians are but filthy rags before Him, yet this is not how the apostles or the early church ever spoke! The only early church reference to that passage is Justin Martyr in his debate with Trypho the Jew (2nd century) and he used it condemning Jewish hypocrisy, not as a reference to Christian life! Faith alone they preach, but really they preach half faith, which in reality is no faith at all. It's chaff. What is put forth is a form of godliness that denies His power as Paul warned would arise in the last days. For as Clement taught, the Christian path is the righteous path (see 1 clement - he was the bishop of Rome, disciple of Peter and Paul - 1st century).

For true salvation is truly by faith alone but a true full faith. This true and complete faith trusts not only the promises for forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ but, having been reconciled to God in the present, trusts those promises of power for practical righteousness by God's Spirit in this life.

Ezekiel 36:26‭-‬27
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Those with true faith actually walk blamelessly and obediently in this life by His Spirit (1 John 3) and this is the work of God lest any man boast for we are his workmanship created to walk in the good works he predestined us to walk in.

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Do you get that? Do not be hard of hearing! It is God who works in and through us and we actually obey Him.

While we live, intentional sin will still be practically possible to commit (hence scripture warns us to guard against it), but for Christians, sin is not inevitable, nor will it have dominion over us. The Spirit will guard us and those that truly love God can't bring themselves to intentionally sin against him (1 John 3). How can we consider ourselves dead to sin if it still rules us (Rom 6, 1 Peter 4)? We are merely lying to ourselves. It's doublespeak. Instead of self deception, let us actually die to sin and be slaves of righteousness (Christ) by His Spirit.

Matthew 7:18-20
"A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit you will recognize them"

3 Modern Deceptions

Below are 3 subtle deceptions of the serpent, that if believed will pour venom through your soul and will produce the fruit of death in your life (ie sin and if persisted in, its end - destruction Rom 6):

  • Sin is inevitable
  • Loving obedience is impossible
  • People are saved in their wilful sin as long as they believe in Jesus

The first 2 are true for non-Christians but not Christians. Deception 3 is not true at all.

Here are the biblical truths:

  • Sin is not inevitable and must be put away
  • Loving obedience is possible by the power of God and essential
  • People won't be saved in their unrepentant wilful sin, people are saved from their sin, not in it.

For without holiness it is impossible to see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We see then why our Saviour said "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" and "apart from me you can do nothing" and "strive to enter the narrow way for many will seek to enter but not be able" and "narrow and difficult is the path to life and few find it" and "at the judgement many will say to me Lord Lord but i will say to them, depart from me you workers of sin " and "many are called but few are chosen". So my friends as Paul warns us "don't be deceived, God is not mocked, what a man sows that he will reap, if we sow to the flesh (selfishness) we will reap corruption, if we sow to the Holy Spirit we will receive eternal life" (Galatians 6). This was spoken to Christians. It is echoed again in Romans 8 "If you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live".

In light of the coming judgement by works, how is this salvation gracious? Why Jesus? How is this good news? Its terrifying you may say. Do you tremble before Him? You should, I do.

Yes it is terrifying. But the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We should fear Him for He will not acquit hypocrites. So be zealous and repent. This is why the gospel, the good news of God's promise to forgive our sin by trusting in Jesus' death and resurection, is so sweet. God loves man and desires to save those who want liberty from their sin (which necessarily leads to death), to become like Christ now (which leads to life) and we will be crowned with glory and immortality at the judgement (Romans 2 literally says this).

Romans 2:6‭-‬8
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Without Christ all our sins were going to be counted against us and we were condemned to death. By faith in Jesus' atoning death and resurrection our sin will not be counted against us! Truly He is our righteousness and sanctification (1 Cor 1). But don't assume because of this truth our sin will not be called into account at the judgement. Or that we can live unrighteously in this present age - for Hebrews 10 warns that those that do will be destroyed by Jesus at the judgement, as do many of Christ's parables. Paul clearly taught we must answer to Jesus for all we have done in the body both good and evil (2 Cor 5:10). We must make increase on the "mina" he has given to us, the deposit of the Spirit he has given to all true believers. We must bear the fruit of love by the Spirit. Have you lived as a hypocrite? Forsake your ways and he will readily receive you but if you justify or excuse your sin you will justly perish in it - yes, even if you profess his name. As He said "For why do you call me Lord Lord but do not do the things i say?".

Exodus 34:6-7b
6 The Lord passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty...

Divine forgiveness is for the reformation of our lives so that we imitate Jesus, walking in loving obedience to Him. For without the hope of forgiveness at the final judgement (and actual forgiveness in the present by faith in Him), why would anyone reform and change? Likewise without actual accountability for our sin at the judgement, why would anyone reform and change? People may as well eat and drink and throw themselves at life's temporal hedonistic enjoyments before that dreadful day of judgement and wrath. Like people on a sinking ship without life vests or lifeboats, enjoy what you can before death. The former expecting to die and retreating into apathy, the latter oblivious to their imminent destruction placating their ears with "peace peace" when there is no peace.

1 Corinthians 15:32b-34
If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

There is no peace to be had in sin. There is no assurance of salvation in sin. Upon forsaking it you will find rest for your soul as you embrace the saviour. He will embrace you by His Spirit and once you experience Him, you will know you are branded as His own possession.

1 Peter 1:15-17
15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile

There is forgiveness and there is mercy to be had at the judgement, but there is also actual accountability! For God loves man beyond comprehension and offers forgiveness through His Son. He does not delight in the destruction of any but rather that all would turn from their sin to Him and live (Ezk 18). His goal is not merely our forgiveness though, it's our transformation into sons of God, that we would be like Jesus in every way in this life! If we live like Him now (and suffer like Him), we will become like Him in glory at the resurrection of the just.

Forgiveness is to be had now by literally confessing your sin before Him, forsaking it, trusting in Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection whereby our sins were atoned for. If we confess and believe this, our faith is counted to us as righteousness and we will be treated as such. We can be assured we are forgiven through the Spirit whom he sent to us who witnesses with our spirit we are indeed His children. This is experiential. Also, we can assure our hearts before the judgement because we walk in Him being like Him in this world.

1 John 4:17‭-‬18
By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgement, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

This is why He sent His Spirit amongst men, having first justified them by faith. That through trust and daily dependence on Him they could show forth His power and light and fruit. Being adopted sons of God, like Jesus in every way on this earth, in this life (Rom 8:29), shining as bright lights in the darkness. For as Jesus said, a disciple is not greater than his master but one fully trained will be like His master (Luke 6:40). Did our Master lie? In no way! Let God be true and every man a liar as Paul says. And His apostle John says "let no one deceive you, whoever practises righteousness is righteous as He is righteous" (1 John 3:7).

Oh how great the deception of Satan that has beguiled the world. For how craftily he has twisted scripture and used it against the apostolic doctrine to mute it over the centuries. Pockets of truth break out, but Satan comes into the church to crush faith by twisting scripture, excusing sin, justifying sin, explaining away sin - massacring many. But Christ's sheep will not follow, humbly they simply follow their Lord in simplicity, love and truth.

Jeremiah 23:1-2
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord.

Matthew 18:6-9
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

The Traditions of Men Make Void the Word of God and Lead Many to Destruction

Obey Jesus, for this is eternal life and this alone. Jesus said whoever keeps his teaching will not taste death (John 8:51). Jesus said whoever has His commands and keeps them it is he who loves Him and he will be loved by His Father and They will make their home in him and manifest Themselves to him (John 14:15-24).

You can see how those that teach the inevitability of sin and the impossibility of righteousness in this life, set a stumbling block that will lead many to destruction. Destroying the child-like faith of the simple with heady philosophy and metaphysical assumptions!

Matthew 23:13
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

Luke 11:52
52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

Matthew 5:20
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Shut your ears to them and drink deep of the simplicity of the Spirit of God and live! Bear forth the fruit of life! This comes by faith and yields peaceable fruit of love and righteousness (James 3:13-18). Maintain a clear conscience always, truly be a slave of righteousness and love by His Spirit. Live for the audience of one in your hidden heart, for there God's eye is set, and inside that temple of God (our body) is where we offer sacrifices of love perpetually unto Him by His Spirit. Walk in utter dependence on the Lord for He has promised to make us practically obedient in the new covenant (Ezk 36:26-27). He is more than willing and able to work in and through us!

Thus, little children and the uneducated will enter the kingdom of heaven with childlike faith (Matt 18:3-4) before the heady scholars and debaters of this age, who love the philosophy of men rather than the simple truth of the supernatural power of the Spirit transforming lives. There is nothing new under the sun, as it was in Christ's day, so it is now. Many Godly men exist and have existed who have expounded and walked this path, but they are often silenced throughout the ages. For many voices clamour in competition, many doctrines...but those with ears to hear will know truth from falsehood. For what is highly esteemed amongst men is often an abomination in the sight of God. This world didn't receive our Lord, nor will it receive us Christians. Our part is to be rejected by this world for we testify that its works are evil, just like they rejected our Lord.

How then is this not a “salvation by works” and personal merit? People misunderstand the method of judgement being like a scale where our good deeds are weighed against our bad deeds, yet this is not the case. Ezekiel 18 explains the method of judgement, it is what path we are on, the path of obedience and love, or disobedience and selfishness (the 1st and 2nd century early church testifies to these 2 paths - Didache, Barnabas, Apology of Aristides). The path you die on is what matters and will seal your eternal destiny. This is good news for great sinners who have lived full lives of sin but in a moment can be repentant and radically transformed by the Spirit. It's also a serious warning for Christians to not become lax and go back to the path of darkness and be finally disqualified as Paul said.

1 Corinthians 9:25‭, ‬27
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable... But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Yes, by disqualified He is meaning forfeiting eternal life through going back to the path of darkness. He is not merely talking about rewards in heaven.

For by faith alone are we forgiven of our debt of sin, and by faith alone through God's Spirit we walk in Jesus' teachings of love (trusting He will indeed work in and through us). God works in us, not us. Salvation by works literally ignores faith in Jesus for forgiveness and thinks enough good works can atone for our sins. This is why Galatians says "the (mosaic) law is not of faith". The path of the Spirit is the path of faith (walking in daily trust and dependence on Christ) producing His fruit, not our own.

Death Makes Christ's Path Easy, Though Those Who Live for This World Stumble Over It.

It's not law we seek (the path of fear), it's love we seek (the path of forgiveness and grace). For love is the bond of perfection (Col 3:14) and love is the fulfilment of the law (Rom 13:10). For lawlesness (sin) is lovelessness. And those who abide in lovelessness abide in the path of death (1 John 3:14-15). Love is light and light casts out darkness. In light there is no darkness nor can there be. Light can grow in magnitude and brightness, just like virtues can always be improved. But light cant abide with darkness, nor can sin abide with love and God (1 John 3:9). Sin and love are mutually exclusive of one another and can't simultaneously coexist.

Romans 6:14
14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

We have not recieved Gods Spirit to tremble in fear but to abide in love towards God and man. If one makes a mistake there is mercy offered (1 John 2:1) but we can live above sin. Love is our path. Love, always improves and always grows in virtues. But just because love is growing, doesnt mean it is sin. A lit candle is not darkness even though it is orders of magnitude smaller than the sun. Love is wary of temptation lest it fall, yet if it falls (not when, as if falling is inevitable), but if it falls, it arises again trusting in God's grace and mercy. Love when abided in is far from all sin. Love overcomes all things! You see how easy His path is, truly His yoke is easy and burden light.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14
11 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

It's this very passage from Deuteronomy Paul quotes in Romans 10 referring to the new covenant. His yoke is easy and burden light. We are not called to be like the Deity of Jesus for only God is infinitely good. No man or even angel can ever be like that. We are called to be like the humanity of Jesus. For the humanity of Christ displays God in the limitations and bounds of human flesh. His life is our standard and it is indeed the new law He has put upon Christians under the new covenant. The light yoke of love by His Spirit doing the teachings of Jesus imitating His way instead of the heavy burden of the mosaic law.

John 15:12
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Galatians 3:21b-27
For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Is His path unreachable by man? Is His will unknowable for how we should act in every moment? “But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” (Deut 30:14) Do you get that? The Word is in you and near you, simply love God above everything in life, and treat others as Christ would treat them. Jesus is that Word who is near us and in us if we are in Him by repentant faith. You can know exactly how to act in every situation with this measure and you are empowered by the Spirit to walk in this way, for our weak flesh (selfish nature) can't but His Spirit through us can.

His path is the low valley of service. The path of self denial. If you forsake all known sin, walk in the Spirit with a clear conscience and love God with all your heart you are doing His will. If you are treating people as you want to be treated, lowering yourself as the servant you are like Jesus, God incarnate. For He dwells in the valley with the lowly of heart. That is what God looks like in the flesh.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Don’t listen to those who say that God's path is so far above us we can never reach it. They put heavy burdens on people that Jesus never did. Theologians often do this.

Luke 11:16
46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

We don't love with our own love. We love with a supernatural divine love being poured through us unto others.

Romans 5:5b
5 …God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

John 7:38
38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

We must die though - to our own desires, our identity, our pride and to all we love and desire in this world. For God's supernatural love doesn't abide in us when we love the world or lean on our own power. We use the world, we don't love it. God's love is produced in us by dependant faith.

1 John 2:15
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

This is why Jesus said the flesh (self) profits nothing, it is the Spirit who gives life. God sheds abroad His love in our heart and we abide in God.

1 John 3:21‭-‬24 ESV
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Abide in Christ's love, we in Him and He in us and He will bear fruit in us (John 15). Fuelled by His love, go love. For we love Him because He first loved us. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. (1 John 3:6). The letter kills but the Spirit brings life (2 Cor 3:6), Surrender your life to Him in totality and by dependant faith drink deep of His Holy Spirit. By faith walk on the waters of sin like Peter did when Christ called him to step out of the boat. Fix your gaze steadfastly on the Lord, for you can't do it but He can in you. You can't be filled with the Spirit if you are full of the desire of this world and the flesh (self). A full jug cannot be filled, you must be emptied before you can be filled. He must become your chief desire. Death is the path to life. As our Lord said "Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this life will keep it for eternal life" (John 12:25).

True Faith Depends on the Truth. Seeing Things as They Really Are, Not as Tradition or Dogma Asserts.

The result of true faith results in abiding in Gods Divine Love by the Holy Spirit and bearing much fruit. No one can force you out of this hidden place. While you can walk away from it, you do not have to if you maintain intemacy with God through prayer. For Love is the opposite of sin and sin the opposite of love. When you understand this, you will make progress. Those who assert we must always be sinning are saying "God cant acutally love through us". Its this faithlessness I oppose, as did the apostolic fathers.

These are the apostolic truths that have long since vanished into oblivion buried under centuries of tradition and man made dogma. Through the centuries essential truths have been split, pitted against each other. Faith against loving obedience as if they are enemies. Yet Ignatius says these unite to bring us unto God! And Paul says all that matters is "faith working through love". If we have not love, we are nothing (1 Cor 13). And Irenaeus says all of this stems from the single root of faith.

Irenaeus - A Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching - Chp 3
3 ...we must needs hold the rule of the faith without deviation, and do the commandments of God, believing in God and fearing Him as Lord and loving Him as Father. Now this doing is produced by faith: for Isaiah says: If ye believe not, neither shall ye understand. And faith is produced by the truth; for faith rests on things that truly are. For in things that are, as they are, we believe; and believing in things that are, as they ever are, we keep firm our confidence in them. Since then faith is the perpetuation of our salvation, we must needs bestow much pains on the maintenance thereof, in order that we may have a true comprehension of the things that are. Now faith occasions this for us; even as the Elders, the disciples of the Apostles, have handed down to us.

You will not obey the Lord if you think it impossible to obey Him. By His Spirit It is possible and needful if you wish to be saved. We are not saved because of our obedience (merit - catholic doctrine), we are not saved irrespective of our obedience (lawlessness - much of protestant doctrine), we are saved in obedience (grace). Love is the law. Christ's teachings are the path of life (found in all of the new testament writings).

Heed these words. Let them be life to you. I don't speak of an abstract concept rather a path to be walked out. I write to make plain this path and make clear the highway of salvation. Take heed what has been prophesied by Isaiah of the new covenant for Jesus is The Way:

Isaiah 35:8-10
8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

For true doctrine is walked out not debated over, or merely spoken of in theory. A man may out debate you, but they can't stop you from loving Jesus and doing His teachings which you will do if you truly abide in Christ. Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18) Those who debate this path will justly stumble over it, for his ways are plain to the holy but are stumbling blocks to the wicked (Sirach 39:24).

Epistle of Barnabas(70 AD - 132 AD) - Chp 5
"Now, the Scripture says, “Not unjustly are nets spread out for birds.” This means that the man perishes justly, who, having a knowledge of the way of righteousness, rushes off into the way of darkness."

Jesus said a similar thing "A wicked generation seeks a sign". As the path of righteousness is self-evident.

Athanasius - Against the Heathen - Chp 1 (3rd century)
"The knowledge of our religion and of the truth of things is independently manifest rather than in need of human teachers, for almost day by day it asserts itself by facts, and manifests itself brighter than the sun by the doctrine of Christ."

Hosea 14:9
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Daniel 12:9-10
9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.

I share what I have personally come to experientially know. As our Lord said, "If you abide in my word, truly you are my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31) and "Whoever sins is a slave of sin, and a slave does not abide forever. But whom the Son sets free is free indeed."(John 8:34). The breaker of our chains is our Lord. In His Cross and by His Spirit is liberty. Die to this vain life and to the love of this empty vapid world which is fading away that you may truly live!

1 John 3:8-10
"Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

This is the good news, by faith in Christ our sins are completely forgiven. The result of this is that our sin can be conquered in this life. For Christ has liberated us from the condemnation of the law, and the pursuit of obeying God by the Mosaic Law, to simply walk in love and service to Jesus directly, doing all He taught us by His Spirit. This actually does His will as Romans 8:4 states "in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit". For we are dead to the Law (Rom 7:6) to live in the newness of the Holy Spirit by His direction.

1 Corinthians 15:56
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the ancient path and this is the highway of holiness. Let us walk upon it! Join Paul who so eloquently expressed his journey on the path of righteousness (a righteousness produced not by our own efforts slaving under the mosaic law, but by yielding to and trusting in Christ who clothes us with His righteousness by His Spirit working in us to will and do His pleasure (Phil 2:13)):

Philippians 3:8-12
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Israel – an Example and Warning for Those Who Doubt Gods Power and Don’t Believe

For just like the Israelites in the desert (of this life), many will doubt God's ability to slay the giants (of sin and selfishness) and grant them the promised land (of love and righteousness), for in their unbelief God cursed them to perish in the desert.

Jude 1:5, 17-19
5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe...17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

This is an allegory frequently employed by the apostles for Christians. The point being, just because God forgave you, don’t presume on His grace and go on in wilful sin thinking you are beyond judgment or accountability, for all will account to Jesus and He will destroy unrepentant hypocrites at His return. "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." (Rev 3:19)

Matthew 24:48-51
48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servant. and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Paul expands on the allegory of Israel being a lesson for the church below.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

This is elaborated in even more detail in Hebrews:

Hebrews 3:12 - 4:1-3,6,11-13
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

1Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest...

...6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience ...

...11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Listen to the very words of Jesus Himself and believe! For we can by His Spirit actully obey Him and He expects this. For Love is not a burdensome command!

John 14:21-24
21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

1 John 4:5-6
5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Run from the apologists of sin. Run from the venom of hypocrisy. Flee from the palatable, ear tickling lie of salvation in sin for this wide road is the dominant message in churches. The narrow path is that of holiness of life, self-denial and surrender to God that He may love through us.

Luke 12:1b-3
“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Matthew 3:7a-10
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?... 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires (Rom 13:14). For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

We may stumble but we never have to stumble. Sin is not a substance, sin is selfishness, love is righteousness by His Spirit. If we stumble there is mercy (if we confess and forsake sin) but intentional sin can and must be put away permanently.

1 John 2:1-6
1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The possibility of mercy if we stumble takes the pressure off, so we can actually walk in love without fear. Note John's purpose of writing was so they didnt sin. He says "if" not "when" they sin as if sin is inevitable like most speak. If your mindset is that sin is inevitable, you do not "consider yourself dead to sin" as Paul instructs us. Nor does your mindset align with that of Peters "arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin"(1 Peter 4:1b). As Polycarp the disciple of John says "he who loves is far from all sin".

Polycarp (disciple of John) - Letter to Philippians - Chapter 3
For if any one be inwardly possessed of these graces, he has fulfilled the command of righteousness, since he that hath love is far from all sin.

Ignatius (disciple of John) -To the Ephesians - Chapter 14
None of these things is hid from you, if you perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ Jesus which are the beginning and the end of life. For the beginning is faith, and the end is love. Now these two, being inseparably connected together, are of God, while all other things which are requisite for a holy life follow after them. No man (truly) making a profession of faith sins; nor does he that possesses love hate any one. The tree is made manifest by its fruit; so those that profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognised by their conduct. For there is not now a demand for mere profession, but that a man be found continuing in the power of faith to the end.

Irenaeus, Polycarp's disciple says the same thing. We must trust the disciples of John over any modern theologian, reformer, pope, or the late Latin church fathers like Augustine. Polycarp was martyred for His faith, as was Ignatius. Augustine does not hold the weight that these apostolic fathers held. Athanasius (who lived a generation prior to Augustine) provided a far better explanation for sin than Augustine’s theory, something the Eastern Orthodox Church holds to this day. See "Against the heathen" in the early church fathers section of this site for His explanation and he refutes the notion of sin being a "nature" embedded in us as Augustine novelly taught. The east taught a physically weakened nature which much more closely aligns with scripture termed "ancestral sin" instead of the western "original sin".

Athanasius explains rightly that sin is a result of the absence of God's Holy Spirit in man, and in this darkness our (morally neutral) natural desires of this world are disordered and cause sin. Like darkness is the result of the absence of light, not because there is a source of darkness beaming dark rays into a room (as Augustine’s original sin teaches), but darkness arises when we depart from God. The solution then is receiving the Holy Spirit and abiding in the Spirit (Romans 8). This is why Jesus said we must be born again. We must receive the Holy Spirit.

For while Jesus is 100% God, He also is 100% Man, as we are in every way. There is nothing intrinsically sinful about mans nature, it becomes sinful by virtue of being separated from God, but is not ontologically sinful. For Christ had a human nature, in every way like us (according to Hebrews 2:17), otherwise He wasn't truly "the son of Man" - nor is He really Human. This is why denying the humanity of Jesus is such a serious error, it gives excuse for sin. Romans 8 says He came in the flesh to condemn sin in the flesh, (removing excuses for sinning), making a way for us to lovingly obey Him by his Spirit (who is the Light beaming from us). For He proved it is not our ontological makeup that makes us sin, it is our desire for this world apart from God. All are born apart from God and thus all sin. Romans 8 makes no sense if Jesus was not identically human as we are. He came to make a path for us to unite with God, forgiving our sin and sending His Spirit to abide in us. We can see from this perspective how essential it is that we daily spend time with God and dwell in His presence, for His absence is darkness and will result in sin. But if we abide in Him, which we can do, His Spirit will make us loving and obedient. Fellowship with God results in this (all of John 15 and 1 John says this). Truly we are the "Body" of Christ.

1 John 1:5-7
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Side note: Something went very wrong in the Latin church very early on. I personally believe anything after the conversion of Emperor Constantine (312 AD) should be treated with serious caution. The earliest eastern Apostolic Fathers (before 200 AD) all wrote in Greek and had consistent theology (what I have presented to you). The western, Latin branch of Christianity (aka Catholicism) invented novelties that can’t be found in the earliest Greek fathers. Later, the protestant arm broke away from Catholicism. Unfortunately, Protestantism broke away back to Latin Augustinianism - both Luther and Calvin held Augustine as chief amongst the early church fathers despite him living as late as 354 AD-420 AD! This is like a man writing in the present (2023) being preferred over others writing in the 1700's who were taught directly by apostles if the apostles lived in the 1700's. This really grinds my gears, especially when we have the writings of Clement, Polycarp and Ignatius who learned directly from the apostles in the 1st century! I’m sure Gods providence is behind it all. But I write that you may seriously re-examine your presuppositions and traditions in light of this. Good doctrine results in actual good fruit in people’s lives. Yet every major brand of Christianity is burdened with sin. Return to the ancient paths, the disciples of the disciples and how they understood the apostles - they produced good fruit. This is The Way!

Consistent Loving Obedience By the Spirit Was the Expectation of Early Christians – They Taught and Walked The Way

It was indeed both the expectation and charge of the apostles and very early church to not intentionally sin until the return of Christ or their own death:

1 Timothy 6:11-14
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Jude 1:3-4,24-25
3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ... 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Irenaeus (130 AD - 200 AD) Disciple of Polycarp, who in turn was a disciple of the apostle John.

A Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching (Chapter 41)
—these were the apostles, who after (receiving) the power of the Holy Spirit were sent forth by Him into all the world, and wrought the calling of the Gentiles, showing to mankind the way of life, to turn them from idols and fornication and covetousness, cleansing their souls and bodies by the baptism of water and of the Holy Spirit; which Holy Spirit they had received of the Lord, and they distributed and imparted It to them that believed; and thus they ordered and established the Churches. By faith and love and hope they established that which was foretold by the prophets, the calling of the Gentiles, according to the mercy of God which was extended to them; bringing it to light through the ministration of their service, and admitting them to the promise of the fathers: to wit, that to those who thus believed in and loved the Lord, and continued in holiness and righteousness and patient endurance, the God of all had promised to grant eternal life by the resurrection of the dead; through Him who died and rose again, Jesus Christ, to whom He has delivered over the kingdom of all existing things, and, the rule of quick and dead, and also the judgement. And they counselled them by the word of truth to keep their flesh undefiled unto the resurrection and their soul unstained.

Not all sin is identical before God. "All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death."- 1 John 5:17. Misspeaking or being grumpy after having little sleep is not the same as committing adultery or killing a man in God's eyes! Accidental sin is not the same as deliberate sin. We have a compassionate judge who empathises with our human weakness.

Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

That said we can maintain a pure heart before God and a clear conscience.

1 Timothy 1:5
5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

We apologise to both God and people if our weakness gets the better of us and there is unlimited mercy to be shown. That said, the new testament is clear on the types of sins that if persistently walked in will destroy you at the judgement. Cease the practice of all of these sins or you will perish in them, regardless of your profession of faith in Jesus. See the list below of these sins and the stern warnings about not being deceived by smooth preachers saying “grace and peace”. These wolves tell people they will still get into heaven as long as they believe in Jesus (though these people continue living unrepentantly in these sins). Repentance is what these should preach, yet by either ignorance or cowardice they don't. To Christ these false shepherds will account. These sins should not be named amongst Christians at all, and loving gentle rebuke and church discipline must be administered if they are present. If they refuse to repent Paul said they are to be put out of the church (excommunicated), and that we shouldn't even eat with them until they forsake their sinful ways.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 5:3-8
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If you commit any of the above can you still be forgiven? Yes of course, if you repent and forsake the sin. Forsaking means ceasing for good, not saying sorry then doing it again in a weeks time. Put away the sin. God has promised to never let us be tempted beyond what we can bare.

1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

God judges and searches the heart. You will not be forgiven if you hold intention to continue in it. People can fool men with empty apologies but God searches the heart. He will receive and pardon any contrite and seriously repentant sinner (Ezekiel 18). Walk in the Spirit through surrender and prayer and abide in His love and you will be far from all of these sins. If you stumble again can you be forgiven? Yes of course, but don't tempt the grace of God. He is incredibly patient but even His patience has a limit, don't put Him to the test.

Conclusion

Now here is the conclusion of the matter, trust in and obey Jesus by His Spirit. To intimately know Christ is eternal life. He loves you, but do you love Him? Your deeds display it. Profess your faith and love to him through your obedience. By His Spirit He works in you if you will die to this world and yield to Him, calling upon Him daily! For not all have the Spirit of God. Whoever does not have the His Spirit is none of His (Rom 8:9). Equally, those who persist in wilful unrepentant sin will perish. Modern Christianity is terrified of "self-righteousness" yet it expects sin (hypocrisy). Yet what they should truly fear is hypocrisy for Christ rebuked the religious for their hypocrisy. If you profess to follow Him, actually follow Him by doing what He says. Paul said we are no longer debtors of the flesh to live in sin we are now are freed to serve Christ as slaves of love (which is righteousness) by His Spirit. Most do not actually beleive this. Many in substance teach we are debtors to the flesh and slaves of sin in this life contradicting Paul. Love Jesus by His Spirit. It is possible and necessary. If you Love Jesus you will obey all Jesus said. The doctrine I have laid out is Gods righteousness poured out in and through us by His Spirit. This is the apostolic doctrine attested to by the apostolic fathers which accords with scripture. Love.

Below is a beautiful summary from a fragment from Irenaeus.

Fragment 36 - Irenaeus
True knowledge, then, consists in the understanding of Christ, which Paul terms the wisdom of God hidden in a mystery, which the natural man receives not. The doctrine of the cross; of which if any man tastes, he will not accede to the disputations and quibbles of proud and puffed-up men, who go into matters of which they have no perception. For the truth is unsophisticated, and the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, as the same apostle declares, being easy of comprehension to those who are obedient. For it renders us like to Christ if we experience the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. For this is the affinity of the apostolic teaching and the most holy faith delivered unto us, which the unlearned receive, and those of slender knowledge have taught, not giving heed to endless genealogies but studying rather (to observe) a straightforward course of life; lest, having been deprived of the Divine Spirit, they fail to attain to the kingdom of heaven. For truly the first thing is to deny oneself and to follow Christ; and those who do this are borne onward to perfection, having fulfilled all their Teacher's will, becoming sons of God by spiritual regeneration, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven; those who seek which first shall not be forsaken.

Grace and peace to all who love, trust in and obey our great Lord.

Revelation 22:10‭-‬17
And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

A Call to Action

The Harvest is Plentiful but the Workers are Few

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
— Daniel 12:3

For many are bound in sin, lost in lies, blinded by tradition and reassured on the broad road to destruction.

If you love them, warn them.

Speak.

If you agree with this teaching and walk in The Way I humbly implore you to share it with others. For many years I clamoured seeking this path, naming the name but with bad fruit in my life, unaware I walked the path of death. But for God's grace I would have been destroyed. Good doctrine brings forth good fruit, bad doctrine brings forth bad fruit. As Jesus said "a tree is known by its fruit" and "wisdom is justified by her children".

Share this path! Make it bright and clear for all who wish to journey on it to the heavenly kingdom of our Lord. For to whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48). Both you and I will give an account to Him on that great day, including what you did with this message. For many are bound in sin, lost in lies, blinded by tradition and are going to be destroyed at the coming judgement of the impartial judge. For they walk in the pathway of sin and death though profess to be alive.

Revelation 3:1b,3-4
“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead...3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

1 Peter 1:13-17
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

Turn them to the path of righteousness and life in Jesus Christ our Lord!

James 5:19-20
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

If no one speaks they will be lost. For this purpose I have written. My conscience compels me. May the Lord arrest your conscience also and you share this message widely. The greater majority of modern pastors will not cry aloud this warning of true repentance - of forsaking willful sin for good, for it bucks tradition, so you must do it. Nor will they warn professed christians that they will perish if they continue on in their sin (for most expect to continue on in intermittent willful sin as their traditions teach them). Away with those traditions that make void Gods word! There are Godly pastors with integrity that preach true righteousness, repentance and faith. I dont mean these faithful few.

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Heed the warning of Ezekiel 3.

Ezekiel 3:17-21
17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”

The age is late. Now is not the time to shrink back in cowardice. For those afraid to stand for the truth will be shut out of the kingdom (Rev 21:8). The battle lines are drawn. The die is cast. I have not brought you my own doctrine, this is the apostolic preaching handed down, buried amongst centuries of tradition. Cast off all tradition! Be followers of The Way as the early Christians were called. Christ is The Way and all his teaching. Read the church fathers up to 200 AD and you will see it to be the case. For He came to cast a fire to the earth and if these truths are clearly preached, fire will fall from heaven as in the days of old. The division will be that of loving obedience against empty fruitless profession.

Luke 12:49-53
49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Stand apart from hypocrisy. For hypocrites and the double minded can't stand to hear of the judgement according to works and will fight against The Way. Give no ground though. Just as Polycarp the disciple of John said:

Polycarp - Letter to the Philippians - Chp 7
Whosoever perverts the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts, and says that there is neither a resurrection nor a judgement, he is the first-born of Satan. Wherefore, forsaking the vanity of many, and their false doctrines, let us return to the word which has been handed down to us from the beginning;

Give no endorsement for moral compromise. Gird yourself with the breastplate of righteousness and the belt of truth and draw the sword of the Spirit. For modern Christianity has “broken loose to the derision of the world”.

Exodus 32:25-29
25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord's side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. 27 And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” 28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. 29 And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

Malachi 3:16-18
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

We are in dark days and the Lord is truly at the door. Which side of history will you be found on when our Lord returns? He said of His return, "will I find faith on the earth?". The comfortable side of tradition, excusing and expecting sin, weighed down with hypocrisy like the Pharisees, or the side of the Holy Spirit, standing for truth in actual humble loving obedience to Jesus? The virgin ready with oil in her lamp or the one without any ? He frees us from our sins to walk in genuine love wrought by His Spirit! We are not debtors to the flesh as many teach.

Revelation 1:5-7
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Faith working through love is the apostolic doctrine passed down from the earliest Christians. It's not more complicated than this. They lived as dead men, soley for Jesus. They didnt expect to sin. On the contrary, they expected to not commit a single serious sin until they either died or Christ returned. Many paid for their faith with their life - Polycarp did! How far the church has fallen from the days of the apostles and their disciples. When the traditions of men are purged from the church and the old paths are preached with zeal and clarity, fire will fall from heaven as in the days of old. I will fight for this truth for the remainder of my days. I pray you would join me in the fight against the tepid Christianity of our day. Come Lord Jesus. Set fire to this world again, as in the days of our forefathers.

Matthew 16:24-27
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Soli Deo Gloria

To God alone be glory