Mary wrote:

Morning Mike, Pray it is well with you all. I am going through the site, Mike. I cannot find this DVD about Ray you mentioned: “Getting saved is the hardest thing do” I thought I had listened to all the downloads. I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to computers, maybe I oversaw it. Pray you have a blessed fellowship today. Love in Christ Mary.

Good Morning Mary,

I went to aionios. com which is where we have our audios. You are right, I did not see the DVD. But under L. Ray Smith, The Nashville Conference 2005  there is a two part audio entitled How Hard Is Getting Saved? If you want to hear Ray teaching the Truth just listen to the last third of part 2. Ray is speaking passionately about how we keep all of these symbols. But in the e- mail thread between him and me, which I think you have, Ray says these rich men and mountains are literal and therefore cannot be referring to us because “not many rich are called.” Ray has lost any spiritual vision he once had and it pains me to be forced to have to say that.
You were so right, Mary. “If he repents you should forgive him.” Of course you and I, like Christ, forgive whether our brother repents or not. But you cannot have a spiritual relationship with an unrepentant brother. You must “turn him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”
Now when the Corinthian fornicator was turned over to Satan, he repented and was received back into fellowship.
I would be the first to welcome Ray back if he could just bring himself to repeat what he said in Nashville in part 2 of How Hard Is It To Get Saved?
Go to aionios. com and try to find that and listen to the last third of part 2. It is at the very bottom of the listings. Let me know if you have any trouble. And let me know if you have any questions about ‘wrath,’ ‘keeping the sayings of this book,’ or any other question. Just remember even Ray admits in this part 2, that all that happened in the Old  Testament was for our admonition. But now, according to Ray, what happened to Tamar has no admonition for us, and what happened to God’s typical elect, King David, when God’s wrath was poured out on David because of his dealings with Uriah and his numbering of the people many years later, none of this is for us. But as he admits in Nashville, it is for us.
I have often quoted: “let him that thinketh he stands take heed lest he fall.” But I had never noticed the context of that verse until just recently. just look where this verse is found. It is right here in this chapter telling us that all of the Old Testament is for us:

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. So if there is any admonition in the experience of David at all, it is:
Luk 12:47  And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not [ himself], neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [ stripes].
Luk 12:48  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [ stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Mary, I do not like having to point these verses out. I am aware that I seem to dwell on wrath and not on the blessings of obedience. But when one is constantly battling with those who only want to preach “smooth things” it is hard to avoid. God’s wrath subsides as His elect obey. But God comes down harder on His elect who know to obey and do not obey. And yes, it is “wrath against all ungodliness.” Call it chastening and scourging if you want. I just want to know, what is the difference?

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

But I do not want to end on that note. I have no doubt in my mind that God will strengthen us to accomplish His will in our lives. Hebrew 11 does not conflict with Luk 12:

Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, [ take heed] lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22  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.

“If we continue in His goodness,” we have nothing to fear. But if we don’t, then we have plenty to fear. God already knows who will do what, but we do not and the very worst thing we can do is to presume that we have nothing with which to concern ourselves. That is not so. “Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall,” is just as much a part of our admonitions as is “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
 I look forward to hearing from you again, Mary.
Mike