Bright Christian Fellowship

Is Abortion Wrong? Is It Ever Justified?

2011-10-08T00:40:00.006-04:00

Please consider watching this powerful 33 minute video. Maybe you will do a 180 degree U-Turn on an issue about which you might have felt strongly the other way or at least for "special cases. "

Keep in mind what Scripture says.

"There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community."
Proverbs 6:16-19

I pray for our country and the souls of those who do not seek God's will in every thought, word, and deed. May God bless you for watching!

For more information, go to www.180movie.com.

Why Is God So Good?

2009-11-22T00:43:00.015-05:00

The question itself is framed up to be one that implies that the person asking is enjoying his/her life or at least his/her temporal circumstances. Do circumstances dictate whether we feel that God is good to us? Or do we relish in the fact that God has given us each new day to breathe in and out, to experience life, and to carry out His ultimate purpose, which is to 1) Worship Him, 2) Nurture Believers, and 3) Evangelize the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unbelieving world?

Could it be that there are some people who question God's goodness? There clearly are those that doubt God's very existence. Even so, we are reminded in Psalm 53:1 that "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" Excluding atheists for a moment, are there people that feel that God is out to get them? Do they live each day as if God is going to punish them yet again for their sins? Do they feel that they have a little "black cloud" that is notoriously hanging over them ready to rain on their every potentially good outcome in life? Maybe life circumstances have gotten some people down. Certainly there are some temporary setbacks that legitimately will cause people to mourn, question, and/or regroup.

Could it be that any black clouds we cook up or circumstances that may not have gone our way are really just a way we attempt to rationalize ("rational lies") that God isn't good? Maybe we are simply looking at the glass half empty instead of half full. Maybe the question we should be asking is, "Why is God good to me at all?" Think about it. You and I are both rotten, no good, sinners who have turned our backs on God and lived our lives according to our wills and not His. Before we repented of our sins and accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we were enemies of God. Romans 8:7 tells us that ". . . the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

What is it that brings you joy? For me, it used to be gaining respect from my colleagues and family. Making enough money to pay all the bills and have some left over to enjoy some nights on the town were part of that equation. But what happens when a layoff happens? Not only does the money supply dry up rather quickly, but we can lose tremendous respect from people even when the events were not of our own making. Life can change directions quickly, and if we root our joy in worldly things, we can lose that joy as quickly as we attain it.

We should place our joy in the unchangeable. Our joy should be in the goodness of God and the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us. Individually we should say, "God, thank you for giving to me even when I was your enemy. I have rejected your will, ignored your sacrifice, and taken for granted your goodness. Please forgive me. Each day when I wake up, I will praise your name for giving me another day on this earth to live. Each meal I eat, I will praise your name for filling my stomach with food. Each time it rains, I will praise your name for sending water for me to drink and for my trees, plants, flowers, and grass to be refreshed. Whenever I need to get somewhere, I will praise your name for the transportation that you've afforded me. Whenever I'm sick, I'll praise your name for the doctors that I can visit to help me to feel better. Whenever I'm cold, I'll praise your name for the warmth of a home and a heater. Whenever I'm hot, I'll praise your name for air conditioning. Regardless of circumstances or situations, as Psalm 86:12 states, 'I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.'"

God is the source of goodness. Every good gift comes from God. If you have ever received anything good in your life, consider it a gift from God. God owes you nothing, and you owe Him everything. If you have that correct perspective, you will find joy in most everything. We are also commanded to "be joyful always" in 1 Thessalonians 5:16.

However, you cannot possibly have joy and peace outside of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is your only hope for salvation. Without Him, you and I are doomed and can have no real joy. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, please repent of all your sins and trust in Him today, right now. If you have any questions about starting a relationship with Jesus, please feel free to contact me.

My prayer for you my brother/sister is this: Romans 15:13.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Can Christians Lose Salvation?

2009-03-19T21:50:00.009-04:00

This question is one that can be difficult to answer. People will attempt to take a snippet of Scripture to make it say whatever they want. This problem occurs when people use a single Bible passage and attempt to adopt it as an element of a teaching without reviewing similar passages for consistency. However, when we have multiple passages that provide a pattern, then we can infer the truth of the Bible from that pattern. The following information was copied almost verbatim from Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, pages 794-803. Rather than attempt to make the points myself, Grudem has already provided very clear explanations of passages that have tended to confuse people, so there was no need to start my own independent assessment.

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Is it always clear which people in the church have genuine saving faith and which have only an intellectual persuasion of the truth of the gospel but no genuine faith in their hearts? It is not always easy to tell, and Scripture mentions in several places that unbelievers in fellowship with the visible church can give some external signs or indications that make them look or sound like genuine believers. For example, Judas, who betrayed Christ, must have acted almost exactly like the other disciples during the three years he was with Jesus. So convincing was his conformity to the behavior pattern of the other disciples, that at the end of the three years of Jesus’ ministry, when he said that one of his disciples would betray him, they did not all turn to and suspect Judas, but they rather “began to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” (Matthew 26:22, Mark 14:19, Luke 22:23, John 13:22). However, Jesus Himself knew that there was no genuine faith in Judas’ heart, because he said at one point, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (John 6:70). John later wrote in his gospel that “Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him” (John 6:64). But the disciples themselves did not know.

Paul also speaks of “false brethren secretly brought in” (Galatians 2:4), and says that in his journey he has been “in danger from false brethren” (2 Corinthians 11:26). He also says that the servants of Satan “disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:15). This does not mean that all unbelievers in the church who nevertheless give some signs of true conversion are servants of Satan secretly undermining the work of the church, for some may be in process of considering the claims of the gospel and moving toward real faith, others may have heard only an inadequate explanation of the gospel message, and other may not have come under genuine conviction of the Holy Spirit yet. But Paul’s statements do not mean that some unbelievers in the church will be false brothers and sisters sent to disrupt the fellowship, while others will simply be unbelievers who will eventually come to genuine saving faith. In both cases, however, they give several external signs that make them look like genuine believers.

We can see this also in Jesus’ statement about what will happen at the last judgment:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Although these people prophesied and cast out demons and did “many mighty works” in Jesus’ name, the ability to do such works did not guarantee that they were Christians. Jesus says, “I never knew you.” He does not say, “I knew you at one time but I no longer know you,” nor “I knew you at one time but you strayed about from me,” but rather, “I never knew you.” They never were genuine believers.

A similar teaching is found in the parable of the sower. Jesus says, “Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away.” (Mark 4:5-6). Jesus explains that the seed sown upon rocky ground represents people who “when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.” (Mark 4:16-17). The fact that “they have no root in themselves” indicates that there is no source of life within these plants; similarly, the people represented by them have no genuine life of their own within. They have an appearance of conversion and they apparently have become “Christians” because they receive the word “with joy,” but when difficulty comes, they are nowhere to be found – their apparent conversion was not genuine and there was no real saving faith in their hearts.

The importance of continuing in faith is also affirmed in the parable of Jesus as the vine, in which Christians are portrayed as branches (John 15:1-7). Jesus says:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does not bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. . . . If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:1 2, 6).

Arminians have argued that the branches that do not bear fruit are still true branches on the vine – Jesus refers to “Every branch of mine that bears no fruit” (v2). Therefore, the branches that are gathered and thrown into the fire and burned must refer to true believers that were once part of the vine but fell away and became subject to eternal judgment. But that is not a necessary implication of Jesus’ teaching at this point. The imagery of the vine used in this parable is limited in how much detail it can teach. In fact, if Jesus had wanted to teach that there were true and false believers associated with him, and if he wanted to use an analogy of a vine and branches, then the only way he could refer to the people who do not have genuine life in themselves would be to speak of branches that bear no fruit (somewhat after the analogy of the seeds that fell on rocky ground and had “no root in themselves” in Mark 4:17). Here in John 15 the branches that do not bear fruit, though they are in some way connected to Jesus and give an outward appearance of being genuine branches, nonetheless give indication of their true state by the fact that they bear no fruit. This is similarly indicated by the fact that the person “does not abide” in Christ (John 15:6) and is cast off as a branch and withers. If we try to press the analogy any further, by saying, for example, that all branches on a vine really are alive or they would not be there in the first place, then we are simply trying to press the analogy beyond what it is able to teach – and in that case there would be nothing in the analogy that could represent false believers in any case. The point of the imagery is simply that those who bear fruit thereby give evidence that they are abiding in Christ; those who do not are not abiding in him.

Finally, there are two passages in Hebrews that also affirm that those who finally fall away may give many external signs of conversion and may look in many ways like Christians. The first of these, Hebrews 6:4-6, has frequently been used by Arminians as proof that believers can lose their salvation. But on closer inspection such an interpretation is not convincing. The author of Hebrews writes:
“For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.” (Hebrews 6:4-6).

The author of Hebrews continues with an example from agriculture:
“For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned.” (Hebrews 6:7-8).

In this agricultural metaphor, those who receive final judgment are compared to land that bears no vegetation or useful fruit, but rather bears thorns and thistles. When we recall the other metaphors in Scripture where good fruit is a sign of true spiritual life and fruitlessness is a sign of false believers (for example, Matthew 3:8-10, 7:15-20, 12:33-35), we already have an indication that the author is speaking of people whose most trustworthy evidence of their spiritual condition (the fruit they bear) is negative, suggesting that the author is talking about people who are not genuinely Christians.

Some have objected that the long description of things that have happened to these people who fall away means that they must have been genuinely born again. But that is not a convincing objection when we look at the individual terms used. The author says they have “one been enlightened” (Hebrews 6:4). But this enlightening simply means that they came to understand the truths of the gospel, not that they responded to those truths with genuine saving faith.

Similarly, the word once that is used to speak of those who “have once been enlightened” is the Greek term hapax, which is used, for example, in Philipians 4:16 of the Philippians’ sending Paul a gift “once and again,” and in Hebrews 9:7 of entrance in the Holy of Holies “once a year.” Therefore, this word does not mean that something happened “once” and can never be repeated, but simply that it happened once, without specifying whether it will be repeated or not.

The text further states that these people “have tasted the heavenly gift” and that they “have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come.” (Hebrews 6:4-5). Inherent in the idea of tasting is the fact that the tasting is temporary and one might or not decide to accept the thing that is tasted. For example, the same Greek word geuomai is used in Matthew 27:34 to say that those crucifying Jesus “offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.” The word is also used in a figurative sense meaning “come to know something.” If we understand it in this figurative sense, as it must be understood here since the passage is not talking about literally tasting literal food, then it means that people have come to understand the heavenly gift (which probably means here that they had experienced some of the power of the Holy Spirit at work) and to know something of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come. It does not necessarily mean that they had (or did not have) genuine saving faith, but may simply mean that they came to understand it and have some experience of spiritual power.

The text also further says that these people “have become partakers of the Holy Spirit” (Hebrews 6:4). The question here is the exact meaning of the word metochos, which is here translated “partaker.” It is not always clear to English-speaking readers that this term has a range of meaning and may imply very close participation and attachment, or may only imply a loose association with the other person or people named. For example, the context shows that in Hebrews 3:14 to become a “partaker” of Christ means to have a very close participation with him in a saving relationship. On the other hand, metochos can also be used in a much looser sense, simply to refer to associates or companions. We read that when the disciples took in a great catch of fish so that their nets were breaking, “they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.” (Luke 5:7). Here it simply refers to those who were companions or partners with Peter and the other disciples in their fishing work. Ephesians 5:7 uses a closely related word (symmetochos, a compound of metochos and the preposition syn [“with”]) when Paul warns Christians about sinful acts of unbelievers and says, “do not associate with them.” (Ephesians 5:7). He is not concerned that their total nature will be transformed by the unbelievers, but simply that they will associate with them and have their witness compromised and their own lives influenced to some degree by them.

By analogy, Hebrews 6:4-6 speaks of people who have been “associated with” the Holy Spirit, and thereby had their lives influenced by Him, but it need not imply that they had a redeeming work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, or that they were regenerated. By similar analogy with the example of the fishing companions in Luke 57, Peter and the disciples could be associated with them and even to some degree influenced by them without having a thoroughgoing change of life caused by that association. The very word metochos allows for a range of influence from fairly weak to fairly strong, for it only means “one who participates with or shares with or accompanies in some activity.” This was apparently what had happened to these people spoken of in Hebrews 6, who have been associated with the church and as such associated with the work of the Holy Spirit, and no doubt had been influenced by him in some ways in their lives.

Finally, the text says that it is impossible “to restore again to repentance” people who have experienced these things and have then committed apostasy. Some have argued that if this is a repentance to which they need to be restored again, then it must be genuine repentance. But this is not necessarily the case. First, we must realize that repentance (Greek metanoia) does not need to refer to inward heart repentance unto salvation. For example, Hebrews 12:17 uses this word to speak of a change of mind that Esau sought concerning the sale of his birthright, and refers to it as repentance (metanoia). This would not have been a repentance for salvation, but simply a change of mind and an undoing of the transaction regarding his birthright. (Note also the example of Judas’ repentance in Matthew 27:3 – howbeit with a different Greek word).

The cognate verb “to repent” (Greek metanoeo) is sometimes used to refer not to saving repentance, but just to sorrow for individual offenses in Luke 17:3-4: “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times, and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” We conclude that “repentance” simply means a sorrow for actions that have been done or for sins that have been committed. Whether or not it is a genuine saving repentance, a “repentance unto salvation,” may not be always evident right away. The author of Hebrews is not concerned to specify whether it is genuine repentance or not. He is simply saying that if someone has a sorrow for sin and comes to understand the gospel and experiences these various blessings of the Holy Spirit’s work (no doubt in fellowshiop with the church), and then turns away, it will not be possible to restore such a person again to a place of sorrow for sins. But this does not necessarily imply that the repentance was genuine saving repentance in the first place.

At this point we may ask what kind of person is described by all of these terms. These are no doubt people who have been affiliated closely with the fellowship of the church. The have had some sorrow for sin (repentance). They have clearly understood the gospel (they have been enlightened). They have come to appreciate the attractiveness of the Christian life and the change that comes about in people’s lives because of becoming a Christian, and they have probably had answers to prayer in their own lives and felt the power of the Holy Spirit at work, perhaps even using some spiritual gifts in the manner of the unbelievers in Matthew 7:22 (they have become “associated with” the work of the Holy Spirit or have become “partakers” of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the heavenly gift and the powers of the age to come). They have been exposed to the true preaching of the Word and have appreciated much of its teachings (they have tasted the goodness of the Word of God).

But then in spite of all this, if they “commit apostasy” and “crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt” (Hebrews 6:6), then they are willfully rejecting all of these blessings and turning decidedly against them. Perhaps all of us have known in our own churches people who (sometimes by their own profession) have long been affiliated with the fellowship of the church but are not themselves born again Christians. They have thought about the gospel for years and have continued to resist the wooing of the Holy Spirit in their lives, perhaps through an unwillingness to give up lordship of their lives to Jesus and preferring to cling to it themselves.

Now the author tells us that if these people willfully turn away from all of these temporary blessings, then it will be impossible to restore them again to any kind of repentance or sorrow for sin. Their hearts will be hardened and their consciences calloused. What more could be done to bring them to salvation? If we tell them Scripture is true they will say that they know it but they have decided to reject it. If we tell them God answers prayer and changes lives they will respond that they know that as well, but they want nothing of it. If we tell them that the Holy Spirit is powerful to work in people’s lives and the gift of eternal life is good beyond description, they will say that they understand that, but they want nothing of it. Their repeated familiarity with the things of God and their experience of many influences of the Holy Spirit has simply served to harden them against conversion.

Now the author of Hebrews knows that there are some in the community to which he writes who are in danger of falling away in just this way (see Hebrews 2:3; 3:8, 12, 14-15; 4:1, 7, 11; 10:26, 29, 35-36, 38-39; 12:3, 15-17). He wants to warn them that, though they have participated in the fellowship of the church and experienced a number of God’s blessings in their lives, yet if they fall away after all that, there is no salvation for them. This does not imply that he thinks that true Christians could fall away – Hebrews 3:14 implies quite the opposite. Be he wants them to gain assurance of salvation through their continuing in faith, and thereby implies that if they fall away it would show that they never were Christ’s people in the first place (Hebrews 3:6: “We are his house if we hold fast our confidence and pride in our hope”).

Therefore the author wants to give a sincere warning to those in danger of slipping away from their Christian profession. He wants to use the strongest language possible to say, “Here is how far a person can come in experiencing temporary blessings and will not really be saved.” He is warning them to watch out, because depending on temporary blessings and experiences is not enough. To do this he talks not of any true change of heart or any good fruit produced, but simply about the temporary blessings and experiences that have come to these people and have given them some understanding of Christianity.

For this reason he immediately passes from this description of those who commit apostasy to a further analogy that shows that these people who fell away never had any genuine fruit in their lives. As we explained above, verses 7-8 speak of these people in terms of “thorns and thistles,” the kind of crop that is brought forth on land that has no worthwhile life in itself even though it receives repeated blessings from God (in terms of the analogy, even though rain frequently falls upon it). We should notice here that people who commit apostasy are not compared to a field that once bore good fruit and now does not, but that they are like land that never bore good fruit, but only thorns and thistles. The land may look good before the crops start to come up, but the fruit gives the genuine evidence, and it is bad.

Strong support for this interpretation of Hebrews 6:4-8 is found in the verse immediately following. Though the author has been speaking very harshly about the possibility of falling away, he then returns to speak to the situation of the great majority of hearers, whom he thinks to be genuine Christians. He says, “Though we speak thus, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things that belong to salvation” (Hebrews 6:9). But the question is “better things” than what? The plural “better things” forms an appropriate contrast to the “good things” that have been mentioned in verses 4-6: the author is convinced that most of his readers have experienced better things than simply partial and temporary influences of the Holy Spirit and the church talked about in verses 4-6.

In fact, the author talks about these things by saying (literally) that they are “better things, also belonging to salvation” (Greek kai echomena soterias). In this way the Greek word kai (“also”) shows that salvation is something that was not part of the things mentioned in verses 4-6 above. Therefore, this word kai, which is not explicitly translated in the RSV or NIV (but the NASB comes close), provides a crucial key for understanding the passage. If the author had meant to say that the people mentioned in verses 4-6 were truly saved, then it is very difficult to understand why he would say in verse 9 that he is convinced of better things for them, things that belong to salvation, or that have salvation in addition to those things mentioned above. He thus shows that he can use a brief phrase to say that people “have salvation” if he wishes to do so (he does not need to pile up many phrases), and he shows, moreover, that the people whom he speaks of in verses 4-6 are not saved.

What exactly are those “better things”? In addition to salvation mentioned in verse 9, they are things that give real evidence of salvation – genuine fruit in their lives (verse 10), full assurance of hope (verse 11), and saving faith, of the type exhibited by those who inherit the promises (verse 12). In this way he reassures those who are genuine believers – those who show fruit in their lives and show love for other Christians, who show hope and genuine faith that is continuing at the present time, and who are not about to fall away. He wants to reassure these readers (who are certainly the great majority of the ones to whom he writes) while still issuing a strong warning to those among them who may be in danger of falling away.

A similar teaching is found in Hebrews 10:26-31. There the author says, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left” (verse 26 NIV). A person who rejects Christ’s salvation and “has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him” (verse 29 NIV) deserves eternal punishment. This again is a strong warning against falling away, but it should not be taken as proof that someone who has truly been born again can lose his or her salvation. When the author talks about the blood of the covenant “that sanctified him,” the word sanctified is used simply to refer to “external sanctification, like that of the ancient Israelites, by outward connection with God’s people.” The passage does not talk about someone who is genuinely saved, but someone who has received some beneficial moral influence through contact with the church.

One other passage in John’s writings has been claimed to teach the possibility of loss of salvation. In Revelation 3:5, Jesus says, “He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life.” Some have claimed that when Jesus says this He implies that it is possible that he would blot out the names of some people from the book of life, people who had already had their names written in it and were thus already saved. But the fact that Jesus emphatically states that he will not do something should be taken as teaching that he will do that same thing in other cases. The same kind of Greek construction is used to give an emphatic negation in John 10:28, where Jesus says, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” This does not mean that there are some of Jesus’ sheep who do not hear his voice and follow him and who will perish; it is simply affirming that his sheep certainly will not perish. Similarly, when God says, “I will never fail you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), it does not imply that he will leave or forsake others; it just emphatically states that he will not leave nor forsake his people. Or, in even a closer parallel, in Matthew 12:32, Jesus says, “Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” This does not imply that some sins will be forgiven in the age to come (as Roman Catholics claim in support for the doctrine of purgatory) – that is simply an error in reasoning: to say that something will not happen in the age to come does not imply that it might happen in the age to come. In the same way, Revelation 3:5 is just a strong assurance that those who are clad in white garments and who have remained faithful to Christ will not have their names blotted out of the book of life.

Finally, one passage from the Old Testament is sometimes used to argue that people can lose their salvation: the story of the Holy Spirit departing from King Saul. But Saul should not be taken as an example of someone who lost his salvation, for when “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 16:14), it was immediately after Samuel had anointed David king and “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13). In fact, the Spirit of the Lord coming upon David is reported in the immediately previous sentence to the one in which we read that the Spirit departed from Saul. This close connection means that Scripture is not here talking about a total loss of all work of the Holy Spirit in Saul’s life, but simply about the withdrawing of the Holy Spirit’s function empowering Saul as king. But that does not mean that Saul was eternally condemned. It is simply very hard to tell from the pages of the Old Testament whether Saul, throughout his life, was a) an unregenerate man who had leadership capabilities and was used by God as a demonstration of the fact that someone worthy to be king in the eyes of the world was not thereby suited to be king over the Lord’s people, or b) a regenerate man with poor understanding and a life that increasingly strayed from the Lord.

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So how do we know if we have a genuine salvation? See related link HERE.

What's the Big Deal About Jesus Anyway?

2009-01-02T22:16:00.024-05:00

If you are asking this question, you are probably not a Christian. Any person can claim to be a Christian, yet fail in his/her understanding of who Jesus really is.

Jesus was NOT:
1) Just a prophet as the Muslims claim.
2) A heretic and apostate as the Jews claim.
3) Equivalent with Muhammad, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, and others as God's prophet as the Bahai claim.
4) A reincarnation of Elisha as some Hindus claim.
5) Simply an enlightened being as some Buddhists claim.
6) A false prophet as the Mandaeanists claim.
7) A Master Jesus who had previous incarnations as some New Agers claim.
8) Just a good teacher as many others claim.

Jesus was and is:
1) 100% God/Man (God: John 20:28, Titus 2:13, 1 John 5:20, Hebrews 1:8, John 10:30, John 14:9; Man: Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:52, Mark 11:15, John 11:35, Matthew 4:1-2, John 19:28, Luke 22:44, Mark 15:37)
2) Creator (Isaiah 40:28, Colossians 1:15-16)
3) Savior (1 Timothy 1:1, Titus 1:4)
4) Shepherd (Psalm 23:1, 1 Peter 5:4)
5) I Am (Exodus 3:14, John 8:58)
6) First and Last (Isaiah 44:6, Revelation 1:17)
7) Forgiver of Sins (Jeremiah 33:8, Acts 5:31)
8) Perfect in Every Aspect (Perfect birth by virgin birth, perfect sinless life, perfect death as a sheep to slaughter, perfect burial through fulfilled prophecy, perfect resurrection on the 3rd day, perfect reconciliation for mankind)
9) Alive On the Throne (See link: Jesus is Alive)

Arise My Love

If you haven't repented of your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord of your life, He awaits you to humble yourself before Him today. When you put your trust in Christ, you will cross over from death to life (John 5:24).

Did Jesus Know As A Boy That He Was The Son Of God?

2008-08-31T17:08:00.008-04:00

This is a good question. Can you imagine being told that you were God as a child? How would you react? While we don't know exactly when or how Jesus was told or informed that He was the Messiah, we do know that by about age 12 He was already amazing people with His answers and His incite (Luke 2:47). He also responds to His parents who were looking for Him that they should have known that He'd be in His Father's house (Luke 2:49).

A good discussion on Jesus being the Son of God can be found at this link: http://www.consider.org/library/jesus.htm

Thanks for the question Bob M.

Do I Show Them Jesus?

2008-08-29T22:19:00.032-04:00

Jesus instructed us by saying, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20

Everybody is so busy these days. Schedules are saturated with work, school, childrens' activities, errands, meetings, shopping, etc. Many of these activities even spill over into Sundays, which are supposed to be our day of rest and corporate worship. Do any of these activities have any eternal value? Some might have some small contribution, but for the most part they don't. In our daily routines, how many times do we think about our eternal future? To get to the point, when is the last time you talked with someone outside of Church about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? If we claim to be Christians, nothing should take a higher priority in our lives than to talk to others about Jesus. We should be disciples and make disciples. We are disciples by obeying our Lord Jesus, and we make disciples by sharing Jesus with those that aren't Christians.

I'm amazed at how people claim to not know what to say to someone about Christ. Speak straight from the heart. What does Christ mean to you and why? Why did you decide to follow Christ? Did you know that the entire Bible can be summed up in one verse? Here it is.

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

Left on our own, our wages (what we deserve) have earned us death because of our sins. But God who is gracious has given us the gift of eternal life, if we choose to accept the gift of Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. While God extends the gift, it only goes to those who accept the gift willingly. It's not enough to understand the gift; it must be a personal, proactive acceptance decision. This decision must include repentance, that is turning away from sin and turning to Christ Jesus.

If you don't know what to say to someone about Christ, feel free to use Romans 6:23 shown above or some other method. Otherwise, join a Bible study to learn more or take an evangelism class. The main thing is to do something! Get prepared. Are you involved in a small group Bible study, such as a Sunday School class? If so, think of all the benefits of being a part of that group and write down your Sunday School Testimony. Memorize it, then invite people to join your small group study. Invite people to Church and to Church-related socials. You don't have to know all the answers, but get them around people who are a little more knowledgeable than you.

Above all, check your heart. Is Christ really your highest priority? If He's not, then please don't evangelize. You can't do Christ justice if He's not your heart's #1 priority. I pray that after you read this post and watch the short music video below, you will be motivated to do whatever it takes to get prepared to share Jesus with others.

If you're not a Christian, I pray that God has led you to this site for a reason and that you accept Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. If you need more information about what this means or how to secure eternal life, please don't hesitate to email me.

Show Them Jesus

Lyrics:
You can almost see / On a cloudless night
When the air is still / And the moon is high
It’s written in the stars / Painted with their light
Spelling out a Name across the sky

Like a signature / On a work of art
Eternity is there / in every human heart
So many do not know / How loved they are
Will you be the one to

Chorus:
Show them Jesus, show them real love
Let His heart beat on in you
Live out the message with all that you’re made of
Let your life unveil the truth
And all the world will see Him in us
Show them Jesus

Who will bear His Name / All across the Earth
To the countless souls / Who have never heard
Of the One Who made / All the universe
Will you be the first to show them Jesus…

Am I Lukewarm?

2008-07-25T06:08:00.006-04:00

It is exremely hard to be an effective witness for Christ when we are lukewarm. As a matter of fact, it actually hurts the church because most non-Christians will see no difference in the lives of Christians from the rest of the world. An important question we should ask ourselves is, "Am I lukewarm?" If my answer to this question is "Yes," then I should be very concerned.

Please watch these two videos. The messages cut right to the point.

"So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Revelation 3:16

Lukewarm (about 40 mins)

Lukewarm Follow-on (about 50 mins)

If you consider yourself a lukewarm Christian, I pray that God would lead you to do whatever you need to do to get on fire for Him. I pray that He would convict your heart to repent and start anew. I also pray that if you are an unbeliever that God would lead you to Christ today. Repent and accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Please don't delay. We never know when the last trumpet will sound.

What Is the Purpose of the Church?

2008-05-09T22:38:00.020-04:00

The purpose of the Church can be summed up in three distinct areas, which are all equally important as we will see.

1) Ministry to God: Worship.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
Colossians 3:16

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory."
Ephesians 1:11-12

". . . making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord . . . ."
Ephesians 5:16-19

Some people think that the "music portion" of the Church service, usually the first half of the service, is a warm up for the pastor. Some even equate it to a pep rally. Nothing could be further from the truth. As the Scriptures show above, we are commanded to praise our Father in heaven with songs of thanksgiving and praise. The "music portion" is our worship! We should be committed to participating in corporate worship at least once per week.

2) Ministry to Believers: Nurture.

"We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ."
Colossians 1:28

". . . to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
Ephesians 4:12-13

It is so important to be part of a small group Bible study. Sunday School is a great opportunity to meet people in similar circumstances (age group, marital status, age of children if any, etc.). No one (including Sunday School teachers, deacons, and pastors) is exempt from participating in spiritual growth opportunities.

3) Ministry to the World: Evangelism and Mercy.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
Matthew 28:19

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Luke 6:35-36

"When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them."
Luke 4:40

People tend to think that they have to hold a Billy Graham Evangelism Crusade in order to participate in evangelism. Not true. Everyone is at different levels in their faith. Some have Scripture memorized; others don't but know the salvation concepts. While there are many "techniques" of presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to unbelievers, a simple invitation to attend a Church service or participate in a Bible study is a great way to introduce unbelievers to other believers that might be more experienced with questions that might come up about Christianity.

All three of the above distinct areas are commanded by the Lord in Scripture; therefore, a strong Church will have effective ministries in all three areas. Since all are commanded, all are equally important. While the Church should be strong in all areas, individual believers are different as they have spiritual gifts that might lead them to participate in certain areas more often than others. In other words, everybody would not be expected to distribute their time 1/3 to each area, unless that distribution would be consistent with the person's spiritual gifts. Regardless, like a strong Church, a strong/mature Christian would be participating in all three areas.

{Related Link: Why Should I Be a Member of a Church?}

What Is Truth?

2008-05-08T23:34:00.011-04:00

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:32

There is only one truth, and that is the truth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
John 14:6

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
Revelation 22:13

Every aspect of science points to our heavenly Father. The entire Old Testament points to Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, who is the Messiah. And Jesus said that He would send the Counselor (Holy Spirit). Reference John 16:7.

These video links will hopefully shed some light on the many facets of scientific breakthroughs over time that statistically prove that God of the Holy Bible is the only true God. All praises to Him!

Science of God - Part 1 (about 1 hour)

Science of God - Part 2 (about 1 hour)

Have I Really Put Christ Above All Else?

2008-04-21T00:10:00.008-04:00

"Submit yourselves, then, to God."
James 4:7

Repent of all sin and trust the power of Jesus Christ. Accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Stop messing around with your salvation. Seal it once and for all by giving Christ your whole self. Becoming a Christian is a life-changing event. Experience the power of Christ for yourself. Miracles will happen in your life. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity is above all and worthy to be praised! Amen!

"The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens."
Psalm 113:4

[Speaking of Christ, John the Baptist said,] "The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all."
John 3:31

Above All

Is God Really the Creator of the Universe?

2008-04-06T04:31:00.015-04:00

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
Psalm 19:1

"Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created."
Psalm 148:1-5

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom."
Isaiah 40:28

"It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts."
Isaiah 45:12

"But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water."
2 Peter 3:5

Don't Be the Fool
"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'"
Psalm 14:1

God of Wonders Beyond Our Galaxy

Is Jesus Really God?

2008-03-31T21:07:00.013-04:00

Jesus was clearly a man as He was born and ultimately died.

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem."
Matthew 2:1

"With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last."
Mark 15:37

However, Jesus was 100% God.

"Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!'"
John 20:28

". . . while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ . . . ."
Titus 2:13

"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
1 John 5:20

"But about the Son [Jesus] he [God] says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.'"
Hebrews 1:8

"I [Jesus] and the Father are one."
John 10:30

"Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"?'"
John 14:9

Jesus Is God In The Flesh

Is the Lamb of God Worthy?

2008-03-10T04:04:00.008-04:00

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"
John 1:29

"In a loud voice they [angels] sang: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'"
Revelation 5:12

There is none like Jesus. He is the only way to heaven. The Lamb of God was sacrificed for all our sins. All we have to do is come to the Cross, repent, and accept His free gift of mercy. He paid for our transgressions so we don't have to. So please, repent and accept His free gift today. Trust in Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

Worthy Is the Lamb

Is God Omnipotent/Almighty?

2008-03-08T20:55:00.013-05:00

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless."
Genesis 17:1 NIV

"And God said to him [Jacob/Israel], 'I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body.'
Genesis 35:11 NIV

"Elijah said, 'As the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.'"
1 Kings 18:15 NIV

"Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty — he is the King of glory."
Psalm 24:10 NIV

"O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you."
Psalm 89:8 NIV

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'"
Revelation 1:8 NIV

"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."
Revelation 19:6 KJV

All praises to God in the highest, the Lord, the giver of life. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is truly the Almighty!

Hallelujah Chorus

Is Jesus Really Alive?

2008-03-03T01:30:00.010-05:00

"After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God."
Mark 16:19

". . . because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Hebrews 7:24-25

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2

". . . Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."
Romans 8:34

Celebrate Jesus Celebrate (He's Alive)

What Will Happen When We Meet Our Maker?

2008-01-23T21:35:00.001-05:00

For Christians, the meeting with our Maker will be an awesome experience. We will get to see first hand the source of life and all of creation. This meeting will allow us to worship our Lord and Savior in person and be able to express our deepest heart-felt emotion of love and reverence for all He has done for us. We will be given a place in Heaven because we will be seen as righteous, since we (repented) confessed our sins and accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord of our lives. Jesus Christ's perfect blood sacrifice on the cross was the payment for all our sins.

For Unbelievers, the meeting with our Maker will be a very frightful experience. They will realize all too late that they rejected the only way into heaven. This rejection of Christ as Lord and Savior while in their earthly bodies will leave God with no choice but to execute His perfect judgment on them for their sins. Unbelievers will be cast away from God and thrown into the Lake of Fire (Hell). Please come before God, repent of your sins, and accept Christ's sacrifice on the cross as the atonement for your sins. Trust in Christ as your personal Lord and Savior today while you still have the breath of life. After you die or when Jesus returns, it will be too late and your fate will be sealed. I pray you will come to Jesus today!

According to God's word in His Holy Bible, every knee will bow before God and every tongue will confess to God. See Isaiah 45:23 and Romans 14:11-12.

What will your first reaction be to this existence with our Maker? We will only know once we are in His presence. I can only imagine. Will you think about what your reaction will be while the music video below is playing?

I Can Only Imagine

God Moves In A Mysterious Way

2008-01-20T19:15:00.000-05:00

Psalms – 150 Psalms, David wrote 73 according to the superscriptions. This week’s focus is Psalm 7.

Psalm 7: The superscription says that this Psalm is a Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite. Shiggaion is a term derived from the verb which means “to err” or “to wander.” It might also mean “wild” or “ecstatic.” It’s a poem written with intense feeling, a lament to stir the emotions. It’s a request to God for justice against those who make slanderous comments.

OT Background: Justice is a priority in the Bible. We often think of justice where God will punish sinners. However, we see that justice includes helping those that either can’t help themselves or are under a hardship. Please read Exodus 22:22, 23:6-9, Deuteronomy 24:10-15, 19-22, Amos 2:6-8, 5:24, Isaiah 1:17, Psalm 82:3-4.

Life Question: What does God want me to do about the injustice I encounter?

Seek Refuge in God
Please read Psalm 7:1-2 – We don’t know the identity of Cush the Benjamite. When Saul falsely accused David of plotting to take his throne (1 Samuel 18 - 19), David had to flee Saul. David could have written this Psalm at that time as Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. When we are threatened or even mildly persecuted, we tend to retaliate or lash out in revenge. But what does David do? He turns to the LORD. David knew how to guard sheep against wild animals, including lions. Please read 1 Samuel 17:34-35. David knew that words could tear him like a lion, ripping him apart. David felt like a sheep being stalked by a lion when the shepherd was not near to help and deliver him. He felt vulnerable.

Evaluate Your Heart (Actions)
Please read Psalm 7:3-5 – One key step in responding to verbal attacks is to step back and honestly examine our life to see if the criticism is true. Sometimes God can use others to confront us with the truth that we have refused to admit, like where Nathan confronted David with his sins and David listened to the truth. But these “if” statements in verses 3 through 5 are showing some of the accusations against David. David admits that if the statements are true, then he deserves what the enemies want to do to him.

[Contemporary Injustice Assertion Beginning]

This is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, so we should take a moment to go over some contemporary issues. Please reread Isaiah 1:17. Let’s cover some injustices in the U.S. that are evident. The Declaration of Independence states the following:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The U.S. Constitution states the following:
"We the People of the Unites States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice . . . and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity . . . ."

and "Representatives . . . shall be apportioned . . . by adding to the whole number of free persons . . . [and] three fifths of all other Persons."

Why did we count some people as only 60% of a person? This situation got rectified in the 13th and 14th Amendments, where the 13th Amendment ended slavery in 1865 and the 14th Amendment, Section 2 counted every person as a whole person in 1868. There is a parallel to this situation in the abortion debate today. People are unwilling to define a preborn baby as a person. What part person is the preborn baby? 25%? 50%? Do we base the percentage on a fraction of 40 weeks? Or do we refuse to admit the baby is a person at all? There is really no justification whatsoever to deny the 100% personhood of a preborn child. We have a responsibility to protect those that can’t protect themselves. Otherwise, we could be guilty of sins of omission. All human life is equally important.

If you feel strongly about this abortion issue, please note that the State of Georgia was mentioned this week (1/14/2008) in a U.S. News & World Report article, New Abortion Wars: An age-old fight is heating up in the states. The Constitutional Amendment is attempting to declare a fertilized egg "a person" who enjoys "inalienable rights, equality of justice, and due process of law." This proposed Amendment is known as the "Personhood Amendment" and is planned to be on the ballot in Georgia in the 2008 election.

[Contemporary Injustice Assertion End]

Call For His Justice
Please read Psalm 7:6-11 – We can bring our sins before God, confess them, and be forgiven. In this manner, we can be declared righteous even though we are sinners. Notice the words “justice, judge, righteousness, and righteous.” Our English word for “justice” emphasizes judgment that is fair and impartial. The Hebrew word also increasingly included a judgment based on mercy and compassion for the poor and homeless (aliens, dispossessed). Sometimes with all the injustice, we don’t know what to pray for and the Holy Spirit will intercede on our behalf. Please read Romans 8:26-27.

Rely on God to Respond with Righteousness (Not in Book)
Please read Psalm 7:12-17 – verses 14-16 are showing that people reap what they sow. But unfortunately in that process, innocent people can get hurt. And sometimes, God allows evil to continue even though innocent people are hurt. But how does David end the Psalm in verse 17? With thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness. We have to put our trust in God and His righteous judgment. God will execute final justice, even if it is not during our lifetime.

How Can I Get Rid Of Guilt?

2008-01-17T22:05:00.001-05:00

For born-again Christians, the idea of committing any sin is abhorrent. Christians want to please God the Father in their obedience to Him in all that they do. Are Christians perfect? Of course not. But having the will to please our heavenly Father is where the Christian differs from the unbeliever. Where there is only God's perfect moral standard for living, unbelievers will attempt to implement their own moral code and will fail in even attempting to adhere to their own substandard morals. So to discuss guilt, we have to understand it from the perspective that we are coming from in feeling guilty and whether we are Christians or not.

For Unbelievers:
If you are having guilty feelings, the Holy Spirit could be working in your life. Repent of your sins to God, and come kneel before His throne and dedicate your life to Him. When you do this, you will be born again and will be a Christian. Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You will be guilty no more.

"For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit."
1 Thessalonians 1:4-6

For Christians:
If you are having guilty feelings, recollect when the last time was that you repented of your sins to God? Do you have any unconfessed sin in your life? If so, confess your sins to God, and He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. If you continue to have guilty feelings even after you have confessed all sin to God, then Satan is actively working in your life to thwart you from doing God's will. Guilt is a powerful tool of Satan to rob you of the joy of being a Christian. Satan is the accuser.

". . . For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before God day and night . . . ."
Revelation 12:10

I can think of two ways of dealing with this type of guilt from Satan.

1) When Satan brings up your past, bring up Satan's future.

"When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Revelation 20:7-10

This is an easy way to remind yourself who your Master is. God's Bible tells us that through our confession we are purified, so we have a clean slate.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:9

2) If you are still struggling with guilt, you might need to call on God in the Name of Jesus to remove Satan from your path.

Satan is an obstacle for you. What better teacher to learn from than Jesus Christ Himself! In Matthew 16:21-23, Jesus is explaining to His disciples that He will suffer and die, yet be raised on the third day. Peter, who is the Rock on which Christ built His Church, took Jesus aside and told Him, "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!" Jesus answered, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me . . . ." In the Name of Jesus, command Satan to get out of your mind and behind you as you are on the path of righteousness doing God's will. Guilt should end at your confession. You are blameless before God.

If you are a Christian feeling guilty even after you have confessed all sin, please stop. Harping on the past is not only unhealthy physically, but it is also unhealthy spiritually. You are wasting precious time resources that you could be focusing on saving the lost or ministering to others.

If you are an unbeliever, I pray that the Holy Spirit will convict your heart and move you to repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. It is only by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, that we are able to be called righteous before God. No other Name will do. The time is now! All Praises to Him!

What Is A Christian?

2007-12-21T00:11:00.006-05:00

While anyone can claim to be a Christian, truly being a born-again believer in Christ is more than a simple statement. Because of the misunderstanding of what a Christian actually is, Christians that understand the difference in Christian association and really being a Christian have come up with the phrase "True Christians" to differentiate themselves from these "False Christians."

There are also two schools of thought on whether a Christian can lose his/her salvation. One group feels that a Christian can lose his/her salvation; another group feels that a Christian cannot lose his/her salvation. I have outlined below with Biblical references why I believe a Christian can never lose his/her salvation.

1) All who are truly Born Again will persevere to the end. References: John 6:38-40, John 10:27-29, Ephesians 1:13-14, etc.

2) Only those who persevere to the end have been truly Born Again. References: 1 Peter 1:5, John 8:31-32, Matthew 10:22, Colossians 1:22-23, Hebrews 3:14, 1 John 2:19, etc.

3) Those who fall away may give many external signs of conversion. References: Galatians 2:4, 2 Corinthians 11:26, 2 Corinthians 11:15, Matthew 7:21-23, John 15:1-2,6, Hebrews 6:4-8, Matthew 3:8-10, Matthew 7:15-20, Matthew 12:33-35, etc.

4) So what can give a believer genuine assurance? Each person can answer for himself/herself:

a) Do I have a present trust in Christ for Salvation? (Colossian 1:23, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 6:12, etc.)

b) Is there evidence of a regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in my heart? (Romans 8:15-16, 1 John 4:13, Galatians 5:22, Matthew 7:16-20, 1 John 2:23-24, 1 John 4:6, John 15:4,7, 1 John 2:4-6, etc.)

c) Do I see a long-term pattern of growth in my Christian life? (2 Peter 1:5-7, 2 Peter 1:10, 1 Peter 1:5, John 6:40, etc.)

If you don't answer "Yes" to each of these questions in #4 above, then you were never a Christian. If you answer "Yes" to each of these questions in #4 above, then you are a Christian. For those that cannot answer "Yes" to the questions above, I pray that you would come to Christ today. It is not too late as long as you have breath in you. Repent, and trust Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior. He loves you and wants to have an intimate, personal (parent-child) relationship with you.

Will God Take Me Back?

2007-11-10T23:46:00.002-05:00

When I was young, I remember seeing several people over the years recommit their lives to Christ. I found that to be puzzling. Did they take a timeout? What was the deal? No one really explained the concept to me. And being young, I just didn't ask.

Now that I'm an adult, I understand what can happen to people. Satan can drag them away from God. Satan is crafty and deceptive. Satan will continue to throw lies at people to keep them away from God. Guilt is one of his most powerful weapons. It might start small for a person - a little sin here or there. Then the sins get bigger or more frequent. Before a person knows it, s/he is sinning with no regret about it. This can be a dangerous time. When the person realizes (or is confronted about) the error of his/her ways, s/he might choose to repent of sin and return to the Christian lifestyle. If a long period of time has elapsed, the person might choose to recommit his/her life to Christ.

While recommitment per se is not a requirement, some Christians feel as though they have done damage enough to Christianity and/or their Christian brethren that they should stand before the Church and make it a public event. Regardless of whether the decision is a public one or private one, repentance is always the key to turning back to God.

"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly."
Proverbs 5:21-23 NIV

God will take you back. If you are struggling with sin or a sinful lifestyle, please turn from that sin or sinful lifestyle right now, today! Repent and run to the LORD. He is your only hope.

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."
Proverbs 18:10 NIV

Repent and Run to the LORD

How Great Has God Been To You?

2007-11-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

"How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears."
2 Samuel 7:22 NIV

"How Great is God - beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out."
Job 36:26 NIV

Please reflect on how God has blessed you. His blessing could have even been teaching you a lesson or preventing you from doing something that would have harmed you in some way. Please post your comments so you can be an encouragement to others that read this blog. I pray God continues to bless you and keep you in His grace.

How Great Is Our God

Should I Worry About Whether I'm Really a Christian?

2007-10-29T21:56:00.000-04:00

A Christian is anyone who has the Spirit of God living inside him/her. If you have sincerely trusted Christ for your salvation and acknowledged Him as Lord, then the Holy Spirit has come into your life, and you are a Christian. You won't know the Holy Spirit has come if you are waiting for a certain feeling; you will know that He has come because Jesus promised He would.

When the Holy Spirit is working within you, you will:

1) Believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son and that eternal life comes through Him (1 John 5:5).

2) Begin to act as Christ directs (Romans 8:5, Galatians 5:22-23).

3) Find help in your daily problems and in your praying (Romans 8:26-27).

4) Be empowered to serve God and do His will (Acts 1:8, Romans 12:6).

5) Become part of God's plan to build up His church (Ephesians 4:12-13).

Shine Jesus Shine

Power of Your Love

Whom Do You Serve?

2007-10-19T23:53:00.000-04:00

From 2 Peter 1:16 (NIV), "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

His Love is the Greatest Love of All
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:10 NIV

From Joshua 24:15 (NIV), ". . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Majesty (by Delirious)

Magnificent: Jesus Birth to Resurrection (by Hillsong Publishing)

What Is God's Will For My Life?

2007-10-07T23:49:00.000-04:00

This question is one that comes up frequently. Christian believers tend to ask this question when they are seeking the best ways to serve the Kingdom of God. Unbelievers tend to ask this question in order to determine if they want to become Christians. There are seven things regarding God's Will that are revealed in the Bible that apply to all people.

1) Be Saved

"The Lord in not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

2) Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."

Ephesians 5:17-18 NIV

3) Be Sanctified

"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable."

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 NIV

4) Be Submissive

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men."

1 Peter 2:13-15 NIV

5) Suffer for Him

"It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

1 Peter 3:17 NIV

"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."

1 Peter 4:19 NIV

6) Be Thankful

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

7) Prove God's Will

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Romans 12:2 NIV

When you have committed your life to Christ, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will convict you and move you. Saturate yourself in God's Holy Word, the Bible. Since you are one with God, you will be given direction in your life regarding any specific callings, including callings to become a full-time minister, missionary, or Christian teacher for examples. Ask God to help you in this matter. However, the first step is to be saved. Without repentance of your sins and acceptance of Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, any specific callings that might be in your future will be on hold. If you are an unbeliever, accept Christ today. I pray for your salvation. May God Bless you!

A Testimony of Faith - Tony B.

2007-09-28T01:32:00.003-04:00

Upbringing
My father was born in South Georgia, raised in a Southern Baptist church; however, after he finished high school, he joined the Air Force. He left the church, and to date has not been interested in returning. My mother was born and raised in Colorado, coming from a strong Lutheran background so after I was born, I was baptized as an infant in a Lutheran Church. From my earliest childhood memory, I remember being raised in a small Lutheran Church. My sister is eight years older, and my brother is six years older. My mother took my sister, brother, and me to church, but my father chose not to go. As my sister became a teenager, I remember her challenging my mother about going to church. My sister’s justification was that since my father didn’t have to go to church, she shouldn’t have to either (touché). So my sister stopped going. My brother liked attending the service at a different time, so I remember spending a lot of time with only my mother in church. As I became a teenager, I went through the Lutheran confirmation process. Confirmation, also known as an affirmation of baptism, required weekly learning on Sunday evenings, normally taking about two years to complete. I was confirmed at age 14, where I had to stand before the congregation and answer aloud in the affirmative to several questions. After being confirmed, I was accepted into the body of Christ as a member of the church and could partake in Holy Communion. Because the Lutheran Church services were liturgical and ritualistic, I often found myself reciting rather than worshipping.

Post-Confirmation Through College
I considered myself to be a Christian as a teenager, but I know that I did tremendous damage to Christianity. I engaged in promiscuous behaviors, drank alcohol to get intoxicated, and had a foul mouth.

[Jesus said,] “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Luke 6:46 NIV

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:21-22 NIV

“If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.”
1 John 1:6 NIV

I remember three specific occasions in college where God spoke to me to ruffle my feathers:
1) Freshman: A guy that I knew visited our dormitory hall looking for someone. I offered him a beer, and he said that he didn’t drink. I pressed him on it, but he didn’t waiver. I thought he was strange, and I said to myself, “What’s wrong with him? How on earth can you have a good time and party without drinking beer?”

2) Freshman: Another pitcher on the baseball team was always listening to Christian music, such as Amy Grant. Once I asked him if he listened to anything other than Christian music, and he said, “No.” I asked him why not, and he replied that he felt that everything, including music, should be to glorify God. I thought he was strange, and I said to myself, “This guy is whacked. What a nut!”

3) Sophomore: Driving home from college, which was in South Carolina, I had a one‑car accident. I hit a deer driving about 60 mph and lost control of my father’s small pickup truck. The truck struck the deer, and then I went down an embankment where the truck flipped several times, finally landing upside down. I was taken to the hospital and had nerve damage in my neck, right shoulder, and right arm. This wreck took care of any baseball career that I might have had.

However, I continued in my sinful lifestyle through college. While I gave God credit for sparing my life and sensed deeper purpose, I rarely gave God a second thought. He was up on the shelf. If someone were to ask me if I were a Christian, I would have said “Yes,” but it would have been in name only. I was a “party animal” type in college. Knowledge of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were in my head, but were far from my heart.

[Jesus said,] “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
Mark 4:18-19 NIV

Married Life
My wife grew up Southern Baptist, so we had a bit of a challenge figuring out where to get married. In 1991, we got married in a Methodist Church and tried to be Methodists for about three years. I was not interested in Sunday school at all, so we never really connected with folks there.

In July 1994, I felt a strong conviction to stop drinking alcohol, and I haven’t touched it since as I have no desire for it. At the time, I didn’t realize that the Holy Spirit was beginning to convict me and that alcohol was my doom.

A new non‑denominational church was built less than a mile from our house, so we decided to give it a try. It seemed to fit our needs, so we joined in 1994.

I have been blessed with a wonderful godly woman who kept encouraging me to come to church and try a Sunday school class. We tried one, but didn’t like it. A couple of years later, we tried another one, but didn’t like it either. So we (mainly I) gave up on Sunday school. I was content with going to church, listening to the preacher, and then heading home.

In 1997, we decided to move across town. The church was less convenient to get to, so the distance made a rather easy excuse, skipping a Sunday now and then.

Family Beginning
We wanted to start a family, but medical reasons delayed us. After two painful miscarriages, God blessed us with our daughter in 2001. She was our song of joy and thanksgiving. As our daughter grew into a toddler, my wife would lead prayers at appropriate times, such as bedtime and sing songs with my daughter. I found it difficult to pray aloud, and my wife knew my father didn’t pray. I think she knew I was uncomfortable praying aloud. Any excuse for me was good.

We wanted to have another child, and God blessed us with our son in 2003. This is where my testimony of transformation begins. My son had to be taken a whole month early because my wife’s body was not cooperating. We knew that my son’s lungs would not be developed fully and that he would be at‑risk, meaning he would have to go immediately to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after being born. We simply ran out of options and time, so we said a short prayer and scheduled my wife for induction. As predicted, my son was born and was taken immediately to NICU. He was struggling to breathe but was holding his own. The doctor informed us that he would probably get worse before he got better. The next day, the doctor informed us that my son was on oxygen. When I went to see my son, even though I knew the doctor’s strategy, I was not prepared for what I was about to see.

{Note: I remember when my father-in-law was on his death bed, and my wife was going to visit him often. I remember asking her if she was prepared for his ultimate death especially if she were there when it happened, and she said she was. When he died, she was at his bedside. While she cherishes being there, she was not prepared for the death of her father. She was crushed. My point is that our head knowledge is not the same as our heart knowledge. The head knows, but the heart feels. And God wants both your head and your heart.}

My son was fighting for his life. My wife and I knew that this was not just a doctor’s strategy; this was a life or death, grave situation. I had been bottling up my emotions the whole time I was at the hospital so my wife would see me strong.

But after seeing my son, I was unable to continue. I had to go find the chapel. When I got to the very small empty chapel, I saw several prepared prayers on the altar. I had to find something to verbalize what I was feeling inside. None of those prayers were what I was feeling, so I looked at the back of the chapel and saw a small book rack on the wall. The books in it offered nothing either, but as I was putting one of the books back in the rack, I noticed a crumpled up piece of paper in the rack. I looked at the paper, and as I started to read it, I knew that was the prayer that captured exactly what I was feeling. I dropped to my knees before God Almighty and prayed an exhausting, emotional prayer. I was so emotional that I was out of control. I dumped it all on Him. For a brief moment, I had a feeling of what God must have felt to give His only Son to die. What a sacrifice! And what Abraham felt when he went to sacrifice Isaac. I connected with God through the heart. I repented and asked God for a new beginning. I told God that I was devoting my life to Him, and to please heal my son. Even if my son didn’t make it through this, I was devoting my life to God. He is my number one from this day forth.

“Then he [Peter] began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, ‘I don't know the man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
Matthew 26:74-75 NIV

My son was my rooster. What is it going to take to bring you to your knees and emotionally drain you to repent and fully commit your life to Christ? Will it be a rooster? Will it be a sick child? Will it be the death of a loved one? Maybe it will be a car accident? What is it going to take for you? And what are you waiting for?

Conviction of the Holy Spirit
My son did make it through. But there’s a whole lot more to this story. You see, when you really commit your heart to God, you will be convicted by the Holy Spirit. Shortly thereafter, I told my wife that I had a strong draw to be baptized as an adult like Jesus was. Then I found out that Baptists require baptism by immersion to become a member. I told my wife that I wanted to visit some Baptist churches. We visited several churches before coming to my current church. We felt the presence of the Holy Spirit here when we visited. My wife and I knew we found our church home. We joined after a few weeks of visiting, and Praise God, I was baptized as an adult. That was in September 2005. But this was just the beginning.

We found a Sunday school class that my wife and I both love. For me, this was a miracle. Learning the Word of God in a small group setting where we can ask questions and offer supporting points is extremely effective for us. We pray for each other; we socialize in and out of church. If I ever have a personal or family issue, I know that I can go to one of my brothers in Sunday school class for help.

As the Holy Spirit convicted me, God revealed Himself to me. He shined His light into my heart. For the first time in my life, everything was crystal clear. God is real; God loves me; God can use me. I raised my hands to God Almighty and said in my heart, “Here I am; you are going to have to do all the work, but use me as you will.”

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”
Isaiah 6:8-9 NIV

I wanted to read the Bible all the time. I began having confidence in praying aloud, and took the Christian leadership in the home. What a miracle! This yearning for God’s Word grew stronger daily and continues to be a very strong priority in my life.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”
Psalm 42:1-2 NIV

I learned about tithing and how God wants us to be obedient with our finances. I had never tithed in my life; I couldn’t afford to. The Holy Spirit convicted me to get my finances in order. I heard about Crown Financial ministries on the radio since I started listening to Christian radio. So I went to the Crown.org website to apply for free sessions with a financial coach. My wife and I prepared to meet with the financial coach, and he showed us how we should adjust our finances to make tithing a reality. I praise God for opening my eyes to being obedient with our finances. That was a miracle!

About the time we joined the church in 2005, God moved me to start a Masters Degree program. He basically took away my excuses. The company I worked for paid for it 100%. What a blessing! I completed that degree in February 2007.

Shortly after I finished the degree, my Sunday school teacher asked me to substitute teach when he was out. I accepted, and substitute taught my first Sunday school class ever. Folks, this is a major miracle in my life considering only a couple of years earlier I loathed Sunday school classes. I substituted many times and praise God that He has called my wife and me to be Sunday school teachers for another class.

I felt God calling me to take the FAITH evangelism class. While I thought this class was simply a classroom exercise, I realized quickly that it was a “learn as you go” weekly. The second week we were visiting people’s homes. Praise God for that class! I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to be effective at sharing the Gospel.

In June 2009, I was asked by the Church body to become a Deacon. How humbled and overwhelmed I was by that nomination! I went through the nomination process of Deacon interviews, and I was ordained in November 2009. God is amazing in His ability to transform and use a broken sinner like me. We serve a mighty God!

Self-Examination: Has There Been a Change in My Life?
There is a big difference between thinking you are saved and being born again. Someone who is truly born again identifies with the sacrifice Christ made on the cross for their sin ‑ the debt that they could not pay and an eternal gratitude exists that reprioritizes one's life.

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV

True saving faith is followed by obedience to the Word of God. It's a dying to self and to sin to protect the new relationship with an Almighty God. A believer's testimony is more than recalling a prayer that was recited. It must recall the events that brought them to the realization of the sin in their life and that their greatest need is to be forgiven by repenting and turning from their old life and walking with Jesus Christ. (See 1 John 5 for additional information.)

To summarize:
Before Conviction
1) I grew up with a warped sense of Christianity.
2) My actions in high school and college damaged the image of Christianity.
3) I attended Church with no interest in Sunday school or other involvement.
4) I showed no Christian leadership in the home.

After Conviction
1) The birth experience of my son humbled me before God and changed my heart.
2) I am a new person from the inside out.
3) My goal in life is to bring glory to God in all that I do and to live for Him.
4) Please don’t waste 20+ years like I did doing damage to Christianity. Repent of everything and give your whole self to God now.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
Psalm 103:1 NIV

“Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’”
John 14:23 NIV

In closing, I remember being a child and wanting to wrap around my parents’ legs while they were standing up so not to let them go or sit in my parents' lap when they were sitting. I remember telling my parents how much I loved them. What a feeling of security and joy! Now that I'm a parent, my children want to wrap around my legs and sit in my lap to be close to me, and I understand what they are feeling and how I make them feel. That is exactly how God, your Heavenly Father, feels about you and the relationship He wants with you. He is your security and joy! And He wants you to come sit in His lap.

[Jesus said,] "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
Revelation 3:21 NIV

Aren't Christians All Hypocrites?

2007-09-27T20:31:00.001-04:00

One of the many excuses to reject the message of the Lord Jesus includes the question: Why would I want to become a Christian when Christians are a bunch of hypocrites? What the person is really saying is that s/he sees no difference in the lives of Christians (Believers) versus non-Christians (Unbelievers). Sadly, many American Christian churches do not focus the Gospel message on repentance first and then acceptance of Christ Jesus.

Repent

[Jesus said,] ". . . But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Luke 13:3 NIV

God wants you to die of yourself first through repentance, casting all of your sins onto Jesus, whose blood was shed for you. No sin is too big for Jesus' blood to cover. Let's take a look at what Peter did when he sinned by rejecting Jesus.

Peter Wept Bitterly

“Then he [Peter] began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, ‘I don't know the man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Matthew 26:74-75 NIV

Have you come before the LORD Jesus Christ and God the Father and wept bitterly of your sins? Have you ever been emotionally drained of yourself in repentance to the LORD? If not, then if I were you, I would re-evaluate my relationship with God and the LORD Jesus. You see, many "so-called" Christians acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, but so do the demons.

Demons Acknowledge Christ

"Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, 'You are the Son of God!' But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ."

Luke 4:41 NIV

By the way, for 20+ years, I was one of those "so-called" Christians and did enormous damage to Christianity. It is not enough to acknowledge Jesus is the Son of God. You have to repent of your sins and put your FAITH in Jesus Christ alone. This is a life-changing event that will be witnessed by all those around you. The Holy Spirit will enter you and fill you up. He will lead you to break the habits of your old self. We are too weak to do this on our own.

Become a Child of God

"Yet to all who received him, to those that believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

John 1:12 NIV

Once you have really accepted Christ and put your total trust in Him, you will want to be baptized through a Believer's Baptism.

Be Baptized and Obey Jesus

[Jesus said,] "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

You can tell if a person who claims to be a Christian is a True Christian. If a person claims to be a (True) Christian, you will see all sorts of evidence of Christianity in his/her life. Many "so-called" Christians will give the appearance of being a True Christian and might even attend church. But it's not about attending church, even though we should belong to a church. It's about the heart, whether the person has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of his/her life, and has put the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit first in his/her life.

Do you know someone who has a foul mouth that claims to be a Christian?

Do you know someone who is involved in promiscuous behavior that claims to be a Christian?

Do you know someone who is involved in alcohol/drugs that claims to be a Christian?

Do you know someone that is engaged in any other type of sinful lifestyle that claims to be a Christian?

My suggestion is if you know someone who claims to be a Christian and is engaging in any of the above behaviors that are inconsistent with Christianity, bring the issue before the person in private. Watch how the person reacts. If s/he asks for forgiveness and changes his/her ways, then you might have helped a True Christian see the error of his/her way. Thank you for helping to stop the damage of that message to unbelievers. But if the person says something silly such as, "Oh, I'll just ask for forgiveness on Sunday," that person is definitely a "so-called" Christian (or Christian in Name Only). Someone who has Jesus as the priority in his/her life will not want to sin ever, and will be open to correction.

Jesus Called Them Hypocrites

[Jesus said,] "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I say?"

Luke 6:46 NIV

James Says Do Not Deceive Yourselves - Do What the Word Says

"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

James 1:21-22 NIV

John Says "So-Called" Christians or Christians In Name Only Lie

"If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth."

1 John 1:6 NIV

The "so-called" Christians or Christians in Name Only are the ones that the world sees and claims that Christians are a bunch of hypocrites. While all of us fall short of the glory of God and cannot cast stones at others, the True Christian's heart with the priority of Jesus Christ in the core of his/her being is what separates him/her from the "so-called" Christian.

So what is it a person must do to be a True Christian?

First, you must acknowledge the sin in you life. Don't attempt to mask it or justify your actions. Admit that you are a sinner and confess your sins (all of them) to God. If you are engaged in any behavior that is sinful, you must be willing to end it. This repentance should be a very emotional (and possibly lengthy) process. One who is truly sorry will weep as Peter did. Beg forgiveness of God Almighty.

Second, ask Jesus to intercede in your life. Ask Him to be your Savior. Only through the blood of Jesus Christ are our sins able to be forgiven. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and live inside of you. When you do this, you will become a child of God.

Third, be obedient to the Lord Jesus by being baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Fourth, obey Jesus' commands and teachings. Love God with all your heart, all your might, and all your soul. And love your neighbor as yourself. Keep yourself pure in heart, and do God's work here on earth. Learn the Ten Commandments, and put them into practice. And share your testimony with others.

I personally know many, many True Christians that walk the walk of Christianity. They praise their Savior Jesus Christ and live a life with Him as their #1 priority. I can assure you that no one would call any of them hypocrites with any justification. Surround yourself with True Christians, and you will witness the light of Jesus Christ in their lives.

I pray for your salvation. Come to the feet of God today and repent. Jesus is waiting on your call. He loves you so much that He died for you!

Is My Sin Too Big For God To Forgive?

2007-09-13T00:53:00.001-04:00

Come as you are to the cross of Jesus Christ. His perfect blood sacrifice on the cross was the payment for the sins of mankind for the past, present, and future. No sin is too big for God to forgive; otherwise, Christ died in vain.

Christ Paid the Price For Us

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 53:6 NIV

Transgressions Removed

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him."

Psalm 103:11-13 NIV

Jesus' Blood Purifies

". . . the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

1 John 1:7 NIV

Redemption Through Jesus' Blood

"In him [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins . . . ."

Ephesians 1:7 NIV

Saul (Paul) in the New Testament had been persecuting those who believed in Jesus. Saul (Paul) is introduced in Acts 7:58, where he was approving of the stoning death of Stephen, the first to give his life for the gospel. Prior to Saul's conversion, we are reminded in Acts 9:1 that "Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples." What greater sin can one be involved in than murdering Christians? Saul, who was also called Paul, was confronted on his journey to Damascus by Jesus Himself. Paul repented, accepted Christ, got baptized, and learned the doctrines of Jesus Christ. Paul chose to follow Christ and became one of the most dynamic preachers and writers of the New Testament through his missionary journeys and letters to the various churches. If God can use Paul, who was murdering Christians, to reach many people for Christ, He can certainly use you.

Give your life to Christ today. Place your faith and trust in Him alone. Then pray for God to reveal His will for your life. You have special gifts that God has given to you to use for His Kingdom. Don't delay. There are people out there that only you can reach. Remember, God is real; God loves you; and God can use you!

{Also see Will God Take Me Back?}

Who Were the Nephilim Described in Genesis 6?

2007-09-02T17:13:00.001-04:00

This video seems to cover the mystery of the Nephilim.

I'm a Good Person, So What Do I Have To Worry About?

2007-08-30T01:44:00.001-04:00

The devil works in so many crafty ways. Moral relativism, which is without reference to God's Holy Word in the Bible, is how some people justify their behavior. As long as I haven't killed someone and I'm just a little better than you, I must be okay. Some other religions teach that as long as the number of your good deeds is greater than the number of your bad deeds, then you are fine. However, there is really no way to qualify which deeds are bad and which are good, and are you really keeping score? From their perspective, one cannot really know that s/he is going to heaven. If Satan can confuse you into believing any of these or other deviations from the truth, he will rob you of the eternal fruits that can await you. Let's look at how God's Holy Bible addresses this whole issue.

Keep and Follow God's Commands

"Keep my commands and follow them. I am the LORD."

Leviticus 22:31 NIV

So what are God's commands? They are the Ten Commandments.

{Jesus and others reference the Commandments several times, including Matthew 7:8, 19:7, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9, 1 Corinthians 7:19, 1 John 2:3, 3:21-22, and 5:3.}

Keep and Obey God's Commands

"But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."

Joshua 22:5 NIV

Let's look at each of the Ten Commandments, see how Jesus responds to them, then examine if we are keeping them. Notice that sometimes Jesus extends the commandments.

1) No Other gods

"You shall have no other gods before me."

Exodus 20:3 NIV

Jesus said, "Worship the LORD your God and serve him only."

Matthew 4:10 NIV

If you have found yourself working longs hours for the almighty dollar, yet have little or no time for God, you have put God below your financial gain and/or career. You have sinned against God and are not a good person.

2) No Idols

"You shall not make for yourself an idol . . . ."

Exodus 20:4 NIV

Jesus said, "No servant can serve two masters."

Luke 16:13 NIV

If you have ever idolized anything, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

3) Don't Misuse God's Name

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God."

Exodus 20:7 NIV

Jesus said, "Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne . . . ."

Matthew 5:34 NIV

If you have ever used an expletive using God as one of the words, or said "Jesus Christ" when you were not calling on him in prayer or song, you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

4) Remember the Sabbath

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."

Exodus 20:8 NIV

Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is LORD even of the Sabbath."

Mark 2:27-28 NIV

If you have not taken a day each week (regardless of which day) for rest, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

5) Honor Parents

"Honor your father and your mother."

Exodus 20:12 NIV

Jesus said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me."

Matthew 10:37 NIV

If you have ever said any bad things about your parents or have not been respectful to them, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

6) No Murder

"You shall not murder."

Exodus 20:13 NIV

Jesus said, "Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment."

Matthew 5:22 NIV

If you have ever murdered anyone or if you have been angry with your brother, you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

7) No Adultery

"You shall not commit adultery."

Exodus 20:14 NIV

Jesus said, "Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Matthew 5:28 NIV

If you have ever engaged in fornication (pre-marital sex), adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, or other sexual acts outside the marital covenant, or if you have ever looked at someone and thought about what it would be like to have sex with him/her, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

8) No Stealing

"You shall not steal."

Exodus 20:15 NIV

Jesus said, "If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well."

Matthew 5:40 NIV

If you have ever stolen ANYTHING, even a pen, a piece of candy, money, or whatever from someone, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

9) No Lying

"You shall not give false testimony."

Exodus 20:16 NIV

Jesus said, "Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."

Matthew 12:36 NIV

If you have ever lied, even a small white lie, or talked trash (careless words), then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

10) No Coveting

"You shall not covet . . . ."

Exodus 20:17 NIV

Jesus said, "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed."

Luke 12:15 NIV

If you have ever been envious of the spouse or possessions of another person, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

If you have sinned against God, you will be judged according to that sin.

No Mercy

" . . . Judgment without mercy will be shown . . . ."

James 2:13 NIV

Death For Sinners

"For the wages of sin is death . . . ."

Romans 6:23 NIV

This death is not the mortal death in this life. The death spoken of is the eternal death. Furthermore, some think that if they keep the commandments most of the time, then they are okay. However, this viewpoint is not Biblical. As a matter of fact, James tells us the following:

Break One Law - Break Them All

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker."

James 2:10-11 NIV

Has your conscience convicted you yet? God's Commandments are the perfect standard. Do you still feel that you have lived a sinless life? Are you still thinking to yourself that "I'm not that bad"? If so, you are deceiving yourself. There are no good people.

Don't Deceive Yourself

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."

1 John 1:8 NIV

All Have Sinned

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 3:23 NIV

So what is a sinful person to do? How do we get right with God? There is only one solution. You have to get a substitute to take the punishment for your sins. Since "the wages of sin is death," someone has to pay. If you do not find a substitute, you will be the one who will have to pay. Praise God that He provided a substitute for you. All you have to do is repent of your sins, and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

Repent

"But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Luke 13:3 NIV

Confess and Believe

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Romans 10:9 NIV

Jesus Brings Justification

"Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness [Jesus' perfect life, death, and resurrection] was justification that brings life for all men."

Romans 5:18 NIV

I pray that you turn from your wicked ways and desires. Judgment day is approaching, and you want to be armed with the robe of righteousness that only Jesus Christ can offer. Jesus is the "way and the truth and the life." (John 14:6 NIV) May God convict your heart so you will hear His calling. Choose Jesus today!

How Should I Pray?

2007-08-19T16:47:00.001-04:00

God loves us and wants a relationship with us. If we do not spend time with God in prayer, basically we are telling God that He is not worthy of our time or concern. As Christians, that is certainly not the message we want to send to God. As children of God, we will feel compelled to talk to God.

God Is Our Strength
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
Psalm 46:1

So once we have the will to talk to God and express our love for Him, how do we tell Him? I've talked with people who claim either they do not know how to pray or that they don't pray. My question is "Don't or Won't?" There is a big difference. For those that choose not to pray are choosing not to have a relationship with God. If this is your case, you should explore your heart and determine if you really are a Christian. Be honest with yourself.

The Lord's prayer is Jesus' example of how to pray. His prayer is found in Matthew 6:6-13.

If you haven't ever prayed before, keep it simple. There are no magic words or phrases. Tell God how you feel. If you are scared, tell Him. Ask for His protection or deeper faith. A way to keep your thoughts organized might be as follows:

Dear God:
1) God is Holy.
2) Thank you for . . . .
3) Please . . . .
In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

An example prayer in this simple outline might be as follows:

Dear Heavenly Father,
1) You are an awesome God and heavenly father. Your creation of the heavens and earth are beyond my comprehension. Hallowed be Your Name. To you, I bow down and worship and trust only in you.
2) Thank you for all the blessings in my life. You have blessed me with 2 children, loving parents, a loving spouse, and good health. Thank you for my home, car, and food you provide for me on a daily basis. From you all blessings flow.
3) Please be with my Aunt (name), who is suffering from (disease). Please heal her body according to Your Will. I pray that you would minimize or eliminate any pain she might have. Please also be with the lost (people who haven't accepted Jesus as Lord). Please soften their hearts so they might hear your call and come to you. Please use me in any way you can as your vessel to accomplish works to bring glory to Your Name.
In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Talk to God in the way you would talk to your earthly parents. He is your Father and wants to hear from you. He loved you before He created the world. Then He created you. I remember being a child and wanting to sit in my parents' lap. I remember telling my parents how much I loved them. What a feeling of security and joy! Now that I'm a parent, my children want to sit in my lap to be close to me, and I understand what they are feeling and how I make them feel. That is exactly how God, your Heavenly Father, feels about you and the relationship He wants with you. He is your security and joy! And He wants you to come sit in His lap.

Sit With Me On My Throne
Jesus said, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
Revelation 3:21

Trust in Jesus today. Accept Him as your personal Savior and LORD. Say a simple prayer, and continue to pray daily in your relationship with Him. He loves you and wants to hear from you. God bless you!

Why Did Jesus Speak In Parables?

2007-08-12T23:14:00.003-04:00

Jesus Spoke In Parables
"Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable."
Matthew 13:34

Parable according to Webster means a short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle.

Jesus' disciples also asked this question.

Why Parables?
"The disciples came to him and asked, 'Why do you speak to the people in parables?' He replied, 'The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.''"
Matthew 13:10-13

The Old Testament gives us some insight into the use of parables as well.

Teaching In Parables Fulfills Old Testament Prophecy

"O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old."

Psalm 78:1-2 (965 B.C.)

Godly Wisdom Allows Understanding - No Knowledge Without God
"Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance -- for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Proverbs 1:5-7 (926 B.C.)

The simple short stories that Jesus taught were wonderful moments that both perplexed and enlightened. Many occasions in the Bible explain how the Pharisees or Sadducees were stumped by what Jesus said or questions Jesus asked (Matthew 9:11-13, 15:1-14, 19:3-12, 22:23-34; Luke 20:27-40). Jesus' followers marveled at His wisdom and yearned to remain close to Him to soak up as many gems of wisdom that they could. Parable teaching was a brilliant mechanism to communicate with Jesus' followers and those sincerely interested in following Jesus, yet not communicate with Jesus' enemies. Also, parables were easier for people to remember and reflect on.

Is It Okay To Raise Hands During Worship?

2007-08-07T21:47:00.002-04:00

The various Christian denominations worship quite differently. Some choose to worship very solemnly, others choose to worship very dramatically, and the remaining worship somewhere in between. Without getting into denominational tradition, let's look at how God's Holy Bible addresses worship.

We are cautioned about ritualistic worship that is almost done out of habit, rather than heart-felt.

Worship Must Be From the Heart
"The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.'"
Isaiah 29:13-14

We see that God sends the Prophet Jeremiah to the temple gates to confront the false belief that God will not let harm come to the temple and those who live near it. Jeremiah rebukes the people for their false and worthless religion, their idolatry, and the shameless behavior of the people and their leaders. The people followed a worship ritual but maintained a sinful lifestyle. It was religion without personal commitment to God. Attending church, taking communion, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, etc., are all empty exercises unless we are truly doing them for God (not because we ought to do them for the church).
Reference Reading: Jeremiah 7:1 - 10:25

So then, how are we to worship?

Worship the LORD With Gladness
"Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs, know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."
Psalm 100:2-4

Lift Up Your Hands
"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands."
Psalm 63:3-4

"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD."
Psalm 134:2

"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer . . . ."
1 Timothy 2:8

So clearly, raising hands during worship service is not only okay but expected because we should be filled with the Holy Spirit. I like to think of this as similar to getting news that you just won the Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes or a Lottery. You just won $50 million. Are you going to just mumble something mundane, such as "Ah, cool" and go on about your business? Or are you going to be jumping up and down with excitement? God has given us a free gift of mercy. This gift of eternal life is far greater than any possession or amount of money you can ever receive on this earth. When you recognize this awesome gift, you will be beside yourself and unable to contain the joy and happiness. However, each person's level of expression is different as God made us unique. So while I might be more or less dramatic in worship than you, I should not judge you nor should you judge me.

Don't Judge How Others Worship
"Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day."
Colossians 2:16

If you do not feel anything when you attend church, please search your heart. Are you really a Christian?

If you've not accepted God's free gift of salvation, please do so now. God's free gift is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son. He was the perfect blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. When you do that, you will become a child of God. I pray for your salvation. Praise God!

What Is The Gospel?

2007-08-02T01:44:00.000-04:00

According to Webster's, Gospel has several meanings.

1) The message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation.

2) One of the first four New Testament books telling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3) Something accepted as infallible truth or as a guiding principle.

So based on these definitions, is the Gospel a message, a book, the truth, or a combination of some or all of these?

Jesus Christ was the Son of God. The Gospel is clearly shown as recorded by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians.

Jesus Died For Our Sins, Was Buried, And Raised

"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures . . . ."

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

So the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the good news message of Him dying for our sins. Jesus' life events were recorded in the first four New Testament books, each of which include the account of His death, burial, and resurrection. And Jesus being God's Messiah and sacrificial Lamb is the infallible truth. So in this case, Webster's did a good job of capturing the Biblical context of what Gospel really means. The Gospel is the infallible truth of the message of Christ dying for our sins, being buried, and rising again on the third day according to the Scriptures and as recorded in the first four New Testament books.

What Is Your Gospel?

"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel."

2 Timothy 2:8

So what should people do with the Gospel?

Accept the Gospel

"He [God] called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Thessalonians 2:14

Spread the Gospel

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Matthew 28:19

Teach the Gospel

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:16-17

Devote Yourself to the Gospel

". . . Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching."

1 Timothy 4:12-13

Suffer For the Gospel

". . . But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life -- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time."

2 Timothy 1:8-9

Pray For Words When Presenting the Gospel

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel."

Ephesians 6:19

God loves you so much that he wants to bless you beyond imagination. But that will only be possible if you trust in Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Accept the free gift of Jesus Christ today!

Is It Okay For Christians To Vote?

2007-07-27T22:53:00.001-04:00

Thanks for the question Paige B.

This question can bring up some very strong political feelings, so rather than cover the political aspects of this question, we'll stick to the Christian principles. And to extend the question beyond just voting, let's also consider the question of running for political office.

Some Christians feel that there are specific lines that should not be crossed, specifically Christianity crossing into politics. However, no area of life should be regarded as secular, that is, divorced from God. The government is not a secular island that is free from the claims of Christ. Governments as well as all other institutions in the world are responsible to God. Some Christians believe that to be pure in spirit they must withdraw into their "private world," free of any political or social involvement.

What does God's Holy Bible teach us about being involved politically and socially? There are five* Biblical principles that clearly teach that a faithful Christian must be involved.

1) Rule the Earth for the Glory of God
"God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Genesis 1:28

This mandate extends to all functions of government.

2) God Demands an Accounting
"And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. 'Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.'"
Genesis 9:5-6

This accounting is the beginning of a capital punishment system put in place to curb the violence. From this establishment, all other powers of government flow.

3) Godly Rulers Reigned and Prophets Warned the Government/Nation to Repent
Most every Old Testament saint was politically involved in the government. Moses was raised in Pharaoh's palace. Joseph, son of Jacob (Israel), became second in command behind Pharaoh. King Saul was continuously warned by Samuel about his unrighteous deeds. David was a King after God's own heart. Daniel counseled Nebuchadnezzar and interpreted two of his dreams. There are many examples in the Bible of Godly rulers and prophets that influenced political leaders.

4) Jesus Did Not Demand Men to Leave Military and Political Activity
"Tax collectors also came to be baptized. 'Teacher,' they asked, 'what should we do?' 'Don't collect any more than you are required to,' he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, 'And what should we do?' He replied, 'Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely -- be content with your pay.'"
Luke 3:12-14

While these activities are necessary, those in charge of the activities should conduct themselves in a just and righteous manner. Be honest!

5) Governments are Established by God
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. . . ."
Romans 13:1-7

Based on the above passage, we conclude that government cannot be considered inherently evil since God has established them. We should consider voting and/or political involvement as required service to God. In the United States, we have been enabled to control and direct our nation through the ballot and/or running for political office. We should do all we can to have our nation ruled by Christian principles.

A final note to consider is that if every American were a Christian, we would have no choice but to have Christians involved in every aspect of the political spectrum, from city and county governments, state governments, federal governments, and even international governmental bodies such as the United Nations. Otherwise, our system would fall apart. With the majority of Americans identifying themselves as Christians, being silent is really not an option.

* Ideas from Dr. James Kennedy's The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail.

What Are Some of the Old Testament Prophecies That Jesus Fulfilled?

2007-07-26T14:17:00.001-04:00

Jesus lived on this earth from about 4 B.C. until about 30 A.D. according to most Biblical scholars. The Gospel of Jesus as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as well as the rest of the New Testament were all written in the first century A.D. This timeframe is important because the Old Testament Prophets scribed the prophecies hundreds of years before the events. They could not have predicted all the events about Jesus to any degree of certainty unless they were speaking God's Words about God Himself in the flesh (Jesus). Only God knows the future, and He is never wrong. The odds of Jesus not being God's Messiah are billions upon billions to one (statistically proves Jesus was the Messiah). The last statistic I read was 10 to the 57th power (that's 1 with 57 zeros). No other religion in the world has one verifiable, believable prophecy. Praise God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, the Son of the Living God!

Here is a partial listing of fulfilled prophecies of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. I pray the following 20 prophesies will help you realize the Bible holds the perfect truth of God's Word. The italicized references are not quoted, but supplied for further evidence. Some of the quotes shown are incomplete for brevity purposes here; however, the full quotes are in context. OT = Old Testament, NT = New Testament.

1) Messiah Was to be Born of a Virgin and Called Immanuel (God With Us)

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

OT: Isaiah 7:14 (750 B.C.)

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save this people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' -- which means, 'God with us.' When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."

NT: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38

2) Messiah Was to be Born in Bethlehem

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

OT: Micah 5:2 (432 B.C.)

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea . . . ."

NT: Matthew 2:1-6, Luke 2:1-20

3) Messiah Was to be a Prophet Like Moses

"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me [Moses] from among your own brothers. You must listen to him."

OT: Deuteronomy 18:15,18,19 (1402 B.C.)

"On hearing his [Jesus'] words, some of the people said, 'Surely this man is the Prophet.' Others said, 'He is the Christ.'"

NT: John 7:40-41, Acts 3:22, 7:37

4) Messiah Was to Enter Jerusalem in Triumph

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king come to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey."

OT: Zechariah 9:9 (520 B.C.)

". . . the great crowd . . . heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed if he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!' Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written . . . ."

NT: Matthew 21:1-9, John 12:12-16

5) Messiah Was to be Rejected By His Own People

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

OT: Isaiah 53:1,3 (750 B.C.), Psalm 118:22 (965 B.C.)

"Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him."

NT: Matthew 26:3-4, John 12:37-43, Acts 4:1-12

6) Messiah Was to be Betrayed By One of His Followers

"Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."

OT: Psalm 41:9 (965 B.C.)

"Then one of the Twelve -- the one called Judas Iscariot -- went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand him [Jesus] over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over."

NT: Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50, Luke 22:19-23

7) Messiah Was to be Tried and Condemned

"By oppression and judgment he was taken away, And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken."

OT: Isaiah 53:8 (750 B.C.)

"Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor."

NT: Matthew 27:1-2, Luke 23:1-25

8) Messiah Was to be Silent Before His Accusers

"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."

OT: Isaiah 53:7 (750 B.C.)

"When he [Jesus] was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, 'Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?' But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge -- to the great amazement of the governor."

NT: Matthew 27:12-14, Mark 15:3-4, Luke 23:8-10

9) Messiah Was to be Struck and Spat on By His Enemies

"I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting."

OT: Isaiah 50:6 (750 B.C.)

"Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, 'Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?'"

NT: Matthew 26:67, 27:30, Mark 14:65

10) Messiah Was to be Mocked and Insulted

"All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads."

OT: Psalm 22:7, 109:25 (965 B.C.)

"Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads . . . ."

NT: Matthew 27:39-44, Luke 23:11,35

11) Messiah Was to Die By Crucifixion

"Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me."

OT: Psalm 22:14,16-17 (965 B.C.)

"And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him."

"It was the third hour when they crucified him."

NT: Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:20,25

12) Messiah Was to Suffer With Criminals and Pray For His Enemies

"Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

OT: Isaiah 53:12 (750 B.C.)

"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the placed called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals -- one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."

NT: Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27-28, Luke 23:32-34

13) Messiah Was to be Given Vinegar and Gall

"They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst."

OT: Psalm 69:21 (965 B.C.)

"There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it."

"Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

NT: Matthew 27:34, John 19:28-30

14) Others Were to Cast Lots For Messiah's Clothes

"They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."

OT: Psalm 22:18 (965 B.C.)

"When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots."

NT: Matthew 27:35, John 19:23-24

15) Messiah's Bones Were Not to be Broken

"He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken."

OT: Psalm 34:20 (965 B.C.)

"The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs."

NT: John 19:32-33

16) Messiah Was to be Pierced

". . . They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child."

OT: Zechariah 12:10 (520 B.C.)

"Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water."

NT: John 19:34,37

17) Messiah Was to Die As a Sacrifice For Sin

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

OT: Isaiah 53:6,8,10-12 (750 B.C.)

"The next day John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"

NT: John 1:29,11:49-52, Acts 10:43,13:38-39

18) Darkness Over the Land

"'In that day,' declared the Sovereign LORD, 'I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.'"

OT: Amos 8:9 (765 B.C.)

"From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over the land."

NT: Matthew 27:45

19) Messiah Was to be Raised From the Dead

"Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay."

OT: Psalm 16:10 (965 B.C.)

". . . This man [Jesus] was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. . . ."

NT: Matthew 28:1-10, Acts 2:22-32

20) Messiah Is Now at God's Right Hand

"The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'"

OT: Psalm 110:1 (965 B.C.)

"After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God."

NT: Mark 16:19, Luke 24:50-51

Is Muhammad of Islam Like Jesus of Christianity?

2007-07-22T21:58:00.000-04:00

Muslims claim Muhammad is a prophet. Christians claim Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God's Messiah, and the only way to heaven.

Salvation In No One Else

Speaking of Jesus, Luke states, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Acts 4:12

Christians do not recognize Muhammad. Muslims acknowledge Jesus as a good teacher.

The following link provides a great comparison between Muhammad and Jesus.

http://www.carm.org/islam/Jesus_Muhammad.htm

As shown in the link above, there really is no comparison between Jesus and Muhammad.

Eternal Life Only Possible Because of Jesus

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."

1 Peter 1:18-19

Confess Jesus And Believe

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him for the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Romans 10:9-10

Put your faith in Jesus Christ today!

What Should I Look For in a Church?

2007-07-20T23:12:00.000-04:00

My pastor put together this great outline for finding a church home. I hope you find it helpful.

Non-negotiable: Some traits you will look for are optional, but here are a few that aren't.

(1) Biblically-based. This is a must. A church can do a lot of things right, but if she doesn't stand on the Word of God, the other 'right' things pale in comparison. Does the church teach the Bible and practice it? Is the Bible the final authority?

(2) Loving/Friendly. A church that has the love of God in them will be friendly. Most churches think they are friendly. They usually are friendly to one another but what about toward the first-time guest? Jesus gave us the Great Commandment - we are to love one another as He has loved us.

(3) Evangelistic. The Great Commission is our Commander's marching orders to us. In order for a church to be obedient in the key areas, she must begin here.

(4) Full of Grace and Truth. The perfect Lord demonstrated the perfect balance between Grace and Truth (see John 1:14). If we lean too far toward grace at the expense of truth, the result is liberalism - anything and everything goes (thus the state of our Nation). If we lean too far toward truth at the expense of grace, the result is legalism - rules and regulations dominate everything. We must avoid the extremes. By the way, if you are looking for the perfect church, it does not exist. You may have additional "non-negotiable" traits, but this is my 'short' list.

Negotiable. If a church meets all the essentials, then you have a green light for some important personal concerns. That might include the style of music, the quality of the senior adult ministry or the student ministry, the preschool security, the educational ministry. Our stage of life often determines our personal concerns.

Begin with the essentials and then move on to the non-essentials. If a church doesn't pass the first test, move on. I'm confident that if you will depend on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He will lead you to a church. I'm also convinced that God calls people to a church. You need to find the place that He has chosen for you to 'fit'.

There are many great churches around. If you are currently looking for a church, ask the Lord for wisdom and He will guide you.

Why Should I Be a Member of a Church?

2007-07-20T22:57:00.000-04:00

Many people today question whether church membership is of any value. I have heard people even declare that "I can be a Christian without being a member of a church." This position is growing and even becoming common among believers. Statistics show that less than 20% of American adults believe participation in a congregation is critical to spiritual growth. Moreover, 81% of Americans say they can arrive at their own religious views without regard to a body of believers. With the various broadcasts and web casts providing Biblical teaching, such as Joel Osteen, the Trinity Network, the 700 Club, and others, many believers feel that they get fed by simply watching the show. While these wonderful broadcasts and web casts might offer some supplemental food of nourishment for the spirit, let's explore what God's Holy Bible reveals about the role of the church and its importance.

The purpose of the Church is as follows:

1) Reach the Lost

2) Teach and Equip the Saved

3) Glorify Jesus Christ in all we do!

The Church Is Born-Again People

Paul states, "Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house."

Colossians 4:15

Paul states, "To Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow solder and to the church that meets in your home."

Philemon 1:2

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons."

Philippians 1:1

The Church Is the Body of Christ

"Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's affliction, for the sake of his body, which is the church."

Colossians 1:24

Jesus Appoints Officers in the Church

"And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues."

1 Corinthians 12:28

Jesus Builds the Church

Jesus states, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Matthew 16:18

Jesus Communicates With the Church

"After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea."

Colossians 4:6

Jesus Commissioned the Church

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"

Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus Glorifies God Through the Church

"To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:21

Jesus Heads the Church

"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."

Colossians 1:18

Jesus Loves the Church

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

Ephesians 5:25

Jesus Purchased the Church

"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."

Acts 20:28

Jesus Will Return For the Church

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Jesus Reveals Himself Through the Church

"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms."

Ephesians 3:10

Jesus Views an Attack on the Church As an Attack on Him

Saul/Paul stated, "I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth."

"We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'"

Acts 26:9,14

The Church Is the Pillar And Support of the Truth

"If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."

1 Timothy 3:15

It's also imperative to join a small group bible study, such as a Sunday School class. With the smaller group, you will find that you can learn the Bible more intimately, interact and exchange ideas, question the lessons or teachings to get truthful answers, pray for each other, and meet physical needs of others who might be struggling. These small groups can also meet your needs if you have issues. Small group studies also help to encourage one another to do good deeds.

Motivate One Another to Do Good Deeds

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

Hebrews 10:24

Also, if you do not belong to a church, you are not afforded the opportunity to tithe, that is to give 10% of your gross income. Any other charity you might give to should be secondary to your church tithe.

Don't Rob God

"'Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty. But you ask, 'How are we to return?' Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings."

Malachi 3:7-8

Give a Tenth

"'And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything."

Genesis 14:20

Set Aside a Tenth

"Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year." {Today's version, 10% of your gross income.}

Deuteronomy 14:22

Please don't remain an island. Find a local church today and fellowship with your Christian brethren. You need to continue to grow and be nurtured, as well as share your testimony with others.

What Is the Difference Between Hades and Hell?

2007-07-18T02:30:00.001-04:00

There are those that believe there is no Hell. Some believe that there is a mental Hell, but not a real Hell. Others believe that Hell is real, and that the Devil himself is enjoying the blaze and sticking people with his pitchfork. Some people believe that Hades and Hell are synonymous and can be used interchangeably. Let's look at how God's Holy Bible answers this question.

Unbelievers Are Called "The Dead"

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books."

Revelation 20:11-12

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Believers will not be at the Great White Throne judgment. Believers will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

"For we [believers] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

2 Corinthians 5:10

The Judgment Seat of Christ will be like a rewards banquet. The word "bad" as used in the above passage really means "worthless" because the believers' sins were already washed away by the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Entry into heaven has already been sealed. There are no losers at the Judgment Seat of Christ, only winners. Each believer will be given rewards and/or crowns in accordance with the good deeds done while in the body.

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Hades Gave Up The Dead

"The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; and each person was judged according to what he had done."

Revelation 20:13

Hades is clearly a temporary residence for unbelievers. At the Great White Throne judgment, all unbelievers will be lifted from Hades and judged according to their deeds.

Death And Hades Thrown Into Hell

"Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire [Hell]. The lake of fire [Hell] is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Hell]."

Revelation 20:14-15

Hades has to be different than Hell in order for Hades to be "thrown into the lake of fire [Hell]." While Hades is the temporary storage for unbelievers, Hell is the final destination.

Hell Is A Real Place

"But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

Matthew 5:22

Hell Is Eternal

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'"

Matthew 25:41

Even some Christians have a hard time understanding how such a loving God could throw unbelievers into an eternal fire. The formula is very simplistic.

God Is Just

"Because judgment without mercy will be shown . . . ."

James 2:13

Man Is Sinful

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 3:23

God Is Love And Gave His Only Son

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Christ Died For Our Sins

"That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures . . . ."

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

God's plan is for us to repent and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. God restored the relationship with man by becoming a man (in Jesus) and being the perfect blood sacrifice for sin. It was the only way that the righteous God could save us and still be just. He created the fire of Hell for the devil and his angels. So you are either righteous (through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ) and belong to God, or you are still stained with your sin and belong to the devil. Sin is not allowed in heaven.

Hades is the temporary holding area for unbelievers that have died. All unbelievers will be called to judgment before the Great White Throne. Each unbeliever will have to account for his/her deeds to see if they are good enough for entry into heaven. Sadly, no one will achieve God's perfect standard for entry into heaven. Each unbeliever will be thrown into Hell.

Please repent and accept Jesus today. Your eternity will depend on whether you accept God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. He is the only way. Amen!

Jesus Is The Answer

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

John 14:6

Why Should I Only Use the Holy Bible As God's Word?

2007-07-16T02:48:00.001-04:00

I had a discussion online with a lady recently that claimed that she had faith, but felt that the Bible is overused. She clearly felt that other sources should be considered. When I pressed for these other sources, she mentioned that life's experiences were a good teacher. While life's experiences can be a good teacher, none of us has the exact same life experiences; therefore, we will not always come to the same conclusion using life's experiences as our guide. We have to plant our faith on the Rock of the Holy Bible. If there is ever a question, we should always seek God's Word.

Scripture Is God-Breathed

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The above verses say that ALL Scripture is God-breathed. So who are we to pick apart the Word of God? All means all.

Furthermore, we are not to add anything to the Scriptures.

Do Not Add Anything Nor Take Anything Away

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

Revelation 22:18-19

I beseech you to accept the Word of God for what it is. If God's Word declares a certain behavior sin, then accept it as sin. We humans tend to rationalize (rational lies) our particular situation as if somehow we are exempt and do not have to follow God's Word. God's Word is authoritative and final.

Jesus Is Coming Soon

"He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen."

Revelation 22:20-21

Be ready when the trumpet calls. May God Bless you.

What Happened Between the Time of Malachi and the New Testament?

2007-07-10T16:13:00.001-04:00

Almost 500 years exist between the time of the recorded book of the prophet Malachi (432 B.C., the last book of the Old Testament) and the first recorded book of the New Testament, which is the book of James (A.D. 49). The periods from Malachi to Christ are as follows:

The Persian Period (450-330 B.C.)
For about 200 years, after Nehemiah's time the Persians controlled Judah, but the Jews were allowed to carry on their religious observances and were not interfered with. During this time, Judah was ruled by high priests who were responsible to the Jewish government.

The Hellenistic Period (330-166 B.C.)
In 333 B.C. the Persian armies stationed in Macedonia were defeated by Alexander the Great. He was convinced that Greek culture was the one force that could unify the world. Alexander permitted the Jews to observe their laws and even granted them exemption from tribute or tax during their Sabbath years. The Greek conquest prepared the way for the translation of the Old Testament into Greek (Septuagint version) in 250 B.C.

The Hasmonean Period (166-63 B.C.)
When this historical period began, the Jews were being greatly oppressed. The Ptolemies had been tolerant of the Jews and their religious practices but the Seleucid rulers were determined to force Hellenism on them. Copies of the Scriptures were ordered destroyed and laws were enforced with extreme cruelty. The oppressed Jews revolted, led by Judas the Maccabee.

The Roman Period (63 B.C. through Christ's life)
In the year 63 B.C. Pompey, the Roman general, captured Jerusalem, and the provinces of Palestine became subject to Rome. The local government was entrusted part of the time to princes and the rest of the time to procurators who were appointed by the emperors. Herod the Great was ruler of all Palestine at the time of Christ's birth.

Why Is Mary So Revered in the Roman Catholic Church?

2007-07-10T01:35:00.001-04:00

There are three Mary's that are described in the Bible.

Mary Magdalene = Follower of Jesus. First to see Jesus after His resurrection. Jesus drove 7 demons out of her according to Mark 16:9.

Mary, Lazarus' Sister = Typically known alongside her sister Martha, Mary knew when to listen. She poured perfume on Jesus' body according to Matthew 26:12-13.

Mary, Mother of Jesus = This Mary is the Mother of Jesus, and she is the Mary revered in the Roman Catholic Church.

In a recent conversation with a troubled Catholic, I found myself challenged when attempting to understand how she felt that "Mary had been watching over her." I asked her if she had a Bible reference to describe this ability of Mary to watch over her. She did not. Anytime something "new" comes to you in the form of doctrine, always ask for a Biblical reference. If there is no Biblical reference, you should treat the information as suspect until you can confirm or deny it according to the Word of God. Of course, Mary did play a very important part of God's plan of salvation. But she was a mere mortal, like you and me. God used her as His vessel. She was blessed among women for being chosen to birth the Savior of mankind into the world. As Elizabeth stated to Mary:

Blessed Among Women
"In a loud voice she [Elizabeth] exclaimed: 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear.'"
Luke 1:42

Please see this link to learn the many ways that Roman Catholics revere Mary: http://www.carm.org/catholic/mary.htm

I would challenge you to allow God to use you as His vessel. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit and live in you. You will be amazed at the transformation in your life. Jesus Christ was born of Mary. He was God in the flesh and was crucified and died a horrible death for your salvation. Put your trust in Him today.

Why Does the Christian Church Seem To Be Split Over Homosexuality?

2007-07-07T01:02:00.001-04:00

There is an enormous effort underway in the media to create an image of homosexuality as merely an alternate lifestyle. Homosexuality is portrayed as a perfectly normal and natural expression of human sexuality. People who view homosexuality as abnormal/sinful are portrayed as being homophobic or extremists of some sort.

God's Holy Bible explicitly condemns and prohibits homosexuality. Let's review God's Word as presented in His Holy Scriptures.

Do Not Defile Yourselves

"Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable . . . Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways . . . ."

Leviticus 18:22,24

Homosexuality Is Detestable

"If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable."

Leviticus 20:13

God Destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah

"Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom -- both young and old -- surrounded the house. They called to Lot, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.' . . . Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah -- from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities -- and also the vegetation in the land."

Genesis 19:4-5,24-25

God Gave Them Over To Shameful Lusts

"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator -- who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."

Romans 1:24-27

Marriage Is Between a Man And a Woman

"Now for the matter you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband."

1 Corinthians 7:1-2

All human beings are born with a sinful nature that results in sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. Homosexuality is but one of the many sins that humans can commit. From the moment we are born, all human beings stand under God's perfect judgment. All of us, by nature, are lost and condemned sinners.

Man Is Sinful

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 3:23

We all need God's mercy in Christ for our salvation.

If you are in a homosexual relationship today, you must first acknowledge homosexuality as sin. Do not go on arguing that it's not sin. It is.

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As a matter of fact, any sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful.

Marriage Should Be Honored

"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."

Hebrews 13:4

Jesus Extends the Definition of Adultery

Jesus said, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Matthew 5:28

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After you have acknowledged homosexuality as sin, repent of your sin (repent means to change direction). Ask God to forgive you.

Repent

"But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Luke 13:3

End your homosexual relationship immediately (part of repentance). Do not wait one more minute. Turn away from the sin and those chains that bind you. God loves you and cares about you so much that He gave Jesus, His only Son, to die on the cross for your sins. All you have to do is repent, and ask Jesus to come into your heart.

Confess Jesus and Believe

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Romans 10:9

The True Christian Church is not split over homosexuality. Satan is crafty is his attempts to destroy the Church from the outside via persecution but also from the inside via corruption, confusion, and distortion. Remember that 99% truth is still a lie. Because some members and even entire churches have deemed homosexuality an acceptable lifestyle and not sin does not make it so to God. If there is ever a dispute over God's Word and a preacher's word, you should ALWAYS let God's Word be your final authority. I would challenge you to look at any other profession. There are always a few "bad apples" that will cause problems for the vast majority of honest workers. The same is true for the Church.

If you need prayer in any situation, please feel free to email me.

How Can I Get To Heaven?

2007-07-06T02:04:00.001-04:00

I dearly love my brethren of various "religious" faiths: Scientologists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Mormons, New Age followers, Buddhists, and many others. My intent here is to describe these various religions and how Christianity differs. I respect each individual regardless of religious stance and will continue to love unbelievers regardless of religious preference. However, I challenge these unbelievers to read this information with open minds and hearts. So let's get started.

Religion literally means for man to "reconnect to the divine." So each of these aforementioned non-Christian religions has a set of tasks that must be performed to achieve entrance into heaven (or other stage of being).

Scientologists must work with an "auditor" on his/her hang-ups to achieve a state of "clear." Then progress can be made up the "bridge to total freedom." Salvation to a Scientologist is freedom from reincarnation.

Jehovah's Witnesses must be baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. Eternal life must be earned by walking door-to-door recruiting. However, the number admitted to heaven is limited to 144,000.

Christian Scientists believe humanity is already eternally saved, and that sin, evil, sickness, and death are not real. The expression "mind over matter" comes to mind.

Hindus must be released from the cycle of reincarnation. Yoga and meditation help achieve this release; however, some people take many lifetimes to accomplish this release. Final salvation is the unification with Brahman.

Muslims believe people are basically good, but are fallible and need guidance. Eternal destiny of heaven or hell are determined by balancing good and bad deeds. God's mercy might play into the ultimate destiny, but the final destination is arbitrary and uncertain.

Jews. Praise God for the Jewish people. Jesus was a Jew, descendant of King David. Some Jews believe that prayer, repentance, and obeying the Law are necessary for salvation. Other Jews believe that salvation is the improvement of society. Messianic Jews are Christians that practice Jewish customs and are Christian believers. References to Jews in this discussion do not include Messianic Jews.

Mormons are resurrected by grace, but exalted to godhood by works. Eternal life is not possible without Mormon membership.

New Age followers need to offset bad karma with good karma. Meditation and self-awareness can help tap into supernatural power.

Buddhists' goal in life is the state of nirvana, achieved by eliminating all desires and cravings.

Each of the above systems are "works systems." Christianity is a "faith system." Christianity is actually an Anti-Religion, meaning that man cannot reconnect to the divine, but God reconnected with us through the blood of His only Son Jesus Christ. In the works systems mentioned above, each were founded by one person (with the exception of the Jewish faith, which includes Books of the Old Testament). No scripture ever prophesied that these people were coming onto the scene. Their graves are occupied today. They will never come back to earth.

Jesus was foretold by the prophets. Every Old Testament prophecy about Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection came true. The odds of Jesus not being God's Messiah are billions upon billions to one (statistically proves Jesus was the Messiah). The last statistic I read was 10 to the 57th power (that's 1 with 57 zeros). No other religion in the world has one verifiable, believable prophecy. The reason is that man does not know the future. God spoke the prophecies through the prophets. Only He knows the future and is why the prophecies have come true.

Some of the Christian beliefs are as follows:

Man Is Spiritually Sick
"Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness -- only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil."
Isaiah 1:5-6

None Are Righteous
"As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."
Romans 3:10-11

Man Is Sinful
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23

Eternal Life Only Possible Because of Jesus
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."
1 Peter 1:18-19

Christ Died For Us
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8

Salvation In No One Else
Speaking of Jesus, Luke states, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:12

Confess Jesus And Believe
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him for the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
Romans 10:9-10

God cannot allow sin into heaven. This means that if you have ever committed the slightest of sins, you will be disqualified from entering heaven. As stated in Romans 3:23, we have all sinned. Satan, the devil, is accusing you day and night to God the Father of your sins.

Accuser
". . . For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before God day and night . . . ."
Revelation 12:10

You will have to make a plea to God for your sins. There is no such thing as a not guilty plea. You are either guilty or innocent. For those unbelievers, you will be found guilty even if you attempt to plea innocent because the books of your life will be opened for all to see. Your life events cannot be denied and when you are found guilty, you will be cast away from God forever. Believers will plea innocent by the Blood of Jesus Christ, and that my friends will be the only way to enter heaven.

Repent and ask Jesus to be your personal Savior and Redeemer today. While you have the breath of life in you, there is still time to accept Jesus Christ, who is your only ticket to heaven. I pray you make the choice of life. We are not guaranteed another second on this earth. After you breathe your last breath, your time is up.

What Would You Do Differently If the Bible Were True?

2007-07-05T01:18:00.001-04:00

If we could absolutely, positively, without question establish and prove once and for all that God's Holy Bible and everything in it is 100% truth, would all unbelievers repent and accept Jesus as their LORD and Savior? If you are an unbeliever, only you could answer this question. However, I'd like to put some things in perspective.

The LORD Put Words in their Mouths
"Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, 'Now, I have put my words in your mouth.'"
Jeremiah 1:9

Prophet Commanded to Speak God's Word
The LORD commanded Ezekiel, "You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious."
Ezekiel 2:7

Old Testament Prophets and New Testament Apostles
"I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles."
2 Peter 3:2

Scripture is God-breathed
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Truth
Jesus said, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."
John 17:17

Not one fact of God's Holy Bible has ever been disproved. On the contrary, every archeological discovery upholds the Bible. Old Testament prophecies have been scribed and realized 100% accurately. Each scientific law of nature upholds the Bible. And some scientific facts are discovered many, many years after they were penned in the Scriptures. While the Bible does not use any scientific terms, it is always 100% accurate scientifically.

Stars Make a Humming Sound (discovered only recently)
"While the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy."
Job 38:7

The Earth is Round (finally proven about the time of Christopher Columbus in 1492).
"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in."
Isaiah 40:22

When God established His covenant of circumcision with Abram, He required that the baby boys be circumcised on the 8th day. Abram couldn't have known medically in the time of Genesis that the babies would be unable to clot their own blood prior to the 8th day of life. For this reason today, baby boys are given a Vitamin K shot so circumcisions can be performed sooner.

On the Eighth Day
"For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner -- those who are not your offspring."
Genesis 17:12

While only a very few of the Biblical truths have been introduced here, many others exist. The question remains. The Old Testament Prophets have recorded that they have spoken God's Words through their mouths. Paul claims that "All Scripture is God-breathed." And Jesus said, ". . . your word is truth." God's Holy Bible is either 100% truth or it's completely unreliable. There is no middle ground here. Many prophecies have been realized. All the prophecies of Jesus' birth, life, and death were realized. There has never been one disproven fact in the Bible. While we might not understand how something is possible doesn't negate the fact that it could have happened exactly as the Bible describes. It only means that we are ignorant in that area.

So assume that the Holy Bible is 100% true. Until proven otherwise, why would you assume anything else? Now that you are assuming the Holy Bible is God's truth, would you do anything differently? Would you repent? Would you like a new beginning? Here's the Good News. You can have a new beginning. Right here, right now!

Become a Child of God
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"
John 1:12

Pray a simple prayer like this:
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am sinful and in need of Your forgiveness. I repent of my sinful lifestyle, and I want to turn from it and follow You. I believe that You died to pay the penalty for my sins and that You rose from the grave. I invite You to come into my heart and become my Lord and Savior. I ask this in Your name. Amen."

If you just prayed that prayer, then welcome to the family of God. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are a new creation.

Children of God
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him"
1 John 3:1

When Were the Books of the Bible Written?

2007-07-04T23:37:00.001-04:00

The Holy Bible consists of 66 Books: 39 Old Testament Books (before Jesus' birth) and 27 New Testament Books (after Jesus' death and resurrection).

Old Testament Books in Chronological order according to the most likely years of their writings:
Job -- 2150 B.C.
Pentateuch -- 1402 B.C. (Gen., Ex., Lev., Num., Deut.)
Joshua -- before 1350 B.C.
Judges and Ruth -- before 1050 B.C.
Psalms -- before 965 B.C.
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon -- before 926 B.C.
1 and 2 Samuel -- before 926 B.C.
1 Kings and 1 Chronicles -- before 848 B.C.
Obadiah -- 848 B.C.
Joel -- 835 B.C.
Jonah -- 780 B.C.
Amos -- 765 B.C.
Hosea -- 755 B.C.
Isaiah -- 750 B.C.
Micah -- 740 B.C.
Jeremiah and Lamentations -- 640 B.C.
Nahum -- 630 B.C.
Habakkuk and Zephaniah -- 625 B.C.
Ezekiel -- 593 B.C.
2 Kings and 2 Chronicles -- 539 B.C.
Daniel -- before 538 B.C.
Haggai and Zechariah -- 520 B.C.
Esther -- after 476 B.C.
Ezra -- 458 B.C.
Nehemiah -- after 445 B.C.
Malachi -- 432 B.C.

New Testament Books in Chronological order according to the most likely years of their writings:
James -- A.D. 49 (written from Jerusalem)
1 and 2 Thessalonians -- A.D. 52 (written from Corinth)
1 Corinthians -- A.D. 55 (written from Macedonia)
2 Corinthians -- A.D. 56 (written from Macedonia)
Galatians -- A.D. 57 (written from Ephesus)
Romans -- A.D. 58 (written from Corinth)
Luke -- A.D. 59 (written from Caesarea)
Acts -- A.D. 60 (written from Rome)
Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon -- A.D. 61,62 (written from Rome)
Matthew -- A.D. 63 (written from Judea)
Mark -- A.D. 63 (written from Rome)
Hebrews -- A.D. 64 (written from Jerusalem)
1 Timothy -- A.D. 65 (written from Macedonia)
1 Peter -- A.D. 65 (written from Babylon)
2 Peter -- A.D. 66 (written from unknown)
Titus -- A.D. 66 (written from Greece)
Jude -- A.D. 67 (written from unknown)
2 Timothy -- A.D. 67 (written from Rome)
John -- A.D. 85-90 (written from Ephesus)
1 John -- A.D. 90-95 (written from Judea)
2 and 3 John -- A.D. 90-95 (written from Ephesus)
Revelation -- A.D. 90-95 (written from the Isle of Patmos)

What is the Difference Between Rewards and Inheritance?

2007-07-02T02:26:00.001-04:00

Parents typically set up wills to prearrange how monies and property will be distributed to children when the parents die. As children, each become eligible for an inheritance by no other circumstances than being born into a family. The same is true for God's family. When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal LORD and Savior, you become a child of God and receive an inheritance in God's Kingdom.

Children of God
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not out of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
John 1:12-13

This Inheritance Cannot Be Lost
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
1 Peter 1:3-5

Faith in Jesus Christ gets us into heaven as God's children. However, there are even more blessings possible. The Holy Bible discloses certain types of behaviors that will allow His children to receive special rewards.

Rewards Can Be Lost
"Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully."
2 John 1:8

Crown (General)
Jesus said, "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."
Revelation 3:11

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Five crowns are described in God's Holy Bible.

Incorruptible Crown (for those who exercise discipline and control, filled with sacrifices)
"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
1 Corinthians 9:25-27

Crown of Life (for those who are faithful under persecution)
"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you a crown of life."
Revelation 2:10

Crown of Glory (for pastors, deacons, teachers and others in Christian authority who are faithful)
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers -- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd (Jesus) appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."
1 Peter 5:2-4

Crown of Righteousness (for those who have a deep love for Jesus)
"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day -- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
2 Timothy 4:8

Crown of Rejoicing (for those who bring others to Jesus)
"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy."
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

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Many other blessings await those who repent and turn to Jesus as their personal LORD and Savior. While we are saved by faith through God's grace, He wants to further bless His children like only He can. We've seen His awesome creation of our universe down to the meticulous detail of single-cell life. There is nothing beyond the ability of our heavenly Father.

Repent and accept Christ today. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit and work a miracle in you. When you do that, you will become a changed person ready to boldly live for Him. Today is the day. Now is the time. Come as you are. With outstretched arms, Jesus awaits you.

Filled With the Holy Spirit
"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."
Acts 4:31

Will the World As We Know It Today End?

2007-06-30T01:48:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the question Harry T.

According to God's Holy Word as captured in His Holy Bible, the answer is YES. The world will end as we know it today. Let's review.

Earth Destroyed By Fire
"The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare."
2 Peter 3:10

New Creation
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea."
Revelation 21:1

No More Night, No Need for the Sun
"There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the LORD God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."
Revelation 22:5

We can even go back to the Old Testament to find references to the end of the world as we know it.

New Heavens and a New Earth
"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind."
Isaiah 65:17

Reading these scripture passages give me great joy in knowing that we have such a good and glorious heavenly Father that He plans to bless us beyond anything we could ever imagine. It will be such a blessing that we will not even remember this old world we live in today. It will truly be a paradise beyond all paradises.

Paradise
"Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.'"
Luke 23:43

Repent and accept Jesus Christ today as your personal Savior and LORD. God loves you so much that He gave His only Son up for you. Would you give up your child for someone else's life? Think about it. That's how much God loves you. Having His only Son sacrificed for you is all He can do. The choice is yours. I pray that you would choose Jesus and eternal life in paradise with Him forever. Amen.

Repent and Accept Christ
"The LORD is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9

When Will the World End?

2007-06-30T00:56:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the question Harry T.

This question tends to be asked frequently by people. Every few years we hear about some person or group claiming that the end of the world is going to happen in so many days. These people usually sell all their possessions and convince others to do the same, claiming that they know when the day and time of the end will come. Later that date passes, and they find themselves completely destitute. Let's look at how the Holy Bible answers this question.

No One Knows
Jesus states, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father."
Matthew 24:35-36

He'll Come When You Don't Expect Him
Jesus states, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your LORD will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him."
Matthew 24:42-44

I have had many conversations with people who claim to be Christians, but only want "to do the bare minimum to get through the doors" (whatever that means). I have heard of unbelievers claiming that they'll live life the way they want, but on their death bed will acknowledge Christ as personal LORD and Savior to get into heaven. Both of these groups of people should fully examine their hearts. Let's look at the Holy Bible here for clarification.

Forgiveness is Available to All
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16

But Not Automatic
"Not everyone who says to me, 'LORD, LORD' will enter the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 7:21

You Must Repent
"But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Luke 13:3

I would caution "Christians in name only" and unbelievers that plan on "converting" on their death beds that they are playing a serious game of Russian roulette with their eternal salvation. Really accept Jesus today, and ask Him to be your personal Savior and LORD. Then when the Holy Spirit begins to live in you, you will be amazed at what He will lead you to do. He has a wonderful plan for your life. You've heard the expression, "Be all that you can be." Let's start being all that God wants us to be. Choose a Godly lifestyle that pleases your Father, develop a personal relationship with Him, and you will never have to worry about when the world will end. If you trust in Jesus as your Savior, you will live eternally with Him forever. I look forward to spending eternity with you in heaven. Praise God for his mercy!

What About Human Life on Other Planets?

2007-06-26T00:15:00.001-04:00

According to God's Word, we can presume that no human life exists on other planets.

Earth Given to Man
"The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to man."
Psalm 115:16

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The Bible speaks of three heavens. The first heaven is what we know as our sky. It is the atmosphere of the earth. The second heaven is outer space and includes all other matter outside of earth's atmosphere. The third heaven, also known as the highest heaven, is the home of God, His angels, and all believers who have died.

First Heaven
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish . . . ."
Isaiah 55:10

Second Heaven
(God created the sun, moon, and stars.)
Genesis 1:14-18

Third Heaven
"But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you . . . ."
1 Kings 8:27
(Also, see 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 where third heaven is explicitly written.)

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Earth Formed to be Inhabited
"For this is what the LORD says -- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited -- he says: 'I am the LORD, and there is no other.'"
Isaiah 45:18

Satellite pictures of the earth have shown the tremendous beauty that the earth displays from outer space. Astronauts marvel at the site of the earth when on missions. This beauty is not found in other planets. God created the earth for us.

What is the Holy Trinity?

2007-06-25T01:12:00.000-04:00

The Holy Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit all as one being. How God can exist in three different forms and still be one God can be somewhat confusing. Many examples on Earth can help to mentally digest this concept. For example, time is in the form of past, present, and future. In any of these three forms, time is time. Likewise, all objects on this Earth have three distinct dimensions of length, width, and height. All three dimensions describe the objects. Yet the best example is the different phases of matter. All matter must be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gas. Where water is the liquid, ice is the solid, and steam is the gas, H2O is H2O regardless of what phase the H2O is in. The same is true of God. Each form of the Trinity is co-equal with the others. They work in perfect harmony.

And while H2O was shown in the example above, it is the only substance on Earth that exists naturally in all three phases of matter. In my opinion, this is the reason Christians are baptized using water. Not only is water plentiful and necessary for life, but it is representative of three forms able to co-exist in perfect harmony. And the person performing the baptism will do so in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 28:19

Furthermore, to answer the question of "Who raised Jesus from the Dead?" it was the Holy Trinity.

God Raised Jesus
"But God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen."
Acts 10:40

Jesus Raised Himself
"Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.'"
John 2:19

The Holy Spirit Raised Jesus
"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."
Romans 8:11

I am convinced that we will not fully understand how truly awesome our Heavenly Father is until we meet Him face to face in His Glory. We must have faith in God's Word, which is captured in the Holy Bible through the Old Testament Prophets and the New Testament Apostles over thousands of years.

Why Follow Jesus?

2007-06-24T03:24:00.001-04:00

Jesus Christ is the second person in the Holy Trinity. He came to the earth to reestablish the broken relationship between God and man, resulting from Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden. Jesus Christ is God's sacrificial Lamb who was perfect in every way and atoned for the sins of all who call on His name. Each person must decide who he or she believes Jesus is. Unbelievers include those that feel that Jesus was merely a prophet, teacher, and good man, as well as those who doubt His very existence. Believers are those that recognize Jesus as God's Messiah, acknowledge their sinful nature, repent, and ask Jesus to be their personal LORD and Savior.

"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9

All Hail King Jesus who sits at the right hand of the Father. Seek Jesus today as your decision about Jesus will have eternal consequences!