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 12:31-32 - Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
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.
"You cannot be born a Christian. Jesus says 'you must be born again.'" (John 3:3-7) -- Greg Laurie
Contents
o
The need for salvation: Sin, transgressions
that violate God's Law.
o
To forgive means to release from accountability and guilt.
o Forgiveness of Others and
from God
o
The Blood of Christ Cleansed by the Blood He
shed.
o
Iniquity vs. Sin Sin is the fruit of iniquity.
o
Condemnation and Redemption Turn away
from sin.
o Can we loose salvation? How then shall
we live?
o
"What shall we do?" ("Born again")
o
What happens upon death? "Flesh and
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God"
o Heaven
o
Care and Anxiety? "My peace
I give unto you."
o
Suggested Prayer of Faith
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.
John 1:12-13 - Yet to all who received Him, He gave the power to become sons of
God, to those who believed in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 3:5-7 - Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you,
unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of
God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
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.
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.
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."
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord."
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).
Forgiveness of others
and from God: Revealing the difference between human wisdom and the
intent of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus in His teachings to His “followers” (Matthew
5), not the worldly, said “Do not judge others, and God will not judge
you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others,
and God will forgive you” (Matthew 7:37). Jesus previously said ““if you do
not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses” (Matthew 6:15). Jesus also commissioned His Disciples
(followers) “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you
withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” When Jesus forgave the woman
of her sins as Simon’s house (Luke 7:36-50), this revealed the intent of
God’s forgiveness. While the intent may be to forgive someone of a wrong
they may have done to us, the intent of the Holy Spirit is to forgive sins
against God, for god’s forgiveness and remission of sins“ (Ephesians 1:7).
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;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 21:1-8
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.
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.
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.
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 "He that has the Son has
life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life." --1 John 5:12 (Derived from
Once Saved Always Saved?
on YouTube) Falling away: Impossible to be renewed,
disqualified Hebrews 6:4-8 - It is impossible for those who
have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gifts and have become
sharers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the full measure of the Word of God
and works of power of the coming age then if they fall away, to restore them
again to repentance, because they crucify the Son of God anew for themselves and
hold Him to contempt. For the land that has often drunk rain that has come upon
it and bears useful plants for those for whom it is cultivated, receives a share
of the blessing from God: but when it bears thorn plants and thistles it is
worthless and close to cursed, for which the end is to be burned over. 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 - Do you not know that
all the runners in a stadium are indeed running, but one takes the prize? So you
are running in order that you would lay hold of the prize. And everyone who is
contending exercises self-control in all things, so then those would take a
perishable crown, but we would take the imperishable. Hence I then am running
not as uncertainly, so I do not box as beating air: but I treat my body roughly
and I bring it into subjection, lest somehow I would become disqualified when I
preach to others. Exhortation and Warning Hebrews 10:19-39 - Therefore, brothers, since
we have confidence to enter the Holies by the blood of Y’shua, a new and living
Way which He dedicated to us, through the veil, this is by His flesh, so we have
a great Priest in the House of God. We should present ourselves with a true
heart in full assurance of faith, since we have purified our hearts from a
consciousness of evil, and have washed the body in clean water: (Ezek. 36:25) we
should, without wavering, hold fast the confession of the hope, for the One Who
promised is faithful, and we should consider one another in provoking by love
and good deeds, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, as is custom for
some, but exhorting, and so much the more as you see the Day draw near. Indeed when we are sinning
deliberately after taking the knowledge of the truth, no further offering
remains concerning sins, but some fearful expectation of judgment with its
blazing flames appears like a living being intent on devouring God’s
adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Torah (Teaching) of Moses dies without
pity on testimony by two or three witnesses: (Deut. 17:6; 19:15) how much more
worthy of punishment do you suppose the one will be who trod down the Son of God
and who looked upon the blood of the covenant, by Whom he was sanctified, as
defiled, and has insulted the Spirit of Grace? For we know the One Who said,
“Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay.” (Deut. 32:35) And again, “The Lord will
judge His people.” (Deut. 32:36, Ps. 135:14) It is fearful to fall into the hand
of the Living God. You must continually remember the former days, during which,
when you became spiritually enlightened you endured many struggles with
suffering, sometimes in reproaches, and then afflictions, being shamed publicly,
then being sharers with others who suffered acts such as these. Indeed you also
sympathized with the prisoners and you received willingly the seizing of your
possessions with joy, having known you have a better possession and an abiding
one. Therefore do not cast away your
confidence, which has great reward. For you need patience, so that after
you do the will of God you would take the promise. For yet “a little while, the
One Who is coming will come and not delay:” (Hab 2:3) “And My righteous one will
live by faith, (Hab. 2:4) and if he would withdraw, My inner being will not take
pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back but of those who are
faithful in preserving life. 2 Peter 2:20-22 - For if, after escaping the
defilement of the world, with knowledge of our Lord and Savior Y’shua Messiah,
and again entangling with these who are defeated, their last state has become
worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known
the Way of righteousness than if they had known, to turn back from the holy
commandment after it was delivered to them. The true proverb happened to them,
“As a dog returned to its own vomit,” (Pro. 26:11) and, “A hog after being
washed, was wallowing in mud.” How Then Shall We Live? Revelation 3:3-6 - Therefore you must remember
what you have received and heard and you must continually pay attention to it
and you must at once repent. But if you would not be watchful, I shall come as a
thief, and you will not know what sort of time I shall come upon you. But you
have a few people in Sardis who did not stain their garments, and they will walk
with Me in white, because they are worthy. The one who conquers2 will be clothed
in this way, in white garments,3 and I shall not wipe out his name from the Book
of Life (Exod. 32:32, 33, Dan. 12:1) and I shall confess his name before My
Father and before His angels. The one who has ears must now listen to what the
Spirit is saying to the congregations.’” Matthew 24:24-31 - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 - For this is the will of
God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality, that
each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and
honor, not in the lust of depravity, even as the Gentiles who do not know
God, and that no man take advantage of and defraud his brother in any matter,
because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, as we also have forewarned
you and testified. For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to
holiness. Therefore he that despises does not despise man, but God, who has also
given us His Holy Spirit. Hebrews 12:14-17 - Pursue peace with all men,
and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord, watching diligently so
that no one falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring
up to cause trouble, and many become defiled by it, lest there be any sexually
immoral or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his
birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing,
he was rejected. For he found no place for repentance, though he sought it
diligently with tears. Romans 8:12-17 - Therefore, brothers, we are
debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live
according to the flesh, you will die, but if through the Spirit you put to death
the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of
God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of slavery
again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry,
“Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits that we are
the children of God, and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint-heirs
with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified with
Him. 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has taken
you except what is common to man. God is faithful, and He will not permit you to
be tempted above what you can endure, but will with the temptation also make a
way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. James 4:4-10 - You adulterers and adulteresses,
do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do you think that
the Scripture says in vain, “He yearns jealously for the spirit that lives in
us”[Exodus 20:5]? But He gives more grace. For this reason it says: “God resists
the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”[Proverb 3:34] Therefore submit
yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to
God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify
your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be
turned to mourning, and your joy to dejection. Humble yourselves in the sight of
the Lord, and He will lift you up. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 - Rejoice always. Pray
without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise
prophecies. Examine all things. Firmly hold onto what is good. Abstain from all
appearances of evil. May the very God of peace sanctify you completely. And I
pray to God that your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, who also will
do it. Matthew 24:24-28 - Then Jesus said to His
disciples, Galatians 5:16-26 - I say then, walk in the
Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. These are in opposition to
one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are
led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are
revealed, which are these: adultery, sexual immorality, impurity,
lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, rage, selfishness,
dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I
warn you, as I previously warned you, that those who do such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control; against such
there is no law. Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its
passions and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the
Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another and envying one another.
"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
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.
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.
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.
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.
"What
shall we do?"
("Born again")