"Freedom through Knowing the Truth"

“Freedom through Knowing the Truth”

 

To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold on to My teaching, you are really My disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”       John 8:31-32

 

In a few days, we as a Nation, will celebrate the BIRTH of AMERICA, and we should ACKNOWLEDGE the SACRIFICES that have been made to provide us with the FREEDOMS we now enjoy.   And to be THANKFUL for those who were, and still are, willing to lay down their lives, and those who have laid down their lives, in order for us to have and CONTINUE to have those FREEDOMS, they have PAID the PRICE.

 

But they are NOT the ONLY ONES to offer such a SACRIFICE.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the REDEEMER of ALL mankind, came to set us FREE from our BONDAGE of SIN.  In our Scripture, Jesus was speaking to the Jews who BELIEVED His words, but it does NOT necessarily mean that they made commitments to Him, it is possible that they BELIEVED in the MESSAGE of REPENTANCE, but NOT the MESSENGER.  They were and still are looking for their Messiah. There is a remnant that have given their HEARTS and LIVES to Christ, and are known as the MESSIANIC JEWS. 

 

However, there are people of all nationalities that NOT ONLY BELIEVE the MESSAGE of Christ, but they BELIEVE in Him.  And in so doing, they will CONTINUE in the TRUTH, and will receive their SALVATION, because they KNOW the TRUTH, and the TRUTH will set them FREE from their BONDAGE of SIN.

 

1 Peter 2:16, tells us that we SHOULD:  “Live as FREE people, but do NOT use your FREEDOM as a COVER-UP for evil; live as God’s slaves.”  When you come to BELIEVING, NOT ONLY, the TRUTH, but BELIEVING in the ONE who IS the TRUTH, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, you should LIVE as FREE people, because through Him, you have been FREED from your sinful lifestyle.  But that FREEDOM does NOT mean that you can CONTINUE to practice the sins of your past.  Instead, you should COMMIT yourself to do the WILL of God.  And COMPLETELY TURN AWAY FROM your OLD, SINFUL LIFESTYLE.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT FREE, but are STILL a SLAVE to SIN, with a DESTINY of an ETERNITY in HELL, and ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  This is the TRUTH!!  In order to CHANGE your DESTINY, 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.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and through the TRUTH, be SET FREE from the BONDAGE of your SINS, and receive HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"God's Unfailing Love and Wonderful Deeds"

“God’s Unfailing Love and Wonderful Deeds”

 

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.  He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.  Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.       Psalms 107:13-15

 

When we think about God’s UNFAILING LOVE, we think about His willingness to GIVE His ONLY SON to SUFFER, BLEED and DIE, so that ALL of mankind might have the opportunity to become a part of His FAMILY.  Mankind is a PART of God’s CREATION, but they are NOT a part of His FAMILY, until they ACCEPT Jesus Christ as their SAVIOR and LORD.  This is done when God’s Holy Spirit draws you to God, and when YOU, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, will ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION. 

 

Those who have done that are like the ones in our Scripture.  They CRY out to the Lord, with the KNOWLEDGE that they are SINNERS in NEED of a SAVIOR.  And God hears their CRY and will ANSWER, and FREE them from the DARKNESS of their DEPRAVITY, the UTTER DARKNESS of their WICKEDNESS. He will BREAK their CHAINS of SIN, and bring them into the GLORIOUS LIGHT of His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who will SAVE their SOULS from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPING.

 

 This SALVATION is PART of God’s UNFAILING LOVE and His WONDERFUL DEEDS.  Those of us who have this gift of SALVATION and a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God, SHOULD give THANKS CONTINUALLY to the LORD for His UNFAILING LOVE and His WONDERFUL DEEDS towards us.

 

In order to become a RECIPIENT of God’s UNFAILING LOVE and HIS WONDERFUL DEEDS, 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 that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Start experiencing God’s UNFAILING LOVE and His WONDERFUL DEEDS, NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"On Whom Do You Boast?"

“On Whom Do You Boast?”

 

“Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”  For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one who the Lord commends.         2 Corinthians 10:17-18

 

If you MUST BOAST, don’t BOAST on yourself.   God is the One we SHOULD be BOASTING on.  It is He, who gifts us with whatever abilities we might possess.  Whether we have natural talents, such as, playing a musical instrument, or being able to sing, without, hitting ALL those flat and sour notes.  Some of us just like to make a JOYFUL noise to God. 

 

But, whatever we are GIFTED to do, we MUST realize where that gift comes from, and we NEED to be OPEN to God, as to HOW He wants us to use that gift(s).  In the Apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy, (2 Timothy 3:16-17)  Paul states:  “ALL Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the SERVANT of God may be THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED for EVERY GOOD WORK.”  Which means that God expects us to USE our gift(s) for His HONOR and GLORY, for He is the ONLY ONE WORTHY of our PRAISE and our BOASTING.  

 

BOASTING on God is a WHOLE lot BETTER than trying to BOAST on our OWN selves.  When we are tempted to BOAST on what we have done, and we allow that DASTARDLY OLD Devil to GRANDIOUSLY use our God-given abilities in ways that would NOT be PLEASING to our HEAVENLY FATHER, we then are subject to becoming a CARNAL CHRISTIAN, and while we will NOT lose our SALVATION, we will lose rewards, to lay at the FEET of the One who DESERVES ALL the BOASTING we can offer.  So my question is:  “On Whom Do You BOAST?

 

If you have NEVER given your HEART and LIFE to God, then your GOD-GIVEN ABILITIES are NOT being USED to bring HONOR, GLORY and PRAISE to the ONE who RIGHTLY DESERVES ALL your BOASTING.  And you are on your way to an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and definitely NO BOASTING ALLOWED.  And NO WAY of ESCAPE.  So in order to CHANGE your ETERNITY from HELL to HEAVEN, and to USE your ABILITIES for the GLORY of the LORD.  And to BOAST ON Him, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then 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 an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Then USE your ABILITIES to HONOR and GLORIFY the RISEN KING, JESUS, and BOAST ON HIM!  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Truth"

“The Truth”

 

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. 

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.                     1 Timothy 2:1, 3-5

 

In this part of the Apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy, he URGES him to lift up prayers of supplications, intercessions and thanksgivings for ALL people, and especially for those in leadership positions within the government.  He goes on to tell Timothy that this is GOOD and PLEASING in God’s sight, because it is His wish that ALL PEOPLE would come to the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH.

 

What exactly is Paul talking about?  The TRUTH that Paul was referring to was that:  There is ONE GOD, and ONE MEDIATOR between GOD and Mankind, which is the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave HIMSELF as a RANSOM for ALL.  There is NO DISTINCTION between JEW and GENTILE, MALE and FEMALE.  We ALL MUST come to that KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH the SAME way.  And that Way is through the BELIEF and ACCEPTANCE of God’s ONE and ONLY SON, Jesus Christ.  We MUST BELIEVE that He DIED on an old, rugged cross, and was RAISED from the DEAD by the ALMIGHTY GOD, for the REDEMPTION of ALL of our sins, and we ALL MUST ACCEPT it as the TRUTH.  WHOEVER you are, and WHATEVER you do, He DIED for YOU.  That is the TRUTH!!

 

And the TRUTH of the whole matter is that there are and will be MANY, who will KEEP REJECTING the TRUTH.  The TRUTH is the Lord Jesus Christ.  John 14:6 tells us that:  “Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, and the TRUTH, and the Life. NO ONE comes to the Father (God) except through ME.’”  There is NO OTHER WAY to have an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  That is the TRUTH!

 

If you have NOT come to God for the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH, to BELIEVE and ACCEPT His ONE and ONLY Son, Jesus Christ as your SAVIOR and LORD, then you are DESTINED to spend your ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  And that is the TRUTH!!  You are NOW given the OPPORTUNITY to BELIEVE and ACCEPT the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH.  You do that by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT God’s gift of SALVATION and receive the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH, and PRAY for OTHERS too. And receive ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Promised Blessing"

“The Promised Blessing”

 

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.              Galatians 3:14

 

This verse of Scripture is NOT speaking of the National blessing, which was given to the Nation of Israel.  But it is the PROMISED BLESSING of JUSTIFICATION which is apart from works of the Law.  It is given to ALL who BELIEVE.  It was part of the BLESSING given to Abraham that Gentiles might be able to receive.

 

And for ALL who BELIEVE in CHRIST JESUS, by FAITH, might receive the PROMISE of God’s HOLY SPIRIT, and His ministry to the TRUE BELIEVER.  This Scripture again shows us that SALVATION and SANCTIIFICATION comes by FAITH and NOT by WORKS.  

 

This PROMISE is given to those who come to GOD for the SALVATION of their souls through the REDEMPTIVE work of Jesus Christ, on an old, rugged cross.  SHEDDING His precious blood, because without the SHEDDING of blood, there is NO FORGIVENESS of sins.  Jesus came and BLED and DIED so that ALL who BELIEVE might receive the PROMISE of GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT, who INDWELLS the BELIEVER, and makes Himself available to the BELIEVER for SANCTIFICATION, which is the act of “being set apart” for every good and righteous work that God has called that BELIEVER to do. 

 

Have you received God’s PROMISED BLESSING of JUSTIFICATION?  Have you come to God for the SALVATION and SANCTIFICATION of your soul?  If NOT you are DESTINED to spend an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to RECEIVE this PROMISED BLESSING of JUSTIFICATION, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and SANCTIFICATION, and receive His PROMISED BLESSING.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Just a Sinner Saved by Grace"

“Just a Sinner Saved by Grace”

 

 

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.      Romans 5:8

Now, if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.     Romans 7:20

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God---through Jesus Christ our Lord!        Romans 7:24-25

 

I AM A SINNER, but I AM A SAVED SINNER, There are two very different groups of SINNERS.  There are the LOST SINNERS, those who CONTINUOUSLY LIVE in SIN, they practice it DAILY, and they are the ones, who REJECT Christ as their SAVIOR and LORD.  Then there is the SAVED SINNERS, who have ACCEPTED Christ as their SAVIOR and LORD, and STRIVE to CONTINUOUSLY LIVE by God’s Spirit, which indwells them, but because they are STILL in the FLESH (body), and they STILL have a SINFUL NATURE, they are still SINNERS and are STILL subject to sin from time to time. 

 

But while we were STILL sinners, God demonstrated His LOVE for MANKIND, by the ONE and ONLY SACRIFICE of His ONLY SON, Jesus Christ, who DIED to SET MANKIND FREE from ALL their sins, PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE.  That is, if they will ACKNOWLEDGE that they are a SINNER in NEED of a SAVIOR, just like the Apostle Paul did when he said: “What a WRETCHED man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?”

 

If the SAVED SINNER will walk (live), by the Spirit, they will NOT GRATIFY the desires of the flesh.  For the FLESH desires what is CONTRARY to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is CONTRARY to the FLESH. They are in CONFLICT with each other, so that they are NOT to do WHATEVER they want.  (Galatians 5:16-17) 

 

Because they have given their HEART and LIFE to God through the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ, they have the PROMISE of a new BODY one that is FREE from SIN and a SINFUL NATURE.  One that will spend an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  “OH HAPPY DAY!”   But for the LOST SINNER, who has REJECTED Jesus Christ, and has chosen to LIVE by the FLESH with its SINFUL desires, they will DIE a SPIRITUAL DEATH, separated from God, and ALL that is GOOD, and will spend their ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.   But, God in His ABUNDANT MERCY and AMAZING GRACE, has provided a WAY for the LOST SINNER to come to Him and have an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  To do that you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, then BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a “SAVED SINNER” with HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Eternal Life"

“Eternal Life”

 

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.        Romans 6:22-23

 

When a person comes to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, for the SALVATION of their soul, they are SET FREE from the bondage of SIN, and its destiny, which is ETERNAL DEATH, the SEPARATION from God in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.   Instead of that DESTINY, they will REAP a HOLY LIFE in contrast to a SINFUL LIFE, and will RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.

 

A person who chooses to LIVE the SINFUL LIFE, will receive the WAGES they have EARNED, which is that ETERNAL DEATH, the SEPARATION from God and ALL that is GOOD.  SUFFERING here on earth is NOTHING compared to what awaits that person, who REJECTS JESUS CHRIST, and His gift of SALVATION, which is ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN. 

 

The Apostle Paul told the Saints in Corinth, that the sufferings and troubles they were experiencing were NOTHING in comparison to the ETERNAL GLORY, which outweighs ALL those troubles, especially being in the PRESENCE of the KING, Jesus Christ.   He tells them and us too, to FIX OUR EYES NOT on what is SEEN, but on what we CANNOT see, since what is SEEN is TEMPORARY, what is UNSEEN is ETERNAL.   “LIVING BY FAITH”, should be EVERY TRUE BELIEVER’S MOTTO.  Is it yours?

 

It can be, along with ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Is this the DESTINY that you are FIXING your EYES on?  If NOT, you are DESTINED to an ETERNAL DEATH in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.  But YOU can CHANGE that DESTINY, by TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful life, 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, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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!!!