“The Genuineness of Faith”

 “The Genuineness of Faith” 

 

God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them (Gentiles) by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.  He made no distinction between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith.     Acts 15:8-9

 

The Apostle Peter was speaking to a group of apostles and elders on whether or not Gentiles could be saved, IF they did NOT follow the laws and customs that had been taught by MOSES.  Peter addressed them by telling them:  “God, who KNOWS the HEART, showed that He ACCEPTED them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.  He made NO distinction between us and them, for He purified their HEARTS by FAITH.”   And so, by the FAITH of the GENTILES they could receive SALVATION.  It is NOT by the WORKS we do, but through our FAITH in CHRIST JESUS that we are able to RECEIVE this WONDERFUL GIFT of GOD.  The fact that Peter told the group that God made NO DISTINCTION between them and the GENTILES, must have REALLY STIRRED UP a HORNET’S NEST.

 

In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Apostle Paul tells us that it is by GRACE that we are SAVED, through FAITH—and this is NOT from our OWN doing; it is the GIFT of GOD, NOT by WORKS, so that NO ONE may BOAST.  We do NOT receive SALVATION, and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, because we do GOOD WORKS, or OBEY certain religious laws or customs.  We are SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE through OUR FAITH in His SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and by ACCEPTING GOD’S GIFT of ATONEMENT for our SINS, which was carried out, through the DEATH, BURIAL, and RESURRECTION of God’s SON, we can have FORGIVENESS of our sins.  And will be able to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY TO ESCAPE, once you are there.

 

When you come to Jesus Christ, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, you are coming to Him with a GENUINE FAITH, and when you GIVE your HEART and LIFE to Him, that is a PRODUCT of the GENUINENESS of your FAITH in GOD and His SON for YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY.  And you will be ACCEPTED into God’s FAMILY, through the Work of His HOLY SPIRIT.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful life-style, and TURN TO GOD.  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.  ACCEPT His Gifts of SALVATION, JUSTIFICATION, and SANCTIFICATION.  And let the GENUINENESS of your FAITH shine like the noon-day sun.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!

 

 

“The Creditability of Faith”

“The Creditability of Faith”

 

Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.  Now, it was credited to him, was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us.  It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.    Romans 4:22-25

 

 

Abraham, was CREDITED for RIGHTEOUSNESS, because of his STRONG FAITH in the ALMIGHTY GOD. The Promise that God had made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world did not come through the law, but through the RIGHTEOUSNESS that comes by FAITH.  This PROMISE is by FAITH so that it may be according to GOD’S GRACE.

 

And so, the Apostle Paul, tells us, that the statement:  “It was credited to him, was NOT written for Abraham alone, but for those who BELIEVE in the ONE who RAISED Jesus our Lord from the dead.  A person who TRULY gives their HEART and LIFE to God, and will BELIEVE, with ALL their HEART that JESUS died for THEM, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, at the RIGHT HAND of FATHER GOD, making intercession for them, before God, then it will be CREDITED to THEM for. RIGHTEOUSNESS and they will be DELIVERED UP FROM their SINS and RAISED for JUSTIFICATION.  

 

This means that they will be ABLE to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, but there is NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there.   In order to have the CREDITABILITY of FAITH, as Abraham had, you MUST COME to JESUS for a CLEANSING of your SIN-STAINED life, and with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And BELIEVE in God, with a WHOLE HEART, TRUSTING in HIM for your SALVATION.  And RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST as your SAVIOR and LORD, and ACCEPT His PROMISE of an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!

 

  

“The Rejoicing Heart”

 “The Rejoicing Heart”

 

But I have trusted in Your Faithful Love; my heart will rejoice in Your Deliverance.    Psalm 13:5

 

This Psalm was penned by King David, it is a PLEA for DELIVERANCE.  The first four verses are a PLEA and a LAMENT for DELIVERANCE from his enemies.  He was in DESPERATE NEED.  He had ANXIOUS CONCERNS and AGONY, which was TORTURING him DAILY.  His enemies were DOMINATING him, and he was MISERABLE.  He implored upon God to bring him ENLIGHTENMENT, and to DELIVER him from both a SPIRITUAL and PHYSICAL DEATH. Lest his enemies TRIUMPHED over him.  

 

But, (this word “but” is a TRANSITIONAL word that takes us from FEAR to FAITH) David made a STATEMENT of  his CONFIDENCE or TRUST in the ALMIGHTY, FAITHFUL, and LOVING GOD, whom he TRUSTED for his DELIVERANCE .  

 

And as a SINNER, who is being TORMENTED and in DESPERATE NEED of a SAVIOR,  the ALMIGHTY GOD can be YOUR DELIVERER from your ENEMIES, the SINS that PLAGUE and TORMENT your wretched, doomed soul.  He is the ONLY ONE, who CAN and WILL DELIVER you from your SINS and from an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.

 

In order to be DELIVERED, and to have a TRUE REJOICING HEART, you must do some things to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with GOD.  This can ONLY be done through God’s Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who SUFFERED, BLED and DIED for your and my SINS.  God brought JESUS back from DEATH and the GRAVE, to be able to SAVE US from SPIRITUAL DEATH and an ETERNITY in HELL.  It is up to us to make the RIGHT CHOICE.  So, NOW, if you have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to God, you have that opportunity to do so.  You MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  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.  And ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION, and TRUST in God’s FAITHFUL LOVE with a REJOICING HEART.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!! 

 

 

“The Divine Appointment”

 “The Divine Appointment”

 

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.   1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

 

Everyone has a DIVINE APPOINTMENT set for them, by the Almighty God.  This appointment will be when you leave this earthly life, and face the ALMIGHTY GOD, to receive either, your REWARDS or your CONDEMNATION.  To be able to RECEIVE REWARDS, you MUST be a CHILD of God, and to be a TRUE CHILD of GOD, you have to GIVE your WHOLE HEART and LIFE to Him.  This is done THROUGH the acceptance of the shed BLOOD of His Son,  JESUS CHRIST, the SPOTLESS LAMB, who GAVE His LIFE for ALL who will COME to Him for their SALVATION.  

 

The Apostle Paul, tells us that God did NOT appoint US, His TRUE CHILDREN, ALL who have been to JESUS CHRIST for their SALVATION, to SUFFER the WRATH of  the ALMIGHTY GOD.  But to RECEIVE the COMPLETE SALVATION of our SOULS, because He died for US so that whether we are SPIRITUALLY ALERT or SPIRITUALLY SLUGGISH, we will have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN TOGETHER with JESUS CHRIST.  And WHAT A TIME that will be!!  

 

So, my question is:  What is YOUR DIVINE APPOINTMENT going to be?  ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS or ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after you are there.  Will you SUFFER the WRATH (TRIBULATION) of GOD? Or will you RECEIVE His SALVATION before it’s too late?  To be ABLE to RECEIVE His SALVATION, you must be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. And ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. Then 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.  Then ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION, and look FORWARD to your DIVINE APPOINTMENT to RECEIVE YOUR COMPLETE SALVATION, and HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  BE ALERT and READY!!!

 

 

“Now Is the Day!”

 “Now Is the Day!”

 

For He says, “In the time of My Favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”  I tell you, NOW is the time of God’s Favor, NOW is the day of salvation.    2 Corinthians 6:2

 

In the TIME of God’s GLORIOUS GRACE, it was HIS FAVOR to bring SALVATION to a LOST and DYING world.  This ACT of SALVATION is God’s INITIATIVE, and mankind cannot decide when, where or how it will be carried out.  God says, “In the time of MY FAVOR I heard you, and in the DAY of SALVATION I HELPED you.”  One cannot decide when they will accept God’s Gift. It is WHEN the HOLY SPIRIT of God deals with one’s heart, and brings them under CONVICTION of their SINFUL LIFE-STYLE.  

 

And then, when they cry out to God, He will HEAR them, and He will HELP them, because it is the DAY of SALVATION.   PLEASE DO NOT turn away from His GIFT OF SALVATION! If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are facing JUDGMENT and an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  

 

In order to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, and to GAIN an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, you MUST come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION by ACCEPTING His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE His Life, by DYING on an old rugged cross for OUR sins, as your SAVIOR and LORD.

 

In order to do that you MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR. 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.  Then ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION, because NOW is the TIME of GOD’S FAVOR, and NOW is the DAY of SALVATION!!  So, do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!

“Too Late!”

“Too Late!”

 

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the Grace of God.  Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.  Hebrews 12:15

 

The writer of the Book of Hebrews, gives us a STERN reminder of what can happen to those who REJECTS and KEEPS REJECTING the GRACE of the LIVING GOD.  People who are like Esau, and live a GODLESS, SINFUL lifestyle, who really has NO interest in God.  And becomes bitter with the TRUE THINGS OF GOD, and they spread that bitterness to others.  Bringing CORRUPTNESS into the hearts of others, who might be contemplating receiving the Grace of God.

 

Esau, the brother of Jacob, lived a PROFANE life, so much so that he actually sold his inheritance for a single helping of food.  Afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was REJECTED, it was TOO LATE for REPENTANCE, even though he BEGGED with bitter tears. 

 

This will be the case for those who KEEP REJECTING God’s Gift of Grace.  There will come a time when God will NOT offer His GRACE to that individual again, it will be TOO LATE!!  No matter how much you BEG and CRY it will be TOO LATE for REPENTANCE.  Are you going to be like ESAU, and MISS OUT on your ETERNAL INHERITANCE, because you KEEP REJECTING GOD’S GIFT of GRACE?  And your ETERNAL DESTINY will be an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE, once you are there.  You have the OPPORTUNITY NOW to change your ETERNAL DESTINY, by ACCEPTING GOD’S GRACE. You do that by ADMITTING that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the SON of GOD, who gave His life to SAVE yours.  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.  Then ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION by His GRACE, before IT’S TOO LATE!!  So, do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!

“Forsaking All!”

 “Forsaking All!”

 

Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.   Matthew 19:29-30

 

To FORSAKE something or someone is to LEAVE it or GIVE UP a habit or a way of life.  In this account of the Rich Young Ruler, who had come to Jesus, asking Him how he might receive ETERNAL LIFE, but he was NOT willing to give up his wealth and give it to the poor, in order to FOLLOW JESUS.  The young man was not WILLING to FORSAKE ALL in order to have ETERNAL LIFE with the LORD JESUS CHRIST, instead he wanted to KEEP his WEALTH and his position of being FIRST in the eyes of MANKIND.

 

So, this Rich Young Ruler, walked away from the LORD, REJECTING Him, because of his WEALTH and his POSITION in THIS TEMPORARY LIFE. And he ends up with the same ETERNAL DESTINY that he came to JESUS with.  He WALKED AWAY from an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, and faced an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once he was there.  The question is WHAT are you HOLDING ON TO that is KEEPING you AWAY from JESUS and an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS?

 

If you have NOT given your WHOLE HEART and LIFE to God, you are running out of time, we TRULY are living in the LAST DAYS, and your opportunity for an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, is at RISK.  NOW, is the TIME for you to be WILLING to FORSAKE ALL, to FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST.  This means that YOU MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY or FORSAKE your old, 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.  And BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU, and is NOW ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION, and FORSAKING ALL else, FOLLOW JESUS to an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, and be counted FIRST and not LAST because of your WILLINGNESS to FORSAKE ALL to FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON.  BE READY!!!