The Doctrine of "If"

In today's 21st century "preaching" there seems to be something missing. I take that back, there are alot of things missing. But here we shall focus on one item that has been deleted from the vocabulary of the shephards of today. It is the word "IF". This two lettered word can be found in the trash bin's of most "churches" right along with the word "repent".

This two lettered word is a powerful word. For it implies a natural law. Its meening is as obvious as "what comes up, must come down." In the doctrine of "If" lie's life or death. You reap what you sow. "If you do this... then this will happen" or "If you don't do the work for which you were hired..then you don't get paid!" . It implies that for every action there is a reaction.

One of the earliest "If's" can be found in Genesis:

Genesis 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

God told Cain basicly, If you don't do what I tell you to do, there will be trouble. There will be sin and we know the wages of sin is death! He told Cain that if he did one thing then this is what he could expect. There was a price for disobedience. But in today's churches we say that God winks at our disobedience. We claim diplomatic immunity from the Law of "If".

We think because we say we "believe" that we are free from having to take responsability for our actions. We claim "Grace" like a blanket to try to cover our sin's, that we commit after being saved, so we don't get stuck having to pay for the consesquenses of them. But even to those who believe in Christ , who are saved by His glorious grace, are subject to the "If" factor.

The scripture's tell us that even the demon's believe and tremble. Before Satan fell , he knew who God was! He knew who Christ was! But he chose to rebell and he suffered the consequences, even though he "believed".

God told Israel in (Jeremiah 7:5-7) that if they obeyed God, they would stay in the land. If not they would be evicted. If you don't pay the rent your landlord comes a knocking.

But if your saying "wait a minute that was in the old testament, the O.T. need not apply today"
What ever happened to the Scripture

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

Isn't it something that many a preacher will only quote the "old testament" when it is something they like (ie.titheing, prosperity) but when you preach on judgement they say "oh thats not for us today!" What a bunch of hypocrites who do cause their people to error

Lets see what the New Testament say's concerning "If" in the life of a believer.


John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;


Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;


Romans 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (15) While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Hebrews 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

2Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

1John 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

John 15:6 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.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

2Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

good day!

2Chonicles 7:12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.