"The Mystery of Godliness"

“The Mystery of Godliness”

 

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:  He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.        1 Timothy 3:16

 

MYSTERY:  Spiritually speaking; as laid out by the Apostle Paul, indicated TRUTH, which was HIDDEN in the Old Testament times and REVEALED in the New Testament times. 

 

This GODLINESS refers to the TRUTH of SALVATION and RIGHTEOUSNESS that can ONLY come from Christ Jesus, the Only Son of the LIVING GOD.  This MYSTERY was GREAT because of its range of understanding and its influence on a sinful world.  It was/is the ONLY HOPE for mankind.

 

The Apostle Paul gives us the CONTENT of this TRUTH, through an excerpt from an early hymn about Christ, who is the ENTITY of the MYSTERY.   “He was manifested in the flesh,” this speaks of His INCARNATION, when He came as a NEWBORN BABY, God’s gift to MANKIND for their SALVATION.  “He was VINDICATED by the Spirit,” which was carried out by the RESURRECTION, which was a demonstration of God, by the Holy Spirit of the CRUCIFIED and RISEN Christ, as LORD and MESSIAH of ALL.  “Seen by the angels,” this refers to His EXALTATION, which was carried out before the Heavenly realm, both the fallen and the elect angels.  (Phil. 2:5-11)  “Proclaimed by the nations, and BELIEVED on in the world,” This refers to the FULLFILMENT of God’s plan for the SALVATION of MANKIND.  “Taken up in glory.”  This refers to the ASCENSION of Christ Jesus into Heaven.  (Acts 1:9-10)  Where He is NOW, making intercession for the Children of God.  Are you a Child of God?  Have you experienced this MYSTERY?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE TOTALLY to God, then you are NOT His Child, nor have you EXPERIENCED this MYSTERY.  But you are carrying out the desires of SATAN, by being DISOBEDIENT to God, and you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, you can EXPERIENCE this MYSTERY of SALVATION by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and EXPERIENCE the MYSTERY and become a CHILD of the LIVING GOD, with an ETERNAL HOME in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"To KNOW That You KNOW!"

“To KNOW That You KNOW!”

 

And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.  Whoever says ‘I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.  By this we may know that we are in Him:  whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.       1 John 2:3-6

 

One SURE way of KNOWING that you are TRULY SAVED is by ONE word:  OBEDIENCE.  Some people believe that when they walk the aisle in a church, or repeat a prayer, they are SAVED, and on their way to an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Some believe that SALVATION comes by being GOOD and doing GOOD deeds.  Some are under the assumption that if their parents and grandparents held positions in the church that automatically gave them SALVATION.  NONE of these things will provide SALVATION.  One cannot gain SALVATION by the WORKS they do, or by the WORKS of another.

 

SALVATION is a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with GOD.  There is NO WAY, a person can EARN SALVATION, it is a GIFT from GOD.  And is provided by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His LIFE on an old rugged cross.  He shed His blood for the REDEMPTION of mankind.  Jesus told His disciple, Thomas:  “I am the Way and the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  (John 14:6)  So to be ABLE to have that PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with GOD, you MUST ACCEPT Jesus Christ as your SAVIOR and LORD, and FOLLOW HIM in OBEDIENCE to His Word.

 

This is the way we KNOW that we KNOW, we are TRULY SAVED.  We cannot be SINLESS, as He was, but we can LIVE in OBEDIENCE to Him.  And being TRULY SAVED, we can be OBEDIENT to Him and His Word, because His HOLY SPIRIT LIVES in us.  And we have the desire to PLEASE HIM through being OBEDIENT to His Word (Bible).  A TRUE BELIEVER will STRIVE to LIVE in the SAME WAY in which He LIVED, by being OBEDIENT to His HEAVENLY FATHER.  Have you RECEIVED this GIFT of SALVATION?  Do you KNOW that you KNOW that you are TRULY SAVED?

 

If you have NOT TRULY given your HEART and LIFE to God, but are depending on YOUR WORKS or SOMEBODY ELSE’S WORKS. Then your ETERNITY will be in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  You MUST be OBEDIENT to God, by TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is now ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and through being OBEDIENT to Him, KNOW that you KNOW you are TRULY SAVED!  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Not Ashamed!"

“Not Ashamed!”

 

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.        1 John 2:28

 

The word ABIDING indicates a permanent living in Christ.  When a TRUE BELIEVER TRULY ABIDES in Christ, they do it in FAITH and OBEDIENCE.  This ABIDING is IMPERATIVE to the lifestyle of the BELIEVER.   It is something that the TRUE BELIEVER has to PURSUE and WORK AT, because of the sinful world we live in, we MUST STRIVE to LIVE in FAITH and OBEDIENCE to the Lord Jesus Christ.  And the ONLY WAY we can SUCCESSFULLY and TRULY be RIGHTEOUS is to LIVE or ABIDE in CHRIST JESUS.

 

Most ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, are ANXIOUSLY AWAITING the RETURN of CHRIST.  For those who are ABIDING in CHRIST, and living in FAITH and OBEDIENCE to Him, this is the time, in which, we can have CONFIDENCE and NOT be ASHAMED at His COMING, which is the RAPTURE.  Those who have been SAVED from their sins, and have PERSEVERED in FAITH and OBEDIENCE can have that CONFIDENCE, and NOT be ASHAMED, because they will stand before Christ, BLAMELESS, HOLY, and RIGHTEOUS, because they have ABIDED in Him. 

 

However, there are MANY who PROFESS to be BELIEVERS, but have NOT PERSEVERED in FAITH and OBEDIENCE, through ABIDING in CHRIST. They actually have NO relationship with Him, and they will be ASHAMED at His appearance.  Their DESTINY will be an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  Is this your DESTINY? 

 

It is if you have NOT TRULY given your HEART and LIFE to God.  And if you are PROFESSING but NOT POSSESSING His gift of SALVATION.  In order to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, you MUST TRULY HAVE a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ, and TRULY ABIDING in HIM.  You MUST BE WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ABIDE in HIM, having CONFIDENCE, and be NOT ASHAMED at His appearance.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"HOPE---A Confident Expectation"

“HOPE--- A Confident Expectation”

 

Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.    Romans 8:24-25

 

The HOPE that is spoken of in the New Testament, is not like the English word---HOPE, the New Testament HOPE does NOT contain UNCERTAINITY, but it contains the CERTAINITY of something that is yet to be REALIZED.  It is the ULTIMATE PROMISE of sharing in the GLORY of the ALMIGHTY GOD.

 

It is the CERTAINITY or HOPE of the PROMISE of God that a TRUE BELIEVER, will, one day, be FREE from SIN and DELIVERED from an ETERNAL DESTINY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS. This is POSSIBLE, because of the REDEMPTIVE WORK of His SON, on an OLD RUGGED CROSS.  And for those who will come to JESUS CHRIST for the SALVATION of their souls, by FAITH in Him, will receive the PROMISE of a BODILY REDEMPTION and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  This PROMISE brings us HOPE---the CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of this final step of the plan of SALVATION.

 

Our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also EAGERLY wait for a SAVIOR, THE Lord Jesus Christ.  He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His GLORIOUS body, by the POWER that enables Him to subject EVERYTHING to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)  This is what we, the TRUE BELIEVER, EAGERLY WAITS for.  It is our HOPE---A CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of our ETERNAL DESTINY.   Do you possess this HOPE?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you have NO HOPE.  Your ETERNAL DESTINY is HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE. This is NOT what God wants for you.  He has a WAY for you to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, which is; for you to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO HIM, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and have that HOPE---A CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of your ETERNAL DESTINY---HEAVEN.  So do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Spirit of Christ in You"

“The Spirit of Christ in You”

 

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.        Romans 8:6-9

 

The UNREGENERATED person, the one who has NOT come to Jesus Christ for the SALVATION of their soul, their mind is SET on the FLESH, which is SPIRITUAL DEATH.  Meaning, when they leave this world, through DEATH, they will suffer in HELL.  Because their mind is SET on the FLESH, which is HOSTILE towards God.  Their actions is more than just DISOBEDIENCE, it is the MANFESTATIONS of the inner content of the HEART.  And they CANNOT please God, no matter what they do.  They CANNOT work, pay, bribe, or talk their way into ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  It is ONLY possible by coming through the SHED BLOOD of Jesus Christ, and RECEIVING the SPIRIT of CHRIST. 

 

The one who has come to JESUS with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and has sought FORGIVENESS, will NOT LIVE in the FLESH, but in the SPIRIT of GOD, who is INDWELLING them.  And they have been adopted into God’s Family, and their spirit will be made ALIVE for ALL of ETERNITY, even though the body will die.  But the BODY will be RESURRECTED and CHANGED into a BRAND NEW, PERFECT, and GLORIFIED BODY, one that will be EVERLASTING.  However, the one, who does NOT have the SPIRIT of CHRIST living in them, does NOT belong to the FAMILY of GOD, and will SUFFER throughout ETERNITY, with ALL the HORRORS of HELL.  Do You POSSESS the Spirit of Christ?

 

If you have NOT TRULY given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you do NOT POSSESS the Spirit of Christ, and will spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  So, in order to ESCAPE HELL, and to RECEIVE the SPIRIT of CHRIST, you MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and LIVE by the SPIRIT because the SPIRIT of CHRIST is LIVING in you.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Unrepentant Heart"

“The Unrepentant Heart”

 

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the Day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.        Romans 2:5

 

One of the characteristics of an UNREPENTANT HEART is STUBBORNNESS.  It is one of Satan’s main tools to prevent a person from coming to God for FORGIVENESS, and the SALVATION of their soul.  STUBBORNNESS is an inherent characteristic, and for some, it poses to become a REAL, FULL-BLOWN problem.  When it comes to a person’s UNREPENTANT HEART, it is a VERY CRUCIAL PROBLEM, which will determine their ETERNITY.  It is also a SURE-FIRE way of Satan keeping you away FROM God and sending you to an ETERNITY in Hell.

 

When a person comes to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, seeking the FORGIVENESS of their sins, they will RECEIVE that FORGIVENESS, and ALL their sins are FORGIVEN, PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE.  Jesus Christ DIED and was RISEN from the GRAVE, ONCE FOR ALL.  So ALL sins are COVERED by His BLOOD, and are FORGIVEN and FORGOTTEN, as far as the EAST is from the WEST.  (Psalm 103:12)

 

But for the UNREPENTANT HEARTS, which STUBBORNLY REJECTS God’s gift of SALVATION, and an ETERNITY in Heaven with ALL its BLESSINGS, they are STORING up GOD’S WRATH against themselves.  This WRATH will be poured out on them at the Day of Judgment, when God’s RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT will be revealed.  And those who are in this situation, will SUFFER ALL through ETERNITY, in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  Is this where you are?

 

You can change your DESTINY NOW, by WILLINGLY TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, and ESCAPE HIS WRATH!  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"PRAY!"

“PRAY!”

 

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”       Matthew 6:6

 

Jesus is giving His disciples a crucial lesson in PRAYING, in this chapter of the Book of Matthew.  PRAYER is a LIFELINE to the Heavenly Father, for the TRUE BELIEVER.  It is also the means of obtaining SALVATION.  The Scripture in 1 John 1:9 says: “If we CONFESS our sins, He is FAITHFUL and JUST to FORGIVE us our sins and to CLEANSE us from ALL unrighteousness.”  This act is carried out through PRAYER, and brings us the gift of SALVATION.  This PRAYER is the FIRST and ONLY PRAYER that will CAPTURE the HEART of the LIVING GOD.  It is IMPERATIVE that you have done EXACTLY what 1 John 1:9 has said, if you expect your PRAYERS to be HEARD by the ALMIGHTY GOD. 

 

We live in DIFFICULT TIMES, and I hate to say it, but I BELIEVE that it will only get worse.  For the TRUE BELIEVER in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, we have our LIFELINE to the Father, and can TALK DIRECTLY to HIM anytime.  Jesus tells us in our Scripture, today, that we NEED to have a “SPECIAL TIME” to talk with our Heavenly Father, we NEED to GO into our room, CLOSE the door, and PRAY to Him, who is UNSEEN.  God, who SEES and KNOWS EVERYTHING, will HEAR our PRAYER, and will REWARD us ACCORDINGLY.  We cannot afford to NOT have that INTIMATE TIME ALONE with Him.  We must MAKE it an EFFORT and MAKE TIME FOR HIM.  It MUST BE the MOST IMPORTANT thing you do EVERYDAY.  COMMUNICATE with Him, THROUGH your PRAYERS, and BE ASSURED that He HEARS and WILL ANSWER, according to HIS WILL.  He DESIRES to have an INTIMATE, CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with His CHILDREN.  Are you His Child? 

 

If you have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to Him, you are NOT His CHILD, you are His CREATION, but NOT His CHILD, because you have NOT been ADOPTED into His Family.  And He will NOT HEAR any of your prayers, UNTIL, you PRAY to HIM for the SALVATION of YOUR SOUL.  In Psalm 66:19, the Psalmist tells us:  “If I had ignored my sins, the Lord would NOT have listened to me.”  So you MUST BE WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before GOD.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and GO to Him DAILY and PRAY, LIFTING UP to HIM, WORDS of ADORATION, PRAISE, and REQUESTS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!