“Standing FIRM For Christ”

 “Standing FIRM For Christ”

It is God who enables us, along with you, to STAND FIRM for Christ.  He has commissioned us, and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us.    2 Corinthians 1:21, 22

The Apostle Paul is reminding the TRUE BELIEVERS, not only in Corinth, but throughout the ages, that their CHRISTIAN LIFE comes from the ALMIGHTY GOD.  And that they are ESTABLISHED or COMMISSIONED in CHRIST JESUS, this is done by the work of the HOLY SPIRIT, and they are IDENTIFIED as GOD’S OWN POSSESSION.  

This is done by God placing the HOLY SPIRIT in the HEARTS of the TRUE BELIEVERS, and it is the Spirit who, then ANOINTS, and SEALS the TRUE BELIEVER, and they are then given the EARNEST (down payment) or INSTALLMENT, which GUARANTEES EVERYTHING that God has PROMISED His Children.   The ANOINTING is the SETTING APART of the BELIEVER, and it EMPOWERS them for the ALMIGHTY GOD’S MINISTRY.  The SEALING is for MARKING them for the ETERNAL SALVATION, which is done once they TRUST CHRIST JESUS, and it is then that they are SEALED and SECURE in CHRIST.  Those who are TRUE BELIEVERS should WORK HARD to prove that they are really among those God has CALLED and CHOSEN.  If they do these things, they will never fall away.  Then God will give them a GRAND ENTRANCE into the ETERNAL KINGDOM of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.  (2 Peter 1:10-11)

In other words, BE SURE THAT YOU ARE SAVED!  A TRUE BELIEVER, cannot SAVE themselves, but it is their RESPONSIBILITY to BE SURE they POSSESS the TRAITS  of a TRUE CHILD of the LIVING GOD.  Are you SURE?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then you do NOT POSSESS those TRAITS, which are: Don’t be IDLE, but be DILIGENT and WORK for CHRIST.  STUDY the WORD of God so that you will be FRUITFUL and possess a KNOWLEDGE of CHRIST JESUS.  And DON’T be SPIRITUALLY BLIND, but gain SPIRITUAL INSIGHT, and REMEMBER ALL that GOD has done for you.  These are EVIDENCES of a TRUE BELIEVER, who is GROWING in CHRIST JESUS.  

The one who has NOT GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to GOD, does NOT have those DESIRES, but they HUNGER after the ways of this WICKED WORLD, and their destiny will be an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once they are there.  But God is giving you the opportunity to CHANGE that DESTINY, to an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL ITS BLESSINGS.  Here is what you MUST DO:  You MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, God’s SON, who DIED for YOUR SINS, and was RESURRECTED from DEATH and the GRAVE.  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 STAND FIRM for CHRIST, and receive HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!