“The Freedom of God’s Grace”

 “The Freedom of God’s Grace”

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.  But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  Galatians 5:13

In verse one, the Apostle Paul tells the Galatian Believers that:  “It is for FREEDOM that CHRIST has set them FREE.” And that they SHOULD STAND FIRM, and to NOT let themselves be BURDENED AGAIN by a yoke of slavery to their OLD SINFUL NATURE.  And in our Scripture, we find that he is reminding them of the fact that they are CALLED to LIVE in FREEDOM, and NOT to use it to SATISFY their SINFUL NATURE.  

This is VERY APPLICABLE for the TRUE BELIEVERS of today.  It is a VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER, that we, as TRUE BELIEVERS of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, STAND FIRM, and NOT let SIN gain a foothold.  If we use our FREEDOM in CHRIST JESUS, as a LICENSE to fall back into the SINS of our past, then we become SLAVES to that OLD LIFE-STYLE, and are in BONDAGE to it.  To overcome this dilemma, we SHOULD channel our FREEDOM in SERVING ONE ANOTHER in LOVE.  

In Leviticus 19:18, we are told to:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Instead of being in BONDAGE to the OLD SINFUL LIFE-STYLE, we SHOULD be in BONDAGE to one another, in other words, we NEED to SERVE one ANOTHER in LOVE.  After all, this is what JESUS would do, and we are to FOLLOW HIM and LIVE our LIVES in the FREEDOM, we POSSESS, and we are to LIVE in CHRIST.  Do you possess the FREEDOM of GOD’S GRACE, through the SALVATION that His Son provides?

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then you DO NOT POSSESS the FREEDOM of GOD’S GRACE, but you are STILL living in BONDAGE to your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE, and you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  But God has made a WAY for you to ESCAPE HELL and to GAIN HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  You MUST COME to JESUS CHRIST, and ADMIT that you are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS. 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.  And 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 POSSESS the FREEDOM of GOD’S GRACE, and LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as YOURSELF.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“Do Nothing Out Of Selfish Ambition”

 “Do Nothing Out Of Selfish Ambition”

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.   Philippians 2:3-4

Jesus Christ is the FOREMOST example of HUMILITY and of a SELFLESS character.  Therefore, when we attempt to do ANYTHING, we SHOULD do it as JESUS would do it, NOT out of SELFISH AMBITION or EMPTY CONCEIT, but with a HUMBLE and SELFLESS heart. We who are TRUE Christians claim to be CHRIST-LIKE, and just by calling our selves CHRISTians, should inspire us to LIVE our lives with a CHRIST-LIKE attitude.  We should be asking ourselves, this very IMPORTANT QUESTION:  “What would JESUS do?”

It’s okay to be AMBITIOUS, but we MUST NOT do it with a SELFISH and CONCEITED HEART and MIND.  And we should NOT CONSIDER ourselves BETTER than anyone else.  Our verse of Scripture, tells us that we should REGARD them as MORE IMPORTANT than ourselves.  Having HUMILITY before God and man is a VIRTUE EVERY CHILD of God NEEDS to STRIVE for.  They MUST NOT possess a spirit of PRIDE in their HUMAN relationships, because if they have that SPIRIT of PRIDE, there is a LACK of HUMILITY before God.

In order to possess HUMILITY, you do it by LOOKING OUT for the INTERESTS of OTHERS, and NOT MERELY for your OWN personal interests.  When you do this, you are exemplifying the ATTRIBUTES of JESUS CHRIST.  And this could make ALL the DIFFERENCE in someone’s ETERNAL DESTINY.  So, REMEMBER, Do NOTHING Out of SELFISH AMBITION,” but out of a SPIRIT of LOVE and HUMILITY.  

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to JESUS CHRIST, then you cannot be an EXAMPLE of His LOVE and HUMILITY, and your ETERNAL DESTINY is in JEOPARDY of an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  However, God has an ESCAPE PLAN:  You MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who DIED to SAVE your soul.  And 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 DO NOTHING OUT OF SELFISH AMBITION, so you will be able to have an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  ARE YOU READY??

“The Spiritual Fullness of Jesus Christ”

“The Spiritual Fullness of Jesus Christ”

So then, Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.      Colossians 2:6-7

The word “CHRISTLIKE” means to be like JESUS CHRIST, and to be like JESUS, you need to have the SPIRITUAL FULLNESS of JESUS CHRIST.  To do that you MUST first give your HEART and LIFE to Him, and to LIVE IN HIM and FOR HIM.  You MUST be ROOTED in Christ Jesus, meaning to have roots that goes DEEP into the RICHNESS of the WORD.  And you MUST BUILD a STRONG FOUNDATION, which is BUILT upon the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is SO IMPORTANT to be TAUGHT the Word of God, to KNOW the Word of God, to BELIEVE the Word of God, and to LIVE by the WORD of GOD.  

When a TRUE BELIEVER, is STRENGTHENED in their FAITH, then they will OVERFLOW with THANKFULNESS, because they can then LIVE BY FAITH and experience the SPIRITUAL FULLNESS of JESUS CHRIST.  However, the Apostle Paul gives a WARNING in verse eight:  “See to it that no one takes you captive through HOLLOW and DECEPTIVE philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the BASIC PRINCIPLES of this WORLD rather than on CHRIST.”   The TRUE BELIEVER will be a victim to such philosophies if they are NOT ROOTED in CHRIST, GROUNDED in the WORD of GOD, and BUILT UP in BIBLICAL TRUTHS, and if they don’t possess the SPIRITUAL FULLNESS of JESUS CHRIST.  Do you possess this SPIRITUAL FULLNESS?  If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, and are WEAK in you SPIRITUAL WALK with CHRIST, then you KNOW NOW what you NEED to do.

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, through His Son JESUS CHRIST, who DIED for your REDEMPTION, then this is what you NEED to do, in order to 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.  And 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 LIVE in the SPIRITUAL FULLNESS of JESUS CHRIST, and spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!

“ 

“Faith, Love, and Hope”

 “Faith, Love, and Hope”

 Because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in Heaven and that you have already heard about in the Word of Truth, the Gospel that has come to you.    Colossians 1:4-5

The Apostle Paul told the Believers in Colossae that He had heard about their FAITH in Christ Jesus, and of the LOVE that they had for ALL the SAINTS of GOD.  FAITH and LOVE that SPRINGS from the HOPE that is stored up for them in HEAVEN for a SHARING of God’s Glory, which is made POSSIBLE through the VICTORY of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  

It was something that they had heard about when they heard the Word of TRUTH, the GOSPEL or the GOOD NEWS that JESUS has the VICTORY over Satan, Sin and the GRAVE.  This Hope is CONFIDENCE in what God will do in the FUTURE.  And it carries with it the CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of the RETURN of CHRIST, which is called the “BLESSED HOPE.”   FAITH is based on the PAST work of Jesus Christ; LOVE is active in the PRESENT; and HOPE looks FORWARD to the FUTURE.  

Without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE GOD, because anyone who comes to Him MUST BELIEVE that He exists and that He rewards those who EARNESTLY SEEKS Him.  (Heb. 11:6) LOVE is the GREATEST of ALL, the Bible tells us that GOD is LOVE and it is BECAUSE of His GREAT LOVE for MANKIND that we have been given His GIFT of SALVATION, which was purchased through the SHED BLOOD of GOD’S SON, JESUS CHRIST.  HOPE will NOT DISAPPOINT us.  It is our CONFIDENCE in GOD and JESUS CHRIST, for an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  And it is being ABLE to ESCAPE an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  Do you possess  the FAITH, LOVE and HOPE you NEED to make this HAPPEN?

You can, if you will come to the foot of the Cross of Christ, who suffered, bled and died, and was RESURRECTED for YOU.  You MUST 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 NOW, 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 possess FAITH, LOVE, and HOPE for the FUTURE.  LOOKING FORWARD to the SOON RETURN of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!! 

“God, the Rock”

 “God, the Rock”

As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is flawless.  He is a Shield for all who take refuge in Him.  For who is God besides the LORD?  And who is the Rock except our God?    Psalm 18:30-31

If you read this Psalm from the beginning you will see that it is King David, boasting on GOD.  I LOVE the beginning of this Psalm, David says:  “I love You, O LORD, my STRENGTH.  The LORD is my ROCK, my FORTRESS and my DELIVERER; my God is my ROCK, in whom I take REFUGE.  He is my SHIELD and the HORN of my SALVATION, my STRONGHOLD.  I call to the LORD who is WORTHY of PRAISE, and I am SAVED from my enemies.  (Vv.1-3)  This is a Psalm of GRATITUDE for David’s VICTORY, through the DEVINE INTERVENTION of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, who had DELIVERED him from ALL his enemies to include SAUL.  

David expressed his LOVE for God, and His BLESSINGS of DELIVERANCE.  In verses thirty through thirty one, we see the reasons that David placed his FAITH and TRUST in God.  He tells us that GOD’S WAY is PERFECT; we can TRUST, as David did, because of that ASSURANCE that God’s Way is PERFECT.  And that His WORD is FLAWLESS.  These statements gives us a picture of God’s Character. He is PERFECT in ALL His WAYS.  And we can TRUST His WAYS and His WORD!!  

God is a SHIELD for ALL who will take REFUGE in Him.  His PROTECTIVE HAND is on His Children, and they can take COMFORT in KNOWING that HE will PROTECT them from their ENEMY, which is Satan.  The Devil can bring persecution on God’s Children, but he CANNOT have their SOUL.  Because GOD is their SHIELD and REFUGE.  And WHO is STRONGER than the ALMIGHTY GOD?  He is the ROCK and STRONGHOLD for His Children.   Can you proclaim that the LORD GOD is YOUR ROCK?  You cannot do it, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Him, through His ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who SUFFERED and DIED for YOUR sins, and brought you His RIGHTEOUSNESS and a RELATIONSHIP with our Heavenly Father, God, the ROCK of our SALVATION.  

In order for you to have a RELATIONSHIP with the LORD GOD, 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 life-style, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and be ASSURED that He is your ROCK and REFUGE, and TRUST in His PERFECT WAY and His FLAWLESS WORD.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  

“The Water of Life”

 “The Water of Life”

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!”  Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.           Revelation 22:17

In John 4:13, Jesus told the Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s well in Sychar, that He could give her LIVING WATER, not like the well where they were at, but a SPECIAL WATER, that would QUENCH her thirst forever.  He said, “EVERYONE who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but WHOEVER drinks the WATER I give him will NEVER thirst.  Indeed, the WATER, I give him will become in him a SPRING of WATER welling up to ETERNAL LIFE.”  

Jesus used Jacob’s well as an object lesson for the Woman, and He emphasized the PHYSICAL NEED for the WATER there, in order to SUSTAIN HUMAN LIFE. Then He told her about the WATER He could provide for her, that would quench her thirst to the point of NEVER being THIRSTY again.  He wasn’t referring to the WATER in Jacob’s well, but SPIRITUAL WATER, that would provide ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  He said that the WATER He gives will become, in a person, a SPRING of WATER, welling up to ETERNAL LIFE.

In the last Book of the Holy Bible, the BOOK of REVELATION, we see what could be, considered the FINAL INVITATION in God’s Word.  The SPIRIT and the BRIDE, (Church) say, “COME!”  The ones who HEAR are ENCOURAGED to COME, and to SHARE the invitation with others.  That WHOEVER is THIRSTY SPIRITUALLY, and WHOEVER wishes, let them take the FREE GIFT of the WATER of LIFE, the UNLIMITED OFFER of GOD’S AMAZING GRACE and SALVATION, for their SIN-PARCHED SOULS.  And their, wretched soul will NEVER SPIRITUALLY THIRST AGAIN, because, they have partaken of the WATER of LIFE.  Have you ever been a recipient of the WATER of LIFE?

If you have NOT, then you SHOULD DO IT NOW, while you have the OPPORTUNITY.  It is the ONLY WAY for you to have God’s UNLIMITED GRACE and SALVATION.  If you KEEP REJECTING His GIFT of LIVING WATER, you will end up with an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  In order to have this LIVING WATER, you MUST, first, ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, (the LIVING WATER), JESUS, God’s ONLY SON.  And 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 His Gift of SALVATION, and the WATER OF LIFE, and have an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The Message From The Risen Messiah”

 “The Message From The Risen Messiah”

He told them, “This is what is written:  The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His Name to ALL nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.”   Luke 24:46-48

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Disciples, and they were STARTLED and FRIGHTENED, thinking they were seeing a GHOST. So, He spoke to them, He even told them to: “Touch Me and SEE; a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” But they still did NOT believe it. Then He asked them for something to eat, and they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence.  Then He OPENED their MINDS  so they could UNDERSTAND the Scriptures.  

He showed the Disciples ALL the facts that were written about the MESSIAH in the Old Testament. And that HE is the MESSIAH, and because of His DEATH and RESURRECTION, the MESSAGE of REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS could be PREACHED in HIS NAME, to ALL nations, beginning at Jerusalem, because they were WITNESSES of His DEATH and RESURRECTION.  

We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, are given this SAME mandate, to be WITNESSES to a LOST and DYING WORLD of what JESUS has done for us, and through His DEATH and RESURRECTION, we have REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS of our sins, and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS,  and to be ABLE to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY TO ESCAPE, once you are there.  Therefore, we are His WITNESSES and SHOULD share the MESSAGE of SALVATION.  If the Disciples could SPREAD the MESSIAH’S MESSAGE, all around the World, with the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT, and without the FINANCIAL and TECHNICAL SUPPORT, that we possess, today,  then SURELY we can do the same.  

If you have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, because you are living in sin, and do not have REPENTANCE nor FORGIVENESS of those sins.  To CHANGE your DESTINY, you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS, God’s ONLY SON, who GAVE His LIFE to SAVE your soul from an ETERNITY in HELL.  And 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 life-style, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and become a WITNESS for Him in REACHING a LOST and DYING WORLD, through SHARING the MESSAGE of the RISEN MESSIAH.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!

“The Flow of Blood and Water”

 “The Flow of Blood and Water”

But when they came to Jesus and found that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.  Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.   John 19:33-34

CRUCIFIXION is a HORRIBLE form of punishment, which causes much PAIN and AGONY, and it is a SLOW way to die. It is NOT ONLY PHYSICALLY painful, but it rips away a person’s dignity.  But the criminals who were sentenced to such a form of punishment, probably didn’t have too much dignity  to begin with. This form of punishment was mostly for the WORST CRIMINALS, which indicates the HATRED that the religious leaders had for Jesus, God’s Son, the ONLY TRUE MESSIAH, who was DEFINITELY NOT A HARDENED CRIMINAL.  

As the time passed, the religious leaders, went to Pilate and asked him to break the legs of the ones on the crosses, to hasten the death process.  Because there was to be a SPECIAL SABBATH  the next day, and they didn’t want bodies left on the crosses during the SABBATH.  But when they came to JESUS they found that He was already dead, so they did NOT break His legs.  Instead one of the soldiers PIERCED JESUS’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of BLOOD and WATER, which indicated that Jesus was DEAD.  

Now, let us take a SPIRITUAL LOOK at the SIGNIFICANCE of the BLOOD AND WATER:  The BLOOD and WATER are an ILLUSTRATION of two facets of the SALVATION PROCESS.  The BLOOD ATONES for the GUILT of our SIN, and the WATER washes AWAY the STAIN of the SIN.

The BLOOD DECLARES us GUILTLESS and The WATER PURIFIES us from SIN.  The two MUST ALWAYS go TOGETHER.  Those of us who have been to the Cross for our SALVATION, and have been DECLARED or JUSTIFIED as GUILTLESS of our sins, and have been PURIFIED of the STAINS of our sins, SHOULD live CLEAN LIVES before this LOST AND DYING WORLD.  Have you experienced the BLOOD AND WATER SALVATION process?

If you have NOT, and are REJECTING GOD’S SON, who provided this SALVATION for you, you are at VERY HIGH RISK of spending your ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  You are NOW given the OPPORTUNITY to ACCEPT JESUS’ SALVATION and RECEIVE an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  To do that you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS, who gave His LIFE to SAVE your sinful soul.  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 life-style, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of the BLOOD and WATER SALVATION PROCESS, and spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  So, do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!

“I Am He”

 “I Am He”

Jesus asked them,“Who is it you want?”  “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am He,”  Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.  Again He asked them, “Who is it you want?” And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.”  John 18:4b-7

The scene in verse four, may have taken place in the wee hours of the morning.  It was an intense moment, but NOT UNKNOWN to Jesus  It may have been dark and the light from the torches may have casted very little light.  Jesus’ main concern was for His Disciples’ well being.  So He BOLDLY stepped forward and asked:  “Who is it you want?”  The soldiers and religious leaders, who came to take JESUS by FORCE, answered:  “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.  Jesus answered:  “I AM HE”.  His response startled them and they fell backward to the ground, probably because of the MAJESTY of His Words.  I believe that He was identifying Himself, so they would let His Disciples leave, without an incident. (V8)  Mainly because He asked them a second time,  “Who is it you want?  And AGAIN He told them:  “I am He.”  

Three little words, that makes a HUGE difference in the DESTINY of ALL mankind.  And AGAIN, He comes to individuals and asks them: “Who is it YOU want?”  Many will REJECT and KEEP rejecting this question, and their ETERNITY will be in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once they are there.  But for those who will proclaim with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, “JESUS” His reply will be “I am He” and  their ETERNAL DESTINY  will be an ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  

This is POSSIBLE because He is the GREAT I AM.  He tells us:  I am the LIVING WATER, I am the BREAD of LIFE, I am the LIGHT of the WORLD, I am the WORD,  I am the SON of GOD, I am the LAMB of GOD, who takes AWAY the SINS of the WORLD.  I am the ALPHA and OMEGA.  I am the ONLY HOPE for a LOST and DYING WORLD.  WHO IS IT YOU WANT?

If you want JESUS, here are some things you MUST DO.  You MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS, God’s ONLY SON, who GAVE His LIFE to SAVE your SINFUL SOUL, from an ETERNITY in HELL.  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.  And 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 His SON, JESUS CHRIST, Who is the GREAT I AM! So, do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!! 

“The Grace, In Which We Stand”

 “The Grace, In Which We Now Stand”

Therefore, since we have been JUSTIFIED through FAITH, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained ACCESS by FAITH into this Grace in which we now stand.  And we REJOICE in the HOPE of the GLORY of God.    Romans 5:1-2

As we look forward to RESURRECTION DAY or EASTER, we SHOULD realize the immensity of what GOD’S AMAZING GRACE has provided for EVERY TRUE BELIEVER, those who have TRULY GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to GOD, and have accepted His Gift of SALVATION.  REMEMBER: GRACE is when we are GIVEN and RECEIVE what we don’t deserve. Because we are ALL SINNERS, we do NOT deserve GOD’S GRACE because He is HOLY and WE are NOT!  

Yet, because of His ABUNDANT MERCY, which is NOT GIVEN what we DO DESERVE, and His AMAZING, UNFAILING LOVE, we can STAND IN HIS GRACE.  And we have been JUSTIFIED by FAITH, therefore we NOW have a RELATIONSHIP with the ALMIGHTY GOD, who LOVED us SO MUCH that He sent His ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, to EARTH as a MAN, for the sole purpose of bringing SALVATION to a LOST and DYING WORLD, a world without HOPE or PEACE. So Jesus Christ, died a CRUEL, HORRIBLE DEATH on the CROSS and SHED HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD for the SALVATION of mankind.  So, it is by the GRACE of GOD through JESUS CHRIST, that we have GAINED ACCESS by our FAITH into this GRACE, in which we NOW STAND.  

And we can REJOICE in the HOPE, which is: Something that is CLEAR and CERTAIN, but NOT yet realized.  The ULTIMATE DESTINY of the TRUE BELIEVER is an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, and to SHARE in the GLORY of the ALMIGHTY GOD.  This HOPE is made POSSIBLE through the LORD JESUS, because HE has SECURED it HIMSELF.  And without the certain PROMISES of GOD’S WORD, the TRUE BELIEVER  would have NO BASIS for HOPE.  But PRAISE GOD we have been JUSTIFIED through FAITH and can STAND IN GOD’S GRACE.  Can YOU stand in GOD’S GRACE?

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT JUSTIFIED, and you can NOT possess GOD’S GRACE, in which to STAND.  Your ULTIMATE DESTINY will be an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  But God has a PLAN for your DELIVERANCE from such a DESTINY.  You MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST for the SALVATION of your POOR, WRETCHED SOUL.  And BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for your sins, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God. Then 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 receive ACCESS to His GRACE, in which we NOW STAND.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!

“The God of ALL Grace

 “The God of ALL Grace”

And the God of ALL grace, who called you to His Eternal Glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.    1 Peter 5:10

There are different aspects of God’s Grace, in which a TRUE BELIEVER moves.  John 1:16 tells us: “From the FULLNESS of His Grace we have all received one blessing after another.”  So let us look into the FIRST and MOST IMPORTANT aspect, which is SAVING GRACE, without this GRACE, we would not be able to experience the other aspects of the FULLNESS of God’s Grace.  

SAVING GRACE:  Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us:  “For it is by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH—and this is NOT from your selves, it is the Gift of God—NOT by WORKS, so that NO ONE can boast.” REMEMBER, GRACE is receiving what we don’t deserve, and we, on our own merits, do NOT deserve the SALVATION of our WRETCHED, SINFUL soul, which is SAVED from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS. And we RECEIVE an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, because of the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE of JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, whose BLOOD WASHES away the sins of those who will come to the foot of the cross, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM their SINFUL LIFE-STYLE, and TURN TO GOD in FAITH, for their SAVING GRACE.

SANCTIFYING GRACE:  “Now I commit you to God and the Word of His Grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among ALL who are SANCTIFIED.”  Acts 20:32.  The Apostle Paul believed that he was the least of the Apostles, but because of God SAVING GRACE, he said: “I am what I am, and His GRACE to me was NOT without effect.  No, I worked HARDER than all of them—yet NOT I, but the GRACE of GOD that was with me.  (1 Corinthians 15:10) Paul was SET APART for GOD’S PURPOSES.  He had received SANCTIFYING GRACE. 

STRENGTHENING GRACE: “I Thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me STRENGTH, that He considered me FAITHFUL, appointing me to His Service.”  (1 Timothy 1:12). Through God’s STRENGTHENING GRACE, Jesus Christ our Lord, we have the STRENGTH to SERVE Him, with WHATEVER He want us to DO or WHEREVER He wants us to GO.  He not only EQUIPS us, but we can DO and GO with the CONFIDENCE that He has given us His STRENGTHENING GRACE.

Have you experienced the FULLNESS of GOD’S GRACE?  If you have NOT come to Him for the SALVATION of your soul, you have not experienced His GRACE.  And your destiny is NOT GOOD.  If you KEEP REJECTING GOD’S GRACE, by REJECTING JESUS as your SAVIOR and LORD, then your DESTINY is an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  To CHANGE that DESTINY, you MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  And 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 His Gift of SALVATION and EXPERIENCE the FULLNESS of GOD’S GRACE.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!

“The Open Secret”

“The Open Secret”

But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you:  to love the LORD your God, to walk in ALL His Ways, to OBEY His Commands to HOLD FAST to Him and to SERVE Him with ALL your HEART and ALL your SOUL.    Joshua 22:5

Joshua, the successor to Moses, led the Israelites to CONQUER the land, which was PROMISED to them by the ALMIGHTY GOD.  He was SUCCESSFUL because Joshua, was OBEDIENT to GOD and his MOTIVE for that OBEDIENCE was his LOVE for GOD.  And this is the OPEN SECRET: LOVE and OBEDIENCE to the LIVING GOD.

Joshua gave the people the BEST ADVICE that could EVER be given to them.  He ENCOURAGED them to DELIGHT in WALKING or LIVING in ALL GOD’S WAYS, OBEYING ALL His COMMANDS.  Jesus, God’s Only Son, tells us that:  “If you LOVE ME, you will OBEY what I command” 

(John 14:15).  So, you can see the IMPORTANCE of OBEDIENCE in our RELATIONSHIP with the ALMIGHTY GOD.  Joshua also says to: CLING to the LORD and SERVE HIM with ALL your HEART and SOUL.  Because Joshua LOVED and OBEYED the LORD his GOD, he was SUCCESSFUL in carrying out GOD’S PERFECT PLAN for the WHOLE nation of ISRAEL.  And for the Nation to be SUCCESSFUL in their LIVELIHOOD and their RELATIONSHIP to GOD, they MUST LOVE and OBEY ALL of GOD’S COMMANDS.  They were to CLING to the LORD and SERVE HIM with ALL their HEART and SOUL.  

This advice is SO APPLICABLE to God’s Children, today.  We MUST TRULY LOVE and OBEY God’s Holy Word. We MUST DELIGHT in WALKING in ALL HIS WAYS, and to OBEY ALL His COMMANDS. And CLING to HIM and SERVE HIM with ALL our HEART and SOUL.  And to do it with a TRUE ABIDING LOVE and OBEDIENCE to HIM.  

To DISOBEY is the GREATEST SIN, and along with the DISOBEDIENCE, comes REBELLION against God and His WORD.  This attitude of the HEART will lead to a DREADFUL, FEARFUL DESTINY, an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  However, JESUS CHRIST has made a WAY for you to be able to ESCAPE HELL and to GAIN HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  He GAVE His LIFE to SAVE your WRETCHED, SINFUL SOUL.  To change your DESTINY you MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS.  And 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 LOVE and OBEY His COMMANDS, because this is the OPEN SECRET to a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the ALMIGHTY GOD.  So, do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  

 

“Be Prepared”

 “Be Prepared”

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.   1 Peter 3:15

Jesus Christ, REDEEMER, SAVIOR, KING and LORD of ALL who will come to Him for their SALVATION.  And, because He is the KING of KINGS and the LORD of LORDS, the ONLY SON of the LIVING GOD, and the ONLY ONE who can SAVE mankind from their SINS and an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE it, once they are there.  He DESERVES to be HONORED with TOP PRIORITY in the HEART of the BELIEVER.   

Because of the RELATIONSHIP that exists between the TRUE BELIEVER, and JESUS CHRIST, which SHOULD be INTIMATE and PERSONAL, the BELIEVER should ALLOW JESUS to have CONTROL of their HEART.  And with a SURRENDERED HEART and a GOOD CONSCIENCE, they can be PREPARED to give an ANSWER to EVERYONE who asks them about the HOPE that they possess.  

There are people EVERYWHERE who are SEARCHING for the kind of HOPE that those who have SINCERELY GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to CHRIST possess.  It’s a HOPE that brings PEACE and SECURITY in KNOWING the ONLY ONE who can bring such HOPE. Are you one who possesses such a STEADFAST HOPE?  Or are you one who has CONTINUALLY REJECTED God’s Gift of SALVATION and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS?

If you have not been to the foot of the cross, for your SALVATION, and are facing a DESTINY of an ETERNITY in HELL, you have an opportunity NOW, to ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who gave His Life to SAVE your wretched, sinful soul from such a dreadful destiny.  And to BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  And you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and BE PREPARED to give an ANSWER to EVERYONE who asks you to give a REASON for the HOPE you POSSESS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON !!!

“The Redeemed”

 “The Redeemed”

Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to REDEEM us from ALL wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.  Titus 2:14

The REDEEMER:  The Lord Jesus Christ, the ONLY SON of the LIVING GOD, who WILLINGLY gave HIMSELF for the REDEMPTION of ALL mankind. He SACRIFICED His Life in order to PAY the PRICE or REDEEM mankind from ALL wickedness, and to PURIFY a people for Himself, who are EAGER to do what is GOOD.

The REDEEMED:  Those who have come to the foot of the cross, for the SALVATION of their miserable, wretched souls.  Those who are willing to give up their OLD SINFUL life-style for a NEW LIFE, one that has been PURCHASED and PURIFIED by the PRECIOUS BLOOD of the REDEEMER, Jesus Christ, the ONLY ONE who was /is ABLE to bring REDEMPTION to a LOST and DYING World.  People who CAN and SHOULD be looking back to the CROSS and forward to the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  They should possess an EAGERNESS to do what is GOOD and to do it with a WILLING and COMPASSIONATE HEART, as if they were doing it for the LORD.  And they are EAGERLY awaiting the ARRIVAL of their Kinsman Redeemer, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.   Are you one of the REDEEMED?  

The REBELLIOUS:  Those who REBEL against God or ANYTHING related to God.  They REJECT His Son, the Lord Jesus and His SALVATION plan.  They are CONTROLLED by their SINFUL DESIRES and are heavily INFLUENCED by the devil.  They have NO HOPE, but are DESTINED to spend ALL ETERNITY in HELL, with all its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there.   Are you REBELLIOUS towards God?

The ONLY HOPE for the REBELLIOUS is JESUS CHRIST.  They MUST come to Him by way of the CROSS.  To do that they MUST ADMIT that they are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, Jesus, and they MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM their sinful life-style, and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  They MUST BELIEVE with ALL their HEART, that JESUS died for THEM, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for them before God.  They MUST CONFESS their sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  They MUST ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION, and become one of HIS REDEEMED, who is EAGER to do GOOD and is ANXIOUSLY AWAITING His RETURN.  Do this NOW, while you still can, and DON’T MISS out on an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!

“Crucified With Christ”

 “Crucified With Christ”

For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.   Romans 6:6-7

When a person comes to Jesus Christ, the Only Son of the Living God, for the SALVATION of their WRETCHED, SIN-DRENCHED soul, they come to the foot of the cross, and their OLD sinful self is put to death and the NEW REDEEMED self is FREED from their SLAVERY to sin.  This does NOT mean that they will never sin again.  The Word of God does not tell us that the sin nature is removed at SALVATION or ever done away with in this life.  While we are DEAD to SIN, we still are held in UNREDEEMED FLESH.  The physical body is CONTROLLED or RULED by SIN.  That is why we MUST LIVE by FAITH and NOT by the FLESH.  

We MUST BELIEVE that we are FREE from sins’s hold on us.  And since we have been CRUCIFIED and UNITED with Jesus, we NO LONGER SHOULD BE SLAVES to SIN.  And just as Jesus Christ was RAISED from the dead through the Glory of the Father, we too may have a NEW LIFE (V 4).  Unfortunately, for those who have NOT SURRENDERED to CHRIST JESUS, and have NOT been CRUCIFIED with Him, they have NO SUCH HOPE.  They are SLAVES to their SINS and CONTROLLED by their SINFUL desires.  The ONLY WAY for them to obtain such HOPE, is to come to the foot of the cross, and be CRUCIFIED and UNITED with CHRIST, and to KNOW that their OLD SINFUL SELF has been CRUCIFIED and they NOW have a NEW LIFE, one that SHOULD NOT be in BONDAGE to SIN and its HORRIBLE DESTINY.

In order to have that HOPE and to be FREE from SIN’S hold on you, you MUST be WILLING to be CRUCIFIED with CHRIST JESUS, and UNITED with Him.  To do that you MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, Christ Jesus, who DIED in YOUR PLACE.  And 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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And be CRUCIFIED with CHRIST, and ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and NO LONGER be a SLAVE to SIN and its DESTINY of an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.   Instead, receive a DESTINY 0f HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS for ALL of ETERNITY.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The Gospel: The Power of God For Salvation”

 “The Gospel: The Power of God For Salvation”

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the Power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.   Romans 1:16

The Gospel, the Holy Word of the Living God, is the POWER of GOD, for the SALVATION or DELIVERANCE of the souls of ALL mankind.  It came to the JEWS first, because they are God’s Chosen People, even Jesus said that:  “salvation is from the Jews.” (John 4:22) they were to carry the GOSPEL to the whole world, they were to be God’s Witness Nation, and they were the nation from which the Messiah, Jesus Christ came.  Yet, they failed in that work, MANY Jews do not accept JESUS CHRIST as the TRUE MESSIAH. And then the GOSPEL came to the Gentiles. And there are many GENTILES who do not BELIEVE either.  

Let’s look at some of the BENEFITS of the GOSPEL and its POWER:  First, we must KNOW that it is The POWER OF GOD for SALVATION.   It will DELIVER mankind from their LOSTNESS.  It will deliver from YIELDING to EVIL desires, it will DELIVER from the DARKNESS of FALSE teachings, it will deliver from God’s Wrath, and from the PENALTY of SIN.  It will deliver from an ETERNAL SEPARATION from GOD, and it will DELIVER from an ETERNAL SPIRITUAL DEATH.  It is IMPOSSIBLE for MANKIND to have this DELIVERANCE based on their OWN merits.  

They MUST POSSESS a TRUE SAVING FAITH, and TRUE SAVING FAITH is a SUPERNATURAL Gift of God, made possible by His MERCY and GRACE.  This SAVING FAITH in the LORD JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY WAY we can obtain TRUE GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS. And ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, and to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there. 

 The ONLY WAY you can experience the GOSPEL, the POWER of GOD, is if you are WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL life-style, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, God’s Son, who died in your place. 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.  And you MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION (deliverance) and His GLORIOUS GOSPEL, the POWER of GOD.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!