Tag Archives: gospel of grace

The Lake of Fire is Forever

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The lake of fire is the final place of eternal punishment, described as “the second death,” where conscious separation from God is permanently experienced (Rev. 20:14). It was created originally for Satan and fallen angels as the ultimate expression of God’s righteous judgment against irrevocable rebellion, as Jesus stated, “the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). According to Fruchtenbaum, “the Lake of Fire is the eternal abode of all lost ones, both angels and men.”[1] Those people who go there are all who remain outside of Christ, having rejected God’s provision of eternal life, and whose names are “not found written in the book of life” (Rev. 20:15). Demy states, “According to Revelation 20:11–15, unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire after the Great White Throne judgment at the end of the millennium and remain there forever.”[2]

The Lake of Fire is Forever

Scripture presents the lake of fire as eternal because it is described with the same unqualified duration language used for God’s own life and for the believer’s eternal destiny. Jesus stated, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25:46). The key Greek adjective in Matthew 25:46 is aiōnios which denotes “a period of unending duration, without end.”[3] The parallelism is significant. The same adjective modifies both destinies. If eternal life is unending, eternal punishment must be unending as well. Any attempt to limit the duration of the punishment logically undermines the permanence of life. The same word describes God Himself as “the eternal God” (Rom. 16:26). If aiōnios were limited in duration, God’s existence would be limited as well. Context governs meaning, and the context of final judgment demands permanence.

Revelation reinforces this conclusion with even stronger language. The devil, the beast, and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire and are said to be “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10). The Greek phrase eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn is the strongest possible Greek construction for endless duration. It is used repeatedly in Revelation for God’s eternal reign and glory (Rev. 1:6; 4:9–10; 5:13; 10:6; 11:15). When unbelievers are later cast into the same lake of fire (Rev. 20:14–15), the text gives no hint of a different outcome or duration. The place, the punishment, and the language are identical.

Another significant term is basanizō, translated “tormented” (Rev. 20:10). It denotes conscious, ongoing suffering, not annihilation or momentary pain. In Revelation 20:10, it refers to “the eternal torment that comes upon the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and those who worship the beast.”[4] Likewise, Revelation 14:11 states, “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night.” The expression “no rest” rules out cessation of existence. Annihilation would bring rest. Scripture denies it.

Finally, the lake of fire is eternal because it is the final state, not a corrective or purifying phase. Revelation 20–22 presents a closed eschatological sequence: final judgment, eternal punishment, then the new heaven and new earth. There is no subsequent release, restoration, or end to judgment. The lake of fire is described as “the second death” (Rev. 20:14), not because existence ceases, but because it is irreversible separation from God, experienced consciously and forever. Eternal judgment is eternal because God says it is, using the same words He uses for eternal life.

The Lake of Fire is Avoidable

No one has to go to the lake of fire. It is entirely avoidable because God has provided a complete and sufficient rescue through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus declared, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). The issue is not moral reform, religious effort, or perseverance in works, but faith alone in Christ alone. Scripture states, “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16b), and “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). Christ “died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). Jesus died for everyone (1 John 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:14–15), which makes everyone savable (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4), but the benefits of the cross are applied only to those who believe in Him (John 1:12).

Eternal life is offered as a gift, not a wage: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Jesus is the eternal Son of God (John 1:1, 14), who took upon Himself true humanity (Phil. 2:6–7; Heb. 2:14), lived a perfectly righteous and sinless life (1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5), and willingly went to the cross (John 10:17–18), where He died for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice (Isa. 53:5–6; 1 Cor. 15:3). He was buried, confirming the reality of His death (Matt. 27:57–60; 1 Cor. 15:4), and was raised bodily on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4; Luke 24:6–7), conquering sin and death (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:54–57). Now He offers eternal life freely to all who receive it by faith alone (John 3:16; 5:24; Eph. 2:8–9). At the moment of faith, the believer is justified (Rom. 3:28; 5:1), forgiven (Eph. 1:7; Col. 2:13), and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13–14). Final judgment is no longer a threat (John 5:24; 10:28–29), because “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). The matter is simple: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

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[1] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events, Rev. ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2003), 745.

[2] Timothy J. Demy, “Lake of Fire,” in The Harvest Handbook of Bible Prophecy, (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2020), 212.

[3] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 33.

[4] Christopher A. Beetham, ed., “Βασανίζω,” in Concise New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2021), 137.

False Additions to the Gospel

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The gospel is the good news that God, in His grace, has provided a way of salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Though all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), Jesus—the eternal Son of God—took our sins upon Himself and paid the full penalty through His death on the cross (Mark 10:45; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18). He was buried and rose again on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4), proving His victory over sin and death (Rom 6:9). God now offers eternal life as a free gift to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ alone as Savior (John 3:16; Eph 2:8-9). We are not saved by good works, religious rituals, or personal reform (Rom 4:4-5), but by faith alone in Christ alone (Acts 4:12; 16:31). The moment we believe, we are forgiven (Acts 10:43), declared righteous (Rom 3:28), and given eternal life (John 10:28), secure forever in God’s grace (Rom 5:1).

Sadly, many well-meaning people muddy the clarity of the gospel by adding extra steps God never required. These additions shift the spotlight from Christ’s finished work to our own efforts, emotions, or rituals. One popular phrase is “Invite Jesus into your heart.” It sounds spiritual, but it’s found nowhere in Scripture. Salvation doesn’t happen by inviting Jesus into a trash heap—it happens by believing in Him for eternal life (John 3:16; Acts 16:31). Another common error is “Say the sinner’s prayer.” While someone may express faith through prayer, no prayer saves. We’re saved by trusting in Christ (John 3:16; Acts 4:12), not by reciting a prayer.

Another extra-biblical tradition is “Walk the aisle” or “come forward.” Moving your body doesn’t move your soul. Plenty have walked aisles without believing, and plenty have believed without ever leaving their seat. The gospel isn’t about geography—it’s about faith. Similarly, “Give your life to Christ” or “Make Jesus Lord of your life” flips the gospel on its head. We don’t give anything to be saved—we receive what God gives freely (Rom 6:23; John 1:12). And while Jesus is Lord, salvation is not about surrendering every aspect of life. That comes as we grow spiritually after salvation, but it is not a condition for it (Rom 4:5).

Some say you must “turn from all your sins” to be saved. But that’s reformation, not redemption. Repentance in salvation means a change of mind—specifically about Christ—not a vow to clean yourself up (Acts 17:30). Sanctification comes later; salvation is a gift received by faith. The most dangerous twist is the “believe and…” gospel—believe and be baptized, believe and do good works, believe and join a church. But once you add anything to faith, you cancel the gospel (Gal 1:6-9). Paul said it best: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Period.

Salvation is by grace alone (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:8-9), through faith alone (Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16), in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). No gimmicks. No rituals. No religious hoops to jump through. Just faith in the Savior who finished the work. As Jesus said, “The one who believes in Me has eternal life” (John 6:47), and “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). That’s simple, clear, and forever.

In summary, the gospel is good news precisely because it’s not about what we do for God, but about what He has done for us through Jesus Christ. When we add anything to faith—no matter how religious or heartfelt—we muddy the message of the gospel and rob it of its power. God’s offer of eternal life is simple and pure: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). That’s it. No aisle to walk, no prayer to recite, no checklist to complete. Just trust in the crucified and risen Savior who paid it all. Strip away the clutter, and you’ll find a gospel that is truly grace from start to finish—free, full, and forever.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

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Sovereignty and the Open Door of Grace

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God is absolutely sovereign, but in His sovereignty, He chose to give mankind volition. That means people have the capacity to choose—to believe or reject, to obey or disobey. While all are born spiritually dead in Adam, that death is separation, not inability. A spiritually dead person is not a rock or a robot. Dead does not mean nonfunctional; it means cut off from God, not insensible. The Bible shows that unbelievers can perceive truth, respond to God, and are held accountable for doing so (Rom 1:18-20; Acts 17:27-31). The idea that only some are chosen to be saved and the rest left without any real chance is a theological fiction, not biblical doctrine. Scripture clearly states that Christ died for the sins of all humanity—not just the elect (1 John 2:2; Heb 2:9). The invitation is universal because the provision is universal. God desires all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4). That’s not wishful thinking—it’s divine intent.

Faith is not a gift infused at regeneration; it is the non-meritorious response of a person persuaded by the gospel (John 3:16; Rom 4:5). Regeneration follows faith, not the other way around. The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8), illuminating the truth so that anyone can believe. To argue that one must be born again before believing turns the gospel into a closed system accessible only to a pre-selected few. The biblical order is crystal clear: “Whoever believes…has eternal life” (John 3:16), not “Whoever has eternal life will believe.” God persuades through truth, not coercion.

And then there’s the myth of irresistible grace—the notion that the elect cannot say no. But Scripture shows otherwise. People can resist the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51), reject the counsel of God (Luke 7:30), and turn away from the truth (John 5:40). Grace, by definition, must be free, not forced. If you can’t say no, it’s not grace—it’s override. God does not bulldoze human will. He invites, persuades, pleads, and warns—but He never forces.

Finally, the idea that all true believers will inevitably persevere in faith and good works is theological wishful thinking, not doctrinal reality. The Bible is replete with examples of genuine believers who failed, faltered, or even died in carnality (1 Cor 3:1-3; 11:30-32; 1 John 5:16). Eternal life is secure the moment one believes—permanently and irrevocably (John 10:28-29). But sanctification? That’s another matter. That’s progressive, not guaranteed. Believers are commanded to walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16), renew their minds (Rom 12:2), and grow in grace (2 Pet 3:18). Failure in these areas does not prove one was never saved; it just proves the believer is still capable of sin—because volition doesn’t vanish at salvation. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—period. The gospel is an open door, not a guarded gate.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

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The Gospel of Grace

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The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news that God, in His love and grace, has provided a way of eternal salvation for all people through the death and resurrection of His Son. Scripture declares plainly that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures… He was buried… He was raised on the third day” (1 Cor 15:3-4). This is not a limited offer to a select group. It is a universal provision, made available to whoever believes. Scripture states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The love of God and the sacrifice of Christ are not reserved for a predetermined few—they are extended to the entirety of the human race. Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), and He is “the propitiation… for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). That’s not theological theory—it’s biblical fact.

Jesus is the eternal Son of God who added humanity to Himself (John 1:1, 14; Phil 2:6-7; Col 2:9), lived the perfectly righteous life we never could (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22), willingly laid down His life as our substitute (Isa 53:5-6; John 10:17-18; Rom 5:8), and conquered sin and death through His resurrection on the third day—never to die again (Rom 6:9-10; Rev 1:18). His resurrection is essential to our eternal salvation, for “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15:17). But He has been raised, and because He lives, all who trust in Him will live also.

Mankind is lost in sin, yes, but not incapable of response. People are not spiritually comatose or robotic. They are responsible beings, made in the image of God, capable of responding to His revelation. Though sin has affected every aspect of human nature, it has not rendered the unbeliever unable to understand the gospel. That’s why Scripture repeatedly calls people to believe. Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29). Paul told the Philippian jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). And to the Athenians, Paul declared, “God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30)—that is, to change their mind and respond to the truth of the gospel. The command to believe is meaningless unless the unbeliever has the capacity to respond. Faith is not a work—it is non-meritorious. It is the hand that receives the gift.

Salvation is not a sovereign lottery. It is not a secretive process whereby God chooses some and bypasses others for reasons hidden in the mystery of eternity. God desires all to be saved. “God our Savior… desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:3–4). He is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). Election in Scripture is corporate—we are chosen “in Christ” (Eph 1:4), not independently of Christ. The moment a person believes in Christ, they are united with Him and share in everything He is and has. But no one is forced into union. God never violates volition.

The atonement was not a selective payment—it was a once-for-all satisfaction of divine justice. Jesus Christ bore the sins of all—past, present, and future. As Scripture declares, “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb 10:10), and again, “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Heb 10:14). Paul wrote, “We have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (1 Tim 4:10). That doesn’t mean all are saved, but that salvation is available to all. The issue isn’t “for whom did Christ die?” The issue is: will you believe?

And finally, eternal life is secure—not because we persevere, but because God keeps His promise. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47). That’s not temporary life. That’s not probationary life. That’s eternal life—guaranteed the moment you believe. He said, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). We don’t hold onto Him—He holds onto us. And even when we are faithless, “He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim 2:13). Salvation is by grace, through faith, and it is eternally secure—not because of our endurance, but because of His finished work.

The gospel is simple: Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again. He did it for you. And the only thing God requires is that you believe—not try, not promise, not perform. Believe. The moment you do, God gives you eternal life—freely, irrevocably, and forever. If you’ve not trusted in Jesus as your Savior, don’t wait another day. Let today be the day of salvation for you. You’ll be eternally grateful.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

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The Spirit’s Convicting Ministry to the World

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Holy Spirit as a DoveThere is a special work that God the Holy Spirit is doing in the hearts of unbelievers to help prepare them to turn to Christ as Savior.[1] Concerning this special work, Jesus said, “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Jesus’ statement about the Holy Spirit is in the future tense (He will convict), which implies the Spirit’s special ministry was not active at the time Jesus uttered His statement. This special convicting ministry would be inaugurated on the day of Pentecost. The word convict translates the Greek word elegcho (ἐλέγχω), which means, “to bring a person to the point of recognizing wrongdoing, convict, [or] convince someone of something.”[2] Jesus said the Spirit’s convincing work would fall into three areas: 1) “concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me” (John 16:9), 2) “concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me” (John 16:10), and 3) “concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged” (John 16:11). Let’s look at these in order.

The Sin of Unbelief

The sin mentioned by Jesus in John 16:8 does not refer to a catalogue of sins one might be guilty of (i.e., lust, greed, worry, gossip, stealing, etc.), but rather, one specific sin, which is unbelief, as Jesus said, “because they do not believe in Me” (John 16:9). The word for sin is hamartia (ἁμαρτία), which in Jesus’ statement is a singular noun that refers to a specific crime; namely, unbelief. Sylva notes, “Here sin is unbelief. Jesus faces people with a decision for or against himself: by belief or unbelief a person decides either for life or for death (John 8:24; 9:41; 16:8–9).”[3] There is only one sin that keeps a person out of heaven, and that’s the sin of unbelief. Wiersbe states:

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of one particular sin, the sin of unbelief. The law of God and the conscience of man will convict the sinner of his sins (plural) specifically; but it is the work of the Spirit, through the witness of the believers, to expose the unbelief of the lost world. After all, it is unbelief that condemns the lost sinner (John 3:18–21), not the committing of individual sins. A person could “clean up his life” and quit his or her bad habits and still be lost and go to hell.[4]

The Spirit always performs His work perfectly in the hearts of the lost, but because people have volition, and their hearts are corrupt, the vast majority of people suppress His message (Matt 7:13-14; John 5:39-40; Rom 1:18-32). Only the Holy Spirit can reveal to the human heart the truth about Jesus, as well as the truth about their sin of unbelief. To suppress the Spirit’s work about Jesus as the Son of God and Savior is the greatest of sins possible, as well as the most fatal sin that forever condemns a person to hell. Robert Lightner states:

Apart from God the Father there would have been no plan of salvation. Without God the Son there would have been no provision for salvation. Apart from the work of God the Spirit there would be no application of this great salvation to man’s needs. It is the third member of the Godhead who procures salvation for all who believe.[5]

The Righteousness of Jesus

God alone sets the standard for righteousness, not people. Divine righteousness may be defined as the intrinsic, immutable, moral perfection of God, from which He commands all things, in heaven and earth, and declares as just that which conforms to His righteousness and as sinful that which deviates. Borchert is correct when he states, “Humanity is not in control either of the future or of setting the standards for life. That is the work of God.”[6] And Merrill C. Tenney states, “Apart from a standard of righteousness, there can be no sin; and there must be an awareness of the holiness of God before a person will realize his own deficiency.”[7] Though Jesus was rejected and treated as a criminal, God the Father declared Him righteous and welcomed Him to heaven, His natural home. Jesus is “the Holy and Righteous One” (Acts 3:14), and throughout His life “knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21), was “without sin” (Heb 4:15), “committed no sin” (1 Pet 2:22), and in whom “there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). The rejection and crucifixion of Jesus was the greatest miscarriage of justice in the history of the human race. Jesus said those who rejected and crucified Him would “rejoice” (John 16:20), but as Borchert notes, “their rejoicing at being finished with Jesus turned out to be the rejoicing of the damned.”[8] William Hendriksen offers the following insights:

The world, represented by the Jews, was about to crucify Jesus. It was going to say, “He ought to die” (John 19:7); hence, in the name of righteousness it was going to put him to death. It proclaimed aloud that he was anything but righteous. It treated him as an evil-doer (John 18:30). But the exact opposite was the truth. Though rejected by the world, he was welcomed by the Father, welcomed home via the cross, the cross which led to the crown…By means of the resurrection the Father would place the stamp of His approval upon His life and work (Acts 2:22, 23, 33; Rom 1:4). He, the very One whom the world had branded as unrighteous, would by means of His victorious going to the Father be marked as the Righteous One (8:46; Acts 3:14; 7:52; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 3:18; 1 John 2:1; and cf., Luke 23:47). Thus, the world would be convicted with respect to righteousness.[9]

Christians do not need to struggle to convince people about the perfect righteousness of Christ, nor of the sinner’s failed righteousness before a holy God. They need only to communicate the biblical truth about Christ and fallen humanity, and leave the Spirit to do what only He can do, to convince them of the truth about Christ as the only Savior of mankind. If unbelievers suppresses the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, then no amount of reasoning or argumentation on the part of Christians will advance the gospel even one inch.

The Judgment of the Ruler of this World

Fallen angelA third area where the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts of unbelievers concerns judgment, “because the ruler of this world has been judged” (John 16:11). Satan has been judged and found guilty before God. This means that Satan and his world-system is condemned. Being the ruler of this world, Satan naturally rules in the hearts of all unbelievers. Three times Jesus referred to Satan as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Other passages of Scripture call Satan “the god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2), informing us “that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Satan rules as a tyrant who has “weakened the nations” (Isa 14:12), and currently “deceives the whole world” (Rev 12:9). Satan continues to attack God’s people today (1 Pet 5:8), practices deception (2 Cor 11:13-15), and has well developed strategies of warfare (Eph 6:10-12). Furthermore, humanity is living in an “evil age” (Gal 1:4), under “the dominion of Satan” (Acts 26:18), whose sphere of influence is called “the domain of darkness” (Col 1:13). But Satan has been judged and his punishment is pending execution. Furthermore, those who side with Satan in this life will be judged with him in eternity. According to Ryrie, “At the cross, Christ triumphed over Satan, serving notice on unbelievers of their judgment to come.”[10] Radmacher notes, “Satan was judged at the Cross, and the Holy Spirit would convince people of the judgment to come. Satan has been judged, so all who side with him will be judged with him. There is no room for neutrality. A person is either a child of God or a child of the devil.”[11] Merrill Tenney states:

To convince any unbeliever of sin, righteousness, and judgment is beyond human ability. It may be possible to fix upon him the guilt of some specific sin if there is sufficient evidence to bring him before a jury; but to make him acknowledge the deeper fact, that he is a sinner, evil at heart, and deserving of punishment because he has not believed in Christ, is quite another matter. To bring a man to some standard of ethics is not too difficult; for almost every person has ideals that coincide with the moral law at some point. To create in him the humiliating consciousness that his self-righteousness is as filthy rags in comparison with the spotless linen of the righteousness of God cannot be effected by ordinary persuasion. Many believe in a general law of retribution; but it is almost impossible to convince them that they already stand condemned. Only the power of the Holy Spirit, working from within, can bring about that profound conviction which leads to repentance. The Spirit anticipates and makes effective the ministry of the disciples in carrying the message to unbelievers.[12]

Satan has been judged and will spend eternity in the lake of fire. Those who reject Christ as Savior naturally default to an alliance with Satan, and these will spend eternity in the lake of fire with him, “the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41). The lake of fire is avoidable. If the lost simply trust in Christ as their Savior, they will have eternal life and spend eternity with God in heaven. However, if they reject Christ as Savior, then they will spend eternity in hell, for “if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15).

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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[1] In the NT, God the Holy Spirit took on a new ministry after Jesus returned to heaven (John 16:7-15; cf., Acts 1:6-8; 2:1-4; 15:7-9). Part of His ministry is to believers, and part is to unbelievers. Concerning the Spirit’s ministry to believers, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7). The Helper is the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus will send (future tense of the Greek verb pempo) to believers. The Spirit’s work in Christians would be multifaceted and would relate to their sanctification and godly influence in a fallen world. After Pentecost (Acts 2), God the Holy Spirit would work in and through His church to other Christians, to help with their sanctification, and to unbelievers, to share the gospel of grace that they might be saved.

[2] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 315.

[3] Moisés Silva, ed., New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 260.

[4] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1, 362.

[5] Robert P. Lightner, Handbook of Evangelical Theology: A Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1995), 196.

[6] Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 167.

[7] Merrill C. Tenney, “John,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 9 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981), 157.

[8] Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 167.

[9] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to John, vol. 2, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 326.

[10] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, Expanded ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995), 1712.

[11] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 1350.

[12] Merrill C. Tenney, John: The Gospel of Belief, The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1976), 237.

Two Fathers, Two Kingdoms: Understanding Spiritual Identity in a Divided World

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Everyone we meet has two fathers. Everyone.[1] They have a biological father and a spiritual father. Biblically, their spiritual father is either God or Satan. The Pharisees incorrectly thought they were children of God, and said to Jesus, “The only Father we have is God himself” (John 8:41). Here’s an example were perception was not equal to reality. Jesus refuted them, saying, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world” (John 8:23), and “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father” (John 8:44a). According to William Hendriksen, “Identity of inner passions and desires establishes spiritual descent: they are constantly desiring to carry out the wishes of the devil; so he must be their father. The devil desires to kill and to lie, and so do they.”[2] We live in a divided world where “the good seed are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one” (Matt 13:38; cf., 1 John 3:10).

Satan as ruler of this worldThose who are children of Satan are called “sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:2), are under “the dominion of Satan” (Acts 26:18), and reside in his “domain of darkness” (Col 1:13; cf., Rom 2:19). These walk “in the futility of their mind” (Eph 4:17b), and are “darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart” (Eph 4:18). Paul said that Satan “has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor 4:4). But these are not unwilling victims; for though they are born into Satan’s kingdom and “held captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim 2:26), they also enjoy what he offers and are said to “love the darkness rather than the Light” (John 3:19). The word love in this passage translates the Greek verb agapao (ἀγαπάω), which is in the active voice and means they willingly love the darkness of Satan’s world system and all their affections are tied to it. They continue as residents of his kingdom by choice and not by chance. Freedom awaits them if they want it. Freedom in Christ. But they don’t want freedom. And when given the opportunity to be liberated from their captor, they prefer to clutch their chains of familiar pleasures and practices than to step into the unknown freedom and responsibilities of liberty in Christ. Jesus said of them, “you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:40).

The apostle Paul described them as “men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1:18), are “without excuse” before God (Rom 1:20), and “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures” (Rom 1:22-23). Of those who are negative and set their wills against God, three times it is written that He “gave them over” to “the lusts of their hearts” (Rom 1:24), and “to degrading passions” (Rom 1:26), and “to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper” (Rom 1:28). Once God permits a person to operate by his sinful passions, that person is given a measure of freedom to live as he wants, but not without consequence, both in time and eternity. Furthermore, “God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Th 2:11-12).

To say that Satan is someone’s father also means they are his children by imitation. Jesus said of Satan, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44b). By his actions, Satan became the murderer of souls, directing the first humans into sinful acts that ultimately led to their spiritual death and the enslavement of all mankind (Gen 2:17; 3:1-6; Rom 5:12, 14, 19; 6:23). According to William Hendriksen:

From the very beginning of the history of the human race the devil had murder in his heart, and he actually plunged the human race into the ocean of death, physical, spiritual, and eternal (Rom 5:12; Heb 2:14; 1 John 3:8)…The devil, then, is the very wellspring of lies, the creator of falsehoods (see Gen 3:1, 4; Job 1:9, 10, 11; Matt 4:6, 9; Acts 5:3; 2 Th 2:9, 10, 11). When he lies, he is original. When he does not lie (Acts 16:16, 17), he quotes or even plagiarizes; but even then he gives the borrowed words a false setting, in order to create an illusion. He ever strives to lie and deceive, and this he does in order to murder.[3]

Those who are children of Satan: 1) are spiritually deceived, 2) belong to Satan’s world-system (are of this world), 3) share Satan’s desires, 4) have murder in their hearts, and 5) practice lies and deception to promote their agenda. These persons are generally inclined to harm others spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, or even physically, which endangers the well-being of those near them. As growing Christians, we are to show them love and grace when possible (Matt 5:44-45), but also guard ourselves against their attacks (Acts 20:28; 2 Tim 4:14-15).

Satan is a master strategist who seeks to plant his agents into all organizations whereby they can have a destructive influence on others, especially if they can promote a departure from the Bible and its morals in the NT. These agents of Satan will promote lies, deception, violence, and murder to obtain and retain their places of pride and power. Today, we observe their corrupt influence in the seminaries, government, the press, academic institutions, the military, businesses, sports, entertainment, and society in general. The Christian influence that once guided our country is diminishing, and short of a spiritual awakening, the trend toward evil will only get worse.

As a growing Christian, I am not neutral. I make it a point to study God’s Word every day, walk by faith in the Spirit, speak truth, show love, demonstrate grace, and pray for others (both saints and sinners). If there comes a time when we, as Christians, should face rising persecution, we must be ready. The more time we spend learning God’s Word and walking by faith, the better equipped we will be to stand against attackers who may seek to silence us by whatever means they can.

Bible Promises - 3It is to our benefit to realize we live in a fallen world, and when we walk with God, in total devotion to Christ, the world will reject us. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). We understand that the gospel of grace and solid Bible teaching will, on occasion, threaten other people’s pride and power, and we should not be surprised when they react negatively and with hostility, either verbally or physically. If possible, we are to get along with others and pursue peace (Rom 12:18), but never at the price of neglecting our mission to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15), or gather together for Bible study (Acts 2:42; 2 Tim 2:15), fellowship (Heb 10:25), worship (Eph 5:19-20), and prayer (1 Th 5:17). Because we live in a fallen world, there will be times when we must choose whether we will serve God or man. Of course, the correct choice is, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29; cf. Dan 3:18). And though we may enjoy periods of peace and blessing, the world is currently under Satan’s control, which means it will only get worse, not better. As Christians, we are both realistic and optimistic about the world and the future. Realistic that we will not win the world to Christ during our time on earth (though not for want of effort by sharing the gospel and Bible teaching), and optimistic because we know Christ is coming back and will make everything right when He returns. Lastly, we must keep our focus on God and His Word (Isa 26:3; Col 3:2, 16), as it provides mental and emotional stability when trouble comes (and it will). Adversity is inevitable, and we must handle it by wisdom and faith.

Mature Christians make it their life’s mission to glorify God by learning and living His Word, to share the gospel of grace with others who will listen, edify others with biblical teaching and godly living, and love others sacrificially with integrity. We say with Paul, “I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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[1] Jesus is the sole exception, for by the God the Holy Spirit He was supernaturally conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary and was born without original sin or a sin nature. Furthermore, Jesus lived His entire life in perfect obedience to the Father and committed no sin (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5). He said, “I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). And when He reached the end of His earthly mission, Jesus said to the Father, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4).

[2] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to John, vol. 2, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 60.

[3] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Gospel According to John, vol. 2, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 60-61.