"Salvation"

“Salvation”

 

Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.                  Psalm 68:20

“Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”         Acts 4:11-12

So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.        Hebrews 9:28

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.          2 Corinthians 6:2b

 

The act of SALVATION is being DELIVERED or RESCUED.

 

The SALVATION of mankind was the plan of the Almighty God to RESCUE or DELIVER them from their sins and shortcomings, and from a spiritual death, which would cause them to spend an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  

 

It was because of God’s INFINITE MERCY and His AMAZING GRACE that mankind could receive an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  But a price MUST be PAID, so Jesus (the Stone) came to earth to SEEK and to SAVE mankind.  But the Religious Leaders (the builders) had a different attitude, they REJECTED Jesus, who became the CORNERSTONE.   The REJECTION of Jesus as the Messiah, did NOT alter or stop God’s plan of SALVATION.  SALVATION is found in NO ONE ELSE, there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given to mankind by which we MUST be SAVED.  JESUS is the ONLY ONE and the ONLY WAY for mankind to have the HOPE of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  

 

Jesus Christ, came as a baby and grew up a man, who was SACRIFICED ONCE to take AWAY the sins of MANY.  Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. (v 27)  He will appear a SECOND time, but NOT to bear SINS, but to bring the culmination of SALVATION to those who have ACCEPTED and are WAITING for Him. 

 

Are you one of those who are WAITING for Him?  The Apostle Paul compels us, in the Word of God:  “I tell you, NOW is the time of God’s favor, NOW is the day of SALVATION.”   If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are DESTINED to spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  God’s plan includes some actions on your part.  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive the HOPE of HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, for ALL of ETERNITY.   REMEMBER, NOW is the TIME of God’s favor, and NOW is the DAY of SALVATION. So do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Praise the Lord!"

“Praise the Lord!”

 

Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord, O my soul!  I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.          Psalm 146:1-2

 

Praise:  To voice admiration; to worship

 

The Book of Psalms is LOADED with PRAISES for the Lord God Almighty.  PRAISE is voicing ADMIRATION for the PERSON, WORK, and BENEFITS of that individual.  Many are quick to sing the PRAISES of their CHILDREN, SPOUSE, or even THEMSELVES, but as TRUE BELIEVERS, can we voice ALOUD the words of our Psalmist; “Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord, O my soul!  I will praise the Lord as long as I live, I will sing praises to my GOD while I have my being.”?  I think that we sometimes fall SHORT of our PRAISE of God and ALL He is and ALL He has done for us.  Sometimes we are afraid of what someone may think, if we show our PRAISE for our God.

 

I want us to look at some reasons WHY we should PRAISE the Lord as long as we LIVE.  Verse five, tells us that we are BLESSED because God is our HELPER.  He HELPS us when we CALL out to Him, in our time of need.  In that same verse, we are told that God is our HOPE, whenever we think that we are SINKING in HOPELESSNESS, we can have the ASSURANCE that God is our HOPE.  He is our CREATOR, He is the MAKER of HEAVEN and EARTH, and EVERYTHING that is in the HEAVENS and on the EARTH.  Nothing is MADE that He did not MAKE. 

 

Verse seven, tells us that He is the JUST JUDGE, the one who executes JUSTICE for the oppressed.  He is also our SUSTAINER, He PROVIDES our NECESSITIES for life.  He PROVIDES FREEDOM especially to those who are held CAPTIVE by their SINS.

 

 He is our HEALER, both physically and spiritually.  Verse eight tells us that He opens the eyes of the blind and lifts up those who are bowed down.   He is the LOVER of our souls, especially those who have come to Him for their SALVATION.  He makes them RIGHTEOUS in His SIGHT, and has PROVIDED the HOPE of HEAVEN as their ETERNAL HOME.  

 

There are PLENTY of reasons to PRAISE GOD!  The BEST of ALL is JESUS CHRIST.  If you have NOT come to Jesus for the SALVATION of your soul, you cannot offer TRUE PRAISE and WORSHIP to the ALMIGHTY GOD, until you do.   And you are destined for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  This is NOT what God wants for you. In order to receive what He wants for you, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO HIM, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and PRAISE the LORD for SAVING your SOUL from an ETERNITY in HELL.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Wise and the Foolish"

“The Wise and the Foolish”

 

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”      Matthew 7:24-27

 

This is a parable that Jesus told, concerning the differences of a TRUE BELIEVER, the WISE, and an UNBELIEVER, the FOOLISH.  Jesus uses the illustration of two builders, one WISE and one FOOLISH.  Let’s call them Mr. W and Mr. F.  Now I want you to notice that these builders had the same building plans and the same building materials.  The both had the WORDS of Jesus Christ.

 

Mr. W. Knows that a SURE, STEADFAST FOUNDATION is important to the STABILITY of the house.  So he begins building his FOUNDATION on the ROCK (Jesus).  When the HOUSE is completed, a STRONG, FEROCIOUS STORM comes up.   And the RAIN came down, the STREAMS ROSE, and the WINDS BLEW and BEAT against the HOUSE, but the HOUSE stood, it did NOT FALL.    This is a picture of the TRUE BELIEVER, who LIVES for the LORD and puts His words into PRACTICE DAILY.  And when the STORMS of LIFE, and the periods of God’s TESTING comes, the TRUE BELIEVER stands FIRM and STEADFAST, because their FAITH is built on the ROCK, Jesus Christ.

 

Mr. F., may believe that he DOESN’T NEED to build on the ROCK, he can cut corners, and save time, so he will build on the SAND.  When his HOUSE is completed, and the STRONG FEROCIOUS STORM comes up, and the RAIN comes down, the STREAMS RISE, and the WINDS BLOW and BEAT against the HOUSE, but the HOUSE FALLS and CRUMBLES with a GREAT CRASH.  DISASTER happens, because Mr. F. did NOT FOLLOW the WORDS of Jesus Christ, nor did he put them into practice.  He thinks that all he NEEDS to do, in order to obtain SALVATION and an ETERNITY in Heaven, is to live a “good life” or maybe be a member of a church, neither of which will give you SALVATION or an ETERNITY in Heaven. 

 

Your HOUSE MUST be built on a SURE, STEADFAST FOUNDATION that is built on the ROCK, and that ROCK is JESUS CHRIST, and you MUST NOT just be a HEARER of His WORD, but you MUST BE a DOER of the WORD.  (James 1:22-24)   Which one are you MR. W. or MR. F.?

If you have NOT TRULY given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are like MR. F.,  and you are DOOMED to spend your ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, God is giving you another opportunity to BUILD your HOUSE on the SOLID ROCK, JESUS CHRIST.  You do that by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your old sinful lifestyle, and TURNING 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.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You then MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be like MR. W. BUILD your HOUSE on the SOLID ROCK, JESUS CHRIST.  And receive HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Death of the Old Man"

“The Death of the Old Man”

 

Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.   Romans 6:6-7

 

When a person comes to God for the SALVATION of their SOUL, they experience the spiritual death of their “OLD MAN”, or the OLD PERSON they USED TO BE.  The Apostle Paul tells us when this happens, the one who is NOW in Christ, becomes a NEW CREATION; OLD THINGS have PASSED AWAY; behold, ALL things have become NEW.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)   Meaning that the OLD SINFUL LIFESTYLE is gone, and a NEW LIFESTYLE is come.

 

When we accept Jesus Christ as our SAVIOR and LORD, we NO LONGER are ENSLAVED to SIN.  It NO LONGER is in CONTROL of our physical body.  Sure, we still have a SINFUL NATURE, but when we become TRUE BELIEVERS, we are set FREE from being in BONDAGE or ENSLAVED to the sins that USED to CONTROL our physical body.  The Word of God does NOT teach us that the sinful nature is done away with at the time of SALVATION or in THIS life on earth.  But it does tell us that we are NO LONGER ENSLAVED to SIN. 

 

The Old Man is CRUCIFIED with Christ, this shows the UNITY with Christ, and is exemplified through baptism, the NEW CREATION (man) is spiritually RESURRECTED to a NEWNESS of life, and with the HOPE of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  The CRUCIFIXION of the OLD MAN is the basis for DELIVERANCE from the CONTROL of Sin.  Has your OLD MAN been CRUCIFIED with Christ?  Is it Christ who lives with-in you?  Or are you still ENSLAVED to SIN?

 

If you are still PRACTICING a SINFUL LIFESTYLE and have NOT yet given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are ENSLAVED to SIN, and on your way to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  You MUST EXPERIENCE the DEATH of the OLD MAN, by CRUCIFYING him with Christ, and be SET FREE from the ENSLAVEMENT of SIN.  In order to do that, you MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.   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 CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then, you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Living As the Temple of God"

“Living As the Temple of God”

 

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?  For we are the temple of the living God.  As God has said:  “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”  Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”  And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”        2 Corinthians 6:16-18

 

The Apostle Paul is giving instructions to the TRUE BELIEVERS as to how they SHOULD live as Children of the Living God.  In verse fourteen Paul tells them they SHOULD NOT be YOKED together with UNBELIEVERS. He asks the question:  “For what do RIGHTEOUSNESS and WICKEDNESS have in COMMON?”  There is NO COMMONALTY with RIGHTEOUSNESS and WICKEDNESS.   The attributes of each are so distinctively DIFFERENT; the attributes of RIGHTEOUSNESS includes:  Holiness, Purity, Goodness, and Virtue.  The attributes of WICKEDNESS includes:  Hatred, Malice, Jealousy, Vileness, and Depravity.  So what kind of RELATIONSHIP do you think RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is characteristic of a TRUE BELIEVER, and WICKEDNESS, which is characteristic of an UNBELIEVER, would have with each other?

 

In the Scripture for today, we see the HEART of God, concerning the way He wants the TRUE BELIEVER to LIVE.  Because they are His TEMPLE, which houses His Holy Spirit.  They are to be SEPARATED from the UNBELIEVER, which means they SHOULD NOT participate in the EVIL deeds of the UNBELIEVER, but come out of that lifestyle and make a NEW lifestyle for the abode of the Holy Spirit.  They should NOT TOUCH any UNCLEAN THING, again this refers to NOT PARTICIPATING in the WICKED DEEDS of the UNBELIEVER.  

 

If a person is willing to LIVE a SANCTIFIED LIFE, as the TEMPLE of the LIVING GOD, then God will RECEIVE them and He will LIVE with them and WALK with them, and He will be their GOD, and they will be His people.  Are you WILLING to become a TEMPLE of the LIVING GOD?  In order to do so, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and LIVE a NEW LIFE as the TEMPLE of the LIVING GOD.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Veiled or Unveiled?"

“Veiled or Unveiled?”

 

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.        2 Corinthians 4:3-4

 

Things haven’t changed much, concerning the GOSPEL of Christ.  Even in the Apostle Paul’s day, People’s minds seemed to have had a “veil” over them.  These were those who were PERISHING.  Those who were FOLLOWING the god of this age, that DIRTY OLE DEVI, the one  who BLINDED the MINDS of the UNBELIEVERS, and is STILL doing it today.

 

That DECEIVER, has the SPIRITUAL EYES of EVERY UNBELIEVER blinded to the TRUTH of the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST.  He has clouded their vision to the point, that they are unable to see the LIGHT of the GOSPEL.  Much like having a SPIRITUAL CATARACT, and until that CATARACT is REMOVED, they will not SEE CLEARLY.  And are doomed to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and there is NO WAY of ESCAPE. 

 

For the UNBELIEVER, it is like looking through a VEIL, and therefore they do NOT know the REAL TRUTH, because they cannot see the LIGHT of the GOSPEL, which displays the GLORY of Christ, who is the IMAGE of GOD.   Jesus told Philip; that ANYONE who has seen Him has seen the FATHER, because He is in the Father and the Father is in Him.  (John 14:9-10).  Are you an UNBELIEVER that is suffering with SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS caused by SPIRITUAL CATARACTS, which is VEILING your SPIRITUAL VISION, and not allowing you to SEE the TRUTH of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ?  

 

If this is your case, then you are headed to an ETERNITY in Hell.  In order to UNVEIL or CLEAR up your SPIRITUAL VISION, so you can SEE the TRUTH.  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and have your SPIRITUAL EYES UNVEILED and your SPIRITUAL VISION CLEAR, and be able to SEE the Light of the Gospel.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Day of Judgment is Set!"

“The Day of Judgment is Set!”

 

“Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed.  He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”       Acts 17:30-31

 

The Apostle Paul, put a sting to the Greek culture, by referring to it as “the times of ignorance.” He was talking to them about their idols, idol making and idol worship.  He told them God had OVERLOOKED these times, but was NOW commanding ALL people EVERYWHERE to REPENT.  It was NOT that God condoned their idol worship, but that He was PATIENT with them, for the time being.   Much like it is today, because of God’s PATIENCE and LOVE He is giving EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY to SEEK HIM and REPENT of their sins.

 

However, there is coming a DAY, when He will put an END to His PATIENCE and commence with His JUDGMENT of FALLEN MANKIND.  He has already SET the DAY, when He will JUDGE the World in RIGHTEOUSNESS.  This JUDGMENT will be carried out by the Man that He has appointed, which is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.    He has provided PROOF of this to EVERYONE by the RESURRECTION of Jesus from the dead. 

 

If we TRUST Christ as our SAVIOR, He will SAVE us.  If we REJECT Him, He will Judge us.  We have three different attitudes in our world, today, concerning the SALVATION of mankind.  First is the OPPOSITION of SALVATION, secondly is to RIDICULE SALVATION, and thirdly is to DELAY the ACCEPTANCE of SALVATION.   All three attitudes are DANGEROUS and can have a determinate effect on one’s ETERNAL DESTINY.  What is your attitude towards the SALVATION of mankind?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you may exhibit a little of all three of these attitudes, which will send you to an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  And you WILL face God’s RIGHTEOUS JUDGE on the DAY that has been SET for JUDGMENT.   You will be JUDGED for your sins and sentenced to spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL.  However, God, being a PATIENT God is STILL giving you the opportunity to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and to TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then YOU must ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.   Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!