Salvation: Eternal Life is "Knowing the Father and the Son"

"What shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:37-38)

Matthew 7:22-23  - "Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the  kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never know you: depart from me, you that work iniquity."

John 17:3 - And THIS is eternal life, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
 
John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.

Isaiah 45:22 - Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.

Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  

John 3:36 - He who believes in the Son has eternal life. He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Revelation 3:20 - Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

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Contents

o The need for salvation: Sin, transgressions that violate God's Law.
o To forgive means to release from accountability and guilt.
o The Blood of Christ
o Iniquity vs. Sin
o Condemnation and Redemption
o  "What shall we do?" ("Born again")
o What happens upon death?
o Care and Anxiety?
o Suggested Prayer of Faith  

 

 

John 9:39-41 - Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." Some Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we also blind?" Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains."

 

There is only One Way to KNOW the Father - by KNOWING Jesus (John 14:9)

There is only One Way to KNOW Jesus - by KNOWING the WORD. (John 1:1,14)

There is only One Way to KNOW the WORD - by having the Spirit reveal the WORD. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16)

There is only One Way to HAVE the Spirit - Be born again of the Spirit (John 3:3-6)

There is only One Way to be filled with the Spirit - Baptism in the Holy Spirit (John 1:33, Acts 19:2-7)

Matthew 11:15-30 -
He who has ears to hear, let him hear. But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets, calling to their friends, saying:
        "We played the flute for you,
        and you did not dance;
        we sang a dirge to you,
        and you did not mourn."

  
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He has a demon." The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Here is a gluttonous man, a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." But wisdom is justified by her children."
   Then He began to reprimand the cities where most of His mighty works were done, because they did not repent:
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the Day of Judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who is exalted toward heaven, will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the Day of Judgment than for you."
   At that time Jesus said,
"I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to infants. Even so, Father, for it seemed good in Your sight.
  
All things are delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son, except the Father. And no one knows the Father, except the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.
  
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

Acts 4:12 - Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  

Philippians 2:8-11 - And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name: That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 3:5 - He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

 

Revelation 19:6-9 -Then I heard something like the sound like a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying: “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. It was granted her to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white.” Fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

 

Spiritually Eternal and Naturally Temporal - Ron McGatlin - ...The Garden of Eden was God's created life on earth. All was created in harmony and with its own seed to multiply and fill the earth with the perfect design of heavenly life manifested from Spirit Heaven into temporal natural creation with everlasting renewal quality built-in along with perfect balances and self-correcting qualities. Mankind made in the image and likeness of God was endowed with the ability to supernaturally connect with Spirit God to coordinate the dominion of all the garden of creation to fill the world with the design and Glory of the love of God.

   ...There is no natural without the supernatural Spirit of God. The natural or physical can only exist by the power and will of the spiritual supernatural. Supernatural Spirit God created and causes all the natural or physical creation to exist. Satan usurped the authority of dominion given to man and caused a separation from God in the dominion authority on Planet Earth. The Spirit Son of God became a man Christ Jesus to destroy the works of the devil and restore the full connection and dominion governance of Father God and mankind.

   ..."For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14 - The parable in Matthew 22:1-14 is the marriage to Jesus of those who chose to accept the invitation to come to the prepared feast. Many were called to the great wedding celebration but many chose to tend to natural business things instead of responding to the call of God and missed the great wedding feast of God.

   Only those who chose to attend and put on the proper wedding garment prepared by the master for the wedding of his son became the few who are chosen. Only those who love and value God, who is Spirit, above the things of the natural world will be chosen to hear and see the greater fullness of that which God has prepared for those who are in love with Him.

   "But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God." 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.

 

You cannot be born a Christian. Jesus says "you must be born again." (John 3:3-7) --Greg Laurie

 


The need for salvation: Sin, transgressions that violate God's Law

Transgressions and trespassing are violation of the boundaries God Holy design.

Romans 5:12-13 - Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

1 John 3:4-8 - Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abides in Him sins not: whosoever sins has not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Ephesians 2:1-5 - And you has He quickened (John 6:63), who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  

Jesus declared that "trespassing" requires "forgiveness" when He taught the Disciples to pray. (Matthew 6:14-15)

Romans 6:5-12 - For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He lives, He lives unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Romans 6:14-23 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


He is Risen - so that we might have eternal lifeTo forgive means to release from accountability and guilt. 

John 1:29 - "Behold, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world."

"God reveals our sins to change us, not to condemn us." -- Dr. Michael Brown

Romans 3:10,23, 6:23 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ...For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.   

1 John 5:11-12 - And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is by means of His Son.  The one who has the Son has eternal life: the one who does not have the Son of God does not have eternal life.

Psalm 32:1-5 - A psalm of David, a Maskhil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD* does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit. (Romans 4:7, 8, Revelation 14:5) When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me. My moisture has turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to You and I have not hidden my iniquity. I said, I shall confess my transgressions to the LORD*, then You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Hebrews 10:14-23 For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before (Jeremiah 31:33-34), This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Romans 5:8 - But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 1:6-10 - If we would say that we have fellowship with Him and we would walk in darkness, we are lying and we are not practicing the truth: but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Y'shua His Son cleanses us from every sin. If we say that we do not have sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins,3 He is faithful and righteous, so that He would forgive our sins and He would cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us.

1 John 2:1-6 - My little children, I write these things to you so that you would not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Y'shua Messiah, the Righteous: and He is the means by which our sins are forgiven, not concerning ours only but also on behalf of the whole world. And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have known Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him: but whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God would have been completed in him, because we know that we are in Him. The one who says he remains in Him is obligated to walk the same walk just as that One walked.

1 John 2:28 - And now, little children, remain in Him, so that if He would be revealed we would have boldness and we would not be shamed by Him at His coming.

Sin is cheating on God's Grace and Christ's Crucifixion "afresh." (Hebrews 6:4-6)

Consider also what Paul revealed concerning family sanctification.

1 Corinthians 7:14 - For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified by the brother: otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are sanctified.  

Consider also those who are "blind" or incapable of understanding "sin."

John 9:41 - Y'shua said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin: but now because you are saying 'We are seeing,' your sin remains."

Confidence before God

1 John 3:19-24 - And we will know by this that we are of the truth and we will tranquilize, bring peace to our hearts before Him, that if our hearts would accuse us, that God is greater than our hearts and He knows all things. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and we receive from Him whatever we would ask, because we are keeping His commandments and we are doing what is pleasing before Him. And this is His commandment, that we would believe in the name of His Son, Y'shua Messiah, and we would love one another, just as He gave the commandment to us. And the one who keeps His commandments remains in Him and He in him: and by this we know that He remains in us, by the Spirit Whom He gave to us.

Psalm 65:1.3 - "Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you atoned for our transgressions." (NIV) Ultimately everybody needs God. Everybody needs to know that God hears and answers prayer. That's what's going to bring, ultimately, the whole of humanity to God, the fact that God hears and answers prayer. And there's one special prayer that He delights to answer above all others and that is the prayer for forgiveness of our sins. When we've sinned and failed God and man we don't need to turn away in despair, we can turn back to God, cry to Him for forgiveness and then we'll be able to say, as the psalmist says there, "When we were overwhelmed by sins, You, O God atoned for our transgressions." --Derek Prince

The Gospel of Hope - By Dr. Ray Rooney Jr.  - ...Knowing that the Bible is the story of God's desire to forgive our sins and restart the communion of fellowship that was lost due to original sin...Cain and Abel had nothing to do with their parents' sin. But they and everyone else in the world have been dealing with its consequence. And boy, did God ever respond!

   In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (Eph. 1:4;9).

   ...While everyone is eligible for the restoration of fellowship with God, the Bible makes it very clear that only the brokenhearted who humbly accept God's provision will be saved. In Psalm 51:17 David writes, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

   ...This, then, is the hope of the gospel. The Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) made Himself the perfect offering so that all brokenhearted people everywhere might fill that void in their hearts with an acceptable sacrifice. If they bring it to God with a broken heart that it had to come to this. A Son and a Savior beaten, tortured, and murdered. And yet He literally beat back death just for us (Heb. 2:14-15).

   Christianity is not for the proud, the arrogant, or the haughty. It's not for anyone who thinks they deserve eternal life in heaven. Instead, it's for a smart-mouthed fisherman who fell on his knees before Jesus saying "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man" (Luke 5:8). It's for a woman whose shame and embarrassment for being caught in the act of sexual misconduct must have been profound who was then summarily thrown before Jesus. Her great confession of faith? "No one Lord" (John 8:11). It's for a parasite of a tax collector who freely admitted to Jesus that he had stolen from his own people. The weight of guilt in that little heart had compelled him to climb a tree just to see Jesus pass by. It's for a religious professional who had to face the risen and glorified Christ on the road to Damascus after condoning the death of Stephen and persecuting others who followed Christ. The brokenhearted.

   ...For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite (Isaiah 57:15).

   Like Cain and Abel, you too may be searching for a way to fill that void. All God wants from you is to pour out your broken heart to Him and give Him back His Son as an offering. He is ready to revive.

Don't Count on Death to Make You Holy - By Dr. Ray Rooney Jr. - ...Heaven is not going to be populated by people who found a way to be liked in life. Nor is it going to be the eternal home of those who agreed with the trending tides of culture and society. Rather it is the destination of the holy ones. Those who aligned themselves with God and truth which usually put them at odds with the culture. The ones who selflessly and tirelessly fought "the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). The ones who remained "steadfast under trial" (James 1:12). Don't count on death to make you holy. Instead, trust in the cleansing blood of Christ and the wisdom of God's Spirit as He guides you to take the unpopular stands that truth and righteousness call for. May the words of the Apostle Peter ring in your ears now and forevermore: As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:14-16).


  The Blood of Christ  

Ephesians 1:7 - In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Hebrews 9:13-22 - For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

1 John 1:1-10 - If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Lamb of God sacrificed on Passover - Resurrected on Feast of First Fruits - "I know that my Redeemer liveth." - American Minute with Bill Federer - Passover was first observed around 1,400 BC, when the night before the exodus from Egypt, each Israelite family killed a lamb and put its blood over the doorposts of their house so that the angel of death would "pass over" during the final plague judgment. On the Jewish Feast of Passover, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, around 30-33 AD, Jesus was crucified as the "Lamb of God." The Apostle Paul wrote: "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." (I Corinthians 5:7)

Why Is God So Obsessed With Blood? By Kyle Winkler (For the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Lev. 17:11, NRSV). More than anything else in the body, blood is essential to life. It's what carries the fuel and oxygen to the billions of cells in our bodies. Blood supplies the brain and the heart with the necessary nourishment to function. It also carries carbon dioxide and other waste materials to the digestive system, where they are then removed from the body. Without blood we couldn't keep warm or colo, fight infections, or get rid of our own waste products. Additionally our very identity "our DNA" is located in our blood. ...Equating blood with life will change the way you read the Bible, and thus, how you think about God. The coverings He provided Adam and Eve after their sin were coverings of life. The blood on the doorposts of the Hebrew people at Passover was the protection of life. The yearly sacrifice God instituted for Israel was intended to restore them with life.

The Blood why it is precious By Dr. Charles S. Price - It is true that it takes the power of the Holy Ghost to make men see the tremendous spiritual value in the blood of Jesus Christ.  Unsaved men cannot understand it.  By the word "unsaved," I not only mean men who are out in the world of open sin, but also that man who is lost in the high-ways and byways of his own unbelief.  He might even be a minister.  If he does not believe in the blood of Jesus Christ he is not a saved man.  I am going to give you a few reasons why the blood of Jesus is very wonderful and precious.   


 Iniquity vs. Sin

Just as righteousness is the fruit of the Spirit, sin is the fruit of iniquity. Iniquity, is the root from which sin bears fruit, just like abiding in Jesus bears the fruit of righteousness.

Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.   

Isaiah 59:1-15 - Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perverseness.
     None calls for justice, nor any pleads for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eats of their eggs dies, and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goes therein shall not know peace.
     Therefore is judgment far from us, neither does justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
     For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth fails; and he that departs from evil makes himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

 

Talked Into but Not Out of Sin - By Dr. Ray Rooney Jr. ...God Himself couldn't talk Cain down from the cliff he had already determined he would jump from. His descendants are still among us. They demand what they think they're entitled to and if they don't get it when they believe they deserve it, they bring misery and suffering to everyone around them. We are gripped in the iron fist of narcissism which is being fed by an entitlement mentality.

     ...Only Christ Jesus can take away the tension, the consternation, the jealousy, and the drive to move inexorably toward what we have either been convinced of or convinced ourselves belongs to us. It is human nature to want more than we have. Remember, Original Sin was the consequence, not the cause of Eve's decision making. One of the most profound and prolific statements in the Bible about this subject is found in Philippians 2:3, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." That would have kept Eve from leading her husband into rebellion against God. It would have kept Cain from murdering his brother. It would prevent every single sexual sin. It would prevent every sin prompted by pride.

     ...Sin focuses and centers on what is absent. Faith reveals Who is present. And He is enough. So the next time some voice tries convincing you that you should be offended about what you don't have, or the voice within rises up in outrage that you've been slighted and are owed more respect, or a flirtatious remark aimed at you tickles your fancy and imagination, just remember the words of the old song:

     Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

     Look full in His wonderful face,

      And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

     In the light of His glory and grace.

     (Helen H. Lemmel)

Psalms 51:1-19 - Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou might be justified when Thou speaks, and be clear when Thou judge. Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, Thou desires truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shall make me to know wisdom.
   Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou have broken may rejoice. Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
   Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise.
   For Thou desires not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delight not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shall Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

Redeemed from Curses

Exodus 34:6-7 - And the LORD* passed by before him and proclaimed, "The LORD*, the LORD* God, merciful and gracious, patient, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, (iniquity, transgression and sin define the LORD*'s ranking of sin.) and Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children's children, to the third and to the fourth generations." (The sins are visited in two ways: the repentant, not the unrepentant are forgiven; the result of the sin causes pain even when the sin has been forgiven. Children are not punished for the father's sin, but may well suffer because of it, Deuteronomy 24:16. )

Deuteronomy 24:16 - The fathers will not be put to death for the children, nor will the children be put to death for the fathers: every man will be put to death for his own sin.

Galatians 3:7-14 - So then you know that those who are from faith, these are sons of Abraham. And since the Scripture foresaw that God makes the heathens righteous by faith, He proclaimed in advance to Abraham the Good News that "All the heathens will be blessed in you." (Genesis 12:3, Numbers 24:9) So that they are blessed because of faith, with the faith of Abraham. For as many as are from works of legalism, they are under a curse: for it has been written that "Cursed is everyone who does not abide in all those things which have been written in the scroll of the Torah (Teaching)3 to do them." (Deuteronomy 27:26) And that no one is made righteous in God by legalism is clear, because "The righteous will live by faith." (Habakkuk 2:4) 12. And legalism is not by faith, but "The one who does these things will live by means of them." (Leviticus 18:5) Messiah redeemed us from the curse of legalism when He became a curse instead of us, because it has been written, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree," (Deuteronomy 21:23) So that the blessing of Abraham would come to the heathens by means of Messiah Y'shua, so that we could take the promise of the Spirit through faith.  


Condemnation and Redemption

John 14:1-4 - "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. "

Revelation 2:5 - Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
 
Revelation 3:15-16 - I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

 

Revelation 21:1-8 - "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

   And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
   And that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

   He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.  

Your Seat Is Still There - John 10:27-30 - "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."

An Evangelist had earlier assured Christians of the constancy of their place in God in a message titled "YOUR SEAT IS STILL THERE." Referring to a couple of biblical stories, with special focus on the story of "The Prodigal Son", she observed that, irrespective of the flaws of a child of God, he or she still retains a place in the Father's house. But that is made possible only through repentance and reconciliation. In other words, every true believer will always be accepted back and restored to his or her place of glory in God if only there is true remorse and repentance.

   "When a Christian wrongs God, fellowship is broken but he does not lose his place as a son or daughter of God. No matter what you feel about yourself, no matter what you feel about God, your seat is still there and Jesus is always there to reconcile you". A genuine believer does not commit intentional sin but they can make mistakes. A mistake does not cancel or destroy their seat in God's presence. The seat only becomes empty. In other words, they haven't lost their place as a son, but their fellowship is broken. Their place will continue to be there because they have a relationship with God. The seat will be empty until they repent. As soon as they repent, they go back to their seat.

   This is the difference between Christians and others. A Christian always has a relationship with God. Therefore, when they make a mistake they can repent and run to God. God will not only forgive them but help them to get back on their feet and keep them from making the same mistake again. (1 John 1:9) Remember, true Christianity lies in the heart. Let us be true Christians.   PRAYER: Ask God to grant you a heart that is pure, a heart that is humble and sincere, a heart that does not bear grudges in Jesus' name.

 

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 - And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God. For he has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.  

John 11:17-26 - Then when Jesus came, he found that he (Lazarus) had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever you will ask of God, God will give it you. Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again. Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

1 Corinthians 15:44-50 - It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Romans 8:1-14 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

1 John 5:10-13 - He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself (John14): he that believes not God has made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  

 

"For by grace you are saved through faith; not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." --Ephesians 2:8-9

And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Don't you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shall you be with me in paradise. ---Luke 23:32-43

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." --Galatians 2:16

"He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life." --1 John 5:12


 "What shall we do?" ("Born again")

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said to you, you must be born again. --John 3:3-7

On the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Christ's ascension, the Disciples received the "promise" Jesus told them to wait... "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, (What did Jesus say to Nicodemus?) and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost..." "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call." (See Acts 1 & 2)

Acts 3:19 - Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Revelation 3:19-22 - Whom I love I do correct and I discipline: (Proverbs 3:12) therefore you must be earnest and you must now repent. Behold! I have been standing at the door and I am knocking: if someone would hear My voice and would open the door, then I will enter to him and I will dine with him and he with Me. The one who conquers I will give him permission to sit with Me on My throne, as I also conquered and sat with My Father on His throne. The one who has ears must now listen to what the Spirit is saying to the congregations.

"What we do with Him now, we do for all eternity. In His eternity He came to die our death and give us His eternity. His eternity requires no sun or moon or seasons or days. His is an eternal day without time. He is the Light. He is the source of all our needs. In Him is no darkness. As we have the light of the sun, we can also have the light of the Son. One provides for the natural, One for the spiritual." -- Charles S. Price

Christian Liberty is True Freedom - By Peter Aiello ...There is a yearning for emotional freedom in all of us. I don't know of any exceptions. People rationalize hanging on to their weaknesses because they have not found a remedy: so they make excuses; but, God can strengthen us from them. ...Freedom to sin hinders our freedom to make objective choices and to be led by the Spirit. ...We crave freedom from the addiction to a pleasure even though we crave it. How can we be free from this? Who will free us from our addictions or any other uncontrolled tendencies such as worry, anger, and unforgiveness? The choice is to go to God for peace and strength, or to remain alienated from God and enslaved because we lack God's peace and strength.

 


What happens upon death? (See: Death & Judgment Day

As the Scriptures below declare, the believer's spirit goes to be with Christ upon death. At "the last trump" the believer will then have a "spiritual body."

Note that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" which is why, as Jesus declared "you must be born again" of the Spirit. We are first and foremost a spirit with a "natural body" ("flesh and blood") with a soul or mind. (Please see Trinity: Created in His image.)

(Luke 23:39-43) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Don't you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today you shall be with me in paradise.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(John 1:12-13) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (Job 32:8-10) - But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion.

(Ecclesiastes 12:7) - Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

(Philippians 1:21-23) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Hebrews 9:27 - And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Romans 8:9-11 (KJV) - But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.

2 Corinthians 5:8 - We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Care and Anxiety

Luke 12:22-34 (Matthew 6:25-34; 19-21) And He said to His disciples, "Because of this I say to you, do not be anxious in life about what you would eat nor with what you would clothe the body. For life is more than food and the body more than clothes. You must now consider the ravens because they do not sow and they do not harvest, for whom there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them: how much more than birds you yourselves are worth. But who of you if you are anxious is able to add a cubit to his stature? And therefore if you are not the least able to do even this, why are you anxious about the rest?
   You must now consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither work nor spin: but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. And if God so clothes grass, which is in a field today then tomorrow is cast into a furnace, how much more you, little faiths.
   So you must not be seeking what you could eat and what you could drink and you must stop being anxious: for the heathens of the world are searching for all these things, but your Father knows that you continually have need of these things.
   But you must habitually seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. You, little flock, stop being afraid, because your Father took delight to give you the kingdom. You must sell your possessions and you must now give to the poor: you must now make for yourselves purses that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth ruins: for where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
"

Jesus is our example: John 11:41-41 - And Y'shua looked up and said, "Father, I give You thanks because You heard Me. And I have known that You always hear Me, but I spoke because of the crowd that was standing around, so that they would believe that You sent Me."

The Parable of the Widow and the Judge - Luke 18:1-8 - And He was telling them a parable that it was always necessary for them to pray and not to lose heart,  saying, "A certain judge in some city was not fearing God and not respecting man. And there was a widow in that city and she was coming to him saying, 'You must immediately vindicate me from my opponent in a law suit.' And for some time he was not wanting to. But after these things he said to himself, 'Even if I do not fear God and do not respect man, because this widow causes me trouble I shall vindicate her, so that in the end she would not wear me out by her coming and brow-beating.'" And the Lord said, "You must now hear what the unrighteous judge is saying of the injustice: and would God not execute justice for His chosen ones, for those who call to Him day and night, and does He not also have patience with them? I say to you that He will see to it that justice is done quickly for them. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the Earth?"

Suggested Prayer of Faith


Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, for you alone are without sin, and my sins have separated me from the Father and therefore I do not deserve eternal life. But I believe because of the Father's heavenly love and mercy, He sent you to die for me and you rose from the grave to purchase a place in the Kingdom of Heaven for me and restore my relationship with God the Father, that I may know Him. Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Help me to turn from my sins as only you can. Please forgive my sins and save me. Come into my life and take control of my life. Transform me into your likeness by helping me with my unbelief and to place my unwavering trust in you. I accept you into my life and receive your gift of eternal life in you and you in me. So be it. Amen.

Romans 10:9-17 - Because if you would confess with your mouth the Lord Y'shua and you would believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved: for he believes for himself in his heart into righteousness, and confesses for himself with his mouth into salvation. For the Scripture says, "No one who believes in Him will be put to shame." (Isaiah 28:16) For there is no distinction between either Jewish or Greek, for the same One is Lord of all, and He is rich, abundantly blessing all those who call upon Him: for everyone who will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (Joel 3:5) Then how will they call upon Whom they did not believe? And how could they believe what they did not hear? And how could they hear without preaching? And how could they preach unless they would send preachers? Just as it has been written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News5 of the good things." (Isaiah 52:7, Nahum 2:1) But they did not all obey the one preaching the Good News. For Isaiah said, "Lord, who believed our report?" (Isaiah 53:1) 17. So then faith is from hearing, and hearing through the message from Messiah.