Tag Archives: BORN AGAIN

For the Lord’s Day – Rescue the Perishing

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Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Refrain

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.

Refrain

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

Refrain

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

Refrain

crosby_fj_1872

As I was ad­dress­ing a large com­pa­ny of work­ing men one hot Au­gust ev­en­ing, the thought kept forc­ing it­self up­on my mind that some mo­ther’s boy must be res­cued that ve­ry night or per­haps not at all. So I re­quest­ed that, if there was any boy pre­sent, who had wan­dered away from mo­ther’s teach­ing, he would come to the plat­form at the con­clu­sion of the ser­vice. A young man of eight­een came forward and said, “Did you mean me? I have prom­ised my mo­ther to meet her in hea­ven; but as I am now liv­ing that will be im­pos­si­ble.” We prayed for him; he fin­al­ly arose with a new light in his eyes; and ex­claimed tri­umph­ant­ly, “Now, I can meet mo­ther in hea­ven; for I have found her God.”

A few days be­fore, Mr. Doane had sent me the sub­ject “Rescue the Per­ish­ing,” and while I sat there that ev­en­­ing the line came to me, “Res­cue the per­ish­ing, care for the dyi­ng.” I could think of no­thing else that night. When I ar­rived it my home I went to work on it at once; and be­fore I re­tired the entire hymn was rea­dy for a mel­o­dy. The next day my words were writ­ten and for­ward­ed to Mr. Doane, who wrote the beau­ti­ful and touch­ing music as it now stands.

In November, 1903, I went to Lynn, Mass­a­chu­setts, to speak be­fore the Young Men’s Christ­ian As­so­ci­a­tion. I told them the in­ci­dent that led me to write “Res­cue the Per­ish­ing,” as I have just re­lat­ed it. Af­ter the meet­ing a large num­ber of men shook hands with me, and among them was a man, who seemed to be deep­ly moved. You may imag­i­ne my sur­prise when he said, “Miss Cros­by, I was the boy, who told you more than thir­ty-five years ago that I had wan­dered from my mother’s God. The ev­en­ing that you spoke at the mis­sion I sought and found peace, and I have tried to live a con­sist­ent Christ­ian life ev­er since. If we ne­ver meet again on earth, we will meet up yon­der.” As he said this, he raised my hand to his lips; and be­fore I had re­covered from my sur­prise he had gone; and re­mains to this day a name­less friend, who touched a deep chord of sym­pa­thy in my heart. It is these notes of sym­pa­thy that vi­brate when a voice calls them forth from the dim mem­o­ries of the past, and the music is ce­les­ti­al.  http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/r/e/rescuetp.htm

new heaven and new earth

Isaiah 52:7

 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

For the Lord’s Day – The Church’s One Foundation

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OQv4EAwMFoQ%3Fsi%3DL_rScIHGVqU9kBzK

The Church’s one foundation
  Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
  By water and the Word:
From heav’n He came and sought her
  To be His holy Bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
  And for her life He died.

Elect from every nation,
  Yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation,
  One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
  Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
  With every grace endued.

’Mid toil and tribulation,
  And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
  Of peace for evermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
  Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
  Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
  With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
  With those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
  Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly,
  In love may dwell with Thee.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/833#ixzz2y4Rp4xIi\\

samuel j stone

Samuel J. Stone (1839-1900)

This hymn is well known for calling the church to be a community. The basis of the text is from the Bible when Christ tells Peter that the church will be built off of the Rock that is Himself. Written by Samuel J. Stone in 1866, “The Church’s One Foundation,” was one of the most famous of hymns written by Stone. Born in 1839 in Whitmore, Staffordshire, England, Stone was the son of Reverend William Stone. As Samuel became older, he eventually attended Charter School and Oxford College where he was ordained in 1862. Immediately after he was ordained he began serving orders at various different churches until 1870., when he joined his father in his ministries at St Paul’s in Haggerston, England. Four short years later, Samuel J. Stone followed in his fathers footsteps and took over for his father as Vicar at St. Paul’s. S. Stone served as Vicar in Haggerston until 1890, and from then until his death in 1900, he served at All-Hallow-on-the-Wall in London turning it into a safe haven for working girls and women in England. This hymn came at a very important time in the history of the church, a time where there was a great dispute of how the church should work.  http://etymologyofhymns.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-churchs-one-foundation.html

ISAIAH 28:16

water in a weary land

 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.

For the Lord’s Day – One Day

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=1hTeEYpcy9Q%3Fsi%3DYkaHfT5LMEW9d-j0
  1. One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
    One day when sin was as black as could be,
    Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin—
    Dwelt among men, my example is He! One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
    • Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
        Buried, He carried my sins far away;
      Rising, He justified freely forever:
          One day He’s coming—O glorious day!
  2.   One day they nailed Him to die on the tree; Suffering anguish, despised and rejected;  Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He.
  3. One day they left Him alone in the garden,  One day He rested, from suffering free; Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;  Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He.
  4. One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,  One day the stone rolled away from the door; Then He arose, over death He had conquered;  Now is ascended, my Lord evermore.
  5. One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,  One day the skies with His glory will shine; Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;  Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/987#ixzz2w4UcztxW

John Wilbur Chapman

J. Wilbur ChapmanJ. Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918) was an American evangelist, revivalist and pastor. He wrote the words to the hymns One Day, Jesus! What A Friend for Sinners (Our Great Saviour) and ‘Tis Jesus. 

Romans 5:6

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

He didn’t die for righteous people. He died for dirty, rotten, sinful people like me. Praise Him!

For the Lord’s Day – Softly and Tenderly

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Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Refrain

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Refrain

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

Refrain

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Refrain

thompson_wl

Words & Music: Will L. Thomp­son,
When the world-re­nowned lay preach­er, Dwight Ly­man Moody, lay on his death bed in his North­field, Mass­a­chu­setts, home, Will Thomp­son made a spe­cial vi­sit to in­quire as to his con­di­tion. The at­tend­ing phy­si­cian re­fused to ad­mit him to the sick­room, and Moody heard them talk­ing just out­side the bed­room door. Re­cog­niz­ing Thomp­son’s voice, he called for him to come to his bed­side. Tak­ing the Ohio po­et-com­pos­er by the hand, the dy­ing evan­gel­ist said, “Will, I would ra­ther have writ­ten “Soft­ly and Ten­der­ly Je­sus is Call­ing” than an­y­thing I have been able to do in my whole life.”

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/o/softlyat.htm

peace and comfort

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

How to Witness for Him – #6 – Giving the Invitation

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Revelation 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

SUGGESTIONS FOR GIVING THE INVITATION:

  After sharing  God’s Plan of Salvation, invite the person to whom you are witnessing, to accept, by faith,   the Lord Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior.   You can ask them to kneel with you, but no pressure!  If you just get down on your knees, it is likely that they will follow – but it is not necessary.  If you are on an airplane, or in a foxhole, kneeling is not going to happen.  You lead the way! 

While you are kneeling, or other posture of reverence, out loud, pray that the Lord will convict him of his sinfulness, and bring him to a state of repentance.  If he does not follow you, then arise and make another appointment to meet with him again.  If he does follow you to his knees, ask the Lord to save him now.  You will need to lead him – like a baby.  Yes – even coach- if need be.  Just be sure, that however you do it, that he/she acknowledges the complete Gospel.  Be sure he:

  1. Admits God loves him
  2. Admits Christ died bearing his sins
  3. Thanks the Lord for convicting him
  4. Admits that he is a sinner
  5. Admits that he is dead in sins
  6. Admits that he cannot save himself
  7. Cries out to the Lord to save him

 Please don’t be preoccupied with the “sinner’s prayer.”  Let the Holy Spirit lead you, as you lead the lost one to his Savior.  The prayer should flow from the heart – not a prescribed formula from an “expert.”

When you finish leading him through prayer, stand up, and ask him – “Did you by faith accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?”  If he says yes, confirm it  – “Upon the authority of God’s Word you are now a child of God.”  Give thanks and praise to God!

Romans 10:13

 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How to Witness for Him – #4 – Following Through

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Matthew 13:3-9

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

How simple this parable appears on the surface – yet we could plumb the depths of it for the rest of our lives.  The Parable of the Sower aptly demonstrates for us, among other things, the importance of “follow through.”  Only one fourth of the seed that was sown, brought forth fruit.  The Lord explained the Parable in the  verses 18-23:

  • The sower is the witness
  • The seed is the Word of God
  • The soil is the heart of the sinner

We also learn that there are four different kinds of hearts:

  1. The hard heart; this is the wayside heart; fertile but hard
  2. The shallow heart; this is the stony soil, fertile but depthless
  3. The worldly heart; this is the thorny soil; fertile but possessed
  4. The understanding heart; this is the good soil; fertile and prepared

Simple and straightforward –  if we expect the seed (the Word of God) to take root and bear fruit, the sinner’s heart must be made ready.

  • The hard heart must be broken
  • The shallow heart must be given depth
  • The worldly heart must learn that the things of this world are temporal

CULTIVATING THE SOIL (SINNER’S HEARTS) REQUIRES TIME, WORK, AND PATIENCE.  VERY FEW SOULS ARE WON ON THE FIRST ENCOUNTER.  GO THROUGH ALL THE DOCTRINES – STARTING WITH THE FACT THAT THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD, PROGRESSING TO THE DEITY OF CHRIST,  ALL THE WAY TO GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION. 

If you are unsure of any of the fundamental doctrines – please make use of the Apologetics and Doctrines page.  You are free to print off and use all of it.

How to Witness for Him – #1 – The Importance of Witnessing

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Romans 10:13

 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

It is of vital importance NOT to lift the above verse out of context.  Many, many false shepherds stop with verse thirteen – leading to many, many false conversions.  Progressing to the next verse – the Lord gives us three essential questions, that must be considered along with verse thirteen.

Romans 10:14

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

1. The first question, “How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed?”  

The answer?  The lost CANNOT call on the Lord to be saved until they believe –

  • That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
  • That Christ was buried.
  • That Christ rose again  the third day according to the Scriptures. 

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Cor. 15:1-4)

2. The second question – “How  shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?”  

The answer?  The lost CANNOT believe in Him until they hear the good news of salvation. 

3. The third question, “How shall they hear without a preacher (witness)?”  

The answer?  They CANNOT hear the good news of salvation without a witness. 

  • Three thousand were saved at Pentecost because of the witnessing of the 120. 
  • The eunuch was saved because Philip witnessed.
  • Paul was saved because Stephen witnessed. (Acts 7: 54-60), and Jesus the God-man witnessed, and Annanias witnessed.  (Acts 9:1-18) 
  • Cornelius and his house were saved because Peter witnessed.
  • The Philippian jailer and his house were saved because Paul and Silas witnessed. 
  • You were saved because someone witnessed to you. 
preaching

According to the inspired Word of God, the lost CANNOT be saved without a witness.  They must have a witness to hear, they must hear to believe, they must believe to call on Him, and they must call on Him in order to be saved.  But – they CANNOT call until  they believe, and they CANNOT believe until they hear, and the CANNOT hear without a witness!

Romans 10:17

 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

we are not born with saving faith.  it only comes when we hear the gospel.  it is of utmost importance that every single born again child of god is obedient to the word of god. 

Evangelize with the Gospel!!!!

How to Witness for Him – Introduction

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One day, as Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw two fishermen, Simon (later named Peter) and his brother Andrew.   He said unto them . . .

Matt. 4:19

Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

SOUL WINNERS ARE MADE – NOT BORN!  FOR YOU TO BECOME AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS – YOU MUST BE TRAINED, EQUIPPED, AND MOTIVATED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

Our Lord spent three years teaching and training His disciples in the art of soul winning.  After His resurrection, He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the “promise of the Father.”  [Acts 4:1-8]  When the disciples asked if He would restore the kingdom right then, He told them, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.”  It is not the job of the church to predict or focus on the Tribulation,  or be continuously searching for hidden meanings in natural events.  Our job is to witness!  “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.”

ANY BELIEVER WHO ACQUIRES THE KNOW- HOW, CAN BECOME AN EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNER!

You can know –  that you and the Holy Spirit are a witnessing team. 

Acts 5:32

 And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.

Therefore, when you are witnessing, remember that you are not alone! 

1 Corinthians 6:19

 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

WHEN YOU WITNESS, YOU CAN TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DO THREE THINGS –

  1. Illuminate the mind of the unbeliever.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit.  All lost souls are in spiritual darkness.  2 Cor. 4:3 –  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
  2. Stir the heart of the unbeliever.  As Peter preached Christ to the listeners . . . Acts 2:37 –  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
  3. Move the will of the unbeliever.  When the prodigal son “came to himself,” and returned home he said. . . Luke 15:18 – I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. . .  The prodigal had a change of will. 

Many graduates of Bible schools have learned all of the up-to-date techniques for “modern” soul winning.  They may even be able to quote the necessary Scriptures without flaw, and stir an emotional response from their audience.  But, if witnessing is not done in the power of the Holy Spirit, all their witnessing efforts will be ineffective.  As we progress though this series on effective witnessing, please keep your heart and mind open to the Holy Spirit, and be willing to become Fishers of Men. 

God’s Plan of Salvation – Fact #7 – You Are Now A Child of God And Are To Obey Him

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Acts 5:29

 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

If you have followed God’s Plan of Salvation and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you are now a child of God.  You belong to Jesus Christ!  You are not a servant – but a son.  A son that wants to please his Father.

SERVANTS OBEY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO – SONS OBEY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO! 

This is one of the major differences between true Biblical Christianity, and pseudo-Christianity, which is works based.  Those who are not born again, work to earn their salvation and reward; and not a little amount of fear goes along with that.    Believers work as loving children, desiring to please their loving Father, always aware of His care and patience.  We do not fear Him as His children, because we are His own forever.  We already have a safe and happy home with Him in eternity.

What are some of the ways that we, as His children, can please Him in our day-to-day lives? 

1. Make an effort to find a solid, King James, New Testament church to attend.  Don’t settle for a worldly church!  Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

2. Do get water baptized.  Baptism does not save; it is a witness of your faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Romans 6:4 – Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

3. Do attend Sunday School!  Study the Word of God with your church family – all God’s children.  2 Tim. 2:15 – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

4. Attend the worship services of your church.  We ALL need the preaching of God’s Word AND Christian fellowship.  Heb. 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

5. Be a faithful steward.  All that you are and have belongs to the Lord.  1 Cor. 4:2 – Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

6. Make time in your daily life to pray and read God’s Word, that you may grow in grace, knowledge, and understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Be ever vigilant of the urge to be under the Law.  It is something that both new born and mature Christians struggle with.  Always keep in the forefront of your mind, that everything you need to know about God, is contained within the Person of Jesus Christ, Who is the Personification of the Law.  He has fulfilled it for you.  You can not follow the Ten Commandments, anymore than you can sprout wings and fly.  No one was ever able to be completely obedient to the Law except Jesus Christ. Try living the commandments that Christ gave . . .

Matthew 22:36-40

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Trust me – those are enough!  Welcome to the family of God, and we will all meet one day!  Praise Him!!!

Admit this fact to yourself

I AM A CHILD OF GOD AND I WANT TO OBEY HIM

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ocTID34JNjE%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26fs%3D1%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26wmode%3Dtransparent

God’s Plan of Salvation – Fact #6 – You Can Be Saved And Know It

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1 John 5:10-13

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.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13 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.

UPON THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD – YOU CAN BE SAVED AND KNOW IT!  HAVING FAITH IN GOD’S INFALLIBLE WORD IS YOUR ASSURANCE OF YOUR SALVATION.  LOOK CAREFULLY AT VERSE 13 AGAIN:

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.

John 3:36

 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

“HATH” IS PRESENT TENSE – IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN – YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.  FOREVER!  THERE IS NOTHING VAGUE OR UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD. 

If you have followed God’s Plan of Salvation and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, then God wants you to know:

1. That you are now a child of God.

1 John 3:2

 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

2.  That you have been made the righteousness of God, in Christ.

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.

3.  That you are now a new creature in Christ.

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.

4.  That you are now a son and heir of God.

Galatians 4:7

 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

PRAISE HIM!  IS THERE ANY GREATER ASSURANCE THAN WHAT WE FIND IN GOD’S INFALLIBLE WORD?

arrow pointing down

Matthew 24:35

 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.

Beloveds – there are no guarantees in this earthly life.  Marriages fail, children break parents’ hearts, jobs are lost, businesses close, promises and contracts are broken.  Once you are His, you are always His.  Guaranteed by His Holy Word.

Admit this fact to yourself

I CAN KNOW THAT I AM SAVED ETERNALLY

God’s Plan of Salvation – Fact #1 – God Loves You

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IT IS AN ETERNAL FACT THAT GOD LOVES YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE THAT CANNOT BE FATHOMED.  IT IS A LOVE SO BOUNDLESS, THAT IT CAN ONLY BE KNOWN THROUGH FAITH. 

Jesus saving

John 3:16

 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Just think about the simple word “so,” in the above verse.  So simple, yet so expressive.  That deep and simple word gives us some concept of the magnitude of God’s love.  God so loved you, that He gave His only begotten Son, to be made sin for you, that you might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

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.

JESUS CHRIST WAS MADE THAT WHICH GOD HATES – SIN 

SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE MADE THAT WHICH GOD LOVES – RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

It is because God so loves you, that you can exchange your sins for His righteousness.  Is there any greater evidence of love?

CALVARY IS PROOF THAT GOD LOVES YOU – AND IT IS HIS GREATEST LONGING TO SAVE YOU.

Admit this fact to yourself

GOD LOVES ME

Bible Study – Lot Delivered from Judgment

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Lot has returned from trying to persuade his two married daughters and their husbands of the impending doom. They mocked him in the same fashion that the world mocks Christians today. Since they can not see the doom coming – it does not exist in their minds. Forever the fallback of the secularists – prove it!

The angels spend the night in Lot’s home, then awaken him at dawn.

15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Apparently Lot was “lingering” (vs. 16) – something many people do when presented with the Gospel. They delay leaving their old, sinful life, because they, like Lot, fail to see the gravely perilous situation they are in. We also see that Lot is being delivered, as we are, because of the Lord’s mercy. Not for anything that Lot did – and not for anything that we do.

lot-flees-sodom

17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:19 Behold now, Thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified Thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

zoar

21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

The map at right shows the approximate locations of the “cities of the plain.” Some scholars believe they were farther north, but the location is not germane to this study.

Lot – still the carnal believer – is terrified of being homeless. His weak flesh still has control over his actions. He feels that if he were too far from “civilization” he would not be able to live. He asks to be granted sanctuary in the “little” city of Zoar.

escape-from-sodom1

23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; 25 And He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

Many archeologists have attempted to locate the remains of these cities. I find that rather ridiculous, because the Lord “overthrew those cities.” Working in my garden, I often turn the top layer of soil and its weeds completely over. When I go back a few weeks later, the weeds underneath are all dead. If that could happen in my garden in just two weeks – how could something the the Lord completely destroyed still remain after thousands of years?  Most experts now agree – that Sodom and the “cities of the plain,” are now what is known as the Dead Sea.  They were completely destroyed.  The Lord “overthrew” them – even turning them upside down, as one dumps out a garbage pail!

fire-and-brimstone3

26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

NO MAN, HAVING PUT HIS HAND TO THE PLOUGH, AND LOOKING BACK, IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. LUKE 9: 62

burning-sulpher

27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord:

abraham-sees-sodom-burning

28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. Genesis 19: 15-29

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Leviticus 18: 22

ALL sexual behavior outside of the God ordained marriage between one man and one woman is sin – gay or straight, plural, animal, whatever – including all fornication and adultery among “straight” people. Christians – when you are intimate with someone- you are permanently joined to them. Only God can separate that. Sexual sin is sin against your own body – and sin against God.

15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith He, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is One Spirit.

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6: 15-18

The Lord Jesus Christ could not have been more clear on this subject –

Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Matthew 19: 4-6

struggle

If you are struggling with sexual sin – no matter if it is homosexuality, pornography, adultery, or fornication – it is the same sin of lust. Jesus can deliver you from this sin, no matter how heinous and unforgivable you feel. You may feel that you are beyond redemption. Jesus came and died to save sinners! If you are truly repentant, and truly want to be delivered – you can be delivered. Do you long to be pure? You can be – just like the thief on the cross next to Jesus. It’s not too late for you. . .  repent now, and turn to Jesus Christ.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Psalm 51: 7-13

Bible Study – After the First Murder

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Last week, we studied the fruit of Adam’s sin, passed down to his son, Cain.  It emerged in the form of envy, which manifested itself in violent fratricide.

  1. God takes away Cain’s ability to grow things from the ground – something he had been very proud of.
  2. God drives Cain away from his family to live as a wanderer, always on the move, with no secure dwelling place, and no inner peace.

Cain’s attitude is alive and well in those that are of the “wicked one.”  They feel no responsibility for the safety and well-being of others, nor for posterity.

Cain’s guilt made him fear – for himself – fearful that he would be killed, because he himself was a killer.  Considering that this event took place when Cain was around 129 years old – logically there would have been thousands of people by this time – with no disease.

Our merciful God set a mark on Cain, to protect him.  I will state right here – that the mark of Cain – was not black skin.  It was a mark of protection.  And it belonged to Cain alone – not only that – all of Cain’s descendants were killed in the flood.

ROMANS 2:15

King James Version (KJV)

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. . .

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. Genesis 4:16

  1. No one knows where the land of Nod was. Cain was the settler of Nod.
  2. When Moses was recording this he used a literary technique called “prolepsis” (the assignment of something, such as an event or name, to a time that precedes it). [ ie: When my husband was three years old, he had a toy machine gun. At the age of three – he was not my husband.]

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. Genesis 4: 17-18

  1. Cain did not find his wife in the Land of Nod. He already had a wife.
  2. Cain’s wife was his sister, daughter, of Adam and Eve.
  3. This begins the ungodly line of Cain.

19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. 21 And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. 22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubal–cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal–cain was Naamah. Genesis 4: 19-22

  1. Here is recorded the progression from one sin to another. v. 19 – Cain’s descendant Lamech, begins the practice of polygamy.
  2. v. 22: Primitive inscriptions reveal that Babylon has never been without the use of metals.
  3. v. 21: While Adam was yet living – his descendants invented musical instruments.

23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. Genesis 4: 23-24

  1. By the fourth generation there is a second murder
  2. Lamech boasts about killing a boy who struck him. And further boasts that if anyone tries to avenge this boy – the Lord will avenge him (Lamech) 77 times.
  3. This is a boastful presumption – that anyone could kill without fearing revenge.

25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 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. Genesis 4: 25-26

  1. Adam still only has one wife
  2. Eve rejoices , as she says Seth is to replace the godly Abel.
  3. This begins the godly line of Seth.
  4. There is a spiritual revival.

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Throughout the Bible, the two lines are demonstrated – the godly and the ungodly. First, the conflict between Cain and Able, and in this segment, the ungodly line of Cain, and the godly line of Seth. Although Satan had won a temporary victory when Cain killed Abel, the godly line was restored through Seth.
This enmity continues today. . .in the political arena, mainstream media, and Hollywood – abortion, evolution, perversion, and socialism are accepted, glorified and promoted; while true conservative Christians values and Biblical principles are mocked and denigrated.

Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7: 13-14

The New Birth – #4 – The Only Means

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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.

Numbers 21:5-9

5 And 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.

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

7 Therefore 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.

8 And 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.

9 And 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. 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?

2 For 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.

3 He 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.

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

5 But 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.

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.

7 He 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.

8 He 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.

9 And 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.

10 Yet 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.

11 He 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.

12 Therefore 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:

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

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

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

5 And 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

7 Nevertheless 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.

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

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

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

11 Of 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 –   8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  10 And 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

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.

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:

2 The 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.

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

4 Nicodemus 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?

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

6 That 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

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

25 And 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.

  1. We need more than a teacher – we need a Savior
  2. We need more than religion – we need regeneration
  3. 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.

narrow way

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

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.

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. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  4 For 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 –   13 Brethren, 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,  14 I 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 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

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

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

5 Which 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;

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

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

8 Unto 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;

9 And 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:

10 To 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

12 For 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.

13 For 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21 And 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.

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

23 And 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.

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

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

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

27 Now 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

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

11 Wherefore 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;

12 That 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:

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

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

15 Having 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;

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

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

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

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

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

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

22 In 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.

rapture23

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 – 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

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

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

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

MATTHEW 16:27

27 For 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

8 Now 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)

9 For 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!)

10 According 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.

11 For 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)

12 Now 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)

13 Every 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.

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

15 If 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

water in a weary land

 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.

cornerstone

1 PETER 2:6-8

6 Wherefore 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.

7 Unto 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,

8 And 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 5

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In review – the first four parts of this series on judgments covered:

  1. The judgment of the believer’s  sins
  2. The judgment of the believer’s self
  3. The judgment of the believer’s works
  4. The judgment of the nations

This fifth and final study on the judgments will cover the judgment of the wicked.

IN THE FIFTH JUDGMENT THE WICKED DEAD ARE TO JUDGED AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE WHICH TAKES PLACE AFTER THE 1,000 YEAR REIGN OF KING JESUS CHRIST ON EARTH

AT THIS JUDGMENT, THE WICKED DEAD WILL SEEK  A HIDING PLACE FROM THE FACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.  NO HIDING PLACE WILL BE FOUND FOR THEM.  Rev. 20:11 –  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.

AT THIS JUDGMENT, THE “DEAD, SMALL AND GREAT,” WILL STAND BEFORE GOD.  THE GREATNESS OF THE PERSON WILL BE WORTHLESS.  Romans 3:12 – They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

AT THIS JUDGMENT, THE “BOOK OF LIFE,” WILL BE OPENED .  IF THERE ARE NO SAVED AT THIS JUDGMENT – WHY IS THE “BOOK OF LIFE” OPENED?  THE WICKED WILL BE SHOWN THAT GOD IN HIS MERCY GRANTED SPACE FOR THEM WITHIN THE “BOOK OF LIFE,” SO THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.  Romans 1: 18-20 –

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

AT THIS JUDGMENT THE WICKED WILL BE JUDGED “ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.”  BECAUSE GOD IS JUST, AND THERE ARE DEGREES OF PUNISHMENT IN HELL, SOME WILL BE PUNISHED MORE THAN OTHERS.  Luke 12: 42,48 – 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?  /  48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

AT THIS JUDGMENT THERE CAN BE NO ACQUITTAL, NO PAROLE, NO PURGATORY, NO HIGHER COURT IN WHICH TO APPEAL.  LOST – AND LOST FOREVER!  DAMNED TO ALL ETERNITY WITHOUT HOPE.  NO SYMPATHY, NO LOVE, NO ESCAPE.  NOT EVEN THE GREAT LOVE OF GOD EXTENDS PAST THE PORTALS OF HELL.  Luke 16: 19-31

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

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

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

22 And 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;

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

24 And 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.

25 But 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.

26 And 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.

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

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

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

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

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

All the unbelievers who have died and are in Hell will be resurrected and stand before the Great White Throne!  Hell will be emptied and the wicked will stand in a court of LAW before the only righteous Judge of the Universe where they will be sentenced to the Lake of Fire. 

The “Book of Life,” is there in case anyone claims innocence!  None of the wicked dead will be wearing the proper attire – the Blood of Jesus Christ! 

REVELATION 20:14

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

great white throne judgment

If you are not sure  your name is in the Lamb’s book of life, you need to make sure by trusting in Christ as your Savior.  The future does not end here. . . think about eternity . .

JOHN THEN SEES AN UNINHABITABLE EARTH

REVELATION 21:1

 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

new heaven and new earth

TIME ON EARTH IS FINISHED BUT ETERNITY CONTINUES!

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.

water in a weary land

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.

water in a weary land

John 20:30-31

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

31 But 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 Bible is the Inspired Word of God – #4 – Special Power

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Only those who do not know Jesus Christ, those who are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit, doubt the power of the Bible.  It is more powerful than any government, kingdom, empire, or standing army – and more powerful than all the principalities of evil in the supernatural world combined. 

THE BIBLE CLAIMS SPECIAL POWER

  • The Bible claims the dividing power of a sword – separating man from sin –   Ps. 199:11 –  Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.  or sin will separate man from the Bible.  Isa. 59:2 – But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.
  •  The Bible claims the reflective powers of a mirror,  Jas.1:22,25 –But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.  so that we may see ourselves as God sees us –  sinners – Rom. 3:23 –  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.  
  • The Bible claims the cleansing power as water.  Eph. 5:26 – That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.  (not baptism!) David prayed – Ps. 51:2 – Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
  • The Bible claims reproductive power as seed.  1 Pet. 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  We become children of God when we are born again of incorruptible seed.

John 3:1,7

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  The 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.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus 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? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

  • The Bible claims the sustaining power of food.  1 Pet. 2:2 -As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.  If you do not study the Word, you will be a weak, ineffectual,  and sickly Christian.  Your spiritual growth will be stunted from lack of food. 

HEBREWS 4:11-13

sharp sword

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.

romans

If you are born again – do not starve your New Born Man – starve the Old Dead Man – by filling up on the Word! 

Why Believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture?

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Thanks to modern, critical,  Bible “scholars,” such as Hank Hanegraff, more and more sheeple’s heads are in a spin over the dismantling of doctrines.  The confusion arises when we fail to rightly divide the Word of Truth. 

For example, when reading Matthew 24, it is of utmost importance to recognize to whom the Lord is speaking.  Is He addressing the church?  No!  There is a distinct difference between the earthly kingdom, which was promised to the Jews, and the heavenly kingdom, promised to the church.

This is why I am astounded, and not a little dismayed to see the obsession that Christians have with the identity of anti-Christ.  Numerous books, websites, and movies are generated with fantastic, extra-biblical themes relating to the man of sin.  And the worst thing about it is – it steals attention away from our proper focus – our Savior, the living Word of God.  If you want to go through The Great Tribulation (not to be confused with the persecutions and tribulations that Christians are experiencing now) then – more power to you.  But you should know, that the Great Tribulation is designed to bring the Nation of Israel to a state of repentance, and to punish the ungodly – not to torture and abuse the Bride of Christ before the wedding! 

28 distinctions between the Rapture and the Second Coming

The RaptureThe Second Coming
At the Rapture, Jesus comes FOR His Church. (John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)At the Glorious Appearing (Second Coming), Jesus comes WITH His Church. (Zechariah 14:5, Colossians 3:4, Jude 14, Revelation 19:14)
At the Rapture, Christians are caught up to meet Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)At the Glorious Appearing, Jesus’ feet touch the earth (Zechariah 14:4, Revelation 19:11-21)
At the Rapture, Christians are taken first and unbelievers are left behind. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)At the Glorious Appearing, the wicked are taken first, but the righteous (the tribulation saints) are left behind. (Matthew 13:28-30)
At the Rapture, Jesus will gather His Bride, the Church, unto Himself in preparation of the Marriage of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:6-9)At the Glorious Appearing, Jesus will execute judgment on the earth and establish His Kingdom. (Zechariah 14:3-4, Jude 14-15, Revelation 19:11-21)
The Marriage of the Lamb takes place in Heaven AFTER the Rapture of the Church. (Revelation 19:6-9War on earth comes AFTER the Marriage of the Lamb at the Glorious Appearing when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords lays the smackdown on evil! (Revelation 19:11-21)
The Rapture will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (Blink. It’s over!). (1 Corinthians 15:52)The Glorious Appearing will be a slow coming. Everyone will see Jesus coming with great power and great glory! (Zechariah 12:10, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7)
At the Rapture, only those who are looking for Him (Christians) will see Him. (1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:52)At the Glorious Appearing, every eye will see Him and those who have rejected Him will wail. (Revelation 1:7)
At the Rapture, Jesus will descend from Heaven with a shout (calling for the saints at the resurrection). (1 Thessalonians 4:16)At the Glorious Appearing, no shout is mentioned, although the Lord does slay the wicked with the sword of His mouth. (Revelation 19:11-21)
At the Rapture, a resurrection will take place. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54)At the Glorious Appearing, there is no resurrection spoken of. (Zechariah 12:10, Zechariah14:4-5, Revelation 1:7, 19:11-21)
The Rapture can happen at any time…maybe even now which is why we are to be WATCHING for the return of Jesus Christ! (Revelation 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)The Glorious Appearing will occur at the end of the seven-year tribulation period. (Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:29-30, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8)
At the Rapture, no angels are sent to gather the Church.At the Glorious Appearing, angels will be sent to gather people together for judgment. (Matthew 13:39, 41 & 49, Matthew 24:31, Matthew 25:31, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)
At the Rapture, those who died in Christ will return with Jesus to recover their resurrected bodies. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-16)At the Glorious Appearing, Christians will return with Jesus already in their resurrected bodies riding on white horses. (Revelation 19:11-21)
White horse for Jesus or no white horse for Jesus?
At the Rapture, Jesus doesn’t return riding a white horse.At the Glorious Appearing, Jesus will return riding a white horse. (Revelation 19:11)
The Rapture will bring with it a message of hope and comfort. (1 Thessalonians 4:18, Titus 2:13, 1 John 3:3)The Glorious Appearing will bring with it a message of judgment. (Joel 3:12-16, Malachi 4:5, Revelation 19:11-21)
World is deceived. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12)Satan is bound. (Revelation 20:1-2)
Focus: Lord and Church. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)Focus: Israel and Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14)
No signs precede Rapture. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)Signs precede Second Coming. (Luke 21:11,15)
Tribulation begins.Millennial kingdom begins.
Removal of believers. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)Manifestation of Christ. (Malachi 4:2)
Jesus claims His bride.Jesus comes with His bride. (Revelation 19:6-14)
Marriage Supper Of The Lamb follows the Rapture. (Revelation 19:9)The Great Supper of the wicked follows the Tribulation. (Revelation 19:17)
The world will not see Jesus at the Rapture; but rather, believers ascend go to meet Him in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)Jesus will descend bodily and visibly for all to see, just as He ascended bodily and visibly. (Acts 1:9-11)
The Judgment Seat Of Christ follows the Rapture. (2nd Corinthians 5:9-11)The Judgment of the Nations follows the Tribulation (Matthew 24:32-46)
Believers receive a new, immortal, glorified body fashioned like unto the Lord’s. (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54)Saints saved during the Tribulation enter into the Millennial kingdom with their earthly bodies. (Isaiah 65:20)
The Antichrist is revealed after the Rapture. (2 Thessalonians 2:8)The Antichrist is defeated and cast into the Lake of Fire at the Second Coming. (Revelation 19:20)
Israel is persecuted during the Tribulation. Two-in-three Jews in Israel are killed. (Zechariah 13:8-9)Israel is regathered. (Jeremiah 23:5-8)
World government (New World Order) follows the Rapture. (Revelation 13:15)Christ’s reign and government follows the Second Coming. (Daniel 2:34-35)
World famine, pestilence, war and sorrow follow the Rapture. (Matthew 24:6-10; Luke 17:31)World peace follows Christ’s Second Coming when He reigns from Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:6)

Ephesians 2:6

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

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2 Timothy 4:18

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Amen.

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Hebrews 11:16

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

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Hebrews 12:22

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.

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If you are truly born again  – this world is NOT your home!  You are working in the fields until the harvest.

The Great Tribulation is a time of intense judgements, “A time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that time,” Dan. 12:1 and the earth will be under severe judgement, with a cataclysmic worldwide earthquake, and will be purified with fire – instead of water as in the former worldwide judgement.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, or if you are unsure about your salvation, please ask Him now.  Tell Him that you know you are a sinner, and ask Him to save you.  Say – “Lord, I am dirty and lost.  I feel alone, and desperate.  I believe that You are my only hope, and my only salvation.  I believe that You died for me, and I ask You, now, to be my Savior, and live inside me. I open the door of my heart to You.  Thank you, Jesus.”

If you prayed that prayer, and meant it in your heart of hearts, you are now a part of the family of God and all the angels in heaven are rejoicing!  You have the wonderful assurance of a home in heaven with our blessed Redeemer. 

Please comment below, or contact The Vine Vigil if we can help you in any way.   vinevigil@gmail.com

 

Isaiah 26:20-21

peace and comfort

20 Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

21 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.