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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"
It is NOT about a "religion" or "being a Christian." It is about Jesus and your relationship with Him!
John 17:3 - And THIS is eternal life, that they might
KNOW You, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
...Behold the Lamb
of God, which takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29b
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."
Isaiah 64:6 -
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have
taken us away.
John 8:24b - "...for if ye believe not
that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
Romans 3:23 - For there is no distinction, for all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God (1 Kings 8:46) being made righteous freely by
His grace through the redemption that is by means of Messiah Y'shua
Ephesians 2:8-9:
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.
Below: 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: Knowing God
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.
John 17:3
(Power New Testament)
-
"And this is eternal
life, that they would
know You, the only true God,
and Whom You sent Jesus Messiah."
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 - I, 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, 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.
To forgive means to
release from accountability and guilt. Grace: You do not
deserve God's help or salvation. 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.
Romans 3:19-24 - But we know that what the Torah (Teaching) speaks it says
to those in the Torah (Teaching), so that every mouth should be closed and the
entire world would become liable to judgment by God: because no flesh will be
justified before Him by works of Torah (Teaching), for knowledge of sin is
through Torah (Teaching). Righteousness through Faith. But now without Torah
(Teaching) the righteousness of God has been revealed in being witnessed by the
Torah (Teaching) and the Prophets, and the righteousness of God is through
faith, for all those who believe in Y'shua Messiah. For there is no distinction,
for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (1 Kings 8:46) being made
righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that is by means of Messiah
Y'shua: Whom God put forth as a propitiation through faith by His blood in proof
of His righteousness, in God's forbearance, because He had not punished the
former sins before the evidence of His righteousness up to the present time. For
He is righteous, even making righteous the one who has faith in Y'shua.
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... 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. ...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.
Hebrews 10:16-17,22 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. Jeremiah 31:33-34 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;) Hebrews 10:14-23
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, I
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 130:3-4 -
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.
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) 12. 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:
"I never knew you" ---
A Relationship, NOT a
Religion --- Born
Again, a new creation ---
The world by wisdom knew
not God
"Have ye
received the Holy Ghost since you believed..." ---
Baptism in the
Holy Spirit
...How does this bear any application to Christians today though? Consider the
promises God has made to His children.
...God has promised to make myself and every other Christian conformed to the
image of Jesus. We may not believe this to be possible, but there were Jewish
people who did not believe they would ever be free from the oppression of the
Egyptians. But just as God was faithful in His promise to the Egyptian people,
He will be faithful to this promise He made us.
...Over and over in the Old Testament, God reminded His people He was the One
who delivered them from the hands of the Egyptians. It was He who brought the
plagues. It was He who split the Red Sea. It was He who drowned Pharoah's army.
He did all the work and His people enjoyed the fruits of His work. Again and
again, we see God deliver His people. He delivered to them victory after victory
in the book of Joshua. He faithfully delivered them from captors in the book of
Judges. He delivered them from powerful armies throughout the time of Jeremiah
and the other prophets.
Why? Because He was revealing Himself as the Deliverer of His people. If God
can, and did, overcome such mighty armies, what makes you think He will not
deliver you from the sin you feel so captivated by right now?
"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."
Romans 6:23To forgive someone is to release them completely from ever being held accountable for any wrongdoing or any offense they have done action against you or to hurt you, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually, in such a way that they may be free of any guilt or retribution. Of course, it is necessary for the offending person to humbly admit their wrongdoing AND repent, turn away from any further wrongdoing against the one willing to completely forgive you and cover you with their forgiveness in such a way that the wrongdoing was as though it never occurred.
Numbers 32:23 - But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
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:
7 Reasons Why Christian Leaders Fall - By Shane Idleman - ...Why do leaders fall? They fall for the same reason that all Christians fall. Each of us are drawn away by our own evil desires and enticed. Most bold pastors are susceptible to pride and being too harsh. It's hard to tame a Type A personality. We need to be vigilant and abort sin when it's conceived (cf. James 1:14-15). Sin has a life cycle, it either grows or withers depending on whether we feed or starve it. John Owen, the prolific Puritan author wrote, "Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you."
...Consider the following ways that sin gains entrance. I shared these in a past blog at ShaneIdleman.com but they are worth repeating. The old devil has no new tricks:
1) "It will never happen to me." ...
2) "I'm too busy." ...
3) Holiness is compromised. ...
4) Many build unhealthy relationships with the opposite sex. ...
5) We fail to strengthen weak areas. ...
6) Accountability is often breached or minimized. ...
7) Loneliness becomes an excuse. ...
...In closing, if you are on the cliff or have already fallen, take time now and repent. It will hurt, but the fruit of repentance far outweighs the fruit of exposure that will surely come (cf. Numbers 32:23: But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out). God's grace will see you through. A penitent person turns from sin. They accept full responsibility for their actions without blame, resentment, or bitterness. They seek forgiveness without conditions and stipulations. They take full (not partial) responsibility for their actions. There can be no "but's" when repentance is genuine. "I am sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me," are often (although not always) healing words and signs of repentance. Excuses need to stop before healing can occur. There are consequences for past mistakes, but it's best to live in God's healing arms of forgiveness, rather than to live broken outside of His will. Which way will you turn?
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 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 9:14 - 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.
Romans 6:1-2,23 - What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ...For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Colossians 1:28 - Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
1 John 1 - 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.
"Behold, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29
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
He did for us what we could never do. Nothing we can do can earn eternity. It is what He has done for us. He died for our sins, for He was without sin.
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.
"It is the Spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing..."
John 6:63
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.
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.
1 John 2:1-6 - 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: And he is the propitiation for our
sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And
hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that
saith, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the
truth is not in him. But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love
of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he
abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
10 Biblical Hallmarks That Reveal A True Follower of Christ or an Imposter Brannon Howse (21:24) What does true repentance entail? What is the difference between our being sorry for our transgression and iniquities and Godly sorrow?
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)
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 But Lord my pastor said
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."
What will be your end? Are you a part of the list that you just
read? Or did you find yourself repeating the same excuses mentioned above as to
why you did not perform God's will on earth and love and serve the Lord
sincerely with all your heart, mind, soul and strength?
Are you just too busy? Is the football
game that important? Is it the love of the world and your flesh that will
bring you down (literally) and be your destruction in the end?
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.
Ezekiel 36:23-27: And I will sanctify
my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in
the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord
GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you
from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you
into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be
clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A
new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I
will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart
of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my
statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
"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." John G. Lake
That presence is the Holy Spirit, acquired by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which comes only by know Jesus.
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed
not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye
believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear
my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal
life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my
hand. John 10:25-28 O foolish
Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye 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 ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now
made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be
yet in vain. He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles
among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of
faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the
children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the
heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying,
In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed
with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the
curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all
things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is
justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just
shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them
shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on
a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:1-14 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 throughly 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 mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when
Thou judge. Behold, I was shapen 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 shalt 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.
YOUR SEAT IS STILL THERE - (TB Joshua Ministries) - John 10:27-30 - "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."
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.
"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.
A genuine believer does not commit intentional sin but they can make
mistakes. A mistake does not cancel or destroy their seat in God's
presence. The seat only becomes empty. In other words, they haven't lost
their place as a son, but their fellowship is broken. Their place will
continue to be there because they have a relationship with God. The seat
will be empty until they repent. As soon as they repent, they go back to
their seat.
This is the difference between Christians and others. A Christian always
has a relationship with God. Therefore, when they make a mistake they
can repent and run to God. God will not only forgive them but help them
to get back on their feet and keep them from making the same mistake
again. (1 John 1:9)Remember, true Christianity lies in the heart. Let us
be true Christians.
PRAYER: Ask God to grant you a heart that is pure, a heart that is
humble and sincere, a heart that does not bear grudges in Jesus' name.
God Is Looking for A Man—Will He Find You?
- By Tim Clinton - ...How can a man love God and sin like that, and how can God bless a man with that kind of sin?" I am certainly not excusing David's actions. Neither is God. David also knew true sorrow and repentance for his sin and failures. Author Jim George wrote in his book A Man After God's Own Heart:How could God possibly commend a man with this kind of background? Yes, David was a man with feet of clay, a man who at times committed sins that most of us could not imagine, let alone commit. Yet over the long haul, David sought to be righteous, and his heart's desire was to do God's will. This is the kind of man God was looking for as indicated by Jeremiah 5:1 (NIV): "Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city." God doesn't expect perfection, as we can clearly see from David. With all that David had done wrong in his life, God could still look at David's heart and say he was a man after His own heart—a man who did all God's will.
"If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" penned David. "But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared" (Ps. 130:3-4, ESV). I love that, and I want that. David knew that righteousness, like Abraham's, could come only through faith in God's mercy. He understood and looked forward to the coming Messiah.
David also wrote, "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy" (Ps. 147:11, KJV). David knew God when he was disciplined by Him, and then he found cleansing and forgiveness. It's possible to know God, love Him deeply, and still fail Him miserably. That was David. That is us.
Yet he was a man after God's own heart. God found him, but David chased after God to do His will. "As the deer pants for the water brooks," wrote David, "so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (Ps. 42:1-2, NASB)
...Solomon was waiting by his father's side, listening, grieving and knowing time with him was limited. Father to son, David began with "I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man" (1 Kings 22, NKJV).
...The great need of our culture today is not for more men of talent or more men of success but for more men of character with hearts that follow hard after God. Our culture needs men who have taken up David's challenge to Solomon to "be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man" and who understand what that means. Yes, God is looking for a man. Will He find you?
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 - And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God.
For he has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.John 11:17-26 - Then when Jesus came, he found that he (Lazarus) had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever you will ask of God, God will give it you. Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again. Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?
1 Corinthians 15:44-50 - It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Romans 8:1-14 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
1 John 5:10-13
- He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself (John14): he that believes not God has made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
"For by grace you are saved through faith;
not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians
2:8-9
He did for us what we could never do, and nothing we can do, can earn eternity. It is what He has done for us. He died for our sins, for He was without sin, "the Lamb of God who takes away our sin." We are only to believe on Him. What could the the thief, nailed on a cross next to Christ have done besides believe? It matters not what you can do, or what you are capable of doing, or what you are able to accomplish and attain. Your strength and power matter not in your salvation. It is NOT what we do, but who we are in Christ, and Christ in us. It is what He has already done.
And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Don't you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shall you be with me in paradise. Luke 23:32-43
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:4-6 NIV
"For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags;
"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures."
1 Corinthians 15:3"It is not doing for Him, but it is He doing through us."
Charles Price"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags..."
Isaiah 64:4"...flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption."
1 Corinthians 15:50"And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 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 doth 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. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it."
Acts 4:5-14"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
"What shall we do?"On the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Christ's ascension, the Disciples received the
"promise" Jesus told them to wait...
What your preacher may not be preaching - The Word Of God
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isaiah 59:2"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 6:23"And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
John 17:3
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
Born Again? How is this possible?
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:
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
woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what do you say? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are your accusers? has no man condemned you? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:1-11
Satan (the thief) breaks in to
destroy your life.
Christ knocks and asks if He can come into your life.
"Behold, I stand at the
door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door,
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.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory (Isaiah 25:8). O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in 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.
Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Help me to turn from my sins as only you can.Home | About | Search | Contact
