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He That Has Ears To Hear, Let Him Hear
(
Matthew 11:15-30
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Challenging both secular wisdom and religious doctrines. - Will our descendants know moral virtue?
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Salvation or Eternal Life is "Knowing Him"
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. -- Romans 3:10,23, 6:23
In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of
works, lest any man should boast. --Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-9
We cannot "earn" salvation. Being "good" is not good enough. It is what Christ has done.
Our "righteousness" is not His "righteousness."
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy
rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have
taken us away. -- Isaiah 64:6
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. --2
Corinthians 5:21
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; --Acts 3:19
"We are not going to share in His
Triumph because of our righteousness but because of His! We are not going to be
participants in that Glory because of our goodness; but because HE ALONE IS
GOOD! Our penance and our tears could never purchase for us a place in the ranks
of that triumphant Army." Charles
S. Price - Two Worlds
What Has Become of Salvation? (Part 1) Would the apostles even recognize a
modern day discussion about salvation? - By Dr. Ray Rooney Jr. - I wonder what kind of
looks we might get if we could explain our concept of salvation to the apostles.
Where it concerns what salvation is we would probably talk about being in a
personal relationship with God, going to heaven and being in a state of bliss
and happiness after we die, reuniting with our dead loved ones and friends, and
being approved by God. My guess is the apostles would give us a bemused
(“Really??”) kind of look.
What Has Become of Salvation?
(Part 2) Confronting the world with the truth.
- By
Dr. Ray Rooney Jr. ...The Gospels reveal
Christ. Acts through Revelation is the record of how the apostles and early
Christians confronted the world with that revelation. They wrote and spoke about
repentance, godly sorrow, and the new creation made possible through Jesus
Christ. They accommodated nothing that undermined the truth of the gospel of
Jesus. They weren’t out to save sinners. They knew only Jesus could accomplish
that task. They were simply following His instructions to take the truth to the
world. Forty-five times the Apostle John used the words “true” and “truth” in
his gospel. In His prayer in John 17:17 Jesus directly appealed to the Father:
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Index: To forgive means to
release from accountability and guilt.
The Blood of Christ, instead of your blood. (See also: "Repent:
The Blood of Christ and Overcoming
and turning away from your sins")
Heaven's Gates or Hell's Flames
- They'll Be No Turning Back!
"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
Born Again? How is this possible? Salvation or Being Born Again is a separate experience from Being Filled with
the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Foundation:
Our spirit is eternal, not our flesh
Ecclesiastes 12:7 - Then shall
the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who
gave it.
1 Corinthians 15:44, 51-52 - There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
...Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
John 3:6 & John 6:63 -
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit. ...It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Luke 17:21 -
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God
is within you.
Job 10:11-12 (BBE) - By you I
was clothed with skin and flesh, and joined together with bones and muscles. You
have been kind to me, and your grace has been with me, and your care has kept my
spirit safe.
Proverbs 20:27 -- The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD,
searching all the inward parts of the belly.
John 4:24 -
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.
Galatians 3:1-3 - O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you,
that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been
evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you,
Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are
you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the
flesh?
Reading the fine print in the gospel
- By Pastor Joe McKeever o Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17). [I]n reading them in your Bible, look
closely for an asterisk. See anything directing you to footnotes with qualifying
statements such as: "Only for residents of Israel or New Jersey"? Or "Results
may vary" or "Not typical" or even "Only for the educated."
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.
Romans 3:23-25 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the
forbearance of God
John 17:3 - And THIS is eternal life, that they might
KNOW You,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
--Jesus
John 14:6 - Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.
John 1:29 -
"Behold, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of
the world." 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. 1Timothy 2:5-6 - For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to
be testified in due time.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For you are saved by grace through faith. And this is not
from yourselves, it is the gift of God: it is not from works, so that not anyone
could boast.
Isaiah 64:6a - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousness are as filthy rags... Romans 3:19-28 - Now we know that what things soever the law says, it says
to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the
world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there
shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of
sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by
faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the
forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he
might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. Where is
boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of
faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds
of the law.
Will You Be the 'Christian' Who Is Surprised on Judgment Day? - By SHAWN A.
AKERS - In this video from Lion of Judah Ministries, the narrator focuses on the
potentially frightening scriptural passages of Matthew 7:21-23, as well as James 2:19-20,
which reads, "You believe that there is one God; you do well. The
demons also believe and tremble. But do you want to b e shown, O foolish man,
that faith without works is dead?"
..."The truth is, what really matters in salvation is not
one's prayer that they made 20 years ago. Salvation is not a mere verbal
confession and it is not spiritual works. Salvation is not prophesying nor is it
casting out devils. But salvation is knowing the one and only way to God the
Father. Salvation is knowing Jesus and being known by Him.
Salvation is your
connection to Jesus Christ. "Faith is something God can produce in you through
the Holy Spirit. It is God that opens your eyes to His grace and gives you the
means to have faith. Belief without following the Lord Jesus Christ is simply
belief. Anyone can believe in God intellectually. There are plenty of people out
there who believe in Him and hate Him. The Bible is clear that we must believe
and that we must follow."
Romans 10:9-17 (One New
Man Bible) - Because if you1 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 28:164) Although "Christianity" is widely referred to as a "religion," the term
"religion" takes away and diminishes the intent of Jesus and the Kingdom He came
to proclaim. The "Good News" of the "Kingdom of God" that Jesus came to reveal
is for believers to have a relationship with God, the Father and Son (the King)
through the Holy Spirit. 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 22:13-15 - I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree
of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are
dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and
whosoever loves and makes a lie.
Isaiah 59:2
-
"But your iniquities have
separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will
not hear."
John 8:24b - "...for
if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
Matthew 7:21-23
- "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."
Psalms 130:1-4 - Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my
voice: let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If you,
LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness
with thee, that you may be feared.
Isaiah 43:11, 43:25, 44:6 -
II, even I, am the LORD; and beside me
there is no saviour. ... I, even I, am he that blots out thy transgressions for
mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. ...I am the first, and I am the
last; and beside me there is no God.
John 14:6 - Jesus said unto him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto
the Father, but by me.
1Timothy 2:5-6 - For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to
be testified in due time.
Luke 13:1-5 - There were present at that season some
that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their
sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them,
Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans,
because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent,
ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in
Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men
that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall
all likewise perish. John 9:39-41 - And Jesus said, span class="style3">For
judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that
they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with
him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto
them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore
your sin remains. 1 Corinthians 7:14 - For the unbelieving husband is
sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband:
else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. Ezekiel 14:20 - Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as
I live, says the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they
shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
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.
1 Kings 8:46-50 (One New Man Bible) - If they sin against You, for there is no
man who does not sin, (Rom. 3:23) and You are angry with them and deliver them
to the enemy so that they carry them away captive to the enemy's land, far or
near, yet if they turn back in their heart in the land where they were carried
captive and repent and make supplication to You in the land of those who carried
them captive saying, We have sinned and have done perversely, we have committed
wickedness. And so return to You with all their heart and with their entire
being, in the land of their enemies who led them away captive and pray to You
toward their land, which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have
chosen and the House which I have built for Your name, then hear their prayer
and their supplication in heaven Your dwelling place and maintain their cause
and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their
transgressions by which they have transgressed against You, and give them
compassion before those who carried them captive, so they can have compassion on
them...
Jeremiah 31:33-34 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the
LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and
will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more
every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for
they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith
the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no
more.
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, This is the covenant that I
will make with them after those days, saith 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;)
"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. Hebrews 4:15 - For we have
not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 9:28 - So
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for
Him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 1 John 1:8 - If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 2:1 - My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous:
The Blood of Christ, instead of your blood. Ephesians 1:7 - In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Hebrews 9:14 - 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? Romans 3:23-28 - For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in
Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but
by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
without the deeds of the law.
1 John 1:1-10 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have
looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was
manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that
eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which
we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship
with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus
Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This
then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God
is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 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.
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 53:6
Neither is there
salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
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 cool, 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.
...Peter ended his sermon on the day of Pentecost
by telling the “congregation” that they were responsible for killing the Son of
God but despite this horrible fact, God had made Jesus both Lord and Christ
(Acts 2:36). Mike drop. That was it. End of sermon. No tearful plea from Peter.
No “Just As I Am” played by the temple musicians. No altar call. Sergeant Friday
would have been pleased. “Just the facts, ma’am.” But that was then and we know
a better way now, right? Peter left it up to the Holy Spirit and sure enough,
the crowd cried out to him, “Brothers, what shall we do?” He told them and about
three thousand people heeded what he said.
...Salvation is not merely a profession of faith
and a set of beliefs. It is an embrace of godliness made possible only through
Jesus Christ. It is an ongoing battle of throwing Satan down in our own lives
and those around us. It is yielding to God and resisting the Devil. It is
choosing sides. Every single day. Godliness and holiness do not fit in with this
fallen world. So salvation isn’t about fitting in and being liked. There is a
reason why James warns, "Friendship with the world is enmity with God" (James
4:4). It makes perfect sense when you realize it was Jesus who said, "Whoever is
not with me is against me."
...Salvation is about truth: A physician who thinks he/she is being
nice to the morbidly obese patient by never suggesting he lose weight is only
making the patient’s future grimmer. The doctor must point out the truth if
there is to be future at all for that patient. The doctor shouldn’t be insulting
or demeaning but if there is to be a better outlook for the patient he/she must
be faithful to the truth. Our task as Christians is to be faithful to the truth.
We can fill our churches with happy people if we never bring up sin or
repentance but we’re not being obedient to the Head of the church.
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one
sitting on it is called Faithful and True…(Revelation 19:11).
o As many as believed, to them He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
o Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).
o If anyone thirst, let him come unto me and drink. (John 7:37).
o Whoever comes to me, I will in no wise cast out (John 6:37).
o I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish He meant precisely
that. (John 10:28)
o Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be
called the children of God! (I John 3:1)
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.
1. What is the Kingdom of God? Paul answered this clearly defined the Kingdom of
God in Romans 14:17.
2. What did Jesus talk about throughout the Gospel of John. Primarily John
chapters 3, 4, 7, 14-17.
3. Jesus defined "Eternal Life" in His prayer to the Father in John 17:3, which
is to KNOW the Father and Jesus Christ.
Much of this is covered throughout the Kingdom of God section on EarsToHear.net.
You might want to see these pages:
What is Eternal Life? What is
salvation? What is "born again?"
(John
3:3-6)
Jesus - John 17:3
- And THIS is eternal life, that they might
KNOW You, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Jesus - Matthew 7:22-23
- 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, NEVER
KNEW YOU depart from Me, you that work iniquity.
Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of
mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which
built his house upon a rock:
Isaiah 59:1-2 - 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.
Psalm 130:3- -
If you, Yah, should take account
of iniquities, my Lord, who will
stand? But there is forgiveness
with You, so You will be
revered. (One New Man Bible)
John 14:6 -
Jesus said unto him,
I am the Way, the Truth, and the
Life: no man comes unto the
Father, but by Me.
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.
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)
Acts 19:2 - He (Paul) said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye
believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
To forgive means to
release from accountability and guilt.
"But your iniquities have
separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will
not hear."
Exhortation - Iniquity vs. Sin
Salvation is NOT simply a prayer of faith without commitment. The prayer of faith for the repentance of sins does not address the root of sin, iniquity. 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. Righteousness is living in accordance with God's Laws. Sin is not living in the righteousness of God.
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)
Heaven's Gates or Hell's Flames
Matthew 5:17-20 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle (iota) shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Heaven's Gates or Hell's Flames - They'll Be No Turning Back!
BY: STEPHANIE JOY
- I imagine that on Judgment Day (for most people) it will not be a pretty sight
(Read Revelation 20:11-15). Every one of us will stand before the Judgment Seat
of Christ alone, with no one there but ourselves standing face to face with God
Almighty! In that day, it won't matter that the "Pope" or "Bishops" said
(as
they did recently) that homosexuals have "positive aspects" to offer
Christians or that they could see "the constructive elements" in couples
choosing to live together in fornication (sex outside of marriage) either,
because the Word of God says no such thing! You will not be excused into Heaven
because your "Pastor, Priest" or the person you looked up to spiritually
failed to mention the truth from the Word of God (I Timothy 4:1-2) or
because you failed to find the truth in the Bible for yourself! (2 Timothy 2:15) o But Lord my pastor said
There will be those who think that God will accept them with open
arms on that day, who will be terribly disappointed. There will be all types of
reasons and every excuse under the sun as to why God should let them into
Heaven. People will say things such as:
o God, my friends did it too!
o I went to church every Sunday.
o I gave to charity and tried to live a good life.
o I taught Sunday school.
o I never hurt nobody.
o I thought I would have more time!
o I thought you were supposed to be all loving and forgiving?
o But Lord the pope said
o No one ever told me this!
o I was so busy Lord
o I should of, I should of, but I didn't.
And about a million more excuses you can think of. The Bible
even gives us an example in Matthew 7:22-23 as to what some will say.
"Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in the
name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful
works? And then will I profess onto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye
that work iniquity."
Did you know that the word "iniquity" can literally be translated
into lawlessness or the transgression of God's Law (I John 3:4)?
I'm sure there are many nice people in Hell today. I'm sure there are many
people who had good intentions in Hell today. I am sure everyone there would
give anything to go back and do it all over again, but they can't. Just ask the
rich man who went to Hell (Read Luke 16:19-31).
Their sin has made a separation between them and the goodness of God. Their
punishment is everlasting torment in the lake that burns with fire and
brimstone, and they can never go back. It's too late for them, but as you are
reading this right now, it's not too late for you!
The Bible says in Revelation 21:8, "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 burneth
with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
...As a side note, let me be perfectly clear. We do not serve God
because we are afraid that we will go to Hell if we don't. We serve God because
we see ourselves as violators of His Holy Law (the 10 Commandments, Exodus 20)
and criminals in His sight. We see that we are unworthy, sinful, and undeserving
of God's mercy in Christ. However, by God's amazing grace, we have a Savior who
stepped in to pay our fine (as criminals in the court room before the ultimate
Judge), and now God can lawfully dismiss our case because of what Jesus did for
us on the cross!
Through Godly sorrow and repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10, which
means to turn from our sins) of our sins and through the precious blood of
Christ, we have been washed in His blood (Revelation 1:5), forgiven, and made
clean through the power of the cross. Now that we have been saved, what have we
been saved for? It is to do God's will!
Matthew 7:21 says, "Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My
Father which is in Heaven."
Not your will, not your friend's will, not your spouse's will,
but my will says the Lord in Scripture. Let this be a wakeup call for some of
you! Let this be an encouragement for some of you who are traveling this hard
and lonely road on the path to Heaven. But most importantly, let this be the day
that you say as Jesus said in Luke 22:42, "not My will, but Thine, be done."
Your life is much better in His hands, than your own. The bottom line is that
Hell is for real and Heaven is for real and where you will spend your eternity
depends upon the path you have chosen to walk.
Salvation or Being Born Again is a separate experience from Being
Filled with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
When you are born again you are born of the Spirit (John 3:3-6), and the
"Promise" of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a free "gift" of God to those
who believe and are already saved and born again as Acts 2:38-39 and 8:12-17
depicts.
Acts 8:12-17 - But when they believed Philip preaching the
things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they
were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and
when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the
miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto
them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that
they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of
them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they
their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
"Salvation is not just something God gives you
that is going to bless you after you die; it is having the presence of the Lord
now." Psalms 51: 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
delightest 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.
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 he 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.
Evangelist Ruth had earlier assured Christians of the constancy of their place
in God in a message titled "YOUR SEAT IS STILL THERE"
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=8qYnTHMjIMY).
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.
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.
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.
"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures."
1 Corinthians 15:3
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness
are as filthy rags..." "...flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of
God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption." "That which was from the
beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have
looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was
manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that
eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)" 1 John 1:1-2 "He that has the Son has life;
and he that has not the Son of God has not life." 1 John 5:12
"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". January 3, 2016 ushered in the first Sunday Service of
the year with joy as it assured worshippers of their place in God's plan,
irrespective of their human frailties.
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.
"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
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 will be 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
1 Corinthians 3:17-18:
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit
of the Lord.
"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. The wind blow where it lists, and you hear the sound, but
can't tell where it comes from, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the
Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be? Jesus answered
and said, Aren't you a master of Israel, and you don't know these
things? Verily, verily, I say to you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have
seen; and you don't receive our witness. I have told you earthly things, and you don't
believe, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man has ascended
up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted
up: That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not
condemned: but he that doesn't believe is condemned already, because he has not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest
his deeds should be reproved. But he that is truthful comes to the light, that his deeds
may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
John 3:1-21
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
speak, and be clear when thou judge. Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in
sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desire 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 hast 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 show forth thy praise. For thou desire not sacrifice; else would I
give it: thou delights 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. Psalms 51 For thus says
the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in
the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite
ones. Isaiah 57:15
Substitute your name and sin in
these verses.
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the
morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he
sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a
Satan (the thief) breaks in to
destroy your life. "Behold, I stand at the
door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door,
I will come in to him, and will
sup
with
him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set
down with my Father in his throne.
He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches
."
Revelation 3:20-22
What happens
when a believer dies?
(See also:
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 for understanding the importance of knowing why we are
a spirit and not just our temporary body and soul.) (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.
(John 3:3-8)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus
said unto 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
unto thee, 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 unto thee, Ye must be born
again. The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound thereof, but can
not tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of
the Spirit.
(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:
(1 Corinthians 15:33-58)
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good
manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of
God: I speak this to your shame. But some man will say, How are the dead raised
up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which you sow is not
quickened, except it die: And that which you sow, you sow not that body
that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
But God gives it a body as it has pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another
flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also
celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one,
and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and
another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead.
It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor;
it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 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. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
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.
The Rich Man and Lazarus (Jesus Parable Luke 16:19-31 ONMB)
“And there was a certain wealthy man, and he dressed in a
purple garment and fine linen, enjoying himself splendidly day after day. And
some poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been lying at his gate
desiring to be fed from the things that fell from the table of the wealthy one:
but even the dogs that came were licking his sores. And it happened the poor man
died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham:11 and then the
rich man died and was buried. And in Hades, as he was in torment, when he lifted
up his eyes he saw Abraham from afar and Lazarus in front of him. Then when he
called out he said, ‘Father Abraham, you must immediately have mercy on me and
you must now send Lazarus so that he could dip the tip of his finger in water
and it would cool my tongue, because I am suffering in this flame.’ But Abraham
said, ‘Child, you must remember that you took your good things in your life, and
Lazarus likewise the bad things: but now here he is comforted, and you are in
great pain. And in all these distances between us and you, a great chasm has
been established, so that those who wish to cross over from here to you would
not be able, and they could not cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I
ask you, Father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five
brothers, so that he could warn them, so that they would not come into this
place of torture.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets: they
must listen to them now.’ But he said, ‘No, Father Abraham, but if someone from
the dead would go to them they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not
listen to Moses and the Prophets, then they will not be persuaded if someone
would rise from the dead.’” Luke 23:39-43 (KJV) - 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, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same
condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:
but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me
when thou come into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him,
Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 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.
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.
Born Again? How is this possible?
Christ knocks and asks if He can come into your life.
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.