What's wrong with the "rapture ready" movement?
Note: The message below, modified over time, is something that I've been posting on social media for a while now. I added parts as people would respond in kind, but had to keep it within the Youtube character limits. I came out of the "rapture ready" movement, a form of Lordship Salvation doctrine, and believe that God wants me to reach out to those who believe in this.
I have a message for anyone who has a few minutes to listen. I feel this is very important for you to know. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and what He did for us alone. And when we're saved, we're definitely going in the rapture (which I believe happens post-tribulation, pre-wrath: https://www.thetruthforfree.com/when-will-the-rapture-happen.html ). "Repentance from sin" isn't part of the gospel of salvation, neither is committing our life to Him, being water baptized, or anything else of ourselves. There are very good reasons to try to stop sinning after we're saved, like to be a better witness or out of a love of God, but the salvation He's offered us is His free gift of love.
The gospel of salvation is about what He's done for us, not about how righteous we can be. We just have to believe and trust Him. He's done all the work. I've learned this after having made the mistake of believing I needed to try not to sin or be willing to try not to sin before I could be saved, or, for fear of losing my salvation, that I had to ask forgiveness for every sin after being saved (which was really just me trying to justify myself, even if I maybe didn't realize it), but those beliefs and others including works in the gospel are a subtle attack on the truth.
Once we've recognized we're sinners on the way to hell and in need of a Savior He's made it so simple. Faith really is sufficient:
The Bible seems to define turning from an evil way as works in Jonah 3:10 and 1 John 3:4 shows that if you're trying not to sin, you're trying to keep the law:
"Repent" is contextual. It can mean a change of mind:
The Bible also seems to show that repentance can mean a change of mind from unbelief to belief (and I think that includes from not believing salvation really can be without works to get saved, or without works after salvation, to believing it can be both):
We have two natures after we're saved. Our flesh will still sin, but our spirit is perfectly sanctified. Paul struggled with this as every saved person will:
We can't lose our salvation after we're saved:
Thank you for your time. I hope this blesses someone out there.
The gospel of salvation is about what He's done for us, not about how righteous we can be. We just have to believe and trust Him. He's done all the work. I've learned this after having made the mistake of believing I needed to try not to sin or be willing to try not to sin before I could be saved, or, for fear of losing my salvation, that I had to ask forgiveness for every sin after being saved (which was really just me trying to justify myself, even if I maybe didn't realize it), but those beliefs and others including works in the gospel are a subtle attack on the truth.
Once we've recognized we're sinners on the way to hell and in need of a Savior He's made it so simple. Faith really is sufficient:
- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)
- All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)
- Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)
- ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
- For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
- In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)
- For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all]. (Hebrews 10:10)
- This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)
- But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)
- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (Romans 11:6)
- For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. (Hebrews 4:10)
The Bible seems to define turning from an evil way as works in Jonah 3:10 and 1 John 3:4 shows that if you're trying not to sin, you're trying to keep the law:
- And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did [it] not. (Jonah 3:10)
- ¶ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4)
- ¶ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:19-28)
"Repent" is contextual. It can mean a change of mind:
- If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And [at what] instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant [it]; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. (Jeremiah 18:8-10)
- (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) (Hebrews 7:21)
- ¶ And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not [through] the way of the land of the Philistines, although that [was] near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: (Exodus 13:17)
The Bible also seems to show that repentance can mean a change of mind from unbelief to belief (and I think that includes from not believing salvation really can be without works to get saved, or without works after salvation, to believing it can be both):
- For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen [it], repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. (Matthew 21:32)
- Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (Acts 19:4)
We have two natures after we're saved. Our flesh will still sin, but our spirit is perfectly sanctified. Paul struggled with this as every saved person will:
- ¶ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:14-25)
We can't lose our salvation after we're saved:
- All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (John 6:37-39)
- And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)
- Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, [is] God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
- In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
- And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
- These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)
- For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Thank you for your time. I hope this blesses someone out there.