"Growing-Up"

“Growing-Up”

 

Then we will no longer be immature like children.  We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching.  We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.   Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ who is the head of His body, the Church.   He makes the whole body fit together perfectly.  As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.       Ephesians 4:14-16

 

God has raised up and gifted some to be evangelists, pastors, and teachers.  It is their responsibility to EQUIP God’s people to do God’s work, in order to BUILD-UP the Body of Christ, the Church.  For those willing to start the GROWING PROCESS, they MUST work together in UNITY of FAITH and KNOWLEDGE of the Lord Jesus Christ.  So they will MATURE in the Lord, and will measure up to His FULL and COMPLETE STANDARD.

 

When this happens the TRUE BELIEVERS will no longer be like IMMATURE CHILDREN, who are tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching.  They will be GROWING in their FAITH and KNOWLEDGE of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they will not be DECEIVED or tricked with CLEVER LIES, lies so DECEPTIVE and CLEVER that they may sound like the TRUTH, but in all actuality they are nothing but LIES.    Instead of being duped into FALSEHOOD, they will speak the TRUTH in LOVE, and will GROW-UP in EVERY WAY more like Christ, who is the Head of the Body, the Church. 

 

He makes a PERFECT FIT for the WHOLE BODY and EACH part does its OWN WORK.  They help the other PARTS to GROW and MATURE, in order for the WHOLE BODY to be GROWING HEALTHY and FULL of LOVE.  Are you a WILLING part of the BODY of Christ, His Church?  Are you WORKING TOGETHER with others in UNITY of FAITH and KNOWLEDGE of Christ?  Or are you just warming a place on the pew, paying your dues, not WILLING or PARTICIPATING nor GROWING-UP in your FAITH and KNOWLEDGE of Christ? 

 

Instead of GROWING-UP you are remaining an IMMATURE CHILD, which is at risk of being TOSSED and BLOWN by EVERY FALSE TEACHING.  You may want to TRULY CHECK your SALVATION.  If you have NEVER TRULY given your HEART and LIFE to God, you will not GROW-Up spiritually, but you WILL sink deeper in your sins and have NO HOPE for an ETERNITY in Heaven.  God WILL withdraw His Spirit, and your opportunity to be SAVED will be GONE.  NOW is the time for you to be SAVED!  This is what you MUST do:  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a Child of God that is GROWING-UP in the UNITY of FAITH and KNOWLEDGE of the Lord Jesus Christ, and become a MATURE TRUE BELIVER.  Do this NOW while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Art of Self-Deception"

“The Art of Self-Deception”

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.     James 1:22

No one should deceive himself.  If anyone among your thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise.       1Corinthians 3:18

Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.     Job 15:31

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.       1John 1:8

 

The ART of SELF-DECEPTION is VERY prevalent in our world today.  MANY people are DECEIVING THEMSELVES by; sitting in church every Sunday LISTENING to the Word of God, but never APPLYING the Word to their lives.  They think that, as long as they participate in the ACTIVITIES and ORDINANCES of the church, this will provide a place in Heaven for them.  We are encouraged to not JUST LISTEN but to DO WHAT the WORD of GOD SAYS!  If you are NOT LIVING according to the Word of God.  You are DECEIVING YOUR SELF.

 

The Apostle Paul tells us NOT to DECEIVE ourselves by THINKING that we are wise according to the standards of this poor, wretched, sinful world. Instead we need to become “foolish” by realizing that the wisdom of this world is “foolishness” to God.  Then seek God’s wisdom, which will truly make us wise.

 

Job tells us that a person should NOT DECEIVE themselves, by putting their TRUST in WORTHLESS things.  Because this will be a fruitless effort and they will gain NOTHING in this life nor in the life to come.

 

John says, “If we claim to be without sin, we DECEIVE OURSELVES and the TRUTH is NOT in us.”  Many people think that if a person is a GOOD person, one who does GOOD DEEDS, HELPS others and treats others with KINDNESS and RESPECT they will make it into Heaven.  This is a TRUE FORM of SELF-DECEPTION concerning one’s eternal destiny.  You cannot get to Heaven because you are a “GOOD PERSON”.  The Bible tells us that “ALL have sinned and come short of God’s glory.”  (Romans 3:23)  And “You are SAVED by GRACE through FAITH, and this is NOT from yourselves; it is God’s gift---NOT from WORKS, so that NO ONE can boast.             (Ephesians 2:8-9)

DO NOT be SWEPT AWAY by SELF-DECEPTION.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you NEED to do so NOW.  You do it by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING to God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him.  And ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and no longer be held by SELF-DECEPTION, but be FREE, and ESCAPE HELL and GAIN HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON.

"One"

“One”

 

There is one body and one Spirit---just as you were called to one hope at your calling---one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.        Ephesians 4:4-6

 

These verses of Scripture are indicators of the UNIFICATION of God’s Church.  There is ONE body---that is the body of TRUE BELIEVERS who make up the Body of Christ, the CHURCH.

 

There is ONE Spirit, which is the HOLY SPIRIT of God---the one who comes and indwells the TRUE BELIEVER at the time of conversion.  He leads people into SALVATION, through His CONVICTING POWER.  He is the one who will GUIDE and LEAD the TRUE BELIEVERS into the UNIFICATION process of becoming ONE body, the Church of the Living God. 

 

ALL TRUE BELIEVERS share in ONE HOPE, which is their ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP with the Almighty God.  And their ETERNAL HOME, HEAVEN, which is a PART of their ONE HOPE.

 

ONE Lord, is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Church.  He is the ONE and ONLY SON of the LIVING God.  He is the ONLY ONE who can SAVE the LOST, and bring them into the Family of God. 

 

ONE Faith, which is BELIEVING in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, as SAVIOR and LORD.  The ONLY ONE who has the POWER to SAVE a LOST and DYING world.

 

ONE Baptism, refers to WATER BAPTISM, which suggests the ONE single act that demonstrates the TRUE BELIEVERS’ SPIRITUAL UNITY.

 

ONE God and Father of ALL, this refers to God’s relationship with the TRUE BELIEVER, NOT ALL mankind.  God is the FATHER of His TRUE CHILDREN, those who have been washed in the blood of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and are FORGIVEN of their sins.  They are His CHILDREN and He is their FATHER.

 

Are you part of the ONE BODY?   Were you called by the ONE SPIRIT for SALVATION of your soul?  Do you possess the ONE HOPE? ONE LORD? ONE FAITH? AND have you participated in the ONE BAPTISM?  Is the ONE GOD, your HEAVENLY FATHER?  Are you His TRUE CHILD? 

 

In order to be a part of God’s ONE FAMILY, the FAMILY of BELIEVERS, the ones who will spend ALL of ETERNITY in HEAVEN with their HEAVENLY FATHER, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a part of God’s Family and spend ALL of ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, in ONE ACCORD.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Wicked"

“The Wicked”

 

In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.   The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful’ they fail to act wisely or do good.  Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.        Psalm 36:2-4

Woe to the wicked!  Disaster is upon them!  They will be paid back for what their hands have done.     Isaiah 3:11

But all sinners will be destroyed.  There will be no future for the wicked.    Psalm 37:38

 

One does not have to go far to see that WICKEDNESS prevails in our world, today.  Any CORRUPT, EVIL WICKED thing, such as:  Abortion, murder, thievery, human trafficking, child abuse, spousal abuse, sexual abuse, rape, incest, drugs, drug trafficking, and MANY, MANY MORE WICKED actions are truly prevalent.  God’s word has MUCH to say about WICKEDNESS.  I want us to see the HEART of a WICKED individual. 

 

In Psalm 36:2-4, we see that a WICKED person, in order to take the sting of guilt away, will “flatter” themselves.  They look at their evil deeds as conquests that they have accomplished, and they have carried them out so MUCH that they don’t see them as SIN or WICKEDNESS.

 

Because of their DECIETFUL mindset, they do not use WISDOM in their decision making nor do they carry out any GOOD deeds.  They PLAN to do WICKED things even when they lie down at night their minds are SCHEMING to carry out evil plans.  They are SET on a SINFUL COURSE of life, and will not REJECT what is wrong.  They, therefore, become a part of the problem.

 

In Isaiah 3:11, and Psalm 37:38, we see the DESTINY of a WICKED person who has NOT come to God for the FORGIVENESS of their WICKED deeds.  Isaiah begins by saying “WOE” to the WICKED!   The word “Woe” means GREAT SORROW, and it is in their future because, DISASTER is coming their way.  Their DESTINY will be an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  They will SUFFER, UNENDING heartache, torment, torture, pain, agony, and despair.  Their ETERAL SUFFERING will be a PAYBACK for the WICKEDNESS they have done.

 

Is this YOUR DESTINY?  Are you involved in WICKED PLANS and SCHEMES?  Is your HEART turned to WICKEDNESS, instead of RIGHTEOUSNESS?  If your answer is YES!  Then your life is set on a sinful course, and your DESTINY is HELL.  However, there is GOOD NEWS!  God has a plan for YOU, if you will ACCEPT it, and NOT REJECT it.  He wants you to come to Him by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your WICKED lifestyle, and TURNING TO Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  And you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and TURN your DESTINY from HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, to HEAVEN, with ALL its GLORIES.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"My Rest, My Rock, My Salvation, My Fortress"

“My Rest, My Rock, My Salvation, My Fortress”

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. 

Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.     Psalm 62:1-2

This Psalm tells us of David’s CONFIDENCE and TRUST in God, no matter what he faced.  He KNEW that God was his REST.  In times of BATTLE FATIGUE, David could find PEACEFUL REST in the Almighty God. 

The TRUE BELIEVER is always experiencing BATTLE FATIGUE, because they are fighting SPIRITUAL BATTLES daily.  And they too can have that PEACEFUL REST in the ALMIGHTY GOD, who is ALWAYS AVAILABLE.  All they need to do is to GO to Him, when their soul is tired and weary, He will give them REST.

With that SAME CONFIDENCE David proclaims that God is his ROCK.  Whenever he felt WEAK, and like he could NOT go on, because of his PUNY STRENGTH, he went to the ROCK of his SALVATION and was REVIVED with STRENGTH from the Almighty God who was his ROCK.

The same is true with the TRUE BELIEVER, when they are WEAK from their SPIRITUAL BATTLES, they can GO to their ROCK, the Almighty God and be REVIVED with STRENGTH from Him, because He is their ROCK.

David also declared that God was his SALVATION.  He knew that God could DELIVER him from his lack of faith and weaknesses, and that God COULD and WOULD RESTORE his SOUL.  The Almighty was David’s SALVATION.

He is also the SALVATION for the TRUE BELIEVER.  Whenever they fall to temptation, or become weak in their FAITH and TRUST of God they can come to Him, and seek FORGIVENESS and He will RESTORE their relationship with Him, because He is their SALVATION.

David also describes God as his FORTRESS.  When David needed sanctuary, a place to meditate and be RENEWED in his spirit, he could go to God and be SAFE while regrouping and there he would be REVIVED, because God is his FORTRESS.  

For the TRUE BELIEVER, the Almighty God is their FORTRESS.  They can GO to Him ANYTIME, and find SAFETY.  He will REVIVE and RENEW them, because He is their FORTRESS.

We are living in UNCERTAIN TIMES, we all need, at some time or another, REST, A ROCK, SALVATION, AND A SAFE FORTRESS.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you do NOT have ACCESS to any of the above.  And you are destined to an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL of its HORRORS.  In order to have REST, A ROCK, SALVATION and A SAFE FORTRESS, and to ESCAPE HELL, you MUST do these things: You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive, REST, A ROCK, SALVATION, and a FORTRESS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Nailed to the Cross"

“Nailed to the Cross”

 

Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.                                                                        Colossians 2:12, 14

 

In order for mankind to receive SPIRITUAL FULLNESS in CHRIST, Jesus Christ had to DIE, be BURIED, and RISEN from the grave.  A TRUE BELIEVER experiences TWO baptisms.  The FIRST baptism is a SPIRITUAL BAPTISM, which occurs at the moment of SALVATION, and is the “putting off” or the “breaking away” of their OLD SINFUL NATURE.  The SECOND baptism is WATER BAPTSM which is done by IMMERSION into the water.  This portrays BURIAL with Christ, and the “coming up” out of the water, represents the resurrection to a NEW LIFE, by the POWER of God.

 

The Spiritual act cancels the INDEBTEDNESS of our SINS, which brought CONDEMNATION to us. But Jesus Christ came and was CRUCIFIED, taking upon Himself EVERY VILE, CORRUPT, HORRID, DESPICABLE, NASTY, SINFUL act and NAILED it to the CROSS with Him.   He who knew NO SIN, became SIN, in order for mankind to be SAVED and brought to SPIRITUAL FULLNESS in Him, and for them to be able to be declared RIGHTEOUS in the eyes of the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD.

 

Your sins brings you under INDEBTEDNESS, which CONDEMNS you, and will be your sentence to an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  But because of the DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has provided a WAY to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in Hell, you can have your sins NAILED to the CROSS, and your INDEBTEDNESS CANCELLED.  Here is what you NEED to do.  TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to God, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, because your sins are NAILED to the CROSS, and come to a SPIRITUAL FULLNESS in Christ Jesus.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"A Heavenly Citizenship"

“A Heavenly Citizenship”

 

But our citizenship is in Heaven.   And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.      Philippians 3:20-21

 

We are SOJOUNERS on this earth.  We are on our own journey, one that will determine our destiny.  Some will spend ETERNITY in Heaven, because they have GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to Jesus Christ, and that is where their CITIZENSHIP is.  And others will spend ETERNITY in Hell, because of their UNBELIEF and REJECTION of Jesus Christ as their SAVIOR and LORD, their CITZENSHIP is from Hell.

 

In verses 18 and 19, the Apostle Paul says:  “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is set on earthly things.”  Those who KEEP REJECTING God’s gift of SALVATION, and would rather live in a sinful lifestyle, will definitely reap what they sow.  They will not be able to enter Heaven, if they aren’t CITIZENS of God’s GLORIOUS HEAVEN. 

 

They are NOT EAGERLY AWAITING the SAVIOR from there, but they SHOULD BE DREADING in FEAR the RETURN of God’s Son.  The one who will RETURN to get ALL of God’s Children, those who have GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to Him, to take them to their Heavenly Home.  This is KNOWN as the RAPTURE, at this time their LOWLY, MORTAL bodies will be CHANGED into IMMORTAL, GLORIFIED BODIES, just like the body of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  This will happen in the TWINKLING of an eye.  ARE YOU READY?   WHERE IS YOUR CITIZENSHIP?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then your CITIZENSHIP is in HELL.  The place where you will spend ALL of ETERNITY, with UNENDING torment, torture, pain, heartache, agony and despair.  And NO WAY of ESCAPE, unless you TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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.  Then You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and RECEIVE your HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP for an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!! 

"Not By Works of the Law"

“Not By Works of the Law”

 

Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law,  because by works of the law no one will be justified        Galatians 2:16

 

In some of my witnessing experiences, on a one to one encounter, whenever I would ask someone the question:  “In your opinion, what do you think it takes for a person to get to Heaven?  Some would say; “Keeping the Ten Commandments.”  Now, while this is an admirable TASK, and that is ALL it is, a TASK, because NO one can keep ALL of the TEN COMMANDMENTS.  This would be considered the “WORKS of the LAW. 

 

Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:8&9 that it is, “by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH.  And this is NOT your OWN doing; it is the GIFT of God, NOT a result of works, so that NO ONE can boast.” 

 

In our verse, today, it says that, we are NOT JUSTIFIED by WORKS of the Law.  To be JUSTIFIED, means to be made RIGHTEOUS. This is something that WE cannot do, on our OWN.  JUSTIFICATION comes ONLY through FAITH in JESUS CHRIST.  If you are THINKING or BELIEVING that you are going to get to HEAVEN, when you leave this world, because you KEPT the TEN COMMANDMENTS, which is IMPOSSIBLE to do, you are SADLY MISTAKEN. 

 

The TEN COMMANDMENTS are guidelines for us to live our lives by.  It is NOT the WAY to HEAVEN.  No matter how GOOD a person you are, you still won’t make it.  There is ONLY ONE WAY to be JUSTIFIED in God’s eyes.  And that is ACCEPTING by FAITH JESUS CHRIST as your SAVIOR and LORD. 

 

The way to do that is to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You then, MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that, JESUS DIED for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and BE JUSTIFIED before God, NOT by WORKS of the LAW, but by FAITH in JESUS CHRIST.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Two Types of People"

“Two Types of People”

 

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.   The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.   The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.  Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.          Romans 8:5-8

 

There are TWO distinct types of people in this world: 

Those who live according to the FLESH, with their minds set on FLESHLY DESIRES.  The MIND that is GOVERNED by the FLESH will bring about a SPIRITUAL DEATH.  It is HOSTILE to God and His will. It will NOT submit to God’s Law, because it CANNOT do so.  Those who have NOT given their HEART and LIFE to God are living in the REALM of the FLESH and they CANNOT PLEASE God.  They are DESTINED to spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  They are SLAVES to their SINS and are without HOPE for their ETERNAL FUTURE.

 

Those who live according to the Spirit of the Living God, have their minds set on what the SPIRIT DESIRES.  And they are destined to spend ALL of ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with PEACE that passes ALL UNDERSTANDING and JOY UNSPEAKABLE.  Verse ten tells us that, if Christ is in them, even though they die a PHYSICAL DEATH, the SPIRIT of God gives them SPIRITUAL LIFE because of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is given to them at the time of their conversion.  They are part of God’s Family for ALL of ETERNITY.   Verse eleven, tells us that, if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in them, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give LIFE to their MORTAL BODIES because of His Spirit who lives in them.  This is the HOPE of EVERY TRUE Child of the Living God.

 

Which group are you a part of?  If you are living in the realm of the FLESH, and living according to FLESHLY DESIRES, and you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God.  Then the ONLY ETERNAL FUTURE you are destined for is an ETERNITY in HELL, the place of ETERNAL HORRORS. If you feel a tug at your HEART and feel guilt and shame for your sinful lifestyle, you can be set FREE from the GUILT and SHAME, and you can ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL by, TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS. Then BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and become a part of those who LIVE according to the SPIRIT of the Living God, and inherit an ETERNITY of PEACE and JOY UNSPEAKABLE, in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"A Slave to Sin"

“A Slave to Sin”

 

For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do---this I keep on doing.

Thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.                                                  Romans 7:19, 25

 

Every TRUE BELIEVER of the Lord Jesus Christ, has a war raging inside them.  It is a CONTINUOUS BATTLE between the Law of God and the law of SIN.  The Apostle Paul gives us a pretty clear picture of this BATTLE.

 

Paul tells us of the BATTLE for the MIND of the BELIEVER.  He states that, he does not do the GOOD that he WANTS to do, but the EVIL that he really doesn’t want to do---that is what he KEEPS on doing.  And it stems from the SINFUL NATURE that he is born with.  Therefore, making him a slave to the law of sin.   This is TRUE of EVERY person. 

 

In verse 24, Paul cries out: “What a WRETCHED man I am!  Who will RESCUE me from this body that is subject to death?”  The Apostle recognized that as long as he was in his HUMAN BODY, he would have this RAGING BATTLE inside him. He also KNEW that SIN working in the human body will bring SPIRITUAL DEATH.  And he KNEW that under his OWN strength, he would be DEFEATED.  But he also KNEW that GOD would DELIEVER him, through the REDEMPTIVE WORK of JESUS CHRIST on the old, rugged cross, Paul could be the VICTOR over his SIN.  He could FINALLY be FREE from being a SLAVE to SIN.  Are you living a DEFEATED LIFE?  Are you a SLAVE to SIN?  DOOMED to spend ALL of ETERNITY in Hell?

 

You are, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God.  In order to change your DESTINATION from HELL to HEAVEN, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and you MUST TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and like the Apostle Paul, become FREE from the BONDAGE of your SIN, and receive HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Living a New Life"

“Living a New Life”

 

We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives He lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.                                             Romans 6:4, 10-12

 

After a person comes to Christ for the SALVATION of their soul, they need to follow Him in Believer’s Baptism.  The act of Baptism, is the OUTWARD expression of an INWARD change.  It shows that the TRUE BELIEVER is BURIED with Christ, which is the immersion of the BELIEVER into the water, and then they are RAISED from the dead, which is the process of bringing them UP out of the water to a NEW LIFE in Christ Jesus.    What a glorious moment that is!

 

The death of Jesus Christ, was very IMPORTANT in the plan of SALVATION.  He was our SACRIFICE, and He who KNEW NO sin, became sin, on the cross.  He took on the sins of ALL mankind, and shed His precious blood for ALL that will come to Him for their SALVATION.  He did this ONCE and for ALL, and that was ALL that was NEEDED to FREE mankind from their OLD, WRETCHED, GUILT-RIDDEN, SINFUL LIFE, and to give them a NEW LIFE with a NEW ETERNAL FUTURE.

 

The Apostle Paul, encourages the BELIEVERS in Rome, to count themselves DEAD to SIN, but ALIVE TO God in Christ Jesus.  And in doing this, they are to NOT LET SIN REIGN in their MORTAL BODY nor to OBEY its evil desires.  But they are to LIVE a NEW LIFE in Christ Jesus.  They can accomplish this through the work of GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT, which indwells them.  It is a FRESH, NEW LIFE, without SIN and its CONSEQUENCES.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are headed to an ETERNITY in Hell with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to have a FRESH, NEW LIFE without SIN and its CONSEQUENCES, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and start LIVING A NEW LIFE, with HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Condemnation Because of Disobedience, Justification Because of Obedience"

“Condemnation Because of Disobedience, Justification Because of Obedience”

 

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.   For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.       Romans 5:18-19

 

DISOBEDIENCE entered the HEART of the one man Adam, and SIN was born.  Because of that FIRST ACT of DISOBEDIENCE, mankind is born with a SIN NATURE, or the desire to sin.  And along with DISOBEDIENCE against God and His laws, mankind comes under CONDEMNATION, and is DOOMED to an ETERNITY in Hell.  Mankind is therefore in a state of WRETCHEDNESS, and DESPAIR, without HOPE.

 

But because of God’s ABUNDANT provision of GRACE and His gift of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is provided through the OBEDIENCE of the One Man, Jesus Christ, who went to an old rugged cross and gave up His life, in order for mankind to receive JUSTIFICATION and RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Jesus SACRIFICED His LIFE so the ones, who will come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART might receive His gift of SALVATION, and be BLESSED with the HOPE of an ETERNITY in Heaven.

 

In order to be RELEASED from the CONDEMNATION and brought to JUSTIFICATION, you MUST come from DISOBEDIENCE to OBEDIENCE to God and His laws.  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive JUSTIFICATION and RIGHTEOUSNESS along with your ETERNAL HOME, HEAVEN.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Promise and the Hope"

“The Promise and the Hope”

 

It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”                                                                               Romans 4:13, 18

 

The Apostle Paul uses Abraham’s HOPE in God’s PROMISE, as an example to the TRUE BELIEVERS in Rome.  God had made a PROMISE to Abraham that he would be the HEIR of the WORLD.  This PROMISE to Abraham and his offspring was NOT given because Abraham kept the LAW, but it came to Abraham because of his RIGHTEOUSNESS that came through his FAITH.

 

It was probably evident to Abraham and Sarah that they would remain “childless” at the ages they were.  At least in HUMAN reasoning, but God had made them a PROMISE, and ONE thing about the God we serve, He KEEPS His PROMISES.   Abraham, in HOPE, BELIEVED in God’s PROMISE and PRAISED GOD for His ability to KEEP His PROMISE.  So Abraham, at the age of 100 and Sarah at 90, became the recipients of the CHILD OF PROMISE, and this began the PROMISE of Abraham becoming the Heir of the World. 

 

God has made a PROMISE to those whose FAITH is like that of Abraham’s.  And just like the PROMISE He made to Abraham, God will KEEP this PROMISE that comes to the TRUE BELIEVER, through their RIGHTEOUSNESS, which comes by FAITH, which is POSSIBLE ONLY, through the PLAN of SALVATION that is accomplished by the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  This PROMISE is ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, and God WILL KEEP this PROMISE also. 

 

However, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  This too is a PROMISE that God will KEEP.  He is giving you the opportunity NOW, to ESCAPE HELL and to GAIN HEAVEN.  To do this, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and RECEIVE the PROMISE, God has made to EVERY TRUE BELIEVER, which is an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, and like Abraham, PRESS ON, KEEPING the FAITH, until He returns.   Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Sacrifice of Atonement"

“The Sacrifice of Atonement”

 

God presented Christ as a Sacrifice of Atonement, through the shedding of His blood---to be received by faith.  He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished---He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.          Romans 3:25-26

 

The term “SACRIFICE” has been in the news a lot here lately. This word means: a giving up of one thing for another.  I know of a man who TRULY SACRIFICED His life for another, that person is the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  He gave up His WHOLE LIFE.  He left ALL the RICHES of Heaven, to be born to a family of meager means.  He, who is KING of KINGS left EVERYTHING, and came into this world, in order to be BETRAYED by one of His own disciples, to be spat upon, ridiculed, tormented, and SEVERELY BEATEN, beyond recognition, then NAILED to an OLD RUGGED CROSS, to DIE, like a common criminal.  And He did this so that MANKIND could be SAVED from their sins.  This is what “SACRIFICE” TRULY MEANS.

 

The Almighty God GAVE His ONLY Son as the SACRIFICE of ATONEMENT, to be RECEIVED by FAITH, through the shedding of His blood.  The purpose was to SAVE a LOST and DYING world from their sins.  He did this by demonstrating His RIGHTEOUSNESS, because of His FORBEARANCE or His “holding back” or delaying of UNPUNISHED SINS in past times.  It is indicated here, that the delay was because of God’s PLAN of SALVATION.  He KNEW of His provision for taking care of sins through the DEATH of Jesus Christ.  It is His desire that NONE perish, but that ALL come to a “SAVING KNOWLEDGE” and ACCEPTANCE of the SACRIFICE of ATONEMENT.  This act of FORBEARANCE was evidence of God’s AMAZING GRACE.

 

Have you come to the “SAVING KNOWLEDGE” and ACCEPTANCE of the SACRIFICE of ATONEMENT?  If you have NOT, given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you have NOT come to that place.  And you are on your way to an ETERNITY in Hell with ALL of its HORRORS.  To be able to come to a “SAVING KNOWLEDGE and ACCEPTANCE” of the SACRIFICE of ATONEMENT, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive Heaven as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Faith and Righteousness"

“Faith and Righteousness”

 

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed---a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written:  “The righteous will live by faith.”         Romans 1:17

 

The RIGHTEOUSNESS that the Apostle Paul is talking about here, is a RIGHTEOUSNESS that God provides to those who TRULY COME to Him for the SALVATION of their souls.  It is NOT God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS, (His personal attribute), but it is a RIGHTEOUSNESS that God provides to those who come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and is provided to them on the basis of and the response to their FAITH in the Gospel.

 

 RIGHTEOUSNESS, means to be MADE RIGHT with God.  In order to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him, we MUST be MADE RIGHT with Him.  That means that we strive to LIVE a LIFE that is PLEASING to Him.  A Life that would bring HONOR and GLORY to Him and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the One who makes it POSSIBLE for us to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the Lord God Almighty.  This is accomplished through His DEATH on the cross, and His RESURRECTION from the grave.  When we BELIEVE and ACCEPT the fact that He died for US, then we can have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Holy God, because we are MADE RIGHT with Him, on the BASIS OF and RESPONSE TO FAITH in the GOSPEL.

 

But for those who REJECT God’s gift of SALVATION, through His Son, Jesus Christ, they are NOT MADE RIGHT with God, nor do they have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him.  In other words, they do NOT have the RIGHTEOUSNESS God provides for the TRUE BELIEVER.  You cannot POSSESS what you do NOT have.  This RIGHTEOUSNESS is given to the TRUE BELIEVER on the BASIS OF and RESPONSE TO the FAITH they have in the GOSPEL.  The person who REJECTS Christ, has NO FAITH in the GOSPEL.  They are LOST and DOOMED to an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL it HORRORS.  Is this your fate? 

 

In order to become a TRUE BELIEVER, and to be MADE RIGHT with God.  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be MADE RIGHT with God, because of your FAITH in the Gospel.  Then you will receive His RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Many Unknown Things"

“The Many Unknown Things”

 

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.  Amen.  John 21:25

 

Some people may read this Scripture and think it is an EXAGGERATION of the number of things that our Lord Jesus Christ did during His time on earth.  However, I believe that the WORD of God is TRUTH, and if it says that Jesus did MANY OTHER THINGS, which we do NOT know about, then that is the TRUTH. 

 

John tells us that if these UNKNOWN THINGS were written one by one, there would be SO MANY that the WORLD itself could not contain the books that would be written.  This statement exemplifies the HEART of our SAVIOR and LORD.  He was/is COMPASSIONATE, CARING, LOVING and KIND.  We can only IMAGINE what these things might be, considering ALL the things that were recorded in God’s Word.  

 

I suppose that He healed MANY MORE people than was recorded, and possibly had MANY MORE instances of His CONTROL over NATURE.  Probably brought MANY MORE people from DEATH to LIFE.  But I would imagine that He BROUGHT the GLORIOUS GIFT of SALVATION along with the other MIRACLES, to those who were LIVING in SIN, GROPING in DARKNESS, with NO HOPE and headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.  I believe that bringing SALVATION to this LOST and DYING world is the MOST AWESOME thing, whether it is KNOWN or UNKNOWN to us.  It IS/WAS a LIFE-CHANGING thing that DETERMINES one’s DESTINY for ALL of ETERNITY.  

 

Have you EVER had an ENCOUNTER with the ONLY ONE who can DETERMINE your DESTINY?  The One who has the POWER over DEATH and the GRAVE?  The One who LOVED YOU so MUCH that He DIED a cruel DEATH on an OLD RUGGED CROSS, so you MIGHT have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN?  If your answer is NO, then you are DOOMED to spend ETERNITY in Hell, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE that, Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its GLORIES.  Be a part of the UNKNOWN THINGS that Jesus did.  Those things that were NOT recorded in God’s Word.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Believing Without Seeing"

“Believing Without Seeing”

 

Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Those who believe without seeing are blessed.”         John 20:29

 

The first time Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room, Thomas, one of the disciples, was absent.  After eight days Jesus’ disciples were in the upper room again, this time Thomas was with them.  Thomas did not BELIEVE that his fellow disciples had experienced an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ before. 

 

So when Jesus appeared to them this time, He took Thomas’ hand and said, “Thomas, put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side.   Don’t be an UNBELIEVER, but a BELIEVER.” 

 

Then Thomas acknowledged Christ, by saying, “My Lord and my God!”   That is when Jesus chided him, saying, “Because you have SEEN Me, you have BELIEVED.  Those who BELIEVE, WITHOUT SEEING are BLESSED.”

 

This BLESSING comes to ALL TRUE BELIEVERS who BELIEVE even though they do not SEE a VISIBLE body.  Yet they BELIEVE on the basis of the PROCLAIMED GOSPEL.  It’s like NOT seeing the air, you may SEE the evidences of the air, such as;  a kite soaring high in the sky, or a flag flapping in the wind, and every time you breathe IN and OUT you are experiencing something you cannot SEE, but you KNOW it’s there, because of the evidences of it. 

 

A TRUE BELIEVER can’t see Jesus, visible body, but they can FEEL His PRESENCE, because of His Holy Spirit, which indwells EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.  And we have the WORD of God, which tells us ALL we NEED to KNOW about Jesus and His LOVE.  And it tells us how we can EXPERIENCE that LOVE. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God.  Then you are an UNBELIEVER, who is destined to an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to BELIEVE WITHOUT SEEING, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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 ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and BE BLESSED with an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL of its GLORIES, and become a BELIEVER, who BELIEVES WITHOUT SEEING.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!