After salvation is granted, there are responsibilities that must be met. Jesus often said that actions were required of those who would seek to enter his kingdom: “If a man loves me, he will keep my words.” “He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings.” “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven.”

The children of Israel who were delivered out of bondage in Egypt were baptized in the cloud and in the sea. However, entering the promised land was made conditional. After they refused to trust and obey, they failed to obtain the promise and died in the wilderness. Even though they were circumcised, the promise was transferred to their uncircumcised children. Their uncircumcised children obeyed the Lord and entered the land; they were circumcised after crossing over Jordan.

At that time, the twelve tribes were divided into two equal parts; six tribes were appointed to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless and six to stand on Mount Ebal to curse. The blessings and curses depended upon the choices they would make later.

The book of Hebrews, chapters 3-4, and 1st Corinthians, chapter 10, states that all of the things that happened to Israel in the desert were written for us as examples. The message is clear; after being saved, we should not tempt God in the deserts by resisting him as they did, for they perished in their sins and the kingdom was given to others.

After regeneration, we are gifted the power and a promise, but we have not yet crossed over Jordan; this we will do if we continue in the faith. We must complete the journey through the wilderness in obedience to the faith until the promise is fully obtained.

God’s offer of life is to all, and he is consistent in his judgments. Even Pharaoh had an opportunity to obey. Every opportunity he was given he refused to take, and with every refusal, his heart became hardened. God already knew the heart of Pharaoh, yet he still gave him the opportunity to yield and obey the command before destroying him.

God also knew the heart of Judas, and not only did he grant him an opportunity of eternal glory, but he also gave him an apostleship. God knows who will love him and who will not; He will not turn anyone away who comes to him. Salvation is a free gift to all who come to him—even those who he knows will later turn back to sin and never again walk with him (John 6:66—antichrists).

If we obey his word, we are not to fear; it is the Father’s pleasure to grant his children the kingdom—for Jesus will never leave or forsake anyone who joins himself to him; he will continue with everyone as far and as long as they continue with him. And he knows beforehand those who will endure to the end and inherit the kingdom and those who will not.

True love is reciprocal. God’s love will not fail if we love him back for the love he freely bestows on us first. But do not think love allows sin or that the cross nullifies the judgment of God. Christ takes the sin of the repentant, and he bears it. Nonetheless, the judgment of the Lord spoken of by Ezekiel applies to all—whether saved or unsaved—if the way of righteousness is not followed:

“But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. (Ezekiel 18:24-26)

God affirmed it twice to establish his judgment and make the certainty of it known, and he never changes and never will.