Here I Am, Lord – – tqministries.com

Grievous Wolves Will Come

“For I (the Apostle Paul) know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29,30).

At this time, the Apostle Paul was leaving Miletus on his way to Jerusalem and calls the Elders of the church at Ephesus to come to him.  Paul loved the church at Ephesus having spent 3 years there establishing the church. He wanted to give them some final instruction before leaving. Paul was bound for Jerusalem at the leading of the Holy Spirit where the Spirit had shown him that he would face trouble in Jerusalem saying “bonds and affliction” would await him there.

The Lord had called Paul to teach and preach the New Covenant. He was called to the Gentiles and his love and faithfulness to the Lord’s Church shines brightly in all Paul did. Regarding the church at Ephesus, the Book of Acts tells us that “God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul,” and that the Word of God grew and prevailed in Ephesus at that time. He called these Elders from Ephesus to Miletus to instruct them one final time knowing that they would not see him again.

Paul instructed them to “feed the Church of God” as under-shepherds of the church the Lord had “purchased with His own Blood.” He commended them to God and the “Word of His Grace” which points to the Cross. And he warns them against receiving false doctrine. Jesus, himself, gave a grave warning regarding false prophets in His discourse in the Sermon on the Mount.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).

The problem of false brethren and false doctrine is a problem the church has dealt with from its very inception to this very time. Paul was the master builder of the church having received the meaning of the New Testament directly from the Lord. And yet, the problem of a false way to Salvation, and a false way to Sanctification, was a problem even then when the church was in its infancy.

We must guard against this today. Jesus said that we will know false Brethren by their fruit. The Gospel is the story of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He came to pay the sin debt and offers Salvation for all those who will place their faith in Him and His Sacrificial death at Calvary. Also, our Sanctification comes strictly by faith, as well. We cannot mix faith and works whether it be Salvation or Sanctification. The following happens to the Believer at Salvation, all by faith:

“… But you are washed (the Blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin), but you are sanctified (set apart unto God – our position in Christ), but you are justified (declared not guilty) in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

All false teachers will stray from the Word of God and present false doctrine that does not line up with the Scriptures. They are deceived, and deceive, all those who would be taken in with their deception. These false ways are from “seducing spirits” and are “doctrines of Devils.” This is why we must guard against this by knowing God’s Word and anchoring our faith in Christ and Him crucified. Paul concludes his time with these Elders by warning against the dangers of false doctrine coming into the church with false apostles that come from among their very own.

Our only defense against false doctrine is having our faith anchored in the Cross. Jesus paid the sin debt at Calvary and opened the way for us to have fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit will keep us in the truth as we continue to anchor our faith in Christ and Him crucified as Romans chapter 8 tells us. Paul warned those in Ephesus, and us, to be watchful and guard against false doctrine and it’s seducing power that would cause us to stray from the Word of God. And his warning came with tears as our closing verse tells us.

“Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

Behold the Lamb of God

“Unto Adam and his wife did the Lord God make coats of skin, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21).

In this article we’ll take a look at the sacrificial system from its beginning, when it was instituted by the Lord, to its fulfillment in Christ.

Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord and hid themselves from the Lord’s presence. Having sinned, “the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.” They covered themselves with fig leaves to cover their nakedness. In our introductory verse, the Lord is showing Adam and Eve that their fig leaves were not an acceptable “covering” for their sin. In covering them with “coats of skin,” the Lord was teaching them that “without the shedding of blood” there was no remission of sin, and that an animal had to give its life that they might be covered . By this, the Lord was showing them, and us, His plan for the redemption of mankind. This points forward to Christ as the sacrificial Lamb. So, Adam and Eve were clothed, or “covered,” not forgiven, by the shedding of blood of an innocent animal. The forgiveness of sin would come with Christ’s sacrificial death at Calvary. A plan the Lord had made before the foundation of the world.

“And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect” (Genesis 4:3-5).

The Lord had shown Cain and Abel’s parents what the Lord required – a blood sacrifice of an innocent animal. Abel realized this and by the sacrifice he offered, he acknowledged his need for a Redeemer. Cain, on the other hand, did not deny that a sacrifice was necessary, but offered up his labor, rebelling against the Lord. These two men represent all those down through history. We either realize our need for a Redeemer and come God’s way, or we go our own way. The latter results with an eternal separation away from the presence of God. So, here we have, in Abel’s sacrifice, a lamb that “covered” the sin of one man, Abel.

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the Land of Egypt …..(Exodus 12:12).

The Lord instructed the Israelites to place the blood of a lamb on the top and sides of their doorpost because He was bringing a final judgment on Egypt by taking the life of all the first born in the land of Egypt. The Israelites, by each family, placing the blood on their doorposts, would be “covered,” or protected, by the Lord as an Angel, sent by the Lord, passed through Egypt and took the lives of the first born. The Lord said “..and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Notice, it was not because of their own righteousness that they were protected, but because of the blood sacrifice which again pointed forward to Christ. So, here we have the blood of a lamb that “covered” the sin – the sin of a family.

“And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of Atonement… And you shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of Atonement, to make an Atonement for you before the Lord” (Leviticus 23:26, 27a,28).

One day a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies and offer up incense, and place blood of a sacrificed lamb on the Mercy Seat. This was done to “cover” his sins and the sins of the people for the year. So, we have the blood of an innocent animal offered up to “cover” the sins of the nation.

John the Baptist, upon seeing Jesus for the first time, would make the greatest proclamation! John Chapter 1 tells us the following:

“The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).Christ was the Lamb of God, the one all the sacrifices in the Old Testament pointed to, who would not just “cover” the sin of a man. a family, or a nation, but would “take away” the sin of the world. For those who will come to Him, their sins are not just “covered” but they are “taken away,” and fellowship with the Lord is restored. This was the Lord’s plan for man’s restoration and it is “glorious in our sight.”

This week is referred to as Holy Week, and it is certainly that, but we must never lose sight of what it represents. We all were in need of a Savior. We were dead in our sins and unable to help ourselves. The Lord, through Adam and Eve, pointed the way to restoration which is by the Blood of the Lamb. The Lord, in His love for us, made a way to cover our nakedness and opened the door wide to return to Him. We come by faith in the “Lamb’ He has provided. We are saved, having our sins “taken away,” for whosoever will come to the Salvation He has freely given. It’s all about the Sacrifice.

“This is the Lord’s doing,  and it is marvelous in our eyes” (Mark 12:11).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

I Come Thirsty and Thankful

“I will take the cup of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord” (Psalm 116:13).

Just as a thirsty man is thankful for a cup of cold water offered to him by a caring individual; we also are so grateful for the cup of Salvation offered to us by our loving God. The “cup” in our introductory verse represents the Lord’s Mercy, Grace, and Eternal Life that He has graciously provided for us at great cost to Him.

The Lord’s mighty arm is extended to offer this incredible gift to whosoever accepts His offer of forgiveness and Salvation. We come in repentance, realizing our sinful ways, and with the understanding that we are deserving of  judgment from a Holy God. We come with nothing to offer but thankfulness for the One that loved us and provided a way that we might have fellowship with Him. 

The Lord convicts and draws us in His Mercy and Grace. Our coming to Him is all a result of His working in our lives. When we do come to Him, we know that our Salvation is the result of His Mercy and Grace in our lives, not anything we might have done. This is a humbling realization and one that should result in worship and praise each day to our great God.

“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything  according to His Will, He hears us” (1 Peter 5:14).

Having been forgiven we now walk in the Salvation the Lord has provided, having confidence that we can bring all our needs to Him. We can “call upon the Name of the Lord” every day as we walk out our lives. We know that He hears us, and as we walk daily with Him, we come into the knowledge of His will in our lives through the indwelling Holy Spirit. We can be confident that, knowing He hears us, and seeking His will in our lives, that what we ask of Him will be answered. We know that Lord’s timing is always best.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

We are the called of God – called out of our fallen condition to a life of fellowship with our great God. For those of us who hear the clarion call, we walk out a life lead by the God Who loved us and Who guides us through our journey in this world to an Eternal home with Him.

For those who do not know the Lord, He calls out to all those who will hear through His sacrificial death at Calvary. We take up the great “cup of Salvation” offered by the loving hand of our Father, and now, due to His great Mercy in our lives, are able to call upon the “Name of the Lord” by the Name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

For those who will come by faith, His sacrificial death at Calvary paid the sin debt owed to God and opened the way to fellowship with the Lord. We, the children of God, have much to be grateful for. We can now say; The Lord reached down and saved me, and I stand in awe of His Mercy and Grace in my life.

“Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all my days of my life: and I will dwell on the House of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

From Slave To Brother

“I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have Begotten in my bonds: which in times past was to you unprofitable, but now profitable to you and to me” (Philemon 10,11).

In our introductory verses, the Apostle Paul was in prison in Rome at the time he wrote this Epistle. He is writing to Philemon, a Brother in the faith, regarding a runaway slave of Philemon’s. Onesimus, the slave, had run away from his master and traveled some 1000 miles to Rome. Upon arriving in Rome, he contacted the Apostle Paul. He then gave his heart to the Lord and became a Believer.

Paul is writing to Philemon to let him know that Onesimus is with him in Rome and has become a Christian. He asks Philemon to take this once unprofitable and worthless servant back. He assures him that he will find Onesimus not only profitable, but now a Brother in the Lord. He tells Philemon that Onesimus was a great help to him in Rome and that he was a man totally transformed by the Gospel.

Paul asks Philemon to consider that the loss of Onesimus for a season benefited Paul in His service to the Lord, and that taking him back willingly was what he was asking. He said that perhaps his departing for a season, not only brought Onesimus a new life in Christ, but would now result a new Brother in faith and a loyal servant.

Paul also told Philemon that if he felt payment was due that he, Paul, would pay any debt owed by the loss of Onesimus’ service to him for that period of time. He asks Philemon to receive his former slave as he would himself (Paul). Onesimus this spoken if by Paul as a Brother on the same level as the both of them. Paul had acknowledged that what Onesimus had done was indeed a serious offence, but having done much for the household of Philemon, Paul reminds him that his very Salvation, his hope of Eternal Life, came from the Gospel Paul preached to him.

Relating this to our own journey through life, we too were slaves, slaves to sin, running away from the Lord. Our running away caught up with us in whatever life situation we found ourselves in, and the Holy Spirit convicted us of our sins and drew us to the Lord. This is the greatest miracle that could happen to anyone. Just as Onesimus was guilty of a serious offence, we too were guilty before God. But unlike Philemon who may, or may not, have forgiven the debt owed by Onesimus; our Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, paid the price for the debt owed. We have freedom from the sin nature that bound us. He paid our debt at the Cross, and by faith in His sacrificial death at Calvary we have been forgiven the debt owed and have become members of the family of God. It doesn’t get any better than that!

In closing, we can take away from Paul’s final words to Philemon that he is confident that Philemon will do the right thing regarding Onesimus his new Brother in Christ.

“Having confidence in your obedience I wrote unto you, knowing that you will do more than I say (hints at emancipation for Onesimus)” (Philemon 21 with ESB commentary notes)

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

Standing Fast Against All Opposition

“Only let your conversation (lifestyle) be as it becomes the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of Salvation, and that of God” (Philippians 1:27,28).

The Apostle Paul is encouraging the church to walk out their lives in a manner worthy of the Lord they represent. We are the Lord’s representatives here on Earth to bring witness to the Gospel. We are to stand with fellow Believers in one spirit. This means that our faith is to be anchored and not moved – in Christ and Him crucified. This Gospel is the one and only Salvation for mankind. Those we run across in our daily lives should know that we are the people of God, and it is in Him we trust.

At times, we will experience opposition to this Gospel from unbelievers, and even from within the church. The Apostle Paul here warns about this and encourages the church at Philippi to not be terrified by these adversaries. We live in different times, but the opposition to the Gospel we preach is just as real. Regarding the opposition that comes from within the church, Paul spoke to the Galatians about that in the following verse:

“But though we or an Angel from Heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

Very strong words from Paul regarding our keeping to the Gospel that brought us Salvation. He said that those that preach another gospel are accursed. These individuals, whoever they might be, are in danger of eternal punishment out of the presence of God. Our modern day church should take Paul’s warn against false Gospels seriously by making sure our faith is in Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary. We are to anchor our faith there and not move it to other things after we come to Salvation. Looking around today, I’m afraid there are many in the church playing with fire.

Though I believe Paul, in our introductory verses, is talking about the false Gospels prevalent in the church at the time, we will also have opposition from those outside the church. As we live our lives as we should, it is a witness to them of their need. We may run across great opposition in our world today considering the amount of division there is in our nation and world. This being the norm, we, by standing firm and walking in obedience to the Lord, will be a witness to all those we meet in our daily life of the goodness the Lord has for all those who chose to walk in His ways. We need not fear though the opposition at times may be quite strong. Paul said it well in the following verse:

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Those that oppose the Gospel, whether in the church, or without, are being given a warning regarding the dangerous ground they stand on. This warning comes by the church triumphant that marches through this life victorious in Christ. We are His ambassadors. We are the Body of Christ here in this world. We must let those living today know that the Lord stands ready to forgive and redeem all those who come His way. Our witness is an evident token of perdition, or an evident truth, that they are opposing the very Gospel that would save them. We pray our witness to them will lead them to a saving knowledge of the Lord. It is the Lord’s desire that all men be saved.

I exhort therefore that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior Who will have all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1,3,4).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

.

Safe and Secure

“O bless our God, you people, and make the voice of His praise be heard. Which holds our soul in life, and suffers not our feet to be moved” (Psalm 66:8,9).

These verses in the Psalms show us that our praises to God are the result of realizing that our Salvation comes solely from the Lord and the understanding that He keeps us in that Salvation all our days. What an incredible promise! How is this possible? The Lord keeps us by faith – our faith in Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary. The Lord reached down and drew us to Him by the convicting and drawing power of the Holy Spirit, and now keeps us safe and secure in Him by faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. As our introductory verses tell us, “He suffers not our feet to be moved.” Salvation is all of the Lord. Our confidence must be in Him, not in anything we might do.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He (the Holy Spirit) which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

We cannot by our own will power serve the Lord any more than those in the Old Testament could keep God’s Law. We come empty- handed to the God Who loves us and died on a cruel Cross to show the world that love and offer the greatest gift we could ever receive. He not only offers this great Salvation to us, but keeps us in it until the Day of Jesus Christ. The Day of Jesus Christ points to the Rapture when the church will be taken out of this world prior to the coming judgment on the world. So, the Lord is saying that His keeping power will not expire. We can know that we are safe and secure in Him as long as we realize that this all comes through what Jesus accomplished at the Cross.

“But if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He Who raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit Who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).

If we are saved, then the Spirit definitely dwells in us. We are quickened by the Holy Spirit as we come daily by faith in Christ and Him crucified. Our victory is in the Lord. He saves us and keeps us. He holds our soul in life. What a wonderful thought. What a wonderful Lord Who loves us and watches over us for good all our days.

Mankind fell from God-consciousness to our fallen state of self-consciousness at the Fall in the Garden. As we come to Him in faith, He comes into us by way of the Holy Spirit to bring “Newness of Life” to us which is God’s life in us as His answer to the Fall. He is restoring what was lost when our first parents lost their relationship with Him through sin.  Jesus was asked, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God. He responded as follows:

“Jesus responded and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe on Him Whom He has sent” (John 6:29).

He is saying that everything the Lord has for us including His keeping power in our lives comes to us by faith. Faith in His sacrificial death at Calvary. We cannot add to this by anything we might do. We must come  to Him realizing that this Newness of life in us is the life of God; it is the only way to walk in obedience to the Lord, and it is the only way to realize the work of God in our lives. 

Whatever we may go through in this life, we can know that the Lord is with us and will guide us to our final destination. Some day we will leave this life to be in His very Presence for all eternity. What a Promise! Love reached down and we are saved by His great Mercy and Grace, and that knowledge fills our hearts with praise and thanksgiving. He holds our soul in life and suffers not our feet to be moved. Standing in His Righteousness- kept by His power.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

The Lord Has Loved Us with an Everlasting Love

Originally Published in 2022

A Fictional Narrative

[written in the first person]

My next-door neighbors are a wonderful couple who had befriended me when I first moved into the neighborhood. I moved to town for a job, and I had come alone. My wife of some thirty years had died just prior to my move. In fact, that was part of the reason for moving and taking the new job. The Lord had been so faithful and I felt blessed knowing that He was with me. His presence was my constant companion. I was thankful every day that I knew the Lord and that I had His Word to comfort me in my loss and in those times when sadness was an ever-present companion.

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).

My neighbors were much-needed friends in my time of grief. I wanted to tell them how the love of God had changed me and to let them know just how faithful the Lord is to His children. But they attended a church that did not follow the Bible and many false doctrines had made their way into their church down through the years. Sadly, their church had substituted man’s ways for God’s Word. I didn’t know how to approach them with the love that the Lord had for them. They said they felt that they were at the right church and were getting the truth because it was the original one started by Jesus.

I knew all about the teachings of this church because I grew up attending it. This church taught that they were the one true church and that the Apostle Peter was their first leader. How could I reach them with the truth about Christianity? I remembered as a youth how this church warned about listening to those of other denominations. In fact, at the time, I felt sorry for those outside the church because the church said that they were lost.

One day, while I was talking with my neighbors, I felt the Lord prompt me to speak to them about their souls. I knew that this church put little emphasis on what the Bible said. They would hear selective verses from it on Sunday, but it really was all about what the church teachings required. Also, the neighbors knew that I was not “one of them” and would be on their guard against anything not taught by their church, which I was sure they had been warned about just as I had been those many years ago.

I followed the Lord’s leading and spoke with them about the love God has for us. How He left His home in glory and died on the Cross that we might be forgiven and saved. As I spoke with them I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit. The neighbors listened intently to what I had to say. I could see by their reaction that nobody had ever spoken to them this way about the love God had for them. When I finished speaking, we wished each other a good night and they returned to their home. I prayed that the Lord’s great love for us all would draw them to Him.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3).

I was very busy with my new job and did not see the neighbors for quite some time. One night, there was a knock at my front door and when I opened it I found the couple, my neighbors, standing there. I invited them in and we sat down in the living room. I felt that they had something on their mind that they wanted to discuss, but they didn’t bring up the real reason for their visit for a long period of time. Finally, the husband spoke up and said that they wanted to hear more about Jesus. They both said that they could see that I had something that they didn’t have. They had tears in their eyes as they told me how the words I spoke to them had stayed with them. In fact, they said that the love of God that I spoke about was all they could think about since that night. The Holy Spirit was drawing them and they both seemed overwhelmed by the fact that the Lord had reached down to them in His love. They said they wanted the joy and peace that they saw I had. Both the husband and wife wanted to know the Lord.

“We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

I led them in the Sinner’s Prayer that very evening, and this couple, my wonderful neighbors, became my brother and sister in Christ that night. The Lord blessed me with these great neighbors that were so good to me when I moved to my new home, and job, after losing my wife. And the Lord blessed this couple with the knowledge of the love the Lord has for them and the Salvation he offers to whomsoever comes to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus and the price He paid at Calvary.

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (the Cross represents the ultimate sacrifice the Lord made because of his great love for us)” (John 15:13).

See The Sinner’s Prayer page on this website. Link below:

https://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/1752

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2022

A Question with Eternity at Stake

“You are our Epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. Forasmuch as you are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God; not in tables of stone, but in freshly tables of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3)

The Apostle Paul is pointing to Christ as the writer of the “Epistle” which were those in Corinth who had been saved through the Gospel Paul preached. This speaks of the Gospel the Lord had given Paul to preach. He is saying that this Gospel comes from Christ and is the way, the only way, to Salvation. Souls will be saved from sin and their fallen nature by their trust in the Grace that Christ provided by His sacrificial death on the Cross. This Epistle of Christ analogy Paul used here was a testimony to the changed hearts that were the result of the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those in Corinth who accepted the Gospel.

“Who has made us able Ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6).

The Apostle Paul is again pointing to Christ in this verse. The New Covenant is Christ and Him crucified which Paul preached boldly. We are able Ministers only as we preach the Gospel of Grace. Obedience to the Law will not save us. It is only as we come in repentance and faith in Christ and Him crucified that we enter this New Covenant. Spiritual Life comes by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. We walk out this “newness of life” by faith alone.

The Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 6 shows us how this “life” comes to us. He writes that spiritually we have died with Christ at the Cross, we have been buried with Him, and we have been raised with Him to Newness of Life. This is all done by the Lord’s Mercy and Grace afforded to us through, and only through, the Cross. The Lord’s work in us is an internal work. It results in a changed heart and the ability to walk in obedience to the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit as we place our faith daily in Christ and Him crucified.

Religion is man trying to serve God by what he does. It can only lead to self-righteousness and will end with a soul spending an eternity in Hell. This is an external effort by man to please the Lord. Man cannot please Him outside of an internal changed heart which only the Lord can bring about. So, our initial question with eternity at stake is answered unequivocally in the “Epistle of Christ” written on our hearts. The Lord loves us and has provided this great Salvation at great cost. The Holy Spirit draws us and we walk in the liberty the Spirit affords us.

Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

There is liberty in walking in the Spirit because it is the Holy Spirit Who works in our lives to bring victory. It is an internal work of God in our lives. If we try to follow the Law ourselves in our approach to God, we are trusting in externals and we will ultimately fail. The Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior and we must come to Him to have Life – His Life in us. By having faith in His sacrificial death on the Cross, it allows us to walk in “Newness of Life.” Our closing verse speaks of Christ as the true light of the world and the Giver of Life to whosoever will come to Him.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In Him was life; and the Life was the Light of men” (John 1:1,4).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

The Doctrine of Unconditional Eternal Security

“I am the Vine, you are the branches: he who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:5,6).

[I know there are many in the church today that believe in unconditional eternal security. My purpose today with this article is to share my thoughts on the subject and to present some of the evidence in the scriptures that, I believe, refutes this doctrine.]

Are we promised unconditional eternal security when we come to the Lord in repentance and faith. I believe that the short answer is, no. I have to admit that when I first came to the Lord, I believed in unconditional eternal security. It was preached from the pulpit in the church I attended, and I accepted it without studying the Scriptures myself.

We are secure in Christ as long as we keep our faith in Him and His sacrificial death at Calvary. We enter a relationship with Him when we come to the Salvation the Lord provides. We have “Newness of Life” as we walk out this life of faith. Our introductory verses clearly state that one who has come by faith and has abided in Him in the past, that is, been saved, but now chooses to not to abide in Him, will become a withered branch which will result in spiritual destruction if they do not return to faith and dependence in the Lord. Losing one’s way is a gradual, but sure, process that has happened to many down through the years who have left the path of faith.

What happens to us should we stop believing? The following was given to the Church of Sardis (Believers) by Christ in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, which was one of the seven churches He addressed. The Lord was calling them to repentance and to come back to the Cross , and if they did, their names would be not be blotted out of the Book of Life. Our names were entered into the Book of Life at Salvation. Obviously, names can’t be blotted out unless they were entered into the Book of Life at some time. These were Believers and this proves that Salvation can be lost. The following are the Lord’s words of warning to the Church of Sardis.

“Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent (go back to the Cross). If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you (judgment will come, but Sardis will not see or hear due to spiritual  deafness and spiritual blindness). He who overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life (proving that names can be blotted out), but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His Angels (the key to this great “confession” is faith in Christ and His great Sacrifice)” (Revelation 3:3,5 w/ESB commentary).

If we believe that there is no way that we could lose our Salvation once we believe, we are on dangerous ground. As with any relationship, it must be maintained. Believing in unconditional eternal security can result in losing our Salvation because there is no fear of losing one’s way no matter what is done. If we believe Salvation is a “once saved, always saved” salvation then it becomes easy to drift away by not seeking the Lord as we should – to follow hard after Him. There is no risk of losing our soul, so we think, and we can become complacent. Jesus calls us to walk closely with Him – in Him is Life and we must continually walk in that Life to maintain our relationship with Him.

Our introductory verses tell us what happens when we stop believing in Christ and His finished work at Calvary. Our Lord can only be talking about someone who once knew the way and was in relationship with Him because He used the word “abide.” He is speaking of a “withering” process which is not instantaneous, but is gradual over a period of time. Our faith must be continually placed in the Lord which will result in a vibrant relationship with Him and allows us to live in this “Newness of life” which our Risen Lord provides. As the Bible exclaims, “Christ in you, the hope of Glory.”

The Lord will never violate our will. We have free will to either believe, or not believe. Turning from faith is not easy, nor does it come about quickly, as we have said, but it can, and it does happen. There are many Scriptures that speak of this and I would like to include a few of these in this article. Keep in mind that the Apostle Paul is writing to Believers in these verses.

“For if God spared not the natural branches (Israel), take heed lest He spare not you (referring to the church). Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness (conditional on continued faith in Christ and the Cross): otherwise you also will be cut off (a warning to be taken seriously)” (Romans 11:21,22 commentary ESB and mine).

“Moreover, Brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you (Christ and Him crucified), which also you have received (unto Salvation), and wherein you stand (live the victorious Christian life); by which you are saved,  if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain (this refers to believing at first and then drawing back, which will cause one to lose one’s soul)” (1 Corinthians 15:1,2 w/ commentary).

The Apostle Paul, in these verses, writing to Christians in Rome, and in Corinth, states clearly that Salvation is conditional on continued faith, faith which must be in Christ and His sacrificial death on the Cross. There are many other examples we could visit including Hebrews (which I believe Paul also wrote) chapters 2,4 and 10 which contain similar warnings. I would like to also include the words from the writer of Hebrews to those Jews who were contemplating leaving the faith, at the time, due to persecution.

“For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence (faith in Christ and Him crucified) firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:14).

One last thought. In John Chapter 6, Jesus gave a teaching that was hard for His Disciples to accept. In fact, it says many of His Disciples “walked no more with Him.” The Lord turned to the Twelve (Apostles) and asked, Will you also go away. This proves it was possible for the Apostles, who were saved, to lose faith and walk away from the Lord. Likewise, we are secure in the faith as long as we continue to have faith in Christ and His great work at the Cross. He is the Vine, we are the branches. I’d like to close on a positive note with these words from the Book of Hebrews.

“Though we speak in this way (a stern warning about falling away from the faith), yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things – things that belong to Salvation (Hebrews 6:9 ESV).

The Lord hears our prayers and is faithful to answer.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

The Israelites at Sinai

“And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; you have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if you will obey My Voice indeed, and keep My Covenant, then you shall be a Peculiar Treasure unto Me above all people: for all the Earth is Mine” (Exodus 19:3,4,5).

The Children of Israel having been delivered from Eygpt were now in the desert of Sinai at the foot of Mount Sinai. In our introductory verses, the Lord was telling them, through Moses, that He alone delivered them from their bondage in Eygpt. He was also showing them that the way to live lives pleasing to Him was by obedience to His Voice. In their obedience, they would be a “Peculiar Treasure” to the Lord “above all people.” They were, in fact, the only people upon Earth that were serving the Lord at the time. The people responded to that which the Lord had said as follows:

“And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, all that the Lord has spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people to the Lord” (Exodus 19:7,8)

The Lord had just told the Israelites two things that seemed quite contradictory. He told them that they could not, and did not, deliver themselves from Egyptian bondage. That He alone was their Deliverer. Yet, in seeming variance to what the Lord had just said, He told them that the path to living pleasing lives before Him was obedience to His commands. He wanted them to see that they were just as incapable of obeying His commands in their own strength, as they were incapable of delivering themselves from Egypt. Their answer to the Lord was quite revealing. They said they would do all the Lord had spoken. If they had truly realized their total inability to do this, they would have sought the Mercy the Lord has always been ready to extend to the seeking heart. Just as deliverance from Egyptian bondage was all of the Lord – Salvation was, and is, totally of the Lord, as well.

Looking to the church today, we too have sought to walk before the Lord in our own strength. We profess to have faith in Christ, believing that He has delivered us from our fallen state in sin, and He definitely has, but we seek to obey His voice by a combination of faith and works for our sanctification- our daily walk before Him. Just as it was impossible for the Israelites to obey the Lord in their own strength, it is impossible for us to walk out a life pleasing to the Lord by our own efforts. When we come to the Lord in Salvation, He does not give us a stronger willpower power to enable us to walk in obedience to His voice.

“I do not frustrate the Grace of God (by anything other than the Cross of Christ the object of our faith): for if Righteousness come by the Law (by my own efforts to be obedient to the Lord), then Christ is dead in vain” (Galatians 2:21 w/ commentary).

So what are we saying? We are saying that there is no victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil by approaching these enemies of our soul by what we do. As an example, fasting is Biblical, something we should do, and it will result in a blessing, but it will not give us victory over sin. The sixth chapter of Romans tells us that we are dead to sin and to not let it reign in our mortal bodies. This is our position in Christ- we are dead to the sin nature, but how do we walk this out in our lives. Just as the Israelites should have looked to the Lord for what He the was requiring of them, we must look to Christ and Calvary for the victory we seek. When we place our faith in Christ and Him crucified, the Holy Spirit will work mightily in our lives. The Holy Spirit works totally within the parameters of the finished work of Christ. He does not work outside of this as Romans Chapter 8:2 tells us.

The Lord has delivered us from our fallen nature having paid the price owed for our sin debt at the Cross. We have been saved (delivered) by Grace, and we are now to walk before Him in the same way – by faith. This is something that the Israelites should have realized having seen that it took the Lord’s mighty power to accomplish their deliverance from Eygpt. They could not walk out their lives in obedience to the Lord in their own strength. We too, have been delivered from our fallen nature by His mighty hand. We must come to the place where we realize it’s by faith from first to last. We must realize our total dependence on the Lord.  

“For I through the Law am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God (by faith, never by Law). I am crucified with Christ (the foundation of all victory): nevertheless I live (have new life); yet not I (not by my own strength and ability), but Christ lives in me (by virtue of me dying with Him on the Cross and being raised with newness of life Romans 6): and the life which I now live in the flesh ( my daily walk before the Lord) I live by the faith of the Son of God (the Cross is ever the object of my faith), Who loved me, and gave Himself for me (which is the only way I could be saved)” (Galatians 2:19,20 ESB commentary and mine).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

Find podcasts of this article, and all the articles on this website on the “Here I Am Lord” podcast on Spotify for Creators, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic.

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025