Category Archives: Apologetics

The New Birth – #5 – Threefold Proof of the New Birth

Every truly born-again person, has the threefold proof of the New Birth:

Inward proof
Outgoing proof
Outward proof

1 John 5:1

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him.

1. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” Personal faith in Christ – that He is GOD – is personal evidence that the born-again individual is a child of God.

1 John 5: 10, 13 – He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. This is INWARD proof of the New Birth.

1 John 4:7-11

⁷Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

⁸He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

⁹In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

¹⁰Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

2. “Everyone that loveth is born of God.” We are to love mankind with the love of God. Our sinful flesh is not capable of loving what is unlovable; we must allow God to love mankind through us. Rom. 5:5 – And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. God’s love for man, expressed through truly born-again souls, is OUTGOING proof of the New Birth.

1 John 2:29

If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.

3. “. . .every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.” When we are genuinely converted, and born anew, we will make a practice of doing right at all times and at all costs! 2 Cor. 5:17- Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. This is OUTWARD proof of the New Birth.

Dear Readers, If you do not have the threefold proof of the New Birth as demonstrated in Scripture, now is the time to get on your knees and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. And when using the term “personal,” it simply means that it is between you and the Lord – no one can do it for you. There is NO SALVATION through your priest, Pope, rabbi, minister, father, mother, family, religion, cult, ritual, self-help program or book. You must have saving faith in His vicarious death, burial, and bodily resurrection – believing that He Personally experienced torturous death in your place, and overcame the tomb by the power of His Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 6:2

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Tomorrow may be too late!

The New Birth – #4 – The Only Means

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John 3:14-15

¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

¹⁵That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Numbers 21:5-9

⁵And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

⁶And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

⁷Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

⁸And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

⁹And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Moses lifted up the serpent for a sinful, disobedient people. Anyone bitten by the fiery serpents was given a choice. With an act of faith and humility, he could simply look at the brazen serpent and live – 0r – with an act of stubbornness and pride, he could refuse to look, and die.

Isaiah 45:22

LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: FOR I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE.

“Even so must the son of man be lifted up.” Just as the brazen serpent in the wilderness was the only means for the children of Israel to be healed, so is the death of Jesus Christ the only means for the new birth. The only way to achieve regeneration is by faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

means

noun: means; noun: means of something

1.an action or system by which a result is brought about; a method.

Romans 1:16

FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH; TO THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO TO THE GREEK.

THE SINNER MUST COME TO CHRIST BELIEVING:

1. That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

Isa. 53:1-12 –

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

²For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

³He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

⁸He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

⁹And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

¹¹He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

¹²Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Zech. 13:6 – And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

2. That Christ was buried. This is the proof of His death. He was in the tomb for three days and nights.

3. That Christ rose again, according to the Scriptures. Here is the power of the Gospel that saves, but it is powerless to save the sinner who does not believe. Rom. 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

THE MEANS OF THE NEW BIRTH CAN ONLY BE FOUND ONE WAY:

1. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. . .” is the only means of the new birth. Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

2. Our blessed Redeemer, Jesus Christ, gladly came into the world to become the only means of the new birth. John 12:27 – Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

John 17:1-5 –

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

²As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

³And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

⁴I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

⁵And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

3. That the Holy Spirit came into the world on the Day of Pentecost to convince and convict all men, everywhere, of their personal need for the new birth.

John 16: 7-11

⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

⁸And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

⁹Of sin, because they believe not on me;

¹⁰Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

¹¹Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

A personal faith in the death, burial, and resurrection is the essential and only means of the new birth.

The New Birth – #3 – The Incorruptible Nature

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1 Peter 1:23

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

The above verse, contains the doctrine of the two seeds, two births, and two natures.

1. Corruptible seed produces a corruptible nature. Rom. 1:23 – And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Corruptible man can only produce corruptible seed. Matt. 7:18 – A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. “ALL HAVE SINNED,” because – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. . . Romans 3:23. Every single person is born in sin. Psalm 51:5 – Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

**WE ARE NOT SINNERS BECAUSE WE SIN!**

WE SIN BECAUSE WE ARE SINNERS!

2. Incorruptible seed produces an incorruptible nature. 2 Pet. 1:4- Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. No matter what we do, born again Christians can not corrupt the incorruptible nature. Therefore, the incorruptible seed of God gives birth to a new nature that cannot be corrupted – at any time – or in any way. The new birth produces the life of Christ – which is made living in man – only by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Rom. 8:8-10 – ⁸So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¹⁰And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

The seed of man is corruptible; the birth of man is natural – therefore – the very nature of man is entirely sinful.

The seed of God is incorruptible; the new birth is spiritual – therefore – the new nature is entirely sinless.

Both natures exist within the born again believer. Whichever nature we allow to dominate will determine how much we sin, and how closely we walk with the Lord. Feeding the old nature by fulfilling fleshly and worldly lusts, will keep the old, corruptible nature strong and dominant. Feeding the new nature with spiritual food via Bible study and memorization, Christian fellowship, and church attendance, will keep the new nature strong, help us to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil – thereby causing us to walk closely to the Lord.

The New Birth – Part 2 – The New Sinless Nature

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And now – for one of the most misinterpreted verses in the entire Bible. Please do not try to understand it in the light of personal experience.

1 John 3:9

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

It is essential for believers to keep in mind that the above verse is speaking of the new nature – not the old nature – because the old nature was not born of God. The old nature is born of fallen man, and it is completely depraved. The new nature is born of God, and it is completely holy. The two natures are present in every born again Christian.

what does the Bible say about the new nature?

1. The new nature does not sin, because it is the product of the seed of God. [see above verse]

2. The new nature does not sin, because it is the divine nature of God, and since God can not sin, the new nature that issues from His Holy Seed can not sin. 2 Peter 1:4 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

what does the bible say about the old nature?

1. The old nature will sin any time we allow it to sin. Rom. 6:12 – Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. If you are born again, you will continue under the old nature 1 Cor. 9:27 – But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. by not yielding to the desires of the flesh – or the old nature will keep you under, and you will live a defeated Christian life. Rom. 8:13 – For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

2. There is nothing good in the old nature. Nothing whatsoever. Rom. 7:18 – For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. The power to live a righteous life cannot be found in the old nature, it can only be found in the new nature. Gal. 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

if you have been “born again” – you have two natures – the old and the new – and you will walk according to one or the other. Examine your Christian walk according to the word of god – not by comparing yourself to other people.

Romans 8:5-6

⁵For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

⁶For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

The New Birth – #1 – Jesus and the Two Births

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John 3:1-6

3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

²The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

³Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

⁴Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

⁵Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

In the above Scriptures, we see Jesus Christ and Nicodemus – coming face to face. The Son of God – Jesus – and the son of natural man – Nicodemus. Although Nicodemus was a very religious man, he was not a child of God. We can sense his discomfort and shock during the “meeting of minds” he had with the Lord. It is the same today when people learn that their religion is not enough. It NEVER is! Nicodemus comes to Jesus secretly, thinking of Him only as “a teacher come from God.” Nicodemus did not know Jesus, but Jesus knew Nicodemus –

John 2:24-25

²⁴But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men,

²⁵And needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man.

But Jesus knew that Nicodemus needed more. Jesus knows that we need more.

We need more than a teacher – we need a Savior
We need more than religion – we need regeneration
We need more than the law – we need life.

Jesus came right to the point when He said – “Ye must be born again.” Nicodemus then asks – “How can a man be born when he is old?”

Then, our blessed Savior points out the difference between the two births – “That which is born of the flesh is flesh (the flesh can not change ) and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (the Spirit can not change)

THE FLESH BIRTH. . .

1. The flesh birth produces an old, sinful nature – even in a tiny baby! Ps. 51:5 – Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

2. The flesh birth produces a corruptible nature. – 1 Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

3. The flesh birth produces an old nature under the sentence of death – from the moment an infant draws breath! – Rom. 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

4. The flesh birth produces an old nature, that makes every single unsaved person – a child of the devil. 1 John 3:10 – In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

THE NEW BIRTH . . .

1. The new birth produces a sinless nature. 1 John 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

2. The new birth produces a nature that cannot sin. 1 John 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

3. The new birth produces a righteous nature. 2 Cor. 5:21- For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

4. The new birth produces a divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Every born again person, no matter what spiritual age, has two natures. The old nature, from the flesh birth, and the spiritual nature from the new birth. By the old birth – we are children of the flesh; by the new birth we are the children of God. To what degree we allow the old flesh nature dominate, will determine how much we sin, and conversely, how much we allow the new spiritual nature to dominate, will determine how closely we walk with the Lord.

John 3:7

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The New Birth – Introduction

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It is of the greatest importance to fully grasp what Jesus meant when He said to Nicodemus – “Ye must be born again.” The New Birth is Spiritual, and it is as much a birth as the actual physical birth of a human being.

the new birth is not just a figure of speech!!!!!

Our first birth is of the “seed of man,” and the second birth is of the “seed of God.”

1 Peter 1:23

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Therefore, one cannot become a child of God by joining a church, any more than a chimpanzee could become a man by joining the human race. The chimpanzee can dress in human clothing, type on a computer, eat human food, and even drive a car – in many ways living exactly like a man – but the behaviors do not qualify him for the human race. He is still a chimp. However, if by some miracle the chimp could be “born again” by the seed of a man, then – and only then – could he become a man. Acting like a Christian does not make you a Christian, anymore than acting like a human makes a chimp a human.

The only way to become a child of god is to be “born from above,” by the “incorruptible seed of god.”

The New Birth is a new creation!

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The New Birth is a spiritual resurrection!

Ephesians 2:1-9 – And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; ²Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: ³Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. ⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ⁶And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ⁷That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The New Birth is regeneration!

Titus 3:5 – Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost

The New Birth is partaking of the Divine Nature!

2 Peter 1:4 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The New Birth is receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by faith!

John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

The New Birth is being made the righteousness of God!

2 Corinthians 5:21 – For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

**the new birth is compulsory (not optional!) if you are to become a child of god.**

John 3:6-8

⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

⁷Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

⁸The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Repentance – #6 – The Importance of Repentance

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Repentance is so important that god commands “all men everywhere to repent.”

Acts 17:30

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

All means ALL!!!!!

1. The lost are to repent. Jesus said: But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matt. 9:13) He said again: ³I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ⁴Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem. ⁵I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3-5)

2. Backsliding, born-again Christians are to repent. Paul said: Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. (2 Cor. 7:9) The believers in the church at Corinth were quite carnal. In his first letter to them, he called upon the church to discipline the guilty party, in his second letter he rejoices because the guilty have repented.

3. Local churches are to repent! In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapters 2 and 3, our LORD sent seven letters to seven churches. He called upon five of them to repent.

The church at Ephesus was to repent because she had left her first love.

The church at Pergamos was to repent because she permitted the doctrine of Balaam to to be taught, and to eat thing sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

The church at Thyatira was to repent because she suffered Jezebel to teach and seduce God’s servants to commit fornication.

The church at Sardis was to repent because she was a dying congregation.

The church at Laodicea was to repent because she thought she was rich and did not need anything. In her opinion – she had arrived. She did not know that she was neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm, and God was ready to spew her out of His mouth.

God called on all five of these churches to repent – or he would remove their candlesticks – and they would cease to give their light in the spiritual darkness of the world.

The lost are to repent – or perish.

The back-slidden Christian is to repent – or be disciplined.

The local church is to repent – or lose its effectiveness in a world lost to sin.

Coming up next, the final installment on Repentance – the evidence of repentance!

Repentance – #5 – Impossible to Renew Unto

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Hebrews 6:4-6

⁴For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

⁵And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

⁶ If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

The words highlighted in red are the key to understanding this challenging portion of Scripture. The word “impossible” is saying that the person who so sins, will find it impossible to repent again.

Once again, we will first cover what the Scripture does NOT mean, so that we can fully expose what it DOES mean.

!!!THIS PASSAGE – HEBREWS 6:4-6 – IS NOT ABOUT A BACKSLIDDEN CHRISTIAN!!!

1. Simon Peter backslid. . . Matt. 26:69-75 , repented, John 21:3-17, and was restored to fellowship with the Lord. King David sinned, 2 Sam. 11:1–27, repented, Psalm 51:1-19, and was restored to fellowship with the Lord . . . 2 Sam. 12:13.

ANY BACKSLIDDEN CHRISTIAN CAN REPENT AND BE RESTORED TO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE REPERCUSSIONS TO BACKSLIDING, SUCH AS LOSS OF POSITION IN THE CASE OF A FALLEN PASTOR, FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD CAN STILL BE FULLY RESTORED.

Lamentations 3:22

It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

2. So if Hebrews 6:4-6 is not about backsliding, what does it mean? It is about religiousness. This Scripture is proof that being religious does not save anyone. Profession and confession without internal conversion – means no eternal life. By all outward appearances, they appear to be, and are called – Christians.

But Jesus said –

Matthew 7:21-23

²¹Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

²²Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.

Esau so sinned against the Lord when he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pottage. . . Gen. 25:27-3. Later he tried to repent, but found it impossible to do so! His repentance was not genuine, in that he lamented over what he had lost, not in what he had done! He wanted the blessing – but he wanted it on his terms – not God’s.

Hebrews 12:16-17

¹⁶Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

¹⁷For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

At the Great White Throne Judgment – only the wicked dead will be judged. They too, like Esau, will try to repent, but will find it impossible. . .

Revelation 20:11-15

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

¹⁴And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The Abundant Life – #5 – The Mature Life

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2 Peter 3:18

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Just as there are four stages of growth in the natural man, there are four stages of growth in the new born spiritual man, which leads to maturity in the Christian life.

1. The baby stage. 1 Cor. 3:1-4 – And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. ²I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. ³For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ⁴For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? A baby thinks only of itself. If the baby is denied what it wants, it will wail. The baby seeks its own, its feelings are easily hurt, and – it is often jealous. The baby lives to be served – it never serves. It can only drink milk, and cannot eat solid food. The baby cries a great deal – but never sings. It tries to talk – but makes no sense.

IT IS A SAD BUT TRUE FACT, THAT MANY CHRISTIANS DISPLAY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRITUAL BABY. THOUGH THEY ARE BORN AGAIN INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD – THEY NEVER GROW AND DEVELOP SPIRITUALLY. THE SPIRITUAL BABY IS A CARNAL CHRISTIAN.

2. The little child stage. 1 John 2:12 – I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. Some Christians grow enough to become little children spiritually – but many stop there. Spiritual little children are often untruthful, envious, and even cruel. When rebuked, they take on the role of martyr. If crossed, they feel resentment, and may even make a scene. They are talebearers, repeating everything they hear (grownups call it gossip!) The child is given to emotional outbursts, and their immaturity causes them to be easily puffed up. They live for praise, and will accept that praise from ANYONE! The child only seeks after what will appeal to self.

ARE YOU A SPIRITUAL CHILD????

3. The young man stage. 1 John 2:13 – I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. Another sad fact – not many believers reach the stage of a young man in Christ. He is strong and virile – well able to overcome his enemy – Satan (in his many forms) The young man’s vision for the future consists of his faith and courage. He is preparing for his most productive years.

WE CAN BECOME A YOUNG MAN SPIRITUALLY BY “PUTTING AWAY CHILDISH THINGS!” 1 COR. 13:11 – WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPAKE AS A CHILD, I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD, I THOUGHT AS A CHILD: BUT WHEN I BECAME A MAN, I PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS.

4. The father stage. 1 John 2:13 – I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. This stage can be reached by all believers – but SO FEW EVER ATTAIN IT. The spiritual father has peace with God. Rom. 5:1 – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The father knows the peace of God. Phil. 4:7 – And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. He rejoices in his spiritual children. 1 Thess. 2:19 – For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? The father has learned contentment under ALL circumstances. Phil. 4:11 – Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. He knows the ONLY source of true strength. Phil. 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. The father NEVER broods over the past, but continually looks to the future.

Phil.3: 13, 14 – ¹³Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He knows that ALL things work together in his life for ETERNAL GOOD. Rom. 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

THE SPIRITUAL FATHER ENJOYS THE ABUNDANT LIFE NOW – AND WILL ENJOY IT IN THE LIFE TO COME. EPH. 2:7 – THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHEW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

This concludes our study of the Abundant Life. Next up in our deep study of doctrine – Repentance!

Study of Prayer – Introduction

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Question – What is as old as man, as universal as religion, and as instinctive as breathing?

Prayer!

GENESIS 4:26

AND TO SETH, TO HIM ALSO THERE WAS BORN A SON; AND HE CALLED HIS NAME ENOS: THEN BEGAN MEN TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

Prayer is practiced in some form by all of mankind from all faiths. It emerges from the heart expressing a need – a need greater than man’s ability to negotiate. Prayer is an acknowledgement of a being higher than himself.

It may be surprising to some, that even though prayers are plenteous – most people don’t know how to pray. Keep this thought in your mind as we progress through this study – there are only two kinds of prayer.

In the Parable of the Pharisee and the publican – the LORD teaches us the two different kinds of prayer.

LUKE 18:9-14

⁹And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

¹⁰Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

¹²I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

¹³And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Both men – the Pharisee and the publican – went to the same place, at the same time, for the same purpose – PRAYER!

The Pharisee prayed in his religious pride, expecting God to answer because he believed himself to be worthy. He gave the LORD a litany of his exemplary qualities: his own goodness, he was so much better than others, his good works. “I fast, I give.” This type of prayer does not reach God. This is self-righteous prayer.
The publican, however, presents a much different prayer. He comes before the LORD in great humility. He is deeply aware of his sinfulness. He demonstrates his unworthiness, confessing himself a sinner and begging for mercy. This kind of prayer does reach God. This is righteous prayer.

Praying is a privilege. In fact it is a rare privilege – because when done in humility as in the case of the publican – it brings you into close fellowship with God; wherein you admit your need for Him, and your utter dependence on Him. And if you think about that from a purely practical standpoint – how is it that mere frail humans can commune with the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, Godhead on such a personal level? It is beyond comprehension – that is what it is. If thinking about that does not humble you . . .

As this was only the introduction, we hope you come back for a deep, six part study on prayer, installed twice weekly. We hope that it will bless you and enrich your prayer life, as well as strengthen your ministry to your families and others.

Study of the Church – Part 1

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In the Introduction to this series, we covered that the church is:

a mystery
a singular body
an invisible building
the only Bride of Christ

THE CHURCH: ITS FOUNDATION

There is a great deal of controversy over the passage we are going to study here. It is my hope that any confusion will be laid to rest.

Upon this Rock I will build My church.

The misinterpretation over who is the “rock,” in the above verse, is the major difference between Roman Catholicism and Mainstream Protestants. It is very important to understand what takes place before this statement is made. Leading up to it – Jesus asks His disciples:

MATTHEW 16:13

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

They answer by naming some of the prophets:

MATTHEW 16:14

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He responds:

MATTHEW 16:15

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Peter answers:

MATTHEW 16:16

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

In verse 13, Jesus spoke of Himself as the “Son of man.” Now, Peter addresses Him as the “Son of the living God.” Jesus blessed Peter, saying that this Great Truth came from God the Father.

MATTHEW 16:17

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.

Again He said to Peter:

MATTHEW 16:18

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Very important!!!!!

Peter = Petros = little, or small rock

this rock = Petra = great rock

Jesus did NOT say He would build His church upon Peter, but upon Himself, the ROCK OF AGES.

Simon Peter called Jesus Christ the “living Stone,” the chief “Cornerstone,” a “Stone of stumbling,” and a “Rock of offense.” Peter spoke of ALL believers as “living stones,” including himself. Christ is the foundation, and all believers are the building stones. Peter does no where indicate that he is anything other than one among many of the building stones of the true church.

1 PETER 2:1-10

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

²As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

³If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

⁴To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

⁶Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

⁷Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

⁸And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

⁹But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

¹⁰Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Paul speaks of Jesus Christ as the foundation of all the Apostles and Prophets.

EPHESIANS 2:19-2

¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;

²¹In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

²²In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Paul also said:

1 CORINTHIANS 3:11

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Very important – although the church is a mystery in the Old Testament – yet Isaiah wrote:

ISAIAH 28:16

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone,

a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

CHRIST IS THE ONLY AND SURE FOUNDATION OF HIS CHURCH – ALL BELIEVERS – INCLUDING PETER – ARE LITTLE BUILDING STONES, BUILT INTO A HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD.

Study of the Church – Introduction

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The word “ecclesia,” in the New Testament was used to designate any assembly – political – Christian – or national. Jesus said – “I will build my church (ecclesia)” in Matthew 16:18. Used in this context it means a “called out” assembly or congregation. Israel was “called out” of Egypt whereupon they congregated in the wilderness. Today – the saved ones are “called out,” of the world to congregate in worship. What we are talking about is something that can not be seen with human eyes. It is the church that is in the world – but not of the world. . .

The church in the wilderness came to an end, but the church that Jesus Christ is building will never cease. He said “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” and it consists not of buildings and ordinances, but only of those souls who are saved – they are the building stones of the true church.

THE CHURCH IS A MYSTERY –

Only fellow heirs can understand this mystery, because it is only revealed through the Spirit. And only those born again, blood washed, and Spirit- baptized believers constitute the Church of Jesus Christ.

EPHESIANS 3:3-10

³How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

⁴Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

⁵Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

⁶That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel:

⁷Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power.

⁸Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

⁹And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

¹⁰To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.. .

THE CHURCH HAS A SINGULAR BODY –

Christendom is made up of those who profess to be Christians, but they do not know Christ personally. The religionists would say that we are outside the faith because we do not obey their tenets – yet the Word of God states that each and every truly born again believer is part of the same body.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-31

¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

¹⁴For the body is not one member, but many.

¹⁵If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

¹⁶And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

¹⁸But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

¹⁹And if they were all one member, where were the body?

²⁰But now are they many members, yet but one body.

²¹And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

²²Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

²³And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

²⁴For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

²⁵That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

²⁶And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

THE CHURCH ITSELF IS AN INVISIBLE BUILDING

Not that there is anything wrong with church buildings, but the true church is built from the born again souls that occupy the building – not the building itself.

EPHESIANS 2:10-22

¹⁰For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

¹¹Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

¹²That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

¹³But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

¹⁴For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

¹⁵Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

¹⁶And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

¹⁷And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

¹⁸For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;

²¹In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

²²In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

THE CHURCH IS THE ONLY BRIDE OF CHRIST

As Israel in the Old Testament is often referred to God’s “faithless wife,” the blood washed church is referred to as the pure and spotless “bride of Christ.”

2 CORINTHIANS 11:2

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

This concludes the introduction of our study on the Church. Please come back for a detailed analysis of the Church, which will be installed in seven parts.

The Rewards of Crowns – Part 4

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How pleasant it is, during these perilous times, to contemplate the rewards and peace The LORD has promised us in His Word. Thus far in our study of the crowns we have covered:

THE CROWN OF LIFE
THE CROWN INCORRUPTIBLE
THE CROWN OF REJOICING

THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Not to be confused with the “righteousness of God,” which the believer receives when he accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior. When a person is born again of the Holy Spirit – he is “made the righteousness of God in Him.” This is saving righteousness, and it is a gift of God, which the lost accept by choice.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

The “crown of righteousness” is a reward, not a gift, to be earned only by the saved. If the believer looks for, and loves the doctrine of the Second Coming – it will be evident in his whole life. We have no finer example of this than Paul:

Paul fought a spiritual battle his entire Christian life – and won! 2 Tim. 4:7 – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. . .

Paul never surrendered to the enemies of righteousness! Eph.6:12 – For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Paul had a set course to travel, and he maintained his course, never detouring around the rocky places, neither did he, at any point – LOOK BACK! Luke 9: 61,62 – ⁶¹And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. ⁶²And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Paul traveled the entire length of the course set before him with his eyes fixed fully on CHRIST! Phil.1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. . .

Paul never, in his entire walk, betrayed a single one of the great doctrines – preaching the “whole counsel of God.” Acts 20:24-31 –

²⁴But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

²⁶Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

²⁷For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

²⁸Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.

²⁹For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

³⁰Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

³¹Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Paul’s vision was fixed so firmly on Christ – that he looked ahead to the “Judgment Seat of Christ,” where believers who “love His appearing,” will receive the Crown of Righteousness.

2 Timothy 4:8

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.

Do you see how important it is for you, as a believer, to focus your longing on The Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – and not on the antics of the son of perdition? This crown may be awarded to any believer – who intensely longs for and loves the Second Coming of Christ more than anything – more than this country, more than their freedom, more than their life.

Rewards of Crowns – Part 3

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The beauty of our LORD is so evident in the crowns He gives to some of the saved. So far in this series we have explored:

The Crown of Life
The Crown Incorruptible

Some say this next crown is the best crown – it is the “soul-winners” crown, and is the reward for the greatest work a believer can do for the LORD. Bringing others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The degree of joy we experience in heaven is directly related to the souls we have had a part in bringing to Christ.

THE CROWN OF REJOICING!

1 THESSALONIANS 2:19

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

It is GREAT wisdom to win lost souls to Christ. Pro.11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

We work AGAINST sin when we win lost souls to Christ. James 5:20 – Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Heaven is FILLED with joy when souls are won for Christ. Luke 15:10 – Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

We SHINE as the stars in heaven when we win souls for Christ. Dan.12:3 – And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

The wonderful thing about this crown, is that it can be won by any believer!

HOW TO WIN SOULS TO CHRIST:

Make your life a witness! Live in such a manner that the lost can see Christ living in you. 2 Cor.3:2 – Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. . .

Let the Holy Spirit use your mouth as a witness to give power to the spoken word! Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Let your “stuff” be a witness, that others may preach Christ with your tithes and offering – and you will have fruit that will abound to your account! Phil. 4:15-17 –

¹⁵Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

¹⁶For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

¹⁷Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

2 Cor. 9:6 – But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

THIS PROMISE FROM GOD –

1 CORINTHIANS 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

YOU WILL NOT REJOICE ALONE WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE CROWN OF REJOICING – ALL HEAVEN WILL REJOICE TOO!

JOHN 4:36

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

The Rewards of Crowns – Part 2

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As if the Crown of Life weren’t enough – our gracious and merciful LORD wishes to bless some of us even further.

THE CROWN INCORRUPTIBLE

In 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27, Paul makes use of the Greek games as an analogy of the spiritual race of the believer. As we are in the midst of Olympic games now, this is especially meaningful.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

²⁴Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

²⁵And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

²⁶I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

²⁷But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

According to Greek law at the time, no young man could participate in the games unless he was a Greek citizen. Paul’s brilliant analogy allows us to see that no unsaved person can participate in working for the LORD for rewards. You must be a citizen of heaven.

Close examination of verse 27 shows us that just as the athlete controls his flesh, so believers must do the same. The athlete and the believer are both in the race – and both may lose their “crown,” or reward. If the athlete does not win the crown – he does not lose his Greek citizenship. Nor does the believer lose their salvation – they only lose the crown.

THE RULES OF OUR GAMES

The believer must deny themselves of anything that restrains them from full dedication to the LORD and His service. Heb. 12:1 – Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our eyes must be fixed on Christ – “our finish line,” looking neither to the right hand nor to the left. Heb. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Our strength must be found only in the LORD. Eph. 6:10-18 –

⁸Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

⁹And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him.

¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

Our all must be placed on the altar of the LORD. Holding back does not win anything! Rom. 12:1-2 –

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We all, must, by faith, refuse anything that will impede spiritual progress. You may even have to refuse a job or a promotion if it places you in a situation which stifles (or is openly hostile) to your spiritual growth. Heb.11:24-29 –

²⁴By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

²⁵Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

²⁶Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

²⁷By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

²⁸Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

Should we be “spiritual spectators?” Or should we enter this most important race of all – to win the incorruptible crown!

Rewards of Crowns – Part 1

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If you have used the correct “building materials,” (gold, silver, precious stones) then you are sure to receive rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. In the New Testament, these rewards are called “crowns.”

THE CROWN OF LIFE

Sometimes called the “Lover’s Crown,” because it is built on the love of God.

JAMES 1:12

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

Wow. We need to memorize that one. Look carefully at it again. It says that the believer finds strength to overcome the world and it’s temptations and trials through the love of God. In today’s self-esteeming society, it seems incredible to even think of “glorying in tribulations,” but that is exactly what we do when –

ROMANS 5:3-5

³And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

⁴And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Without the love of God in our hearts, we can become bitter, even spiteful – thereby – losing the Crown of life! ALL believers have eternal life – but that does not equate with the reward of THE Crown of Life. The Crown of Life is given to those who are –

REVELATION 2:10

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

To receive this reward, we must love The LORD more than our own lives!

MARK 8:35

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

LIVE FOR CHRIST ONLY, ENDURE TEMPTATIONS ONLY IN THE POWER OF THE LOVE OF OUR HOLY GOD – IF YOU ATTEMPT TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN THROUGH SELF DISCIPLINE AND “LAW KEEPING,” YOU WILL FAIL.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The Rewards of Crowns – Introduction

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It is essential to understand the vast difference between the doctrine of salvation for the lost, and the doctrine of rewards for the saved.

Salvation is a gift from God. . .

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Rewards are given according to the works of the believer. . .

MATTHEW 16:27

²⁷For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.

WE DO NOT LABOR FOR SALVATION!!!!!

This Scripture reveals all Truth about rewards-

1 CORINTHIANS 3:8-15

⁸Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. (every believer will be rewarded according to his own labor)

⁹For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. (we are laborers together with God for rewards – not salvation!)

¹⁰According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

¹¹For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (the believer is to build on the LORD Jesus Christ – the only foundation)

¹²Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (every believer has a choice between two types of building materials – gold, silver, precious stones – the eternal building materials; or wood, hay and stubble – the temporary building materials)

¹³Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

¹⁴If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

¹⁵If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Every believer who builds with eternal materials, will receive rewards – and those believers who build with temporary materials will not receive rewards – because their wood, hay and stubble will be “burned.” These believers will actually be ashamed at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

1 JOHN 2:28

And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear,

we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

It is important enough to mention the doctrine of “Lordship Salvation.” There is ambiguous understanding of this term among God’s people – largely because of the redefining of the term “repentance.” What many preachers are teaching as repentance is not what the King James Bible says. The true definition of repentance means to “turn, or change your mind.” It does not mean the sinner stops sinning! If you for one minute, think you are capable of not sinning, or keeping the Law – you are effectually denying the complete sufficiency of our Savior’s atonement for the sins of the entire world. By saying that you are “keeping the Ten Commandments,” you have placed yourself on His level – which is blasphemy – for only He can keep the Law perfectly, because He is the Personification of it.

Repentance, properly defined, is necessary for salvation. Biblical repentance is changing your mind about Jesus Christ, and turning towards Him in faith for salvation. Turning from sin is not the definition of repentance, but it is one of the of signs of genuine, faith-based repentance towards the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to build only on the foundation that is Christ – and not with the shabby materials of wood, hay and stubble, but with solid stones of planting, cultivating, and harvesting the Gospel of Peace.

1 PETER 2:6-8

⁶Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.

⁷Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

⁸And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Judgments – Part 4

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Quickly reviewing the first three segments of this series (which dealt entirely with the judgements of believers) :

The judgment of the believer’s sins
The judgment of the believer’s self
The judgment of the believer’s works

This fourth part deals with the judgment of the nations, all of which are to be judged at the Second Coming of Christ.

The judgment of the nations is not the great white throne judgment.

The judgment of the nations will take place “when the Son of man shall come in His glory. . .then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.” Rev. 20:11-15 –

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

¹⁴And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. If you read that passage carefully, you will see that the Great White Throne is never called “the throne of His glory.” The throne of His glory is here on earth – and judges only the living!

At the judgment of the nations, there will be no resurrection of the dead. But at the Great White Throne – ALL the wicked dead are raised. Rev. 20:13 – And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

At the judgment of the nations, the judge is GOD “the King” judging the living nations in His earthly kingdom. But at the Great White Throne, the judge is GOD, judging only the wicked dead.

At the judgment of the nations – no books are opened! Whereas at the Great White Throne the “books were opened.”

At the judgment of the nations, there are two classes of people judged:

“sheep” – the saved. Rev. 7: 9-17 –

⁹After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

¹⁰And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

¹¹And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

¹²Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

¹³And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

¹⁴And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in his temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

¹⁶They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

¹⁷For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. These are those who are saved during the Great Tribulation, after the sealing of the 144,000 Jews who do the work of evangelizing the world.

“goats” – the unsaved 2 Thess. 1:7-10

⁷And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

⁸In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

⁹Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power;

¹⁰When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Hard to believe, but there will be many with hardened hearts, who will still reject Jesus Christ, even while they experience the terrible events during the Great Tribulation.

At the great white throne there is only one class – “the wicked dead”

At the judgment of the nations, the Righteous King gives the earthly kingdom to those who are born again as “sheep.” This begins the millennial earthly reign of Christ. At the Great White Throne which occurs after the 1,000 years – there are no saved, and no Kingdom – they are ALL cast into the Lake of Fire.

The judgment of the nations has nothing to do with the church!!!!

Matthew 25:31-32

³¹When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:

³²And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. . .

Judgments – Part 3

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So far in this study series, we have covered the judgment of the believer’s sins, followed by the judgment of the believer’s self. We now go onto the third judgment – the judgment of the believer’s works.

The believer’s works will be judged at the “judgment seat of Christ.” This term is used only in the following two places in the Bible, though it is referred to many times.

Romans 14:10

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Careful reading of both passages reveals within the context that only believers will appear before the “judgment seat of Christ.” Only their works will be judged – not their sins!!!! the believer’s sins were already judged in Christ on Calvary –

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

This judgment will take place in the air following the first resurrection! 1 Thess. 4: 14-18 ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

¹⁵For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

¹⁶For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

¹⁸Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

At the judgment seat of Christ, the believer will give an account of himself to God. It is evident that we should look to our own service, and not judge the works of others. This passage speaks only to the Body of Christ!! Rom. 14: 10-13 –

¹⁰But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

¹¹For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

¹²So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

¹³Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

It is very humbling to know that someday the believer will be faced with ALL his works – good or bad. Some will be ashamed and suffer loss – not the loss of salvation – but the loss of rewards. 1Cor. 3:11-15 – ¹¹For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

¹²Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

¹³Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

¹⁴If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

¹⁵If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1 John 2:28

And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at his coming.

Whatever you do – no matter how insignificant it may seem – do it to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Judgments – Part 2

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The first segment of this study covered the judgment of the believer’s sins. We now move on to the next kind of judgment – the judgment of the believer’s self!

This judgment is far more than judging things in the believer’s life. When we, as believers, judge our own selves, everything comes to light – good and bad. We then confess the bad –

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And then forsake it –

Isaiah 55:7

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

It is not enough to just judge sin in the believer; he must judge self

To judge oneself, is to practice self-abnegation. When the believer sees self the way God sees him – he will renounce self. Essentially, this is replacing the self-life with the Christ-life. Christ IS the believer’s life. Col. 3:4 – When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.

To judge oneself is to deny oneself. This is much more than self-denial. Self denial is denying one’s self of the gratification of the flesh. If we only practice self-denial, we are treating the symptom and not the cause. But to deny self – is to ATTACK the cause, because in that self there is “no good thing.” Deny self – and pick up your cross and follow Him! Mark 8:34-38 –

³⁴And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

³⁵For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

³⁶For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

³⁷Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

³⁸Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

To judge self is to LOSE the self-life, and find the Christ-life. Gal.2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

To judge self is to no longer be self-conscious, but to become Christ-conscious. Matt. 28:20 – Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

To judge self is to no longer be self-controlled, but to be Christ-controlled. Acts 9:6 – And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And the most important – to judge self is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self. Phil. 2:3 – Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

“Comparative Christianity” is something we all practice, some more than others. The only One we should compare ourselves with is Jesus Christ. This comparison will help you to judge yourself against Him, not other believers. Egoism and pride must be forsaken! Praise Him!

1 Corinthians 11:31-32

³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Judgments – Part 1

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Prepared for more doctrine? Ready or not – here it comes!

The Word instructs us to – “rightly divide the Word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) It is essential when studying the judgements to apply this imperative. If we endeavor to make all judgments conform to the theory of one “general judgment,” we are not correctly dividing the Word. The “general judgment” theory is a religious invention – and is NO WHERE taught in the Word of God.

There are five separate judgments revealed to us in the Bible, and each one differs as to time, place, and purpose. Though different – they all have one great commonality – the Lord Jesus Christ is the Judge!

John 5:22

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.

Everyone – from Adam all the way to the last man born on earth – will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ to be judged. This first installment in the Judgments series, will deal with the first judgment – in which the sins of believers have already been judged in Christ on the cross.

The judgment of the believer’s sins

Jesus Christ paid the penalty, and on the grounds of His substitutional death, the believer is separated from his sins forever! Ps. 103:12 – As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

The sins of the believer have been “blotted out,” and God has promised that He will “not remember thy sins.” Isa. 43:25 – I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Our precious Savior suffered for our sins that we might be saved and NEVER come into judgment as sinners. 1 Pet. 3:18 – For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

The believer will NEVER be condemned with the world, because Christ was condemned in the believer’s place. 2 Cor. 5:21 – For He hath made him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Christ was made a curse for us on the cross. Gal. 3:13 –Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.

The believer will not come into judgment because his sins have been purged.

Hebrews 1:3

Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

This is the “present” salvation – Christ paid for our sins because He was judged in the believer’s stead.

John 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

We often hear talk of someone “losing their faith.” This is not possible. You CAN NOT be UNBORN! If you are truly born again – you are eternally saved.

The Nature of Sin – Part 5

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Deuteronomy 25:16

For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God.

Sin is an evil force, the presence of which cannot be escaped from in this earthly, fleshly, life. No – it cannot be escaped from – but it can be overcome by the power of God!

God’s remedy for sin

Mankind, in the fallen state, is unwilling to accept God’s remedy for his own ruination, and forever strives to bring about his own salvation through human means.

Man continually strives for self-righteousness, when his needs must be made the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:21 – For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Man continually strives to reform himself, when he needs to be regenerated. Titus 3:5 – Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. . .

Man continually strives to “turn over a new leaf,” when what he truly needs is a “new life.” John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Man continually strives to be justified by the law, when his only real hope is to be justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Gal. 2:16 – Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Man continually strives to “clean up” the “old man,” when what he really needs is to be made a “new man” in Christ. Eph. 4:24 – And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

And finally, man continually strives to be saved by good works, when salvation can only be found through the Grace of God. Eph. 2:8,9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The only remedy for the ruination of man is the Son of God, being made sin for us on the cross at Calvary. The only way to receive this remedy, is through faith in Him as personal Savior.

Isaiah 64:6

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

John 20:30-31

³⁰And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:

³¹But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.

The Nature of Sin – Part 4

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At this point in our study we have covered:

The origin of sin
What sin is
How sin entered the world

We now will reckon what follows 1,2, and 3 – the results of sin. The very fruit of sin is death!

The wages of sin is death.

As a result of man’s sin, there are actually three deaths! It is essential that we realize that death does not annihilate , as the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe; it only separates. Man was created with a soul that lives forever. . .

In the Garden of Eden, Adam’s sin separated mankind from God spiritually; this is spiritual death.

In natural death, sin separates the spirit and the soul from the body. This is the death that everyone is aware of – physical death.

The final death separates man from the mercy of God forever; this is eternal death.

The wages of sin is spiritual death. In the same way that sin separated man from God spiritually and drove him from the presence of God at the Garden of Eden; so does sin separate us from God. Isa. 59: 1,2 – Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: ²But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear. The only way back to God is to confess your sins to Him. 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The wages of sin is physical death. All physical death is of sin. Yes – even the deaths of children. Death had no claim on mankind until man sinned -now ALL die, because all are in sin. Death is also universal, because we have a universal effect, we therefore must have a universal cause – UNIVERSAL SIN. This cause and effect will continue until Jesus Christ destroys sin and death. 1 Cor. 15:16 – The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Cor.: – ⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The wages of sin is eternal death. Ezek. 18:20 – The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. This is eternal separation from the love of God. Rev. 20:14 – And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Once the soul passes beyond the portal of hell he is lost and lost forever. There is no hope in the Mormon “Baptism of the dead,” nor in the candles and intercessory prayers for the souls of the dead of the Roman Catholics. The lost will continue to exist! But this existence is without hope – being damned, and damned to eternal separation from God. Luke 16: 19-31 –

¹⁹There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

²⁰And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

²¹And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

²³And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

²⁵But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

²⁶And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

²⁷Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

²⁸For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

²⁹Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

³⁰And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

³¹And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Eternal separation from the Love of God, is such a bleak, terrifying, and dreadful thing, that we must ask – how can we ever refrain from sharing the Gospel? Can we honestly say that we care about other people – and not make every attempt to save them from that future? Is that not the single most important thing in the entire world? More important than the evil enterprises of corrupt elites? More important then who is nominated for Academy Awards? More important than our comfort zone, our pride, and our sluggishness? More important than anything?

After reading this, please make a list of all the unsaved people in your orbit. It will be distressing, but needs vigilant attention.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

The Nature of Sin – #3 – How Sin Entered the World

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In the first two parts of this series, it was determined that the origin of sin is a mystery that God has chosen not to reveal to us, and that the existence of sin can not be denied. We now move on to how sin came into the world.

THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY SOURCE FOR HOW SIN ENTERED THE WORLD

By one man sin entered into the world. Romans 5:12 – Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

The fall of man is found not long after the creation in Genesis 3: 1-24. When Adam sinned, his seed became corrupt. 1 Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Children do not need to be taught to lie, but they do need to be taught to be truthful. We do not need to teach children to be bad, but you do have to teach them to be good. Romans 5:18 – Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

The Word of God says that ALL men are judged sinners – ALL are condemned already. John 3:18 – He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Sin entered the world through our first parents in the Garden of Eden, and “all have sinned,” because ALL are sinners. Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

We all sin by choice, because we are sinners by nature. The dominion that sin holds over us – is in direct proportion to the delight we take in it. It is our choice.

MAN CALLS IT AN ERROR – GOD CALLS IT SIN

MAN CALLS IT SICKNESS – GOD CALLS IT SIN

We now live in a day and age where man minimizes the seriousness of sin. If our sin was serious enough to require Christ’s death – Christians should never make light of sin.

ROMANS 7:13

King James Version (KJV)

Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Sin is the transgression of the law.

DEUTERONOMY 6:24

And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.

Despite this truth – man still determines that God’s way is not best – and decides to transgress God’s moral laws.

JAMES 2:10

¹⁰For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

The Nature of Sin – #2 – What is Sin?

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This second part of five studies on the nature of sin has to do with how we perceive it. Since the very beginning in the Garden of Eden – man and his adversary the devil – have tried to cloud the issue – the existence of sin.

It is impossible to deny the existence of sin. Our entire world has been deep in a conflict between good and evil for thousands of years. If, as pop-culture and satanists maintain, sin is an “illness,” or mere “lifestyle” choice – then there would be no need for prisons, or even a judicial system!

Left to his own imaginations – mankind, under the influence of the evil one – relabels sin to make it more palatable. Adultery is changed into indiscretion. Gluttony, perversion and idleness become simple weaknesses of the flesh. To devout religionists – it is the absence of good – their own brand of good, to be precise. Academia defines sin as ignorance, and evolutionists lump it into the “nature of the beast,” hash. The most recent permutation in the “renaming the sin game” is identifying sin as a disease needing to be treated by science. The patient is not a sinner – the patient is sick!

SINCE MANKIND IS INCAPABLE OF DETERMINING THE TRUTH ABOUT SIN – IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE RELY ONLY ON GOD AND HIS WORD TO DEFINE SIN FOR US.

Sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4 – Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Sin is coming short of the glory of God. Rom. 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Sin is rebellion against God. Isa. 1:2 – Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.

Sin is unbelief, it makes God a liar. 1 John 5:10 – He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.

Sin is “doing it my way,” planning your life according to your own will, without seeking the will of God. Isa. 53:6 – All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Sin is all unrighteousness. 1 John 5:17 – All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

Sin is a folly to deceive you, a force to destroy you and a fact to condemn you. Sin is a volitional act of disobedience against the revealed will of God. [Author unknown]

Psalm 119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

The Nature of Sin – Part 1

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As we delve into this rather unpleasant subject, we are immediately confronted with two robust facts:

Mankind makes so-o-o little of sin. As some commenters to this blog have demonstrated, there is a commonly held belief that sin is an illusion – a religious mirage – the work of fanatical megalomaniacs. It is denied, ridiculed, snickered at, and embraced! There are also many believers who continue in sin – while fully believing sin exists – with little thought to its penalty.
God makes so-o-o much of sin. But what did God actually say about sin? “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” [Ezek. 18:20] And – “The wages of sin is death.” [Rom. 6:23] ALL sins are an abomination unto God and He hates those who work iniquity. “All that do he unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord.” [Deut. 25:16]

The origin of sin

It is one of the mysteries of the Bible. Where did sin originate? The following verse should be memorized. It is up to the Lord what He will reveal, and to whom He will reveal it! Deut. 29:29 – The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

The origin of sin is one of the “secret things” that will remain wrapped in obscurity. In the Bible, sin is first noted in the heart of Satan. He was created a perfect being until. . . Ezek. 28:11-19 –

¹¹Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

¹²Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

¹³Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

¹⁴Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

¹⁵Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

¹⁶By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

¹⁷Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

¹⁸Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

¹⁹All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

Satan fell from his perfect created status when he exerted his will above God’s will. Is. 14:12-17 –

¹²How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

¹³For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

¹⁵Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

¹⁶They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

¹⁷That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

Five times he said “i will,” exerting his will over God’s will – that is sin.

Many cultures have some sort of accounting for the origin of sin. If not for the Bible and God’s record of the fall of man – the entire concept of sin would have been left up to conjecture.

Jude 1:6

King James Version (KJV)

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

The Prophetic Emphasis of the Bible

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Just a quick thought that I felt had to be stated in view of the recent discussion we had with a commenter regarding the rapture of the church.

The Old Testament emphasizes the millennial reign of Christ
The Gospels emphasize the second coming which ushers in the millennial reign of Christ
The Epistles emphasize the rapture
The Revelation emphasizes the Great Tribulation

If you keep this little chart in mind it will be easier to keep the prophetic time line organized in your study. For example, it is extremely helpful when dealing with a passage like Luke 17:20-37. Since that passage is in the Gospels, it probably deals with the second coming of Christ to earth. The ones “taken” and the ones “left” are expressions dealing with the separation that will take place when Christ returns to earth.

The Epistles make references to the “Day of Christ,” which usually indicates the rapture.

1 Corinthians 1:7-8

⁷So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

⁸Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:5

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:14

As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our’s in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Philippians 1:10

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

Philippians 2:16

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

I keep a copy of that little chart, written on an index card, in my Bible as a book mark. Very helpful!

Jesus Christ the Son of God – Part 6

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After forty days of teaching His disciples, the risen Christ ascended upon high, to be seated at the right hand of the Father in glory.

HEBREWS 10:12

But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. . .

THE MESSAGE OF THE SECOND COMING IS SO IMPORTANT, THAT IT IS DOCUMENTED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT OVER THREE HUNDRED TIMES.

A. He is coming again to take His Bride, the church, to be with Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

John 14:1-6

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

²In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

B. He is coming again to judge the nations.

Matthew 25:31-46

³¹When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

³²And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

³³And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

³⁵For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

³⁶Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

³⁷Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

³⁸When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

³⁹Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

⁴¹Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

⁴²For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

⁴³I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

⁴⁴Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

⁴⁵Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

⁴⁶And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

C. He is coming again to save the Nation of Israel – apart from the rapture of the church.

Romans 11:25-25

²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

D. He is coming again to sit upon the throne of David.

Luke 1: 31-33

³¹And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

³²He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

³³And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Isaiah 9: 6-7

⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

⁷Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

E. He is coming again to bring righteous judgment to the earth.

Hebrews 1:8

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

JESUS CHRIST IS COMING BACK TO EARTH AGAIN!

Acts 1:11. . .

. . .this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.

This concludes our study of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. For the other studies in this series, please see the Apologetics page. Our next course of study will delve into the subject of sin – its origin, consequences, and its remedy.

Jesus Christ – The Son of God – Part 5

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More lies have been generated about the Resurrection of Christ, than any other Biblical doctrine, with exception to His deity. If Jesus had not come back from the dead – the cross would have been the end of Christianity.

“I am the resurrection and the life.”

We will examine the “infallible proofs,” of His resurrection: Acts 1:3 –
To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

After His resurrection, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.

John 20:11-18

¹¹But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

¹²And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

¹³And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.

¹⁴And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

¹⁵Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away.

¹⁶Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

¹⁷Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.

¹⁸Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her.

He appeared to the women returning from the sepulcher.

Matt. 28:5-10 –

⁵And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

⁶He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

⁷And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you.

⁸And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

⁹And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him.

¹⁰Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.

He then appeared to Peter.

Luke 24:34 –

Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

He appeared to the Emmaus disciples.

Luke 24: 13-31 –

¹³And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

¹⁴And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

¹⁵And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

¹⁶But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him.

¹⁷And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

¹⁸And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto Him, Art Thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

¹⁹And He said unto them, What things? And they said unto Him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

²⁰And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him.

²¹But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

²²Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

²³And when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive.

²⁴And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but Him they saw not.

²⁵Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

²⁶Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?

²⁷And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

²⁸And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and He made as though He would have gone further.

²⁹But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them.

³⁰And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

³¹And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight.

He appeared to the remaining apostles, minus Thomas.

Luke 24: 36-43 –

³⁶And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

³⁷But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

³⁸And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

³⁹Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have.

⁴⁰And when He had thus spoken, He shewed them His hands and His feet.

⁴¹And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

⁴²And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

⁴³And He took it, and did eat before them.

When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, ALL of the disciples forsook Him and fled. From that moment, they lived in fear, because they did not believe He would rise from the dead. If Christ had not risen from the dead – the cross would have ended Christianity. The disciples felt defeated after Jesus was Crucified. It meant the end of everything they had hoped for. The “infallible proofs,” caused a dramatic change in the disciples – just three days after Christ’s burial. They saw Him, they heard Him, and they touched Him. They went from despair to triumphant faith.

infallible = incapable of error

1 Corinthians 15:14

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

sage

1 John 5:1

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him.

1 John 4:7-11

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

1 John 2:29

If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

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John 3:14-15

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Isaiah 45:22

LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: FOR I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE.

Romans 1:16

FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH; TO THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO TO THE GREEK.

A personal faith in the death, burial, and resurrection is the essential and only means of the new birth.

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1 Peter 1:23

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

WE ARE NOT SINNERS BECAUSE WE SIN!

WE SIN BECAUSE WE ARE SINNERS!

The seed of man is corruptible; the birth of man is natural – therefore – the very nature of man is entirely sinful.

The seed of God is incorruptible; the new birth is spiritual – therefore – the new nature is entirely sinless.

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1 John 3:9

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

what does the Bible say about the new nature?

what does the bible say about the old nature?

if you have been “born again” – you have two natures – the old and the new – and you will walk according to one or the other. Examine your Christian walk according to the word of god – not by comparing yourself to other people.

Romans 8:5-6

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

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John 3:1-6

THE FLESH BIRTH. . .

THE NEW BIRTH . . .

John 3:7

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

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the new birth is not just a figure of speech!!!!!

1 Peter 1:23

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

The only way to become a child of god is to be “born from above,” by the “incorruptible seed of god.”

the new birth is compulsory (not optional!) if you are to become a child of god.

John 3:6-8

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

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Acts 17:30

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

The church at Ephesus was to repent because she had left her first love.

The church at Pergamos was to repent because she permitted the doctrine of Balaam to to be taught, and to eat thing sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

The church at Thyatira was to repent because she suffered Jezebel to teach and seduce God’s servants to commit fornication.

The church at Sardis was to repent because she was a dying congregation.

The church at Laodicea was to repent because she thought she was rich and did not need anything. In her opinion – she had arrived. She did not know that she was neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm, and God was ready to spew her out of His mouth.

The lost are to repent – or perish.

The back-slidden Christian is to repent – or be disciplined.

The local church is to repent – or lose its effectiveness in a world lost to sin.

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Hebrews 6:4-6

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Lamentations 3:22

It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

Matthew 7:21-23

21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.

Hebrews 12:16-17

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Revelation 20:11-15

11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

⁷Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

⁸He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

⁹In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

¹⁰Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

¹⁵That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

**WE ARE NOT SINNERS BECAUSE WE SIN!**

⁵For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

⁶For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

**the new birth is compulsory (not optional!) if you are to become a child of god.**

⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

⁷Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

⁸The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

⁴For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

⁵And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

⁶ If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

²¹Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

²²Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.

¹⁶Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

¹⁷For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

¹⁴And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.