“Dead to Sin and Alive to Righteousness “

 “Dead to Sin and Alive to Righteousness”

 

He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be DEAD to SIN and LIVE for what is RIGHT. By His wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have TURNED to your SHEPHERD, the GUARDIAN of your souls.  1st Peter 2:24-25

 

When I read this Scripture, there is always the question WHY?  And the conclusion is that: Jesus’ SUFFERING and DEATH makes it POSSIBLE for believers to be FREE from BOTH the PENALTY and the POWER of SIN and to LIVE for Him; so that we might DIE to SINS and LIVE to RIGHTEOUSNESS. He SUFFERED so it would be POSSIBLE for BELIEVERS to FOLLOW HIM, by His example in suffering and in righteous living.

“By His wounds you are healed is NOT REFERRING to a “physical healing,” the reference is to SALVATION.  The WOUNDS refer to the SCOURGING and DEATH accomplished “HEALING,” the SALVATION of every person who TRUSTS Him as their SAVIOR and LORD.

Christ not only sets the example and provides SALVATION, but He also gives us GUIDANCE and PROTECTION and He is the GOOD SHEPHERD and OVERSEER of our souls. We sometimes are like sheep who wander away from the safety of the flock but then TURNED BACK to the SAFETY and PROTECTION of the GOOD SHEPHERD, the One who who LOVES them and CARES DEEPLY for their SAFETY and PROTECTION.

Do you KNOW the GOOD SHEPHERD, who PERSONALLY carried MINE and YOUR SINS to the CROSS, that we may be DEAD to our SINS and ALIVE to RIGHTEOUSNESS so the ALMIGHTY GOD might be GLORIFIED in and through our RIGHTEOUS LIVING.  We, like JESUS CHRIST, may have to SUFFER for our FAITH, but if we do, we have a COMFORTER, who knows how to SOOTHE our SUFFERING. If we will not WANDER from Him to SEEK another SHEPHERD.  REMEMBER:  He PERSONALLY took YOUR SINS and CARRIED them to the CROSS, and they were on His BACK. And when He SUFFERED and DIED, we were on His MIND and in His HEART. 

Have you felt GUILTY or REMORSE for your SINFUL LIFESTYLE?  That may be the HOLY SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD convicting you of your SINS. And if you keep REJECTING His invitation, HE may quit offering it. You NEED to ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who carried YOUR SINS to the CROSS and is WAITING for you to COME to Him for your SALVATION.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT heart.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and be DEAD to SIN and ALIVE to RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can. He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!! Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

“FORGIVE and be FORGIVEN”

 “FORGIVE and be FORGIVEN”

 

Make allowance for each other’s faults and FORGIVE anyone who offends you.  Remember, the Lord FORGAVE you, so you MUST forgive others.  Colossians 3:13

The Apostle Paul tells the Colossians, those who were believers of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, what they should wear as clothes for their NEW SELF.  He tells them to put on COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, and PATIENCE and above ALL this, we SHOULD put on LOVE, which is the PERFECT BOND of UNITY. 

One very important way we make these characteristics visible is; by FORGIVING one another.  Some believers may hold on to UNFORGIVENESS, and it results in ANGER and BITTERNESS. They may feel this because they have been mistreated in some way. And therefore, they deserve to be APOLOGIZED TO.

However, they FORGET that God has FORGIVEN them and they in RETURN should be FORGIVING others.  Forgiveness does NOT MEAN that you are APPROVING SIN or EXCUSING EVIL.  But it DOES mean you are RELEASING them from OBLIGATIONS that were incurred by their WRONGDOING against you.  It’s FORGIVING someone who has not ASKED for FORGIVENESS.

What makes FORGIVENESS possible, is REALIZING that the LORD FORGAVE YOU. However, if you REFUSE to FORGIVE, you have STOPPED GOD’S MISSION in your life. But when you FORGIVE, you NO LONGER GRIEVE the Holy Spirit, and you ACT LIKE the ONE who has FORGIVEN YOU.  If there is someone who has WRONGED you, and YOU are a BELIEVER of JESUS CHRIST.  You NEED to FORGIVE them and PRAY for them and for yourself as well.  And above all, CLOTHE yourselves with LOVE, which BINDS us ALL together in PERFECT HARMONY. And let the PEACE that comes from Christ Jesus RULE in your HEARTS. For as members of ONE BODY, we are CALLED to LIVE IN PEACE.  And ALWAYS be THANKFUL!!

If you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER in CHRIST JESUS, who is GOD’S ONLY SON, and He GAVE His life to SAVE YOUR SOUL and to GIVE you an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, and to be ABLE to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE ONCE YOU are there. You MUST BELONG to GOD’S Family and be FORGIVEN of your SINS.

First, you MUST be CALLED, when you feel GUILTY for how you are living, and the Holy Spirit of GOD touches your HEART, you will KNOW that He is CALLING you to FOLLOW JESUS.

 YOU MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, He is the ONLY WAY to be a part of GOD’S FAMILY. You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to HIM and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS. YOU MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINS and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and FORGIVE OTHERS, and BE FORGIVEN!!!  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“Christ—the Fullness of God in a Human Body”

“Christ —the Fullness of God in a Human Body”

 

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.  For in Christ lives ALL the FULLNESS of God in a human body.  So, you are COMPLETE through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.  Colossians: 2:8-10

 

If you have accepted Christ Jesus as your LORD, you must NOT be led astray from EMPTY PHILOSOPHIES and HIGH-SOUNDING NONSENSE that comes from the spiritual powers of this WORLD, and NOT from Christ, because Christ is the FULLNESS of GOD in A HUMAN BODY.

You MUST FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST and STAY with Him. Let the ROOTS of your BEING grow DEEP DOWN into Him and let your LIVES be BUILT on Him. Then your FAITH will GROW STRONG in the TRUTH you are TAUGHT, and it will produce an ABUNDANCE of THANKFULNESS. And you will be TRULY FREE from being a SLAVE to your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE. 

The LONGER I live the MORE I HEAR and SEE the work of Satan in this SIN-LADEN world.  Some of the things that are being taught to our young people are DEFINITELY EMPTY PHILOSOPHIES, and HIGH-SOUNDING NONSENSE. And they are HARMFUL to them as FUTURE LEADERS in our WORLD.  And their DOCTRINES are FALSE and UNGODLY.  In some instances, the next generation is being GROOMED for the period of TRIBULATION. We are already SEEING a DISREGARD for HUMAN LIFE.  And more seriously, a DISOBEDIENT NATURE, one that is grounded in LIES, REBELLION, and HATRED and LAWLESSNESS.  And the FUTURE is BLEAK to say the LEAST, for those who ACCEPT these teachings and take part in the actions of such mindsets. 

However, for those of us who have ACCEPTED CHRIST as our SAVIOR and LORD, there is DEFINITELY HOPE. For the ALMIGHTY GOD, has made us ALIVE with CHRIST and our SINS ARE FORGIVEN. God has CANCELED the RECORD of the CHARGES against us and took it AWAY by NAILING it to the CROSS.  We have DIED with Christ, and He has SET us FREE from the spiritual powers of this world.  Since we have been RAISED to a NEW LIFE with Christ, let us SET our SIGHTS on the REALITIES of Heaven, where the LORD JESUS CHRIST sits in the place of HONOR at the RIGHT HAND of the ALMIGHTY GOD. 

So, are you FREE from YOUR BURDEN of SINS?  Have you been drawn to JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD?  Are you REBELLING against GOD?  If you have NOT GIVEN your HEART to GOD through the SHED BLOOD of JESUS, God’s ONLY SON, this is what you SHOULD do, to COME TO GOD through JESUS, He IS the ONLY WAY to spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN and ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE ONCE you are there.

You MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  You MUST BELIEVE that JESUS DIED for YOU and that HE is ALIVE in Heaven making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS. You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and be COMPLETE in CHRIST JESUS.  Do This NOW, while you STILL can.  HE’S WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!  BE READY!!!

 

 

 

 

“God’s Plans”

 “God’s Plans”

 

I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what He has promised His people in the Kingdom of Light.  God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who forgives our sins and sets us FREE.  Colossians 1:13-14

 

Christ Jesus is EXACTLY LIKE GOD; He is the VISIBLE image of the INVISIBLE GOD. He EXISTED before ANYTHING was CREATED and is SUPREME over ALL creation, through Him God CREATED EVERYTHING in the heavenly realms and on earth.  He made the things we CAN see and the things we CANNOT see—-such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers and authorities in the unseen world. EVERYTHING was CREATED through Him and FOR HIM.

Jesus EXISTED before ANYTHING else, and He holds ALL CREATION together. He is also the Head of the Church, which is His BODY, which is made up of the TRUE BELIEVERS.  He is the BEGINNING, supreme over ALL who rise from the dead. So, He is FIRST in EVERYTHING.

GOD was PLEASED to live FULLY in His Son.  And God was PLEASED for His Son to make PEACE by SACRIFICING HIS BLOOD on the CROSS, so that ALL beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to GOD, to be able for them to have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.

The GENTILES (non-Jews), used to be far from God. Our EVIL thoughts and actions made us His ENEMIES. But NOW He has RECONCILED US unto HIMSELF through the Death of CHRIST JESUS in His PHYSICAL BODY.  And as a RESULT, He has brought us into His OWN PRESENCE, and we who have come to JESUS and have REPENTED of our SINS are counted as HOLY and BLAMELESS as we stand before Him on JUDGMENT DAY without a SINGLE FAULT.

We will be able to do this BECAUSE we are NOW a part of HIS FAMILY. And will be with Him for ALL ETERNITY.  AND that is God’s PLAN for the Crown of His CREATION. You MUST RESPOND to His CALL, by COMING to Him and ADMITTING that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS, and BELIEVING with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And then ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and become a PART of His FAMILY.  Do this NOW, while you STILL CAN, He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!! Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!  Listen for His CALL and DO all the ABOVE!!!

“Dangerous Last Days”

 “Dangerous Last Days”

 

You should know this Timothy, that in the LAST DAYS there will be VERY DIFFICULT TIMES.  For people will love ONLY themselves and their money.  They will be BOASTFUL and PROUD, SCOFFING at God, DISOBEDIENT to their parents, and UNGRATEFUL, they will CONSIDER NOTHING SACRED. They will be UNLOVING and UNFORGIVING; they will SLANDER others and have NO self-control.  They will be CRUEL and HATE what is GOOD. They will BETRAY their friends; they WILL BE PUFFED UP with PRIDE and LOVE PLEASURE rather than GOD.  They will ACT religious, but they will REJECT the POWER that could make them godly.  STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE LIKE THAT!   2ND TIMOTHY 3:1-5

Sound familiar?  The Apostle Paul wrote this in his 2ND letter to Timothy. The LAST DAYS that Paul was referring to is the time between the RESURRECTION and the RAPTURE. NOTICE that Paul is instructing Timothy of what’s to come, prior to the RAPTURE, which can happen at ANY TIME.  And Paul wanted to let, not only Timothy, but also for us to know of the SINFUL ATTITUDES that characterizes the LAST DAYS. And WE ARE LIVING in those LAST DAYS.

These LAST DAYS will be PERILOUS TIMES. People will LOVE ONLY THEMSELVES and THEIR MONEY.  They will be BOASTFUL AND PROUD, giving people the idea that they are SUPERIOR to EVERYONE ELSE. They will be PROUD, STUCK-UP, RUDE AND DISOBEDIENT. They will also be UNGRATEFUL, GODLESS, HEARTLESS and HATEFUL.  Their words will be CRUEL, and they will have NO SELF-CONTROL or PITY.

They will HATE EVERYTHING that is GOOD. They will be SNEAKY, RECKLESS, and PUFFED UP with PRIDE. And INSTEAD of LOVING GOD, they will LOVE PLEASURE. They will TRY to INFLUENCE people to SHOW themselves to be RELIGIOUS, but THEIR religion WON’T be REAL.  

They hunger after POWER OVER people who are NOT of their SOCIAL or POLITICAL persuasions, much like the RELIGIOUS LEADERS of Jesus’ Day.  Paul WARNS Timothy and all of the TRUE CHILDREN of the LIVING GOD, to AVOID THESE PEOPLE!!! They will bring HEARTACHE, BRUTALITY, DESPERATION, and more UNGODLY ACTIONS upon GOD’S PEOPLE.  WE NEED TO DRAW CLOSE to OUR REFUGE and OUR STRENGTH, to HELP us until JESUS CHRIST comes back to take US, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, HOME TO BE with HIM and our HEAVENLY FATHER. 

Are YOU READY?  We know NOT when He will RETURN, but we KNOW that it will be SOON, by the SIGNS of the TIMES. You can be, if you will SURRENDER YOURSELF to GOD, through HIS ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  Here is what YOU MUST DO: When the HOLY SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD brings you under CONVICTION, and you FEEL GUILTY for your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, COME to JESUS and ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, the ONLY ONE who is WORTHY to be the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE to FREE MANKIND from an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE ONCE you are there. You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and DRAW CLOSE to GOD during these LAST DAYS.  BE RAPTURE READY by; doing ALL of the ABOVE NOW while you STILL can!!! He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND.  Once ALL the TRUE BELIEVERS are GONE, there will be NOTHING but EVIL on this WRETCHED WORLD!! PLEASE SURRENDER NOW!!  This might be your FINAL OPPORTUNITY!!!

 

 

“Adam’s One Sin =Condemnation; Jesus’ One Act = Righteousness”

“Adam’s One Sin = Condemnation; Jesus’ One Act=Righteousness”

 

Because one-person disobeyed God, many became sinners.  But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.  Romans 5:19

 

EVERYONE was going to be PUNISHED because Adam SINNED, he DISOBEYED GOD. The One who CREATED HIM from the DUST of the GROUND. And yet he fell to the TEMPTATION brought on by the WOMAN that GOD had provided for Adam, Eve was to be a HELPER and a companion to Adam.

The LORD God had filled the garden with all kinds of beautiful trees and fruit trees. Two other trees were in the middle of the garden.  One gave LIFE—the other gave WISDOM to know the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT and WRONG. The LORD God put the man in the Garden of Eden as the CARETAKER, and God told Adam: “You may EAT fruit from ANY tree in the garden, except the one that has POWER for you to KNOW the DIFFERENCE between RIGHT and WRONG. If you EAT ANY FRUIT from that TREE, you will die before the day is over.” (Vv 9, 15-17).

Adam’s DISOBEDIENCE was the very FIRST SIN, the one that started it ALL. The serpent (devil), met up with Eve and ENTICED her to eat from the Tree that GOD had told them NOT TO EAT FROM, or they would DIE.  However, Eve FELL to the temptation and ate a piece of FRUIT from THAT TREE!!  Adam was with Eve at that time, and she gave him some of the fruit and HE ATE IT TOO!! They had BOTH disobeyed GOD, and they were banished from the BEAUTIFUL GARDEN that God had CREATED for them. 

So, because Adam’s one SIN brings CONDEMNATION on ALL of MANKIND, GOD gave mankind the LAW so that ALL PEOPLE COULD see HOW SINFUL they were. And as people SIN MORE and MORE, GOD’S WONDERFUL GRACE becomes MORE ABUNDANT.

Just as SIN RULES OVER ALL PEOPLE and brings them to DEATH. God’s WONDERFUL GRACE RULES INSTEAD, giving us RIGHT STANDING with GOD, which results in ETERNAL LIFE through the LORD JESUS CHRIST who GAVE HIMSELF to SUFFER, BLEED, DIE and BE RESURRECTED from DEATH and the GRAVE. SO, we can have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS and to ESCAPE HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there. 

 To be ABLE to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with GOD, when His Spirit begins to CONVICT YOU of your SINS, you MUST COME TO CHRIST and ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. You MUST BELIEVE that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to HIM and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS. You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and BE OBEDIENT to GOD and SPEND YOUR ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you STILL CAN.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

“God is TRUSTWORTHY “

 “God is TRUSTWORTHY”

 

For the honor of Your Name, O LORD, forgive my many, many sins.  Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in PROSPERITY, and their children will inherit the land.  The LORD is a Friend to those who fear Him. He teaches them His Covenant.  My eyes are ALWAYS on the LORD, for He rescues me from the traps of my enemies.  Psalm 25:11-15

Here we see David is meditating on God’s Character. David tells us that God can be TRUSTED!  He is GOOD and UPRIGHT, and what He says and does is ALWAYS RIGHT. If we would SUBMIT ourselves to Him with a MEEK SPIRIT and a CONTRITE HEART, He will TEACH us His Ways, but if we are haughty, He will be SILENT.

MEEKNESS is NOT WEAKNESS; it is POWER UNDER CONTROL.  We can TRUST GOD TO guide those who OBEY His Word. The WILLINGNESS to OBEY is the FIRST STEP toward spiritual understanding.

We can TRUST GOD to be MERCIFUL and GRACIOUS to those who REPENT, but WE MUST WALK in the fear of the LORD.  God will instruct us in the way that has been CHOSEN for us. Knowing that the Lord has a plan for our lives, and that this plan being the VERY BEST for us SHOULD give us GREAT JOY and CONFIDENCE as we SEEK His WILL for our individual life.

According to God’s Covenant; those who OBEY will receive His PROVISION and PROTECTION, and there will be BLESSING also for the NEXT GENERATIONS of the family. If we will LOVE HIM, FEAR HIM and OBEY HIS WORD, He will draw near to us and share His PLANS with us. 

As we WALK WITH THE LORD IN THE LIGHT OF HIS WORD,” we will develop a CLOSE FELLOWSHIP with Him and can BETTER UNDERSTAND HIS WAYS. The LORD CAN BE TRUSTED to HELP us; and when He helps us, He does it in MERCY and TRUTH.  Are YOU walking in the LIGHT of His WORD?  If you are NOT, you CAN BE, IF you will do the following instructions.

First, God’s HOLY SPIRIT MUST DRAW you to the LORD JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, who GAVE HIS LIFE to SAVE our SOULS from an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  You MUST then ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven making intercession for YOU before GOD.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS. You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINFUL LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and TRUST HIM with EVERYTHING.  HE’S MORE than ABLE!! So, DO this NOW while you STILL CAN. He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!