Is “once saved, always saved” true? The answer is no, for the following reasons:

• “If we endure, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us” (2 Tim 2:12).
• We are saved if we keep in memory what Paul preached (1 Cor 15:2).
• Unbelief may cause us to be cut off from God (Rom 11:18-21).
• If we don’t continue in God’s goodness we will be cut off from God (Rom 11:22).
• If we sin willfully there remains no more sacrifice for sins (Heb 10:26-29).
• In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and un-blamable and un-reprovable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith… (Col 1:22-23).
• Heb 6:4-12 goes into detail about standing firm and not falling away and what happens to those who fall away.

These are things we need to do to keep ourselves from sin and still be saved. It is not difficult though, as Jesus lives in us and He preserves us if we continue in the faith: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29). “…The Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30).

Introduction
A number of people are talking about the “Third Pull”.  This was one of the parts of the ministry given to William Branham, as announced by an angel in 1946.  This page is a compilation of most of what William Branham said about the Third Pull.

1 Not a public show

WHY.ARE.PEOPLE.SO.TOSSED.ABOUT  JEFF  V-2 N-14  56-0101

  6-3   018   Then He taken me from there, and I seen a great huge tent. I never seen such a tent. And it was packed and lined everywhere with people. And I walked out to the… Looked like I was standing above the people, looking down, where I’d just made an altar call; and hundreds and hundreds of people were weeping and rejoicing after they had accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.

And I looked, and then heard a man get up and say, “Call the prayer line.” And people begin to line up over on this side, the left from where I was looking down towards the platform, and they lined all the way up and down the street for a prayer line. I noticed to my left, which would’ve been to my right if I was on the platform, a little wooden building. And I seen that Light, that all—they have the picture of, you know, that’s always in the meetings; I seen that Light leave me, and go to that building, and go in that building; and a Voice said to me, “I’ll meet you in there; that’ll be the third pull.”

I said, “Why?”

He said, “Well, it won’t be a public show like they had it.” And I came to.

And I… Now, at the beginning of this new year, back to my tabernacle where I started from (See?), back to the beginning where I—I started… I—I am very grateful to God for these things.

2  To the eternally lost

CHRIST.IS.THE.MYSTERY  JEFF.IN  V-3 N-7  63-0728

  94-1   304   Not knowing (of course, being spiritual, you watch spiritual things)—not knowing this, God knows it. But if you’ll turn and look at the clock, it’s on the dot 2 o’clock: the end of the Second Pull, the Third Pull is at hand.

At the name of Jesus bowing, Falling prostrate at His feet, King of kings in heaven we’ll crown Him, When our journey is complete.

Precious name… (Second Pull has been made manifested.) Hope of earth and joy of heaven; Precious name, O how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heaven.

CHRIST.IS.THE.MYSTERY  JEFF.IN  V-3 N-7  63-0728

  94-2   305   Did you notice the Spirit take the same song and picked it up an octave higher like that? The next Pull is at hand. Amen.

(It’s later than you think.)

CHRIST.IS.THE.MYSTERY  JEFF.IN  V-3 N-7  63-0728

  95-1   306   Let us bow our heads now, everybody, reverently…?…

At the name of Jesus bowing… [Message in unknown language followed by interpretation—Ed.]

Now, if you understand, the Spirit of the Lord dropped in the meeting upon unknown languages (speaking it to a man not knowing, to interpret it by another man not knowing) the Word of the Lord. You remember when the enemy was coming up and they didn’t know what they would do? The Spirit of the Lord fell upon a man and revealed what was to be done. Oh, my. Just bow our heads now, humbly. God bless you.

SOULS.IN.PRISON.NOW  JEFF.IN. V-2 N-22  63-1110M

  42-3   135   And notice, when the Third Pull of His ministry come, the First was healing the sick, the Second was rebuking their organizations and prophesying what they had done, what they were, and what was coming: what is, what will come, what was—what is and will come. That’s what He done. Is that right? But His Third Pull was when He preached to the lost that couldn’t be saved no more. They were down there where them big painted eyes was. Preached to the souls in hell that did not accept mercy, but were eternally separated from the Presence of God; yet they had to recognize what He was, because God made Him there. Wonder if His ministry climbs out the same way in the last days. As it was, “As the Father sent Me, so send I you. The works that I do shall you also.”

SOULS.IN.PRISON.NOW  JEFF.IN. V-2 N-22  63-1110M

  42-4   136   Lost, could never be saved, they had rejected mercy. That was His Third Pull. Now, is there any question? His First Pull, He healed the sick. Is that right? His Second Ministry, He was prophesying. His Third Ministry was preaching to the eternal lost. The three mountains and so forth—the lost, eternal.

LOOK.AWAY.TO.JESUS  JEFF.IN  V-2 N-17  63-1229E

  7-4   020   And now, on persons like ourselves, we’re going to be cut out of all that altogether. That’s exactly, because they won’t be able to do it. It’s tightening; and then when that time comes, and the press comes to a place to where you’re pressed out, then watch (what I am fixing to tell you in a few minutes) watch the third pull then. It’ll be absolutely to the total lost, but it—it will be for the Bride and the church.

Now, we’re closer than it seems to be. I don’t know when, but it’s real, real, close. I may be building a platform for somebody else to step on. I may be taken before that time. I don’t know. And that time may be this coming week that the Holy Spirit will come with—and bring Christ Jesus. He may come this next week. He may come yet tonight. I don’t know when He will come. He doesn’t tell us that. But I do believe that we are so close, that I would never die with old age. Yet at fifty-four years old, I’d never die with old age until He’s here. See? Unless I am shot, killed, or something, or other, some way killed; just old age wouldn’t kill me, until He’s come. And I believe that… And I want to say this; I have never said it before, but according to Scripture, according to what He said thirty years ago, thirty-three years ago on the river down there (in 1933, rather), what He said, everything has happened just exactly. I may not do it, but this message will introduce Jesus Christ to the world. “For as John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming, so is the message to forerun the second coming.” And John said, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” See? So it—it paralleled it in every way, and I know it will. The message will go on.

3  Manifested in the fullness of its power when the Council tightens up, when the great hour of persection comes on

LOOK.AWAY.TO.JESUS  JEFF.IN  V-2 N-17  63-1229E

  6-1   016   So now, I am going to say something to you now, that I haven’t said all along. And that is, the thing that we have looked forward to for so long, or at least many years, four or five years or maybe longer, the third pull has now been vindicated, and I’m sure you all know what it is.

Now, remember, there’ll never be any impersonation of that, ’cause it can’t be. It cannot be. Now, it’s in existence, and I have—I am warned of this, that soon, right at this time now, it’s just happened, so it could identify its presence among you. See? But it will not be used in a great way, until this council begins to tighten up. And when it does, when that does… The Pentecostals and so forth can almost impersonate anything could be done, but when that time comes, when the squeeze comes down, then you’ll see what you have seen temporarily, be manifested in the fullness of its power. See…?… see?

LOOK.AWAY.TO.JESUS  JEFF.IN  V-2 N-17  63-1229E

7-4   020   And now, on persons like ourselves, we’re going to be cut out of all that altogether. That’s exactly, because they won’t be able to do it. It’s tightening; and then when that time comes, and the press comes to a place to where you’re pressed out, then watch (what I am fixing to tell you in a few minutes) watch the third pull then. It’ll be absolutely to the total lost, but it—it will be for the Bride and the church.

SHALOM  SIERRA.VISTA.AZ  V-13 N-5  64-0112

263   201   And I’m sorry, really to have held you like this, but just to get a tape of this now from… If the Lord willing, this is what I’m to speak on at—at Phoenix, Sunday afternoon. Then Monday, I’m going with a little short meetings, and so forth. I purposed in my heart this year, if the Lord willing, I’m—I just cut and tore from side to side. And we all know that the identification, we know what the third pull is, we all—we all understand that.

Now, you got—you’ll have the tape. You see? And it’s… Now, I think it’ll just lay dormant for a little while, until the great hour of persecution comes on. That’s when…?… It’ll speak. It’ll be manifested. Just like the five straight signs without failure, perfectly. And now I think, just wait (See?), just see what does. I’m going the same again, through and through, to find out, short meetings, and we’ll try to have—get out every night early. Have just about thirty minutes, talk on something, about Divine healing, or something like that. And whenever I get ready to make a tape again, I’ll either run down here to the back side of the desert, or else to the Tabernacle, or somewhere, where they can make a tape, where we’ll be among ourselves, and I can say what I wish to, like that.

4  Something great will be done

LOOK.AWAY.TO.JESUS  JEFF.IN  V-2 N-17  63-1229E

  6-3   017   Now, I must continue in evangelism, just as I was commissioned first; I must continue on. Therefore, you’ve had the Word, and you know what to look for, how to stand. I must continue on in evangelism. And friends of mine, keep still and just keep moving on, for the hour is approaching swiftly (See?), that when something is going to be done.

Now, you might see some little odd things happen from me, nothing sinful, I don’t mean that, but I mean something odd to what the regular trend, because what I have reached to now in the ministry, I’m dropping back here, watching that spot and waiting for the time to use it. But it’s going to be used. And everyone knows that for as certain as the first was identified, so has the second been identified; and if you’ll think real closely, you who are spiritual (as the Bible said, “Here’s to him who has wisdom.”) the third is properly identified. See? We know where it is. So the third pull is here.

LOOK.AWAY.TO.JESUS  JEFF.IN  V-2 N-17  63-1229E

  21-3   056   He said, “Wait a minute.” With the drawed diagrams and all the pictures and everything else, he couldn’t find one trace of it. He examined her over and over. He said, “I might not be able to explain it, but, Mrs. Branham, that tumor isn’t there.” And she’s never had one symptom of it since.

What was it? Notice, just exactly the way It said: “Before the doctor’s hand can touch it.” One split second and his hand would’ve touched it. How perfect is the Word of the Lord.

Now, there’s my wife, and we’re both before God. But before the doctor’s hand could even touch her body, on the road coming to her like that, something happened. The tumor left. And they couldn’t even… He said—I believe it was, wasn’t it sweetheart? “I want to reassure you, Mrs. Branham,” Is that right the way he said it? That’s right. “that that tumor isn’t there. You don’t have any tumor.” What was it? Just exactly according to the Word of the Lord that was spoke. Amen.

That’s the fifth time. Five is the number of grace, a number of f-a-i-t-h too. There’s no more doubt in my mind. I know what the third pull is, and I know what it does. Now, be reverent; just keep quiet. The hour will soon arrive, where God is going to do some great things for us.

5   For the Bride and the church (no mention of Israel)

LOOK.AWAY.TO.JESUS  JEFF.IN  V-2 N-17  63-1229E

  7-4   020   And now, on persons like ourselves, we’re going to be cut out of all that altogether. That’s exactly, because they won’t be able to do it. It’s tightening; and then when that time comes, and the press comes to a place to where you’re pressed out, then watch (what I am fixing to tell you in a few minutes) watch the third pull then. It’ll be absolutely to the total lost, but it—it will be for the Bride and the church.

Christians are freed from sin and made righteous, holy and pure through the blood of Jesus. But the Bible also says that we sometimes get tempted (1 Cor 10:13) and go through difficult or apparently dry times. Even Paul said that we would suffer with Christ (Rom 8:17, 2 Cor 1:6, Phil 1:29, 2 Tim 2:12, Heb 13:3) and Peter says this too in 1 Pet 3:14 & 16. Jesus is obviously still with us and in us, but it can still feel like a dry time sometimes. Thankfully, as Paul says in 1 Cor 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Clearly stemming from their views on perfection, some people have said that they don’t believe in going through dry seasons or deserts any more; you are to be happy all the time.  Some have heard this teaching and when they end up going through such a dry season they start to doubt their faith, which is the logical conclusion of this teaching.  But in the end, the dry seasons make us stronger and build character in us. James 1:3 puts this very well: Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

The following verses imply a future or process of sanctification: 2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. So being sanctified is conditional on us purging ourselves. Then in these scriptures we are sanctified by the Word of God, which is clearly an ongoing process: John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So Paul is praying that we would be wholly sanctified, clearly meaning that sanctification is an ongoing process. For more about this see http://www.biblebb.com/files/ryle/are_we_sanctified.htm and http://bible.org/article/regeneration-justification-and-sanctification.

So we can see that there is an ongoing and conditional sanctification are taught in Scripture. There is also a past sanctification – see http://word.spiritbodysoul.com/sanctification.

Scriptures which we can find that imply a process of becoming holy include the following: Ro 6:19, 2Co 7:1, 1Th 3:13, 4:7, 1 Tim 2:15, Heb 12:14 and 1Pe 1:15.  None of these verses state that we are not yet holy already, but they state that we are to yield our members to holiness (Ro 6:19), be holy (1 Pe 1:15-16), follow holiness (Heb 12:14), perfect (mature) holiness (2 Cor 7:1), be established in holiness (1 Thess 3:13), God has called us to holiness (1 Thess 4:7) and about the need to continue in holiness (1 Tim 2:15).

Its interesting that the issue of whether sanctification was accomplished through what Jesus did on the cross and was available to the believer as soon as they believe or was a subsequent experience to salvation (a “second work of grace”) caused a huge split in the Azusa Street Revival. See for example http://www.revival-library.org/pensketches/am_pentecostals/durham.html ‘William Durham… began a preaching mission at the Upper Room Mission in Los Angeles but, despite his brilliant oratory and pulpit presence, the congregation ejected him over sanctification teaching of the “Finished Work.” This teaching repudiated the holiness doctrine of sanctification as a second work of grace and instead declared that everything a believer would ever need was included in the finished work of Christ on the cross. This repudiation of the Holiness doctrine of sanctification as a “second work of grace,” argued that the “finished work” of Christ on Calvary becomes available to the believer at the time of justification. The benefits of Calvary are therefore appropriated for sanctification over the entire period of the Christian’s life, rather than at a single subsequent moment, as was believed by most Pentecostals in Durham’s day. ‘

Can repentance mean turning away from sin and do Christians ever need to repent from sin? The Greek word for “repent” generally used in the New Testament (NT) is metanoeo (Strong’s no 3340) and means changing of the mind or purpose for the better. This can clearly mean changing your mind to the belief that you are righteous and not a sinner any more, and that you are forgiven by Jesus because of His shed blood on the cross.   Although after the cross (Acts to Revelation in the NT) there is little mention of repentance, the following scriptures show that repentance can also mean a changing of the mind or purpose away from sin, and repentance from sin is sometimes required for Christians.

• 2 Cor 12:21 “And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
• Revelation 2:20-23: “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.”

These two Scriptures are addressed to Christians, and it is very clear from these verses that Christians must repent if they sin. Repentance can only be because of our understanding that Jesus has already paid the price for our sin on the cross, and we can only repent because Jesus gives us the desire to repent. Repentance is also not just about saying sorry, it is not self-pity and is not about trying to change yourself, as only Jesus can change you.

Consider also the following Scriptures:

• In Rom 13:12 Paul tells his readers to “cast off the works of      darkness” and in 1 Cor 6:18 to “flee fornication” and in 1 Cor 10:14, to “flee from idolatry”. Clearly the Corinthians had lapsed into sin and needed to flee from it. Fleeing from or casting off something to me means changing your mind about it and therefore means the same as repentance. If this is not repentance from sin, I am not sure what it is. As believers, we are freed from sin and should not be sinning and need not sin any more, but if we do sin we need to repent/flee/cast off those sins. Of course we are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, by His grace, there is no other way to have sins forgiven at all, but sins are      removed from us when we cast them off, let go of them, turn away from them      (repent). It really is very simple.
• A number of scriptures command us to forgive one another, as Christ forgave us (Eph 4:32 and Col 3:13). It seems to me that forgiveness is a form of repentance from unforgiveness and bitterness.
• James 5:14-16 says “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  And the      prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  So the forgiveness of sins is related to the prayer of faith for the sick. We are also told to confess our faults to one another, which implies repentance. (Note that we are not told to confess “sins” to one another, although some corrupted Greek manuscripts incorrectly use the word for “sins” instead of “faults” in this verse – for more information refer to http://word.spiritbodysoul.com/bible-versions.

The above shows that, after true repentance and conversion, although you are righteous and not a sinner any more, if you do lapse into committing sin, repentance from this sin is required. This of course is only possible as a result of being saved and the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. And of course it is because of the shed blood of Jesus on the cross that sin is forgiven – see http://word.spiritbodysoul.com/forgiven-free.

There is what some would call a “spirit of repentance” that can come from the Lord, which often includes a godly sorrow (2 Cor 7:9), resulting in deep repentance from sins. In scripture, one term for this is the Lord searching the thoughts and hearts (Rev 2:23). Very often we have treated those who sin with punishment, as a kind of a deterrence not to repeat the sin. But does this really stop people sinning or deter others from sinning?  As Danny Silk explains in his excellent book, Culture of Honour, dealing with a Christian who sins requires not punishment but honouring that person and understanding the problem that causes the sin and dealing with that underlying issue. This results in a godly sorrow to repentance (2 Cor 7:9).

In the following Scriptures, Jesus Himself commands Christians to repent, and although it is not explicitly stated that this means repentance from sin, this is implied:

• Revelation 2:4-5: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
• Revelation 2:16: “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
• Revelations 3:3 “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”
• Revelations 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Someone may say, “Well, repentance is all about changing your mind about Jesus it is all about turning to a new way, to Jesus, not about turning from sin”.  But if you turn to something you also must have turned away from something else. What is the something else? Sin, evil, satan etc. Turning from death to life. Turning from sin to righteousness. It is very simple really. There is no contradiction at all. Repentance is both, it is turning to Jesus and it is very clear from Scripture that repentance is also turning away from sin.

Some people also believe we should repent from good works, but that is not Biblical; for further discussion on this, refer to http://word.spiritbodysoul.com/fruit.

Some people quote Martin Luther as a good source of teaching on repentance. Here is a summary of what he taught about it: http://www.newreformationpress.com/freebies/Luther_on_Repentance.pdf. Although Luther rightly moved away from the Roman Catholic ideas of penance (our suffering to somehow pay for sin) and confession to a priest to a Biblical belief in forgiveness of sin by grace through faith, it seems he also believed in “absolution” by man, and so did not fully break from the traditions of men.

Since many of the above scriptures are telling believers to repent from sin, we therefore need to repent if we sin.  We think it is legalism for anyone to tell people they should not repent, when the Bible says we do need to repent when we sin. If God is leading you to repent, and as it is already in His Word, how can any person to tell you not to repent?

We sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6), but Jesus, Paul and other NT writers also commanded us to humble ourselves, consider others better than ourselves, and to prefer and honour one another.

Here are some examples of what it means to humble yourself:

1. Serving others (Phil 2:7, Gal 5:13)
2. Making yourself of no reputation (Phil 2:7)
3. Esteeming others better than yourself / preferring one another (Phil 2:3, Rom 12:10)
4. Not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought to think (Rom 12:3, Gal 6:3)
5. Loving your neighbour as yourself & not biting and devouring one another, and being kind to others (Rom 12:10, Col 3:14, Gal 5:14-15)
6. We are dead to the law and Christ lives in us and we live by the faith of the Son of God (Gal 2:20) and we do not try to be made pefect by the flesh (Gal 3:3)
7. Doing all in the name of the Lord Jesus and with all your heart as unto the Lord and not unto men (Col 3:17, 23)
8. Not glorying in the flesh or in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 6:13-14)
9. Being longsuffering (patient) and forbearing (enduring or putting up with things) and keeping unity of the Spirit and forgiving others (Eph 4:2-3, Col 3:12-13)
10. Restoring other people who are overtaken in faults, in the spirit of meekness (Gal 6:1)
11. Bearing one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2)
12. Not provoking or envying others (Gal 5:26)
13. Doing good to everyone, especially those of the household of faith (Gal 6:10)
14. Honouring fathers and obeying masters with fear and trembling, doing the will of God from the heart and with good will (Eph 6:2,5-7, Col 3:22).
15. Not being threatening to those who serve you (Eph 6:9)

There are many warnings throughout scripture warning against pride and boasting (e.g. Pr 28:26, Mt 26:33, Luke 18:9, Jn 9:41, 1 Cor 10:12). It is right to gently point out error and to judge all things (1 Cor 2:15), but we also need to honour and love our brothers and sisters and be prepared to listen to them. We are not to judge other people (Rom 14:13). Let’s also not idolise someone who preaches some great truths, and think they never make mistakes, however good we think those people are, as I have seen some people do. Let’s honour and love people. We highly recommend Danny Silk’s awesome book, “Culture of Honour”, see http://www.lovingonpurpose.com/cultureofhonor/#/home/. Divisions are not caused by people questioning things and seeking truth and differentiating truth from error, but divisions are caused by lack of love and honour.  My intention is only to love and honour everyone, including those I don’t always agree with.  Rom 12:10 sums this up very well: “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Rom 13:8 then says “Owe no man anything, but to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

We recommend Andrew Murray’s book Humility. See http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/5f00.0565/5f00.0565.c.htm or http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780883681787?redirected=true&gclid=CKHOl5Xls7QCFaTKtAodDWAAgQ

It would seem that we automatically receive the fullness of God in us and that we are given everything freely when we get saved. It would therefore appear that we should stop “seeking God”, “pressing in” for God or “hungering for God” after we get saved. Surely only only non-Christians seek God, and when someone gets saved they have “found” God? John 6:35 would seem to indicate that we should not be hungry for God, and hunger seems to indicate a lack of something.  But is this true? Acts 17:27 does say that people can seek and find the Lord. Is it true that seeking God and hunger for Him is only in the Old Testament?  Yes, seeking God and hunger for God is mentioned throughout the Old Testament, but it is also in the New Testament. Let’s see what the New Testament actually says this. Note carefully that these verses of Scripture are all written to believers, not to non-believers:

Mt 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.   If you read Mt 5:1, you will see that Jesus was speaking to his disciples. Then read the rest of the beatitudes in Mt 6 and you will see clearly that they are addressed to believers, not to those who are not yet believers. The rest of the beatitudes are also speaking of ongoing actions such as being meek, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers etc, and are not one time actions which take place only at salvation.  The wonderful thing is, Jesus says we shall be filled.  The promise is given to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, not to those who refuse to do this.

In the following two verses, Jesus was clearly speaking to his disciples – believers, not unbelievers. Again Jesus says “you shall find” and “all these things will be added.” What wonderful promises, but these promises are to those who seek, not to those who refuse to seek! There is always more of God and His Kingdom to seek and find.

• Mt 6:33, Lk 12:31  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
• Mt 7:7, Lk 11:9  Seek, and ye shall find.

Okay, you might say these words were spoken before Jesus was crucified and before the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, so they don’t apply after that. But just read the context and you will see that they do apply to us now. If you throw out these words of Jesus and say they don’t apply any more, then you should throw out the rest of the words of Jesus, a large proportion of the New Testament. Let’s not just read certain selected passages of Scripture and ignore others, but consider the whole balance of Scripture.

In fact, Paul clearly shows in Rom 3:11 and 11:7 that unbelievers cannot seek after God.

Now let’s consider some other relevant verses in the New Testament, which some people seem to totally ignore.

• Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.   Paul is very clearly telling believers to seek the things of heaven! Often the word heaven is used interchangeably for God in the Bible. So this means we are to seek the things of God, and so we should definitely seek God himself.
• In 2 Tim 2:22, Paul spoke of “following righteousness, faith, love and peace.” This again amounts to seeking God, as that is what He is.  Again the same people who claim to preach what Paul preached are ignoring some things that Paul taught.
• Heb 10: 21-22  And having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
• Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
• James 4:8 Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you.

So we can see that the New Testament writers clearly encourage us to draw near to God and come to him, and even to “diligently seek Him”. If that is not encouraging believers to seek and press in for God I don’t know what it is. If we do this we will be rewarded and God will “draw near” to us. Of course God is already in us if we are believers and God is omnipresent, but there is still a realisation of the presence of God when we can tangibly feel him as we “draw near” to him.

There are no scriptures we can find anywhere in the Bible that instruct us not to seek God and not to press in for God. It seems to us that the idea that we should not seek God or press in for God is unbiblical, legalistic and can cause people to be lazy and turn away from God, and so is not helpful. Only those who seek him, hunger for him and draw near to him can claim these promises that we find him, we will be filled, rewarded, he draws near to us, all these things shall be added to us.

The main issue here is that we need to understand what “seeking God” means; it does not mean you have not found God or do not know him – that is just a misunderstanding of the meaning of the word “seeking”.  Seeking is also not laborious self-effort as some people seem to think. Let’s stick to the Bible and understand the word “seek” in the way it is used in the Bible. Look at no. 2212 in Strong’s Greek dictionary and you will see that the Greek word for “seek” can mean worship, desire, or enquire.  That is only one word for “seek” in the Bible, and only one Lexicon’s interpretation, there are others too. Once a person is saved, the seeking and pursuing God and His purposes comes out of knowing Him and abiding in Him, from a love relationship, based on His grace and the finished work of Christ on the cross. It is the Spirit of God dwelling in us that causes us to seek God and hunger after Him, it is nothing of our own making. A good book we recommend on this subject is “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence.  Also, we recommend this article about seeking God, written by John Piper, I don’t think I could put it better than he does.

Some people think we were given everything as a gift at salvation because of the finished work of Christ and anything we do such as seeking God, be hungry or even pray to try to obtain anything else would be works.  Clearly according to Rom 9:32 God freely gives us all things, but that scripture does not say we don’t need to ask. Otherwise this would contradict so many other Scripture which tell us clearly to ask God for things and believe (Mark 11:23) – refer to http://word.spiritbodysoul.com/prayer-intimacy/. Salvation was purchased on the cross through the shed blood of Jesus and given freely to us but there is usually something we need to do to receive it (John 1:12) – e.g. repent (Acts 2:38), confess our sin (1 John 1:9), confess the Lord Jesus and believe in His resurrection (Rom 10:9-11). By the stripes of Jesus (when he was whipped before he was crucified) we were healed (1 Peter 2:24), but God does not often automatically heal someone, we usually need to pray for healing and believe in Him in order to receive it. However these are not hard and fast rules or conditions for healing (which would be law) – some people have no faith and yet God sovereignly heals them, and some people receive healing when worshipping, and are not even praying for healing. Also the faith we have is only a gift of God anyway.  The fact that we do something to receive any of these things means some works are needed. The simple thing is God wants us to be humble and trust in Him for everything.  Prayer, repentance and seeking God are nothing to do with law, but are to do with humility and love for God, and dependence on Him.  In fact, by telling us not to do these things, some people are in danger of bringing us back under law! Refer to http://word.spiritbodysoul.com/fruit/ for more information on that subject and why not all works are bad.

It is God Himself that gives us hunger for Him, it is not some religious self-effort to be hungry for him; what an impossible task that would be. Just like with prayer, we realise God lives in us and has freely given us all things, but we are still to ask Him for things in prayer, so the same with hunger; God is in us, but we are still to hunger for Him. Hunger is not a one off experience, you need to eat again when you get hungry. Some people have even become legalistic about not hungering for God, but the point about John 6:35 is that you need never stay hungry, that Jesus keeps feeding you with His living bread. According to this verse, if we always keep coming to Jesus and believing in Him (this is not a one-time thing, we need to keep on believing) and as we do that He satisfies our hunger.  We recommend the book “A Hunger for God – Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer” by John Piper: http://cdn.desiringgod.org/pdf/books_hfg/hfg_all.pdf.

As believers who have received the fullness of Christ, it may appear that there is no need to fast from food. So why would we fast?

Fasting is to be out of resting in the Lord and being led by what He is directing us to do, to spend time with Him and grow in our faith. It is not to be out of a desire to twist God’s arm to make him give something to us out of selfishness. (However, as we are righteous and freed from sin, why would we have a wrong motive in fasting anyway?) As some people rightly point out, there is an awesome scripture, in Isaiah 58:6-7, about “the fast God has chosen, to loose the bonds of heaviness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke….to deal thy bread to the hungry….” This gives us another aspect of fasting – freedom and generosity, how wonderful. There is a time for feasting, and a time for fasting, let the Lord lead you to what He wants you to do.

Although there is no command in the New Testament to fast, and so we are not to elevate its significance, there are several positive references to fasting, which show that it is still good to fast, when the Lord leads you to do that. It is obvious from the context that these are referring to fasting from food. We will examine these now.
Mt 6:16-17 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face.

So Jesus did not say “if you fast”, but “when you fast”, assuming that his disciples would fast.

Mt 9:15, Mk 2:18-19, Lk 5:34-5  And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Jesus said his disciples would fast after he was taken from them (i.e. had ascended into heaven). There is no discouragement from Jesus about fasting, our Lord Jesus says his disciples shall fast! This article explains this verse very well as follows:  “Some have suggested he was referring just to the several days between his death and resurrection. They would fast just for those days. But that is very unlikely for several reasons. One is that the early church fasted after the resurrection, as we have seen in Acts 13:1–3 (cf. Acts 14:23; 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27). The other is that in Matthew 25:1–13, Jesus pictures his second coming as the arrival of the bridegroom. In other words, the Bridegroom is taken away until the second coming of Christ.” This article just quoted also shows that even though Jesus is now with us again we still need to fast, and gives much more information on the reasons for and benefits of fasting.  Some people quote Lk 5:34 from The Living Bible, which says “Jesus asked, do happy men fast?” The obvious implication would then be that happy men do not fast and as we are happy and full of the joy of the Holy Spirit, we do not fast. But we have seen how this verse is translated, accurately, in the KJV, and therefore the Living Bible is a complete mistranslation of an important passage of scripture which teaches about fasting. Even the New Living Bible does not translate Lk 5:34 in that way. We can rightly conclude from the above that happy men do indeed fast when God leads them to do that.

Mt 17:21, Mk 9:29 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.   Therefore some kinds of demons will only be cast out by prayer and fasting.  These people are taking fasting away and stopping people getting free from demons. What is the benefit of that?  I am aware that this verse or the reference to fasting is not present in most Bible versions. However, the vast majority of Greek manuscripts contain this verse in its entirety and hence the KJV and NKJV contain this verse. For more information on this refer to http://word.spiritbodysoul.com/bible-versions/.

Even Paul encouraged married couples to fast and pray:

1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

The New Testament believers clearly fasted, see Acts 9:9, 10:30, 13:2-3 and 14:23. This is an example to us to fast and evidence that it is good to do this.

In Acts 13:1–3, again as stated here, “the course of history was changed when the leaders of the church in Antioch were worshiping, praying, and fasting.”

From Luke 18:12 it can be seen that the Pharisee boasted about his twice weekly fasting and his tithing. But that is not to say we should not fast or tithe, just don’t boast about it. In Acts 27:33-34 Paul told the shipmen he was with to eat something for their health, after fasting 14 days. He did not say never to fast.

We have covered all the verses in the New Testament about fasting, and we can see that although there are only a few and none commands us to fast, there is none that discourages us from fasting and some positive benefits of fasting are presented.  Rather than beating down the body, even health experts will tell you that fasting is healthy for the body.  I actually have not fasted much at all, but sometimes when I am in prayer I have no desire for food as I am so feasting on Jesus.

Believers are one in God (John 17:21), abide in Him (Jn 15:4-5) and Christ lives in us (Gal 2:20, Col 1:27), so why do we need to pray? One answer to this is that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16), completely one with God (Jn 17:21) and he still prayed. So long as we are righteous, and the prayer is “effectual fervent prayer”, according to James 5:16, it “avails much.”  We believe in many different forms of prayer, different types of prayer are right for different times as God leads us. Let’s read our Bible without preconceived ideas, while listening to God and what Godly people said who really knew how to pray, and see what the Bible really says about this important activity.

There are many scriptures that demonstrate the authority we have in God so that we can command mountains to move (e.g. Mark 11:23), and there is no Scripture that tells us to ask God to move the mountains. If we believe when we pray, we will have the things that we desire (Mark 11:24). Jesus also said that prayer to be seen by men will be rewarded on earth but not in heaven (Mt 6:5), and we are not to use vain repetitions in prayer (Mt 6:7) or ask just for our own pleasure (James 4:3). Another condition to be met if we are to receive what we ask for in prayer is that we abide in Jesus and his words abide in us (John 15:7). Effective prayer is also about asking in faith (James 1:6) and according to his will (1 John 5:14).

We love soaking and the ecstasy of God, and this is one vital aspect of prayer (again we recommend the book, “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence). Some people play down or even ignore asking God for things in prayer, but the Bible tells us to do it. If we do not ask God for things, we may miss out from receiving things from God. Yes, He has already freely given us all things, but he still wants us to ask. He wants humility and total dependence on Him. As James 4:2 puts it so well, “ye have not, because ye ask not.” There are so many scriptures that tell us to ask God for things and petition Him:

• John 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
• John 16:24  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name:
• Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
• Mt 9:38, Lu 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
• 1Th 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

There are so many scriptures which instruct us to pray for things or people. Each of these verses uses the Greek word proseuchomai, which means to wish, speak out, utter aloud towards. It involves speaking to God. Even after the finished work of the cross we are still commanded to speak aloud to God.

• Notice in Ro 8:26, it is the Holy Spirit who intercedes when we      don’t know what to pray for, through our groanings, that is with our      mouth, this most probably means prayer in tongues. Let’s let God use us to      intercede, and we may need to step out and start speaking, but we need to      realise that it is the Holy Spirit who intercedes – there are no      scriptures which say we intercede of ourselves.
• Mt 5:44 pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute      you;
• Mt 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: …..Thy kingdom come.      Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.   Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive      our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
• Lu 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which      despitefully use you.
• Lu 11:2-4 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, ….Thy kingdom      come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  Give us day by day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins; for we also      forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation;      but deliver us from evil.
• 1Co 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray      that he may interpret.
• Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and      more in knowledge and in all judgment;
• Col 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus      Christ, praying always for you,
• Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not      cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the      knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
• Col 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a      door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in      bonds:
• 1Th 5:25 Brethren, pray for us.
• 2Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would      count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his      goodness, and the work of faith with power:
• 2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord      may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
• Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in      all things willing to live honestly.
• Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the      church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of      the Lord:
• Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for      another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a      righteous man availeth much.
• 1Jo 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto      death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto      death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

As we have already said, even Jesus, who was totally one with the Father, prayed to God for things:

• Mt 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he      shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
• John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you      another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
• John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them      which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
• John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the      world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
• John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which      shall believe on me through their word;

So we are encouraged to pray by asking God for things to receive from Him and communicating with God. There are conditions for answered prayer, which include faith, abiding in Him and His word abiding in us, asking according to his will and not using vain repetitions.

There are several Greek words translated “perfect” in the New Testament, but the most commonly used one, teleios, when applied to people, does not even mean flawless in every way, as we might expect, but means complete, full age, mature (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Strong’s no 5046). Most people would agree that once we become Christians, there is a process of maturing. So we can be mature in some ways but not in others, and at different levels of maturity.  In most English Bibles, e.g. the KJV, the words “maturing”, “maturation” and “mature” are not used, instead, the words “perfecting” and “perfect” are used instead. In Scripture there is clearly a process of perfecting (i.e. maturing), which we discuss below.

Jesus commands us to be perfect (Mt 5:48). Note that, as we have already stated, this means mature.  The fact that Jesus commands us to be perfect implies we may not already be perfect (mature), but we are moving towards perfection, and there is something we need to do to be perfect (although, of course, only Jesus in us can enable us to do this). As we have said, some people may achieve such maturity in some areas but not others, and some may reach maturity while others aren’t yet mature.

In Philippians 3, Paul says that he has not already attained or is already perfect (v12), and he says “I count not myself to have apprehended”, and says “reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (v13-14).  A literal translation of verse 15 is “Let us therefore, as many as would be perfect, be thus minded…..”  Verse 16 says “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” We really don’t need to interpret these verses in terms of martyrdom being the “high calling” as some people do – we do not think that is  the correct understanding of these verses. The “prize” is also mentioned in 1 Cor. 9:24 and is incorruptible, which is clearly our reward in heaven, not martyrdom. If we simply understand that this perfection means maturity, Phil 3:12 makes complete sense.

In Rom 8:26 Paul says that “the Spirit helpeth our infirmities. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought…” Again this indicates that we are not instantly made perfect (mature) at conversion.

In 1 Th 3:10, Paul talks about “praying exceedingly that we might… perfect that which is lacking in your faith” – why would Paul say this if their faith were already perfect? It would make no sense at all!  In Col 1:27-28, Paul talks about the “riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Again there are things to be done before we are presented as perfect (mature). A literal translation of Eph 5:18 is that we are to continually keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit – it is an ongoing process or perfecting (maturing).  We need more of the Holy Spirit as we grow in our walk with the Lord.

The five ministries of Eph 4:11 are “for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry”. The Bible does not say saints are perfected for ministry at conversion. No, there is a maturing process, which is facilitated by God-given ministries.  All the way through the New Testament there is this process of perfecting (maturing) referred to, and there is no reference to us being made perfect (mature) as soon as we are saved.

However there is one verse about perfection which many grace preachers will pick on, ignoring all the others, and this is Hebrews 10:14. We intend to discuss this in a later version of this article. In the meantime, please read the following website: http://preceptaustin.org/hebrews_1014.htm

Some people also teach that the soul is made perfect as soon as we get saved, yet Paul makes it very clear that being soulish is not even a good thing.  In a similar way to Rom 12:1 discussing the mind being renewed (the mind is part of the soul), 1 Pet 1:22 talks about us purifying our souls. 1 Pet 2:11 shows the vulnerability of the soul to fleshly lusts which war against it and that we are to abstain from these lusts. This shows that the soul is clearly not always perfect after we get saved. No such purification of the spirit, or vulnerability of the spirit to fleshly lusts is even hinted at in Scripture, as our spirits are made alive and are filled with the Holy Spirit at conversion or soon afterwards.

Throughout scripture there are warnings that we are not to give in to temptation, and there are commands to be perfect and processes are described to enable us to be perfected. We are justified, made righteous and holy, sanctified and set free from sin at salvation, but there is nothing in scripture that says we are made perfect (mature) as soon as we get saved. To say otherwise could lull people into a false sense of security and lead them away from growing and maturing in Christ and in fact lead them away from perfection (maturity).  Also, the baptism or filling with the Holy Spirit can occur several times after salvation (refer to Acts 2:4, 4:31, 13:52, 19:1-7). A great article that explains the biblical truth on perfection in more detail is by Mike Bickle.